The fantastic solo Round-the-World deeds of then 16-year-old Jessica Watson have been well documented. They have been subsequently rewarded by the Australian Government last week when she was awarded the honour of being declared ‘Young Australian of the Year’.
The following day, Jess took to the water again when she went for a ride on the ‘Ella Bache’ 18ft Skiff on Sydney Harbour and thoroughly impressed the skiff’s regular skipper Owen Vale.
Vale commented : “Jessica was great. She showed no sign of anxiety or nerves at stepping on the 18 and we didn’t have to ask her twice whether she wanted to take the tiller. She is without doubt a very capable skipper”.
“Jess loved the sail. Once out on the skiff, she said it was just what she needed. Just to go for a sail on such a beautiful harbour and get away from the cameras and constant public attention”.
Vale added : “She is a special girl with high powers of motivation and determination. Confident, capable and ambitious, without any trace of arrogance. She also has a wicked sense of humour and I was impressed by her strong social and political awareness”.
Australian 18 Footers League representatives who met her on the day were equally impressed.
Confirming their leadership in the 69F Class, where they had won the European title just a few weeks ago, the Finns of FIN 1 Racing also won Act 2 of the 69F Cup, held over the weekend in Torbole, thanks to the organization of the Circolo Vela Torbole.
The showcase curtain-raiser to the new Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, Mallorca’s famous 54 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca by FERGUS Hotels started in perfect sunshine and seabreezes last Monday and today came to a fabulous conclusion, enjoying equally sparkling thermal breezes under picture postcard blue skies studded with puffy white clouds.
19 winners have been crowned and the inaugural Foiling Week Pensacola has come to a close after seven days of racing, community events, and social engagements. Inclusive of the largest Waszp North American Championship in US history, the world of foiling was shared with spectators from far and wide, and conversations are already underway for a (…)
The Italian Jesper Karlsen (Fraglia Vela Riva) has been proclaimed absolute champion of the 35th Palamós International Optimist Trophy and Spain has revalidated the title as winner of the 19th Nations Cup. In this way Karlsen will inscribe his name the Permanent Vila de Palamós Optimist Trophy breaking a streak of three consecutive Spanish (…)
The 48th Palamós Christmas Race crowned its winners after four days of intense competition in the waters of the bay of Palamós (Girona), with a very high international participation with teams from 16 countries represented.
Seasonal closure in style for Groupe Atlantic that, in Malcesine on the occasion of the 2024 69F Cup Grand Prix 4, defeated its opponents, conquering both the circuit and the EUROSAF 69F European Championship : actually, the final event had a double value, assigning both the circuit title and the continental one.
Photo : Illbruck on the way to the finish with the Sydney Opera House in the background. Photo : Daniel Forster illbruck
illbruck’s victory on the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race was anything but straight forward. It is the story of disaster and a determined comeback in great style. With less than 24 hours at sea, the yacht flooded her bow section so bad that the bow was under water. In a dramatic team effort the crew managed to keep the yacht afloat and got (…)
Liz Baylis of San Rafael, Calif. won the Rolex Osprey Cup today, topping off four days of match racing here on Tampa Bay. Sailing with Baylis at this ISAF Grade 1 regatta were an all-California team of Aimee Hess (Oakland), Karina Shelton (Watsonville) and Stacie Straw (Marina del Rey). After a lack of wind yesterday afternoon forced the (…)
Troisième partie en image de la construction du Furtif 60. La construction de la coque se termine. Il est déjà temps de penser à l’après coque : Quille, safrans, dérives et surtout le gréement avec un mât et des voiles. Une coque ne suffit pas.
Photos et commentaires : Elie Canivenc
NewsCorp au passage de l’île d’Eclipse. Photo : Rick Tomlinson Electronic Image / Volvo Ocean Race
A 23h hier soir, les 2 concurrents leaders de cette deuxième étape de la Volvo Ocean Race, illbruck en tête, SEB dans son sillage, suivis de près par News Corp, Assa Abloy, Amer Sports One et Djuice, s’engageaient dans le Détroit de Bass qui sépare l’Australie de l’île de la Tasmanie.
Le port de Saint Malo en novembre 1998. Photo : Ch.Guigueno
Le Salon Nautique 2001 a été lancé dans une grande salle en mezzanine du premier hall. Loïck Peyron, Thomas Coville, Michel Desjoyeaux ou Karine Fauconnier rejoignent, entre autres skippers, une salle bondée. Il est 11h30 vendredi. C’est la présentation officielle de la Route du Rhum 2002. Avec un an d’avance, ses organisateurs sont prêts, tout (…)
Mistral 650 built in the South of France. Photo : J.Dubois
Mistral 650, TiZef, a Magnen design are the new designs that tries to follow the SuperCalin. They will try to break the supremacy of the Pogo. Jerome Dubois of the AMC Marine yard, is underway in the construction of his first Serie Class Mini. In the same time Ollivier Bordeau of the Latitude 4824 yard, known as the builder of Rolland designs, (…)
Deuxième partie en image de la construction du Furtif 60. Les “1100 kg de résine, 1500 m2 de fibre et 6 m3 d’Airex” sont utilisés petit à petit pour construire les bordés latéraux de la coque de 18 mètres de long à bouchain.
Photos et commentaires : Elie Canivenc
Elie Canivenc, étudiant en architecture navale à Southampton, ancien participant de la Mini-Transat 1999, construit un 60 pieds Open dans le but de participer au prochain Vendée Globe. A Pacques 2001, le mannequin est assemblé. “Nous visualisons l’engin… et l’ouvrage qu’il représente !” commente Elie qui pose devant son futur voilier. Le (…)
Le Mistral 650 en chantier dans le Var. Photos : J.Dubois
Jérôme Dubois du chantier naval AMC Marine poursuit à Roquebrune sur Argens dans le Var la construction de son mini de série. Pendant ce temps à Brest, Ollivier Bordeau du chantier Latitude 48° 24’ lance aussi un “bateau conforme à la jauge série”. Avec le Super Câlin et le plan Magnen qui serait en chantier en Normandie, la chasse au Pogo est (…)
The CNBPP will organize from May 1st to 5th the second edition of the Select 650. This race did take the place of the 300 miles of Concarneau this year. The minis and their single handing skippers will leave again La Baule for a 300 miles long course away form the coast of South Brittany.