AsianYachting - October
2007
News and Views
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CONTENTS
1.
EDITORIAL - Which
event is the biggest regatta in Asia these days?
2.
TEAM NEWS - Stop
wrangling over the America's Cup - VOR to
finish in Russia - Singapore or Malaysia stopover?
3.
AUSTRAL
- ASIAN NEWS - Modern
daylight piracy! - Malaysian
and Asian qualifiers for the Monsoon
Cup - SEA
Games selection trials
Up next - China
Coast Regatta (12-14 Oct)
- Inaugural
China Cup International
Regatta (19-21st
Oct)
- Hainan
Race starts 25th Oct.
4. INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Isabelle
Joschke stamps her authority in Mini
Transat - Ice Blocks British Solo Sailor - Search
still on for Steve Fossett...
Up next - Follow the Mumm
30 Worlds (1-7
Oct) - Rolex
Middle Sea Race
(20th Oct)
5.
WORLD SPEED RECORDS
-
Gamble
won, challenge succeeded, dream realised for Sébastien
Roubinet on Babouche
6. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"
-
Storm brings havoc to Régates Royales - Trophée
Panerai - Snap, crackle, pop goes Siemens Matador - Wild Oats
XI mast comes tumbling down
Goto Archived AY News & Views and Race Reports 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 98-99
1.
EDITORIAL
Selamat Hari Raya Adilfitri to all our Muslim sailing subscribers.
An argument has been brewing between race organisers about which event is the biggest regatta in Asia these days. Averaging around 100 yachts each year the Phuket King's Cup is widely publicised as Asia's premier yachting event. Organisers of the Darwin Kupang Rally - Sail Indonesia dispute this, as over 130 boats started this year, 110 last year and with close to a hundred expressions of interest for next year are claiming to be the biggest event in Asian waters. The Phang Nga Bay Regatta has for filled its 50 boat limit each year and are marketing the event as the second biggest in Asia. Personally I can't see the point of comparing numbers, as a well established club like the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club can muster over sixty yachts on any major race day through out the season, would put them streaks ahead of any single event with 100 boats in it.
Recent
communications with Lindsay Lyons, RHKYC Sponsorship and Promotions Manager
honorably summed up the argument with "There's always a lot of hype
about 'The biggest' and 'The best' regatta - I like think that every Regatta
in Asia is different, with its own merits, whether it be the competition
(China
Coast Regatta), the parties (King's
Cup), the scenery (Boracay,
President's Cup, Koh
Samui). Not forgetting some of the 'hidden gems' of local
Hong Kong racing like Round the Island Race with close to 200 yachts competing.
Horses for courses and something for everyone! So what do you think? Quantity
or quality? Have your say by emailing info@asianyachting.com
and next month we will publish the replies.
This
month the 2007-08
AY Grand Prix Championship gets officially underway with
the China
Coast Regatta (12-14 Oct) on windward/leeward & Island courses
in and around Hong Kong. After which a new event joins the calendar
when the inaugural China
Cup International Regatta (19-21st Oct) sails from Hong Kong
to Shenzhen and inshore racing on Daya Bay is designed to promote mainland
China as a yachting destination with ten Beneteau First 40.7 purchased
to compete as a One Design Class within the regatta. Then the 356nm "downhill dash" from Hong
Kong to Hainan
Race starts on the 25th which is one of China's most popular tourist spots and provides
a great jumping-off
point for Hong Kong boats intending to continue onto other seasonal sailing
events in, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. This annual migration usually
makes up the majority of
racing
class and
premier cruising
boats at SE Asian events. So if you want to get away and try out some
new sailing venues goto the AY
Sailing Calendar were there are contacts numbers and direct
links to regatta websites with more information, social program, NOR,
SI's, crew registration and yachts for charter can be arranged at your
convenience.
Carry
on Sailing
Capt Marty Rijkuris
2.
TEAM NEWS
2.1
Stop wrangling over the America's Cup
BMW Oracle has taken Cup holders Alinghi to court over rules they say
are unfairly weighted in the defender's favor, including the right to
disqualify teams or bar them from entering. On Thursday 20th Sept Alinghi
tweaked the rules to address some of those issues but BMW Oracle, bankrolled
by software billionaire Larry Ellison, said that was not enough and demanded
direct negotiations before they would drop the lawsuit against Ernesto
Bertarelli's Swiss syndicate. If defender Alinghi are so hell bent on
racing the challengers then like other match racing events, why don't
they make a winner takes all series out of it. That's right, do away with
the Cup final and have a series of round robins with quarter, semi and
grand final to determine to eventual winner. Do away with the challenger
and defender and make it an all out scrap with the winner taking the cup
home and the next event to be held in the country of their choice. As
history has shown that the defender has always slanted the rules in their
favour, surely this change is the only way to make a fair and equitable
result at the end of the day. But most of all get rid of the lengthy and
tedious court room battles because these billionaires are bringing the
sport we love so much into disrepute just to fire up their own massive
ego's.
2.2 VOR to finish in Russia - Singapore or Malaysia stopover?
The historic Russian port city of St Petersburg has been officially announced
as the race finish for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. This will be the
first time in the race’s 34-year history that the fleet will visit
a Russian port and follows the confirmation in late May that Russia will
have its own entry in the race backed by St Petersburg businessman Oleg
Zherebtsov. The selection of St Petersburg marks another milestone in
the 2008-09 iteration of the race after the decision to take the event
through the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India and China. The race route
is nearing completion with the offshore start set for Alicante, Spain,
on 11 October, 2008. So we know the start and finish plus most the ports
in between and my bet is on Singapore to come up with the dosh to host
the event in front of the Malaysians. Another question is whether these
big sailing boats will be allowed to race down the Malacca Straits all
the way to Singapore through one of the busiest shipping separation zones
in the world.
2.3
RMSIR the most challenging tactical regatta in Asia...
The
annual island hoping Raja
Muda Selangor Int Regatta not only caters
for racing
class yachts but also is very popular amongst the cruisers and classics.
Held along the west coast of peninsula Malaya starting from the Royal
Selangor Yacht Club in Port Klang and finishing
up in the legendary and Duty-Free Islands of Langkawi. Navigating
your way on 3 coastal overnight passage races combined with a tricky 4
race inshore program makes it technically very
demanding
and draws on all the crews sailing skills and ability to be successful.
Surviving four major social functions at some of Malaysia's finest resorts
and enjoying a bit of friendly hospitality on the way has resulted in
many competitors coming back year after year. Check
out the boats for charter, NOR, SI's at: http://www.rmsir.com
or Email
info@rmsir.com
3. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS
3.1
Modern daylight piracy!
What
is an act of Piracy? Is it the forceful attack that qualifies it as piracy
or is it a deliberate act of deceit or theft that qualifies it and can
it be classified as piracy act by a yacht owner if he doesn't pay the
skippers delivery fees? A friend recently delivered a boat from Pt Moresby
to Darwin with a very inexperienced owner onboard. They had agreed on
a price plus a return airfare to Papua New Guinea when the delivery was
completed. When they arrived in Darwin the boat was removed from the water
for repairs. The skipper purchased a air ticket to NG and gave a copy
of the invoice to the owner. Who said he had no money at that time (Where
have I heard that before) and would go to the bank and get his wife in
the UK to send him the money. He also asked the skipper to lend him an
additional amount of $500 to get a new cutlass bearing for his yacht and
he would reimburse him when his money came through. Returning to NG with
the whim and a promise of payment to be deposited in his Aussie bank account
may of been his big mistake. So his big question to our readers - Is once
the owner left Australia and headed to Kupang with the Sail Indonesia
fleet has he committed an act of piracy or is it a criminal offence to
abscond without payment or just deceitful conduct on his behalf?
3.2
Miri
Magic 8
up for regatta charter
Our signature Miri
Magic 8
- Runnalls 8 racing yacht is available for bare boat charter
on the Raja Muda, King's Cup, Royal Langkawi
and Singapore Straits Regatta's.
Give
your team a big chance of taking home the IRC or sportsboat trophy at
these events by chartering this proven racing boat. This multi purpose
yacht can be quickly configured to offshore racing as well as day racing
events by simply removing the guardrails and slotting on the granny rails
into the stanchion bases. Comes with full Cat 3 safety equipment, comprehensive
insurance, tacktic instruments and
new racing sails. Delivery between events
will have to be included into charter fees. Charter price is negotiable
and interested persons are asked to contact the AY
Headquarters for more details
on +6 06 6477701 or Email:
info@asianyachting.com All
the details on this locally produced little beauty can be found at: http://asianyachting.com/AYmasters/Promotion/Runnels8.htm
3.3
Malaysian Keelboat Team selection for SEA Games
Approaching the startline a little early had a few boats running down
the line, only to be called up by the boats underneath them just as the
horn sounded. PRO John Ferguson signaled premature starters. Who were
they? Afendi Abdullah's Kedah Team once again broke off to restart. The
flag remained up until Ng Heng Li's Gapurna 1 team restarted which dashed
their chances of representing Malaysia. Rizal Mahadi's Gapurna 2 team,
only just kept their nose clean at the pin end, picked up a good shift
and stayed in the pressure to lead around the course and score a resounding
victory. AY
Race Reports http://asianyachting.com/news/SEAGames07Qualify.htm
3.4
Liferaft Recall with immediate effect
BFA marine, part of Zodiac International, has identified some overpressure
valve failures made due to miss assembly operations on life rafts in use,
which may lead to a complete deflation of the compartment when broken.
The liferaft models involved are: Atlantic, Pacific, Baltic, and XM/BFA
Offshore. If both overpressure valves of the two independent compartments
fail, the life-raft will not be functional anymore and be 'useless', the
company said. BFA marine has urged owners to bring back, without delay,
their life- raft to the nearest BFA approved service station, in order
to check and replace the overpressure valves free of charge.
3.5
Quantum Sails just keep
getting better!
Quantum Sail Design Group designs, engineers and manufactures
sails for racers and cruisers who demand the highest levels of quality
and performance. Have you ever noticed that more and more photos of winning
boats at top events are wearing the familiar green
Q on their sails. That is because winning sailors now
prefer top quality products supported by a high level of personalized
customer service, recognized expertise, professionalism and a company
with the passion for developing the sport of sailing. Ray Roberts on Quantum
Racing is a shining example as they have won nearly everything in
their path both in Australia and Asian waters over the last few years.
The fastest sails are now available at 55 lofts throughout the world.
So now, more than ever, you can count on Fusion M delivering great boat-speed
and reliability. Goto: http://asianyachting.com/news/QuantumSails.htm
3.6
Clipper fleet Asian bound
The Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race began on Sunday 16 Sept 2007
in Liverpool. First over the line was Durban 2010 and Beyond, closely
followed by Liverpool 08 and Hull & Humber. Tens of thousands of people
lined the banks of the Mersey to cheer on the ten yachts as they set out
on the first leg of their ten month, 35,000-mile race across the world's
oceans. The overall race is divided into seven legs and a total of 15
individual races. Points are accumulated according to each race position
and the yacht with the highest total at the finish wins the race trophy.
The Clipper Race is the only global yacht race for non-professional yachtsmen
and women, in fact they have to pay to become crew members. Approximately
40 percent of those who take part have never sailed before embarking on
their pre-race training. Crews come from all walks of life and age is
no barrier – anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to apply to compete
on the whole circumnavigation or one or more individual legs. Hull &
Humber where first into La Rochelle and Qingdao was first away at the
restart on the l4,200-mile race to Salvador in Brazil presently underway.
Follow all the action by logging onto www.clipperroundtheworld.com
3.7
Like to cruise around the world in company?
Following the successful return of their 2005 Rally in June Blue Water
Rallies announce the departure of the 2007-09 Round the World Cruising
Rally from Marina Bay, Gibraltar on 28 October. This is the seventh Blue
Water Rally to start at Gibraltar and is organised in partnership with
Yachting Monthly Magazine. This year they have combined with their annual
Rally Antigua, which crosses from Gibraltar to the Caribbean. More yachts
are expected to join the 34-yacht fleet along the way in Australia and
Asia. The Blue Water Rally will visit Singapore 8-14 November 2008, cruise
Malaysia and be in Phuket in December 2008 for Christmas and New Year
before heading off into the Indian Ocean. They expect to be back in the
Mediterranean by April 2009. So if you have a boat and like to cruise
in company goto: http://www.yachtrallies.co.uk
3.8
Koh Samui Regatta 08 looking for new organisers
IMAGE asia has decided not to pursue its option to continue organising
Koh Samui Regatta
into 2008 and beyond. The company took on management of the 2007 event
on a one-year contract with options for the future but, as part of a strategic
realignment of its business activities, has chosen not to exercise those
options. MD, Grenville Fordham stressed that his company is not pulling
out of the marine scene completely. “We’re continuing to organise
Phuket Raceweek – we now have confirmed the dates as 23-27 July
2008". Koh Samui Regatta rights holders, Marc Ribail and Peter Plant
are upbeat. “Discussions are already underway with a number of companies
and organisations that have expressed a keen interest in running the event.”
they said, adding that many previous sponsors and partners have already
indicated a desire to continue supporting the event into 2008 and beyond.
3.9 Malaysian & Asian qualifiers for
the Monsoon Cup 07
Tiffany Khoo and her Team UK Halsey Gapurna achieved a clean sheet at
this years Malaysian Match Racing Championships. They went into the first
to 3 wins final against the Royal Malaysian Navy and led from the front
in all 3 races to win the championship 3-0. Adam Minoprio's BlackMatch
did the same in the Asian Match Racing Championship. Taking on Neil Semple
from Thailand in a best of five final. Having maintained a perfect scorecard
for the entire week, Minoprio carried on doing so and managed to take
the final 3-0. Both winning teams are now qualified for the Monsoon Cup
in Nov/Dec which is the final round of the 2007 World Match Racing Tour.
AY
Race Reports http://asianyachting.com/news/MonsoonCupQualify07.htm
3.10
WMRT 06-07 coming to a conclusion
With only three events remaining in the World Match Racing Tour season
championship, Team Pindar's Ian Williams (GBR) retains a healthy 32-point
margin on the leaderboard, but the race has tightened considerably for
2nd through 4th places, as only five points now separate Mathieu Richard
(FRA) Saba Sailing Team, Paolo Cian (ITA) Shosholoza, and Sebastien Col
(FRA) Areva Challenge. In October, the tour goes to Hamilton, Bermuda,
than to Vitoria, Brazil in November before concluding at the Monsoon Cup
in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia (28 November-2 December). -- http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com
3.11
British sailing team in spying row with China
Britain is embroiled in a bizarre spying row with China after the confiscation
of weather monitoring equipment used by the British Olympic sailing team.
The gear was taken when Chinese police officers raided the team's flat,
which is near a Chinese Navy submarine training base in the northern city
of Qingdao. They removed two 5ft tall weather stations, worth £8,000,
from the apartment and sent them for analysis. The team is in China preparing
for next year's Olympics and had been using the equipment to download
data on temperatures and wave and wind directions. Stephen Park, the Royal
Yachting Assoc Olympic manager, said "We have been told by friends
and sources in China that the authorities thought our equipment could
be used for spying. In fact, it is purely so we know the precise weather
conditions we will encounter. He added: "We have informed Foreign
Office officials that we like the equipment back." The raid took
place in March last year and the equipment has not yet been returned.
Zhao Shangsen, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in London, said: "I
am not in a position to comment on the details of the incident."
3.12
Discover SE Asia's unique cruising destinations...
Sunsail Asia
have geared up for a bumper season this year from their Phuket base in
Thailand and Langkawi, Malaysia. New
Sunsail 43's and Sunsail 39's are already available and
you can choose from over
30 yachts ranging from 33' - 50' monohulls
and 39' - 41'
Catamarans. All yachts are available bareboat or as crewed yachts
on a daily, weekly or long term basis. For the less experienced, they
also operate a RYA
Sailing School offering 5 day sailing courses
from their Phuket base or join a MileCatcher
voyage to gain some valuable sea miles. For many years now they have led
the way in opening up new SE Asian destinations and are proud to give
you a chance to discover some of the most intriguing and unspoiled countries
in the Asian region. Check them out by Calling +66 76 239057 Fax:
+66 76 238940 Email: sales@sunsailasia.com
or visit http://www.sunsailasia.com
4.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
4.1
Isabelle Joschke stamps her authority in Mini Tranast
(September 24th) After establishing an early lead on the 89 boats competing
in the Mini 6.50 class, French female sailor Isabelle Joschke has won
the first leg of the Transat 6,50 Charente Maritime Bahia (Mini Tranast)
that started on Tues 18th Sept. Sailing her brand-new Finot-designed prototype
Degrémont Synergie, Joschke sailed a tactically perfect race from
La Rochelle to Funchal, Madeira managing to hold off her closest rival
Sam Manuard on Sitting Bull - another brand-new boat this year - and crossed
the line at 0211 Monday morning. And sailed 1,100 miles in 5 days, 15
hrs, 33 mins 30 secs. Joschke has been racing Open 6,50s for four seasons
and competed in the 2005 event finishing a creditable 15th overall. Now,
two years on she's leading the event's biggest ever fleet and could become
the first women to ever win the event. The 4,200-mile race is held in
two legs, with the first 1,100-mile leg to Madera (Portugal), followed
by a restart on October 6th for the 3,100-mile leg to Salvador de Bahia,
Brazil. -- Event website: http://www.transat650.org/en
4.2
Mumm 30 Worlds this month
Entries for the Moby M30 World Championship 2007 are approaching record
levels with 44 boats enrolled to date. The event, organized by the Yacht
Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), will take place in Porto Cervo from 1st to
7th October with the participants--currently from 15 nations--doing battle
in windward-leeward races on the renowned regatta course off the north-eastern
coast of Sardinia. This is the 11th edition of the M30 World Championships
and the third time the event has been held in Italy. This is the 11th
edition of the M30 World Championships and the third time the event has
been held in Italy. For further information, Notice of Race and entry
list, please visit www.mumm30.org
The Live Site www.mobym30worlds.com
will be active from 1st October onwards for all details of the event.
4.3 Warning to all offshore racers.
DK Yachts are warning all offshore racers to sit up and
take notice when one of their World Champion Mumm 30, Farr 40 or Mills
DK46 lines up on the starting grid. They just keep turning up and sailing
away with all the major prizes. Tom Ebert's DK 46 Tutima of Warnemuende/Germany
is at it again by winning the first IRC-prize officially awarded on the
Baltic. The prize was given by the German Offshore Owners Association
www.GER-OO.org Ten
yachts competed in a parallel IRC scoring in the Blue and Blue-Yellow
Ribbon Race and the Transit-Logistic-Cup, sailed during the 97. Flensburger
Foerdewoche on Flensburg waters in Germany. Serious
Yachts for Serious Sailors
can be found at http://www.dkyachts.com
4.4
Ice Blocks British Solo Sailor
British yachtsman Adrian Flanagan while attempting the first solo Arctic
sea passage across northern Russia aboard the 11m steel yacht Barrabas
was examining his options after heavier than expected ice has blocked
his route. Discussions with Russian authorities involve the possibility
of using a icebreaker to lift his boat out of the water and carry it round
the most icebound stretch of Russia's Northern Sea Route. The 46-year-old
entered the eastern end of the treacherous sea route that stretches from
Asia to Europe across northern Russia in late July. But after making his
way through the Chukchi, East Siberian and Laptev Seas, Flanagan has been
forced to a halt by heavy ice at the most difficult point in the route,
the Vilkitsky Strait. He anchored by an island just east of the Vilkitsky
Strait, hoping for the ice to clear but working on the backup plan, said
Louise Flanagan, his manager and ex-wife said from Britain. Faced with
the dilemma of seeking alternatives the favoured option was to sail to
Tiksi and have boat transported onboard the Kapitan Danilkin through the
ice to Murmansk then continue under sail power back to England to complete
the circumnavigation loop. The voyage, part of a circumnavigation of the
globe that he is undertaking, comes amid a dash by world powers to claim
economic rights in the Arctic. More at: http://www.alphaglobalex.com/
4.5
The Renaissance continues...
The Rolex Middle Sea Race 2007 starts from Marsamxett Harbour, Malta,
on Saturday 20th October 2007. The Malta Rolex Cup, a two-race inshore
series on the 16th and 17th October, will precede the main race. With
entries currently standing at 50 from 13 nations for this year's Rolex
Middle Sea Race, the Royal Malta Yacht Club is looking forward to writing
another chapter in the history of this classic offshore race, which in
recent years has seen levels of interest rise way beyond those of the
previous glory era of the early 1970s. Robert McNeill's Zephyrus IV established
the current Course Record of 64 hrs 49 mins 57 secs in 2000. Fastest monohull
boat and longest in the fleet is Rambler (USA), the oldest boats - both
built in 1973- are CS & RB (ITA) (a participant in the first Whitbread
Race) and Nana (ITA), whilst the smallest boat is the X-332 Aria di Burrasca
(ITA). Fastest boat overall may well prove to be the ORMA 60, Skywalker
(UK) - depending on conditions. It must be time for a windy race this
year? Follow the race at: http://www.rolexmiddlesearace.com/index.cfm
4.6
Search still underway for Steve Fossett...
(September 4, 2007) World aviation record-holder and yachtsman Steve Fossett
is missing and a search has been under way in western Nevada since then
but nothing has been found. Fossett took off in a single-engine plane
from a private air strip known as Flying M Ranch, near Smith Valley, 30
miles south of Yerington, Nevada, on Monday 3rd Sept, with enough fuel
for four to five hours of flight. The 63-year-old who was the first person
to solo around the world in a balloon, took off in good weather and had
planned to return at noon. The search for Fossett began about six hours
later. Ryan said authorities are searching hundreds of miles of rugged
terrain in western Nevada. In 2004, Fossett and his international crew
of 12 aboard the 125' maxi-catamaran Cheyenne, had demolished the two
year old Round The World Sailing record - by almost 6 days (improvement
5d 23h 4m 39s). Their time had toppled the May 2002 mark of Bruno Peyron
and Orange I and fulfilled Fossett's decade old ambition to achieve 'the
most important record in sailing'.
3.8
Raimon
Land
has your retirement home in Thailand
Few
real estate companies in Asia enjoy the success of public-listed Bangkok-based
luxury property developer Raimon
Land. The company
has positioned itself as the developer of choice for buyers and investors
who seek the best in lifestyle developments that posses a
excellent track record of delivering quality residential projects.
From Bangkok to
Pattaya and Phuket the company has projects in all the
most sought-after areas
which proudly achieve high yield holiday rentals through their professional
management team. One aspect
that distinguishes Raimon Land
from its competitors is the company’s clear commitment to lifestyle
events and have made
a strong commitment to the yachting scene in Thailand by sponsoring
the Phang
Nga Bay Regatta, Top
of the Gulf Regatta, Evason
Phuket
Race Week the prestigious Phuket
King's
Cup Regatta and
the Koh
Samui Regatta More at: www.raimonland.com
or goto AY
Real-Estate page...
5.
WORLD SPEED RECORDS
5.1
Gamble won, challenge succeeded, dream realised...
That is Sébastien Roubinet's comment on what must stand as one
of the most impressive and historic sailing achievements this year. On
Sunday 9th Sept he and two crew succeeded in crossing the North West,
arriving on the west coast of Greenland on Sunday after three months and
21 days on board the tiny 22ft (7m) Kevlar-reinforced catamaran Babouche.
One of the smallest yachts ever to achieve this feat, Babouche is highly
unusual. She is part sailing boat, part ice yacht, with metal runners
on her hulls so that she can 'skate' over ice if her way is blocked. The
design was tested last year in the Alps and has confounded a good many
skeptics. What makes the achievement even more impressive is that Babouche
has no engine so the entire 4,500-mile trip was made under sail. "A
lot of fatigue but an incredible happiness, but also a lot of emotion
for the whole team," Roubinet reports. Great photos amongst the ice
on the expedition site: http://www.babouche-expe.eu
6. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"
6.1
Storm brings havoc to Régates Royales - Trophée Panerai
Soon after racing started for the Dragons, Classic, Tradition and 12 Metre
Classes, an intense squall came through, bringing heavy rain showers,
hail, thunder and lightning. The tempest attacked the fleet with a fury.
Visibility was reduced to metres at times, and the gusting conditions
caused several boats to broach, colliding one into the other. France was
dismasted, and Nagaïna suffered significant damage to its hull. The
Dragon fleet also suffered, as sadly, two boats sank in the storm, after
taking on immense amounts of water. One appeared to be pinned on its side
in gusts that exceeded 30 knots, filling it with water. The other was
sailing downwind when it broached on its side with the spinnaker flailing
from the top of the mast. The boat never recovered. In both cases, the
crew were quickly plucked from the water, shaken up, but uninjured. There
were reports of lightning striking near several boats, and indeed, crew
on board some boats told of instances of being 'shocked'. Initially, it
appears the more than one thousand sailors taking part in the regatta
have escaped serious injury, although a handful were taken to the hospital
for observation and minor treatment. Dennis Conner's beautiful Cotton
Blossom II was among those reporting to have had a close call with lightning.
In the end, Cotton Blossom II was among the first boats to return to port,
the grizzled veteran Conner displaying the sense and seamanship that comes
from experience in getting his boat and crew ashore early.
6.2
Snap, crackle, pop goes Siemens Matador
12Sept07: Guillermo Parada, Skipper on Siemens, on the huge disappointment
of losing the mast today, and terminating their Medcup campaign: In the
third race we were up with the point winners when suddenly the mast came
down for absolutely no apparent reason. We were going up the first beat
on port tack, and it was about ten minutes after the start. The boat was
going really well. We suddenly heard a huge crack and when we looked up
the mast was falling. We still don’t know what exactly happened,
nor are we in a situation to make any hypothesis. We are going to organize
everything and wait to see what the technicians have to say in analysis
to see what went wrong. We were sailing the first beat with the sails
fully powered up. We were in a flat part of the water and there weren’t
any particularly large waves or anything that could have caused it. These
things happen- we were racing and were going really fast- the boat was
literally flying. We will try and get a new mast and keep racing, because
we are not going to let things end here. It was simply an unfortunate
episode and we have to keep our spirits up.
6.3
Wild and wet ride as mast comes tumbling down
Australian supermaxi Wild Oats XI, the record holder for the Sydney to
Hobart race, was dismasted in dramatic fashion during Race Three of the
Rolex Cup Maxi Yacht World Championship off Porto Cervo. Incredibly, only
one crew member, Sydneysider Peter Shipway, was slightly injured when
the 42-metre high carbon fibre mast exploded into three pieces and crashed
over the side. Shipway was taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs.
Four other crewmen were hurled into the water during the incident. They
either managed to swim back to the yacht and were dragged aboard or were
picked up by support boats. The yacht’s 79-year-old owner, Bob Oatley,
was aboard but escaped injury. He and the yacht’s helmsman, Mark
Richards, took charge of events, first checking on injuries and then organising
crew to jettison the shattered rig and sails so that the hull was not
punctured in the choppy seas. The rig along with the new mainsail and
headsail were dumped overboard within 15 minutes and the yacht then returned
to Porto Cervo under its own power. It appears that the mast broke as
a consequence of the failure of rigging supporting it. Crew reported hearing
one relatively small ‘bang’ then what was literally an explosion
as the hollow carbon fibre spar broke into pieces and crashed down around
them. With the balancing pressure of the rig then gone and the massive
12-tonne canting keel at its maximum tilt to windward Wild Oats XI rolled
to windward so violently that the four crewmen were thrown over the side
and Shipway was injured. It is expected that an effort will be made to
salvage the shattered sections of the mast and the sails in the hope that
more light can be shed on the cause of the problem.
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