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VELUX 5 OCEANS: GOLDING RESCUES THOMSON, THEN SUFFERS MAST BREAK
It was only Wednesday that we were all engrossed in a battle between rivals Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) and Mike Golding (ECOVER), jostling constantly for second place, neck and neck, at times only separated by only one mile. The first cruel blow was struck at 03.00 GMT on Thursday morning when Alex Thomson capsized as a result of severe structural damage to the top of his keel. By 11.00 GMT, the young British skipper was forced to make the decision to abandon ship as the damage was deemed irreparable and an immediate threat to his security.

Meanwhile Mike Golding, some 70 miles to the East, was experiencing some of the best sailing of his career, breaking his personal record for a top speed by hitting 32 knots and covering 446 miles in 24 hours, further closing the gap on leader Bernard Stamm (Cheminees Poujoulat). However, once the FICO World Champion received the call from race control that Thomson was in trouble, Golding didn't hesitate to immediately turn back, his focus shifted from racing to rescue.

Although Golding made contact with Thomson on Thursday evening around 20:30 GMT in typical Southern Ocean conditions of sleet and snow, it was jointly agreed to undertake the dangerous sea rescue and transfer at first light on Friday morning.

At 05.00 GMT Alex Thomson jumped into his life raft, wearing his survival suit. Despite a well formulated plan from the two experienced sailors, the rescue was plagued by engine problems on ECOVER and 15 foot swell, making maneuvering close to impossible for Golding. Finally, after four desperate attempts, Thomson stepped aboard ECOVER. After dressing a hand wound that Alex picked up during the rescue, the rivals turned partners prepared to head back on course to Fremantle.

However, lady luck had not dealt her last cruel blow to these two skippers. At 11.50 GMT yesterday, Mike and Alex were enjoying a much needed whisky coffee when a 40 knot icy gust blasted over the boat. They heard a bang and rushed outside to see what was happening. They arrived on deck just in time to watch the top of the mast shatter before their eyes. Devastated by the damage, Golding turned to make best speed towards Cape Town. ECOVER now has two drained, very exhausted skippers on board this morning. An extremely long night saw work going on until they could do no more. With a staysail set only in 30-40knots of wind and extreme cold, they have been making steady progress on a course between North and 030 degrees.

It has yet to be established if Golding has a spare mast. If he does, will he fly it to Cape Town and re-fit his boat and get back on the track again? This is the only solo circumnavigation which he has some unfinished business with. -- Event press office

* "Given everything I suppose we are in relatively good shape." Mike told us this afternoon. Alex is currently asleep with some painkillers for his hand which is quite bad and I am currently tinkering around the boat doing jobs as it is too windy at the moment to put up the mainsail", he reported this afternoon. "Last night we had driving sleet and there was an inch of sleet on deck and we also had big 30-35knot squalls. Today it is slightly clearer but the sea state is much worse because of the weather last night."

"We have managed to get everything down from the mast and it is now in three bits, two on the deck and about 40ft still sticking up! We probably lost about 20foot but we are able to fly a full staysail and will be able to fly a spinnaker staysail when the wind gets a bit lighter. Once we get the main back up we should be able to do about 10-12knots."

www.velux5oceans.com

JUD SMITH WINS AUDI ETCHELLS WORLDS
Jud Smith, the three times North American Etchells champion and four times Worlds runner up took the gun in the eighth and final race to win the 2006 Audi Etchells World Championship off Fremantle West Australia today.

Smith and his crew of Dirk Kneulman and New Zealanders Andrew Wills and Thomas Saunders, crossed the finish line and shortly afterwards the Star Spangled Banner boomed from the Black Swan, the very same tender that boomed out Men at Work back in 1983 when Australia 11 took the America's Cup.

The Fremantle Doctor was pumping with winds climbing into the 20's as Smith led from the first mark he was overtaken by his countryman Chris Busch down the run but rounded inside the San Diego sailor. Half way up the beat for the second time, he crossed ahead and was never overtaken again. Smith crossed ahead of Busch, third was Craig Healy.

Ante Razmilovic from Britain needed to beat Smith by two places today, but the best he could do was fourth. New Zealander Alastair Gair who led into the eighth and final race of the series only needed to stay in contact to take the title. At the top mark for the first time the Kiwi's were 18th; they fought back valiantly to take seventh place and had to be content to settle with second overall.

Top ten, eight races, 1 throwout:
1. Jud Smith/Dirk Kneulman/Andrew Wills/Thomas Saunders, USA, 21 points
2. Alastair Gair/David Ridley/Carl Peters/Derek Scott , NZL, 25
3. Ante Razmilovic/Jez Fanstone/Stuart Flinn, GBR, 30
4. Andy Beadsworth/James McHugh/Simon Fry, GBR, 50
5. Craig Healy/Kieth Stahnke/David Gruver, USA, 56
6. Cameron Miles/Phil Smidmore/Dave Samson, AUS, 61
7. John Bertrand/Ian Johnson/Tim Ede, AUS, 64
8. Mark Bulka/Stewart Nichols/Steve Young, AUS, 64
9. Mark Bradford/Graeme Taylor/Steve Jarvin, AUS
10. Stuart Childerley/Simon Russell/Roger Marino, GBR, 78

www.etchellsworlds2006.org

A PIECE OF YACHTING HISTORY TO OWN
At age 16 all Jon Nash knew was that he wanted to become a professional photographer. Armed with nothing more than a camera he started out his photographic journey to become one of the world's most renowned yachting photographers. His signed prints of the Volvo Ocean Race winners ABN AMRO as well as the iconic 60 ft HUGO BOSS campaign, which appeared on front covers world wide are now available on high quality art paper ready for framing. These exclusive pieces of art are the ideal X-MAS gift for the avid sailor.

www.jonnashphotography.co.uk/shop/

SPINNAKER START FOR THE 21ST ARC
The 21st Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) started in spectacular style Sunday as 223 yachts from 27 different nations sailed across the start line off Las Palmas de Canaria headed for their final destination, 2.700 nautical miles away in Rodney Bay, St Lucia. Fine weather for the start meant sunshine and lots of spinnakers, and a wonderful sight for the thousands watching afloat and ashore.

By the time of the first start, at 12:40 for the two IRC Racing Divisions, the breeze had increased to 10-15 knots from the NE, giving ideal conditions for the 25 yachts racing under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Swan 70 The Blue Pearl was early on the line and will have to take a time penalty, unlike the slick crew of Nick Haigh's DK46 Dark & Steamy, who were spot on the line, hoisting their reaching spinnaker just as the gun sounded. Pressing them hard on the line, and second to cross was Brave (George Vassilopoulos), a Farr 520 from Greece. Also working his crew hard, was Irish yachtsman George Radley, who had his crew on Imp, a Ron Holland One Tonner, peel the spinnaker within 5 minutes of the start, a manoeuvre they carried out with speed and precision.

However it is the mass of cruising yachts which creates the spectacle, and a few minutes before the scheduled 1300 start of the ARC 2006 Cruising Divisions, there were a forest of masts and sails surrounding the committee vessel. It was an impressive scene as the majority of the fleet sailed across the starting line and a wave of colourful spinnakers appeared. First over the line was French catamaran Sir Henri, an Outremer 45, whose owner Stephane Grimault is keen to repeat his class winning performance from ARC 2001. Sawsea Lady, a Bavaria 39, (David Moore GBR) was the first monohull to start, followed by the Sweden 42 Free Spirit (Peter Smith GBR) and Keesjan Baartmans' Standfast 56, Splendid (NED).

The Oyster 56, Stealer VI, put on an impressive display as they powered through the fleet, flying their newly purchased Parasailor2 winged spinnaker, one of at least 20 such sails in the fleet this year.

First positions will be received from 14:00hrs on Monday 27 November. -- Peta Stuart-Hunt

www.worldcruising.com/arc2006

NEW ZEALAND MATCH RACING CHAMPIONSHIP
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland: Brady versus Barker in the finals, you just have to say those two names together to know it's going to be some fantastic racing.

Barker won the first match by 55 seconds and Brady came back to win race two by 14 seconds . Brady then took race three by 29 seconds and Barker in a match break point that ended in a close luffing match, contact right on the finish line, two penalties to Brady - and Barker took the win to level it up!

The finals were now down to the deciding - fifth race . Off the start it was clear Barker wanted the left and Brady the right, and at the top mark for the first time as the boats came together Barker was in front by almost 30 seconds . In the strong tide as Barker rounded the top mark he was propelled towards the bottom and went on to extend his lead and win race five by 54 seconds.

Barker - a hat trick - plus one! This is the fourth time Dean Barker has won the New Zealand Match Racing Championships first in 1998 and then three times in a row, 2004, 2005 & now the hat trick 2006. He is the only skipper to win the illustrious title four times; the next skipper winning three times is Gavin Brady.

The winner of this event also receives an invitation to the Auckland Match Racing Cup, Grade 1 also held by the Squadron at the end of January 2007. Dean Barker is already a confirmed entry for this event. Chris Dickson and Gavin Brady are unable to attend as they will be training full-time on the AC boats, so the invitation was given to an elated Adam Minoprio and his Blackmatch racing team.

Final Results
1. Dean Barker, Emirates Team New Zealand / RNZYS
2. Gavin Brady, BMW Oracle / Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
3. Chris Dickson, BMW Oracle / Golden Gate Yacht Club)
4. Adam Minoprio, Blackmatch / Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
5. Graeme Sutherland, Royal Akarana Yacht Club
6. Laurie Jury, Vodafone Kiwi Match / Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
7. Simon Minoprio, Vision Yachting / Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
8. Scott Dickson, Dickson Racing / Long Beach Yacht Club
9. Simon Dickey, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
10. Phil Robertson, RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme

www.rnzys.org.nz

YACHTWORLD SALES OPPORTUNITY
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Our growing business requires an enthusiastic individual to sell our Internet services and add-on products primarily to our core yacht broker and boat dealer customers in the UK. Candidates should be accomplished sales people with at least 2-3 years' experience in the technology/software industry or the marine sector. You must "get" the Internet and understand how it works in a sales context.

See www.yachtworld-international.com/vacancies/ to apply.

OFFSHORE RACING COUNCIL NOVEMBER MEETINGS
ORC concluded its November meetings with some positive thinking for the future of the organization, after a lively week of discussions in Helsinki.

The IMS World Championship, whose divisions and ranges of eligibility are to be finalized, will take place in Hanko, Norway, under the auspices of the Royal Yacht Club of Norway, starting on 11th August 2007. It is a place where many sailing Offshore events have been held. No title sponsor has been announced yet.

The IMS 670 Worlds have been allocated again to Spain, given the increasing racing success of this class developing in Iberia. The Class Rules have been further enforced regarding a reduction of the maximum Hull Length, a Displacement/Sail Area ratio and the increase of the minimum number of units to 15.

The IMS Europeans as already planned will be in Cres, simultaneously with the Kieler Woche at Pentecoste (end of June).

The Sportboats Europeans have been allocated to Cagliari (Sardinia-Italy) at a date to be decided and the Mediterranean Championship to Punta Ala in June.

The IMS 600 did not receive (yet) any candidate for their World event.

Congress has reconfirmed in the ORC Chair Bruno Finzi, and has appointed Alessandro Nazareth as the new ITC Chairman, replacing Manolo Ruiz de Elvira, who ended his four years term this November. Deputy Chairmen were confirmed as Wolfgang Shaefer from Germany, and Don Genitempo from Texas. Vivian Rodriguez as ORC Secretary, and Nicola Sironi as Chief Measurer.

The GP Classes are preparing a racing circuit for 2007, and it has been agreed that all certificates will be centrally run by the ORC, with a number of measurers authorized to provide the forms and perform the necessary measurements. An International circuit has been established for the 42 Class starting in Croatia in conjunction with the IMS Europeans, having its core in Mediterranean Spain with the Valencia and Palma events, another event in Portugal and ending in Italy.

The IMS VPP has not been changed very much, the most important change affecting the whole fleet being the Age Allowance, which was changes with a motion from the Chairman at the final Congress meeting. Other changes are a more favourable treatment of the trim-tab, the canting keel and the centerboards.

Some important changes regard the measurement of the sails, and the way the VPP accounts for these measurements. A discount will be given also to sails below the IMS "defaults", and the maximum area of each sail type will be considered for the VPP calculations, instead of the area resulting from the maximum individual measurements.

More at www.orc.org

TORNADO SOUTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz (ESP) finished the ISAF Grade C1 Tornado South Americans in fine style, securing the Lars Grael Trophy for overall victory thank to a bullet in a final windy race in San Isidro, Argentina. In sixth place overall, Santiago Lange and Carlos Espinola (ARG) were crowned South American Champions.

The wind did not drop overnight and day four of the South Americans started with strong winds and gusts of over 27 knots. Luckily the wind force started dropping around 11:00 and by 12:30, with an easterly of 18-20 knots, the Tornados left the Club Nautico San Isidro for races 7 and 8.

In race 7 Rob Wilson and Mark Bulkeley (GBR) took the bullet after leading by far, all the way. Francesco Marcolini and Eduardo Bianchi (ITA), second in the race, did not have competition either. The fight was between Echavarri and Paz and Carolijn Brouwer and Sebbe Godefroid (BEL), the only mixed crew taking part in the event. The Spanish took the best and finished third, followed by the Belgiums.

The wind picked up for race 8, 20 knots with gusts of 23 knots.

The Spanish team finished first overall and were the winners of the Lars Grael Trophy. Bundock and Glenn Ashby (AUS) came in second, with Polgar and Florian Spalteholz (GER) third.

Top Ten Results
1. Fernando Echavarri / Anton Paz, ESP, 40
2. Darren Bundock / Glenn Ashby, AUS, 45
3. Johannes Polgar / Florian Spalteholz, GER, 47
4. Mitch Booth / Pim Nieuwenhis, NED, 49
5. Rob Wilson / Mark Bulkeley, GBR, 53
6. Santiago Lange / Carlos Espinola, ARG, 57
7. Olivier Backes / Paul Sevestre, FRA, 79
8. Andrew Walsh / Edward Barney, GBR, 81
9. Mischa Heemskerk / Herbert Dercksen, NED, 81
10. John Lovell / Charlie Ogletree, USA, 86

NEV COGGAN 1939 - 2006
Nev Coggan, one of the Tall Ships Youth Trust's most endearing characters, sadly passed away in November 2006 during the Tall Ships Youth Trust Sailing Regatta.

Nev first sailed with the Brigs in 1999 and was promptly recommended as Volunteer Crew. Nev was a common sight on the brigs sailing on over 20 voyages and always helped out during maintenance and dry docking periods. He was best known as one of the inaugural members of the Painting Gang and could often be found wielding his paintbrush for days on end under the watchful eyes of the bosun.

He started his maritime career at H.M.S. Ganges as a boy sailor at 15yrs and finished on Sunsail 3 as a boy sailor of 67yrs.

Twixt start and finish experiences and adventures most of us could only wonder at. A Royal Navy career spanning 12yrs.

Deck hand, Watch Leader, Assistant Engineer he combined and overlapped his skills. It seemed his talents had no boundaries. Where he excelled was Navigation. Cadets should be given copies of Nev's Nav Notes. We were always going yonder from over there. Heading forward if the water was going backward. Arriving sooner than an hour ago and our position was always here. Awesome. Never figured how he did it.

If you could buy a box of "Nev" at the chemist Prozac sales would plummet.

www.tallships.org/documentNews.asp?cat=520&doc=7195

THE LAST WORD
Life is a foreign language; all men mispronounce it. -- Christopher Morley

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

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