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Fox Morgan takes a look at some of the best satellite messenger and tracking devices on the market to see how they compare against each other for usability, functionality and cost of use. The best satellite messenger and trackers have come a long way in just a few years since we last looked at them with Pip Hare. Here’s the latest bunch of easy to use and affordable satellite messengers and trackers with typical price plans for comparison. Garmin InReach Mini 2 Reasons to buy tiny device fits easily in any compact gear set up Reasons to avoid some may find the interface fiddly See the review for the Garmin Inreach Mini 2 The smallest tracker currently available on the market the Garmin Inreach Mini 2 is a wearable device. Clip this to a bag or belt loop and you’ll virtually forget it’s there. It can store 100 waypoints or favourite locations and has a battery life of up to 90 days, but this will be much less if you set the tracker to a short interval of say 10 minutes. You can hook up to it via the Garmin App and send and receive texts using bluetooth connectivity with a smart phone. If your phone battery dies, you can still send pre-set messages directly from the unit. A typical subscription cost for an average frequent user would be: “Recreation Plan” Activation Fee: £25.00 Monthly Fee:  £32.00* Minimum Term 30 Days Suitable For  Frequent users sending regular messages/track points Inclusive Allowance  Unlimited SOS, Up to 60 Text Messages or 600 Tracking Points Overage Charges : £5.80 per 1,000 Bytes Used, Text Message: £0.50 +/- , Track Point: £0.05 Specification Dimensions: 5.17 x 9.9 x 2.61 cm Weight: 100g Waterproofing: IPX7 SOS button:   Buy from Global Telesat Communications ZOLEO GLOBAL TWO-WAY SATELLITE COMMUNICATOR Reasons to buy handy built in clip, rugged outer, simple interface Reasons to avoid needs a smart phone and app to send messages, doesn’t support voice calls A smart little satellite messenger, the Zoleo relies on your mobile phone to function fully using an app. With the app you can message others with the same app on

Looking Sydney Hobart Race Hotels and accommodation? We’ve pulled together a smart selection of locations and venues to take in both the ambience of the race event and the city life. We have selected some fabulous Sydney Hobart Race Hotels and take in the race atmosphere and a bit of the city life too. Sydney is a wonderful place to head to in December with its vibrant  city life and the Sydney Hobart race fleet assemble here every year for the big race.   Sydney Hobart Race Hotels – Premium range The Langham Sydney Ideally located just a few minutes from Darling Harbour, The Rocks and Circular Quay. Contemporary luxe with all the high class touches you’d expect from a Langham hotel. Great views but obstructed in part by some construction going on nearby. Book Now View Deal Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Four Seasons Hotel Sydney This excellent hotel overlooks Sydney Harbour, with luxurious rooms with panoramic views over the iconic Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay. Super fitness centre, dining and outdoor pool. Some city view rooms over look a highway. Book Now View Deal Park Hyatt Sydney A masterclass in contemporary luxe, this hotel is ideally located on the edge of Sydney Harbour with wonderful views. Rooms have floor to ceiling glass doors opening to private balconies. Lovely roof terrace with pool. On the expensive side but most would say worth it. Book Now View Deal Sydney Hobart Race Hotels – Mid range Little National Hotel Sydney Highly rated hotel close within easy reach of Darling Harbour and The Rocks. Contemporary design, well appointed rooms and excellent facilities. Some noise from cars outside. Book Now View Deal SKYE Suites Green Square A perfect solution for those prefering to enjoy the convenience of being able to cater for themselves. Stylish luxury boutique apartment-style suites with kitchens in a great location. Stylish outdoor swimming pool. Apartments could be a little more spacious Book Now View Deal   The Fullerton Hotel Sydney Beautiful hotel with large chic rooms with

Planning ahead for America’s Cup: Barcelona Hotels. We’ve pulled together a fine selection of Hotels and places to stay in the beautiful city of Barcelona. Barcelona is a stunning city to host the next America’s Cup. We’ve selected a range of Hotels to get you close to the action and to get the most out of your stay in the city. America’s Cup: Barcelona Hotels -Premium Mandarin Oriental Barcelona Enviably located on the famous Passeig de Gràcia within just a few minutes walk of Gaudi’s Casa Batlló, La Pedrera and Plaça Catalunya. Classic luxe. Indoor pool a bit small. Book now View Deal Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Hotel El Palace Barcelona Downton Abbey elegance in an enviable location close to main tourist attractions. Excellent roof top dining and impeccable service. Pool a little on the small side Book now View Deal W Hotel Barcelona A masterclass in modern glam with spectacular views from the roof terrace and pool. Ibiza-cool beach club vibe. A fair walk from the city centre. Book Now View Deal Serras Barcelona 5-star boutique hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant, rooftop infinity pool and ideal location next to the sea in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. It’s also where Picasso started his career. Rooms have private balconies but some are a little snug. Book Now View Deal America’s Cup: Barcelona Hotels – Mid Range Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona GL Revamped classical luxe hotel. Great city centre location and roof terrace with pool and bar has amazing views. Service old-school polite but can be a little slow. Book Now View Deal Sofitel Barcelona Skipper 5-star modern luxury next to Barcelona’s Olympic Port and just 100 yards from the beach, with two outdoor pools. Impressive sea and city views. Possibly a bit corporate for some. Book Now View Deal H10 Port Vell Chic contemporary interior design, handy location close to port. Stylish roof terrace with pool and excellent views. Within easy reach of a train station but can be a little noisy Book Now View Deal Hotel Brummell Charming

We’re required by racing regs to carry them but any sensible person would have an emergency VHF antenna tucked away inside for just in case. Carrying an emergency VHF antenna is a sensible thing to do. We may get a loss of signal to our mast head unit for any number of reasons, from chafe damaged cables to dismasting. But have you ever wondered if you really need to buy a specific emergency VHF antenna or will a standard whip aerial do the job? If you dismast, you’ll need to get creative with how you mount your antenna. Planning ahead saves a lot of stress. If you carry a pole on board, such as a long boat hook, a telescoping pole or even a sturdy fishing rod, then you have the means to elevate your VHF antenna. Most emergency antennas rely on you using some initiative to help them gain a decent signal by hoisting them as high as possible above sea level. Some emergency antennas give you a helping hand by being very long when assembled. Some of them connect into your handheld VHF too. Here’s a selection of some of the tried an tested emergency VHF antennas on the market. Revolve-Tec Emergency VHF/AIS Marine Antenna Reasons to Buy Bright colour, easy assembly, built in long pole/height Reasons to Avoid the cable feels quite vulnerable and thin The Revolve marine emergency VHF antenna includes AIS compatibility and is optimised for VHF CH16 (as per universal standard for VHF antennas) It is constructed using similar technology to slap wraps where a curved composite material can be rolled flat, but once unrolled reforms into a tubular shape. It comes with the coax plug already attached and has an adapter in the bag that allows you to plug it into a handheld VHF, which is, er handy. The antenna comes with rigging holes and is supplied with velcro straps (though you may want to use cable ties and more straps or gaffer tape of your own), enabling attachment to any vertical mast structure, guard rail or any substructure that can deliver the maximum height available. The antenna can be purchased with or

After two circumnavigations and a combined 900,000 nautical miles of racing, Coppercoat has thoroughly proven its durability on the latest edition of the Clipper Race… Coppercoat on the Clipper Race fleet in Cape Town One of the toughest tests for both crew and the Clipper 70 racing yachts, each Clipper Race sees yachts cover 40,000 nautical miles and some of the most hostile conditions on earth. A well-maintained fleet is fundamental to performance, with the choice of antifoul being crucial. Antifouling reduces the impact marine growth has on speed, boat handling and corrosion by applying a protective layer to the hull. Before the 2017-18 edition, the Clipper Race applied Coppercoat, the water-based and VOC-free antifoul, to the hulls of the 11-boat fleet. Six years on since the first applications, the Coppercoat team paid a visit to Clipper Race HQ to look at how the treatments have fared after an incredible two full circumnavigations, including more than 80,000 nautical miles of sailing per yacht. “We love seeing ‘our’ boats coming out of the water, no matter where they’ve been – but with boats that have been around the world twice it’s particularly special and interesting!” says Jayson Kenny, Director of Coppercoat. The moment of truth Jay Haller, Clipper Race Maintenance Manager, knows the fleet inside out, was also present to see how the Coppercoat antifoul has stood the test of time. Kenny said: “It’s fantastic to see the boats come out of the water, before any cleaning or maintenance, so we can judge exactly how the Coppercoat has performed on the various parts of the boat.” Upon inspection, Kenny concludes: “Given the age of the Coppercoat and the distance each yacht has travelled, I’m delighted to see the product doing as well as it is. “I’m confident the boats are going to do another edition of the race with the same coat, which is just unbelievable for an environmentally-responsible antifoul.” Performance, sustainability and race implications Coppercoat has enabled the Clipper Race to become more sustainable, whilst simultaneously saving the Maintenance Team crucial time both on and off the race – and increasing yacht performance. The unique Coppercoat hard epoxy antifoul can

A resourceful single-handed sailor overcomes obstacles while sailing a junk-rigged schooner in Greenland. Introduced by Tom Cunliffe A spectacular anchorage Dave Leet’s Nomad is a junk-rigged schooner which he sails mostly single-handed. He certainly puts the miles in, because although this article is about his experiences in West Greenland, when I wrote to him about his work he was in Martinique where he’d been waiting out Covid. The account here is edited from three articles written from his blog (svnomad.blogspot.com) for the magazine of the excellent Junk Rig Association. Talking with Dave makes crystal clear his view that remote places like Greenland should only be cruised by sailors with a totally self-help attitude, and the way he rebuilds his gearbox to replace the seals from spares which he ‘just happens to have on board’ says a great deal about this modest man. Leet also notes that the Greenland and Canadian authorities give yachts no hassle so long as they clear in, keep a low profile and stay out of trouble. His cruise to the top of Disko Bay at 70° North, where ice conditions slip him the wink that it’s time to turn south, is exemplary. To be alone on one’s boat, sharing the bay with only icebergs in the Arctic twilight as the aurora blazes above you is an experience granted to very few. Dave Leet’s blog articles were published in the Junk Rig Association’s magazine Dave Leet’s junk rig adventure Well rested and with a full load of fuel, Nomad headed toward the source of all the ice floating around Disko Bay. Icebergs became more numerous as I approached the shoreline, and this was my first experience navigating close-up to them in bright light. They are a brilliant white that stands out against the blue sky, quite unlike their usual near-invisibility in foggy overcast conditions. Approaching Quasigiannguit late in the day it was easy to work around a number of bergs in the harbour entrance and head for the far end of the bay. Anchoring in water as shallow as possible limits the size of iceberg that can run into your boat. Leaving the harbour and steering around

Satellite phones and satellite trackers have transformed long-distance sailing, with the ability to download accurate weather forecasts, call anyone in the world and track positions across an ocean hour by hour. We guide you to find the best satellite phone or tracker for communication at sea. The best satellite phone for you is the one that does the job you need it to do. If you are looking to make calls, send and receive texts, drop bread crumbs for passage tracking and download a daily weather file, then these satellite phones or satellite tracking devices could be just the ticket. You can keep one of these in your grab bag too, along with an EPIRB for extra security in case of emergency. The ubiquitous Iridium 9555 can be seen on many boats who need to equip themselves with the bare minimum of satellite communications to meet an offshore event mandatory requirements. They sell well on the second hand market too. I have used one of these phones to call out my own mayday after a dismasting in the Atlantic and its simplicity and portability was a huge win for me. You don’t always need to spend the most to get what you need. But bear in mind, if you are looking to fire back photos and videos to your Instagram and YouTube channels, then these are not the best satellite phones for you. This is because we have become accustomed to smartphones and endless data. These satellite phones do not have high data handling capacity, no matter how much data you buy, they are still very slow. (Rather like old fashioned house phone dial up internet from the 90’s, waiting 30 minutes for a tiny picture to download) Iridium GO! Exec Satellite WiFi Hotspot A game changer just arrived on the market in early 2023 as the much anticipated Iridum Go Exec or as some of us call it the Iridium Go 2. This is a stand alone unit with the capability to make calls straight away using it as a speaker phone. So the unit you see in the picture works as a phone and you can make calls.

Two boats picked up damage and it was a wild ride for the rest of the fleet as The Ocean Race leg 3 started in Cape Town It was an extraordinary ‘stop-go’ type of start to Leg 3 of The Ocean Race in Table Bay as the five-boat IMOCA 60 fleet set out on their 12,750 nautical mile adventure towards Itajaí in Brazil. The race started with two and a half laps of an inshore course to give the crowds lining the Cape Town shore an opportunity to marvel at these hydrofoiling boats before they headed out into the big blue yonder of the Southern Ocean. A pod of three whales sighted in the original starting area meant the race committee had to make a late change to setting up the race course. With the start line now impacted by the wind shadow of Table Mountain, there was very little wind for the fleet as the seconds counted down to start time. The skippers must have been wondering why they had all put in two reefs to reduce mainsail area. As the start gun fired, the closest boat to the start was Biotherm. The other four boats were stranded, just over a hundred metres away. It wasn’t long before Paul Meilhat’s team found 25 knots of wind gusting around the edge of Table Mountain and his Biotherm team shot away into an impressive lead as the rest of the fleet drifted across the start line well after the start had opened. Biotherm continued to stretch away to what was almost a 600 metre advantage over the rest of the fleet, who eventually hooked into the 25-knot wind and accelerated up to speeds of 30 knots or more. Team Malizia had crossed The Ocean Race start line in second, followed by GUYOT environnement – Team Europe, with 11th Hour Racing Team narrowly leading Team Holcim-PRB over the start line. However, as Biotherm completed the first lap of the course, Meilhat saw his boatspeed drop from 20-plus knots down to less than 2 knots as the shadow of Table Mountain reasserted its influence. The whole fleet compressed and Biotherm’s seemingly unassailable lead

Five high-tech fully crewed foiling IMOCAs will take on 12,000 miles of Southern Ocean, passing all three ‘Great Capes’ in Leg 3 of The Ocean Race. Could offshore sailing fans ask for anything more, asks Toby Heppell? This weekend five crewed IMOCA 60s will take to the startline for the third leg of The Ocean Race, on a month-long epic which is likely to be the toughest challenge we have seen in crewed ocean racing in many years. Five teams will leave Cape Town, South Africa on Sunday 26 February with 12,750 miles of Southern Ocean racing ahead of them, passing south of all three ‘Great Capes’ before finally finishing in Itajai, Brazil. The crews are taking food for up to 40 days at sea. The last two years have been difficult for the organisers of The Ocean Race, since it lost title sponsor Volvo. Covid forced a year-long hiatus, which created a huge level of uncertainty and a potential clash with the single-handed French classic, the Route du Rhum, in which 38 IMOCA 60s took part at the end of 2022. So to have a fleet of just five IMOCA 60s on the startline of The Ocean Race is unquestionably disappointing when you consider the size of the available fleet, while the VO65s which were due to make up a second fleet could not attract sufficient backing to take on a full lap of the planet. Riding a bucking bronco: onboard reporter Antoine Auriol, captures Rosalin Kuiper working on the bow of Team Malizia However, Covid has delivered one potentially positive knock-on effect. With particularly strict border closures in both traditional around the world stopover ports in Australia and New Zealand, and newer additions to the round the world route such as Qingdao, China, negotiating host city agreements to create separate Indian Ocean and Pacific legs seemed doomed to failure. Instead, Ocean Race organisers committed early on to the mega-stage Leg 3, a non-stop Southern Ocean epic that takes the fleet from the Cape of Good Hope, across the Southern Indian Ocean, past Cape Leeuwin as they race south of Australia and New Zealand, then across the vast South Pacific, rounding

Zoulou won the multihull line honours by just 11 seconds in the RORC Caribbean 600 while Pyewacket 70 took the monohull spoils Roy P. Disney’s Pyewacket 70 (USA) has taken Monohull Line Honours in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 in an elapsed time of 42 hours 45 mins 06 secs. Two generations of the Disney family have raced boats under the Pyewacket name. The latest Pyewacket 70, is a turbo-charged Volvo 70 with a taller mast, lighter hull and deeper keel than the original box-rule. Pyewacket 70 is the fastest of Disney dynasty and the first to take Monohull Line Honours in the RORC Caribbean 600. The next monohull to finish the RORC Caribbean 600 was Volvo 70 I Love Poland (POL), skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski. Pyewacket 70 has set the bar for the overall win under IRC for the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. The vast majority of the fleet are expected to finish the race over the next two days. “RP [Roy Pat Disney] thank you for letting us take your toy and racing the Caribbean 600 in a successful manner. We are so disappointed you are not with us to enjoy this spectacular victory,” commented Ben Mitchell the stand-in skipper for Roy Pat Disney who was not on board due to knee surgery. “The real wow factor is that Pyewacket 70 was here for the RORC 600 and this team is so good. Pyewacket 70 took the monhull line honours. Photo: Arthur Daniel/RORC “We had a great mix of crew that know this course very well, and crew like me who experienced this wonderful race for the first time. Each leg is like a race in itself, which keeps everybody going, but on a boat like Pyewacket 70 those legs become very short. Getting any sleep is a challenge as the whole crew is up for every manoeuvre.” “The name of the game for the navigator is to study the weather and the nuances in this race are so different. When you get out there all your expectations can be blown,” commented crew member Peter Isler. “I had pre-conceptions of what the tactics are at different points in the

Joshua Shankle is a liveaboard cruiser who has been learning the art of foraging and fishing in order to keep his food stocks up while onboard his yacht Can you imagine not going to a supermarket or farmer’s market for a month or more? Could you make nourishing, appetising meals out of only what you have in stores? By the end of the first week, it would be a little challenging. What about after three weeks when all the fresh food has been exhausted, the bottom of the freezer is starting to show and all your go-to dishes are missing key ingredients? Could you sustain yourself for even longer? For two months, maybe three? As long-distance cruisers, who prefer to spend time in the more remote islands and anchorages of the world, we have outfitted our Tayana 42 Agápe to be a comfortable off-grid home. We’ve utilised modern technologies like desalination, lithium, solar, and refrigeration to ensure we are as comfortable as possible, but when it comes to collecting and foraging for food it’s often better to look to the past for guidance. Fresh fish caught and ready to be made into a meal For close to a thousand years, the Paumotu people have inhabited the isolated Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. Life here is beautiful and simple in many ways, but complex and challenging in others. They’ve had to carve out an existence among islands in which growing food on land, even with all of today’s technology, is still a challenge. They learned how to find and save water on islands that receive sparse rainfall and have little to no groundwater. They discovered which fish are safe to eat and distinguished which plants are edible and have medicinal properties. By befriending those who live on the islands, and learning the age-old ways of the Paumotu, we’ve gained a small portion of their knowledge and are now able to extend our food stores and time spent in these hard-to-reach enclaves. Not your everyday fish market find… Four years ago, when Agápe first sailed in to a coral atoll, we could not have been more excited. The clear water teemed with

We’ve scouted around for some of the best kayak deals and have found some great bargains for you. One of the easiest ways to get out on the water is with an inflatable kayak. They’re stable, they’re easy to stow and they travel easily. This article was Originally published Nov 2022 –  it was price checked and new deals added 22 Feb 2023. Growing in popularity over the past 10 years, the inflatable kayak provides a real opportunity for those with limited storage or transportation to get out on the water easily. If you want to see more kayaks choices then have a look at our buyers’ guide to the best kayaks and canoes Here’s some of the best deals available right now for inflatable kayaks. Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Sevylor Tahiti Plus Kayak – 2 + 1 Save nearly 50% off this budget-friendly kayak for two adults and one child, ideal for lakes, fishing and calmer water. It offers stability and comfort when out on the water, with an integrated spray deck at bow and stern. The seats are easy to adjust and remove. This inflatable kayak comes with with a backpack style carry bag. It has a PVC hull, two PVC side chambers and floor chamber. When inflated it measures 361 x 90 cm, and can carry a maximum load of 200 kg. A boat repair set is included in the price. Was: £279.99 Now: £144.99 at Amazon View Deal AQUA MARINA BETTA 1 person inflatable kayak, complete package There’s a saving of 26% on this single-person, budget-friendly kayak from Decathlon. It is light at 9kg and can take a payload of 110kg. It measures 312cm long x 80cm wide. It has an adjustable seat with backrest and the basic essentials to get you out on the water for minimal cost. Was: £269 Now: £199 at Decathlon View Deal AQUA MARINA TOMAHAWK AIR-C Drop-Stitch inflatable canoe Okay, it’s a canoe, not a kayak, but we don’t like to discriminate and we love a bargain. This fab

A series of offshore and inshore racing will form the new Richard Mille Cup, which will take place for the first time in summer 2023 This summer a new event is due to take place in the form of the Richard Mille Cup, a series of inshore and offshore races organised with the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, Royal Dart Yacht Club and the Société des Régattes du Havre. The racing is principally designed to be for classic yachts and entry is invite only – though expressions of interest are currently being taken. Entry will be open to invited owners and charterers of yachts built before 1939 or faithful replicas of such yachts. The minimum size of any yacht eligible to enter will be 10M length at the waterline. Racing will take place under the CIM handicap system. All yachts entering will have to provide a valid CIM certificate and all races, be they inshore or offshore, will be scored with equal weighting. Richard Mille Cup events The first event in the new series will take place in Falmouth and registration and the opening reception will be held at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club on Saturday 10 June 2023 followed by three days of inshore racing in Falmouth Bay. This will be followed by the series’ first Offshore Race from Falmouth to Dartmouth with the fleet leaving Falmouth on Wednesday 14 June. This will be followed by a dinner in Dartmouth on the evening of Thursday 15 June. After this 65nm offshore race the fleet will take on another offshore event racing the 90nm from Dartmouth to Cowes. This event will, once again, immediately follow the previous racing, with a start date of 16 June. After this initial round of inshore and offshore racing the series will take a very short break until 19 June when a welcome reception will be held at the Royal Yacht Squadron followed by three days of inshore racing on the Solent. Weather and tides permitting, this may include a ‘Round the Island Race’. The final event in the series will be the biggest offshore leg, with the fleet set to race

Why do French Figaro racers do so well in other offshore racing disciplines? British sailor Alan Roberts talks through some transferable skills with Andy Rice French Figaro sailors, whether they’re currently on the circuit or former Figaro skippers who cut their teeth in the class years ago, seem to do very well in the fully-crewed offshore world. So what makes them so good? British sailor Alan Roberts has spent the past decade immersing himself in French offshore racing culture, learning by competing against the best of the best in the Figaro scene as he works his way towards a Vendée Globe campaign. Roberts is in demand as a very effective consultant on fully-crewed offshore racing projects where he tends to operate in the tactician or navigator role. The short-handed nature of the Figaro forces a sailor to set strict priorities about what’s the most important focus at any given moment of a race. It also teaches a level of intensity and focus that he feels is often missing from the mentality of many offshore sailors. According to Roberts, every second and every metre of advantage counts, and knowing how to up the intensity and maintain that level of focus are key skills that he aims to impart to every team that he works with. Here are his five tips for resetting your offshore racing priorities for greater success on the race course. Close quarters, tactical racing places big demandson solo skippers. Photo: Alexis Courcoux Prioritise As a Figaro sailor you’re forced to face up to your priorities all the time. Over time you become very good at quickly filtering through the job list to focus on the things that are going to make the biggest difference. Planning ahead is the most critical skill. There’s never enough time, so the more you think through the scenarios in advance, the better you’ll be in the heat of the moment. It’s also about bringing a higher level of intensity and urgency to your sailing. In long, offshore races there’s a tendency to fall into a more relaxed pattern, which means you can start to miss important details. Over time this can compound into

It was a relatively cold and blustery start for the fleets in the 14th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 race The 14th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 has set off at 11:00 AST on Monday 20th February. Seventy boats racing under IRC, Class40 and MOCRA Rules, with crew from 30 different countries, started the increasingly popular 600 mile race. At the start outside Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua, unstable squally conditions, with the wind speed in the mid-teens, produced a thrilling start for all classes. The Caribbean 600 fleet have now set their sails for the spectacular 600nm race around 11 Caribbean islands. The fastest boats in the fleet are expected to finish in less than two days, but for some it will be five days before returning to a triumphant finish in Antigua with tracking available for the full fleet. MOCRA Class MOD 70 Zoulou (FRA) sailed by Erik Maris got away to a superb start. Flying their port hull, Zoulou had to duck a few boats on starboard, but nailed the pin end of the line at full pace. Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati Multi70 (ITA) took a more conventional start inshore, but was soon up to full pace, with Zoulou and Maserati both hitting over 30 knots of boat speed. Zoulou was the first to Barbuda just two hours and 43 seconds into the race, with Maserati a mere 26 seconds behind. Gunboat 68 Tosca (USA), skippered by Alex Thomson was leading the charge behind the two trimarans. IRC Super Zero A classic dial-up featured in the big IRC Class; Pyewacket 70 (USA) skippered by Ben Mitchell and VO65 Wind Whisper (POL) skippered by Joca Signorini locked horns inshore before the start. Both boats have Volvo Ocean Race winners on board, but bragging rights went to Wind Whisper which stayed clear ahead. Jens Lindner’s Volvo 70 HYPR (ESP) skippered by Seamus Fitzpatrick, arced up to the line on port and got a great start at the pin end. Johannes Schwarz’s Volvo 70 Green Dragon (NED) kept clear of trouble at the pin end to get a good start, as did Volvo 70 I Love Poland (POL) skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski.