If ever there was a case for a sailor to get new representation it is James Spithill. The guy has all the makings of a sports superstar, but the folks at ORACLE Racing can’t seem to get it right when it comes to presenting the Australian as anything other than a corporate spokesman.

When PUMA Ocean Racing got Juan K on board to design a SUP board with the help of stand up paddleboard legend Laird Hamilton, the SUP world was pretty interested. Perhaps it was the Laird X Factor or perhaps it was PUMA‘s sports marketing savvy.

Here then is an opportunity for James Spithill to be more than just the bloke who drove the trimaran in the last America’s Cup. Here is an opportunity for ORACLE Racing to talk about something other than ‘Liveline’ and promote someone other than Stan Honey.

The story according to some PR person goes like this:

ORACLE Racing skipper Jimmy Spithill today took part in a paddleboard contest off Takapuna Beach in New Zealand. The State Beach Series is run on Tuesday nights over the course of 16 weeks for kayakers, swimmers, paddleboarders and beach runners.

Spithill last fall took delivery of a new PUMA paddleboard, and today was his first race on the black board with red octopus tentacles.

The stand-up paddleboard fleet included the likes of JP Tobin, New Zealand’s representative in the RS:X windsurfer class at the London Olympics this summer, and Annabel Anderson, the Kiwi who is the worlds’ No. 2-ranked female paddleboarder.

With a southeasterly wind blowing around 8 knots and a slight chop, the conditions were fairly rough for the three-lap race around a triangular course. Spithill completed the course despite a wet night.

The best quote that they could find from James was:

“I had a little trouble standing on the board and counted eight swims. But it was an awesome experience.”

James deserves better.

It’s the kind of nostalgia that brings people to describe Cowes as “the home of yachting.”

The Boat & Leisure Festival is designed to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on the 4th and 5th of June. There will be live music, hospitality and a great display of British boats and outdoor leisure activities.

James Brooke, Festival Director, commented:

“We’re really excited to be celebrating such an historic occasion and delighted to be working closely with the Cowes community to make this memorable family event a great success. We have previously organised major events at the Royal Windsor Racecourse and Earls Court and, for me, Cowes has to be the venue for such an occasion, given its historic links with our monarchy. It’s a perfect venue for an overtly British-themed event, and we’re proud that Cowes will be one of the most exciting places in the country to be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.”

In 1851, the Isle of Wight hosted a race which was to become the America’s Cup. In that sense, it could be argued that Cowes has been important in the world of yachting. The little town strains at the seams several times a year to host the J P Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race and the traditional Cowes Week regatta, but to call it the “home of world yachting” is a little bit of PR license…

Nevertheless, attractions for visitors will include:

“A display of  some of the finest British built yachts and motorboats, an exclusive preview of teams racing in the 2013 Cowes to Monte-Carlo Powerboat Race, a parade of fashion, and a range of outdoor leisure activities and accessories for families to see, try and buy.”

The Cowes Boat & Leisure Fest will take place at the Cowes Yacht Haven.

Jessica Watson will sail as crew aboard a catamaran in the H&R Block Three Peaks Race in April.

After skippering a youth team in the most recent Sydney Hobart Race, the well known sailor will join MTA Big Wave Rider, skippered by Bruce Arms who was project manager for her solo unassisted circumnavigation.

Watson said:

“The H&R Block Three Peaks is a great event that has been on my ‘to-do’ list for a while. So I’m looking forward to contesting my first race this year with my friends Bruce and Suzanne Arms on Big Wave Rider. Having mountain runners as part of our team will be a unique experience. Thankfully I’m a sailor! “

An annual event since 1989, the H&R Block Three Peaks Race is a unique team competition comprising three short-handed offshore sailing legs totalling 335 nautical miles, and three mountain running legs totalling 133 kilometres with an overall ascent of 2646 metres. During the three days of racing competitors will travel through some of Tasmania’s most scenic coastline.

Watson continued:

“Sailing in Tasmanian waters is a challenge I enjoy. The bonus this time is that the course will take us right in amongst the spectacular scenery of the Bass Strait Islands and Tasmania’s stunning East Coast.”

Watson is one of Australia’s best known sailors, drawing more publicity and social media interest than the entire Australian sailing team. Her continued involvement in the sport helps to speak to a different audience in a different way.

Considered the most significant social event in the Olympic and Paralympic classes sailing calendar, the Ball will bring together the sailors selected to compete for Team GB and ParalympicsGB in 2012, as well as some of Britain’s past sailing medallists and special guests from the worlds of commerce, politics, the arts and the media.

Funds raised from the Ball also help to support future generations of Skandia Team GBR sailors along the way to achieving their medal-winning ambitions.

At a reception for Ball sponsors and patrons held at the London Hilton this week (Tuesday 10 January), also attended by triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie, it was announced that the Sail for Gold Ball 2012 backed by Peter Harrison, a staunch supporter of British sailing.

Mr Harrison commented:

“I’m absolutely thrilled that the Olympics are in Great Britain in 2012.I have supported every Sail for Gold Ball since 2000 and so this is the fourth time, and I’m thrilled because our sailors have been some of the best performers and it’s a sport in which we do so fantastically well. Being in home waters this time I’m hoping will mean we do that little bit better.

“I’m absolutely sure the Games is going to be a wonderful experience for everybody, and I’m sure the Ball will once again be a wonderful occasion and celebration as we wish our sailors the very best of luck.”

Michael Shepherd, General Manager of the London Hilton on Park Lane where the Ball will be hosted, said:

“We are absolutely delighted that we have the opportunity of once again hosting the Sail for Gold Ball here at the London Hilton on Park Lane. The London Hilton has been supporting sailing and Team GBR for more than 20 years and we’re really delighted that we have an opportunity again in 2012 as London is hosting the Olympics here this year.

“I’m a keen sailor myself and all the team here at the London Hilton are so energised in being able to support not only the sailors, but also be part of what is going to be the greatest Games and the greatest party in the world.”

The destination and location are well matched with the YCCS criteria of pristine surroundings, quality sailing and safe cruising waters for its members and for the prestigious top-tier international sailing events such as the Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous organised and hosted by the Club.

YCCS is twinned with the Yacht Club de Monaco and the New York Yacht Club, and has a reciprocal agreement with the Royal Yacht Squadron of Cowes. Serving an international sailing and yachting community, the Club prides itself on its superior level of quality and excellence. It delivers a unique combination of a state of the art marina as well as service and restaurant facilities in the Clubhouse that provides a base from which to explore the neighbouring leeward and windward islands.

His Highness the Aga Kahn, President of YCCS, during his opening speech said:

“We are genuinely excited with our partnership with the Government of the British Virgin Islands. We have many years of experience in quality tourism and understand that if we are to attract quality tourism, we need to offer a quality product. It is encouraging to know that the Government is an enabling one that will support our endeavors.”

The marina has 38 slips for yachts up to 100 meters (328 feet) and a draft of up to 9.1 meters (30 feet). The Marina design includes a central T-shaped dock measuring 267 meters (867 feet) that is accessible from both sides. It is well protected from prevailing winds, ocean swells, and is free of surge.

YCCS was established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan, and a small group of founding members with the aim of bringing together nautical sports enthusiasts and sea lovers and promoting artistic, cultural and scientific initiatives. The Club currently has over five hundred members representing twenty two nationalities.

Etchells World Champion Bill Hardesty and ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Champion Anna Tunnicliffe have been named US Sailing’s 2011 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year.

The winners will be honored on 22 February 2012, during a luncheon at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, when they will be presented with specially-engraved Rolex timepieces.

2011 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year

Bill Hardesty was first shortlisted for the award in 2008 – when he won the Etchells World Championship. Hardesty’s notable performances as tactician included winning the 47th Congressional Cup in Catalina 37s and the CMRC Grade 2 Invitational in Tom 28s, along with top finishes at the Rolex Big Boat Series in Express 37s (second) and the Farr 40 World Championships (fourth). From a personal standpoint, however, Hardesty is most proud of winning the ISAF Match Racing World Championship as tactician for skipper Ian Williams (GBR).

Hardesty said:

“This is a huge honor.The long list of past winners is very impressive and includes people who I have always considered to be the best in the world. I would first like to thank Rolex for making sailing what it is today. Without their sponsorship of sailing, the sport would be a lot different.

A lot of credit goes to the teams I raced with this past year. Sailing is truly a group effort and winning this award would never have been possible without great teammates: the Etchells World Championship team of Steve Hunt, Mandi Markee and Craig Leweck, and Team GAC Pindar skippered by Ian Williams.”

2011 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year

Shortlisted for the honor for the seventh consecutive year, Tunnicliffe is the first woman in the award’s history to earn it in four consecutive years. A member of the selection panel noted her level of dedication to the sport, while another remarked that she is a tremendous ambassador for sailing. She joins the rare company of four-time winners JJ Fetter Isler (1986, ’91, ’97, ’00) and Ted Turner (1970, ’73, ’77, ’79). Only five-time award winner Betsy Alison (1981, ’82, ’84, ’93 and ’98) has eclipsed them.

Tunnicliffe said:

“I’m honored to win the 2011 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award. It is a great acknowledgment of Team Maclaren’s success in 2011. Molly [Vandemoer], Debbie [Capozzi] and I worked incredibly hard to achieve our 2011 goals and we are now focused on our 2012 goal – to win a gold medal in Weymouth.”

While many in the sailing industry focus on how to get onto TV and into the news, the humble still photograph is one of sailing’s best media weapons. This was illustrated again this year at the World Yacht Racing Forum, where Mirabaud sponsored the “Yacht Racing Image of the Year”.

The best sailing photo was voted on by the public via Facebook and by delegates at the WYRF in Estoril, Portugal.

French photographer Thierry Martinez won the title for the second year running, and for the second year in a row, the winning photo featured a foiling moth.  The spectacular award-winning photograph features Nathan Outridge, Moth and 49er world champion, racing the Moth world championships in Belmont, Australia in January 2011.

Thierry Martinez said:

“I am very happy to win this award again. It is the only award dedicated to our sport and I consider it a great honour. It is the reward for one photograph, which I humbly accept, but it also symbolises my passion for yacht racing and marine photography which have been at the heart of my life for 25 years.”

Antonio Palma, CEO and partner of Mirabaud, private bankers said:

“We are delighted to award this title to the photographer Thierry Martinez,” said  “All of the photographs submitted to the competition were of a very high standard and the choice was a difficult one. The public chose an image that reflects the current trends – spectacular, daring and dynamic.”

Mirabaud were also part of the first panel session at the 2011 World Yacht Racing Forum, discussing the advantages that sailing has delivering ROI on sponsorship dollars. The transcript and analysis of the sponsorship panel at WYRF will be published later in the year on this site.

A few weeks back, we wondered why sailing would turn its back on one of the most lucrative, growing audience sectors in favour of a mass-market product. While events like the America’s Cup World Series squabble for a mystical Youtube generation of fans, events like the Superyacht Cup, Panerai Classic Yacht Challenge and Nespresso Cup – seem to be better placed to make the most of a not insubstantial luxury sector.

And if you want to get a sense of where the luxury sector is going – check out  Hainan Rendez-Vous – the yacht and jet show from April 5th-8th 2012.

Following the success of two previous editions and only two years after the Beijing government announced its intention to transform Hainan into a global luxury destination, the Hainan Rendez-Vous (HRV), China’s leading superyacht and business jet show, is propelling Hainan to the very center of the international lifestyle scene.

Organizers are confident that the show is becoming a landmark event for China’s affluent and influential decision makers, providing them with a platform for top level communication and collaboration. Over 15,000 visitors attended the event last year, which was heavily covered in both domestic and international media.

HRV founder and CEO Delphine Lignieres said:

“With Hainan’s growing investment in boating infrastructure, the region’s significance within the industry will only increase. As a platform for bringing together companies and clients interested in the superyacht and megayacht categories, the HRV has no parallel in this part of the world.

Beyond yachting, HRV is also the largest business jet event in Asia, and with China fast becoming the most dynamic jet market worldwide, organizers are expecting even more jets next year.

Networking! Not your average Boat Show.

HRV is a unique concept that goes beyond the traditional trade fair organized in China. The event is above all a networking platform where high net worth individuals can not only discover the most advanced yachts, jets and supercars, but can also enjoy a true Riviera moment with a wide range of parties, events and exclusive gala dinners thrown by the event sponsors and participants.

The organizers have been overwhelmed by the level of interest they have received from all over the world, and HRV will play an increasingly important role in bringing together decision makers from west and east to exchange ideas on topics such as the future of mobility, innovation and design.

So – looking for yacht racing partners? Here’s an idea for somewhere to be in April.

The gamification of sport seems to be a tautology – however technology is enabling a different relationship between sport and games.

The Volvo Ocean Race is a good case in point. While economic conditions in Europe and around the world has meant a reduced number of teams on the physical start-line, around 80,000 players have already registered for the online race.

Last time around, the Volvo Ocean Race game kept players at their computer screens, but this time around, gamers can stay connected with their campaign via apps for android and iPhone.

Other changes include a bigger incentive to upgrade from the free game. Like the real race, where a bigger budget impacts the competiveness of the team, the online Volvo Ocean Race game tempts those who want to win, rather than just play, with pro sails packs and autopilot options.

No doubt the debate about the complexity of sailing will go on for a while but gamers by definition are open to understanding and making the most of rules and making strategic decisions quickly with a competitive goal. Just as a teen Facebook user can work out how to rotate crops and derive optimal income from FarmVille, So too can a Volvo Ocean race gamr player determine the best way to sail from Alicante to Cape Town.

Sometimes the analogy of driving a car is used to explain why people have more affinity with Motorsport than sailing, however as Call of Duty MW3 hits the shelves, millions of people who have never seen a gun will work out the best time to use an assault weapon, a sniper rifle or a grenades. Such adaptability to understanding the gameplay also equips a non-sailor with the ability to determine when to use a jib versus a code zero or a heavy spinnaker.

The Volvo Ocean Race Game

Sign Up and Setup : Facebook, Twitter Integration

Creating a new account is pretty straightforward, though the integration with Facebook is not immediately apparent. When registering an account on the web, there is no option to login with Facebook. When registering via the Android app, there is.

Just to confuse things, you can create an account using Facebook that has the same email address as an account created on the web with that email address with a different boat name.

There is relatively little customization of the boat. Players get to choose their preferred hull color. Sails for the time being are generic white/grey.

Once you are registered, you can add profile information including Facebook and Twitter details, hometown and other other individual touches like a photo or avatar.

Sailing

The Volvo Ocean Race Game is a 2D representation from a bird’s eye view. There are no 3D engines or fancy graphics, just a simple “this is land – this is sea” view. Decisions are made through weather information and shaded ‘polars’ which show how fast and how far different sail choices advance the boat.

For those who understand the ins and outs of sailing, there is a lot of information supplied including apparent wind angle, apparent wind speed, true wind speed, true wind angle, boat speed and boat position in Latitude and Longitude.

The ‘Free’ version of the game gives you two sails. A jib for upwind and a medium spinnaker for downwind. Unlike other similar games, there is no concept of sail degradation, however there is a new limiting factor – ‘crew energy’.  It doesn’t take too long to realise that to sail faster in the direction you want to go, you need to find some budget.

Volvo Ocean Race Game Upgrades

Five Euros will buy you about 1000 credits. Credits can be used to give you a competitive advantage over the rest of the fleet, or let you play multiple strategies. Every one of the ‘locked’ features gives you an edge.

Special Packages

• Extra Boats – Rather than creating a new email address and a new account for every strategy you want to sail, the new edition of the Volvo Ocean Race Game allows you to buy extra boats for your ‘fleet’. These have the same boat name and can be raced from a single log-in. This is especially handy when you are sailing from a mobile device, because signing in and out of different accounts on a phone can be a bit of a hassle.

Sails 

• Pro Sails – Over the course of 5,000 or so miles, a couple of knots can make a lot of difference. The pro sails pack gives you a genoa, code zero and light spinnaker as well as the default jib and medium spinnaker. This will increase the wind range that you can sail effectively in, but at the extremes you need the special sails.
• Special Sails – This pack gives you a ‘wind-seeker’ for very light airs and a heavy spinnaker for extreme downwind sailing.

Navigation

Both these extras are about speed. They aren’t really navigation aids. If you dont look where you are going, you will just run aground faster.

• Auto Sails – For those gamers who want to sleep, there are some ‘auto’ options available. Auto sails will choose the most efficient sail from your available sails for the angle to the wind you are sailing.
• Auto Angle – keeps the boat at an optimal angle of attack.

Volvo Ocean Race Game Android App

One of the best things that has come to the Volvo Ocean Race online game is the ability to play from a phone. If you haven’t got the waypoints turned on, then going mobile allows you to quickly and easily make decisions, but also creates the conditions for the game to become an obsession.

The Android Volvo Ocean Race Game App installs quickly and looks great. Multiple boats in your ‘fleet’ can be controlled from a single login and the game loads pretty well over a slow connection. On a Samsung Galaxy II S, we think the Android app looks better and has better gameplay than the iPhone version (which we have tested on an iPad not an iPhone)

Volvo Ocean Race Game iPhone App

It’s great that the game can be played on the iPhone, but there seem to be a couple of little glitches that don’t appear on the Android app. For example, when you click to navigate, your boat appears pointing directly up and you have to choose your heading from zero degrees rather than your current heading.

Integration and signing in works well if Facebook is installed on your device (iphone or iPad)

Work in Progress

There are a few things that still need to be sorted out to make this a really great game.

The biggest one would be being able to see the real boats. There is a tab for it on the browser version, but it doesn’t seem to work. It doesn’t look like the actual boats are shown on the mobile app for Android or iPad. Being able to see the position of the teams in the Volvo Ocean Race would help engage fans even more and stop having to log out of the game and into the Volvo Ocean Race tracking app.

Photographer Rick Tomlinson received the Inmarsat Media Pioneer Award at the Volvo Ocean Race Legends in recognition of his trailblazing record documenting the race, particularly in the Southern Ocean.

Presenting the Award in front of an audience of over 600 spanning three decades of the world’s sailing elite, Chris Mclaughlin, Vice President, External Affairs, Inmarsat said:

“Rick Tomlinson has brought iconic images of an inspirational race to millions of people. In his own modest way he began the task that has now developed into a full time onboard media crew member role. His craft and use of evolving technology has grown from the humble picture scanner to our FleetBroadband data streaming. Rick is a legend and a true ambassador for the race.”

The award celebrates Inmarsat’s 30-year history with the Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race by honouring the contribution, courage and commitment of the pioneering photographers on the original races.

Yachting photographer Tomlinson is probably best known for capturing the Southern Ocean at its most treacherous from the decks of various yachts in the Whitbread Round the World Race. Rick recorded four Whitbreads on board Drum, The Card, Intrum Justitia and was the photographer for the two EF teams in the 1997 race.

Whilst crewing on Drum in the1985 race and armed with one Nikon and 20 rolls of film, Tomlinson redefined onboard photography with his trademark slow exposure night-time shots of the Southern Ocean, images that have achieved iconic status. Inmarsat’s satellite technology is a key enabler for all aspects of the 2011-12 race — for position reporting, sending live video footage and photos of onboard action to the world’s media, providing safety communications in the event of an accident, and for boosting crew morale.

Inmarsat is also sponsoring the Media Crew Member (MCM) Award of 1,000 euros (US$1,358) on each leg of the race, plus a 10,000 euro (US$13,585) prize for the best overall contribution to race coverage.

This race each Volvo Open 70 race boat will be fitted with a FleetBroadband 500 terminal, delivering voice and high-speed data communications. Competitors in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 will be the first sailors with access to the new ‘red button’ safety service on FleetBroadband, giving instant one-touch contact with maritime rescue coordination centres. Also on board will be a compact FleetBroadband 150 for crew voice calling and IP data, two Mini-C systems for constant positioning data and additional global safety.