Welcome to the Regatta Promotions Sailing Marketing Blog

 Want to buy a boat, well after watching this video I asked where do I sign!

Yale Cordage is back at it again! They have recently re-dedicated themselves to the marine market, developing some new and interesting lines. We recently got our hands on some of this new experimental product which we used at the BVI Spring Regatta on the IC 24 we were sailing. The product was built with a spectra/dynema core with a new Maxi-Jacket HP coating with their new “Wave” cover. The real development here is the “Wave” cover with a strong core. The cover is built to have a very soft hand that matches well with the core which makes a line that performs well in every condition.

We found the line to be very stiff and kinky when we first received it and were a bit sceptical about how it would perform. However, we soaked the line and roughed it up a bit by working four foot sections of the line through a ratchet block. After this initial break-in the line was perfect – soft and flowing but strong enough to handle high loads.

We used the line for the main, spinnaker and jib sheets. The conditions over three days were 35 to 20 knots and big waves. With only a four to one on the main sheet the line was under constant stress and work. The mainsheet trimmer was very pleased with the line as well as the driver. The line doesn’t absorb too much water and stays light.

We will continue to use this line which should hit stores this fall. We will keep you posted on an acutal release date and how it will wear over the summer. Stay tuned!

This weeks poll has to do with the changes that will take place for the Racing Rules of Sailing beginning in 2009. Last week, at the North U Seminar, Dave Dellenbaugh said that Rule 18 will change to a three boatlength circle zone around turning marks, versus the two boatlength circle that is now in place. I am not sure how I feel about this change. I tried to find something in print to explain more about the change that will take place, but I didn’t manage to find anything. Keep an eye out for new publications regarding this rule change and any others that will be popping up in the next 8 months before their 2009 debut.

You have all cast your ballots and the YES answers win. Most of you thought that the next America’s Cup will raise the level of sailing. We will have to wait and see if this really is the case.  This week’s poll is an interesting one, and we want you all to weigh in.

Team Rob Swain Sailing School finished up sixth out 12 boats this past weekend in the IC 24 class of the BVI Spring Regatta hosted by Nanny Cay Marina in Tortola. The crew consisted of the great Tom Hall skippering, Rob and Gina Swain, myself (Carter White) and Steve Fernald. On Saturday and Sunday Rob and Gina were not available to crew so we received some great help from Dave and Nate who are currently working in the BVIs. The winds kept strong all weekend never lowering below 20 knots. The IC 24 class has a general rule of not allowing spinnakers unless the wind is less than 18 knots or so. The RC took down the no spinnaker flag for the first race on Sunday. The race was a quick windward leeward and we rounded the top mark in first. However, half way down the second leg to the finish we flubbed the gybe and two boats pasted us and we finished the race in third by about one boat length. It was great to get the cob webs out of the way and tune up the racing skills in preparation of summer in the northeast.

This was my first regatta that had international umpires on the water who would make in the water decisions about right of way rules. We had three separate situations that required the umpires to make decisions. The first situation happened on Friday. We approached the starboard layline about four lengths away from the windward mark and lee bowed a starboard tacker and was sailing on starboard for about a boat length and then two port tackers tried to fit between us and the mark. There wasn’t enough room and the closer port tacker hit us. We tried to avoid the collision but it was impossible. The umpires penalized the inside most port boat as well as us. Not sure why we received a penalty. The 2^nd situation was at a start and a windward boat was getting too close to the line and tried putting their bow down but their jib trimmer kept the jib fully trimmed and they gained a bunch of speed and couldn’t avoid hitting us. The skipper knew he was wrong and actually was yelling at his jib trimmer and started to do his penalty turn, however the umpires came over and waved the green no foul flag, so he just kept on sailing. After the race the umpires came over to us and we pointed out our smashed up side of the boat and the umpires then apologized and said that they didn’t see the collision. The 3^rd situation involved a boat that hit the windward mark right as we were approaching it and we could clearly see the infraction and nicely tried to bring it to their attention but the umpires again took no action.

Needless to say I think the umpiring was useless and ineffective. Our sport has long been self policing and if we the competitors use the rules the way they are intended the sport can be enjoyable and competitive. The other annoying by-product of the umpires was that their two powerboats were creating disturbed water all over the course making finding the waves for surfing much more difficult.

Stay tuned for photos and a review of the IC 24 with tips and tricks. We were also using a experimental line supplied by Yale Cordage which we will review on Wed. of this week.

Photo of our boat by Richard Woodridge Racing in Paradise

Photo 1: Looking across the deck of the IC24.  Photo 2: Our team is all smiles.

Photo 3: Looking back at another IC24 heading out of the harbor for the day.

Day one is down at the BVI spring regatta. Racing started with a solid 25+ knots of wind and two to four foot waves. A ton of fun when you are sailing modified J24s called IC24s. These 24 foot boats have the hull of a J24 matched with a deck of a Melges 24 making the boat more comfortable to sail. No spinnakers were used on Friday as the winds stayed up and with the very short courses there wasn’t enough time to even get them set. Often we were planing downwind the whole way from the windward mark to the leeward mark. FUN but also very wet! We sit in 6th place out of about 12 boats and only 7 points out of 2nd. We are sailing for the Rob Swain Sailing School and our boat is name that as well. They may post results online if you want to check them out go here: results on line.

We had one really bad race, which they noted as our first race but it really was our second race. We were fouled at the windward mark by a port tacker and the umpires said it was our fault. By the time we got straightened away with doing our circles and sailing the course we realized we loss our only winch handle. Fortunately on the next windward leg we found the handle and decided to ditch the race and recover it which took a bunch of effort and a few faces of water to retrieve.

We ended the day with a third our best finish and hope to continue to place top threes to move up in the standings.

More details about the racing and the regatta to come. Cheers from Nanny Cay marina and resort in Tortola, BVI.

Walter Greene is arguably the finest trimaran designer and builder of his time and SCOUT is arguably one of his finest efforts both in design and construction!! Her one owner has used her primarily as a fast cruiser. She has had the finest of care from a knowledgeable yachtsman and shows extremely well. Major upgrades in ‘06 include a custom carbon fiber spar!!

I have sailed and raced this boat which is fun, fast and safe. Unfortunately the time I raced the boat the wind quit and after hours of bobbing around we had to call it quits and go in for dinner. Even though the wind died that day, earlier the owner let me drive the boat for awhile and we got her going over 12knots in light breeze. Boy its fun to sail by those old, slow monohulls!

I also was on board for a sail test once off Freeport where we got the speed up over 18 knots as I recall. That was a lot of fun but didn’t last long because we were testing a bunch of different sails.

The boat has raced in a few offshore races including the Monhegan Island Race and the Yarmouth Cup.  This is truly a one of a kind.

To see more pics and a full description, click here