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A BIT OF DAMAGE...
At 9h GMT this morning (Thursday) that Steve Ravussin's Orange Project trimaran had a violent collision with a container. The yacht was sailing at more than 20 knots under full mainsail and gennaker in a fresh northerly flow, as the Swiss yachtsman was on a course a long way west of the direct route.

The main daggerboard suffered first, although was fortunately raised at the time. The central rudder was totally destroyed. Located 140 miles north west of Flores Island in the Azores, the orange trimaran can no longer be steered. Steve is however going to attempt to reach the islands, where his support team are going to try as rapidly as possible to reach him with a new rudder. Steve has not yet had the time to dive to take a look at the condition of the main hull. For the moment, he has not seen any sign of a leak. There is therefore no need to retire.

In the end, it is not Flores, unsuited to multihulls, but Horta on the island of Faial in the Western Azores, that Steve Ravussin and his support team led by Franck David, have chosen to head for to enable repairs to be carried out on the Orange project trimaran, so she may continue in the Route du Rhum.

"The boat is solid, but can't stand up to a container. I don't think water is getting in anywhere. The boat is difficult to steer. I'm heading for Faial at around 15 or 16 knots, with three reefs taken in and nothing hoisted in front. I'd like to get moving again as soon as possible. Sopra is lending us a rudder, which should be suitable. As for the daggerboard, I shouldn't really need it downwind to Guadeloupe."

* Over the last 24 hours, British single handed sailor Brian Thompson has reported some technical issues on board his Open 60 'Artemis' the Open 60. Thompson has been battling for the last 20 hours to repair damage to the autopilot and steering in order to keep his hopes alive of becoming the first British man to win the historic Route du Rhum transatlantic race. Brian has also continued to have problems with polling but at 12.00 today his official position puts him fourth on the race track, less than 40 miles from second placed Jean Le Cam (FRA) and only 87 miles from race leader Roland Jourdain (FRA).

"This morning it was going quite fast, but there was a lot of weight on the helm. The rudders are turning the boat to port (left) one way and bearing away on the other gybe. So it makes the helm very heavy on this gybe that we are on at the moment, which in turn causes a problem with the autopilot because there is so much force on the helm. I ended up with the autopilot ram stopping, and the software ended up having a problem too. I had to steer with a piece of string from down below so that I could connect the second pilot ram up. I also had to change the switches over to put on the other pilot processor. The new pilot couldn't take the load of the helm either which was disappointing. To get round this, I had to then put a reef in the main to make the boat more balanced, and then reset the pilots. Basically I had to turn everything off, and then back on again, which is hard when the helm is so heavy. If I let go of the helm, then the boat would have just speared round to port very quickly. Unfortunately this means that the faster you go, the bigger the problem. It's not a big deal; it just means that I will have sail a little slower compared to the others for a while and that I have to be careful as it becomes difficult when hand steering as well."

* Didier Levillain, skipper of A Fond Contre la Spondylarthrtite (a class 3 monohull) activated his distress beacon at 3 PM. His boat was taking on water; he was 160 miles from Cape Finisterre, a zone controlled by MRCC Falmouth. A naval aviation Falcon 50 overflew his location, came into contact with him, and directed a Spanish helicopter to the boat. Didier was helicoptered off the boat at 6 PM and taken to Corogne.

* Nick Bubb scales the rig in 30+ knots:

"I spent 16 hours on the helm yesterday pushing really hard with the fractional kite and a reef in the main. The wind then increased to over 30 knots and I was very tired so I thought I would drop the kite and get some rest. I got the snuffer down without a problem but when I went to drop the 2:1 halyard it only eased an metre and then jammed. The halyard had frayed at the top and the outer cover of the rope had chafed through and had bunched up preventing the halyard from running.

It took an hour and a half in total and I was so exhausted when I got back down that I just collapsed on the cockpit floor and couldn't move for half an hour. My hands were so cut and painful that I could not even open the energy bar I had got out in preparation. The conditions were mental up the rig, it was very difficult to climb above the mast above the main because I had two reefs in. The movement was very violent and the boat was surfing at over 15 knots at times. I was very worried that we would do a Chinese gybe whilst I was up the rig. Coming back down the rig was very difficult as you have to go inch by inch and I got cramp in my hands and fingers.

I will have to go back up again because there is metre of halyard wanging around which could get wrapped round the main halyard but I think I will wait until the conditions ease. I now have just the main up with two reefs and I'm going to get some sleep. When the solent is out as well the boat goes too fast down the waves for the auto pilot to handle and I really need some rest now.

I am very frustrated because we knew about the chafe problem before the race started but we didn't have enough time to make any major modifications to the rig, we just did what we could. I have lost so much ground and have dropped down the rankings which is very disappointing after working so hard over the past few days. The pace of this race in very fast."

ORMA 60 multihulls
Four men are chasing Lionel Lemonchois dark blue trimaran on the road to the Trade Winds. They all enjoy the thrilling rides down the waves, even if the high speeds are obviously generating more strains on the trimarans and their bodies.

Right on his heels, Pascal Bidegorry (Banque Populaire), Michel Desjoyeaux (Geant), Yvan Bourgnon (Brossard) and on a Northern position Thomas Coville (Sodeb'O) went through the Azores at nice speeds (over 24 knots). Within 152 miles behind the leader, they still represent a potential danger for Lemonchois.

IMOCA 60 mohonulls
The battle is raging between the top 3 skippers of the Orma Class, "Bilou" - Roland Jourdain (Sill et Veolia) maintains a short, but firm lead (some tiny 17 miles), over Jean Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec) and 37 miles over Jean Le Cam (VM Materiaux).

The first boats will be in the Azores tomorrow in the evening and as for the ORMA multihulls, the archipelago winds could shuffle the cards. For now the boats are still reaching up to 22 knots (12:00 PM) but conditions are going to soften once they go through the islands (the most direct route).

40-footer monohulls
The leaders of the class need to position themselves wisely to negociate their passage in the Azores as there's a high pressure system on their road.

Phil Sharp (philsharpracing.com) is maintaining his 3rd position. Ian Munslow had a few problems last night, with his spinnaker ending up in the sea, and a few ropes wraped around the rudder.

Class leaders at 2000 hrs French Time 2 November:

Monohulls:
IMOCA: Jean-Pierre Dick, Virbac-Paprec
Classe 1: Pierre-Yves Guennec, Jeunes Dirigeants
Classe 2: Kip Stone, Artforms
Classe 3: Michel Kleinjans, Roaring Forty
Classe 40: Gildas Morvan, Oyster Funds

Multihulls:
ORMA: Lionel Lemonchois, Gitana 11
Classe 2: Franck-Yves Escoffier, Crepes Whaou !
Classe 3: Pierre Antoine, Imagine-Institut des Maladies Genetiques

www.routedurhum-labanquepostale.com

"FASTEST SAILS ON THE PLANET", PERIOD!
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DALTON TO PULL INTO PORT WHILST THOMSON MUST CLIMB MAST
Kiwi skipper Graham Dalton told the Velux 5 Oceand race organisers today of problems with his rudder bearings (port side), which will force him to make a stop within the next few days. Dalton, who left Bilbao (Basque Country) last Friday following a delayed start, missed the horrendous weather which battered the rest of the fleet. Although his new Open 50 has kept pace with the Open 60s of Unai Basurko (ESP) and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR), he has found a pin in one of his gudgeons has come loose. He is currently expected to pull into Porto Santo, just east of the Madeira Islands. This problem, whilst not placing him in immediate danger, must be rectified before Graham continues into the Southern Ocean. The loads which will be placed upon the rudder bearings in this, the most treacherous and lonely area of the world will certainly test his boat and systems to the limit.

Meanwhile, Brit Alex Thomson continues to be hampered by problems with his furling gear. It appears that the difficulties he encountered in furling his headsail during the vicious storm last week were not solved when he stopped in Gijon. Alex now faces the prospect of climbing the mast to resolve the problem before leaving the calm waters he is currently in. Not looking forward to the climb Alex admits he is concerned that he might be "opening a can of worms."

Bernard Stamm (SUI) continues to extend his lead on second placed Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN), his average speed over the last 24 hours being the fastest in the fleet. Second fastest was Unai Basurko (ESP), charging out of Vigo to rejoin the pack.

Race positions at 10:20 UTC 2 November:

1. Cheminees Poujoulat, Bernard Stamm,9095(DTF)
2. Spirit of Yukoh, Kojiro Shiraishi, 399(DTL)
3. Ecover, Mike Golding, 539(DTL)
4. Hugo Boss Alex Thomson, 641(DTL)
5. SAGA Insurance, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, 1316(DTL)
6. A Southern Man-AGD, Graham Dalton, 1358(DTL)
7 Pakea, Unai Basurko, 1790(DTL)

www.velux5oceans.com

PETERS & MAY SHIP IT!
Global yacht transportation specialists Peters & May maintain a relentless schedule shipping yachts and support equipment around the world, enabling teams to compete in leading races and regattas. Recent projects have seen them ship America's Cup yachts, containers and chase boats, Farr 40's from Newport RI to the Mediterranean following the Farr 40 World Championships, TP52's, yachts to Malta for the Rolex Middle Sea Race, containers and equipment to Bilbao and Fremantle for the Velux 5 Oceans, equipment for yachts participating in the Route de Rhum and equipment for almost every yacht in the Palma Superyacht Regatta.

www.petersandmay.com

VICTORY CHALLENGE YOUTH
As a part of Victory Challenge's collaboration with the Swedish Sailing Association, six young sailors have now been chosen as trainees on Victory Challenge at America's Cup base in Valencia.

The six chosen are: Paulina Hammero and Carl James from the upper secondary sailing school in Angelholm, Victor Bergstrom and Lisa Ericson from Lerum's upper secondary sailing school as well as Emil Malmstrom and Rebecka Harding from Motala upper secondary sailing school.

They are all upper secondary students, goal-orientated and with a focus on becoming professional sailors. Many of them have already qualified for international competitions and are now getting the chance to train in the Swedish challenge for the world's most prestigious sailing trophy.

They will be working with Victory Challenge's sailing team both on the water and on land.

Victory Challenge will pay for the students' trip, lodging and food.

The training is planned for the winter. At www.victorychallenge.com you can follow the three girls and three boys during their time at Valencia. -- Bert Willborg

AMERICA'S CUP ULTIMATUM 'BAFFLING'
The Auckland-based Spirit of Adventure Trust is baffled by a press release put out by the Geneva Yacht Club demanding the return of a damaged piece of the America's Cup by this afternoon.

The trust obtained the broken piece from the British jeweller who repaired it after it was attacked with a sledge hammer in 1997, and was hoping to auction it off to help fund its sailing training for young people.

The current Swiss cup holders issued a statement saying the trust had until 4pm today to hand over the piece or it would commence legal proceedings.

However, the Spirit of Adventure people said they quietly returned the piece last week and don't understand why the Geneva Yacht Club has taken such a heavy-handed approach. -- New Zealand Herald, www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10409015

THREE YEARS BEFORE THE START OF THE SOLO-OCEANS
In three years, October 25th 2009, the first Solo-Oceans will depart from France to New Zealand. The Solo-Oceans is the first single-handed oceanic round the world competition that will be sailed on an equal footing on perfectly identical 16-meter Oceanic One Design monohulls with controlled costs. Solo-sailors will sail on a France - New Zealand - France course around the three capes: Good-Hope, Leeuwin and Horn, in two legs about fifty to fifty-five days each. The Solo-Oceans can be considered a springboard to the Vendee Globe.

Prior to the big 2009 start, in just a year, October 25th 2007, the first Oceanic One Design will leave France for a reconnaissance of the Solo-Oceans' route. This dress rehearsal will enable a large-scale test and the issue of a reference time. However, this journey will be two-man crewed and not single-handed, in order to intensely but safely test the new-born yacht as well as allow more than one skipper to try the one-design in the same conditions as the ones they will encounter in 2009-2010.

Tooling of the Oceanic One Design, the monohull Finot-Conq Group has designed following the advice of Michel Desjoyeaux, is currently underway at Technologie Marine in Brittany.

The present priority consists in appointing the departure and arrival sites of the Solo-Oceans in France and New Zealand. "As far as the French site is concerned, given the actual discussions, the name of the hosting port should be made official at the very start of the 2007 first calendar quarter", asserts Yvan Griboval, idea-man and general coordinator of the Solo-Oceans. "At this stage, we have excluded the possibility of a Mediterranean site and will thus choose among sites on the Atlantic or on the English Channel. This is a tough choice because besides the event organization of the Solo-Oceans, its storefront, i.e. its start and arrival, the industrial, financial and social part of the operation also has to be carried out. The offer we made to the sites involves the establishment of CAFITECH society, the construction and maintenance site of the Oceanic One Design monohulls that will create over twenty jobs in the course of early 2007. A vocational training track regarding transformation of carbon related jobs, an apprenticeship cell as well as a social integration plan of action for young people in difficulties would be carried out as well. This is not just about a simple sports competition, it goes way beyond. The enthusiastic welcome most elected officials have given us presages a decision quite shortly. As far as New Zealand is concerned we also think that we will soon be settled ".

In order to achieve our goal of having built and sold a dozen Oceanic One Design monohulls ready to be on the starting line of the first Solo-Oceans, October 25th 2009, the production Christian Brit manages will have to start next February. Disclosing the site in which Oceanic One Design monohulls will be build, will then be equivalent to revealing the departure and arrival hosting port of the Solo-Oceans.

www.soloceans.com

BERMUDA RACE CENTENNIAL HONORS RACE HEROES
Six extraordinary sailors from the Newport to Bermuda Race's 100-year history will be honored on November 13, 2006 at the Bermuda Race Centennial Gala at New York City's University Club. The world's oldest regularly scheduled long-distance ocean sailing race, the biennial 635-mile Bermuda Race has hosted more than 4,500 boats and 46,000 competitors since the first race in 1906. The centennial race in June 2006 boasted the largest fleet in the race's history: 265 boats. The race is organized by the Cruising Club of America (CCA), which is the gala's sponsor, and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

A highlight of the gala is the induction of six sailors to the new Bermuda Race Roll of Honour, created in 2006 by the two clubs to recognize extraordinary achievement in the race. Heading the list of these half-dozen greats are two living skippers who set records that very likely will never be broken in the Bermuda Race, which has been started at Newport, R.I., throughout most of its 100-year history.

Carleton Mitchell, a writer and photographer from Key Biscayne, Fla., set the most famous record in sailing history when he and his 38-foot yawl Finisterre won three straight Bermuda Races in 1956, 1958, and 1960. Nobody else has won even two races in succession. Mitchell is unable to attend the ceremony and his Roll of Honour award will be presented to him at his home on November 8 by Bermuda Race Chairman Nick Nicholson.

George Coumantaros, a shipping executive from New York, N.Y., is also a member of the initial class of inductees to the Bermuda Race Roll of Honour. He holds the record for the most elapsed-time victories in the race -- four, in 1984, 1990, 1992, and 1996. In 1996 Coumantaros and his 80-foot sloop Boomerang not only were first across the finish line but set a speed record of 57 hours, 31 minutes, and accomplished a rare double victory by winning on handicap.

Besides Mitchell and Coumantaros, the initial class of the Bermuda Race Roll of Honour includes the race's founder, Thomas Fleming Day, who created the race in 1906 on the then-revolutionary premise that amateur sailors could race boats smaller than 40 feet on the ocean.

Two other members of the Roll of Honour's inaugural class of 2006 are the race's greatest heroes. In 1932 English yachtsman Bobby Somerset and Clarence Kozlay, an American, teamed up to courageously rescue ten sailors from a burning schooner. Kozlay, sadly, stayed at the helm of the schooner a moment too long and was lost. He is the sole fatality in the Bermuda Race's 100-year history.

Also honored is Sir Eldon Trimingham, one of Bermuda's most successful sailors and a key figure in the race's management for many years.

For more information on the Bermuda Race Roll of Honour, visit www.bermudarace.com/roh

THE LAST WORD
A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance. -- Anatole France

OC Events, 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) www.ocevents.org

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

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