Här sitter man hemma i ett snöigt Göteborg med en whisky framför brasan samtidigt som andra seglar hem sina båtar. Här Jonas Claesson till rors på Lindforssarnas Prima 38. Just nu inblåsta i IJmuiden eller nåt. Kuling från nordost är ju inte det man önskar sig…
Kuriosa för er som är sportintresserade är att Jonas är ny tränare för Vetlanda. Som gammal bandylegend (771 mål på 415 matcher och skyttekung i VM vid fyra tillfällen) blir det come-back i hetluften.
Full Metal Jacket. Foto: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Rolex China Sea fleet halfway to Philippines;
TP52 Strewth loses keel
March 21, 2008Enjoying a favourable breeze, the Rolex China Sea Fleet was a little more than halfway along the racecourse today. The first night was not without its’ drama though – at 0400 this morning, the TP52 Strewth reported via satellite phone to race officials that they had lost the keel and bulb. All crew onboard are safe. The boat remained upright and watertight, and the crew have moved all heavy equipment down as low as possible in the bilge, and have filled their tanks with sea water to add stability. They have also unshipped the boom and stowed it below.
Strewth was 170 nautical miles east-southeast from Hong Kong and is now motoring back to Hong Kong at 3.5 knots. The Beneteau 44.7 Cloud diverted to Strewth’s position and has been standing by to offer assistance.
Meanwhile, in IRC Racing Division, the frontrunners – Ffreefire, Hi Fi, Fortis Mandrake, and Full Metal Jacket are all within 30 miles of each other in about 12 knots of wind, with Ffreefire leading, currently making nine knots. With approximately 270 miles to go, the boats are due to the finish in Subic Bay on Saturday (March 22nd) early evening.
In the Cruising Division, Peter Churchouse’s Moonblue II leads their division overall in front of Shatoosh, though the IRC Performance Cruising Division is also closely grouped.
The updated weather forecast has easterly winds, force 4 (11-16 knots) in area C, west of the Philippine coast.
Shore-based fans can follow the action online at www.rolexchinasearace.com as they are using PurpleFinder technology to provide satellite positioning from each boat, which will be updated every two hours during the race.
This Asian blue-water classic has become part of Rolex’s distinguished portfolio of international offshore races under a long-term partnership between Rolex and the RHKYC that commenced in 2007. The Rolex China Sea Race joins other prestigious Rolex-sponsored 2008 events including the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Rolex Swan Cup, Rolex Middle Sea Race, and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Hi Fi. Foto: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Solnedgång över Skagerrak under TwoStar 2007.
Av 180 deltagande båtar (ytterligare 29 står på väntelistan) så är det nu 8 svenska ekipage:
Andra svenskar som är med är Calle Hennix, som seglar på en av två SeaCarts, och Patrik Anderson, som kör på en norsk Performance 35.
Största klass kan bli X-99. Kommer alla på väntelistan med blir det 10 X-99 till start. En annan fajt är bland de stora båtarna. Tio båtar över 50 fot har nog sin egen uppgörelse. 20 tjejer finns bland besättningarna, men bara en ren “tjejbåt”. Detta vill man ändra på genom att ge tjejerna förtur på väntelistan, något som vållat viss debatt.
Ser ju extremt lovande ut!
FULL METAL JACKET (NZL) training out of Causeway Bay. Alla foton: Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi
Nu har starten gått för Rolex China Sea Race mellan Hong-Kong och Fillipinerna. Full Metal Jacket har ju fått en smärre makover sedan sist (ganska mycket mindre bly i bulben) så vi får se om det har hjälpt. Vi hoppas på rapporter från folk på plats.
A 565nm, Category 1 Offshore Race from Hong Kong, China to Subic Bay in the Philippines.
On 7th April 1962, three yachts from RHKYC, one from Manila and one from Japan crossed the line at 3pm at the start of the first China Sea Race. The yachts were escorted over the first 100 miles of their 600 mile journey by two minesweepers of the Hong Kong Royal Naval Reserve.
The finish was off Corregidor Island crossing a line formed by vessel of the Philippines Navy, to be met by members of the Manila Yacht Club who had co-operated most generously with the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in all the arrangements. Due to no radios being on board the yachts, Hector Ross on Reverie crossed the finish line after six days’ racing to find out that they were in first place.
The China Sea Race was subsequently held every two years. In 1964 it attracted 12 entries and in 1966, 13, including the famous ketch Stormvogel. With each successive race, the event grew bigger. In 1968, it was included for the first time in the newly organised World Ocean Racing Championships to be held over a three year period and in 1972 it was officially recognised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.
Since then it has continued to attract increased interest and served to draw the attention of the international yachting fraternity to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, although the number of foreign entries is invariably limited by the expense of transporting craft to the territory.
FULL METAL JACKET (NZL) training out of Causeway Bay
IRC Racing Division fleet start with HK skyline behind
HI FI (HKG), IRC Racing Division start
HI FI (HKG), skipper Neil Pryde, beating out of Victoria Harbour
Mills 51 FORTIS MANDRAKE (HKG), just after the start
FULL METAL JACKET (NZL), skipper Chris Meads
Sail change on the Sydney 46 SUBIC CENTENNIAL (PHI), skipper Ernesto Echauz
On a beautiful, cloudless, mid-March day, top US J/Boat dealer Howie McMichael recently stated “We have declared it spring at McMichael!”
His yard in Mamaroneck, NY on Western Long Island Sound is buzzing with activity with three brilliant new J/122s (pictured here) in the launch basin undergoing final commissioning, two more on the way & a J/109 waiting under the crane. In fact, virtually every J/Boat model ever introduced is likely already in the spring launch queue at the McM yard. A total of seven new J/122s are being prepared to compete for the first ever J/122 Class one-design event in conjunction with the upcoming American Yacht Club Spring Regatta. This event could turn out to be a virtual J/Fest with starts planned for the J/105, J/109 & J/44 classes in addition to the J/122. Complete regatta info is available at the American Yacht Club website here.
In the meantime we’ll agree with Howie… an early spring is here. Let’s go sailing!