The Independent - Sailing RSS Feed

No soft centre to British racing's new golden girl

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:01 GMT

The new golden girl of British and European ocean racing abandons her partner and her cats and leaves her adopted French shores with another Frenchman today. With the departure of Dame Ellen MacArthur from the scene which catapulted her to fame, Sam Davies seems set to inherit the mantle of international fame. She is the complete package: bright, attractive, articulate and friendly. And she can sail.

Sailors predict flat out race to Costa Rica in the Transat Jacques Vabre

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:43:39 GMT

The wind whipping up the Channel and into the harbour of Le Havre today served notice to the 20 yachts in the Bassin Paul Vatine that, come Sunday when they set off on the 5,000-mile Transat Jacques Vabre to Costa Rica, that the price of a sunny South American finish will be an opening autumnal slap in the face.

America's Cup could be held in Queensland

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:59:29 GMT

America's Cup holder Alinghi is offering to race rival BMW Oracle Racing off Australia next February.

Alinghi offer new America's Cup venue

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:16:29 GMT

In a move designed to both break the deadlock over where to stage the next America's Cup and, co-incidentally, lob a grenade into the negotiating position of the Californian challenger BMW Oracle, the Swiss defender Alinghi today offered to abandon plans to stage the regatta in the Middle East and, instead, move it to the eastern seaboard of Australia.

Alinghi want America's Cup venue reinstated

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:41:26 GMT

A fast track appeal to reverse the veto of Ras al Khaimah as the venue for the next America's Cup has been lodged by the Swiss holder of what is supposed to be one of sailing's pinnacle prizes.

Legal decision brings America’s Cup feud closer to resolution

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:38:41 GMT

A multi-million dollar sports feud that has been bitterly fought for the past two years between rival billionaires may be settled in the full glare of internet television on Wednesday. The legal bills paid by both sides are thought to add up to at least $50m so far.

Alinghi team heads for UAE

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:01 GMT

America's Cup holder Ernesto Bertarelli was reported yesterday to be making arrangements to strike camp in the United Arab Emirate of Ras al Khaimah and ship his Alinghi team and his radical Alinghi catamaran, out to what has yet to be declared the new venue for the head-to-head clash with his American challenger Larry Ellison.

New York judge vetoes Middle East venue for America’s Cup

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:06:13 GMT

The choice of the Middle East emirate of Ras al Khaimah for the next America’s Cup has been vetoed in the latest in a barrage of law suits lodged by the challenger BMW Oracle in the New York Supreme Court.

BMW Oracle wants Swiss disqualified as America’s Cup trustee

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:06:13 GMT

Oman Red seals iShares Cup victory

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:29:32 GMT

Oman Red, skippered by Pete Cummings with Olympic bronze medallist Chris Draper at the helm, wrapped up the 2009 iShares Cup, but it came down to the last leg of the last race on the last day of the last regatta in Almeria, Spain. Just one point after six regattas pipped a Yann Guichard Gitana pushing Oman to the last minute with a spirited final attack.

Matador pips Quantum on final day in Palma

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:58:17 GMT

By a few seconds here and a boat length there the defending TP52 world champions Terry Hutchinson and the Quantum crew were beaten on countback on the final day in Palma to see the Albert Roemmers’ Argentinian boat Matador make up for what, at times, has been a frustrating season and take the title.

Cost cutting measures announced for Volvo race

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:29:05 GMT

Fast boats, less gear, sometimes less people, and less opportunity to buy success was the recipe for the world’s best round the world racers today as a raft of measures to cut costs, but no overall budget cap, was announced by Volvo Ocean Race chief executive Knut Frostad.

Hutchinson fighting hard in Mallorca

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:24:25 GMT

Defending champion Terry Hutchinson was again being made to work hard in the TP52 class on the second day of its world championship regatta in Mallorca today. In the absence of an Emirates Team New Zealand, which took the Audi MedCup crown away from him this year, the American from Annapolis added a third place and a sixth in Quantum to a first and fifth on the opening day.

Cristabella wins in the TP52 world championship

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:11:05 GMT

A surprise win, fashioned out of the most unpromising of light conditions, was notched up by one of the two British boats in the TP52 world championship when the opening race was staged off Palma today.

BMW Oracle contest America's Cup venue

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:00:01 GMT

The America's cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing will ask a New York court to reject Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates as the venue for the 33rd renewal of the cup and replace it with Valencia, Spain. They will cite "grave safety concerns" for their US-based crew because of the proximity to Iran.

Butterworth makes America's Cup assurances

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:58:03 GMT

America's Cup skipper Brad Butterworth today dismissed fears expressed by his opposite number, and old friend, Russell Coutts and said that there would be nothing untoward in the rules for the event next February nor would there be any attempt to find a way of disqualifying the BMW Oracle trimaran from racing against the Alinghi catamaran.

Contenders issue America's Cup warning

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:58:34 GMT

A warning that the America's Cup could be headed for years in the wilderness has been made by two of the top contenders in an event that can trace its history to Britain in 1851.

Cayard takes win in Sarasin Trophy

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:48:00 GMT

In commanding form of old, the American Paul Cayard jumped ship and wore the Russian colours of Katusha to win the match race section of the RC44 Sarasin Trophy today.

Britain's America's Cup challenge team step up involvement

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:52:10 GMT

The pace is quickening at Britain's America's Cup challenge team with an announcement expected tomorrow that not only has its entry as a preferential shareholder in the Louis Vuitton World Series been confirmed but that Team Origin's America's Cup class yacht, GBR75, will be one of four boats to be used at the inaugural regatta in Nice in November.

Blown away: stunning new sailing images

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:44:03 GMT

Critically acclaimed photographer Robert Wilson has produced a stunning set of images showcase the world's most successful national sailing team at work. For five days Wilson and Art Director Greg Horton immersed themselves in a Skandia Team GBR training camp at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, giving them "behind-the-scenes" access to 14 of Britain’s top sailors as they embarked on the path to gold medal glory.

Sailing: Fiat chief backs Volvo entry

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:57:24 GMT

Fiat ceo John Elkann Agnelli announces tomorrow support for an entry into the next Volvo round the world race, due to start from Alicante in late 2011. A team to be skippered by solo ace Giovanni Soldini has already bought Ericsson 3, one of the two boats in the winning team in 2008-09 race, and will initially be based in Genoa.

Britain's sailors take seven medals

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:09:26 GMT

Britain’s Olympic sailors gave notice of continuing success in the build-up to 2012, taking seven medals in the finals of the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth today.

Britain to contest every class in Skandia regatta

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:32:29 GMT

Britain will contest every class in the medal showdown tomorrow of the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth, the only country to be represented in all 10 Olympic sailing disciplines.

Iain Percy & Andrew Simpson: 'We can't rely on razzmatazz to wow the crowds at 2012'

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:01 GMT

A choppy day in Portsmouth Harbour, and an eventful day too. Overhead, the Red Arrows carve their spectacular, multicoloured path through the sky, in celebration of HMS Ark Royal's imminent return, following a £12m refit, as flagship of the fleet. On the deck of the great warship, the Royal Marines band plays to the families of the crew. And, just beyond, rise the proud masts of an even more celebrated flagship, HMS Victory. It is small wonder that hardly anyone has eyes for a small Star boat tacking into a 13-knot wind, its two-man crew dealing as expertly with the conditions as you would expect of a pair of Olympic champions, the modern incarnation, if you like, of Britain's glorious seafaring tradition.

Olympic gold medallists keep rivals at bay in Weymouth

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:03:33 GMT

A warning that fortress Weymouth will not easily be breached by any Olympic rivals in 2012 was being sounded today at the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta with 2008 gold medallists Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson leading the way.