AsianYachting October 2005
News and Views

A visit to Ocean Marina just south of Pattaya, does not go by without meeting up with Bill Gasson and Phil from Gulf Charters, who organise the Ocean Marina sailing Group's yacht racing on the 2nd weekend of each month. There using the Top of the Gulf Regatta website to publicise events and both would like to see more International Match Racing Teams, chartering Platu 25's for the Coronation Cup next year (May 4th to 7th 2006) More info at info@topofthegulfregatta.com and Inaugural 2005 AY Regatta Reports at: http://asianyachting.com/news/TOTGR05.htm Sailors stranded in Bangkok, longing for a sailing fix, are reminded of Jon Vause's Barbican Pub and Restaurant "raft-up" on Tuesday evening before the weekends racing to discuss crewing/skipper roles over a cold beer. E-mail vausejon@pacific.net.ph

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CONTENTS

1. Editorial - Who will be in the racing class this Season?
2. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - Maximus & Magic Carpet Squared Dismasted
3. Austral - Asian News - E-mail Elaine Chua and Feng some encouragement
4. International News - 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Race and Clipper RTWR news
5. World Speed Records - New singlehanded monohull Around Ireland record

Browse past News & Views - Web Editions click on: Nov Dec Jan Feb March April May June July Mid-July Aug Sept Oct and the Asian Post Tsunami reports...

1. EDITORIAL

You can now send congratulations to Elaine Chua elaine@elainechua.com or offer some encouragement for reaching Lanzarote, 21st in her class on the Frank's International sponsored Feng completely knackered, tired, bruised with the boat suffering some damage after a collision at the start. The battery was not holding charge, stripped a spin and lost about 50 miles one day without it. She now has a few days left to sort these teething problems out and then be on the way for the second leg of 3000 miles to Salvador in Brazil which starts on 8 October. You can follow her progress by map at http://www.transat650.org/ppositions.cfm Info on the the race in French at: http://www.transat650.org or News in English at http://www.yachtinguniverse.com/ Shu Fen has posted a good collection of pics of all the competitors at the start in France at: www.shufen.net Elaine's big promise before leaving to all that have helped her - Will clip on at all times, sail safe and sail fast. This one is for you!

It's that time of the year to speculate on which skipper and boats will be fronting up in the Racing Classes this season. Starting with the China Coast Regatta (21st - 23rd October) and the Offshore Category 1 Biennial Hainan Island Race to China (26th, 27th October starts) - Admiral Frank Pong has allegedly sold the Reichel-Pugh 75 Jelik and replaced her with the latest maxZ86 Pyewacket with a canting keel. He is also looking at giving the all carbon 115ft Super Maxi Maiden Hong Kong a run on the Hainan Race and if she holds together, possibly bring her home to Malaysia for the www.rmir.com

Neil Pryde had DK Yachts perform a makeover on the recently purchased Farr 52 OD (Formerly Hollywood Boulevard) renamed Hi Fidelity and no doubt be looking at defending the AYGP Champions Title by resuming the on water battle with Sam Chan's Ffree Fire, Fred Kinmonth/Nick Burns well campaigned Mandrake, Robert Knight's DK 46 Drumstick and whichever Jelik Frank decides to sail while in Hong Kong.

Singapore's Bill Bremner is aiming to mix it with the big boys this season after replacing the Sydney 36 Foxy Lady with a Sydney 40.

Long time Aussie campaigner Ray Roberts is shipping his new DK 46 Hollywood Boulevard (white with gold stars this time) to Pt Klang for the RMIR. Also expected to join the racing class when racing resumes in the Malacca Straits will be Troy Yaw's custom Sydney 46 Ulumulu Racing Team from Miri and the Royal Malaysian Navy are launching one of their first Farr 52's being built at DK Yachts and put together a crew to compete. The RMIR 2005 AY - PR and Race Report page surrounded by Links back to past winners and yearly summaries can be found at:: http://asianyachting.com/news/RMIR05.htm

By the time we get to the King's Cup things should be hoting up in the Sportsboat Class between the locally built Buzz 8, Phuket Sports 8 and DK's Force 24 expected to make its debut in Asia. We will also be watching out for a clash of the titans in the Multihull Class between the twin masted Radical Bay 8000 built by Samui Yachting and Olaf Riese's brand new 28ft Mark Pescott designed Voodoo Child which first appeared at Phuket Race Week in July.

So who dare says the stalwarts of the racing class have not been busily conniving during the off season. One racing boat that can quickly be bought up to speed is the Farr 40 OD we have presently listed on the AY Yachts for Sale pages. This yacht comes complete with Cat 1 safety equipment, so she can compete on the long distance races like the HK - China Sea, Hainan and Vietnam events. Considering the US175k asking price is well below second hand US and European boats (220-250k) she would suit any foreign or local teams wanting entry into the top racing class at the right price. View the extensive inventory at: http://asianyachting.com/boats/Farr40OD.htm Advice on running a full blown racing campaign during the AYGP Season can also be obtained from: info@asianyachting.com
See ya out on the water sometime
Capt Marty Rijkuris

2. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"

Maximus and Magic Carpet Squared dismasted
Porto Cervo, Italy -- Heavy showers, thunder and lightning rolled in 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the second race of the Rolex Maxi Yacht Cup series. Most boats in the fleet experienced major damage. But it was Maximus, co-owned by the two New Zealand businessmen Charles St Clair Brown and Bill Buckley who recently took line honours in the 2005 Rolex Fastnet Race, who took the worst toll, losing the rig as they gybed a few hundred metres before the finish line. Nobody on board was injured. At the time Maximus was the leading boat of the fleet and looked set to add another Line Honours to her growing record. Race Committee support boats rendered assistance and the stricken maxi was safely moored back at the marina, while the rig - including sails were later recovered, although in two pieces from 40 metres of water. She is now being shipped home and made ready for the Sydney-Hobart race.

As the unstable weather continued - with rain, hailstone and breeze ranging from zero to 26 knots - Great Britain's Magic Carpet Squared, owned by Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, CEO of L'Oreal, with British America's Cup sailor Adrian Stead calling the tactics The mast on Magic Carpet Squared snapped at its top end and left the crew struggling with the problem of a broken rig and ripped mainsail as she limped back to Porto Cervo. -- www.yccs.it

3. Austral - Asian News

3. 1 ISAF Rules Clinic helps local sailors win races
While I've been busy using the break between regatta's to swat up on the Racing Rules and attending the recent IJ Clinic and Seminar in Thailand (See Class of 2005 photos) and AY Report on how knowing your rights and obligations during a race can develop confidence on the water and help serious sailors win races. Also how the Rules Clinic can be conducted by National Associations to bring local sailors intending to compete on the International scene, quickly up to speed with the rules.at: http://asianyachting.com/news/ISAF-IJseminar05.htm

3.2 ISAF Conference & Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards
Singapore Sailing is hosting the ISAF Annual Conference 3-13 Nov (See Meetings & Social Schedule) and the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards taking place on Tues 8 Nov at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel in Singapore to honour the outstanding achievements of those male and female sailors short listed by the ISAF. Tickets must be booked using the Official Ticket Order Form at: www.sailing.org/worldsailor/2005ticketorderform.doc

3.3 AY joins up with ISSA
The International Sailing Schools Association (ISSA) are also holding a one-day Teaching Sailing Worldwide Conference on Nov 5th in Singapore. (See http://www.sailingschools.org/) As we are working on improving relations with these International mainstream yachting organisations and after spending a year upgrading our own home-grown Learn to SAIL with Asian Yachtmasters training scheme we have made the big move and joined the ISSA membership. For those that expressed interest in running a mutually beneficial training school in their region, the AY Training Academy Guidelines are now published at: http://asianyachting.com/AYmasters/Promotion/AYAcademy.htm A unique marketing opportunity is envisaged for next year, as we seriously consider that training in safe pleasure craft usage will lay the foundations necessary to develop a strong Yachting Tourism Industry in the future.

3.4 Sunsail Asia expanding the fleet into Vietnam
Sunsail Asia are very excited to announce the launch of Vietnam as a new yacht charter sailing destination for 2006. Leading the way in opening new Asian destinations, Sunsail brings you interesting sailing along a stunning 96km stretch of awesome coastline. From the top beach resort of Nha Trang, discover one of the most intriguing and unspoilt countries in Asia… and do it soon! Also after a very successful 2005 season they are expanding both Flotilla and bareboat charter yacht fleet in Koh Samui during Mid May to Mid September 2006. Check out the weekly RYA Courses and charters for the Phuket King's Cup in December by Calling +66 76 239057 Fax: +66 76 238940 Email: sales@sunsailasia.com or visit http://www.sunsailasia.com

3.5 Swedish Match pulls out of the Tour
The 50th Swedish Match Tour event - the Monsoon Cup in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia (Nov. 29-Dec. 4) - will be the final event for Swedish Match as title sponsor of the Tour. After the Monsoon Cup the seventh Tour season continues until next March with the Brazil Match Cup in Angra dos Reis, Brazil (Mar. 14-19, 2006). Swedish Match, a niche tobacco group, after seven years as partner in the professional match-racing tour have decided to end its association due to a new Swedish law that prohibits tobacco companies from sponsoring sports events. "It's extremely unfortunate that we are losing such a great partner and supporter of the sport," said Tour Director Scott MacLeod. "We are currently seeking a new title sponsor for the Tour, but the series will continue either way next year. We have developed a very strong series of events and television package that will help carry the Tour forward." More at http://www.SwedishMatchTour.com or the Monsoon Cup at http://asianyachting.com/news/SMT-MonsoonCup05.htm

3.6 Raimon Land PLC, are not only the main sponsors at the Top of the Gulf Regatta, Evason Phuket Race Week 2005 and Thailand's prestigious Phuket King's Cup Regatta but this Bangkok-based property company has an excellent track record of delivering quality residential projects in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket which achieve high yield holiday rentals through their professional asset management team. They are also known for hosting the more lively and entertaining parties at their sponsored events. More at: www.raimonland.com

3.7 All NEW Look for 05-06: First time Sailors intending to sail in the Asian Region, can now find links to local yacht clubs, country associations and sailing organisations that annually run racing or training programs at the top of the AY Calendar. You will notice that during this seasons update we have included links to past years AY Race Reports and the 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 AYGP Championship Results, so as our International browsers can read them if interested.

3.8 Dare 2 be Different - Charter a winner!
Following on from a successful first event during August at the Billabong in Bo Phut Bay, the Koh Samui Regatta are now running weekend racing events each month at Koh Samui from the Tradewinds Cottages on Chaweng Beach. The Radical Bay 8000 - a production 8m tandem mast, bi-plane rigged 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 For more info on how to join in the fun as a participant, crew member, spectator, on-the-water helper or partygoer, visit www.samuiregatta.com

3.9 IMAGE Asia - organisers of the Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX) have announced that 85% of the air-conditioned space at this year's show has sold, more than half the water berths booked and a good chunk of hardstand space reserved. Despite Pkuket's popularity as a major tourism destination they have just launched the strongest Industry media campaign yet for the show’s third year. Holding boatshows in developing regions were pleasure yachting pursuits are relatively new, has shown that those who do come are like minded souls and are seriously interested in growing the leisure industry in neighboring countries. This has led to a number of International Marine and Yachting Tourism players showing their wares and invited to work together with local distribution agents and eventually even manufacturing their products in SE Asia. For more information, visit www.phuketboatshow.com or email boatshow@image-asia.com

3.10 Siam MARINE magazine reinvents itself as SEA Yachting
After being on the scene for just one year as Thailand’s only marine magazine, Siam MARINE has announced it is expanding into Malaysia and Singapore, while changing its name to SEA Yachting – short for Southeast Asia Yachting. The marine industries of the three countries are closely intertwined in many ways and the growing network of regattas also unites yachting in these countries. Changes to SEA Yachting will formalize this close relationship and distribution will be strengthened, says publisher Artasia Press MD John Everingham. Tel: 66 2 861 3360

3.11 Coutts joins Quantum Sails
Russell Coutts has officially joined the Quantum Sail Design Group to help promote and develop their Fusion M products. Coutts's involvement grew out of his participation with the Quantum Racing Team and the TP 52 Quantum/Lexus entry in this year's Breitling MedCup circuit. This provided Russell with an opportunity to see how Quantum sails perform under a range of conditions and "they have measured up or exceeded my demanding standards and made an impressive statement in the TP 52 class". By taking the knowledge gained from these events and applying it directly to the sails they make, now, more than ever, sailors in Asia can count on Fusion M providing you with great boat-speed and reliability during the season. Goto: http://asianyachting.com/news/QuantumSails.htm

3.12 LIMA on again - 6th to 11th Dec
Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) '05 returns. LIMA '05 promises something far better than the previous years'. Please visit LIMA website at http://www.lima.com.my Only information on the Maritime exhibition is available at http://www.limamaritime.com.my which is being organised by RMN. This year, LIMA will be held from the 6th to 11th Dec 2005.

3.13 China Team gathering technology for future challenges
China Team learned one thing from their efforts in the Louis Vuitton pre-regatta acts - they have a long way to go if they are to mount any kind of challenge for this America's Cup. The 11th-hour challenger, whose syndicate is headed by Beijing businessman Wang Chaoyong, finished last overall after an intense two weeks of racing in Malmo and Trapani involving 12 cup competitors from nine countries.

The China Team had not sailed together since their debut performance at the earlier regatta in Valencia in June and it showed. "Our results were not so good and it was tough work," said tactician Philippe Mouniac. "We had no time to practice and we have new guys on the boat. We proved in Malmo that we have a long way to go." Wang caught the sailing bug a year ago and this past spring formed a partnership with the French team Le Defi, who had challenged for the America's Cup in Auckland in 2003. There are three Chinese sailors on board. They were selected from the country's Olympic team and have gone from dinghies to the powerful cup boats in a very short time. More at: http://www.china-team.org

3.14 The annual PHUKET INVITATIONAL is an exclusive Superyacht rendezvous, to be held this year at the five-star Trisara Hotel, Phuket, Thailand on the 19th & 20th of Dec. It's for Owners, Guests, Captains and Crew of Superyachts visiting the Phuket area in the run-up to Christmas. Regular features of the rendezvous are a fun sailing event, afternoon cocktail parties onboard the participating Motor Yachts and a gala dinner party, complete with superb buffet and live entertainment, hosted by the five-star Trisara Hotel. More at: http://www.phuket-invitational.com/

4. International News

4.1 Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race
The second leg of the Clipper 05-06 Race began on Wed 28th Sept in Cascais, Portugal. Due to the later than expected arrival of the fleet into Cascais, the start was put back a day to give the teams a little more time to make the necessary repairs and maintenance work before the three week race to Salvador, Brazil. Durban and westernaustralia.com set the early pace, trading first and second places in similar fashion to the first race. The Canadian boat Victoria, who due to a failure of a bolt in their steering cable system, came back to port for a quick repair, then re-started. Follow the race pace at: http://www.clipper-ventures.com

4.2 The King Edward VII Gold Cup Oct 15-23
Virtual Spectator ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship Oct 15-18
All eyes will be on the Investors Guaranty presentation of The King Edward VII Gold Cup and the Virtual Spectator ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship. It's a week and a day of the world's best match race sailing, and it's all happening on Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Russell COUTTS defends his seventh Gold Cup title while Claire LEROY and the top women match racers sail for their world championship. The unique format of The King Edward VII Gold Cup, sailed in Bermuda's famous International One Design sloops, including Virtual Spectator's graphics can be found at: www.kingedwardviigoldcup.com

4.3 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 summer unfolds a growing group of DK46's are knocking on the doors of success and standing high on the podium. Robert Youngjohns (Woodside, Calif.) DK46 Zephyra won IRC B class in the Rolex Big Boat Series on San Francisco Bay and the City of San Francisco Trophy which is one of the two golden spades used to break ground for the Golden Gate Bridge in 1933. Serious Yachts for Serious Sailors can be found at http://www.dkyachts.com

4.4 Details of the 2005/06 Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race will set out in Vigo on November 12, 2005, heading for Cape Town, South Africa. The teams will set their feet on the ground at ten different locations: Galicia (Spain), Cape Town (South Africa), Melbourne (Australia), Wellington (New Zealand), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Baltimore/Annapolis (USA), New York (USA), Portsmouth (UK), Rotterdam (Netherlands), and finally Gothenburg (Sweden), after completing 31,250 nautical miles – 57,875 kilometres – of racing.

A total of seven inshore regattas will be held, one in each of the ports of destination. The first inshore race will be held on November 5, 2005 in Sanxenxo (Galicia). The racing boats will be single-hull VO70, with a length of 21.5 meters (70.5 feet) and 31.5 meter (103.3 foot) masts. The mainsail of a VO70 has 175 sq m; the spinnaker can reach up to 500 sq m, and in bearing courses can deploy a potential of up to 700 sq m of sail surface. Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Sweden, Brazil and the USA are the strongest countries in this year’s edition. They have relaunched their website with new features and next month Virtual Spectator will be available to view the race as a free download at: http://www.volvooceanrace.org

4.5 Coutts the designer...
Russell Coutts has officially launched his website to provide the latest information on his sailing and yachting career which contains frank and up to the moment commentary on all the races he competes in. Coutts the master helmsman has become Coutts the designer. His first yacht, a pure racing 44-footerwas launched recently in a lake in northern Italy.

"I've just finished sailing the first prototype," Coutts said. "It's quite a fun new project and I'm going to put more focus on that in the coming years. I was a bit nervous the first time I took the boat for a sail but fortunately it all performed as we wanted". The site will also soon provide details of the new design and other projects Russell is working on. -- http://www.russellcoutts.net

4.6 Dennis Kozlowski, the former CEO of Tyco International, was sentenced Monday 19th Sept to eight to 25 years in prison for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from the company. He was also ordered to pay $134 million in restitution and fined $70 million. Kozlowski, the son of a policeman, was convicted of having taken $600 million from the company, including $2 million for a toga party for his wife in Sardinia, where Jimmy Buffet was the musical headliner. Kozlowski also owns the J Class yacht Endeavour. -- Lectronic Latitude, full story: http://tinyurl.com/abnjn

5. World Speed Records

5.1 The WSSR Council has received a claim for a new singlehanded monohull Around Ireland record: Captain Michael J Liddy, IRL in a Beneteau 40.7 named www.afaom.com claims 5 Days 12 Hours 11 Minutes and 46 seconds. The current record in this category is held by Peter Keig GBR in 7d 10h 24m 27s. -- Capt. Liddy's website: http://www.spinnakerweb.net/solo.htm

5.2 30m GROUPAMA 3 - To take over from Geronimo
The construction of Groupama 3 got underway at the Multiplast yard some nine months ago. She is the 6th maxi-multihull nearly 100 feet (30m) long to have been built by the yard since the year 2000. Now! mid-September 2005, the yard is halfway through the maxi-multi build process, the assembly of the main hull and forebeam being scheduled for the end of October.

But in order to get to the assembly stage, which will make the true scale of the multihull apparent - her beam of 75 feet (22,60 m) making her the widest trimaran in the world. Groupama 3 is the second maxi-trimaran to be built by Multiplast. Project Manager for Groupama 3, Yann Penfornis : "The first maxi- trimaran we built was the Van Peteghem / Lauriot-Prévost design, Geronimo. More about Groupama 3: http://www.cammas-groupama.com/fr/index.jsp

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Come on girls, lets go shopping!
As the South East Asian region is turning into a world-class marine tourism destination, AY is expanding the Shopping Mall to include a Charter Yacht page for the popular "Fly in, have fun, fly out" sailors with Sabah's recent award winning Touchdown Charters and a Real-Estate page to promote the ever increasing residential Condominium, Resorts and Marina developments the region has on offer. Browse the full AY advertising rates and find other things for-sale including the Fastest Sailing Gloves on the Planet in the AY Shopping Arcade here...

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