The latest Open 5.70 to join the Southern California Fleet is USA 310… welcome Magnus!!

As we continued our visit in La Rochelle, we definitely had to stop and say hello to Jean-Marie Oger, skipper of Pogo 2 FRA 774. Jean-Marie is not only one of the best Pogo 2 racer in the world, but he also helped us last year in France as we were getting ready for the US Built Pogo 2 project. JM didn’t do so well on the first leg: his boat hit a large aquatic mammal (maybe a whale), which took off one of his rudder. He had to stop in Portugal to repair. JM still finished the first leg, behind everyone else. It’s not over for the racer from Brittany – with a little more than 1000nm to go, JM is currently 4th place in the Series fleet, only 25 nm behind the first boats! Go luck JM and see you soon!!

Open Sailing was in La Rochelle just before the start of the 2011 Mini Transat and got the chance to talk to a few racers. We met with Emma again (last time was just before her boat was shipped to France) and enjoyed talking to her. She seems very well prepared: after 8 months in France preparing for the race, Emma seems serene and a lot more experienced for 45oo nm solo sailing!

Enjoy this little interview and stay tune for other interview, coming soon on the Open Sailing News section!!

Early July,  we had a little report about the Mini Fasnet. The Mini Fasnet is a 500nm double handed race. Due to strong winds up to Fastnet Rock, the Race Committee sent the racers south to the BAX buoy and back. The first 7 series Mini were all Pogo 2s with the first three boats finishing a minute 20 from each other! Thanks to FRA 472 with Xavier Macaire and Kan Chuck, follow the 3 boats sprinting to the finish. (more…)

Palisadian and Loyola High senior Tony Festa didn’t have a typical summer of a high school student. Festa, only 17, competed in sailboat competitions following the end of the school year and racked up a number of impressive accomplishments.

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Mashup of the Kattack tracking with live GoPro footage