ISAF | World Sailing | Robertson Sets Up Canfield Congressional Cup Reunion

Phil Robertson remembers the last time he competed in the Congressional Cup.

"Three years ago," the New Zealander said Tuesday after winning Stage One of the 50th event with nine wins and one loss. "I tied for ninth with Taylor Canfield, but I had him on tiebreakers and kept him in last place. He won the book."

"The book" is "Race Your Boat Right," by the late racing legend Arthur Knapp Jr. traditional awarded to the last-place finisher.

ISAF | World Sailing | Medals Decided On Final Day Of ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca

Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) celebrate their hard work

©Martinez Studio

The medals across ten Olympic events were decided on the final day of racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca - Trofeo Princesa Sofia.

A light morning northerly breeze picked up as the day went on ensuring a full complement of Medal Races across the ten Olympic events were completed.

Men's 470

The Men's 470 lead went to and fro all week but Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO) held their nerve to add a gold medal to their two silvers from the 2013-2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup series.

Fantela and Marenic played second fiddle to Lucas Calabrese and Juan de la Fuente (ARG) at ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao and to Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. A disappointing fourth at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami followed before they took their first gold of the series in Mallorca.

Holding a seven point lead going into the Medal Race the Croatians had breathing space as a sixth place sealed the deal. On their victory Fantela said, "In two words, really happy. We worked quite hard this winter, we've been to all of the World Cups and we really like that we won. For us this is the hardest race since we started and winning this means a lot to us."

Fantela added, "Winning here is really special. All week we sailed really good and to end the regatta with such an interesting Medal Race was really fun and we are really happy with our performance."

An OCS for Lucas Calabrese and Juan de la Fuente saw the Argentineans drop out of the top three. Sweden's Anton Dahlberg and Fredrik Bergstrom were the benefactors of the Argentineans demise and having won the Medal Race they slipped into second.

ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Mat Belcher and Will Ryan (AUS) finished fifth in the Medal Race and whilst they end tied on 72 points with the Swedes they take bronze by nature of count back.

World Sailing | Riding The Rodeo Bull At ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca

 

French Nacra 17 World Champion Billy Besson described racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca - Trofeo Princesa Sofia like riding a rodeo bull as 20-25 knots meant the limits of sailors' were tested.

 

Southerly breeze whipping up wild winds and five metre swells pushed the nine fleets that got out racing to the max.

Fleets in the 2.4mR, 49er, 49erFX, Finn, Laser, Laser Radial, Nacra 17 and Men's and Women's RS:X got out racing with only the 470 fleets unable to hit the race course.

Familiar Faces To Resume Sailing World Cup Battles In Mallorca / ISAF / World Sailing

Davidovich fighs hard at Sailing World Cup Qingdao ©ISAF

Over 850 sailors will be ready to fight hard for 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca honours when racing commences on 31 March through to 5 April.

Fifty nations will be represented across one Paralympic and ten Olympic events at the fourth of five World Cup Regattas of the 2013-2014 series.

Numerous medallists and competitors will resume the battles that started at Qingdao, China in October 2013 progressed through to Melbourne, Australia in December 2013 and heated up in the Miami, USA just weeks ago.

As preparations for the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships step up, sailors will be using Mallorca and the final regatta of the World Cup series in Hyeres, France to hone in on their fitness and skills.

Aarhus 2018: The city for sailors / ISAF Sailing World Championship

Denmark presented its bid for the 2018 ISAF Sailing World Championships at the ISAF headquarters in Southampton, England, today, with a vision to expand the sport’s horizons and let the stars of sailing shine.

One of four bidding for the Championships, Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city, outlined a bid that promises to take sailing to the people.

“An ISAF Sailing World Championship is about the sailors,” Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark, said. “We see these great Championships as the perfect opportunity for sailing to grow beyond its boundaries and make our sailing stars household names. ISAF shares that vision with us and I think they appreciated our presentation.

“We’ll create a big bang for sailors, our vision for 2018 is to showcase the world’s star sailors, we’ll let them and the sport shine. Aarhus is ready for it – it’s the right place at the right time.”

The stunning new Aarhus International Sailing Centre, to be completed by mid-2016 as part of a huge harbour development, will add the most modern sailing facilities in the world and ensure the sailors have a home worthy of their talents. With the theatre-style racing in the Bay and its technological expertise Aarhus can deliver the most spectator-friendly World Championships ever.

Sailors Shut Out as Wind Fails to Cooperate - The Victors Collect the Spoils at the 2014 BACARDI Miami Sailing Week

MIAMI, FLA. (March 8, 2014) – The mantra “a bad day on the water is better than a good day at the office” will resonate with many of the sailors who have been racing at the fifth BACARDI® Miami Sailing Week Presented by EFG.  While yesterday the breeze was higher than allowed for competition by some class rules, for today’s finale there was so little wind it appeared as though a raft-up was taking place on Biscayne Bay instead of a regatta.  Wrapping up a six-day schedule today, the 180 teams racing in six one-design classes – Audi Melges 20, J/70, Melges 24, Star, Viper 640 and VX One – completed enough races for the victors to collect the spoils, and, with the mid-day cancellation of additional races the sailors had ample time to enjoy the legendary hospitality of Bacardi. 

87th BACARDI Cup winner Lars Grael and Serge Pulfer of Brazil (Photo Credit BMSW/Cory Silken)

Since 2000, there has been a jinx for the day one winning Star team as none in that position has gone on to claim the prized BACARDI Cup.  That was the case again this year for Mark Reynolds (San Diego, Calif.) and Miami sailor Magnus Liljedahl, who won the first race of the series to jump to the top of the 55-boat Star fleet.  The duo, who shared both Olympic Gold and a Star World Championship win in 2000, had not sailed together for 10 years. 

ISAF | World Sailing: Rio 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition Qualification System Released

The Qualification System for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition has been released.

The first Qualification Regatta, the 2014 High Liner IFDS World Championships, takes place from 16-24 August 2014 at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, Halifax, Canada.

Ireland played host to 2013 IFDS Worlds

The Squadron will welcome 150 world class disabled athletes across three Paralympic events as they aim to qualify their nation for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition

Grael and Gonzalves Take Lead of 87th BACARDI Cup

MIAMI, FLA. (March 4, 2014) – Setting the race course just off Matheson Hammock Park for day two of the 87th BACARDI Cup, the Race Committee’s search for breeze paid off as the second race of the series got underway in six knots from the east.   With abundant sunshine and temperatures in the low 80s, the 55 teams put the first-day jitters behind them and got down to business.

Today’s winners – skipper Jack Jennings and crew Brian Sharp (Photo Credit BMSW/Cory Silken)

First around the weather mark was San Diego’s Mark Reynolds and Miami’s Magnus Liljedahl, who had won the opening race of the series.  They were followed closely by Jack Jennings and Brian Sharp, who took the lead at the leeward mark and held it to win the race by 44 seconds ahead of Lars Grael and Samuel Gonzalves from Brazil. “It was a pretty close first part of the race,” said Jennings who hails from Niles, Illinois.  “I believe we had a bit of advantage at the start, made a good shift and tacked shortly after. We then worked the boat and managed the competition until the end. It was a tactical race today, but we brought it home.”

News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : RealstoneThrow Down The Gaunlet

The much-anticipated opening Act of the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series began on Thursday 20 February in Singapore under the gaze of the cities soaring skyscrapers, where eight races produced six different winners.  

The Swiss flagged Realtstone were the form team, executing a consistent strategy in the trying conditions, to finish the opening day of the global tour top of the leaderboard - their best result since joining the circuit last year. Some of the newer teams struggled to get to grips with the stadium racecourse, posting a mixed bag of results and a crash between defending champions The Wave, Muscat and GAC Pindar will leave the Aussies with a night of repairs ahead.  More: News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Realstone Throw Down The Gaunlet

Fleet lined up in Singapore ©Lloyd Images

Australians Crowned Hobie 16 World Champions / ISAF/ World Sailing

Australia's Gavin Colby and Josie Mark have been crowned 2014 Hobie 16 World Champions at Jervis Bay, Australia after a challenging week of racing.

Race 11

In what was a somewhat challenging day of stops and starts the winds picked up and the boats went out on schedule for the first race of the day. The 12 knot northerly dropped off toward the end of the race but not before Cam Owen and Suzzi Ghent picked up a strong opening result.

The West Australians gave it everything they had and lead wire to wire taking victory followed by Jason Hess and Irene Abascal from Guatemala in second and fellow Aussies Stephen Watt and Arbi Watt from New South Wales picking up third.

The drop in wind put a hold on racing but the sailors' enthusiasm was not left wanting and they were back on the water at 14:00 for the second race of the day.

Race 12

That enthusiasm was evident as Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin from New South Wales, Australia threw themselves at the line taking the lead and holding it all the way to the finish. The pair narrowly beat Jason's parents Rod and Kerry Waterhouse also from New South Wales. Coming in third were Koreans Byeongki Park and Haekwang Youn.

The real shake up of race 12 though was current Hobie World Champion Jerome Le Gal's Black Flag Disqualification (BFD) placing him 57th for the race and ultimately costing him the title and changing the game for the other competitors in the field.

Race 13

Waterhouse and Darmanin again took the top spot in what was a fantastic days racing for the pair as winds freshened and the boats got to stretch their legs giving the sailors some pressure for the last race of the day. Second and third were picked up by Tim Shuwalow and Nina Curtis from Sweden and Daniel Bjornholt-Christensen and Lachlan White respectively.

Gavin Colby and Josie Mark gave it their all and placed fourth. Unaware of Jerome Le Gal's BFD the pair unknowingly sealed up the event to ultimately be crowned Hobie 16 World Champions.

Rio 2016 Olympic Test Event Notice Of Race Published / ISAF | World Sailing

The Notice of Race for the Aquece Rio - International Sailing Regatta 2014 has been published.

Aquece Rio is the first of two 'Test Events' for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition and will welcome sailors across the ten Olympic sailing events from 2 to 9 August 2014. The regatta venue is the Marina da Glória with racing taking place inside and outside the Guanabara Bay.

Each ISAF Member National Authority (MNA) is entitled to enter two boats in each event and must register with Rio 2016 not later than 1 May 2014.

Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition
The Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition will take place at the Marina da Glória, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and will feature 380 athletes competing across ten events.

Racing is scheduled to take place from 8-18 August 2016 and the competition format for all events is fleet racing.

Regatta Information

Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition Qualification System / ISAF / World Sailing

The qualification system for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Qualification has been published.  Click here to download the Qualification System.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition regatta venue is the Marina da Glória with racing taking place inside and outside the Guanabara Bay and will feature 380 athletes competing across the following 10 events:

Men's Windsurfer - RS: X
Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser
Men's One Person Dinghy (Heavyweight) - Finn
Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Men's Skiff - 49er

Women's Windsurfer - RS: X
Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Women's Skiff - 49er FX

Mixed Multihull - Nacra 17

Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) may enter a maximum of one boat per event, a total of 15 athletes (eight men and seven women).

Bouvet and Mion End Belcher Win Streak | MOCR

MIAMI, Fla. (February 1, 2014) – The Miami weather saved the best for last on a special Medal Race Saturday edition of the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami. Medals were decided in 10 Olympic events on Biscayne Bay under sunny skies and enough wind for good racing. This year’s regatta offered a little bit of everything, including success from former champions, major upsets, and a glimpse into the future of Olympic level one-design sailing.

Uncooperative wind this week limited the number of series races for most of the events. This created even more significance for the medal round race(s), as many sailors and their crews were in contention Saturday. The Medal Race series included the top ten ranked sailors in each fleet competing in one race with double points applied. The 49er and 49erFX conduct a series of three short races worth single points each.  Read More; Bouvet and Mion End Belcher Win Streak | MOCR

Tight Tactical Racing The Name Of The Game In Miami | MOCR

Tight tactical racing was the name of the game on the second day of ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami as light breeze tested the patience and nerves of the 580 sailors from 50 nations.

Sailors and their coaches made the most of morning down time for the second consecutive day, as the breeze refused to cooperate early on Biscayne Bay.

The AP flags began to drop around the five sailing venues in Miami between 14:00 and 15:00 local time. Race Committees prepared to fit in one race each during the afternoon session. The local breeze on the bay hit 4 knots by late afternoon, giving the committee hope that racing was possible.

Whilst the sun was out, the breeze came in slowly allowing one race per fleet apart from the RS:X and Nacra 17 fleets that managed to squeeze in two.

Pressure Builds Ahead Of ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami | MOCR

Australia’s Mat Belcher and Will Ryan will look to extend their unbeaten streak in the Men’s 470 when racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami commences on Monday, January 27, 2014. Running through to February 1 over 550 sailors from 50 nations will race at the third of five 2013-2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida.

Belcher, the 2013 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, made it 18 consecutive wins in a row when he took gold at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne and it was his tenth in a row with Ryan.

Belcher’s run stems from November 2011 and as the victories have continued to flow the Australian has coped well with the weight of expectation, “The pressure has been difficult at times with it accumulating over the years,” said Belcher. “But we are in the business of sport. Our job is to perform under pressure. It is something you just have to manage.”

The pressure will be back on Belcher and Ryan in Miami with a highly competitive and experienced 31-boat fleet.

MOCR | ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami – Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, 2014

We are just over a week away from the start of US Sailing’s premier racing event. Racing at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami will take place on January 27 through February 1 on Biscayne Bay. This world class regatta is the only North American regatta to be included in the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) 2013-14 Sailing World Cup series.

ISAF | World Sailing | Allansson, Belcher And Ryan Light Up Melbourne

ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year and London Olympic Champion Mat Belcher and crew Will Ryan re-wrote sailing history by securing another regatta win in the 470 class, the 18th in a row for Belcher.  News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Allansson, Belcher And Ryan Light Up Melbourne

ISAF | World Sailing | Rodion Luka Stamps Authority At Audi SB20 World Championships

Ninety, SB20's took to the race course this morning to compete in the sixth edition of the SB20 World Championships, sponsored in 2013 by Audi.

Busy at the mark ©Katie Jackson

 

 The event is organised by COYCH in Hyères, France. With winds building to over 30 knots, just one of the three scheduled races was completed before the fleet returned ashore.

The race committee recalled the class twice before getting the first race underway in winds of approximately 22 knots. As the fleet headed to the windward mark for the first time, the wind pressure increased to 27 knots. More; ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Rodion Luka Stamps Authority At Audi SB20 World Championships

ISAF | World Sailing | Healy Takes Title At BMW J24 Worlds

In a tense and closely fought final day, Tim Healy and his crew from Newport, Rhode Island, on board 'Helly Hansen' were impressive winners of the BMW J24 World Championship at Howth Yacht Club (near Dublin, Ireland), with eight top-five results (including three race wins) in the 10-race series.

Celebrations ©David Branigan | Oceansport

 

 Healy, who previously won the title in 2010, was pushed all the way by the defending champion Mauricio Santa Cruz from Brazil on 'Bruschetta', who also demonstrated remarkable consistency, but who had to be content with the runner-up spot, four points adrift of his rival.

Third place overall went to another American crew led by Travis Odenbach from Rochester on 'Honey Badger' who had been the series leader overnight but who did not enjoy the final day. A 20th and an 8th effectively knocked his chances, although he was only two points off Santa Cruz in the end.

Big Breeze, Big Action - 2013 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship

The action on Rhode Island Sound was fast and furious on the penultimate day of the 2013 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship in Newport, R.I., as the 15 teams contesting the 16th edition of this championship were challenged by three races sailed under a low cloud ceiling.

ENFANT TERRIBLE (ITA) starting the manoeuvre for rounding the top mark

© Rolex / Daniel Forster

 

The first race started in 12 knots of steady breeze from the north-northeast, which increased over the three races to 17 knots.