sonar sailboat racing

Sonar Class Association

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One-Design Class Type: Keelboat

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 200

Photo Credit:Chandra Wobschall

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About Sonar Class Association

One design keelboat designed by Bruce Kirby in 1979. Active fleets in Midwest and Eastern US as well as western Europe

Boats Produced: approx 850

Class boat builder(s):

Siedelman, Ryder, Ontario,Rondar

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 400

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

USA, Ireland, UK, EU

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  4

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  750

Boat Designed in  1979

Length (feet/inches): 23′

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 2200

Draft: 3′ 7”

Mast Height: 35

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Rondar Sonar Now a World Sailing Class!

• Sparkling Performance
• Self draining cockpit
• Deep keel for stability
• Deep rudder for control in all weather
• 75% fractional rig, Dacron Sails
• Slipway Launch
• Easy launch, easy tow, easy trailed
• All the family can sail and race
• Ideal for sail and race training
• Low maintenance
• Easily adaptable for all disabled sailors
• Sail and storage bow cuddy
• Race competitively with three or four crew.
• The Sonar surfs and planes readily downwind.
• Well-balanced, inboard rudder.
• Faster than a J/24 in windy conditions.
• Strict one-design rules.
• Clean and uncluttered cockpit.
• Small jib can be handled by nearly any size crew member.
• Single jib, main, and spinnaker.
• 7'10" beam for easy trailering.
• 11'6" cockpit seats 8 comfortably.
• Full-length molded bench seats with angled backs.
• Self-bailing cockpit.
• Lockable cuddy under the foredeck holds gear, or an outboard motor, even a small Porta Potti.
• 900 lb. keel keeps the boat stable and dry.

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SONAR TUNING GUIDE

This comprehensive tuning guide will give you the key information needed to stay in the front of the Sonar fleet, whether you are sailing at the local or national level. Our sails are designed with proven technology in cloth as well as shape to insure durability and speed on the race course. Our sails are also designed to keep things simple in order to give you the confidence that is needed to keep your head out of the boat while sailing in close One Design competition.

TOOLS NEEDED

• 50 Foot Tape Measure
• Shims (At mast partners)
• Electrical Tape
• Screw Driver
• Mast Blocks (six 1/2″ blocks)
• Indelible Marker
• Adjustable Wrench
• Model “A” Loos gauge

Before Stepping the Mast

• Forestay should be 25′ 11″ when measured from the bearing point of the Tee fitting aloft to the center of the turnbuckle clevis pin.
• Clean and lubricate turnbuckles.
• Spreader angle: set deflection at 2 3/4 — 3″.

**To get proper deflection measure from the back face of the mast to a line extending between the holes in the spreader tips. This distance should be 2 3/4 — 3″.

After Stepping the Mast

• Adjust partner to fit snugly side to side (so mast is centered).
• Mast step: Measure the distance from the aft face of the mast where it meets the step casting to the gel-coat edge of the center of the cabin opening lip near the floor. This should be set between 28 1/4″ and 28 3/4″. (Ontario boats only.)
• Next, measure the distance from the forward edge of the mast partner opening to the center of the headstay anchor point. The class rule limits this dance to 7′-11.5″.

Fine Tuning the Rig

• Center the mast laterally using a tape measure on the jib halyard to a common spot on the port and starboard rails.
• Remove any mast blocks as well as the lower shrouds from the chainplates.
• Remove the slack from the backstay until the headstay just becomes taut (no mast bend.) Place a mark on the deck abeam of the aft face of the mast. This is your reference point in the relaxed state.
• Now pre-bend your mast at the deck with mast blocks on the aft side until you have moved the mast 1″ forward of the mark. Make a new mark and erase the old. This is the new “Neutral” position.
• Next, you want to tension your upper shrouds in equal increments on both sides to between 230-260 pounds using a “LOOS-Model A” tension gauge (cable size is 5/32″ or equivalent.) Check the mast laterally again by repeating step #l.
• Finally you want to attach the lower shrouds and adjust them so that you can make 8 to 10” circles with them at shoulder height. This requires some guess work but loose lowers are required to keep the tip of the mast in column when you are sailing. Minor adjustments should be made to you’re lowers when you first go sailing by sighting up the mast track and tightening or loosening the lowers to keep the rig straight. Now you have a great starting point and adjustments will be made from and relative to this position depending on different wind strengths and sea conditions.

Trimming Your Sails

It’s important to mark all your shrouds, sheets, tracks, outhaul, backstay, etc. Keep records of your tuning set-ups for different conditions in order to be able to reproduce settings when you know the boat was going fast.

You want to make six 1/2″ wide plastic blocks from the template shown below, this will give you the proper amount of blocks to take up the extra space and allow you to block the mast according to our chart. **Blocking measured from aft face of mast relative to the neutral position.

Blocking Positions:

Light Air/Flat Water: 1″ in front of neutral

Light Air/Lump:1/2″in front of neutral

Medium Air/Flat Water: Neutral

Medium Air / Lump: Neutral

Heavy Air/Flat Water: 1/2″ behind neutral

Heavy Air/Lump: 1″ behind neutral

Mast blocking has two profound effects. First, the more blocks you put behind the mast the less headstay tension you will have and the more the headstay will sag. This results in a deeper and more powerful jib for light and lumpy conditions.

Secondly, blocking in front of the mast will create more headstay tension thus a flatter jib for windy conditions. The second effect is relative draft position of the lower part of the main. In lighter air blocking to induce pre-bend (behind the mast), will remove forward draft and decrease the depth of the sail. In heavy conditions, you will want to block in front of the mast in order to power up the bottom part of the main in order to help you through rougher seas. Remember blocking in front also give you more tension on the headstay for a flatter jib.

Trim the mainsheet hard enough to make the top batten parallel to the boom.

You can check this by sighting from underneath the boom on a vertical plane. Once the boat has accelerated and you want to point higher, trim harder (2-3″) to cock the top batten slightly to weather. If the mainsheet is too tight (top batten hooking to weather), you will slow down. In light air and choppy water, the top batten should be parallel or twist off slightly. You may want to mark your mainsheet somewhere in the middle so you have a nice reference point for mark roundings and upwind sailing. Pull the traveler car to windward until the boom is on centerline. To check this, have your crew sight aft along the boom and line up the center of the boom with the eye that attaches the backstay to boat (this should be in the center of the transom). Keep the boom on centerline up to 12 knots and gradually drop the traveler to keep helm and heeling under control as wind speed increases. The lens foot allows the sail to act as a loose-footed sail. Upwind the lens foot should not be fully open. To set your outhaul properly, use the following guide:

**This chart is based on settings relative to the black band

**On reaches and runs the outhaul is eased 1 – 2″.

The cunningham is used to position the draft in the main. Your goal should be to keep the maximum draft position 50% back in the sail or just slightly forward of this. In a new sail, we use no cunningham up to 6 knots, enough to remove most of the wrinkles in 7 – 14 knots and progressively tighter in higher winds so there are no wrinkles. Pull the cunningham very hard above 18 knots to move the draft forward in the top of the sail. Under most circumstances, you do not need much backstay tension.

The exception would be in breezy, extremely puffy conditions, particularly when combined with flat water. In these conditions, you can use the backstay as a power control. Pulling the backstay reduces the power in the mainsail up high by opening the leech, thus reducing heel and weather helm. Remember, backstay has a large effect on luff sag. A tighter backstay equals less luff sag. More luff sag makes the jib entry fuller and moves the point of maximum draft back. This is best in light air and flat water. As the breeze freshens, a straighter jib luff produces a flatter jib entry. Use the boom vang downwind and on the reaches to control the amount of twist in the mainsail. The twist should be the least amount that still permits attached flow at the upper batten telltale and stalling is unavoidable. From 100 degrees or so to a dead run set, the vang so the top batten is parallel to the boom. Your main sail is equipped with a leech cord. The primary function of the leech cord is to prevent the leech from fluttering. In windy conditions, tension the leech cord to prevent the leech from fluttering. In light to moderate conditions, pull it just tight enough to eliminate flutter.

Your North Sonar jib does not have a wire in it. Therefore, luff sag is controlled by headstay tension (see blocking and backstay section of tuning guide). Luff sag is measured as an offset from the center of the jib luff to a straight line between the head and tack of the jib. To trim the jib correctly, you must have the lead in the proper fore and aft position. This is accomplished by moving the lead forward or backwards until all three telltales on your jib lift at the same time as you begin to pinch the boat above a close hauled course. If you find that the windward telltale on the top of the sail lifts before the ones lower down, this is an indication that the lead is so far aft and should be moved forward. Conversely, should the windward telltale on the bottom of the sail lift before those higher, then you should move the lead aft. After experimenting in say 8 to 12 knots and you have your central lead position, you may want to move the lead forward a little in very light air and aft a bit when the breeze is above 15 knots. The most critical adjustment you will make with your jib is the sheet tension. The best way to gauge this is to pull the sheet is when you are going upwind until the upper batten is parallel to the center line of the boat at the back end, or perhaps points just to leeward from parallel. In no instance do you want the upper batten pointing to windward towards the mainsail. This will create backwinding and stall the boat which will slow you down.

Spinnaker and Downwind Sailing

Set the vang so the top batten is parallel to the boom. Ease cunningham, outhaul and backstay. Trim the spinnaker so there is 6″ to 8″ of curl in the luff. Keep pole perpendicular to apparent wind. Keep outboard end of the pole even with the free clew. On runs you may want to use some leeward tweeker to keep the leeward leech from opening too much.** Remember, over trimming the spinnaker (never allowing the luff to curl) chokes down the slot between spinnaker, leech, and main. The result is a boat driven sideways instead of forward.

Steering Technique

The Sonar has a very big main, therefore, it is very important to balance the boat for different wind strengths. If your boat is not balanced, you will feel it in the helm. In heavy conditions you want to de-power the main in order to reduce windward helm. Since hiking is limited in the Sonar class, it is a good idea to sail with four people, you can use these people to your advantage by moving them around in the boat. Use crew weight to help steer the boat upwind as well as downwind. In light air, keep the crew weight low and forward in the boat as the wind freshens moves the crew weight to the windward rail and forward and close together. In all conditions playing the mainsheet, traveler and backstay will keep you in close tune with the helm. Remember, steering fast is a function of concentration and balance of your boat.

This tuning guide has provided the numbers and know-how to balance your boat. Now it is time to get out and practice and enjoy the upcoming racing season.

Your new main and jib are made from stiff resinated cloth. With just a little extra care, they will perform at top speed longer than softer materials. Both main and jib come in tube bags. They should be rolled starting at the head straight down the leech so that the battens remain parallel. The spinnaker should be flaked so that the leech tapes do not get wrinkled. The spinnaker should not be stored wet for long periods of time — some bleeding of colors may occur and this is not covered by warranty. All sails should be rinsed periodically to remove salt and should be dry when rolled up. Diligence in these areas will dramatically extend the life of your sails.

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• Sailboat Guide

Sonar is a 22 ′ 11 ″ / 7 m monohull sailboat designed by Bruce Kirby and built by Rondar Raceboats, Shumway Marine, Seidelmann Yachts, Ontario Yachts, C. E. Ryder, and DS Yachts (Schwill Yachts) starting in 1980.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Commissioned by members of Noroton YC of Darien CT USA and first built by Seidelmann Yachts. A few were also built by Carbon Index in the UK. Current builder (2019) is Rondar Raceboats.

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1978 Sonar Restoration by Shumway Marine

1978 Sonar Sailboat – Awaiting Restoration

Late last fall we sold a 1978 Sonar to Skip Shumway of  Shumway Marine . The boat was in pretty tough shape. The blue gel coat had faded to a chalky hue. The black anodized mast had rubbed through to the bare aluminum. The rudder and keel were both a mess in each their own unique way, and the interior was pretty much shot.

We were certain that for the right buyer, though, we had a diamond in the rough. The Sonar is a great daysailer and racer, and we are glad to announce that this one is back!

Take a look at the after picture!

As the Shumway crew puts on the finishing touches, this boat is actively for sale. Interested ? Contact Shumway Marine through their contact page .

About Shumway Marine:

From delicate rowing shells to 65 foot yachts,  Shumway Marine  can repair it all. Our experienced craftsmen work with wood and fiberglass for  structural  or  cosmetic repairs .

Our  certified mechanics  work on Mercruiser, Yanmar, Westerbeke and Universal engines.   Electrical wiring  work and  custom rigging  are also available. We have two  40 ton hoists  and offer yacht loading and unloading for transport.

1978 Sonar Sailboat – After

The  Paint Shop  can accomodate up to 45′ boats. Our painters are skilled in using  Awlgrip ,  Imron , and  gelcoat  for refinishing. Blister repair, bottom painting, and doll-ups are also done through our Paint Shop.

About the Sonar Sailboat:

The 23′ Sonar one-design keelboat is a high-performance racer and also a comfortable daysailor just right for getting the entire family or friends on the water together. It was designed by Bruce Kirby and almost 700 boats have been built since 1980. The Sonar has recently achieved status as an International Class.

Performance

• Race competitively with three or four crew.
• The Sonar surfs and planes readily downwind.
• Well-balanced, inboard rudder
• Faster than a J/24 in windy conditions.
• Strict one-design rules.
• Clean and uncluttered cockpit.
• Small jib can be handled by nearly any size crew member.
• Single jib, main, and spinnaker.
• 7’10” beam for easy trailering.
• 11’6″ cockpit seats 8 comfortably.
• Full-length molded bench seats with angled backs.
• Self-bailing cockpit.
• Lockable cuddy under the foredeck holds gear, or an outboard motor, even a small Porta Potti.
• 900 lb. keel keeps the boat stable and dry.

Origin of the Sonar:

“The Sonar may well be the best boat I’ve ever designed.” – Bruce Kirby

It started when Bruce Kirby’s home club (Noroton Yacht Club, Darien, CT USA) couldn’t find the right boat to get their members involved in club racing; fewer and fewer of its members were participating.

They studied a great many existing classes of boats but all were considered too expensive, too slow, too demanding to sail, or just plain uncomfortable. So Bruce was asked to design a new boat specifically to meet the requirements of a club racing one-design keelboat fleet.

The result was the Sonar. The Noroton Yacht Club got every thing they wanted and more. And the Sonar has been greeted with enthusiasm by individuals and clubs all over the world.

We buy boats:

Shoreline Sailboats always has an interest in buying used sailboats. If you have a boat for sale, contact us using the form below:

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• SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!

Any sonar 23 info?

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I'm interested in the sonar 23. Anyone own one of these? I'd love to know about its construction, performance, etc. Cheers  

I don't own one, but have sailed on one many times. Good little boats, and a lot of fun. You can read more about them here and here .  

Thanks for the info. I'd like to know more about the boat's construction materials and techniques if anyone can help there.  

There's one at our club. If I see the guy, I'll tell him about this thread.  

Hull Hand laid up woven fiberglass with coremat coring for added strength and impact resistance. Each boat carefully crafted to meet one-design rules. White gelcoat standard; custom hull gelcoat colors and bottom paint optional. Deck Fabricated as one-piece insert; includes three seat storage lockers. Two bunks (and space for a small Porta Potti) in lockable cuddy cabin with hatchboard. Extruded aluminum toerail bolted thru deck and hull flange. Cockpit Huge 11'6" self-bailing cockpit with full-length seats, angled seatbacks. Seats 8 adults in comfort. Adjustable mainsheet traveler amidships. Keel 900 pounds of cast lead, deep fin design. Narrow, with advanced foil shape for superior windward performance. Optional sling available for hoist launching. Rudder 2" thick, very high-aspect and deep. Balanced design and large area provides excellent control and manueverability, even under spinnaker in strong winds. Inboard hung for protection and to retain the same light feel at all angles of heel. Laminated curved tiller. Rigging Bendy tapered aluminum mast. 75% fractional rig is responsive, makes sailhandling easier. Elliptical mast section is keel stepped. Swept spreaders, adjustable backstay and moveable mast blocking at the partners permit fine tuning. Running rigging is Dacron and Spectra, cut to length and fitted for each application. Sails Large Dacron mainsail and 100% jib, legal for class racing. Combination of larger main and smaller jib is easier to handle when tacking. Standard cunningham, outhaul, traveler controls and jib leads provide complete sail-shaping ability. Spinnaker and tapered aluminum pole available. Hardware Boat is shipped "race ready," equipped with top-quality marine hardware -- Harken, Ronstan, etc. Deck and cockpit fittings are mounted with stainless steel hardware. Click to expand...

I really love these boats. (I also really like the J-22 equally). One word of caution, at least on the early boats that I sailed, I think that the cockpit was not truely self-bailing. My recollection was that the cockpit has an Elstrom type bailer that had to be opened to drain the cockpit only when the boat was at speed. This means using a boom tent and bailing the cockpit something of a necessity if they are stored in the water. Jeff  

Sonar Hey AK, The Sonar is the second best keelboat trainer out there. Colgate 26 being the best. We have used Sonars exclusively in our operation since 1997 to train >800 sailors. It is a day sailor racer and nothing more. Pros; very simple rig at the basic level, huge comfortable cockpit, most manueverable, they love wind and are fast. Very easy to learn at the beginner level. Cons; designed to be dry sailed, wet boat in chop/wind due to low freeboard, water ingress at the partners is annoying, Elvstrom bailers need maintenance requiring haul, zero amenities (guys are ok with this...) Want to know more send me a note and I will be glad to help. I have sailed these for the last 10 years so I have a fair idea what kind of boat they are. BTW they are back in production both in NA and Europe. Regards, Red  

Google Ontario Yachts, they build them.  

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February 27, 2020

What kind of sailboat is a Sonar , and what are the features of this boat?

Sonars are a triple handed keelboat raced by both adaptive and able bodied sailors. The Sonar is used by sailors who enjoy a team mentality, who are often interested in racing in addition to cruising. The Sonar has a mileu of possible adaptions. Several are described below.

The video below shows both a transfer bench and an swiveling adapted Sonar seat (although the sound quality is poor),

The Sip and Puff joystick steering system is an option that helps individuals with limited mobility steer the Sonar. Find information on what a Sip and Puff system is, and where to purchase one.

Other adaptions include Stability bars and drop in seats are also used in tandem in the Sonar to help crew and skipper move from side to side as the boat sails.

Sonars also have different seating options, including:

• Mid-Boat Seat : This seat is installed towards the center of the Sonar and is designed to accomodate individuals using Sip and Puff systems. The seat can be positioned from side to side using cleats.
• Gimbaled Mid-Boat Seat : The gimbaled seat sits lower in the boat and swivels to keep the Skipper upright as the boat heels.
• For general information, and to purchase a Sonar, visit Rondar Raceboats .
• Other possible adaptions include changing the main sheet purchase and the location of the mainsheet block. Purchase adjustments are covered on page 50 of US Sailing's Adaptive Sailing Resource Manual .

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Sailgp high-octane sailboat racing grabs headlines in new york city.

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The fleet led by Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team ahead of Canada SailGP Team and USA SailGP Team ... [+] pass the One World Trade Centre and the New York City skyline on Race Day 2 of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix in New York, USA. Sunday 23rd June 2024

When it comes to high-performance sailing—and staging high-profile high-performance sailing events—America’s Cup legend and SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts has pretty much seen it all. He won the Cup as the New Zealand team’s helmsman three times. He was the CEO of Larry Ellison ’s Oracle Team USA syndicate when they won the America’s Cup after a historic comeback against Emirates Team New Zealand in San Francisco in 2013. And he was there when they lost it to a much faster Emirates Team New Zealand in Bermuda in 2017.

But that was then. These days, the SailGP global sailing league he and Ellison launched after they lost the America’s Cup is about to complete its fourth full season featuring 10 national teams, racing aboard 50-foot-long, high-performance hydrofoiling sailing catamarans in 13 locations around the world.

USA SailGP Team helmed by Taylor Canfield sail past the Statue of Liberty during a practice session ... [+] ahead of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix in New York, USA. Thursday 20th June 2024

And since I was one of the lucky ones in the sold-out crowd that was able to watch the racing from a VIP boat close to the race course, and from the grandstands and luxury boxes at the Mubadala New York SailGP race in New York City this weekend, I can say with confidence that fans loved watching SailGP catamarans race between the iconic NYC skyline, the Stature of Liberty, and the race village hospitality tents and grandstands on Governors Island. And of course, everyone loved watching the United States SailGP Team compete in its home race.

Peter Burling, Co-CEO and driver of New Zealand SailGP Team, lifts the trophy as the New Zealand ... [+] SailGP Team celebrate with Barons De Rothschild Champagne on-board their F50 catamaran after winning the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix in New York, USA. Sunday 23rd June 2024

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Unfortunately for the Americans (and all the other teams too), no team could compete with the Black Foils, New Zealand SailGP Team in the final. The Kiwis sailed flawlessly to take the win over Canada and Emirates GBR and punch their ticket to the $2 million Grand Final in San Francisco next month.

But no matter who wins, the SailGP’s special mix of sailing, competition, sustainability and fan-friendliness has all the excitement, technology, celebrities, drama, and sponsorship opportunities of Formula 1 Grand Prix racing.

Fans get close to the action at the Mubadala SailGP New York

In fact, the league continues to attract fans from all around the world. And as I learned at the opening press conference held at Peak with Priceless on the 101 st floor of 30 Hudson Yards, the SailGP continues to attract investment from some of the world’s most recognizable sponsors as well.

The first announcement was that Mubadala Capital (the wholly owned asset management subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company and title sponsor of the Mubadala New York SailGP) had acquired a newly formed SailGP Team to represent Brazil. The new team is the first South American team to join the SailGP league and the first of the new teams and new owners to be announced ahead of Season 5.

“Brazil has achieved an incredible history of success in Olympic sailing and it’s fitting they are now entering the professional ranks of SailGP – competing against the best in the world,” said Coutts. “This opens up a new and very significant market for SailGP and we’re incredibly excited to further develop Brazil’s passionate fan base and strengthen our connection to the region.”

"We are thrilled to partner with SailGP to form the first-ever South American SailGP team," said Oscar Fahlgren, Chief Investment Officer of Mubadala Capital. "This acquisition not only adds to our investment portfolio but also aligns with our long-term commitment to investing in Brazil, while enhancing our ability to create lasting positive social and environmental impact."

The Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team will partner with Brazilian sports and entertainment firm IMM to operate the team. Owned by ex-Brazilian Olympic sailor, Alan Adler (CEO), IMM’s portfolio includes some of Brazil’s most iconic events, including the Rio Open, Cirque Du Soleil and São Paulo Fashion Week. Adler is also CEO of Brazil Motor Sports, the promoter of the São Paulo Grand Prix Formula 1 race.

The United States SailGP team will be partnering with Tommy Hilfiger in season 5

The next sponsorship announcement came from an unlikely source—United States SailGP Driver Taylor Canfield—as he was about to field some tough questions about the rivalry he and his team have with Canada SailGP driver Phil Robertson and the United States’ struggles to get up to speed with the competition.

“Before I get into that,” he said with a smile. “I’m excited to break the news that Tommy Hilfiger will be partnering with the team next season,” he said just before he put on a Tommy Hilfiger sweater that he wore for the rest of the conference.

“We’re going to go out and push hard. We’re a work in progress, we’re not hiding from that,” Canfield acknowledged. “Coming into SailGP with our ownership group we were very clear. We have a couple of goals—to win both on and off the water.”

There’s no question that a long-term partnership with Tommy Hilfiger is a very big off-the-water win for the United States Sail GP Team.

United States SailGP team CEO Mike Buckley and Tommy Hilfiger announced their partnership at the ... [+] Mubadala Sail GP New York event in June

“I’ve long been in awe of how Tommy Hilfiger has defined fashion in sports, so this partnership is a literal dream come true,” said Mike Buckley, United States SailGP Team CEO in the official partnership announcement. “Tommy Hilfiger blends the world of style and athleticism like no other, and I get goosebumps when thinking about how we're going to shake up the world of sailing.”

“Since I was very young, I always loved the world of sailing and the nautical lifestyle said Tommy Hilfiger in the team’s official announcement. “But SailGP is next level. It’s a whole new sport. By fusing intense racing and elite performance with international competition in iconic venues around the world, SailGP is making waves in adrenaline sport.

“Mike Buckley and the United States SailGP Team have a unique vision to create a story and an impact that goes well beyond sporting competitions. I am so inspired by their grit, determination and innovation, and together we have the opportunity to disrupt sailing and bring something new to fans globally.”

Olympic champion, entrepreneur and United States SailGP Team board member Lindsey Vonn practices ... [+] with the team in New York

And thanks to Olympic champion, entrepreneur and United States SailGP Team board member Lindsey Vonn and others, the American team’s ownership group is making waves on and off the water as well.

“With my knowledge in both athletics and business, I hope I can help Mike grow the team and their partnerships, which will support them with the resources to succeed,” Vonn said after sailing with the team on the official practice day. “I’m very passionate about American sports and enhancing sports that close the gender gap. Plus, I love speed and adrenaline so when the opportunity presented itself it was a no brainer.”

With all the buzz the league has been generating lately, the SailGP looks like it’s just about to take a huge leap forward. And now that we know that Brazil will be one of two new teams to entering the league for Season 5, some intriguing questions remain still remain before the last event of the season takes place on July 13-14 in San Francisco such as…

What country will the other new team represent?

And more importantly, since 12 teams want to race next season, but only 11 F50s will be available, one of the teams from France, Canada or Spain probably won’t be starting in Season 5 unless they get funding.

Sail to Survive? Watch this space!

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Local News | State Parks adds four new rescue boats to…

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Local News | State Parks adds four new rescue boats to lifesaving fleet

But from rescue boats out in the water, lifeguards have a valuable vantage point and can quickly scoop up struggling beachgoers in trouble.

State Parks lifeguards and officials on Friday, June 28, held a christening ceremony in the Newport Harbor to welcome a fleet of four new SurfWatch boats, state-of-the-art rescue vessels that will help first responders rescue beachgoers, especially vital as the busy summer season gets underway.

The new California State Park boat, Surf Watch 8, near the dock at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024. It is one of four new lifeguarding boats that will be coming to the State Parks in Orange County. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

California State Park lifeguards applaud after Elizabeth McGuirk, Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Parks and Recreation, christened a new California State Park boat, Surf Watch 8, on the dock at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024. It is one of four new lifeguarding boats that will be coming to the State Parks in Orange County. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As Armando Quintero, left, Director, California Department of Parks and Recreation, and others look on, Elizabeth McGuirk, Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Parks and Recreation, christens a new California State Park boat, Surf Watch 8, on the dock at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024. It is one of four new lifeguarding boats that will be coming to the State Parks in Orange County. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kevin Pearsall, Superintendent Orange Coast District for California State Parks, speaks following the christening of a new California State Park boat, Surf Watch 8, on the dock at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024. The boat is one of four new lifeguarding boats that will be coming to the State Parks in Orange County. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Armando Quintero, left, Director, California Department of Parks and Recreation, toasts Elizabeth McGuirk, right, Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Parks and Recreation, after she christened a new California State Park boat, Surf Watch 8, on the dock at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024. It is one of four new lifeguarding boats that will be coming to the State Parks in Orange County. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A small crowd listens to speakers on the beach just prior to the christening of a new California State Park boat, Surf Watch 8, on the dock at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024. The boat is one of four new lifeguarding boats that will be coming to the State Parks in Orange County. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Armando Quintero, Director, California Department of Parks and Recreation, speaks prior to the christening of a new California State Park boat, Surf Watch 8, on the dock at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024. The boat is one of four new lifeguarding boats that will be coming to the State Parks in Orange County. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Elizabeth McGuirk, Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Parks and Recreation, speaks prior to christening a new California State Park boat, Surf Watch 8, on the dock at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach on Friday, June 28, 2024. The boat is one of four new lifeguarding boats that will be coming to the State Parks in Orange County. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

While only one of the new 33-foot boats was on hand during the ceremony, the others will arrive in the coming weeks and months.

Old vessels being replaced will be donated to other lifeguarding agencies. Laguna Beach lifeguards already held a celebration to welcome the first of two boats the city is receiving, dubbed Wave Watch. They are the first boats the agency has had in 30 years . The two others will go to Ventura County for training purposes.

“This new vessel we are christening today continues the 60-year tradition of State Park rescue boats that have patrolled the coastline of state beaches since 1964,” said Liz McGuirk, chief deputy director for California State Parks.

Retired State Parks lifeguard Mel Tubbs was on the job in 1964 as the first SurfWatch boat was brought online. He spoke Friday about how revolutionary it was at the time to have boats to help rescues.

“Newport (Beach) lifeguards had their boat in 1958; we’d watch their rescues being made,” said Tubbs, who retired in 1992. “Meanwhile, our lifeguards were busting their behinds. Some of those rip currents off of Huntington Beach are ferocious.”

One memorable rescue just after the agency got its first boat involved 36 people stuck in a strong rip current being scooped up during a strong swell, Tubbs said.

Though he’s been retired for more than 30 years, Tubbs said he still misses the feeling of being on the boat.

“I’d do it now if I could,” he said. “The lifeguards have a saying, ‘Once a lifeguard, always a lifeguard.’ It forever changes your life.”

Director of State Parks Armando Quintero spoke about the importance of lifeguarding and how he’s amazed at what the rescuers do on a daily basis – often unknown to the public they serve.

“If you’re a lifeguard. you’re a hero,” he said.

“The work you do inspires leaders in government, it inspires families who witness what you do and especially the families who have loved ones alive because of you,” Quintero added. “The mission you do could not be a more honorable one.”

Orange Coast State Parks Superintendent Kevin Pearsall called the bright yellow vessels “a unique symbol of lifeguarding.”

Pearsall said the effort to get the boats began in 2018, approved through legislation in a package that also included new fire engines for Hearst Castle and an airplane for Anza Borrego in an effort to modernize unique public safety tools for State Parks.

The new boats have more modern electronic equipment and surveillance that helps with sonar monitoring of underwater and tide activity. Their design was kept the same, which allows the boats to do rescues into the shoreline, a capability only a handful of vessel models have.

“It’s very unique to lifeguarding,” Pearsall said.

He said an estimated 2,500 swimmers are rescued by boats each year off just Huntington Beach and Bolsa Chica, and about 5,000 through all of the Orange Coast district.

“We’re talking about some of the most visited beaches in California,” he said. “It’s really important to have those tools available to take care of the public.”

McGuirk spoke about some of the other unique characteristics the boats feature, including a “deep v” designed to the stern that allows lifeguards to drive through surf without capsizing or sinking, and a unique ability to drive backward without danger of submersion. The boats can also pivot 360 degrees in place, have a large swim step at the back and a propeller at mid-hull to avoid injuries.

McGuirk was tasked with breaking the champagne bottle on the bow to christen the boat.

“With a bottle of champagne,” she said, “we will all wish the crew and the vessel safe passage as it embarks on its important mission to serve the public.”

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Bruce Kirby inspects the first Rondar built Sonar

Your New Sonar

New International Sonars are built to order by Rondar Raceboats in their factory in Wiltshire, England. New boats are shipped worldwide via roll-on/roll-off ships to the port nearest you. Rondar builds boats to order, and lead times are typically 60-90 days including shipping, so plan ahead!

About the Boat Builder

Rondar’s 5 decades of experience building world championship winning boats in many classes means that your new Sonar will be stiff, durable, and well finished. Most importantly, it will be ready to race to win, straight away! New Rondar Sonars have all come in under minimum weight, with a factory reinforced keel sump laminate schedule, fair bottoms & keels. A new boat eliminates concerns about fairing new keels, bottoms, or reinforcing sumps.

A new Sonar costs approximately $45,000 for boat, spars, and galvanized road trailer with brakes. For details, possible special offers or, fleet purchase options, please contact Rondar directly.

A premier builder of small sailboats since 1965, Rondar Raceboats became the builder of the International Sonar in 2015. The initial incarnation of Rondar Raceboats was launched by two keen UK sailors who wanted to support their hobby by buying their own equipment as inexpensively as possible. They had produced their own molds for the 505 class and had them built by an industrial molding company in New Milton whose owner was also a competitive sailor. The name “Rondar” was derived from the fact that they operated from Radnor Mews in London.

Sonar hull in mould

The molding company saw the potential in the racing dinghy market which was starting to boom in the 60’s and took over the original company. Through the 70s they increased the product range with the 420, Contender, Albacore, Fireball, and Europe, amongst others; and they grew to be a sizeable company building around 800 boats per year. They had numerous successes on the water and exported across the globe in a time when exporting was quite complicated compared to today. Composite construction was in its infancy, so boats were single cored polyester structures that went soft and took on weight over time. Frequent replacement undoubtedly fueled the rise in popularity of dinghy racing by providing a good supply of used boats.

Around the late 70s and very early 80s, the company was starting to struggle in another deep recession, and volumes dropped as better molding techniques were invented. The product range was rationalized down to the 505, Contender, and 420. At the same time, someone in the company developed the forerunner of the spa bath, with its applications for the elderly and the disabled, and the company took a gamble and exhibited the prototype at a major home show. They came away with a bulging order book, and a new direction in the construction industry, so the boatbuilding side was sold off to a couple of top flight 505 sailors–Peter White and Phil Milanes–who were better known at the time for being Seahorse sails and Milanes foils.

Sonar deck being moulded

Pete and Phil set-up the company in a converted farm building in Wiltshire, and persuaded several key employees from rival companies to join them. They enjoyed a number of successes with the three products they took over. The economy was doing better through the Thatcher years, and the business grew again. The global financial collapse of 1988 saw property values fall and the wealthier middle classes suffer which impacted the boatbuilding business quite severely. The original molds were now very dated and the boats, while well built, were no longer state of the art nor quite as competitive as they needed to be.

Paul Young, the current CEO, was crewing for Pete White at the time in the 505. Young was working with Racing Sailboats in London at the time, doing their boat work for pretty much all the top sailors of the day. They were the blueprint of the racing chandlery businesses that we have today. An honors graduate of Southampton University’s prestigious naval architecture program, Paul recognized the potential in Rondar and acquired the company from Pete and Phil in 1991. With the company in poor health, the immediate priority was to breathe life into the products and the 505 was the first class to be taken back to its original principles and redeveloped. This new Rondar 505 won the World Championships in 1993 and national titles in 8 different countries, and since then has won 17 of the last 21 World Championships and over 180 National titles. The 420 and Contender followed in rapid succession with World Championship successes, and the company enlarged its portfolio as time went on. The current models include the International 5o5, Squib, International Sonar, Firefly, K6, International Viper 640, and now the International 470.

Contact Rondar about a new Sonar!

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