AsianYachting June
2005
News and Views
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Sailing Holidays from now until September and don't miss
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CONTENTS
1.
Editorial - Neil
Pryde and Hi Fidelity 2004/05
AY
Grand Prix Champions
2. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" -
Jean
Le Cam's Bonduelle -
Round
Britain racers
3. Austral - Asian News -
Malaysia
celebrates as Ulumulu wins Koh Samui
4. International News - The
ISAF PREZ speaks up...
5.
World Speed Records - VDH
and Adrien claim another record...
Browse past News & Views - Web Editions click on: June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April May and the Asian Tsunami reports...
1.
EDITORIAL
AsianYachting is so proud that Neil Pryde and his former Hi-Fidelity won the 2004/05 AY Grand Prix Skipper and Yacht of the Year Awards, that we think he should be considered for even bigger accolades such as a nominee for the International Sailor of the Year Award for taking on the combined might of the ISAF and Olympic selection committee with his hi-tech RS:X wind surfer and winning yet again.
As
if running a professional racing team though Asian waters each year and
taking out the big 3 major events (RMIR, Kings Cup and Sing Straits this
year) including the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup a couple of times is not enough,
but on the business scene walking the hallowed halls of officialdom and
his team meeting critical board specifications, production and distribution
programs before the 2008 Olympic Games surely deserves an International
award or at least a bravery medal of some sort. You could be excused for
thinking that some of those lucky Chinese fortune cookies are taking effect
but in this case a perfect example of how, running a successful team through
a full blown racing campaign can compliment the attributes required to
run big business.
As
Asia now has China Team
in the America's Cup, the SEA Games
in the Philippines just around the corner, Asian
Games in Doha 2006 and the holly grail of sporting events
the Olympic Games coming
up in 2008, the media is beginning to take notice with Aussie Rob Kothe's
ever expanding online Sail-World
launching a e-mailed Asian edition.
"Welcome aboard! The more the merrier" We say "After almost
single handedly pumping out AsianYachting
news for the last 8 years we will grow to over 20,000 accredited media
expected in Beijing by 2008. I only hope there is enough marine advertisers
to go round".
The pressure is also
on the local sailing authorities to get their sailors up to scratch and
see that the national sports funding is spent wisely which in return is
expected to earn them some medals and develop a new breed of Asian sailing
champions. More on this subject as news comes to hand will appear in future
N&V editions.
The AY Photo Library has been upgraded with images of the 2005 Borneo Cup, 2003/04, 2004/05 AY Grand Prix Championship party in Koh Samui and selected shots during the season at: http://asianyachting.com/photos/default.htm
Shutter
bugging Singaporean Shu Fen has finally made her own
website at: http://www.shufen.net
by posting images from the 2004
Phuket Kings Cup, 2005 Singapore Straits and Koh Samui Regattas plus allot
more can be found there...
The Inaugural Yangon to Manila Bay Symposium Malaysia 2005 drew allot of local attention on how to develop the marine tourism sector by coming up with 8 steps for the way forward. (See Final Report) The yacht clubs are quickly responding as everyone enjoyed the fun weekend back in April, the RSYC in Pt Klang are holding another Open Regatta on the 25th & 26th June. (See Asian Section) Bring your friends - whether they can sail or not. They are also working on a new and exciting format for the RMIR 05 and are expecting a good turn out come November.
Most
racing yachts are either on delivery home or sailing club events leaving
serious owners (Updates coming next month) to get ready for the forthcoming
2005/06 Season
which officially kicks off with the 2nd
Phuket Race Week. As it seems very fashionable at regattas
these days to showcase locally built yachts and cater for all racers in
the region, there holding the two-day NAGA Cup for one-design
Phuket Sports 8 class prior to the main event over the weekend 23-24th
July. Also one day of Skiff Asia
- display Byte, 29er and 59er dinghy racing on the 27th (Registration
day)
The
main event has been shortened to 4 action packed days beginning on 28th
and ending with a gala prize giving party at the 5-star Evason Phuket
Resort and Spa on the 31st July. Organizers also advise there is a number
of charter yachts available as " Fly in, Have fun in Paradise, Fly
out" parties are becoming very popular especially during the southern
hemispheres winter and a crewing section can be found at: http://www.phuketraceweek.com
or make contact directly at: raceweek@image-asia.com
Happy sailing wherever you are.
Capt Marty
2. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"
A
few high profile players are once again back in the running...
While moored at East Cowes Marina on the Isle of Wight, Ellen
MacArthur's record breaking 75ft trimaran B&Q
was rammed by a out of control motor launch and suffered damage as the
central hull sacrificial crash box was peeled open. Yachtsman Jeff Locke
said 'The skipper of the motor launch misjudged the strength of the spring
tide and wind while entering the marina and was driven onto Ellen's boat.'
Dame Ellen added "It's a busy river here and these things can happen.
The main thing is no one was hurt and the guys are now looking at quickly
getting the repair done" More at: www.teamellen.com
It
comes as no surprise then, as the Calais
Round Britain Race is considered one of the most demanding
and difficult courses in Europe some competitors provided the rest of
this months award winners. First up was Emma Richards
on Pindar Alphagraphics retiring due to headsail stay issues.
Then after a 'wet and wild' night trucking across the Celtic Sea on a
broad reach with gusts peaking at 46 knots and cold, boat-breaking seas.
The conditions took their toll on two more crews and their boats, Caen
La Mer was forced to retire after dangerously being in the Channel
without power, working ballast tanks or the ability to cant their keel.
Bernard Stamm on Cheminees Poujoulat became
the third skipper to retire after breaking his sole daggerboard in a collision
with a UFO (unidentified floating object) off the Scilly Isles.
While
racing neck and neck with Mike Goldings Ecover at the front of
the fleet, a shock of all horrors occurred to Jean Le Cam's Lombard designed
Open 60 Bonduelle as it dismasted. The crew are all safe and
the incident occurred about 16 miles after rounding to the north of the
Shetland's while skipper Le Cam was sleeping. They were on a close reach
in a strong westerly wind and big seas sailing under ORC (small sized
jib) and three reefs in the mainsail. Shortly prior to her dismasting
Bonduelle had been holding second place. More at: www.calaisroungbritainrace.com
3. Austral - Asian News
3.1 Malaysia celebrates as Ulumulu
wins Koh Samui 2005
By scoring 3 early wins in a row and tying the final race Troy Yaw's Sarawak
based Ulumulu held onto a slender 3 point advantage to become
the 2005 Koh Samui champions and the first Malaysian owned team to win
in racing class against stiff opposition since Gotcha back in 1999. Frank
Pong's almighty 75ft Jelik stayed up in 2nd place and Toby O'Connell's
crew put in a great performance on the newly acquired YO!'s first
outing to end up in 3rd place. Koh Samui
Race Reports here
3.2
AYGP Presentation
News and photos
The traditional AYGP
blue blazer award and victory champagne was celebrated in Koh Samui by
non other than Ulumulu's Aussie skipper Ray Roberts on this occasion
and proud owner Troy Yaw with his Miri team of International sailors.
Check the photos out at: http://asianyachting.com/photos/photo.htm?aygp0405
Presenting Neil Pryde and Hi-Fidelity
with the 2004/05 AYGP
Sailor and
Yacht of the Year award has been delayed till
the end of the RMIR this year so a double champagne celebration in duty-free
Langkawi is being arranged. Take a peek and see how your favorite team
ended up in the AYGP
Rankings at: http://asianyachting.com/news/Rankings0405.htm
3.3
Success breeds success
Everyone enjoyed the fun weekend back in April, the RSYC
in Pt Klang are holding another Open Regatta
on the 25th & 26th June. Be at the club by noon each day and they
will muster every hull that can go on the water to give everyone a chance
to sail and enjoy the social aspects as well. Bring your friends - whether
they can sail or not. For more info contact John Ferguson at john@rsyc.com.my
Ph 03 31686964 or visit them at http://www.rsyc.com.my
3.4
Baron Bonk's Asia's Nightlife tours
If your looking for any girly action while in Asia, one very interesting
person introduced to me at a Koh Samui party was the self proclaimed Baron
Bonk, whose website recommends serious drinking bars and
a extensive Thai live gigs guide. Plus links to website's that you don't
usually find in the glossy tourist brochures. So for what ever ya fancy
and wherever you want to go? Let the Baron take you on a tour of Asia's
Nightlife... at http://www.baronbonk.com/
3.5
Dare 2 be Different
- Charter a winner!
The much
talked about tandem mast, bi-plane rig has mainly been used to power up
experimental out and out speed machines. But now the Radical
Bay 8000 - a production 8m catamaran built right here
in South East Asia is available for bare boat or skippered charter around
Koh Samui and the surrounding islands. So now YOU can find out what it
is like to sail the Phuket Kings Cup
2004
and Koh
Samui winner! Want to own one or see just how easy and safe
this radical new design and simple rig handles by going to the Coco
Sailing website: http://www.cocosailing.com
3.6
Saito-san to be finally
recognised in Japan?
Although 71-year-old Japanese Minoru Saito
has participated three times in the single-handed, around-the-globe race
originally called the BOC Challenge and completed numerous transoceanic
voyages totaling more than 240,000 nautical miles his achievements have
gone relatively unnoticed in Japan. This time he is circling the globe
for the seventh time, dubbed "Challenge-7"
and having started and finished in Japan, will hopefully become recognised
as Japan's most experienced blue-water yachtsman with only the wind and
the sea as companions.
Saito-san's recent
quest to become the oldest person to sail around he world solo without
stopping is nearly over as they re-crossed the equator after more than
200 days at sea on Saito-san/Shuten Dohji
II. He should arrive in Japan over the next few days.
For the complete story and log of his journey, go to www.tspsjapan.org/Minoru_Saito.html
3.7
Fastest sailing gloves around the world
Many thanks must go to Bruno Peyron for testing the AY
Southern Ocean Gloves during his record breaking round
the world voyage, which passed with flying colours. Previously known as
the fastest selling gloves in Asia have just earned the title of the fastest
around the world! More on AY
Gloves at: http://asianyachting.com/Mall/AYGloves.htm
3.8
China Team news...
The team led by Chaoyong Wang,
the chairman of a leading Chinese venture capital firm has officially
been accepted as a bone fide challenger for the 32nd America's Cup. He
has formed a partnership with Le Défi, a previous French challenger
to acquire their knowledge base and assets, including two America's Cup
Class boats from the last two editions. China
Team is the first Chinese team in the long history of
the America's Cup from the Qingdao International Yacht Club will need
to work quickly. The first races of the Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 4&5
begin in less than one month. CHN 69, the boat with lucky numbers that
China Team will race, is already in Valencia, undergoing modifications
to conform to the newest update to the class rule. The team is expected
to begin sailing in Valencia this month in preparation for racing. More
at: www.americascup.com
3.9
Quantum's FusionM
gets with the strength!
Asian sailors may be interested to know that one of the world's leading
edge sailmaking factories can be found in their own backyard. Since it's
formal introduction Quantum's FusionM
sails have taken the world by storm. For
a product update, including setting-up and gybing asymmetrical spinnakers
on boats with ‘conventional’ spinnaker poles, plus an all
important article on "The fine art of Crewing"
and the results of a recently held racing rules question and answer session
with International juror Graeme Owens goto: http://asianyachting.com/news/QuantumSails.htm
4. International News
4.1
The ISAF PREZ speaks up...
'Sailing is currently enjoying one of the most exciting phases experienced
by the sport. There is an increasing momentum to the sport, new events
and classes being launched and outstanding achievements. ISAF must ensure
it is developing not just in line with the sport, but ahead of the sport,
anticipating the sport's development, providing the services needed for
the sport and remaining relevant to the sport.' - Göran Petersson,
ISAF President speaking at the Mid-Year meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.
The common thread across all discussion at this meeting was the priority for ISAF and its Member National Authorities to ensure participation in the sport and focus on the strategy to achieve this. A co-ordination group of the ISAF Executive Committee will now prepare a draft strategy document which will be circulated for input, prior to a further debate at the ISAF Annual Conference in November 2005 in Singapore. More at : www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j6~Fhy?v2
4.2
Warning to all offshore racers.
DK Yachts are warning all offshore racers to watch out
for when one of their Malaysian built Mum 30, Farr 36, 40, 52, 520 or
Mills DK46 lines up on your starting grid. As the European summer unfolds
ones to look out for are Richard Perini's Foreign Affair at the
Mumm 30 Worlds, Laser SB3's at Cowes Week and a growing group of distinctive
DK46's will be knocking on the doors of success and standing high on the
podium. Serious Yachts for
Serious Sailors can be found
at http://www.dkyachts.com
4.3
Corinthian OSTAR underway
The Faraday Mill OSTAR got underway from Plymouth Sound on 29th May, in
light airs and an almost silky sea state compared to that which the competitors
will face as they race 3,000 miles across the Atlantic on route to Newport,
USA. The 35 skippers who made the start line it was an easy beat to the
first mark after the staring gun was fired from on board 'Patricia' by
Val Howells, the only surviving competitor from the original race in 1960.
Follow the race and more info can be found at: http://www.faradaymillostar2005.co.uk/
4.4
100 year old Transatlantic race record falls
In thick English Channel fog, Robert Miller's (Hong Kong/New York, N.Y.)
140-foot (43m) Mari-Cha IV passed through the four-mile-long gate off
the Lizard in the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge to break the 100-year-old
record set by Charlie Barr on board Wilson Marshall's 185-foot (56.4m)
Atlantic. Miller's giant state-of-the-art racing schooner completed the
2,925-nautical mile passage, east across the North Atlantic between New
York and the Lizard, in 9 days, 15 hrs, 55 mins and 23 secs - a full 2
days, 12 hrs, 6 mins and 56 secs faster than Atlantic's record-breaking
voyage 100 years ago.
In
October, 2003, Mari-Cha IV set a monohull passage record between New York
and the Lizard of 6 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds, but for
that voyage, in stark contrast to the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge, she
had the major advantage of being able to set sail when her crew chose
optimum weather conditions. Second placed Maximus passed the Lizard, 3
hrs 13 mins and 32 secs after swapping the lead and sticking close to
Mari-Cha IV. A great photo album of all the majestic yachts competing
and full roundup at: http://www.transatlanticchallenge.org
I hope we don't have to wait another 100 years for the next race to come
around.
4.5
Featured AY Grand Prix Yacht Brokerage
1976 Sydney
- Hobart Race winner - Previously
Aussie registered Piccolo is considered one
of the original Farr 1104's to be built in Lake Macquarie by John
Pickles which helped put young Kiwi designer Bruce Farr onto the road
to fame and glory. A brief history, recent maintenance plan and additional
equipment added plus a summary of the 1976 Hobart Race can be found at:
http://asianyachting.com/boats/Farr1104.htm
5. World Speed Records
5.1
VDH and Adrien claim another record...
The WSSR Council has approved a new singlehanded 1,787 mile Around Britain
and Ireland record. Jean Luc Van Den Heede on his 85 ft monohull Adrien
crossed the finish line south of the Isle of Wight, Great Britain
averaging 10.11 knots in 7 days, 8 hours and 47 minutes after he left,
smashing the current singlehanded record held by Michel Kleinjans BEL
on Roaring Forty in 11d 12h 26m 48s by a massive 4 d 4 h and 29 mins.
For interest, they narrowly missed out on the Round Britain and Ireland crewed monohull record held by J.P. Chomette (currently claiming the Round Ireland record) set in May 2004 on Solune in 7d 4h 46m 22s. Van den Heede and Adrien make a very successful partnership. They already hold the Round the World, non stop, single-handed, westbound record, set a little over a year ago and the Cowes to Dinard, monohull, single-handed record, which they set last November. More at: http://www.vdh.fr
5.2
Round Ireland speed record smashed.
The WSSR have announced ratification of a new crewed
Round Ireland monohull record from the Kish Lighthouse in Dun Laoghaire,
Dublin: Jean-Philippe Chomette in CityJet (ex Solune) a Nacira-designed,
French 60 footer with an elapsed time of 2d 9hrs 41mins 6 secs at an average
speed of 12.27 knots smashed the previously held record by 17 hrs and
46 mins, thereby winning the Cork Dry Gin Perpetual Monohull Trophy. The
existing record was set in 2002 by Gary Keegan Sunday Independent in 75hours,
27 minutes and 33 seconds.
The eight-person crew for this record breaking run included co-skipper César Dohy, Matthieu Vincent as well as the former British Whitbread sailor and BT Global Challenge skipper Chris Tibbs, a renowned on-board navigator and meteorologist who holds the Round Britain records in both monohulls and multihulls. Also in the crew, on mainsail was Patrick Tabarly, brother of renowned French sailor Eric Tabarly. They sailed under the Kinsale Yacht Club Burgee. More at: http://www.sailspeedrecords.com
5.3
Outright Women's KiteSail record falls
The World Saiing Speed Record Council announced the ratification of the
Outright Women's KiteSail record for Charlotte Corsorti, FRA, Windsurfer
with a kite sail at Leucate Franceon on April 20, 2005. The new record
speed is 33.47 knots. The previous record was also held by Charlotte Corsorti
at a speed of 33.24 knots.
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