When you see Samantha Davies pottering about in a teeny pink bikini on her pink sailing boat, Roxy, and spritzing her cabin with perfume, it’s difficult to imagine her facing waves the size of houses, 80-mile-an-hour winds and nights without a second’s sleep. It’s hard to think of her sailing solo among icebergs, killer whales and vicious storms. Or being stuck, as she once was – with no wind, in thick fog and in the path of an oncoming ship – seconds from death, had she not turned on her engine.

But that’s how life is for Sam, a 33-year-old Cambridge engineering graduate who once wanted to be a ballerina, still loves to dress in girlie clothes onshore and wears three tiny diamond ear studs and a belly ring.

She was one of only two women to compete in the Artemis Transat solo race from Plymouth to Boston last month and – despite hitting a whale and losing the use of her radar on her first night – came fifth: the first Briton and first female to reach home.

And, in November, she will set sail alone in the Vendée Globe – a 26,680-mile nonstop solo race that starts and finishes in France and takes in the perilous Southern Ocean. ‘People have died during it,’ she says. ‘But I’m not going to think about that.’ Instead she aims to beat the record of 87 days, ten hours, 47 minutes and 55 seconds set by a man, Vincent Riou, on the same boat in 2005.

Sam will be one of just a few women ever to have attempted the gruelling race (in which Dame Ellen MacArthur finished second in 2001). Is she the new Dame Ellen? ‘Oh no,’ she says. ‘Ellen thrives on driving herself to the point of misery. I like sailing with a big smile on my face.’

Sam is good at having it both ways. She has added feminine touches to her cabin – pretty drawings and a fake orchid. When the boat’s ashore, she strides about in her bikini bossing around the crew she trains with – all men, one an Olympic finalist.

She hides her make-up bag from them. (‘Otherwise the boys take my mirror to look under the engine, my lipgloss to grease the engine and elastic bands to tidy the ropes!’) And she uses her sex to her advantage: ‘Whenever I don’t want to climb the mast to do a job at the top, I wear a short skirt so that I simply can’t get up there.’

Ah, yes, climbing to the top of the mast. Does her mum worry about her at sea? ‘I fret more about her,’ says Sam. Her parents, Paul, a retired engineer, and Jenny, his former secretary, now have their own replica 1928 schooner. ‘They sold everything – including their house – to buy their dream boat. They have no fixed address and refuse to have a safety beacon or satellite phone.’ Do they ring her onshore? ‘If their mobile works, and they hook on to the nearest wi-fi with an aerial that Dad made with Mum’s wok!’

On one occasion, when Sam hadn’t seen her parents for 18 months, she was competing solo in a race and sent them an e-mail with an estimate of where she was going to be. They sailed nine hours to meet her off
the Azores.

‘I was racing from France to Cuba and couldn’t slow down. We couldn’t get close enough to meet – they were a mile and a half away. But we chatted on VHF radio while I strained through binoculars to see them. Afterwards, I felt so lonely I cried – the first time I’ve ever wept on a boat.’ But she carried on and finished her race. ‘After a while, I didn’t feel lonely as I knew there were other people out there on the same ocean.’

Loneliness, exhaustion, cold: ‘It’s amazing how your body goes way beyond limits that we think we can endure,’ Sam admits. ‘The first three days are disturbing. I’m suddenly alone, feel terribly lost and lose my appetite. I have to sleep practically standing up, the space is so cramped. Sometimes I cat-nap for ten minutes a night. It’s frightening being emotionally and physically drained in the middle of the sea, knowing you couldn’t go home even if you wanted to.’

But somehow the struggle just makes Sam more determined. ‘Even at my lowest moments, if someone could magic me home I wouldn’t let them,’ she insists. When she was 23 she attempted the Jules Verne round-the-world race with an all-girl crew but lost her mast near Cape Horn. ‘That’s why I really want to complete the Vendée Globe,’ she says. And looking now at her confident, determined, focused face, it’s not hard to imagine her doing it.

more here

The maverick march of Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) continues as the first skipper to choose to leave Madeira to starboard, along with Marc Guillemot (Safran) tailing some 50 miles behind him.

The fleet is splitting either side, but Le Cam’s tactic continues to pay, and rather than lose through the archipelago he is returning to the fray with a hot angle and is up to third place.
Loïck Peyron carries his lead into the night with Gitana Eighty 8.2 miles ahead of Jean- Pierre (Paprec-Virbac 2), but Peyron was quickest on the ‘instantaneous’ speed this evening.

“ I am not unhappy with my position.” Le Cam remarked in today’s radio vacs, and he appears to have good reason to be content with his gains. He is coming back with a nice angle, converging back to the rhumb line with speed.
Of the leading trio, Paprec-Virbac has the most westerly position while Vincent Riou (PRB) and Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) mine the offshore flank.

Otherwise it is just steady sailing, which does not mean time to relax. Many skippers commented today how gusty the breeze is, running at max power – setting sail for the lulls – means there is no time for inattention.

For Mike Golding on Ecover 3, a small gain on the leaders, he is doing a good job of holding Brian Thompson on Bahrain Team Pindar, gaining three miles.
The British girls are diverging in their thinking. Sam Davies has gone out west, Dee Caffari is doing her thing and looks to be lining up to go to the east of Madeira.

Oracle encouraged by rules agreement

8:27AM Thursday Nov 13, 2008
Oracle skipper Russell Coutts. Photo / Amos Chapple

MADRID – US challenger Oracle reacted positively to the announcement of an agreement on new rules for the next America’s Cup that may help resolve its legal battle with Swiss champions Alinghi.

“They were some positive things, we are definitely making progress, we are getting to a point where we agree to most of the points,” Oracle’s New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts said.

Alinghi representatives met in Geneva yesterday with 10 of the 12 challengers for the 33rd edition of the yachting’s most prestigious event.

Alinghi announced afterwards that agreement had been reached on new rules on the nominations for the competition’s Arbitration Panel, the Race Committee and for other senior positions.

“A large majority of the teams entered in the 33rd America’s Cup today achieved another milestone in the process of getting the event back on the water,” Alinghi said.

Alinghi won the last edition of the America’s Cup, held in 2007 in the Spanish Mediterranean port of Valencia, beating Team New Zealand in the final.

But a row erupted between the Swiss champions and Oracle after Alinghi announced that the next edition, then scheduled for 2009 in Valencia, would be held under different rules.

Oracle argued that the new format unfairly favoured the Swiss team and took the matter to court in New York.

As things stand, a legal victory for Oracle could force them to take part in a multi-hulled duel against its American foe.

But both teams say they want to avoid the face-off, and Coutts said Oracle backed Alinghi’s proposal last month for a 2010 Cup using a new and faster but cheaper class of yacht than the AC90s which competed in the 2007 competition.

If it wins the court case, Oracle, as the official “challenger of record”, will try to negotiate a deal with Alinghi to this effect, said Coutts.

He said Oracle boss Larry Ellison intended to speak to his counterpart at Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli, about continuing discussions on a possible compromise solution.

New talks between the two billionaires, who met in late September, is considered essential to finding a solution to the row which has paralyzed the oldest continuously held competition in sport.

Coutts also said he had “good discussion” last weekend with Alinghi skipper and fellow New Zealander Brad Butterworth on how the dispute could be resolved.

Get the Cone!

Not too often does a boat like this come for sale…

The Cone of Silence – the legendary all carbon/nomex offshore Reichel/Pugh Super 30 is being offered for sale exclusively to the Sailing Anarchy community.  This is your chance to own an international legend in the making, a boat that is capable of delivering blistering offshore performance over long distances, arriving in the company of far larger racing programs.  Since her launch in Australia in 2003, this boat is a proven class line honor winner in the Transpac and has taken home silver in the Mackinac Race and the Pineapple Cup among many others – often finishing ahead of racing boats double her size.  Her design philosophy is to bring an 18 foot skiff offshore, offering her the ability to get and stay on a plane over long distances regardless of the sea-state, delivering a thrilling ride. Reichel Pugh and SP Systems designed a one-of-a-kind racing machine, and her Australian build team purposely over-built her spars and keel for steadfast performance in the toughest conditions of the southern ocean. Her largest 2,000 sqft. of spinnaker is substantially larger than any 30 foot sport boat including the Melges 32 – and is flown off a 16 foot deck mounted 40 degree articulating pole that allows her to sail or near symmetrical boat angles.  Her intuitive Jet-Drive propulsion system is Category 1 qualified and leaves a smooth bottom with no exposed sail-drive or prop shaft during racing.  Since she has come to the U.S., little expense has been spared in keeping her race ready, including an entirely new bottom, new deck job, NKE instrument system, new kites and headsails which make her extremely fast on and off the wind.  She also has a redone trailer ready to deliver her to any racing venue in the Country.  She is also outfit with the latest XM weather, satellite, weather routing/performance software and SSB equipment to bring you to your destination.  At a 3,100 lb splash weight (2/3rds of which is in the lifting keel), she is capable of being launched from many standard yacht club cranes allowing for a lower cost of ownership and transport.  Her lifting keel means she rides down the road right through standard toll booths and tows easily behind standard tow vehicles, meaning return deliveries are easily done on the road.  This really is an incredible boat that is one of a kind.

With entries now open – and preparations being made – for both the Transpac and Pineapple Cup – we have had to soul search on our commitment to the Cone given our new parental status (i.e. we didn’t have kids when we bought her!) since acquiring her and our growing career responsibilities.  It’s an incredibly tough decision, but we would like to ideally find a SA’er that shares the same need for speed and slightly twisted mentality that might bring her to a new venue and allow her to show her stuff and continue her remarkable performance. If you are interested in learning more about the boat, please visit www.gothecone.com or send us an send us an e-mail. the Classified Section here where you’ll find interesting video from past races and other specifics on this amazing machine.  We sincerely hope that she can go to someone in the SA community – this is where we first learned of her and with the help of the ED brought her to the US and have since sailed with many SAer’s on her from all over the world.
11/12/08

Valencia Sailing

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The true extent of the damage becomes apparant as HUGO BOSS is lifted

[Source: Hugo Boss] At 05h00 this morning Alex Thomson arrived back where he had started the Vendee Globe some 61 hours previously . The team had to wait until 10h30 for the tide to enter the canal into Les Sables d’Olonne. By 14h00 the mast was taken out and at 15h30 HUGO BOSS was lifted from the water.

Waiting for the arrival were the Alex Thomson Racing shore team, Paolo Manganelli, from Gurit who was responsible for the structural design of HUGO BOSS and Pascal Finot from Finot Conq, the boats’ designer.

The true extent of the damage could not be assessed until the boat was lifted out of the water. Harry McGougan, Alex Thomson Racing’s Operations Director explained what they saw when the boat was lifted. “There is a transverse crack that runs through the outer and inner skin of the boat. Having now lifted the boat out of the water we can see the underneath of the boat and the full extent of the damage. The crack extends 5 metres to almost the centreline. The unidirectional fibres that make up the outside layer of the boat have peeled off from the start of the crack to the back of the boat.”

To repair HUGO BOSS before next Wednesday’s restart deadline McGougan explained what the team need to achieve. “In the time scale available to us to restart the race we would have to do a full structural survey, put together a full repair plan and then put a team together the size of which we had for the repair three weeks ago.” A decision will be made tomorrow on the best way forward.

“At the moment there is no definite reason why this has happened but there is a strong possibility that the boat has hit something ,” concluded McGougan.

Paolo Manganelli’s (structural engineer) initial thoughts on the cause of the crack after a visual inspection of the boat were the same. ” It’s a bit too early to say very much right now, but we are not ruling out a collision with a submerged object.”

Thomson was visibly upset when he stepped ashore this morning. “The team went through so much over the last 3 weeks to get the boat to the start line, so for this to happen is very harsh,” said Alex.

Explaining the sequence of events that led up to the discovery of the cracked hull. “I was sailing in about 25knots of breeze, the front had gone through and I had tacked and was heading south on a beam reach. I couldn’t fully power up as the sea state was so bad, the boat was slamming through the waves. I heard a thud but couldn’t see anything visible to think I had hit something.”

“The previous day I had been on deck and gone below to find 1,500 litres of water sloshing around. The windward ballast tank was leaking, so when I saw more water down below I immediately thought there was another leak in the other ballast tank.”

“As I finished bailing out again, (this time only about 20 litres) I saw water was squirting through the hull like a small fountain from a crack in the hull.”

“The water intake was completely manageable, I was only using the pumps to clear the water every 3 hours, so I never felt we were in any real danger,” explained Alex.

“It’s gutting, I feel very sad not only for me, but also my sponsors and the team. These things happen in sailing, you just have to pick yourself up and move forward.” Concluded Thomson.

Some random Pics from the Hot Rod Prize Giving, Russell 2008

The trophies will be on display at Safety At Sea for the next little while. Then off to Kerikeri Yachtclub.

Supreme 30 Hot Rod
Overload

Leading Edge Handicap
Overload

SuperGroove Hot Rod
Thirsty Work

Leading Edge Handicap
Thirsty Work

Crew.Org.NZ $$$$ for Knots
Hot Property

Invitation Hot Cruiser

1= Second Nature & High Voltage*

*Second Nature 1st Handicap
*High Voltage 1st Line

The Mount Gay Rum was enjoyed by many

Jolly Boat update

The really really long range forcast is excellant, moderate breeze,
gentle swell, warm water, cold beer, nymphs etc

If you need a place to crash Saturday night, no wurries, bring a
sleeping bag, we will find you somewhere to bunk down. Or if you want
something for yourself, a search on line will bring up heaps of
options.

Book the Sealink car ferry a little in advance, we are getting a 30%
discount off standard rates.
Return:  car $91.00, 5m trailer $92.40, additional adult $21.00, child
$11.50
Further details on how to book comming soon.

Kim Ardmore (YNZ Regional Support Officer) is the Race
Officer…….cheers Kim

Sailing instructions will be posted soon.

Hope you can all make it.
I am happy to issue weekend home leave passes if required.

http://www.mike-sanderson.com/da/9973

last nights message

4h16 : «Gliding along nicely. The cleaner has tidied up the “Veranda” and hung up the washing. The sails are shining in the moonlight and it’s a pleasant night to be at sea; a few cargo vessels, a few dolphins, a bit of music… In short, everything is great! Like my fellow racers, I’m getting in position to pass Madeira.» Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)

4h57 : «A rough night with very variable winds and sudden squalls, although the moon was up early on. Moonlit nights are just wonderful. The seas are still rough, not exactly head-on, but almost. We’re still getting a pounding on occasions. So, I haven’t had much sleep tonight. 70 miles NNW of Gijon. » Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)

5h02 : «Stopped during the night to clear the keel. The good thing was that it was easy to do in the beautiful moonlight, which lights us up as if we were indoors. See you soon. » Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement)

Leaving the Bay of Biscay in this wintery weather is often a relief for the Vendée Globe sailors, as the crossing down to the tip of Spain is far from a pleasant Sunday outing, especially when there are strong headwinds

The Bay of Biscay stretches out between Finistère at the tip of Brittany and Cape Finisterre, at the tip of Galicia in Spain. 300 miles to cross from Les Sables d’Olonne before they begin the long climb down the coast of Portugal. As is often the case in Winter, Biscay is throwing a temper tantrum. For the first hours of the race, the competitors will have their work cut out. The SW’ly wind, moderate at the start will gradually strengthen to 25 or 30 knots during the night, then 30 to 35 knots with gusts reaching 40-45 knots. However, more than the wind itself, it is the sea state that is going to strain the boats and the sailors. A NW’ly swell crossed with a SW’ly wind will create very rough to heavy seas with waves reaching 5 to 6 metres (16 to 18 feet). The wind will gradually veer NW’ly from the west. These winds will stick with the leading boats before gradually veering N’ly. In fact, these are more or less typical conditions for this time of year, which should enable the frontrunners to make their getaway. Everything is in place to separate out the cream from the crop: From the outset, the fleet will be facing treacherous seas, while feeling the need to remain up with the frontrunners to avoid missing the next weather system… Before dicing with the devil in the southern seas, they are going to have to snatch themselves away from the claws of the bogeyman in the Bay of Biscay.

SSANZ has organised a Safety night at the Maritime Rescue Centre on Sunday the 23rd of November from 7pm. The format of the night is to have a presentation/talk from Coastguard in regards to safety equipment followed by a sausage sizzle. You are welcome to bring your own steak and or salad if you want something more.

To finish off there will be an opportunity for a limited number of people to let off their expired flares. So please bring along any recently expired flares (there will be an age limit in regards to the flares).

On talking to a few yachties it seems most have never let off a flare and this evening will provide an opportunity in a safe and legal enviroment so that when you are in danger you know exactly what to do.

THERE IS NO COST but SSANZ need to know how many people are attending so please click on the following link to the left to reserve your place.

G’day all,

Been a very busy boy at the office, just gotta love this recession. Been so busy we don’t think we could keep up if it becomes a fully blown depression. Sadly this has keep me away from my toy longer than I desired but rest assured many new and pretty damn sexy goodies have slowly been appearing on my R&D test platform, known to normal people as Suburban Reptile.

As a FYI – that includes taking well over 30% of weight of of certain items in the mast, without any strength or performance lose. A couple of fittings that would make the average yachtie cry with joy. OK maybe only some of us without a life then. Before anyone gets to excited please remember one person does struggle to lift my mainsail, it is one serious heavy bit of cloth. That is not a joke by the way, it’s a beast.

Intensive anti-foul sussing programme only due to the idiot who brought the last lot thinking it was ablative and would smooth out. After 9 months it’s still like 40 grit sandpaper….. grrrrr.

New black triangle thing for the pointy end, which appears to be seriously faster than the 5+ year old shitters we were using.

Yet another new stereo. Bigger, faster and louder with a big boom boom box downstairs. Investigations will be undertaken to ensure the cabin top doesn’t remove itself late one night in a drunken bay hopefully not near you. I have to replace the windows to get back to Cat 2 and this seems the best fun way of doing that.

New only 400 mAh LED masthead bulb. Needed to find power to drive new stereo. Another FYI, even though the current rule book prohibits LED’s, YNZ has given the Inspectors the OK for there use as long as they meet the minimum 2 NM visibility. The one I have is approved by US Coast Guard to 5NM so that’s good. They are serious savers of power if you are amp challenged.

The paintwork has finally been…… Yeah right getting closer though.

Anyway here’s the latest from our Wellington reporter and part time stirrer.

Buoy Room

RPNYC Div 2

Update

Hello,

Sorry this is the first Buoy Room for a while. Things have been a bit busy.

The spring series finished while I was away. Well done to Erazer, Airship, After Midnight and Testarossa. Lets keep it up for the next series.

Black Swan has now arrived. Peter and Karen sailed in the Island Bay race on Sunday. Looks like it has a nice set of sails, and could be very competitive.

This weekend we have the first of the Two Handed Inshore races. These are also qualifiers for the Two Handed offshore next year. The start time has been moved so you can vote on the way to the boat in the morning. All we need is good weather, a good course and it should be a great day on the water.

I hope everyone is starting to think about their campaign in the Line 7 Regatta next year. The smaller boats section was very hotly contested, with very close racing. Lets all help to promote it and get as many boats as possible entered. I have been communicating with the owner of Wild Oats, the Ross 930 in Nelson. He is looking to come over and race with us. We are trying to talk a couple of Waikawa boats in to coming across as well. More the merrier, not matter what size the boat is.

I look forward to seeing you on the water.

Regards,

Geoff Herd.

“Go Hard or Go Home”

Splash Palace

Also don’t forget this one (see attached NOR). Sadly I’ve being dragged (kicking, biting and screaming) to a family photo bloody thing so I’ll have to for-go my  planned revenge on Rockweld  for last years demonstration of how to sail the PCC Around Rangi Race*. But rest assured Rocke, you are still firmly in our sites as are all the rest of you. That bloody sly light blue boat is also one on our hit list. Damn thing just pops up when you least expect it and slides by. The word is the boys are taking SR in the Around Rangi so please Rocke and others beat them or I’ll never hear the end of it.

And a question for you all. Is a R930 allowed a walk thru transom without breaking class rules? Yes, yet another cunning but probably damn stupid idea. I’m full of them you know, especially the damn stupid ones

So for the moment that’s about it.

* See notice of race Thread

SR

PUMA Ocean Racing have announced that veteran duo Jerry Kirby and Jonathan McKee will be rested for the forthcoming leg to India.

The American pair, aged 52 and 48 respectively, will be replaced for the 4,450-nautical mile trip to Cochin by Shannon Falcone of Antigua and New Zealand’s Robbie Naismith, a previous race winner.

According to the team’s general manager Kimo Worthington, the move was taken to preserve freshness within the team.

“Instead of carrying the same guys around, we are bringing in fresh blood,” he said. “Normally the guys here have five weeks off but here it is like two weeks with just four or five days off this time. We like the idea of having fresh blood.”

Worthington revealed it was a policy of the team to rotate crew throughout the 37,000-nautical mile epic, but would not divulge when Kirby and McKee might return.

He said: “We are evaluating the legs and seeing who is suitable for what the guys are going to face. Over the race a lot of people will be coming on and a lot off, but we won’t say who and when.

“Ken (Read, the skipper) wants to keep things fresh, and you have to in a race like this.”

The new faces will bring a variety of talents to the boat. Forty-four-year-old Naismith, who is described by Worthington as a “world class trimmer”, won the Whitbread 60 class of the 1994 race onboard Yamaha. He has since raced onboard Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle in the America’s Cup and is involved in the Team Origin operation.

Falcone, 27, is a trimmer and pitman considered by Worthington to be a “monster”. He sailed in the 32nd America’s Cup onboard Luna Rossa.

Worthington said: “He is 6ft 4. He is a big guy, very strong.

“Both these sailors are great guys and both bring a lot to the boat. They are both tough, excellent sailors.”

20.10.2008 CET
First two weeks of sea trials in San Diego successfully completed.
Following two weeks of productive testing and scheduled maintenance, BMW ORACLE Racing continues the San Diego testing session this week. The Pacific Ocean session with the new BMW ORACLE Racing 90 will go through the end of November.

The 90-foot multihull yacht is still in the sea trials phase, with sensors and cameras collecting data from across all areas of the boat – sails, mast, keels, and rudders.

Last week, the BMW ORACLE Racing sailing team – led by French multihull expert Franck Cammas and team helmsman James Spithill (AUS) as the primary helmsmen – flew the hulls the first time (not just the windward float) downwind. At times, the boat speed topped 30 knots.

“However, we still have to be very careful,” Spithill said. “We continue pushing things a little bit harder and harder every day and we’re taking it gently and carefully. When you are flying both hulls you are a long way up from the water, so safety is very important. We will gradually increase the sailing range as we build up more experience with the BOR 90.”

The team completed the first phase of the trimaran’s sea trials in Anacortes on September 12. The warmer climate of Southern California will allow the team the opportunity to test the boat longer.

BMW ORACLE Racing is operating from a temporary base in downtown San Diego, at the site of Dennis Conner’s former team compound when the America’s Cup was in San Diego.

R Class

Lift Off

few jokes to lighten up your afternoon squid

REASONS SAILING IS BETTER THAN SEX:
• You don’t have to hide your collection of sailboat magazines.
• It’s perfectly acceptable to pay a professional to Sail with you once in a while.
• The Ten Commandments don’t say anything about Sailing.
• If your partner takes pictures or videotapes of you Sailing your boat, you don’t have to worry about them showing up on the Internet if you become famous.
• Your Sailing partner doesn’t get upset and really does forget about people you sailed with long ago.
• It’s perfectly respectable to Sail with a total stranger.
• When you see a really good Sailor, you don’t have feel guilty about imagining the two of you Sailing together.
• If your regular Sailing partner isn’t available, they won’t object or criticize if you Sail with someone else.
• Nobody will ever tell you that if you Sail by yourself, you’ll go blind.
• When dealing with a Sailing pro, you never have to wonder if he’s really an undercover cop.
• You can have a Sailing calendar on your wall at the office, tell Sailing jokes, and invite coworkers to Sail with you without getting sued for harassment or sex discrimination at work
• There are no Sailing-transmitted diseases.
• If you want to watch Sailing on television, you don’t have to subscribe to the Playboy channel and you don’t need to feel guilty watching on the family TV.
• Nobody expects you to Sail with the same partner for the rest of your life.•
• Nobody expects you to give up Sailing if your partner loses interest in it.
• Your Sailing partner will never say, “Not again? We just Sailed last week! Is Sailing all you ever think about?”

If it’s Monday it must be back to business as the international skippers in the Vendée Globe fleet enter what is bound to be a whirlwind final week of media, public, social, sponsor, family commitments, meteorological preparation, final checks on the IMOCA Open 60 itself, continual briefing and de-briefing with shore teams, media teams, commercial teams, skippers’ briefings with the race management,  whilst trying to bank or cut back on sleep.

In truth the weekend was scarcely any different for the British pair Alex Thomson and Steve White who are still fighting onwards to make Sunday’s start line in the best possible shape, Thomson after successfully completing repairs to Hugo Boss which damaged by a fishing boat on Octover 17th, and White whose last minute funding package has meant an almighty push to be ready, but for British skippers like Jonny Malbon, Sam Davies and Mike Golding it was back to ‘work’ after a well earned final break.

Starting his third Vendée Globe round the world race next Sunday, Golding is relaxed and content to slip into a pre-race routine he knows well. He spent a full week at home with his wife and young son before returning to Les Sables d’Olonne.

AN INVESTMENT IN RELATIONSHIPS
By Ron Lieber, NY Times
In the last month or so, it has become much harder to take out our wallets
without feeling guilty. No single authority figure has told us not to spend. But
people are scared, and that fear is showing up in lower sales on all sorts of
big-ticket items, from autos to electronics.

But it’s easy to forget a couple of important things. First of all, the vast
majority of people in the United States are not going to lose their jobs.
Second, most of us work not merely for subsistence but so we can spend money on
things and experiences that bring us some form of contentment. So let this serve
as a reminder that there may be plenty of good reasons left to spend what you
earn.

This is not a call to consumer patriotism, a suggestion that we all go shopping
for the good of the economy. Instead, I’m merely suggesting that if you’re
feeling undeserving of anything special at this particular moment, or think you
should help perform some sort of collective penance for our national
overspending, you may want to cut yourself some slack.

I was reminded of this about a month ago, when I got a note from a man in Ann
Arbor, Mich., named Ron Stefanski. At the time, I was writing about reducing
financial risk, and he and his family had recently splurged on a 38-foot
sailboat and lowered the 20-year-old vessel into the waters of Lake Charlevoix.
The question his message raised was whether spending money on a boat was
actually wise, and if so, why? — Read on: http://tinyurl.com/NYTimes110308

Valencia Sailing

Letter from Vincenzo Onorato

[Source: Mascalzone Latino] With reference to the last meeting held on October 30th in Geneva among the Société Nautique de Geneve, Alinghi and the challengers to the 33 America’s Cup, Mascalzone Latino apologizes for not having attended due to previous commitments and confirms its participation to the next meeting scheduled on November 11th.

It further occurs to me to say that, even if we would have attended last week meeting, we would have not signed the letter with the request to the Golden Gate Yacht Club to withdraw the case before the New York appeal Court. As we have said several times, Mascalzone Latino agrees with Oracle’s goal to organize an event with fair rules in order to give all challengers a chance to win. The most simple solution, in order to put and end to this dispute, is to go back to the 32nd America’s Cup Protocol.

With respect to the class of yacht, it doesn’t make sense to create a new class, while the world is getting through the deepest economic crisis after the one in 1929.

A new class means new immediate investments for research, and at the same time throwing away a class with more than 100 boats already built.

In order to make the Cup face both the external trauma due to the current economic crisis, and the internal trauma due to the Alinghi’s Protocol and the legal dispute, it’s necessary to go back, at least one more time, to the ACV5 which have already guaranteed exciting regatta. This would help increase the teams’ participation in the event with a low budget – why not using the yachts from the last edition of the America’s Cup – and above of all, with a realistic economic sense in the search for sponsors.

Labels: Mascalzone Latino, Vincenzo Onorato

posted by Valencia Sailing @ 8:36 PM

Outrageous Fortune Coastal Classic 08

1st Line 1st Handicap B Division

The week promised a windy Coastal, strong North Easterlies Friday morning, turning east for a short time before rain & lightning at dusk after which the breeze would swing West and drop, only to build again on Saturday afternoon to 30knots from the west.

Our crew have a mix of sailing backgrounds from offshore in a Townson 32 across the Tasman Sea and back, 2 handed round the Gulf and a couple of Newbies keen to try some longer racing.

This will be my 23^rd Coastal Classic Race, one I expected to get a good result in. The weather was sending a beat, no cracked sheets, no spinnaker, just dead maggot all the way to Russell. We opted for a safe down line start with speed and room to stretch out. Cruise Control, our main opporsition had positioned herself next to us right on top of our wind. Our only option was to bow down and build speed try to sail through her lee. Within a few 100 meters we had done just that, sailed through the lee and gained height slowly giving bad air forcing Cruise Control to tack away. Next on our hit list was the other Bene 45, Zuri. Zuri had won the windward end of the line and she was about 200 meters to weather and powering along. The start had allowed the bigger yachts in Division B to stride out and by the time we all started tacking towards Rangi Light, Surething, Cosmic Cruise, Zuri, High Votlage, Second Nature and a few others had made there way to the front of the fleet. The next tack turned out to be a long board to Gulf Harbour, again favoring the longer water line yachts. As we approched Rangi Light Zuri had maintained a weather watch on our Starbord hip and Cosmic on our lee quarter. High Voltage had good pace just astern of Surething. Leading from Rangi Light we leep over the odd wave and punched through the rest. A greeny or 2 found a home dunking the crew with one making it all the way to drench Quintin while trimming the headsail. Starting to chew off the tail enders of the A Division. First Bushedo, then Jive Talking. Short taking up to Tiri Passage, we are able to riggle away from Cosmic, by picking a good line and able to charge through the chop to catch our next A division yacht. Next to see our transom was The Big Don’t Argue, Satellite Spy and Bird on the Wing. The tide was now starting to turn, with it the chop between Flat Rock and Kawau was building. The threatening skies were clearing a bit and in warm sunshine we lay past Cape Rodney with Bird on the wing about 400 meters to leeward, the Big Don’t Argue 200 meters a stern and the rest of B division chasing hard. By this time the breeze had swung right a little allowing us to sail down the rumb line with the traveler down. Sitting on 9 knots we were able to stretch away and stay with the longer Bird on the Wing. As we approached Sail Rock, a nasty looking cloud had built over the Chics with the odd flash of lightning sent willy walls racing towards us and rain was starting to pelt the crew. Quickly putting a reef in we are manageable once again, however this little cloud is not finished with us just yet. The breeze is between 20 and 34, requiring the mainsheet to be trimmed like a laser. As the breeze settled in at 25knots the rain got heaver. All throught this squall we had managed to keep our height and emerged with about 1 mile of weather ground on Bird on the Wing. Looking back I could see the rest of the fleet been put through that same washing machine. Emerging slowly through the mist was Lion New Zealand. The bigger breeze taken in her stride. Lion had changed down to a number 5 and a 2^nd reef. However as the rain eased the breeze went left and softened to 10 knots. This left Lion under powered and she dropped off to leeward, we quickly shock our reef and powered away. Surething had also made good gains through the squall, but the rest were now quickly dropping back, or we were powering away? Night time was now upon us and as the green and red lights appeared who was going to be the winners as we all tacked our way north? The breeze had settled down to 15knots from the NNW. Our game plan was to stay left and work the beach. The forecasts we had been following had suggested that during the night around 1am the breeze would swing left to the west and slowly drop. At about midnight the breeze slowly clocked west and since we had kept to our game plan we were well placed to take the knocking breeze into the beach a little, once we tacked back we were only 25 degrees off the layline, about ½ hour later we were pointing just off Cape Brett, powering along at 8 knots again. 0330, its time to call in at Cape Brett Radio Sked. Electing to go outside Percy Island to stay away from the wind shadow under those rugged cliffs. We tacked a little too soon and found ourselves a little too close to Percy Island for comfort at 4 in the morning. The breeze was dropping quite noticeably now, increasing our tacking angles, with our 105% headsail we are a little underpowered. Past Bird Rock, nearly laying Whale Rock when another wind swing to the left. Quintin was now steering and in one tack just short of Whale Rock he managed to do a 180 and point us back out to sea, asking why the faint red light that was behind us is now dead in front. The breeze had dropped to 2 knots and wherethefuckarewe syndrome and 00.0 buggercantsteerthisboat was setting in. Just as we are getting back on course, the rain is back and the land has disappeared. Recently a light has been added to Whale Rock and 3 tacks later we are drifting past it towards Red Head. A small northerly swell is helping us as we head in shore to escape the outgoing tide. Again working the beach as dawn breaks we are able to claw our way to Tapeka Point. More roll tacks and flicking battens across we can snake our way into the bay. A small zephyr is building on our right which we drift into, one last tack and Quintin steers us across the finish line.

Fantastic race 168 miles on the wind just over 22 hours gave us an average of 7.5knots.

later that day

I have more :}

Notice of Race

The Waiheke Boating Club / SeaLink Auckland Jollyboat Champs
November 29 & 30 2008, Oneroa Beach, Waiheke Is.
Registration : From 9.00 Saturday and Sailing Instructions Issued.
Briefing: 10.00 Saturday
Saturday: First Start, when we are ready. (2 races morning, 2 afternoons)
Sunday : First Start not before 10.00 (3 races back to back then Lunch and
Prize giving). No Race will start after 14.00.
Racing and Prizes: Single, Two handed and Teams trophies. A 7 race regatta
will be held on triangular or box courses, including 1 ocean race. 4 races to
constitute a series, 1 discard after 5 races, low points scoring system.
Conditions: Got to be better than last time.
Eligibility: Open to all with a pulse and a street legal Jollyboat.
Support Boats: Yep, if you have doubts about your pulse, or dodgy hull repairs.
Lunches: will be served both days, by the visiting Brazilian Ladies Beach
Volleyball Team and included in the entry fee…. (that is the lunches)
Saturday Night BBQ: At the Prime Minister’s place. (black Tee please)
Entry to:
The Jolly Secretary, Waiheke Boating Club, The Causeway, Ostend, Waiheke Is.
Boat Name…………………………………….Sail#…………………………….. Club…………………………..………
Skipper………………………………………………………. Crew…………………………………………………………………
Address……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….…….
Phone…………………………………………………………….. Mob…………………………………………………………….….
I understand that neither the Waiheke Boating Club or any personnel acting for
the WBC, can be held liable in respect of injury, death, illness, plague, abduction
by aliens, hang-over’s, out-break of hostilities, disasters, memory loss, being
photographed in a compromising position, or damage or loss of personal property,
munted boats etc…. sustained through participation in the event.
But will not allow the risks in life, preventing oneself from having a goodtime.
I agree to be bound by The Sailing Instructions, YNZ Safety Regs and the
Racing Rools 05-08, disciplined by nymphs and remain sober until after dark.
Signature……………………………………………………………. Enclosed cheque $50.00
Entries also accepted at registration.
Further information on transport, accommodation, updates, sailing instructions,