Soaked in practice / America's Cup

There was great practice action on San Francisco Bay today, with Artemis Racing, Luna Rossa Challenge and ORACLE TEAM USA all on the water. ORACLE TEAM USA had its two boats out for some in-house testing, while the two challenger teams were running through drills in anticipation of next week’s semifinal round of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series.

RELATED STORY Louis Vuitton Cup Semifinals one week away

Artemis Racing and Luna Rossa were scheduled to sail tomorrow the final round robin race of the Louis Vuitton Cup, but neither team will take the start line. Previously, Artemis Racing had said it won’t be ready to compete until Aug. 6, the start of the semifinals. Today, Luna Rossa advised the race committee that it won’t be on hand either.

The winner of the semifinals advances to meet Emirates Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, beginning Aug. 17. Emirates Team New Zealand won the round robin portion of the regatta and elected to advance straight to the final in order to carry out modifications on its AC72 Aotearoa.

The next scheduled race is set for Tuesday, Aug. 6, between Artemis Racing and Luna Rossa Challenge. The start time is scheduled at 1:10 pm PT.

AC OPEN brings adrenaline-fueled excitement to America’s Cup Village at Marina Green / America’s Cup

The AC OPEN will see upwards of 16 events staged at the America’s Cup Village at Marina Green over the next six weeks, running in parallel to the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup.

Bringing together a wide range of one-design sail boats and other recreational watercraft, such as kiteboards, Access dinghies (with the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors), the 18-foot skiffs, stand-up paddleboards, and land racers, the AC OPEN is a series of events that will enhance the spectator experience at the America’s Cup Village as well as creating a link between users of San Francisco Bay and the America’s Cup.

Quantum Racing extend after Coastal Race win / 52 Super Series

Doug DeVos’ Quantum Racing team moved two more points ahead of Rán Racing at the top of the standings for the 52 SUPER SERIES regatta at the 32^nd Copa del Rey Mapfre, their reward for winning a surprisingly challenging but nevertheless interesting 29 miles coastal race out of Palma. 

In stiflingly Majorcan hot sunshine the Quantum Racing team remained cool and focused throughout, not least when the fleet compressed during a light airs zone by one of the leeward turns at Illetas. For their hard work and diligence they cashed in a bonus on the long downwind leg from Soll de Mallorca to the finish line off the entrance to the Palma harbour when the breeze moved nicely left for them and they were able to reach directly for the finish line, even popping the long awaited A3 reaching gennaker, to finish well clear of second placed Azzurra.

 

Kuzi Project Launches | SUP Magazine

Facebook Post: [Call in from Mozambique, 8:15am, 7/29]—”Awesome down winder today … traveled 4 – 5 miles and surfed beautiful swell the whole way. The entire village came out to meet us at the next island, and the chief brought us a cooked fish for lunch. Our Portuguese is getting much better. And the wind is cranking!”

Seth Warren and Kirk Hollis have officially begun the Kuzi Project, their downwind adventure on the east coast of Africa. The duo are currently off Mozambique, traveling up the Quirimba Archipelago using the southern Kuzi tradewinds to paddle their gear-laden SUPs up the coast.

For behind-the-scenes information on the project, click here.

Garrett McNamara honored by the Portuguese Navy / Surfer Today

Garrett McNamara honored by the Portuguese Navy: The Portuguese Navy was founded in the 12th century and it is the oldest continuously serving navy in the world. McNamara and the town of Nazare are connected forever.

Roaring Forties, chapter 3: With friends like these, who needsenemies? / Volvo Ocean Race

In our third 40th birthday short story, we find out how a friendly Navy salute could have ended badly for the Adventure yacht…

1973-74: Portsmouth-Cape Town-Sydney-Rio de Janeiro-Portsmouth

Chapter 3. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Imagine putting yourself through weeks of Southern Ocean torture and making it safely to Cape Horn… only to then find yourself ‘attacked’ by a British warship.

Such was the outlandish fate of Adventure, the British Navy boat, in the first race. On January 23, 1974 HMS Endurance was off Cape Horn watching the yachts round and when Adventure arrived, the decision was made to fire a salute in honour of their fellow servicemen. They were only firing blanks but wadding from one round hit the headsail on Adventure and tore a hole in it.

ISAF | World Sailing | Techno 293 Worlds and YOG Qualifier Underway

There was something for everyone on the first day of racing at the 2013 Techno 293 World Championship, the first qualification event for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, in Sopot, Poland.

 

After a thunderstorm during the night, the day dawned grey, damp and a little bit cold but by the end it turned out to be a beautiful day in Sopot.

 

Conditions started light with 6 to 8 knots but ramped up to 12-14 knots with gusts up to 20 plus knots - ideal for the heavy weather specialists but the gusts also caught many unwares leading to spectacular crashes.

 

All fleets sailed three races so everybody was happy and it was a great start to this World Championship.

 

Top Three U-15 Boys
1 Arnoux Tom (FRA) - 5.5 pts
2 Monnet Tom (FRA) - 8.0 pts
3 Goetha Amit (ISR) - 8.0 pts

 

Top Three U-15 Girls1 Spychakov Katy (ISR) - 5.0 pts
2 Rosique Olivia (FRA) - 5.0 pts
3 Speciale Giorgia (ITA) - 7.0 pts

Top Three U-17 Boys

 1 Rocco Thibaud (FRA) - 6.0 pts
2 Pouliquen Oël (FRA) - 7.0 pts
3 Elmeleh Ofek (ISR) - 9.0 pts

Top Three U-17 Girls

 1 Jariel Delphine (FRA) - 3.0 pts
2 Elfutina Stefania (RUS) - 4.0 pts
3 Ma Kwan Ching (HKG) - 4.0 pts

 

Event Website

The Coastal Race is on! | 52 Super Series

Coastal race day is a tradition for the Copa del Rey Mapfre and for the 52 SUPER SERIES at this 32^nd edition is no different. The course is only close to start time, once the race committee have appraised what the breeze is doing and how the forecast is shaping up.

So far this season there has been just the one coastal race – earlier in the month at the Royal Cup Marina Ibiza – when it was Gladiator which won.

Today there are a choice of three courses using the full width of the Bay of Palma, most using the Islote de la Sech in the west of the bay as the main turning mark. This time there should be some reaching legs which will might allow the A3 asymmetric gennakers to get an airing at last. In Ibiza it was very much an upwind-downwind course but the race team here set two or three variable marks which are announced to the teams as they approach the prior mark allowing flexibility to optimise the course length and orientation.

“The options are not known at the moment but the course distance should be around 25-30 miles. There are three options. The forecasts show only light winds, raceable, but light 7-9kts.”  Says Bruno Zirilli, navigator of Azzurra.

Quantum Racing go on the water with a lead of one point ahead of Rán Racing.

RESULTS: St. Clair River Classic Offshore Powerboat Race, St Clair, MI, July 26-28 / OPA Racing

EXTREME
1st - 5 Broadco Cat 5
2nd - 113 Miss GEICO
3rd - 388 Phoenix Parts
4th - 19 Cat Can Do/Jarvis

SUPER VEE LITE
1st - 66 Tug It
2nd - 29 Typhoon

CLASS 1
1st - 129 Cleveland Construcion
2nd - V1 Wazzup
3rd - 119 Cat Can Do (outboard)​​

CLASS 4
1st - 467 Velocity Racing
2nd - 422 Erie Monster
3rd - 469 Crocket Rockett

CLASS 5
1st - 555 Pushin Tin
2nd - 599 Dirty Sutphen
3rd - 519 PFE Racing
4th - 524 BK Motorsports

CLASS 6

1st - 601 Wazzup II
2nd - 644 Knot Guilty
3rd - 626 Maxed Out
4th - 639 Repeat Offender
5th - 623 Country Service
6th - 699 Grinch Racing
7th - 624 Miss PTM
8th - 667 Hurricane Force
9th - 615 Sale-N-Buy
10th - 607 Akula

11th - 613 Bad Newz

More info; 

OPA Racing

Louis Vuitton Cup Semifinals one week away / America’s Cup

The opening rounds of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series, draw to a close on Thursday with Luna Rossa Challenge scheduled against Artemis Racing. Luna Rossa has indicated that it will be on the start line, but it’s unlikely that Artemis Racing will show. Skipper Iain Percy said on Sunday that his team is still targeting the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semifinals on Tuesday, Aug. 6, as their first race.

The semifinal series between the Italian and Swedish teams is a best-of-seven, with the winner being the first to score 4 points. After Race 1 on Aug. 6, subsequent races follow on Aug. 7, 9 and 10. If the series extends beyond four races, additional race days are scheduled Aug. 12, 13 and 15.

All races in the semifinal match are scheduled to start at 1:15 pm PT, one hour later than the starts over the past month. Tickets for bleacher seating in the East Grandstands and The Deck at the America’s Cup Village, at Marina Green, are available for purchase. Free viewing opportunities are also available at the America’s Cup Village, America’s Cup Park, at Piers 27/29, and all along the Embarcadero.

Quantum Racing step clear despite Rán Racing run of wins | 52 Super Series

With a victory in the third and final race of the day for the 52 SUPER SERIES at the 32^nd Copa del Rey on the Bay of Palma when Rán Racing’s unbeaten sequence was halted by a sixth place, Quantum Racing seize the overall regatta lead by a single point.

Niklas Zennström’s team had already completed one very impressive recovery – getting back from an OCS at the start of the second race to win in its last 100 metres after rounding the first top mark ninth and hold on to their winning sequence. But they were unable to climb through the fleet as efficiently in the subsequent contest and so the American flagged team, which has already won overall in Barcelona and Ibiza, now top the Palma regatta leaderboard.

It was a very long, hot day on the water as the race officers brought the regatta back to schedule by setting three races to take advantage of the return to Palma’s usual sea breeze conditions.

Is he coming back? Michael Phelps vague about Olympic future

Barcelona, Spain - (AP) -- When Michael Phelps walked away from swimming after the London Olympics, he was adamant about one thing: His career was over.
Now, it sounds like he's not so sure.

Former Olympic and world swimming champion Michael Phelps of the US attends the unveiling of a mosaic installed in his honour at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 28, 2013 .

(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

While saying he's never been happier with his life -- and certainly doesn't miss the grind of what it took to become the winningest athlete in Olympic history -- Phelps left the door open to change his mind before the 2016 Rio Games.

"I don't know what's going to happen in the future," Phelps said Monday. "I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow."

In Barcelona for the world swimming championships, Phelps spoke to The Associated Press and other international media organizations in a series of one-on-one interviews set up by his sponsor, Speedo. When asked by the AP, yes or no, whether he'll compete at the next Olympics, Phelps coyly said he hasn't planned that far ahead in his life.

A relentless The Wave, Muscat wins Act 5 in Porto / Red Bull Extreme Sailing

Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing Series in Porto delivered the ultimate challenge in Stadium Racing for the eight international teams competing in this week’s races. A thrilling final day saw The Wave, Muscat claim a deserved win over Alinghi after having led the charge since race eight.

Porto (PORTUGAL) – The Extreme Sailing Series stopped off in Porto for the 2013 season’s fifth Act. The Portuguese sailing destination has earned itself a reputation as a stadium like no other with challenging sailing, cheering crowds and relentless on-water action, and had the competing teams contend with a narrow river, strong tides, big rocks and gusty winds.

After 30 races it came down to the wire between The Wave, Muscat and Alinghi with just three points separating two of the most experienced teams on the circuit. Impeccable boat handling by The Wave, Muscat’s skipper McMillan and a win in the final race – their tenth of the Act - ultimately saw the Omani flagged team sail to the top. “We managed to get a good start, managed to get our noses out and that's what it came down to in that last race,” explained an ecstatic McMillan.

2013 Hurley Pro Video Trials Voting Commences Today : ASP World Tour

COSTA MESA, California. — July 30, 2013 - Yesterday  Hurley opened the Hurley Pro Video Trials to the public, allowing fans to choose a wildcard surfer for the ASP World Tour event at Lower Trestles September 15-21, 2013.

The video contest will select the second of two wildcard competitors slotted for the event. The first wildcard was decided last week at the Hurley Pro Trials held at Trail 6 near San Onofre. In-form Australian Mitch Crews upset a stacked local crew for the coveted spot in fun, head-high surf.

The Top 16 contenders of the video trials were chosen from a pool of over 100 of America’s best surfers; from there, they were placed into man-on-man brackets by a judging panel including Pat O’Connell, Rob Machado and Bob Hurley.

Volvo Ocean Race | Roaring Forties, chapter 2: Winning like gentlemen

In the second installment our 40-part history of the Volvo Ocean Race, we discover what life was like on board the winning boat. It was hard work and even terrifying at times, but the food...        

Sayula II won the first Whitbread Round the World race in 1973-74

Barry Pickthall/PPL

 

 1973-74: Portsmouth-Cape Town-Sydney-Rio de Janeiro-Portsmouth

2. Winning like gentlemen
Ramón Carlin, a Mexican businessman who had made his fortune selling washing machines, skippered Sayula II to victory in the first race, with his multinational crew surviving a nightmare capsize along the way.

The team comprised two Britons, a Dutchman, an Australian and six Mexicans, including Carlin, his wife and one of their sons.

Brannew wins Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race - Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2013

Sydney yachtsman Chris Bran has won his first major ocean race, late this afternoon being declared the winner of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 384 nautical mile Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race shortly after 5.30pm this evening.

Brannew has been declared the overall winner of the 28th Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race

www.sailpix.com.au

Bran, from the host club in Sydney, sailed his one year-old Beneteau First 40 cruiser/racer in the more often than not fickle and variable conditions to its optimum. He finished the slow race this afternoon at 1.40.59pm, but had to wait a few hours until it became impossible for Roger Hickman’s vintage Farr 43, Wild Rose, or others, to beat him.

His two other main challengers were Phil Molony’s A40 cruiser/racer, Papillon and Andy Kearnan’s Summit 35, L‘Altra Donna, which have provisionally finished second and third overall. Wild Rose is likely to claim fourth place overall.

ISAF | World Sailing | Leaders Hold Firm At 420 Worlds With Two Races To Determine Champions

The second day of final races brought some up and down results for most of the top teams, testament to how tough racing has got in the gold fleet battle. Yesterdays races have positioned the leaderboard into some close points scenarios, with just two more races today to determine the ultimate World Champions.

Kimberly Lim and Savannah Siew (SIN) ©Jose Jordan

 

Teams had to wait a little for the wind to fill in, as it veered from southeast to east and increased in intensity throughout the day. Racing got underway in about 7-8 knots of breeze, up to 13-14 knots for the second race. More; News & Features | ISAF | World Sailing | Official Site : Leaders Hold Firm At 420 Worlds With Two Races To Determine Champions

Jay Nichols On The Long Road To Recovery | OffshoreOnly.com

The color-saturated, Photoshop-heavy work of photographer Jay Nichols isn’t for everyone. When it comes to capturing the high-performance powerboat world, Nichols’ approach to digital imagery is more Impressionist than Realist. Depending on your taste in photography, you either love or hate—there doesn’t seem to be much in between—his work. Like many of you, I fall in the first camp.

As for the guy behind the lens himself, everyone seems to love, or at least like him. And why not? Nichols is easygoing (though like all of us he can be provoked and lose patience), gracious and approachable. He has zero “big-shot photographer” attitude, and he’s often wickedly funny. More; Jay Nichols On The Long Road To Recovery | OffshoreOnly.com – Powerboating Online

H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series » Steve David Wins 2013 Columbia Cup

For Defending National Champion Steve David in the 1 Oh Boy! Oberto and defending Columbia Cup Champion Jimmy Shane in the 5 Graham Trucking, the 2013 Lamb-Weston Columbia Cup was all about the “fight for lanes” before the start.

 

Steve David (far right) hits the line in lane 1 in the 1 Oh Boy! Oberto. Photo by Craig Barney

 

Neither was able to win from lane two when the two were in the same heat and when David got the inside for the final it was enough to make the difference and return the Oberto team to the top of the Tri-Cities podium.  Shane stayed on David’s hip the entire five laps, but David built a two second lead by the end of the third lap and kept that advantage to the checkered flag.

 

One minute before the start, David was in lane three, outside Kip Brown in one in the 95 Spirit of Qatar and Shane in two.  At the start, David had moved into lane one and explained, “We put in the acceleration package and it paid off.  I was able to get the overlap on Kip and Jamie and take the lane.”  More; H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series » Steve David Wins 2013 Columbia Cup

Rán Racing at their best on Bay of Palma / 52 Super Series

The challenges came in different forms for some of the top 52’s on the first day of the 32^nd Copa del Rey MAPFRE on the Bay of Palma, Mallorca, but it was Niklas Zennström’s crew on Rán Racing which won the one and only race for the Gaastra IRC Class.

 

The unusual NE’ly wind direction had several navigators and tacticians searching their memory banks to recall the best strategy for what ultimately proved to be an excellent opening contest for Spain’s showcase annual regatta.

While Rán Racing’s tactician Adrian Stead and strategist/trimmer Andy Hemmings read it well, guiding Rán Racing to a very comfortable win, by some two and a half minutes ahead of a tightly matched group, second placed Azzurra started badly after a series of mishaps spiralled to leave them out of sorts, last off the start line.

Hawaii: Ka’iwi Channel Proves a Tough Opponent for the World’s Top Athletes at 17th Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships

Honolulu (July 28, 2013) – Paddleboarders in the 17^th annual Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O), presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager today were engaged in a game of chess with the ocean as they tried to maneuver through wind and water that seemed to constantly counter every move they made in an effort to push away from the island of Molokai to the finish line on Oahu.

Jordan Mercer digs deep toward her third consecutive Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championship.

Island of Molokai in the background.

In the men’s standup paddleboard (SUP) division, 20-year-old Kai Lenny and 18-year-old Connor Baxter, both from Maui, took a southerly line, which appeared to be the quickest route for most of the race.  While Australian Travis Grant, 30, and Scott Gamble, 37, from Oahu took a more direct approach along the Rhumb line that earned the two experienced paddlers first and second place finishes respectively. Grant completed his journey in a time of 4 hours, 50 minutes, 17 seconds and Gamble crossed the line in 5:00:53.

“This is a special place and I can say I won Molokai forever,” said Grant who thought Baxter was unbeatable. “I didn’t think I would be winning this race. I just took a straight line, conserved my energy and then they (Grant’s boat crew) told me – oh, by the way, you’re leading.”

This was Grant’s first time paddling M2O. Despite the slow conditions, his time ranks fifth in all-time prone finishes.

Volvo Ocean Race | Roaring Forties: A history of the Volvo Ocean Race in 40 brief stories

To celebrate the Volvo Ocean Race's 40th birthday this September we're running a series of short posts to re-tell our history in a new, and easily accessible way. There are plenty of traditional histories of the race out there but the great stories can sometimes get lost in the bigger narrative of winners and losers over the 12 editions and the 341,978 nautical miles officially sailed.

Bob Fisher /PPL

With that in mind, we've kept the focus on the people who actually sailed in the race – their courage, sacrifice and sheer sailing excellence – while still telling as complete a history as you can in 40 brief takes.

Emirates Team New Zealand elects to advance to Louis Vuitton Cup Final / America’s Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand today won its ninth consecutive race of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series, cementing its status as the top team in the challengers’ series.

Later in the day skipper Dean Barker announced his team would exercise its right to advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, scheduled to begin Aug. 17. Emirates Team New Zealand earned that right by winning the round robin of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

Emirates Team New Zealand will race either Artemis Racing or Luna Rossa Challenge. Those two teams will race the Louis Vuitton Cup Semifinal, scheduled Aug. 6-15.

Barker said the team considered racing the semifinals, but in the end opted to advance development program of Aotearoa, the team’s AC72.

H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series » Shane & David Win Saturday Prelims

The early rounds of racing in the Lamb-Weston Columbia Cup in the Tri-Cities went true to the racing form as favorites Jimmy Shane in the 5 Graham Trucking and Steve David in the 1 Oh Boy! Oberto won heats 1A and 1B.

Shane was not challenged for the inside lane in the first Saturday prelim and the defending Columbia Cup Champion used the short way around the course to stay ahead of Jon Zimmerman in the 9 Team RedDOT who ran second all five laps.

Mark Evans’ 57 FEDCO made a strong run in third place, staying ahead of Tom Thompson in the 11 Peters & May who ran fourth.

Shane said, “We’re back!” The fuel problems that plagued the team during qualifying appeared to be solved.

2013 Swan 45 and 60 World Champions Crowned

ClubSwan is celebrating a successful Gazprom Swan European Regatta as well as the inaugural Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship and 2013 Swan 45 World Championship.  Held simultaneously during July in Cowes, at the heart of global yachting, the three Nautor events offered both owners and crew with exemplar Swan sailing.

The mix in ClubSwan events at Cowes produced an extremely diverse 2013 Swan fleet.  Amateur crews were coupled with the elite Gazprom Swan 60 World Championship teams in pursuit of their first ever World title while the seasoned Swan 45 crews were in contention for the prestigious Swan 45 Gold Cup.

America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veterans, as well as World Champions and Olympians sprinkled their stardust on the regatta.  Top names included; Brad Butterworth, Tommaso Chieffi, Adrian Stead, Andy Beadsworth, Peter van Niekerk and Bouwe Bekking.  British Swan 36 Sheevra finishing 9th in Class C presented a different crew dynamic with owner Jonathan Wallis choosing to race with his wife and four children.  Jonathan Wallis spoke about his Swan 36, “Sheevra has given us such pleasure over the last seven years, the boat is beautiful to sail and always astonishes me with her speed in the lights airs.”

Congratulations to Aussie, Travis Grant! Winner of the 2013 Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships!

Congratulations to Aussie, Travis Grant! Winner of the 2013 Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships!  It looks like Scott Gamble a distant 2nd, Connor Baxter 3rd and Kai Lenny in 4th.

Brag Gaul wins the prone paddleboard overall!

Terrene Black has the lead in the women’s race, ahead of Andrea Moller and Jenny Kalmbach.

More results to follow.

Photo; Molokai2oahu.com

Emirates Team New Zealand by 3:20 / America’s Cup

Luna Rossa Challenge says that its boatspeed and crew work is improving, but the Italians still can’t find a way to crack Emirates Team New Zealand. The Kiwis today completed a sweep of their one-time training partners in the round robin portion of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series.

With skipper Dean Barker back on the helm after yesterday’s breather, the Kiwi team grabbed the lead on the first reach leg and never looked back. The Kiwis led by 7 seconds at the first turning mark, 35 seconds at the second turning mark and 1:35 at the third turning mark en route to a 3:20 victory.

Today’s win was the team’s ninth in nine starts, of which four were contested races. Earlier this week Emirates Team New Zealand clinched victory in the round robin, which gives the team the option of advancing to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final or choosing its opponent for the semifinal round.

The Kiwis are expected to announce their decision at a press conference scheduled for 3:30 pm PT. The conference will be streamed live globally on the America’s Cup YouTube channel.

Today’s performance data

• Course: Seven legs
• Course length: 15.27 nautical miles
• Elapsed time: ETNZ – 45:05; LR – 48:26
• Total distance sailed: ETNZ – 18.29 NM; LR – 19.75 NM
• Average speed: ETNZ – 25.21 knots (29 mph); LR – 24.5 knots (28 mph)
• Top speed: ETNZ – 42.76 knots (49 mph); LR – 39.55 knots (45 mph)
• Wind speed: average 15.3 knots; peak gust 19.6 knots

Alejo Muniz Wins ASP Prime Vans US Open of Surfing : ASP World Tour

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Sunday, July 28, 2013) - Alejo Muniz (BRA), 23, has won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Prime Vans US Open of Surfing over Kolohe Andino (USA), 19, in peaky one-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Huntington Beach Pier.

Alejo Muniz (BRA), 23, your 2013 Vans US Open of Surfing Champion

The Vans US Open of Surfing is the fourth of eight ASP Prime events on the 2013 calendar, offering crucial points towards surfers’ ASP World Ranking and a coveted US$100,000 first place prize purse.
Muniz would get the best of an opening exchange with Andino, belting a 8.43 for a series of seamless frontside turns. The Brazilian would quickly backup the ride on his backhand, scalping a 7.80 on a left breaking in to the pier to solidify the victory.

Carissa Moore Wins Vans US Open of Surfing, Takes ASP Women’s WCT Lead : ASP World Tour

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Sunday, July 28, 2013) - Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, has won the Vans US Open of Surfing over local favorite Courtney Conlogue (USA), 20, in peaky one-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Huntington Beach Pier, taking the No. 1 position on the ASP Women’s World Title Race.

Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, your Vans US Open of Surfing Champion and new ASP World No. 1.

Stop No. 6 of 8 on the 2013 ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT), the Vans US Open of Surfing plays both a crucial role in deciding the 2013 Women’s World Champion and qualification for next season’s ASP Top 17.

Moore got off to a dominant start in her final clash, earning an 8.17 and 7.83 to launch out to an early lead. The talented Hawaiian would hold on to the win despite a late-heat rampage from Conlogue, solidifying her third ASP Women’s WCT event win this year.

The 17th Annual Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard Race has Arrived | Surfline

The following information includes:
The latest and final video in this year's four-part series, which illustrates the 32-mile open ocean challenge that you will face on Sunday, July 28; a list of athletes to watch, including a link to the complete athlete story released earlier this month; and, a schedule of events.

View "Countdown to M2O 2013" on the Molokai-2-Oahu You Tube Channel:

Athletes to Watch - Celebrities and Surfing Pros, past and present, join the SUP.

Oracle Team USA Skipper and America's Cup Champion (2010) James Spithill, 33, from Australia is racing solo SUP in his first crossing of the Ka'iwi Channel. No boat, no crew - just a man and his board.

Jack McCoy enters the Surfing Walk Of Fame

Jack McCoy enters the Surfing Walk Of Fame: Jack McCoy has been filming the global surfing scene for some 35 years. Jack was privileged to meet Bud Browne, the pioneer water and underwater photographer, whose work he emulated

Coffin and Buitendag Win Vans US Open Pro Junior, Men’s and Women’s Champions Crowned Tomorrow : ASP World Tour

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Saturday, July 27, 2013) - Conner Coffin (Santa Barbara, CA), 20, and Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), 19, have won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Vans US Open of Surfing Pro Junior in peaky two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Huntington Beach Pier today.

Conner Coffin went back-to-back in Huntington Beach, winning the Vans US Open again this year!

The Vans US Open Pro Junior plays a crucial role in surfer’s qualification campaigns for the ASP World Junior Championships and has also drawn several of the globe’s top under-21 talent competing in both the men’s and women’s main events.

Conner Coffin secured back-to-back US Open victories, dominating the international field of Carlos Munoz (CRI), 20, Jake Halstead (La Jolla, CA), 19, and Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), 19, from start to finish with selective wave strategy. Coffin would ride only three waves in his heat, securing an 8.17 and 7.60 to secure the win.

Emirates Team New Zealand, guided by Aussies, notches 8th point / America’s Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand sailed unopposed today in the final race of Round 4 of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series.

A pair of Australians guided the good ship Aotearoa around the race track, as normal wing trimmer Glenn Ashby took a turn on the helm in place of skipper Dean Barker, who got a breather. Also, bowman Adam Beashel slotted into Ashby’s role trimming the wing.

“I think Dean’s safe in his role steering the boat,” laughed Ashby, 35, after the race. “But it was fantastic to have a feel for the boat and put it through the different maneuvers. I got a bit wobbly at times trying to switch out of my role as wing trimmer and into helmsman, sometimes the timing and things were out a bit.”

Bourez Tops Slater, Women’s Quarterfinalists Decided at Vans US Open of Surfing : ASP World Tour

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Friday, July 26, 2013) – The ASP Prime Vans US Open of Surfing hosted the Round of 24 in peaky two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at Huntington Beach Pier, deciding the Round of 16 compliments of some intense battles from the world’s best surfers.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 27, defeated Kelly Slater (USA), 41, securing a Quarterfinals berth at the

Vans US Open of Surfing.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 27, continued his tear at the Vans US Open of surfing, trumping 11-times ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 41, with patented power surfing and progressive above-the-lip maneuvers. Slater would put in a valiant effort in the dying seconds of the match in an attempt to surpass the Tahitian, but would fall shy of the score required, securing Bourez’s position in the Round of 16.

“I knew he was going to try to put a show on and do some big airs,” Bourez said. “I saw him trying to look for the rights and my goal was to catch a few lefts first. Then I got that right and tried that air, so that was the good one for me. I saw Kelly from behind on that last wave and he did five or six turns and the wave was really tiny. I heard the crowd cheer and thought maybe I made a mistake.”

Something Big Is Brewing... (What Is The Ultimate SUP Showdown?) | SUPracer.com

Something big is brewing in the world of Stand Up Paddling, with a new event in the early stages of development that could deliver a lot for the sport and the athletes.

The last time so many stars lined up in one event, outside of the BoP, was the one-off Waikiki Paddle Festival. Interestingly, that’s the very same location for the inaugural “Ultimate SUP Showdown”

Combining both SUP racing and SUP surfing, it’s called the “Ultimate SUP Showdown” and is set to debut at Duke’s OceanFest next month. Many of the sport’s biggest names are already backing the project, which will showcase its unique new format at Waikiki on August 20th.

While the Duke’s event will be the initial public unveiling of the Showdown, organisers are already planning a multi-stop tour for next year that may feature some of the most significant prize money the sport has ever seen. The Ultimate SUP Showdown, and the subsequent “Tour” that it will eventually form, has already received strong support, with paddlers at the inaugural event set to include:
- Dave Kalama
- Connor Baxter
- Jamie Mitchell
- Travis Grant
- Aaron Napoleon
- Chuck Patterson
- Zane Schweitzer
- Candice Appleby
- Vanina Walsh
- Justin Holland
- Kody Kerbox
- Danny Ching (to be confirmed)

Not a bad line-up. In fact this could be the single biggest collection of stars for any Stand Up Paddle event outside of the Super Bowl of SUP, with a total of 32 elite paddlers being invited to the first event (while the 2014 events will be more open, the first event next month is invite only).  More; Something Big Is Brewing... (What Is The Ultimate SUP Showdown?) | SUPracer.com

The Predictions: Molokai-2-Oahu | SUP Magazine

This Sunday, July 28^th, the best open ocean racers in the world will compete for the 2013 Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships. It is, undoubtedly, the most competitive SUP field in the race’s history. Last year we saw an epic battle across the 32-mile Ka’iwi Channel between Dave Kalama and Connor Baxter, however this year, with Danny Ching finally committing to race the channel standing and Kai Lenny entering the unlimited field, the competition is amplified. Add a healthy Travis Grant (AUS) to the mix and we’re left wondering why there isn’t a live webcast? Unfortunately, Kalama, citing a lack of training time, is sitting this year’s race out.  More; The Predictions: Molokai-2-Oahu | SUP Magazine

Photo Dana Edmunds

ISAF | World Sailing | Jose 'Gollito' Estredo And Sarah-Quita Offringa Reign Supreme In Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura once again showed why it is one of the world's most renowned locations as it produced six out of seven days of wind.

Forward loop ©Carter / pwaworldtour.com

 

 Over the duration of the week winds between 20-30 knots greeted the competitors allowing two double eliminations to be completed, as some of the most radical moves in the world were thrown left, right and centre. By the end of the PWA Fuerteventura World Cup Jose 'Gollito' Estredo (Fanatic / North) and Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) were crowned the King and Queen of Sotavento, as they finished the week unbeaten after delivering an outstanding display of sailing.

Barclay: The underdog / America’s Cup

What is it about the underdog that compels us to support them? Is it that we relate to the underdog at a personal level and so we want to see them succeed?

Many do succeed. Cassius Clay was a 7-1 underdog in 1964 when he took on Sonny Listen for the heavyweight championship of the world; Seabiscuit, the unremarkable thoroughbred that lost his first seventeen races, went on to capture the heart of America; and Susan Boyle, the unpolished 47-year-old woman performing on Britain’s Got Talent — more than 64 million people have now seen the inspiring video clip of her turning Simon Cowell’s smirk into a smile.

May 9, 2013, will forever be etched into our minds as the day we lost Andrew “Bart” Simpson. It affected all of us in some way, but nowhere near as much or as deeply as the Artemis Racing team. They were heartbroken and devastated by what happened.

No second place – The Cutting Edge / America’s Cup

In ‘The Cutting Edge’, the AC72 takes center stage as one of the heroes of the 2013 America’s Cup. As a piece of engineering, it is the most highly advanced sailboat in racing, meeting the standard now of what will be possible 15-20 years forward.

The AC72 should not be flying above the water at 50 mph, for example, but that is exactly what it is doing.

For the first time, the America’s Cup has a boat that is pushing the athletes to perform at the highest level of physical exertion and psychological pressure possible.

These carbon-fibre, titanium-strong machines are built to be as light as possible, but with the strength needed to travel at unimaginable speeds. With the size of a wing similar to that on an airplane, the boats are able to generate speed three times that of the wind.

Here we get to meet the teams that conceived and designed the most exciting boats ever sailed. And we’ll talk to the teams to find out what challenges and difficulties they’ll encounter in this high-tech world.

Luna Rossa Challenge scores fourth point / America's Cup

Italy’s Luna Rossa Challenge today scored its fourth point of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series.

 

 

Luna Rossa was scheduled to race Artemis Racing, but the Swedish team is still working up its new AC72 and not ready to race. Sailing the course unopposed, Luna Rossa invoked its right to have Artemis Racing disqualified 10 minutes after the start.
 

In its brief stint on the racecourse Luna Rossa posted a top speed of 39.84 knots (45.8 mph). The crew was “disappointed” with its previous race on Sunday against Emirates Team New Zealand, and spent more time working on its crew maneuvers after the race had been terminated.

Super Boats Headed to Indiana Coast of Lake Michigan / SBI

The Fastest and Most Powerful Offshore Race Boats Ready To Compete In Michigan City

Michigan City, IN (July 25, 2013) – The next stop for Super Boat International is the 5^thAnnual Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix on Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Indiana, August 1-4. The 2012 Grand Prix Event brought in an estimated 100,000 people and nearly 7 million dollars to the community. As reported by the NWI Times, this year should even be better, as last year’s racing action never happened due to high seas. The crowds enjoyed sunny skies and a beautiful day, however the lake had 8-10 foot waves which made it unsafe to race and unsafe for the medical rescue teams.

Super Boat teams have been racing hard all season, which started in April, and they are prepared for another exciting race in Michigan City. Along with the teams, the president of Super Boat International, John Carbonell, believes it will be a great event. “Last year was very unfortunate and something no one could have predicted. That was the first race we have had to cancel due to weather in over 500 races. The previous 3 races [4 events] have been fantastic and have been gaining momentum every year. In the event there is a threat of severe weather for Sunday, the decision will be made well in advance to run on Saturday. The LaPorte County team with Jack Arnett and Jason Miller and their entire group of volunteers make this a great event. We are proud to be the show that everyone recognizes as the area’s biggest draw and most rewarding for economic stimulus in surrounding counties.

International Standouts Post Top Scores for Round 3 of Vans US Open ofSurfing / ASP

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Thursday, July 25, 2013) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Prime Vans US Open of Surfing opened today’s action in peaky two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at South Huntington Beach Pier, completing the non-elimination Round of 24 compliments of some world-class performances from both event favorites and up-and-coming internationals.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, posted high scores for the second day in a row, belting a 9.17 and 8.20 for progressive surfing on a pierbowl rights and wedgy lefthander. Smith’s efforts would see him secure a Round of 16 berth over C.J. Hobgood (USA), 34, and Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), 19.

“I knew that heat was going to be tough,” Smith said. “Ramzi (Boukhiam) has been ripping and C.J. (Hobgood) started strong with that 8. I got that 9 and that was the turning point for me. If you get the right waves out there you’re going to get high scores. I knew it was going to be a comeback heat for me and I’m happy to get the win.”

Normal service to be resumed in Palma? 52 SUPER SERIES returns to the Copa del Rey Mapfre. | 52 Super Series

By comparison to the first ever visit of the 52 SUPER SERIES to Ibiza earlier this month, the world’s leading pure performance monohull class moves now to what many of the crews might consider the ‘reassuringly familiar’ waters off Palma, Mallorca where nine 52 teams will compete in the highly regarded 32nd Copa del Rey Mapfre regatta next week.

On the heels of the news that a promising future is being mapped out for the coming years, the fleet for Spain’s ever popular showcase regatta is the biggest yet this season.  The fleet is augmented in Palma by the Austrian 52 Aquila (ex Mutua Madrilena) which races on the series for the first time this season and brings the number of nations represented by boats to seven.

Ibiza, with its light winds, proved challenging and some teams left the island frustrated at their inability to get a real handle on the conditions there. And so the return to the regular, reliable sea breeze conditions in high summer Mallorca should restore a measure of confidence to the teams which felt they underperformed in Ibiza.

52’s look to a bright, solid 2015, and beyond….. Azzurra, QuantumRacing and Rán Racing to build for 2015.

Already with one new boat due to be built for the 2014 season, Phoenix for Brazilian owner Eduardo de Souza Ramos, at least three leading TP52 owners have signalled that they are going to build new for the 2015 season. And venues for the six event 2014 SUPER SERIES season, in both the USA and Europe, have been inked on to the calendar.

Next year, 2014, is expected to be a season of slight growth in the lead up to an updated version of the TP52 rule which is to be developed with a view to promote the building of a new series of faster, even more exciting 52’s for the 2015 season and beyond.

The three shareholding board members of the 52 SUPER SERIES have committed to build during the winter of 2014-2015 and others have already indicated they are seriously looking into joining the initiative. The trio of owners, Niklas Zennström, Doug DeVos and the Roemmers family have also guaranteed financial support for 52 SUPER SERIES for the next three seasons at least.

Windsurfing's most challenging contest chases next storm

Windsurfing's most challenging contest chases next storm: The second stage of the Red Bull Storm Chase is on standby. Six remaining courageous windsurfers will compete in two out of the six remaining destinations.

Photo Gallery: Vans U.S. Open of Surfing | GrindTV.com

The world’s best surfers are in Huntington Beach, California, right now for the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing. This annual gathering of surfing talent has been taking place (in one form or another) since the 1960s. Kelly Slater started competing in the Pro Junior division back in the late ’80s. Today, 41-year-old Slater is an 11-time world champion, in hot pursuit of number 12. In the open format, Slater will be facing kids born well after he won his first world title in 1992. Click the link for some select images from the event from photographer Michael Lallande.Photo Gallery: Vans U.S. Open of Surfing | GrindTV.com

California’s Kolohe Andino is giving and taking a few lumps out on the elite ASP World Tour.

No doubt, he’s happy to be competing close to home.

Electric Performances From World’s Best for Round 2 of Vans US Open of Surfing : ASP World Tour

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Wednesday, July 23, 2013) – The 2013 Vans US Open of Surfing returned to Huntington Beach Pier for another big day of competition, starting with some close Round 2 battles from the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) surfers in peaky two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, earned the day’s highest scores during Round 2 of the

Vans US Open of Surfing.

Tyler Wright (AUS), 19, current ASP Women’s No. 1, got off to a slow start in her clash against wildcard Leila Hurst (HAW), 19, but found two back-to-back righthanders in the final minutes of her heat, escaping a potentially dangerous Round 2 exit.

“I was nervous going in to that heat,” Wright said. “I haven’t been nervous in a heat in a long time. I had a slow start and I know going up against a wildcard, they have nothing to lose. Leila (Hurst) has been ripping and I was fortunate to find two little sneaky ones in the end.”

Talia Gangini Will Paddle to Defend M2O Title | SUP Races

OAHU, Hawaii - With Molokai 2 Oahu just 3 days away the anticipation from paddlers and observers alike is mounting.  Yesterday Supconect focused on sharing who some of the most competitive men will be this year.  Today we'll share some information about which female competitors are expected to vie for the title.  More; Talia Gangini Will Paddle to Defend M2O Title | SUP Races

Talia Gangini was the 2012 female stand up paddle winner and crushed the previous record by more than 30 minutes

Rolex Fastnet Race - a Truly International Challenge

The biggest and best offshore racing boats from around the world will be descending on the Solent for the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race, beginning from Cowes on Sunday, 11th August. At present the tally for the Royal Ocean Racing Club's flagship event, the world's largest offshore yacht race, stands at a record breaking 351. Of these 47 are in the 'non-IRC classes' including the multihulls, Class 40s and IMOCA 60s while the remaining 304 are gunning for the overall IRC prizes of the Fastnet Challenge Trophy and a Rolex chronometer.

2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Handicap Winner - Geoff Boettcher's Secret Men's Business 3.5 (AUS).

Photo: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

Impressively this year one third of the fleet, 119 boats, are from overseas.

The boat having travelled furthest is Geoff Boettcher's Secret Men's Business 3.5, from Adelaide in South Australia. The 3.5 refers to how the boat's original hull was chopped away from the deck, and somehow replaced with an upgraded design four foot longer, now up to 51ft. This dramatic modification worked, for in 2010 she won the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

ISAF | World Sailing | Epic PWA Freestyle In Fuerte

Day five of the PWA Fuerteventura World Cup saw the wind arrive from the word go, allowing both the men's and women's second single eliminations of the week to begin at 10:30.

Full stretch ©Carter / pwaworldtour.com

 

With winds between 25-30 knots the day was filled with freestyle of the highest quality of the contortionists of the windsurfing world showed exactly what they are capable of. After an intensive five hours of competition Jose 'Gollito' Estredo (Fanatic / North) and Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / Gaastra / Mystic / Chris Benz / Maui Ultra Fins) once again came out on top after another superb display of sailing.

Artemis Racing flies around the Bay on Big Blue / America’s Cup

Artemis Racing has made a spectacular debut in “Big Blue” the Swedish challenger’s second AC 72 catamaran. Sailing it for the first time on Wednesday, the team had the giant catamaran up on its foils in winds as strong as 15 knots, a tremendous accomplishment.

“Today could not have gone any better. It was a perfect day and exactly what our team needed,” said helmsman Nathan Outteridge. “We got the boat on the water and foiling and we’re happy with how it was foiling… It’s a massive tribute to all the guys who have been working so hard to get us back out there.”

While Artemis Racing had an impressive first day out, caution is the word from the team. The sailors say there is a lot to learn and test before the team is ready to join Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand on the racecourse.

The Swedish team has marked the first day of the Louis Vuitton Cup semi finals, August 6, as its target date for racing. It says any participation in one of the final Round Robin races would be an unexpected bonus.

“We’d like to hope August 6 is achievable,” Outteridge explained. “But we know how much work is ahead of us now and we don’t have a lot of time. This was day one for us while the other teams are on day 70 or 80, so we know we’re a long way behind, but today was a big day in terms of catching up. Each step will evolve and we’ll try to keep moving as fast as we can.”

Thursday, Artemis Racing is scheduled to race against Luna Rossa, with the Italian team expected to sail the race unopposed. Artemis Racing will inspect its boat overnight and make adjustments before deciding whether it resumes sailing tomorrow.

The schedule ahead (all starts scheduled for 12:15 pm PT)
• Thursday, July 25, Artemis Racing vs. Luna Rossa Challenge
• Saturday, July 27, Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Artemis Racing
• Sunday, July 28, Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Luna Rossa Challenge
• Tuesday, July 30, Artemis Racing vs. Emirates Team New Zealand

Men’s and Women’s Round 2 Action ON at Vans US Open of Surfing : ASP World Tour

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Wednesday, July 24, 2013) - The 2013 Vans US Open of Surfing is back ON this morning in two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at Huntington Beach Pier and today’s action is scheduled to see the completion of both Women’s ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) and Men’s Prime Round 2 competition.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 25, will take on Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 30, in Heat 4 Round 2 of

Vans US Open.

Stop No. 6 of 8 on the ASP Women’s WCT, the Vans US Open of Surfing plays a vital role in the 2013 ASP World Title while Men’s ASP Prime competition offers up crucial points towards surfers ASP World Ranking.

“We’ll start today off with Round 2 of Women’s competition,” Brian Robbins, ASP North America Tour Manager said. “We’ll follow with the completion of Men’s Round 2 and finish the day off with the Juniors.”