BWR: HUGO BOSS Live Video Conference, 7th April

Wouter Verbraak contemplates his shave (VERY seriously!) using the back of a spoon as a mirror. Image copyright Alex Thomson Racing.

Video of live video conference with Wouter Verbraak (NED) on the left, and Andy Meiklejohn (NZL)

Andy Meiklejohn's response saying that he had been asked a leading question was, we understand, in reply to having been asked HUGO BOSS's likely ETA in Barcelona!

Barcelona World Race

BWR: Neutrogena passes through the Gibraltar Straits

Flying fish for lunch:


Boris Herrmann Racing
Breymaier Sailing
Barcelona World Race

TeamVodafoneSailing: Back in Business!

TeamVodafoneSailing

America's Cup: America’s Cup Teams Get Jump Start with Shared Design Programme

Innovative approach reduces technology development costs for teams


AC72 mock-up. Image copyright America's Cup.

by Stephanie Martin

For the first time ever in the America’s Cup, a shared design program is being offered to the entered teams to jump-start designs of the fast, high-tech AC72s, the new wing-sailed catamarans to be launched next year.

With the surge of new teams that just entered the 34th America’s Cup, the 15 teams that met last week’s entry deadline now have the opportunity to share in an initial design package from an international team of proven industry leaders.

“We gave the design and research team a simple brief: give us your best shot at a winning design,” said Iain Murray, America’s Cup Race Management CEO and Regatta Director. ACRM developed the concept and sourced international design and technology leaders to start designing a package for the new wing-sailed AC72.

“This solution is being offered to close the gap on the front-runners, and provide all teams, large and small, the opportunity to be competitive within the time remaining before racing starts in the new AC72 catamarans next year,” Murray said. “Technology is a critical piece of a Cup-winning program and we want to ensure teams have access to the right people and the latest tools to design a fast boat while still managing their costs.”

The ACRM AC 72 will be comprised of a platform designed by high-performance multihull design leaders VPLP of France and a wing and sail package designed by the North Technology Group (NTG), a global company headquartered in the USA. Both VPLP and NTG have assembled an international team of their top talent across all areas of the design and structures spectrum. The project will be coordinated for ACRM by Andy Claughton. Michel Marie is ACRM’s technical consultant for VPLP and NTG.

The package will meet a wide range of requirements, from a “turn key” package for the first time entrant, to a baseline design that a competitor can develop once their own design team is established.

“The concept still allows for creative input from competitors, preserving the basic principles inherent in the Cup allowing for competition in both the technology arena as well as sailing skill,” Murray said. “It simply short-cuts the time needed on the front-end design work, provides some of the world’s best thinking on this new Cup design challenge, and reduces the investment needed to develop a yacht capable of winning the 34th America’s Cup.”

The ACRM design team includes:

VPLP – Platform Design

Vincent Lauriot Prévost

Xavier Guilbaud
Yannick d'Armancourt
Philibert Chenais
Simon Watin

HDS – Structures

Herve Devaux
Aurélien Miller
Sebastien Guého

GP Performance

Giorgio Provicialli
Charles Simonin

Yacht Research Unit Kiel @ Univ. Applied Sciences Kiel -- CFD/ Flow Analysis

Kai Graf
Hannes Renzsch
Christoph Böhm

North Technology Group – Wing

Michael Richelsen
Dan Neri
Mike Schreiber
Wayne Smith (Southern Spars)
Pete Lawson (Southern Spars)

ACRM

Andy Claughton
Michel Marie

America's Cup

Sam Goodchild Awarded First Artemis Solo Scholarship in UK

by Artemis Ocean Racing media

Twenty-one-year-old Sam Goodchild from Southampton has been awarded the first Artemis Offshore Academy Scholarship to help him forge a competitive solo offshore racing career. Goodchild has now been given a significant boost to follow in the footsteps of Britain’s most well-known and successful solo sailors, such as, Dame Ellen MacArthur, Mike Golding, Samantha Davies and Dee Caffari.

As part of the year round training the Artemis Offshore Academy is providing to future British solo stars, there are two Scholarships awarded each year. One for the Mini-Transat and one for ‘La Solitaire du Figaro’ – considered the French pinnacle solo event that both the ‘rookies’ and round the world veterans come back to each year. This Scholarship is designed to give an additional boost to the chosen candidate, providing a fully funded season in a race-prepared Figaro, culminating in the 1695-mile solo challenge in August.

“It’s amazing to get this Scholarship for the Artemis Offshore Academy, it’s everything I could possibly want as a step forward to the Vendée Globe start line, whenever that may be. I am really excited about what there is to come,” said a jubilant Goodchild on hearing the news. “My sailing dream has been to do a Vendée Globe, and the aim of the Artemis Offshore Academy is to make sure that when a British sailor does the Vendée Globe they have the best chance of getting a respectable result. To be the first Brit to win the Vendée Globe would be amazing, Ellen MacArthur came second, which was amazing in itself, but it does leave the door open for there to be a first British winner. I am definitely aiming for that spot in the years to come.”

The Artemis Offshore Academy was created in June 2010 to provide a UK training programme of excellence for British short-handed sailors, providing a structure to bring talented sailors up through the ranks. Designed to help them win major offshore solo and short-handed races in the future, the ultimate goal is to put a British sailor in a strong position to win the Vendée Globe in 2020.

Sam Goodchild successfully joined the Artemis Offshore Academy Development Squad after impressing the judges at the first Selection Trials last September. The nine Development Squad members, that included double Olympic medalist Simon Hiscocks, UK Match Racing champion Nick Cherry, Route de Rhum winner Phil Sharp, have been on an intensive training programme based at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) and at the Centre d’Entrainement Mediterranée (CEM), La Grande Motte based Figaro School (south of France).

The sailors spent long hours training on the water in the five Artemis Figaro boats, and in the classrooms of the CEM, where they specialise in meteorology and race strategy. The squad also worked hard on their fitness, critical to the success of a short-handed sailor, who get little sleep when racing solo.

To qualify for the Scholarship the squad had to fulfil a set of pre-qualification criteria that included:

- A pre-set fitness level
- RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence
- Submit a sponsorship proposal
- Understand basic French to understand weather reports and submit a position report from the water
- Complete a minimum 30-hour solo passage
- Attend a minimum of 75% of the training programme
- Actively participate in social media and providing media content
- Compete in a series of indicator races

The indicator races were staged in February and March this year covering inshore, coastal and offshore courses, the longest being 250 miles offshore.

The process of selecting the Scholarship winner was not an easy one as Rod Carr, ex-CEO of the Royal Yachting Association who sits on the Academy Advisory Board, explained: “Each squad member had their own strengths and weaknesses and the final decision was a very tough one between three squad members. Sam met all the criteria and was strong enough in all of the areas for us to believe that he will be a strong competitor and embodies the ‘spirit’ to be a great solo sailor. He is a very talented young sailor and highly regarded by the French coaches as a talent for the future. He has proven himself capable of winning and, ultimately, had the right attitude that we believe will take him far.”

It was the Artemis Offshore Academy Advisory Board who sat down to make the final decision: “We were looking for a whole range of abilities, and we were looking at the long-term as well as the need for a well-rounded sailor with potential. Sam has grown up on boats, he has done numerous trans-atlantics and sailed the Pacific. He is very competitive and has raced in the Match Racing Youth Championships and was Youth Match Racing Champion. There was no doubt that he will be able to compete at a higher level,” commented John Thorn, Performance Director at the Academy.

Born in Bristol in 1989, Sam was just two weeks old when he began life at sea, living with his family on a boat in the Caribbean for eight years. He returned to the UK in 1998-99 to attend school in Falmouth before returning to Grenada to live for another five years. The big hurricane of 2005 resulted in Sam returning once again to the UK to attend boarding school in Oxford until 2008 and since then he has been traveling and working for sailing teams, returning to his base in Southampton.

Mike Golding, who has competed in the solo Vendée Globe three times, commented: “I have known Sam for some time now, previously he worked with Mike Golding Yacht Racing during our preparations for the Vendée Globe in 2008 with Ecover so we know him well. It is a great pleasure to now see him selected for the Scholarship. We have tracked his and all the candidates progress and development throughout the Academy training and race events with real interest, Sam’s performance has been exemplary especially when one considers the quality and experience of the other candidates. He is exactly the sort of individual who in years to come could provide the UK with a significant British challenger for the Vendée Globe and the IMOCA World Championship. I will be following his future development with interest”.

Sam will join Development Squad member, Nigel King, and Associate Sailor, Conrad Humphreys, who have both secured funding to campaign their own Figaro boats on the circuit this year, for an intensive training programme in preparation for the Solitaire du Figaro. This trio, supported by the Academy, will be the only Brits competing in the Solitaire du Figaro – considered to be a ‘rite of passage’ on the road to the Vendée Globe.

The remaining members of the Development Squad will continue to train and take part in a series of races throughout 2011, including the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Figaro Tour du Bretagne in September. The Development Squad members and the Artemis Figaro fleet are returning to the UK in May to begin that programme: “The Artemis Offshore Academy is not just about one winner each year. It’s about is laying the foundations and developing British solo sailing talent. So the work of the Academy continues for 2011 and beyond,” concluded Thorn.

The second round of Selection Trials for new young hopefuls will be held in September 2011 hosted at WPNSA and the opening date for registration is the 2nd May.

Edward Gorman, former sailing correspondent for The Times, now Deputy Foreign Editor, who sits on the Advisory Board concluded: “The French have dominated solo ocean racing for too long and for good reason… They have put in place the right infrastructure and training facilities to ensure their sailors excel. The Artemis Offshore Academy is the first time that the sport in Britain has taken serious steps to take them on and it’s very exciting that we’ve chosen Sam who we believe has the potential to one day become a great Vendée Globe competitor. It will be thrilling to watch his progress over the following months and years.”

The Academy is sponsored by Artemis, the investment management company, who has been backing British sailing since 2006. Official Partners Musto, Marlow and Pol Roger Champagne and Official Suppliers Spinlock and Nautix also support the Artemis Offshore Academy.

Artemis Offshore Academy Development Squad members:

Nick Cherry (26, Birmingham/Southampton)
Sam Goodchild (21, Southampton) – Figaro Scholarship Winner
Simon Hiscocks (37, Surrey/Portland)
Nick Houchin (26, Tadley, Hampshire)
Nigel King (41, Lymington)
Becky Scott (25, Scotland/Fleet)
Phil Sharp (29, Jersey)
Oliver Young (22, Saltash)

Associate Members:

Pip Hare (36, Felixstowe) – Mini Transat campaign/scholarship
Conrad Humphreys (37, Plymouth) – Figaro campaign

Artemis Offfshore Academy Advisory Board:

Rod Carr (ex-RYA CEO)
Mike Golding (one of Britain’s leading solo offshore sailors having competed in the legendary solo non-stop round the world Vendée Globe three times)
Edward Gorman (former sailing correspondent, The Times, now Deputy Foreign Editor)
Mark Turner (Executive Chairman OC ThirdPole)
Gilles Chiorri (Events Director, Sailing, OC ThirdPole and former Figaro and round the world competitor)
John Thorn (Performance Director, Artemis Offshore Academy)
Charles Darbyshire (Project Director, Artemis Ocean Racing)

Artemis Offshore Academy Figaro Campaign Calendar 2011:

Solo Concarneau 3rd – 8th May
Base Normandie 20th – 22nd May
UK Figaro National Championships 23th – 26th May
Transmanche 9th – 12th June
Record Saint Nazaire 17th 21st June
La Solitaire du Figaro 31st July – 28th August
Tour de Bretagne (double-handed) 10th – 17th September
Solo Quiberon 24th -30th September
RORC Morgan Cup (double-handed) 17th – 19th June
JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race (fully crewed) 25th June
RORC Cowes to Dinard (double-handed) 8th – 10th July
RORC Channel Race (double-handed) 30th – 31st July
RORC Rolex Fastnet Race (double-handed) 14th – 19th August
Tour de Bretagne (double-handed) 10th – 17th September

Artemis Offshore Academy Partners

Musto
Musto is the leading performance clothing brand specialising in technical sailing as well as sailing inspired lifestyle clothing.

Pol Roger
Pol Roger is one of the few remaining great family-owned Champagne houses. Founded in 1849, the company celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1999.

Marlow
Marlow specialise in the design and manufacture of technically innovative rope products using the very latest hi-tech and exotic man made fibers.

Artemis Offshore Academy Suppliers

Spinlock
Spinlock has over thirty years’ experience of designing and manufacturing rope holding equipment for sailing boats from dinghies up to the largest Superyachts.

Nautix
Nautix is a leading supplier of marine paints for recreational sailors to ocean racers.

Artemis Offshore Academy

HEBTRO 2011 - A Celebration of Sailing: A Sport for Life

Three generations of the Dickson family (Roy, Chris, Sue, Grace and Rose) attended, plus WBBC member Daryl Wislang from the Volvo Ocean Race Camper Team of Emirates Team New Zealand


Chris Dickson with the WBBC youth sailors. Image copyright WBBC.

by Andrew Paterson

A fantastic Hebtro Trophy took place at Worser Bay Boating Club on 3rd April 2011. The event was successful on so many levels.

The Dickson family attended en masse “dad” Roy Dickson talked about his love of sailing and “son” Chris related a neat story about sailing with dad on the Hauraki Gulf. Although not used to venturing forward of the traveller he was “instructed” by Roy to hoist the main, hoist the jib and then, in short order, to launch the spinnaker. Thinking he deserved a rest Chris then proceeded below where he was instructed to make the coffee. You might be one of the world’s top sailors but you find your level when you go sailing with your Dad. Chris, Sue and their girls, Grace and Rose, flew to Wellington on the Saturday morning to experience a beautiful Worser Bay day. A little too beautiful for the girls who went Optimist green fleet sailing in the morning and vowed that they would not sail in Wellington again because “there is not enough wind”. The morning nearly did not happen when Jetstar cancelled the flight that had been arranged for them but showing great generosity the family rebooked themselves on Air New Zealand. Staunch! Sunday dawned breezy with a forecast of 40knts - a real “Wellington” day. Fortunately the winds, while fresh to strong did not reach that potential and provided for an exhilarating event.


Rose Dickson sailing an Optimist in HEBTRO 2011. Image copyright WBBC.

2011 was the 20th anniversary of this “children’s sailing fundraiser” and it was great to have the Mayor attend and give a short talk at the briefing. We were also fortunate to have Daryl Wislang attend from the Camper Team which is being run by Emirates Team New Zealand for the Volvo Ocean Race. Daryl is a WBBC member who is now in demand as a top international yachtsman. Daryl talked about where you can go with sailing and the fact that there is no limit to what can be achieved. He kindly brought some sailing gear and Camper shirts signed by the team for the charity auction.

The Commodore of WBBC, Andrew Paterson said “I met a bunch of really interesting club members and RPNYC people I had not met before; the fellowship of the Hebtro day was happening all around me! Old friends and new friends. It was great to see “Christo” (Barry Christopherson) and Pam”. Barry reintroduced the modern Hebtro Trophy 20 years ago.

The wealth of celebrity yachties added particular “mana” to the event.


Drinks Trolley, with Chris Dickson, winning HEBTRO 2011. Image copyright WBBC.

The format of the race is for the RPNYC keelers to sail right off Worser Bay Boating Club making a fine spectacle. The racing started as a mark foy where the speed challenged boats start first. If the handicapper has his sums right then all boats finish together. After marrying up boats to sponsors and young sailors the racing commenced. Chris Dickson knows the value of time and had generously bought an extra minute to reduce Drinks Trolley’s handicap in the reverse auction. WBBC is a club of great tradition and the last time Chris had sailed at WBBC in 1998 he won Hebtro on Colin Parkin’s boat Red Herring which never sailed as fast before or since. Well Colin has moved on to now be the owner of Drink’s Trolley and earned the right to host Chris again. As an aside Colin’s company Aluminium Extrusion has been a sponsor of Hebtro for all of its twenty years.

Everybody came ashore really pumped, with tall stories of wild rides and excitement. The youngsters in the Elliot 6 showed what regular sailing in the Wellington Youth Scheme can achieve and put the wind up the celebrity boat only being overtaken on the last leg. In a fairytale ending, that exhibited the art of the handicapper, Chris Dickson skippering Drinks Trolley narrowly won the Hebtro Trophy with Roy Dickson second on Andiamo (after Nedax was disqualified for flying their spinnaker).

A team shirt from “Rainbow II” was presented by Roy Dickson for sale at the celebrity auction. In 1969 six young Kiwi sailors and their Sparkman and Stevens designed 'one tonner' “Rainbow II” won the internationally prized, One Ton Cup off Heligoland. It was the pinnacle of World keel yacht racing success. The Rainbow II victory had a lot to do with the start of Kiwi sailors’ self-belief and the reputation for sailing success. The team shirt was bought by a club member and presented to WBBC for display. A special taoanga indeed!

The auction contained many items of unique provenance including champagne from the 2000 Loius Vuitton Cup in Auckland. John Ashby provided many laughs with his unorthodox auctioneering style and managed to remain dishonest even with Ted Jewett’s professional advice from the floor.

A rousing rendition of the WBBC Anthem – Sail until I sail no more – closed proceedings.

A wonderful day for all concerned. WBBC would like to give a big thank you to RPNYC for supporting the fundraiser and a huge hoorah for all of the wonderful sponsors. Between the auction and the sponsors more than $17,500 was raised for the kids learn to sail and development programs next year.

A wonderful celebration of “Sailing: A sport for life”.

Note from SailRaceWin: We have memories of being helped to food at a BBQ at the RNZYS by a Chris Dickson who had Grace (then aged but a few weeks) safely tucked under one arm... Times move on!

Worser Bay Boating Club

BWR: Virbac-Paprec 3 wins Barcelona World Race with 3Di sails from North Sails

Loick Peyron (left) and Jean-Pierre Dick celebrate their victory in the Barcelona World Race. Image copyright Nico Martinez/Barcelona World Race.

by Zoe Hawkins

Virbac-Paprec 3’s success in the Barcelona World Race utilising 3Di sails from North Sails as part of a complete North Sails inventory will be music to the ears of Volvo Ocean Race teams using the product when the race starts at the end of this year.

This week Virbac-Paprec 3, skippered by Jean-Pierre Dick and Loick Peyron, became the first yacht to circumnavigate the world with a complete set of 3Di sails from North Sails, winning the double-handed Barcelona World Race and setting a new 24 hour world speed record for the IMOCA 60 class in the process. The 25,000 mile race was the first high profile offshore racing challenge for 3Di, which was introduced to the world via Alinghi’s black sails in 2007.

In fact, Virbac-Paprec 3 made it around the world without stopping for sail repairs at all. The only sail related issue was the need for a replacement sail bag during their technical stop in Wellington.

3Di sails have become the weapon of choice for top race teams such as Virbac Paprec 3; it has given sailing its biggest leap in performance since North Sails 3DL was introduced two decades ago, and now it is proven to be able to endure the rigours of a global circumnavigation.

MAPFRE with Spanish Olympians Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez placed second in the Barcelona World Race, also with a full North Sails inventory.

All entrants in the next Volvo Ocean Race will use 3Di.

Virbac-Paprec 3 also carried a Southern Spars Mast and EC6 Continuous rigging.

For more information about 3Di for your boat, visit www.northsails.com

Strong Kiwi team in Spain for ISAF World Cup Regatta

by Jodie Bakewell-White

A strong contingent of New Zealand’s Olympic class sailors are in Palma de Mallorca, Spain for the third of seven regattas which make up the prestigious ISAF Sailing World Cup.

Racing runs from Sunday April 3rd (in the Elliott 6 metre) and Monday April 4th (in all other classes) at the Trofeo SAR Princess Sofia MAPFRE Regatta with the medal winners set to be decided on April 8th.

Organisers are expecting fierce competition with a whopping 710 entries from 53 nations and many of the world’s best sailors back to defend their titles.

Twelve individuals or teams from New Zealand are on the entry list most of whom are NZL Sailing Team members – our nation’s best.

New Zealand’s hot five in the Laser – Andrew Murdoch, Mike Bullot, Andy Maloney, Sam Meech and Josh Junior – are all set to start in the men’s single-handed dinghy with over 130 entries. Sara Winther is the sole kiwi entry in the Radial division.

Olympic golden guy Tom Ashley opens his European season in Palma and will be New Zealand’s only board sailor at this regatta.

There’s one entry from New Zealand in both the Men’s and Women’s 470 fleets – Jo Aleh will sail with Bianca Barbarich-Bacher (standing in for Polly Powrie), and Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders line up in the Men’s fleet.

Dan Slater will sail in the Finn, and New Zealand’s Koru Match - Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Susannah Pyatt – are set to compete in the Women’s Match Racing.

The Women's Match Racing competition runs from Sunday, one day ahead of the other classes, scheduled to commence on Monday in Spain.

New Zealand Entries

Tom Ashley (Men’s RS:X)
Sara Winther (Laser Radial)
Jo Aleh and Bianca Barbarich-Bacher (Women’s 470)
Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders (Men’s 470)
Dan Slater (Finn)
Matt Coutts (Finn)
Mike Bullot (Laser)
Andy Maloney (Laser)
Josh Junior (Laser)
Andrew Murdoch (Laser)
Sam Meech (Laser)
Koru Match: Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Susannah Pyatt (Women’s Match Racing)

Coaches Mark Howard, Mark Orams, Nathan Handley, Hamish Wilcox and Dave Robertson will support the New Zealand sailors at Trofeo SAR Princess Sofia MAPFRE Regatta.

Trofeo Princesa Sofia

TeamVodafoneSailing Sails Again

TeamVodafoneSailing under way once more. Image copyright TeamVodafoneSailing.

by Zoe Hawkins

TeamVodafoneSailing’s mast has been re-stepped and the boat is once again prowling the waterways of Auckland, undergoing boat and mast tuning, and taking its sponsors sailing, before serious racing resumes on Thursday 21 April, when the big red trimaran will compete in the Auckland to Tauranga marathon.

An ambitious pace will need to be set by TeamVodafoneSailing, to beat the 30m supermaxi Zana’s 2004 race record of 9 hours, 35 minutes, and 1 second.


TeamVodafoneSailing speeding out of the Waitemata, Auckland. Image copyright TeamVodafoneSailing.

Over a 130nm course, an average speed of 13.5knots sounds very do-able. However the Coromandel Peninsular usually throws the odd curve ball. Navigating the vagaries of the changeable conditions around the Coromandel can be very challenging to say the least says skipper Simon Hull.

“We can do it, but we need the right weather conditions,” he says.

Through May the boat will compete in a range of Auckland based races, and on Saturday 4 June, it will undertake the Auckland to Fiji race, racing with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the first major offshore event for the 60 foot trimaran.

Following that, TeamVodafoneSailing will depart for Sydney, where it will do the 385nm CYCA Gold Coast Race as an unofficial entry, and the 348nm RQYC Brisbane-Keppel Race, followed by Meridian Airlie Beach Race Week, and the glamour regatta, Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, in the beautiful Whitsundays.


On board TeamVodafoneSailing. Image copyright TeamVodafoneSailing.

“Tauranga and Fiji, and the Australian events are an opportunity for the boat to stretch its legs and compete with sophisticated fleets,” says Simon Hull.

In the Sydney to Southport, the boat will be up against a twelve year old record set by George Snow’s maxi, Brindabella, of 27 hours, 35 minutes and 3 seconds. In the Brisbane to Keppel race, it will need to beat 27 hours, 11 minutes and 22 seconds, set by the 30m Maxi, Lahana, in 2010.

TeamVodafoneSailing is also supported by Line 7, Seatrade, Fusion, Harken, Fineline, B&G, Steinlager and Wilde Media.

www.teamvodafonesailing.co.nz

ASONYR: Loki's Race Record Safe for Another Year

Stephen Ainsworth's Loki, the current Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht race record holder. Image copyright Andrea Francolini/AUDI.

by Jennifer Crooks

With the start of the Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race less than 48 hours away, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued its weather forecast for the fourth edition of the Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race, organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

Michael Logan, Senior Duty Forecaster for the Bureau of Meteorology, delivered the forecast of light east to south-east winds of 5-10 knots for the start of the race on Sydney Harbour, with the fleet experiencing 10-15 knots east to south-east offshore on Friday with a one metre southerly swell. This means that the race record of 15 hrs, 57 mins and 53 seconds, held by Stephen Ainsworth’s Reichel/Pugh 63 Loki, set in 2009, should still stand.

As the fleet makes its way along the Hunter Coast, it will have to contend with a south-easterly swell, with winds turning easterly up to 10 knots. For Saturday, the breeze will be from the east tending north- easterly 5 to 10 knots, then becoming south-east to south-westerly during the morning with a southerly swell of 1.5 metres.

For those yachts sailing on Saturday evening, conditions will freshen with winds tending north to north-easterly up to 15 knots during the evening.

“I think our record is safe for another year – it will be a tough two sail reaching race,” said Ainsworth after attending the race briefing this evening.

“The danger to avoid is getting parked up near Newcastle – the breeze will be light and flicky just like the Flinders Islet race in February this year. It’s not exactly ideal conditions but it will be a classic ocean race,” Ainsworth concluded.


Colin Woods' Cookson 50 Pretty Fly III, currently second in the Cape Byron Series. Image copyright Andrea Francolini/AUDI.

The Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race commences at 12 noon on Friday 8 April, with a fleet of 19 taking to the start line just off Steele Point, near Vaucluse.

This is the last race in the CYCA’s offshore season 2010/11 and current leader of the Blue Water Pointscore, Loki only needs to finish this race to be named the CYCA Blue Water Champion 2010/2011

For Colin Woods, owner of the Cookson 50 Pretty Fly III playing the wind shifts will be the key. “It will be tough to keep the boat moving and try to find the lane of breeze; if we find that we’re going to do well.” Woods is currently placed fourth in the Blue Water Pointscore and is second in the Cape Byron Series (the ORCi division of the Blue Water Pointscore).

For Andrew Wenham, owner of the Volvo 60 Southern Excellence he is hoping to improve on his results from last year with his previous boat SES Inch By Winch, which finished second in PHS. “It will be very light out there – we’d prefer the heavier stuff, but I’m happy just to be sailing.”

The 213 nautical mile Category 2 race takes the fleet to a laid mark around 20 nautical miles south east of Crowdy Head before the yachts head for Newcastle and the finish in the Hunter River.

The CYCA will be using a new satellite transponder for this event that will allow family, friends, club members and yachting enthusiasts to follow the race via the yacht tracking page of the race website.

Each yacht will be fitted with a Yellowbrick yacht tracker that will obtain a position using the Iridium satellite network. The Yellowbrick technology has been successfully used by other yacht races including the Fastnet Race and Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race.

The Yellowbrick tracker units have access to over 66 satellites worldwide that will continue to deliver yacht positions to the race website every 10 minutes. Line honours positions and provisional handicap results can be viewed at any time from the Standings section of the race website.

To follow the race from the start visit the official race website http://sydneynewcastle.cyca.com.au or on follow it on Twitter http://twitter.com/asonyr

America's Cup: Third America's Cup World Series Event to be held in San Diego

San Diego was unveiled as the third stop in the inaugural America’s Cup World Series (AC World Series), which will feature both fleet and match racing. The exact dates of the event have not been set, but the event will occur between mid-October and early December 2011


America's Cup World Series venue #3 in 2011: San Diego, California. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

by Stephanie Martin

With an average of more than 200 hundred days a year above 70° F (21° C), San Diego is renowned for its idyllic climate, making it is a major destination for global visitors. The City offers an expansive variety of things to see and do, appealing to guests of all ages. In particular, San Diego is known for its impressive bay, considered to be one of the best natural harbors on the western coast of North America with 70 miles of pristine beaches and great on-the-water conditions.

“We are delighted to represent the U.S. as a stop on the AC World Series, and believe San Diego Bay’s natural stadium sailing environment is perfect to allow fans to get close to the action,“ said Chuck Nichols, chairman of Sailing Events Association San Diego. “The San Diego boating community has hosted large events on San Diego Bay before, so we’re primed and ready to host this new and exciting form of sailing.”


America's Cup World Series venue #3 in 2011: San Diego, California. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

Current plans call to hold racing within San Diego Bay, with the start/finish line just off the shoreline and spectator access along numerous points on the waterfront. The regatta will give the public an opportunity to watch the world’s top sailors compete in the state-of-the-art AC45 wing-sailed catamarans, which will be the first time the high-tech boats will be seen in the U.S.

"The recent races have drawn more than 20,000 spectators to our waterfront," said Scott Peters, chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners. "The America's Cup World Series promises to be even more popular."

Televised to expose millions more fans to the sport of high-performance sailing, the AC World Series is a regular circuit of regattas that will bring America’s Cup-level racing and experience to top international venues. At the end of each AC World Series season, a champion will be crowned. These events provide the fans the only opportunity to see all of the America’s Cup competitors racing together.

"San Diego and its spectacular bay will provide a first-rate experience for AC World Series competitors and fans," said Richard Worth, Chairman, America’s Cup Event Authority. “We're very pleased to bring the next generation of America's Cup sailing to San Diego and continue its long, proud history with the Cup."


America's Cup World Series venue #3 in 2011: San Diego, California. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

The 2011-2012 AC World Series will be sailed in the AC45, the forerunner to the next generation of America’s Cup boats. The boat was launched to great acclaim in New Zealand in January of this year. Focused on creating more on-the-water excitement for both the teams and the fans, the AC45 wing-sailed catamaran was designed for both speed and close racing. While capable of closing speeds of up to 30 knots, the AC45 remains nimble enough to handle the tight, tactical race courses planned by America’s Cup Race Management (ACRM).

The 2012-2013 season will be sailed in the larger and faster America’s Cup boats, the AC72, and its champion will be crowned just prior to the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup (America’s Cup Challenger Series) in July 2013. This AC World Series will also enable all teams seeking to compete in the America’s Cup Finals in September 2013 to be race-ready for the AC72.

The San Diego AC World Series stop is being hosted by Sailing Events Association San Diego, a new sailboat racing events organization created to bring high profile international racing to the region. SEA San Diego will work closely with the Port of San Diego, the San Diego Port Tenants Association, as well many other organizations.

America's Cup

WMRT: One Amateur and Eleven Pros to Contest Match Race Germany 2011

The Number 1 in Germany: From the foolhardy premiere to a true classic - 14th Match Race Germany with a star cast


Former MRG winner, Jesper Radich (DEN) is amongst the competitors again at Match Race Germany 2011. Image copyright Subzero Images/WMRT.

by Eberhard Magg

Everyone is talking about wind power; Match Race Germany utilizes it!

For the 14th time the best match racers in the world fight to win the German Match Racing Grand Prix from 24th to 29th May 2011. 50,000 U.S. dollars prize money and valuable points for the season standings of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) are for grabs in picturesque Langenargen. At the end after eight World Championship Events and the finals at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia another 500.000 Euro are be shared between the top nine skipper in the World Tour Championship ranking.

14 years after the premiere of Match Race Germany – at the time under the name 'MM + M Match Race "- Germany's most important Match Race regatta has matured into a classic. The inaugural event was startet 1997 with a small budget, but a lot of courage and even more passion by sailor, yacht designer and manager Eberhard Magg, his father Rudi Magg and many colleagues from the region marked the beginning of an era. Today, the Match Racing festival at Lake Constance is organized by a dedicated team: Eberhard Magg, Harald Thierer and Bernd Buck formed Match Race Germany GmbH. Since 2008 the trio is as well responsible for the success of the only German stop of the World Match Racing Tour as also for the water sports center Match Center Germany GmbH in Langenargen / Kressbronn.

Match Race Germany has become a highly popular crowd puller for the Lake Constance region with indirect returns of more than one million Euros. The sailing party each year attracts up to 40,000 spectators to the race village located at the beautiful shores of Langenargen with its magnificent scenery from the castle of Montfort. The mix of thrilling sailing duels, the live presentation of ZDF sports reporter Nils Kaben and the attractive cultural program on shore has shaped the image of this international regatta for sustainability and has proven to be highly ​​attractive to sponsors.

New fleet of boats; strong partners

The renowned agencies Meltwater, CSION / Argus and Boulder Creek have established a total media value for Match Race Germany of approximately 31 million U.S. dollars. Only just a week ago, the 7 brand new Bavaria 40 S yachts have been splashed in the Meichle + Mohr Marina Ultramarin in Kressbronn / Gohren. Thus, the organizers have catapulted themselves to a new level regarding the supplied equipment at the very top . "With such an investment, "said CEO Jim O'Toole WMRT, " Match Race Germany will play a key role internationally."

This investment into the future is also highly appreciated by the long term sponsors in Germany. Right now, only 1 out of 7 boat packages is left for interested partners, both national or internationally. "A potential new partner along with many other benefits recieves more than ten times the value of media value (ROI) back, " said marketing strategist Harald Thierer. Such a partner is the STIHL company which, as a boat partner, has been involved since 2009. The manufacturer of portable power equipment for forestry, horticulture, landscaping and the construction industry supports the organizers as "Outdoor Power Equipment partner" including demonstration of cleaners and wet / dry vacuum cleaners for the best possible maintenance of the racing yachts. "For us this is a perfect partnership, "said Jürgen Steinhauser, Director of Marketing and Sales, "we can demonstrate our products in a very challenging environment and credibly show what can be achieved with their help combined with little effort but a very large effect. For example, with the use of our STIHL pressure washers. A smooth clean hull sails faster than a polluted, finally. "

Sponsors interest in the VIP packages has also increased. Two months before the event approximately 500 VIP tickets have already been sold. On site, 2,000 square meters are available for sponsors-presentation and interaction space. The variety of options for partners include the Business Center, the Hot Seat and Pro/Am Racing. More than 100 volunteers and staff from the hosting Yacht Club Langenargen (YCL) and the Match Center Germany are currently preparing for their season-highlight in May.

1 Amateur challenge, 11 Professionals

Stefan Meister can hardly wait for the event to start. The citizen of Germany´s capital Berlin, won the 2010 German Match Racing championship and qualified for Match Race Germany. Member of the Yacht Club Berlin-Grünau (YCBG) is one of Germany´s top match racers for almost a decade, but still a true amateur. His team, challenging 11 of the best match racers in the world will consist of Thosi Stemmer, Urs Wihlfahrt, Lars Baehr, Martin Meting and Olympic silver medalist Soling in Sydney, Ingo Borkowski. Stefan Meister not being shy about his tactics: "We want to annoy the professionals properly". The lake specialist from the capital, says: "We hope for light and changing winds. In this respect, Lake Constance seems just right for us. "

Four-times World Match Racing Champion Peter Gilmour is record holder at Match Race Germany with a true hattrick - three consecutive victories from 2004-2006 . The Australian is looking to repeat his triumph to stay on top of the German Hall of Fame. His competitors in the World Match Racing Tour obviously want to prevent the master from doing so, including the dynamic Dane Jesper Radich, who won Match Race Germany 2002 and 2003 in Langenargen regularly ranks among the crowd favorites.

Wieser comeback postponed

Local hero Mark Wieser on the other hand had to postpone his intended comeback. The professional from Starnberg starts a new campaign at the helm of the TP52 “Container” owned by Udo Schütz from Selters, competing in the Audi MedCup. The plan was a first appearance of the new boat at the second regatta of the International Circuit in June, but the new boat was ahead of schedule and his team will now be competing in Cascais (Portugal) for the season opener of the MedCup. This leaves Wieser with no time to prepare properly for Match Race Germany. "I have to cancel my participation, unfortunately, " Wieser told the organizers, "I do not want to arrive unprepared to Germany's top match racing event - just being there with no chances to do well or even win the regatta is not equivalent to my claim."

Thus Stefan Meister will be the only helmsman to fly the German flag during the 14th edition of Match Race Germany.

The charming French runner-up in last year´s Tour rankings Mathieu Richard heads to Langenargen to finally win the event for the first time. So does Italian Francesco Bruni, who had just finished second at the U.S. Match Racing Classic “Congressional Cup”, only beaten by British Double World Champion Ian Williams (GBR) who demonstrated his art flawlessly in the finals. 2008 winner Damien Iehl (FRA) is also expected to be back at the venue where he scored his first World Match Racing Tour victory.

The tour season begins in May

The first event on the World Match Racing Tour will be held from 10th to 15th of May in Marseille (FRA). Straight after Match Race France, the international skippers will head to Langenargen. The final of the World Tour will be Monsoon Cup in late November (Malaysia). The new World Champion will be traditionally crowned in Terranganou. The 2011 World Match Racing Tour will consist of nine races, sailed in 9 different countries.

Match Race Germany: Sponsors 2011

Bavaria Yachtbau, Ultramarin, Stihl, Württembergische Versicherung, MHP, Match Center Germany, Carl Zeiss, Carthago, Rolf Benz Nautisattler, Nagel Baumaschinen, Marinepool, Selden Masts AB, HHP, Layer Grosshandel, Liros Ropes, Pfeiffer Marine, Uwe Schriever Yachttransporte, Elvström Sails, Yachten Meltl, Garmin, Webasto, Schwäbische Zeitung, Seglerzeitung, Regio TV Euro 3; Interboot, Messe Friedrichshafen, Versicherungsbüro Riedle&Zartl, Holstein Media, Gemeinde Langenargen, Gerolsteiner, Winterhalter Gastronom, Weber Motor, Meckatzer Löwenbräu, Intersky, Stream 5, Kaenon, Kosta Boda

Basic Dates & useful Information
Match Race Germany 2011
Official Event of the World Match Racing Tour

Status
Grade W (Worldchampionship)

Format
Match Racing (duels on the water/chess on the water)

Date
24th May till 29th May 2011

Venue
Lake Constance, Langenargen, Germany

Prize Money
App.: US$50,000

Yachts
Bavaria 40S, Match Race Germany Edition, 7 Yachts available for racing

Competitors
Invitational regatta to top match racing teams of the world ranking list as well as the world tour ranking, 2 crews through qualification events, 10 seeded crews

Qualifiers
Deutsche Meisterschaft 2010 (YCaT) und Merlin Match Race 2010 (VSaW)

History
First edition was under the title MMM Match race (Grade 2 back in 1997 sailed in Diamant 2000)
2011 will be the 14th edition of Germany´s highest ranked match racing regatta
Match Race Germany will be part of the tour for the 12th time

Organisors
Match Race Germany GmbH

Hosting Yacht Club
Yacht Club Langenargen e.V.

Spectators 2010
App. 35.000 spectators followed the action packed races

TV statistics 2011
TV international: 3.364 min., 170 Mio. potential viewership
TV national: 1.010 min., 101 Mio. potential viewership
Live TV Internet: 900 min.
Newspapers: 273 articles
Magazines: 1.547.200 copies with 55 Stories
Online PR: 67 Stories, 96,16 Mio. potential viewership
www.matchrace.de : 12.516 Visitors (only Event Days) Radio: 35.13 min. Airtime, 4,8 Mio potential listeners

PR-Value Online: 9,1 Mio USD
PR-Value TV: 14,3 Mio USD
PR-Value Print: 7,8 Mio USD

Match Race Germany
World Match Racing Tour

WMRT: Volvo Replaces UBS as one of Main Partners to St Moritz Match Race

Volvo becomes St. Moritz Match Race and Volvo Match Race Cup Main Partner

Volvo Cars Switzerland joins Badrutt's Palace Hotel as main partner of Switzerland's leading professional sailing competition. The Glattbrugg-based company will also support the Volvo Match Race Cup, a national match racing event that culminates with a Swiss Championship in Zug


Misty morning on St Moritzersee. Image copyright Ian Roman/Subzero Images/WMRT.

by Bernard Schopfer

Volvo Cars Switzerland confirms its commitment to match racing in Switzerland and becomes one of the main partners of St. Moritz Match Race, the country's leading professional sailing competition. Volvo has also committed to title sponsorship of the Volvo Match Race Cup, a national circuit that includes a qualifying Stage in Kreuzlingen and a national championship that will allow a Swiss team to qualify directly for St. Moritz Match Race.

“We are very pleased to support St. Moritz Match Race and to become one of the main partners of this event,” comments Anouk Poelmann, President of Volvo Cars Switzerland. “Our support for St. Moritz Match Race is in keeping with the international strategy of the brand which has been involved in competitive sailing at the highest. level for over a decade.”

The next edition of St. Moritz Match Race, scheduled from 30 August until 4 September, will be the seventh event of the nine-stage World Match Racing Tour. The WMRT is the official professional match racing series sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and it awards the official match racing world championship title annually.

“We have been running St. Moritz Match Race for nine years,” says Christian Scherrer, President of the Organising committee. “Volvo's support confirms the quality of our organisation and the leading role it occupies in the discipline's international calendar. Over the years, St. Moritz Match Race has provided an opportunity for the specialists of this sport to discover the beautiful region of Engadin and for the public to learn that we can consistently deliver a sailing competition of the highest international standard in Switzerland. I am happy that Volvo – already very active in sailing sponsorship worldwide – also supports the leading professional match racing competition in Switzerland.”

Volvo has been involved in yacht racing for a decade. The Swedish firm's main involvement is with the Volvo Ocean Race, a fully-crewed round the world competition. Volvo Cars Switzerland has been involved in match racing in Switzerland through St. Moritz Match Race for two years – becoming the event's main partner and associating with the Volvo Match Race Cup now emphasises this commitment.

Eight teams will race for the Volvo Match Race Cup in Kreuzlingen from 29 April until 1 May. The top two teams will gain entry to the Swiss Match Racing Championship in Zug from 2 until 5 June where they will race the top Swiss ISAF ranked teams, among them, Eric Monnin, Jérôme Clerc, Marcel Walser and Roger Stocker.

The Swiss champion will be invited to St. Moritz Match Race to compete against the world's greatest match racers.

Volvo Match Race Cup calendar:
Volvo Match Race Cup Qualifier, Kreuzlingen, 29 April-1 May
Volvo Match Race Cup Final / Swiss Match Racing Championship, Zug, 2-5 June

World Match Racing Tour – Swiss Stage:
St. Moritz Match Race: 30 August-4 September

For further information on the St. Moritz Match Race:
http://www.stmoritz-matchrace.ch

America's Cup: Australia Bids for America's Cup World Series Leg

ORACLE Racing's two AC45s training off Auckland. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

by Peter Rusch

Australia could be in the running to stage at least one leg of the new America's Cup World Series sailing competition starting later this year.

Both Sydney and Perth are believed to have registered interest in staging a leg early next year, with the former looking at January and the latter at February.

The inaugural 2011/12 series will be contested by 45-foot catamarans, while the second season will feature the 72-foot versions of the same boat that will be used for the 2013 America's Cup.

Read the article by AAP from ABC: Australia bids for America’s Cup leg

America's Cup

America's Cup: Stan Honey Appointed Director of Technology

Bay Area resident Stan Honey (USA), a two-time Emmy Winner for Technical Innovations in Sports TV Broadcast and the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year for 2010, has been appointed Director of Technology for the 34th America's Cup by the America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA)


Stan Honey on board Groupama 3. Image copyright Team Groupama.

by Stephanie Martin

Honey is developing a system to track the America’s Cup catamarans to within 2cm, 10 times per second, and superimpose graphics elements such as ahead-behind lines on the live helicopter footage of the race. Previously America’s Cup broadcasts have only featured graphics visible in an animated view of the race.

The new graphics package is designed to help viewers follow the intense action of the AC45s and AC72s as they scream around the race course, all in live action. Opportunities to utilize the detailed data from the races are also being reviewed for internet viewers, mobile viewers, and real-time game applications.

“We are making an enormous investment in technology to engage a new generation of fans worldwide, as well as make the coverage compelling for experienced sailors,” said Richard Worth, Chairman, ACEA. “We are appointing a very well known name in TV technology and in sailing to drive this innovation and really revolutionize the coverage of the sport.”

A major figure in technological innovation in sports television, Honey co-founded Sportvision in 1998, where he led the development of the yellow first-down line widely used in the broadcast of American football, the ESPN “K-Zone” baseball pitch tracking and highlighting system, and the Race/FX tracking and highlighting system used in NASCAR.

Honey also is recognized as one of the most successful professional navigators in sailing, having navigated ABN AMRO to victory in the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race and having navigated Groupama 3 in setting the Jules Verne record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world under sail in 2010. Honey was recently awarded the US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award for 2010, one of the highest individual honors in sailing in the U.S.

“I’ve had two careers up until now, one as an electrical engineer developing navigation, tracking, and TV special effects, and the other as a navigator in professional offshore sailing,” said Honey. “Working for ACEA combines my two careers as I will be using both my sailing and technology backgrounds.”

In addition to use for broadcast, this tracking system will also be used by the America’s Cup Race Management team to revolutionize the on the water management of the sport.

“We are leading the way in technology for sailing - and the change will be dramatic,” said Iain Murray, CEO, America’s Cup Race Management. “John Craig, our Principal Race Officer, is working with Stan’s team to allow John to rapidly move marks and control the course limits, telemetering all of the course and mark data to the race boats, mark boats, and course marshal boats. Our chief umpire, Mike Martin, is working with Stan’s team to make real time overlap and zone-entry determinations using the 2cm tracking data. The America's Cup will be one of the leading sports in the incorporation of technology.”

Prior to co-founding Sportvision in 1998, Stan Honey worked as Executive VP Technology for News Corporation from 1993 through 1998. Honey co-founded Etak Inc., the company that pioneered vehicle navigation systems, in 1983, which was sold to News Corporation in 1989 and is now part of TomTom. Honey is also an inventor on 8 patents in navigation technology and 21 patents in tracking and television special effects.

America's Cup

Audi MedCup, Combined with Matador, on the Cards for Azzurra

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda announces 2011 activities



by Jill Campbell

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s (YCCS) 2011 sporting calendar was presented to journalists and sponsors during a press conference held in Milan’s Museum of Science and Technology this morning. In addition to the international sailing events for which the YCCS is renowned, 2011 will also include a range of new events and challenges bearing witness to the dynamic and innovative spirit that has characterized the Italian Club since its foundation in 1967.

2011 Regattas. As is traditional, the Costa Smeralda sailing season includes several events for the Smeralda 888 Class which have become eagerly awaited annual appointments for teams from prominent Clubs around the world. The small and agile one-design craft created for the YCCS by German Frers will take to the waters off Porto Cervo for the Trofeo Vela & Golf (13 -15 May), the Coppa Europa Smeralda 888 (27 - 29 May) and the Invitational Smeralda 888 (8- 10 July).

Each year the Club dedicates particular attention to superyacht regattas and prestigious events such as the Dubois Cup (4 – 6 June), the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta (7 -11 June) and the Perini Navi Cup (1 - 4 September) prove that the sector is one of great interest to the yachting community. Major events continue in September with the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup – Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship (5 -10 September), organized with the support of the Club’s historic partner Rolex, and with the return of the Veteran Big Boat Rally (12 -15 September), last organized by the YCCS in 2007.

For those who crave the thrill of pure competition, the season also includes international one-design racing with the Audi Invitational Melges 32 (16 -19 June) and Audi TP52 World Championship (2– 8 October) organized in collaboration with the official automotive partner of the YCCS. The Settimana delle Bocche Farr 40 - European Circuit (29 June – 2 July) completes the list of regattas that promise to bring world famous sailors and a host of sailing fans to Porto Cervo.

Audi Azzurra Sailing Team. Among the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s diverse activities planned for 2011 is the return of Azzurra to competitive racing on the regatta courses of the Audi MedCup circuit. The new project was conceived together with YCCS member and owner of the TP52 Matador, Alberto Roemmers, and with official YCCS partner Audi. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team will once again bring the values that made Azzurra an Italian sporting icon - having been the first Italian challenger for the America’s Cup in 1983 - to international regatta courses. The finishing touches are currently being put to the new TP52 Azzurra, designed by Rolf Vrolijk, at the King Marina shipyard in Valencia and she is due to be launched on 10th April. The crew boasts top sailors including skipper Guillermo Parada, tactician Francesco Bruni (helmsman of Azzurra since 2009) and strategist Vasco Vascotto. Training will take place on the waters off Valencia before participation in the PalmaVela regatta in late April. The official naming ceremony will take place on 16th May in Cascais, Portugal, just before the Audi MedCup circuit commences. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team will also take part in the Copa del Rey in Palma de Majorca (31 July – 6 August) and the Audi TP52 World Championship organized by the YCCS in October.

YCCS Virgin Gorda and YCCS Marina. Perhaps the most momentous development of 2011 is the opening of the YCCS winter base in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. The new Clubhouse is scheduled to open at the end of the year and will offer the same level of excellence that members enjoy in the Mediterranean within an equally exclusive environment and in one of the most beautiful settings in the world. The adjacent YCCS Marina Virgin Gorda is already operational and offers a range of services that make it the ideal superyacht harbour in the Caribbean. The Club’s activities in the BVI got off to an impressive start in March with the inaugural edition of the Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous (16-20 March) while the final YCCS regatta of 2011, the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta - Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Regatta, will leave Tenerife on 21st November bound for Virgin Gorda. The arrival of the fleet of maxi and superyachts is scheduled to coincide with the official opening of the Club’s second home.

The YCCS’ Porto Cervo Clubhouse is scheduled to open on 21st April. The Club’s Blu Mediterraneo Spa, open to members and the public, will once again feature selected Acqua di Parma and Technogym products.

For further information please visit the websites:
www.yccs.com and
www.azzurra.it

Objectif vitesse avec les Records SYZ & CO!

Nouveauté 2011: Création de la «SYZ & CO Speed Week» du 5 au 9 octobre 2011

by Sandra Mudronja

Le passage à l’heure d’été marque chaque année le début de la nouvelle saison des records sur le Lac Léman. En effet, le Cercle de la Voile de la Société Nautique de Genève n’homologue que les records de vitesse effectués pendant la période de l’heure d’été, c’est-à-dire, pour 2011, entre le 27 mars et le 30 octobre. Innovation cette année: la saison se terminera en apothéose par la «SYZ & CO Speed Week» qui permettra aux concurrents de se frotter à des records inédits, comme le record du 500 mètres, et d’ouvrir exceptionnellement la compétition aux kite surfs et planches à voile.

Une nouvelle saison des records s’est ouverte la semaine dernière avec le passage à l’heure d’été. Comme chaque année, les navigateurs du lac sont invités à tenter de battre les différents records de vitesse existants: le record du kilomètre, le record de l’heure et les records plus prestigieux comme le Ruban Bleu ou le Ruban Violet. Rappelons que les Rubans sont les records du tour du lac (aller-retour Genève-Bouveret), respectivement en multicoque et en monocoque. Une nouveauté cette année pour le Ruban Bleu, avec un élargissement de la ligne de départ: la bouée sera placée plus au large de la Société Nautique de Genève, ce qui permettra plus facilement aux concurrents de prendre un départ à pleine vitesse.

Cette année, les candidats ne manqueront pas pour tenter d’inscrire leur nom sur les tabelles. En effet, outre le catamaran à foils «SYZ & CO» qui aura à cœur de prouver enfin son potentiel, il faudra compter avec l’«Hydroptère.ch», qui tentera de montrer qu’il est aussi rapide que son grand frère, avec le «Mirabaud LX», avec son nouveau mât-aile, ainsi qu’avec les suspects habituels que sont les Moths à foils, les M2 et les D35.

Pour mémoire, rappelons qu’en 2010, le record du Kilomètre avait été battu par Philip Kaesermann sur son Moth à foils «Cheesy’s», alors que celui de l’Heure avait été emporté par Olivier Schenker et son équipage sur le Ventilo M2 «Banque Piguet».

La SYZ & CO Speed Week en octobre

Pour clôturer la saison des records de vitesse, le Cercle de la Voile de la Société Nautique de Genève (CVSNG) et la Banque SYZ & CO ont décidé de mettre en place un événement pour promouvoir auprès du grand public la recherche de vitesse et de performance, un exercice qui se déroule habituellement loin des regards. C’est ainsi que, du 5 au 9 octobre 2011, aura lieu la «SYZ & CO Speed Week», une semaine durant laquelle la Nautique sera à la fête...

Un parcours pour un « run » de vitesse pure sur 500m sera installé à proximité de la jetée principale, un classement séparé permettra de récompenser les meilleurs chronos de la semaine et des animations auront lieu pendant le week-end pour permettre au public de mieux suivre les tentatives. Par ailleurs, contrairement aux règles en vigueur pour les records lémaniques l’événement sera également ouvert aux kitesurfs et aux planches à voile, ce qu i promet des moments spectaculaires si le vent veut bien être de la partie.

Bref, tous les ingrédients sont réunis cette année pour que le lac voit exploser les records historiques du lac !

Règlement complet des SYZ & CO Leman Sailing Speed Records sur www.nautique.org

Back in "the Bay" for the Sail Rocket Team

Paul Larsen in Vestas SailRocket 2. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images.

by Paul Larsen

So, I sit here writing this with the laptop living up to its name. Over my toes the African sun sets over "speed-spot". There is no wind and it's deathly quiet. In the depths of the silence you can here the distant surf on a shore you can barely see. The bird-life in this place is amazing. Huge flocks wheel in the distance, Pelicans settle for the night on a spit that will soon be submerged... but no flamingoes.

One drive down the main street and it feels like we never left. A hard 16 months of boat building just seems to disappear. It's actually quite surreal to be back. We have so many emotion charged memories attached to this place.

Things have changed though. I don't feel in awe of that amazing mile sitting opposite me now despite the beatings it has handed out. As a project, we have matured a great deal whilst speed-spot reamins the same as the day we first arrived. We understand it now. I feel we have its measure. I respect it and am ready for a real battle... it's hard to descibe... I guess I just believe in the outcome.

The Ship carrying VESTAS Sailrocket 2 was due to arrive tomorrow. I found out today that it will in fact be a week late. Apparently it has some "rain sensitive cargo" onboard and had to park up off Portugal for some time to wait for suitable weather! It's annoying because they didn't inform us or our shipping agents. Well, there is nothing we can do about it. Helena and I are here to sort out cars, houses, internet etc for when everything and everyone else arrives.

We are constantly looking for a deal to make this whole thing affordable. These are funny times in the big picture of the global economy. No-one is immune. You can clearly see the effects down here. Inflation is coming and if you don't pay real attention then things blow-out quite quickly. We have to remain 'goal orientated'. What do we really need to get this job done. It's not a holiday we are after but a world record.

I like coming back here. The whole place is our arena. This is where our dreams will be realised. It sits and waits patiently for when we ourselves are ready to succeed.

I feel calm.

A new boat custom built for this beach is coming this way at a steady 16.3 knots. It was somewhere off Senegal this morning. It will arrive and we will apply all that we have learnt to try and make it realise its potential. What happens between now and then is all part of an unfolding story that we are happy to openly share right here.

We have brought a few more tools with us to try and bring you all closer to the action.

The boat is due in on the 13-14th.

Vestas SailRocket

Zoke Kiwi Match to Compete in Qatar Match Race 2011

A Beneteau 7.5 in which the racing is to be held. Image copyright Zoke Kiwi Match.

by Logan Fraser

The 2011 season is finally starting to get underway for Zoke Kiwi Match as we make our way to Qatar for our first international event of the year. The team arrive in Qatar on the back of a successful Nations Cup Qualifying regatta held in Auckland, New Zealand which we won convincingly, only losing one race over the course of the entire weekend. The Nations Cup win see’s us qualify to represent New Zealand in the Asia Pacific Champs to be held in Sydney next month. It also worked well as an ideal training regatta and springboard to launch into our first international regatta as we head into unknown territory in Doha, Qatar.

Run out of the Doha Sailing Club, the Grade 2 Qatar Match Race Regatta has managed to attract a large field of 15 teams from no less than 9 different countries. This is an excellent sign that an up and coming sailing nation is able to attract such a diverse field of teams in only its second year of hosting this event. The event runs from 6th - 10th April with the intended format being a single round robin, semi finals and finals. This is a rather cut throat programme; with 11 teams being culled after only a single round robin we will need to hit the ground running as a slow start here could be very costly indeed.


Doha, Qatar. Image copyright Zoke Kiwi Match.

The event is to be sailed in the French design and built Beneteau First Class 7.5 one design boats. It was designed in 1982 by the highly regarded French Design team Groupe Finot with insight from the French Sailing Federation and has more than 1000 boats sailing worldwide. The first Class 7.5 looks to be a modern, versatile and high performance boat with a high aspect rig and a large, open and ergonomically designed cockpit so should be plenty of fun to sail.

Zoke Kiwi Match Training in Qatar:


We hope to get a day or two training on the boats and out on the race course before the event starts on Wednesday which will help us to adapt to the local conditions. This is our first venture to the Middle East so we will have to acclimatize to the 30 plus degree dry heat and dusty weather quickly. We will try and update results as often as possible on our website www.kiwimatch-sailing.com as well as uploading photos and video as the week progresses. Thanks again to our sponsors Zoke for making this all possible and to all our friends and family for their continued support.

Zoke Kiwi Match is Laurie, Logan, Andrew and Mike.

Zoke Kiwi Match

Black Swan Racing Report on Winning the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, Spain

Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy 2011, Spain (ISAF Grade 2). Supplied image.

by Black Swan Racing media

Keith Swinton and Black Swan Racing in the semi-finals

We are currently in Javea, Spain competing in our first event for 2011, The Sir Thomas Lipton Match Race. This regatta is one of the first events of the European summer and is very well attended by 10 highly competitive teams. The Tom 28 yachts, race organisation and wind conditions have allowed for some fantastic racing over the first two days.

We finished day one with 3 wins and 2 losses. Today we finished off the round robin with 3 wins from 4 races qualifying us in 3rd position for the semi-final. We had some tough races but managed to come out on top against Portugal's Alvarho Marinho, Denmark's Mads Ebler and Manu Weiller of Spain which was pleasing.

Tomorrow we are up against Simone Ferrarese of Italy for a spot in the final.

Black Swan Racing Wins Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy 2011

A windless morning in Javea worked out well for us today. With only a small time frame allowed for the completion of the best of five race series, yesterdays 2-1 lead was going to be very important.

"It's awesome to start off the year with a win, especially against some very tough opposition. It was a little bit of an anti-climax not racing today, but I think yesterday we knew there was a good chance this would be the situation. We were very determined to take the lead yesterday. Hopefully we can use this as a spring board into a successful season." Keith Swinton, Helmsman Black Swan Racing.

Results top 4:
1. Keith Swinton, Black Swan Racing
2. Alvahro Marinho, Seth Sailing Team
3. Pierre Antoine Morvan, Match ETM
4. Simone Ferrarese, Ferrarese Racing

Black Swan Racing would like to thank our supporters:
Westrac Pty Ltd - the Equipment Management Company
Abbotts PTY LTD Chartered Accountants
McNally Group PTY LTD
Musto Australia & Trendmark Sweden

Black Swan Racing
Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy

Pierre-Antoine Morvan and Match ETM report on 3rd at Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy

Match ETM at the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. Image copyright Pep Portas.

by Match ETM (Extreme Team Morbihan)

Video of Match ETM, Day One in Javea, plus training:


Day Two

Les choses sérieuses commencent demain !

Aujourd’hui c’etait la suite et fin du round robin, avec deux défaites nous nous emparons de la premiere place du classement provisoire. A l’instar de la veille, les conditions sur l’air de jeu ibérique étaient quasi iréprochables, seulement 2 ou 3 unités en plus sur le thermomètre aurait permis de les qualifier de parfaite. C’est dans un vent forcisant jusqu’a 18 noeuds que nous nous sommes exprimé, une journée presque parfaite si notre dernier match contre le Portugais Marinho (sans importance pour notre classsement) n’avait pas été ponctué d’un dérapage.

Le mot dérapage semble vraiment être approprié. On a fait ce que l’on aurait appellé en course automobile une sortie de piste. Un tout droit à la bouée sous le vent à cause d’un spi emmêlé a propulsé notre adversaire au commande de la course. Que cela nous serve de leçon ! Notre erreur “rarisime” à permis a notre concurrent “chanceux” d’accrocher la place de 4ème synonyme de qualification pour les demis finales.

Chance ou juste retour du sort, il retrouvera en demi final son adversaire providentiel. Les statistiques nous donnent favoris face à notre adversaire, espérons que l’issue de cette confrontation leurs donnera raison.

L’autre demi finale opposera l’australien Swinton à l’italien Ferrarrese.

Day Three

JDM

Tout est dans le titre, nous sommes complètement passé à coté de notre demi finale. Nous avons rencontré des problèmes de vitesse au près, ce qui forcement ne nous a pas avantagé. Nous avions l’impression de naviguer avec un sachet plastique dans notre quille. Nous sommes bien entendu très déçu, bien que déçu ne soit pas vraiment le bon mot, mais dans un post sur notre site le politiquement correct est de rigueur. L’autocensure m’interdit d’employer les mot p****n, fais c***r, m***e, mais c’est vraiment le fond de notre pensée.

Dans notre absence totale, nous arrivons néanmoins à sauver le fanny en remportant une victoire à l’arrachée. C’est donc sur le score de 3-1 que notre adversaire miraculé du round robin s’envole vers la finale !
Le portugais a eu raison de nous et a rigolé au nez et à la barbe des statistiques.

Écarté de la finale nous devons donc nous remobiliser pour aller chercher la place de 3ème, à l’heure actuelle nous menons 1-0 contre l’italien Ferrarrese qui a quand à lui été achevé par l’australien Swinton.

Je vous donne rendez vous demain en espérant vous annoncer une 3ème place, je ne vais pas vous faire part des statistiques entre nous et l’italien car la dernière fois cela ne nous a pas porté chance.

Je vous laisse, nous avons notre séance de flagellation qui va commencer !

A demain !

Post sponsorisé par Tranxen et Prozac...!!

Day Four:

La Positive Attitude!


Match ETM competing in the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy. Image copyright Pep Portas.

Aujourd’hui les conditions de vent ne nous ont pas permis de finir la petite finale.

Nous resterons donc sur le score de 1-0, nous finissons donc 3ème.

Nous venions ici pour préparer le grade 1 de Calpé qui se déroulera au mois de mai sur les mêmes bateaux. Cette épreuve est qualificative pour le world tour en suisse: st Moritz.

L’objectif est clair, gagner !

Ce ne sera pas chose facile car j’ai cru comprendre que nous n’étions pas les seuls à avoir cet objetif !

Javéa a donc été pour nous une bonne épreuve de préparation !

Cette demi finale douloureuse nous remet en cause et nous donne un coup de pied au c*l! Nous arriverons donc à Calpé avec l’esprit revenchard et une furieuse envie de gagner !

L’esprit du sport veut que l’on positive l’échec; je me suis donc attaché à vous venter la réussite de notre épreuve, même si ca fait quand même c***r !

Nota Bene : Notre caméra nous a laché durant l’épreuve c’est pourquoi vous n’avez plus eu droit à des reports vidéos. Finalement ca tombe plutot bien car on n’aurait pas été très drole !

Merci pour votre assiduité !

Keep following us !

Resultat
3. Match ETM (PA Morvan)

Match ETM
Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy (30th March - 3rd April)