AsianYachting October 2003
News and Views

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CONTENTS

1. Editorial
2. "Unluckiest sailor of the month"
3. Austral - Asian News
4. International News
5. World Speed Records - Mari Cha IV Obliterates Transatlantic Record

Browse past News & Views - Web Editions click on: Oct Nov  Dec Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept

1. EDITORIAL

The merry month of October marks the
Official beginning of the 2003/04 AsianYachting Season

News Editors and Webmasters take note: To keep your records updated please find the published 2003/04 AsianYachting Calendar together with the AY Skipper and Yacht Ranking Events marked clearly as Five Star Events during the 2003/04 AY Season. Take a colour copy of the AY website edition by simply clicking on: http://asianyachting.com/asiancalendar.htm

First off this year is the inaugural Borneo Cup Yachting Challenge (Oct 20-25) jointly organised by the Malay State of Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan to promote regional maritime activities and the local tourism industry by hosting and conducting International sporting events. Ray Roberts old custom Sydney 46 Luna Nuova now renamed Ulu Mulu was recently purchased by Troy Yau and delivered by the Miri men to Sarawak should start favourite amongst a mixed fleet of cruiser racers.

Up next is the 4th Asean Regatta (Oct 22-26 overlapping with BCYC) at Admiral Marina in Pt Dickson, this time in West Malaysia is the first of the Five Star racing events from which the AY Skipper and Yacht Rankings scoring begins that meets the demands of top-level keelboats and serious racing sailors in the region each year. Don't worry, if you can't make it, I will be producing and circulating daily AY Race Reports and keeping you updated during these exciting and challenging events.

The Raja Muda Int Regatta (Nov 14 - 22) committee in Pt Klang reports that many of the annual cruising yachts coming through Indonesia from Bali and Darwin have arrived early and they are trying to convince them to stay around for a few weeks, enjoy a little ole fashioned Malaysian hospitality and go on the 14th Island hopping event up Malaysia's west coast finishing up in duty-free Langkawi.

One of the most popular racing events this year will be the 17th Phuket King's Cup Regatta. The committee have advised that registration will take place at Kata Beach Resort and racing for all classes will be held in and around the waters and islands close to Phuket. The 2003 schedule is provisional and subject to weather conditions.

As I have recently been reminded of how quick everything can go wrong on a boat and experienced a tragic accident at sea, I urge all competing crews to rigorously adhere to and take all the necessary safety precautions onboard whilst racing or cruising your boat especially during stormy conditions that can often be quickly whiped up in our waters.
I look forward to seeing you competing in Asian waters this year.
Capt Marty Rijkuris
AsianYachting Ventures S/B (Co.No. 627106-T)

2. "Unluckiest sailor of the month"

Among the casualties when Hurricane Fabian swept across Bermuda last month with winds in excess of 140 miles per hour leaving massive destruction in its wake, was Tim Kent's Open 50, Everest Horizontal. At the height of the storm, the multiple mooring lines securing the boat parted and she was driven onto the rocks behind Ocean Sails. Kent reports that the boat looks pretty good and is presently trying to raise the money to repair the damage and has re-floated the boat.

This is a devastating emotional and financial blow in a summer that has already been full of them. On June 22 the keel bulb fell off causing the boat to flip upside down in the Bermuda Race. Less than a week later with the help of supporters Tim returned to the Atlantic to find and right her, cut away the destroyed rig and tow her to Bermuda. They got her engine running, cleaned her up and put her on a mooring, laying plans to sail back home as soon as the hurricane season ended.

If you would like to help with the cost of rebuilding Everest by buying some of Tim's great Everest Horizontal gear they have in stock or making a donation please go to the merchandise page Your help would be appreciated more than you could know. Having a strong bond to this wonderful boat, One thing Tim can promise you: This story is not over - she will sail again. More at: www.everesthorizontal.com

3. Austral - Asian News

1. Mahathir happy with local role in LIMA'03
LANGKAWI: Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed satisfaction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (Lima) 2003 particularly with the increase in participation and performance of local companies. "Previously they didn't have the technology and ability, but now they can manufacture and even build warships and frigates in Malaysia,” he added. Opening Business Focus' Wavemaster Langkawi Yacht Centre later, Dr Mahathir said the Government hoped more yachters from all over the world would come here as the duty-free islands has a complete range of services and maintenance facilities for such vessels. A number of MoU's have been signed notably between Airod and the Yemen Govt while in the maritime segment, the first MoU was between Nadi Defence Industries Sdn Bhd and UK-based VT Aerospace.

8. Bill Gasson has successfully conducted the first weekend regatta from Ocean Marina at the top of the Gulf of Thailand. He reports it has taken nearly 20 years for this to happen and that here is more to come over the next few months. Boat owners in the region that would like to participate can contact Bill Gasson

9. Nippon Cup 2003 added to Swedish Match Tour
Swedish Match Tour is pleased to announce the addition of the Nippon Cup 2003 (Nov 17-23) in Hayama, Japan to the 2003 / 2004 SMTour schedule. Hosted by the Hayama Marina Yacht Club the Nippon Cup 2003 will be the third event on the 2003/2004 SMTour offering a total prize purse of USD50,000. Using Yamaha 30S racing yachts on Hayama's Shinjuku Bay the format will feature 12 teams, nine international skippers and crews and three Japanese teams, competing in a single round robin, with the top four teams advancing to the semi-final round to be followed by a first-to-three wins final. The addition of the Nippon Cup grows Swedish Match Tour 2003/2004 to eight events on three continents. The next event on Swedish Match Tour 2003/2004 is the Investors Guaranty presentation of the King Edward VII Gold Cup in Hamilton, Bermuda, October 18-26.

10. Featured AY Brokerage Listing
Mavrick II - Elliott 45 - LOA: 14 m Beam: 4.1m Draft: 3.7m. Winner of the 2003 double-handed Melbourne to Osaka Race will be open for inspection during some of the regattas in the Asian region this season. The owner has done every thing he has ever dreamed of doing with her and now it's time to let someone else enjoy some fantastic sailing experiences and winning races. Photos, history and extensive equipment list with additional safety gear to Cat 0

4. International News 

1. Perrotti Performance Design and Van Gorkom Yacht Design have teamed up to create a new Volvo 70 for the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race which will start in the Mediterranean on November 5th, 2005, the race ports-of-call include Cape Town - South Africa, Melbourne - Australia, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, Baltimore -Annapolis USA, Southampton - UK, Goteborg - Sweden, and a finish at a Baltic port (TBA).. Together they have helped sculpt the new Volvo 70 Rule, and have created a first generation design with promising performance. To get an inside look at their work and the culmination of creativity and innovation with design parameters and specs.

2. Alan Bond slipped quietly into the CYCA in Sydney to lead the 20th Anniversary celebrations of Australia winning the America’s Cup in 1983. Bond, looking boyishly young, and accompanied by wife, Diana, joined Commodore John Messenger and other Board members, along with the 190 plus surprised crowd at the anniversary celebration, put together by club member Steve Old, who, at the time of Australia winning the Cup, was part of the Australian crew who filmed the historic win in the USA for Australian television. More on the memories and what it took 20 years ago.

3. A new sports amphibian vehicle, the Gibbs Aquada, was given its world premiere in London recently. A cross between a sportscar and sportsboat, it is claimed to be the first legal road amphibian to offer serious land performance with a planing capability on water. It is actually capable of 100mph on the road and up to 26 knots on sheltered water. Initially a limited edition 'Bond' series of 100 Aquadas will be built with an on-the-road or on-water price of around 150,000 Euro.

4. Sailing Channel is the only digital TV channel in the world dedicated to the sailing and boating world. It was launched in 2000 to serve primarily the Italian market and will now be broadcast in Northern Europe and soon the United States through local and national cable and satellite operators. Sailing sports have become more popular than ever before, thanks to enthusiasm generated by competitions such as the America’s Cup, The Race, Vendée Globe and Volvo Ocean Race among others. Sailing Channel reaches a well defined audience, but also has a broad appeal. The potential audience is large and growing worldwide. The channel is innovative and exciting for boating and non-boating enthusiasts and is the only channel of its kind.

5. World Speed Records

2. Another Route Record Established
First mooted in 1999, and established on 5-6 October this year, the Monaco to Porto Cervo record has now been set, subject to ISAF and WSSRC ratification, by Morten Bergesen's (NOR) Wally 105 - Nariida. Skippered by ex Djuice Dragons skipper Knut Frostad (NOR), the 105ft Ketch covered the 185 nautical miles in a time of 15 h 25 m and 9 s at an average speed of 11.90 knots. http://www.sailspeedrecords.com

3. Performance Certificate for kite sailing on boards
With an increasing interest in kite sailing on boards, the WSSR Council has recently awarded a Performance Certificate to Robby Naish, USA at 38.47kts on the 28th July 2003 at Aringa, Gran Canaria. The speed was achieved under the WSSR Rules and observed and authenticated by WSSR Commissioners.

4. Bruno Peyron's new giant catamaran
Multiplast revealed the first images of Bruno Peyron's new giant catamaran and the philosophy behind its construction at their brand new production unit located in Vannes. The Gilles Ollier Design Team got their heads down and come up with a boat which is even bigger than the three sisterships (Club Med, Innovation Explorer, Team Adventure) and set to work with the same enthusiasm, taking an extremely important extra factor into account for the success of the project: Experience.

5. SailRocket to break the 50knot barrier?
The race to reach the 50 knot barrier has become the equivalent of going super sonic in an aircraft. It is a milestone that many sailors and windsurfers have tried to reach, but so far all have fallen just short. SailRocket could be about to change all this with a totally new design and way of thinking about speed sailing design. Designed by Southampton engineer Malcolm Barnsley who has been involved in speed sailing for 25 years and piloted by Paul Larsen who already has five speed sailing records to his name, they have the credentials to be taken very seriously indeed.

AsianYachting HQ Phone: +6-06-6477701
Capt Marty Rijkuris Handphone: +6-016-2714134
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Yachting at http://AsianYachting.com

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