top yacht race results

Results are a breeze

TopYacht – the world’s most comprehensive software suite for sailing results management

Why we’re the industry yardstick…

Save time and money

Our technology delivers time and cost savings to club and regatta managers, while improving results accuracy.

Ultra fast and easy

Fast and easy access to results, often published to the web before competitors have reached land.

Amazing race tools

Exciting, close and fair racing with a comprehensive selection of yardstick and handicapping solutions

Safe passage

Have peace of mind with solutions that enhance the safety for sailors, volunteers and staff

Why TopYacht?

Unprecedented customer support

Our technology is underpinned by our relationship with clubs and regatta managers.

Early adopter

Continuous development ensures we always meet the needs of the sailing community

Best in class

Our comprehensive product suite has the power and flexibility to meet the needs of almost every club and regatta

A Deep Knowledge

With over 20 years of industry expertise channeled into tangible solutions, we have a deep understanding of the sailing community

What our clients say…

Sandringham Yacht Club

From online entries right through to the publication of results, TopYacht makes the entire process simple and easy to manage.

Sailing Coordinator

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club

The team at TY and support given by TY over the years has been outstanding, their willingness and promptness to address the clubs needs is second to none.

Brendan Rourke

Sailing Manager

Belmont 16ft Sailing Club

The handicap system TopYacht uses has provided our boats with very close racing (in fact our finish team wishes it wasn’t quite so good as on our handicap starts the whole fleet finishes almost together!)

Danny Anderson

The Right Tack - Yacht Race Management & Administration

I have been running sailing races for many, many years and the one thing the sailors want at the end of the day is fast accurate results, and for handicap racing, the ability to produce credible handicaps for the next race. Top Yacht has been developed over some years to meet those criteria easily.

Denis Thompson

Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron

BYS has been using TopYacht for the past 24 months and assists us with our complex keelboat handicapping and off the beach races. All of the components from online entry, to advanced handicapping and electronic sign on are great features that make everything a breeze.

Liam Edleston

Mt Martha Yacht Club

Sailors have embraced the new system wholeheartedly with electronic sign on together with results after racing that are almost immediate and more accurate. The support from Top Yacht has been excellent at all times.

Jonathan Vaudrey

Club Scorer

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Kirsten Neuschafer wins 2022 Golden Globe Race and makes history

• Katy Stickland
• April 27, 2023

Kirsten Neuschafer has become the first woman to win a solo, round the world yacht race after winning the 2022 Golden Globe Race

Kirsten Neuschafer made it very clear from the start that she was aiming to win the 2022 Golden Globe Race . And now the South African skipper has achieved her goal, and made history in the process.

After just over 235 days at sea, the sailor crossed the finish line off Les Sables d’Olonne in France at 9pm CEST on 27 April 2023 and became the first woman to win a solo, round the world yacht race.

After a painfully slow final few miles as she ghosted towards the finish, Neuschafer actually crossed the finish line around 10 hours behind competitor, Simon Curwen, but a previous stop for repairs for the British sailor had already relegated him to the Chichester class (for those who make a single landfall).

No wind, meant it took hours for Kirsten Neuschafer to sail the Minnehaha over the finish line. Credit: Katy Stickland

Second-time Golden Globe Race competitor, Abhilash Tomy will be the next boat across the finish line, lying some 100nm astern of Neuschafer. That these three will finish within the space of a couple of days after 235 days at sea speaks to the high level of competition between these front runners.

Tired but jubilant, the focussed 39-year-old, who throughout much of the race had no idea she was leading, celebrated a hard-fought victory. Her Cape George 36 cutter, Minnehaha was then towed up the channel to the pontoon as thousands of people cheered and applauded her incredible achievement.

Among them were 2022 Golden Globe Race skippers Ian Herbert-Jones, who had just arrived from Cape Town, having been rescued from his dismasted boat just weeks before, and French sailor Damien Guillou , whose race ended after windvane steering failure on approach to Cape Town.

‘I feel very emotional and honoured,’ said Neuschafer after finishing the race. ‘I am never going to forget the welcome. I want to thank my fellow skippers as without them, there would have been no race. Simon was very difficult as he was always in front of me and I knew Abhilash was close, and this encouraged me to navigate as quickly as possible.’

Kirsten Neuschafer – the winner of the 2022 Golden Globe Race and the first woman to win a solo round the world yacht race. Credit: Katy Stickland

1997 Vendée Globe veteran Catherine Chabaud, the first female sailor to race solo non stop around the world without assistance, and the winner of the 2018 Golden Globe Race, Jean-Luc van den Heede, were there to greet Neuschafer as she stepped off her boat after nearly 8 months at sea.

Her official finishing time was 233 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes and 47 seconds. This takes into account the 35 hour time compensation and 30 litre fuel allowance given to her following her role in the rescue of fellow race skipper, Tapio Lehtinen,

Neuschafer said she was driven to keep going, even in calms and the doldrums on the way up the Atlantic, where she regularly went swimming to deal with the frustration.

‘I never thought I would give up; there was no reason to think this as I had full confidence in the boat. I never doubted I would get to the finish line.’

Catherine Chabaud, the first female sailor to race solo non stop around the world without assistance was there to greet Kirsten Neuschafter on. her arrival. Credit: Katy Stickland

Throughout the 2022 Golden Globe Race , Kirsten Neuschafer has fought to be at the front of the fleet, her ambition to win driving her more than many of the other entrants.

She deliberately chose a boat that she believed could win the race and survive the Southern Ocean.

Speaking to Yachting Monthly from Prince Edward Island, where she was refitting the boat, she said: ‘From the outset it wasn’t a question of taking any boat that was available and in my price range; it was to choose a boat that I believe can win and can survive the Southern Ocean , and then get that boat at any cost, no matter how much work.’

Kirsten Neuschafer in the lead, in early March 2023. Credit: Kirsten Neuschafer/GGR 2022

Her choice of the Cape George 36 paid off. Minnehaha has the longest LWL in the fleet, and with a generous cutter rigged 806sq ft sail plan, the boat achieved slightly higher speeds than her counterparts.

As a result, she holds the 2022 Golden Globe Race records for the best 4 hour speed average (9.80 knots), best 24 hour distance (218.9nm) and best 7 day distance (1,216.2nm).

The boat’s performance was evident after her average start in the race, but she constantly pushed, choosing to hand steer the boat rather than just rely on her Hydrovane windvane steering to make up for lost ground. Her disappointment coming 6th through the first race gate at Lanzarote was evident, but her motivation was stronger.

Kirsten Neuschafer prepared Minnehaha on Prince Edward Island. Credit: Patricia Richard

Having exited the Bay of Biscay in 10th place, she was soon climbing the leader board. Coming down the Atlantic, she chose a more coastal route to keep the island of Trinidade to port; a strategy to make the most of the current and receive weather information via her weather fax so she could identify the location of the South Atlantic High.

She took the longer, southern route with a more comfortable point of sail to reach the race’s second gate at Cape Town; a strategy that paid off when she was second through the gate behind the then race leader Simon Curwen .

Article continues below…

Kirsten Neuschafer: Golden Globe Race 2022 skipper

Kirsten Neuschafer has plenty of Southern Ocean experience, which she hopes will be an advantage as she takes part in…

Golden Globe Race: Kirsten Neuschafer: ‘I’ll give it my best shot but I’m pretty disillusioned’

Third place Golden Globe Race skipper Kirsten Neuschafer has been left frustrated by the lack of wind, which has also…

By this time, Curwen was extending his lead as he began crossing the Indian Ocean. Days after leaving Cape Town, Kirsten Neuschafer diverted from her race route to rescue fellow entrant Tapio Lehtinen, after his Gaia 36, Asteria sank around 450 miles south east of South Africa.

At the time, Neuschafer was 105 miles from Lehtinen’s position; she hand steered through the night, posting speeds of 7 knots to reach him the following morning. Once safely onboard, they waited for the arrival of the Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier Darya Gayatri , which would take Lehtinen to port.

Kirsten Neuschafer and Tapio Lehtinen share rum after the rescue of the Finnish skipper from his liferaft. Credit: Kirsten Nesuchafer/GGR 2022

Neuschafer was awarded a 35 hour time compensation and a 30 litre fuel allowance by the Golden Globe Race organisers.

Back in race mode, she pushed hard across the Indian Ocean, gaining 500 miles on Curwen and arrived just 29.5 hours behind him in Hobart. She briefly took first place when passing through Tasmania but then became trapped in no wind zones around New Zealand for several days.

This allowed Curwen to extend his lead by 900 miles; by this time, he was also sailing in a different weather system to Neuschafer and her nearest rival, Abhilash Tomy .

Neuschafer and Tomy swapped second and third place positions across the South Pacific, Neuschafer often frustrated by the calms, and her inability to find the better wind, which was often in the race’s Pacific exclusion zone.

She dived for 8 hours to remove the barnacles from the boat’s hull to improve her speed.

Kirsten Neuschafer/ rounded Cape Horn on Day 164 of the race. Credit: Kirsten Neuschafer/GGR 2022

Curwen, who had a 1,200 mile lead, then reported the failure of his Hydrovane self-steering gear , which forced him to make a 1,000 mile detour to Chile to make repairs; this also put him in the Chichester Class for entrants who make one stop.

This meant both Neuschafer and Tomy were back in the race for first place.

After 150 days of racing, Neuschafer took the lead and was the first to round Cape Horn on 15 February 2023.

But her routing decision up the Atlantic allowed Tomy to make gains in his Rustler 36, Bayanat , despite battling problems with his Wind Pilot windvane steering, his rig, rigging, and having to hand-stitch his mainsail after it ripped in two.

Kirsten Neuschafer took a more easterly route up the Atlantic. Credit: Kirsten Neuschäfer/GGR2022

Unlike Tomy, who stayed close to the rhumb line, Kirsten Neuschafer, who was sailing more conservatively due to a bend in Minehaha’s bowsprit, decided to take a more easterly route.

At the time she said: ‘I read up in  Ocean Passages for the World what is the best route for this time of year and the route is to pass 80 miles south of the Falklands and make for a point to the east of 35°S and 30°W at this time of year, and this is what I’ve been doing. I don’t know if it was a good idea to follow the suggestions or not.’

Doubting her easterly route, she took a more northerly route; it was a decision which would prove incredibly frustrating for Kirsten Neuschafer, who sailed through more light winds than any other 2022 Golden Globe Race sailor while sailing up the Atlantic, and meant she crossed a very wide doldrums.

This allowed both Tomy and Curwen to make gains on her position before Curwen in his Biscay 36, Clara , took the lead and become the first of the 2022 Golden Globe Race fleet to cross the finish line.

Positions of the Golden Globe Race 2022 skippers on 27 April 2022 at 2100 CEST

Kirsten Neuschafer, (South Africa), Cape George 36 cutter, Minnehaha – FINISHED 1st Abhilash Tomy , (India), Rustler 36, Bayanat – 100nm to the finish Michael Guggenberger , (Austria), Biscay 36, Nuri – 1800nm to the finish

Chichester Class:

Simon Curwen , (UK), Biscay 36, Clara – FINISHED 1st (Chichester Class) Jeremy Bagshaw , (South Africa), OE32, Olleanna – 2600nm to the finish

Edward Walentynowicz , (Canada), Rustler 36, Noah’s Jest Guy deBoer , (USA), Tashiba 36, Spirit Mark Sinclair (Australia), Lello 34, Coconut Pat Lawless , (Ireland), Saltram Saga 36 , Green Rebel Damien Guillou , (France), Rustler 36, PRB Ertan Beskardes , (UK), Rustler 36, Lazy Otter Tapio Lehtinen , (Finland), Gaia 36, Asteria Arnaud Gaist , (France), Barbican 33 Mk 2, Hermes Phoning Elliot Smith ,  (USA), Gale Force 34, Second Wind Guy Waites (UK), Tradewind 35, Sagarmatha Ian Herbert-Jones (UK), Tradewind 35, Puffin

Enjoyed reading Kirsten Neuschafer wins 2022 Golden Globe Race and makes history?

A subscription to Yachting Monthly magazine costs around 40% less than the cover price .

Print and digital editions are available through Magazines Direct – where you can also find the latest deals .

YM is packed with information to help you get the most from your time on the water.

• Take your seamanship to the next level with tips, advice and skills from our experts
• Impartial in-depth reviews of the latest yachts and equipment
• Cruising guides to help you reach those dream destinations

Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.

BVI Spring Regatta – Day 2

McIntyre OGR – Translated 9 Retires with Hull Damage after heavy broach

Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca – Gold and Bronze for GBR

America’s Cup Challenger INEOS Britannia’s AC75 arrives in Barcelona

America’s Cup – Alinghi Red Bull Racing BoatOne Unveiling

Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca – Beckett nails third event win

2024 RYA Youth Nationals – Final Day at Weymouth

505 Southern Championship at Hayling Island SC

Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca – Consistency is key but difficult to find on day 4

Smooth sailing prevailed as winners and leaders in their classes navigated the challenging conditions on the penultimate day of the BVI Spring Regatta.

RORC Easter Challenge – Who won the Easter Chocolates?

From soft breeze at the beginning of the week, to big breeze in the final few days of the 2024 RYA Youth Nationals at Weymouth.

505 Europa Cup – USA’s Mike Holt and Rob Woelfel take first event title

i14 Europeans – Truswell and FitzGerald lead after 2 races

i14 2023 European Championships on Lake Como

470 European Championship – Dahlberg and Karlsson take lead

Finn Europeans Day 4 – Nemeth closes on first Finn European title

2024 RYA Youth Nationals – Day 3 round-up

Some classes failed to get off the beach Wednesday as the wind spiked at Weymouth.

Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca – Pressure builds on Bay of Palma

Another sea breeze day (3) kept the 53 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by Iberostar rolling through a demanding schedule of races. Across the classes are some marked, understandable differences between the mindsets of those who are in the throes of…

Team GB vows to stick with traditional Union flag for Paris Olympics

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has been forced to quash rumours of the Team GB kit design for this summer’s Paris Olympics

2024 RYA Youth Nationals – Day 2 round-up

Weymouth delivered an action packed day 2 on the water at the 2024 Youth Nationals.

INEOS Britannia’s AC75 en-route to Barcelona

INEOS Britannia’s AC75 is en-route to its final destination – Barcelona – for the 37th America’s Cup

Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca – Changing conditions for Day 2

Thermal sea-breeze conditions returned to allow a full programme of competition to be completed Tuesday

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• Boat Pro Home
• Pricing Plan
• Superyacht Insight
• Product Features
• Premium Content
• Testimonials
• Global Order Book
• Tenders & Equipment

Emirates Team New Zealand wins 36th America's Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand, the defender of the 36th America’s Cup , has emerged victorious in the 2021 final against Italian challenger Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.

The win marks the fourth time that the New Zealand team, headed by helmsman Peter Burling, has been awarded the Auld Mug trophy. The team was also crowned the winner in 1995, 2000 and 2017.

To make it to the final as the America’s Cup challenger, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli had previously triumphed over the British contender INEOS Team UK and US team American Magic in earlier rounds of racing.

In the America’s Cup final, Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli were continuously tied in a heated deadlock over the first six races.

Emirates Team New Zealand changed the scoreboard by winning both races held on March 15 and securing another win on March 16.

The final race, which took place in the waters of Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf off the coast of Auckland, began in winds of 10 knots after a 30 minute delay, and saw Emirates Team New Zealand enter the racecourse to starboard and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli enter to port.

Quickly moving out to the right-hand side of the racecourse, Emirates Team New Zealand gained the lead ahead of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the first few moments of the race. 

The racing was close, with the New Zealand team sailing at 41 knots to the Italians’ 39 knots, but by gate four a distance had opened up between the two teams that the Italians could no longer close.

After 10 races, the AC75 yacht of Emirates Team New Zealand, Te Rehutai , beat the Italian AC75 Luna Rossa by 46 seconds.

Commenting on the win, Peter Burling thanked the supporters of the New Zealand team: “We have been getting messages from the Prime Minister to high school kids. It just means the world to us as a team.

"We have been learning all week, and today we really showed what this boat can do, and so to win on home waters is something our entire team is incredibly proud of.”

Though challenger Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli was defeated, helmsman Francesco Bruni confirmed that the Italian team would return to the next edition of the America's Cup. “It is not finished – and with all this experience in the team we will try again," he said.

Taking place every four years, the America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport and considered the pinnacle of yacht racing. 

Though travel restrictions related to the pandemic meant international visitors were curtailed, the 2021 event still saw over 1,300 spectator boats out on the water watching the action.

According to America’s Cup tradition, the win means that Emirates Team New Zealand will write the racing rules for the 37th edition of the America’s Cup.

The next America’s Cup will once again be hosted in the winning team’s homeland of New Zealand .

More stories

Most recent, from our partners, sponsored listings.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Legendary yachts set off on ‘retro’ round the world race as Ocean Globe Race starts

• Helen Fretter
• September 10, 2023

Fourteen teams, racing on iconic yachts such as Maiden and Pen Duick VI, start the crewed ‘retro’ around the world race, the Ocean Globe Race

Amost exactly 50 years to the day since the first Whitbread Round the World Race, the latest ‘retro’ race, the Ocean Globe Race , set off today from Cowes, UK.

Fourteen teams racing in three classes set off on a single start from the famous Royal Yacht Squadron line, with fluky conditions in the Solent granting the fleet a brief window of 10-15 knot breezes to get over the line and make for spectacular scenes, though shortly after the breeze faded to zephyrs as the fleet made their way west.

The Ocean Globe Race fleet, with Pen Duick VI nearest camera, shortly after starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes

The Ocean Globe Race is the latest ‘retro’ race to pay homage to the ground-breaking ocean and offshore races of yesteryear, this one a crewed around the world with-stops, which is intended to capture the spirit of the first Whitbread Round the World Race, and is organised by Don McIntyre, who is also the man behind the Golden Globe Race modern editions.

This week marked the 50th anniversary of the Whitbread Round the World Race, which first set out from Portsmouth, UK on 8 September 1973.

Thanks to an anonymous donor, the support of MDL Marinas, and a lot of tireless work behind the scenes, the Ocean Globe Race (unlike the Golden Globe Race, which moved to France for its reincarnation) started once again from the Solent, with the race village hosted in Ocean Village, Southampton, before the fleet set off from the Royal Yacht Squadron line off Cowes today.

A busy pre-start for the Ocean Globe Race fleet leaving Cowes, UK

Despite some unforcast rain shortly before the start, an impressive and eclectic spectator flotilla gathered to see the fleet off, with a slightly authentic Whitbread-era air of chaos as the 14 race yachts milled around pre-start amongst RIBS, race yachts, classics, spectator ferries, and a vintage steam ship.

Nevertheless, all fourteen got away cleanly without incident and were swiftly demonstrating some old-school boat handling skills: Galiana WithSecure hoisting her blooper sail shortly after the downwind start, while L’Esprit d’Équipe demonstrated a twin-pole gybe.

Iconic Ocean Globe Race entries

The Ocean Globe Race has attracted some truly legendary yachts. Most famous on this side of the Channel – and certainly attracting the greatest spectator flotilla – is Tracy Edwards ’ Maiden . The Bruce Farr-designed 58-footer, which twice competed in the Whitbread Round the World Race, is the only all-female team in the race, repeating the history of Tracy Edwards’ famous 1989 race, and is skippered by Heather Thomas.

After falling into near total disrepair, Maiden was rescued by Edwards and had a major refit in 2017/18 ahead of a world tour to raise funds and awareness for girls’ education. In order to bring her back into race trim additional bunks have been added, as Maiden will race with a crew of 12, a new sail wardrobe, additional heating for the Southern Ocean stages.

Thomas said: “We’ve really pitched her towards winning the race, performance wise we’ve got four different headsails, four different spinnakers, so we’re really going to be pushing her to her limit to try and beat Marie [Taberly] and Pen Duick , and Neptune and Translated and all of them! So we’re really trying to push as hard as we can.”

Whilst Maiden has broken many glass ceilings, an all-female team has never won a crewed around the world race, so that is the team’s ultimate goal.

The iconic Ocean Globe Race yacht Pen Duick VI, skippered by Marie Tabarly, is one of the hardest raced entrants in recent years, here competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race. Credit: Kurt Arrigo/Rolex

Maiden is racing in the highly competitive Flyer class, which also includes the iconic French yacht Pen Duick VI , led by Marie Taberly, daughter of French sailing legend, Éric Tabarly. Like Maiden , Pen Duick VI had been on a world tour, the Elemen’Terre project, raising awareness of environmental and social issues through activities including art and performance.

At 73ft Pen Duick VI was designed by André Mauric and built for the 1973/4 Whitbread Round the World Race and had a major refit ahead in 2011/12 as well as updates for her round the world project. It has retained many of its original features, including industrial hatches, coffee grinders, and twin cockpits.

Also in the Flyer class is another Mauric design, the 1977 Neptune , which raced in the 1977-78 Whitbread Race to 8th place. The French team includes Bertrand Delhom, who aims to become the first sailor with Parkinson’s disease to race around the world.

Translated 9, previously raced in the 1977 Whitbread Round the World Race as ADC Accutrac by British skipper, Clare Francis, training ahead of the 2023 Ocean Globe Race.

Another famous British woman skipper’s yacht is now racing as Translated 9 in the Flyer class, having originally sailed as ADC Accutrac , skippered by Clare Francis, to 5th place in the 1977/78 Whitbread Round the World Race.

Translated is a Swan 65 which has been impressively refitted with a lengthy build up campaign to the race, and is likely to be a strong contender. The crew is primarily made up of amateur sailors who applied to take part, but includes experienced Italian skipper/owner Marco Trombetti and his son Nico as First Mate. It also includes 2022 Golden Globe Race veteran, Simon Curwen, who took line honours in the race and was first in the Chichester Class.

The fifth boat to make up the Flyer class is another Whitbread class winner, the Briand-designed L’Esprit d’Équipe , which won class in the 1985/86 edition of the race. L’Esprit d’Équipe is skippered by pro racer and boat builder Lionel Regnier.

The 14 Ocean Globe Race yachts, including seven former Whitbread entrants, assembled in Ocean Village, Southampton. Credit: Aida Valceanu / OGR2023

Adventurous entrants

Nine other teams are competing in the Adventure Class (for yachts 47ft-56ft) and Sayula class (56-66ft). They include the Baltic 55, Outlaw , another Whitbread Race veteran, having raced in the 1985-86 edition as Equity and Law ; the sole American entry, a Swan 51, Godspeed , which is crewed by US military veterans; the Olin Stephens designed Explorer , which is skippered by by 2018 and 2022 Golden Globe Race veteran, Australian Mark Sinclair ; and Evrika , the Swan 65 formerly owned by Pink Floyd’s Rick Wright. Evrika is now skippered by French sailor and boat builder Dominique Dubois after the yacht he originally entered, a Swan 651 called Futuro , was blown from its cradle during Storm Gérard in February this year and written off.

The smallest yacht in the fleet is Galiana , the 1970 Swan 55 skippered by Golden Globe Race veteran Tapio Lehtinen . Lehtinen has a young crew that he carefully selected over several years of trials, as one of his key goals is to bring on young Finnish sailors, having himself competed in the 1981-82 Whitbread Race at the age of 23.

Lehtinen is well known as a classic yacht aficionado and Galiana has been lovingly restored, but was dismasted at the start of this year’s Rolex Fastnet Race. The team worked swiftly to preserve all the sails and hardware, and Galiana has a fully repaired – though less aesthetically pleasing – rig.

The Ocean Globe Race fleet heading west out of the Solent, Galiana (far right) flying a blooper downwind.

Down below the refit for the Ocean Globe Race took inspiration from yachts such as Kialoa 3 , with classic white panelling where new bunks have been added, and practical touches including air-dryers for wet kit and boots. The aft companionway was also closed off to create a drier entranceway to the living quarters and nav station, while the main saloon now has a smaller table from Lehtinen’s previous boat, his Gaia 36 Asteria – which famously sank in the Southern Indian Ocean last November.

However, it’s Galiana’s sail plan which is most remarkable, including a traditional blooper. Lehtinen admits that while it might not help her rating, he had to choose an authentic sail wardrobe from the ‘70s “Because I’m a romantic.”

Follow the Ocean Globe Race at oceangloberace.com

• Boats & Gear
• Instructional
• Cruising Stories
• Cruising Destinations
• Race Results
• Race Reports
• Racing Technique
• Submit a Classified Ad
• Boats for Sale
• All Classifieds
• Terms & Conditions
• Your Dashboard
• Seattle Area Racing Calendar (SARC)
• 48° North Cruising Rally
• Croatia Flotilla
• SYC Grand Prix 2021

Sailors attending Seattle Yacht Club’s Grand Prix Regatta enjoyed three days of diverse and exciting racing in varied conditions.

Sails got worked. Foulies got tested. New names were etched into Seattle Yacht Club’s shiny Grand Prix trophies. And good times were enjoyed by all, as the season’s final multi-day buoy racing regatta for keelboats on Puget Sound went into the books in late October. New for 2021 was the removal of a requirement for qualification, so any boat that wished to register was welcome. A total of 40 boats across eight classes — two ORC, four PHRF, as well as J/105s and J/80s racing one-design — came out for three days of fun wind-powered competition. 

As we rigged up on Friday morning, the chatter was all about Sunday. The rest of the weekend looked pretty good too, but Sunday… holy moly. The tenor of the conversation was excitement and wonder, with just a dash of apprehension for good measure. Better keep the old main nearby, just in case it nukes. 

Soon enough, sailors’ focus shifted from the future to the present, as always happens on the water. Friday gave us an on-time start for some long buoy courses and a really enjoyable moderate southerly with flat water. Two races were scored for each class. 

Saturday gave the most gentle conditions of the weekend. Breezes from 6-14 knots were complemented by less rain than forecast and some sun in the afternoon — even a rainbow during the final race! The race committee ran three races for each class, with the breeze being lightest in the mid-afternoon. 

Sunday was as forecast. The monster wind predictions associated with an historic low pressure system in the north Pacific were unwavering in the afternoon, but the race committee accurately deemed it safe to bring the fleet out for one quick medium-distance race, which started in 14-16 knots and built to 20-25 before the race was finished. Crossing the finish line, racers were shown the flag combination “AP over A” and the boats returned to the marina with a good 90 minutes to get settled before the breeze came in with force. The West Point Buoy clocking 35-46 knots of wind for an hour in the afternoon. Good call, race committee. 

Amongst the fun J/80 class, the regatta kicked off with close competition among High Five , Jolly Green , and Underdog , whose cumulative scores were within a two-point spread after the first day of racing. During the distance race on Saturday, most of the fleet continued along the eastern shore after rounding the windward mark at Meadow Point, whereas Reckless and Underdog jibed early to cross Puget Sound. A favorable shift near the leeward mark at Point Jefferson put the latter well ahead of the other boats, with Reckless crossing the finish line in first place just ahead of Underdog . Underdog won the rest of the races on Saturday, despite rounding the first mark behind several boats.

“We kept working it low downwind while maintaining good speed to maximize VMG,” said Lek Dimarucot, Underdog’s skipper. The flying mascot on Underdog’s chute helped the team measure how much rotation they were getting from the spinnaker. “We like seeing as much of the dog on the windward side as possible, at least one ear and ideally his nose, too,” Lek continued. “On the beats, we worked to stay in phase with the shifts while covering boats behind,” he added.

With a four-point lead in the standings, Underdog was firmly in first place at the start of the final race on Sunday, which became a duel for second place with High Five and Jolly Green only one point apart. High Five won the heavily favored end of the start line, managed to fly their spinnaker on the close reach to Meadow Point, and thus clinched the duel, finishing the regatta in second with Jolly Green in third. Lek and his crew’s victory on Underdog is great to see — Lek has been showing top form ever since he attended the World Championships in Denmark earlier this summer.

The racing in the J/105 class was as tight as ever, with five boats scoring a first place in six races. Class winner aboard Creative , Al Hughes, shared the following report: 

There were seven J/105s on the line for Friday, which starts in the afternoon with a couple of buoy races. Winds were 8-18 knots from the south. The first race went to Creative who fended off a stiff challenge from Moose Unknown all around the course and then Insubordination who passed Moose in the last bit of the beat to the finish. The second race had a little more wind, which was more shifty as well. Creative made a nice move to the west on the run to close up with the early leaders More Jubilee , Insubordination and Moose . On the beat to the finish Creative played the shifts well to finish first again followed by Moose and then a tie between Insubordination and Jubilee . Saturday brought continued southerlies but a little more east in them and a wider range of speeds with a few showers. These new conditions brought some different players to the front. Jubilee took the first race from the crew of Liftoff who crossed second ahead of Moose . The second race had Puff leading early before being overtaken by Moose and the Insubordination . The last race of the day saw Liftoff lead most of the race until being nipped at the leeward mark by the downwind train of Peer Gynt . It seemed like the whole fleet was rounding the leeward mark at once. On the beat back to the finish, Insubordination played the shifts very well to pass all four boats who rounded ahead of them to cross the line first, followed by Liftoff and Peer Gynt . But the dreaded protest room later that evening took down Insubordination for a room-at-the-mark violation. In six races, the J/105s saw five different boats win a race. That’s close competition! Photo by Jan Anderson. Starting the final day, things were very tight with Moose and Creative tied at 9 points each after counting throwouts, and More Jubilee and Insubordination within reach. The final day saw a delay in starting over concerns about a very low barometer and high wind forecast. The RC did what they could with an ESE breeze but it was a bit of a parade with a huge premium on a port-tack-only start; continuing with very close reaching to the turning mark, beam reach to the leeward mark which was in a bit of a wind hole, and then tight reach back to the windward mark and repeat. Passing lanes were hard to come by. Puff got the best start but they were passed on the tight reach by Insubordination and then Peer Gynt . Creative got by Peer Gynt at the leeward mark hole and were followed by Moose . Another lap followed with no changes, but Jubilee took the low road on the last leg to sneak by Moose for third. Final tally was Creative first, Moose Unknown second, and the Insubordination crew third. Without the DSQ, Insubordination had the best record over the three days. But it was good stuff for the local fleet that every boat had a turn at the front, the competition was always stiff, and I think everyone had a good time. 

The fastest boats on the course were a pair of TP52s, who wound up match racing in ORC Class 1. Smoke and Glory had some great battles. The longer buoy courses allowed for racing to test both boat speed and tactics. It’s fair to say that Glory had the speed advantage aided by a couple of shiny new sails, but Smoke sailed savvy and absolutely earned the top spot for the weekend. 

Glory had a one point lead going into the final race on the breezy Sunday, but with the tie break rules in such a small class, it was one race for all the marbles. The race committee sent the 52s upwind to West Point and then on a reachy downwinder to a mark a bit beyond Spring Beach and back. With just two boats on the start, you’d think there’d be plenty of room and clean air to spare. Well, with a seriously pin-favored starting line, there was only one place to be, and Smoke positioned themselves brilliantly, gassing Glory off the line. Glory was able to reel them in on the beat, and attempted to hold Smoke out at West Point but Smoke got a nose in and earned mark room, retaining the lead around the mark.

Both boats put kites up in the southeasterly, and quickly were making way west of the ideal course. Simultaneous douses left the two boats jib reaching for the mark, where Smoke once again rounded just ahead again. Back on the breeze in winds now topping 20 knots, Glory clawed back, stretching their legs and climbing on top to cross the finish line a few boat lengths ahead of Smoke , but after the handicaps were applied, Smoke won with a margin of almost 30 seconds. It is pretty amazing how much fun competition two well sailed sleds like this can have in a class all by themselves. 

Around the fleet, great battles abounded. Both ORC Class 2 and PHRF Class 3 had to employ tiebreakers to determine the winners: Jonathan McKee’s Riptide 44, Dark Star , just edged Dougherty and Andrews’ J/125 Hamachi who made a late charge in Sunday’s big breeze; and Charlie Macaulay’s Farr 39 Absolutely pipped Iain Christenson’s Farr 36, Annapurna , in the final race to top the class of the fastest PHRF boats. 

Tolga Cezik’s J/111 Lodos , Bill Buchan’s Peterson 44 Sachem , and Nick Andrewes’ Davidson 29 Madame Pele rounded out the class winning honors. Full results here .

Thanks to SYC for another terrific Grand Prix Regatta. It was fun to know it was open to all this year. And, as always, those that attended were treated to the region’s swankiest regatta dinner at the Seattle Yacht Club for the awards ceremony on Sunday Night. What a great weekend! 

All images are courtesy of Jan Anderson Photography . Special thanks to Lek Dimarucot and Al Hughes for their assistance with this story. 

Joe Cline has been the Managing Editor of 48° North since 2014. From his career to his volunteer leadership in the marine industry, from racing sailboats large and small to his discovery of Pacific Northwest cruising —Joe is as sail-smitten as they come. Joe and his wife, Kaylin, welcomed a baby girl to their family in December 2021, and he is enjoying fatherhood while still finding time to sail, make music, and tip back a tasty IPA every now and again.

Cruising Destinations , Featured

Destinations: Broughton’s Anchorages, Part One

April 5, 2024

Adventure Stories , Featured

Sea Adventurer: An Interview with Kirsten Neuschäfer, Part One

April 4, 2024

Boating News , Featured

Friday Harbor’s Opening Day Boat Parade Set for Sunday, May 5

April 3, 2024

Racing , Featured

Eastsound Spring Regatta Moving to West Sound for 2024

April 2, 2024

Instructional , Featured

Get into Youth Sailing in the PNW: A Parent’s Guide

Race Reports , Featured

Optimism Delivers: CYC Pulley Point Race

March 29, 2024

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Arkéa Ultim Challenge - Actual Ultim 3 leads - Positions, Images and Video from Day 1

Related Articles

• AROUND THE SAILING WORLD
• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Email Newsletters
• Best Marine Electronics & Technology
• America’s Cup
• St. Petersburg
• Caribbean Championship
• Boating Safety

Alive Sails to Another Sydney Hobart Race Win

• By Rolex Newsroom
• January 2, 2024

Alive , owned by Phillip Turner and skippered by Duncan Hine, is the 2023 overall winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race . The Reichel/Pugh 66 arrived in Hobart to become only the second Tasmanian boat to have their name inscribed on the legendary Tattersall Cup not once, but twice.

“We’ve proved it wasn’t a fluke by winning it twice, so going into the history books I suppose is quite an honor,” commented Hine on his second overall win on this boat in five years, in typical understated fashion.

Preparation, experience and local knowledge proved to be invaluable for the winning crew, as conditions along the 628-nautical mile course pushed the smaller boats in particular to their limit.

Alive chose the same strategy as the maxis at the front of the fleet and headed east out of the Sydney heads, aiming to get around the worst of the storm fronts and harness the best of the easterly wind, a decision not without its concerns for skipper Hine.

“It was tricky, when you’re more than 100 miles east of the rhumb line and still going away from land and you’re going through the transition and thinking ‘is it ever going to come back to the way it was forecast’ – well, on one of the models.”

Like many of the 103 boats facing this arduous adventure, Alive had its share of breakages to contend with. “We were one sail down and it was the best sail for this race, we blew it out on the first day, but we hung on to URM . If we’d had that jib top we might have actually been in front of her.”

After 48 hours of battling the elements and shadowing their closest rivals on URM Group , as has often been the case in the near 80-year history of the event, the final 10 miles up Hobart’s Derwent River would decide the ultimate winner of this offshore epic.

“We didn’t realize URM was in the river, we actually thought she’d finished, and we saw her and thought, there it is. I knew what was going on and that the westerly weather pattern would replace the southerly that they had coming down the river. So, the hole that they fell into is well-known to any Hobartian sailor.”

Illustrating the importance of impeccable preparation and a wealth of experience, Alive ’s navigator Adrienne Cahalan, a former Australian yachtswoman of the year and now on her 31st Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, had a plan from the start, and it was a good one.

“We stuck to our strategy. You try to make as many decisions as you can before you leave the dock. But in this race particularly, there were a lot of challenging scenarios, things were changing out there. But I was lucky to work with Stu Bannatyne and Gavin Brady, who’d done many around the world races. And we’d talked about it beforehand and we went and executed it, and it paid off.”

• More: Offshore Racing , Racing , Rolex Sydney Hobart , Sailboat Racing
• More Racing

Into the Dink

Sally Helme, Marine Industry Icon Passes

SailGP’s New Zealanders Win Destructive Event No. 9

Reineke’s Battle For the Berth

One-Design Wingfoil Racing Takes Off

The Wisdom of Augie Diaz

Nautor Swan Has A New Pocket Rocket

Brauer Sails into Hearts, Minds and History

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

About Yacht Scoring Top

Scoring options and results top, sailing news and social media top.

• Find A School
• Certifications
• North U Sail Trim
• Inside Sailing with Peter Isler
• Docking Made Easy
• Study Quizzes
• Bite-sized Lessons
• Fun Quizzes
• Sailing Challenge

7 Global Sailing Races to Follow

By: Zeke Quezada, ASA Destinations , Event , Inside Sailing , Sailing Fun

As American Sailing evolves our curriculum to offer more racing options through North U, I am attempting to learn more about sailboat racing. If you are following along with my journey to become a racer, you know that I am a neophyte when it comes to racing. I am a cruiser. I am a self-described “lazy sailor” that does not focus on trimming my sails and instead works on not dropping my chips and salsa while sailing.

You can get an idea of my journey in my last two pieces on sailing and racing:

SAIL TRIM FOR CRUISERS: WHY TRIM YOUR SAILS?

HOW TO GRADUATE FROM CRUISER TO RACER — STEPS TO START RACING SAILBOATS

I plan to find out more about the serious and not-so-serious side of sailboat racing. Many people, even non-sailors, know what the America’s Cup is, and may have even turned on a sports network to catch a SailGP race. But there is far more to sailing races than those two.

Here’s an overview of seven of the big races, regattas, and race series that occur regularly around the world. These are iconic events, both old and new, that shape the world of racing and have inspired sailors for generations to challenge themselves to new heights, both on and off the water.

Cowes Week is one of the oldest and most prestigious sailing regattas in the world, held every August in the Solent waters off Cowes, UK. The event has been around since 1826, and it’s known for attracting some of the best sailors from around the globe. It’s the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world, with up to 1,000 boats and 8,000 competitors taking part in the 40 daily sailing races.

Whether you’re an Olympic or world-class pro, or just a weekend sailor, Cowes Week is an event that has something for everyone. And even if you’re not into sailing, the regatta is still a spectacle to behold – with stunning views of the coastline and plenty of festivities both on and off the water. 

Once you discover the allure of racing it appears that Cowes Week might be worthy of a sailing vacation that includes either participating in a race or just being involved as a spectator. I am not there yet, but it could happen.

Next Race Date: July 29 – Aug 4, 2023 Cowes Week Website

The Ocean Race

I do know about The Ocean Race only because prior to the new owner taking over, it was the Volvo Ocean Race for twenty years and that is how they got me to buy a Volvo. I walked into the dealership and saw some mesmerizing sailboat pictures and I signed the contract and drove away.  I am a sucker.

The Ocean Race is a round-the-world yacht race that occurs every three years. It’s known as one of the most challenging sailing races globally, spanning over 45,000 nautical miles. The race consists of multiple legs and lasts about nine months. The race starts in Europe and ends in Asia or Oceania. The exact route changes with each edition of the race.

Both professional sailors and amateur sailors can participate in this race. The teams are composed of eight sailors, all racing on the same boats. These boats are specially designed to be fast and robust, capable of enduring the tough conditions of the open ocean.

This race used to be known as the Whitbread Round the World Race until it was renamed the Volvo Ocean Race and now is known as The Ocean Race.

Next Race Date: Currently in progress at the time of the post! The Ocean Race Website

America’s Cup 

My first foray into sailing racing was when Dennis Conner won the America’s Cup.  I was a kid watching the news and learned about sailing through this huge event on the vessel, Stars and Stripes. Years later I took a ride on what I was told was the same boat. I was skeptical about the origin of the vessel I was on but that day I learned a lot about how much I loved the idea of sailing. A couple of years later I bought a boat.

The America’s Cup is held every few years on dates agreed between the defender and the challenger. There is no fixed schedule, but the races have generally been held every three to four years. The most recent America’s Cup match took place in March 2021. 

The 37th America’s Cup Official Opening Ceremony will be held in Barcelona on 22 August 2024. The Final Preliminary Event and the Challenger Selection Series will follow, leading up to the America’s Cup Match that will start on 12 October 2024. During 2023/early 2024, there is potential for up to three preliminary events. By June 2023, all the teams will have their base set up and be training in Barcelona.

The competition takes place between teams representing different countries or yacht clubs. The event involves a series of races where high-tech racing yachts, known as America’s Cup Class boats, compete in head-to-head races that test their speed, agility, and teamwork.

The competition dates back to 1851 when a schooner called America won a race around the Isle of Wight. The trophy, now known as the America’s Cup, was donated to the New York Yacht Club and has since become one of the most prestigious prizes in sailing.

Next Race Date: October 12, 2024 The America’s Cup Website

Vendée Globe

If I was a racer I am sure that The Vendée Globe would be the race that would inspire me to go hard into this type of adventure. The Vendée Globe is a single-handed (solo) non-stop yacht race around the world without assistance. It takes place every four years and is an extreme form of sailing.  It is said that more people have been into space than have finished the Vendee Globe. First held in 1989, the race starts and ends in Les Sables-d’Olonne, a small town on the west coast of France, and covers a distance of approximately 45,000 km.

Sailors must navigate their way through some of the most treacherous waters on the planet, including the Southern Ocean and the Cape Horn. Sailors must rely solely on their own skills, knowledge, and experience to complete the race. They face extreme weather conditions, sleep deprivation, and the constant threat of danger as they navigate their way around the world. 

The boats are designed specifically for the event and are some of the most advanced sailing vessels in the world, capable of speeds of up to 30 knots.

Next Race Date: November 10, 2024 The Vend é e Globe Website

St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

I must confess that I had a very nice t-shirt from this regatta that I purchased at the St. Maarten airport. I was leaving the country and realized that I had not bought any souvenirs so I found this shirt in the terminal and wore it like a proud sailboat racer. I was an imposter, I had never even seen any of the race and I did not know it existed.

The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is a massive sailing event that takes place on the island of Sint Maarten in the Caribbean. It’s actually the biggest regatta in the Caribbean and the largest warm water regatta in the world.

The event attracts top sailors from 37 countries, who compete in a series of races over four days. The competition draws in sailors that are both professionals and passionate amateurs who just love to sail.

Next Race Date: Feb 29 – Mar 3, 2024 St. Maarten Regatta Website

Transpacific Yacht Race (Transpac)

If you live and sail in Southern California, you will hear about Transpac. I have heard about it, and I did not realize it was a race. I always figured it was a group of sailors who sailed across the Pacific to Hawaii in a large caravan, like a large flotilla, without any daily stops. I will confess that when I sailed my Catalina 27 five times a week, I had a few fantasies about tagging along in my boat and stopping over in Hawaii with the Transpac crowd. But, unfortunately, I was misguided.

The Transpacific Yacht Race (Transpac) is a biennial offshore yacht race held in odd-numbered years starting off the Pt. Fermin buoy in San Pedro, California, and ending off Diamond Head in Hawaii, a distance of around 2,225 nautical miles (2,560 mi; 4,121 km). It is one of the world’s oldest major ocean races for sailing yachts. The race was first held in 1906 and made a biennial event in 1939 to alternate with the Bermuda Race.

Next Race Date: June 27, 2023 TransPac Website

Now in its 4th season, SailGP is a newer series race held as a competition between nations on identical F50 catamarans. Currently the nations competing include Australia, New Zealand, Emirates Great Britain, France, Canada, Denmark, United States, Switzerland, and Spain. The race is held on weekends in iconic locations around the world modeled in a grand prix format similar to Formula 1 in which points accumulate throughout the season based on winnings from each race and contribute toward a championship. 

The race series has a really great app you can use to follow along and watch live, or on YouTube, and they are doing wonderful work expanding the sport’s impact initiatives through their second championship leaderboard that tracks the positive actions the teams make to reduce their overall carbon footprint and help accelerate inclusivity in sailing. The coverage of this series is great to watch – it has a high production value including live mics on the sailors and post race interviews with the sailors. The commentators do a good job educating the audience as to the basics of sailboat racing as well as explaining the racing rules.

Season 4 Opening Race: June 16-17, 2023 Chicago Sail GP Website

So which race strikes your fancy? Here’s hoping you enjoy some of these and find some new inspiration in your sailing journey!

Related Posts:

• Learn To Sail
• Mobile Apps
• Online Courses
• Upcoming Courses
• Sailor Resources
• ASA Log Book
• Bite Sized Lessons
• Knots Made Easy
• Catamaran Challenge
• Sailing Vacations
• Sailing Cruises
• Charter Resources
• International Proficiency Certificate
• Find A Charter
• All Articles
• Sailing Tips
• Sailing Terms
• Destinations
• Environmental
• Initiatives
• Instructor Resources
• Become An Instructor
• Become An ASA School
• Member / Instructor Login
• Affiliate Login

Merritt, Scott Sellers come from 'dead last,' win 46.5-hour race from Chicago to Mackinac

Merritt Sellers, at 15, and the crew sailing on "nosurprise" won a 46.5-hour race from Chicago to Mackinac Island by fewer than 6 minutes on Monday.

The crew of eight sailors scrambled to overcome a mistake and seize victory. This was the second year in a row that the 36-foot sailboat owned by Scott Sellers of Larkspur, California, won its class in a race from Lake Michigan to the Straits of Mackinac. The boat is based at the Little Traverse Yacht Club in Harbor Springs, where Sellers has a summer house.

"We were over (the starting line) early, so had to go back and restart," Merritt Sellers told the Detroit Free Press while returning the transponder that tracks race boats to event organizers based at the Pink Pony in the Chippewa Hotel on Mackinac Island . "We were dead last for a while. We were a mile behind. The entire race, we were fighting back, taking boat by boat."

It wasn't until early Monday, she said, that nosurprise moved into first place.

"Then we lost it and then we got it back," Sellers said.

The sailors on the boat − from Michigan, Wisconsin, Texas, Connecticut, Ohio and California − wanted to be right at the line to go full speed as soon as the gun fired. They didn't realize they were early until about 3 minutes into the race.

"They say it over the radio. They call your sail number," Sellers said. "It took us 7 minutes to get back" to the starting line.

The crew, which included Hadley Camp and Owen Beckley of Harbor Springs, finished in 46:27:06 hours, according to the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac results posted online .

"We didn't panic"

Hannah Sellers didn't sail after last year, despite winning.

"It was a pretty gnarly race — pouring rain and thunderstorms and lightning for hours. It was one of the most intense storms I've ever seen. It felt really exciting to race through that," 18-year-old Hannah Sellers told the Free Press at the time . "Then a tough finish for seven hours upwind with intense waves and a cold front. It was pretty chilly on the boat."

This year, the wind was "up and down and shifting directions. We had to shift a lot of gears and change a lot of sails," Scott Sellers, a private equity manager, told the Free Press after the race. "We didn't realize we were over early, and we had to go back. ... But we didn't panic. We knew it was a really long race. We were conservative in our tactics."

Winning, he said, "takes a combination of a lot of effort, skill and luck, and we had all three."

Scott Sellers grew up in Birmingham and began racing Mackinac at age 14 with his father — Bob Sellers, who owned the Pontiac Buick General Motors dealership in Farmington Hills before selling it, moving to Florida and retiring from racing as an "old goat." He earned that title, which carries honor in the sailing community and is sometimes tattooed on ankles of sailors, as someone who raced at least 25 times from Port Huron to Mackinac Island.

More: At 15, Merritt Sellers returns to Mackinac races and inspires young first-time sailors

The J/111 was viewed as highly competitive, as illustrated by the tight margins between the top finishers. Colin Caliban of Covert, Michigan, and his seven crew members placed second on No Quarter. The boat from South Haven Yacht Club finished in 46:32:07 hours. Bradley Faber of Holland, Michigan, and his four crew members finished third on Utah of Macatawa Bay Yacht Club in 46:50:06 hours.

Bayview Mackinac vs Chicago to Mackinac

Nearly 200 boats raced in the Bayview Mackinac race a week ago. More than 230 boats sailed from Chicago, according to the Chicago Yacht Club. Race officials said they didn't expect any changes to the nosurprise victory but said results are considered provisional initially in case of protest or another unexpected development.

Only Merritt and Scott Sellers sailed the 2022 Port Huron to Mackinac race together, with Merritt driving alone at night, and won their class . They did not make the podium this year in the Bayview Mackinac Race. But Merritt Sellers is c redited with inspiring other young sailors to race the long Mackinac course.

The sailboat that carried Merritt and Scott Sellers to victory had been owned by Dave Irish, a Great Lakes legend and past president of U.S. Sailing. He earned a reputation for offshore sailing skill and mentoring sailors who went on to compete in America's Cup. 

Scott Sellers, who sailed 20 Mackinac races with Irish, purchased the boat in 2020 with hopes of carrying on his legacy of introducing new sailors to the sport. Of the eight crew members finishing Monday, five were 25 or younger.

"One more thing that made this special was that it was a three-peat," Sellers said. "Winning the J/111 class three years in a row, every year since the prior boat owner and my sailing mentor, Dave Irish, passed."

More: Sailors overcome emergency at 2 a.m. in rough waters to win Bayview Mackinac race

More: Mackinac Island police seize e-bikes, issue tickets to visitors who break rules

More: Mackinac Island gets new restaurant on Main Street honoring old Michigan family

Editor's note: Phoebe Wall Howard, an autos reporter, also writes about sailing and Mackinac Island. She is a member of the Port Huron Yacht Club and part of a longtime sailing family that has visited Mackinac since her childhood.

Contact  Phoebe Wall Howard : 313-618-1034 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter  @phoebesaid .

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• March Madness
• AP Top 25 Poll
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Two super maxis continue to lead the Sydney to Hobart race as storms hit fleet

Comanche heads down Sydney Harbour during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Skallywag, left, and Comanche sail close during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Sail boats enter open water after the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Competitors race to the start line to begin the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Andrea Francolini/Rolex/CYCA via AP)

Boats compete during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

LawConnect, left, leads the fleet during the start of the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Salty Dog/CYCA via AP)

Competitors race past spectator boasts as they begin the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Andrea Francolini/Rolex/CYCA via AP)

Competitors sail through Sydney Harbour to begin the Sydney Hobart yacht race in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. The 630-nautical mile race has more than 100 yachts starting in the race to the island state of Tasmania. (Andrea Francolini/Rolex/CYCA via AP)

• Copy Link copied

SYDNEY (AP) — The Sydney to Hobart fleet was reduced to 98 boats after overall honors contender Maritimo 52 was one of two retirements on a stormy first night of racing.

Rival super maxis Andoo Comanche and LawConnect remained neck-and-neck in the early hours of Wednesday as the fleet began to pass Eden on the New South Wales south coast before heading into Bass Strait.

The two favorites for line honors were some 40 miles (65 kilometers) ahead of the nearest challengers.

Race officials confirmed Maritimo had retired overnight with rigging damage, while 50-footer Sticky pulled out with electrical issues. The retirements came after line honors contender SHK Scallywag was among the three boats of the 103 starters to pull out on the first evening after the start Tuesday in Sydney harbor.

“We’re shattered, actually,” said Maritimo crew member Peter Jones. “We were trying to work a million ways around it, but at best we were going to be at 50%.”

Jones reported a southwesterly front had come through with three hours of heavy rain and high winds.

“There was as much lightning as we’d ever seen,” Jones said.

LawConnect was the first out of the harbor. The finish line of the 628-nautical mile (720-mile, 1,170-kilometer) race is at Constitution Dock in the state capital of Hobart.

The line honors record of 1 day, 9 hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds was set by Comanche in 2017, after Comanche also won last year’s race . In 2022, Comanche finished at Constitution Dock in 1 day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds — the second-fastest time behind its 2017 race record.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

SEAL BEACH YACHT CLUB

Race Results

2020 SlBYC Season High Points Standings as of November 22, 2020

2020 Sunday Sailors - 2020 - Race 1 - Results

2020 Long Beach Harbor High Points Series Standings as of Sept 12

Pop Tops - 2020 - Overall Season Winners

Pop Tops - 2020 - Series 5 - All Results

Pop Tops - 2020 - Series 4 - All Results

Pop Tops - 2020 - Series 3 - All Results

Harbor Pursuit Race - 2020 - Results

Saturday Sailors - 2020 - All Results

MidWinter Regatta - 2020 - All Results

2019 SlBYC - Season High Points - Final Standings - All Scores

2019 SlBYC - Season High Points - Final Standings

Sunday Sailors Series - 2019 - All Results

2019 ASPBYC San Pedro Bay Cup - Results

2019 Long Beach Harbor High Points Series - Final Standings

Outlaw Regatta - 2019

Pop Tops - 2019 - Overall Trophy Winners

Pop Tops - 2019 - Series 5 - All Results

Pop Tops - 2019 - Series 4 - All Results

Pop Tops - 2019 - Series 3 - All Results

Pop Tops - 2019 - Series 2 - All Results

Pop Tops - 2019 - Series 1 - All Results

Seal Beach to Dana Point Race - 2019 - Results

Ensenada Preview Race - 2019 - Results

Saturday Sailors Series - 2019 - All Results

MidWinter Regatta - 2019 - All Results

Yacht Race Results

Model boat association dover.

 MBA Dover - Home 

2024 Diary Dates

Kearsney Abbey Boating Lake

The Model Boat Association Dover (MBA Dover) was formed in May 1993, by a group of people who enjoyed sailing model boats of all types, and has now grown into a flourishing club. MBA Dover operates on the boating lake within the grounds of “Kearsney Abbey Park" which is situated at the Temple Ewell end of the Alkham Road. There are car parks, a restaurant and public toilets. The club meets regularly throughout the year to sail radio controlled model boats. Including electric, steam powered and yachts. All are welcome but I/C Engines of any kind are not permitted on the lake.

Regular monthly club meetings for members are held at the Dover Transport Museum on the first Wednesday evening of the month @ 7.30pm

Details of all Club and other relevant Model Boat events can be found in the " Diary Dates " ​

Powerboat events:  Members social sailing sessions are held on Sunday mornings throughout the year between 10 and 12am. The Club also organizes a number of power boat events throughout the year, Illuminated, Regattas & Club 500 racing (see Next Event page for details).

Yacht Race Events:

Sunday morning bi-weekly Fairwind Yacht racing events are run throughout the year.  Each event consists of five, three lap races, around the club's permanent marker buoys on the Kearsney Abbey Boating Lake. Events are split up into 4 annual series, Icicle, Spring, Summer & Frostbite. S ee Next Event page for dates and times.  

 Fairwind Yacht Racing  

Kearsney abbey, home of the, mba dover .

Last Update - 24 Sep 23

NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville: Live updates, highlights, live leaderboard of Cook Out 400

The NASCAR Cup Series continue the spring run through southern short tracks with Sunday's Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.

Last week, Denny Hamlin earned a controversial victory at Richmond after a late-race pit stop and restart got him into the lead.

This week, the series moves down to Southern Virginia and the paperclip race track that will require some bumping and running for passing.

Follow along with our live race updates, with green flag set for after 2 p.m. CT on Sunday.

PICKS FOR SUNDAY'S RACE:  NASCAR Martinsville predictions 2024: Expert picks for Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway

STARTING LINEUP:  NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville: Starting lineup, TV schedule for Sunday's race

SATURDAY'S XFINITY SERIES RESULTS:  Who won NASCAR Xfinity race in Martinsville? Winner is Aric Almirola, plus full results

NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville: Live updates, highlights, live leaderboard

LIVE LEADERBOARD: Full field leaderboard of NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville

Cook Out 400 top 10 finishers

• William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
• Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
• Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
• Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
• Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• Ryan Preece, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Denny Hamlin loses a spot on that final two-lap run on new tires and finishes 11th.

FULL RESULTS: Who won NASCAR Cup race in Martinsville? Winner is William Byron, plus full results

NASCAR Martinsville winner: William Byron, and 1-2-3 finish for Hendrick Motorsports

William Byron forces Chase Elliott to run on the outside and clears Elliott to the white flag. Kyle Larson gets past Elliott for second, and Byron wins by several car lengths. A Hendrick 1-2-3.

Hendrick Motorsports has most of their employees in a hospitality area in turn 2, and Byron does a burnout in front of them. Pretty cool scene. HMS is celebrating their 40-year anniversary of their first Cup win.

NASCAR Overtime: Leaders stay out, except for Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin, from 4th, comes down pit road for new tires. Most of the top 10 stays out. That seems like the wrong move, but we'll see.

Lap 397: Caution!

John Hunter Nemechek cuts a tire into turn 3, and he hits the wall. Nemechek's right-front tire is on fire.

What will the leaders do, tire wise?

Lap 353: William Byron has 2 second lead over Chase Elliott

William Byron has a two-second lead over teammate Chase Elliott and third place Kyle Larson as the race winds down. Ryan Blaney's two-tire gamble at the start of the final stage has helped him move up to 5th. Bubba Wallace is 6th after doing the same late stop that Hamlin did on what appears to be the final green flag stop.

Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs among those a lap down. Only 15 cars remain on the lead lap.

Lap 310: Josh Berry has uncontrolled tire violation

Josh Berry's day on pit road has been miserable, and he has to serve a penalty for an uncontrolled tire violation. He's now in 28th, two laps down.

Lap 301: Green flag pit stops shuffle the leaderboard

Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and William Byron all pass Denny Hamlin after Hamlin pits later than the other leaders. Byron eventually passes Elliott for what will be the lead after the field cycles through pit stops. Byron went from 5th to 1st on that cycle.

Lap 264: Denny Hamlin to the lead

After a battle throughout several laps, Denny Hamlin passes Chase Elliott for the lead. Hamlin leads by more than a second now over the No. 9 car.

Lap 209: Green flag, and Chase Elliott continues to lead

Chase Elliott sets sail after the restart over Denny Hamlin. This is a tremendous run for the No. 9 car, but he needs the result too.

Lap 203: Christopher Bell spins

Was just about to give a Christopher Bell update when he spins in turn 4. He'll remain two laps down after what was diagnosed as a loose lugnut issue during a green flag run earlier.

Lap 194: Chase Elliott to the lead on the restart

Denny Hamlin is the leader at the restart, but Chase Elliott exits well off of turn 4 and passes Hamlin for the lead. No. 9 to P1.

After pit stops post-stage 2, Ryan Blaney moves back into the top 10 after a two-tire stop. Joey Logano restarts 7th after getting stacked up on pit road.

Denny Hamlin wins Stage 2

Denny Hamlin holds off Bubba Wallace for the Stage 2 victory.

The top 10:

• Denny Hamlin
• Bubba Wallace
• Kyle Larson
• Chase Elliott
• Joey Logano
• Alex Bowman
• Chase Briscoe
• William Byron
• Ross Chastain

Lap 170: Denny Hamlin to the lead

Joey Logano can't keep his car on the bottom after some pressure by Denny Hamlin, and the 11 car takes the lead with 10 to go in the stage.

Lap 163: Lap traffic stacking up the leaders

Joey Logano can't put Austin Dillon two laps down, and the top 8 are now nose-to-tail. The racing up front has not been the best through the first 80 miles.

Lap 121: Joey Logano again clears on the restart

Joey Logano continues to make due with the two-tire strategy. He clears Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin for the lead on the restart. All four Hendrick Motorsports cars are lined up behind the top three.

Josh Berry re-enters the top 10 after a bad pitstop during the stage end caution.

Lap 112: Christopher Bell cuts right front tire

Christopher Bell is slow after cutting the right front tire. He slowly makes his way to pit road.

After a couple more laps, the caution flag is out for debris. Bell is now three laps down.

Lap 108: Ryan Blaney has long way back to top 10

Ryan Blaney started toward the back of the lead lap group after pitting twice during the stage end caution for a loose wheel. He's outside the top 20, in 24th.

Lap 94: Joey Logano takes two tires, leads field to restart

Joey Logano leads Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace to the green flag after taking two tires. Good jump for Logano. Wallace clears Larson on the bottom for second.

Kyle Larson wins Stage 1 despite last-lap effort of Bubba Wallace

Kyle Larson gets slowed by lap traffic in the final 10 or so laps, and Bubba Wallace closed in to the point where the two leaders were side-by-side in turns 3 and 4 on the final lap of the stage. But Larson pulls away off of turn 4 to win the stage and the playoff point.

• Martin Truex Jr.

Lap 60: Only 26 cars on the lead lap

Kyle Larson has already put 11 cars a lap down. He's lead all 60 laps so far.

William Byron has moved up to 9th and battles Denny Hamlin and Josh Berry for 7th. Byron started 18th. Stage 1 will end soon.

Lap 26: Kyle Larson has already caught lap traffic

Kyle Larson is lapping the back of the field already, with Daniel Hemric and David Starr already a lap down. First stage is 80 laps.

Lap 11: Kyle Larson leads by a few car lengths

Kyle Larson leads Bubba Wallace by about six-tenths of a second. Shouldn't be too long before Larson hits lap traffic.

Lap 1: Green flag!

The Cook Out 400 is underway. Kyle Larson, Bubba Wallace and Chase Elliott get single-file and clear the pack as the top three.

Cook Out 400 nearly ready to begin

A nice day and a solid crowd at Martinsville as the field fires the engines and get going on their pace laps.

Should be an interesting day for Hendersonville's Josh Berry, who has success at this track in the Xfinity Series and starts 7th.

Kyle Larson on the pole; full NASCAR Cup Series in Martinsville starting lineup

Kyle Larson won the pole for Sunday's race, his second consecutive pole of the season.

• 1. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• 2. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
• 3. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
• 4. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• 5. Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• 6. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
• 7. Josh Berry, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
• 8. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• 9. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
• 10. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Find the  full starting lineup here.

NASCAR race radio coverage: How to listen to NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville

The Cook Out 400 at Martinsville will be aired on the radio by the Motor Racing Network. MRN has affiliates all across the country, and their feed can also be streamed on  MRN.com  and on  NASCAR.com  as well as the NASCAR app. The race can also be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

NASCAR Cup Series Martinsville race TV schedule, start time

• Green Flag Time:   Approx. 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 7
• TV coverage:   FS1 (coverage begins at 1 p.m. CT Sunday)
• Radio:   MRN (TBD in Nashville)
• Streaming:  FUBO  (free trial available); FOX Sports app (subscription required); MRN.com and SiriusXM for audio (subscription required).

The Cook Out 400 will be broadcast nationally on FS1. Streaming options for the game include the FOX Sports app and  FUBO , which offers a  free trial  to potential subscribers.

Recent NASCAR Cup Series winners at Martinsville

• 2023 fall race:  Ryan Blaney
• 2023 spring race:  Kyle Larson
• 2022 fall race:  Christopher Bell
• 2022 spring race:  William Byron
• 2021 fall race:  Alex Bowman
• 2021 spring race:  Martin Truex Jr.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Yacht Mark Twain being refurbished in bid to compete in Sydney to Hobart race once more

For the better part of five decades, one yacht returned to the starting line of the Sydney to Hobart race more than any other.

The timber and fibreglass hulled Mark Twain was built in 1971 and has competed in the race a record-breaking 26 times.

But since its last effort in 2018, it has languished at port.

The yacht's new owner, Rob Payne, who refers to himself as the boat's custodian, has grand plans to refurbish the vessel, a Sparkman and Stephens 39, and return the Mark Twain to its former glory.

Although he hopes to return the boat to the starting line of the Sydney to Hobart, he also believes the yacht can be used for a greater good.

Along with Beaconsfield mine disaster survivor Brant Webb , Mr Payne has plans to establish a group called Old Saltys, which will aim to use sailing as a vessel to empower youth through sharing knowledge.

"Sailing is a metaphor for life. You've got to trim your sails and set your course and you're gonna get buffeted around," he said.

The Old Salty's motto will be 'well-weathered wisdom', and the men believe they have a lot of life experience they can share with young people anywhere Mark Twain can sail.

Mine collapse survivor finds solace on the sea

Brant Webb, who was one of two miners rescued after spending 14 days trapped almost a kilometre underground when a Tasmanian mine collapsed in 2006, says sailing helped him after the ordeal.

"After Beaconsfield, if I was having a bad day I'd call up the GP and he'd say 'get the boat ready, we're going sailing'.

"I've been sailing since I was eight years old. All my life. That's the great thing about it, you can turn your phone off out there and no-one can find you."

Mr Webb said the Old Saltys group was intended for "sailors who are too old to race and too young to cruise".

"It gives us old folk a new lease on life. The whole thing is to connect people, to put the unity in community, which we lost during COVID."

Mr Payne, a recent transplant from New Zealand, said he was heartbroken by the condition of the Mark Twain when he first found it in 2020.

"When I saw it, it broke my heart," he said, adding that he had the opportunity to "do something about" refurbishing the "old girl".

"We're only ever the custodians of these extraordinary vessels."

Once a fine racing yacht, the Mark Twain had fallen into disrepair in port at George Town in recent years.

From its first entry in the Sydney to Hobart in 1971, the boat long held the steadily increasing record for the greatest number of entries in the iconic race, even managing to clinch podium finishes for its class on several occasions.

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, it competed in more than 20 Sydney to Hobart races, and in 2002 became the first-ever boat to have sailed in 25.

"Thousands of men and women have sailed on this beautiful vessel," Mr Payne said.

It was bought and refurbished for its 26th entry by veteran Sydney to Hobart skipper Michael Spies in 2018, but that was the last time it took part.

Mr Payne spent several months last year refurbishing the boat's hull himself and on Wednesday, March 27, the mast and boom were removed to be restored by a Beauty Point shipwright.

Along with Mr Webb, he hopes to take the Mark Twain around Tasmania, Australia and New Zealand and share their knowledge of the seas.

"My encouragement to youth is to get into sailing and you know, become part of the community within those sailing clubs," Mr Payne said.

"You don't necessarily have to own a huge boat … you can be in a little sabot [dinghy] and have that experience on the water. It's life changing and transformational."

He is keen to share the refurbishment project with anyone who wants to be involved and hopes the Mark Twain will sail again in the next two to three years.

• X (formerly Twitter)
• Beaconsfield
• Mental Health

NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

• Become a Racer
• Become A Member
• Member Login
• E-NEWS & OFFERS

NHRA Arizona Nationals

• Apr 05-07, 2024
• Firebird Motorsports Park
• 20000 S Maricopa Rd  Chandler, AZ 85226
• Detailed Results
• Qualifying Order