Global Sailing Highlights World on Water Jan 05.24 ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE Starts Sunday, RSHYR winner

Highlights of what happened globally in the sport of sailing in the last 7 days.
It starts from Brest France this Sunday, the ultimate race around the world, by six, 32 meter, (105 foot), Ultim trimarans. Like the Vendee Globe, it is a solo skippered, Non-stop race around the world, in these foiling, massive beasts. Solo, you can tame a 60 foot Imoca, but the 32 by 25 meter, (105 by 75 foot), giants is another thing. Imagine sailing Comanche by yourself! And it’s bigger than that, as six French supersailors will attempt this, the hardest race in Sailing. We wish them the best and we will comer the race over the coming days.

This is your weekly Global Sailing highlights show, the World on Water, for January 05, 2024. Welcome to our 14th year of producing these weekly programmes.

Five of the six trimarans are in the starting base in Brest, and the missing yacht, SVR Lazartigue, is busy with late boat work and was put back in the water yesterday and is on it’s way to join the rest of the fleet for Sunday’s start.

The 2023 Melbourne to Hobart Yacht Race, started in sunny conditions on Port Philip Bay, with competitors set for a quick race to Hobart.
The fleet started the 51st race, in a steady 13 knot southerly breeze under blue skies, but an eerie sea fog rolling over Point Nepean, enveloped the boats soon after the start, reducing visibility for competitors and crews alike, as they made their way to the first turning mark near Shortland Bluff.

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 on 28th December at 3:19:04 p m., to become only the second Tasmanian boat to have their name inscribed on the legendary Tattersall Cup, not once, but twice. 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.

Last week was a very busy week on the Swan River Perth. and the crew at Ironbark Photos were working overtime filming all the regattas. Here is a sample of their work.
It was the Invitation Race for the 2023 Mirror Nationals, being hosted by the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.
The brisk sea breeze got the Mirrors onto the plane, making for very enjoyable racing.

What a difference a day makes, today there was a strong sea breeze gusting up to 20 knots on the Swan River, for day 2, of the Skate Nationals.
There was plenty of speedy spinnaker action, and the planks had quite a work out upwind, to keep the boats upright.

Day 1 race 1 of the Cherub Nationals were sailed on the Swan River Perth.
It was perfect weather conditions for the Cherubs, bright sunshine and a 15 to 20 knot easterly breeze enabling the course to be set straight across the river.
The crews were eager to get off to a good start, and they didn’t disappoint with exciting spinnaker rides everywhere.

The world’s best light weight men Windsurfer L T riders, raced off against each other over the short Slalom course, set right in front of the South of Perth Yacht Club.
There was furious action, with a big crowd watching on the shore.

The 78th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will go down in history as a relentlessly demanding test of determination, as well as physical and mental resilience. The record will highlight a tooth and nail fight to the finish for Line Honours, and a Tasmanian boat joining the select few to have achieved two overall wins in the event’s near eight decades.
For both the overall winner, Philip Turner’s 66 ft (20-metre) Alive, and the 100 ft (30.5 m) line honours victor, Christian Beck’s LawConnect, tactical skill and awareness was a major factor alongside sheer endurance.