editor

Over the past weekend, the Olympic speed classes had their tune-up races in view of the forthcoming Miami Worldcup event as well, and most of the top teams participated. First in the 49ers were Diego Botin/Iago Marr ESP 16 points ahead of Benjamin Bildstein/David Hussl AUT. Meggendorfer/Spranger GER finished 3rd. In the 49ersFX, the Olympic Champions Martine Grael/Kahena Kunze BRA were the clear winners ahead of Stephanie Roble/Maggie Shea USA and Odile Van Aanholt/Marieke Jongens NED. Favorites were in front in the Nacras 17 as well with John Gimson/Anna Burnett GBR ahead of Jason Waterhouse/Lisa Darmanin AUS and Santiago Lange/Cecilia Carranza ARG. All ranking lists....

Well, we're just not sure......

Does this Laser/Olympic shit show ever end? ILCA is aware that photos and videos of some developmental rigs for use with the Laser hull as well as portions of a recent media release from Laser Performance have led to quite a bit of questioning, speculation, and information (as well as misinformation) swirling around the internet. ILCA would like to share with our members the class perspective on some of these matters First, ILCA has no plans to replace or remove any of our existing classes. The 4.7, Radial and Standard classes will continue as always with controlled, incremental evolution and development aimed at improving longevity, increasing the ease of use and reducing the cost of ownership. Second, any new rigs that are in development are not proposed for inclusion in the Olympic reevaluation or sea trials. It is the existing Standard and Radial rigs that ILCA is working to have retained for the Olympic Games. The one proposed change at this time is a new composite Radial lower mast that is in development with an introduction planned so as not to conflict with the 2020 Olympics. The composite Radial lower mast is intended to eliminate any permanent bending issues seen in some aluminum masts and therefore reduce the cost of owning, maintaining and racing the Laser Radial. Third, consistent with ILCA’s past practice, any new rigs for the Laser hull will only become class legal equipment after thorough testing and widespread evaluation in conjunction with the ILCA Technical Officer, the ILCA Technical and Measurement Committee and with the approval of World Sailing.   Read on....

A nice week with 82 snipes Brazilian championship, on the water you have 9 world titles among others medalists. Brazil will held the World Cup, Snipe, next year at Ilhabela. Beach close to São Paulo, and about 300 km from Rio. - Anarchist Henrique...

Ronan Lucas, team manager and skipper Armel Le Cléac'h Team Banque Populaire. | THOMAS BRÉGARDIS The racing team off Popular Bank, based in Lorient, today confirmed the construction of a new maxi-trimaran Ultimate, following the loss of Popular Bank IX, skippered by Armel Le Cléac'h, November 6 last in the Route du Rhum. For Ouest-France, Ronan Lucas, Team Director, discusses the causes of the capsizing and details the new project that leads the skipper and his team until 2024. The racing team off Banque Populaire installed in Lorient, announced the construction of a new maxi-trimaran Ultimate after capsizing and loss of sailboat racing Banque Populaire IX. Interview with Ronan Lucas, the team director who returns to the capsizing of the boat, and the project team. Ronan Lucas, what can you remove as explanations of what capsize November 6? It is not obvious to know. If we knew exactly what happened, it would be almost easy. Today, we know that we put in work to make it not happen again. For 15 years that we are on the circuit, there has never been a major break, this is the first damage to that order. We, when we built a boat like this, we used two structure of firms. The entire boat passes in the mill computers and then all the sensitive points are independently reviewed by another firm of calculation, to see if there is no inconsistency. We spent all our boats, from Banque Populaire V in these belays, and I think it is one of the few racing teams to do so. Our goal is to never take a risk to the marine and boating. And on Banque Populaire IX, we were extremely confident about the strength of the boat. After the first capsize? No, upstream in the building. Then...

The island Saaremaa in Estonia, announced last Saturday as DN European Championship venue, was hit by a snow storm on the same day, and with the ice now covered with snow, another location had to be selected. The Europeans will start tomorrow on the ?niardwy Lake in Poland. The news....

The 3rd RS Aero World Championships is set to enjoy the Australian summer as a climatic end to the 2019 season, set over New Year at Black Rock YC, Melbourne. The two previous World Championships started out with 100 RS Aeros at Carnac, France, in 2017 and then doubled in size to over 200 RS Aeros at Weymouth, UK, in 2018. The first southern hemisphere worlds recognises the rapidly growing Australian RS Aero fleet and makes an exciting step for the International Class. The World Championships will take place between 28th December 2019 and 4th January with the 28th and 29th reserved for training and registration. A lay day is scheduled for New Year’s Day for some mid championship rest and relaxation, taking in the local sights! A large charter fleet of some sixty RS Aeros will be available with the support of RS Sailing and Sailing Raceboats of Australia and charter RS Aeros are now available for booking. International visitors can book charters via RS Sailing and Australian charterers can book via Sailing Raceboats Australia....

A nice piece of imagination  and thinking outside the box from Glenmore Sailing Club in Alberta especially as the outside temperature is more conducive to Ice Yachting right now with temperatures of around -7C right now. Just shows what can be done by even a small club to promote or continue interest in our sport out of season with a bit of effort. Excellent initiative. It reminds me of when, back in the day the Paris Salon Boat Show used to have Indoor Yachting at Versey although on a much bigger pool and budget. It was even televised on Eurosport much to the delight of those sailing fans starved of coverage of our sport back then – way before the advent of Youtube of course. If you can find it on line it may bring a smile to your face given the youthful look of Sir Russel Coutts and Peter Gilmour with even rules guru Dave Dellenbaugh in the mix. See, he doesn’t just write about the rules . Some pretty aggressive match racing to boot. Apologies about the quality of the screen grab, this was way before HDTV. - SS....