Monthly Archives: March 2014

Flying Phantom: First long distance races

For the second edition of the Raid du Goëlo in Saint Quay Portrieux – France, the Flying Phantom One Design was racing for the fist time with other multihulls.
For the Phantom Sailing Team: Gurvan Bontemps – Helmsman and Benjamin Amiot – Crew it was a unique opportunity to race the boat after weeks of testing, optimization and training.
Phantom International: phantom-international.com
Photo: © Pierrick Contin
Credits : wanaiifilms.com

Fast foils – a conversation with Paul Bieker, part two

oracle ac72Few people in the sailing world are sharper than Paul Bieker, a soft-spoken Seattle-based naval architect who has spent his career designing a wide variety of sailing vessels, from super-quick I-14s and his one-off line of ‘Riptide’ racer/cruisers, to America’s Cup yachts. Bieker is one of the core designers credited with ‘super-charging’ Oracle Team USA’s ‘USA 17’ last September, changes that helped the American-flagged team to successfully pull-off one of sports history’s greatest comebacks to defend the 34th America’s Cup. Yet pull up a seat on the rail next to Bieker-as I’ve been fortunate enough to do on many occasions aboard our mutual friend’s Riptide 44-and it quickly becomes obvious that Bieker’s horizons extends far beyond racecourse designs.
Take, for example, the day that he brought our crew lunch. Each sandwich was individually wrapped in brown recycled paper and was hand-tied with a bit of hemp twine in an effort to reduce landfill fodder.

Read the entire post on sail-world.com

America’s Cup – Fast foils, a conversation with Paul Bieker, part I

oracle capsizeFew people in the sailing world are sharper than Paul Bieker, a soft-spoken Seattle-based naval architect who has spent his career designing a wide variety of sailing vessels, from super-quick I-14s and his one-off line of ‘Riptide’ racer/cruisers, to America’s Cup yachts.
Bieker is one of the core designers credited with ‘super-charging’ Oracle Team USA’s ‘USA 17’ last September, changes that helped the American-flagged international team to successfully pull-off one of sports history’s greatest comebacks to defend the 34th America’s Cup.

Read the entire post on sail-world.com

Gladwell’s Line: The fantastic A-Cats

2014 A class WordsThe 2014 A-Class worlds are providing the most stunning racing ever seen in New Zealand.

It has attracted a very classy field with many America’s Cup sailors, many A-Class World Champions, top designers – all sailing in the most spectacular international class world championship. There are at least five Olympic Medalists competing plus one AC72 helmsman and other who sailed in the last America’s Cup…

Read the complete post on sail-world.com

Against the Wind

wsj ac34One of the Greatest Comebacks in Sports History

The winds on San Francisco Bay started kicking up in the late morning. Before long, they were blowing more than 20 miles an hour.

Jimmy Spithill and his 10 teammates put on their crash helmets and flotation vests and climbed aboard the AC72, a menacing, 13-story black catamaran capable of near-highway speeds. As a powerboat pulled them into the bay for Race 5 of the 2013 America’s Cup, Mr. Spithill shot a glance at the Golden Gate Bridge. It was shrouded in fog.

Jimmy Spithill in front of San Francisco Bay on Feb. 3, 2014. Drew Kelly for The Wall Street Journal
An unfamiliar, uncomfortable feeling was tugging at him. Mr. Spithill, skipper of …

Read the entire post on The Wall Street Journal