Sailing legends Russell COUTTS (NZL) and Paul CAYARD (USA) have teamed up with internationally renowned Portuguese sports promoter, João LAGOS, to create a new annual global sports series. The World Sailing League (WSL) will be held at premier sailing locations around the world with the series winner receiving a cheque for $2 million.

Twelve teams, representing nations, will compete in identical, state-of-the-art 70 foot catamarans. It is anticipated that there will be venues in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America and South America.

The World Sailing League will use a fleet racing format although a number of other innovative concepts such as time trials and slalom racing will be tested using the prototype yacht. It will also have a customised support ship to transport the boats and equipment to each venue. The ship will be akin to a transportable pit lane, with all the technology required to maintain the 70 foot catamarans.

The design of the boats will be finalized by early summer of this year with the first prototype being launched in the latter half of 2007 to allow sufficient testing and refinement. The 14 one-design yachts will start being built in 2008, ready for the launch of the series during 2009.

The new boats have been designed by a team including leading ORMA 60 naval architects, Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot Prevost and are at the forefront of technology. The 70 foot catamarans will combine speed, manoeuvrability and can be raced close to shore for optimum spectator viewing.

See the ISAF site: www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j1vFnApqB

and the report from TheDailySail at www.thedailysail.com

Scuttlebutt Europe #1158 - 9 February 2007

Brought to you by boats.com Europe with the support of OC Events, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE CAYARD AND COUTTS SHOW...
At midday today (1200 GMT, 09/02/07), sailing legends Paul Cayard and Russell Coutts will join with Joao Lagos in Lisbon, Portugal, to make an announcement about a major new international sailing event. This will be one of the biggest recent announcements in the world of sailing.

A release will be issued at 1300 (GMT) which will contain information about the launch; the release will also give details of a website where imagery, podcasts and other information can be found.

Editor: Check the website scuttlebutteurope.com tomorrow for details and a link to the new site. The rumour mill is betting that this will be a fleet racing endeavour sailed in multihulls. The website for Joao Lagos' business is www.lagossports.com , a biography of the tennis star turned sports impresario is at www.bpcc.pt/essentialProfilesUKDetails.asp?id=7

SNAP GOES $750,000
Chris Dickson's America's Cup syndicate found a costly weakness in a race rig yesterday when a mast top broke during training in the Hauraki Gulf. USA71, one of BMW Oracle Racing's 2003 generation yachts, damaged the top of its 34m mast while training in 15 knots of breeze.

No one on board was hurt and the damaged rig remained intact as the yacht was towed back to the team's base at the Viaduct. A mast and rigging cost around $750,000.

USA71 was racing downwind during an in-house training session when the top of the rig collapsed. The race rig was not one of the syndicate's innovative jumper-less rigs.

It was being removed last night for inspection. Dickson, who was on the syndicate's new boat USA98 at the time, said the incident was unfortunate but they had been pushing the boats hard.

During the last America's Cup, especially in the build-up months, a number of teams broke masts on the Hauraki Gulf.

So far, the only reported mast breaking in Valencia was the German team's last year.

Most of the big teams will build three to six rigs for a campaign, each of which takes about three months to construct.

It is not the first time that Dickson has run into trouble in his home waters. In 2001 he was at the helm of Oracle's USA49 when it broke its keel and capsized.

A year earlier he was at the helm of USA61 when it also broke its keel and toppled over.

The American syndicate, set up by software billionaire Larry Ellison, plans to continue training with USA71 and USA98 today. The team is training in Auckland until next Friday. They then head to Valencia, Spain, for the start of the challenger series on April 16. -- Julie Ash

www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=106&objectid=10423123

ULLMAN SAILS J109 AT KEY WEST
Congratulations to Gary Mozer and his J109 team on "Current Obsession" for winning their class at Acura's 2007 Key West Race Week. In this hotly contested class with grand prix talent and sailmakers on the top boats, Gary selected Ullman Sails to deliver the power and speed to win class in this international regatta. Again and again, Ullman delivers the performance and reliability that enables top teams to outperform their stiffest competition. If you and your crew are ready to race with the "Fastest Sails on the Planet", contact your nearest Ullman Sails loft and visit www.ullmansails.com

NZ'S MINOPRIO HARDY CUP CHAMPION FOR 2007
New Zealander Adam Minoprio climaxed a great week of sailing on Sydney Harbour by winning the ISAF Grade 3 Hardy Cup, the prestigious under-25 match-racing regatta conducted annually by the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

His Black Match team from Auckland's Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron was at the top of leaderboard throughout the four-day regatta, but they needed their best in match-racing tactics. helming and sail-handling to win their semi-final and final today.

The 21-year-old skipper won a close semi-final 2-1 against the RSYS representative Stu Pollard, while the final, against fellow Kiwi Laurie Jury, went to the fourth of the best-of-five races before Minoprio clinched the Hardy Cup 2007, 3-1.

In the petit final, Pollard, 21, scored an impressive 2-1 win against West Australian Torvar Mirsky, who had lost to Jury in their semi-final, 2-0.

Adam Minoprio hopes to join his elder brother Simon in representing New Zealand in the famous Congressional Cup in California in March and then compete in another noted US match-racing event, the Knickerbocker Cup in New York in August.

The semi-finals and final were sailed in 15-18 knot sou'sou'-west winds, with many variations in wind strength and direction. in contrast to the steady moderate to fresh nor'easters of the first three days. -- Peter Campbell

Full results: www.rsys.com.au/regattas
Photos in the Scuttlebutt Europe photo gallery: scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/

FINN MIDWINTERS
World Champion and world #1 Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN) finished a clear winner of the ISAF Grade 1 Finn Midwinters, with an opening trio of bullets leading him to victory with a rare to spare in Fort Lauderdale, USA.

After losing out to Per Moberg (NOR) in the Medal Race of the ISAF Grade 1 Rolex Miami OCR, Hoegh-Christensen immediately stamped his authority on the Midwinters with scores of 1,1,1,3,1 in the opening five races. From there on in the Danish World Champion never looked like losing control of the 26 strong Finn fleet and ended up a comfortable winner.

Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) finished strongly to come in second overall, whilst Zach Railey (USA) repeat his 2006 result by finishing third, just ahead of Dan Slater (NZL).

Brendan Casey (AUS) again demonstrated the rapid improvement he has made since switching from the Laser to the Finn last year, coming in fifth overall.

The Finn Midwinters are taking place as part of the Winter Circuit surrounding the ISAF Grade 1 Rolex Miami OCR.

Top Ten Results:
1. Jonas Hoegh-Christensen, DEN, 16
2. Pieter-Jan Postma, NED, 24
3. Zach Railey, USA, 27
4. Dan Slater, NZL, 32
5. Brendan Casey, AUS, 35
6. Ed Greig, GBR, 55
7. Timothy Goodbody, IRL, 58
8. Aaron O'grady, IRL, 60
9. Geoffrey Ewenson, USA, 66
10. Wietze Zetzema, NED, 68

www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j1,FnAj%60B
www.lyc.org/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=233515&ssid=85425&vnf=1

2007 TRANSPAC
Further proof that sailing can be a spectacular spectator sport will be offered when the 44th biennial Transpacific Yacht Race to Honolulu starts off the Point Fermin Park and historic lighthouse in San Pedro this summer.

At the suggestion of Steve Dair, a San Pedro resident, veteran sailor and Transpac competitor, the event's board of directors voted unanimously to move the starting line from the point on the Palos Verdes Peninsula where the race has started for more than a quarter century back to where races started in the 60s and 70s. The new location will be 2 1/2 miles east closer to Los Angeles Harbor.

The site is where Gaffey Street ends atop the bluffs at the edge of the Pacific Ocean at the southernmost point of Los Angeles County. The park will be more accommodating to spectators with a much closer view, grassy areas for picnicking and shade from the July sun.

Starts for various classes are scheduled Monday, July 9; Thursday, July 12, and Sunday, July 15---the biggest and fastest boats last.

The site of the park was named by British explorer George Vancouver in 1793 for Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, and the lighthouse was built in 1874 before San Pedro was a town. The first Transpac was in 1906.

* The Morning Light team is about to take another leap forward: the nautical equivalent of handing the kids the keys to the car.

During their second monthly training session Feb. 8-20 starting Thursday in preparation for next summer's Transpacific Yacht Race, the 15 young men and women will sail their Transpac 52 on two 138-nautical mile overnight voyages around neighboring Molokai Island. Starting from their base of operations at the Waikiki Yacht Club, the young sailors will be under the supervision of sailing manager Robbie Haines and preeminent navigator Stan Honey for the first trip Feb. 13-14 but will be on their own for the second Feb. 19-20.

The twin goals of the Morning Light project are to prepare and send a youthful team from diverse backgrounds in a major ocean race and to produce a documentary film of the entire experience. The film is being produced by Roy E. Disney's Pacific High Productions in association with Disney Studios and is scheduled for theater release early next year. -- Rich Roberts

www.transpacificyc.org

ODEPA ENSURES SAILING CONTESTS AT PAN AMERICAN GAMES
The Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA) approved on Thursday of the implementation of temporary sailing structure for the Pan American Games.

The decision removed the threat to cancel all sailing competitions during the event, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro in July.

ODEPA said that it will exceptionally accept the temporary structure, because of the judicial impasse concerning the construction of a boathouse at Rios bayside. Federal laws protect the Marina da Gloria, where all sailing contests will take place, from constructions that may change its original features, as it is part of Brazils historical and artistic heritage.

The Pan Am Games Organizing Committee (Co-Rio) decided to give up the initial project, which followed Olympic standards but whose implementation had been paralyzed since Sept. 2006. With little time to go until the opening of the Games, Co-Rio chose to build temporary structures at the bayside last week, but ODEPA promptly refused the proposal and threatened to prevent sailing contests from happening. However, ODEPAs President Mario Vazquez Rana sent a letter to Co-Rio, authorizing the implementation of the second-choice structure, but reinforcing that the committee should continue to fight in court for the original project.

english.peopledaily.com.cn/200702/09/eng20070209_348737.html

INTERNATIONAL FLEET GROWS FOR BALTIC SPRINT CUP 2007
One of the newest offshore sailing regattas in Europe the Baltic Sprint Cup is now an even better international challeng. - provisional entries so far represent SWE, CAN, GER, GBR, EST, LAT, LTU, FIN, NED and DEN. Boat size is from 30ft - 85ft (the 83ft CALYPSO of Gerd Clausen and Bernd Jorg is the largest entry so far).

The third edition of this cruiser/racer event starts on 20th July at Copenhagen with five legs through six countries ending at Parnu, Estonia on 3rd August. The regatta combines plenty of offshore work with the chance to be feted at brilliant parties at stopover ports even many cruising yachts have not yet visited - crews and skippers can change at the stopovers so campaigning the regatta can be a highly flexible affair, taking advantage of the excellent air links now available near most of the ports. Like Channel Racing, the event calls for Special Regs Category 3 plus liferaft. IRC is being introduced this year and ORC Club will be used as the main system, time-on-time. Event management is in English.

There's just time to take advantage of a "meet-the-opposition" dinner this February. Skippers, crew members, port captains and prospective entrants are welcome at the Hafen-Klub Hamburg on Saturday 17th at 18:00 hours for just 30 Euros a head (to be paid at the table - plus wines at cost). A grand lottery will be opened. The event web-site will start taking online registration on this day and every full entry registered between 17th and 28th February will go into a prize draw. Details at www.balticsprintcup.com. Excellent low-cost air travel is offered UK-Hamburg city by German Wings (owned by Lufthansa), flying from Gatwick. -- Alan Green

WILD OATS IN FOR THE SUPERYACHT CUP
Two times Sydney-Hobart winner 'Wild Oats' has confirmed entry to The Superyacht Cup in Palma. Australian Bob Oatley's 30m racing maxi will be matched against arch-rival 'Alfa Romeo', owned by New Zealander Neville Crichton. The two fiercely competitive yachts will be amongst the fastest in the fleet despite being two of the smallest of the 60 or so expected entries. Two additional high performance light-weight cruising boats, Visione (45m) and Ghost (37m) will be out to show their speed against the smaller maxis.

The Superyacht Cup, which has traditionally been held in October, is this year taking place in June to coincide with The America's Cup in near by Valencia, and the last day of the three day regatta will be for The New Zealand Millennium Cup. Wild Oats is one of several yachts making the trip from the southern hemisphere to Europe to take part in this unique event. The Dubois designed 51m fast cruising boat Kokomo, which was launched from Alloy Yachts in New Zealand last year, will be sailing to Europe after taking part in The St Bart's Bucket in the Caribbean. Two additional yachts to register their entry this week are the Dubois designed 37m Midnight and the 32m schooner Ashanti IV, designed by Henri Gruber, taking the total entries to date to over 40 yachts. -- Kate Branagh

www.thesuperyachtcup.com

818TH HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG
Hamburg's famed port festival is coming up again - with tall ships and harbour launches, historic sailing ships, museum ships and steamers, sailing and motor yachts on the Elbe, meeting between Landungsbrucken and Fish Market for the great arrival parade. The 818th Hafengeburstag Hamburg - the Port of Hamburg Birthday Celebration - looks forward to welcoming you from 11 to 13 May 2007, with numerous attractions on water, on land and in the air. This year, there will be four tall ships at the party - the "Sedov", "Kruzensthern", "Mir" and "Alexander von Humboldt" will bring the romance of the age of sail to the City of Hamburg.

Visitors can look forward to Open Ship opportunities on the tall ships on all three days. Each of these historic ships has its own story to tell. The "Sedov", the world's largest windjammer, has just completed her term as the shooting location for the film on the loss of the "Pamir" in a hurricane. The 110 metre "Mir" is reputed to be the fastest tall ship in the world. The "Kruzensthern" is one of eight Flying P liners, and the only one still in service today. And the "Alexander von Humboldt", with her characteristic green sails, is one of Germany's best known tall ships.

The many impressive vessels include the "Amphitrite" - this "Grand Old Lady" is a real jewel despite her age of 120 years. This three-masted gaff-rigged schooner is back again at the Hafengeburtstag Hamburg after an absence of 18 years. Another birthday celebration will be held, by the charitable Albertinen-Diakoniewerk, which marks its centenary on Sunday 13 May with a divine service on the "Sedov".

Many other exciting birthday guests are expected - the navy are sending their frigate "Rheinland-Pfalz" and the minehunters "Rottweil", "Dillingen" and "uberherrn", and the fisheries protection service will be represented by their "Seeadler".

www.hafengeburtstag.de/presse/Four_tall_ships_as_birthday_guests_this_year.htm

YACHTS OF MONEY FOR KYLIE'S EX
Although yachts are primarily bought for the love of luxury on the open water, they can often have surprising resale value, as Olivier Martinez found out when he split from Kylie Minogue.

He purchased White Wings, a plush vintage yacht, for 180,000 pounds for blissful summer vacations spent with the diminutive pop princess in 2004, reports the Sun.

But just three years later, he is set to sell the vessel for 230,000 pounds, representing a 27 per cent return on investment.

A source told the newspaper that the monetary gains, while welcome, would not ease the painful break up: "Olivier is facing up to looking after himself without Kylie. He put the boat on the market at the end of last year when he realised he wouldn't be sharing any more romantic holidays with her on the Med."

He added: "Not many people can make a profit after owning a boat for a couple of years."

www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/news/aid/18054237/Yachts+of+money+for+Kylie%27s+ex

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THE LAST WORD
Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense. -- Gertrude Stein

OC Events, www.ocevents.org , organisers of two major IMOCA 60 oceanic events, the new double-handed Barcelona World Race 2007, and the original solo transocean race, The Transat 2008 (ex-OSTAR) plus the Extreme 40 Sailing Series for The iShares Cup.

Over 80,000 boats for sale on www.boats.com

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