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Statue of Liberty Marathon Sailing Race expecting record turn-out, about 100 Boats Expected to Race from the Sandy Hook Bay to New York Harbor… and back
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, N.J. - June 24, 2006 - For skippers and crew of catamaran sailing boats, the most exciting event of the year is approaching quickly. On July 2, the Sandy Hook Bay Catamaran Club, located in Atlantic Highlands (NJ), will be hosting its famous annual event, known among sailors as the "Statue of Liberty Marathon Sailing Race”. With just days to go till Independence Day weekend, an increasing number of teams are signing up to participate in what is probably the largest sailing event in New York harbor this summer.
“We are proud to host one of the largest annual sailing events in New York Harbor, and definitely the one with the most boats,” said Jacques Pierret, the club’s race director. “With more than 75 boats pre-registered, the race is well on its way toward a record attendance this year, and we are getting close to our goal of seeing a 100 boats that the starting line. Our race is the living proof that sailing off the New York & New Jersey coast is easily accessible and affordable to all.”
ST. THOMAS, USVI -The 34th International Rolex Regatta, hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club, has been scheduled for Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25, 2007. An annual favorite on the Caribbean racing calendar, the three-day event features handicap and one-design racing benefiting from professional race management, dependable trade winds and a varied and challenging schedule of races -- including both windward-leeward and distance courses -- on the sapphire-blue waters surrounding the archipelago of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Beachside social activities blend St. Thomas Yacht Club's island-style hospitality with the outstanding camaraderie and competition that hundreds of participants have come to expect each year.
Yachts racing under the CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association Rating Rule, www.caribbean-sailing.com) will include Multihulls, CSA and One-Design classes of at least 24 feet as well as Beach Cats. Continuing over three decades of tradition, winners of qualifying classes will be awarded trophies for first through third places, and the winner of each class will take home a Rolex timepiece.
“It was absolutely an exciting battle”, said Remco Kenbeek, who won the 29th Zwitserleven Round Texel Race on handicap. And not only for the overall victory, but also for the line honours. The surf and waves were calm this year, but the conditions were tricky with a variabale wind. It was a matter of patience, endurance, concentration, tactics and luck. Favourite crews forfeited their chances and others became unexpected heroes. Meanwhile, the crowd onshore enjoyed the sun and the competition, which was broadcasted live on a television screen on the Texel beach at Paal 17. They witnessed a close fought finish of Göran Marström and Thomas Persson (SWE).
On June 17th 2006 at noon, 436 catamarans lined up for the 29th edition of the Zwitserleven Round Texel Race. Nothing could go wrong with a light westerly breeze and a pretty flat North Sea. Thanks to title sponsor Zwitserleven the beach was fitted with easy red beach chairs, so people onshore were ready for the race as well. Most of the top teams chose the favoured beach side of the starting line or a little bit above it. As the helicopter spit the smoke over the fleet, the competitors were off towards the light house. The high tech carbon boats in front, followed by a number of top Formula 18-teams and at a distance the rest of the participants.
June 17, 2006 New Zealand skipper and America's Cup legend Russell Coutts crossed the finish line of the 68th Geneva Bol d'Or Rolex shortly before 2100 to take line honours. After some extraordinary close contact racing, keeping his crew of amateur doctors on their toes right until the last breath of wind, Coutts narrowly beat Philippe Cardis (Julius Baer), Loïck Peyron (Okalys) and Alain Gautier (Foncia.ch). At the entrance to the 'petit lac', just 5 miles from the finish, there were still four Decision 35 catamarans in the running for victory. From La Baule on France's Atlantic coast, Loïck Peyron was the first to come within sight of the line, driving hard down the French side of the lake under gennaker. At that point, Russell Coutts and Philippe Cardis were on the other side of the lake. Gybe after gybe, from wind pockets to wind holes, a different set of cards was dealt over and over again, the advantage changing ever few yards. Rooted to the helm, Coutts remained concentrated to the finish to ake victory on the last gybe.
Team Cuba Libra wins the Great Texas Race.
It is amazing how fast these guys are! Congrats to John and Tiffany.
Leaving now for the road trip back to So Cal. Read More for full results.
--Connie
June 17, 3:50pm - Team Chums I today gave up a lot of time helping Nautigear on the water after a rudder failure left them unable to manuver in this conditions well. I heard the Steve Piche said that the conditions today were rougher then ones he had on the Worrell. Team Chums I tried to assist them but was unable and stayed with them. At one point they sailed on further and made sure they kept them in site but then they pitchpoled. Team Chums returned to assist them and stayed with them the rest of the leg. More reflections later.. Connie
June 17, 3:30pm All teams are in... Team Cubra Libra hit the beach first on their Tiger, followed by TPR. Team Cubra Libra had a sizable lead on all the others. Team San Diego was the last to come in with a torn spinnaker and other boat problems after a violent pitchpole on the water. I herded up the Cats for a group shot and I will report more after the awards banquet tonight.
On a special note, we were all reminded today that all this racing is done on a big part for the fun and friendships. Steve Piche lost track of his daughter for way to long today and the guys formed a line in the water to search, the rest of us ran the beach. This is a big beach, goes on for miles, and everybody scattered to search. After about 15 min she was found quite a way down the beach and all was well. I think it shook us all and once again we are just are reminded that we are all one big family. Sail on... Connie
Remco Kenbeek and Paul Brouwer, sailing a F18 Capricorn, are the overall winners of the 29th Zwitserleven Round Texel. In a crowded party tent, they received their prizes from Chris Zegers on Saturday evening, June 17, 2006. It turned out, they were only forty seconds ahead of Hans Primowees, who rounded the isle single-handed with his 26-year-old Prindle. The F18 world champions, Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby (AUS) finished in third position with their Hobie Tiger.
Texel / Netherlands, June 17th 2006 - Saturday June 17 2006, Göran Marström and Thomas Persson (SWE) were the fasted team during the 29th edition of the Zwiserleven Round Texel. Their M20, build by Marström himself, crossed the finish in 4:10:34. Their fellow country members Mattsson/Malmsjo followed in second position and Bouscholte/Van Wieren (NED) finished third.
Surprising Prindle 15
More than an hour and ten minutes after Marström took the line honours,
an old Prindle 15 finished. Competitor Hans Primowees was astonished
at his provisional second position overall: “This weather is perfect
for A-cats, so I though they would have won the race.” He mentioned his
experience as a reason for his success: “I made full use of the current
by staying inshore, while many cats choose for the Waddensea. Although
Primowees participated in twenty Zwitserleven Round Texel Races, he is
not a fanatic sailor during the rest of the season. Primowees: “A week
before the event, I take my old Prindle out to practice in the Texel
Dutch Open. I will bring the boat back next week.”
June 17, 10:18am -Team San Diego struggled a bit and another team dropped a crew member but all stayed on the water and are headed out.
June 17, 9:30am - Team R3 pulled out of the race and there are a few teams that may not go as of now. Some are waiting for the local sailors to launch then will make the choice to go. Winds 15-20 with a 3-4 swell. Hopefully all will have a safe launch.
June 17, 7:30am - Word at the great BBQ last night was that it was a go. This morning there is a SCA in effect with winds on the beach at 20 easy. Local buoy data shows 6 foot seas at Galveston. The beach here is quite shallow for a long way out and there is a line of rolling surf to punch through. Local weather predicted winds 15-25 and 5-7 ft seas. Right now the race is on! Will make for some awesome shots, so I am off to make sure the batteries are charged. It should be a short ~40 mile run to Galveston for both the on the water team and the ground teams. See you there tomorrow and hopefully with a lot more photos! ~Wish them luck!
Update! June 16, 5:06pm, Surfside, TX
Crews are scrabbling to secure boats... Just heard a hardcore cat racer say, "Dam, it's blowing!"
June 16, 4:30pm, Surfside, TX
Blowing like snot is about the story today. When we hit the beach shovels
full of sand were ripping across the beach. At the 9 am skippers meeting it
was decided that there would be second meeting to determine the outcome at
11:30am. At the second meeting, Tom the PRO, made the call that leg 3 of the
race was called off due to the weather conditions.
We have arrived in Surfside. Wind 12kts, storm blowing through and very heavy rain at one point on the way here. Teams are on the beach and getting the boats off the trailers in prep for the start tomorrow.