America's Cup in New Zealand, Asian marine industry AY News and Views Oct 02

Over the coming southern summer the world's sports media focuses on leading edge sailing technology as they capture all the America's Cup racing action down in New Zealand. As the third most important sports event in the world after football and Formal 1 car racing unfolds in Auckland preparations are well underway in neighbouring Asia for probably the least known or publicised yachting events.

Over the last 15 years local yacht clubs and sailing organisations have strung together a annual calendar of regional regatta's that start in October and go right through to May each year. WOW 10 regatta's in all NOW! and eight months of racing action in some of the most exotic locations in the world.

The AsianYachting Circuit 2002/03 unofficially kicks off this month on Oct 12 with the China Coast Regatta and the 330nm Hainan Race. A number of Hong Kong owned racing sleds are expected to challenge Karl Kwoks Jan 2000, 23h 13m 32s record when the V60 Beau Geste averaged 14.21 knots in front of a building tropical depression.

At the end of October through to Nov 3rd the action swings over to Malaysia's west coast for the 3rd Asean Regatta hosted at Admiral Marina in Port Dickson. Peter Ahern, the Racing Yacht Club chairman expects some close racing from at least 3xFarr 40's, 2xMumm 30's plus a number of keen local racers that like to fleet race their hi-tech racing yachts over International or Olympic size courses.

To garner up some International recognition the event organisers have all produced websites that contain the Notice of Race, Entry Forms and collectively take this opportunity to especially invite all sailors in the region to join in the racing and enjoy a wide variety of planned social programs with a bit of old fashioned Asian hospitality thrown in. Any unemployed America's Cup bowman or sail trimmers looking for something to do latter on are asked to contact me directly.

AsianYachting Circuit 2002/03.
Oct 12 - 14 China Coast Regatta - Oct 16 Hainan Race - Oct 19 Hainan Inshore Racing
Oct 30 - Nov 3rd Asean Regatta

Nov 15 - 23rd Raja Muda Int Regatta
Nov 30 - Dec 7 Phuket King's Cup
Jan 15 - 19 Sing Straits Regatta
Feb 1 - 4th Phang Nga Bay Regatta
Mar 11 - 15 Langkawi Int. Regatta
April 17 - 19 Hong Kong to San Fernando
April 23 - 26 President's Cup Regatta Philippines
May 25 - 31st Koh Samui Regatta

Interested participants are asked to have a look around the above websites where onshore accommodation info is available and if you are looking for a licensed online travel agent to book your flights try pricing the specials at Admiral Marina's parent company Reliance Travel.

AsianYachting has some selected Yachts for Charter during the regatta's and can find the best Boats for Sale to suite your needs and budget, saving you lots of time and energy at..... http://asianyachting.com/boats/yachtsforsale.htm

In an attempt to raise the profile of yachting in Asia daily emailed Race Reports can be circulated to sports departments and editors to use in their publications. A copyright free website edition with summary and photo's will appear as the relevant story is updated on the AY website News and Views. As AY will be assisting a few racing teams this year I am personally looking forward to an exciting regatta season and meeting new and old sailing friends along the way.
Forever sailing
Capt Marty

Fécamp, France: In what has become an all too familiar occurrence this year, another ORMA trimaran has dismasted. This time it was Franck Cammas' Groupama. The mast came from Espaces Composites, as did those on Alain Gautier's Foncia 2, Jean-Luc Nelias' Belgacom and Bertrand de Broc's Banque Covefi which have also broken this year. Foncia's mast broke with the same sail configuration in nearly identical conditions. The conditions at the time were unexceptional: 20 knots of wind, moderate seas sailing under mainsail and small jib, the mast broke on the back side, 4 metres from the top. Two crewmen sustained minor injuries: Michel Mérieau suffered facial lacerations and Jean Marc Norman has sustained an ankle injury. The ORMA tris are all out either practicing or undertaking their 1000 mile (1852 km) single-handed qualifying passage for La Route du Rhum. Photo's by Gilles Martin-Raget http://www.multis-online.com

Then Jean Le Cam's 60ft trimaran Bonduelle hobbled back to France after being badly damaged when he struck a whale earlier this week. The whale that Le Cam is believed to have hit - or vice versa - collided with the daggerboard, the lowest point of which is 4.5m below the waterline. It stopped the boat dead in the water so the impact on the hull was considerable. Roland Jourdain - 'Bilou' - rushed to the rescue of his friend.

To give an idea of the seriousness of the situation, Bonduelle ordinarily weighs 6 tonnes and Le Cam estimates that there is the same weight again of water in the main hull. The photo taken from Bilou's Open 60 Sill, shows him keeping close to Bonduelle after two crew were put on board in dangerous conditions. Le Cam had been sailing alone 300 miles west of Finisterre on his qualifier for the Route du Rhum race in November.

But we have saved this months "Unluckiest sailor of the month" Award for the biggest and most expensive bang of them all. The maxi-catamaran Orange, recent winner of the Jules Verne Trophy (round-the-world crewed sail record), dismasted on the 10th Sept as she was rallying her technical base of La Ciotat. Her skipper Bruno Peyron was not on board and none of the crew of eight were injured.

Although the boat was sailing with shortened sail (3 reefs in the main and a staysail), she was caught up in a hail storm, generating wind which kicked up surprisingly fast. It would appear that the chainplate of the lower port shroud (cable which holds the mast up) exploded under the wind's pressure, bringing down the mast which then broke into three pieces. The crew freed the rigging very quickly so that the broken pieces of the mast would not damage the hull. So as not to cause any risk for other vessels, everything was cast off under the supervision of the Cross Med and rescue services called to the scene.

The Orange giant arrived in La Ciotat harbour under engine power and the pieces of mast will be examined by experts in order to understand how the incident occurred. I wonder how this setback will affect the handover to Ellen MacArthur's Offshore Challenges that was supposed to take place this month?

1. A rosy future can be expected for sports tourism in Malaysia after PM YAB DATO SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD also Minister of Finance announced amongst other business incentives the following industry improvements when he tabled THE SUPPLY BILL or the Bajet 2003

90. The Government is studying the possibility of making duty free Labuan as a centre for the registration of international vessels and Langkawi as a centre of registration for yachts. This will be an addition to the role of Labuan as an offshore financial centre, and Langkawi as a tourist destination.

169. The Government will continue to expand and encourage sports programmes and activities not just as an effort to cultivate a healthy lifestyle but also to attract more international sports enthusiasts to participate in the nation's sports activities. Among the new activities being promoted are extreme and motor sports, speed boat race and yachting. To ensure the success of these programmes, a sum of 227.5 million ringgit is allocated to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

About 9,900 athletes and officials from the 44 member countries and regions will compete in 38 sporting disciplines at the 14th Busan Asian Games in Korea from Sept 29th till the 14th Oct. Organised by the Olympic Council of Asia which presides over a vast geographic area, that includes the Far East and the Middle East, as well as some countries from the former Soviet Union. The sailing competition gets underway on the 2nd in 12 classes and expected be heavily contested by the developing regions. May the best sail trimmers win! More information and results can be found at... http://www.2002busanasiad.org/Eng/

3. The Wall Street Journal is onboard as Official Media Partner for the 2002 and 2005 Clipper Round the World Yacht Races and sponsoring Hong Kong's entry one of the eight identical 60-ft Clippers during an esteemed circumnavigation for amateur sailors each sponsored by an international city, over 11 months and some 35,000 miles of challenging seas. The sponsorship offers unique networking, branding and hospitality opportunities. Phil Revzin, Vice President, International, The Wall Street Journal said, "The global Wall Street Journal spans continents and crosses oceans. Yet, like the crews of the Clipper 2002 Race, it is built upon a simple concept - that of individuals working together, to produce their best, as a team."

Clipper 2002 will set sail from Liverpool, United Kingdom, on 27 October 2002 and will be contested by teams from Hong Kong, London, Liverpool, New York, Bristol, Jersey, Glasgow and Cape Town. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, record breaking sailor and chairman of Clipper Ventures, added: "The new theme of the race, pitting cities and nations against each other, gives the race new global appeal. We are delighted therefore with this alliance and through our partnership aim to launch the Clipper races into a new international dimension and greatly increase our global following of race supporters." Website: www.clipper-ventures.com

4. The Royal Selangor Yacht Club inconjunction with the Malaysian Yachting Assoc will be holding a voluntary Race Officers course in Port Klang on the 20-26th Oct and a Match Racing Umpire's Clinic early next year. Mark Pryke an experienced Aussie Instructor and coach will be conducting the on and off the water sessions and they expect to expand upon the small core of locally certified race officers presently available. Interested parties are asked to contact the MYA Hon Secretary at: layarmas@tm.net.my

5. Corrections pointed out in last months News and Views
Peter Churchouse's boat Moonblue 2 taking 4 th place in Hamilton Island Race Week is incorrect - she finished 5th with Leda taking 4th after the final race. She did however win her class the week before in the Hogs Breath Regatta at Airlie Beach.

6. The earlier published dates for the inaugural Langkawi Int. Regatta 2003 in February are incorrect. You can now ink in Mar 11 - 15 into your sailing diary and browse their new website for special berthing offers and the wonderful social and racing program being planned.

7. The Royal Papua Yacht Club (RPYC) in Port Moresby, New Guinea has issued the Advance Notice of Race for its 2003 Coral Sea Classic Series - to be contested between 6th and 17th May 2003. This event was first held in 1979 and has evolved into a prestigious biennial ocean racing and cruising series, renowned as a great escape from the southern winter. The call of the Coral Sea leads to blue water, trade winds, flying fish, adventure, good company, tall salty tales, the inevitable jugs of rum punch and major prizes and trophies. The event commemorates the Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 5th to 8th May 1942. The Race Director, Peter Renner can be contacted at the RPYC on Fax number +(675) 321 4935. Phone Number + (675) 321 1700.

8. This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Lindauer Coastal Classic which starts off Devonport Wharf, Auckland on 25th October. It is expected that entry numbers could go close to 300 making it the largest race in the southern hemisphere. There are two record purses up for grabs - $10,000 to the first monohull to break the record set by Primo in 1996 (9hr:22:34) and a further $10,000 to the first multihull to break Split Enz's record of 7hr:20:51 set the same year. This classic also marks the start of the summer season in many ways.

The complete Asian Yachtmaster's sail training syllabus is also found absolutely FREE! on the web today! Try browsing or take a copy of the easy step by step boat handling manoeuvres and simple crew drills required to gain the essential skills to safely master any type or size of pleasure yacht anywhere in the world by clicking on.... http://asianyachting.com/AYmasters/aymenu.htm

Win a day with Team New Zealand - It's Easy!
Purchase any Line 7 product from Americas Cup Store from July to late Nov and you will be entered into a draw to win a trip for two (including airfares) to Auckland, New Zealand. There, you will spend a day with Team New Zealand during the build-up to their America's Cup defence.

1. WORLD RECORDS
Tracy Edwards maxi catamaran Maiden II has officially slashed 28 hours off Steve Fossett's Round Britain and Ireland record time of 5d 21h 5m 27s is formally ratified by the WSSR Council.

Maiden II sailed by Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid and a crew of 12 crossed the finish line at Ventnor, Isle of Wight, shortly before 06:00GMT on the 10th Sept, quashing the hopes of rival attempt by Olivier de Kersauson on Geronimo. Maiden skipper Brian Thompson finally broke the silence by announcing that the 34m (100ft) catamaran had completed the 1,787 nautical mile circumnavigation in 4 days 17 hours 4 minutes and 23 seconds with an average speed of 15.8 knots, taking 28 hours off the 1994 record.

French skipper Olivier de Kersauson on his 34m (110ft) trimaran Geronimo, crossed their finish line off Lizard Point at 10:12:54 GMT recording a time of 4 days, 22 hours, 5 minutes and 52 seconds. More on Olivier de Kersauson and Geronimo can be found at http://www.grandsrecords.com

2. Then Maiden 2 skippered by Brian Thompson and Helena Darvelid again, completed the 138 nm Cowes to Dinard route in 5 hours 23 minutes and 38 seconds averaging a speed of 25.58 Kts and breaking the previous record held by Steve Fossett by 58 minutes and 16 seconds is subject to ratification.

3. Torbay, England 26 Sept 02. Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm has won Leg 1 of the 2002 Around Alone. Sailing his Pierre Roland Open 60 Bobst Group - Armor Lux, Stamm crossed the finish line off the Berry Head Hotel in Torbay harbour at 15:33:38 local time (14:33:38 UTC). Throwing his arms into the air and smiling broadly Stamm looked tired but jubilant as he waved at the crowds assembled on the docks to welcome him.

It has been a fast crossing for Stamm who earlier set a new transatlantic solo record unofficial time of 10 d 10 hr 55 m and 19 secs when he passed Lizard Point off the southwest coast of England. Stam also holds the crewed transatlantic record on the same boat, which interesting enough is 38 hours less at 8 d 20 hrs and 55 minutes "I am very excited to hold a new record and to win this first leg of the Around Alone race. I have been preparing my boat for the last year and the hard work has paid off," he said. Stamm must be especially happy to be in Torbay having lost power two days ago forcing him to hand steer for the remainder of the trip. This establishes a new solo monohull transatlantic record and will become a benchmark record for all future solo monohull Atlantic crossings. WSSR Website: http://www.sailspeedrecords.com

4. When UK's Emma Richards the only female competitor on her Open 60 "Pindar" took 4th place on Leg 1 she established a new record Transatlantic Women's Single-handed Monohull record in a time of 13 days 1 hour 14 minutes and 36 seconds and subject to ratification. This is the inaugural record for this category and is a welcome addition to the WSSR lists.

5. NEW ROUND BRITAIN AND IRELAND RACE FOR OPEN 60S
A Round Britain and Ireland race for Open 60s was announced today by Challenge Business. The fully crewed non-stop race clockwise round the British Isles will start from the Solent in July and finish just prior to Cowes Week, and is sponsored by EDS. This is the first time a race for these boats will start and finish in the UK and the Open 60s, IMOCA class association has given its backing and included the EDS Round Britain and Ireland Race in its world championship programme next year.

6. Inaugural Isla Navidad Race
The inaugural Isla Navidad Race will be one of the last opportunities to see some of America's finest offshore racers and sailing teams in action this fall. The race renews a long tradition of running distance races from California to Mexico for the host clubs Newport Harbour Yacht Club and Long Beach Yacht Club. Starting in Long Beach and finishing in Barra de Navidad this race is 1,175 nautical miles making it the longest of the California to Mexico races.

Entries close at the end of September but the list of boats already entered is impressive. West Coast record setters Doug Baker's Magnitude and Roy Disney's Pyewacket who along with Phillipe Kahn's Pegasus 77 and Bob Lane's Medicine Man will be battling in Class A for corrected honours, while Bob McNeil's new 86 footer Zephyrus V is expected to take line honors.

7. l’Hydroptère
One of the most interesting sailing concepts put to test on a recent Round Britain and Ireland speed record attempt is the French aerospace 18.25 m tri foiler l’Hydroptère. Unfortunately some structural problems to the main 24m crossbeam shortly after starting forced them to withdraw. Judging by the excerpts from the log on their 30 knot plus delivery run to the UK with further refinement this type of craft poses a new dimension to yacht designing and may be the future direction the maxi catamarans may take.

At low speed, l’Hydroptère sails like a normal trimaran. From 10 knots, she starts to lift, and like for an aircraft you have to cant up the boat by angling up the elevator on the submerged bottom of the rudder. This is controlled from the helm with a joystick. Once l’’Hydroptère has reached her cruising altitude, between 2 and 3 metres, the helmsman, who has now become a pilot, brings her onto a horizontal trim by briefly canting the nose downwards. Connected to the water solely by her two marine wings and her aft “fin”, l’Hydroptère can immediately reach high speeds of 30/40 knots or more. The more the speed increases, the higher l’Hydroptère lifts out of the water thanks to the V arrangement of her foils.
Alain Thébault : “we are in a drag reducing logic”

8. SKIRTS
Skirts are all the fashion at the America's Cup in New Zealand -- and not just among the European style houses of Prada and Louis Vuitton. Syndicate Row in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour is a sea of skirts as six of the nine syndicates in the Louis Vuitton challengers' cup hide their latest keel designs behind shrouds. I personally can't wait until next year when the Kiwis partake in one their favourite pastimes of lifting the skirts and getting on with the action.

9. YAHOO WINS INTERNET RIGHTS FOR LVC AND AC
Internet giant Yahoo! has won the internet rights for the America's Cup and Louis Vuitton challenger series, providing worldwide exposure for New Zealand sports animation company Virtual Spectator International. VS had exclusive rights to use the data coming from the boats on the internet. "That means they will be the only ones able to do 3D animations for pay per view over the internet." Yahoo! will pay for the hosting, which is an enormous responsibility because they expect to get 500 million page views during the event. CORM, Louis Vuitton and the America's Cup organising authority AC2003 announce a six-figure sum to build the website and hosting partnership with Yahoo!.

10. Virtual Spectator is also back and will be the only online source for live coverage of the racing. The improved race viewer will allow subscribers to watch each and every match of the Louis Vuitton and America's Cup. Virtual Spectator has recently brought in designers and programmers from the video game world and the new animations are truly spectacular.

11. British bookmakers William Hill are taking bets on the outcome of both the Louis Vuitton Cup elimination series and the America's Cup. Alinghi is the clear favourite to win the Louis Vuitton Cup, but Team New Zealand is odds on favourites for a third America's Cup. The initial opening odds of each syndicate winning the America's Cup released by William Hill where:

Team New Zealand (NZL) 3-5
Alinghi Swiss Challenge (SUI) 5-1
Prada Challenge (ITA) 7-1
Oracle Racing (USA) 8-1
Oneworld Challenge (USA) 10-1
Team Dennis Conner (USA) 12-1
Victory Challenge (SWE) 51-1
GBR Challenge (GB) 51-1
Le Defi Areva (FRA) 101-1
Mascalzone Latino (ITA) 126-1

From all reports received so far it is interesting that Prada is ranked so high at this stage, One World and Team Dennis Conner supporters could be in for a surprise earn and Victory Challenge or GBR Challenge at 51-1 (Shock, horror for the Brits) are in with a outside chance.

12. 1000 DAYS NON-STOP AT SEA
On November 24, Reid Stowe will embark on the longest non-stop sailing voyage ever attempted. Departing from New York Harbour Pier 63, Stowe's voyage, dubbed "1000 Days Non-Stop at Sea," will take him out of sight of land and without re-supply for longer than any of his sailing predecessors. Not since John Sanders circumnavigated 657 days non-stop in 1987 has anyone departed the terra firma for so long.

Stowe's 60 ton 70 foot gaff-rigged schooner - the "Anne" - was conceived, designed and hand-built by him in 1978 as the ultimate long distance heavy weather vessel. This ship has been Stowe's expedition platform for 24 years of voyages in the Caribbean, Europe, South Pacific, and around the world. Reid is refitting his boat for the 1000 Days journey in partnership with 1000 Days Non-Stop at Sea, Ltd., a non-profit corporation. The goal is to sail the longest non-stop voyage in history. Using satellite communications and media production, Stowe and the 1000 Days Expedition team will share this adventure with the world.

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Once again, I hope you have found this issue of AsianYachting News & Views useful and interesting please forward it to your sailing friends.

Kindest Regards
Capt Marty Rijkuris
AsianYachting HQ
A308 PD Perdana Condo Resort
Batu 5 1/2 Jln Pantai
Port Dickson 71050
Negri Sembilan
Malaysia

HQ Phone / Fax: +6-06-6477701
Capt Marty Rijkuris Handphone: +6-016-2714134

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