WoW Jan 03.25 ALL ROLEX Hobart Coverage, SODEBO near Sth Atlantic, Finn-505-Opti WorldsTripons IMOCA

It was a lovely New Year's present for Thomas Coville's crew on "Sodebo Ultim 3." The seven-man team on the gigantic Ultim trimaran, has already reached the Cape of Good Hope, after setting off on the Jules Verne Trophy record attempt on 20 December. The journey continues at breakneck speed. For Thomas Coville's crew on "Sodebo Ultim 3", the new year has begun with a promising first Cape celebration. Her Rival, "SVR Lazartigue," is  in her home harbour for the time being. This is your weekly global sailing highlights show, the World on Water, January 03, 2025. A resplendent and animated Sydney Harbour, sunshine, blue skies and building 18-24 knot northeasterly winds, heralded a perfect start to the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. As the early exchanges unfolded, the 104-strong fleet offered close competition, and a colourful spectacle as the ‘Great Race South’ commenced. World Sailing has put together a compilation of videos which they suggest, is the best sailing events for 2024. Is your highlight included? Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours has been claimed, for a second year in a row, by Law-Connect. The 100-ft maxi skippered by Christian Beck, completed the 628-nautical mile course on Saturday 28 December, in an elapsed time of one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds. Having been the first yacht to clear Sydney Heads shortly after the start of the race, Law Connect soon found herself playing catch up down the New South Wales coast. The 505 class, has always been an iconic boat to sail, and is on most dinghy sailors bucket list to have raced, at least once in there lifetimes, but what is, it that draws sailors back, year after year? Is it the tech, the way the boat glides effortlessly through the water, or is it the people. Celestial V70, skippered by Dr Sam Haynes, was announced by the C-Y-C-A) as the provisional overall winner of the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. A year and a few months after laying the first layer of recycled carbon at DUQUEINE Atlantique, Armel Tripon and the entire Les P’tits Doudous team, are preparing for a particularly significant moment as the hull leaves the shipyard where it was built, and begins its journey by road to Saint-Philibert. In Morbihan, just a stone's throw from the port of La Trinité-sur-Mer, where it will be based, the first IMOCA built for the 2028 Vendée Globe, will undergo final preparations in the coming weeks, ahead of its scheduled launch next spring. The official prizegiving for the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race offered a poignant conclusion to an edition marked by tragedy and defined by resilience. 2025 will provide greater support to the Under 29 community, and deliver some amazing events, including, The Open Finn European Championship. Scheduled from April 5-12 in Naples, Italy, hosted by Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia.   The Finn World Masters. Taking place from June 13-20 in Medemblik, The Netherlands.   ⁠The Finn Gold Cup. Set for August-September in Cascais, Portugal. We look forward to witnessing the our best sailors compete in this iconic venue for our most precious trophy. The Optimist World Championship 2024, was held at Mar del Plata Argintina, with the Final results giving Victory for Iason Panagopoulos from Greece. With a brilliant final day, and 2nd and 4th places, Panagopoulos pushed the two previous clear leaders Arthur Back Brazil, and Mateo Carbonell Spain off the top spot. Marta Mansito also from Spain was the best girl in 11th place.