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AMERICA'S CUP DELAYED
The current uncertainty around the future of the event triggers decision to postpone plans to hold the America's Cup in 2009.

During the past months, AC Management (ACM), the Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG) and the Club Nautico Espanol de Vela (CNEV), in conjunction with the competing Challengers, have worked hand in hand to develop the rules and regulations for an event in 2009. These rules and regulations were agreed by all competitors and supported by the most recent entrants bringing the number of registered syndicates to eight, with an additional two currently filing entry documents.

The ongoing uncertainty around the conclusion of the New York court case brought by BMW Oracle Racing (BOR) leaves the organisers no choice but to delay the event, as many indicators demonstrate a lack of viability to stage the event in 2009 to the same standards as the 32nd America's Cup.

The competitors' entry deadline of 15 December remains valid and for now, ACM, SNG and CNEV await the outcome of the legal process. If the New York Supreme Court rules that CNEV is valid and BOR chooses not to appeal the decision, ACM will endeavour to work with the competitors to adapt the existing rules and regulations and put in place a new framework for an event to take place at a later stage in Valencia.

Should the US Courts rule against CNEV, SNG will accept the Golden Gate Yacht Club Deed of Gift Challenge and meet them in a vessel, possibly a multihull, in accordance with the terms of the Deed of Gift.

* Response from GGYC:

The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) said today the decision to postpone the next America's Cup by Alinghi was unfortunate and unnecessary.

"There have been many opportunities to resolve the new protocol without taking this step," Tom Ehman, the Club's spokesman said.

He said the offer made last week by three challengers and GGYC addressed everyone's concerns and would have enabled the event to go ahead as planned.

The club hopes it will still be possible for the event to be held in Valencia on schedule or without too great a delay.

www.americascup.com and www.ggyc.com

* Team New Zealand is strongly denying rumours that the legal dispute between other competitors could scuttle the kiwi team's chance to take part in the next America's Cup. Cup holders Team Alinghi and American challenger BMW Oracle are in court debating the modification of the rules the Swiss team wants to make.

Britain's Times newspaper is reporting that Grant Dalton told his team that if the dispute is not resolved by the end of the year, and the final race is not held in 2009, the team will close.

But this morning, a Team New Zealand spokesman has rubbished the claims - saying he can guarantee the rumour is not true but is being spread by what he calls a "mischevious website blog". -- www.tv3.co.nz

* The Club Nautico Espanol de Vela, Challenger of Record for the 33rd America's Cup, will run its Spanish Challenge Trophy regatta this weekend at Valencia.

Manuel Chirivella, president of the Club, said that, 'This is the third organised regatta and the Spanish Challenge Trophy is the reaffirmation of fulfillment.'

Chirivella also thanked the ACM and the Valencia Partnership 2007 its support of the regatta and the yacht clubs of Valencia and Pobla de Farnals for transferring the dates of regattas and cruises that clashed with the regatta.

Jordi Lamarca, President of the Protest Committee, explained that right now there are 60 enrolled boats that represent 14 clubs from Murcia, the Valencian Community and Catalonia, and of these, '14 correspond to class RN1, eight to class RN2 and 16 to RN3' added Lamarca.

The first races are expected to start at 14:00 hrs, Saturday. Two races are planned for each day, with a maximum of four over the weekend.

Participants will be able to attend talks at the AC base and a member of the team will explain the details of the new America's Cup AC90 class and will take questions on the technical aspects of the America's Cup regatta.

1000 MILES SOLO
Racing at Petit Bateau are very proud to announce the launch of their latest single-handed race, the '1000 Miles Solo' which will complete a four year cycle of solo events, this time visiting Ireland, Spain and France in summer 2008.

The '1000 Miles Solo' comprises 3 testing legs; the first from Falmouth to Kinsale is 185 miles and will take about 30 hours to complete. The longest leg is from Kinsale to Santander, a distance of 520 miles and will take 3 to 4 days across Biscay and off the Continental Shelf. The final leg is to Camaret Sur Mer near Brest, which is 290 miles from Santander.

Registration and the Welcome supper will take place at Mylor Yacht Club on Saturday 28th June; MYC has been the traditional host club for our races since 2004 when the first edition of this race was held.

This exciting race will appeal to skippers wishing to extend their experience in open waters and is a step up from our 2007 race of 600 miles. An international fleet of about 20 boats is anticipated to set off from Black Rock in Falmouth harbour, racing around the Lizard and Lands End before passing North of the Scillies and setting course for Kinsale.

The schedule has been planned to fit into two weeks holiday with ample time for refreshment and rest in the very hospitable ports en route. The restarts at Kinsale and Santander are timed for Wednesdays and the Prize party will be held at Camaret on Saturday 12th July.

The race follows our traditional format and is open to both mono-hull and multi- hull yachts from 28 feet to 50 feet racing in Open classes and IRC. On-line entry and the Notice of Race will be available in the New Year but in the mean time pre-registrations are welcome by contacting Race Director Paul Peggs at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Solo skippers with less time to race have not been overlooked, Petit Bateau will also be running their very popular Solo Channel Week and the RIOW Solo events in 2008.

www.petitbateau.org.uk

SYDNEY ETCHELLS TEAM WINS WITH ULLMAN SAILS
Dave Clark, Andrew "Spot" Smith, and Sean Leonard wrapped up the prestigious Milsons Goblets Etchells Regatta last week in Sydney Harbor with a night to spare! The Etchells team, who recently switched to a new set of Ullman sails, beat out some of the top names in Sydney's toughest one design fleet. The event ran November 12-16 as an evening series and hosted over 20 boats. Ullman Sails continues to provide reliable designs and quality construction for competitors in the toughest one design fleets.

For more information, contact a local loft and visit www.ullmansails.com

AND THEY'RE OFF...
Overnight the leaders in the Barcelona World Race fleet have hooked into the trade winds and are flying off towards the third scoring gate in the race, at Fernando de Noronha off the coast of Brazil.

But before they get there, they'll have to navigate through the doldrums, the next major obstacle facing the nine teams.

Paprec Virbac 2 has maintained its lead over PRB over the past 24 hours and the two leading boats have doubled their margin over third placed Veolia Environnement, which is still positioned furthest west in the fleet.

It's been a difficult 24 hours for the rest of the fleet however, with everyone dropping significant miles to the leaders. Not only that, there isn't much hope of getting them back until the leading boats are slowed by the doldrums.

Aboard Mutua Madrilena. Javier Sanso and Pachi Rivero have climbed from eighth to fifth place over the past 24 hours by mimicking the western route of Veolia Environnement. If they can consolidate that position through to the doldrums, it will certainly be an achievement for the pair sailing an older generation boat.

Day 12 - November 22, 16:00 GMT - Position report with distance to leader

1. Paprec-Virbac 2 - Jean Pierre Dick / Damian Foxall - 0.0
2. Prb - Vincent Riou / Sebastien Josse - 31.0
3. Veolia Environnement - Roland Jourdain / Jean Luc Nelias - 99.1
4. Delta Dore - Jeremie Beyou / Sidney Gavignet - 172.2
5. Mutua Madrilena - Javier Sanso / Pachi Rivero - 176.3
6. Temenos 2 - Dominique Wavre / Michele Paret - 192.4
7. Hugo Boss - Alex Thomson / Andrew Cape - 193.3
8. Estrella Damm - Guillermo Altadill / Jonathan Mckee - 233.7
9. Educacion Sin Fronteras - Servane Escoffier / Albert Bargues - 487.5

www.barcelonaworldrace.org

DEPARTURE FRIDAY MORNING FOR FRANCIS JOYON
Four years and one day after his departure victory on Nov. 22, 2003, Francis and his brand new trimaran IDEC will take on the around the world solo record established in 2005 by Ellen MacArthur on her multihull Castorama: 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds.

The weather "window" allows a selected passage tomorrow Friday from the starting line of this round-the-world solo record attempt.

His giant trimaran launched last June is finally ready. The weather pattern as seen by his router Jean-Yves Bernot is "Wind north, and will remain so for several days. At the beginning of this winter, it's a rare configuration sufficient to cause us to start."

"The goal is to keep a tempo similar to Ellen in the first part of race," said Francis. "It was during the South Atlantic that Castorama was much slower. I hope at that time be able to make a difference."

www.trimaran-idec.com

* Thomas Coville has postponed the start of his solo round the world record attempt on Sodeb'O as a leak has been found in the hydraulic cyclinder and he doesn't want to rush things just to make this particular weather window. -- courtesy Kate Jennings

SOLO GIRL-SMALLEST BOAT EVER FOR CIRCUMNAVIGATION
There's yet another woman who is setting sail to travel solo around the world, and this one is doing it in the smallest boat ever! On January, 1st, Heather Neill will set off from Steinhatchee in Florida on her 24ft sailing boat called Flight of Years (a Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20), to circle the world. It's (at least) a 27,000 mile journey, and she estimates it will take about three years.

As far as she knows, it is the smallest sailing boat on which any solo woman has circled the world.

But Why? This is the question typically on many people's lips. Why give up her home, her investments, all her possessions - which have all been sold - to embark on a difficult, long, and surely sometimes very lonely, journey?

Heather's reply is cryptic: 'If you really have to ask why I'm embarking on this world voyage, you would probably never understand my answer anyway'.

However, her website gives some more insight:

''The years for each of us do indeed fly, and there comes a time when you have to reach out, like for the brass ring, and grab a strong hold on the remaining few. This is my brass ring. This is my dream. This is my Flight of Years. 'Flight of Years' is not just the name of a boat. It is a lifetime, the journey of a lifetime, and a dream.

Heather will first head for Isla Mujures in Mexico. From there she will sail her tiny yacht to Panama, through the Canal, down the long ocean crossing to the Marquesas, probably over a month out of sight of land. Then West across the long Indian Ocean, and up through the Mediterranean, across the Atlantic and back home. -- Nancy Knudsen in Sail-World.com

www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=39310

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE RACING RULES?
If you want to feel more confident when racing near other boats, you should get Learn The Racing Rules! This two-part DVD, written and narrated by Dave Dellenbaugh, uses live sailing and computerized animation to explain all the important right-of-way rules. Part 1 covers the essential rules and limitations that apply whenever boats meet. Part 2 explains the complex rules about marks and obstructions. Each is an hour long and includes text of all rules discussed. Produced by SEA-TV, it makes a great gift!

To learn more or place an order: www.SpeedandSmarts.com

TONY BULLIMORE AT WHYTE & MACKAY EARLS COURT BOAT SHOW
Tony Bullimore, aged 68, will be at the Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show to launch his latest racing campaign: to challenge the non-stop single handed round the world sailing record held by Dame Ellen Macarthur. His aim is to break the record in under 70 days. In a career spanning 40 years, Tony has sailed more than 500,000 miles, crossed the Atlantic more than 40 times, and has won over 150 trophies. Tony was elected Yachtsman of the Year in 1985 for his outstanding achievements.

When Tony's racing yacht capsized during the Vendee Globe race in 1997 he survived in a tiny air pocket in the upturned hull. Hypothermia, dehydration and frostbite were telling him to die, but his determination and bulldog spirit kept him alive for nearly five days underneath his upturned hull.

Tony will be at the show's Survival Zone every day to meet with the public, to answer questions about his life as a racer and introduce exciting footage from his amazing survival.

Tickets for the Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show are now available online at www.earlscourtboatshow.com

HOLMATRO EMERGENCY RIGGING CUTTERS
A broken mast is one of those emergencies at sea you should be well-prepared for. In this dangerous situation you would prefer to cut away the rig quickly to prevent the boat from sinking. Even with a full-size pair of manual cutters this may be nearly impossible, however, due to the forces required. Dutch manufacturer Holmatro Marine Equipment offers a range of high-pressure hydraulic emergency cutters, specially designed to cut rod and wire rigging made of the most advanced materials. Various models are available, such as hand-operated and remote-operated cutters. Contact us for more information.

www.holmatro-marine.com

ROYAL BERMUDA ELECTS RALPH RICHARDSON COMMODORE
In an historical moment, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club membership elected Bermudian Ralph Richardson to be Commodore of the club for the 2008-10 cycle. Richardson, a world-class sailor/navigator and the Executive Director of The ACE Foundation, was the club's first black flag officer three years ago. He will now be the first black commodore in the 162-year-old club's history when he is installed in January. Richardson joined the RBYC in 2000.

"We at the RBYC," said the present Commodore Andrew Cox, "are proud to have a man of Ralph Richardson's stature, both as a sailor and a businessman, to serve as our next Commodore. Ralph will have an exciting time as Commodore during the 101st year of the Newport Bermuda Race and in managing the development of our physical facility at the yacht club. I wish him all of the best during his term of service."

Richardson was born in Bermuda and served for several years as a Fireman and Engineer for the Hamilton Fire Brigade. Next he was Camp Supervisor and Chief Marine Pilot for Bermuda Ministry of Youth and Sport. Later he was the Operation Manager of the Submarine Enterprise. Next he worked as Claims adjuster and Manager of Personal Insurance BF&M Insurance Company. After six years in insurance, he was offered a position as the Executive Director of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute after serving the previous three years on the BUEI Board and since 2002 he has been Executive Director of The ACE Foundation.

On the sailing scene, Richardson has distinguished himself as an offshore sailor, navigator, teacher and author with over 20,000 miles of off shore experience. Beginning in 1981 he sailed as engineer and crew aboard 80 ft Maxi, Great Britain 11(Two) from Bermuda to British Virgin Islands and back - at the time the GB11 held the elapsed time record circumnavigating the globe. -- Talbot Wilson

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club: www.rbyc.bm

ROYAL WESTERN YACHT CLUB OF IRELAND
Kilrush 16th November, 2007: At the 2007 AGM of the Western Yacht Club held in Kilrush on the 16th November a proposal from Ger O'Rourke (yacht Chieftain) that the Club should revert to its original name of Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland was passed by a majority vote.

Ger O'Rourke, who sails under the flag of the Western Yacht Club has distinguished himself worldwide by winning many prestigious yacht races and in particular now that he has become the first Irish person to win the Fastnet Race. He has brought great honour and prestige to Ireland and more especially to a Yacht Club that in the very early days of yacht racing was at the forefront of yacht race organisation and development with an international membership. The Club's history has shown it to have been involved in the development of yacht racing all around the coast of Ireland in the 1830's and it had a very large membership with 57 yachts based along the west coast between Galway and Cork.

A brief history of the Club is as follows: The Club was founded in Kilrush on Corinthian traditions (amateur sailing) over 180 years ago on the 6th February 1827 as the Western Yacht Club of Ireland and it was given Royal Patronage and a Royal Warrant establishing itself as the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland in 1832. The Club was relocated to Dublin with an office in Grafton Street and a floating Club House in Dun Laoghaire. The Club ran very successful regattas in Dun Laoghaire until the late 1850's when it went into decline. Some of the membership formed what was to be known as the Royal Alfred Yacht Club which has been at the centre of yacht race management and organisation in Dublin Bay to the present day.

The Royal Western Yacht Club lay dormant for many years and was re-activated in 1984 in Kilrush where it was originally founded.

One unique feature is that the Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland has at least two families as members who are direct descendants of the original founding members. The Club's Flag is the Irish Commercial Ensign, Blue Flag with the Irish Tricolour in the hoist and a Crown surrounded by a wreath of Shamrock in the Fly. The original 1832 Burgee which is use by all members is the Cross of St. George on a White Background with a Crown surrounded by a wreath of Shamrock in the centre.

www.westernyachtclub.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.

* From John Reed, Secretary to the WSSR Council:

The World Sailing Speed Record Council announces the ratification of a new World Record:

Record: 24 Hour up to 60ft World Record
Yacht: Banque Populaire 60ft Trimaran.
Name: Pascal Bidegorry and Yvan Ravussin
Dates: 13th to 14th November 2007
Start position: 01 degrees 08.22'N; 27 degrees 29.78'W at 07.30 on 13/11/07
Finish position: 08 degrees 09.44'S; 33 degrees 36.68' W at 07.30 0n 14/11/07
Distance sailed: 667nm
Average Speed: 27.8kts

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THE LAST WORD
Happiness is desiring what you already own. -- St. Augustin

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 Artemis Transat 2008 (ex-OSTAR) plus the Extreme 40 Sailing Series for The iShares Cup.

www.YachtsandCruisers.com the new place to buy and sell prestige boats, the website has been designed to showcase high-end boats. People looking to buy prestige boats will be able to easily navigate their way around the site quickly. The portfolio of thousands of boats can be viewed by category, make, location and price. Alternatively the 'Advanced Search' facility will benefit those buyers who have a specific boat in mind.

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