Sail Magazine

by Adam Cort

Adam Cort is SAIL’s executive editor. He lives and sails in the Boston area.

34th America's Cup Press Conference

by Adam Cort, Posted May 7, 2010

At a press conference in Rome, the defender and challenger of record for the 34th America’s Cup revealed a timeline and, more importantly, a philosophical approach to the regatta, which they hope will repair the damage of the 33rd Cup match.“Diktat has been replaced by discussion, confrontation by consultation…. Our minds and our ears are open. We are receptive to ideas,” said Russell

Wind Data from a Distance

by Adam Cort, Posted May 3, 2010

With a Racer’s Edge wind sensor from Catch the Wind Inc., it is now possible to precisely measure the wind direction and velocity hundreds of yards away. The handheld fiber-optic device—which was part of BMW Oracle’s technical arsenal for the 33rd America’s Cup—weighs about 18lb and uses a pulsating laser to detect what the wind is up to, an approach that allows it to work even in poor

Princess Royal Visits New Southerly Factory

by Adam Cort, Posted April 30, 2010

Talk about a send-off! HRH, The Princess Royal Ann, the only daughter of England’s Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit the Northshore Yachts shipyard on Monday 19th April to preside over the opening of the company’s new Southerly factory.Accompanied by local dignitaries, Princess Ann met CEO Lester Abbott and toured the company’s new 13,000 square-foot facility, which is located in Itchenor,

J/24 Raised from Bermuda’s Great Sound

by Adam Cort, Posted April 29, 2010

A local salvage crew has recovered Erin, the J/24 that sank on Tuesday after broaching in heavy air at the Barcardi Bermuda International Invitational Race Week regatta.Erin went down midway through the downwind leg of Race 5 in 30 knots of wind, after she rounded up in a broach that put her mast in the water, flooding the cockpit and cabin. Her crew was immediately

J/24 Sinks at Bermuda Invitational

by Adam Cort, Posted April 28, 2010

It was Wind 1, Yachts 0 on Monday as Tim Lynch’s J/24, Erin, took a death roll and sank on the last leg of Race 5 of the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week regatta. Erin was flying downwind under spinnaker in 30 knots of wind on Bermuda’s Great Sound, when she took a knockdown and stuck her mast in the water. The cockpit and cabin flooded almost immediately.No

Nerone Wins Farr 40 Worlds

by Adam Cort, Posted April 27, 2010

Nerone Wins Farr 40 WorldsAfter getting off to a slow start, the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds finished strong, with Massimo Mezzaroma’s Nerone (Italy) only locking up an overall victory on the final race of the regatta.This marks the second time Mezaroma has won the Farr 40 Worlds. His first win came in 2003. Second place in this year’s regatta went to Guido

Sunderland Ending Nonstop Bid

by Adam Cort, Posted April 26, 2010

Thanks to problems with her autopilot, 16-year-old Abby Sunderland has decided to divert to Cape Town, South Africa, for repairs, thereby giving up her bid to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop around the globe.Although Sunderland, whose brother Zac briefly held the record as the youngest circumnavigator in 2008, says she plans to continue on from South Africa, her decision

Gay Charter Company Sets Sail

by Adam Cort, Posted April 20, 2010

What organizers are describing as the country’s first gay owned and operated charter company is setting sail in New York May 7.Out on the Water Sailing Inc. will operate out of a pair of bases in New York City and Sag Harbor, New York, near western Long Island Sound. The company will offer everything from sail training to longer charters and delivery services.Company cofounders

Swiped my Dolly

by Adam Cort, Posted April 15, 2010

Sailors have long sought to express their love of boats and the water in song, but few have done it as well, or with as much originality, as Dayton Colie of Charleston, South Carolina.A lifelong sailor and founder of what he describes as the “Sailcore” movement, Colie recently released his second album, “Somebody Swiped my Dolly,” a collection of melodies paying homage to everything from

NY-BCN Update

by Adam Cort, Posted April 14, 2010

Seven days after setting out from New York City, the two IMOCA Open 60s Estrella Damm and W Hotels are separated by just under 17 miles as they continue on their way to Barcelona, Spain. The two boats have covered just over 2,000 miles and have about 1,700 miles to go. Each is vying to set benchmark time for other boats to beat in the coming years between the two