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Time to Burn

ByThe Rigging Company

Team Donfeng Racing has made it to Itajaí! Incredibly the mast arrived all the way from Dubai around the same time. Since Ushuaia, most of the race team has been replaced by shore crew for the delivery to Brazil. This allowed the regular crew the opportunity for some much needed rest and the shore crew the opportunity…

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AC and the VOR

ByThe Rigging Company

Some big news in the two sailing events that will always have my full attention. The Americas Cup has announced the return of the classic (yet modernly equipped) J Class boats for the 35th edition of the Americas cup taking place in 2017, in Bermuda. This will add some class back into the highly modern,…

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Keeping Up with the Cup

ByThe Rigging Company

The 35th Americas Cup will be taking place in Bermuda in 2017. Here it is March 2015 and things are starting to heat up… Dean Barker, a 15 year veteran at the helm,  was recently devastated with the news that he would be replaced by 24 year old Peter Burling as the skipper of Team New…

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Dongfeng Troubles

ByThe Rigging Company

With the usual suspects, Team Brunel, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Donfeng Racing, atop the leader board; the Chinese team lost a halyard. This snag led to a night time trip aloft (eeeek!) and a position loss. 3rd place is currently being held by Mapfre, but with only 7NM as a buffer, the Spanish entry will need…

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Clear to Tack?

ByThe Rigging Company

What are the options when considering a boat that tacks its own sails from one point-of-sail to another. Newer boats are being designed a bit more mast forward, with taller masts and bigger mainsails. These newer designs are predominately main driven and implement a smaller self-tending jib (shown below), which helps with pointing when going upwind. If you…

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Servicing The Chain Plates

ByThe Rigging Company

The chainplate is typically a metal plate used to fasten a stay to the boat. One end of the chainplate has a hole for the pin of the turnbuckle, the remainder of the chainplate is used to attach the plate to the boat  via a bulkhead, knee, tie rod or the hull itself. Chainplates get their name…

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Garcia Yachts

ByThe Rigging Company

I have always fancied the exploration designed yachts. They just scream heavy duty and robust, which I like for anything I’m going to be sailing around the world. Aluminum has been the choice material for many reputable exploration yachts of the past. Garcia Yachts of France seems to think, “why mess with success”. Take a…

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Volvo Ocean Race LIVE!

ByThe Rigging Company

Tomorrow early afternoon begins my favorite event in sailing, the Volvo Ocean Race….. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY4iT1nGegc&w=560&h=315] Alicante, Spain will host tomorrow’s in-port race as well as the start of the world’s most epic ’round the world battle….. and this time it’s one design baby! Be sure to catch all of the action LIVE on the official www.volvooceanrace.com website. I…