SLAM UK partners with GBR entry for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup

SLAM to be Team GBR Youth Challenge’s official clothing partner for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup

Today SLAM UK has announced their partnership with GBR Youth Challenge, the British entry for the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in 2013. The team will compete at the selection series in San Francisco between the 18th and 24th February, using the same AC45 catamarans as the America's Cup World Series. Team GBR will be competing against 11 other nations for the opportunity to race in the first Red Bull Youth America's Cup.

The partnership between SLAM and Team GBR Youth Challenge ensures that the team have access to SLAM’S latest Skiff Collection currently warn by the Australian and New Zealand Olympic teams. SLAM will be backing the team on and off the water to support them to be best placed to reach their goal of competing at the inaugural Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.

“We are thrilled to have this arrangement in place with SLAM. From our initial chats to arranging the deal, their encouragement and support for the GBR Youth Challenge campaign has been unquestionable and we are very grateful to have them working with us,” said Peter Austin, GBR Youth Challenge

Alessandra Aondio, Marketing Manager for SLAM said “We are delighted to be supporting Team GBR Youth Challenge as it is offers us a fantastic opportunity to launch our skiff collection in the UK market. We wish the team every bit of luck for the selection series in February.”

SLAM UK and Team GBR Youth Challenge will be providing regular updates on the team’s progress in the lead up to the trials. Follow the Team’s updates at www.slamuk.com and Slam UK Facebook page.

Winners crowned on final day of Australian Youth Championship in Hobart

Racing has wrapped up at the 2013 OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championship in Hobart, with new national champions crowned and positions on the Australian Sailing Youth Team secured.

The 160 crews faced shifty conditions on the River Derwent, with plenty of gains and losses across the five classes on the final day of racing.

Reigning Laser Radial champion Mark Spearman had the perfect day on the water with three wins from three starts securing him the title and giving him the chance to defend his ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship gold medal from 2012.

Spearman won seven of the nine races throughout the week, with Thomas Vincent second and Christopher Andersen third.

The consecration: Round-up of the round the world

Paris, France - Franck Cammas, winner of the Volvo Ocean Race as skipper of Groupama, was elected Sailor of the Year in France in 2012, during the traditional "Night of Champions" which was held in Paris at the Theatre Edward VI.

"I'm fierce," said Cammas receiving the award, "since there are so many great sailors in this audience. Sailing is a very broad discipline, encompassing categories of sailors very different, and it is difficult to judge and make a list: an Olympic sailor and one leaving for a solo ocean race are the two opposite poles. But with the work you can switch between them, and it's exciting for us sailors dedicate ourselves to so many different disciplines in a single life. For this sailing is a sport formidable. "

Slam Shop Via Caprera - Genoa

Saturday 8th Decembre: new SLAM Shop opening in Via Caprera 18R. The nautical and modern look of the shop will be the perfect background for the entire SLAM Sportswear collection.

...everybody is welcome for a toast starting from 18.00 p.m.!

SLAM at the Vendée Globe race village

Bertrand de Broc will be on our Slam stand at the VENDEE GLOBE for a signature Wednesday 07/11/12 AT 18H45 in Les Sables-d'Olonne race village

Carla Gardino, SLAM president, awarded as knight of "Order of Labor Merit"

It took place at the Quirinale Palace the ceremony of delivery of awards of the "Order of Labor Merit" to the Knights appointed June 2, 2012.
During the ceremony, speeches were made by the President of the National Federation of the Knights of Labor, Benito Benedini, and Undersecretary of State for Economic Development, Claudio De Vincenti. Then intervened President Giorgio Napolitano, who handed over the insignia to the new Knights of Labor, and, simultaneously, the certificates to the new Alfieri Labour.

SLAM at the Vendée Globe

SLAM is official technical sponsor of solo sailor Bertrand De Broc sailing the Vendée Globe.
The Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years. The 2012-2013 edition is set to start Saturday, November 10, 2012.
As the only single-handed non-stop round-the-world race (in contrast to the VELUX 5 Oceans Race, which is sailed in stages), the race is a serious test of individual endurance, and is regarded by many as the ultimate in ocean racing.
The race is open to monohull yachts conforming to the Open 60 class criteria. The Open classes are unrestricted in certain aspects, but a box rule governs parameters such as overall length, draught, appendages and stability, as well as numerous other safety features.
The race starts and finishes in Les Sables-d'Olonne, in the Vendée département of France; both Les Sables d’Olonne and the Vendée Conseil Général are official race sponsors. The course is essentially a circumnavigation along the clipper route: from Les Sables d’Olonne, down the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope; then clockwise around Antarctica, keeping Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port; then back to Les Sables d’Olonne.
With his boat’s outstanding record, Bertrand hopes to follow in the steps of the yacht’s previous skipper who finished 2nd in the 2008 Artémis Transat, 2nd in the 2010 Route du Rhum… and 2nd in the 2009 Vendée Globe. From the Figaro monotype to multihull racing, the French skipper has never put any boundaries in his life, even if his big affair remains the Vendée Globe. He came close to a kind of consecration twice and luck shied away twice. In 1992, he was badly hit by a boom, which made him famous in the whole sailing world, and then was forced to retire because his keel was about to fall. He went back at sea in 1996 with the “Votre Nom autour du Monde” (Your Name around the World) original project. The idea, which is also used for this 2012 edition, is quite simple: instead of looking for a single sponsor bringing hundreds of thousands euros, why not try to find thousands of partners who will give you a hundred euros each? The operation worked quite well but took it out on him. The boat lost his keel and capsised only two days before reaching Les Sables d’Olonne.
Follow this edition of Vendée Globe and see what is gonna happen! 

Fall Winter 2012/2013

In Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, has just opened the first Slam store in all of South America. Lying in the center of the city ammuragliata, is located in one of the most famous and endorsed the city, a few steps from "Gorda" by Botero, tribute that the famous Colombian artist has expressly given to the city of Cartagena.
Cartagena de Indias, defined as World Heritage by UNESCO in 1984, is probably the most famous historical city throughout the Caribbean.
Founded in 1533, today it is a reference point for international tourism. Located in a bay that Is one extraordinary natural harbor, Cartagena has soonly becoma a reference point for both national and international tourism. Every year it is visited by more than 1.5 million tourists from all over the world.
Another Slam flag in the world! 

Genoa Flagship Store

In occasione della settimana del Salone Nautico, giovedì 11 ottobre, SLAM inaugura il nuovo flagship store in Via Ceccardi 3r, nel cuore di Genova.

Sarà una serata all’insegna del “dopo regata” (birra e focaccia per tutti), per condividere tutti insieme questo segnale positivo nella nostra città.

Lo spazio si estende su 2 piani per una superficie collettiva di 195 Mq e ospita le collezioni sportswear (uomo, donna e bambino), tecnica, superyacht, scarpe e accessori.
Coerente con l’immagine del brand, il design è minimal ed innovativo.
SLAM, per raggiungere questo obbiettivo, si e' avvalsa della collaborazione degli architetti Federico Rambaldi e Vera Busutti che hanno sfruttato, uno, la propria esperienza internazionale di yacht designer, l'altra, il proprio know how nell'interior e nel retail, per dare forma al target dell'azienda.

L'effetto scenico, il dinamismo delle geometrie e l'uso di materiali e fittings propri del mondo della nautica evocano la passione per il mare, la tecnologia, l'eleganza proprie di SLAM.
Le lastre in carbonio sono, a tal proposito, elemento caratterizzante ed evocativo del negozio, contemporaneamente vela o prua che fende l’acqua.
Niente e' statico; i prospetti, caratterizzati da linee oblique che sono motivo dominante dell'intero retail, il sistema espositivo in vetrina e le mensole, il cui disegno, ne spezza l'ordine sfalsandone i piani e mantenendo allo stesso tempo possibile una propria modularita'.
L’ingresso avviene in modo scenografico; attraverso un'ideale passerella sottolineata da una pavimentazione dogata e da una fascia di luce a soffitto, si accede nel mondo SLAM. A questo piano il legame, attraverso ampie superfici vetrate, con l'esterno e' totale. Il videowall e l'audio sono percepibili anche all'esterno con la stessa definizione.
Attraverso una scala posizionata al termine della 'passerella' si raggiunge il pianto interrato, che si apre con una prospettiva su un video wall alla zona di vendita tradizionale con spazi prova, appenderie, piani d’appoggio e di esposizione delle varie linee nelle declinazioni uomo, donna e bambino.

All’interno del punto Vendita è stato realizzato il progetto “Advanced Shopping Experience” per far vivere al cliente una forte brand experience grazie ai contenuti multimediali che saranno appunto veicolati attraverso i due videowall (uno per piano) ed una postazione interattiva.
Le proiezioni di immagini e filmati personalizzati (grazie all’integrazione di un sistema di fidelizzazione del cliente basato su tecnologia RFID/NFC), le informazioni sui prodotti hi-performance e le news in tempo reale renderanno la visita allo store e l’acquisto un’esperienza assolutamente nuova.
 

Genoa Boat Show

Slam joins the 52nd Boat Show after a competitive season full of many international great results : starting from the Volvo Ocean Race victory , the round the world race (29.000 nautical miles through the most extreme ocean ) , conquered in July by skipper Franck Cammas on board Groupama 4, to the 6 medals won during London Olympic games by Australian and New Zealand Sailing Federations, wearing SLAM in Weymouth waters.
Thanks to the strong collaboration with the best international teams , SLAM developed , and will present at the Boat Show, both the whole new sailing gear range called “Force Line” (realized in different styles : Force1, Force2, Force3 and Force4 ) and the skiff collection, tested by Australian ( 3 gold and 1 silver in London 2012 ) and New Zealand ( 1 gold and 1 silver in London 2012 ) Sailing Teams, which has been extended with the “coldy” items, produced with 3 mm neoprene and inner thermal layer in order to meet the most cold water.

On sale the new 2012/13 Fall / Winter collection : the first “Harbour Collection” by Slam, that brings the most innovative research together with the best sailing clothing tradition .
Ergonomic cut, performing fabrics, special accessories and lots of innovations have been applied to this collection.
Main guidelines are: protection, insulation, lightness, functionality and strenght.
 

Pietro D’Alì primo alla Eiffage TP Med Race vestito SLAM

MAXI YACHT ROLEX CUP

The Costa Smeralda provides a stunning setting and a variety of great, challenging conditions for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, one of the highlights of the Mediterranean yachting season. The first ever Maxi World Championship held in Sardinia in 1980 was the brainchild of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and it's president, the Aga Khan. The regatta is now an eagerly anticipated annual event and attracts a sizeable fleet of majestic yachts to Porto Cervo each September.

OLYMPIC SUCCESS

Slam is proud sponsor of Australian Sailing Federation and New Zealand sailing Federation sailing in London 2012.

SLAM congratulates Aussi sailor Tom Slingsby for winning the GOLD MEDAL in men’s laser class. In the meanwhile Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) have won 49er gold with just the Medal Race to go whilst Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL) clinched silver.

The Australians have been dominant all week long winning five of 15 fleet races to go into the Medal Race with an unassailable 29 point lead.

Both Aussi and Kiwi sailors are empowered with the most technical sailing gear produced by SLAM. We proudly support this guys and we are waiting for their worthy feedback to improve features of the upcoming collection.

..but the story doesn't end here: we are looking forward to seeing what will come in the next last days of race, competing for medals in 470 Men, 470 Women, Elliott 6m Women...stay tuned!

SLAM sponsor of Warnemünder Woche

SLAM was the official sponsor of Germany’s second biggest sailing event, the 75th annual Warnemünder Woche – this year host of the Laser European Championships, the Hobie Cat 16 German Championships and more. From the 7th to the 15th of July 2012, around 2,000 sailors glided over the crowded start lines. The Baltic Newspaper reports over 700,000 visitors to the event.
SLAM contributed by outfitting the large organizational team, over 300 members, with embroidered Polos in the new AMERICAN BLU color. To greet the sailors, SLAM provided over 2.500 embroidered caps and 10% gift certificates. VIPs had the opportunity to cruise up close to the races in the SLAM press boat. SLAM was represented from the press conferences, awards stages, to banners to notice of race booklets. On the Hanseboot area, SLAM’s shop and lounge-creatively fixed-up in the Youth Sailing Barn- was well visited.
The week began with the first day of sailing being cancelled due to lack of wind. Luckily on Wednesday, the weather picked up just in time for the Off-Shore Regatta Rund Bornholm. This is a 270 sea mile race around the Danish island Bornholm and back to start port Warnemünde. The number of participants grew by nearly 100 percent from last year’s race.
SLAM looks forward to being a part of this charming hanseatic city through an on-going partnership with the Warnemünder Woche. Mathias Thom, the event’s Organization Leader from the Warnemünder Sailing Club, “We are proud to have SLAM- an innovative and modern quality brand on our side, and we look forward to the beginning of a long-term partnership.”
Top Results:
Laser Europa Cup – Laser Standard – Giovanni Coccoluto (Italy)
Laser Europa Cup – Laser Radial – Lisa Fasselt (Germany)
Hobie Cat 16- Ingo Delius & Sabine Delius-Wenig (Germany)
A-Cat – Jack Benson (Australia)
H-Boot – European Champion, Michel Peulen (Netherlands)
J 24- Team Daniel Frost (Germany)
Streamline – Alex Mertens (Germany)

The consecration: Round-up of the round the world

The consecration: Round-up of the round the world

Prior to the first In-Port race in Alicante on 29 October 2011, nobody knew exactly what awaited the six crews in the ten inshore races and nine offshore legs, which were to make up this long voyage around the globe. The only minor confrontations in the build-up to the race had taken place in August, with the Fastnet Race, then during some training races in Spain. Three boats were designed by the same architect, with just a handful of differences in the details (Puma, Telefonica, Groupama 4), whilst the New Zealanders opted for a machine which was said to be very at ease in the breeze, the Emiratis had the largest budget and the Chinese took the start line with a boat from the previous generation... There were Volvo Ocean Race specialists on all the boats and Franck Cammas and his men ranked among the novices against big favourites, Camper, Abu Dhabi and Puma.

A surprising first slice

The first In-Port race didn't offer up any lessons: the wind was so screwy, even dying right away at the finish, that Abu Dhabi's victory wasn't very telling of the forces present. Groupama 4 finished 5th ahead of the Spanish, whilst a powerful wind was being forecast for the first leg between Alicante and Cape Town... Indeed, the breeze was to dash the Emiratis' hopes on the very first evening following a dismasting, quickly followed by despair for the Chinese, who saw the lamination on their boat just peeling away: they made South Africa on a cargo ship. Back on the racetrack, the routes diverge on leaving Gibraltar, the French opting for the Moroccan coast, whilst the three other crews dive West. The first option proves ultimately to be a dead-end, as the tradewinds aren't keen to settle into their usual position and the second option latches onto a good depression with which to drop down to the equator. The nub of the action appears to be between the Spanish and the Americans, as the Americans suddenly dismast offshore of Tristan da Cunha. After 24 days at sea, Groupama 4 finishes in third place in Cape Town, without really having been able to do battle with her rivals.

Franck Cammas: "Ultimately, I think we're stronger today than we were 3 weeks ago at the start in Alicante and that's the most important thing. And we ended up in third place and the odds are stacked in our favour for the next stage... Furthermore, we've finished with a boat at full potential and, when you see what's happened to some of the others, that's an important asset!"

The top three in Cape Town
1-Telefonica (Iker Martinez) 1+30 = 31 points
2-Camper with Emirates Team NZ (Chris Nicholson) 4+25 = 29 points
3-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) 2+20 = 22 points

A front and the Doldrums

The In-Port race in Cape Town shows that Franck Cammas and his men are making progress in this short format racing, but they haven't yet reached the required standard in breezy conditions: Groupama 4 finishes fifth, whilst Telefonica drives the point home still further... The presence of pirates in the Indian Ocean prompt the organisers to divert the fleet towards the Maldives, then load the boats onto a cargo ship to make for the Persian Gulf. With regards the weather, after the light airs start, everyone stumbles into a front, which is slowly shifting eastwards. Franck Cammas and his men are the only ones to try to get around to the South of it and are leading in the climb up to the equator, whilst Sanya narrowly avoids dismasting offshore of Madagascar. With an 80-mile lead over Puma and over a hundred in front of her other rivals, Groupama 4 enters the Doldrums in a spot which is to prove fatal: her pursuers are able to get around the obstacle and ultimately it's the Spanish who pip the New Zealanders to the post, whilst the French boat finishes in her worst position (4th) on an offshore leg of the entire round the world voyage...

Franck Cammas: "Our adversaries are certainly more conservative, essentially opting for the direct route each time. However, our southerly option in this second leg paid off! It's important not to forget the good decisions we took..."

The top three in Malé
1-Telefonica (Iker Martinez) 1+30+6+24 = 61 points
2-Camper (Chris Nicholson) 4+25+5+20 = 54 points
3-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) 2+20+2+12 = 36 points

Three short courses to follow

Once they are unloaded at Sharjah, the fleet have to make for Abu Dhabi in race mode, on what is a boisterous reach of around a hundred miles. At that point, Groupama 4 and her crew confirm their excellent potential: they claw their way back up through the fleet and finally overtake Telefonica on the last gybe. It's the team's first victory! And to celebrate the new year, the French sail a very good In-Port race in the Persian Gulf by finishing just astern of Abu Dhabi... The team are gaining in confidence as they outpace the leader in the overall standing on two occasions. Once again, a coastal course accompanies the first slice of the third leg as the boats have to be loaded onto a cargo ship to make for the Maldives. Here again, Franck Cammas and his men control Iker Martinez and his crew to finish third in Sharjah.

The top three in Sharjah
1-Telefonica (Iker Martinez) 1+30+6+29+2+3 = 71 points
2-Camper (Chris Nicholson) 4+25+5+24+4+2 = 64 points
3-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) 2+20+2+18+5+4 = 51 points

In the equatorial heat

There are just 3,000 miles to cover between the Maldives and China, but it's essentially a close-hauled sprint, a point of sail where Groupama 4 hasn't proven to be the most at ease since the start in Alicante. However, the technical team have worked hard to improve performance and Franck Cammas and his men manage to keep pace with the rhythm imposed once again by the Spanish. Indeed they are even within sight of each other when they pass in front of Singapore after a hazardous, light-air Strait of Malacca. The climb up the coast of Vietnam isn't at all relaxing with tradewinds of over thirty knots and nasty seas: a series of tack changes and a second place at the finish confirm how well the French are progressing, whilst Puma splits off towards Borneo and Camper and Abu Dhabi go astray in Java. Groupama 4 is becoming an increasing threat to the New Zealanders...

Franck Cammas: "We're probably more feared now, but we're only a third of the way through the race. We've certainly dropped some points during the second leg: without that, we'd be closer to the leader today. What I take from this though is that we're training up a crew, which has made the most progress from one race to the next..."

The top three in Sanya
1-Telefonica (Iker Martinez) 1+30+6+29+2+3+24 = 95 points
2-Camper (Chris Nicholson) 4+25+5+24+4+2+16 = 80 points
3-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) 2+20+2+18+5+4+20 = 71 points

A decisive victory

The In-Port race off Sanya cools the French enthusiasm somewhat as Groupama 4 finishes second to last whilst the Spanish hammer home another race win! As such the team has to motivate themselves into action again for a leg, which promises to be extremely tough, in a region that is very unfamiliar to the Volvo Ocean Race competitors. In fact, straightaway the organisers delay the start by 24 hours due to a violent easterly gale. As a result, the opening miles are lively for the beat up to the North-East and the Luzon Strait and to the South of Taiwan, Camper and Groupama 4 make a break for it in a breeze which isn't able to build. Indeed the north-easterly tradewinds take three days to settle into position, which gives the Americans time to take a detour up to Japan to hook onto a depression: Franck Cammas and his men spot the danger and climb northwards to cover them. And the drop down to the equator is fabulous as the French boat gets round the Solomon Islands with the Americans and the Emiratis, whilst the Iberians and the Kiwis slip through the archipelago. Groupama 4 manages to keep ahead, despite the pitfalls at New Caledonia and the lively landfall in New Zealand. Even after hitting a floating object, which causes a major leak in the bow! This first leg victory propels the French team into second place in the overall standing. A few days later, Groupama 4 finishes on the podium in the In-Port race: the Spanish leaders are now within reach...

Franck Cammas: "To finish in front in Auckland is extraordinary and a lot better than anywhere else! It's our first Volvo Ocean Race victory too so naturally it really hits home. It's been a difficult leg with lots of different conditions. We were regularly where we needed to be, pulling off the right moves: it feels special to know we sailed well."

The top three in Auckland
1-Telefonica (Iker Martinez) : 1+30+6+29+2+27+6+20+1 = 122 points
2-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) : 2+20+2+18+5+24+2+30+4 = 107 points
3-Camper (Chris Nicholson) : 4+25+5+24+4+18+3+15+6 = 104 points

Bumps and mishaps

This is `the' leg, the one which enthrals every sailor in the world, the seminal leg between Auckland and Brazil via Cape Horn! The course kicks off violently with a tropical storm to the North of New Zealand: over thirty-five knots on the nose on raging seas, before they can slip down towards the Furious 50s... And for safety reasons, the organisation has defined an ice gate limit to avoid the icebergs. However, on arriving at the edge of this ice limit, the south-westerly breeze really packs a punch: Sanya loses a rudder, whilst Camper explodes her forward bulkheads! Franck Cammas and his men take control, followed by the Americans, and together they head around a very feisty depression which is virtually at a standstill. There are over eight-metre waves and fresh damage for Telefonica and Abu Dhabi. On rounding Cape Horn, Groupama 4 holds onto a fifteen-mile lead over Puma and during the climb along the Argentinean coast, the two leaders are bitterly duelling. That is, until the mast on the French boat collapses for some unknown reason. They head for Uruguay under power to install a jury rig and finish the leg in third place. Another spar comes to their rescue from Europe and, in its misfortune, the French team still manages to salvage something in the overall standing.

Franck Cammas: "To finish third in Itajai isn't too bad, even though we had slightly higher, more fulfilling ambitions a week ago than to finish the leg under jury rig! It remains a big disappointment, but part of that sentiment has been erased by the work the shore team and the sailing team did in Punta del Este. We can be proud of what we've achieved and I think we've come out all the stronger from this."

The top three in Itajai
1-Telefonica (Iker Martinez) : 1+30+6+29+2+27+6+20+1+25 = 147 points
2-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) : 2+20+2+18+5+24+2+30+4+20 = 127 points
3-Camper (Chris Nicholson) : 4+25+5+24+4+18+3+15+6+15 = 119 points

And the races too!

As a result, the Brazilian stopover is pretty short for Groupama 4's shore team, who have to adapt the spare mast in a matter of just days. And during the In-Port race, the Spanish make for the wrong mark and let victory slip into the hands of Franck Cammas and his men! The crew of Telefonica is doubting itself, whilst the French are getting back their colour... Unfortunately, the leg to Miami kicks off badly: Groupama 4 is trapped offshore and the wind favours the American leaders. They go from having a few miles' deficit to being a hundred miles down offshore of Recife! However, the French sailors don't give up and gradually pick off the others, getting past Abu Dhabi offshore of French Guiana, then, on opting to traverse the Bahamas, they outmanoeuvre the Spanish. As such, the final outcome isn't catastrophic, though the pressure from the Americans, who take a win on home waters, and second placed Camper, are becoming stronger. The light airs of the In-Port will finally be favourable for Groupama 4, who leads the way, but a spectator boat hampers their progress, leaving an opening for Abu Dhabi. Second in Miami, Franck Cammas and his men are just seven points shy of the Spanish leaders...

Franck Cammas: "We're obviously frustrated because we weren't able to battle it out for the top spot for three weeks, which was hard to bear. The overall standing has bunched together as four boats are still in with a chance of outright victory in Galway: everything is still open and the battle will continue!"

The top three in Miami
1-Telefonica (Iker Martinez) : 1+30+6+29+2+27+6+20+1+25+2+15+1 = 165 points
2-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) : 2+20+2+18+5+24+2+30+4+20+6+20+5 = 158 points
3-Camper (Chris Nicholson) : 4+25+5+24+4+18+3+15+6+15+5+25+3 = 152 points

Leaders in Portugal

The Atlantic crossing is a format Franck Cammas and his men are very familiar with and the start from Miami is excellent for the crew of Groupama 4, who rapidly extract themselves from Florida, bound for a tropical storm to the North. The first to gybe to distance itself from this dangerous disturbance, the French boat makes good its escape, whilst the rest of the fleet battle with some violent headwinds. The focus is on catching up with a front, which is moving along at the same speed as the boat: after a few days, the backrunners dive towards the banks of Newfoundland and snatch the lead! Groupama 4 drops from first to last place... However, with the arrival of a fine south-westerly breeze, the potential of the French boat is fully expressed and as they approach a ridge of high pressure offshore of Portugal, Groupama 4 slips into second place, racking up some phenomenal speeds. Franck Cammas and his men come flying up to Abu Dhabi's stern at the finish line, thus moving up into the lead of the overall standing! A few days later, the French put up a faultless performance in the In-Port race."

Franck Cammas: "We did a very good job, though we still regret not having secured a win. We weren't far behind Abu Dhabi and there was nothing in it at the end! We sailed a fine leg: we had our highs and lows and we finished on a very positive note. We had some very varied weather conditions and the leaders put themselves in some difficult situations: it was at our expense at the start of the race and in our favour at the end of the leg."

The top three in Lisbon
1-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) : 2+20+2+18+5+24+2+30+4+20+6+20+5+25+6 = 189 points
2-Telefonica (Iker Martinez) : 1+30+6+29+2+27+6+20+1+25+2+15+1+15+1 = 181 points
3-Puma (Ken Read) : 5+0+4+19+3+17+5+25+5+30+4+30+4+20+5 = 176 points

On home waters...

Clearly the eighth leg is very important for the top four in the overall standing, as the result in Lorient could upset the hierarchy. And things get off to a bad start for Franck Cammas and his crew, who get stuck in a windless hole beneath the bridge in Lisbon! The Portuguese tradewinds are active across the Atlantic and Groupama 4 is able to get back into the thick of the action as the fleet approach the calm conditions offered up by the Azores High. Once around the island of Sao Miguel, they have to negotiate a nasty depression, which has settled across the route to Brittany: the pace becomes increasingly steady as the wind picks up to over 45 knots! Given that none of the four pretenders are keen to ease off the pace, the battle is extremely tight. Until that is, the crew of the French boat (having resolved their mainsail issue) is first to put in a gybe, whilst the Spanish boat loses a rudder. The French team have sailed a blinder and triumph on home waters. Seemingly unstoppable, they secure another victory during the In-Port race, when Franck Cammas slips to leeward of Camper over the last few metres... Groupama 4's lead over the second-placed American is enough to view the next two races with more serenity.

Franck Cammas: "I'd dreamt about this, the whole crew had dreamt of it! On a short leg like this, the slightest error costs dearly. With our mainsail issue barely two days from the finish, we all told ourselves it was over... However, when we were able to effect repairs, we came back fighting: it was bordering on the edge but it came off. We took risks like the others and it turned into a competition to see who was going to be the first to bail..."

The top three in Lorient
1-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) : 2+20+2+18+5+24+2+30+4+20+6+20+5+25+6+30+6 = 225 points
2-Puma (Ken Read) : 5+0+4+19+3+17+5+25+5+30+4+30+4+20+5+20+4 = 200 points
3-Camper (Chris Nicholson) : 4+25+5+24+4+18+3+15+6+15+5+25+3+10+4+25+5 = 196 points

Victory guaranteed

There is just a single oceanic leg left to race, the shortest of this round the world, since it is just 550 miles between Lorient and Galway, via Belle-Île and the Fastnet lighthouse. Things don't get off to a great start for Franck Cammas and his men, after the preliminary course off Groix, since they're bringing up the rear. However, the crew's determination enables it to move on up to the front of the fleet and once around the Raz de Sein, the top four boats are neck and neck. The south-westerly wind fills as they attack the English Channel, then eases as they approach Fastnet, which the Americans are the first to round. The Irish breeze is fairly shifty in terms of strength and switches to the South to reach the Aran Islands. Once again it's the timing of the gybe that enables Groupama 4 to secure second place behind the Kiwis, who win their first offshore race. With a 24-point lead before the final In-Port race has been launched off Galway, Franck Cammas and his men are crowned the winners of this eleventh edition of the Volvo Ocean Race... on their very first participation!

Franck Cammas: "To win the Volvo Ocean Race is a very fine challenge when you're a novice in this format and French to boot! That's what is motivating and exciting for a team: achieving what nobody expects of you. We weren't a favourite or even an outsider at the start in Alicante. We were also in an easy position, especially as this first crewed race around the world was about learning the ropes prior to a planned second participation. We were here to discover the scene without any pressure on our shoulders, but to win was a surprise to everyone... despite putting a huge amount of work into the race over the past three years."

The top three in Galway
1-Groupama 4 (Franck Cammas) : 2+20+2+18+5+24+2+30+4+20+6+20+5+25+6+30+6+25 = 250 points
2-Camper (Chris Nicholson) : 4+25+5+24+4+18+3+15+6+15+5+25+3+10+4+25+5+30 = 226 points
3-Puma (Ken Read) : 5+0+4+19+3+17+5+25+5+30+4+30+4+20+5+20+4+20 = 220 points 

Cork Week 2012 - Slam Official Sponsor

With only a couple of days to go to Cork Week, which is held on a biennial basis in the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven, Co. Cork: a Grand Prix sailing event which is renowned, world wide, for exciting and challenging racing.

Cork Week, takes place from July 7th to 13th, and it primarily attracts sailors for the quality of its sailing. Boats from all over the world have already started to arrive in Crosshaven, and this year, entries have been received from as far away as South Africa and Hong Kong.

All Aboard@Cork Week is a new addition this year and it is an interactive weekend of free entertainment for all the family from 11pm to 5pm on July 7th and 8th.

In addition to top class racing, the fabled on-shore tented village lets all crews interact socially in a fun way, and it has become one of the main ingredients in the success for Cork Week. Bodega by the Sea features some of the country’s best live bands and DJs, combined with the unique atmosphere of Cork’s Club Bodega in a setting like no other.

Cork Week 2012 Event Chair Pat Lyons, said that the organisers of this year’s sailing spectacular see the event as an opportunity to bring a sparkle to the south coast. “Cork Week comes along every two years and offers an occasion to celebrate all that is best about how we can enjoy the wonderful facilities that our environment has placed on our doorstep. In Cork Harbour, we have a world class maritime playground and by hosting a sailing event of international quality, the Royal Cork provides an opportunity for both sailors and spectators alike to meet old friends, engage in a top class sailing competition, and enjoy the waterside hospitality and entertainment for which Crosshaven is renowned. The additional event this year, All Aboard@CorkWeek is all about extending a Cork Week welcome to a whole new group of people: children and families for whom this may be their first visit to Cork Week.”

RCYC Admiral, Peter Deasy said “we in the Royal Cork are very confident that the support of the people of Cork and in particular Crosshaven, will insure that Cork Week 2012 will, once again, prove that people are prepared to enjoy their hard earned leisure time in what has always been one of the best sailing, and fun, regattas in Europe.”

Cork Week 2012 takes place at the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven, Co. Cork from July 7th to 13th.

Lorient : Victory on home waters!

Groupama 4 has secured an impressive victory in the eighth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race between Lisbon and Lorient. A 1,950-mile course, which proved to be one of the most bracing of this round the world race, with a violent depression adding to the already highly charged atmosphere last night. In this way Franck Cammas and his men have consolidated their lead in the overall standing, but there's still everything to play for until the final showdown in Ireland...

The Best of Leg 8 - Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12

A North Atlantic storm during Leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 wreaked havoc on the fleet but provided powerful winds that saw race speed records fall and boats averaging over 30 knots on multiple stretches.

Relive some of the wave-crashing, high-speed sailing action from Lisbon to Lorient won by Groupama sailing team supplied by Slam.

Medals decided at Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta 2012

After a week of tumultuous weather, the sun finally came out and the wind moderated to a perfect 15 knots for the opening races, building to a fresh 20-22 knots for the final medals. The action took place on two courses, one inside the harbour and the other under the Olympic spectator site on the Nothe.

Laser – Harbour course
Tom Slingsby - supplied by Slam gear as part of Australian Sailing Federation - was the man to beat, five-points ahead of Germany’s Philipp Buhl in second place. But by the time the fleet had reached the top mark, Slingsby had just one man in focus and that was Britain’s Paul Goodison. At the first windward mark it was Slingsby first – Goodison one boat length behind. The pair pushed each other down the run extending away from the fleet, then on the second beat Slingsby, who is unbeaten on the 2012 Olympic racetrack, covered Goodison. He kept it up for the rest of the race and leaving Goodison vulnerable to the pack behind and as the wind pushed the fleet together on the final run, Tom Burton and Andy Maloney slid past on the line. The result gave Burton the silver behind his countryman, and left Philipp Buhl in bronze. Goodison had to settle for fourth.

470 – Nothe course
Current 470 World Champions, Belcher and Page have been dominant in the 470 class throughout the week. However Belcher and Page managed to squeeze low round the mark getting inside, from there the Australian pair sailed away to win the medal race in convincing fashion. Patience and Bithell held second to give themselves the silver medal, while bronze went to the New Zealanders Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders, who finished the medal race with a solid fourth.

470 women – Nothe
The Kiwi pairing of Jo Aleph and Olivia Powrie looked like they would be left to sail their own race, nine points ahead of their nearest rivals, the French pair of Camille Lecointre and Mathilde Geron. There was still a big fight for silver and bronze with just four points separating the French from current world Champions, Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark in fourth. A bad start for British pair – when their tiller extension broke moments from the start - meant they trailed the fleet as they headed up the first beat. But the French race wasn’t going to plan either, rounding the windward mark in ninth.

49er - Harbour
By now the wind was blowing 19 knots with gusts of 23, and the French pair Emmanuel Dyen and Stephane Christidis sailed a perfect medal race – the led from start to finish, with an impressive 300m gap at the finish. They were second behind Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen going into the medal race and the point’s difference meant that the Aussies had to get fourth or better to keep gold. Seventh at the top mark, they had time to make ground on the three lap windward leeward course and grab the fourth they needed by the finish. 

Overall top three results in all classes below.
WOMENS MATCH RACING
1st AUS Olivia Price, Nina Curtis, Lucinda Whittly 2-1
2nd FRA Claire Leroy, Elodie Bertrand, Marie Riou 1-2
3rd USA Anna Tunnicliffe, Molly Vandemoer, Debbie Capozzi 1-0

LASER CLASS
1 - AUS Tom Slingsby - 26 points
2 - AUS Tom Burton - 43 points
3 - GER Philipp Buhl - 43 points

470 MEN
1 – AUS Mathew Belcher, Malcolm Page – 14 points
2 – GBR Luke Patience, Stuart Bithell – 19 points
3 – NZL Paul Snow-Hansen, Jason Saunders – 28 points 

470 WOMEN
1 – NZL Jo Aleh, Olivia Polly Powrie – 32 points
2 – USA Amanda Clark, Sarah Lihan – 52 points
3 – GBR Hannah Mills, Saskia Clark – 53 points

49er
1 – AUS Nathan Outteridge, Iain Jensen – 31 points
2- FRA Emmanuel Dyen, Stephane Christidis – 33 points
3- GBR Dylan Fletcher, Alain Sign – 52 points

Groupama wins again at the In-port race in Lisbon

Having won the leg from China to New Zealand, then the Itajai In-Port race,  Franck Cammas and his men have further bolstered their lead prior to the eighth leg which kicks off on Sunday at 1200 UTC, bound for their port of registry in Lorient. In this way, the French boat has extended its lead against the Spanish, who were last on the Tagus River this Saturday afternoon, and against the New Zealanders, who again lost to the Americans in a sprint to the wire...

Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen - 49er World Champion

Australian sailors Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen have made history with their gold medal at the 2012 49er World Championship in Zadar, Croatia.
The win was Outteridge’s fourth world title and Jensen’s third, with the skipper putting his name in the history books as the first sailor to win four 49er World Championships.
Outteridge has won four of the last five 49er World Championships, having first tasted success back in 2008, alongside former crew Ben Austin, and then claiming the 2009, 2011 and now the 2012, titles with Jensen.
Outteridge and Jensen finished 13 points ahead of New Zealanders Peter Burling and Blair Tuke with Danish duo Allan Norregaard and Peter Lang a further 15 back in third.
Both Australian Sailing Federation and New Zealand Sailing Federation are proudly supplied by Slam with garments of skiff and technical line. 

Podium finish in Miami

 This low-key result for Groupama 4 is still a job well done though, as the French boat has managed to hold onto second place in the overall standing and is now just eleven points shy of Telefonica...

It's probably the most stressful leg Franck Cammas and his crew have experienced to date! Indeed, from the start in Itajai some 17 days 07 hours 29 minutes ago, Groupama 4 got left behind due to the breeze kicking in from the front of the fleet, favouring the leaders, who subsequently amassed a lead of as much as 157 miles offshore of Brazil... However, the French never gave up and gradually managed to catch up with and then overtake Abu Dhabi before the Antilles, before attempting a courageous option, which bore fruit when the Spanish had to gybe to reposition themselves offshore of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Tom Slingsby - fifth Laser world title

Australian sailor Tom Slingsby has won the 2012 Audi Laser World Championship with a race to spare in Boltenhagen, Germany.

Tom, as well as the entire crew of Australian Sailing Federation pro sailors, are supplied by Slam with the most technical  gear.  Slam skiff collection was born exactly to improve performances of sailors racing in this kind of top level competitions. 

The 2012 title was Slingsby’s fifth in six years as he cements his position at the top of the Laser class in the final run up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“This could be my last Laser World Championship and it’s great to finish it so well,” said Slingsby. “I sailed my best this week in conditions that I traditionally haven’t done well in, so to win it like this feels really good. This is my fifth Laser world title but it’s my first in light conditions which is really satisfying.”

“Hopefully this win sends the message that I’m definitely no light wind pushover,” he said. “Heading into the Games I know that I still need to improve and that I still have work to do. The rest of the fleet is going to be trying to topple me so I’ve got to be on my game and keep pushing.”