PureSolo – to Newport

03/18/09
Hannah White, 25 from Lymington, announced that she will be competing in this year’s OSTAR (Original Single- handed Trans-Atlantic Race). Four years after Hannah became the youngest female ever to enter the race, she will be back on the start line of the 2800nm race from Plymouth UK to Newport, RI, just one of two women competing in the 45 strong fleet.

Hannah will be sailing a 30′ Bénéteau Figaro ll. This is the same boat Katie Miller will be racing.  See previous riy post.

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US sailboat production declines by 19% in 2008

Sailboat production in the US fell to 11,427 units for 2008, a decline of 2,731 units or 19 per cent, compared to the previous year. US sailboat manufacturers also cut their workforces by a combined total of 23 per cent. According to the latest “The Sailing Market: State of the Industry” report, production levels haven’t been this low since 1991, after the imposition of the Luxury Tax.  more – IBInews.com

Bohinc joins Cangiano in #88 Outerlimits (RI built)

03/18/09
Bohinc said that he was happy with his first experience of working with the #88 Outerlimits team. “I could tell right away that the boat is excellent,” he added. “I immediately found a good pace with Cangiano and Carpitella, and I had a good impression of the mechanics of the team. The cockpit is well positioned for the pilots. The high-speed cornering is fantastic, and this test was enough to make me come back with the urge to race.” image / story – PowerBoatP1.com

J/95 Spied

03/15/09
J/95, hull #001 – Here’s a sneak peak at what J/Boats is building.

LOA 31.2′ / LWL 28.4′
Beam 10.0′ / Draft 3.0′/5.5′
Disp 6,000 lbs / Ballast 2,450 lbs
Keel/centerboard / Bronze CB 200 lbs
Removable (open) transom
Twin ruddersWheel Steering
Carbon mast option

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Carbon craftsmen

03/13/09
Goetz Custom Technologies is the name of the new company but what clients will get is a superb product delivered by a very experienced (not new) group of professionals. The last few weeks have been bumpy but the place has reorganized and is humming right along. Eric Goetz must be a pretty good guy to work for because many of his staff volunteered to put in un-paid time during the transition from receivership. In fact he has several associates who have been with him for over twenty years and many with over ten years. Eric has some new partners including his GM Guy Gauvin and some exciting new projects in development. They re going to keep building fast carbon race boats but they’re diversifying too. More on that later.

Right now there are two big projects underway. They are both 82 footers and they are both carbon fiber. That’s where the similarities end. The one furthest along is a Wally Class, Reichel/Pugh design. Britt Colombo is the project manager on this one. Britt can look out his office window to the shop floor for a bird’s eye view of the build anytime. She’s a flat out race boat and she is wide. One noticeable design feature is a chine that runs from the transom almost to the bow. The boat is pictured here still in the mold and getting stringer work. The deck is going on May 10th. Launch day is July 26. She will travel to Newport Shipyard by truck at 2am in the morning like Puma did. The rig will be a 134 foot two piece mast from Southern Spars. The finish will be clear coat with some graphics. The black carbon weave will show through so it has to be perfect.

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riy – Calendar

03/13/09
Newport Yachting Center announced the 2009 dates for their annual Newport Waterfront Events. As usual there is a lot going on. Mix in a bunch of regattas and your calendar will be full. Check out this quick glance at events listed in the riy calendar. It’s a good place to keep track of it all. Check back often as new dates are being added all the time. The Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series gigs will be falling into place too.

Newport Waterfront Festivals

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NOR – Frostbite Regatta All Classes (FRAC)

03/13/09

Saturday March 21, 2009 – Newport Yacht Club

Cape Cod Frosties
Lasers
Penguins
Sea Dogs
Sunfish*
Turnabouts and Whitehorses

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WindPath launches new website and local (RI) micro-site

03/11/09
The newly redesigned WindPath Fractional Yachting website goes live! Visitors will find enhanced resources, fleet information on Catalina Sailboats, Back Cove powerboats and a local connection to WindPath Rhode Island.

WindPath Fractional Yachting is a pioneer in the emerging market of fractional yachting. They provide the boating experience but take care of the work. You get to enjoy a professionally maintained yacht, professional training and access to a great location. It’s the economics that are different.

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Roger Williams Sailing opens spring season with two victories

03/11/09
BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Sailing team kicked off the spring portion of the 2008-09 season with a pair of wins in the team’s two regattas on the weekend, including a win on the team’s home course.
“The goal for the first weekend of the season wasn’t to go out and win both events, but it was nice to do so,” said Head Coach Amanda Callahan. “We had only three days on the water before the weekend, and we were really looking to shake of the rust and do the basics well.” More www.rwuhawks.com

Sperry Top-Sider Partners with the New York Yacht Club

03/10/09
New York, N.Y. (March 10, 2009) – Sperry Top-Sider®, an iconic American brand best known for inventing the first performance boat shoe, and the New York Yacht Club®, one of the pre-eminent yacht clubs in the world, today announced a multi-year partnership to celebrate their shared passion for the sea and commitment to promoting the sport and lifestyle of sailing. Through the new alliance, Sperry Top-Sider will serve as the exclusive footwear sponsor of the inaugural and much anticipated New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup to be held September 15-19, 2009, in Newport, R.I., as well as be involved in additional New York Yacht Club events. more

sperrytopsider.com

J/95 – Shallow draft sailing and range

03/10/09
Keel/centerboard  3′ – 5′-6″ draft

Removable (open) transom

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Party Underwater – Shipwrecked party to benefit Sail Newport

03/09/09
The whole room is going to look as if you’re underwater.
Coral reefs, seaweed, divers and underwater lighting.
Bellevue Gardens, Newport – in the former grocery store.
Evan Goodrow Band – LIVE / costumes encouraged !
March 21, – details – Buy tickets today

Rhode Island built – Outerlimits #77 – May start in Malta

03/08/09
Here’s a fresh look at the definitive livery for one of this year’s key Powerboat P1 Evolution-class title contenders. The #77 Lucas Oil team have undergone plenty of change this year, swapping from last year’s Skater/Mercury package to a new Outerlimits hull and Chief Engines.

more – schedule PowerBoatP1

Joint Trophy for Marion & Newport-Bermuda races

03/09/09
The Bermuda Ocean Cruising Yacht Trophy is awarded to the yacht with the best combined performance in consecutive Newport-Bermuda and Marion-Bermuda Races. The next race is the Marion Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race, which starts on June 19 of this year.

There are two big ocean races to Bermuda from southern New England. One has been starting at Marion, Mass., in odd-numbered years since 1977. The other has been heading out from Newport, R.I., in even-numbered years since 1936, three decades after boats first raced across the Gulf Stream to the “Onion Patch.” Each race is open to boats and crews capable of crossing more than 600 miles of open and often rough ocean. more

Eric Goetz – back in business

03/06/09
BRISTOL – eastbayRI.com – A newly formed, high-end boatbuilding company is on course to preserve 75 jobs in Bristol after it recouped assets from the financially-troubled Goetz Custom Boats company, located on Broad Common Road. Owner Eric Goetz, was the highest – and only – bidder Friday morning in a Superior Court hearing for the assets after the company went into receivership in early January. The move enables Mr. Goetz to keep all of his 75 employees and continue working on two large contracts for high-end sailboats under his new company, Goetz Custom Technology, LLC. more – eastbayRI.com