Author Archives: Foiling Week

Quartet of britons stake early lead at Amlin International Moth Regatta

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by bermudamoths.com

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To no one’s surprise, a quartet of Britons set the pace today in the first day of the Amlin International Moth Regatta.

Rob Greenhalgh, Paul Goodison, Chris Rashley and Chris Draper hold first through fourth, respectively, after the first three races of the regatta.

Greenhalgh, the European champion, leads with 6 points, followed by Goodison with 7 points, Rashley with 9 points and Draper with 13 points. Greenhalgh and Rashley are class veterans while Goodison and Draper are from America’s Cup teams Artemis Racing and SoftBank Team Japan, respectively.

The three races were held on Great Sound in mixed conditions. The first and third races were ideal, sailed in 10 to 12 knots of breeze, and the fleet was able to get on the hydrofoils and stay on them, which is the key to success in the class.

The second race was started in winds around 10 knots but the breeze died out as the fleet approached the first windward mark during a light rain squall. In the light winds it was harder to get on the foils, especially for the heavier sailors, and some dropped from the leading pack.

Greenhalgh acknowledged that the regatta is only in its infancy (as many as 15 races are planned), but he was very satisfied with his 1-4-1 scoreline. “The second race was tricky when it got light, but I was able to let it rip a bit more in the other two races,” said Greenhalgh. “It’s all about how you get better during the event.”

Third-placed Rashley is sailing the Moth for the first time since the Europeans last summer. He felt he was rusty with his positioning on the start line and was a bit out of phase with the windshifts in the first and second races. But still came away happy with his 4-2-3 scoreline.

“I lost my lane off the start line in the first and second races and had my tactics dictated because of that,” Rashley said. “I felt too powered up. I was expecting it to be a bit lighter and used a fuller sail than I probably should have. But it was perfect sailing conditions and the race committee did an excellent job with the start line and racecourse.”

While the four Britons are well respected amongst the fleet, there are many others who are fixing for a long fight after enduring breakdowns today. Tom Offer of the U.K. is sailing a new boat and plans to replace a vang cleat and a vang line. Another Briton, Simon Hiscocks, had to withdraw from the third race when a splice in his mainsheet came undone. “There was more load on it than I anticipated,” he said.

Australian Tom Slingsby also has a breakdown story; his main foil broke while he was leading Race 1. “It’s a long regatta,” said the ORACLE Team USA sailor.

The Amlin International Moth Regatta is sponsored by Amlin plc, a FTSE 250-listed independent global insurer and reinsurer with operations in the Lloyd’s, UK, continental European and Bermudian markets. Additional sponsors include the Bermuda Tourism Authority, EFG International, Gosling’s, the Official Rum of the Regatta, and Kaenon Polarized.

PROVISIONAL STANDINGS
1. Rob Greenhalgh (GBR) 1-4-1 – 6 points
2. Paul Goodison (Artemis Racing) 2-3-2 – 7
3. Chris Rashley (GBR) 4-2-3 – 9
4. Chris Draper (SoftBank Team Japan) – 13
5. Ben Paton (GBR) 7-7-8 – 22
6. Kyle Langford (ORACLE Team USA) 6-16-4 – 26
7. Victor Diaz de Leon (VEN) 16-6-6 – 28
8. Francesco Bruni (Artemis Racing) 9-19-9 – 37
9. Anthony Kotoun (ISV) 8-19-12 – 39
10. Tom Johnson (ORACLE Team USA) 20-12-10 – 42
(For a complete list of results, click here.)

Amlin Dash For Cash – Bermuda

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by International Moth Class Association

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh-dmMMbm5c]

The Amlin Dash For Cash series was ran today in front of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. 30 sailors got the chance to win $500 and a bottle of Gosling’s Rum. Here’s short highlights video of the action packed racing. Congratulations to Nathan Outteridge on winning the series in style.

VESTAS Sailrocket 2 Vs Hidroptere. “The magic mile” world record*

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by sailingcruisingscotlandtv.com

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZVIj5TUSKE]

Two days after finally smashing the Outright world speed sailing record, the Vestas Sailrocket 2 team decide to tackle the ‘Nautical Mile’ world record which was held by the mighty ‘Hydroptere’. It was always going to be an interesting challenge for the VSR2 team as the speed course that they sail on in Walvis Bay, Namibia is defined by a beach which is exactly 1.04 miles long. This requires them to launch the boat out in more exposed waters and try and get up to as high a speed as they dare in rough water before they hit the start of the mile. At the end of the course they also fire out into rough water and have to bring the boat to a stop. It’s hard on the boat. The beach is not straight but has a slight curve in it . The mile is measured by TRIMBLE GPS equipment in a straight line so pilot Paul Larsen needs to balance between sailing in close to the beach for the flat water… and sailing the straightest and hence shortest distance between A and B. In this run, with winds that averaged just under 25 knots, The team smashed not only the nautical mile record* by over 5 knots averaging over 55.3 knots… but also raised their own ‘Outright speed’ record* to 59.38 knots over 500 meters hitting a peak speed of 64.78 knots (74.55 mph, 120 kph). For Larsen it was the perfect payback for 10 years chasing ‘the perfect reach’. Speed sailing had paid him back in full and a dream was realised.
VSR2 performed exactly as predicted by the Sailrocket design team of Malcolm Barnsley and Chris Hornzee Jones at AEROTROPE. The spec for the boat was to be able to hit 65 knots in 26 knots of wind in order to average around 60 knots.
* All records subject to WSSRC ratification
Directed, filmed and edited by Ben Holder.

Oracle Team USA at Amlin International Moth Regatta

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by OracleRacingTeam

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unIa-deOnS8]

Several ORACLE TEAM USA sailors will take part in the International Moth regatta next week. The high-performance, one-man, foiling dinghy, gives an opportunity for all of the sailors to develop their flight skills. And next week, the competition will be many of the best Moth sailors in the world. Here’s a preview.
(Video by Javier Salinas / ORACLE TEAM USA)

Kite vs. Moth vs. Nacra F20 FCS vs. Marstrom 32

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by Waterlust

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfBumbfPpnM]

The long-awaited sequel to the ultimate sailing showdown. Watch the battle between a hydrofoil kitesurfer, Moth, Nacra F20 FCS and Marstrom 32 as they battle for short course supremacy.

Athletes:
Kite – Zack Marks
Moth – Jonny Goldsberry
Nacra – John Casey & Colin Page
M32 – Team Bronco

PIPE DREAM

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by DC Shoes

[youtube=www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDi9uFcD7XI]

DC presents Robbie “Maddo” Maddison’s “Pipe Dream,” giving the world a chance to witness history being made as Maddo rides his dirt bike on the powerful and iconic waves of Tahiti. From his helmet to motocross boots, Maddo was dressed for FMX when he took his dirt bike into the unchartered saltwater terrain of the Pacific Ocean in French Polynesia.

 

Franck Cammas recovering after accident

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by americascup.com

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Franck Cammas, the skipper of Groupama Team France, is recovering following surgery on his leg after a training accident.

Cammas was two-boat training with his team in foiling GC32 catamarans when he lost his balance and fell overboard. His leg was struck by the rudder. The speed of the boat, combined with the fine edge of the foil, resulted in a double break of the fibia-tibia in his right leg.

He was transported to shore by RIB and then to hospital by helicopter. Specialists performed surgery on Monday night and on Tuesday the news came that the surgery was a success. Franck has a long road ahead of physical rehabilitation, but he has been assured by doctors he will not lose the use of his foot.

On Tuesday morning, Cammas was already asking about his team, anxious that they should resume training. He also expressed gratitude for all of the well-wishes sent his way.

While the injury isn’t expected to significantly impact the Groupama Team France campaign for the America’s Cup, it does put an end to Franck’s bid for a spot at the 2016 Olympic Games.