We are happy to see that the Clipper Race was a resounding success this year and it will be written into the history books as it is the first time that a female Skipper has led her crew to first place in an around the world race. The Sanya crew took 1st place thanks to their Skipper Wendy Tuck, while 2nd place Visit Seattle team was also skippered by a female Skipper, Nikki Henderson.
Il faut remonter quelques années en arrière pour se remémorer l’incroyable exploit de Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. C’est plus exactement en 1969 que ce jeune navigateur anglais, alors âgé de 27 ans, réalise le premier tour du monde à la voile, en solitaire, sans escale et sans assistance de l’histoire ! Première compétition du genre, la course est rapidement devenue populaire. Non seulement en raison de la prouesse du navigateur britannique Knox-Johnston, mais également par le destin tragique de l’un des participants, Donald Crowhurst.
Pour célébrer le cinquantième anniversaire de la première Golden Globe Race (GGR), une nouvelle édition voit le jour cette année. Au départ des Sables d’Olonne, près de 15 navigateurs vont s’élancer pour un tour de monde hors du commun. En effet, l’ensemble des participants va devoir naviguer dans les mêmes conditions de l’époque : bateaux anciens aux dimensions limitées, appareils de navigation minimes, outils de communication rudimentaires, …
Dans cet article, nous vous présentons le parcours, le règlement ainsi que les navigateurs qui participeront à la GGR 2018. Coup d’envoi le 1er juillet prochain !
One year ago we presented TIMEZERO Ambassador, Jonathan Chodkiewiez. He is a seasoned sailor who grew up sailing. In this interview, Jonathan presents the reasons why he chose TIMEZERO for race preparations and days out at sea. He races in the Mini class and he recently completed the Mini Transat in 2017 for the first time!
In that race he came home in a respectable 12th out of 25 participants in 16 days and 16 hours of non-stop racing. The race starts in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands and ends at the port of Le Marin in Martinique.
Around a year ago today, we presented Sirius Events, a French event organizer for international sailing events. Created by Manfred Rampascher more than 10 years ago, Sirius Events is dedicated to enabling the best races around the world to thrive.
This year, Sirius Events has added the Martinique Flying Regatta to their roster of events. On the 17-24 November, this exclusive foiling competition will take place in the bay of Fort-de-France with 5 different boat categories, 1 windsurf category and one kitesurf category.
Spindrift 2 have failed to beat the Jules Verne around the world record falling agonizingly short. A message posted on their Facebook page let their fans know that at the final furlong, the weather had not been kind. Banque Populaire V’s record was off the books. Within the brief message they showed the spirit that exists within the close knit team and talked about the adventure in itself being their ultimate goal but still, they must be bitterly disappointed to have got so close.
MaxSea is proud to be a partner of The Ashram Fishing Team. This Australian-based team recently participated in the “Seasport Charters Marlin Cup,” using MaxSea TimeZero PLOT on board. Here is their account of how the tournament went.
The team is made up of Sangeeta Menon, Andy Ziepe, Mark Jarrett and Rhyss Whittred. The Seasport Charters Marlin Cup was hosted by the Perth Game Fishing Club in Jurien Bay, and ran from February 20-23rd.
Jurien Bay is approx. 400km north of Team Ashram’s home port and boasts some excellent game fishing species. The winner of this tournament receives an invite to compete in the Offshore World Championships in Costa Rica for 2015.
Rhyss Whittred gives us his account of the tournament:
“For our team this was the first major tournament we had competed in since I purchased my Wellcraft 270 and revamped the electronics to include Maxsea TimeZero PLOT and Furuno’s latest technology. I can’t say how keen we were to compete and in fact one of the teams there had the reigning world champion angler on board Valkoista (Craig White).
It was a 3 day tournament with your 2 best days fishing score counting towards overall championship points. The night before the tournament commenced I downloaded the latest Maxsea weather file and carefully worked out our fishing plan in line with sea surface temp, currents and plankton.
We headed out and had a cracker of a day. The Maxsea oceanic data was spot on and my team was fantastic with their art of angling and we managed Southern Blue Fin, Striped and Yellowfin Tuna to give us some great points of 2,850 points and our nearest competitors were on 375 points.
Saturday dawned and I planned to go to the same area north where we had done so well 
the day before. Alas, the water temperature was down 2 degrees, with no bait and no birds. We could hear others on the radio with great fishing results. Unfortunately I had left my mobile phone at the hotel and couldn’t download a current weather file. We were now at a complete low and did not turn a reel for the day.
The next morning I was up very early and downloaded the weather file and made a plan of attack. In fact the good water and temperature breaks we had 2 days before where now 40kms south of Jurien and we needed to get among it. With the early start we got down there in time for lines in at 6am and once again we tagged our limit of tuna and returned to port.
The scoring by other teams was very good and it was an absolute pleasure to have revealed that the Ashram Team picked up Champion Boat, Champion Female Angler, Runner Up Male Angler and Champion Tag and Release.
So my friends at Maxsea, I thank you all for your cutting edge technology and how it all worked in so well with my Furuno equipment and helping us to win this tournament.”
– Rhyss Whittred
Thanks Rhys! And best of luck for the World Marlin Championships in Costa Rica!
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Henri Antoine is an International Race Officer at the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). This week, he tells us about a recent boat racing training session that was organised for newcomers to sailing racing: Racing for Dummies!
The first ‘Racing for Dummies’ training session was held in Dunkerque, Northen France on Saturday, April 5, 2014, on the premises of the North Sea Yacht Club.
This event was designed to encourage boaters to take part in boat races. Boaters often want to race but are apprehensive about beginning. It is a fear of not understanding how it is done, or looking ridiculous in comparison to more seasoned competitors.
Thierry Maurick, Chairman of YCMN, (the North Sea Yacht Club) immediately found the idea interesting and fun. It was a way to bring a new audience to boat racing without any pressure in a relaxed setting. Hence the idea of the event title “For Dummies”.
The goal: to demystify and “play down” boat racing, which many people believe to be more complicated than it is.
Participants in this Dunkirk training session really enjoyed it and the event was very successful. To make it as accessible as possible, many concrete examples, diagrams and pictures were used.
MaxSea TimeZero was used to demonstrate how coastal routes can be easily viewed. In coastal routes in areas where marine navigation is tricky, this helped participants to quickly understand how to approach this type of race. They learned how to read and understand nautical charts in a practical way.
The participants really liked how easy it was to integrate wind information (using GRIB files in TimeZero) and tidal current data. These types of information are of course, very important for boat racing.
There was positive feedback from participants, and another session in mid-May is planned.
This was a great initiative – thanks Henri!
For more information about ISAF, please click here.
To find out more about the North Sea Yachting Club in Dunkerque, France, see their website.
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On February 1st, the French TV channel TF1 broadcast a special report named “Sailors like no others”*. The show was presented by well-known French television personality Claire Chazal and gives us a recap of the 2013 season for Team Jolokia: their crew selections and the Rolex Fastnet Race.
*Original title: “Des marins pas comme les autres”
Team Jolokia is a MaxSea partner, and this sailing team has recently been receiving increased media attention. This is due in part to the fact that this successful team comprises twenty-five people from different backgrounds, including seniors, young people, men, women, able-bodied or disabled.
For more than 30 minutes, the camera recounts an intense year of emotion: Tour de Belle -Ile, Armen Race, Record SNSM, and finally the race of the year: the Rolex Fastnet Race! We are shown several moments experienced by the crew of novices, for better or for worse!
The report also immerses us in the personal lives of these amateurs: envy, challenge or discovery, they reveal why they signed up for this unique adventure.
We also see beautiful landscapes at sea and ashore. The crew shows us their desire to excel to achieve a common goal.
This TV show can be viewed in French by clicking here.
A report by Aurélie Saillard and Robert Iséni
Production: GEDEON Programmes
Editing: Manuel Odinet
Well done, Team Jolokia on this great TV report!
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Sailing, an Olympic sport since 1900, has various competitive types that have been listed by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) along with its non-competitive form, cruising.
Fleet Racing
Fleet racing is the most common form of competitive sailing that involves racing boats going around a course.
Fleet racing can be either ‘one-design’ or ‘handicap’. One-design boat racing, as at the Olympic Sailing Competition means that boats racing against each other are all the same – the same design, the same sail area etc. Handicap racing means different types of racing boat can compete against each other. Each boat has a handicap or rating so that their finish times can be adjusted or their start time determined so that the slowest boats go first.
Fleet racing can be any length of time with several taking place in a day or as a round the world race such as the Volvo Ocean Race.
Match Racing
A match race consists of two identical racing boats competing against each other. This is a one-on-one duel of strategy and tactics and the objective is simple – to be the first to cross the finish line.
A match racing course is always a windward/leeward course and each race takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Team Racing
Team racing typically consists of two sailing teams each of three racing boats competing against each
other. It is a fast-paced racing style which depends on excellent boat handling skills and rapid tactical decision making.
The sailing teams will race to try and achieve a winning combination of places – the lowest score wins. The scoring system is 1 for first place, 2 for second and so on. If one boat in the team wins the race they are not guaranteed glory as their combined score must be ten or less to win. Example: 2, 3, 5 = 10 points vs. 1, 4, 6 = 11 points.
Offshore and Oceanic Sailing
Oceanic racing is defined as any offshore race over 800 miles. There are many types of Oceanic and Offshore racing events which are organized for one design classes as well as handicap or rating systems.
The differences between the types of oceanic and offshore racing, ranging from trans-oceanic boat racing to short-course day races sailed in protected waters, are reflected in the six categories of the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations which provide for the differences in the minimum standards of safety and accommodation.
Diasabled Sailing
The International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) is an affiliate member of ISAF and responsible for disabled sailing worldwide.
Almost any racing boat can be sailed by people with disabilities although it is clear that some are more suitable than others.
In 1996 sailing was included on the programme of the Paralympic Games as a demonstration event and it has been full medal sport since then. It is one of the only sports in the Paralympic Games in which athletes of any disability compete together.
Cruising
Finally, cruising is arguably the most commonly enjoyed sailing discipline.
Cruising can be a coastal day sail or a longer distance international journey crossing oceans and national borders.
ISAF works with organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to represent the interests of sailors worldwide.
The Piracy updates and links in the Safety section are essential reading for sailors considering cruising in certain waters.
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Fabrice Levet is a sonar boat coach at the French national school of sailing. Here, he recounts his team’s exciting win at the World Paralympic Championship 2013, which took place in August.
It is Friday, August 16th, 2013 and there is unrest in the hangars of the national school of sailing and water sports!
The French Paralympic Team has met to load up the equipment needed for the trip to Ireland.
Our exact destination is the coastal town of Kinsale, which hosted the World Paralympic Championship 2013: The highlight of the sailing season.
After poring over the local newspapers and website articles about the event, we realized that we were hardly mentioned!
There is a lot of coverage of the Dutch team, who are Olympic champions, and the Norwegians who are the current titleholders, but not a line about the French boat. There will be eighteen sonar boats on the water in total.
However, the French sailors Bruno Jourdren, Eric Flageul and Nicolas Vimont- Vicary have won two of the most important pre-season regattas – in Hyères and Medemblick.
Regardless, the training at ENVSN took the form of Match Racing, the West Spinnaker and the Grand Prix of the longtze naval school. The “Mondial Caravelle” was won this year by Bruno even though he was up against tough competitors such as Michel Desjoyeaux and Armel Le Clea’ch. This illustrates the amount of work and level of motivation of the crew to win this event after a disappointing London Games (coming in at 4th place) .
At Roscoff, we were the first to get on the ferry … and the first ones out at Cork! All sailors are a little superstitious, so we noted this fact with a smile.
In bright (and unexpected!) sunshine, the preparations began (we were first to start practising!) within the walls of the prestigious Yacht Club of Kinsale.
The anticyclone that had swept across the Atlantic coast this summer had returned. The week appeared atypical for the Irish Sea: it was an average of ten knots with a sea breeze .
On Monday, August 26th, when arriving at the club, we had a preview of what was ahead. This was a true Swiss lake bordering the southern Irish coast. We would have to wait until the next day to get sailing!
The sonar-boat French team enjoyed a strong start, and from the very first day the crew seized ahead of the crowd with places 1/5/2.
A good start, insight and speed – the ingredients for a win, but there was still direct competition on our heels, namely the Australians and Norwegians.
There was to be no fast racing the next day for the same reasons as the first: a lack of wind.
Between ten and fourteen knots of wind awaited racers on the Thursday. The conditions were quite complicated with a constant struggle between different air fronts, leading to the constant threat of lightning on the water.
Bruno and his team managed to use their analysis to help them practically and achieved almost flawless results with 1/1/2. Starting the final day, they were 11 points in the lead and ready to attack for the last day of this world championship. It looked very good but everyone remained quiet and concentrated.
Finally some wind! Twenty knots that morning with a sea mist, the typical Irish postcard picture.
With a second place in the first race, we were closing in on the title. Only the Dutch could still cause an upset for us.
The outright winner was determined shortly afterwards with a close finish like a race is supposed to be, France finished 4th and the Netherlands 6th. It’s official – we are the world champions!
The crew wanted to do well in the last race … and won.
Team France finished 13 points ahead of the Netherlands who came in in second place and Australia were third.
It is clear to see that even though everything ended well, it was of course, more difficult than we had expected.
A very beautiful Irish tour on the road to Rio…
Sonar Boat Coach
