Sunday, May 3, 2009

Success in Rimini

The start of the regatta was a tricky one for the boys, with our 4th member Sam Bell joining us . We were forced to default the first race and rigging the boat in the pre start of our second we won 1 of 4 races that day putting us in a must win position for the rest of the round robin. The team pulled through convincingly posting 3 from 3 on the second day. The race committee pushed on and started the semis and finals.

After a slight miss calculation by the race committee, thinking we had not qualified, we corrected them and secured the 4th and final spot for the semis. This would see us up against top ranked skipper, Italian Jacopo Pasini. After loosing to him in the first round we managed to find some good form putting him away 2-0. Race one we got a penalty on him in the pre-start and lead the whole race. The second race was the same with us getting another penalty on him in the pre start. This time despite his attempt to clear the penalty in the second beat he still had the lead and a penalty. He tried numerous times to slow down and trap us on the final run but we defended well and crossed the line with him attempting his turn.

Our Finals opponent was the other Italian Simone Ferrarese. Conditions were perfect. 8kts of breeze with a consistent direction. We won the desired leeward start in the first race and burned him off for pace around the track. 1-0 in a best of three final series. The second race didn’t go so well. With a boat swap, we found a lot of water in the boat before the start and despite bailing it couldn’t find the pace we had in the 1st race and kept it close loosing by a boat length. Finding more water after the race we decided to protest and apply for another boat. We got a new boat and the start we were after. Pushing hard we let him make the mistake of being over and had a big lead off the line. We maintained this lead during the race to win and take out the regatta!!

A fantastic win as it qualifies use for the Grade 2 in the same location at the start of June. The team was happy with the win and learnt some valuable lessons throughout the competition. Now we are going to stick around here for a couple more days and then head of to Hungry for a training week against world number 12 Ian Anslie.

Good Bye for now and we will keep you all posted! Also make sure you check out our website (wakaracing.blogspot.com). We have some great photos and more to come shortly.

WAKA RACING

Mediterranean crossing record, Marseilles / Carthage

With respect to the programme announced for Groupama 3, Franck Cammas and his crew are on stand-by in Marseilles from the 6th May, ready to set off on their attempt at the Mediterranean crossing record (Marseilles/Carthage). The seven sailors are now awaiting the most favourable weather conditions with which to begin their attack of this record spanning 458 miles. It is worth noting that the time to beat is 17 hours 56 minutes 33 seconds, a time held since September 2004 by Bruno Peyron aboard the catamaran Orange II.

From this morning, the Groupama team is in Code Orange… more here

Hilary Lister’s Round Britain Dream Recommences In One Week.

In One week, on the 18th May 2009, Hilary Lister, the record breaking and inspirational Quadriplegic Yachtswoman plans to re-commence her Solo sail around Britain, her ‘Round Britain Dream’. Hilary will start from Plymouth sailing towards Falmouth. This is the first in a series of over 40 day sails that will take her around the coast of Britain including the east coast of Ireland.
Hilary and her support team are presently in Dover in training for the challenge and will pack up camp and move to Plymouth 16th May in preparation for the start of this years Sail.
Hilary has had to overcome the financial challenges of this year to be able to finance the Round Britain Dream and the project is still searching for a major sponsor, remembering that the aim of the Round Britain Dream is not only to inspire and raise awareness of disabled sailing but to raise funds for Hilary’s charity ‘Hilary’s Dream trust’ which exists to provide assistance to disabled and disadvantaged adults with sailing dreams.
Hilary’s dream of sailing around Britain began on 16 June 2008, when she set off from Dover, supported by her team of 4 support boat crew and 3 land crew.  The Lions clubs of The British Isles and Ireland also lent their considerable support.  In a series of “day sails”, some in excess of 50 nautical miles, Hilary sailed the entire length of the South Coast.  In Newlyn, on 13 August, due to hold ups caused mainly by the worst weather on record, Hilary and the team reluctantly decided to postpone the rest of the journey.  To date this is the furthest that any female disabled sailor has sailed and is an amazing achievement in itself. This is the first time that the ‘Sip and puff’ system had been tested in such challenging conditions. Despite the setback of having to halt the attempt Hilary demonstrated her amazing strength of character by resolving to complete the sail starting in spring 2009, beginning at Newlyn.
Hilary’s Boat “Me Too” is an Artemis 20; a 6m carbon fibre keelboat, designed by Rogers Yacht Design under commission by Chichester based VizualMarine.  Hilary controls the boat using a ‘Sip and Puff’ system, developed by Steve Alvey of Calgary, Canada.  The system uses three straws which are connected to sensitive pressure switches.  The computer is mounted in front of Hilary. A gentle “sip” on one straw will cause the boat to go to starboard, whilst a “puff” will take the boat to port.  The second straw controls the winch motor for both sails in a similar fashion.  The third straw allows Hilary to control her Raymarine autopilot, to trim one sail relative to the other and raise or lower the height of the boom.

more here

Australian boatbuilder calls in receiver

By IBI Magazine/Michael Howorth

Directors of Australian boatbuilder Riviera have called in receivers in the hope that the company can continue trading and to restructure in order to survive the current economic downturn.

Riviera is Australia’s largest production boatbuilder and operates a facility in Coomera in southeast Queensland. For the last 30 years they have built flybridge boats, offshore express models and sport yachts, exporting around 50 per cent of its annual production to a dealer network spanning more than 30 countries.

A spokesman for the company said: “Our first task will be to review the financial position of the company to evaluate the best possible outcome for creditors and other stakeholders with interests in the business. Our key focus is to ensure the continued trading and preservation of employee jobs, as well as to derive and implement a restructuring plan.”

(11 May 2009)

more here

Cayard Sailing Reports
Update from Boston, the Volvo Ocean Race
Paul Cayard
Monday, May 11, 2009

BOSTON – I just spent the weekend in Boston at the Volvo Ocean Race. This event is really catching on with the mainstream public. It seems that anyone who gets a close up look at the event becomes hooked. There was a lot of non sailing public roaming through the race village this weekend and they immediately became intrigued. With the Race Village situated right down town, Volvo has really brought the event to the people.

On Saturday I watched the in port races from a Volvo VIP boat alongside Mike Sanderson and French sailing legends Rolland Jordain and Michel Desjoyeaux were in town also and are looking at bringing their solo campaigns and sponsors into the race next time. Makes a lot of sense really. The French public are absolute fanatics about offshore racing.

On a sunny and blustery Sunday, I got to helm Puma in the first Pro Am race and then Ericsson 3 in the next two. The races were reaching figures of 8 in a very small bit of water right in the downtown harbor. The channel is barley half a mile wide downtown but Peter Craig ran the races right there in front of the crowds. In 25 knots of wind and with 25 knots of boat speed, the 6 minute races were a riviting sight for the 30,000 spectators who go an up close and personal view of the event.

Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, announced some changes to the event for 2011 all aimed at continuing to improve the commercial value of the event. A new format for the import activities, some cost saving measures for the teams, increased use of the latest multi media outlets, and a slightly shorter route are among the improvements. The cost saving measure do two things; they obviously reduce cost but they also increase competitiveness of the event by reducing some of the advantage that big spending teams can get. With such forward looking and independent management, it is no wonder that the corporate world is increasing its commitment to this event even in these challenging times. Alicante has committed to be the starting port for the next 3 editions of the race. The Volvo Race management will also move its headquarters to Alicante and create a museum there showcasing the rich history of this event that began as the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1977. With this the Spanish company Telefoinca has committed to sponsor the Spanish team for three editions, while Ericsson and Puma have committed for the next event as well as event sponsor Volvo. This event is establishing continuity and that is a valuable asset in any business. No doubt the disastrous mismanagement of the America’s Cup is putting a shining light on the Volvo. The Volvo is taking over form the America’s Cup as the first choice for pro sailors looking for a stable career platform as we could be looking at 12 plus entries for the next race in 2011.

Two special people whom I caught up with were team mates from our winning Whitbread team in 1998; Kimo Worthington, now general manger of Puma and Magnus Olsson, skipper Ericsson 3 and still racing at the age of 60. So now my answer to those who ask if I am going to return to the race has changed from, “I think I may be too old” to “I am too young, I need to train for 10 more years, then I will be ready!”.

Sunday night was the leg prize giving which is a fancy dinner with great entertainment for 500 featuring a group of inner city youth dancers who stole the show. And I mean youth. Some of the kids looked to be 6 years old with the oldest being maybe 12. The food and dancing was first rate. I sat next to my female counterpart of the EF campaign, Christine Guillou, and we had recalling the interesting moments in that campaign, mixing the men’s and women crews for training and just coexisting as a coed team around the world.

I was speaking to a British sports marketing executive who was visiting the race for the first time, a guy who ran the marketing for Honda in Formula One previously, and he said that the Volvo is truly a top level sports marketing property. It was impressive to see the new faces, from other areas of sport, gravitating to the event.

I have to say that I was impressed by it all.

Muskegon Yacht Club
One-design regatta
Open to Melges 17s, 20, and 24s

This regatta is a great start to any season. Early enough to work around many sailing schedules. This regatta is an excellent addition to a one-design season series.
The 2009 Midwest Melges24 Series  is annually kicked off in May with the Muskegon Yacht Club One-design Regatta.  One-designs of one form or another have been doing battle at this Spring Regatta  for over 28 years. Muskegon Lake offers excellent Spring racing. The cool inland lake waters of Spring and the warming of the air and land make for strong thermal wind conditions on flat water.  Every year sailors find themselves thrown into their season with full-on hiking and planing conditions. Spectacular wipe-outs are often the norm.
The Muskegon Yacht Club’s Melges24 Fleet  is up to eleven boats. The dry-sail area is neatly tucked up to the lawn just outside the bar. The race course is yards away making quick and easy access. The regatta promoters do an excellent job every year providing competitors with plenty of racing, food, booze, and fun. Last years regatta boasted twenty-eight boats on the staring line. Currently there is no reason to believe that this years turnout will be any different.
This year there is an attempt to include a Melges20 class and a Melges17 class at this regatta. Discussions are currently ongoing as to the details of this addition. There has already been a positive response by relatively local fleets of Melges 17s and Melges 20s. Only four boats from any of these designs will constitute a fleet. If this becomes a reality, this regatta will be an incredible event here in Western Michigan. Please make contact ASAP regarding attendance so we can assure others of expected fleet sizes.

The Cup plot thickens

From

BYM Magazine – 33rd America’s Cup

Who owns the America’s Cup?

by Marian Martin

America’s Cup historians have written a great deal about the origins of the America’s Cup Deed of Gift and, in the process, George L. Schuyler has been elevated to something close to the yachting equivalent of sainthood and his Deed of Gift has become a near sacred document. Only last month, John “Chink” Longley – a crew member on five Alan Bond campaigns – was inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame and ended his speech with a quote from Laurent Esquier, in reference to the author of the Deed of Gift: “The spirit of George Schuyler will prevail, and the Cup will be alright.”

There are plenty of question marks hanging over the George L. Schuyler Trust. We can start with the fact that, according to official records, it is listed as being set up inter vivos, but in 1857 charitable trusts were not legal in New York. It was only after the Tilden Act was passed, in 1893, that it became legally possible to set up such a trust and Schuyler had been dead for three years by then.

There are plenty of other anomalies, plenty of reasons to question the jurisdiction of the New York Supreme Court, but the biggest question of all is this:
Where is the first Deed of Gift, signed by John Cox Stevens, Edwin Augustus Stevens, John Beekman Finlay, Hamilton Wilkes and George Schuyler?
The October 1st 1851 dinner, organised at Astor House by the New York Yacht Club, in honour of John Cox Stevens was a time for celebration. The Queen’s Cup (as it was then called) was proudly displayed on the table and, when the speeches of congratulations were over, the talk turned to what was to become of the trophy. It was idle, good humoured chat; should it become a NYYC trophy, or would it be better to melt it down and cast commemorative medals.
George Schuyler took the idea of the Cup becoming a trophy very seriously. He drafted some proposed terms for a competition and met with the other owners, some time after that dinner. Some changes were suggested and the other owners said they would meet Schuyler again after he had amended his original draft.
It wasn’t until the following spring that the meeting took place and, this time, only two owners were present, John Beekman Finlay and George Schulyer. Hamilton Wilkes was dying in Pau, France, but his attorney William Laight attended and all three signed a letter to the NYYC, gifting the Cup on terms agreed among themselves. The letter was then sent to John Cox Stevens for him and his brother, Edwin, to sign, but did they? If they did, where is it?
In fact, any talk of a future America’s Cup competition seems to have faded from the New York yachting scene until a few weeks after John Cox Stevens had died, on June 13, 1857. Then George Schuyler got out an unsigned copy of his 1852 letter, made a few alterations and sent it to the New York Yacht Club. It seems the lack of signatures was viewed with a blind eye, on the grounds that this what everyone had intended.
The Cup was duly accepted, despite the fact that the evidence – or absence of evidence – suggests that two of the Cup’s owners had never, formally, agreed to gift it and, of the other two, Hamilton Wilkes was dead and there is no indication that Jack Finlay was ever asked to approve Schuyler’s final version, nor that Wilkes’ heirs were consulted.

more here

1887 Deed of Gift

part one here

Yachting journalist Peter Montgomery was joined by BMW Oracle CEO Russell Coutts for an audio interview, where the discussion included the America’s Cup, the RC44 class, the 25 year anniversary of his Olympic gold medal, and the recent fire at his home and the related death of its caretaker. Listen here:

Press Release
Monday 11 May, 2009

Elliott 5.9 Auckland Championships
Platu 25 Auckland Championships
Farr 727 National Championships
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May

This weekend the Royal Akarana Yacht Club hosted the Elliott 5.9 and Platu 25 Auckland Championships, and the Farr 727 Nationals with 8 races held over 2 days.
The weather forecast kept changing throughout the week leading up to the event, with 25 – 35 knots expected, the fleets were pleasantly surprised to get out on the water with no more than 25 knot gusts during the whole day.
However the gusty squalls that came through still gave most boats a hard time, with plenty of wipe outs across all three fleets.
After day one the damage tally was at 2 broken booms, 1 broken spinnaker pole, 1 broken forestay, 1 broken side stay and a few ripped sails and blocks. And this was mostly in the Elliott and Farr 727 fleet, the Platu 25’s hardly suffered at all in the heavier breezes.

Day two proved to be lighter winds, once again well below the forecast. In the Elliott fleet Cam Horne and his crew, Derek & Graemeon on Slam Dunk (the 2009 National Champions) once again proved to be unbeatable, and took home the Auckland Championship trophy, with Voodoo in second with new crew Craig Coulam on the helm and Sub 60 in third with Stu Clarke helming, despite having a man over board in the last race of Saturday giving them a DNF.

Elliott 5.9 Auckland Championships 2009

Series ID 23
Results based on Elapsed time.
Races this series: 8 Series completed, 1 discarded to date
Low Point scoring system, ISAF Rule A9 applies

Race 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Place

Fleet race, 9 entries

T3700 Elliott 5.9 Slam Dunk 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 (4) 10 1
T3203 Elliott 5.9 Voodoo 3 1 2 3 3 (5) 4 5 21 2
T3760 Elliott 5.9 Sub 60 6 2 3 2 (dnf) 3 6 2 24 3
T4215 Elliott 5.9 Erotic 2 4 dnf (dns) 4 6 3 1 29 4
T6802 Elliott 5.9 Yank, Wig & Ballcock 5 5 5 4 2 4 5 (6) 30 5
T3146 Elliott 5.9 BRZO 4 (dnf) dns dns dns 2 1 3 40 6
T3747 Elliott 5.9 Viper 7 6 4 5 6 (dns) 8 7 43 7
T3580 Elliott 5.9 Elliott Goblit 8 7 6 6 dnf (dns) 7 8 50 8
T3668 Elliott 5.9 Slippery Slope 9 8 7 7 5 (dns) 9 9 54 9

The Platu fleet 2009 Auckland Champions were Brett Neil and his crew on White Cloud, 2 points clear of National Champions Simon Dickey on Oceanbridge who were second, with Andrew Brown and Team Motley Crew in third.
Platu 25 Auckland Championships
Series ID    24
Results based on    Elapsed time.
Races this series:    8    Series completed, 1 discarded to date
Low Point scoring system,  ISAF Rule A9 applies

Race    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    Points    Place
Fleet race,  6 entries
9148    Platu 25    White Cloud    1    1    (2)    1    1    1    2    2            9    1
9143    Platu 25    Oceanbridge    2    2    1    (3)    2    2    1    1            11    2
9149    Platu 25    Boat 11    3    3    3    2    (dns)    3    3    4            21    3
9145    Platu 25    RAYC    4    4    4    4    (dnf)    5    5    5            31    4
9144    Platu 25    SLAM    (dnc)    dnc    dnc    dnc    dnc    4    4    3            39    5
9141    Platu 25    BLANK    (dnc)    dnc    dnc    dnc    dnc    dnc    dnc    dnc            49    6

In the Farr 727 fleet on line Leigh Miller and his crew on Mumbo Jumbo took out the series, and on handicap Damon McLachlan and crew on The Source won the National Title, with Overdraft (Brad Davies) in second, and a well sailed regatta by Mumbo Jumbo (Leigh Miller) in third place overall.
Farr 727 National Championships 2009
Series ID    22
Results based on    Class
Races this series:    8    Series completed, 1 discarded to date
Low Point scoring system,  ISAF Rule A9 applies
Race    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    Points    Place
Fleet race,  9 entries
2380    Farr 727    The Source    2    3    1    1    1    (5)    2    2            12    1
2460    Farr 727    Overdraft    (7)    2    4    2    3    2    4    5            22    2
5280    Farr 727    Mumbo Jumbo    3    5    2    3    2    (7)    5    3            23    3
2861    Farr 727    Crac-a-Jac    1    6    dnf    (dns)    dns    1    1    1            28    4
2577    Farr 727    Quarter Pint    5    (7)    3    4    4    4    6    4            30    5
5376    Farr 727    Dire Straits    (8)    4    6    5    6    3    3    7            34    6
727    Farr 727    Zap    6    (8)    5    6    5    6    7    6            41    7
3312    Farr 727    Quick Nik    4    1    dnf    dns    dns    (dnc)    dnc    dnc            52    8
4245    Farr 727    Entree    (dnc)    dnc    dnc    dnc    dnc    8    8    dns            65    9

Farr 727 Nationals – Line REsults 2009
Series ID 25
Results based on Elapsed time.
Races this series: 8 Series completed, 1 discarded to date

Low Point scoring system, ISAF Rule A9 applies

Race 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Place
Fleet race, 9 entries

5280 Farr 727 Mumbo Jumbo 1 2 1 1 1 (4) 1 1 8 1
2460 Farr 727 Overdraft (4) 1 4 2 3 1 2 4 17 2
2577 Farr 727 Quarter Pint 2 3 3 (4) 2 2 3 2 17 3
2380 Farr 727 The Source 3 4 2 3 5 (7) 4 3 24 4
727 Farr 727 Zap (6) 6 5 5 4 5 6 5 36 5
5376 Farr 727 Dire Straits (7) 5 6 6 6 6 5 7 41 6
2861 Farr 727 Crac-a-Jac 5 8 (dnf) dns dns 3 7 6 47 7
3312 Farr 727 Quick Nik 8 7 dnf dns dns (dnc) dnc dnc 62 8
4245 Farr 727 Entree (dnc) dnc dnc dnc dnc 8 8 dns 65 9

More of those Outrageous Fortune winners

Celebrating another Victory

For the record

1st on line 1st on Handicap

Coastal Classic B division 2008

Knight Race to Kawau 2009

Ladies Tuesday Knight Series 2009

and a Rum Bucket from our friends Herdy and his Smash Palace Wellywood Mob

It’s been a great season, great to be part of it,

Thanks Quintin on behalf of all the Hoochie Mamas and Tool Guys, Cheers

Bruno Sroka and Fabienne D’Ortoli crowned European Course Racing Champions
Monday, 11 May 2009 10:24

The Grand Prix Petit Navire has kept all its promises for the staging of the first official European Course Racing Championships, even when there was no more racing on the final day of the competition due to lack of wind.

After 12 rounds of racing, Bruno Sroka and Fabienne D’Ortoli (both France) are the new Champions of Europe.
Flawless organization, great race management, many rounds raced, and an adaption of the new ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing made this a great event for the 97 competitors from all over Europe.

Bruno Sroka, European Champion 2009:
“It was not easy but the work paid off. It has been three months with Paulo (Editor’s note: Paulo Rista: Designer) we try to develop the hardware. This Grand Prix was a test-scale facing a big competition. In the end, our choices are validated by comparison with other riders who sailed with conventional boards. (Editor’s note: Marc Blanc, second, the main opponent of Bruno was sailing on it with a foil). I am really happy and if our work helps to change the kite, it’s great!. I’m really happy because this is a big personal and team with Paulo, and the title is a reward for our work.”

Fabienne D’Ortoli, European Champion 2009:
“I’m glad because I do not really expect to finish first, especially with the presence of Steph Bridge (Editor’s note: PKRA Tour Champion 2008). It was really hot between Steph, Caroline Adrien and me, all rounds ended a few meters of each other. But it was a great edition, with great management.

more here

more images here

10.05.2009
Alinghi SUI 1 and Okalys-Corum fought for the title of the Grand-Prix Corum until the last leg.

In Geneva, the titans fight took place between Okalys-Corum of Nicolas Grange and Alinghi SUI 1 of Ernesto Bertarelli. After a two day regatta, it’s Okalys-Corum who was leading by one point. The two legs of the day have changed all the rankings. In total, the twelve D35 will have run 6 legs. Geneva 10th may 2009 – Like yesterday, the day started by a long wait. A beginning of wind arrived at about 12h15, which put all the teams of the Challenge Julius Baer in movement. A first leg won by Okalys-Corum, helmed by Loïck Peyron had been launched at 13h45 with a wind between 5 and 10 knots. Alinghi SU 1 ended just behind thanks to its great larboard start, the sails went just passed the start boat. One hour later, the decisive leg started in a weakened wind and nearly not existing for the last competitors. After a shortcut, Alinghi SUI1 won the leg, as well as the Grand-Prix Corum. Just behind Zebra 7, the crew of young people led by Denis Girardet, then Julius-Baer of Philippe Cardis. This week-end didn’t stop changing between a non existing wind and a strong, nearly to strong wind. It devoted Alinghi SUI 1 of Ernesto Bertarelli, who confirms its victory of the Challenge Julius Baer 2008 despite its multiple reinforcements of the crew. Okalys-Corum from Nicolas Grange finished at the second place just under the wire. This team which hasn’t changed since 4 years proves that the experience of the D35 and of the water plan stays most important. On the 3rd step of the podium, we find Julius Baer which has been powered up by 4 teams from Courrier dunkerk into Mumm 30 Alain Gautier on Foncia ends for his part at one place of the podium. He’s followed by Zen Too from Guy Picciotto, assisted by Pierre Pennec. Newly arrived on the race, Alinghi SUI 6, with on its board the kernel of Alinghi from the America’s Cup and Veltigroup from Marco Simeoni helmed by Stève Ravussin, classify respectively at the 6th and 7th place. Alinghi SUI 6 ends at one place which partially reflects their verry good end of regatta. The girls of Ladycat from Dona Bertarelli Spaeth and helmed by Karine Fauconnier are at the 8th place despite their exceptional second place in very rough conditions. The youngest team of the Grand-Prix Corum, also finished their regatta at the second place, and classify 9th of the general classification. At the 10th place, we find Smarthome from Christian Michel, followed by Banque Populaire, helmed by Pascal Bidégorry. He is new in the Challenge and achieved his first regatta in Geneva. Romandie.com, which capsized on the first day without doing any damage, ends the Grand-Prix at the 12th place. Don’t miss the following of the Challenge Julius Baer the 23rd and 24th of May with the Grand-Prix Romandie.com Act 1 in Rolle!

more here

1      SUI-1      Alinghi SUI 1      13pt
2     SUI-2     Okalys-Corum     16pts
3     SUI-3     Julius Baer     18pts
4     SUI-5     Foncia     21pts
5     SUI-4     Zen Too     22pts
6     SUI-6     Alinghi SUI 6     24pts
7     SUI-11     Veltigroup     28pts
8     SUI-10     Ladycat     32pts
9     SUI-7     Zebra 7     37pts
10     SUI-9     Smarthome     39pts
11     SUI-12     Banque Populaire     39pts
12     SUI-8     Romandie.com     58pts

Spies Like Us

We know you’ve been following the America’s Cup Anarchists’ valiant attempt at international espionage as they piece together what Alinghi’s DoG monster might look like, and it turns out the French-speaking media are as well. The popular French-language AC blog “Tribormat” has been following it so closely that he’s using the pics shot by our spies to call out his neighbors in Switzerland, asking them to get on the ground and find out more. If you’re somewhere near Villeneuve and you know something, tell us – we’ve got some major swag for anyone who gets us something worthwhile.

more here

L’autre équipage du defender, barré par Ed Baird, termine à une plus modeste sixième place. Il faut dire que la concurrence est importante avec la présence de nombreux champions français en manque de régate après l’arrêt du circuit ORMA (60 pieds Open). On note par exemple la présence de Loïc Peyron (Team Okalys-Corum, 2ème), Franck Cammas (Zen Too, 5ème), Alain Gautier avec Desjoyeaux (Foncia, 4ème), et Pascal Bidégorry (Banque Populaire, 11ème). On reverra une bonne partie de ces marins la semaine prochaine pour le circuit IShare en cata X40 à Venise.

Pas très loin de cette régate se joue une autre course. Une course contre la montre pour construire au plus vite CheeseZilla, le monstre qui va devoir affronter DoGzilla l’année prochaine pour une Coupe de l’America selon le Deed Of Gift. Nous avions vu il y a quelques semaines le début de montage des tentes pour son assemblage, grâce à Leloublan voici de nouvelles photos de ces tentes où l’on travaille même le week end.

Translated

The other crew of the defender, blocked by Ed Baird, ends on a more modest sixth place. It is necessary to say that competition is important with the presence of numerous French champions in lack of regatta after the stopping of the circuit ORMA (60 feet Open). They note the presence of Loïc Peyron for instance (Team Okalys-Corum, 2nd), Franck Cammas (Zen Too, 5th), Alain Gautier with Desjoyeaux (Foncia, 4th), and Pascal Bidégorry (popular, 11th Bank). They will see again a good party of these sailors next week for circuit IShare in cata X40 in Venice.

Not very far from this regatta another running is played. A race against the clock to construct CheeseZilla as quickly as possible, the monster which is going to have to confront DoGzilla next year for a Cup of America according to the Deed Of Gift. We had seen some weeks ago the beginning of assemblage of tents for its assemblage, thanks to Leloublan here is of new photographs of these tents where they work the week end even.

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This post is tagged alain gautier, alinghi, americas cup, bmw oracle, brainaid, bruno sroka, bym magazine, cam horne, cheesezilla, Deed of Gift, dogzilla, e-anarchy, ed baird, elliott 5.9, ernesto bertarelli, fabienne d'ortoli, farr 727, franck cammas, george schuyler, hilary lister, isaf, kite, kiteboarding, loick peyron, marian martin, outrageous fortune, peter montgomery, platu 25, quintin fowler, royal akarana, russell coutts, simon dickey, slam dunk