Sailmaking... Evolved
Evolution Sails are a Global Sailmaking Group. They have a new way of doing things and new technology to share in an industry that could use a few new ideas. From durable cruising sails to regatta winning EM Membrane racing sails, they have found innovative ways to improve their product through advances in manufacturing, engineering and design. Whether your plans include cruising the Med or crossing the Atlantic, Sydney/Hobart or winning IRC Nationals, Bucket or Sportsboat competition, Dinghy sailing or One Design racing, or just a weekday twilight race with your friends, you must consider Evolution for your next sails. Check them out at: http://www.evolutionsails.com/

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CONTENTS

1. EDITORIAL - Coming International & Asian events
2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS - Amongst the Youth Olympic Games medals - Teams ready for Monsoon Cup qualifiers - Good news from the Philippine's - Prepare for the Thailand Platu Nationals - Magnetic Island Race Week - fastest growing regatta in Australia - Update on Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team - Watch out! Sportsboats heading for Brisbane - Louis Vuitton Trophy - Hong Kong cancelled - 2011 ISAF Nations Cup regional finals announced
Up next in Asia - China Coast Regatta - Biennial HK to Vietnam Race - 4th China Cup International Regatta
3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Unveiling l'Hydroptere.ch - “Youngest Ever” Roulette Wheel Is Spinning - Big Guns at the Ready in Italy - Extreme Sailing Series hitting the straps - Sailings “ROYALTY” Reunite in Newport - 2010-11 VELUX 5 OCEANS news - Spectacular September in Sardinia - Les Voiles de Saint Tropez – Viva Mallorca
Follow the: World Match Racing Tour - Audi MedCup Circuit - Extreme 40 Sailing Series - RC 44 Championship - Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS - Sidney Gavignet & OMAN AIR setting the pace - Groupama smashes Round Britain and Ireland Race record
5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - Little America's Cup - Day 1 carnage - French cats collide in Extreme Series - Stamm & Girolet collision - Retire from Figaro - Passion boiled over Team Origin

1. EDITORIAL

Over the last few days the host server for AsianYachting.com were in the process of changing telecom's which required some down time and several changes of IP address before they got it sorted. It is now back up and running again and we are sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Meanwhile the news keeps on rolling along and a healthy lot of sailing events both on the local and International scene will be held over the next couple of months. As the European summer draws to a close, they seem to cram in as many events as possible into the calendar. Many class world titles are underway and as the seasons change the Trans Atlantic crossing plus Round the World races are coming up fast on the agenda.

In Asia, boat owners and sailors are preparing their boats and crew on the local club racing scene, while those looking for even bigger challenges will have till October 15 - 17th when the 3-day China Coast Regatta gets underway and the Biennial HK to Vietnam Race starts on October 20th. Both these events are included in the 2010-11 AYGP Championship and the top five racing class boats will score points towards the Evolution Sails AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year Awards.

For yachts returning to Hong Kong or teams looking for some more intense One Design Beneteau First 40.7 racing, the 4th China Cup International Regatta kicks off from October 29th to Nov 1st. There seems to be a resurgence in IRC fleet racing as established racing teams in Asia would like to compete on their own yachts during the event. If they consistently improve over the next couple of years then this regatta may also be considered as one of the five-star AYGP events.

On the home front the newly purchased Platu 25 AsianYachting 1 has been re-launched and over the coming months we will be reviving the Learn to SAIL program. Next week during the school holidays we will be conducting 2-3 hour Discover Sailing trips from PD World Marina in Port Dickson. This would suit a small family or group of friends that would like to share in a sailing experience. Future course dates and details can be found at: http://asianyachting.com/AYmasters/classes.htm As Malaysia has become the home of match racing in Asia, the plan is to build on our AY Racing Team with an emphasis on match racing as this increasingly popular discipline is used to settle keelboat championships at the SEA and Asian Games.

On the International scene the World Match Racing Tour - Audi MedCup Circuit - Extreme 40 Sailing Series and the RC 44 Championship continue this month. All these topics and much much more on the Asian and International scene are covered (Below) and regularly updated on the AsianYachting website.
Enjoy!
Capt Marty Rijkuris

2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS

2.1 Amongst the Youth Olympic Games medals
Siripon Kaewduang-Ngam of Thailand claims the first Sailing Gold Medal in the Techno 293 Girls at the Youth Olympic Games. Veronica Fanciulli ITA wins the medal race and claims the Silver medal in the process. Third place for Singapore's Audrey Yong secures her the bronze medal. As the Byte Cll Girls ran down to the finish in a big cluster the Gold goes to Lara Vadlau of Austria who did just what she needed to win the medal. Silver goes to Daphne van der Vaart of NED whilst in a very tight finish the Bronze goes to Constanze Stolz GER. Ian Barrows ISV just had to sail a conservative race to win the Byte Cll Boys Gold for the US Virgin Islands. As the pack crossed the finish line Just van Aanholt AHO won the medal race and clinched the Bronze medal in the process. The Silver nearly slipped from Florain Haufe’s grasp on the last leg but the German held on to finish in seventh to claim the Silver medal. Mayan Rafic’s fourth place in the medal race was easily enough to seal him the Gold medal in the Techno 293 Boys division. Kieran Martin GBR won the medal race and takes the Bronze medal. Michael Cheng HKG confirmed the Silver medal with his fifth finish in the medal race. Check out the complete results, photos and roundup on the ISAF microsite at: http://www.sailing.org/yog/

2.2 Teams ready for Monsoon Cup qualifiers
This year’s MMRC will take place at Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa, home of the Monsoon Cup, from 20th – 23rd October 2010. It will be followed by the Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC) from 26th – 29th October 2010. Defending champion Hazwan Hazim Dermawan has a special reason to retain the title this October – as he will be representing his home state Perak this year. 25-year-old Hazwan, who was born in Ipoh, made the decision to move back to his home state after capturing last year’s crown while skippering Terengganu’s Taring Pelangi. Although it was a special moment for him, Hazwan said the joy would have been so much better if it was achieved while sailing for Perak. They have secured sponsorship and will be racing under the team name of Silvermatch AC Law where AC Law represents a law firm from Perak, while Silver means Perak. More at http://www.monsooncup.com.my This wonderful opportunity will also give Mohd Masyuri and his Royal Malaysian Navy 1, national representative keelboat team a chance to hone their skills before they go onto the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November. Further MC qualifier info contact T Best Event (Ms Mira) at 603-22833324 or 016-3385341(HP) / Email: mira@tbest.com.my Meanwhile this week, twelve of the world’s most successful skippers, are ready for a week-long series of head-to-head battles at the St Moritz Match Race. Follow all the action at: http://www.wmrt.com

2.3 Good news from the Philippine's
All the way from Philippine the Kaya ng Pinoy Inc. expedition, is an exciting, new undertaking that will retrace the migration of their ancestors across the oceans using only the native Balangay sailing craft, built faithful to the craftsmanship and materials used during the ancient times. Navigation will also remain accurate to the method that was used by the earliest mariners - steering by the sun, the stars, the wind, cloud formations, wave patterns and bird migrations. The 38 Philippine crew members are led by those involved in the 1st Mt. Everest Expedition of the Kaya ng Pinoy (in bahasa “Kami Boleh”) Foundation established by Mr Art Valdez is on a voyage to cross over Malaysia (including Borneo and Peninsular), Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam and China. They are travelling with two traditional boats, the oversize lepa-lepa (without engine) called Diwata ng Lahi and Masawa Hong Butuan and one motorized escort boat called Sama Tawi-Tawi. The three boats were called “BALAGAYS” in bahasa mean “BALAI” or “HOME”. With a theme of People, Places and Exploring New Spaces; the epic journey of the balangays epitomize culture, heritage, history and the spirit of the Filipinos in achieving an impossible dream! The only content proudly Philippine made! Follow their progress at: http://www.balangay-voyage.com/

2.4 Book your 2011 Sunsail holiday NOW, and pay 2010 rates!
Whenever you plan to go - NOW is the time to book! Just reserve your yacht by 5th September 2010 to lock in current rates. These rates apply to all of our yachts, including the brand new Sunsail 53, and also our Sunsail Sailing School program. In addition to this saving, you can also receive an Early Booking Discount of up to 10% off if you book 6 months or more in advance, and if you are an existing Sunsail client you can combine this with a Repeat Charter Discount of up to a further 10%. When you sail in Thailand you have easy access to the surrounding areas including Sunsail bases in Langkawi, Koh Chang and Koh Samui for year-round, worry-free cruising. Check them out by visiting the Sunsail Asia www.sunsailasia.com and pick up a copy of the 2011 Yacht Charter brochure and receive regular updates on Sunsail's activities in the Asian region contact Tel: +66 (0)76 239057 Email: sales@sunsailasia.com

2.5 Prepare for the Thailand Platu Nationals
Time to make preparations for the Thailand Platu National Championship which is also the 4th and final round of the QUANTUM , Platu ,One Design Championship of Thailand 2010. This year they will repeat the very successful formula used for the Open last March. There will be a one day forerunner event (Not compulsory) on Friday the 22nd October to get you all warmed up. The Nationals will be a three day event on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the 23rd/24th and 25th October. Take note Monday is a Thai public holiday. Provisional NORs and the Quantum Championship progressive results, to date after 3 rounds, are posted at: http://www.OMYCsailing.com in the Platu Section. These can quickly change as competing teams are allowed one drop score in the series. As usual Kev Scott (The Ferret) has top condition Platu's available for charter, with or without racing sails. Phone cell 0878 25 00 11 (Thailand +66) or Email kevscott@hotmail.com

2.6 Magnetic Island Race Week - fastest growing regatta in Australia
For a quarter of a century, two iconic Queensland yachting events Airlie Beach Race Week and Hamilton Island Race Week, have attracted hundreds of boats from the southern states each August, but very few have ever ventured further north. But now that has changed. Just four years ago, Townsville Yacht Club with the strong support of Townsville based Sunferries staged the first Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week, with support from Queensland Events and Townsville City Council. It was a bold step; however the success of Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week has been well beyond expectations. In the first year 2007, 23 boats mostly local took part in the inaugural Sunferries Magnetic Island Regatta; in 2008 there were 35 boats. As news spread of the relaxed and friendly nature of the regatta, the numbers climbed in 2009 to 49 and now in 2010 already 68 boats have entered, from up and down the Queensland's coast and with strong interstate support. Follow the growing event from Friday 3 to Tuesday 7 September at: http://www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au/

2.7 Update on Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team
Alicante, Spain - 31 August 2010 - Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Team has officially appointed US-based Farr Yacht Design (FYD), to design its Volvo Open 70 for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. Alongside this appointment is the announcement that Jason Carrington (UK) has been hired as the team’s Technical Manager. With more than 25 years of experience, FYD-designed racing yachts have won more than 40 world championships and have achieved a multitude of success at international grand prix events including the Volvo Ocean Race. After a five-stage research and design process, the building of the yacht will start in late September. “Farr Yacht Design was selected because of its ability to tailor to our specific requirements and for its strong commitment to research and design which has been ongoing since the conclusion of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09,” said His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). “We anticipate being able to announce the appointment of the yacht builder early next month after finalising the selection of six tender qualifiers from throughout the Middle East, Europe and the Far East,” His Excellency added. More info at: http://www.volvooceanrace.com

2.8 Watch out! Sportsboats heading for Brisbane
Secure your leave pass, book your flights - the Sports Boats are back in town, as Brisbane has been announced as THE venue for two huge regattas this November and December. The Australian Sports Boat Association (ASBA), in conjunction with Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (RQYS), are delighted to announce not only two biggest Sports Boat events of the summer but two of the biggest sailing regattas held in south-east Queensland this year. Following the success of the Queensland Title last year, the 2010 Meridien Queensland Title will be held on 20-21 November at RQYS. Organisers are confident of exceeding last year’s record fleet of 24 boats, expecting more than 30 boats from around the country, on the starting line, this year. It will all be repeated over the same course from December the 28 – Jan 2, 2011 for the 2nd stand alone DP Meridien Australian Sports Boat Titles, the 4th to be run using the SMS rating system. Sports Boat sailing in Australia is on the move, so whether you want to re-invigorate your soul, re-align your 'Ying and Yang', or simply blast around Moreton Bay, now is the time to organise your boat and crew and get on board with the biggest and most competitive fleet of Sports Boats ever assembled. For more goto http://www.yachte.com.au/news/story.asp?story=29846

2.9 iQ TECHNOLOGY = GREAT SAILS = GREAT RESULTS
Over the past 2 years Quantum Sails has worked endlessly on developing their proprietary iQ Technology - the process of integrating state-of-the-art design and manufacturing methods with on-the-water verification testing (accomplished through Quantum Racing). Recent results speak for themselves: 1st place, Melges 32 National Championship; 1st place, European Dinghy World Championship; 1st place, Phuket Race Week; 1st place, Rolex IRC National Championship; 1st place, Opti Nordic Youth Championship; 1st place, J/22 World Championship; 1st place, J/24 European Championship; 1st place, Marseille Trophy - (TP52) Audi MedCup. This is not a mere coincidence, but the ongoing process of combining Quantum's top of the line Fusion M sails with their proprietary iQ Technology -- the process of integrating state-of-the-art design and manufacturing methods certainly speak for themselves. Find your speed at: http://www.quantumsails.com

2.10 Louis Vuitton Trophy - Hong Kong cancelled
The proposed World Sailing Teams Association regatta in January, scheduled for Hong Kong in January as part of the Louis Vuitton Trophy series, has been cancelled. The America's Cup teams involved will know by then the venue, date and type of boat and will be concentrating on that. At the very least they need to know the type of boat in the protocol due to be published by 31 August. It is clear that the fate of the America's Cup teams in Audi Medcup is also in the hands of Russell Coutts and BMW Oracle. If the Cup is going into multihull's then that is where the training budget, as well as the design and research budgets, will go. Eight teams are due to race at the Louis Vuitton regatta in Dubai in November, but Oracle has made it clear that all team wishing to enter the next Cup will, as part of the participation agreement, be required to race at six regattas next year and in 2012. They will also need to know whether they will be using supplied equipment or will be working towards building their own new boats. Louis Vuitton's relationship with BMW Oracle Racing, is still strong and the two are actively talking about LV's roll in the lead up to the 34th America's Cup and the match itself. There will be America's Cup Championship racing in 2011, where is yet to be determined. The Version 5 boats will be used for these regattas with the new design phasing into the competition in the winter of 2011-'12". More from Stuart Streuli - Sailing World blog

2.11 2011 ISAF Nations Cup regional finals announced
The ISAF Nations Cup, which was first introduced to the world in 1991, is based on a series of Regional Finals with the top crews meeting at a Grand Final. The aim of the event is to broaden the availability of match racing and provide international match racing competition for national authorities and sailors at reasonable cost, whilst acting as an incentive for national match racing programs. Held five times previously, the Nations Cup triggers a pyramid of events, with nations holding club and then national championships to select their teams to attend the Regional Finals, which in turn lead to the Grand Final, where nations are pitted against each other, creating a sound, viable and appealing series of events. The US SAILING Center Sheboygan will host the Grand Final of the sixth edition of the ISAF Nations Cup from 13-18 September 2011. Competition will be held on Lake Michigan in the Sonar (with a crew of three) for the men's event and the Elliott 6m (with a crew of three) for the women's event. Below are all the dates and venues for the Regional Finals of the 2011 ISAF Nations Cup. France as defender and USA as host are pre-qualified for the Grand Final.
Regional Final Africa - Royal Cape Yacht Club - 29 April - 2 May 2011
Regional Final Asia - Bahrain Sailing Club - March or April 2011
Regional Final Europe I (Open) - Bundesleistungszentrum fuer Segeln - Beginning of May 2011
Regional Final Europe I (Women) - Yate Clube do Porto - Spring 2011
Regional Final Europe II (Open and Women) - Gdynia, Poland - July-August 2011
Regional Final North America and Caribbean - Fort Worth Boat Club - 15-21 May 2011
Regional Final Oceania - Cruising Yacht Club of Australia - 12-14 May 2011
Regional Final South America - Veleiros do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil - 19-26 March 2011
Full details on the Nations Cup visit: http://www.sailing.org/nationscup

3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3.1 Unveiling l'Hydroptere.ch
Alain Thebault, founder and pilot of the Hydroptere project and Jean-Mathieu Bourgeon, scientific manager of the project, accompanied by their Design Team, unveiled their new prototype, l'Hydroptere.ch, a 35ft catamaran at the Decision SA shipyard in Ecublens (Switzerland) which will soon be launched on Lake Geneva. l'Hydroptere.ch follows the same principle. As a trial lab, she will help conceiving l'Hydroptere maxi whose purpose is to beat the most famous oceanic records and to follow Jules Verne's vision: Flying around the planet. Three boats to attempt all major records: Pure speed, Atlantic crossing, Pacific crossing and circumnavigation. Chect it out at: http://www.hydroptere.com

3.2 “Youngest Ever” Roulette Wheel Is Spinning
Again Just when you thought all the teen solo silliness might be over, just when you started to think you might not be hearing about the Sunderlands for a while (how can they NOT have a reality TV show?), Zac Sunderland goes ahead and gets himself arrested Hopefully, that won’t be grist for another round of armchair moralizing over teenage judgment, and its suitability for round-the-world sailing. Instead, let’s turn our attention on the newest teen solo sailor bidding for youthful glory on the high seas. Yep, Dutch teen Laura Dekker, the youngest of the young ‘uns at 14, has now set sail after receiving permission from a Dutch court (and people say America is run by lawyers). The plan for her voyage;seems a lot more cautious—and suitable—than her ambitious predecessors. It includes 27 stops, and will avoid both Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope (opting for Suez instead). So the danger of the Southern Ocean has been traded for the danger of pirates in the Arabian and Red Seas. That’s not such an obvious trade, methinks. So with every progressively younger sailor that sets out the roulette wheel is set spinning anew. And each time the house’s odds get stacked that little bit more against the sailor. We don’t know yet who will lose. But someone will—eventually. Full story Tim Zimmerman's Sailing World blog Laura's Route at: http://www.lauradekker.nl/English/Home.html

3.3 Big Guns at the Ready in Italy
Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy: With an active racing season well underway, a fleet of top maxi yachts have committed to being in Porto Cervo to compete at the 2010 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. The event is a favourite gathering for these competitive and striking sailing craft, which will meet off Sardinia's spectacular Costa Smeralda from 5 - 11 September. 2010 marks the 21st edition of this annual autumn gathering and, as usual, the international fleet will comprise a mix of the latest launches and those well known on the racing circuit. The regatta features some of the most impressive sailing yachts in the world. The primary limitation on entry is length: minimum rather than maximum - all yachts must be over 18.29-metres (60-feet) in length. This year the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup forms the final act in the 2010 Rolex IMA Championship series and also includes the inaugural World Championship for the Mini Maxi fleet. The list of returnees is strong, with a good showing of the gargantuan supermaxis, including the 45-metre Saudade (MLT) and Salperton (CAY), and Hasso Plattner's 44-metre Visione (GER), as well as the stunning classic-looking 42-metre J-Class, Ranger. Back to defend their 2009 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup division titles are Neville Crichton's Shockwave (ex-Alfa Romeo 3) (NZL), Niklas Zennstrom's Rán (GBR), Michael Cotton's Whisper (IRL), and Claus-Peter Offen's Y3K (GER). Follow the action at: http://www.yccs.it

3.4 DK Technology 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 is a specially modified Mark Mills designed DK46's, that has won nearly every major event in the Austral-Asian region on the market. DK is one of the most technologically advanced composite manufacturing facility in the SE Asian region. The design office works on high performance IBM CAD/CAM systems which are data supply linked to production and directly command the five-axis milling machine that accurately cuts hull plugs and moulds. Contained within the 110,000 sq ft facility is a multi-cycle computerized temperature oven (25m x 5m x 3.5m), a spray chamber (18m x 6m x 5.5m), an engineering workshop and a dedicated laminating room. In addition, DK also has an in-house 40m long autoclave to cure carbon fibre and kevlar finished products. So what are you waiting for? Serious Yachts for Serious Sailors can be found at http://www.dkyachts.com

3.5 Extreme Sailing Series hitting the straps
Next stop for the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series is Trapani, Sicily over the 24-26 September, the penultimate event of the circuit: “I've never been to Trapani, we're going to race in the harbour so maybe it will be comparable to Almeria,” commented Yann Guichard on Groupe Edmond de Rothschild after winning the third round of the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series in Kiel with a race to spare. “At this time of the year there should be some thermal breeze so conditions should be pleasant and we can expect a good fight.” Yann Guichard now has two wins under his belt (Séte and Kiel) and Paul Campbell-James one (Cowes). “I think we clearly demonstrated that we're a force to be reckoned with for the Overall Series victory,” said Guichard. “We're now more than halfway into the season, and with this second event win we take a psychological advantage as well as one in terms of points, so we're very happy.” From the performance here in Kiel it looks like Guichard’s campaign is gathering steam – can anyone stop the ‘express train’ now? Daily Race Reports, videos and photo gallery at: http://www.extremesailingseries.com

3.6 Sailings “ROYALTY” Reunite in Newport
The members of sailing’s royal court – to large extent – include any veteran of the storied 12 Metre era of America’s Cup racing that stretched from 1958 to 1987. With 80 teams competing as contenders or defenders, there is a cadre of sailors whose involvement in the Cup – as skipper, crew, afterguard, designer, builder, syndicate member, race manager or press – has earned them admittance into sailing’s version of Burke’s Peerage: the 2010 America’s Cup 12 Metre Era Reunion presented by Rolex. Starting on Wednesday, Sept 15, the 12 Metre North American Championships will bring the glamour of racing these elegant sloops – preserved for their historical significance and simple beauty – back to Narragansett Bay. There will be three days of racing (September 15-17) for the North American title with luminaries sprinkled among the fleet including Ted Turner and Gary Jobson sailing on American Eagle ~ US 21. They will provide observers some prime viewing into a window on the past with a glimpse of icons such as Malin Burnham, Dennis Conner, Syd Fischer, Sir James Hardy, Ted Hood, Halsey Herreshoff, Pele Petterson and Bruno Trouble sprinkled across the fleet. For more detailed information on The 12 Metre Era Reunion presented by Rolex Watch U.S.A., please visit the New York Yacht Club online at: http://nyyc.org/AC12Mreunions/

3.7 2010-11 VELUX 5 OCEANS news
Run by Clipper Ventures PLC, this is the longest running solo round the world race, and has 28 years of rich heritage as the BOC Challenge and then the Around Alone. This edition features five ocean sprints over nine months. After heading from La Rochelle to Cape Town, the race will then take in Wellington in New Zealand, Salvador in Brazil and Charleston in the US before returning back across the Atlantic to France. Eight ocean racers from seven nations are now set to be on the start line in La Rochelle, France on October 17 for the grueling 30,000-mile round the world race, dubbed the Ultimate Solo Challenge. They are:
Skipper - Boat - Nationality
Brad Van Liew - Le Pingouin - USA
Derek Hatfied - Spirit of Canada - Canada
Christophe Bullens - Oceans of Smiles - Belguim
Zbigniew Gutkowski - Globe - Poland
Chris Stanmore-Major - Spartan - Great Britain
Simon Chalk - Ocean Planet - Great Britain
Garry Golding - Oz - Australia
Charles Hedrich - Respectons La Terre - France
Check them out at: http://www.velux5oceans.com/#/news/41

3.8 Spectacular September in Sardinia
Porto Cervo, Italy: The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is preparing for an extremely busy September as entries for two of the Club’s traditional Rolex-sponsored events continue to arrive and preparations for the inaugural Oyster Regatta in Sardinia continue. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, which will host yachts ranging from 18 to 45 metres in length, is scheduled to take place from September 5th to 11th and will be followed immediately by the Rolex Swan Cup from 13th to 19th. A portion of the fleet participating in each of the events will compete for a World Championship title: the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship for the Maxis and the Rolex Swan 45 World Championship among the Nautor’s Swan craft. The Club’s sporting season in Porto Cervo will conclude with the Oyster Regatta taking place from 21st to 25th September. For further information on these events and the entire YCCS sporting season 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

3.9 Les Voiles de Saint Tropez – 25th Sept - 3rd October
With less than a month to go till the start, of the 2010 edition of Les Voiles de Saint Tropez promises to be exceptional. In spite of the intentional restriction on the number of participants, the Société Nautique is preparing to play host to nearly 300 traditional and modern competitors, which equates to over 3,500 crew members gathering together in the bay of Saint Tropez for a week of racing and festivities. The year 2010 will be marked by the number 15: 15 countries represented, 15 registered Wallys, 15 traditional hundred year old boats on the Var region’s race zone. Among the largest craft, including the gigantic masts of the J classes, Shamrock V and Velsheda, we will be able to see the highly elegant silhouette of the ketch that holds the Atlantic record under sail, Mari Cha III. Combining exceptional performance, uncluttered design and unique styling, the Wallys still form one of the major attractions of Les Voiles. No less than 15 craft are registered this year, making it one of the season’s largest gatherings of Wallys. Several boats launched in 2009 will be tacking about Saint Tropez for the first time: the Wally 80 Bagheera, the 90 Highland Fling and the 100 Indio, to name but a few. With the honour going to the old boats, it’s Partridge who will this year steal the thunder from the largest traditional craft by celebrating her 125th birthday with grace and elegance. With her plumb bow, her massive bowsprit and her beautiful extended counter stern, Partridge is a small copy of Galatea, the English America’s Cup challenger in 1886. Recovered from a mud berth, her restoration took nearly twenty years of passion and determination to rediscover her original sailing capabilities and the charm of her characteristic outline. Website: http://www.snst.org

3.10 Viva Mallorca
The organisers of the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 (GOR) have great pleasure in announcing they have contracted with the Spanish island of Mallorca to host the start and finish of the circumnavigation. Situated in the Mediterranean, Mallorca will provide a stunning backdrop for the start and finish of this double-handed, round the world race: an event that is on target to attract 20 entries from over 11 nations. The course for the GOR is now confirmed as: Mallorca - Cape Town (RSA) - Wellington (NZ) - Punta del Este (URY) - Charleston (USA) - Mallorca. Due to the busy calendar of existing yachting events in Mallorca, the Race Organisation has agreed to move the start date of the GOR to 1400hrs local time on Sunday 25th September 2011. Consequently, the revised schedule for the GOR is as follows:
Leg 1: Mallorca to Cape Town - 25th September 2011
Leg 2: Cape Town to Wellington - 27th November 2011
Leg 3: Wellington to Punta del Este - 29th January 2012
Leg 4: Punta del Este to Charleston - 1st April 2012
Leg 5: Charleston to Mallorca - 20th May 2012
Predicted finish in Mallorca - 10th June 2012
Full details at: http://www.globaloceanrace.com

4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS

4.1 Sidney Gavignet & OMAN AIR setting the pace
At 09:03:55 GMT (24/08/10) skipper Sidney Gavignet (FRA) onboard OMAN AIR MAJAN crossed the finish line off Lizard Point, Cornwall to smash the single handed Round Britain and Ireland record. The A100 trimaran broke the existing record held by Thomas Coville by a massive 1 day 15 hours 30 minutes and 44 seconds.This incredible achievement also means Sidney has beaten the existing fully crewed record time by 1 hour and 7 seconds. This record was set by Steve Fosset onboard Playstation in 2002. The record attempt has seen OMAN AIR MAJAN sail 1,787 miles along one of the most challenging coastlines in the world. Sidney has tackled huge low pressure systems and sailed through squalls of over 40 knots. This is the first major test for OMAN AIR MAJAN and Sidney ahead of the single handed Route du Rhum race this coming November. New single handed Round Britain and Ireland record (subject to ratification by WSSRC)
Distance miles: 1,787
Boat: OMAN AIR MAJAN – 100 foot trimaran
Skipper: Sidney Gavignet (FRA)
Record time: 4 days, 15 hours, 9 minutes, 47 seconds (subject to ratification by WSSRC)

4.2 Groupama smashes Round Britain and Ireland Race record
Volvo Open 70, Groupama, claimed both the race win and course record for the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, on Sunday 29 August 2010, when she crossed the line at 10.26.55 (GMT). Teléfonica Azul claimed second place just over fours hours later at 15:38:09 (GMT), also well inside the old course record. Groupama completed the 1802 mile course in 5 Days 21 Hours 26 minutes and 55 seconds, smashing the course record by 14 hours 3 minutes and 8 seconds, previously held by Open 60, Aviva. A proud Franck Cammas, skipper of Groupama, spoke of the dramas of the race, which started early for his team, when they were hit before the start. “I definitely preferred the finish to the start,” smiled Franck Cammas. “It was difficult for us to give away five miles to Teléfonica, but very nice for all of the boats to see us charging through them in the Solent. This race has been so helpful to Groupama.” Cammas was using this race to train his team for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race , he commented, “The course is like a mini Volvo Ocean Race. It has all of the different conditions that we will encounter and it has been really good to race against Teléfonica Azul. The crew has really got to know each other well and we have made some fantastic progress in our development over the last few days. Best wishes to everyone who will finish the race, it is a great achievement.” More at: http://sevenstar.rorc.org/

5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"

5.1 Little America's Cup - Day 1 carnage
Two cats – Aethon and Orion – were forced out on the first day of racing when their wings broke. The Americans Steve Clark and Oliver Moore aboard the newly launched Aethon were considered contenders for the championship, but their wing was damaged beyond repair when they capsized moments after the start of Race 1.This was a new boat for Clark, an American, the absolute prime-mover in the class, who held the International C-Class Catamaran trophy for 11 years, from 1996-2007. Clark has been as important to the class as Tony DiMauro was to the previous generation. These boats really get motoring along - on the sunny side of 20 knots - and the disturbed wake from a passing freighter, set off a chain reaction that resulted in a capsize and the loss of the wing. Orion, crewed by Canadians Dan Cunningham and Rob Paterson, was forced out shortly after rounding the first windward mark in Race 1. Doing the “wild thing” downwind, the starboard chainplate ripped out of the hull and the wing went overboard to leeward. See the Race 1 capsize courtesy of OTW Anarchy by Peter Crawford and Alex Zustra at: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCaptMarty#p/f/1/V6IXm83tYlk Event website: http://www.nyyc.org/yachtracing/event_230

5.2 French cats collide in Extreme Series
02 Aug 2010 There was plenty of dramatic action on day two of the Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week. With 18-20 knots of breeze, gusting over 20 at times, the nine teams were racing right on the edge, demanding 100% concentration and a constant rush of adrenalin for both the sailors and the spectators from the near capsizes, near misses and some not so near misses... In race 11 (the fourth inshore race), approaching the windward mark Yann Guichard’s Groupe Edmond de Rothschild hit Franck Cammas’ Groupama 40 wiping out both rudders, leaving Groupama with no steerage whatsoever. Groupama 40 were heading straight for the shore at speed and for safety the crew leapt into the water to avoid the impact of hitting the sea wall – deciding they would prefer getting wet than being thrown forward on the boat and potentially injuring themselves. Groupama 40 sustained both rudder and daggerboard damage and in for a long night for the shore team to get them back racing the next day. Groupe Edmond de Rothschild lodged a protest which the jury heard and awarded redress. Check out the video and many more on the YouTube CaptMarty Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCaptMarty#p/f/4/zDT5zM5bNDM

5.3 Stamm & Girolet collision - Retire from Figaro
Under a gray sky the 44 skippers taking part in La Solitaire du Figaro, left Kinsale for the fourth and decisive leg. Tension was high and the Committee was forced to give two general recalls. Swiss Bernard Stamm (Cheminee Poujoulat) and French Matthieu Girolet (Entreprendre) were involved in a collision and suffered from serious damage to their boats. Both decided to abandon racing. Stamm's Figaro had a conspicuous hole on the bow and despite all the other competitors' shore teams immediately started working on it in a solidarity effort, the damage was too extensive to be repaired in a reasonable amount of time. Girolet's breakage was equally evident, and he also reported to have some parts detached inside the boat and doubted also that the rigging was still efficient. Stamm will be given a DNF in the final ranking which means the last's time plus two hours. “The accident was quite unfortunate," commented Stamm. "I heard on the VHF that the Committee was announcing a change of the pin end - I was trying to find a right spot to check and all of a sudden I saw Matthieu’s transom. It was too late - there was nothing I could do to avoid the crash. I was sailing pretty fast, 6 or 7 knots with ballast full and couldn’t change my course. It all happened in seconds. It was a big, loud crash. It’s a pity, I’m really sad and disappointed.” Full details at http://www.lasolitaire.com

5.4 Passion boiled over Team Origin
A rare penalty for abuse was the result, but Britain's Jaguar-backed Team Origin whacked the America's Cup holders BMW Oracle to win the 1851 Cup regatta in Cowes, Isle of Wight. Consolation for the American team came in the form of the Royal Thames Cup when winning Thursday’s race round the Isle of Wight, but, in the all-important shorter match races for the Trafalgar Cup, Origin posted a 6-2 scoreline. Origin, after winning the start of the first of three races in Stokes Bay, was in a tight situation at the top turning mark and appealed to umpire Bill Edgerton, who waved them away. The volley of fruity reaction was loud. Edgerton was overheard saying: 'I'm not having that' and promptly blasted the Brits with his whistle and waved a penalty flag for 'dissent'. Ben Ainslie, skipper of Origin, accepted his yellow card, though his was not the only voice that those nearby claimed to hear, and, with a smile on his face, added later that, of course, any question of parentage was all aimed at his navigator, Juan Vila. The next two went to a clearly superior British outfit, which appears to have been strengthened by the addition of four times Cup-winning Kiwi Simon Daubney to the sail trimming department. Daubney, who has Warwick Fleury alongside him, was one of Oracle CEO Russell Coutts' 'tight five' and both of them are due to be inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame this month.

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