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Where is Jessica Watson now?

Clipper start line crash,

Transat Jacques Vabre – Crepes Whaou – Safran,

Groupama 3 -  The repair,

Greek Challenge – 34th AC,

Aircraft Carrier anyone? – ex-John F. Kennedy,

Sydney Hobart – 112 yachts including 6 super maxis,

RC 44 – Dubai

Enjoy

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“So, not quite the blog I was hoping to write on this leg. We should be out there bashing round the Cape of Good Hope with the others but instead we’re waking up in the calm waters of the Royal Cape Yacht Club.

“Our approach to the start line was looking good. We were next to Uniquely Singapore at the ‘pin end’, the opposite end of the line from the Committee Boat and on starboard tack. California pulled off a great start, Cork were a little behind them, and so had to duck around behind us as we approached the line in diagonally opposite directions. As they ducked us they were hit by a gust which prevented them turning away and they ended up colliding with us, spinning us round on the spot and causing up a rather large crack just to the side of the helm station.

“After assessing that everyone was ok, the first priority became getting Hull & Humber back to calm water and minimising any water intake as the crack went down to six inches above the water line. We jumped into action to set up the emergency pumps we have on board, although didn’t need them as we were already on the correct tack to make it back to the wind shadow of Table Mountain from where we could motor back to port in flat seas.

“So what happens now? Well the surveyor came round to inspect our new opening, and recommended who could do the fix and the size of job. We’ll apply for redress once we get to Oz, which will hopefully mean we’ll get a few points for completing the leg as it wasn’t our fault we have been prevented from racing.

“It’s a massive disappointment for us as a team, especially for the leggers who have been looking forward to their race. As for who is able to hold on for the delay or not will pan out over the next few days as we get a better picture of how long the fix will take.

“There’s absolutely no hard feeling towards Cork, they did their best to avoid us but the wind gods had other ideas.

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A carnival welcome for Crepes Whaou!

There was a great welcome for Crepes Whaou! after they broke the finish line off Puerto Limon to win the Multi 50 class and take line honours.

A huge, noisy Costa Rican welcome greeted Franck Yves Escoffier and Erwan Le Roux, co skippers of Crêpes Whaou! when they emerged out of the darkness, comprehensively winning the Multi 50 class and taking line honours for this ninth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre race which started from Le Havre on Sunday 8th November.

Emerging out of the darkness to break the finish line off the historic port town of Peurto Limon at 2231hrs local time Monday 23rd (0431hrs UTC/GMT Tuesday) the French duo with their new build Crêpes Whaou! 3 maintained Escoffier’s remarkable unbeaten record in this biannual classic, also scooping the IMOCA Open 60’s to take line honours for the third consecutive edition.

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Safran triumph

It was a mightily relieved and intensely happy Marc Guillemot who won the hard fought Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA Open 60 class when, along with co-skipper Charles Caudrelier they broke the finish line early this morning in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.

Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier brought Safran across the finish line in the early hours of Tuesday morning (local time) off Peurto Limon, Costa Rica to complete an emotional victory in the IMOCA Open 60 class in the Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic race from Le Havre to Costa Rica.

Although the duo had battled through an horrendous Atlantic storm, during which they took the lead of the 14 boat IMOCA Open 60 class back on Thursday 12th November, the hard bitten skipper from La Trinité confirmed on the dockside that the worst part of their race was the final 24 hours.

Because both they and their nearest rivals Groupe Bel (Kito de Pavant and François Gabart), who were just 90 miles behind, had chosen to go in ‘stealth’ mode – during which their positions are no longer publically broadcast – he spent the final miles fighting through unpredictable light winds, squalls and shifting breezes as they closed to the Costa Rica coast through the night, being eaten up by worry that De Pavant and Gabart might still catch them with their ‘Laughing Cow’ logo’d, an identical design from VPLP/Verdier partnership.

“The most difficult time was today, every time were battling under the clouds, the storms, the rain, with no wind I was imagining Kito and François with their Laughing Cow running down the slopes with 25 knots of wind, whereas we were stuck with three or four knots. It was hyper hard for the moral, very stressful. Even up to an hour before the line we were still very anxious. But the main thing is that we got in in front.” Grinned a relieved Guillemot.

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Head down but an unfailing morale

Jules Verne Trophy 2009 – 2010
Tied up alongside in the port of Cape Town since Saturday, Groupama 3 certainly isn’t being left in peace, far from it in fact. Barely had she reached the dock, then the shore crew managed by Yann Mérour, all of whom had made the trip down from Lorient, had taken control of matters with the assistance of the sailors. Structural analysis of the damage and observations made on site by composite specialists, confirm that it will indeed take a week’s work before Groupama 3 can head out to sea again, bound for Brest, for a new stand-by period set to begin on 1st January 2010.

Groupama 3 in Cape Town – © Alain Paulhac / Welcomeon Board

Benefiting from the technical means available in the Shosholoza base (a team which participated in the 32nd edition of the America’s Cup), Pierre Tissier, Sandy Blanalt, Sarah Lynch and Eric Beylot are all working on Groupama 3′s port float. In a dry, oppressive heat, which is favourable for working on carbon, they have begun by cutting out the faulty bulkhead and then constructing its replacement: “It’s never easy to work in such a confined space. Luckily this bulkhead is very close to the access hatch though. This enables us to poke our heads out into the fresh air on a regular basis. It certainly is hot though!” says Eric Beylot, who is almost missing the gloomy weather reigning back home in Brittany.

Having made the journey down from Johannesburg, three infra-red analysis specialists have inspected the affected zone without finding any side-effects. This is a good thing according to the skipper of Groupama 3, who only rarely leaves his telephone, as he’s in regular contact with his design office, the architects from the VPLP and HDS: “By running the data through their computers again, they’ve realised that the load case which concerns us today was not intended to exceed six tonnes. The sailing conditions we endured very certainly produced greater stresses than that. This is why we’re also going to reinforce the equivalent bulkhead on the starboard float” explains Franck.

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To Greek Challenge Προκαλεί Διάλογο για το 34ο America’s Cup
[Τρίτη, Νοέμβριος 24, 2009

Πηγή: Greek Challenge

Dear Friends and Supporters,
Greek Challenge will be holding a open discussion regarding the 34th AC and our team’s participation in it. Athletes that are interested to get involved or would like to voice their opinion should participate. This is the first of three meetings to take place before our team’s participation at World Yachting Racing Forum on December 10 and the scope is that the opinions of the sailing community to be heard at the forum.

The first meeting will take place at the NAUTICAL CLUB of THESSALONIKI at 4pm on the 26th of November.
The next meetings will take place in Athens and Kalamata next week and will notify you of the dates and place ASAP.

Looking forward to your participation.

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Navy Announces Availability of ex-John F. Kennedy for Donation

Story Number: NNS091123-04
Release Date: 11/23/2009 1:25:00 PM

From Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON (NNS) — In a Federal Register notice published on Nov. 23, 2009, the Department of the Navy advertised the availability of ex-John F. Kennedy (CV 67), located at the Navy’s Inactive Ships Maintenance Office, Philadelphia, Pa. for donation as a museum/memorial under the authority of Title 10 U.S.C. Section § 7306.

Eligible recipients may include any State, Commonwealth, or possession of the United States or any municipal corporation or political subdivision thereof; the District of Columbia; or any organization incorporated as a nonprofit entity (under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code).

According to the Federal Register notice, the deadline for submission of Phase I documentation, a Letter of Intent and an Executive Summary, is Jan. 22, 2010.

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Wild Oats XI relaunched Photo Andrea Francolini

BYM Sailing & Sports News

Rolex Sydney Hobart start to set harbour alight

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

The start of this year’s 65th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will take centre stage in late December when the anticipated fleet of 112, led by the most exciting line up of maxis ever seen in Australia, promises to set Sydney Harbour alight on Boxing Day.

Currently 112 yachts are expected on the two start lines on 26 December 2009 for the annual summer blue water classic, a substantial increase on last year’s 100 starters and just four shy of the 60th anniversary fleet when entries spiked considerably.

Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), Matt Allen, said the large number of entries was an encouraging show of support for the race.

“It’s a return to the sort of numbers the event attracted a decade ago and in the midst of what has been a tough year financially for many, it’s a great show of confidence and support for the world famous dash across eastern Bass Strait to Hobart,” the Commodore said.

“The way this year’s line honours contest is shaping up, and with the calibre of international yachts and sailors heading our way, we can expect the eyes of the world to turn to our event when the starting gun is fired at 1pm on 26 December,” the Commodore added.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart 2009 has attracted so many big boats as a result of the CYCA’s decision to increase the length overall limit, or LOA, to 100 feet or 30.48 metres, thereby bringing the event in-line with other major international events including the Transpac and Rolex Fastnet Race.
The spotlight is well and truly on the impending line honours tussle as Bob Oatley’s Reichel Pugh 100, Wild Oats XI, is prepped for an unprecedented five in a row, the mighty Sydney maxi edging closer to Morna/Kurrewa’s all-time record of seven non-consecutive titles.

The difference this year is that the current race record holder is not the only standout big boat in the pack.

Four other 100 footers and two 98 footers have their sights set on ending Wild Oats XI’s four year dominance of the ocean classic and the dockside talk amongst those who will be driving the challengers south is that of those six, at least four have a realistic shot at beating the fleet to Hobart.

Of those vying for line honours, Neville Crichton’s RP 100, Alfa Romeo from New Zealand, is causing the most unease. With 143 line honours wins over four years, Crichton’s return from the Mediterranean and Europe, where he has been campaigning the boat since the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart, comes with a strong word of warning.

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Photo Raffaello Bastiani / RC44 Class Association

Team Aqua, Team Austria and BMW ORACLE Racing on great form

The Sea Dubai RC 44 Gold Cup practice race took place in spectacular conditions this afternoon. Making the best of the big surf, Team Aqua, Team Austria and BMW ORACLE Racing dominated the opposition.
November 24, 2009 – The RC 44 Championship Tour final event started today with the practice race. The conditions were absolutely perfect, with 15 knots of breeze and a big swell. “This particular wind is very rare in Dubai”, commented the Regatta Chief Executive Saeed Harib during the event’s opening press conference this morning. “It was blowing last time the RC 44’s were in Dubai, and it is there again today. I think the Class has taken a subscription.”

Starting perfectly at the Committee boat end of the line and tacking immediately to the right of the course, Team Austria – helmed by René Mangold – dominated most of the race, giving the victory away to Team Aqua and BMW ORACLE Racing in the last gibe. The Team from the UAE chose not to cross the line, letting the Americans win the regatta. Unfortunately, the forecast for the coming days isn’t as good and the usual sea breeze should be back.

Ten RC 44 one-designs representing nine nations are competing this week for the Sea Dubai RC 44 Gold Cup and the season’s overall trophies. Organised by Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), the event starts tomorrow and Thursday with a full match race round robin and carries on until Sunday with the fleet regatta. The points will count for double.

Talking about their strategy for the event, both Dean Barker and Cameron Appleton – skippers of the two leading teams – said that they would sail their race without looking too much at their opponent. “We will sail this race like any other race”, commented Appleton. Barker replied: “We hope to be as lucky as we were last time.”
Skipper of the local entry Team Sea Dubai, Markus Wieser explained that his team had been training hard over the past few days and that he expects a good results, at least in the top five. “The pressure is on”, he concluded.

The teams involved:

(Name of team, owner, pro sailor)

Team Aqua, Chris Bake / Cameron Appleton
Team Ceeref, Igor Lah / Rod Davis
Team Sea Dubai, Yousef Lahej, DIMC / Markus Wieser
BMW ORACLE Racing, Neville Crichton / Ian Vickers
Team Organika, Maciej Nawrocki / Karol Jablonski
Puerto Calero Islas Canarias, Daniel Calero / Jose Maria Ponce
Artemis, Torbjorn Tornqvist / Dean Barker
No Way Back, Pieter Heerema / Ray Davies
Team Austria, René Mangold / Christian Binder
Team Katusha, Paul Cayard / Bob Little

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This post is tagged 34th AC, artemis, BMW ORACLE Racing, Bob Little, cameron appleton, chris bake, Christian Binder, clipper, Crepes Whaou, DAniel Calero, dean barker, DIMC, Dudai, Greek Challenge, groupama 3, Ian Vickers, igor lah, Jessica Watson, John F. Kennedy, Jose Maria Ponce, Karol Jablonski, Maciej Nawrocki, Markus Wieser, mothership, Neville Crichton, no way back, paul cayard, Pieter Heerema, Puerto Calero Islas Canarias, ray davies, rc44, Rene Mangold, Rod Davis, Safran, Sydney Hobart, team aqua, team austria, team ceeref, Team Katusha, team organika, team sea dubai, Torbjorn Tornqvist, Transat Jacques Vabre, yachtyakka yacht club, Yousef Lahej