SailGP Sydney Australia Results

The first ever SailGP racing just ended with their next stop in San Francisco May 4-5. Overall the racing was spectacular with Team Australia being unbeatable. 5 of the races had all 6 boats racing against each other, with the 6 race being a match raced between the top 2 finishers, Team Australia and Japan, with Australia winning again.

Team USA being the least experienced and youngest team struggled the most. It appeared they were racing the cat like a monohull versus a multihulls with to many maneuvers, not utilizing the tracks/course full breath, etc. Still they had some good starts and good speed at times. Their practice Match racing with Team Australia showed they have great skills by beating Australia at the start. I can guarantee now that they have until May they will evaluation their and others performances closely, and step up their game considerably.

I think the team to watch is Great Britain as they had a horrible start in race 5 but came from behind to get 4th. They had great speed. They were close in getting 3rd. Great come back with amazing boat speed and tactics.

Results: 1. Australia; 2 Japan; 3. Great Britain; 4. China; 5 France; 6. USA

SailGP first day of racing

Race day 1 (3 races) results...

As was predicted the Australian (Team Australia) and New Zealand skippers (Team Japan with Kiwi and Japanese crew) and their teams were in top form to take the top two places in all 3 of the races that took place today (15th). The USA team which is the least experienced and youngest as predicted were in the middle of the pack results wise. They seems to struggle to keep their speed up. However this young USA team has only had a few days to train on these new 50 foot foiling cats (F50), the fastest sailboats in the world. There are many races to come and lots of opportunities to improve. I might add the New Zealand and Australia skippers have the advantage of years of racing foiling sailboats, so they should be at the top of their game.

More racing tomorrow (Friday 16th) at 8:PM via sailgp facebook live video... CLICK HERE!

AC75 mini crash

If one is wondering how the development of the new AC75 is going, news is not well. 36th America's Cup officials are painting a real rosy picture with its development. However others are getting pretty nervous with the thought of sailing an incredibly unstable 75 foot foiling monohull monster with 11 sailors on board (needs more crew to handle the beast). In the previous AC they talked about capsize issues with the cats but with these new monohulls they appears to be much more unstable, unsafe.

In the various promotional videos it shows the smaller development boat only flying along in a straight line, with CGI effects added. Their videos always cuts off before turns, etc. In this non official video I have posted here it shows the true issue with the design with a pretty spectacular capsize crash. Notice the floats hanging of each side of the boat.

Lets hope no one gets seriously hurt and that they are wise enough to pull the plug on the project before someone does. If they want to race monohulls they should put the boats back in the water and leave the foiling to the multihulls.

Skippers talk F50 foiling

Skippers of the F50 racing catamarans in SailGP series talk about what it is like to sail the world's fastest racing sailboats, etc. in this video. Racing starts Feb. 15-16.

F50 Sailing

SailGP Racing and Updates February 2019

The ultimate sailboat racing will be showcased this February 14-15 (9:AM 14th, 8:AM 15th PST) on FaceBook Live and via a soon to be announced US broadcaster (15-16 on Sydney Harbor, Australia), and around the world as the racing series continues on throughout the year.

If you are missing the high powered foiling cats of the past America's Cup now replaced by slower foiling monohulls (if they will be able to foil at all), no worries as SAILGP continues on with what the America's Cup should have stuck with.

These new 50 foot foiling cats are the fastest sailboats in the world (50+ knots, 3 times plus the speed of the true wind) and now you can watch all the racing up close and personal as these new breed of foiling cats fly around the race course. Many sensors and video cameras have been placed strategically all over the boats with the aim to allow viewers to get up close. SAILGP has worked very hard to make the racing more interactive for fans.

Good news is most teams are mostly all national. So if a sailboat has a country noted on it, it means the sailing team members are all from those countries. Japan and China are an exception due to their countries sailors are new to foiling sailing and are currently being trained to one day take over and be all national teams.

So racing again is this Feb. 15-16 in Sydney Australia. Racing will come to the states, San Francisco this May 3-4, New York 21-22 June, then to Cowes UK 10-11 Aug., Marseille France 20-21 September, Check out the video below to learn more or visit sailgp.com

Benewah Lake, Benewah County, Idaho

Benewah Lake (400 acres) is a lake connected to St. Joe River within Heyburn State Park area. There are 3 lakes within the park. Benewah is the second largest of these lakes. It can be accessed via 4 locations: First at the one and only boat launch at the east end of the lake. Second, via Benewah Creek access point on the east end of the lake from HWY 5. Third, from the St. Joe River via a small short channel on the northwest side of the lake. And fourth, on the southwest end of the lake from Lake Chatcolet. The lake is best suited for slow moving fishing boats and kayaks and canoes, and during spring and early summer is good for small boat sailing before the aquatic vegetation takes over the lake. This is a no wake lake, and has policies related to not disturbing waterfowl not during hunting season. There is an old railroad bridge that crosses the lake with about a 5' clearance over the lake, limiting the height of boats which can enter and exit the lake via the channel from St. Joe River. Info: See the About St. Joe River, Heyburn State Park, Area Lakes page/post

Benewah Campground Boat Launch, dock, campground, restrooms, running water, picnic area...

Directions: On HWY 5 coming from either Heyburn State Park visitor center or from St Maries: Take Benewah Lake Road to the Benewah Campground and Boat Launch. This lake is full of aquatic plants, so is best suited for slow moving fishing boats and kayaking.

ACCESSIBILITY: PARKING... Gravel, dirt/mud parking area; PATHS/TRAILS... None; RESTROOMS/FACILITIES/SHADE… One fully accessible restroom. Shade via trees; DOCKS/LAUNCHES/PLATFORMS… One old wood docks (can access with a wheelchair but not made for such access). One cement launch, 3% grade; DIRECT WATER ACCESS… No access for wheeled mobility devices; TRANSFER SYSTEMS... None; SENSORY... No sensory tactile markers for those with visual and other impairments; CAMPING... Primitive camping; O.T.H.E.R… Oddities/Barriers: Mud along shoreline; Terrain: Varies throughout park, but no grades over 7%; H2O/Water: Water normally clear. Water temperature in the summer can be around 60 to 70 degree. Drinking water available; Environmental Conditions: Varies; Resources: Food, drinks, and gas in town of St. Maries.

Benewah Lake - Channel access from St. Joe River

Directions: Northwest end of Benewah Lake

HWY 3 Benewah Creek Access from creek bank...

Directions: This access site is on HWY 5 between Heyburn State Park visitor center and Benewah Lake Road on Benewah Creek.

ACCESSIBILITY: PARKING... Gravel, dirt/mud parking along HWY/road; PATHS/TRAILS... None; RESTROOMS/FACILITIES/SHADE… None. Shade via trees; DOCKS/LAUNCHES/PLATFORMS… No docks/platforms. No developed launch.Launch from bank; DIRECT WATER ACCESS… No access for wheeled mobility devices; TRANSFER SYSTEMS... None; SENSORY... No sensory tactile markers for those with visual and other impairments; CAMPING... Camping in state park campgrounds; O.T.H.E.R… Oddities/Barriers: Mud; Terrain: Varies; H2O/Water: Water normally clear. Water temperature in the summer can be around 60 to 70 degree. No drinking water available; Environmental Conditions: Varies; Resources: Food, drinks, and gas in town of St. Maries.