New Year - New North Sails
If you're in the market for new sails, consider this: North Sails is committed to making innovative sails that are faster, lighter and longer lasting than any other sails in the world. It's why all four AC 72s are 100% North equipped and five of six Volvo Ocean Race boats chose North. Whether you race or cruise, North Sails will design and build sails that are just right for you! All new North sails come with one year free sail care & repair* throughout the worldwide network of sail lofts, so whether you're 10 or 10,000 miles from home, we've got you covered. Our team of designers, sales and sail care personnel have one common goal: to build a sail that is right for you Email: info@asia.northsails.com or check out their website at: http://www.northsails.com/

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CONTENTS

1. EDITORIAL - Advancing the Asian sailing scene...
2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS - Spend Easter in Pt Dickson - Brisbane to Gladstone Race ready to go - AWMRT St. Moritz postponed - Sailing Is In For 2020 - Video of Shackleton Epic Expedition
Up next in Asia - Melbourne Osaka Race - Sing PD Race/Rally - San Fernando Race - Commodore's Cup
3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Extreme 40's blast into 2013 - Gaastra 52 World Championships - Lisbon 8th Host Port for 2014-15 VOR - Teams for Red Bull Youth America's Cup
Follow the: Extreme Sailing Series - 34th America's Cup - TP52 World Championships -
4. World Speed records - Jelik breaks Subic Boracay Race Record - Maserati cuts 10 days from NY to SF Record - New Las Palmas to Guadeloupe record - Team Australia's Express Ride To Hobart - MAPFRE Bask In Bahamas Success - 40 Degrees Breaks Caribbean 600 Class40 Record - Francis Joyon smashes Columbus Route Record
5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - Aussie Farr 40 Champs in trouble

1. EDITORIAL

Advancing the Asian sailing scene...

As we pass the 13th year of publishing the monthly AY News and Views, we are proud to have played a role in getting Asian sailing achievements and events onto the International news stands. This has always been our main aim and we would like to take the time to thank our sponsors and supporters over these years. Without you we would not be here.

Over the years, Asia has witnessed tremendous growth in the yachting industry and Asian destinations are in great demand by top of the pyramid International racing series and events. Big news last month, the Extreme Sailing Series is returning to Singapore (April 11th - 14th) and for the third year in a row to the Olympic City, Qingdao (May 2nd - 5th). This has inspired some Asian participation with Team Korea on a full time basis and invitational teams from Singapore and China during the events, will go a long way to encourage more people to get involved with sailing pursuits.

On the Asian scene the Melbourne Osaka Two Handed Yacht Race returns to the calendar with progressive starts from March 17th and locally the Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) kick starts the boat show season and celebrates its tenth anniversary from March 21st - 24th. The NOR for the inaugural Singapore to Port Dickson Race/Rally (29th March to 1st April) is available Here... The AYGP Championship comes alive towards the end of the month with the RHKYC - San Fernando Race, starting on 27th March followed quickly by the Commodore's Cup (April 2nd - 6th) in Subic Bay, Philippines. Check out the 2012-13 Pointscore

We are often so engrossed with South East Asian events, that we overlook other regional efforts that have historically been feeder events for globe trotting yachts to enter Asian waters, which form the annual migration of yachts through the rest of SE Asia and contribute heavily to the growth of the yachting industry.

Regatta organisers in Eastern Indonesia are rapidly expanding their Race/Rally program (Now called Passages to Ambon) and adopting aggressive marketing techniques to promote their activities. It all starts on 25th July from Cairns, Australia when yachts depart on an extended SAIL MALUKU event, stopping in Saumlaki and Banda before reaching Ambon. Over 100 yachts will depart from Darwin on the long running Sail Indonesia on Saturday July 27 for the annual rally across Indonesia.

Other yachts can start in Darwin on 10th August with SAIL MALUKU before the official Darwin to Ambon Race kicks of on 17th August. When the gun starts the annual 634nm blue water classic from Darwin (North Australia) to Ambon (Indonesia) at 1100hrs on 17th August, they will be racing for an 100,000,000IDR Prize Money Pool, sponsored by Ambon Mayor Bapak Richard Louhenapessy. The aim is for all yachts to be in AMBON for 24th August 2013. After the Spice Islands they are working with Equator Asia to formulate extended cruising plans throughout Indonesia.

Keep abreast with all the action over the last two months - Check out the AY Race Reports & Photo Galleries for the Singapore Straits Regatta, Neptune Regatta and combined Subic to Boracay Race plus the windy Boracay Cup.

On the international scene, Oracle Team USA and Artemis Racing faced off stateside, Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa have made the most of good summer sailing weather in NZ, and push forward their respective AC72 programs for the 34th America's Cup. Forty of some of the worlds’ best sailors will be center stage in Oman as the Extreme Sailing Series commences on the 5th March at The Wave, Muscat. Abu Dhabi will return to the Volvo Ocean Race in 2014-15 with a team once again skippered by Britain's twice Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker (King Neptune) and a stopover in the United Arab Emirates capital. Eight TP52's from five countries will challenge for the Gaastra 52 World Championships off Miami's famous South Beach from March 4th to 9th.

Several world speed records have been broken and a few new benchmark times have been set last month. For your convenience, news on all these events along with other major yachting news can be accessed from the AY Homepage and much much more can be found below.
Wishing you blue sky, fair winds where ever you are sailing.
Capt Marty Rijkuris

2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS

2.1 Spend Easter in Pt Dickson
Admiral Marina Manager, Prakash Reddy is inviting all Singapore and Malaysian boating friends to sail in company to beautiful and relaxing Admiral Marina, Port Dickson over the Easter long Weekend (29th March to 1st April) on the inaugural SG - PD Yacht Race/Rally. Boaters' night to be held on Sat 30th March at Admiral Marina and all Malaysian sailors are welcome. Singapore top guns have expressed interest - Foxy Lady 7, Wala Wala 2, Sea Bass, Naya and some cruising yachts. Special prize awaits yachts that complete the course purely on sail power. The NOR for the inaugural Singapore to Port Dickson Race/Rally (29th March to 1st April) is available Here... E-mail: prakashreddy@admiralmarina.com.my Tel: +606 648 2510(O), +6017 316 4932(M) We look forward to seeing you here! Check out the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/258520894278090/

2.2 Brisbane to Gladstone Race ready to go
The present Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race record of 20 hours 24 minutes and 50 seconds (15.09 knots) set by the Grant Wharington skippered Skandia Wild Thing in 2004 stands to be challenged. Grant Wharington’s recently modified Wild Thing has entered this year's blue water classic with the purpose of defending her narrow line honours win last year over the Peter Harburg owned and Mark Bradford skippered pocket Maxi Black Jack, which set unmatched boat speed on a thrilling ride along the ocean shoreline of Fraser Island on Good Friday night continued to drench her crew in spray when she power sailed away from the fleet to become the 64th overall winner of the Prestigious sterling silver Courier Mail Cup. Black Jack has been entered to defend her 2012 Qantaslink Brisbane Gladstone victory. Her expected line honours duel with Grant Wharington's super maxi Wild Thing will be among the highlights of this year's QantasLink blue water classic when they complete the course off Auckland Creek before the record time expires at 7-35-10 on Easter Saturday morning. Follow the action at: http://www.brisbanetogladstone.com.au/

2.3 QUANTUM delivers top results
Quantum Sail Design Group has elevated the art and science of sail making to a new level, resulting in the fastest and most efficient sail shapes and structures possible. It’s called iQ Technology™ and simply stated, it is the most intelligent system in the industry for making custom membrane sails. iQ Technology™ integrates state-of-the-art design and manufacturing methods with on-the-water testing in a systematic process that ensures outstanding sail performance, consistency and repeatability. Founded in 1996 by a group of independent sail-makers, QSDG now has more than 60 sales and service outlets throughout the world. The company has its corporate headquarters in Traverse City, Michigan, and European headquarters in Barcelona, Spain. Quantum also has sail-making facilities in Malaysia, South Africa and the US. No matter what your boat size or sailing venue, find your speed at: http://www.quantumsails.com

2.4 AWMRT St. Moritz postponed to 2014
London, UK: The St Moritz Match Race, an official stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, has been postponed to 2014 due to a lack of commercial funding for the event this year. "We are very sad to have to make this decision," said Beryl Pieper, President of the St. Moritz Match Race organising committee. "We sincerely hope to be back in 2014 with a new elite international event for our beautiful region of Engadin. During its 10 years on the international sailing calendar, the St. Moritz Match Race has crowned some of greatest champions of sailing as 'King of the Mountain' including Ed Baird, Mathieu Richard, Torvar Mirsky, Adam Minoprio and Ian Williams. "This is obviously disappointing news for the Tour" commented James Pleasance, Executive Director of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. "The St Moritz Match Race has always been a popular event with sailors and guests, and we are working closely with the organisers to ensure the return of the event to the Tour next year."
2013 Alpari World Match Racing Tour Calendar: Goto; http://www.wmrt.com/
Stage 1: May 15 - 20 - Match Race Germany, Langenargen, Germany
Stage 2: May 28 - June 2 - Korea Match Cup, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Stage 3: July 1 - 6 - Stena Match Cup Sweden, Marstrand, Sweden
Stage 4: Aug 6 - 11 - Chicago Match Cup, Chicago, USA
Stage 5: Sep 17 - 21 - Dutch Match Cup, Lelystad, Netherlands
Stage 6: Oct 7 - 13 - Argo Group Gold Cup, Hamilton, Bermuda
Stage 7: Dec 2 - 7 - Monsoon Cup, K.Terengganu, Malaysia
(Provisional dates and may be subjected to changes)

2.5 One, two or three hulls from Pro Sail Asia
Since 1990 Pro Sail Asia have been delivering thrilling platforms into Southeast Asia. Starting out with a Hobie Fleet in Singapore, and then growing into Formula cat classes before evolving into much larger platforms. Team Pro Sail has always competed in major regional regattas and takes pride in getting their customers trained up and involved with the regatta scene in Southeast Asia. The Company became the dealers for Corsair trimaran's and has now secured the Gunboat agency in the region. It is safe to say that Pro Sail have a great range of multihull's from 15 - 60 feet. Being avid sailors, the Team are passionate about 'testing' everything they promote. Most recently Pro Sail Asia inked a deal with Salona Performance Cruisers and followed that up with the HH42 and in so doing, added some tasty monohulls into their lineup. If you want to get into sailing at any level, this is the place to start. Goto http://www.prosailasia.com/PRODUCT-summary.html

2.6 Sailing Is In For 2020
Lausanne, Switzerland: The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today agreed on the 25 sports it will propose to the 125th IOC Session for approval as the core sports for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. The 25 sports are: athletics, rowing, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, gymnastics, weightlifting, handball, hockey, judo, swimming, modern pentathlon, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, shooting, archery, triathlon, sailing and volleyball. The EB recommended that wrestling, governed by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), not be included on the list of core sports. Wrestling will now join the seven short listed sports - baseball/softball, karate, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, wakeboarding and wushu - vying for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic programme as an additional sport. The eight sports are scheduled to make presentations to the Executive Board at its meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, in May. The EB will select which of the eight sports to recommend to the 125th IOC Session for inclusion as an additional sport on the 2020 programme. The 125th IOC Session will take place from 7 to 10 September in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Goto ISAF: http://www.sailing.org/news/33914.php

2.8 Sunsail 2013 Brochure, request yours Now!
If you've always wanted to go to Thailand, now is the time as you can now get a free case of Chang Beer with every charter to Koh Chang. Plus, bookings for the Bay Regatta are now open and there are monohulls still available for racing. And don't forget about the Phuket to Langkawi Rally. Sunsail's three bases in Thailand - at Phuket (open year round), Koh Chang (open October to March) and Koh Samui (open March to October) - offers a huge range of different sailing experiences. Check out the discounts each month on high-performance cruising yachts built for comfort and designed especially for the great sailing in Asia! Visit Sunsail Asia and pick up a copy of the 2013 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

2.9 Video of Shackleton Epic Expedition
More than relieved to have successfully completed their awe-inspiring but grueling expedition to recreate Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ‘double’ across the mighty Southern Ocean and mountainous interior of South Georgia, the Shackleton Epic crew lead by British/Australian adventurer Tim Jarvis AM, skipper Nick Bubb, navigator Paul Larsen, mountaineer Baz Gray, bosun Seb Coulthard and cameraman Ed Wardle have produced the NEW SHACKLETON EPIC FOOTAGE – SOUTHERN OCEAN AND MOUNTAIN CROSSING on Vimeo at: https://vimeo.com/60161698 Password – shackleton
More on the epic journey at: http://shackletonepic.com/

3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3.1 Extreme 40's blast into 2013
Three new skippers and two completely new teams will bring a wealth of fresh talent to the Extreme 40 fleet in 2013, along with a set of credentials that will make predicting, not only, the outcome of the opening Act but the entire Series a near impossibility. Eight teams, 10 nationalities, 40 of some of the worlds' best sailors will be centre stage in Oman as the Extreme Sailing Series 2013 commences on the 5th March at The Wave, Muscat. The new and existing sailors have an impressive combined CV - 18 Olympic campaigns, 30 America's Cup campaigns, 33 World Championship wins and six Olympic medals. In one week they will come together in Muscat, Oman, for the opening Act and, once again, sports fans around the world can follow the action online. Full coverage at: http://extremesailingseries.com

3.2 Gaastra 52 World Championships
Eight 52's representing five different countries will challenge for the Gaastra 52 World Championships off Miami's famous South Beach from March 4th to 9th. The championships, which return to the Miami for the first time since 2006, are being supported by headline sponsors Gaastra who also enter their own Dutch All-Stars team lead by Gaastra's Marc Blees. Entries are confirmed from the USA, Sweden, Great Britain, Holland and Italy and include two teams which have won the world title in the past. As was required at the 52 World Championships till 2007 all boats are for 2013 owner steered. Defending world champions are Doug deVos' Quantum Racing, who actually won the title in Porto Cervo, Italy in 2011. The American team have prevailed at three of the last four world championship showdowns, winning in 2008, 2010 and 2011. The only other team which has won the world title in the past which will line up in Miami is Alberto Roemmers' Azzurra, which won as Matador in Palma, Mallorca in 2009. Azzurra hold the initiative this season already after having already won the first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta, Quantum Key West 2013. Follow the action at: http://www.52superseries.com

3.3 Lisbon 8th Host Port for 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race
Lisbon is the eighth Host Port to be announced for the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race, which already has three confirmed and publicly announced teams with more than 18 months to go before the start. The Race will start from its home in Alicante, Spain before visiting Recife in Brazil and going on to the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi. Later in the Race, the teams will dock at Auckland, before rounding Cape Horn and reaching Itajaí, the second of two Brazilian stopovers. From there, the route takes the teams north to Newport and across the Atlantic to Lisbon. The Race will finish in Gothenburg, Sweden, with the final stopovers, as well as dates and distances, to be announced in the coming weeks. The three teams so far announced are the all-female Team SCA, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, which will once again feature Britain's twice Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker as skipper, and a team from the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. More info on Volvo Ocean Race at: http://www.volvooceanrace.com

3.3 Trains, boats and planes from DK
If your serious about forming a racing team and joining the top racing class at major regattas in the region, the all new carbon fibre DK 47 is the boat to do it. DK Yachts 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

3.4 Teams selected for Red Bull Youth America's Cup
San Francisco, California, USA: National crews from Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland, made the cut and have now qualified to race in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup from September 1-4, in a fleet that includes five additional youth crews supported by current America's Cup teams. Double Olympic Gold medallists Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher, the Sports Directors for the Red Bull Youth America's Cup, made the selections after closely monitoring the teams on and off the water during the two back-to-back selection weeks. Race results made up 60-percent of the selection criteria. Teams were also evaluated on professionalism on and off the water, as well as on the training programs they have set up to develop their skills further between now and September.
Selection Series Teams advancing to Red Bull Youth America's Cup
Australia - Objective Australia
Germany - STG/NRV Youth Team
New Zealand - Full Metal Jacket Racing
Portugal - ROFF/Cascais Sailing Team
Switzerland - Team TILT
More at: http://americascup.com

4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS

4.1 Frank Pong's Jelik breaks the Subic Boracay Race Record...
By AsianYachting MultiMedia
18:02:2013 Boracay, Philippines: When Deputy Administrator Raul Marcelo from SBMA Tourism sounded the horn to start the 200 nautical mile, Subic Bay to Boracay Race last Saturday, 13 yachts in 3 classes took off in sunny conditions, and had a 20-25 knot Easterly to deal with, latter gusting to 30-35 knots in pursuit of an elusive victory. Disaster struck only a few hours into the race when Sam Chan's TP52 Freefire was dismasted and retired to Manila. The rest of the fleet pushed on and as the usual parking lots in the Verde Island Passage and Dumali Point were short lived or nonexistent, the skippers had a chance to open up the throttle for a fantastic downwind slide all the way to Boracay. With speeds in excess of 20 knots, Frank Pong's Reichel/Pugh 75 Jelik shaved 2 hours 45 minutes 35 seconds of the previous race record, they set in the Inaugural Race back in 2011. Goto Subic Boracay Race - AY Race Report 1

4.2 Maserati cuts 10 days from NY to SF Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new Monohull World Record from New York to San Francisco by Giovanni Soldini (ITA) and 8 crew onboard 70ft Monohull Maserati. The voyage started at 17;49;30 UTC on December 31st 2012 and finished at 18;31;59 UTC on the 16th February 2013. With an Elapsed time of 47 days 42 minutes and 29 seconds they covered the 13225 NM course with an Average speed of 11.72 kts, thereby cutting 10 days of the record. The previous Benchmark time was set by Yves Parlier in 1998 of 57d 3h 2m 45s. Full story at: http://www.maserati.soldini.it Check it out on YouTube

4.3 New Las Palmas to Guadeloupe record
The WSSR Council announced the establishment of a new benchmark Monohull time on a World Record route. Zbigniew Gutkowski (POL) and 3 crew on 60ft Monohull Energa left Las Palmas at 10;14;49 UTC 22nd January and arrived at Guadeloupe on the 31st January 2013, taking 9 days 11 hours 21 minutes and 45 seconds to complete the Atlantic crossing.

4.4 Team Australia's Express Ride To Hobart
Sean Langman's radical 60-foot trimaran Team Australia took the Tasman Sea express lane and smashed the previous fastest time from Sydney to Hobart by a whopping 12 hours and a half hours. They set a new elapsed time of 29 hours 52 minutes and 23 seconds, bettering the previous time set last December by Wild Oats XI by 12 hours 30 minutes 49 seconds. Ahead of a 12-15 knot NE breeze, Team Australia coasted past the Castray Esplanade finish box, recording an unofficial finish time of 16:51:20 or 4.51pm. An exhausted Sean Langman said they never took their wet weather gear or lifejackets off, "we were always on the edge, that's what sailing these boats is like." On their time he reckons there is still potential to take the record even lower. "We'll have another go when someone else breaks ours." While Bob Oatley's 100ft supermaxi Wild Oats XI will remain the Sydney Hobart yacht race record holder with their time of 42 hours 23 minutes and 12 seconds, the ORMA 60 trimaran Team Australia will be added to the WSSRC's list of sanctioned passage records.

4.5 MAPFRE Bask In Bahamas Success
Finishing the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 was not enough for some members of the old Telefonica crew: today they were celebrating as the MAPFRE challenge set a new record on the Christopher Columbus 'Discovery of the Americas' Route from Spain to the Bahamas. On Friday, February 22 at 08:18:10 CET, MAPFRE crossed the finish line in San Salvador, Bahamas. On board the rebranded Telefonica Volvo Open 70, the Spanish crew, including Pablo Arrarte, Veti Cuevas-Mons, Pepe Ribes and former Media Crew Member Diego Fructuoso, celebrated taking their place in the record books. The entire route from Palos de la Frontera in Spain to San Salvador, with a stop in La Gomera (Canary Islands) took 11 days, 7 hours 38 minutes and 40 seconds. The Atlantic crossing from La Gomera to San Salvador accounted for 9 days, 12 hours 18 minutes and 10 seconds of that time. "We've sailed between 20 and 25 knots since we left the Canary Islands," said Volvo Ocean Race's Pedro Freitas, who joined the team as an Onboard Reporter. "It blew a bit less once we entered the Bermuda triangle. We've sailed downwind the all way from La Gomera to the Bahamas, always over the wind speed." Looking for the trade winds, the Spanish crew sailed a total of 4,446 miles from La Gomera to San Salvador instead of the 3,084 miles of the theoretical route. More at: http://volvooceanrace.com Check it out on YouTube

4.6 40 Degrees Breaks Caribbean 600 Class40 Record
Although Peter Aschenbrenner's American 63ft trimaran, Paradox from California completed the RORC Caribbean 600 in Antigua on 20 Feb at 03:22:52 an elapsed time of 40:22:52, they just missed out on the multihull course record of 40:11:05 set by ORMA 60, Region Guadeloupe in the 2009 race. When Peter Harding's Class40, 40 Degrees, crossed the finish line to win the class with Mike Thrower's Jasmine Flyer just behind them to secure second place. Christof Petter's Vaquita claimed third in a very close race. Harding knew that they had won the class but didn't find out that 40 Degrees had broken the Class40 course record, set by Tony Lawson's Concise 2 in 2011, by a massive 3 hours 17 mins and 15 secs. Full roundup at: http://caribbean600.rorc.org

4.7 Francis Joyon smashes Columbus Route Record
Francis Joyon, skipper of the maxi trimaran IDEC, crossed the Columbus Route finishing line off San Salvador in the Bahamas at 04 hours 57 minutes 30 seconds GMT Friday 15th February 2013 (0557hrs CET). With a race time of 8 days, 16 hours, 07 minutes, 05 seconds, Francis Joyon shaved more than 1 day and 4 hours off his own record set back in 2008 (9 days 20 hrs 35 mins). Over the 3884 miles of the Great Circle route, the theoretical route, he sailed at an average speed of 18.66 knots (distance actually sailed 4379.5 miles at an average speed of 21.04 miles). Francis Joyon left Cadiz (Spain) at 12 hours, 50 minutes 25 seconds GMT on Wednesday 6th February. He in fact improved on his previous record by 1 day, 4 hours, 27 minutes and 58 seconds. Indeed he becomes the first sailor ever to take the bar for the Columbus Route to less than 9 days. An exceptional performance, when we see that Francis Joyon looked after his own strategy out at sea without any routing assistance or outside help. The next challenge for Francis Joyon on IDEC will be an attempt at the North Atlantic record between New York and the Lizard. He is due to go on stand-by in the spring. More at: http://www.trimaran-idec.com Check out YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/francisjoyon

5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"

5.1 Aussie Farr 40 Champs in trouble
22 Feb: Ten Farr 40 crews had their stamina tested on day one of the John Calvert-Jones Trophy, the class nationals being contested on Sydney Harbour. Last weekend’s Aberdeen Asset Management NSW State Title seems a distant memory with a polar opposite set of conditions blowing across the race course today. Crew overboard, spinnaker wraps and rips, Chinese gybes and round-ups, bumps and bruises and delaminating sails were all part of the opening day. Not so lucky was the crew on the second Tasmanian boat, Sputnik (chartered by POW), with the bow person twice falling overboard in wipe-outs in race four, the boat subsequently retiring from that race. Prior to the 11am scheduled start time the breeze was still flicking around 35 degrees. It settled in at 17-18 knots out of the ESE with gusts up to 23 knots. Over the afternoon the breeze climbed up to a 22 knot average, gusting up to 28 knots. Weary crews were this afternoon enjoying a dockside party swapping tales of heroics and near misses, and counting their luck that there was no major damage or injuries among the 100 or so crew contesting the prestigious three-day Trophy regatta at the host club, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is the culmination of three state titles, and will decide the Aberdeen Asset Management Australian Farr 40 Champion for 2012-13. Full roundup at: http://www.farr40.asn.au/

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