Racing – The Boating Chronicle

14 American athletes set to compete in Marseille for Paris 2024 test event

July 9, 2023

Marseille, France – 7/8/2023 – US Sailing – Representing the United States from East to West Coast, 14 athletes across ten Olympic sailing disciplines will begin competition in the Paris 2024 Test Event on Sunday, July 9 in Marseille, France. On the water for the USA: What is a Test Event? A Test Event is used as a “dress rehearsal” and will operate in the same format as the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Test Events traditionally provide event organizers and Olympic authorities the opportunity to test personnel and venue staging, working to eliminate flaws in their plans in the […]

Four American Skippers are ready to take on the Global Solo Challenge

July 9, 2023

Global Solo Challenge (GSC) Headquarters – 7/9/2023 – by Hal – As the excitement for the 2023-2024 Global Solo Challenge (GSC) builds, the sea’s call has enticed a varied and impressive group of sailors from around the world. Among them are four American skippers, each with their unique stories and compelling motivations for tackling the demanding circumnavigation. From the strength and perseverance of a combat-wounded Marine Corps veteran to the passion of a lifelong sailing enthusiast; from the childhood dream of a seasoned sailor to the adventurous spirit of an investment manager turned marine voyager, these four Americans bring a […]

Curt Morlock – Global Solo Challenger Number 54

July 9, 2023

GSC – 7/9/2023 – By Hal – Curt Morlock, a 64-year-old American, will be participating in the first edition of the Global Solo Challenge (GSC), starting from A Coruña, Spain in December. Aboard his Open 60 sailboat (ex-IMOCA), named 6 Lazy K, Morlock will be among the last to set off due to the staggered start times according to boat performance. His sailboat is a proven competitor, having participated in several races, including the Vendée Globe and the Around Alone. It was built in 1999 by Thierry Dubois and carries a track record of impressive performance. Morlock, originally from South […]

David Linger – Global Solo Challenger Number 51

July 9, 2023

GSC – 7/9/2023 – By Hal – David Linger, a 60-year-old American and lifelong sailing enthusiast, is an entrant in the Global Solo Challenge (GSC). He was raised by the sea in Seattle, where he gained extensive knowledge of boatbuilding, repairs, rigging, and detailing. With his passion for sailing and inspiration from notable sailors such as Sir Frances Chichester, Eric Tabarly, Alain Colas, and Claire Francis, Linger always dreamt of completing a solo circumnavigation. Upon retirement, Linger found that the GSC fell at an ideal time in his life. He purchased a 2006 Class 40 yacht, previously named Bolland Mills, […]

Peter Bourke – Global Solo Challenger Number 5

July 9, 2023

Peter Bourke, an American entrant in the Global Solo Challenge (GSC), has acquired a second-hand Finot-Conq designed Open 40 yacht named ‘Imagine’ for the challenge. The yacht, predominantly built of carbon composites and renowned for performance and reliability, was previously used as a liveaboard for a couple and their three children. It is anticipated that ‘Imagine’ will set off from A Coruña, Spain, in October due to its high anticipated performance in the staggered start format of the GSC. Bourke was born in England before his family moved to the USA, where he later served in the American Marine Corps in Vietnam. […]

Volkan aspiring to be the first solo round-the-world Turkish sailor with Black Betty – In search of sponsors

January 27, 2023

1/27/2023 – by Alper Günoral – Global Solo Challenge – Volkan Kaan Yemlihaoğlu is an energetic soul with a friendly smile and a love for the sea. He began sailing as a child in Yalova, a Northwestern Turkish city on the Marmara Sea. He competed in optimist and laser races until high school and went on to take part in keelboat races. Then he went to Vienna for high school which put on pause his fondness for the sea. After his return to Turkey after high school, he went to college and continued with his lifelong passion: sailing races. He […]

Project Landspeed: A positive progression to 200 Km/Hour

December 7, 2022

Lake Gairdner in South Australia is vast, a 160km long and 50 km wide salt lake where Emirates Team New Zealand is aiming to break the Wind-powered Land Speed World Record in their land yacht called ‘Horonuku’. Lake Gairdner , Australia – 12/5/2022 – After what has seemed like endless weather delays over the past couple of months, finally Horonuku got to stretch its legs on a dry Lake Gairdner with a breeze that is edging closer into the required zone for world record attempts. The promising weather forecast coupled with reports of a dry lake was enough for the […]

THE SPYING GAME

July 22, 2022

7/18/2022 – In John Bertrand’s seminal tome ‘Born to Win’ that brilliantly documented Australia II’s dramatic win in Newport, Rhode Island in 1983 to end 132 years of Cup dominance by the USA, there’s a line about spying: “…there was an uproar down at our dock just as the crew was awakening. Our guards caught an underwater cameraman in a wetsuit photographing the keel of Australia II. Phil Judge, our tender skipper, jumped into the water fully clothed, dragged him out, and turned him over to Newport police. We dropped charges when the film was handed over and we had […]

United States Driver Jimmy Spithill has said home fans ‘deserve better’ after the team floundered in the first day of racing in Chicago

June 19, 2022

Chicago, Illinois – 6/18/2022 – By Miranda Blazeby, Digital Editor – SailGP – The U.S. SailGP Team finished the day with a 8-9-7 racing record and at the bottom of the leaderboard in a performance littered with errors. Meanwhile, Phil Robertson’s Canada finished at the front of the pack, followed by Great Britain and New Zealand. Teams battled tricky conditions of choppy waters and unpredictable wind shifts that saw Chicago live up to its name as the ‘Windy City’. Reflecting on the day, Spithill said the team would ‘regroup, learn the lessons and move on’ ahead of racing resuming tomorrow. “We’re really […]

Women who marked the history of offshore sailing

March 21, 2022

Global Solo Challange – 3/21/2022 – by Helena De La GandaraIt – It may not be very common to see women accepting – or having the opportunity to accept – challenges such as that of sailing single-handed around the world non-stop, but more and more are following in the footsteps of some brave female sailors who broke all sorts of barriers. Ocean sailing accounts for many great sailors who for one reason or another have earned a place in history. However, it is striking how few female seafarers embark on such great adventures and, in most cases, their little visibility. […]