AsianYachting April
2004
News and Views
Take a look at the new look 2004-05 AsianYachting Calendar that has been compiled so far with the remaining Grand Prix events of the 2003/04 Championships to run at: http://asianyachting.com/asiancalendar.htm Race committees and regatta organizers are asked to send the forth coming dates and update their entry details to: info@asianyachting.com
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CONTENTS
1.
Editorial - Steve
Fossett on Cheyenne sets
new RTW sailing record
2. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - Roman
Pascke's crew onboard BANK BPH
3. Austral - Asian News - Next
up... China Sea Race (starting
on 8th April)
4. International News - Yves
Parlier's radical
Médiatis Région Aquitaine
5. World Speed Records - L'HYDROPTÈRE
gets carbon shock absorbing arms
Browse past News & Views - Web Editions click on: April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March
1. EDITORIAL
Congratulations
must first go out to the American skipper Steve
Fossett and his 12 International crew onboard the 125'
maxi-catamaran Cheyenne
for breaking the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council)
Round The World Sailing Record
previously held by Bruno Peyron's Orange by almost 6 days and
lowering the benchmark to 58 Days 9 hrs 32 mins 45 secs.
Over
the past 8 weeks we have followed them closely on the world's largest
racing catamaran as they covered over 25,000 nautical miles at a blistering
pace around the world, through every sort of weather, setting a fistful
of new RTW segment records - averting numerous potential technical disasters
- including a separated forestay, shorted out instrumentation, broken
mast track and (just this week) a disintegrating forward beam connection
at the starboard hull - all resolved in a series of astonishing 'running
repairs' by Cheyenne's brilliant crew. More on this sub 60 day
record can be found at http://www.fossettchallenge.com
and for those who say racing these giants against time is very boring
we echo veteran campaigner Olivier
de Kersauson's sentiments "That the RTW course
is the most complete there is!” who is presently experiencing rough seas
approaching Cape Horn on his latest attempt.
Asian sailors looking for TV watersports programming are usually limited
to Digby Fox's varied Hot Water show on Star Sports or a few specials
through out the year, have recently been thoroughly entertained with the
Rolex films on BBC World and more is yet to come. Between the 6th and
11th April (Check your local listings) the finale of our very own China
Coast Race Week with 200 plus entries in exotic Hong Kong has top billing
on Hot Water, and Andrew Owen has released a extensive program through
the month of May and early June for the 4 x 1/2 hour Omega
Asian
Yachting Circuit films produced by Proteus Sports.
As plans are underway
to promote the South East Asian region as the last,
great sailing destination in the world, it is good to
see some of the Asian events already on TV, mixing it with other traditional
International events in the sailing world. I personally can't wait till
we get the Seamaster Sailing programs onboard in Asia so we can keep up
to date with all the well publicized personal programs presently going
on European TV which could only further induce yachting achievements in
our part of the world.
Next up is the 21st running of the 565nm ***** China Sea Race from Hong Kong to Subic Bay in the Philippines starting at 1200hrs on Thurs 08th April which boasts having 15 big boats in an extremely competitive IRC Racing Division. Expect extra spice to be added to the race reports when Sam Chan's Ffree Fire and Frank Pong's Jelik resume their ongoing battle for line honours in Asia's premier offshore races.
One to watch out for is Robert Knight's new Mark Mills designed DK Yachts 46 - Drum Stick which is a serious contender for first place on corrected time in her debut race.
After
exhibiting the unsold high-tech Elliot
45, Maverick II during the China Coast Race Week
last October, Kiwi owner Brian Petersen, will once again be pitting the
winner of the 2003 Melbourne to Osaka double handed race against Hong
Kong's finest over a course.that will suite her pedigree.
Conditions on this
competitive downhill race should favour the larger, lighter boats and
Neil Pryde the race chairman, being a past winner of the China Sea Race
will be keen to record a good result after a disappointing season so far,
thereby improving Hi-Fidelity's position in the 2003/04
AsianYachting Rankings in the process. Event info, news updates, entry list
and boat profiles are available at http://www.chinasearace.com
Whether you're seeking advice on how to tame that fluttery headsail or
just getting your daily yachting fix by receiving news dispatches from
around the globe racers, the WWWeb is proving to be a mecca for sailors
and the preferred communication system used by the media.
Happy sailing
Capt Marty
2. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"
Press
release – 18 march, 2004 The circumnavigation voyage of
BANK BPH on day
30. The Polish team, skippered by Roman
Pascke set sail on the VOR60 ex-Assa Abloy on
an attempt to set the first non stop circumnavigation record for a crewed,
monohull. This afternoon the steering mechanism broke causing a momentary
loss of control over the yacht when the mainsail boom broke as a result.
A few days sailing in very difficult conditions await the crew "We
are heading to Cape Town where we will estimate our losses and decide
what to do further. We're all OK, and that's what's most important. It
won't be easy, as the weather forecast isn't the best." Captain Roman
Paszke, from on board BANK BPH
The region in which this occurred is especially difficult to navigate. The southern Indian Ocean has not only strong winds, but also high waves with short wavelengths. Serious problems in this region is the stuff of legends for better ocean sailors. Thanks to the crew's experience and close following of the principles of good seamanship (safety procedures), they were able to get out of such a serious situation in one piece while preventing further damage to the yacht. More can be found on this adventurous racing team at: http://www.race2000.pl
3. Austral - Asian News
3.1
If you missed all the tom foolery on April 1st, Scuttlebutt
Europe's special edition #499 stories were nearly complete
fantasy (the one on dihydrogen monoxide is actually quite factually correct,
as it's about water, and there certainly is some truth to the problems
in Athens, ahem...) can still be browsed as it is archived at: http://scuttlebutteurope.com/449.php
3.2
April
13 to 17 -
*****
President's
Cup Regatta
Organised by the Manila
Yacht Club and held on Subic Bay, Luzon in the Philippines
has an interesting International standard racing and social program
planned for yachts arriving on the China Sea Race. Further info and NOR contact the Manila Yacht Club at: www.manilayachtclub.com
or email the secretariat at:
mycrace@i-manila.com.ph
Go to 2000 reports, results
or the 2001 2002
Summary
3.3
Don't miss out on BOAT ASIA 2004
Boat Asia 2004 gets underway
in Singapore from April 15-18. and promises to be better than ever before,
showcasing the very best in sailing yachts, powerboats, super yachts and
marine equipment & accessories. Boat Asia 2004 will provide potential
regional buyers with an unparalleled chance to compare boat specifications,
exchange notes with fellow enthusiasts, and pursue networking opportunities.
Some 8000 visitors from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia,
Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand are expected to descend upon Singapore
for the show.... For more info click on: http://www.boat-asia.com/
3.4
Coming up early next month May 1 - 5 - The Coronation
Cup
Sportsboat enthusiasts at various local yacht clubs looking at fielding
Platu 25 teams at Thailand's famous Coronation Cup should contact Mr
Navee naveenavy@hotmail.com at the Sattahip
Platu Yacht Club. This regatta is usually held in the Dontan Bay area
Sattahip, Chonburi to commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibhol
Adulyadej of Thailand. The program and NOR can be browsed by clicking
on: http://asianyachting.com/Clubs/SattahipYC.htm
3.5
Featured AY
Grand Prix Yacht Brokerage
Ross 7.80 mk.1 Trailer
Sailor c.1985 Ideal
for harbour racing and short coastal hops, this very popular class boat
(sailed extensively in Brisbane, Perth and New Zealand) has been raced
& actively sailed from the RYSC in Port Klang for the last 15 years.
2003 IRC handicap 0.916. She is a genuine trailer sailor slipped after
each sail. Mast lowers easily and she presently meets category 3 safety
requirements. Boat
was extensively refitted by Fedara Yachts for the 2003 season. Price:
US$15,999 or only RM 59,990 o.n.o.
and further details
can be found here...
3.6
Learn to Sail courses
anyone?
The next 2-Day AY
Introductory Sailing Course for participants interested
in becoming Competent Crew
on sailing yachts will be run over the weekend 17th
& 18th April at the Royal Selangor
Yacht Club in Port Klang. To enroll simply contact Khairul
Sharil the RSYC
Sailing Center Manager
on 03-3168 6964 H/P 012 3899498 or
Email: info@rsyc.com.my
3.7 Luckily Dudley Dix's Pratique 35 is a fairly traditional styled boat, with a conservative underbody and posses great strength. Owners can now built them anywhere and she is a good choice for those wanting a go-everywhere boat that will give reasonable passage times. Peter Weston in Alice Springs, Central Australia, (over 1000 miles from the sea) is building a Pratique 35 from a pre-cut kit and you can follow the progress at http://www.dixdesign.com/pr35weston.htm
3.8
The Borobudur Expedition
would like to let followers know that the website has been updated with
some new images from the voyage and news of a planned Art Exhibition in
London that will feature painting and photographs from expedition artist
Danielle Eubank. Check the details out at - www.borobudurshipexpedition.com
3.9 WORLD
CRUISING RALLY en route to ASIA
The 22 yachts from 7 nations ranging from 34 to 66 feet taking part in
the Blue Water Round the World Cruising
Rally 2003-5, the 5th such event by the same organisers,
transited the Panama Canal in late February and are now in the Galapagos
Islands. The Rally, which is a cruising-only event, will sail the equatorial
route transiting the Pacific to the Marquesas Islands, through French
Polynesia, Tonga and Fiji to arrive in Australia in August and reaching
their Singapore hosts at the RSYC in November. In
Australia organisers anticipate the Rally to be joined by at least 4 new
entries and in Asia their first entry from Malaysia, who will complete
the voyage to the Mediterranean, arriving there in April 2005. Details
of Blue Water Rally events (including Rally Antigua and the Oz-Med Rally)
can be found on their website www.yachtrallies.co.uk
Further information email Peter Seymour at pandarally@aol.com
3.10
The Quantum
Sail Design Group in Malacca, Malaysia have reported
tremendous success with the weight for strength ratios of their Carbon
Kevlar Fusion sails and the super
fast spinnakers they produce for the world wide market.
Place your order at: http://www.quantumsails.com
or obtain a obligation free quotation from Bruce Anson at: banson@quantumsails.com
or Phone ++60-6-231-6145
3.11 Is
something big definitely brewing in Dubai?
Team Alinghi skipper Russell Coutts was in Dubai and along with two-time
Americas Cup finalist Paul Cayard are brewing up something big and new
in the sailing world for Dubai. "At this stage, we cannot reveal
any information to you," Coutts told Gulf News "We like the
potential of the venue and have a concept that we will announce at a proper
time," following a lengthy meeting with DIMC managing director, Saeed
Hareb at the DIMC clubhouse. "We can only say that this is going
to be something related to sailing and it will be competition-based,"
Coutts stated.
4. International News
4.1 One of the most radical builds AsianYachting has been following over the last year is Yves Parlier's Médiatis Région Aquitaine. This revolutionary new machine has two hulls and a 50ft beam which is exceptionally wide for a 60ft long catamaran that has attracted allot of attention in the Arcachon basin.
She
also has two rigs - one mounted over each hull with swiveling 22 metre
high masts. As if this weren't enough the hull shape of the boat underwater
is also ground-breaking with a very narrow V-shaped hull forward and a
'stepped' hull, inspired by seaplanes running across the underside of
the hull which will allow the boat to quickly plane on the water.
"It is a machine made to beat records, not for solo circumnavigation" explains Parlier. The boat has been sailing for a little over a month now and has already clocked 29 knots. Parlier believes the boat to be capable of more than 40 knots and the unusual features will require extended seatrials till the end of May to see how the boat behaves in gale force conditions "we do not have the same reference points, in particular with the two sails.... electronics will also be very important." An indication of the potential of his new twin masted vessel Parlier averaged 20 knots for the first 500 miles during his recent qualifying run for The Transat. Test out your high school French go to: http://www.parlier.org/
4.2
Go fly a kite?
A interesting site I came across recently is KiteShip™
who are developing and bringing to the market Large
Kite Technology, winches and computerized control systems
for launching, controlling and recovery techniques using kites aboard
waterborne craft.
Such craft may include pleasure and racing yachts, small and large powered vessel conversions, research and commercial vessels both inshore and at sea. Imagine the deployment of large kites on some of the new breed of giants on their Southern Ocean record breaking runs -- kites between 1,000-5,000 sq ft on vessels 50-150 ft in length or even larger kites to 30,000 sq ft powering ocean-going ships up to 500' and towing marine structures such as oil rigs and barges to their seagoing habitats. More can be found at: www.kitetugs.com
4.3
Friday, 2nd April 2004 Bruno Peyron's The
Race Event has commenced legal proceedings in France against
the British sailor Tracy Edwards, and the legal entities involved in the
organisation of her round the world sailing events, Maiden Ocean Racing
Qatar Ltd, Maiden Ocean Racing Ltd and Maiden Two Ltd. The Race Event
is seeking damages for passing off and use of TRE know how in respect
of her round the world projects for 2005 and 2006. The first hearing took
place on 19th February 2004. More can be found at: http://www.therace.org
5. World Speed Records
5.1
L'HYDROPTÈRE gets
carbon shock absorbing arms
L'hydroptère, a prototype high-speed multihull which can sail on
twin foils, will be equipped with a new pair of connecting arms of carbon.
The arms will act as shock absorbers, according to Alain Thébault
and his team of engineers. The boat is currently undergoing a rebuild
at the Airbus facility at Nantes, France. The scale of the boat will remain
unchanged at 24 meters LOA, 18 metres beam, and work should be completed
by this autumn. In September 2002 the boat suffered a broken connecting
arm; at the time it was sailing between 35 and 41 knots of boatspeed in
20 to 25 knots of wind. Born from the imagination of Eric Tabarly in 1970,
the five ton hydrofoil multihull is likely to reach speeds of upwards
of 45 knots. -- More info at: http://www.hydroptere.com
5.2
Go Geronimo Go!
Meanwhile Olivier
de Kersauson's Cap
Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran Geronimo
is now at the entrance to the Drake Strait and 571 miles from Cape Horn
at 59°S, where a wind is on the nose around 20 knots and gradually
changing direction from East to South. This rotation will eventually result
in the overdue release of the 11-man crew from their icy nightmare and
finally close the door on the Pacific Ocean for this winter. After the
Azores High over Madeira, the trade winds out of place, a gigantic Doldrums,
the St. Helena High over Argentina, a civilised Indian Ocean, a warlike
Pacific and a crawling upwind passage to the Horn what more is still to
come for them to complete this meteorological rollercoaster of a round-the-world
trip! With Cheyenne's lowering of the benchmark, Geronimo
is now 696 nautical miles behind the new record time and 421 miles in
front of Bruno Peyrons old record. We wish them god speed and smooth sailing
to the finish. Get all the latest news at: http://www.trimaran-geronimo.com
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