Recently in sailing Category

The 118 WallyPower is an incongruous name for a high performance superyacht that integrates technology with aesthetics for a sleek and startling result. The deck superstructure has an aero-dynamic, stealth-bomber design with a vertical bow and air inlets encasing an innovative interior layout based on zen-like simplicity to mask a surprising amount of comfort. Three gas turbines generate 16,800 HP power that allow the 118 WallyPower to cruise a leisurely 60 knots in flat seas and tackle rough waters with ease in this ultimate luxury vehicle.

The designer and founder of Wally Yachts is Luca Bassani Antivari, a 47-year-old Italian entrepreneur and former champion yachtsman who has earned the Monaco-based company an international reputation for customised cruising boats. So much so, in fact, that the 118 WallyPower recently won the MYDA, the Millennium Yacht Design Award organised by Seatec (the yachting and shipping technology show of Carrarafiere) for the "Layout of the Third Millennium.

Check out car design, with binoculars, compass and bicycle for marina style cruising...

"...If there is a tropical paradise in the South Pacific it is the northern Yasawa in Fidji. It is the combination of fantastic diving and extremely nice beaches that makes northern Yasawa unique. The beaches are the nicest we have seen so far during our round the world voyage and you can be completely alone there (se picture). Our stay in northern Yasawa is now coming to an end. The last days we have spent in the Yasawa Island Resort - the only resort on northern Yawasa. This is the first time in 15 months that we have slept on land! The resort is very nice with 100 staaf looking after a maximum of 40 guests! We will always remember this resort as one of the best we have ever been to - and we have been to quiet a few. It is the untouched secluded beaches that makes the resort so unique. On Thursday October 4 we leave Yasawa and start moving towards New Zeeland. Before we leave Fiji we have to clear out from the country and we also have to wait for the right weatherforecast. It is 1200 nm southerly course to New Zealand and the waters are pretty wild. It will take us one week. We expect to leave Fiji waters round Arnes birthday
on October 10..."

This is an excerpt from Yaghan blog...round world sailors, husband and wife, who started their voyage from Sweden 2006.

"Yaghan is a Hallberg-Rassy 62 built in 2003. She sails round the world via Antarctica 2006-2009. This blog comments on the circumnavigation as it proceeds. The comments are i English and Swedish. Yahgan departed from Stockholm, Sweden on June 1 2006 and is expected to return home again on July 28 2009. The total voyage is 44.000 nautical miles."

First and so far the only person in the world to have reached the five extreme Poles of the planet:

- North Geographical Pole (3 times)
- South Geographical Pole
- Pole of considerable inaccessibility in the Arctic Ocean
- Mt. Everest (Alpinists pole)
- Cape Horn (Yachtsmen pole)

His name was entered into the encyclopedia “Chronicle of Mankind”. Fedor is a member of the Russian Geographic Society.

Also he is a writer, painter, has been the Head of the Laboratory for Remote Training under Extreme Conditions in the Modern Humanitarian Academy, Moscow.

He is married. His wife’s name is Irina. Son Oscar, daughter Tatiana, Son Nikolay. His grandson is Phillip, granddaughter – Polina, grandson – Ethan, grandson – Arkadiy.

Find more info on his personal site, and further reading here.

Wild Oats XI - 01:21:24:32
City Index Leopard - 01:21:51:55

Till next year...

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race has grown over the decades, since the inaugural race in 1945, to become one of the pre-eminent offshore yacht races in the world and it now attracts maxi yachts from North America and Europe.

• The race distance is approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170 km).
• The current race record was set in 2005 by Wild Oats XI, which crossed the line in a time of 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds.
• Wild Oats (AUS), also won the race 2006 and 2005, Leopard (UK) and Scandia (AUS) are the yacht we can count on for 2007 trophy.

My bet is on Leopard ;)