Sailing milestone: A half-century of starts for a competitor in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race

A man dressed as Santa Claus rides a boat with his dog in front of the Sydney Opera House, as part of Christmas Day celebrations for the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Dec. 25, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 25 December 2023
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Sailing milestone: A half-century of starts for a competitor in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race

  • May, with three overall titles and one line-honors win, will navigate “Antipodes” in the expected 103-boat fleet in the annual race
  • Last year, Comanche finished at Constitution Dock in one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds — the second-fastest time behind its 2017 record

SYDNEY: Lindsay May will notch a first in the 78-year history of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race when he becomes the only sailor to start it 50 times — all of them consecutively — when it begins Tuesday in Sydney harbor.

May, with three overall titles and one line-honors win, will navigate “Antipodes” in the expected 103-boat fleet in the annual race that will head down the New South Wales south coast and across often treacherous Bass Strait to the island state of Tasmania.

The finish line of the 628-nautical mile (720-mile, 1,170-kilometer) race is at Constitution Dock in the state capital of Hobart.

May’s sailing career began in 1973, when the-then 24-year-old stepped off his surf board and on to a yacht.

“I never thought I would get to 50 and I had no idea what I was in for,” May said. “I had done very little racing. Then I went sailing here on the harbor with a mate of mine who was in the navy and I was just hooked.”

In 2006, May and his crew won handicap honors as the skipper and navigator of the 33-year-old wooden vessel Love & War. But he counts his most memorable race as the one he didn’t finish.

In 1993, when only 38 out of 104 starters finished due to poor weather conditions, May plucked fellow competitor John Quinn out of the Tasman Sea. Quinn had been washed overboard and spent nearly six hours in the water.

Last year’s fast conditions appeared to put the line honors record of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes, 24 seconds, under threat. That record was set by 100-foot super maxi Andoo Comanche in 2017, and Comanche also won last year’s race.

On Sunday, skipper John Winning Jr. suggested Andoo Comanche would defend its line honors title in any conditions as the race’s weather forecast remained unpredictable.

The Bureau of Meteorology says uncertainty remained as to wind, wave and weather conditions.

The four 100-foot super maxi yachts may have to contend with stormy conditions from late Tuesday into Wednesday, with showers, gusts and hail all possible for the far south of New South Wales and Bass Strait.

“Pack another set of thermal gear. It’ll be cold,” said SHK Scallywag skipper David Witt, another of the super maxis.

The forecast has changed throughout the week, leaving crews to suggest that having an adaptable navigator on board could be a game-changer.

“For us, it’s about trusting each person’s role on the boat,” Winning said. “We back our boat in any conditions to win the race, whether it’s upwind, downwind, light wind, reaching or whatever it is.”

Last year, Comanche finished at Constitution Dock in one day, 11 hours, 56 minutes and 48 seconds — the second-fastest time behind its 2017 record.

LawConnect, runner-up for line honors in the last three Hobarts, is Comanche’s biggest threat to clinching back-to-back wins. LawConnect, formerly known as InfoTrack and Perpetual Loyal, is particularly strong upwind.

“If we could get that all the way, that’d be awesome,” said sailing master Tony Mutter.

Super maxi LawConnect won’t shy away from the rough conditions that could come with a predicted low pressure system.

“We actually prefer it, the more tactical it is, the better for us, we feel,” Mutter said. “We kind of need that to be a thing for us to have a chance to win.”


Mbappe returns to Real Madrid training at Club World Cup

Updated 58 min 7 sec ago
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Mbappe returns to Real Madrid training at Club World Cup

  • The French superstar was taken to hospital last Thursday
  • Alonso said: “He is doing better, he is recovering“

PHILADELPHIA: Kylian Mbappe returned to training on Wednesday after missing Real Madrid’s first two matches at the Club World Cup in the United States due to illness, the Spanish giants confirmed to AFP.

The French superstar was taken to hospital last Thursday for tests and treatment after suffering gastroenteritis, before later being released.

He played no part in Real’s opening game at the tournament, a 1-1 draw with Saudi side Al-Hilal in Miami, or the 3-1 defeat of Mexico’s Pachuca at the weekend.

Coach Xabi Alonso did indicate after the latter game that Mbappe was on the mend, saying: “He is doing better, he is recovering.”

Real posted images of Mbappe in training on Wednesday on their website, as the squad worked out at their Florida base before traveling north in the afternoon to Philadelphia.

That is where Madrid will take on Red Bull Salzburg of Austria on Thursday in their last Group H match and will be looking for a victory which will confirm their progress to the last 16 in first place in the section.

A draw can also take them through to the next round, with Manchester City and Juventus the possible opponents in the last 16.

Mbappe has scored 43 goals in 56 appearances since joining Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain
last year.

His last game was for France in a 2-0 win away to Germany in the UEFA Nations League on June 8.


PFL Africa stars Juliet Ukah and Ceileigh Niedermayr train in front of fans at open workout

Updated 25 June 2025
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PFL Africa stars Juliet Ukah and Ceileigh Niedermayr train in front of fans at open workout

  • Fighters showcase their skills during public training session ahead of their bout at the opening event of the inaugural PFL Africa season on July 19 in Cape Town
  • ‘We’re going to be representing the two biggest MMA nations in Africa, and we want to help put African MMA in the global spotlight,’ Ukah says

KINSHASA: As the countdown continues to the start of the inaugural season of PFL Africa on July 19, Professional Fighters League stars Juliet Ukah from Nigeria and Ceileigh Niedermayr from South Africa took part in an open workout on Wednesday.

The fighters, who will face off in a Showcase Women’s Strawweight Bout during the PFL Africa opener at the Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town next month, showcased their skills for fans and media at the public training session, which took place at the Champions Academy RDC Gym in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“I’m very happy to be on the first PFL Africa card and my fight with Ceileigh is going to be an exciting one,” said Ukah. “We’re going to be representing the two biggest MMA nations in Africa and we want to help put African MMA in the global spotlight.

“Compared to her, I think I’m the more experienced fighter and the better striker, so I’m comfortable wherever the fight goes.”

She added that expects to get the finish but would not mind if the fight went to a third round if needed.

Niedermayr said: “It’s truly an honor to be part of the first-ever women’s fight in PFL Africa. This fight camp isn’t just about preparing for my next opponent, it’s a reflection of my lifelong dedication to martial arts.

“On fight night, I’m bringing a new level of ‘Smiley Savagery’ to the SmartCage,” she added, referring to her professional nickname. “I have a lot of respect for Juliet as a fighter and I welcome the chance to test myself against her.”

She said she has never faced anyone like Ukah and expects an “exciting, high-level battle and I’m ready for it.”

The historic PFL Cape Town event will mark the start of the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament and feature first-round matchups in the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions.

The headline bouts include five must-see PFL Champions Series clashes, including a Middleweight World Championship main event in which titleholder Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (with a record of 16-0) will take on challenger Costello “The Spaniard” van Steenis (16-3). Tickets for the event are available from Ticketpro.


German Court fines FA over 2026 World Cup-related payment

Updated 25 June 2025
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German Court fines FA over 2026 World Cup-related payment

  • The DFB said it took note of Frankfurt Regional Court’s decision on Wednesday
  • An appeal was possible but it would first study the written verdict once published

FRANKFURT: A German Court on Wednesday fined the German Football Association (DFB) just over 100,000 euros in relation to a World Cup 2006-related payment which had been at the heart of a years-long scandal that tarnished the reputation of the tournament.

The DFB said it took note of Frankfurt Regional Court’s decision on Wednesday, adding that an appeal was possible but it would first study the written verdict once published.

The case regarding a payment of 6.7 million euros ($7.8 million) made two decades ago damaged the image of the global showpiece event held in Germany.

At the heart of the case that dragged through the legal system and involved several other separate investigations is the payment linked to a 2006 World Cup-related event that never took place.

The tax return included a 6.7 million euro payment from the DFB to world soccer’s governing body FIFA for the 2006 World Cup, although the funds were actually used for another purpose and should not have been offset against tax, prosecutors had said.

“According to the ruling, the court assumes that the DFB fully declared and taxed its income from the 2006 World Cup. However, it believes that the 6.7 million euros should have been deducted for tax purposes in 2002, not in 2006,” the DFB said in a statement.

“The Regional Court imposed a fine of 130,000 euros on the DFB because it ruled in isolation on the year 2006 and did not take into account the excessive tax paid for 2002,” the DFB said.

“The DFB only has to pay 110,000 euros because the court deducted 20,000 euros due to the excessive length of the proceedings.

In April, the same court had discharged former DFB President Theo Zwanziger after ordering him to pay a 10,000-euro fine.

The payment in question had triggered investigations over allegations it had been used as a slush fund to buy votes in favor of Germany’s bid to host the 2006 tournament.

A DFB-commissioned investigation in 2016 had said the sum was the return of a loan via FIFA from former Adidas chief Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

The German tax office ordered the DFB in 2017 to pay more than 20 million euros in back taxes related to the year 2006.

The tournament was nicknamed the “summer fairytale” because of the home team’s run to the semifinals, and the sold-out stadiums and outdoor viewing areas across the country which attracted hundreds of thousands of fans.


Players and fans at the Club World Cup are coping with high temperatures as a heat wave hits US

Updated 25 June 2025
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Players and fans at the Club World Cup are coping with high temperatures as a heat wave hits US

  • The gruelling conditions could also be a preview of what’s to come next summer when the United States, Canada and Mexico host soccer’s premier event, the 2026 World Cup
  • A “heat dome” of high pressure has settled in over the central and eastern US

TEXAS: Substitutes who watch from the locker room, abandoned practice sessions and sweat-soaked jerseys. A heat wave hitting a wide swath of the country is taking a toll on players at the FIFA Club World Cup.

The gruelling conditions could also be a preview of what’s to come next summer when the United States, Canada and Mexico host soccer’s premier event, the 2026 World Cup.

“It’s impossible, it’s terribly hot. My toes were sore, even my toenails were hurting, I couldn’t stop or start. In the end, it’s incredible, but since it’s the same for everyone, there’s no excuse,” Atlético’s Marcos Llorente said following a match against Paris Saint-Germain.

A “heat dome” of high pressure has settled in over the central and eastern United States, sending temperatures soaring into the 90s in Fahrenheit and above in many areas.

That’s rough on both Club World Cup players and fans, who can potentially experience dehydration and cramps, or more serious conditions like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“In Europe it’s more of a dry heat and this is more of a humid heat. I think it’s going to hit them twice as hard,” fan Tyler Fernando said before Bayern Munich’s match against Benfica on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the temperature was 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius) at game time.

Those at the Auckland City match against Boca Juniors in Nashville on Tuesday braved temperatures in the upper 90s. Male spectators went shirtless and fans sought sections where there was shade.

Heat is of particular concern during big tournaments like the Club World Cup because the players don’t have much time off to recover between games. And in the group stages, matches are usually staggered each day, meaning some teams play in the midday sun.

Chelsea cut short a practice session in Philadelphia, where temperatures reached the 90s.

“I always try to avoid excuse, I always try to be honest. It’s not about excuses, it’s about reality. It’s an excuse when it’s not hot, and we say it’s hot. That’s an excuse. But if it’s hot, it’s hot. But we are here, and we’re trying to do our best,” Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said.

During a match between Borussia Dortmund and the Mamelodi Sundowns, Dortmund posted on social media: “Our subs watched the first half from inside the locker room to avoid the blazing sun at TQL Stadium — never seen that before, but in this heat, it absolutely makes sense.”

“We always think about how we can help the team, how we can minimize a negative influence. And it was just very, very hot. We had cooling sticks in order to cool the players down. We had them waiting in the dressing room with the air conditioning,” Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said through an interpreter. “This was very important for all of us. It’s not only about tactics, but it’s also about minimizing the load, minimizing the stress. The stress is already high enough.”

FIFA guidelines mandate breaks when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature — a composite of factors including temperature and humidity — reaches 89.6 degrees. The breaks usually occur around the 30th and 75th minutes.

Cooling breaks were initially used at the 2008 Olympic final between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Nigeria at Beijing’s National Stadium, where the on-field temperature reached 107 degrees.

But at the time, such breaks were rare. They became more commonplace following the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where a Brazilian labor court ordered hydration breaks when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature reached 89.6 degrees.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue went to social media to urge Club World Cup fans to exercise caution in the heat before Inter Miami’s match against Palmeiras on Monday night, and Chelsea posted “heat mitigation” guidelines on their official website before the Blues’ match against Esperance on Tuesday.

It’s not just high temperatures that can impact summer tournaments: Five Club World Cup matches have been delayed by thunderstorms.

The climate is going to be an increasing issue for FIFA as global temperatures rise. Sixteen cities will host World Cup games next year. Five of the stadiums that will be used have roofs to provide some sun protection.

At Mexico’s venues, Mexico City and Guadalajara could be impacted by the summer’s hurricane season, and in Monterrey, summer temperatures average in the 90s.

After the 2026 World Cup, the 2030 edition will be held in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal. And the problem isn’t just on the men’s side: The 2027 Women’s World Cup is set to be played in Brazil.

Peter Crisp from Fossil Free Football said: “Scheduling matches in no-shade stadiums in the middle of the day and promoting oil-dependent sponsors shows FIFA is dangerously out of touch with the threat extreme heat poses to its major summer tournaments.”


Pico and Evloev set to collide in potential UFC title eliminator in Abu Dhabi

Updated 25 June 2025
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Pico and Evloev set to collide in potential UFC title eliminator in Abu Dhabi

  • Pico, making his UFC debut, will be gunning for undefeated contender Evloev in their featherweight bout on July 26 at Etihad Arena
  • Their fight is part of a stacked card headlined by former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, who faces highly-rated Reinier de Ridder

ABU DHABI: Aaron Pico’s UFC era officially begins on July 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The American will take on undefeated contender Movsar Evloev in a five-round, must-watch featherweight showdown with serious title-shot implications, as he makes his eagerly anticipated UFC debut as part of a bumper Fight Night lineup.

The longtime MMA featherweight standout was a high-profile, free-agent UFC signing in April this year and there will be no soft entry into the franchise for him; he is diving straight into the deep end against a man whose shot at the featherweight crown is overdue in the eyes of many.

Pico, 28, is clearly taking the match-up against 31-year-old Evloev, who is riding high on a nine-fight winning streak since his UFC debut in 2019, very seriously and appears exceptionally well prepared and in phenomenal shape.

Evloev, meanwhile, has quietly dismantled some of the featherweight division’s biggest and toughest names, including Arnold Allen, Diego Lopes, Dan Ige and, most recently, former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.

Pico is known for his devastating knockout power, with 11 of his 13 career wins the result of a stoppage. Evloev is a master technician, renowned for relentless pressure and precision. While their bout is billed as a classic striker versus grinder matchup, both fighters have evolved in recent bouts, suggesting this could develop into a much more tactical battle than might be expected.

A win for Pico would immediately shake up the UFC featherweight division, while a triumph for Evloev would surely secure the long-awaited title shot he deserves.

With just a month to go until their showdown, the stakes could not be higher: Pico vs. Evloev is not simply a co-main event, it is a potential springboard to superstardom. As such it is one fight that simply must not be missed.

The fight is part of a stacked card headlined by former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, who faces highly-rated Dutch standout Reinier de Ridder. Meanwhile, former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan aims to extend his winning streak to three, but heavy-handed foe Marcus McGhee stands in his way in their three-round clash.