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Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Welcoming Megayacht Competitors

May 2, 2012 by

Here’s one more reason to make Australia part of your cruising itinerary this year. The Audi Hamilton Island Race Week regatta is not just exciting to watch, but also open to sailing superyachts.

Being held August 17 to 25, the regatta is staged off Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, near Queensland. Between the popularity of the Whitsundays in general and the race in particular, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week promises a variety of experiences. In fact, the regatta, now in its 29th year, has a social scene as happening as the action on the water, with dinners, fashion shows, and more. It’s happily a far cry from the first race in 1984, which some media outlets nicknamed “Hamilton Island Rain Week” in the “Wetsundays,” due to rain and high winds every day.

This year, there are four classes for racing yachts and four for cruising boats, the latter including megayachts. Termed the Super Yacht class, it handicaps based on the yacht’s known performance. Handicaps are also adjusted following each race. In addition, mostly islands, rather than buoys, serve as course marks. And, there’s never more than one race per day around the courses.

For further information about the Super Yacht class at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, contact Rob Mundle, the superyacht division coordinator.

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J Class Regattas in UK: Update

April 20, 2012 by

Good news and bad news on the J Class Regatta front. Bad news first: Hanuman and Endeavour have pulled out of the Falmouth event this June, and Hanuman has additionally withdrawn from the subsequent Solent race. Good news: The races will still be historic, featuring the most J Class superyachts sailing solely against one another in nearly 100 years.

Hanuman was withdrawn from both Falmouth and Solent soon after the St. Barths Bucket, which was held in March. At that event, Hanuman, along with Ranger, Velsheda (above), and Endeavour, raced against each other for the first time in a special Js exhibition. Hanuman finished fourth, unfortunately. Whether that is related to her withdrawal from the Falmouth Regatta is not clear. She did previously withdraw from the J Class Regatta held in Newport, Rhode Island last summer.

As for Endeavour, her owner now has business commitments elsewhere in June. However, Endeavour will still race in the Solent in July.

The results mean that the Falmouth race will feature Lionheart, Rainbow, Ranger, and Velsheda. The same four sailing superyachts will compete in the Solent with Endeavour. Considering Lionheart and Rainbow have yet to race against other Js, each regatta promises to make history. In fact, Rainbow is currently completing sea trials, having been launched just prior to the end of 2011.

If you wish to attend the races, mark your calendars for the following dates. The Falmouth Regatta runs June 26 to 27 and then June 29 to 30 (June 28 is a spare day). The yachts will be out practicing in advance, on June 24 and 25. The Solent Regatta runs July 18 to 20, with practice days on July 16 and 17. Then, on July 21, all five Js are expected to re-enact the original Hundred Guineas Cup course, a.k.a. the America’s Cup course, around the Isle of Wight.

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International SeaKeepers Society Seeking Superyachts of Opportunity for Volvo Ocean Race

March 30, 2012 by

PHOTO: iStock/deejpilot

The Volvo Ocean Race attracts many a yacht and superyacht as spectators. Thanks to the International SeaKeepers Society, you can do more than that when the race pulls into Miami in May. You can have your yacht become a “Vessel of Opportunity,” helping promote SeaKeepers’ emphasis on ocean preservation and conservation.

The Volvo Ocean Race stopover dates in Miami—the only ones in North America—are May 6 to 20. SeaKeepers is seeking at least two yachts to feature in the heart of the Downtown Miami Race Village from May 7 to 10. The Village will, among other things, feature educational experiences for schoolchildren, focus on the preservation of the oceans and environment, and fun with watersports. The race organizers are just as keen on raising awareness about the ocean as SeaKeepers is, which is why the groups have joined forces for this event.

While in the Village, the SeaKeepers yachts will host scientists and welcome students on field trips. The scientists will explain how SeaKeepers and its supporters help them gather vital data, through the Vessels of Opportunity program (VOP). For example, one VOP yacht in recent years welcomed aboard a coral-reef biologist in the Caribbean, allowing him to take coral core extractions to examine back in a lab. Another yacht assisted with water-quality monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico to measure the effects of the BP oil spill. Megayacht owners who participate in the VOP get direct benefits, too. They get to meet leading scientists and become directly involved in ocean conservation, much more so than writing a check.

Furthermore, SeaKeepers is seeking megayachts to serve as spectator vessels from May 19 to 20. Given that the Volvo Ocean Race Miami leg is being covered by media outlets like FOX Sports, there will be additional exposure for the VOP yachts and concept, in addition to general increased exposure.

The Volvo Ocean Race organizers are further seeking megayachts as a media boat, VIP boats for the race teams and sponsors, and more.

For further details directly from SeaKeepers about participating in the Volvo Ocean Race and the VOP, please fill out our contact form.

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