Last chance for a Birthday Bargain..
As the incredible 35% discount off the charter price on selected sailing holidays in the Austral-Asian region, offer is only available until the end of the year. Join Sunsail in celebrating 35 years in the business and grab a fantastic bargain for your next sailing holiday while your there... Vessels are booking fast so don't miss out! The world’s largest yacht charter operator, has a diverse range of yachts at several locations that offer all year round sailing opportunities. The extended season allows the yachts to be available for the 20th Raja Muda Selangor Regatta in November and they have just issued a reminder to get in early for December's King's Cup at the beginning of peak season in Phuket. Visit Sunsail Asia website www.sunsailasia.com and receive regular updates on Sunsail's new activities in the Asian region contact Tel: +66 (0)76 239057 Email: sales@sunsailasia.com

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CONTENTS

1. EDITORIAL - Nazreen Ghani (Ayin) to head up AsianYachting Match Racing Team
2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS - End of the road for multihull sailors. Or is it? - 2010 Asian Games using Hobie 16 in China - THE South East Asian SAILORS' BIBLE - Top speakers at 1st Asia Superyacht Conference - China Coast Race Week format change - Celebrate 20th Raja Muda Regatta - Extreme 40's in Hong Kong and Singapore? - Hong Kong team at NYYC Cup - Oman Sail making a very big splash - Thai team going to Platu Worlds in Italy - Enter Asian & Malaysian MC qualifiers NOW! - Chinaman completes solo sail around the world - Thailand's Keerati Bualong is 2009 Laser Radial Youth World Champion - British woman rows Indian Ocean in 124 days - Hobie Asian Championships in Hong Kong - Mas Fire Dept orders Sealegs rescue craft - 2010 Pin-up calendar to help raise funds - Indian Navy officer sailing solo round the world - Polaris Ship's Bridge Simulators for Malaysia
Up next - Borneo Challenge (Oct 9-14) - Singapore Superyacht Conference (13-15 Oct) - China Coast Race Week (16-18 Oct)
3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS - St. Moritz Match Race On top of the world - Maxi yachts drawing the battle lines - Mini Transat sailors at it again - Clipper Race sets sail on 13th Sept - Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta (14-19 Sept) - Right Royal racing at NYYC Invitational Cup - Voiles de Saint Tropez - 10th anniversary for finest classic yachts - Finally an affordable Round the World Race
Follow the: 20th Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup - Mini Transat & Clipper Race starts 13th Sept - Audi MedCup TP52 & GP42 Series - iShares EX 40 Cup - RC 44 - World Match Racing Tour - Rolex Events.
4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS - WSSR Council ratified two new World Records - Youngest RECORD available at GUINNESS
5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - Oops draft exceeds depth of water... - Miss Saigon down but not out - Rescued Aussie sailors end up in China - Mike Golding doing it tough at the iShares Cup

1. EDITORIAL

Despite being relegated to the media boat these days and chained to the computer long after the racing is over, occasionally it does have its benefits. After spending so much time online we sometimes take the opportunity to enter online competitions. Especially quiz's and active sailing games. We announced way back in the May News & Views, the day after Ericsson 4 arrived in Rio, that Torben Grael had drawn Capt Marty's name first out of the hat to win an Ericsson Racing Team - Helly Hansen wet weather jacket. The online competition to vote for crew members date and time predictions, when they expected to round Cape Horn on Leg 5 of the VOR. As Ryan Godfrey's date (March 17 @ 1200GMT) was the latest of all and the going was very slow we selected him for our Cape Horn bet, and wallah first of the three winners names to come out of the bowl. We received the autographed photo (See Online Edition) of this memorable occasion and after much reminding till well alter the race was over, have finally received from the Official Collection our very own Ericsson Racing Team - Helly Hansen jacket (See Photo). Thanks to Torben and all the crew for allowing us to share the experience, be it from behind a computer desk but we will always treasure the memories.

A lot of people ask if we still have a chance to go sailing after fore filling all our media obligations. Well apart from sometimes going on race boats during regatta races, our only active sailing role these days is at our Sail Training School in PD and occasionally in Port Klang and Putrajaya Lake. This is all about to change as we are forming an AsianYachting Team to first contest the Malaysian Match Racing Championship (Nov 23 to 26) and then hopefully go on and fight it out for the RM1 million prize money that awaits the teams at the World Match Racing Tour season-ending Monsoon Cup (Dec 2-6th). Twenty four year old Nazreen Ghani (Ayin) will be heading up the AY Team and training sessions will be conducted over the coming weekends at the Royal Selangor Yacht Club in Port Klang. This is a wonderful opportunity to fast track local sailors onto the International match racing scene. With some further encouragement, could well be the way that Asian women sailors can get amongst the Olympic medals. More to come on the AY Team in the coming weeks and any sponsors interested in supporting our bid on the Match Racing scene should contact Team Manager Hasslan (Lan) PH +6 016 2564532 or the AY Headquarters on +6 06 6477701 Email: info@asianyachting.com

After a busy August the Asian scene now reverts back to local club events and enjoy sailing through the wonderful archipelago around us. Many world cruisers are making their way to Miri in Sarawak, Borneo. The newly revamped Borneo International Yachting Challenge is coming up from 9th to 15th October, which now sees the yachts taking part in the reverse order from previous years. Starting with the Miri Bay Regatta, Passage Race from Miri to Labuan, Labuan Harbour Regatta, Passage Race from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and finishing with the KK Bay Regatta. Free marina berthing will be made available and as in past years there is no entrance fee and several parties are planned along the way. As all participating yachts will each receive RM$1000 as an added incentive to help with boat and crew expenses, we expect to see a good turn out at the only International yachting event held in Borneo waters each year.

For the more racier sailors there are changes in the format for this year's China Coast Race Week, which kicks off with the China Coast Regatta (16-18 Oct). This will be the second event on the 2009-10 AYGP Championship and with more to come in November at the 20th Raja Muda celebrations we are looking forward to an exciting and magical season. All these topics and more on the International scene are either covered below and regularly updated on the new look AsianYachting website. Enjoy!
Capt Marty Rijkuris

2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS

2.1 End of the road for multihull sailors. Or is it?
Finally after years of wrangling between International yachting authorities and the sailing public the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed on Aug 13 their decision to reduce the number of sailing events to 10, at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A past Olympic sailor, IOC President Jacques Rogge wrote to ISAF, saying: "Whilst the IOC Executive Board fully recognises the value that Sailing brings to the Olympic Games, it decided to maintain its decision of 2005 regarding the overall quota of sailors and medals. As a consequence, Tornado Multihull shall not be on the program of the Games of the XXXth Olympiad in London."

This decision is considered very harsh as housing an extra 40 odd sailors, is only a drop in the ocean compared to the overall cost of building and equipping the entire stand alone Olympic marina facility. Although clearly upset, Multihull enthusiasts are rebounding by staging professional racing circuits and placing more emphasis on World Championship events, plus busy breaking World Speed Records. For the first time in history two multihull's will be dueling for the pinnacle of yachting events - the America's Cup - Who would of thought this was possible? So multihull sailors should rejoice as they maybe history at the Olympic's for the time being, but the future looks very bright indeed on the International scene.

2.2 2010 Asian Games using Hobie 16 in China
The Asian Championships and Asian Games will be using the Hobie 16 for the events in China, 2010. The Asian Games is the second largest sports event in the world after the Olympic Games, comprising over half the world's population. Hobie 16s will also be used July 2010 in Puerto Rico for the Central America and Caribbean Games, and in Guadalajara, Mexico (with sailing in Puerto Vallarta) in the summer of 2011 for the Pan Am Games. -- More at: http://www.hobieclass.com

2.3 THE South East Asian SAILORS' BIBLE
If you're traveling around the SE Asian region by boat, there's one publication that you must have. Whether you prefer sailing or motor yachts or like to enter the many regattas held in Asia each year, or go cruising along coastlines or weave your way through the country's many small islands. Then you will need the Southeast Asia Pilot to guide the ship safely along. "The professional team have expanded on the original Andaman Sea Pilot and created a detailed, helpful advice with accurate charts plus a logical, easy to use, layout style." Now the third edition of this book has been updated and expanded to cover a much larger area, and given a new name. It is now called Southeast Asia Pilot, and since its official launch party at Phuket Raceweek in July (aboard a boat, of course) orders have been flooding in from skippers and boat owners around the world. Full story Alan Parkhouse Bangkok Post - Southeast Asia Pilot is available at most leading bookstores, or it can be ordered direct from the website at: http://www.andamanseapilot.com

2.4 Top-flight speakers at 1st Asia Superyacht Conference (13-14 October 2009)
The Superyacht Singapore Association (SSA) released an updated program of the first Asia Superyacht Conference to be held in Singapore at One 15 Marina Club on the 13-14 October 2009 and welcomes two new sponsors, ONE15 Marina Club and Sevenstar on top of MTU, the main conference sponsor. The whole of the superyacht world is looking to Asia as the next great cruising ground and we are seeing a steady growth of both visiting yachts and privately owned yachts in the region. However, Asia is behind the traditional hot spots of the Mediterranean and Caribbean when it comes to infrastructure and facilities and the prime objective of the conference is to identify what the region needs to do to set an effective agenda to create a sustainable superyacht industry. “We are delighted to be organizing this inaugural superyacht conference in Singapore” commented SSA Executive Director Jean-Jacques Lavigne. “Our objective is to gather all the important players from Asia as well as interested parties from the rest of the world to push the agenda to really open up and grow the superyacht industry in Asia.” For the complete list of speakers and registration go to http://www.superyacht.sg The site will be continuously updated with information from now till the conference is well over..

2.5 China Coast Race Week format change
Which will kick off with the China Coast Regatta, from 16-18 October. Over the three days, competitors will be set a challenging combination of Windward / Leeward and Islands courses in and around the waters to the South West of Lamma Island. Race Week will be rounded off with a Category 3 Offshore Race (without liferafts) that will start and finish in Hong Kong waters. The 'Big Boats' will start at 1600hrs on Friday 23 October, while the rest of the fleet will start at 1000hrs on Saturday 24 October, and it is anticipated that all competitors will be finished in under 48 hours.The NOR and SI's are at: http://www.chinacoastraceweek.com or contact the RHKYC Sailing Manager Alex Johnston, E-mail ajohnston@rhkyc.org.hk or call +852 2239 0362, fax +852 2239 0364.

2.6 Come Celebrate the 20th Raja Muda Selangor Regatta
Already over 40 yacht owners have indicated they are entering this years 20th anniversary event. Some Phuket based multihull's are organising an event within the event from Penang onwards to Langkawi. The organising committee have been busy tracking down past winners and inviting them to attend this 20th milestone. Festivities begin at the Royal Selangor Yacht Club on Friday 13th November and continue along the island hoping route to Langkawi till Nov 21st. During stop over's in Pangkor and Penang numerous activities like tri-shaw racing, windward/leeward racing and fancy prize giving presentations are being planned. The public are welcome to go down to the marinas along the way to cheer on there favourite team and get a taste of what yacht racing is all about. NOR, more info at: http://www.rmsir.com or if you want to join in the fun by chartering a yacht or take up a crewing position contact them by Phone: +603 3168 6964 or Email: info@rmsir.com

2.7 Extreme 40's in Hong Kong and Singapore?
OC Events, organisers of the spectacular Extreme 40 circuit, the iShares Cup, have been eyeing up an Asian tour for quite some time. Now it’s getting closer to happening. Representatives of the current iShares Cup teams have been invited to the Kiel Yacht Club for a briefing on a new Extreme Sailing Series planned for January-April 2010 in the Middle East and Asia. This first series will be a step towards a full iShares Cup style event, and venues on the table at the moment are Oman, Abu Dhabi, Maldives, Hong Kong and Singapore.

2.8 DK 46's still on Top of the Podium
If your serious about forming a racing team and joining the racing class at major regattas in the region, there are two Mark Mills designed DK46's, that have won nearly every major event in the Austral-Asian region on the market. On another note Massimo Migliuolo's DK46 Garmin, earned a huge victory at Spains premier Regatta, the Copa Del Rey in Palma, Majorca. In a fleet of 43 entries including such figures as Luis Doreste and Pedro Campos, Garmin established a 13 point lead over twelve races to take the title with another bullet in the final race. Garmin's crew had worked hard to prepare the boat for the most important event of their calendar at which the King of Spain himself competes, and her success across the range of conditions at the six day event reflects the optimisation learning curve underway with Spain's new RI rule. This is the second major win for a DK 46 in the last month, with yet another win for the evergreen DK46 Evolution Sails of Ray Roberts this time at Phuket Race Week. Roberts felt compelled to take the microphone while collecting his Racing Class winner’s trophy to say: “I've had a fabulous time. It's my first time at this regatta and it's possibly the best experience I've had in Asia…” So what are you waiting for? Serious Yachts for Serious Sailors can be found at http://www.dkyachts.com

2.9 Hong Kong team at NYYC Cup (Sept 15-19)
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s team for the NYYC Invitational Cup was selected by the Club’s Sailing Committee and consists of members who have all competed in international sailing regattas. “The NYYC Invitational Regatta offers our Club some international prestige amongst similar Clubs around the world,” said Commodore Warwick Downes. “I feel that we should be represented at this inaugural event, as it looks like a lot of fun along with very good class racing in these NYYC Swan 42s." Downes and team helmsman, Jamie McWilliam, have competed against each other many times in Etchells and this will be only the second time that they have paired up on the same boat. Other crew members are Nick Burns (Mainsheet); Ben Williams (Trimmer); Drew Taylor (Bow); Joachim Isler (Trimmer); Gary Gilbert (Navigator/Mainsheet), Glenn Kim (Mast/Mid Bow); Gaston Chan (Pit); and Suzanne Downes (Spinnaker trimmer). Follow the NYYC news including daily videos at: http://www.nyyc.org/eventnews/

2.10 Oman Sail making a very big splash
The Arabian 100 hit the water for the first time in Oman on 23rd August 2009. A proud day for Oman as the Arabian 100 trimaran touches water for the very first time here in Salalah Port. She has been under construction since 2008 - her large components molded in Australia and then shipped to and assembled in Salalah in the south of the Sultanate. A team of up to 30 international and Omani boat builders and specialists have worked on her at any one time and the result is this phenomenal racing craft which is sure to be making headlines soon. The A100 joins the Oman Sail fleet as a training boat to help further the development of the Oman Sail academy and inspire the Omani youth to further their potential to achieve and push boundaries. Designed by Nigel Irons, it will be skippered by Paul Standbridge and will now undergo sea- trials before its first voyage up the Omani coast to the capital Muscat, after Ramadan, for its naming ceremony. More at: http://www.omansail.com

2.11 Quantum Sails are turning heads. Oh! and winning races
Have you noticed lately that more and more winning yachts have the big Green Q Quantum Sails logo firmly planted on their sails. Congratulations to Jim Richardson and Barking Mad who after switching to Quantum Sails dominated the Rolex Farr 40 World Championships. Quantum Sails also dominated the J/80 Worlds as Rayco Tabares used his Quantum inventory to race past 131 other boats to the World Championship. In fact, Quantum Sails captured 5 of the top 10 places in Santander, Spain. Quantum Sails garnered multiple trophies at the Sail Newport Regatta with 1st place victories in the NYYC Swan 42 (Malcom Gefter, Celeritas); the Melges 24 (Scott Nixon, Quantum Racing); the J/24 (Tim Healy, Pop Rocks). The US team of George SZABO and Rick PETERS using Quantum Sails won the 2009 Star Worlds too. Also here in Asia at the 12th SMU-RM Western Circuit, Christopher Lim's Platu 25 SMUmad won the IRC B class with five wins out of seven races . All this proves that Quantum's latest products are helping both the family race programs and top one design teams win regattas. Discover some winning ways at: http://quantumsails.com and count how many sails with the big Green Q are in the WC09 start photo?

2.12 Thai team going to Platu Worlds in Italy
The Platu World Championships will be held in Punta Ala North West Italy between September 25th to October 4th 2009. The petrol exploration company PTTE has sponsored an all Thai crew to represent Thailand at this prestigious regatta, where at least 100 Platu's will race. The Thai team will charter an Italian boat and some time will be needed to get the boat properly prepared to their liking and to full racing standards. In 2007 a Thai team went to the Worlds in Germany and gave a creditable performance in the 60 boat fleet, finishing well into the top third. This was the same team that convincingly won the gold medal at the 2007 Sea games. This year three of the original team will be accompanied by two employees of PTTE who are training hard to “learn the ropes”.
Helm/Skipper - Wiwat Poonpat “Wat”
Main - Chatchai Pisanupot “Kwan” PTTE
Trimmer - Anan Downchanterk “Pom"
Halyards/Tactician - Veerasit Puangnak “Lim”
Foredeck - Chaksuwit Watcharapibul “Nott” PTTE
Good luck Thailand, good luck to the team

2.13 Enter the Asian & Malaysian Monsoon Cup qualifiers NOW!
The Asian Match Racing Championship Nov 9 to 12 is open to members of any Austral-Asian yachting clubs and the Malaysian Match Racing Championship is open to Malaysian sailors is from Nov 23 to 26. Registration for both qualifiers will close on October 31, 2009, but first in will secure their spot. MC advisor Datuk Peter Gilmour added that the overwhelming response from both Malaysian and Asian sailors have encouraged us to expand the number of participants in the qualifiers which has also extended over four days instead of three previously. Apart from qualifying to race with world-class sailors in the Monsoon Cup, the Malaysian and Asian Match Racing Championship winners are also racing for the RM1 million prize money that awaits the Monsoon Cup teams. The season-ending Monsoon Cup - the last leg of the WMRT - was the first race to start the qualifying series in 2006. The qualifiers are now part of all WMRT races to unearth and provide new talents opportunities to race with seasoned sailors. Malaysian sailing protege, Nurul Ain Md Isa of the Perak Sailing Team said that the experience she gained from winning her first Malaysian Match Racing Championship last year helped her in the Monsoon Cup 2008. Otherwise, I would be scared to death at the prospect of racing against defending World Match Racing Tour and Monsoon Cup champion Ian Williams or other contenders like Sebastian Col and Mathiew Richard,' she said. For more details participation in the Qualifier Series, please contact Ms. Mira Navaretna at Tel : +603-2142 2882 or E-mail your enquiries to: mira@tbest.com.my

2.14 Chinaman completes solo sail around the world
August 16, 2009: Zhai Mo, the first Chinese to attempt sailing solo around the world, completed his ambitious tour on Sunday after sailing 35,000 nautical miles over two years, the Beijing News reported. Locals warmly welcomed him when he arrived at Rizhao Port in east China's Shandong Province on Sunday morning. Zhai Mo, in his 40s, started his world voyage from Rizhao on New Year's Day in 2007. His 12-meter-long by 3.85-meter-wide boat is named after the port, which means sunshine in Chinese. During his journey, Zhai visited more than 40 countries around the world. He endured many unexpected difficulties and even life-threatening tests, like stormy seas, hydraulic fluid leaks and fever. He used to live in New Zealand, where he began sailing. After sailing around New Zealand from February 2000 to August 2001, one month later he took his yacht out onto the Pacific Ocean again. Zhai's next goal was to compete in the Vendee Globe. "No one from Asia has ever competed in Vendee Globe," Zhai said. "The race is regarded as the test of human endurance. I must have a try." Full story at: http://english.rednet.cn/c/2009/08/18/1810127.htm

2.15 Laser Radial Youth World Champion is Thailand's Keerati Bualong
Thailand's Keerati BUALONG was crowned 2009 Laser Radial Youth World Champion whilst the Laser Radial Men's World title went to Marcin RUDAWSKI of Poland on the final day of racing at Karatsu, Japan. The youth boys went down to the wire and was won on countback by Keerati BUALONG of Thailand from Aleksander ARIAN from Poland who has been leading the regatta until today. It all came down to the last race where BUALONG came seventh and ARIAN had a disappointing 17th. Third place went to Filip KOBIELSKI of Poland who has sailed consistently. The under 17 group was won by Philip DORAN of Ireland followed by countryman Oliver LOUGHEAD, with Nevin SNOW of USA third. Youth Results: http://events.laserinternational.org/en/events/results/100z35

2.16 British woman rows Indian Ocean in 124 days
Sarah Outen, a 24-year-old biologist from Britain has just become the first woman to row solo across the Indian Ocean. Sarah set off from Fremantle on the west coast of Australia in April and arrived at the island of Mauritius on Monday evening after and amazing 124 days at sea. Sarah is a Biology graduate of St Hugh’s College, at Oxford University. During the trip across the Indian Ocean she rowed up to 12 hours a day under a scorching sun, riding 30ft waves, battling winds and currents, sharks, capsizes and shipping traffic. It was not only a test of endurance, stamina and will power, but also in being able to handle extreme solitude. Sarah Outen dedicated this venture to her Dad, who died suddenly in June 2006 after suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. So in his memory she has been fundraising for arthritis charities. 'The Global Boat Works boat is constructed around a close cell foam core and sheathed in fibre glass inside which consists of seven separate water tight compartments making it unsinkable. 'This has certainly been tested to the limit: Sarah's capsized a couple of times in bad weather, but the boat performed exactly as intended.

2.17 Hobie Asian Championships in Hong Kong
The BDO Hobie Asian Championships 2009, will be held from October 2nd to 4th. This will be the fourth running of this successful and popular Asian regatta, and the third time it has been organised by the Hong Kong Hobie Club. Entries from Thailand, the Philippines, Japan and India, amongst others, will join local Hong Kong based sailors of a dozen other nationalities on the racecourse. This will be the largest and most competitive catamaran event in Asia in 2009, a superb opportunity for Asia-based sailors to test their skills against other Hobie racers in the region. A number of competitive Hobie 16s and Tigers are available for charter. The Notice of Race, charter details and full schedule are available on http://www.hobie.com.hk

2.18 Mas Fire Dept orders Sealegs rescue craft
Sealegs International (NZX: SLG) has announced that the Malaysian Fire Department (BOMBA) have ordered eight Sealegs amphibious marine craft for national flood rescue operations. The Albany-based manufacturer has established an operational record with the Fire & Rescue Department of the Federal Malaysian Government since the deployment of their first Sealegs vessels to Malaysia in early 2008. Sealegs CEO Mr David McKee Wright said that a large number of locations throughout Malaysia, both coastal and inland, are prone to flooding and Sealegs amphibious boats have achieved distinction in rescue operations. The close involvement of the company with Malaysian authorities has led to the development of an Extended Run Time (‘XRT’) variant of the Sealegs craft, allowing for prolonged operational activity in especially hot and humid environments. More at: http://www.sealegs.com/

2.19 2010 Pin-up calendar to help raise funds
A former marketing chief Calypso Harland 33, has thrown in her job to sail round the world and raise cash for the charity Médecins Sans Frontières. She has produced a 2010 pin-up calendar to raise funds for the charity. Hello Sailor features saucy lasses in nautical costumes. In September the exotically-named Calypso will set sail on the arduous 35,000 mile long Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. The calendar goes on sale from the 13 July, where supporters may also track Calypso's progress during the race. Check out the 2010 pin-up calendar at: http://www.hellosailor.org.uk/gallery/Calendar.html

2.20 Indian Navy officer sailing solo round the world
The Indian Navy is a very adventurous organisation. Members of the The Indian Navy have already climbed Everest and reached both the north and the south poles. Now a naval officer, 42 year old Commander Dilip Donde, has just departed on a planned 9 month circumnavigation of the world on a sailing boat. The Mahdei, named after the river she was built on, was constructed at Divar island by Aquarius Fibreglass Pvt Ltd, Goa. It has an overall length of 56ft and a mast rising to over 20m. This was a significant feat for the country, which does not have a long history of pleasure sailing. The yacht has everything one would expect on a modern yacht, desalinator, all communications and navigation gear. The course that the yacht will follow is Mumbai, Freemantle (Australia), Christ Church (New Zealand), Port Stanley, Cape Town (South Africa) and then back to Mumbai. The mission will cover a distance of nearly 21,600 nautical miles.

2.21 Polaris Ship's Bridge Simulators for Malaysia
Kongsberg Maritime has been awarded a contract by HJS Maritime SDN. BHD, Malaysia to deliver two sophisticated Polaris Ship's Bridge Simulators for use in a new centre of excellence being built for the Malaysian Marine Department. This key contract follows the recent installation of the world's largest 360° marine navigation simulator at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), Philippines and reflects Kongsberg Maritime's leading marine simulation position in Asia. The contract win is a result of a competitive tender involving ten Malaysian companies and five major international simulator suppliers. Captain Dato Ahmad Othman, Director General, Malaysian Marine Department, elaborates: "Kongsberg Maritime has very good worldwide references and was awarded the contract based on the technical proposal, where they scored the highest. Local company HSJ Maritime SDN. BHD is the main supplier for the delivery whilst Kongsberg Maritime in cooperation with their local sales representative, Kelana Stabil (M) SDN. BHD., are a major sub-contractor." More datails at: http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=59243

3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3.1 St. Moritz Match Race Sept 1-6 On top of the world
Is the sixth stop on the 9-event World Match Racing Tour 2009. Mathieu Richard (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team are the current tour leaders and defending champions of this event, winning the 2008 edition of the event ahead of Ian Williams' (UK) Team Pindar. Twelve teams representing eight nations including Datuk Peter Gilmour's YANMAR Racing team will compete on Lake St. Moritz aboard the Blu26 one-design sailing boats. Conceived by the Swiss Bluboats, the Blu26 are 8 m. long and 2,2 m. wide. -- Full report: http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com/

3.2 Maxi yachts drawing the battle lines
When the 20th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2009, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda takes place from 6 to 12 September, expect nothing less than a medieval scrap between various latter day warlords and their trusted retainers. The mightiest contest is expected in the Mini Maxi division where eight of the latest exponents of this growing class will be brushing up on Sun Tzu's Art of War ahead of the season's highlight Maxi yacht event. Racing commences on Monday, 7 September and concludes with the final prize giving on Saturday, 12 September. From the most luxurious, through the most traditional, to the most advanced monohulls afloat today, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is nothing if not an astonishing line up of sailing power. For more information about the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2009 including entry lists please visit http://www.yccs.it. To receive daily reports during the event and to download high-resolution images, copyright free for editorial purposes, register online at: http://www.regattanews.com

3.3 Mini Transat sailors at it again
Thirty-two years after the creation of the race, the 17th edition of The Charente-Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50 2009 will start on Sunday the 13th of September 2009 off the coast of the Charente-Maritime to join Brazilian coats in Salvador de Bahia via Funchal (Madeira - Portugal). A single-handed race across the Atlantic on a boat of 6.50 meters without assistance… Year after year, The Charente-Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50 has become a Queen of the international racing calendar. Always accessible to low budgets and amateurs, it has also become a must for sailors who aspire to a career and can prides herself on having had over 700 participants competing since its origin, the most famous (Autissier Coville, Desjoyeaux Lemonchois, MacArthur, Peyron, Stamm...). This year among the 84 sailors, 7 women will be participating. More at: http://www.transat650.org/en/

3.4 Clipper Race sets sail on 13th Sept
Ten Clipper race yachts will depart from the Humber starting at Hull on Sunday 13 Sept. Olympic gold medallist sprinter Usain Bolt celebrated the announcement that Jamaica will field an entry in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. The boat, named Jamaica Lightning Bolt, in honour of the fastest man on earth, will compete against nine identical 68-foot yachts in the 35,000-mile race around the world. Jamaica Lighting Bolt will compete against international entries including Spirit of Australia, Uniquely Singapore, California, Qingdao, Cork, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital and Hull & Humber. Sponsors recognise that the Clipper Race provides a cost effective and high impact platform to promote tourism, attract inward investment and generate a strong sense of community engagement. Follow all the action from http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/Home

3.5 Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta (14-19 September)
Weymouth and Portland's world-renowned sailing centre, the venue for the sailing competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, will open its doors with free entry to the public this 19th September, on the day that the medals will be decided at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta. More than 500 boats competing in all 10 Olympic Classes - including the new women's match racing class - plus the three Paralympic Classes are expected to compete across the week of the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta (14-19 September), which this year doubles up as the seventh and final round of the 2008-09 ISAF Sailing World Cup series. See http://www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk and http://www.wpnsa.org.uk

3.6 Right Royal racing at NYYC Invitational Cup
Racing in the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup will take place on Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound from September 15-19 in Newport, the same waters where the New York Yacht Club hosted the America’s Cup – a trophy it first won in 1851 – from 1930-1983, or from its 14th Defense in 1930 to the 25th Defense in 1983. (Prior to that, it had been hosted in New York Harbor.) The sailing is expected to be tough and demanding on the NYYC Swan 42s (being used by all 19 International yacht club teams in the event) with challenging fall winds of Southern New England, while the on-land activities will celebrate the camaraderie so revered in the sport. For more info, results or sign up for newsletter visit: http://www.nyyc.org/eventnews/

3.7 Voiles de Saint Tropez - Finest classic yachts set for 10th anniversary
With less than a month until kick-off, the outline of the tenth anniversary of Les Voiles de Saint Tropez which will be held from 26th September to 4th October is taking shape. The pressure is mounting on the waiting lists. Nearly 3,000 crew competing on over 250 traditional and modern yachts have already received confirmation of their participation, a precious ticket which will enable them to race in what promises to be a very sophisticated vintage. With the complicity of the town, the organisers have once again planned to join together the locals and the public in this unique festival of sailing, thus continuing a tradition born in 1981 with the very first Nioulargue. Modern craft: the genius of boats and men... A new addition to the 2009 event. In order to enable monitoring of points scored in the Rolex Trophy throughout the week – awarded to the best traditional yacht measuring over 16 metres – a specific ranking will be published after each day’s racing. At the end of all the racing, the winner will be awarded the Rolex Trophy, along with the legendary “Submariner” watch. More at: http://www.societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr/

3.8 Finally an affordable Round the World Race
The Notice of Race for the 2011-12 Global Ocean Race is now online. The inaugural event, the 2008-09 Portimão Global Ocean Race, included single handed Open 40s and double handed Class 40s, whereas the 2011-12 event will be for Class 40s only in either solo or doublehanded configuration. Five boats are already entered, with the race limited to 20 open entries and 5 invited entries. Full NOR here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0824/

4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS

4.1 World Sailing Speed Record Council ratified two new World Records
Both by Banque Populaire 5. Skipper Pascal Bidegorry (FRA) and 11 crewmembers aboard the 131-foot maxi trimaran set a new outright Transatlantic record of 3 days, 15 hours, 25 minutes, and 48 seconds (average speed: 32.94 knots) on July 29-Aug 2. In the process of the Transatlantic record, the team also set a new outright 24 hour record of 908.2 miles (average speed: 37.84 knots). Both records were previously held by Groupama 3 and skipper Franck Cammas (FRA) in 2007 -- http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/

4.2 Youngest RECORD available at GUINNESS
17 year-old British sailor Mike Perham has become the world's youngest solo circumnavigator. His 50ft yacht Totallymoney.com reached the Lizard line marking the start and finish point of his 30,000 mile record-setting odyssey on Thursday, August 27th - two months inside the current record. While such a record will not be recognized by the WSSRC as they no longer recognize "human condition" categories, the Guinness World Records will be on hand to ratify the feat. This will not be the first time that Perham has been credited by Guinness World Records. Back in January 2007, he became the youngest person to sail solo across the Atlantic at the age of 14. -- Full story: http://www.covarimail.com/view.lasso?id1=406&id2=294439

5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"

5.1 Oops draft exceeds depth of water...
A keen yachtsman, Arthur Manning was taking part in a Channel Islands race and grounded his 35 foot Jersey-registered yacht Knight Star on a reef which dried 4m at Low Water. The Sadler Starlight 35 was perched perilously on her 6ft keel and he laid out fenders along her port side in case she fell over. She was hauled off the rocks undamaged at Saint-Quay-Portrieux, in north-west France on the next tide by French coastguards. Mr Manning had been competing against 19 other boats in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club Race.

5.2 Miss Saigon down but not out
Just after Phuket Raceweek, disaster struck at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club when lowering the mast on Neil Ayre's Corsair 28 Miss Saigon. As the rope feed was released to quickly, the mast came down and snapped in two after striking the rear support arm. This could cause some delays if a replacement mast is required as it will have to be fully imported into Asia. Perhaps with some Thai ingenuity it can be repaired and as importing boat parts into Phuket recently has became duty free, the legislation will go a long way to reducing costs and dramatically speeding up boat repair service.

5.3 Rescued Aussie sailors end up in China
Two Australian sailors who won the Multihull and Overall 2009 Darwin - Ambon Yacht Race titles, set off on the return trip to Darwin in North Australia never dreamed that they would end up sailing to China. While Cole Wilesmith and Jim Grieson were returning they sounded the alarm when they found the beam between the hulls of their race winning catamaran Mai Tai had failed and the two hulls were in danger of coming asunder. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) rescue authorities went into action, and the Gerasimos, a Liberian flagged ship, was diverted to rescue the pair. The rescue took place 400 miles off the coast of Australia, but the ship is on its way to Long Kou, China, so that's where the hapless sailors will end up. The catamaran was abandoned at sea and the silverware donated to King Neptune and it it is not known when the men will return to Australia.

5.5 Mike Golding doing it tough at the iShares Cup
The fourth round of the iShares Cup in Kiel over the weekend produced seen some great racing and drama. Conditions were difficult for the 10 Extreme - squalls, torrential rain, thunder and lightning with the wind range from 6 knots to 14 knots and occasional some strong gusts that caught out British skipper Mike Golding, who capsized during racing on the first day. After a nail biting final race, Oman Sail Masirah scored their third consecutive victory, followed by teammate Renaissance and the French boat Groupama 40. Goto http://www.isharescup.com/en/video.asp and choose Day 1 Highlights to review the capsize, collisions and all the Extreme 40 action in gusty conditions.

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