MAPFRE (Xabi Fernández/ESP) emerged victorious despite a pair of major setbacks in Leg 4 following one of the tightest-fought finishes in Volvo Ocean Race history on Saturday night (full story below).

–  Eight minutes divides top three after 20 days of sailing

– Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing go top, just ahead of Caudrelier’s Dongfeng

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, February 27 – MAPFRE (Xabi Fernández/ESP) emerged victorious despite a pair of major setbacks in Leg 4 following one of the tightest-fought finishes in Volvo Ocean Race history on Saturday night.

The victory gives the 2014-15 edition its fourth winner in four legs following successes for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR), Team Brunel (Bouwe Bekking/NED), and Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier/FRA).

All those wins in the first three stages have been hard-fought but none more so than this latest leg win for the Spanish boat, claimed at 2131 local time/0931 UTC after 5,264 nautical miles (nm) and 20 days, two hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds of sailing from Sanya, China to Auckland.

Stand-in skipper Xabi Fernández could not have chosen a better stage to guide his crew to victory with just four minutes 25 seconds to spare from Walker’s men, who had the consolation of becoming overall leaders thanks to a better in-port race series record than Dongfeng Race Team.

“We’re super happy to be here, and of course, it was a very tough leg,” said Xabi. “We had a very hard last day especially, but we’re very happy to be here.

“We have improved a lot over the last two legs. We have a very good team and I hope we can now show to the world what we can do and keep doing it like this.”

Auckland is known as the ‘City of Sails’ and the locals came out in their tens of thousands both on and off the water, fresh from cheering their cricket team to victory over Australia in the World Cup earlier in the day.

For so much of a leg which started in Sanya on February 8, MAPFRE had looked the most unlikely of winners.

They lost full communications for three days when a problem emerged with their antennae, which prevented them from receiving full weather data to help them plot the optimum course.

This, with the help of the Race HQ technology staff plus partners Cobham, was eventually fixed, but they also suffered a major injury problem on board when under-30 crew member Guillermo ‘Wily’ Altadill (ESP) badly hurt his hand.

It was put in a splint and Altadill, 22, will see a doctor on Sunday to discover if he has broken it.

“I’m going to the doctors in the morning – after the party,” he said, the pain dulled by the euphoria of victory.

Walker, meanwhile, will be satisfied with his second runners-up spot in a row, and a fourth podium place. His crew skirmished with MAPFRE all day on Saturday, but could not quite overhaul the Spanish crew despite reducing the deficit to within 1nm at times.

Equally, they narrowly staved off third-placed Dongfeng Race Team by less than four minutes.

Team Alvimedica (Charlie Enright/USA) claimed fourth, just under 1hr 20mins behind Dongfeng, with Team Brunel and Team SCA (Sam Davies/GBR) bringing up the rear in ever lighter winds.

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via Xabi delivers memorable Leg 4 win| Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

POSTED BY J/BOATS ED AT 2:30 PM LABELS: FLORIDA, J111, KEY WEST, OCEAN, OFFSHORE, ONE-DESIGN, RACING, SAILBOAT, SAILINGNewer Post Older Post HomeBLOG ARCHIVE▼  2015 (70)▼  February (44)Kath Robinson- DIYC’s First Woman Commodore- Inter…What We’ve Learned From Racing Our J/70Women J/24’s Steal the Show!Spanish J/80 Teams Prep For WorldsGorgeous St Petersburg NOOD Regatta!Green Flash @ J/70 North Americans!RORC Caribbean 600 PreviewSCYA Midwinters PreviewJ/27 Midwinters PreviewJ/24 Midwinters PreviewJ/70s- The Winner’s Edge: Interview with Carlo Alb…An Enchanting Cruise on Montego Bay Race!J/88s- Sailing Fast @ Key West- Winner’s Tips & Tr…Dazzling Quantum J/70 Winter Series FinaleJ/111s- Practice Like You RaceHerman Crowned Chilean J/70 ChampionMcKinnon Starts Paralympic Sailing CampaignSAILING Champions League Growing Dramatically!New England Boat Show Time!Volvo Ocean Race- The Charlie Enright UpdateLongest J/70 delivery yet?The 25th Australian Women’s Keelboat RegattaNew England Boat Show!Gorgeous Sailing @ GrenadaFresh to Frightening 3BF Conditions? Not!J/111 JOUST Tops Festival of SailsJ/88s Planing Assault on Chicago-Mac Race!Germany’s Lehman J/70 Primo Cup Winner!Quantum J/70 Winter Series III PreviewMcKee’s Key West Minute- Jonathan McKee Sailing J/…Wicked Good Sailing- Forrest Williams on Sailing J…J/70s Loving “Australia Day”J/70 Primo Cup PreviewCream Rising In Barbados- J/24s Jamin Bro!Gannon Troutman- Key West’s Youngest Sailor Ever??…J/70 Boat Speed: Tune & Trim To Win Discussion @ K…Sydney-Based J/70s Sail ASBA NationalsJ’s Reaching to Key WestGermans Top J/70 Monaco Act 3Key West Sailor InterviewsJ/Teams Love Key West!Key West Musings- Dave Reed Sailing J/70sUSA J/70 Premiere Sailing League LaunchesThe West Coast’s Wackiest Race?!►  January (26)►  2014 (660)►  2013 (624)►  2012 (594)►  2011 (575)►  2010 (507)►  2009 (207)►  2008 (56)►  2007 (78)►  2006 (34)

via J/News Articles: Wicked Good Sailing- Forrest Williams on Sailing J/111s @ Key West.

Up and coming 49er sailors Rory and Neil Hunter are the latest recipients of the Marlow Ropes Award, which will give the Scottish brothers free rope for a year after recently being selected to join the British Sailing Team Podium Potential Squad.The Marlow Ropes Award was introduced in 2002 with the aim of rewarding Britain’s most promising young sailors for their determination, focus and talent.The sailing siblings from Lamlash on the Isle of Arran, Scotland, have spent the last three months training alongside the Podium Potential Squad and given their 49er potential and recent performances the brothers earned selection to the British Team in January.“We were both absolutely delighted to have won the Marlow Ropes Award only days after our selection for the Podium Potential Squad,” said 17-year-old helm Rory.“We feel we have won the award from the results we have gained over the past season and from displaying a high amount of dedication and commitment during our time training alongside the Podium Potential Squad.“The award will be a huge benefit to our campaign over the next season as we will be able to fit our boat out with top quality rope. In the 49er class, halyards and control lines come under high loads in the windier conditions, making top quality rope absolutely key to ensure a successful day racing with no breakages.”Over the past 18 months the duo have recorded some impressive results including the 49er National Championship title in August, finishing second overall at the RYA National Ranking Series in November and their season highlight coming at the ISAF Santander World Championships where they posted 36th overall and 11th in the Silver fleet.The 19-year-old Neil added: “We feel that the key ingredient to our results over the past year has been mainly a lot of hard work!  We’ve spent a lot of time sailing and just learning as much as possible.  The learning curve is so steep, especially in a class like the 49er.”“Over the next 12 months our main goal is a top five at the Youth Worlds, that’s our target event this year. We’ve got a lot of sailing planned between now and then, with events throughout Europe and we’re going to Miami later this week. The Marlow award entitles the brothers to free Marlow rope for a year, which Rory says will be invaluable as they prepare for their inaugural season as British Sailing Team members.“The award will help us massively. In a high performance boat like a 49er having the best kit is crucial for us to achieve our goals. With Marlow Ropes we can be sure that we are using the best rope available so it’s just one less thing for us to worry about!  It will be a massive boost to our campaign.”Barrie Edgington, British Sailing Team Podium Potential Squad Manager, commented: “Rory and Neil are rare examples of sailors who have taken a slightly more independent tack to campaigning and making the case for support from the World Class Programme. “In doing so their professional approach combined with achieving measurable international and national results has got them noticed and rewarded both by officially joining the British Sailing Team and being nominated for the prestigious Marlow Ropes Award. – “If they keep up the level of commitment to their 49er sailing and goals, I am sure they will continue to excel and achieve higher things.”

via The News.

RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show 2015 – British Sailing Team manager Stephen Park and Laser star Nick Thompson will be among the expert speakers from 28 February to 1 March. London’s Alexandra Palace will once again be transformed into a dinghy sailor’s heaven as the annual show provides the perfect start to the dinghy sailing season, with free talks and coaching sessions and all the latest boats and gear to get you sailing faster. Whether you’ve never set foot in a dinghy or you’re already a seasoned pro, the show offers something for everyone and remains the only exhibition in the world dedicated exclusively to the sport. Stephen Park OBE, who’s heading in to his fourth Olympic Games as the British Sailing Team’s Manager, will be providing an insight into the road to Rio 2016 with now just 18 months to go until the Games, while four-time Laser Worlds medallist Nick Thompson will be sharing his top tips for super light and super windy sailing. If you’ve set your own sights on being a future Olympic gold medallist, then visit the RYA British Youth Sailing and Volvo Car UK stand (C36), where RYA staff and representatives from Class Associations will share information and advice on how to get involved with all levels of racing from club or regional level through to RYA UK Youth Squads and beyond. You can also have a go at the RYA Volvo Sail for Gold virtual sailing game, chat with British Sailing Team members campaigning for Rio 2016 and hang out in the interactive information zone with exclusive access to the latest coaching videos from Team Volvo. As the official car partner to the British Sailing Team, Volvo will also be showcasing the V40 Cross Country, V60 Plug-in Hybrid and the XC60, a very popular car within the sailing community. Volvo experts will be on hand to show you around the cars, explain the latest discounts available to RYA members, and how to get involved with the Volvo Sailing Academies. The British Sailing Team’s official technical clothing partner Zhik will also be on hand (G6) to assist with all your on water clothing needs, and will have items from the team’s limited retail range available to purchase. Proceeds raised from sales of the unique and patriotic range of men’s and women’s tees and polos, headgear, jackets and rash vests all go to support the British Sailing Team’s medal-winning efforts. British Sailing Team official suppliers Harken (G8) and Marlow Ropes (G42) are among the exhibitors showcasing their latest gear and gadgets, so feel free to stop by to chat about how they might help your dinghy sailing needs.by RYA

via Sail-World.com : RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show 2015 – British Sailing Team experts lined up.

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Getting good starts is far from easy and the bowman’s role is crucial. Yachting World’s Jonty Sherwill asked grand-prix bowman Matt Cornwell for his five best tips on giving the right signals…

Five seconds to the start and the row of bows is accelerating towards the line. A boat to windward is early and obscuring your view of the start boat. The bowman signals for ‘full speed’, then runs aft and hits the rail. We’re off, there’s clear air and space below . . .

Stepping up to do ‘bow’ is to take on a multi-role, multi-skilled task. Clear communication is at the heart of all good sailing teams and during the prestart visual hand signals from the bowman, plus verbal input from the tactician and other team members, can help inform the helmsman of the distance to the line, proximity to other boats and whether to hold course, slow down, speed up, etc. Agreeing and understanding the visual signals is vital for a safe start.

Although the pre-start may demand the highest level of concentration and precision, for the bowman it can be just the beginning of a race-long job list of headsail changes, gybes, spinnaker peels and trips aloft. On bigger yachts a run to the bow may also be needed to call a port/starboard dip or mark overlap and here the same hand signal code can be used.

The common hand signals used are: CLICK HERE

Tags: education, training, Yachting World

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via Bowman signals: Getting great starts with hand signals >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News.

CLIPPER RACE – SPONSORSHIP EXTENSION2015-16 SeriesMarlow Ropes, are very happy to officially confirm we will be continuing our long-term race partnership on board once again ahead of the 2015-16 series.As the Clipper Race’s official rope supplier, Marlow Ropes will once again provide each of the fleet’s twelve Clipper 70 yachts with over 40,000 metres of high quality ropes which are made of modern, light weight fibres such as Dyneema. Crew will be provided with rope care and splicing advice by Marlow experts during training to help them get maximum lifespan and efficiency out of the running rigging during their eleven month challenge.Paul Honess, Leisure Marine Sales Director for Marlow Ropes Ltd, said: “Marlow is very proud to continue our association with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race for the seventh consecutive race series. It was clear to see from the last edition of the race that the new Clipper 70 is a big step up from the Clipper 68s with regards to power and performance. “We continue to use mostly standard products on most of the running rigging but have now upgraded some cover composition for a few of the lines, this is to increase the longevity and performance in a few key applications ready for the next edition of the race.“The great thing about working with the Clipper fleet is that we can trial and test our products and look at ways to increase performance and longevity of the lines and get great feedback which we can then use to develop our Cruiser/ Racer range of products.”Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

via The News.

At Marlow Ropes we are always looking to the future with innovation and development – the two adverts above show Marlow at the forefront of rope technology with polyester yacht ropes in 1957, and today with our Grand Prix Series range.  However, we never forget our rich and proud heritage and whilst Marlow Ropes Ltd was originally set up as recently as 1961, the story of the Company and the intertwined history of rope making in Hailsham goes back over 200 years.

EARLY BEGINNINGS

In 1807 Thomas Burfield founded his rope company in Hailsham, East Sussex – the present day Marlow factory still manufactures rope on Burfield’s original site.  In those days however,  Burfield made ropes from “soft” natural fibres, not only hemps imported from Europe and India but also Cannabis!

In 1830 George Green, an employee of Burfield’s, left to set up a rival factory across town called Green Brothers, making similar products but servicing mainly local industry.

Later that centuary in 1881, George Hawkins and Alfred Tipson founded Hawkins and Tipson in Millwall on the Isle of Dogs, London.  Hawkins and Tipson made ropes mainly for the maritime industry from “hard” natural fibres such as manila and sisal.

EXPANSION

Hawkins and Tipson went from strength to strength, rapidly expanding it’s operations, thanks in part to a shortage of Manila fibre during the Spanish American war in 1898, which the Company foresaw and profited from.

In 1941 and 1953 respectively, Hawkins and Tipson bought Green Brothers and Burfield & Sons in Hailsham.  The purpose of these acquisitions being to provide land and capacity for the expanding Hawkins and Tipson Ltd.

SYNTHETIC FIBRES

At this time rope manufacture was still dominated by natural fibres such as hemp, manila and sisal.  However, by early 1950’s the “new” synthetic fibres of Nylon (polyamide) and Terylene (polyester) were becoming more widely used in industry and Hawkins and Tipson were among the first to realise their potential in rope making

In 1957 Hawkins and Tipson started manufacturing and selling synthetic fibre ropes, made in Hailsham, to the yachting industry under the “Marlow” brand.  These new nylon and polyester ropes were ideal for the demands of the re-emerging yachting industry which was just recovering after World War II.  The success of the Marlow brand led to the founding of Marlow Ropes Ltd in 1961, as part of the ever expanding Hawkins and Tipson empire, with the express purpose of  manufacturing synthetic fibre ropes for the yachting market..

GROWING REPUTATION

During the 1960’s Marlow Ropes very soon become internationally know in the yachting industry and leaders in the field.  Yachtsmen around the world replaced their traditional 3 strand hemp ropes with braided nylon and polyester ropes manufactured by Marlow in Hailsham.

The 1970’s, saw Marlow Ropes (now the synthetic fibre arm of Hawkins and Tipson) moving  from strength to strength, further asserting it’s dominance in the yachting industry with innovative products such as Marlowbraid.  However, it also extended it’s operations into polyester ropes and slings for civil engineering projects and other general lifting work for land and marine use.

CHANGE AND GROWTH

As the use of natural fibres declined in the heavy marine industry, Marlow, who also extruded their own raw materials in Hailsham, grew in it’s reach and product portfolio.  They soon became the dominant company within the group and by 1983 Hawkins and Tipson (now under new ownership) was restructured, becoming known as H&T Marlow and subsequently simply Marlow Ropes Ltd.

Marlow Ropes continued to lead the way in technical innovation and together with further expansion in the 1990’s the Company re-affirmed it’s position as one of the dominant forces in rope manufacture world wide.  The Marlow brand was renowned and respected in markets around the world from yachting ropes to military ropes and commercial mooring ropes to deep sea tethers for oil platforms.

GLOBAL ORGANISATION

By 2003, after a number of acquisitions, Marlow Ropes was a world leader in the design and manufacture of deep water tethers and mooring points for the oil industry as well as continuing to be the most globally recognised rope brand in the yachting industry.  The Company was manufacturing on three sites in the UK and also owned a climbing rope company in Germany.

NEW START

At the end of 2005 however, the Company was split up and sold off to separate buyers.  The Marlow Cordage Division was bought by the owner of Marlow’s one time UK competitor, English Braids, who retained the name Marlow Ropes Ltd.

Today, Marlow Ropes has a brand new purpose built factory and warehouse and continues to manufacture quality British ropes on the same site as Thomas Burfield over 200 years ago.  Times have changed however and today Marlow specialises in the design and manufacture of technically innovative rope products using the very latest hi-tech and exotic man made fibres.

Marlow Ropes’ reputation for quality and technical innovation continues in the 21st Century and the Company continues to forge a path of progress and growth in the markets in which it operates:

•    Leisure Marine

•    Defence & Special Forces

•    Winching & wire rope replacement

•    Arboriculture

•    Fire & Rescue

•    Work Safety & Industrial Access

•    Cabling & Telecoms

•    Film & Theatre Rigging

via About Marlow.

The News.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is starting the New Year by announcing sponsorship extensions with long-term partners Marlow Ropes, ChartCo and Ocean Safety ahead of the 2015-16 series, the tenth edition of the unique biennial global challenge.

Clipper Race Founder and Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, said: “We are very pleased that Marlow Ropes, ChartCo and Ocean Safety are to continue their partnerships with us for the 2015-16 edition.

“We have enjoyed successful, long term relationships with these industry leading companies whose products continue to stand up to the test of one of the world’s most unique challenges. Once again we look forward to working together to create both another safe circumnavigation and an extraordinary experience for our crew.”

The tenth edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race starts this August and will take almost a year to complete. At 40,000 nautical miles in length, it is the world’s longest ocean race, also regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet.

As the Clipper Race’s official rope supplier, Marlow Ropes will once again provide each of the fleet’s twelve Clipper 70 yachts with over 40,000 metres of high quality ropes which are made of modern, light weight fibres such as Dyneema. Crew will be provided with rope care and splicing advice by Marlow experts during training to help them get maximum lifespan and efficiency out of the running rigging during their eleven month challenge.

Paul Honess, Leisure Marine Sales Director for Marlow Ropes Ltd, said: “Marlow is very proud to continue our association with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race for the seventh consecutive race series. It was clear to see from the last edition of the race that the new Clipper 70 is a big step up from the Clipper 68s with regards to power and performance.

“We continue to use mostly standard products on most of the running rigging but have now upgraded some cover composition for a few of the lines, this is to increase the longevity and performance in a few key applications ready for the next edition of the race. The great thing about working with the Clipper fleet is that we can trial and test our products and look at ways to increase performance and longevity of the lines and get great feedback which we can then use to develop our Cruiser/ Racer range of products.”​

Ocean Safety marks its sixth consecutive time as Clipper Race safety supplier and will continue to work closely with the race organisers to ensure that the safety standards of the 2015-16 circumnavigation are accurately met.

“We are delighted to be partnering and re-supplying to the Clipper Race once again,” commented Ocean Safety’s Charlie Mill. “We will be supplying their complete safety package, as well as invaluable support and training for the race crews prior to and during the race. A comprehensive service package will also be put in place to ensure regular equipment checks and updates are completed.”

Leaving nothing to chance to protect the amateur sailors who will crew each boat – the complete safety kit includes; liferafts, Kannad EPIRBs, lifebuoy lights, lifebuoys, survival suits, flares, radar reflectors, fire extinguishers, thermal protective suits, grab bags and more. Ocean Safety has also continued its innovation and evolution on a number of the products including a custom lifejacket, to be revealed shortly.

ChartCo, one of the world’s largest stockists and distributors of nautical charts, navigational data and marine technical publications, is back on board for its fourth consecutive race as an official Clipper Race supplier.

Martin Taylor, Managing Director of ChartCo said: “We’re really pleased to continue our partnership with the Clipper 2015-16 Round the World Yacht Race, a unique event which shares our spirit of teamwork and respect; two important values that ChartCo has held throughout its 250-year history.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Twelve teams, each led by a professional skipper, will battle against each other in up to 16 individually scored races which cover six continents on the global race circuit.

via Clipper Race announces extended sponsorships for 2015-16 series.