Vicky Blog

This year's ISAF Sailing World Cup, Sail Melbourne had the perfect finale on Saturday afternoon with the Lifestyle Party. It's always one of the best events of the Cup but this one really blew the other years out of the water. It had gorgeous Mexican fashion, Melbourne's social set, beautiful ocean views and good looking sailors!

The day started off around 1pm with a special VIP event hosted by Pineda Covalin. Guests were thrilled as they set sail on some of the most beautiful, luxurious boats I've ever seen to relax and watch the racing up close.

'Glasscutter' VIP boat

Guests were treated to champagne and sushi while we cruised along the bay and watched the end of the racing. The weather was perfect, sunny with a nice breeze that kept us all wind-swept!

Once we were back on dry land, we headed up to the Lifestyle Party on the balcony, which was kicking off with the champagne flowing. Guests including Alex Fevola, radio presenter Fifi Box, Fashion Torque founders Jenny Bannister and Philip Boon and Western Bulldogs footballer Justin Sherman and his lovely wife Jackie, not to mention our Olympic sailors and even the Mexican Ambassador were all there to celebrate and have a good time.

Around 6.30pm, the crowd gathered around the black carpet as beautiful models dressed in Pineda Covalin sashayed down the runway. We saw florals, butterfly wings and prints of Frida Kahlo on silk fabrics. I wish I could have been modelling those clothes myeslf!

Singer Chloe Maggs and her band Collective Live entertained us during the fashion show and well into the night, playing the latest tunes and getting the crowd up and dancing.

Sandringham Yacht Club was the perfect venue for the event and showed off Melbourne's ability to mix sailing, fashion, music and lifestyle like no other city can.

Sailing off,

Vicky

 

Today marks the end of the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Cup, Sail Melbourne and my goodness it has been an amazing week.

We’ve seen Tom Slingsby fight his way to the top of the Laser class against British rival Nick Thompson, Perth crew Rechichi/Stowell steal the show in the Women’s 470 and the Aussie 49er crew Outteridge/Jensen fight neck and neck with Kiwi greats Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. 

49er Burling/Tuke

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit worried Tuke/Burling might beat the Aussies but it seems in the end competing in home waters really does pay off.

Jess Crisp has been fighting hard to stay on top in the Women’s RS:X windsurfing, currently sitting in 2nd place just 7 points behind British windsurfer Bryony Shaw.

RS:X Jess Crisp

Today we have the medal races, which are scheduled to begin at noon. For those of you who don’t know the technicalities, a medal race is the final race of a competition. Medal races work on a double point system, so where normally a competitor who came 1st would be given 1 point, in a medal race they would receive 2 points. If a competitor came 2nd in a medal race, they would receive 4 points and so on. And as many of you I’m sure know, the aim of the game is to come out on top with the least amount of points possible.

The 49er medal race begins at 12pm with the Men’s 470 kicking off just 15 minutes later. It’s going to be great sailing out on the bay today with wind speeds expected to hit up to 20 knots around midday.

Medal presentations are happening at 3:30pm if everything stays on schedule. My money is on Tom Slingsby to win Gold in the Laser class, Outteridge/Jensen in the 49er class and Kivell/Ryan in the Men’s 470. But with scores being so close, the competition really isn’t over yet and anything could change out on the bay.

470 Fleet

 

We’ve also got the glamorous Lifestyle Party happening today on the balcony of the yacht club, where hundreds of Melbourne’s best will join the Olympians and gold medal winners in the perfect finale to Sail Melbourne. Our fashionable friends Pineda Covalin will be showing off their latest spring and summer trends while Collective Live will be entertaining guests. I can't wait!

 

Fingers crossed everyone!

Sailing off,
Vicky

 

Our friends from Pineda Covalin have come down to join in on the action at Sail Melbourne this year.

A pair of young Mexican designers, Cristina Pineda and Ricardo Covalin, founded the Pineda Covalin Fashion House in 1996 with the business now a global fashion brand celebrating the colourful Mexican culture.

Each design is unique and draws upon distinctly Mexican influences. The designs are an invitation to experience the modern Mexico and its history, its traditions, its cultural diversity, its ethnic multiplicity and its rich imagination.

The flowing garments and richly coloured fabrics reflect the multi-coloured beauty of the desert, the sea, the jungle and all Mexican natural diversity. Even the elegant accessories have a richness of ancestral culture about them.

Pineda Covalin's fashions are sure to impress at this year's Lifestyle Party, which will be held on Saturday 12th November at Sandringham Yacht Club. And big news - Ricardo Covalin is going to be attending, all the way from Mexico!

Can't wait to see you all there.

Sailing off,
Vicky

PS. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter where I'll be providing live updates during the Cup - find me @VickyBoat