
Pip Hare joins Canada Ocean Racing's charge with new foiling weapon
The seven-team race begins Aug. 10 in Kiel, Germany, with stops across Europe before finishing in Montenegro on Sept. 21, serving as a precursor to the full round-the-world race in 2027.
Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer will lead the four-person crew, which regulations stipulate must include at least one female sailor and represent two nationalities.
Hare, who gained prominence during the 2020-21 Vendee Globe and recently managed a dismasting in the 2024-25 edition, joins at a pivotal moment as the team acquires their new vessel.
"Pip is a ruthless competitor with a huge heart," said Shawyer. "She brings a rare mix of tenacity, experience, and humanity to the team. Her ability to dig deep and lead through action will be a huge asset to us."
The partnership strengthens Shawyer's campaign toward the 2028-29 Vendee Globe while offering Hare a shift from solo sailing.
"Having been fully focused on solo sailing for the last four years, it's going to be a great change of pace to join a team and bring my own experience to a more powerful force," said Hare. "We're expecting diverse conditions and relentless competition across the different legs.
"Scott has bought a boat with incredible pedigree, and I'm looking forward to working with the Canada Ocean Racing team to unlock its full potential on the race track."
The Ocean Race Europe is a multi-stage offshore sailing competition held between European ports, designed to showcase elite ocean racing talent and promote sustainability and innovation in marine sport.
It is a sister event to The Ocean Race — formerly the Volvo Ocean Race — a gruelling round-the-world team sailing challenge held every few years since 1973, widely regarded as one of the toughest tests in sport.
Foiling IMOCA yachts are cutting-edge, high-performance monohull sailing boats designed for solo or crewed ocean racing. Equipped with large, curved hydrofoil arms that lift the hull partially out of the water at speed, the 60-foot vessels dramatically reduce drag and achieve faster, more efficient sailing.
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North Wales Live
7 minutes ago
- North Wales Live
Shoppers spot hack to get 60% off 'fabulous' £36 afternoon tea for two
Afternoon Tea Week is the perfect occasion to indulge in a quintessential afternoon tea for two. Just in time, tea enthusiasts can relish sweet and savoury delights in a snug British pub or bar at a discounted price thanks to a money saving deal stack. Afternoon Tea Week, which has been running all week nationwide, encourages everyone to partake in Britain's favourite indulgence – a pot of tea accompanied by delicate sandwiches, fluffy scones and irresistible pastries. Originating in the 19th century, the humble 'high' tea is a tradition that blends elegance with indulgence that is perfect at any time of year. Coinciding with the event, Buyagift is currently offering a tempting deal giving afternoon tea for two for £35.99. However, savvy shoppers who register with a money saving website can enjoy the experience for less than £10 per person. TopCashback is giving a free £15 bonus to all new members upon signing up, followed by a percentage back on all qualifying purchases from thousands of retailers. For new members of TopCashback and all customers of Buyagift, the price is slashed to £14.39 - that's just £7.20 per person. Existing customers can also save money, with the deal reduced to £29.39 after cashback. Diners should act quickly though as the offer runs until 23:59 on 18th August. With a wide array of venues across the UK – including popular chains like Slug and Lettuce – there are 118 locations to cater to every preference, whether you're drawn to the cosy charm of a rustic countryside inn or the lively atmosphere of a city hotspot. Afternoon tea is on offer all year round, available any day of the week or from Sunday to Thursday at Slug and Lettuce, excluding Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. Each reservation allows guests two hours to savour their tea, and any dietary needs should be mentioned at the time of booking. This deal isn't the only way to indulge in afternoon tea throughout the year, with some offers allowing you to enjoy it from the comfort of your own home. Artisan bakery Cutter and Squidge provides an afternoon tea home delivery service starting at £29.99, which includes a picnic-ready set that's perfect for enjoying outdoors on a sunny day. For those who favour biscuits over cakes, luxury hamper experts Cartwright and Butler have introduced a £20 afternoon tea selection, overflowing with decadent biscuits and presented in a beautifully designed, keepsake tin. Meanwhile, home bakers seeking fresh inspiration - or a unique gift - can grab Wonderbly's newly launched illustrated personalised baking book brimming with recipes for scrumptious treats. An excellent choice for home bakers, each book contains tantalising (and unique) cake recipes and one very special bespoke recipe. But if you'd rather just eat cake at home rather than eat cake at home, a high street favourite has got your covered. Renowned for their premium nibbles, M&S also provides a delightful Afternoon Tea Letterbox Gift featuring an assortment of cakes, biscuits and tea bags, perfect for creating something truly special at home. Whilst the Buyagift website hasn't yet received any reviews for this afternoon tea offer, several shoppers have posted their opinions on the Virgin Experience website. One patron commented: "Fabulous afternoon tea which was delicious. The staff were amazing which made the experience even better. Highly recommend The Slug and Lettuce Oxford." Another customer remarked: "All amazing! Table was ready for us when we arrived, the food was excellent and very good service." A third visitor concurred, noting: "We had a warm welcome, friendly staff lovely atmosphere and a very tasty afternoon tea." Not every guest was entirely satisfied though. One disheartened diner posted a three-star review stating: "Limited on hot drinks due to coffee machine broken. Sandwiches were not the best." On the whole, most visitors relished their Afternoon Tea at the Slug and Lettuce, making the cashback offer with TopCashback even more appealing. Another five-star review concluded by saying: "Very enjoyable. The whole of the afternoon was a great time with great food and drink." How to secure the afternoon tea for less than £15 with TopCashback: Sign up as a new member at TopCashback for free via this link. Search for Buyagift on the site, click through and buy the item normally. Get £15 cashback when you spend £15 or more. The cashback will be tracked to the TopCashback 'Earnings page' within seven days of purchase.

The National
29 minutes ago
- The National
Dave Brailsford was seen as a messiah. Then came the fall from grace
His methods were lauded as being the gold standard of sports' coaching and management. The term 'marginal gains' seeped into the day-to-day lexicon across the sporting world. Sports teams not just the length-and-breadth of the UK but globally, began trying to mimic the Englishman's approach. Behemoths in the sporting world were knocking down Brailsford's door in an attempt to capture just a little bit of his magic for themselves. Brailsford became Sir Dave. Team Sky, at which Brailsford was at the helm, kick-started a revolution in cycling in this country due, in no small part, by the fact it produced, in Bradley Wiggins, Britain's first-ever winner of the Tour de France. And Team Sky, led by Brailsford, was seen as a major player in changing the face of cycling internationally. No longer was it a drug-fuelled battle of the pharmacists; instead, this was a clean, doping-free era of the sport. Brailsford could, it seemed, do no wrong. It's little wonder he was seen like this - six Tour de France titles in seven years for Team Sky riders (Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas followed Wiggins into the yellow jersey and onto the top step of the podium on the Champs Élysées) and 16 Olympic gold medals over only two Games made British cycling the toast of the sporting world. What a difference, then, a decade can make. Brailsford (l) had great success with Chris Froome (r) at the Tour de France (Image: Bryn Lennon/ Getty Images) When one flies as high as Brailsford did, there's always the risk of falling back to earth with an almighty bang. And this is exactly what's happened. Brailsford, and Team Sky, are no longer seen as 'perfect'. Indeed, the list of negative stories associated with Team Sky as a whole, and specifically surrounding Brailsford, is growing with every passing moment, and it's a list that's becoming impossible to ignore. First there's the 'jiffy bag' story, which dates all the way back to 2011. Apparently, a jiffy bag of substances was delivered from the UK to France, with the contents to be passed to Team Sky's golden boy at the time, Bradley Wiggins. All at Team Sky, including Brailsford himself, claimed the substance inside the jiffy bag was entirely legal but a decade-and-a-half on, we still don't definitively know what was in there. Then came the stories of the use of Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) forms for Team Sky's top riders, which gave them a medical exemption to take substances that would otherwise be prohibited. It seemed, rather than genuine medical issues, Team Sky's medical team was cynically exploiting TUEs for their own gains. It was around this time that a parliamentary select committee accused Team Sky of 'crossing an ethical line'. There's the dishing out of the pain medication Tramadol, which was subsequently banned, and there's the four-year suspension of former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor, Richard Freeman, for violating anti-doping rules. The latest revelation about Team Sky, which was rebranded Team Ineos in 2019 and is now Ineos Grenadiers, is equally unflattering. During this year's Tour de France, at which Ineos Grenadiers finished sixth in the team standings and their best rider, Thymen Arensman, was 12th overall, yet another hugely damaging story about Team Sky emerged. David Rozman, a long-time member of the team in his role as team 'carer' (which means he gives massages and carries out other support duties) was forced to leave France mid-race after allegations were made by German TV station ARD that, in 2012, he exchanged messages with the notorious German doping doctor, Mark Schmidt, who has since been convicted of leading a sophisticated doping ring involving multiple cyclists and skiers. One of the messages Rozman sent to Schmidt just weeks before the 2012 Tour said: 'Do you still have any of the stuff that Milram [Schmidt's disgraced former team] used during the races? If so, can you bring it for the boys?' Of course, this in itself isn't proof that anything nefarious was going on. But still, it's not a great look. And it's just the latest nail in the reputational coffin of Brailsford and Team Sky. Brailsford had, in recent years, gradually moved away from cycling. After Jim Ratcliffe (the founder of Ineos) invested in Manchester United, he brought Brailsford in as director of sport but the Englishman was less than convincing in that role and after an underwhelming season this year, quietly left that position just weeks ago. Which was, incidentally, just prior to it emerging that the now-disgraced Rozman worked, for a short time, at Manchester United. Brailsford alongside Jim Ratcliffe (l) It's not the departure Brailsford would have envisaged. So how has Brailsford gone from being seen as a cycling messiah to what he is now, a hugely tainted and far from universally admired figure? It seems that although Team Sky achieved many admirable things, they just might not have been quite as squeaky-clean as Brailsford would have had us all believe. We all fell hook, line and sinker for the marginal gains theory when, in fact, taking a step back, it becomes clear that bringing your own pillows to a race isn't going to make quite the difference we were led to believe it would. Brailsford isn't an instantly likeable individual, either. I never quite took to him, although he certainly had an aura. I remember seeing him walking around the Athletes' Village at the London 2012 Olympics - which came just as Brailsford was beginning to achieve superstar status - and the arrogance was almost palpable. Certainly, Brailsford's apparent cockiness was not unfounded. He was widely hailed as one of sport's great thinkers and was being treated as a celebrity in exactly the same manner the athletes were. But he also obviously revelled in being treated as a sporting superstar when it's now widely acknowledged that he is far from a cycling expert. Brailsford is 61 now. Following his departure from Manchester United - he's remains a director but has stepped back from day-to-day duties - he has reportedly returned to his first love, cycling, where he will return to a hands-on role at Ineos Grenadiers. He may well have further success now he's back in cycling, although it's hugely unlikely he ever scales the same heights either results-wise, or reputation-wise, that he managed a decade-or-so ago. Whatever happens, Brailsford's reputation is tarnished, and pretty seriously in many people's eyes. It's always the danger, isn't it, of building yourself up to being perfect. Sooner or later, you'll be found out not to be.


The Herald Scotland
32 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Dave Brailsford was seen as a messiah. Then came the fall from grace
The term 'marginal gains' seeped into the day-to-day lexicon across the sporting world. Sports teams not just the length-and-breadth of the UK but globally, began trying to mimic the Englishman's approach. Behemoths in the sporting world were knocking down Brailsford's door in an attempt to capture just a little bit of his magic for themselves. Brailsford became Sir Dave. Team Sky, at which Brailsford was at the helm, kick-started a revolution in cycling in this country due, in no small part, by the fact it produced, in Bradley Wiggins, Britain's first-ever winner of the Tour de France. And Team Sky, led by Brailsford, was seen as a major player in changing the face of cycling internationally. No longer was it a drug-fuelled battle of the pharmacists; instead, this was a clean, doping-free era of the sport. Brailsford could, it seemed, do no wrong. It's little wonder he was seen like this - six Tour de France titles in seven years for Team Sky riders (Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas followed Wiggins into the yellow jersey and onto the top step of the podium on the Champs Élysées) and 16 Olympic gold medals over only two Games made British cycling the toast of the sporting world. What a difference, then, a decade can make. Brailsford (l) had great success with Chris Froome (r) at the Tour de France (Image: Bryn Lennon/ Getty Images) When one flies as high as Brailsford did, there's always the risk of falling back to earth with an almighty bang. And this is exactly what's happened. Brailsford, and Team Sky, are no longer seen as 'perfect'. Indeed, the list of negative stories associated with Team Sky as a whole, and specifically surrounding Brailsford, is growing with every passing moment, and it's a list that's becoming impossible to ignore. First there's the 'jiffy bag' story, which dates all the way back to 2011. Apparently, a jiffy bag of substances was delivered from the UK to France, with the contents to be passed to Team Sky's golden boy at the time, Bradley Wiggins. All at Team Sky, including Brailsford himself, claimed the substance inside the jiffy bag was entirely legal but a decade-and-a-half on, we still don't definitively know what was in there. Then came the stories of the use of Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) forms for Team Sky's top riders, which gave them a medical exemption to take substances that would otherwise be prohibited. It seemed, rather than genuine medical issues, Team Sky's medical team was cynically exploiting TUEs for their own gains. It was around this time that a parliamentary select committee accused Team Sky of 'crossing an ethical line'. There's the dishing out of the pain medication Tramadol, which was subsequently banned, and there's the four-year suspension of former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor, Richard Freeman, for violating anti-doping rules. The latest revelation about Team Sky, which was rebranded Team Ineos in 2019 and is now Ineos Grenadiers, is equally unflattering. During this year's Tour de France, at which Ineos Grenadiers finished sixth in the team standings and their best rider, Thymen Arensman, was 12th overall, yet another hugely damaging story about Team Sky emerged. David Rozman, a long-time member of the team in his role as team 'carer' (which means he gives massages and carries out other support duties) was forced to leave France mid-race after allegations were made by German TV station ARD that, in 2012, he exchanged messages with the notorious German doping doctor, Mark Schmidt, who has since been convicted of leading a sophisticated doping ring involving multiple cyclists and skiers. One of the messages Rozman sent to Schmidt just weeks before the 2012 Tour said: 'Do you still have any of the stuff that Milram [Schmidt's disgraced former team] used during the races? If so, can you bring it for the boys?' Of course, this in itself isn't proof that anything nefarious was going on. But still, it's not a great look. And it's just the latest nail in the reputational coffin of Brailsford and Team Sky. Brailsford had, in recent years, gradually moved away from cycling. After Jim Ratcliffe (the founder of Ineos) invested in Manchester United, he brought Brailsford in as director of sport but the Englishman was less than convincing in that role and after an underwhelming season this year, quietly left that position just weeks ago. Which was, incidentally, just prior to it emerging that the now-disgraced Rozman worked, for a short time, at Manchester United. Brailsford alongside Jim Ratcliffe (l) It's not the departure Brailsford would have envisaged. So how has Brailsford gone from being seen as a cycling messiah to what he is now, a hugely tainted and far from universally admired figure? It seems that although Team Sky achieved many admirable things, they just might not have been quite as squeaky-clean as Brailsford would have had us all believe. We all fell hook, line and sinker for the marginal gains theory when, in fact, taking a step back, it becomes clear that bringing your own pillows to a race isn't going to make quite the difference we were led to believe it would. Brailsford isn't an instantly likeable individual, either. I never quite took to him, although he certainly had an aura. I remember seeing him walking around the Athletes' Village at the London 2012 Olympics - which came just as Brailsford was beginning to achieve superstar status - and the arrogance was almost palpable. Certainly, Brailsford's apparent cockiness was not unfounded. He was widely hailed as one of sport's great thinkers and was being treated as a celebrity in exactly the same manner the athletes were. But he also obviously revelled in being treated as a sporting superstar when it's now widely acknowledged that he is far from a cycling expert. Brailsford is 61 now. Following his departure from Manchester United - he's remains a director but has stepped back from day-to-day duties - he has reportedly returned to his first love, cycling, where he will return to a hands-on role at Ineos Grenadiers. He may well have further success now he's back in cycling, although it's hugely unlikely he ever scales the same heights either results-wise, or reputation-wise, that he managed a decade-or-so ago. Whatever happens, Brailsford's reputation is tarnished, and pretty seriously in many people's eyes. It's always the danger, isn't it, of building yourself up to being perfect. Sooner or later, you'll be found out not to be.