Spain

Eight fast, squirrelly boats, 11 crew on each, and a whole globe on which to pit their skills.  For crewed ocean racing, this is the high end, and despite having started only last Saturday, the mass of the fleet from the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race is already around 1,000+ miles into its 37,000 mile route.  This race was once known simply to sailors as “The Whitbread,” and while the sponsor has changed, the concept has remained the same:  Get your boat and crew around the world, faster than anyone else. 

Qingdao, China - Is it fitting that the last Olympic race the Tornado Class may ever see was also the fastest, most exciting sailing of the 2008 Olympics? Yes it is. After watching the various one-design sailboats bob around in almost no wind for most of the Beijing Olympics, the Tornado Class got one last chance to show the spectators why this became an Olympic class in the first place - speed, skill and action. With race speeds reaching 18 knots, it became clear to everyone why this boat is the thoroughbred of the Olympic fleet, and now it is gone.

Valencia, Spain - The Trofeo S.M. La Reina Rolex Cup ended with a bang off the Valencia coast this weekend, when the TransPac 52 yacht CAM sank on the last day of competition. Despite all efforts, CAM plummeted to the ocean floor in just a few minutes, in 16 knots of wind and moderate chop. Thus the fleet of 134 boats competing in this sailing regatta saw an unusually dramatic conclusion to what was otherwise three days of great yacht racing.

The 5th edition of HUBLOT PalmaVela came to a successful conclusion on Sunday after 3 days of close and intense races on the waters of the Palma bay off the island of Mallorca. The more than 1,800 sailors, representing 16 countries and more than 230 boats tested their skills in the popular regatta.

Mallorca - The Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia offered the sailors a beautiful last day of sailing yesterday with a strong breeze, waves and sunshine for the Medal Races.

Barcelona-born sailor Albert Bargués and 26 year old French yachtswoman Servane Escoffier sailed into Spain on Educación sin Fronteras this week to finish the Barcelona World Race in 5th place. They were indeed happy to arrive after an epic 108 days at sea, sailing a total distance of 27,892 miles, at an average speed of 9.45 knots!