News
Silvestri Named 2010 Sperry Top-Sider Marblehead NOOD Regatta Overall Winner
Over 170 boats and over 1,000 sailors competed in the four-day-long Sperry Top-Sider Marblehead NOOD Regatta hosted by Boston Yacht Club July 22-25, 2010. After taking first place in the Sonar class, Russ Silvestri of San Francisco, California was named the overall winner of the Sperry Top-Sider Marblehead NOOD Regatta, winning the event's top prize, a trip to the British Virgin Islands. The Overall winners from each of the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regattas will complete in the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Championship Regatta in the British Virgin Islands in November aboard Sunsail 39s.
There were 27-boat Sonar Class, Silvestri and crew John Collins, Julie Papanek, and Holt Conbon on Black Tulip entered the final day of racing in 5th place, but a 1st place finish in the final race ended the series in a three-way tie with Larry Ehrhardt and Sam Altreuter, defending Marblehead NOOD Sonar Class Champion and 2009 Marblehead NOOD Overall Winner. With a 1st in the final race, the tiebreaker went to Silvestri. Ehrhardt and Altreuter rounded out the top three, respectively. Silvestri is new to the Sonar class, this being only his second regatta. Russ was powered by all new 2010 Doyle main and jib designs.
In the J/105 class, congratulations to Doyle customers Fred Denapoli for his 2nd place finish, Kevin Colcord's 3rd place finish, and Jon Wales' 5th.
Doyle customers took the top 10 slots in the Rhodes 19 class. Charlie Pendleton and Jim Raisides defended their NOOD title, while Kim and Christina Pandapas took 2nd, and Chris Small finished 3rd. The 2010 Rhodes 19 Class National Championships takes place on August 18, 19 and 20 in Marblehead at the Corinthian Yacht Club.
In the Star Class, full Doyle inventories powered the Jud Smith and Tomas Hornos, finishing 1,2 respectively. A Doyle jib powered 3rd place finisher Ken Woods.
In the J-30 fleet, congratulations to Doyle customer Luke Buxton, competing with a Doyle Genoa. 2nd place finisher Ken Deyett used a full inventory of Doyle sails. The 2010 J/30 North Americans will be held August 6th, 7th and 8th in Marblehead, hosted by the Boston Yacht Club.
"Wings" Wins 2010 J/122 Nationals
Seven J/122s including past East Coast and North American Champioins raced in the 2010 J/122 North Americans, part of the annual race week hosted by New York YC and its' sponsor ROLEX. Jim Callahan and Mike Bruno on-board WINGS convincingly won with five 1sts and a 2nd. Congratulations!
Martine Soffiatti Grael and Isabel Swan Place 7th Overall at the Delta Lloyd 470 Worlds Championship
Congratulations to Martine Soffiatti Grael and Isabel Swan for placing 7th Overall at the Delta Lloyd 470 Worlds Championship. Competing in their first 470 World Championship, the Brazilian duo of Grael and Swan were powered by all Doyle sails. This year's 470 World Championships featured 65 entries in the Women's division.
Martine, 19, is daughter of Torben Grael, one of the most well know Brazilian sailors, winner of the 2009 Volvo Ocean Race and five Olympic medals, four of which were in the Star class. Last year, Martine won the 420 class at the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Buzios, Brazil. Then in September, Martine and Isabel, the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist, started competing in the 470 class.
Ronnie Simpson's Warrior's Wish Finishes 2nd in Class in 2010 Singlehanded Transpac
Video of Ronnie Simpson racing the 2010 Singlehanded Transpac aboard Warrior's Wish, a Mount Gay 30. Warrior's Wish took 2nd in class, finishing in 15 days. The 2010 Singlehanded TransPacific Yacht Race started on June 19th, 2010, from the Corinthian Yacht Club in San Francisco Bay and finished 2,120 miles across the Pacific at beautiful Hanalei Bay, Kauai. This is the 32nd year since the first SSS TransPac was held back in 1978.
Warrior's Wish' Post Race Blog
July 6, 2010- Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
So, uh, yeah. It's over. I'm in Kauai after completing my first Singlehanded Transpac. Was it worth it? Yes. Was it everything I thought it would be? No. it was more. Was crossing the line in Kauai the best single moment in my life? It's a distinct possibility. Finishing this race, in that very moment, was the realization of a dream. Two years ago, this goal of singlehanding to Hawaii nearly killed me and it took everything I owned, stranding me in a foreign land with nothing. Except for the dream. And again this year, this goal of going solo across an ocean took a year out of my life, threw my life for a loop, depleted my checking account and actually started adding grey hairs to my 25 year old head. But now that i've done it, it seems like the time, money and effort involved in every facet of achieving this dream were all great investments.
My last night at sea was arguably my most enjoyable of the trip. The breeze went light, which was the only thing stressing me out. I needed 146 miles in 24 hours to make it in by next radio check and in before dark, which is something I was very concerned about. I stayed awake the entire night, drinking coffee and eating fig newtons, while listening to my iPod. I spotted a bunch of squalls right around dark, which has seemed to be the case while I was sailing in the race. After dark, the squalls seemed to play themselves out and I rarely saw squalls late at night. I watched all of the squalls closely; as they went behind me, in front of me, to port and to starboard. But none hit me. One was getting very close and looked inevitable though, so I dropped the kite. It missed me, but I poled out a jib anyways. I stood there in the companionway, watching the miles slip past my transom as I savored my last night of SHTP. I tried to sleep, but I was buzzing with anticipation and instant coffee-induced caffeine. No, I was not sleeping tonight. This was my last night as an ocean crossing virgin. Tomorrow I was making landfall.
Sun came up before our radio check, so I ran my spinnaker guy and spinnaker sheet, put up the wrap preventer, dropped the jib and got the kite on deck. All I had to do was raise the pole and hoist the kite. I went down below to give my coordinates at 9 AM radio check. I was 70 miles out, having made 76 miles throughout a building night time breeze. Immediately after check in, I hoisted the kite. It had never gone up so fast. I was so stoked for that kite hoist! I had one last kite run before hitting Hawaii. In 15 knots of breeze, I was making 9 knots over the ground. Very solid progress. The breeze started building, as did my boat speed. I called my girlfriend (who was with RJ) when I was 40 miles out. I told her I was 5 to 7 hours out, as I figured it would realistically take me that long. My boat speeds were staying very solid as the breeze started building more and more. In 25 knots true, I was blaring Rage Against the Machine and Tool on my iPod while hand steering the masthead kite towards Kauai. This was quickly turning in to the best kite run and best sailing of my 2.5 year old sailing career. I had turned on the handheld GPS and brought it into the cockpit. I was keeping the boat on a straight line to Hanalei while actively trimming and steering. We were flying. And then it happened. I spotted a line in the clouds. I knew I would see it eventually, and for me, it came at about 31 miles. It was Kauai's north shore on the east side, rising from the water and turning into a volcano. The clouds shifted and I couldn't see it again, but I knew it was there. At 28 miles it became visible again and then increasingly became larger and greener. Land ho!
We were extremely powered up with that much breeze and the masthead kite. Powered up enough to reach my highest boat speed ever in Warrior's Wish. I had seen 14 knots on 2 or 3 occasions, but when we started planing. And planing. And planing. And planing off of a very large wave, I knew we were going fast. Fortunately the handheld GPS was there to show that I was traveling at more than 13 knots for what honestly felt like about 30 seconds, indicating a highest speed of 15.2 knots. I was soooooooooo stoked to see 15 knots. I have been 20 in a sportboat and 25.6 on a catamaran, but to reach 15 while solo on a tradewind swell in a 30 foot keel boat is a whole different ball game. That particular surf will go down as maybe my best pure sailing moment ever to this point. It was turning into a very good day.
I called Rob Tryon from my cell phone at 25 out. Then mom. Then Kat and RJ. Then various sailing friends. "Dude, i'm surfing to Kauai in cell phone range. Bye!" was my normal conversation. My friends all knew I was excited. We continued ripping to Kauai in grand fashion, with the island becoming larger and larger, closer and closer. Finally at 8 miles out, I got Jim Kellam on the VHF. That was a good feeling, being within VHF range. Still under full kite, I crossed the line at 8 knots. "Congratulations Warrior's Wish, you have just finished the Singlehanded Transpac. Welcome to Hanalei". The moment had been played over and over a million times in my head prior to it happening, but it still set me back. "It's over. This is it. I did it." I choked back tears and just said "thanks". I ran deep, went pole forward and doused the kite within seconds. I sailed a bit further under main alone and then swung around and hove to so that the committee boat could come greet me. Ladonna from Latitude 38, Rob Tryon from race committee and my brother RJ all boarded the boat and then we began sailing around. We entered the boat as some local sailors sailed laps around us on a small sloop named "Rebel". A dread locked and very friendly local girl was holding onto the backstay yelling "Welcome to Hanalei". "Hooray for Warrior's Wish. Welcome!!"
What an awesome freaking greeting. Phil and Maya and Tonya and your whole group; just know that you made this sailors first tropical landfall a bit more memorable and a bit more special. So thank you. I felt a good tropical, fun, laid back vibe from the get go. You locals are part of what makes Kauai so special. My girlfriend and Adam Correa's girlfriend Kathe both boarded and we all anchored the boat. Rob and Ladonna interviewed me, gave me my lei and gave me my drink of choice which was a beer and a shot. It was actually a small glass of rum and not a shot, but I was not complaining. More booze.
So yeah, that's about it. I crossed the line at 8 knots under full kite, after covering 70 miles in just under 7 hours on what had to be the best downwind romp of my life. We finished under a beautiful blue sky in what honestly may be the most beautiful place i've ever seen in my life. And we did it on the 4th of July, in the Warrior boat who is racing to honor and benefit wounded veterans. I was greeted by friends, family and wonderful girlfriend. We swam and played, ate food and drank, watched fireworks on the 4th, and are now just kicking back in Kauai, which to be honest, i'm already trying to move to and call home. (Yes, i'm dead serious.)
To Don Gray and everyone who was has supported me along the way: Thank you. This may be a solo ocean race, but there are a million people who have made this possible for me. Just know that you helped someone realize a dream and gave me a great experience that I'll carry with me forever.
Some more relaxing and fun time, and then it's back to work. The boat is in good shape, but I still have some work to do and some things to fix before sailing to Oahu and then undergoing the return voyage, doublehanded, to San Francisco near the end of the month.
Doyle's Matt Allen and Andrew Schneider Win 2010 Vanguard 15 Nationals
Doyle's Matt Allen and Andrew Schneider won the 2010 Vanguard 15 Nationals at the Coastal Living Newport Regatta run by Sail Newport. Allen and Schneider finished 35 points ahead of second place winner and 2009 Vanguard 15 Champions Colin Merrick and Amanda Callahan. In predominately light air, ten races were held in the narrow Mackerel Cove for the 56-boat fleet.
2010 District 4 Blue Star Championship
Peter Wright with crew John Baxter convincingly won the District 4 Blue Star Championships sailed out of Michigan City, Indiana June 25-27. Conditions were shifty ranged from 5-13 knots. Racing Sunday was canceled due to strong storms that rolled through at what would have been the start time.
Tom Londrigan Jr. finished 3rd overall using all Doyle sails. Tom Jr. is the 2007, 2008 and 2009 District 4 Champion.
2010 Chicago NOOD Update
Doyle sails continued their domination in classes during the 2010 Chicago NOOD Regatta.
In the Beneteau 36.7 Class, Peter and Dan Wrights Maggie Mae won the 17 boat class with Finishes of 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2. Maggie Mae used a full set of Doyle sails including a 2010 Class Genoa and .5 Runner.
Third place was taken by Steve Pelke's Stingray also using Doyle sails and was the only boat to beat Maggie Mae in a race. Stingray was closely followed by Mark Norris's Split Decision also using Doyle sails. Doyle Sails were used on 7 of the top 10 boats in the Beneteau 36.7 Fleet. Doyle sails have also won the 2010 Detroit and San Diego NOOD Regattas with Chuck Bayer's Grizzley winning both events. Dave Steffen and Vitesse placed 2nd at the Seattle NOOD using all Doyle sails.
In the J-109 Class Len Siegal's Lucky Dubbie took home 1st place using all Doyle sails. This is now the 4th year in a row the J-109 class was won using Doyle sails.
In The Big Boat PHRF 1 Class Bruce Aikens B&C-58 Talisman won the class using a partial inventory of Doyle sails including a Carbon Stratis Mainsail and A-sails.
In the GL-70 Fleet Lance Smotherman's Details placed 3rd using a complete set of Doyle Stratis sails.
2010 Newport Bermuda Update
Over 180 boats in 5 divisions raced in the 635-mile 2010 Newport Bermuda Race.
Congratulations to Jim Shaughnessy and crew on Arbella, a Beneteau First 44.7, for a terrific Class win and 3rd Overall in the 2010 Newport Bermuda Race under IRC Scoring.
Under ORR Scoring, Sarah, Greg Manning's X-41 from Warwick, RI, placed 1st in Class and an impressive 2nd Overall.
Congratulations to John DeFilippo and crew on The Jackal, a Beneteau 40.7, for their performance under both ORR and IRC Scoring. Under IRC Scoring, The Jackal finished 2nd in Class 4, and 3rd in Class 4 under ORR Scoring.
Complete 2010 Newport Bermuda ORR Results
Hugo Boss Sails Off Lands End
British solo sailor Alex Thomson’s new HUGO BOSS IMOCA 60 is the most powerful boat in the IMOCA 60 fleet and is equipped with all Doyle Stratis sails. Thomson has one dream: to be the first non-Frenchman to win the Vendée Globe. Over the next few months, Thomson will undertake a rigorous testing and training schedule which will involve a transatlantic and Mediterranean sailing program before heading to Spain for the start of the Barcelona World Race in December.
The boat has undergone a dramatic redesign over the last four months under the guidance of yacht designer Juan Kouyoumdjian. At the end of May, Thomson’s new HUGO BOSS IMOCA 60 was officially unveiled at an exclusive launch event at the East Wintergarden, Canary Wharf. Hollywood leading lady, Diane Kruger, joined F1 racing driver David Coulthard, and a host of other celebrities, as Thomson’s new yacht was christened in front of an audience of 650 guests.
www.alexthomsonracing.com
www.hugoboss.com
www.hugoboss-sailing.com
Doyle Sailmakers Expansion in Sydney Australia
Doyle Sails Sydney is to undergo a significant transformation with the announcement of a strategic partnership with Doyle Sails New Zealand and the re-opening of its Rushcutters Bay loft. The partnership will see Doyle’s presence in Sydney grow considerably enabling the company to give better service to its customers and to give its local customers direct access to Doyle’s patented Stratis laminated sails, developed and custom built at Doyle’s Auckland plant exclusively for Doyle lofts worldwide.
John Hearne, a name long associated with Doyle in Sydney and well known identity in the Sydney sailing scene, is a key partner in the expansion heading the customer relations team as Sales Manager. John has 30 years experience in the sail making industry and has been involved in all facets of the business. He remains an active sailor with many regatta wins to his credit and has competed in almost every race on the east coast of Australia numerous times.
John Hearne comments, “Working with Doyle NZ gives us access to both their sail design team, headed by Richard Bouzaid, which is held in high regard internationally, and their Stratis plant, one of the largest sail laminating plants in the world. The company has invested heavily in the design and development of their Stratis laminates and they continue to push forward with innovation with two full time chemists at the Auckland plant. For me sharing resources in this way means I can provide my customers with the leading edge in sail technology and design and for my customers it means stronger, lighter, more efficient and longer lasting sails.
“In addition to supplying custom laminated sails out of Auckland, we will be running a full service and repair facility at our newly refurbished sail loft in Neild Avenue, very close to Rushcutters Bay along with a free pick up and drop off service for sails from all of the major yacht clubs. The location of the loft is important as it is convenient for the CYC; everyone is welcome to come up and have a look at their sails on the floor and discuss them with our staff.”
Guy Waddilove has been brought in as General Manager to implement the strategies which have proven successful in New Zealand. This will include improving levels of customer service, promoting Doyle’s Stratis products throughout Australia and ensuring that Doyle Sydney works closely with its sister lofts around Australia to provide a united front, which will give the group better bargaining power and therefore better value for customers. Guy Waddilove spent 15 years aboard large sailing yachts working around the globe, and has more recently been involved in the build and management of large yacht projects. He is a qualified marine surveyor and also writes technical articles for various yachting publications.
Doyle Sails New Zealand has arguably the world’s largest dedicated sail loft and one of the most technologically advanced sail making facilities with its 21,000 sq ft temperature and humidity controlled plant in Auckland producing its patented Stratis fibre-aligned laminated sails. The loft produced the sails for recently launched 58 metre sailing yacht Kokomo including the massive 2,227 square meter gennaker, the largest sail ever produced.
Doyle has seen success locally and internationally on the regatta circuit supplying sails for Neil Pryde’s Hi Fi – winner of many races on the Asian circuit, Bill Wild’s Wedge Tail and Geoff Boecher’s Secret Men’s Business 3.5 among others.
Doyle has kept ahead of the market with the development of Stratis as it recognises the increasing importance of composite technology in sail making.
Doyle New Zealand managing director Chris McMaster comments, “Investment in production has been an important part of our success and the reason for our rapid growth in New Zealand. The days when anyone could set up a sail loft in their garage and cut sails from a roll of cloth are gone; nowadays to produce sails that are going to win races or keep their shape for a considerable time you need to be looking at laminates. We have invested heavily in plant to produce laminated sails to the point where we can now produce them for a similar price to traditionally built panel sails. When you compare the two products it is like comparing a 1970’s car engine with a modern, computer controlled, fuel injected engine: the 1970’s version did its job and was good in its day but technology has moved on and you probably wouldn’t dream of putting a 1970’s engine in a modern car”.
Sailors in New Zealand have recognised the benefits of using Stratis and consequently Doyle Sails now has a major share of the NZ cruising and racing markets as well as internationally in the superyacht market. The strategic partnership means that sailors in Sydney will be able to benefit from the knowledge and experience of Doyle’s internationally recognised sail design team and the technology that has been put into building Stratis sails.
The expansion in Sydney will benefit local sailors providing them with access to state of the art, custom built racing and cruising sails that will perform better and keep their shape longer at a competitive price.
Doyle’s Sydney loft, close to the CYC in Rushcutters Bay has re-opened to allow the team at Doyle Sails Sydney to offer a high level of service for the area’s cruisers and racers as well as for visiting yachts.
Golison Wins 2010 Etchells North American Championship
Bruce Golison with crew Bill Lynn, Dina Corsi and Jud Smith won the 2010 Etchells North Americans held in San Diego June 9 - 12. 42 boats competed in challenging "Catalina Eddy" lumpy and confused conditions ranging from 5-15 knots. Knowing that they had good speed, Golison's team sailed conservatively through the entire series. The strategy paid off. They went into the final race with a 13 point lead, which was enough to hold onto a 2 point margin over Bruce Nelson's team that won the last two races in the fresher conditions.
In preparation for the North Americans, Team Golison did two tuning sessions and three regatta's in San Diego over several months to measure their speed against the competitive Fleet 13. Starting in October, tuning with Tom Hughes and Keith Whittemore, Etchells teams from Seattle and with Will Stout and Artie Means from San Diego.
First came the development of a new Doyle VMG spinnaker and then we powered up the existing Doyle AP main for the lighter conditions. However, after giving up a 9 point lead in the last day of Midwinter's West in April there was still more work to be done. They changed their focus from spinnakers and mains to the development of a new fuller light air jib especially suited for the confused sea state in the 4-12 knot winds on Coronado Roads. Will Stout, Artie Means and Chuck Skewes also tested the new jib in the weeks leading up to the NA's.
The nine month preparation and Doyle One Design's sail development paid off with the Stout team placing 4th overall and powering Golison's team to the North American title. Golison remarked "Jud has done a fabulous job for us since day one and we continue to be one of the fastest Etchells with our Doyle sails!"
For more information on Doyle Etchells sails, click here.
Winkelmann Wins 2010 Irish Etchells East Coast Championship
Congratulations to Kurt Winkelmann, Jud Smith and Brad Boston who won the Irish Etchells East Coast Championships hosted by Howth Yacht Club June 5-6, 2010. The regatta was held in conditions ranging from 0-12 knots in a changeable wind direction. Winkelmann and his team sailed an excellent series winning 5 of the 6 races.
Howth Yacht Club located in the beautiful and picturesque village of Howth in north County Dublin will be hosting the 2010 Etchells World Championships in August.
