All Girls Sailing Voyage on Legendary ‘Maiden’

Courtney Koos is a sailor and a former student of Bowdoin College. She is currently sailing the 58-foot renowned yacht, Maiden. It is the same vessel which was by a legendary sailor from Britain, Tracy Edwards in the year 1989 when she was the skipper of the very first all-female crew in the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. Maiden has been newly restored after thirty years. It is on a voyage that will go on for almost two and a half years covering 32 destinations across 17 nations. This time it is also an all-female crew from hailing from different countries.

The project of this voyage is named The Maiden Factor. It was started by Edwards for raising funds for charities to support girls’ education globally. Koos is one of the permanent crew along with three others. She is a major in government and economics from Bowdoin. She will also take on board as a guest crew at each leg of the voyage. Currently, they are at a position which is 360nm from the Panama Canal on the side of the western entrance.

Continue reading “All Girls Sailing Voyage on Legendary ‘Maiden’”

US SER List Revised

Revised list of safety equipment has been released by US Sailing for sailboats in the monohull category. The safety equipment requirements list has been revised and SERs for multihulls have been approved as well. These revised guidelines will become applicable this year.

SERs describe the kind of gear to be used on these boats whether they race near shore or offshore in the US. The information needs to be referred to by boat inspectors, race, and owners. Racers that happen offshore as well as in the coastal regions would need to refer to these lists that would help them know boat particulars and equipment requirements.
Continue reading “US SER List Revised”

Sailor And Entrepreneur Tony Bullimore Dies At 79

The global star of 1997 who earned fame after his dramatic rescue during the Vendee Globe died aged 79 on the 31st of July, 2018. He was given another name in ‘British Bulldog’ and the man had survived for around four days below the hull of his boat that had capsized during the race. He was diagnosed with an exceptional form of cancer. Known for his determination to get things done, Bullimore is described as a character full of life and crazy. Over the years, he has won numerous trophies and races, but his nephew Stephen Mulvaney explains how Bullimore felt sad for being known for the rescue, rather than the races he won. He was dreaded to have drowned after his Exide Challenger capsized in the Southern Ocean in 1997.

Fortunately, he was spotted and rescued after four days by an Australian navy ship. He was later introduced to the Queen who praised Bullimore’s extraordinary feat of survival. The sailor had sat under the hull of his yacht that had been upturned, surviving on chocolate and water. Bullimore was more than a sailor; he was a celebrated philanthropist as well. He was also a part of the documentary released by the BBC in which he had crossed the Atlantic Ocean. In yet another documentary prepared by BBC Radio Bristol in 2016, he was described by one of his friends as a generous and humble man who helped thousands of black people.
Continue reading “Sailor And Entrepreneur Tony Bullimore Dies At 79”

Young Sailors Welcomed By Optimist National Championships

Hal Smith, the Pensacola Yacht Club Fleet Captain talks on what makes the Pensacola Bay and the PYC unique as far as the Junior Olympic Festival is concerned. Around 300 young sailors from all around the world added thrill to the historic grounds of the PYC this week as all teams were preparing for the international sailing race. Pensacola is hosting the USODOA Optimist Nationals, Optimist Team Race National Championship and the Girls Optimist National Championship. Racing has already begun and the check-ins and measurements took place on Friday and Saturday.

It is quite exciting to see sailors as they make their journey from Denmark, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and the United Arab Emirates to achieve the title in the Gulf area of Mexico. The grand opening ceremony was made for the National Championship at Saenger Theater at Pensacola on Saturday. American Magic from Americas Cup was also featured in the event. The mayor of Pensacola Ashton Hayward and the commodore of Pensacola Yacht Club Jim Reeves did honor the guests and the sailors thoroughly enjoyed the opening event. They had to represent their countries with the help of flags in addition to other tokens. As the Optimist Championship is scheduled to be contested from 15th July, it will be concluded in 18th July. The Optimist Girls National Championship will be contested in 19th July. Similarly, the Optimist Team Race National Championship would take place from 20th July.
Continue reading “Young Sailors Welcomed By Optimist National Championships”

BEIJAFLORE TO CLOSE TO WINNING EFG SAILING ARABIA

French sailing team Bejaflore are a stage away from winning the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour trophy. Team Beijaflore is a venue and two scoring points away from becoming the new champs of EFG Sailing Arabia. They are the clear favourites to usurp EFG Bank Monaco as Tour champs with their ten point lead.

 

There are one coastal raid and stadium race day events to claim the crown. Podium finishes aside coastal raids win in Salalah, stadium racing victory in Duqm and Sur coastal raids ensured Beijaflore are the side to beat. For EFG to retain their title they would need to emerge winners in both races while Beijaflore finish last – a thing that is very unlikely.

“Despite our lead we aren’t thinking about the overall result. We will just treat the last part of the regatta like we have treated all the others. Our goal is always to sail fast and to beat the other teams. The rest will come,”Beijaflorecaptain ValentinBellet said.

EFG Bank Monaco have better chances fighting off the competition from Steve Morrison-led Averda. The two time Olympian won in the Sur stadium racing series and had other good results to go two points of EFG Bank Monaco.

LorinaGolfe du Morbihanare fourth in the standings and nine points behind Averda. Vivacar.fr comes next before ChemineesPoujoulat in sixth, two points off LorinaGolfe du Morbihan. Renaissance and DB Schenker make up the top eight on the log so far on 2018 EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour.

The Tour finale will begin with a coastal raid from Bandar Al Rowdha to an old town Muttrah in Muscat on the 16th before a closing day stadium race on February 17. There would be a prize giving ceremony on the evening of the 17th at the Muscat’s National Museum of Oman.

Record numbers in Rolex Middle Sea Race

A record breaking hundred and twenty three yachts from over twenty countries would cross the start line of Rolex Middle Sea Race on October 18, showcasing international stature of this well known offshore race arranged by Royal Malta Yacht Club.

The unexampled number of participants – a twenty four percent increase over 99 yachts taking part in the year 2013 – includes vessels from as far away as Australia and the United States with 13 yachts from Malta. Over fifteen boats would compete for the very first time. Continue reading “Record numbers in Rolex Middle Sea Race”