QUANTUM Shift Continues...
Some sail makers save their best stuff for only the big boat programs. Not Quantum. Their iQ Technology informs the development of every sail from the smallest one design classes right on through to the TP52 and beyond. Now in its seventh season, the TP52 racing at the Audi MedCup Circuit has grown to become the premiere keelboat fleet racing circuit. When the 2011 edition begins in less than two weeks, it will be the fourth time that Quantum Sails has led a sponsored team - Quantum Racing. The Q came out strong in 2008, winning the circuit in their first year. After taking second overall the past two years with the same boat, this year they have made changes. With previous skipper Terry Hutchinson (USA) now occupied by the Artemis Racing America’s Cup challenge, Quantum Racing will be led by 2007 America’s Cup winning helm Ed Baird (USA). And Ed will have a new Botin Partners designed boat this season. No matter what your boat size or sailing venue, find your speed at: http://www.quantumsails.com Curious about a sailmaking company controlling its own racing program, check out Scuttlebutt's interview with Ed Reynolds, President of the Quantum Sail Design Group at: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/11/0505/

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CONTENTS

1. EDITORIAL - Lifting the Asian scene onto next level
2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS - Events for the 2016 Olympic Games - The vote - Inaugural Sabang Int. Regatta (15 - 25 Sept) - China Team AC45 up and running - Clipper 11-12 skippers unveiled - They Came, They Saw, They Conquered - World ARC Rally goes annual - Extreme carnage in Qingdao - 2011 ORC VPP Documentation Now Posted - Chinese carrier 'a symbolic threat' - New one design circuit taking off in SEA - WMRT kicks off in Marseille 10 May
Up next in Asia - Sail Malaysia - Sawadee.com Regatta Samui
3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Audi MedCup Circuit all fired up - Soto 40s training in Mediterranean - 2011/12 America’s Cup World Series - Fossett's Legacy - Jean-Pierre Dick honoured - VOR 70 Camper sea trails
Follow the: Velux 5 Oceans - AC 34- Audi MedCup Circuit - Extreme Sailing Series - World Match Racing Tour - Volvo Ocean Race
4. World Speed records - History made for two - New Transatlantic under 40ft record
5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - ORACLE Racing AC45 Diving! - Drouglazet Dismasted - Gutek triumphs over adversity - Going, going, going...gone!

1. EDITORIAL

Ever since we started AsianYachting over 11 years ago, the main aim has always been to distribute and promote sailing news from Asian waters to an International audience, Although our readership has reached a respectable level, we are not over concerned with receiving the most hits or website visitors but more likely to be busy getting the news out into the public arena using the website and most forms of social media to promote the regions sailing activities. This is considered two way traffic as we like to keep our Asian readers up to date with International news, four TV Channels that produce weekly video round-ups have been added to the AY website. That is why we provide links to the major regatta's and races taking place around the world in the News & Views.

We are always looking for ways to improve the Asian regatta scene and recently put our AYGP up for discussion at Bill Gasson's Regatta Forum (See Sail-World Asia report) after the TOTGR. Eighteen delegates representing regatta organisations, IRC measurement, Race Officers, sponsorship and the media came together to discuss the classes, handicap bands, race management and how to make the AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards more inclusive of other classes. Round table discussions proved fruitful and beneficial for some meeting for the first time. More to come on the proposed new scoring system in the May AYGP News coming out next week.

The International Sailing Federation's Mid-Year meeting took center stage last Friday and Saturday as the Events for the 2016 Olympiad were determined. The usual power struggle between the classes raised its ugly head again and any notion that the best interests of the sport, were quickly put aside. From all reports during the voting process two of the weaker classes got steam rolled out of the Olympics. Whatever happened to the notion that windsurfing, kitesurfing, single handed dinghy, double hand dinghy, skiff, multihull and keel boat for both men and women should be in the Olympic Sailing Regatta. As this process is very damaging to the ISAF, surely it must be time to go back to the IOC and ask for two more medals and start a genuinely new and refreshing sailing discipline. After all, the costs of having a few extra sailors is very low compared with building the stand alone sailing facilities, athletes village and its future legacy. During the present ISAF Sailing World Cup events the venues (Including Weymouth 2012 Olympics) have hosted over 900 sailors in 712 boats – much bigger than the 400 sailor limit at the Olympics. The World Cup is fast proving to be more than a training run for the Olympic's, as winning the class title after competing at five regatta's in different conditions throughout the year will soon have a grander status than one every four years.

This month the season ending grand final Sawadee.com Regatta at Koh Samui kicks off from May 30th to June 4th. Sail Malaysia officially gets underway with the Passage to the East Yacht Rally from Langkawi to Sabah. This rally plays a crucial role in opening up fantastic new destinations in the South China Sea by promoting the less traveled route to the East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah.

Other International news, the final Ocean Sprint 5 of the Velux 5 Oceans gets underway mid May and the long awaited Audi MedCup Circuit and World Match Racing Tour kicks off this month. All sorts of news is coming out from the AC 34 and Volvo Ocean Race as they get ready for the season or countdown to the race begins. The latest news from these organisations and much much more can be found below.
Enjoy!
Capt Marty Rijkuris

2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS

2.1 Events for the 2016 Olympic Games
ISAF confirms events for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition at 2011 ISAF Mid-Year Meeting in St Petersburg, Russia. ISAF President Göran Petersson led the ISAF Council in more than three hours of debate and discussion before the ten events were decided. Over 50 Submissions were received for consideration following the changes to the process for selecting events and equipment that was agreed in November 2010. The ten events selected by the ISAF Council for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition are:
Men’s Board or Kiteboard - evaluation
Women’s Board or Kiteboard - evaluation
Men’s One Person Dinghy - Laser
Women’s One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Men’s 2nd One Person Dinghy - Finn
Men’s Skiff - 49er
Women’s Skiff – Evaluation
Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Mixed Two Person Multihull - Evaluation

The Vote
In November 2010, a provisional list of Events and Equipment (“the slate”) was agreed by the ISAF Council. Since then, ISAF received over 50 Urgent Submissions which proposed alternative slates. A two-stage voting process, similar to that used by the IOC when choosing a host city for the Olympic Games, was used to decide the final list. After the first stage, seven Submissions went through to the second stage of voting. There was a palpable sense of tension in the meeting room as the Council awaited the results of the second stage. For more information about the ISAF Mid-Year Meeting and to read the Submissions visit – http:// www.sailing.org/2011-midyear.php

2.2 Inaugural Sabang International Regatta (15 - 25 Sept 2011)
The Ministry of Culture & Tourism of Indonesia is proud to announce the inaugural Sabang International Regatta 2011, to be held from 15 to 25 September 2011. Jointly organized with the Technical Assistance from the Indonesia Sailing Federation, this regatta will be a rally from Langkawi, North West Malaysia to Sabang, Weh Island in Aceh Province. The event has three categories of racing - IRC class, Multihulls and Cruisers. The Organisers have also a category for power yachts for this inaugural regatta, organised to promote Sabang and Aceh Province, which has been re-built after the 2004 Tsunami. Sabang is the capital of Weh Island located on the North of Sumatra, boasts of scenic nature beauty, beaches, forests, coral reef and history. The SIR 2011 organising team is promising fun-filled prize giving parties and have lined up a host of activities for participants in both, Sabang and Aceh. Entry fee USD100.00 per yacht inclusive of skipper and USD25.00 fee for each additional crew member. Those wishing to join for the social events at Sabang, a fee of USD50.00 will be charged per person. For further info, Race Schedule and Entry Form, kindly log on to http://www.sabangregatta.com or contact Mr. Iwan T. Ngantung, Competition Manager of Indonesia Sailing Federation at iwan_ngantung@yahoo.com

2.3 China Team AC45 up and running
China Team became the latest group to take delivery of their AC45 in Auckland, New Zealand. The waterfront is becoming more and more active, with this sixth hardwing catamaran coming on stream. On the same day that China Team’s wing components were delivered to the waterfront, Emirates Team New Zealand were confirming their formal entry for AC34. The China Team started their visit by watching Oracle Racing and Artemis Racing out training. “These boats are pretty cool,” said China Team crewman Cheng Ying Kit. “The wing sail is new technology, which is exciting for us. The boats are really fast and look quite physical. I am looking forward to sailing them.” He was in Auckland with a multinational group of sailors including Australian legend Mitch Booth and his son Taylor Booth for initial trials and the start of a training programme, which will see an increasing number of Chinese sailors brought on board. Mitch Booth is a two-time Olympic multihull medallist and 10-time world champion in Tornado, Hobie, A-Class and Formula 18 catamarans. “At the moment we are starting to sail with a group of professional multihull sailors from the Extreme 40 circuit and the Olympics,” said Kit. “We will start with a very strong team, which will teach us how to sail multihulls. First, though, we are getting our wing delivered and learning how to put it together and apply the film. China Team’s sailing debut in the AC45s will coincide with a two-week period of testing and evaluation of course configurations, racing rules, support systems and television techniques in Auckland. The trials are being conducted under the auspices of America’s Cup Race Management and the America’s Cup Event Authority as teams gear up to the first AC45 World Series starting in Portugal this August. Check out all the AC45 news, photos and action video's at http://americascup.com

2.4 Come enjoy Sunsail's big discounts
Sunsail's South-East Asia bases are easily accessed by direct flights from all major Asian cities. The main base in Phuket is conveniently located at the Ao Po Marina, just a few miles away from Paradise Island and some of the most stunning beaches you can find. With 3 other great destinations including duty-free Langkawi, Koh Chang and Koh Samui, plus all your berthing, insurance and maintenance taken care off, by a team of Sunsail professionals, you can enjoy access to year-round, worry-free cruising. Check out the huge discounts each month on high-performance cruising yachts built for comfort and designed especially for the great sailing in Asia! Visit 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 Clipper 11-12 skippers unveiled
Ten international sailors have been appointed by the prestigious and challenging Clipper 2011-2012 Race following a rigorous selection process. They will each skipper one of the ten stripped down, 68-foot racing yachts which are preparing to compete in the 40,000-mile challenge, the only global ocean race open to everyone, regardless of background and sailing ability, and the longest in the world. The Clipper Race celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, the first edition having been run in 1996. It was established by legendary yachtsman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who, in 1969, became the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world. He wanted to make ocean racing available to everyone, regardless of nationality or background, and since that first race almost 3,000 ordinary people have taken the opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone and do something truly extraordinary by taking on nature in the raw and racing around the world under sail. More than 5,000 people have been introduced to sailing through the Clipper Training programme. Full story: http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/race_news/?item=12467

2.6 They Came, They Saw, They Conquered
15 April 2011: 16 winners in 14 categories for the prestigious Asian Marine & Boating Awards 2011 at the Agile sponsored Gala Dinner held in the Ballroom of the Royal Meridian in Shanghai, during the China (Shanghai) International Boat Show. Favourable comments received from those present shows the already growing stature of the awards in this, just their second year. The night kicked off with the ‘Best Brand Penetration Award’ and it was clear that GROUP BENETEAU were comfortable winners.
Sailboat awards
Sportboats and Dinghies category repeat winner the J-80
Under 40’ category - KER 40
Over 45’ - BENETEAU 45
Powerboat awards
Under 40’ - SEARAY 310 SUNDANCER for its combined performance and accommodation
40’ to 75’ category - The first of two ties with the PRESTIGE 60 and the SUNSEEKER PREDATOR 60.
Over 75’ class - Super fast PERSHING 80 sharing the honours with the more cozy PRINCESS V-85S .
With over 5,000 examples afloat and some yachts now built in China, BILL DIXON scooped the Yacht Designer of the Year award.
Run by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club since 1993 the CHINA COAST REGATTA was judged the Asian Regatta of the Year
LONCHEER YACHT CLUB in Shenzhen received the Asian Yacht Club of the Year
LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA, named the Asian Boating Capital of the Year.
Most Eco Friendly marine Business - COPPER COAT, an epoxy based antifouling which involves much less wet sanding and therefore runoff each season
Most Innovative Company went to NAVIONICS of Italy for an accumulation of innovations bringing electronic cartography to more and more devices and users.
The final award of the evening, Personality of the Year went to Sunseeker China CEO TRAUGOTT KAMINSKI who quite magnanimously wished that not only Sunseeker but all the other companies in the Chinese Marine market have a successful year ahead in 2011.
A fist class evening that was more than a mutual marine industry back slapping as the awards were indeed won and not just handed out.

2.7 World ARC Rally goes annual
World Cruising Club has announced that from 2014 the World ARC round-the-world sailing rally will become an annual event; starting every January from Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia. World ARC is currently a biennial event, starting in January and finishing 15 months later. The current event started in January 2010 and the next will start in January 2012. Demand from sailors for a rally in the 'off' years has lead to the decision to make World ARC an annual event. This will make it easier for cruisers to sail half the rally, then take a year out to explore on their own, before rejoining the subsequent rally to complete their circumnavigation. An annual event also enables more people to join the rally. World ARC follows a route that makes the most of the Trade Winds and seasonal weather systems, whilst enabling the participants to enjoy some of the most beautiful and remote cruising destinations. From the first World ARC, World Cruising Club made a decision to follow the classic sailing route around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, avoiding areas of political instability and piracy. More at: http://www.worldcruising.com

2.8 Sailmaking... Evolved
Evolution Sails are a Global Sailmaking Group and present plans include further penetration into the Asian region. 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/

2.9 Extreme carnage in Qingdao
Never in four years of the Extreme Sailing Series has there been so much drama in one day. In almost unprecedented conditions in Qingdao, the public witnessed some extraordinary adrenalin fueled ‘stadium’ racing, first witnessing a major collision between The Wave, Muscat (OMAN) and Oman Air (OMAN) at the first downwind mark of the first race, and four dramatic capsizes - The Wave, Muscat (OMAN) in Race 2 and Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT), Team GAC Pindar (GBR) and Oman Air (OMAN) all in the final race of the day. In the first two races it was the very gusty conditions that tested some of the world’s best sailors to their limits, and beyond, with 3 to 23 knots, and up to 30 knots by the final race. “Massive day! The only way to describe it is extreme! The wind was funneling through the big buildings of the city, really puffy and shifty, it caught a lot of people out,” Will Howden, Red Bull Extreme Sailing. Skipper of The Wave, Muscat, Torvar Mirsky, in his first Extreme 40 season, was to have his toughest day yet, firstly in race 1 accelerating in to the back of Oman Air right at the first downwind mark with the impact throwing crewman Dave “Freddie’ Carr in to the shroud (a cable holding the mast up), and then soon after in Race 2 suffering a catastrophic capsize. Freddie has been given the ‘ok’ but will remain in hospital for observation for 48 hours. “I can honestly say that this is the worst day of sailing I’ve ever had,” commented a visibly shaken Mirsky, the youngest skipper on the circuit. Check out the circuit at http://www.extremesailingseries.com

2.10 2011 ORC VPP Documentation Now Posted
The complete explanation of the formulations used to calculate time allowances in the 2011 ORC VPP is now available for download from the ORC website. This follows from the annual updates made by the International Technical Committee (ITC) each year at the ORC AGM in November, and after approved by Congress is programmed into each year's VPP. Beta versions are released in December and January for troubleshooting and refining, and then the formulations are then finalized into this documentation. This is the written expression of the engine which drives the ORC rating systems, ORC International and ORC Club, and being now published is a testament to the transparency of these systems. For this and other information about ORC, visit http://www.orc.org

2.11 Chinese carrier 'a symbolic threat'
China's reconstruction of a Soviet-era aircraft carrier, while not a concern to the US, is raising alarms in the region as a symbol of the Asian nation's military expansion, US Navy Admiral Robert Willard says. China's state news agency, Xinhua, posted photos of the carrier, the Varyag, on a website last week. In a photo caption, Xinhua cited the military analysis magazine Kanwa Asian Defense Review in Canada as saying the ship will set sail this year. The timeline tracks with an estimate made two years ago by the US Office of Naval Intelligence. Willard, the top US military commander in the Asia-Pacific region, said he was "not concerned" by the project. The carrier sat pier-side for years as China considered making it a tourist attraction before the reconstruction began, Admiral Willard said. Former Soviet-era aircraft carrier Varyag being refurbished by China. "We do expect that they will achieve what they are asserting, which is that perhaps this year it may go to sea," Admiral Willard, who heads the US Pacific Command, said. "That's a long way from developing an aircraft carrier capability." http://media.theage.com.au/national/national-news/chinese-carrier-near-completion-2303703.html

2.12 New one design circuit taking off in South East Asia
After launching the Asia One Design Circuit using the Soto 40 Racing Sailboat it is expected to become the premier one design yacht regatta in the region. The success of the fleet in South America's Mitsubishi Sailing Cup and its selection in Europe's Audi MedCup, the Soto 40 will be in our region to make waves and bring the fun back into racing. Five (5) teams have already signed up, including Jun Avecilla from the Philippines and teams from Thailand, Singapore, China and Japan. The proposed circuit begins in Subic and Boracay in Feb 2012 as a kick off regatta, then to Koh Samui in May 2012 and in China Cup International in October 2012. Organisers would be honored to talk to more teams considering signing up and venues to host a round in the series. Check them out at: http://www.asiacupcircuit.com/

2.13 WMRT kicks off in Marseille 10 May
London, UK – 5 May 2011: The contenders for this season’s World Match Racing Tour title will take to the water for the opening event of the 2011 season in Marseille on 10 May as the verbal jousting and pre-season posturing is put to one side and the on-water action takes centre stage. The skippers, former World Champions and young contenders alike, have whipped up the anticipation ahead of the new season with each confidently suggesting the World Championship is within their capability or at the very least a podium place. Previous results seem to have little relevance as this year’s exciting mix of Tour Card Holders have all said they feel they have a point to prove. Take a look at the informative website as old rivalries are renewed and spark new clashes off the South coast of France. Live action, photos, news and replay video's as the 2011 Tour Card Holders fight it out in the first race of the season at: http://www.wmrt.com

3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3.1 Audi MedCup Circuit all fired up...
This month the first start guns fire to open an exciting 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit, the Circuit organizers and the race teams are finalizing preparations to unfold the seventh successive year of Circuit racing. As did the Portuguese jewel last season, Cascais by Lisbon starts the season with the Trophy of Portugal running from May 16th - 22nd. The Circuit then returns to Marseille for the fourth year in a row (June 14-19th), to the historic capital city of Sardinia Cagliari (July 19th to 24th) to Murcia where the ever-popular Cartagena hosts the Region of Murcia Trophy (August 23rd to 28th) while the Catalan capital of Barcelona, which proved such an all-encompassing venue when the Audi MedCup Circuit visited for the first time in 2010, will host the finale between September 12th and 17th. The winning formula has changed little for this season. Each city hosts an individual stand-alone Trophy regatta, but it is the aggregate points over the entire season, for the TP 52 Series and the Soto 40 Series which will determine the overall champions. Although the itinerary of venues has a familiar look, the TP52 fleet has been invigorated with a host of new boats and new faces. Among those with new boats Quantum Racing (USA) and Synergy (RUS) will campaign very similar brand new Botín Partners designs which have been built by Longitud Zero. Of course Marcelino Botín and his team have won overall honours with their winning designs in 2008, 2009 and 2010, but Rolf Vrolijk has new TP52’s for Audi Sailing Team powered by All4ONE (FRA/GER), Audi Azzurra (ITA), RÀN (SWE/GBR) and Container (GER), to two noticeably different designs. Vrolijk also designed Bribón (ESP), which was formerly Matador (ARG) and Gladiator (GBR) which was previously Artemis (SWE). All news, videos and results at: http://www.medcup.org/home/

3.2 Soto 40s training in Mediterranean
2011 will be the debut year of the Soto 40 Series in the Audi MedCup Circuit. Iberdrola Team (ESP) and Ngoni (GBR), the first European boats have been training in the waters of Valencia over recent weeks. Noticia IV (ESP), Patagonia (ARG) and XXII (ESP) are expected to land in Spain presently. They were built in Argentinaby M Boats, where the first Soto 40 was launched in only two years ago and 20 have already been built. The Soto 40, is the Circuit’s new strict one-design boat with of 40 feet long and displaces 4200kgs. More at http://www.medcup.org/circuit/

3.3 2011/12 America’s Cup World Series
The new era of America’s Cup racing has attracted 15 teams from 12 countries who will begin their quest for the Cup when the inaugural ACWS begins this summer with three regattas. The first one will be in Cascais, Portugal, Aug. 6-14, then move to Plymouth, England, Sept. 10-18. The San Diego regatta will be held sometime between mid-October and early December. All three ports will allow for viewing from the shore, one of the changes organizers have made in an attempt to make the sometimes-confusing sport more fan friendly. A further series is planned for 2012/13, before the Louis Vuitton Cup for all the Challengers in San Francisco in 2013, followed by the 34th America’s Cup match itself. Racing begins in new AC45 catamarans, which are then replaced by giant 72 foot wing sailed ‘monsters’, potentially capable of over 40 knots speed, competing in a combination of both fleet and match racing. A champion will be crowned at the end of each season. Pre-season testing events conclude this week which also coincide with the next steps following the close of entries. Per the Protocol, competitors will submit a bond of US$200,000 by Apr. 30 with the final payment of US$800,000 due by Dec. 31. Additionally, the entry fee of US$100,000 is due by June 1 Competitors should also have a signed a purchase agreement for an AC45 catamaran. Timely orders are necessary as entered teams need to have their boats ready to compete in Cascais in August. Core Builders Composites, Ltd., the manufacturer of the AC45, has increased the price of the catamaran to €695,000 (US$1 million). CBC is confident of meeting the surge in AC45 orders but it will require working double shifts to complete the number of yachts anticipated. Check it all out at http://americascup.com

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 Fossett's Legacy
Graham Hawkes of Hawkes Ocean Technologies in Richmond CA has teamed up with Chris Welsh of the Spencer 65' Ragtime fame, who recently purchased the late great Steve Fossetts maxi Catamaran, Cheyenne (Formerly Play Station) and Richard Branson to complete the mission Steve Fossett set out to achieve in 2005, to build a manned submersible capable of diving to the deepest trenches on our blue planet, some 37,000 feet. Deep Flight Challenger is a one person sub weighing in at 7,000 to 8000 lbs, has an estimated 15 mile range and move at 6 knots, is the only deep water sub not hooked to a mothership via an umbilical cord. The five dives are intended to be to the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench, which at 36,201 feet below the surface is the deepest spot on the planet; the Atlantic Ocean's Puerto Rico Trench at 28,232 feet underwater; the Indian Ocean's Diamantina Trench at 26,401 feet below the surface; the Southern Ocean's South Sandwich Trench, which is 23,737 feet down; and the Arctic Ocean's Molloy Deep, which bottoms out at 18,399 feet down. Cheyenne will serve as the delivery mechanism to deliver Deep Flight Challenger to the Worlds 5 Deepest trenches for deployment Full story at: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20050953-52.html?tag=cnetRiver

3.6 Jean-Pierre Dick honoured
On Thursday 5th May, the IMOCA held its AGM and the IMOCA world championship awards ceremony. In what was a very relaxed atmosphere, Jean-Pierre Dick was awarded the title of World Champion finishing ahead of Alex Pella, Pachi Rivero, Iker Martinez and Dee Caffari. Winner of the Barcelona World Race, fourth in the Route du Rhum, fifth in the Istanbul Europa Race, the skipper of Virbac-Paprec 3 achieves the supreme title for the first time in his career. This is only logical, if we look at the strong performances from the French skipper over the past few years. Jean-Pierre has gone from being something of an outsider to becoming a hot favourite using the methods, which characterize his project: meticulous preparation with the clear desire to clock up the miles, reliance on a solid and stable shore team and partners that have remained loyal since Jean-Pierre first entered the IMOCA circuit. Jean-Pierre takes over the top spot from Marc Guillemot. Three Spaniards, Alex Pella, Pachi Rivero and Iker Martinez, and one British sailor, Dee Caffari complete the top five. Alex and Pachi owe their position to their excellent results in the Barcelona World Race, but also in the Transat Jacques Vabre and come in ahead of Iker Martinez, who with his co-skipper, Xabi Fernandez, finished just behind Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron in the Barcelona World Race. Five nationalities are represented in the top 10, as Ryan Breymaier (United States) and Wouter Verbraak (Netherlands) also enter the rankings. Full story and rankings at: http://www.imoca.org

3.7 VOR 70 Camper sea trails
The 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race doesn’t start until October, but the Kiwi team is already trialing their boat AND Media Crew Member (MCM) Hamish Hoooper. Here he provides a slice of life off the east coast of New Zealand as the crew onboard CAMPER battle through winds in excess of 40 knots. Good times "What other sport in the world do they just switch the lights out and expect you to keep playing your sport the same as when its daylight?" Check it out on Capt Marty's Video Channel

4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS

4.1 History made for two
Unstoppable, unshakable duo Dee Caffari and Anna Corbella sailed into the record books this morning when their Owen Clarke designed IMOCA Open 60 GAES Centros Auditivos coasted upwind across the finish line of the Barcelona World Race in sixth place, stopping the clock at 07.17.18hrs UTC for an elapsed time of 102 days, 19 hours, 17 minutes and 18 seconds. Corbella becomes the first Spanish woman ever to race non stop around the world, while the unstoppable Caffari maintains her remarkable record in the extreme discipline of short-handed and solo ocean racing, by completing her fourth circumnavigation since she first went all the way around the globe in 2004-5. Dee Caffari extends her world record to become the only woman ever to have completed four circumnavigations, adding a second non-stop eastabouts racing passage to her sixth place in the epic 2008-9 Vendée Globe. And she returns to Barcelona a much more balanced individual having sailed twice westabouts, upwind against the prevailing winds and current, and now twice ‘ the right way’ eastbouts – Cape of Good Hope to Cape Leeuwin to Cape Horn and back to Barcelona.And Caffari has her sights absolutely set on a fifth, as she targets the 2012-13 Vendée Globe. On completing the Barcelona World Race, Dee commented: "I'm very happy and very proud of what we achieved. Four boats didn’t make it and we did make it, and we did it non-stop which is what we wanted to do. And we had other challenges to overcome, and we did all of that. I think overall performance-wise we’ve got to be happy, we’ve achieved something that’s quite special and we can’t forget that not everybody gets to sail around the world non-stop. But it’s still in me, I’ve still got to get a top five place!" The vastly experienced Caffari paired up with Corbella a little over a year ago on a fast track programme which was designed to step the Catalan former Olympic 470 dinghy aspirant turned Mini sailor up to complete a full racing circumnavigation on this race. Full story and accolades at: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com/en/actualite/news/detail/history-made-for-two-0-19022

4.2 New Transatlantic under 40ft record
The World Sailing Speed Record Council announced the awarding of Performance Certificate No 37 for a Singlehanded Transatlantic passage by a boat 40 ft and under. Eric Defert (FRA) made the crossing in the 40 ft monohull “Terralia on March 25 to April 6, 2011 for an elapsed time of 11 days 11 hours 30 minutes and 58 seconds (avg speed of 10.45 knots).

5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"

5.1 ORACLE Racing AC45 Diving!
Another Video (Click Here) is posted of ORACLE Racing nearly sending their AC45 "down the mine" during a practice sail. Down the mine is sailors' parlance for digging the bow in a wave and sending the stern overhead. It's a messy situation that's best left for post-race banter. ORACLE Racing has been training with two AC45s (the team's plus one chartered from Mascalzone Latino) for the past two weeks. Yesterdays video (Click Here) was shot by coach Philippe Presti on the chase boat, which was following to leeward. Today's video presents the windward-side perspective, shot by Revelin Minihane. While yesterday's video is full of white water, today's video shows just how close the crew was to sending the AC45 down the mine. "We were swapping crews back and forth," said Dirk de Ridder, the wing trimmer. "We'd been practicing heavy-air boathandling, running two or three laps around a course we set up before switching the crews. We were sailing under North Head at the time when a good puff came in, 30 or 32 knots, and the crew basically just stuck it in," de Ridder said. "Happily, it didn't go down the mine. The bow popped up like it's supposed to."

5.2 Drouglazet Dismasted
At 2:40 p.m. (Paris time) 18 April 2011, Eric Drouglazet contacted Jean Maurel, the director of racing in the Transat Benodet - Martinique, to tell him he had been dismasted. His Figaro Beneteau "Luisina" was sailing in 35 knots of crosswind, under mainsail and solent. He was in his bunk when the mast broke about two meters above the deck. He immediately cut the cables that held the spar so that it dud not damage the hull. Eric is safe and unharmed, but is 460 miles from the Azores and Madeira. He will make a decision which port to head to; he is heading east under engine power. The skipper of Luisina was third, 6.2 miles behind the leader at the time of the incident. The gale that was on everyone's lips for the past few days has come to fruition. Caught between very strong winds and confused seas (although fortunately not as bad as forecast), the fleet is being hit by a northerly wind generated by a descent of cold air. Those competitors positioned closed to the direct route have been the first to be affected and have had to shorten sails. Spinnakers have to be preserved; they will be valuable allies on the way to Martinique. Eris Mas from Meteo Consult says the the fleet should be facing north-easterlies of force 6 in the next day, not an easy passage but not as severe as the winds on Monday. http://www.transat-benodetmartinique.com

5.3 Gutek triumphs over adversity
(April 12, 2011; Day 17; 18:55 UTC) - Velux 5 Oceans skipper Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski remained in port for the time being on doctor's orders after being diagnosed with a broken rib. The Polish ocean racer was forced to make for land 12 days into ocean sprint four from Punta del Este in Uruguay to Charleston in the USA after a string of problems on his yacht Operon Racing which culminated in his forestay breaking. After arriving in the Brazilian port of Fortaleza, Gutek set about making arrangements for the repairs to Operon Racing and had hoped to be at sea again by tomorrow. But after consulting a doctor about injuries to his ribs picked up in a fall earlier in the leg, Gutek was forced to reassess his plans. An x-ray of his ribs revealed one of them is broken and dangerously close to his heart and lungs, while another is cracked. The doctor has advised the 36-year-old to rest to allow for the bones to heal enough to make a safe solo passage to Charleston. With no time limit imposed on technical stops, Gutek used the time in port to carry out repairs to Operon Racing including to its keel, bowsprit, alternator and forestay. After leaving Fortaleza, and his fellow racers practically uncatchable, Gutek promised to take things easy - but, ever the racer, he made quick progress across the Equator and through the North Atlantic, making the 3,300-mile journey from Brazil to Charleston in 13 days at an average of 10.3 knots. Gutek and his team now have ten days to prepare Operon Racing for the finale of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, a 3,600-nautical mile blast through the North Atlantic to La Rochelle, France, where the race started eight months ago. It is set to be a thrilling finish to the race for Gutek, who will go into the leg tied in second place with Derek Hatfield. More at http://www.velux5oceans.com

5.4 Going, going, going...gone!
While pushing America’s Cup catamarans to the limit in strong winds, it is inevitable that a capsize will occur. Video of the latest casualty when Oracle Racing ‘crossed the line’ during the practice sessions to test video, race management, team boat handling and righting capsized boat procedures: Check it out Click Here...

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