Andrew Parkinson, editor in chief of our sister brand Cruising World, recently stopped by the Fort Lauderdale West Marine store to chat with Zach Grover, Category Manager for Sailboat Hardware, Anchored Docking and Deck Hardware, about how the marine retail supplier is keeping sailors equipped with the latest gear they need in a constantly evolving sailing world. Visit www.westmarine.com or your local West Marine retail store to stock up your gear bag.

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In this edition of Sailing World Roundtable, Sailing World sat down with Whittier Trust to discuss questions to ask and key points to keep in mind when considering purchasing a sailboat.

About Whittier Trust

“Whittier Trust’s mission is to build and sustain an accomplished, successful, and talented organization that is expert in guiding families through multiple generations–protecting and enriching a family’s legacy through diligence and integrity while educating the family’s future generations about their stewardship and the opportunities it encompasses.” To learn more about Whittier Trust and see the services they offer, visit Private Wealth Management | Whittier Trust.

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Sailing World editor, Dave Reed, Zooms-in with professional sailor Andrew Campbell to discuss wing foiling, United States SailGP’s Foiling First Chicago initiative, and takes a deep dive into SailGP starting tactics.

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However you like to hit the water, West Marine has you covered. With over 230 stores and the widest selection of marine products, West Marine has what you need to make the most of your time on your boat. Start loading up your shopping list – visit https://www.westmarine.com/ and get out there!

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Sailing World’s Roundtable series brings you behind the scenes with your favorite sailing products, sailboat manufacturers, and more. Join the editors of Sailing World as they invite special guests for rousing discussions about topics important to sailors. Subscribe to never miss an episode!

In this installment of Sailing World Roundtable, we sat down with the folks at Storm Trysail Club (and a few other friendly faces) to discuss Block Island Race Week, scheduled for June 21 – 25, 2021.

Learn more at https://stormtrysail.org/.

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After eight extraordinary days at sea less than three nautical miles split leg leaders Dongfeng from arch-rivals MAPFRE in the runner-up spot, with both crews within 2,700 miles of the finish line in Melbourne, Australia.

The action at the front has been so tight that earlier today MAPFRE had to ease their sails in order to avoid a collision with leaders Dongfeng on one of many close crosses over the past 12 hours.

It is an incredible occurrence given their position thousands of miles from anywhere. In fact, in the past 24 hours the fleet has sailed a few hundred miles north of the Kerguelen island chain, one of the most isolated places on the planet.

Overnight MAPFRE slipped to almost 20 miles adrift of Dongfeng, but when the sun came up again Xabi Fernandez’s Spanish crew were back on the coat tails of Charles Caudrelier’s Franco-Chinese outfit.

“Not too long ago we had a port-starboard situation with MAPFRE, and that’s an amazing thing to have happen,” Dongfeng’s Carolijn Brouwer reported. “The guys on MAPFRE had to ease their masthead sail and arc up to avoid hitting us. We’ve been battling it out, gybing the whole night through, with probably an hour max on each gybe. It’s been pretty tiring.

“For us it’s a bit frustrating that they’re so close, because we had a lead on them but they sailed a bit better and caught up. That said, it’s amazing to be out here in the middle of nowhere with your opposition right next to you. It’s a bit surreal but it makes us push the boats harder.

MAPFRE’s sailors meanwhile have been buoyed by their ability to bounce back and reel in Dongfeng. Navigator Juan Vila revealed that, for now, they are happy to stay in touch and wait for the opportune moment to strike.

“I have Dongfeng on the AIS every now and then,” Vila said. “We gain on them sometimes but it’s back and forth. There are plenty of opportunities left to do something different. Hopefully we will find our lane and it will work out for us.”

Leg 3, Cape Town to Melbourne, day 09, on board MAPFRE. Photo by Jen Edney/Volvo Ocean Race. 18 December, 2017.

Fourth-placed Team Brunel were dealt a cruel blow with key crewmember Annie Lush suffering an injury to her back.

Lush and teammate Peter Burling were grinding on the aft pedestal as Team Brunel prepared to gybe close to the Antarctic Ice Exclusion Zone when a huge wave swept them into the guard rail at the back of the boat.

Burling was unhurt but Lush was left with pain down her right side and struggling to move her right leg.

The crew responded immediately, carrying her down below and into her bunk where she has remained since.

The British sailor, 37, has been prescribed painkillers and plenty of rest by on-call race doctor Spike Briggs. While she recovers, the rest of the crew must push on shorthanded, making their task ahead even more challenging.

“Even though the ice gate was coming up it didn’t matter – we would have got a penalty but safety comes first,” Bekking said. “Annie will be confined to her bunk another 24 hours and hopefully she’ll be ok. She’s a tough cookie.”

Just over 220 miles behind the leaders, team Akzonobel were working hard to get back into the game after a broken mast track last week relegated them to the back of the pack.

Now back up to full speed, navigator Jules Salter was today spending his 49th birthday poring over long range weather forecasts as the crew rides a front east.

“What we get now from this system we may pay for later,” he said. “With still such a long distance to run to Melbourne and the fact looking at the models for just a week ahead is more like crystal ball gazing we have to hope that something will change.”

Leg 3 – Position Report – Monday 18 December (Day 9) – 13:00 UTC

1. Donfeng Race Team — distance to finish – 2,683.3 nautical miles
2. MAPFRE +2.7 nautical miles
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing +55.8
4. Team Brunel +65.4
5. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag +85.0
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic +144.3
7. team AkzoNobel +280.7

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Charles Caudrelier’s Dongfeng Race Team and the Spanish MAPFRE squad were neck and neck leading the Volvo Ocean Race fleet out of Cape Town and towards the southernmost point of the African continent on Sunday.

It was the eleventh time in the history of the event that the fleet had raced out of Cape Town, this time on a 6,500 nautical mile leg to Melbourne, Australia. The ETA is currently between the 24th and 26th of December.

Conditions were ideal, with the famed Cape Doctor wind blowing at 20-25 knots. The fleet raced around a short triangle course in front of the city, before being freed to sprint off towards Australia.

There was some drama for the Dongfeng team who had to make a late crew change just before leaving the dock. Daryl Wislang suffered a back strain this morning and the team decided not to risk having it flare up more while at sea. He stepped off the boat to be replaced by Fabien Delahaye.

The forecast is now eased for a brief respite, before strengthening again as the first of the Southern Ocean weather systems that will pick them up and carry them to Melbourne comes calling.

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Live stream day 3 of the Extreme Sailing Series starting at 2pm PST (5pm EST).

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In front of the Royal Yacht Squadron’s magnificent clubhouse in Cowes, a record-breaking fleet of 368 yachts embarked on the 47th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race on Sunday 6 August. Lying ahead is the famous 605-nm race to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock on the southern tip of Ireland.

The 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race fleet is truly diverse; a quality clearly evident to all of those watching on the shore in Cowes or the thousands following the live start of the race on the internet. The first of seven start sequences was reserved for the fastest multihulls, the final saw the leading monohulls comprising the contrasting designs of Nikata, CQS and Rambler begin their quest for line honours.

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Carrying the momentum of their regatta win in Sardinia to Mallorca and to the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, Niklas Zennström and the crew of Rán Racing top the leaderboard after only one race was completed on the first day of competition.

Patience was required. The early postponement while the breeze filled and settled was not too much of a chore for the nine crews as the onshore facilities at Puerto Portals Marina includes a shady sailors lounge a few metres from the line up of TP52s. But the first attempt at Race 1 had to be abandoned when the NW’ly breeze was turned over by some opposing, thermal sea breezing pushing in.

But after a further delay, the gradient breeze rolled back down off the island hills, building rapidly to give a start in 12-14kts of NW’ly and there was a little more wind to come.

Although Zennström nailed the pin end of the start line, coming away with pace to ease away from Platoon, Azzurra and Quantum Racing, it was the right, inshore side of the upwind that paid with a progressive right shift.

Andy Soriano’s Alegre, with Andy Horton calling tactics, did not get the start they wanted and were one of the first onto port. Pressing well to the right, they were rewarded with a small lead at the top, windward turn, just ahead of Rán Racing.

ut at the offset mark, Alegre ran slightly wide on the gybe and let Rán Racing inside them. The black-hulled Vrolijk design was quickly accelerating to their sweet spot: downwind conditions, building a decent margin on the chasing pack.

On the second beat, Alegre closed slightly, but Rán Racing’s Ado Stead and Adam Beashel defended down the run to keep their win safe. Soriano’s team finished second with 2015 Puerto Portals winners Azzurra starting their regatta with a third.

Adam Beashel, Rán Racing’s strategist explained:

“We liked the breeze on the left because it just seemed to be coming through the valley on that side of the racetrack better than on the right. Luckily for us it all played out as we hoped.”

The crew come to Mallorca buoyed by their victory in the fourth 52 SUPER SERIES regatta of the season.

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