The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) announced this week The Equipment Rules of Sailing for 2009-2012 has been made available to download online ahead of the worldwide date of implementation on 1 January 2009.

The Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS) govern the equipment used in the sport. They are revised and published every four years by ISAF.

The Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS) consists of three parts:

Part I – Rules for use of the equipment: The boat – the sports equipment used in sail racing and the personal equipment.
Part II – Equipment definitions
Part III – Rules governing equipment control and inspection

The new edition of the ERS is available to view on the ISAF Equipment Rules of Sailing page at www.sailing.org/ers. Translated versions of the ISAF Equipment Rules of Sailing will also be available shortly.

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Original post by OG and software by Elliott Back

There are literally thousands of sailing photos out there in the big wide world but we are searching for what people consider to be the most famous one of all.

It doesn’t have to be a classic, but it does have to represent the true passion that is sailing.

To make this more interesting, we are offering the LSD reader who finds a famous photo and gives the best explanation as to why their particular choice is above all the rest a swag of prizes. We have HEAPS of stock in our prize cupboard to give away but won’t tell the winner what they have picked up until they are announced. (Here is a clue though, it could be something from SLAM or Deck Hardware.)

Start searching!

Post your images and explanation here >>

Original post by OG and software by Elliott Back

Newport, Rhode Island, Monday, September 26th, 1983 at 17:20… The moment when the United States lost the America’s Cup. Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Australia II’s legendary victory.

“All I can say is ‘Mate’. That is the very finest Australian saying. And all the summer it’s been ‘check’ to the New York Yacht Club, to the British, to Dennis, or whatever it was. We were playing chess with them. ‘Check, Check, Check, Check’. And today we say ‘Mate’!”

John Bertrand
“In my opinion, they are the best in the world (referring to his crew on the evening of September 26th, 1983). “I have been involved with the most incredible team spirit that any skipper could possibly wish for. I am honoured to have won the America’s Cup for Australia. Thank you very much.“

Twenty-three years later, it is difficult to imagine a better summary of the 25th America’s Cup than the words spoken by Warren Jones, the executive director of the Australian syndicate, on Monday evening, September 26th, 1983 at Newport, just moments after Australia II KA-6, had beaten Liberty US-40, to secure the America’s Cup for Australia. After three attempts, Alan Bond had just put an end to 132-years of American supremacy. For the Australians, it was a culmination of over one decade of attempts at the Cup, resulting in a dream team of highly motivated sailors, led by skipper John Bertrand and sailing a brilliantly innovative Ben Lexcen designed 12-metre.

Read more…

So where were you on the 26th September 1983? >>

Other stuff that happened on the 26th September…

1687
The Parthenon in Athens is severely damaged when a mortar bomb, fired by the Venetian Army besieging the Turks holding the Acropolis, sets off the Turkish supplies of gunpowder.

1907
A Royal Proclamation changes the status of New Zealand from a British colony to the Dominion of New Zealand.

1944
The Second World War: Allied forces go “a bridge too far” and bid a hasty retreat from Arnhem in the Netherlands suffering heavy loses as Operation Market Garden fails.

1960
In America, the first ever Presidential candidate television debate is held between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

1969
In Britain, The Beatles release the album Abbey Road.

Original post by OG and software by Elliott Back

Tom Slingsby, head in hands, just meters from the finish line of race 2 in the Mens Laser – Richard Gladwell

He was our champion.

He was our favourite.

He was a real hope for an Olympic medal.

But the dream never eventuated.

So why did star sailor Tom Slingsby crumble?

Here is a first hand response to the dreaded question… “What happened???”

‘Since I have returned from the Olympic Games in Beijing I have been asked one question over and over – ‘What happened?’ The simple answer is ‘I don’t know’. If I knew, I would have changed something during the event. I will give you a rundown of my view of the Olympics and what it was like from my perspective.’ Tom Slingsby

The Olympics

After arriving in China from our team camp in Hong Kong, we were straight into the Olympic Sailing Village. I began training on 29th July which gave me plenty of time to practise in my allocated boat before my event began on the 12th August.

While I was training before the event started, I had already noticed I was struggling a little for boat speed in practice races. I was very surprised as in the lead-up events I had been very fast in light wind races and with my lighter weight (75-76 kg), why I was having problems?

Arthur and I began working on things to try to get my speed edge back but even now, a month later, I don’t know exactly what the problem was. So when day one of racing arrived, I knew deep down that I was going to have to sail the regatta of my life to keep up with the fast guys.

Basically, the long and short of the regatta was I did not sail well with the boat speed problem. This meant I could not hold lanes, which meant I could not go where I wanted to go, which meant I was forced to take risks, which meant not only was I slow, but I was sailing low percentage strategies.

I finished the event in 22nd place with a best race of an 11th. In the last 33 lead up races prior to the Olympics, I had been top five in 30 races, with a worst result of an 11th!

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Original post by OG and software by Elliott Back

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Original post by OG and software by Elliott Back

Elise RECHICHI and Tessa PARKINSON (AUS)

ISAF and Rolex are proud to announce the Nominees for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2008.

Well known faces from the ISAF Youth Worlds, this young team showed their intent at the 2008 470 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, where they picked up their first bronze medal of the year. Hitting the European graded event circuit, they posted some mixed results before once again making the results count where it mattered with another bronze at the ISAF Grade C1 European Championships in Italy.

But it wasn’t bronze that this team was after when they got to Qingdao for the Olympic Sailing Competition. Gold was the colour they dreamed of and their win was convincing. One of just four crews who won a gold medal with no previous Olympic experience, RECHICHI and PARKINSON went into their Medal Race with an 18 point lead over their nearest rivals, the three time World Champions from the Netherlands.

They sailed a tactical Medal Race to ensure the Dutch team could not steal their gold medal away and crossed the finish line to secure an Australian 470 double for coach Victor KOVALENKO. At just 21 years old RECHICHI and PARKINSON were the youngest gold medallists at the Olympic Sailing Competition and look set for a bright future.

24 – Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS – ISAF Grade 1 – Jan 2008
3 – 470 World Championships, Melbourne, AUS – ISAF Grade W – Jan 2008
15 – Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA – ISAF Grade 1 – Apr 2008
9 – Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED – ISAF Grade 1 – May 2008
3 – 470 European Championships, Riva del Garda, ITA – ISAF Grade C1 – Jun 2008
1 – 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN – ISAF Grade W – Aug 2008

They are up against…

Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB & Pippa WILSON (GBR) – Yngling Gold Medal 2008
Claire LEROY (FRA) – Match Racing Champion
Alessandra SENSINI (ITA) – First woman to win four Olympic medals in sailing
Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA) – Laser Radial Gold Medal 2008

Do our Aussie girls have a chance of winning the ISAF World Sailor of the Year gong?

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Original post by OG and software by Elliott Back

Hidden in rugged ranges in north-west Arnhem Land, a spectacular treasure-trove of Aboriginal rock art is set to rewrite the history of Australia.

In a find that has stunned archaeologists and anthropologists, a vast wall of about 1500 paintings chronicles the history of Aboriginal contact with outsiders, from Macassan prows and European sailing ships to 19th-century steamships and a World War II battleship.

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Original post by OG and software by Elliott Back

Yachting Queensland contacted us this afternoon requesting that we post the below..

18 September 2008

All YQ Member Clubs and Class Associations,

PROPOSAL FOR THE FUTURE COLLECTION OF YACHTING QUEENSLAND MEMBERSHIP FEES

1. During the past five years Yachting Queensland (YQ) has reviewed and revised the manner in which affiliation and captation fees have been imposed and collected from Members. The State organisation has attempted to find a method which provides a fair and equitable level on all Members which does not have an adverse financial impact on the conduct of a Member’s method of operation.

Continue reading the letter here >>

Click here to view the Membership Proposal

Thoughts & comments >>

Original post by OG and software by Elliott Back

In October 2006 we posted the Extreme 505 video.

The vid has had 84,014 views, and was recently requested by the Italian 505 folk to use in a display at the upcoming worlds!

It’s been given 4.5 stars by 74 reviewers.

Almost two years since the vid went live on You Tube people are still searching for it and posting the occasional comment.

The most common comment?

They should have put the spinnaker up!

Make your own comment!

Original post by OG and software by Elliott Back

The new set of rules is now online.

We’ve discussed them a few times, but now you can go and grab your own copy. The Blue Book (the Aussie version) is set to follow in a few months time. This includes the YA Special Regulations.

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Original post by johnsee and software by Elliott Back