north sea yacht race 2023

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2023 RORC North Sea Race results

• 2023 RORC North Sea Race - IRC overall (6.32kb)
• 2023 RORC North Sea Race - IRC by Class (8.24kb)
• 2023 RORC North Sea Race - IRC Two Handed (3.8kb)
• 2023 RORC North Sea Race - MOCRA (3.57kb)

Posted: Sunday, 21st May 2023

Please see the provisional results of the RORC North Sea race - recast for the EAORA fleets & classes.

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CONVOY CUP NORTH SEA RALLY

Offshore sailing honoring those who served

NORTH SEA OFFSHORE RACING

Welcome to the Convoy Cup North Sea Rally web site! 

The first Convoy Cup North Sea Rally was organized in 2017. The rally is both working for increasing the number of yachts participating in safe and social offshore sailing in the North Sea area and honoring the norwegian war sailors from the second world war.

This web site will facilitate the training of crew and skippers and register offshore sailing capabilities of sailing vessels, skippers and crew members.

NORTH SEA YACHT RACE AND CONVOY CUP

Races for sailing yachts have been organized between Norway and Scotland since 1984. The first race was called the North Sea Yacht Race and was going between the south west coast of Norway and MacDuff. From 2009 Stord Seilforening and Karmøy Seiforening has organized the Convoy Cup North Sea Race from Karmøy to the Orkney Islands.

The Shetland Race is another offshore race going from Bergen to Shetland. This race was started in 1986 and is still going strong.

The North Sea Yacht Race was conceived in early 1984 as a way for a group of Scottish sailors to safely cross the North Sea. The idea quickly grew and on 2 July 1984 twenty-two yachts from Scotland, England and Norway headed out across the North Sea for Stavanger. Since then, the race grew from strength to strength with as many as 50 yachts taking part in some years. The start alternated between Scotland and Norway giving the event a unique attraction for entrants from both sides of the North Sea. Most competitors took the opportunity to cruise the Norwegian fjords or go through the Caledonian Canal before returning home.

The race record between Macduff and Stavanger is held by Skaarungen, a Wasa 50 ft monohull . Their elapsed time of 30 hours 44 minutes was set in 1998 in an east-bound direction. The fastest west-bound crossing was made by Undarousa, a 45 ft trimaran from Oslo in 31 hours and 9 minutes in 2001.  In 2007, the race started in Skudeneshavn, approximately 12 miles closer to Macduff than Stavanger, and Hei Matau, a 36ft trimaran  from Port Edgar, Edinburgh, made the crossing in just under 29 hours.

In 2009, the Convoy Cup North Sea Race headed for Mainland on the Orkneys. This race also included a tradition of honoring the warsailors from the second world war. The sailors got a warm welcome in Kirkwall by Orkney Sailing Club and the Norway Orkney Friendship Association.

The Convoy Sailors Club believe that it's possible to engage more of the increasing number of sailing yachts cruising along the North Sea coasts to join offshore racing. This requires a transfer of knowledge from experienced sailors to potentially new offshore racing skippers and crew members.

More effort is required to make this happen. The Convoy Sailors Club will engage themselves for this and for strengthening the bonds between sailors from all North Sea coastlines.

Photos: Sailors arriving the Orkney Islands during Convoy Cup North Sea Race

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North Sea Race

June 23, 2023 @ 7:00 pm - june 26, 2023 @ 6:00 pm.

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Published on August 30th, 2023 | by Assoc Editor

Nice fleet forming for Middle Sea Race

Published on August 30th, 2023 by Assoc Editor -->

The Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC) is hosting the 2023 Rolex Middle Sea Race, scheduled to start on October 21 from Grand Harbour, Malta. Last year’s race attracted 118 yachts, another exceptional achievement for a race that always draws an impressively international fleet. The RMYC is looking to attract another varied participation and to challenge the record number of entries, 130, set in 2018.

With the news that last year’s monohull and multihull line honors winners have entered, entries at the 44th Rolex Middle Sea Race have shifted gears again. The Dutch 30 metre (100 foot) Leopard 3, skippered by Chris Sherlock and which delivered new owner Joost Schultz his first silverware, returns to renew old rivalries and perhaps create some fresh.

Alexia Barrier was skipper on Riccardo Pavoncelli’s MOD70 Mana in 2022 when it beat immediate rival Zoulou across the line by 56 seconds. In 2023 Barrier is back this time as skipper and owner of the multihull, now named Limosa. The Swiss Botin 52 Caro, owned by Maximillian Klink and overall winner under IRC of the Rolex Fastnet Race, will be looking to add a second win in an ambitious trifecta of offshore races that includes the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Alexia Barrier’s The Famous Project is a new racing team whose ultimate ambition is an all-women Jules Verne record attempt on the 32 metre Idec Sport. Taking over Mana after last year’s epic contest, the multihull has been renamed Limosa, after a small bird that holds the record for a non-stop migratory flight. According to Barrier, “This remarkable feat of endurance and navigation is a testament to the incredible capabilities of these birds. I hope that we can be equally enduring and efficient during our upcoming flights in the MOD70!”

This year’s crew will look very different to last year. Barrier will no longer be the lone woman, with Dee Caffari, Elodie Mettraux, Marie Riou and Sara Hastreiter joining her in a mixed team. “Taking the helm as both skipper and owner is an exhilarating shift in status,” advises Barrier. “I am relishing the newfound responsibility and control. Our goal is the highest level of multihull sailing and I’m looking forward to this opportunity to train with the crew and continue our progress.”

“I really love the Rolex Middle Sea Race, first of all because the Mediterranean is my playground,” says Barrier. “This will be my fourth time. The first two were truly wild on a Class 40. I can’t wait to find out what conditions we will face this year.” In the monohull line honors contest, Leopard 3 is currently up against BlackJack, Spirit of Malouen X and Pyewacket 70.

This illustrious group is expected to be joined by Lucky, the former Rambler 88 which holds the record for being first to finish in five consecutive races between 2015 and 2019, as well as the Wally Bullitt, which made its debut last year.

Beyond the headline acts, the core constituents of any Rolex Middle Sea Race are to be found in the lower orders of the multinational fleet. One such entry is first time participant Simon Xuereb owner of the Maltese entry Spirt of the Winds, a Dufour 40. “I have known about the race for years,” explains Xuereb, whose introduction to sailing came some decades ago when David Anastasi (a two-time winner of the race with the Podesta family’s Elusive 2) took him for a trip in a dinghy in the North Comino Cannel.

“It was a real baptism, but an experience which stuck with me and two of my great friends since that time, Chris Tonna and Robert Cassar, both of whom are in the crew. Over the years we have talked about doing the Rolex Middle Sea Race, but this is really the first opportunity.” Xuereb is quick to admit he and his friends are a competitive bunch, but realists. “Our aim is to complete the race but moreover surpass the expectations of our wives!” he laughs.

For Xuereb, who moved to Malta when he was a child, the Rolex Middle Sea Race has always been there in the background: “It is part of the fabric of the islands. Once you know of the race, you start to follow the teams and their stories. It is also a remarkably accessible race for all types of crews. The club is open and there is always someone on hand to help you how to improve.”

As with most offshore races just getting to the start line is big part of the challenge, “We have quite a few lists of things which need to get done, courses, qualifications, rigging inspections, equipment to be sourced etc., but you just have to get stuck in.”

For Hanno Ziehm the owner of the German Marten 49 Moana the Rolex Middle Sea Race is a highlight. The boat has completed the 606nm course twice before in 2014 and 2015, and largely with the same team. “We are a crew of friends that sail together in more or less the same constellation for 12 years,” explains Ziehm. “We work together on the boat even in winter. Every crew member has their responsibility besides sailing, and we have a flat hierarchy.”

Unlike Spirit of the Wind, the Moana crew has some experience upon which to draw: “The boat was based in Kiel for a few years, and we did a number of races like the Gotlund Rund, Helgoland to Edinburgh, Kiel to Copenhagen and Rund Skagen,” continues Ziehm. “We were then in the Med for a few seasons and along with this race did several Rolex Giraglia.”

After finishing this year’s race, the plan is to head to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, and the start of 2024 RORC Transatlantic. Ziehm identifies what sets the Rolex Middle Sea race apart from other similar races: “It offers a perfect range of conditions overall. We do a lot offshore racing, and this race is on the one hand more down to earth compared with other events, but at the same time a true challenge from the perspective of navigation and tactics.”

Hervé Grünig maybe embarking on his first Rolex Middle Sea Race with his Swan 56 Azahar, but he has some family pedigree. His late brother-in-law, Jaume Binimelis competed three times with his yacht, Petrouchka III, winning his ORC class twice (2011 and 2017) and finishing second in the overall ORC standings in 2011, behind the formidable Artie which that year cleaned up in both IRC and ORC. “I have dreamt of participating for a long time.

“We used to have a very old Swan 42, but decided to change our programme, and purchased this bigger Swan 56,” advises Grünig. “Jaume had always told me the Rolex Middle Sea Race was the race in the Med.” Armed with his new yacht, Grünig has an ambitious five-year program racing offshore.

“My crew has its roots in a very experienced group of friends of a certain age,” confesses Grünig. “We have some young guys who race with us in Mallorca, and we will have a couple of pros onboard to help us make the right decisions!”

With only two crew onboard, it pays to have time together under the belt and a good team dynamic. The SunFast 3300 Red Ruby took on the course last year under the command of Jonathan McKee, the double Olympic medalist. This year, the yacht’s American owner Christina Wolfe and her husband, Justin, aim to go one better and complete the course.

“We have been racing double-handed together for 28 years,” explains Christina. “We actually met to do a local double-handed race in 1995 and we’ve been together ever since!” The success of the partnership is based on having similar strengths allowing the pair to switch roles frequently while racing with no concerns.

“We very much prefer double-handed racing because of the challenge, we both stay very busy, which we like. Plus, we enjoy sailing with each other,” she continues. “Since we always train and race together, we are continuing to learn and hopefully improve together. To be successful at double-handing, we feel it is important to know your teammate’s abilities and trust them.”

“This will be our first Rolex Middle Sea Race,” says Wolfe. “It looks to be one of the most beautiful and interesting racecourses of the 600-milers and is the race we most wanted to do when we decided to get a boat to race in Europe.”

The Royal Malta Yacht Club endorses the position taken by World Sailing, the International Olympic Committee and other global sports organizations concerning the invasion of Ukraine. Until further notice the RMYC is unable to accept entries from yachts with identified connections to Russian and Belarusian nationals. The club will continue to monitor the situation and will take any appropriate actions in line with the international community and World Sailing.

The Royal Malta Yacht Club traces its roots back to 1835. It is a volunteer-run club promoting all aspects of sailing from its junior program to its pinnacle offshore event, the Rolex Middle Sea Race. The club exists to serve the sailing community of Malta and all visiting sailors including those who participate in its most famous race. It has a membership of 700.

The Royal Malta Yacht Club (RMYC), which founded the race in 1968, would like to remind prospective participants that entries officially close on September 22, although the club reserves the right to accept late applications up to September 29.

Event Details: https://www.rolexmiddlesearace.com

Tags: Rolex Middle Sea Race

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Home  Competition  Championships  2023 U.S. Match Racing Championship

Championships

2023 u.s. match racing championship.

Event Details

Date: September 21, 2023 – September 24, 2023

Location: Rochester Yacht Club Rochester, New York

Prince of Wales Bowl

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• 2023 – Seawanhaka Yacht Club – Chris Poole, Andres Guerra, Austin Colpaert
• 2022 – Guardians of the Monohulls – Pearson Potts, Robert Savoie, Bryce Kopp, James Barry, Lucas Adams, Abigail Preston
• 2021 – Chicago Yacht Club – Peter Holz, Ellis Tonissi, Jonathan Hammond, I.G. Schottlaender, John Colburn, Graham Post
• 2019 – Guardians of the Monohulls – Pearson Potts, Robert Savoie, Lucas Adams, Tim Siemers
• 2018 – New York Yacht Club/Yankee Creole Racing – Pearson Potts, Bryce Kopp, Max Lopez, Robert Savoie
• 2017 – Pequot Yacht Club – David Storrs, Hayden Goodrich, Laurie Jury, Sam Bell, Tom Powrie
• 2016 – San Diego Yacht Club – Nevin Snow, Nick Kaschak, Alex Curtiss, Peter Busch
• 2015 – Pequot Yacht Club – Dave Perry, Doug McLean, Steve Natvig, Jon Singsen, Chris Museler
• 2014   – Chicago Match Race – Nathan Hollerbach,Taylor Canfield, Mike Rehe, Maggie Shea
• 2013   – Pequot Yacht Club – David Dellenbaugh, Rebecca Dellenbaugh, Janel Zarkowsky, Amanda Callahan
• 2012 – Chicago Match Race – Taylor Canfield, Stephanie Roble, Maggie Shea, Janel Zarkowsky
• 2011  – Pequot Yacht Club – Dave Perry, Mike Rehe, Chris Museler
• 2010 – St Francis Yacht Club – Shawn Bennett, Melissa Purdy Feagin, Tom Purdy, Adam Roberts
• 2009  – Chicago Match Race Center – William Hardesty, David Hughes, David Gerber
• 2008 – Pequot Yacht Club – Dave Perry, David Moffet ,Chris Museler
• 2007 – King Harbor YC – Brian Angel, Payson Infelise, Mike Delanty
• 2006  – Pequot Yacht Club – Dave Perry, Chris Museler, Terry Flynn
• 2005 – King Harbor Yacht Club – Brian Angel, Payson Infelise, David Hochart
• 2004 – Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club – Karl Ziegler, Dean Brenner, Mike Welch
• 2003 – Bayview YC – Nathan Hollerbach, Mathew Shirilla, Michael Hoey
• 2002 – Pequot YC- David Dellenbaugh, Doug Clark, Ralf Steitz
• 2001 – Watch Hill YC – Mason Woodworth, Dean Brenner, Randy Shore
• 2000 – Watch Hill YC – Mason Woodworth, Dean Brenner, Randy Shore
• 1999 – Watch Hill YC – Mason Woodworth, Dean Brenner, Randy Shore
• 1998 – Davis Island YC – Jeff Linton, Tom Barry, Mike Gable
• 1997 – Naval Academy Sailing Squadron – Brad Dellenbaugh, Ned Jones, John Grierson
• 1996 – San Diego, CA – Southwestern YC – Tim Wadlow, Roger Floyd, Preston Holdner
• 1995 – St. Francis YC, San Francisco, CA – Morgan Larson, Seadon Wijsen, Brandon Paine
• 1994 – Larchmont YC – Ben Cesare, John Savage, Phil Lotz
• 1993 – San Diego YC – Rick Merriman, Chuck Simmons, Casey Schnoor
• 1992 – Southern YC – John Lovell, John Killeen, Preston Christman
• 1991 – St. Petersburg YC – Chris Larson, Martin Kullman, Howard Miller
• 1990 – Newport Harbor YC – Scott Mason, Jamie Hardenbergh, Bill Menninger
• 1989 – Newport Harbor YC – Doug Rastello, Scott Mason, Skip Beck
• 1988 – St. Francis YC – Mark Rastello, Chris Perkins, Jim Barton
• 1987 – San Diego YC – Mark Reynolds, Andy LaDow, Donald Wyatt
• 1986 – Bay-Waveland YC – Marc Eagan, Dennis Stieffel, Randy Santa Cruz
• 1985 – Alamitos Bay YC – Mark Golison, Bruce Golison, Ron Rosenberg
• 1984 – Pequot YC – Dave Dellenbaugh, W.B. Peale, John Wallace
• 1983 – Rush Creek YC – Bruce Golison, Jay Golison, Steve Grillon
• 1982 – Yale Corinthian YC – Dave Perry, Peter Worcester, Tom Kinney
• 1981 – Seabrook SC – Marvin Beckman, Mike Smith, Chuck Wilk
• 1980 – Seattle YC – Jonathan McKee, Carl Buchan, Mike Smith, Chuck Wilk
• 1979 – St. Petersburg YC – John W. Jennings, Don Krippendorf, John M. Jennings
• 1978 – Galveston Bay CA – Marvin Beckman, Skipper
• 1977 – Coronado YC – Ed Trevelyan, Skipper
• 1976 – Coronado YC – Ed Trevelyan, Skipper
• 1975 – California YC – Kenneth M. Young, Skipper
• 1974 – Noroton YC – William S. Cox, John Rousmaniere, Andrew A. Scholtz
• 1973 – MIT Nautical Assn. – Stephen Cucchiaro, Skipper
• 1972 – Newport Harbor YC – Tim Hogan, Skipper
• 1971 – MIT Nautical Assn. – Terry Cronberg, Skipper
• 1970 – St. Petersburg YC – John W. Jennings, Skipper
• 1969 – Quissett YC – E.M. Burt, Prince Sears Crowell, III, Browne Morgan Littel
• 1968 – Newport Harbor YC – Burke Sawyer, Skipper
• 1967 – Newport Harbor YC – Scott Alan, Skipper
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About This Event

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SI’s Posted:September 18, 2023

Nor posted: march 7, 2023, 2023 usmrc qualifier series critical data sheet, safe sport training requirements at us sailing u.s. championship events.

• Adults competing on the same boat as a minor are now required to complete the SafeSport Training prior to first day of racing. Take the training here .

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US Sailing Membership- Join/Renew here   – All competitors must have a current USSA membership valid through end of racing to be legible to complete. International athletes may show proof of current membership with MNA as an alternative.

Championship Facts

• Selection is done through U.S. Match Racing Qualifying events, or by invitation from the selection committee based on many factors including ranking.
• Up to ten (10) skippers will be invited.
• The event will be sailed in Sonar type boats.
• All competitors shall be members of US SAILING at the time of registration and during the event. International competitors must be members of US Sailing or their MNA.
• There is no citizenship or club/association membership requirement for this event.
• Skippers will be seeded into a round robin based on seeding/draw/results in previous competition/World Sailing ranking list 30 days prior to the event.
• The event format will consist of Round Robin(s), Knock-out Series and Finals racing. The format will be specified in the Sailing Instructions.
• The event has applied for World Sailing (WS) Grade 3. This grading is subject to review by World Sailing. The event may be re-graded when there is clear reason to do so.
• The winning team, if comprised of 100 percent U.S. citizens or U.S. residents, will earn the title of U.S. Match Racing National Champion and win the Prince of Wales Bowl. When the winning team is not comprised of 100 percent U.S. citizens or U.S. residents, that team will be named the winners of the Prince of Wales Bowl. The title of U.S. Match Racing National Champion will be awarded to the highest placed finishing team of all U.S. citizens or U.S. Residents.
• The overall winning team, regardless of team members’ nationality, will earn the Prince of Wales Bowl and automatically qualify for next year’s U.S. Match Racing Championship.

Qualifying Series

• All competitors shall be current members of US Sailing at the time of the qualifying series
• Competitors from other countries shall either be current members of US Sailing or be members of their National Authority.
• Skippers may indicate preferences and request invitations to up to three (3) of the Qualifying events.
• More Information  on Match Racing and  The Dial Up

Championship History

History and Archival documents to include; Family Interview – 1932  recipient  of the Prince of Wales Junior International Sailing Series

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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!

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• Red Ruby Takes on the Rolex Middle Sea Race

Red Ruby is a Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 co-owned by Pacific Northwest sailors, Jonathan McKee and Christina and Justin Wolfe. The boat is based in Europe and the group is running parallel shorthanded offshore campaigns on the shared platform. They will be checking in regularly with 48° North throughout 2023. The Wolfe team competed in the 2022 UK Doublehanded Offshore Series, and finished the series an incredible 2nd-place in a fleet of 35 boats. More recently, Jonathan and fellow Seattle sailor, co-skipper Alyosha Strum-Palerm, sailed the famed Rolex Middle Sea Race. Their story of that adventure is shared here.

It has been a long, strange trip to far flung Malta, but we are finally on our way home to Seattle. Here is the tale of our last three weeks — two Seattle guys going sailing, trying to sail, preparing to sail, and thinking about sailing, with some sightseeing thrown in!

My co-skipper, Alyosha Strum-Palerm, and I started this adventure in Barcelona, where our 33-foot Red Ruby had been trucked from England. Our advance man, Erik Kristen, was already on the scene preparing to step the rig and launch the boat. We had a little extra work to do on the bottom and a few other small projects but, despite the jet lag, we got Red Ruby in the water on October 12, filled up our jerry jugs with diesel, did some food shopping, and headed south across the Mediterranean Sea as the sun was setting.

The Delivery

The delivery from Barcelona to Malta is 700 miles, but we had quite a favorable forecast so we hoped for a 4- or 5-day passage. The first night was jib reaching in 15-25 knots with some heavy showers. Not super comfortable, but we got down the track nicely. By morning, Menorca was visible to leeward and soon astern. The next land would be the south tip of Sardinia. The breeze slowly died and we motored for a few hours.

By the early evening, the breeze filled from the north and we set the A2 spinnaker. The wind angle was perfect and the breeze built through the night. By dawn, it was blowing 20 knots and Sardinia started to appear. As we got lifted, we jibed onto starboard for the first time — now heading south towards Africa. It was lovely sailing all day and, in the afternoon, the coast of Tunisia came into view.

We were ripping off the miles as we completed day two and, at sunset, we jibed again towards Malta. The wind then decreased and we spent the night dodging ships and keeping Red Ruby moving. In the morning, we had a nice chat with the Tunisian coastal authorities over VHF, assuring them of our peaceful intentions. We were 8 miles off the coast of Africa.

Day three was one of the coolest sailing days I have had for a long time. The wind built to 20-25 knots and our Sun Fast 3300 was performing beautifully in the building seas. We started to understand the brilliance of the unusual hull form. Alyosha and I took turns steering and resting below, and often used the autopilot as well. By noon, we were close to the volcanic island of Pantelleria, just 100 miles from our destination. Late that afternoon, we were seeing gusts near 30 knots and we decided the prudent call was to drop the kite. We sailed the last 30 miles with main only, arriving in Valletta Harbour at 2 a.m. Surprisingly, the Royal Malta Yacht Club dockmaster was waiting for us and escorted us to our slip. We folded the main and went to bed after quite a day of yachting.

The journey had taken us only 3 days and 7 hours — pretty quick for a 33-footer over 700 miles! We also got a good feel for life onboard, established our offshore routines, and gained a lot of confidence in our little vessel.

The Malta Experience

We had a wonderful time in Malta with our partners Libby Johnson McKee and AnaLucia Clarkson, and my brother in law David McGrady. We explored the island’s many interesting features and history, and we ate well. We also worked on preparing the boat for the race, including an additional haul out to fine tune the bottom finish. The club was very friendly and we felt welcome and happy to be there. As more racers arrived the vibe got a bit more intense, but we generally kept our heads down and focused on being ready for the start.

One of the nice features of the Rolex Middle Sea Race is a coastal race a few days before the main event. We sailed in the race and we were assisted by our support team Libby, AnaLucia, and David. It was a light air affair, starting in the smaller harbor and racing down the coast of Malta, around Comino Island and back. It turned out to be a preview of the Middle Sea Race itself, with very close racing between Red Ruby , the Maltese J/99 Calypso, and the JPK 1080 Solenn for Pure Ocean, both very well sailed. The course was shortened midway and we finished third. It was our first trophy (although our partners in Red Ruby , Chris and Justin Wolfe, had already won a slew of trophies in England)!

The Middle Sea Race

As we went through our daily weather briefings it was clear the race would have some light air, so we moded our boat appropriately and got more provisions. The start was quite exciting. A lot of boats on a starting line extending across the historic Valletta Harbour, and very little wind. We got out of the harbor cleanly but a little behind some of our rivals. Once in the open Mediterranean, we found some good downwind form in the 4-7 knot wind and started to work our way north towards Sicily. The race was on!

The first night was pivotal. As we got closer to the south tip of Sicily, the wind picked up from the southwest, but there is often a big lee if you get behind the higher land. Alyosha kept us well offshore and clear of what turned out to be a big parking lot for many boats. We kept moving and, by morning, we were into a moderate west wind, heading towards the fabled Straits of Messina. Only four of our class of 27 had gotten through the night in good shape, and we were one of them.

We had a great battle on day two with another doublehander, the French team Solenn , reaching and then upwind for the last 40 miles to the narrow passage between Sicily and Calabria — the Strait of Messina. The 12,000-foot volcanic peak of Mt. Etna was constantly in the background. The crew on Solenn were a little faster but we kept it close. The two leaders in Class 6 — Calypso and another Italian JPK 1080 Columbre — were about 6 miles ahead but, as the wind died after Messina, all four boats compressed to within 2 miles. It was all on. Except there was very little wind. And not a promising forecast.

That second night was one of the tough ones. The wind was sometimes 3-4 knots, other times zero. We made some good plays but also had some tough periods, and maybe it was not optimal conditions for our boat. As it turned out, we only traveled 35 miles in the next 24 hours. So that was a test of patience. Meanwhile, the two leaders had extended to a 6 mile lead, though we were still close behind our French friends on Solenn .

Day three was dominated by the giant conical presence of Stromboli, an actively venting and spewing volcano. It is a mark of the course, before the westward turn towards Palermo. Since there was so little wind, we got to see it for a long time! We finally got there at sunset, and a light southeast wind started to fill. The next 10 hours were great sailing — reaching then running in 9-12 knots straight down the course. We caught up to both Solenn and Calypso, which was gratifying. Then the wind died again off Palermo, 40 miles from the gate at Favignana Island. Then we had an incredible close encounter with a very large whale who was sleeping as we drifted by!

It was a slow afternoon and early evening but eventually a northwest breeze of 10 filled in for a couple of hours, allowing us to make headway to within 8 miles of Favignana before it died again. At this point, Columbre gave us all the slip to the west and secured the lead that would eventually give them the class win. As the morning dawned to a glassy sea, we were close behind the French and just ahead of the Maltese on Calypso.

We were able to download fresh weather forecasts as the race went on. Unfortunately, the news on that morning of day four was not good. Very little wind was forecast for the next 3 days. We made the decision to drop out of the race and return to Malta. This was a really hard call. It had been a huge task to get the boat from England to Malta and do all the thousands of things to get prepared for this race. We had worked really hard during the race. At the time we quit, we were probably winning the doublehanded division on corrected time and were likely third in our class overall. But we also had commitments at home that could not be ignored and, in the end, we felt we had achieved most of our goals for the trip.

Hats off to the two boats that persevered in our class. After more than 7 days of racing, the Italian Columbre won easily, with the French duo on Solenn for Pure Ocean second. Calypso also eventually retired. We had great racing with all three boats, and we learned a lot trying to keep up with these top-level teams. We would like to have finished, but we are also proud of our effort and feel we can compete against top teams going forward in 2023. Thanks a lot to all who have supported our Middle Sea Race, especially our boat partners Christine and Justin Wolfe, our advance man Erik Kristen, and our support team in Malta, Libby, David, and AnaLucia.

Seattle’s Jonathan McKee is a world-renowned sailor. He was recently inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame.

Jonathan McKee

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