Photos Carlo Borlenghi.
Reuters Story .

1:51 p.m. CDT, July 28, 2012

By Alexander Smith

WEYMOUTH, England, July 28 (Reuters) -

British Olympic Finn

Champion Ben Ainslie showed his competitive edge even in
practice on Saturday, getting out in front of the rest of the
fleet ahead of the real thing on Sunday.

Racing on the "Nothe" course, which is nearest to shore,
competitors in the single-handed Finn class engaged in the
sailing equivalent of shadow boxing, testing the conditions,
their equipment, their tactics and their bodies in the most
physically demanding of the dinghies competing in 2012.

"It was good to get out there. There were fantastic

conditions and it was on the medal race course and also the one
we start on tomorrow. It's pretty tricky. It will be a tricky
race tomorrow," Ainslie said once back on dry land.

Ainslie, 35, is looking to win a record-breaking fourth
consecutive gold medal at Weymouth, after winning the
heavyweight men's Finn class in Beijing and Athens. The Briton
also won the Laser class in Sydney after a silver in Atlanta.

The medal course was selected because it brings the racing
close to the spectators who have bought tickets to watch the
sailing events at Weymouth, on the south coast of England.

But the choice has been controversial, with local residents
upset that they were forced to have to pay to watch from what is
normally a public space and the sailors concerned that the
proximity to the Nothe peninsula will result in flukey winds.

With a brisk, cool wind blowing from the west during the
practice race, the Finn sailors jockeyed for position during the
upwind leg immediately after the start, with Ainslie emerging
near the front when the boats turned and sped downwind,
"pumping" their sails to achieve the best possible boat speed.

He had established a small lead after the second round,
crossing the finish line first. The smaller course meant that
racing was tight, although some of the sailors peeled away
before completing it all. There is a superstition among some
sailors about finishing a practice race.

Zach Railey, the silver medallist in the Finn class in
Beijing, said beating Ainslie would be tough but possible.

"It's going to take me sailing extremely well. But I'm
confident in my abilities," the American said.

The "shifty" Nothe course was the most difficult of the five
areas the Olympic sailing will be raced on, Railey added.

The Olympic sailing begins in earnest with the first Finn
race in a series of 10 starting at 1100 GMT on Sunday. The
two-man Star class and the three-woman Elliott classes will also
begin their racing after completing similar practice races.

(Editing by John Eric @iSailmedia.com)

2012 SAP 5O5 World Championship - Final Day Highlights

Alex Thomson TRANSATLANTIC WORLD RECORD

Olympic legends @52SuperSeries

60 seconds with Groupe Edmond de Rothshcild skipper Pierre Pennec

http://extremesailingseries.com In the third episode of our '60 seconds with' series, we meet Pierre Pennec, skipper of the highly competitive French team Groupe Edmond de Rothschild

Pennec, who has Olympic pedigree having represented his country at the Sydney Olympics, talks about his teams race winning qualities, his greatest sailing achievements and the teams ambitions to be on the top of the 2012 Series podium

Two wheels to Two hulls

The BOSS is Back Alex Shatters SOLO Atlantic Crossing

@http://sealaunay.com/

British solo sailor, Alex Thomson has smashed the single-handed monohull transatlantic record, by more than 24 hours, crossing the finish line at Lizard Point, off Falmouth in Cornwall, in time to get back for the London Olympic Opening ceremony.

@ http://sealaunay.com/

The 38 year old sailor crossed the line at 17:17GMT (18:17 BST) setting the new time at 8 days 22 hours 8 minutes, beating the previous record, subject to ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council, which had been held for 10 years.

@ http://sealaunay.com/

“It has been a long few days,” said Alex. “The first half from New York was great with weather conditions in our favour, but things started to slow down the closer I got. But the wind has held out this morning and it’s so fantastic to have broken this record.”

@ http://sealaunay.com/

Alex set sail from New York on July 17th at 19.09GMT to cover 2800 nautical miles in a quest to break the record for what is officially known as the ‘West to East Ambrose Lighthouse to Lizard Point Under 60ft Single-Handed Monohull Record, Male’, which sat at 10 days, 55 minutes and 19 seconds, and was set by Swiss sailor Bernhard Stamm 10 years ago.

http://sealaunay.com/

His secondary aim was to get home in time for the 2012 London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in order to support Chairman and good friend, Sir Keith Mills.

“When I set off I had no idea if I was going to be able to do it. And it has been hard. Lack of sleep, broken instruments on the boat and constant exposure to the elements has really taken it out of me. But it’s such a good feeling to have beaten it by such a great margin,” said Alex.

http://sealaunay.com/

But the record breaking achievement is only half of the story. Alex is in fact lining up to attempt to be the first Brit ever to win the gruelling single-handed round-the-world race, the Vendee Globe, leaving from France in November on board his 60ft monohull, HUGO BOSS. And this record breaking achievement puts him in good stead.

“This record attempt was also a training exercise for the Vendee Globe,” said Alex. “We felt this record attempt would put me under real pressure and stimulate race conditions and I have felt a real value in it.”

He is one of three British competitors who will take part in the non-stop, solo, unassisted round-the-world yacht race starting in Les Sables d’Olonne in France, on November 10th. Currently only 50% of attempts to complete the race have been successful in the race known as the ‘Everest of sailing’.

Lara Ellsworth-Jones, PR Manager, Alex Thomson Racing

SAN FRANCISCO BAY BECOMES THE WORLD'S BATTLEGROUND

2012 SAP 5O5 World Championship - Highlights, Day 4

Team Sanya Race Highlights - Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12

48. Loïck Peyron - AC Discovered

Day 2 fleet racing - RC44 Sweden Cup 2012

SAP 505 LIVE feed Race one Live

@SAP505

Watch live streaming video from sap505 at livestream.com

Live streaming of the race coverage will start from Wednesday 25th July

We will be providing an enhanced multi-camera video stream feed produced by Sunset+Vine|APP including graphics and commentary in English by Marcus Hutchinson.

SAP 505 Pre Regatta USA very strong

Two races took place today under ideal sailing conditions; sunshine, an average wind speed of 12 knots, and rough sea. The day finishing as planned with the fantastic flotilla in the Vieux Port of La Rochelle.

The 120 strong fleet, led by the FRA 321, an original 5O5 dinghy built in 1956, sailed a course around a buoy at the end of the port, in front of a sizeable crowd. The flag of the 5O5 Class flying proudly from the top of the Chaine tower. This evening was equally marked by the opening to the “History of the 505″ exhibition, in the gardens of the Maison du Vieux Port, where several of the oldest 5O5 boats will be on show until the end of the SAP 5O5 World Championship on the 27th July.

The day finished with a double prize giving: that of the French International Cup awarded to the highest ranked french team, and the Pre-World prize giving.

Race 5 Results Jan SAUGMANN / Martin GORGE – DEN 8964 Mike HOLT / Rob WOELFEL – USA 9002 Stefan BOHM / Gérald ROOS – GER 9035 Race 6 Results Mike HOLT / Rob WOELFEL – USA 9002 Howard HAMLIN / Andy ZINN – USA 9080 Ian PINNELL / Ian MITCHELL – GBR 9094 Overall Pre-World Results Howard HAMLIN / Andy ZINN – USA 9080 Jens FINDEL / Johannes TELLEN – GER 8875 Jan SAUGMANN / Martin GORGE – DEN 8964 … 7. Philippe BOITE / Pierre-Jean GALLO – FRA 9075 … 14. Bertrand LOYAL / Clément PEQUIN – FRA 9067 French International Cup Results Philippe BOITE / Pierre-Jean GALLO – FRA 9075 Bertrand LOYAL / Clément PEQUIN – FRA 9067 Hervé DE KERGARIOU / Basile GERON – FRA 9050 Watch the races live: Follow all the action live from the SAP 5O5 World Championship visit the SAP Live Centre.

Americas Cup News . A Countrys Team ETNZ

All photos provided by @Chris Cameron

Emirates Team New Zealand’s America’s Cup AC72 catamaran made its debut to the New Zealand public on Saturday evening. On a cool winter’s evening at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, an audience of more than 6000 watched skipper Dean Barker’s wife Mandy splash the yacht with champagne.

@wdouglass

Simultaneously, flames gas lines around the yacht and fireworks lit the sky as 18 months of work by the design and build teams were revealed for all to see. Mandy Barker named the cat “New Zealand” - team member’s acknowledgment of their gratitude for the country’s support through the difficult times since Valencia in 2007. Team managing director Grant Dalton said the night could not have happened with the support of the Government and sponsors who backed the team with such enthusiasm. “New Zealanders should be proud that their team attracts the support of these major international companies,” Dalton said. “The same can be said for the international designers, engineers and analysts who augmented our design team. “We are proud of what we have achieved so far, working in a tin shed in Auckland. “We carry the New Zealand flag sponsors’ brands proudly and pledge that the mission of every member of this team is to bring the America’s Cup back to New Zealand.” As the countdown to the big moment got underway Prime Minster John Key, Auckland Mayor Len Brown and sponsor representatives were led to the yacht by a Maori warrior. With the yacht in the background, 1000 people pulled on a hemp rope to “load” the catapult which smashed the champagne bottle and sprayed the boat. It was a proud moment for the team and signalled the beginning of the next stage of preparations for the 2013 America’s Cup. Pictures below of the whole night first set from Chris Cameron Team Photographer .

Thousand helped pull the trachee to help Mandy Barker release and christens Hull One AC72 named fittingly New Zealand

The Traditional Malory Blessing of New Zealand

Prime minister of New Zealand Address there thanks and wished team well . He belives in New Zealand Might and attributes the team for the country's goodwill ambassadors for technology and there boating 'industry . Money well invested he believes .

Fire on Water she sure looks hot

J Class Yachts Velsheda and Ranger

Americas Cup News . Full AC72 class rule Complete

Open publication - Free publishing - More ac72

RC44 Update ; Artemis Win Legends Trophy

Artemis Racing receive Legend’s trophy

20th July, Marstrand: In a day that was dedicated to a legend at the RC44 Sweden Cup, it was Artemis Racing who stamped their authority on the event with another consistent performance and an emphatic victory in front of their home crowd in the final race of the day.

Pelle Petterson is a legendary figure in Sweden, he has two Olympic medals, skippered two Swedish America’s Cup challenges, is a designer of the Maxi series of boats, some of the most popular in Sweden and in celebration of his 80th year, the RC44 fleet raced for the ‘Tribute to a Legend’ trophy in his honour today.

After three races sailed it was Sweden’s Artemis Racing, the team with the lowest score from the day, who aptly won the trophy. Owner Torbjorn Tornqvist was honoured to receive the trophy, a miniature replica of the Pelle Petterson designed Volvo P1800 sports car, from the man himself. “It was a fantastic day and a great result for us. I was thinking about winning the Pelle Petterson (Tribute to a Legend) trophy when I was sailing today, what a fantastic thing to win. He is such an icon in Swedish sailing, both onshore and offshore, he’s a great man so to be able to honour him and to be able to win the trophy, it is an even greater honour for me.”

With the weather changing daily in Marstrand, the skies were blue and breeze in the south west blowing around 11 knots for the majority of the day. As the racing got underway it was Russia’s Katusha who were quick out of the blocks. They rounded the first windward mark ahead of Team Aqua and Aleph and from there on the top three positions didn’t change for the entire race.

Race two belonged to the French Aleph Sailing Team, they too led from start to finish, but behind them places changed constantly. On the second leg Aqua followed Aleph round the left hand leeward gate, but was quick to tack off to the right. Aleph carried on hard left and by the top mark was clear ahead of the fleet. As Aqua dropped from second to fourth, Artemis was making another great recovery, pulling themselves up through the one-design fleet from eighth to third. RUS 7 were having another good day finishing second to follow their fourth in the day’s opener.

The final race of the day was planned to be a spectacle for the visitors to Marstrand Island, finishing with a course in and out of Marstrand’s busy Harbour, and it couldn’t have worked out better as Race Officer Peter ‘Luigi’ Reggio explained. “Sending everyone in to the race arena was really cool, believe it or not they came in on starboard gybe and then the second time they came into the finish line they were all on port as the wind had shifted 50 degrees, so we got the wonderful beat and great tousle for positions.”

There was one boat not tousling for positions in the final race and that was Artemis Racing. They started at the pin end of the line next to No Way Back. Pieter Heerema’s Dutch team stayed left and came steaming into the windward mark on port. Artemis played a safer game; they rounded second but proceeded to sail around No Way Back down the first run. From then on the Swedish team seemed eager to get home, pulling out a 400m lead on the following fleet.

The ‘Race Arena’ as it is known in Marstrand is where the famous match racing takes part, Artemis may have been safely ahead, but it was a game of snakes and ladders behind as Cameron Appleton, tactician on Team Aqua described. “We got to sail into the harbour and I think it was a real spectacle for anyone on the shore and for all of us on the water. It was impressive as other than Artemis, the ten boats were really compact and we had a beat with a bunch of tacks, ducking under each other and calling for water, it was full action!”

The home team sit on top of the leaderboard, 10-points ahead of their main rival for the Championship, Team Aqua (GBR), who are just one-point ahead of Katusha (RUS) in third. With every race counting and no discards coming into play at the RC44 events, everything could change over the next two days of racing. Team Aqua is renowned for steadily moving up the leaderboard. “It’s early in the regatta so we’re just trying to sail our own race, there were a few more opportunities than there might have seemed today, we had some really good opportunities that we didn’t quite make the most of. In the last race Artemis got a bit of control over us forcing us in to manoeuvres we didn’t want to do which meant we got stuck in the pack, so they had a great day and were just happy to still be in the same place as we were yesterday with five or six races to go.” Cameron Appleton (NZL), Team Aqua.

The final word of the day has to go the legend himself, Pelle Petterson. “People call me a legend but I would say I’m a bit old nowadays. I wish I was forty odd years younger so I could be with a gang, but nowadays I know the names, I follow the racing, but just a few of them I have raced against once.” When asked his option on the RC44 class, Petterson was impressed. “It’s an exciting class, a really good racing boat, especially good in the conditions we had today. I like the monohull racing, you could say I’m conservative, I like the old style, not too much of these acrobatic things, catamarans, things like that!”

Racing at the RC44 Sweden Cup continues until Sunday 22nd July. Sweden is the penultimate event in the 2012 RC44 Championship Tour, follow the final days racing live via the tracking and live blog on www.rc44.com.

52 Super Series - Back to roots

52 Super Series : Its Cutting Like A knife In Palma

Palma, 20 July 2012

Azzurra hold knife edge lead with one day to go

Audi Azzurra Sailing Team scored back-to-back wins on Friday to reclaim the overall lead on count-back and leave the Copa del Rey IRC 1 trophy resting on a knife edge with just one day’s racing remaining.

The three-times Copa del Rey winning team are now tied at the top of the leaderboard on 18 points with Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One. Azzurra gain the lead on count back, having won four races to All4One’s three.

It was a triumphant return to winning form for the Italian/Argentinean team, who just yesterday posted their worst results of the regatta, fifth and sixth, to fall to a three point deficit in second place behind All4One.

But with good starts and slick crew work under the watchful eyes of skipper Guillermo Parada and his right-hand-man tactician Vasco Vascotto, the Azzurra team paved their way back to the top.

“We wanted to gain as many points as possible on All4One, they did a good job to come back especially in the second race, but we held them off,’’ Vascotto said.

“We are happy today, but we are unhappy that we’re not doing our best sailing. We’ve had our ups and downs. Tomorrow we need to have good starts again and play our game. We feel we have more than one chance to win this.

“Going into the last day on equal points is not a bad thing, it gets the adrenaline going.”

All4One fought hard to protect their lead, finishing second across the line in both races. But it was a nail-biting finish in the second race, when they finished just one second ahead of Provezza, that proved fateful.

The team fought back from fifth place to finish second, but on corrected time they placed third, a position that ultimately sealed their fate in second place overall.

“We fought back, it could have been worse today,’’ tactician Jordi Calafat said. “Tomorrow, we have to race better. In the races when we have beaten Azzurra we have had strong starts and we’ve managed to get ahead at the first cross, that first cross is crucial.

“It’s not about being aggressive tomorrow. We like to sail loose, but because they know they need to cover us and they are faster than us it will be difficult. But, we are more than happy to be where we are today, and we have a good chance tomorrow.”

The 52s have continued to prove dominate in the IRC 1 division, holding the top six places, with Gladiator rounding out the podium places on 27 points, followed by PowerPlay, 29.5, Paprec Recyclage, 33 and Provezza 7, 39. Thirteen teams are competing in the IRC, for full results go to the Copa del Rey website.

More than 1,100 sailors are competing on board about 119 yachts, across seven divisions in the 31^st Copa del Rey. A maximum of 12 races will be contested across the six-day regatta that concludes on Saturday July 21. Copa del Rey does not count towards the overall 52 Super Series.

The final day’s racing starts at 1300 local, 1100 UTC. Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe will compete in the Copa del Rey IRC 1 tomorrow, on board 52 Aifos.

Super Sunday Match Race Start - ACWSNewport

News Day 4 - ACWS Newport

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52SuperSeries - RoyalCup - Race 7

52 Super Series News, Rán Runs with the Cup

Rán Racing claim Royal Cup
”.Rán Racing claimed the Royal Cup and their first overall victory in the inaugural 52 Super Series in a testing day’s racing at Palma, Mallorca on Saturday that victorious skipper Niklas Zennström described as being “as good as it gets

Zennstroms’s team surged to victory in a 30-plus northeaster at speeds in excess of 24 knots, finishing second across the line in the final race of the day to clinch the overall win.

World champions Quantum Racing finished second in the cup after they were forced to retire from the first of two races on Saturday, when they broke their headstay ram, headfoil and jib in the near gale force conditions.

The team’s shore crew sent an urgent dispatch of supplies to effect on water repairs between the two races. The crew successfully raced the clock and returned Quantum to the second race, but it just wasn’t their day.

Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One rounded out the Royal Cup’s podium, a result that pleased four-time Olympic medallist and twice America’s Cup winner skipper Jochen Schümann despite having entered the final race with a one-point lead.

Having won the first race today, All4One entered the final race at the top of the leaderboard with a total of 20 points, while both Quantum and Rán were just one point behind on 21.

Each team had crunched the numbers and knew exactly where they needed to place to clinch the coveted Royal Cup Challenge Trophy, but only Rán were able to execute their plan with success.

Zennström said the conditions in Palma Bay were challenging but very rewarding.

“These conditions are fantastic, you’re going downwind doing 24 knots, you’re doing nine knots upwind and still you’re doing boat on boat racing,” he said.

“Crossing the finish line and seeing Quantum ahead of All4One was just awesome, it’s as good as it gets. Quantum are really the class act, beating them today was really, really awesome. They’re hard to beat and that makes winning even sweeter.”

It was more a bittersweet day for Quantum’s crew, having entered the final day’s racing with a six point buffer and a lead they had held since the four day regatta started on Wednesday.

Tactician Andy Horton said the crew knew that their chances of clinging to their lead was compromised the minute they heard a massive “bang” when their headstay ram broke and they saw their jib tear in the opening nine minutes of the day’s first race.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,’’ Horton said. “But this is a great group of guys, there wasn’t anything said, it was just a freak accident. This is tight racing. You have to be good enough to win despite something like this happening.”

There was a surprise of a different kind for the crew on board Audi All4One, who exceeded even their own expectations to score third in the Royal Cup.

Schümann said being the “underdogs” helped his crew race under the radar, uninfluenced by the other teams’ intentions.

“We’re quite happy, finishing third is more than we expected coming here, but that’s what we dreamed of,’’ he said. “This is our first regatta together as a team. We really enjoy racing together and I think when you see the results getting better and better that reflects it.”

Audi Azzurra Sailing Team finished fourth in the Royal Cup, followed by PowerPlay, Gladiator, Provezza and Aquila.

In the overall 52 Super Series Quantum Racing leads with 53.5 points, followed by Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, 59.5, Rán Racing, 69.5, Gladiator, 93, Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One, 111.5, PowerPlay, 121.2, Provezza, 131.5, Aquila, 140.5 and Paprec, 150.5.

The teams are now turning their sights on 31^st Copa del Rey where eight 52 teams will have a chance to race their grand prix yachts in a highly competitive event that won’t count towards the 52 Super Series points.

The next 52 Super Series point scoring event is the Valencia Cup, from September 19-22.

Ranking

Rán Racing 23pts
Quantum Racing 24pts
Audi All4One 24pts
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team 27pts
PowerPlay 41.4pts
Gladiator 44pts
Provezza 47pts
Aquila 56pts

All photos provided by 52 Super series . all right are reserved

Chicago Match Cup - Highlights from the Qualifiers

Race Village - Royal Cup

52 Super Series News:leaders get company today

Gladiator and Audi All4One upset the leaders

Gladiator pulled off a major comeback to win their first race at the Royal Cup on Friday less than 24-hours after a collision forced their retirement, while world champions Quantum Racing are primed for the final day’s racing on Saturday with a six point lead.

Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One posted the best results of the day, finishing second in race one and claiming their first victory in race two to edge into third place overall.

Despite Quantum finishing third in both races they remain leaders in the Royal Cup on 12 points, followed by Rán Racing on 18, All4One, 19, Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, 24, Gladiator, 30, PowerPlay 31.4, Provezza, 35 and Aquila, 40.

Gladiator’s crew were hopeful that the worst of their luck was behind them as they hit the water to race on the superstitious Friday the 13^th, having been forced to retire from racing on Thursday after a damaging collision and suffering a costly spinnaker fumble on the first day of racing on Wednesday.

The team proved that that the third time can be a charm when they crossed the finish of race one in first place, 18 seconds ahead of All4One followed by Quantum Racing, Rán Racing, Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, PowerPlay, Provezza and Aquila.

Owner/skipper Tony Langley said scoring the win was a testament to his shore crew’s repair effort and his sailing team’s skills.

But the British businessman said there was still work to do.

“It’s always nice to get a bullet, but to be happy with the results we’ve got to be consistently in the top half of the fleet, we’re not there yet,’’ he said.

The sea breeze in Palma Bay was proving challenging as it swung 30 degrees, making conditions difficult for even the sharpest of tacticians in the second and final race of the day.

Local Palma sailor and Olympic gold medallist Jordi Calafat rose to the challenge, chartering a victorious path for his All4One crew to claim their first win at the Royal Cup.

PowerPlay posted their best result of the regatta to finish second, Quantum Racing finished third, followed by Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, Rán Racing, Provezza, Gladiator and Aquila.

Calafat played down having any assistance from a home-ground advantage. It was more a case of patience and improved teamwork, he said.

“I’ve sailed with (skipper) Jochen Schuemann a lot, and now we’re just starting to get our communication back, it’s improving day by day,’’ Calafat said.

The win bumped All4One to third place overall in the Royal Cup, pushing Audi Azzurra to fourth position.

Looking ahead to the final day’s racing, Quantum navigator Andy Horton said his team would approach it like any other; conservatively.

“Consistency is always the goal, we’re pretty conservative as a group,’’ he said.

“On a day like today it’s really difficult to do, it’s shifty and puffy so a lot of times you’ll find us playing the standard average, unless something is really obvious, and we’ll continue to do that.”

Horton commended substitute crewman Australian Chris Hosking, who stepped in last minute to replace trimmer Brett Jones after he injured his hand during a maneuver yesterday and was transferred mid-race to hospital.

The final day’s racing of the Royal Cup at Palma, Mallorca will start at 1100 local, 0900 UTC. The Royal Cup is the third of four regattas that make up the inaugural 52 Super Series.

Quantum lead the 52 Super Series, followed by Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, Rán Racing and Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One. Gladiator, PowerPlay, Provezza and Aquila are also competing, but their points are yet to be confirmed.

Ranking

Quantum Racing 12pts
Rán Racing 18pts
Audi All4One 19pts
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team 24pts
Gladiator 30pts
PowerPlay 31.4pts
Provezza 35pts
Aquila 40pts

All photos provided By 52 super series all rights are reserved any use should include the Photographers name a long side .

Watch live tomorrow @http://www.52superseries.com/home/live-race/
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Artemis Racing receive Legend’s trophy

Azzurra hold knife edge lead with one day to go

Gladiator and Audi All4One upset the leaders

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