March 2011 Archives

The first Interclub Island Trophy Regatta hosted by the the Phuket Youth Sailing Squadron (PYSS) will be held on the 26th and 27th March with organization support and sponsorship from Topper Sail Phuket.

Fourteen sailors from Koh Samui have entered and will bringing their own boats giving a fleet of 25 boats with more to come! The event is open to anyone else who has experience with racing.

Racing starts at 10:00 and can be watched from Ao Yon Bay or Cape Panwa, but the best way is to join the Andaman Cabriolet Spectator Yacht, out on the sparkling waters. 'It's great to have the opportunity to support local sailing for young people,' said Grenville Fordham of Image Asia, who are supplying the refreshments on the spectator yacht.

There are four races per day with a post-race barbecue and get-together mid afternoon, come and join us and support our young sailors.

'It's a great pleasure to be a sponsor for this event'; says Helene Fallon Wood, from Tamarind Villa Phuket 'It is also important for the underprivileged Thai children of Phuket to enjoy their own ocean and become not only proficient but champions in the regular national sailing programme'.

The Squadron is still looking for other local companies to join in and support this event and help promote youth sailing on Phuket.

Individuals interested in supporting the Squadron are invited to join our supporters club - Friends of the PYSS for 500 baht subscription fee per year.

by Kathleen Gooch-Firmin

(Source: Sail-world, Sunday 20 Mar 2011)

It was an inauspicious start to the day - cold, rainy and miserable, and with a distinct lack of wind. Competitors looked out gloomily out from the balcony at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Many wondered - with some justification - whether the racing might be canned altogether. But when you have the assembled millions of Phoenix TV's China audience just waiting to switch off the horse racing and the gameshow channel and switch on to small boat racing in Hong Kong harbour on a Saturday afternoon - well, you'd better not disappoint!

First practice race, 1330 hrs start. Time for the live broadcast crews to practice their swing-and-pan shots, time for the pretty tv anchors to put on the foul weather gear, time for action on the water. The first start became a General Recall as almost the entire fleet of 22 J/80s was pushed gently over the line by the tide. Second start, same story. Third start and the fleet was away 'clean' for what is usually known at RHKYC as a 'Sunset' race (triangle-sausage-finish), right in front of the clubhouse.

The starting gun must have woken up the wind gods, as all of a sudden the breeze piped up, and crews suddenly found themselves sailing in 12-15 kts. A short beat to the windward mark - maybe 300 m - and then up went the colourful Phoenix TV and iFeng.com spinnakers. It was enough to make a photographer's heart glad in spite of the clagging grey (and the incessant rain) as the harbour broke out all over in a rash of red and yellow.

Leeward mark roundings with a little pressure in the sails proved troublesome for some, and a few 'interesting' moments were witnessed - and in some cases recorded. Tiffany Koo and a well-drilled crew on Jelik 6 led all the way round the track and finished with a healthy lead, but you know what they say about winning practice races...

An interlude on shore allowed time for lunch before the 'main event' at 1600 hrs - timing dependant upon the arrival Guest of Honour, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, former Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR. He's a busy man on a Saturday afternoon, is Mr Tung, so we just had to wait. The rain came and went, and came again, and the breeze wasn't quite so sure. But Mr Tung was on time and so was the start, and this time there were no recalls. Right on cue, in came the breeze, and the rain stopped. We never got the sunshine, but the fleet did get some good racing.

Fast-starting boats at the pin end set the pace for the first part of the race, with the fleet heading up towards the Hung Hom buoy before the pressing down towards the Shau Kei Wan mark. Almost all the boats held the North Point shore to stay out of the incoming tide, and were lifted along the line beneath the Island Eastern Corridor. 'We were tacking along the shore'' said Jim Johnstone later, 'but only changing 10-15° on the compass heading between tacks. It felt really good.' But there are two sides to any race course, and Jelik 7 with Louise Perfectua at the helm 'went the other way'. Standing on past Hung Hom and then all the way into Kowloon Bay and towards the old airport runway - a longer course, and crossing the tide completely, but at Shau Kei Wan they had a commanding lead on maybe 20 lengths. The scrap was for second place between Alchemist (Nigel Reeves), Jelignite (Jim Johnstone), and Hakawati (Dan Tullberg).

The race was Perfectua's for the taking, but the run back down back to Hung Hom was less kind than the beat up. 'Low, slow, and straight down the middle' was Jelignite's programme, while Jelik 5 tried to run the angles - but although there was wind, there wasn't enough to get a J/80 planing, and the extra distance took a toll. Perfectua later acknowledged that the v2.0 J/80 asymmetrics being used by most of the fleet (but not Jelik 5) allowed for deeper running, and a distinct advantage. By Hung Hom, Jelignite was in the lead, and Alchemist (complete with Phoenix TV anchor smiling prettily under her Phoenix TV hat) had pushed into the second slot.

The race had to last 90 minutes, according to the tv people, so the next leg went back up to Dock buoy and then returned to Hung Hom. A bit like running a pursuit race, and trying to hit a specified time for the first finisher. No matter: an 'S' flag on the Cheoy Lee at Hung Hom was a finish line, with Jelignite cruising home to a comfortable victory. And the camera boat got back to Kellett Island and under cover, beating the nasty-looking rain squall coming in from Central.

It was a brisk reach from the Hung Hom finish back to the RHKYC - the lucky ones got there before the rain re-started. And then at 1900 hrs, to coincide once again with live broadcast, prizegiving time with Mr Liu Chang Le, Chairman and CEO of Phoenix TV, and Mr KK Yeung, Executive Vice President and CFO. On this, the company's 15th birthday, Mr Yeung declared the Phoenix Cup to be a resounding success, and looked forward to another edition next year.

by Guy Nowell,

(Source: Sail-World, Sunday 20 Mar 2011)

Mirabaud, helmed by Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret in the Barcelona World Race, arrived in Mar del Plata at 5pm (CET) on Saturday, under jury rig. The yacht was dismasted on the 12th of March, 650 nautical miles east of the Argentinian coast and 450 nautical miles north of the Falkland's Islands.

'Clearly we are very disappointed to return to terra firma under jury rig, instead of making it home to Barcelona under sail,' commented Dominique Wavre. 'But we're glad to have made it in safely and we are really touched by the support we have received from the Argentinian authorities, the army and the Mar del Plata Yacht Club. We have also received numerous messages of support over the last few days and we'd like to sincerely thank all our friends and supporters for their help. Finally, I'd like to thank Mirabaud, who gave us incredible support during both Michèle's health problems and the dismasting.

The co-skippers were warmly welcomed by a small delegation of friends, journalists, members of their shore team and Mirabaud's local South American contacts.

The co-skippers were warmly welcomed by a small delegation of friends, journalists, members of their shore team and Mirabaud's local South American contacts.

At the time of losing their mast, the pair were in a close sixth place and battling for a podium position. Michele's health problems had rapidly improved after they rounded Cape Horn and the boat was in good shape and ready for the final push to the finish.

'Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret handled this crisis with incredible reactivity' commented Antonio Palma, Associate and CEO of Mirabaud. 'It's often at the most difficult moments that real strength of character and clear-thinking truly come to the fore and Dominique and Michèle are proof of this.'

Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret will now take a well-earned rest while Mirabaud will return to Europe via cargo ship.

Dominique Wavre's home page : www.dominiquewavre.com

by MaxComm Communications

(Source: Sail-World, Sunday 20 Mar 2011)

Owners club are sailing to France

The Beneteau Owners Club is running a cruise to France over the weekend of July 1-3.

The fun, family cruise will leave Port Hamble, although other South Coast start points may be added if required, and head for Cherbourg.

Free workshops will be staged before the weekend, enabling sailors of all abilities to participate.

Any Bénéteau owner can register for the event by emailing beneteau@ancasta.com.

by Andrew Brook

(Source: Yachting Monthly, Sunday, 20 March 2011)

All-female team to sail in Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta

Tracy Edwards will be reunited with her all-female crew from the 1989-1990 Whitbread Race at the Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta later this year.

The two-day regatta will be before the start of the 2011-2012 Ocean Race in Alicante in November.

More than 12 racing crews that either won the round-the-world race or caused a major change in the sport will participate in the regatta.

And Edwards (pictured above) is adamant that her team aboard Maiden was one such crew. She said: 'Maiden transcended sailing because it wasn't just about getting girls on the water. It was much more than that - it was about breaking moulds and proving that anything was possible.

'It encouraged more girls to get out on the water and there was a flurry of all female crews entering the race after that though it seems to have gone backwards now that the race is no longer a Corinthian event.'

Sir Chay Blyth's Great Britain II, line honours victor in 1973-1974, will also appear at the regatta. Lawrie Smith's Rothmans, one of Maiden's rivals from 1989-1990, is signed up and it is hoped that winner of that race, Sir Peter Blake's Steinlager 2, will also attend.

by Andrew Brook

(Source: Yachting Monthly, Saturday 19 Mar 2011)

The Ocean Youth Trust has been selected as one of the 26 charities that will enjoy an unexpected windfall from the Royal wedding.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have launched the Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund for well-wishers who will not be attending their nuptials, but still wish to send a gift.

Many of the charities, including the Ocean Youth Trust, aim to help disadvantaged children reach their potential.

Clarence House said that many of the charities has been chosen because their unsung work resonated with the Royal couple.

The Ocean Youth Trust is four separate, independent charities based in Scotland, Ireland and the north and south of England.

Southern area chief executive Mark Todd said: 'This is a fantastic recognition of our charitable work and will make a hugely positive contribution towards our key aims of taking more young people to sea and raising funds towards a new purpose-built sail training vessel.

'We hope that it will inspire more young people from all backgrounds to want to sail with us. We are a small charity and this could make a really significant difference to our long-term future.'

Scottish area chief executive Nick Fleming said: 'It's always great to hear that someone wants to support Ocean Youth Trust and adventure under sail, but it's not every day that those supporters turn out to be Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

'I'm sure all the young people who sail with us, our members, volunteers and supporters will be as delighted as me and wish the couple all the best.'

by Andrew Brook

(Source: Yachting Monthly, Friday 18 Mar 2011)

In preparation for the inaugural America's Cup World Series this July, event organizers will stage on and off the water dress rehearsals on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, April 25-29 and May 2-6.

These test periods will focus on refining all of the courses, support systems and management procedures necessary to stage each AC World Series event and provide a superior experience for both the teams and spectators worldwide.

Led by America's Cup Race Management (ACRM), the first test session will include race course configurations that enable tight, tactical racing as well as umpiring and race management that allows for instant calls during fast-paced competition.

'We are launching a new racing product in July,' said Iain Murray, ACRM CEO and Regatta Director for the 34th America's Cup and the AC World Series. 'We have developed new rules and now we need to test those rules on the water.'

'We learned a lot of things about the performance of the AC45 during sea trials in New Zealand, but now we need to see them in simulated race mode. We will also test new race course configurations to make the racing more engaging for competitors and fans alike.'

During this period, ACRM will test:

* New Racing Rules for the America's Cup
* New umpiring system based on the use of GPS data from raceboats and marks
* New race management using telemetry to and from mark boats
* Course configurations for both match racing and fleet racing
* Start line procedures
* On-water communications systems
* Emergency and safety systems
* Shoreside launching, mooring and docking procedures

The second test session, led by the America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA), will provide the first test of the next-generation broadcast images and graphics that change the way people will watch sailing on television.

'At each event, we want the viewer to not just see the action, but to really be part of it,' said Richard Worth, Chairman, ACEA. 'Through our new on-board cameras and microphones, you will get to see the quick decisions being made, the athleticism of the sailors, the raw power of these boats - you will be right there with the teams as they fly over the water.'

During this period, ACEA will test:

* On-board cameras
* On-board microphones
* New broadcast graphics package including use of video and overlay graphics from GPS data

'Our new graphics overlay goes beyond being a viewing aid,' said Worth. 'This system will connect viewers to the racing in a way that has not been possible before.'

The AC World Series is a regular circuit of eight regattas that will bring America's Cup-level racing and the America's Cup experience to top international venues.

Televised to expose millions more fans to the sport of high-performance sailing, the AC World Series will feature both fleet and match racing at each event.

At the end of each AC World Series season, a champion will be crowned. These regattas provide the fans the only opportunity to see all of the America's Cup competitors racing together.

by America's Cup Media

(Source: Sail-world, Friday 18 Mar 2011)

Barcelona World Race teams face repairs, retirements and the Doldrums.

Exhausted but still determined, Wouter Verbraak admitted from the sunny, still sanctuary of Stanley in the Falkland Islands today that he and co-skipper Andy Meiklejohn went through some dark hours when they battled through two long non-stop days of painstaking work trying to repair damaged sails while aboard their Imoca Open 60 Hugo Boss while at anchor in Adventure Sound, trying to keep alive their shared dream of making their circumnavigation an unaided one.

'We unfolded more and more sails and discovered more and more damage, which was devastating. For us this race is all about first the competition, but secondly also making this a non stop race, so that is why we made such an effort to not make a technical stop, so to be faced with the facts that we had to, is devastating. We were absolutely devastated. We are absolutely gutted after working for 48 hours straight without sleeping. We were exhausted. It was not a fun place to be.'

Dutch co-skipper Verbraak admitted today by phone, just five minutes after tying up in the Falklands harbour, and minutes before he and Kiwi Meiklejohn were expecting their first 'real cup of coffee' in 75 days.

'We have pretty much all the sails to repair, it is a manufacturing flaw, we have holes and parts of the film which need repairing. We are not sure how long it is going to take but at least 3-4 days working away here repairing sails.'

'It is a number of sails, we have to make sure that we can actually get to Barcelona without making another stop, at least just a one stop race, not a multiple stop race, and as everybody knows the Atlantic is not your Mediterranean light winds sailing.'

The duo were anticipating the arrival this Thursday afternoon from England of their technical shore manager Ross Daniel, armed with specialist glues and sailmaking films. They expect to take advantage of the light winds weather window to make the mainsail mast track repair first priority before getting wired into the sail repair marathon.

The duo paid a great tribute to the support of the local community who have already been pulling out the stops to help the Dutch-Kiwi duo.

'We will probably end up using the church as a sail loft. So they have kindly asked us to move out of the sail loft on Sunday, but we will continue either side of their worship.'

Mirabaud retires
Official confirmation came this morning of the retirement from the Barcelona World Race of Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret, the Swiss-French duo on Mirabaud following their dismasting.

Yesterday evening, following the constant monitoring of their progress under jury rig by the MRCC authorities, the vastly experienced couple had a welcome visit from an Argentinian Navy's Drummond class combat ship A.R.A. 'Granville' and an army plane which were on exercise in the area. The ship was some 14 miles away and set course to rendezvous with Mirabaud which was spotted for them by the plane. A RIB was then sent across to Wavre and Paret with 150 litres of diesel fuel for them which should allow them to make safe passage towards Mar Del Plata.

The couple and the organizers of the Barcelona World Race extend their thanks to the MRCC and the Argentine military personnel for their help and professionalism.

In the Doldrums with the goalposts moving
In the lead, progress has been mixed for both Virbac-Paprec 3 and Mapfre. The French duo who top the standings, Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron, have not yet really hit the stop-start progress and the really typical Doldrums conditions, indeed Peyron confirmed that not only have they not had the worst of the conditions, but the axis of the convergence zone is moving north with them. And second placed Mapfre have still been making decent progress in light SE'ly tradewinds, still making 27 miles again back on the French leaders this afternoon.

Standings at Thursday 17th March at 1400hrs UTC:
1 Virbac-Paprec 3 at 3203,3 miles to finish
2 Mapfre at 253,3 miles to leader
3 Renault Z.E at 1051,7 miles
4 Neutrogena at 1278,8 miles
5 Estrella Damm Sailing Team at 1341,1 miles
6 Gaes Centros Auditivos at 2209,9 miles
7 Hugo Boss at 3264,2 miles
8 Forum Maritim Catala at 4422 miles
9 We Are Water at 6293,1 miles
10 Central Lechera Asturiana at 8347 miles
RTD Foncia
RTD President
RTD Groupe Bel
RTD Mirabaud

by Barcelona World Race

(Source: Sail-world, Friday 18 Mar 2011)

The Poros Charter Yacht Show will take place in Greece, on May 7th - 12th 2011, and like every year will be hosted on Poros Island, just off the shores of Athens. The event is being organized by the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association (HPYOA) and the Hellenic Yacht Brokers Association (HYBA) and operates under the aegis of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) and Municipality of the island of Poros.

This is probably the most successful yachting event in Eastern Mediterranean, and is one of the top charter events in the world. Over 80 luxury yachts are being presented to international professionals represented by some of the most acclaimed charter brokers in this industry.

The aim of the Charter Yacht Show - Poros 2011 is to showcase a large array of well maintained yachts and highly trained crews. During the five days of the Charter Yacht Show, professional visitors will have the opportunity to view the yachts, speak with crews and gather information from the yacht managers and exhibitors' booths. In the evening, visitors can meet the local industry in a relaxed ambience, enjoying theme parties, casual gatherings and formal dining.

One of the highlights of the event is the Chef Competition, which will be judged by the most demanding international brokers and awarded at the Chef Competition Awards Ceremony on May 10th.

(Source: SuperYachtTimes.com, Thursday, 17 March 2011)

The Dubois Cup will take place between 4-6 June, hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo. Dubois has announced that, in partnership with Yacht Carbon Offset, it has balanced the estimated carbon footprint of this year's regatta, including an allowance for participants' air travel to Sardinia.

Designer Ed Dubois said "We are delighted that the estimated carbon emissions of the Dubois Cup have been offset! Yacht carbon offset is such a good idea and we believe it is the duty of our industry and indeed our sport to support this concept. We are most grateful and truly delighted that we have Yacht Carbon Offset as a sponsor and partner in the Dubois Cup 2011."

Yacht Carbon Offset's Managing Director Mark Robinson commented: "It is an honour to partner with Dubois for what promises to be a spectacular event. The Owners of several large sailing yachts have committed to carbon offset policies, and it is great to welcome Dubois alongside them. We believe that the Dubois Cup is the first superyacht regatta to offset its carbon footprint. We thank Dubois for taking this practical step that fits perfectly with the beautiful setting of the Costa Smeralda, and the natural grace of the competing sailing yachts."

(Source: SuperYachtTimes.com, Wednesday, 16 March 2011)

SAP 505 Worlds will be hosted by Hamilton Island, along with the Australian Championship, from March 20 to April 1st.

The stage will be set at Hamilton Island when the colourful spinnakers of 85 boats representing Australia, Germany, Great Britain, the USA, France, Denmark, Hong Kong and Sweden converge on the Catseye Bay race course area, making a breath-taking sight for spectators on and off the water.

The Pre-Worlds will be sailed on March 22 and 23, with the Worlds commencing on March 26.

A trapeze swinging double-handed high-performance dinghy, the 505 continues to have the power of pulling together talent of all ages and from all walks of sailing. Some fascinating names are on the start list; those who find the combination of the 505 and Hamilton Island tantalisingly irresistible.

Among the notables is regular 505 sailor and 1996 Sydney Hobart line honours winner, Hasso Plattner, who broke the race record with Morning Glory, the name of all his boats. America's Cup, Flying Dutchman, windsurfing, have all figured in this tireless man's life.

The German sailor is the co-founding CEO of sponsor SAP who returned to Australia in 2005 to contest the Farr 40 Worlds. Now the sixty something year old is coming to Hamilton Island to try his luck again with recurrent crew Peter Alarie.

Olympic 49er double world champion and reigning Moth world champion Nathan Outteridge is in 'world title' mode. He was hoping to add the Farr 40 World title to his growing list in February, but had to settle for fifth place aboard one of the Aussie favourites, Estate Master.

Now he and his 49er crew, Iain Jensen, can't wait to get the hands on the 505, and with little practice time on the boat, which is new to both, Outteridge is realistic about their chances. 'We don't expect to win, but we'll be trying to anyway,' he said.

'It'll be great fun - we can't wait,' added Jensen, who confirmed it will be the last hurrah for the two who will head straight back into serious 49er training for their imminent Olympic European season.

One of their adversaries will be Ayden Menzies who captured 420 dinghy Gold as crew for Outteridge at the 2003 ISAF Youth Worlds. Outteridge replicated that result with Jensen a year later.

Melbourne friends Andrew McCole and James Ryssenbeek last came to prominence in 2007 when they lost their keel in the double-handed Melbourne-Osaka Yacht Race. Ryssenbeek has been keeping his hand in sailing an Etchells and now the two experienced dinghy sailors will reunite for these Worlds.

Other big names are Brett Beyer (NSW), winner of an unprecedented seven Laser Apprentice Master's world titles; Hamilton Island's perennial windsurfing champion and SB3 convert Dennis Winstanley, who will crew for John McLean.

American 18ft skiff champions and regular 505 sailors, Howie Hamlin and Andy Zinn, placed fourth at the 505 Worlds in 2010. On Sunday, Hamlin finished fifth at the Winning Appliances JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship (unofficial Worlds), great preparation for the SAP 505 Worlds.

Joining them are Robin and Nick Deussen, a father and son from South Australia who will be pitted against each other at Hamilton Island. Dad, Robin, is a former America's Cup sailor and 505 champion, while Nick is a multiple dinghy talent and 505 sailor on the move.

Shane Guanaria (NSW) comes with the 2009 Rolex One-Design Trophy in hand after winning every race with his Sydney 32, while Hong Kong Etchells rivals, Mark Thornburrow and Laurence Mead, have decided to try their luck combining to sail a 505 with Mead to swap the helm for the pointy end.

Reigning world champions, Germany's Wolfgang Hunger and Julien Kleiner return to defend their title, as does 2010 bronze medallist and 2008 world champ, Ian Pennell, with new crew Charles Dwyer (GBR). Mike Martin and Jeff Nelson (USA), the 2009 World's title holders, are also coming.

Returning too, is 2008 Australian champion Bill Cuneo (Qld), son of John Cuneo; 1972 Olympic gold medallist in the Dragon, America's Cup sailor and 505 Australian champion of 1965.

Holder of three Australian titles, including 2010, Michael Quirk (NSW) is aiming not only to defend, but to grab the World title too, but the 2009 winners, South Aussies Sandy Higgins (a four-time winner) and Jordan Spencer, sailing separately this time, also have the same idea.

There are also a number of ladies sailing as skipper and as crew, fathers and sons, brothers and married couples, like Carol and Carl Buchan (USA) who started sailing together in 1976 - and don't think they are a pushover either - they won the 505 North Americans in 1985 and also won the Tasar Worlds in 2001.

Carl also won a Youth Worlds, the 1983 FD Worlds, 1984 FD Olympic Gold and 1992 Star Worlds. Carol, who helms, won the Women's Double-handed Nationals in 1989 and the Canadian Women's Match Race Championship.

The Australian crews have a lot to prove, not having won the 505 World's since multiple winners Chris and Darren Nicholson did the job in 2002. Sailing on home turf, the time is ripe to put Aussie pride reputations on the line.

At the 2010 Worlds, in Aarhus, Denmark, the best placed of the nine Australian crews was the Michael Quirk/Simon Reffold combination in fifteenth place. Surely, with 45 boats at these Worlds, the Aussies can come up with the magic needed?

Although he does not rate himself much of a chance, as all of his spare spending is being spent putting the SAP 505 World's together in place of training, event organiser and competitor Carter Jackson says: 'The competition amongst the Australian fleet is going to be tough.

'I'd be keeping a close eye on Sandy Higgins/Paul Marsh from South Australia, Peter Chappell/Matt Smith from Western Australia and Nathan Outteridge/Iain Jensen (NSW), who although new to the class, are outstanding sailors.

'It's never easy in the 505 fleet,' Jackson says, 'any day you finish ahead of any of these guys is a good day.'

Hamilton Island was chosen over some of the most beautiful island resort locations in the world. Boasting the Great Barrier Reef, fabulous sailing waters in a tropical location, plenty of accommodation options, a world-class golf course, all in a location begging for partners and family to come and enjoy what the Island has to offer, it is little wonder.

The 505's last visited the Queensland Island in 2008 for their Australian Championship - and the post-event stories of this fun bunch were legendary. Having been through it once, Hamilton Island Yacht Club commodore and sailing legend, Iain Murray, suggested it was time the 505's revisited - and they were happy to comply.

The Island's CEO, Glenn Bourke, an Olympic and world champion sailor, has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure the sailors and their families have a good time and has made sure there is plenty for partners and families to do while the sailors are out on the course.

Commenting on the choice of venue, Jackson explained: 'I chose Hamilton Island a while back after a suggestion from Iain Murray (Commodore of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club). Next thing I knew, another mate Glenn Bourke was named as the new CEO there and everything seemed to fall in place.

'One of the main reasons we are going to Hamilton Island is not just for the outstanding sailing conditions, but more for the family friendly environment that the Island offers. Our sport is not that family friendly; so we, as sailors, should select venues that will accommodate everyone,' he said.

'Hamilton Island offers all of that, plus the Island staff is outstanding and will ensure this world championship will be unrivalled.'

by Di Pearson

(Source: Sail-world, Thursday 17 Mar 2011)

ICOMIA Marinas Conference, Singapore: the recent devastating tsunami in Japan has caused damage to marinas in Asia and as far as California. This tragic natural disaster has made the marina industry think more carefully about how best to protect their marinas, vessels and ports, What protection methods can be put in place? How much should marinas invest in protecting against events like this? What are the liability insurance implications?

One longer-term solution is to consider integrating maritime defenses with other urban and on-shore infrastructures so that the capital cost might be mitigated for all parties.

The ICOMIA World Marinas Conference (WMC2011) will address the recent issues brought about by the tsunami. Issues will be discussed within the operational issues panel session, covering the technical and operational challenges in running a marina, managing teams and systems, leadership and personal management, implementation of effective policies and procedures and disaster management. Discussion will take place as to how marina owners can invest in protecting their marina in the most cost effective way.

WMC2011 is an established conference in the industry and for 2011 is being held in Asia for the first time. As the world's fastest growing boating market, Asia is experiencing a surge in new marina developments and presents a great opportunity for attendees to seek new markets and business relationships.

This conference will bring together 300 international attendees and 40 international speakers to discuss and debate the critical industry challenges. The event will feature over 30 sponsor booths showcasing the latest technologies in the industry, as well as a one day marina tour and numerous networking activities.

10-12 May 2011, Singapore.

by ICOMIA Media

(Source: Sail-world, Wednesday 16 Mar 2011)

420 Junior World Champion wins first Campeonato Ibérico 420 at Tavira.

The Portuguese and Spanish 420 fleets met in Tavira for first Iberian Championship.

The first Campeonato Ibérico de 420 was held at Clube Náutico de Tavira from 9 - 12 March with the support of the Federação Portuguesa de Vela and the Real Federación Española de Vela, as well as the Portuguese and Spanish 420 Class Associations. Eighty-four 420 sailors from across Portugal and Spain, including Andalucía, Catalonia and Gran Canaria, converged on Tavira in the eastern Algarve for the first Iberian 420 Championship, With sailors from both countries currently going through their respective team selection processes to represent their countries at the ISAF Youth Worlds In Zadar in July, as well as for the 420 European Championships to be held in Tavira in July and for the 420/470 Junior Europeans in Nieuwpoort, Belgium in August, this international competitive exposure was particularly well timed.

With two races on the first day, Portugal's leading team at the 2010 Junior Europeans in La Rochelle, João Vilas Boas of AN Lisboa and João Duarte of CV Barreiro, took the lead. But local sailors from Tavira, Luis Niza and Paulo Baptista, were just a point behind at the end of the day.....and they had unfinished business to reverse the previous weekend's line-up at the Vilamoura Carnival Regatta, where they had finished second to Vilas Boas and Duarte! The Spanish team, Jorge Martinez and Tomas Ugalde, finished third, on equal points with Niza and Baptista, just one ahead of David and Alex Vila (ESP - CN El Balis) and Jordi Hernandez and Alex Lopez (ESP - CN El Masnou). Competition between the women's teams was also in evidence, with Barbara and Sara Ravetllat (ESP - CN El Balis) in sixth overall, just four points ahead of the Portuguese team, Joana Azevedo and Catarina Evangelista (CV Atlântico).

The second day's racing was held in winds varying from 5 to 12 knots. By the end of Day 2, with three further races in the bag, the situation had changed dramatically, and the leading Spanish teams were evidently finding their way in Tavira's waters. David and Alex Vila had a three point lead over Jordi Hernandez and Alex Lopez, in turn a couple of points ahead of Jorge Martinez and Tomas Ugalde. The Ravetllat women were up to fourth. Spain had reversed the position from the first day.

A stormy day on Friday caused the cancellation of racing, but CN Tavira's President, Guilherme Matos Ferreira, reported that Saturday 'came-out as a wonderful sailing day. Three races were sailed on the last day of the championship with steady 15 knots South Westerly winds. The races were very competitive, and the more experienced crews took over the race area and led the races'.

The Championship was won, by a point, by Jordi Xammer Hernandez, the 2010 ISAF Youth World Champion and 2011 420 Junior World Champion helm, with his new crew, Alex Lopez, sailors from the Barcelona club of CN El Masnou. Close on their heels were Jorge Martinez and Tomas Ugalde of RCN Gran Canaria. Local boys, R Luis Niza and Paulo Baptista looked after Portuguese and Tavira honour by taking third place on the podium. João Vilas Boas and João Duarte, Silver medallists at the 2010 ISAF Youth Worlds, were fourth.

The Spanish team, Barbara & Sara Ravetllat, from Barcelona's CN El Balis, were the leading women in fifth overall, and Francisca Martins & Maria Westwood of Portugal's CN Cascais were second women, in 10th, while Joana Azevedo and Catarina Evangelista (POR) of CV Atlântico finished in 13th.

Jordi Xammar Hernandez confirmed that the sailors were 'very pleased with the excellent conditions of Tavira for the practice of our sport'. The Championship concluded with a Prize Giving in which the Mayor of Tavira and the President of the Portuguese Sailing Federation participated. The Champions were also awarded the under-18 title, while Fernando Gamez & Alfredo Pareja (CN El Candado Malaga) were awarded the under-16 title.

Next month, Tavira will host the Portuguese Youth Championships, and then, at the beginning of July, the IODA Europeans will be held here, followed, toward the end of July, by the 420 European Championship. The Clube Náutico de Tavira, which has successfully hosted both 420 World and Junior European Championships in recent years, continues to grow its profile and seeks to fulfil its claim to be the sailing capital of 2011.

Championship leaders:
1 Jordi Hernandez & Alex Lopez (ESP - CN El Masnou) 35 points
2 Jorge Martinez & Tomas Ugalde (ESP - RCN Gran Canaria) 36 pts
3 R Luis Niza & Paulo Baptista (POR - CN Tavira) 39 pts
4 João Vilas Boas & João Duarte (POR - ANL / CVB) 40 pts
5 Barbara & Sara Ravetllat (Fem) (ESP - CN El Balis) 44 pts
6 David Vila & Alex Vila (ESP - CN El Balis) 48 pts
7 Fernando & Alvaro Urzaiz (ESP - CN El Balis) 65 pts
8 Manuel Cunha & António Tiroco (POR - YC Porto) 69 pts
9 Adriana R. Puig & Nil L. Ravetllat (ESP - CN El Balis) 79 pts
10 Francisca Martins & Maria Westwood (Fem) (POR - CN Cascais) 89 pts

by Tony Mapplebeck

(Source: Sail-world,Wednesday 16 Mar 2011)

Current conditions clearly favour the chasing pack, rather than the leaders.

With regard to Virbac-Paprec 3, MAPFRE and the Doldrums, everything seems to point to a catch up over the next two or two and a half days for the Spanish pursuers. The scenario definitely favours the chasers rather than the leader. The Doldrums belt is wide and active, and the strong north-easterly winds are still well to the north of Virbac-Paprec 3 which confirms they have a relatively long way to get to them.

Tonight Virbac-Paprec 3 will be stalled by light winds while MAPFRE will be in decent breeze, so gains should continue. However, by tomorrow morning MAPFRE will be entering the light winds zone and slowing down.

Compression seems to be the watchword for the chasing trio as well. The transition frontal zone between the extending high pressure and the low moving to the SE arrives tomorrow morning for Renault ZE Sailing Team off Feira Santana. They will have only very light, unsettled winds.

Meanwhile it will be better for Neutrogena and Estrella Damm who will keep the moderate downwind conditions to the west of the low and be able to roll down nicely with them, expecting to catch miles on Renault Z.E Sailing Team.

In general one of the problems is that the trade winds are largely absent west of 25W but if you go out to the east to find them then the Doldrums passage to the east is even more complex and difficult. The girls are likely to keep going east and then go north when the high moves over them, so the best thing is stay with best boatspeed and then short upwind slog for a while as the low pressure is taking shape.

Hugo Boss to make technical stop

Alex Thomson Racing Team have confirmed that the IMOCA Open 60 HUGO BOSS will make a full technical stop in the Falkland Islands.

Members of the shore team are reported to be en route to the capital city Stanley. Meantime Andy Meiklejohn and Wouter Verbraak have been in a holding pattern 50 miles off the east coast of the islands riding out the conditions and are expected to wait until the support team are in situ before they make their approach.

The duo have reported that they worked round the clock for more than 48 hours trying to effect the necessary repairs, but need additional materials to be able to set a decent sail plan.

(Source: Yachting World, Wednesday 16 Mar 2011)

The 70 Sunreef Power JAMBO is a rare example of a luxury medium-sized power yacht (60-80 feet) with extremely high fuel efficiency, trans-Pacific range and top speeds reaching 20+ knots. This exceptional yacht was conceived by Sunreef Yachts with the help and advice from Laurent Bourgnon, a famous sailor with a wealth of experience in catamaran regattas. His expertise has been invaluable in the design of the first Sunreef power yacht. All other semi-custom yachts from the Sunreef power line have maintained the same hydrodynamic and performance-oriented line of the 70 footer.

The luxury expedition catamaran JAMBO was designed to undertake round-the-world trip in the most comfortable conditions and using the lowest amount of fuel possible. The yacht is currently cruising around Raiatea, French Polynesia, where the Bourgnon family has been settled for a while and enjoys the relaxed local lifestyle.

The fuel consumption was originally 13 litres/ hour/ engine at 10 knots at 2,300 RPM. Following structural and technical modifications made by Sunreef Yachts (installation of water bulbs of 5.5m, and additional aft swimming platforms, increasing the JAMBO's LOA to 85feet) and other companies (remapping of the engines for optimal use, and new sustainable and smooth antifouling), these numbers have been significantly reduced.

The consumption now is 7.5 litres/ hour/ engine at 10 knots at 1,500 RPM, or 15 litres /hour!
"Thanks to the remapping of the engines, they now generate 420HP (instead of the original 370HP each), increasing the maximum speed to 22 knots. To cruise at a top speed of 22 knots, JAMBO needs 160 litres/ hour for both engines at 3,400 RPM, which is a very good result," confirms Laurent Bourgnon.

Example Itinerary/ Budget/ Fuel Consumption/ Range

Port Camargue (South of France) - Puerto Montt (West Coast of Chile)
Distance: 8,500 nautical miles

Time: 1,000 hours (with several stopovers along the way)

Total fuel consumption: 15,000 litres, or 1,000 hours x 15 litres per hour at 10 knots
(Lower consumption on the Atlantic Ocean due to good currents; higher consumption in the Patagonian channels with opposing currents, strong wind and speed reaching 15 knots to reach safe harbour for the night)

Consumption per mile: 15,000 litres divided by 8,474 miles = 1.77 litres per hour

Range at 10 knots with 20,000 litres = 11,300 nautical miles

Budget : 15,000 litres at 0,50 Euros: 7,500 Euros

To continue from Puerto Montt to Raiatea, JAMBO needed only 5,000 litres of the total 20,000 litres of its reserves.

A perfectionist to the last, Laurent is still working on improving JAMBO's performance and fuel efficiency. He is now working on new propellers, which are far more efficient that the original ones. Another remapping of the engines is also planned. The proposed changes will further increase the top speed, and bring an additional 20% improvement in fuel consumption. All together it makes the 70 Sunreef Power the best yacht for travelling to the most remote places around the world at a reasonable cost while maintaining luxury and maximum safety.

(Source: World Super Yacht , Monday, 14 March 2011)

Secret Mens Business 3.5, the overall winner of the 2010 Rolex Sydney to Hobart is now officially on the market.

South Australian Geoff Boettcher and his crew, after some serious campaigning won the prestigious Tattersall's Cup, the overall Rolex Sydney to Hobart crown, with his Hart Marine built Reichel Pugh 51 Secret Mens Business 3.5.

Sail World interviewed the smiling Hobart winner at Audi Victoria Week.

Our question to Geoff was 'Where to from here?'

Boettcher responded 'Winning the Hobart Race was fantastic and we were just blown out of the water. I am not saying we did not deserve it; we worked very hard.'

The Adelaide veteran explained 'one of the real secrets for us in winning our highly competitive Hobart division, which contains a host of 50-60 footers, and the overall IRC handicap was the strength of the boat and a highly experienced crew.

'When we had heavy conditions on the second night (of the Hobart) we were able to make big gains because we were able to keep the peddle hard to the floor.

'Our emphasis has always been on strong boats. Across the years we have done a lot of sea miles, campaigning from Adelaide to Hamilton Island and Hobart.

'There was a lot of preparation; we had the right guys on board, the boat was very good and we found that element of luck that has always eluded us in the past.

'While the media focussed on my 22 Hobarts, you must remember half of them were as a crew member on other boats.

'It is only since '94 I have put my own boat together and it is probably the last seven years we have seriously had a go at winning the Hobart.

'The first 'Secret Men's Business' (SMB 1) was a '42 Murray Burns Dovell design launched in 1996 and competed in many years of great regatta's and Hobart's including the disastrous 1998 race.

'SMB 2 was a '46 Reichel Pugh which was successful in Audi Geelong Week and at the Hamilton Island regatta but was badly damaged in a collision in the pre-start of race 1 in 2007. When the mast was wiped off the truck returning to Hart Marine, it was decided a new RP boat would be commissioned.

'SMB 3, again a Reichel Pugh '49, was commissioned in 2008 just in time for the Hobart Race. This hull was found lacking in upwind boat speed and it was decided to replace the hull with a new RP '51 hull renaming it SMB 3.5' Geoff recounted.

As this season draws to a close Secret Men's Business 3.5 will concentrate on taking out the local Adelaide IRC series championships. In the 2011 Port Lincoln Week Regatta SMB 3.5 finished on equal points with Scarlet Runner but ended up in second place on a count back.

Secret Men's Business 3.5 is now for sale. There are plenty of wins left in her and as Boettcher said it's not often a Grand Prix boat of this calibre comes on the market at a fraction of the cost of a new boat.

Boettcher is happy to consider a trade to a smaller boat (with an appropriate adjustment) such as a Sydney 38, to fill the gap for a year, before a new path evolves.

For more information on the sale of SMB 3.5 please contact Geoff's Boat Manager, Tim Cowen on yachtingsolutions(at)bigpond.com

by Secret Men's Business 3.5 team and Sail-World.com

(Source: Sail-world, Wednesday 16 Mar 2011)

Gulf Craft is gearing up for an impressive presentation of its yacht manufacturing capabilities at the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show (ADYS), taking place from March 24 till 26 at YAS Marina. The company's strong presence is built on a successful 2010 for the UAE luxury yacht manufacturer, in which it delivered its largest super yacht ever exported to the European market, the Majesty 125, and reported a 40% increase in revenue.

After showing its Majesty 125 at the Informa Yacht Group's Monaco Yacht Show last September, the company has announced that its brand flagship, the Majesty 135, currently under construction is also sold.

At the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, Gulf Craft will be showcasing some of its most recent product releases, including the Majesty 101, featuring a refurbished interior, and the new Majesty 70, featuring a striking profile with panoramic side windows and a spacious interior.

Completing the product line-up, the Gulf Craft team will also be showcasing the brand new 95 foot yacht that will introduce a new lifestyle concept to the Middle East, the 'Gulf 95 Exp' and help to target a new emerging customer base worldwide.

The Gulf 95 is a luxury motor yacht that takes a different approach to yachting with the concept of luxurious 'art de vivre' living on the water at the heart of its design. The wider beam maximizes onboard space and comfort for private use, but also caters to the increasing market demand to be able to entertain a larger group of guests. The spaciousness is complemented by the wraparound windows on the main deck giving a 360 degree panoramic view, and increases the amount of natural light inside the yacht. The interior of the Gulf 95 Exp is finished with the utmost attention to detail, and the option of special customization for each owner.

Embracing the notion of 'fuel and forget', the Gulf 95 Exp is for those people who wish to slow down and shift back a gear when they are on the water. In-keeping with the aim of a hassle-free atmosphere and lifestyle, this means the Gulf 95 Exp is a practical, low maintenance yacht with lower running costs focusing on convenience as opposed to complexity.

With a twist on explorer yachting, the Gulf 95 Exp marks Gulf Craft's dedication to pushing the boundaries of design and testing new ideas and concepts when it comes to styling yachts on the international yachting scene, as opposed to merely being focused on building fast and sleek luxury motor yachts and superyachts.

Building on the success of the hugely popular Majesty range, UAE-based Gulf Craft will also be displaying the Majesty 70 at this year's Abu Dhabi Yacht Show. The new model aims to fill the gap between the Majesty 63 and the Majesty 77, delivering unsurpassed luxury for up to 8 guests. The panoramic side window design creates the impression you are out on the water while seated in the spacious saloon. It has resulted in a yacht design with an exclusive presence and striking profile. With ample space for toys on the fly-bridge or on the optional hydraulic swim platform, the Majesty 70 is an elegant fly-bridge motor yacht with a large fun factor.

(Source:SuperYachtTimes.com, Tuesday 15 March 2011)

Since IAATO launched a new public awareness campaign in 2010 for those hoping to visit Antarctica independently on a yacht or motor vessel with 12 or fewer people, it has shared its expertise and resources with many in this independent-minded community.

Unlike the commercial tourism sector, where marketing, staffing and operational requirements make planning -- usually years in advance -- a vital necessity, the private yachting crowd can more often be described as spontaneous and spur-of-the-moment when deciding where next to point their bow. It is not unusual for a yachtsman to listen to the chatter in Ushuaia, Puerto Williams or Punta Arenas and suddenly decide that Antarctica sounds like a great adventure.

Unfortunately, since many of these sailors have limited experience sailing in polar regions, they also have minimal exposure to the myriad preparations involved with properly planning and executing such a journey.

The IAATO outreach program was created in response to several incidents caused by unauthorized yachts that resulted in damage to the environment as well as important historic sites.

'Because some of these individuals lacked ready access to important protocols and guidelines that IAATO members have been following for years, there have been some incidents that could have been avoided,' notes Skip Novak, chair of the IAATO yacht working group. 'Those of us who are IAATO yacht operators cross paths with these private boats all the time, and have tried various means to encourage them to be properly authorized, prepared and instep with relevant guidelines and restrictions.'

'It prompted us to make our information and resources available - free, but in a more formal and systematic way - to non-IAATO yachtsmen, who would obviously benefit from having this information and making sound decisions about whether to go or not,' he added.

The outreach campaign included the creation of multilingual posters and pamphlets - in English, French and Spanish - which features basic guidelines as well as links to governmental contacts for permits and other vital information. Displayed at yacht clubs and port facilities in Chile, Argentina and the Falklands/Malvinas - the most common launching points for yacht expeditions to Antarctica - the information has been well received.

Patricia Galvin, operations manager for the Ushuaia port agent Navalia and an IAATO member, added that the yacht information is timely. 'Those of us familiar with the regular ships and commercial yachts in the region have noticed an increase in private yacht traffic, with more and more seemingly intent on sailing to the Antarctic Peninsula. It is in everyone's best interest that they know what they are getting into, and be permitted by their national authority or flag state for such a trip.'

She added, 'Of course, it is the private yachts that have not indicated their plans to sail south which are a bigger concern, so our hope is the IAATO poster and pamphlets will act as a warning of sorts, to make them aware of the bigger issues involved.'

by Debra Kelman Loew

(Source:Sail-world, Tuesday 15 Mar 2011)

Blue Water Rallies Ltd has announced that it will cease trading on 30 April at the end of the current round the world rally which has, effectively, ground to halt in the Gulf of Aden, on the edge of pirate territory.

The rally's 20 yachts are currently stuck in Salalah, Oman, following the deaths of four American sailors who left the rally and were shot by pirates. Rally skippers have taken the almost unilateral decision to ship their yachts to Turkey rather than risk sailing the next leg to Djibouti.

Blue Water Rallies had already postponed their planned ninth round the world rally, in 2011-13, with a lack of entries, due the recession and continuing fears over piracy.

The current rally was due to end in Crete next month and will now end in Marmaris, Turkey, where it is hoped, the yachts will arrive as deck cargo.

In a press statement, Chris Mounsey, Blue Water Rallies managing dirctor said: 'Since its formation in 1997, Blue Water Rallies have organised eight world rallies and take great pride in having enabled over 200 owners and hundreds of crew members to realise their dream of a circumnavigation. The current economic downturn and a dramatic rise in piracy in the Indian Ocean (which shows little prospect of resolution), have led us to make this disappointing, but we feel realistic, decision.'

The Blue Water Rally was established in 1998, following the success of the RAF Yacht Club's 1995 round the world Tradewinds Rally, when 38 boats left Gibraltar in November and returned in the summer of 1997. Former YM editor Geoff Pack joined the rally in Tonga in 1996, a few months before he died of cancer aged 39.

Two of the rally organisers, Peter Seymour and Tony Diment went on to set up the Blue Water Round the World Rally company, which launched in 1998. Later Yachting Monthly became a media partner with the company, reporting on the round the world rally, attending long-distance cruising seminars and covering the annual Yachting Monthly Biscay Triangle from Torquay to La Coruna in Spain and back to La Trinite, in South Brittany.

YM's editor, Paul Gelder paid tribute to the rally's organisational skills and friendliness. 'The event saw a compact group of like-minded cruising yachtsmen achieving their dream of a circumnavigation in 22 months. Credit is also due for taking more than 250 yachts through the Gulf of Aden without incident. Rally organisers generously waived the rally fees in 2005-2007 so that the restored Gipsy Moth IV could make her second circumnavigation, with disadvantaged children. Despite the famous shipwreck on a reef in the Pacific she returned to Plymouth 40 years to the day of Chichester's epic 1966-67.

Rally co-director Tony Diment told Yachting Monthly: 'Prior to the Trade Winds Rally in 1995, GPS, autopilots and reliable reefing systems had not been common place on cruising yachts and it was still considered necessary to have crews of 4 to 5 people aboard each yacht. However, following a Yachting Monthly article asking the Trade Winds participants what was the single most difficult problem in sailing around the world, almost everyone said that it was crew compatibility. On that rally there was a`pool' of around 50 to 60 crew that by mutual agreement moved from yacht to yacht every 3 or 4 months, giving a rally population of around 150 people.

'After the Yachting Monthly article people thought that they had the answer to the crew problem - don't have any crew! The effect was instantaneous: the first Blue Water Rally in 1998 had amongst its fleet 12 yachts that for the first time had only `two-up' (husband and wife) crews. The rally population immediately plummeted to around 80 people and remained at that level for ever more.'

The Biscay Triangle was created to give yachtsmen the first taste of sailing longer distances and for many the 500 mile passage from Torquay to La Coruna in NW Spain was their first trip outside of the English Channel. In all, 14 Biscay Triangle Rallies were organised. Averaging about 15 yachts per rally this must have initiated over 200 yachts to the adventure of extended cruising. Only one rally never made it to Spain - the 2009 Rally when continual Force 7 South Westerlies plagued Biscay for over a week. (the rally diverted to South Brittany instead).

Two of BWR's directors, Peter Seymour and Richard Bolt are helping to organize a one-off round-the-world rally in 2013 to celebrate Oyster Yachts' 40th anniversary.

Footnote: It was Jimmy Cornell, founder of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, who launched the first of four round the world sailing events for cruising yachtsmen. First were the Europa Rallies of 1991-92 and 1994-95, followed by the Expo1998 and the Millennium Odyssey rallies.

The current rally was due to end in Crete next month and will now end in Marmaris, Turkey, where it is hoped, the yachts will arrive as deck cargo.

In a press statement, Chris Mounsey, Blue Water Rallies managing dirctor said: 'Since its formation in 1997, Blue Water Rallies have organised eight world rallies and take great pride in having enabled over 200 owners and hundreds of crew members to realise their dream of a circumnavigation. The current economic downturn and a dramatic rise in piracy in the Indian Ocean (which shows little prospect of resolution), have led us to make this disappointing, but we feel realistic, decision.'

The Blue Water Rally was established in 1998, following the success of the RAF Yacht Club's 1995 round the world Tradewinds Rally, when 38 boats left Gibraltar in November and returned in the summer of 1997. Former YM editor Geoff Pack joined the rally in Tonga in 1996, a few months before he died of cancer aged 39.

Two of the rally organisers, Peter Seymour and Tony Diment went on to set up the Blue Water Round the World Rally company, which launched in 1998. Later Yachting Monthly became a media partner with the company, reporting on the round the world rally, attending long-distance cruising seminars and covering the annual Yachting Monthly Biscay Triangle from Torquay to La Coruna in Spain and back to La Trinite, in South Brittany.

YM's editor, Paul Gelder paid tribute to the rally's organisational skills and friendliness. 'The event saw a compact group of like-minded cruising yachtsmen achieving their dream of a circumnavigation in 22 months. Credit is also due for taking more than 250 yachts through the Gulf of Aden without incident. Rally organisers generously waived the rally fees in 2005-2007 so that the restored Gipsy Moth IV could make her second circumnavigation, with disadvantaged children. Despite the famous shipwreck on a reef in the Pacific she returned to Plymouth 40 years to the day of Chichester's epic 1966-67.

Rally co-director Tony Diment told Yachting Monthly: 'Prior to the Trade Winds Rally in 1995, GPS, autopilots and reliable reefing systems had not been common place on cruising yachts and it was still considered necessary to have crews of 4 to 5 people aboard each yacht. However, following a Yachting Monthly article asking the Trade Winds participants what was the single most difficult problem in sailing around the world, almost everyone said that it was crew compatibility. On that rally there was a 'pool' of around 50 to 60 crew that by mutual agreement moved from yacht to yacht every 3 or 4 months, giving a rally population of around 150 people.

'After the Yachting Monthly article people thought that they had the answer to the crew problem - don't have any crew! The effect was instantaneous: the first Blue Water Rally in 1998 had amongst its fleet 12 yachts that for the first time had only 'two-up' (husband and wife) crews. The rally population immediately plummeted to around 80 people and remained at that level for ever more.'

The Biscay Triangle was created to give yachtsmen the first taste of sailing longer distances and for many the 500 mile passage from Torquay to La Coruna in NW Spain was their first trip outside of the English Channel. In all, 14 Biscay Triangle Rallies were organised. Averaging about 15 yachts per rally this must have initiated over 200 yachts to the adventure of extended cruising. Only one rally never made it to Spain - the 2009 Rally when continual Force 7 South Westerlies plagued Biscay for over a week. (the rally diverted to South Brittany instead).

Two of BWR's directors, Peter Seymour and Richard Bolt are helping to organize a one-off round-the-world rally in 2013 to celebrate Oyster Yachts' 40th anniversary.

Footnote: It was Jimmy Cornell, founder of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, who launched the first of four round the world sailing events for cruising yachtsmen. First were the Europa Rallies of 1991-92 and 1994-95, followed by the Expo1998 and the Millennium Odyssey rallies.

by Richard Durham

(Source: YachtingMonthly, Tuesday, 15 Mar 2011)

In the Third World sailing boats are still a familiar sight, used for transport and fishing.

Their delicate sails enliven the horizons of many a coastal waterway.

In the Western World they have long been relegated to the field of pleasure and sport - except for a few hardy survivors, and the whimsically named Skipjack is one of them.

A century ago, hundreds of skipjacks plied the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland on the eastern shores of the USA, sailing her waters and dragging dredges in search of oysters so lucrative they were called Chesapeake Gold.

With their distinctive shallow draft and two-sail rig, skipjacks were a unique - and iconic - workboat of the Chesapeake Bay.

Now there are believed to be only six working skipjacks left in Maryland. And just four have reported catching oysters so far this season: Hilda M. Willing, Thomas Clyde, Fannie L. Daugherty and Somerset.

The skipjacks are victims as much of the changing times as the dwindling oyster populations. It just doesn't make much sense these days to sail big, wooden sailboats to catch fewer and fewer oysters.

There are perhaps a couple dozen skipjacks on the bay, but most are owned by nonprofit ventures and museums or used as pleasure boats or for charter cruising trips.

'It's been slipping every year for the last hundred at least,' said Christopher White, author of 'Skipjack: The Story of America's Last Sailing Oystermen.' 'I'm actually surprised these six men working today are still out there dredging. I would have predicted they would have not made it as long as this. It just goes to show you how much grit and tenacity they have to keep working.'

White spent time with skipjack captains in the 1990s, working on the boats and chronicling the dying way of life for his book, which was published in 2009.

The gaff rigged Skipjack was specifically developed to dredge for oysters in Chesapeake Bay. In the late 1800s, more than a thousand reportedly plied the bay. They were relatively inexpensive to build, and their shallow draft enabled them to dredge oysters closer in to shore. Watermen often built the craft themselves in their backyards.

Deal Island is one of the last bastions of oyster dredging, and still holds a skipjack race every Labor Day. In the old days in boom times they could catch 400 or 500 bushels a day. It was grueling work, though, sailing through all kinds of weather in fall and winter.

But oyster harvests plummeted in the late 1980s, as diseases devastated the bay's once-abundant shellfish. The statewide catch is a fraction of what it was before.

About the Skipjack:
The skipjack is sloop-rigged, with a sharply raked mast and extremely long boom (typically the same length as the deck of the boat). The mainsail is ordinarily triangular, though gaff rigged examples were built. The jib is self-tending and mounted on a bowsprit. This sail plan affords the power needed to pull the dredge, particularly in light winds, while at the same time minimizing the crew required to handle the boat.

The hull is wooden and V-shaped, with a hard chine and a square stern. In order to provide a stable platform when dredging, skipjacks have very low freeboard and a wide beam (averaging one third the length on deck). A centerboard is mounted in lieu of a keel. The mast is hewn from a single log, with two stays on either side, without spreaders; it is stepped towards the bow of the boat, with a small cabin. As typical in regional practice the bow features a curving longhead under the bowsprit, with carved and painted trailboards. A small figurehead is common. A typical skipjack is 40 to 50 feet in length. The boats use direct link Edson worm steering gear mounted immediately forward of the transom.

The dredge windlass and its motor are mounted amidships, between the mast and deckhouse. Rollers and bumpers are mounted on either side of the boat to guide the dredge line and protect the hull.

by Lee Mylchreest

(Source:Sail-world, Monday, 14 Mar 2011)

Barcelona World Race skippers Iker Martínez and Xabi Fernández on board Mapfre are 368-miles behind Virbac-Paprec 3 (Jean-Pierre Dick and Loick Peyron).

The determined Spanish pair refuse to concede victory to the French leaders. 'In terms of the leaders, at least they haven't got away,' commented Xabi Fernández (ESP) today.

'More than worry about catching up with them, the first step is not to let them get too far away, so we are constantly on their case. Four hundred miles are recoverable with the North Atlantic still to go and above all the Gibraltar Strait, as we all know what it is like to get there, and then there's the Mediterranean. It means we are still very much in the race and it keeps us going.'

There are mixed feelings for the pair, who will need every mile of the course if they are to overtake Virbac-Paprec 3, but equally will be missing their loved ones sharply after 73 days at sea. 'Today it is my daughter Noa's birthday, and she is one year old! The year has flown past! We are really looking forward to seeing our families, but we are nearly there - just 20 days or so more and we are there...' added Fernández.

This evening Virbac-Paprec 3 are averaging around 3 knots faster than the Spanish team. The boat making the best averages is Renault Z.E., at nearly 16 knots over the course of this afternoon, as Pachi Rivero and Antoñio Piris (ESP) clear the low pressure system. Estrella Damm, around 350 miles behind and still in stronger pressure, is the fastest in fleet tonight, at 15.8 knots.

Meanwhile GAES Centros Audititos continues to make good progress now in seventh, this evening crossing Mirabaud's line some 50 miles away from the dismasted yacht as they make for shore, whilst work continues on their long-time rival Hugo Boss, at anchor in the Falklands for a second night tonight. **

Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) Virbac-Paprec 3: 'We're not quite in Salvador de Bahia, but it's almost carnival in Brazil.

It was a very long night because we had a lot of squalls extremely hard work but the sun has cleared the way now and we have a pretty decent trade wind now.

We try to sleep well and take some time for yourself when you can. I have seen lot of movies but I have not had time to read because the battle with Mapfre is intense enough so that when we are awake we are pushing and we are careful and we do not have much time for us between food, the weather. But, then the idea is to finish first into Barcelona. Double-handed we sleeop more, but when we are awake we are probably more proactive, there is more to do with the boat. And that is not always the case when you are solo. Once we are awake we are hard at it, and that is not always the case when you are solo, you do what you can humanly do.

The last two days have not exactly been monotonous. Last night there were plenty of things happening and we were not often on deck together. I am very proud of having all our sails intact and will hopefully still have the full inventory when we reach Barcelona. We still have a few days up to the Doldrums and should pick up speed to 17 knots rather than 10-11 we have been doing. Five minutes ago I was looking at the meteo for the Doldrums and the bad news is that they are quite active, which is not good, but we will do our best to manage it and but of course there is always a luck factor which is unfortunately inevitable, and even if we are very careful, you can't control everything.

And after the Doldrums we look ahead to the weather patterns that will influence the date of our finish in Barcelona. And so I hope that the Mediterranean will be good to us.

I think that the battle will be to the finish line. There is pressure and we need to be able to deal with it, which is all good training for the next race.

Alex Pella (ESP) Estrella Damm: 'The sea is very big and coming at us from all directions, as it has been pretty much since Mirabaud lost its mast. With the NW'ly wind we have faces of up to six metres and the boat slams violently which is like crashing into a wall constantly. We have some very violent slamming, and that threatens the boat a bit. Last night we were sailing with three reefs and the staysail in 30-35 knots of wind when the staysail hook broke and the sail went in the water. We picked it out again and it is good that it is not torn, and to repair the hook is quite simple but it does require a mast climb and that is too complicated and dangerous at the moment.

As we knew there was 40 knots coming and we did not really know how the boat would be with three reefs, we were worried without a forestay, so we put in the fourth reef to stop the mast inverting and have taken our foot off the gas a bit

We are sailing more steadily and slowly, about eight knots and without endangering ourselves or the boat. And at the moment we cant put up any headsail because the storm jib uses the same hook and to use the Solent requires the breeze to come down to 30 knots or below, so we need to be a bit patient yet,

Every day my rib gets a little better. I am not taking any painkillers. Every time I make an effort I notice it, whereas before anything I did with my left arm was sore. Pepe is taking painkillers too and he is a little better, especially on his knee. We are fine physically. We rested last night, and it has been good. What happens is that we have again lost mile which we had caught up, so we need to do it again.

Ludovic Aglaor (FRA) Forum Maritim Catala: 'It is true we get some information and we would little more, but primarily we need to be dealing with the sailing, so one is less up to date with current affairs, and there is certainly a delay in receiving information and we are not really on the same schedule as those on land. And so we learn things a little late, but I feel that this winter there has been a lot of thing going on in North Africa, the earthquake in New Zealand and now in Japan. It is always weird to be so cut off and remote from all these things.'

Xabi Fernandez (ESP) MAPFRE: 'Here we go, heading North. We are happy because the weather is better right now. We have had some squalls, especially during the night, that have made difficult to sail cause suddenly you are stopped and... that's it!

Of course, we still have an eye on the leader and at the same time we feel better since the boats behind us are not so close as before anymore.

We have Northeasterly winds, 12-15 knots. After the St. Helena High you all know that we have some days quite windy that allowed us to sail fast again with a terrible sun above us.

As for Virbac-Paprec 3 they are not really far away at least. As much as trying to catch the French pair, what we have to avoid that the gap between them and us getting wider, so we are always stalking them. 400 nm is a distance that we still can make up, above all thinking that we still have all the North Atlantic, the Gibraltar Strait and the Mediterranean to sail... All we know how the Med is, so we are alive and pushing hard!!

Today is my daughter's birthday. She is one! Time goes fast... I can't see them but I have been able to speak with my wife Larraitz and my son Adur on the phone.

We are looking forward to see and be with them... 20 days more or so and we will be there.'

** Andy Meiklejohn (NZL) and Wouter Verbraak (NED) made a stop for repairs, to the ongoing mainsail track issue as well as sails. The black IMOCA 60 reached Barrow Harbour, East Falkland Island and halted sailing around 1930hrs (UTC) this evening. As they plan to anchor and complete the work without outside assistance they will not be subject to a mandatory 48-hours stopover.

by Barcelona World Race

(Source: Sail-world, Tuesday 15 Mar 2011)

Abu Dhabi Yacht Show - Two of the largest superyachts built in the UAE have made this year's list of the world's top 100 largest superyachts, according to Superyachts.com, the online resource for the international superyacht community.

Abu Dhabi's ADM Shipyards' Swift 141 landed in sixth place, taking the newly built vessel straight onto the prestigious list, while the 162-meter luxury vessel 'Dubai' has retained its ranking as the world's second largest superyacht. The UAE is one of only two countries, besides traditional yacht building powerhouse Germany, to have multiple mentions in the annual listing's Top Ten.

'The report is a confirmation of the UAE's growing prominence as a builder and exporter of premium luxury superyachts. That positioning is strengthened by this month's staging of the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show which will further propel UAE shipyards into the international industry spotlight,' said Andy Treadwell, Managing Director of Informa Yacht Group (IYG), organizers of the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show (ADYS).

'The UAE, in particular Abu Dhabi, possesses huge potential to become a yachting and marine powerhouse in the near future. Though relatively a much younger market, the UAE is already punching above its weight with some of the largest superyachts in construction being built by these locally based shipyards. They are already proving that 'Made in UAE' superyachts can take their place alongside their more established counterparts.'

ADM Shipyards' Swift 141 is due to be completed this year at the company's shipyard in the UAE capital. The 141-meter yacht comprises the largest composite yacht superstructure ever built and when launched, will be one of the world's fastest superyachts with a top speed of 26 knots. Its striking exterior styling and interior design are the work of Paris-based Pierrejean Design Studio.

The Abu Dhabi MAR Group also recently launched in London its new project, Panache, a new 65-meter luxury vessel, through its subsidiary CMN Yachts. A model of the superyacht will be showcased in the Middle East for the very first time at ADYS. 'We're bringing Panache to Abu Dhabi because we're confident it will appeal very strongly to yachting enthusiasts from the region. We have other surprises that will be unveiled during the show on Abu Dhabi MAR Group's stand,' said Cyril Le Sourd, Sales and Marketing Manager, CMN Yachts.

Treadwell likewise noted the success of another UAE homegrown yacht builder, Gulf Craft, whose flagship superyacht concept, Majesty 135 was sold at the Monaco Yacht Show, another IYG event, last year. Ordered by a Middle Eastern client for US $17 million (AED 62.4 million), the superyacht is being built in the Emirates and is expected to be completed this year.

'The Middle East has always been a key market in terms of superyacht buyers. With some of the largest and most impressive vessels now being built in the UAE, the industry is coming to the clients. It's an exciting time for UAE shipyards,' he added.

According to Erwin Bamps, COO, Gulf Craft, the total number of yachts - from small boats to the larger and more luxurious superyachts - manufactured by the company last year reached 500. The figure is expected to grow in 2011, fueled by an increase in demand for new-builds.

'We are going to be very cautiously optimistic this year. Having said that, we still see demand growing for new yachts by at least fifteen percent,' added Bamps, whose company registered a forty percent increase in sales in 2010, boosted by a recovering luxury sector which saw clients who had pre-crisis plans to buy yachts returning to the market. Bamps also observed that Abu Dhabi has increasingly become an attractive proposition as a regional hub in the yachting industry, continuing to draw international names and buyers.

ADYS is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), with the iconic Yas Hotel - the only one in the world straddling an F1™ race track - as the official hospitality partner.

This year's ADYS, running 24 - 26 March 2011 at Yas Marina, will be co-located and jointly promoted with the season opener of the FIA GT1 World Championship 2011 - one of the most glamorous events on the motor racing calendar.

'This year is one in which Abu Dhabi celebrates its rich maritime heritage in a thoroughly modern context through the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show and the year-end hosting of the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race,' said Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, ADTA. 'With fantastic marina infrastructure now coming on line we are ready to chart a course as an international marine destination whether for powered or sailing craft.'

by Celine Fenet

(Source: Sail-world, Monday 14 Mar 2011)

Phoenix Cup Hong Kong to be held on Saturday 19th March 2011.

Phoenix Satellite Television Co. Ltd. and Phoenix New Media Inc., in co-operation with the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, are pleased to announce the inaugural Phoenix Cup which will take place in Victoria Harbour this Saturday.

The Phoenix Cup is part of a series of events to celebrate Phoenix Satellite's 15th Anniversary and this particular event will see over 50 sailors racing in 15 J/80 boats, each sporting a new Phoenix Satellite spinnaker specially made to mark the occasion.

CPPCC Vice Chairman, Mr. Tung Chee Hwa will attend the Opening Ceremony at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club as Guest of Honour and will fire the start gun. The Opening Ceremony commences at 1545hrs with the Race Start at 1600hrs. The Prize Giving Ceremony will be held in the evening after racing.

by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

(Source: Sail-world, Monday 14 Mar 2011)

ECOsuperacht is pleased to announce that they will be joining the Antibes Yacht Show this year as their new Carbon Neutral partner. Not only will ECOsuperacht be offsetting CO2 emissions from the Show's site in Port Vauban, but they will also be offsetting CO2 emissions from the 12,000 visitors who are expected to attend the Show this year from all over the World. ECOsuperyacht will carbon offset 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions on behalf of the Show this year. Of these emissions, roughly 25% will be generated by the show itself, whilst the other 75% will be generated by visitors travelling to the show.

ECOsuperyacht provides energy and emissions management services for superyachts. It works with captains and owners to reduce the fuel consumption of their yachts by up to 15%, without any loss of performance. As part of its programme, the company works with its clients to reinvest some of the cost savings achieved in purchasing carbon offsets to cover CO2 emissions from the remaining fuel use, making the yacht 100% carbon neutral whilst delivering significant reductions in annual running costs. ECOsuperyacht are so confident about the efficiency gains available that if the cost savings produced don't cover the cost of the carbon offsets, then they'll meet the difference. ECOsuperyacht offers owners a free in depth energy and emissions survey as part of their service, together with ongoing support in optimising energy consumption and offsetting CO2 emissions.

With fuel prices increasing dramatically just before the start of the season, there has never been a better time to talk to ECOsuperyacht.

(Source: SuperYachtTimes.com, Friday, 11 March 2011)

Continuing its success in Europe, the United States and the Middle East, Mega Marine further expands to Southeast Asian markets.

The sales team will be present at the 2011 Hainan Rendezvous from April 1-4 and at the Singapore Yacht Show April 8-10.

Two in-house experts, Captain Carsten Franik and Martina Haas are proudly presenting the comprehensive portfolio of Mega Marine to clients and the yachting community at stand F4.

Martina Haas, Sales Director, comments: "Due to the increasing demand of our Far East clients and our contacts to shipyards in this region, out attendance at these two major events is essential. We are looking forward to the positive growth and keen demand in Far East with immense enthusiasm."

(Source : SuperYachtTimes.com, Friday, 11 March 2011)

Fortune favors the Barcelona World Race leaders and those who have more recently entered the Atlantic, but the trio of IMOCA Open 60 skippers who are encountering a boisterous active low pressure off the River Plate, on the Uruguay-Argentine border, will be pleased to race on into Monday morning in what should be diminishing winds in an improving wind angle.

The steep, at times chaotic seas have already contributed to the demise of Mirabaud's rig. Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret reported late yesterday afternoon that their mast had snapped above the third spreader. A battle to secure the broken top section proved unwinnable, and before long it appears the broken section took away two more spreaders and in the end the duo had to cut their rig free.

Speaking this morning live to the Visio-Conference with Barcelona, Wavre outlined that the duo now planned to ride out the remainder of the worst of the stormy low pressure system before attempting to set up a jury rig using Mirabaud's boom and storm jib.

The Swiss skipper, who had to abandon his 2008-2009 Vendée Globe with keel damage, remarked that Mirabaud was low in diesel and so will need to be self-reliant to sail towards the Argentinian coast which was about 650 miles to the west this morning.

Wavre recalled: 'When it happened we had the seas coming from ahead and we were slamming, the boat making about 10 knots. We heard a crack. We saw the port side spreader at the third level collapse and then everything went very quickly. We could do nothing as the top seven meters of the mast fell. We fought for a good time to secure the remainder of the mast and tried to cut the sails free to set the two parts of the mast free from each other. But the top section of the mast hit the spreaders, smashed them and the whole remaining section became unstable. So we had to cut the shrouds and let it go.

It was two or three am by the time we had the deck reasonably clear. The deck is not damaged, the boat is watertight and that's important. Now the priority is to ride out the depression. We don't know how we will get to the Argentine coast, we don't have much diesel and so we might need to rely on our own resources to get there.'

Mirabaud falls from what was shaping up to be a tight three way battle up the Atlantic, leaving Neutrogena and Estrella Damm to slug it out upwind into the low pressure. They are just nine miles apart this afternoon in terms of distance to the finish, but today Neutrogena's German co-skipper Boris Herrmann reported that they were well set for the period of gale force winds and big seas, and to date were pleased to have been holding off the advances of the Spanish duo Alex Pella and Pepe Ribes. The past winner of the Portimao Global Ocean Race round the world in Class 40 yachts said they already were seeing the most wind they have raced upwind today:

Herrmann said today:'It is pretty windy now we have between 31 and 36 knots going upwind and the third reef and the small staysail that we call the trinquette. We expect to stay on this tack for a couple of days and have strong winds for the next 20 hours, maybe 24 hours. We are down to the smallest sails and normally it should all remain as it is now, the forecast that we see just now is for not much more than this wind, and so we just push through. We are ready. If it gets more then we have to take the headsail down'.

In contrast for the leader Virbac-Paprec 3, sailing now in improving trade winds off the Brazilian coast, it was a chance for Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron to recall fond memories of their 2005 Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic race victory which cemented their partnership. And of course effectively now the duo only have the equivalent of a reciprocal Transat to the finish of this race, another exciting milestone on the homewards leg. They lead Mapfre by 369 miles this afternoon.

Renault Z.E's Pachi Rivero and Toño Piris continue to do excellent work in third place, getting a good balance between attack and defense as they work upwind towards this difficult system, but in fact the Spanish duo should be able to miss out nicely on the worst effects of the low and profit when they reach the more westerly side of it.

Suspicions that Hugo Boss has been slow and compromised since the Falklands seem to be confirmed by the report from the Alex Thomson Racing Team that the Juan K designed IMOCA Open 60 will stop in the east of the Falklands as the two skippers Andy Meiklejohn and Wouter Verbraak seek to make a series of repairs, unsupported and unaided using only the material and tools they have on board the boat.

The top of the mainsail mast track is understood to be a priority repair, but sail repairs are also on the job list which should get the duo back closer to maximum potential for their 6650 miles they will have to the finish in Barcelona. The team say they expect to take less than 24 hours for the repairs. As it is intended to be unaided, with no outside assistance, it would not incur the mandatory 48 hours minimum.

Meantime Gaes Centros Auditivos have been making good progress in seventh place after routing to the west of the Falklands in good reaching and downwind conditions, already 89 miles ahead of Hugo Boss, and at 13.6 knots the girls are the fastest of the fleet this Sunday afternoon.

Standings at Sunday 13 March 2011 (TU+1) :

1 Virbac-Paprec 3 at 3931 miles to finish
2 Mapfre at 368 miles to leader
3 Renault Z.E 1512 miles to leader
4 Neutrogena at1842 miles
5 Estrella Damm Sailing Team at 1823 miles
6 Mirabaud at 2215 miles
7 Gaes Centros Auditivos at 2512
8 Hugo Boss at 2600 miles
9 Forum Maritim Catala at 4729 miles
11 We Are Water at 4929 miles
12 Central Lechera Asturiana at 7619 miles
RTD Foncia
RTD President
RTD Groupe Bel

by Barcelona World Race

(Source: Sail-World, Mon 14 Mar 2011)

At 60.40 metre, Trinity's newest superyacht, Areti launched last week as the longest aluminium yacht to date from the renowned American boatbuilder. With considerable fanfare, owner's representative, Captain Ted Kavalieros and Billy Smith met on board to celebrate her move from land to water; final outfitting will be completed in coming months with her delivery date scheduled for early summer 2011.

This stunning yacht, the newest Areti in her owner's succession of so-named yachts, is custom designed and articulates Trinity's acclaimed naval architectural and exterior styling. A critical specification was for versatility as Areti will enjoy the waters of the Bahamas and the Mediterranean equally. To meet this challenge, Trinity's aluminium construction allows the yacht to reduce draft to less than 2.4 metre, making her one of the largest yachts in the world capable of accessing the myriad Bahamian islands and harbours her owner so enjoys.

Her interior is designed by Patrick Knowles Designs. From her full beam elevated master suite, with two ensuite master heads located a level down via sweeping staircases, featuring full forward panoramic views and six guest staterooms to her large sky lounge and flybridge with custom hot tub, Areti offers maximum appreciation of oceans and ports.

Her interior features mahogany wood veneered panels with cherry burl inlays, the beautiful Pacific Northwest Madrone (with pink-orange burl accents) and redwood while her mosaic of marbles (including onyx and granite) are arranged in a stunning combination of colours and tones in impressive inlay patterns. Like all Patrick Knowles interiors, Areti is at once a plush place of comfort and a most visually stunning environment.

Including a two-person elevator with access for all decks, Areti accommodates a total of 13 in seven staterooms. For her active owner and guests, she houses a gymnasium, steam room and sauna, change rooms and a full head. She's also well equipped for full enjoyment of sea and surf. Waverunners, water toys, bicycle storage, slings, tie downs, covers, cradles, a rescue tender with CISR-approved equipment and even a bow davit for temporary toy storage allow for full days in port.

Operation of the yacht is also well conceived with a total of nine cabins for 18 crew and a galley with large walk-in refrigerator and freezer. Ship's systems incorporate the best technological advances in the marketplace today and a cruising range of 3,500 nautical miles allows for extended uninterrupted voyaging.

(Source: SuperYachtTimes.com, Friday, 11 March 2011)

The International Superyacht Society (ISS) has announced it's collaboration with Wilfred Sultana & Associates in presenting the Superyacht Industry Seminar, The Way Forward, being conducted in Malta, Friday 29 April 2011. Similar to the seminar presented in 2009, foreign and local speakers will again take the podium. While two years ago the theme was 'The Superyacht Industry', this year the forum focuses more on the Malta yachting scenario while underlining the demanding requisites of superyachts.

The seminar, like the previous one, is being organised by Wilfred Sultana & Associates publishers of 'Yachting in Malta', the Directory to Malta's yachting services and facilities. A few weeks ago the 9th Edition of the directory, meant for distribution throughout 2011 and 2012, was launched 35 years after the publication of the first edition in 1976. 35 Years of Service 1976-2011, the theme opted for the directory's 9th edition, is also a cornerstone of this year's seminar.

The Malta event will once again have the support and collaboration of Transport Malta and the International Superyacht Society whose involvement both provides member speakers and gives the local seminar more global exposure through its marketing network.

The International Superyacht Society is recognised as the sole organization serving and representing the large yacht industry worldwide. Society members are individuals and companies who have been recognized for their leadership and dedication in raising the standards of design construction, maintenance, repair and operation of large yachts.

It is envisaged that one of the foreign speaker nominated by the International Superyacht Society this year will be a Captain of a superyacht whose presentation will reflect the experience, outlook and 'destination' gauge of superyachts captains who visit Malta. Another ISS speaker will discuss fundamentals regarding the superyacht marketplace.

With regards to local speakers, Transport Malta, the Yachting Services Business Section (Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry), and the Super Yacht Industry Network - Malta are all being represented.

"We are confident that the wide spectrum of different professions making up the direct and indirect services and facilities sectors of the industry will once again respond ardently to this second seminar," remarked Wilfred Sultana, publisher of 'Yachting In Malta' and mentor behind this initiative.

(Source: SuperYachtTimes.com, Friday, 11 March 2011)

Preparations are well underway for the 2011 Superyacht Cup regatta from 22-25 June in Palma. So far, 16 yachts have registered for the event including five brand new entries that have never competed in the event before. Space at the Muelle Viejo only allows for a maximum of 20-22 entries.

Returning to defend their 2010 title is the 29m Tony Castro designed Jongert Scorpione dei Mar. Other past Cup competitors coming back to Palma in June include Ganesha(39m Dubois), Saudade (45m Tripp), Tenaz (39m Dubois), Drumfire (24m Hoek) and Gliss (35m Phillipe Briand). Gliss won the 2009 Palma Superyacht Cup and returns this year under new ownership.

This year also sees the biggest number of first-time entries to the event. Joining the fleet are two stunning modern classics, the 55m Adela built in 1995 by Pendennis Shipyard, and Marie, a 55m Hoek design launched last year by Vitters Shipyard in Holland. Other newcomers are Genevieve (37m Dubois), Nilaya (34m Reichel Pugh/Nautor), Nefertiti (27m, Nautor), and Heartbeat (35m Hoek).

Now in its 15th year, the ever-popular Superyacht Cup is the longest running superyacht regatta in Europe and is a favourite event with owners and crews at the start of the summer season in the Mediterranean. Famous for its relaxed atmosphere and fabulous sailing conditions in the Bay of Palma, the Superyacht Cup is very much a family affair with its trademark barbecues, dockside parties, and a spectacular outdoor gala evening overlooking the Bay of Palma on the final evening.

There are also plans for a Superyacht Cup Golf Day this year, on the day following the event, Sunday 26th June.

"Its fantastic to see so many new yachts coming to the event this year," commented new 2011 Event Director James Pleasance. "We look forward to welcoming these and all the other competitors to Palma in June and showing them what the Superyacht Cup is all about!"

(Source: SuperYachtTimes.com, Thursday, 10 March 2011)

Following two years of great times and success Riviera Yacht Support have announced that the fun will continue as they hold the third Snow Bonanza in Auron.

The day will evolve lots of activity and the expected lively itinerary is to include the following:

The day will kick off at 7:00 am on Friday the 25th of March where two 50-seater buses will depart from the port of Antibes & from the port of Monaco.

Breakfast (coffee, the, croissants, pain au chocolate, fruit + juice) will be served onboard and inspiring ski and snowboard films shown on the TV's.

On arrival, rental equipment will be ready for those in need; ski passes with full insurance will be distributed to everyone. Compatible groups will be organized for those would like. Ski & snowboard instructors will be standing by for those who would like a lesson.

At noon everyone will meet at the restaurant La Bergerie on the green slope for an aperitif followed by a hearty three course mountain lunch with wine and coffee included.

Refreshed and rosy cheeked the entertainment will really take off now as the ski school has set up a parallel slalom course for participant next to the restaurant. As this is on a green slope everyone can participate, no matter what level. This will be followed by some time to ski or snowboard in the afternoon for those who wish.

From 16:00pm the first après-ski session will commence at the chalet gourmand together with a generous prize giving thanks to our sponsors.

Finally a departure from Auron will take place at 17:00pm to return to Antibes and Monaco at about 19:00pm.

(Source : SuperYachtTimes.com, Tuesday, 08 March 2011)

Volvo Ocean Race - Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski's Eco 60 Operon Racing has been lifted out of the water in Uruguay for keel repairs ahead of ocean sprint four of the Velux 5 Oceans. A composite part surrounding the keel pins broke during ocean sprint three allowing the keel to move several millimeters.

The Operon Racing team took her from her berth in Punta del Este marina bound for Piriapolis, around 18 kilometers west. The boat yard in Piriapolis is the only one with a hoist powerful enough to haul the 19-year-old Eco 60 out of the water.

Gutek first noticed the problems with the keel as he approached Cape Horn after sailing more than 4,000 nautical miles from Wellington, New Zealand. He reported hearing a knocking sound. Later it was discovered the composite part covering the keel pins had broken, allowing the keel to move by a few millimeters.

Deciding to press on towards the finish line in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Gutek was forced to race with his keel fully canted to reduce its movement. Amazingly, Gutek clung to second position after a photo finish which saw Operon Racing beat Chris Stanmore-Major's Spartan across the line by just 40 seconds.

'I am hoping that once the keel is repaired Operon Racing will be back up to full speed,' Gutek said. 'With the problems with the keel, rounding Cape Horn was a nervous time for me. It will be nice knowing that in the next sprint I can push Operon Racing to her limits again.'

Although the Eco 60 class rules state yachts cannot be lifted out of the water during the duration of the race, there is an exception if the lift is necessary on the grounds of safety. Operon Racing is expected to spend around five days out of the water while the keel work is completed ahead of the next sprint to Charleston, USA, which starts on March 27.

by Velux 5 Oceans

(Source : Sail-World, 1:35 AM Fri 11 Mar 2011)

Volvo Ocean Race 2011/2012 - The Puma Ocean Racing Team has been announced today. The team comprises of 10 of the most elite off-shore sailors from across the globe who will compete in the 'Mount Everest of sailing,' a 39,000 nautical mile ocean race stopping in ten ports of call over the course of nine months.

The team is currently training aboard George David's and Alex Jackson's 100' Maxi Rambler100, which most recently broke the Caribbean 600 course record. The new Puma Volvo Open 70 racing boat comes out of the shed in early spring. Once the new boat is launched, the crew will bring the boat to Miami for on and offshore training. In July, Read and his crew will participate in the Transatlantic Race beginning in Newport, Rhode Island and finishing in Plymouth, England. The training program will finish when the boat is brought to Alicante, Spain in October for the race start.

'The decisions we make now are the ones that will create success or failure in this race, and having this team of veterans involved early certainly increases our chances to make proper decisions,' said Read of the team assembled so far. 'Not only do we have a team that can sail a boat fast, but we have a team that understands what it takes to compete in a race like the Volvo. Great attitudes, great skills, which hopefully leads to good things down the road.'

Cumulatively, the management and sailing team for Puma Ocean Racing shares a level of success difficult to match with 22 Volvo Ocean Race entries and 20 America's Cup editions. Collectively, the core team holds seven 24-hour mono hull speed records and has won the Around the World Race seven times.

Puma Ocean Racing Sailing Team:

Ken Read, 49 (Newport Rhode Island, United States) Skipper
Considered to be one of the world's most accomplished racers, Read was in charge of Puma Ocean Racing and at the helm of Puma's il mostro throughout the entire Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009. The U.S.-born Read has twice helmed America's Cup programs in 2000 and 2003 and was named 'United States Rolex Yachtsman of the Year' twice and has 46 World, North American and National Championships to his credit.

Tom Addis, 41 (Sydney, Australia) Navigator
Addis, a trained meteorologist, joins Puma as a navigator after sailing with Telefonica Blue during the 2008-09 Volvo, taking two leg wins. Tom has sailed thousands of offshore miles on board Maxi Alfa Romero, winning both Sydney-Hobart and Transpac races. Addis also sailed with America's Cup Team New Zealand in 2007.

Ryan Godfrey, 30 (Adelaide, Australia) Trimmer and Driver
Godfrey joins Puma as an under-30 after a 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race win on board Ericsson 4, where he was part of their 24 hour mono hull speed record. In addition to his Volvo experience, Ryan's sailing resume includes numerous offshore titles, and America's Cup and Louis Vuitton Series campaigns. He works side by side with Tony Mutter and Puma's sail team.

Kelvin Harrap, 41 (Napier, New Zealand) Driver and Trimmer
With two previous Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Races in the 90's under his belt, Harrap returns to the Volvo Ocean Race with Puma. Kelvin's inshore experience with an Olympic and various America's Cup campaigns will prove valuable, as he'll transition to tactician for the Puma team during in-port racing as well as be a critical trimmer and driver offshore.

Brad Jackson: 42 (Auckland, New Zealand), Design Coordinator and Watch Captain
Named New Zealand Sailor of the Year in 2009, Jackson has sailed the Volvo Ocean Race five times and is one of only three people to have won the Around the World Race three times. Jackson was a member of Ericsson 4 which won the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 and has been part of three 24-hour mono hull speed records. In addition to his role as watch captain, Jackson serves as design coordinator for the Puma program, mixing the sailors' input with Juan K's creative and technical expertise.

Rome Kirby, 21 (Newport Rhode Island, United States) Trimmer and Driver
Kirby joins Puma as the youngest team member for his first Volvo Ocean Race. Having grown up sailing since the age of three, Rome honed his skills on the US and international junior sailing circuits. Since the age of 14, Kirby has logged thousands of offshore miles and gained valuable experience inshore.

Michi Mueller, 28 (Kiel, Germany) Bowman
Mueller is back to fill one of Pumas under-30 slots. Michi sailed on board il mostro during the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 and is proof that the young sailors bring a new enthusiasm to the race. During the 2008-09 Volvo he was awarded the inaugural Han Horrevoets Rookie Trophy for his outstanding contribution to the Puma team.

Tony Mutter, 42 (Auckland, New Zealand) Aerodynamics Coordinator and Watch Captain
Mutter joins Puma after sailing on board Volvo Ocean Race 08/09 winner Ericsson 4. Mutter has sailed five Volvos, winning twice. He has been part of three Volvo crews where the 24-hour mono hull record has been broken. As aerodynamics coordinator, he will work closely with North Sails to design the next generation of VO70 sails. Tony will sail on board for Puma as watch captain.

Casey Smith, 32 (Brisbane, Australia, living in Newport Rhode Island) Systems Manager and Bowman
Smith joined the crew of Puma's il mostro for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 as one of the under 30's. Smith was instrumental in repairing structural damages to il mostro during the last race and was honored with the seamanship award for his efforts in replacing il mostro's rudder during the Leg seven T rans-Atlantic crossing.

Jonathan 'Jono' Swain, 43 (South Africa, living in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) Driver and Trimmer
Jono Swain comes to Puma with experience in four Volvo Ocean Races, most recently as watch captain on board Telefonica Blue. Swain is considered an 'all around sailor,' mixing offshore experience with an impressive inshore resume which includes an America's Cup campaign and Louis Vuitton Series.

Puma Ocean Racing Shore Team Management:

Kimo Worthington, 49 (Portsmouth Rhode Island, United States) General Manager
Kimo Worthington has a rare combination of management expertise onshore and leadership on the water. His professional sailing career includes competing in six America's Cups, including a win with America 3 in 1992, and more than 80,000 miles of ocean racing. In the 1997-98 Whitbread Round the World Race, Worthington was watch captain and sailing team manager for the winning EF Language team. In the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006 edition he served as General Manager for second place Pirates of the Caribbean and in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 he was general manager for Puma Ocean Racing.

Tim Hacket, 38 (Sydney, Australia living in Middletown Rhode Island) Shore Team Manager
Tim Hacket has been building racing yachts for over 20 years. A native Australian, Tim is now based in Newport, Rhode Island. Tim's experience includes four America's Cup boat builds and two Volvo Ocean Race shore teams, mostly recently as part of Puma's Volvo 2008-2009 campaign.

The Volvo Ocean Race begins October 2011 in Alicante, Spain and ends in Galway, Ireland in June 2012. The eight stopovers in between include: Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya (China), Auckland, Itajaí (Brazil), Miami, Lisbon and Lorient (France). Puma continues to produce and expand their line of sailing performance gear and remains the first Sport lifestyle company to participate in a venture of this kind. Puma will also be the official supplier of all Volvo Ocean Race merchandise.

by Bridgid Murph

(Source : Sail-World, 1:11 AM Fri 11 Mar 2011 )

If the start of the Canterbury sailing season was disrupted by the September 4 quake, the end of the season has been, not surprisingly, worse affected in the aftermath of February's devastating disaster which sees the local Club's doing what they can to offer some normality to members.

The team at Yachting New Zealand wishes to express to Canterbury residents, and fellow yachties and boaties in the region that our thoughts remain with you at this extremely challenging time.

Naval Point Club Lyttelton escaped major damage to the despite the collapse of the bank behind the Clubhouse, but proximity to the quake's epicentre means that Club members have suffered, and with the Lyttelton Tunnel closed to the public the port community is isolated, and while racing is back on attendance is down.

Waimakariri Sailing & Powerboat Club: Sailing is possible on the Waimakariri River, but not in the Brooklands Lagoon as the water quality is not good. Their race programme for the rest of the season has not been changed.

Stewarts Gully Yacht Club: Located further up the Waimakariri River, they are still sailing at this Club.

Estuary Clubs... 'All sailing on the estuary and the Waimak River is on hold until the water quality improves,' explains Kate. 'I would say the estuary could be out of action for a long time as there are so many broken sewerage pipes in East Christchurch.'

Mount Pleasant Yacht Club: Has postponed all sailing until the water quality improves.

Christchurch Yacht Club: Sailing won't be resumed before water quality improves and the Commodore Nick Richardson adds that with Christchurch residents and Club members experiencing extreme hardship racing is unlikely to resume this season as a mark of respect. Read a report from Nick published on Sail-World here.

Pleasant Point Yacht Club: The clubhouse was destroyed in the September quake (pictured above) and the club now faces the decision whether to rebuild on the site again or relocate. The present site has sunk and is now flooding at a 2.4metre high tide.

Naval Point Club Lyttelton: Has changed their racing programme - the President Cup and Young88 South Island Champs will be held on the 12th & 13th March. Access to Lyttelton is via Dyers Pass Rd as the Lyttelton Tunnel has limited access.

Charteris Bay Boating Club: The Club is re-commencing sailing and coaching on 14th March.

Kate is trying to establish whether any Pigeon Bay Boating Club members have been over to the club to check on damage. And she reports that the Akaroa Clubs are okay.

The New Zealand Government has launched an appeal to help the people of Christchurch and the Canterbury region during this time of great need. You can help make a difference by donating to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. Click on the banner ad below to make a donation now.

The donations will be used to help the communities, families and people of Christchurch and the Canterbury region.

by Jodie Bakewell-White, Yachting N

(Source : Sail-World, 3:10 AM Thu 10 Mar 2011)

Jessica Watson today confirmed she will race in the 2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and will skipper the youngest crew to ever compete in this bluewater event.

The 2011 Young Australian of the Year will skipper a crew of 10, all of whom will be 21 or younger - making them the youngest crew ever to compete in the famous race, with an average age of just 19.

The boat they will be using for this event is the Sydney 38 Another Challenge, which will be painted pink for the race.

Watson's team will be coached by Chris Lewin, who has skippered this boat in four Rolex Sydney Hobarts - most notably in 2004 where he led the (previous) youngest crew of Melbourne Uni students to a third in the Sydney 38 division, and most recently in 2010 where he achieved second, in the division by 29 seconds.

In 2004, Lewin with one decision ensured the young student crew would do well, by doing a trial run to Hobart and back with his full crew.

With an extended 12 week training period starting in October, it would not surprise if Jessica and her young crew, did the same 629 mile x two training run, with Chris Lewin aboard. This would give them the time to understand the course, experience the weather conditions and the tactical options available to them.

Garry Linacre, Commodore of the The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), the host of the iconic race, was delighted to offer Jessica and her crew his support.

'We look forward to Jessica's participation in this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart' .

'Jessica has been able to bring together a talented and committed crew that includes Alex Paton, an active member of the CYCA's Youth Sailing Academy. It is passionate sailors such as these that are the future of sailing in Australia and we wish them all the best in their training and preparation for Australia's most iconic yacht race, which commences at 1pm on Boxing Day.'

The full crew is Michael Perham (19),another solo circumnavigator from the UK, Peter Woodward (21), Will Broughton (19), Cameron Dale (20), Leigh Thorne (21), Alexandra Paton (20), Levi Curtin (18), Sean Lindsell (21), Genevieve Warlow (19).

(Source : Sail-World, 11:53 AM Thu 10 Mar 2011 )

Informa Yacht Group has revealed details of the impressive line-up of superyachts and exhibitors which will feature at the Singapore Yacht Show from 8 to 10 April 2011 at ONE°15 Marina, Sentosa Cove, Singapore. The motor and sailing superyachts set to be displayed represent a stunning collection of modern and classic style yachts which are sure to impress show attendees and yachting enthusiasts.

Among the yachts that will be anchored at ONE°15 Marina will be the elegant 57-metre sailing schooner and one of the world's largest sailing yachts available for charter, SY Montigne, which will be based in South-East Asia for 2011. Superyacht Montigne has accommodation for 12-14 guests in 6 spacious cabins and allows potential buyers and charterers first hand access to luxury yachting.

Another signature superyacht gracing the show is the deluxe 33-metre moteryacht Nymphaea which after an 8-month major refit boasts a magnificent and stylish interior. Also showing off an exquisite modern interior is the superyacht El Aleph a 37-metre traditional Phinisi sailing yacht which will make its debut at the show. Unique to Asia this yacht has not been seen at any other show in the world.

Sitting alongside these impressive superyachts will be a host of leading yacht builders there to help those interested in custom-built yachts. Jade Yachts from Taiwan will showcase their latest products including the recently completed 95 foot Jade Explorer. San Lorenzo's team of representatives from Italy will be on site to provide their expert advice and recommendations on building the perfect yacht, while Gulf Craft from the United Arab Emirates will be displaying their 88 foot Majesty, a flagship from the Azimut 116 and Raja Laut, a 100 foot favourite. From China will be Prout International promoting their upcoming 138 foot trimaran under construction for an Asian owner. Lastly MTU will be exhibiting their latest and best performance marine engines.

Completing the diverse line-up of exhibitors will be real estate developer Lippo Group who will be promoting their Marina Collection, a cluster of water-front residential apartments with convenient access to ONE°15 Marina.

As well as unveiling a top line up of exhibitors SYS has secured two corporate partners with automobile companies BMW and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore which have come onboard to complement the show as official car and gala dinner sponsors respectively. VIP guests will enjoy complimentary transfers in the latest editions of the BMW 5 and 7 series, and catch a preview of the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Rolls-Royce Ghost at the gala dinner.

Andy Treadwell, Managing Director of Informa Yacht Group, commented: "With a range of world-class yachts, boat builders and marine partners lined-up, the Singapore Yacht Show will provide visitors and delegates with a selection of the very best in luxury yachting. We are delighted to be welcoming BMW and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore as partners and thank them for their support. With such a strong programme of content in store for the show we hope that it will lay the foundations for developing the superyacht industry in the region for years to come."

(Source: Infroma Yacht Group, 08 March 2011)

KOTA KINABALU: Cunard's newest luxury liner, the 'Queen Elizabeth', made her maiden port of call here yesterday.

The 294-metre long liner docked at the Sabah Port's harbour at 8am, bringing with her 2,000 guests from 30 countries and 1,000 crew members.

According to the ship's captain, Julian Burgess, their last stop was Australia.

"We were in Melbourne, Sydney and Freemantle before arriving here," he said, adding that they have been at sea for five and a half days before arriving in the state capital.

The 'Queen Elizabeth' was launched in October last year and made its maiden journey in January - a 103-day round-the-world cruise that originated from Southampton, England.

"From Southampton, we went to the US and made four port of calls there. "We proceeded to Curasol, Panama, Mexico, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia, before arriving here," said Burgess.

"It is very exciting since every port we call at is always the ship's maiden."

Burgess added that the ship called at Kota Kinabalu so that their guests could see Sabah.

"They will go for excursion today and the captain is taking some time off to play golf," he joked.

He said from Kota Kinabalu, they will make a two-day journey to Hong Kong where they will stop over for two days.

Then they will head for Vietnam, Singapore, India, Oman, Dubai, Jordan, Egypt, Italy, Portugal and several other ports before heading for home to Southampton.

Burgess informed that the liner was nearly 91,000 tonnes in weight. "It has beautiful interior features having 10 restaurants and cafes, a two-storey library as well as two outdoor swimming pools."

"We also have a special theatre where we have loads of big shows and entertainments which are better than some West End shows in New York and London. "We also have on top of the ship a sports area where our guests can play table tennis, lawn balls and croquet. So it is very English."

The 'Queen Elizabeth' left the port at 5pm yesterday.

(Source: The Borneo Post, 08 Mar 2011)