U.S. Skuds Targeting ChinaBased upon their performance at the recent C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta in Newport, R.I., three two-person crews have been named to the 2006 U.S. Disabled Sailing Team (USDST): Karen Mitchell and Michael Grimm, Mark Lewis and Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, and Scott Whitman and Julia Dorset.At the 2008 Paralympic Games in China, the teams will sail Skud 18s, a brand new, universal access skiff with a weighted keel, tube-launching asymmetrical spinnaker, and joystick steering. For the latest news from the USDST, click here. Hamlin Rules the SkiffOn Saturday, 53-year-old Howard Hamlin continued his summer of skiff success by winning the 18-foot Skiff International Regatta in San Francisco, Calif.It was Hamlin’s third International Regatta victory in 5 years, and his third time winning a major skiff event this summer. He won the European 18 Skiff championship in June and the International 14 Nationals earlier this month. (He also placed second in the 505 Worlds.)For 17-year-old Samuel (Shark) Kahn, who placed third at last year’s International Regatta, this year’s second place finish was another encouraging step in his development. “Second place is awesome,” Kahn said. “The first race [on Saturday] we were a little nervous and stressed. The second race we realized we had to sail really hard to put a boat between us [third place finisher, John Winning].”For the latest 18-foot Skiff news, click here. Farr 40 Worlds Shaping Up to Be Biggest YetAs many as 40 boats may compete in the 2006 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, taking place September 6-9 at New York YC in Newport, R.I., making the event the class’ largest world championship yet.Some of the top skippers vying for the championship are reigning champion Richard Perini and past champions Jim Richardson, Massimo Mezzaroma, Steve Phillips, and Ernesto Bertarelli. For more news about the Farr 40 Worlds, click here. Alex Thompson Commissions New Open 60 Record-breaking solo skipper Alex Thomson has announced plans to build a new Groupe Finot design Open 60 to be launched in spring 2007, in time for the Barcelona World Race 2007. Boatbuilder Neville Hutton and project manager Jason Carrington are heading up the effort in Lymington, England. The new Hugo Boss Open 60 will replace Thomson’s current boat after the Velux 5 Oceans Race. Thompson chose the Finot-Conq design team because of its outstanding record in the Vendee Globe, in which he will compete in 2008. For more about Alex Thompson’s campaign, click here.
