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AMERICA'S CUP
FRA 93, the French Team's new boat for the 32nd America's Cup, sailed on the race course in Valencia, Spain for the first time today.

The first sail is always delicate for an ACC boat, and is carefully thought out with many precautions. But all went well for FRA 93 which successfully passed its first tests, as team members confirm:

Dimitri Nicolopoulos, Coordinator of the Design Team: "I believe that we can qualify this day a "baptism of fire" for FRA 93. We are really satisfied with the way everything happened today, because we sailed with realistic wind and sea conditions (i.e approximately 15 knots of wind and waves) and thus putting pressure on the boat near to the maximum. We took a big step ahead with regard to confidence in the structure of the boat. Everyone is very happy. "

Sebastien Col, Helmsman: "We sailed today in ideal conditions to test reliability of the boat. We also had good surprises, the boat is really well balanced. For the moment there are only positive points, and you only had to look at the faces of all the people on board to realize that!"

Thierry Peponnet, Tactician: "For the moment the results are very encouraging and very satisfactory. We took the tension up gradually to take FRA 93 "in our hands" according to the protocol which we had established to check her reliability. We carefully did pressure taps everywhere and gradually analized and checked everything, and for the moment all goes well."

The first trainings and tests on FRA 93 will continue until Christmas, before starting again at the beginning of January, after a well deserved week of break for all the team.

* With the holiday season fast approaching, the 'Official Collection - 32nd Edition' offers some ideal gift ideas. Check www.americascupstore.com to see the entire collection, or if you're visiting Valencia, check out the Superstore in Port America's Cup or the boutique in Veles e Vents.

* Sail-World will soon be selling the first of a soon to be released collection of America's Cup related DVD's produced by Mediawave

Entitled the 'House of the America's Cup', the first DVD contains four short feature films produced for the historical exhibition at the 150th Anniversary of the America's Cup in Cowes. The DVD was compiled and produced by Larry Keating and Bruno Trouble and features a lot of rare and previously unseen film.

The first feature in the 'House of the America's Cup' DVD is a dramatisation of the origins of the America's Cup and the first race in 1851.

Next is the J-class era from 1930 to 1937, this features a lot of black and white original film from both sides of the Atlantic showing J's being build and launched, sailed across the Atlantic and raced in the three America's Cups sailed in the J-class. Towards the end the video goes to the restored J-class and shows these in colour competing in races off Cowes

The third entitled 'Tycoons' shows video of the personalities and key events in the Cup, and all the classes used from the original yachts to the J-class; the 12 Metres (including video of President Kennedy watching the racing); then onto the Big-Boat vs The Cat and finally onto the modern America's Cup class from the launch of the first boat in Venice, onwards.

The fourth video, 'The Modern Era' has extensive video of all the four America's Cups and Louis Vuitton Cups sailed since the launch of the new class, including New Zealand's two victories and the win by Alinghi in 2003.

All four features are contained within the one DVD which makes it a real historical treasure covering 150 years of America's Cup history and development.

Details of how to purchase will be published as soon as they are available. Price is expected to be NZD$49.

www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=29522

A NEW CANOE
Andy Patterson has been building top quality foils and boats from his workshop on the Isle of Wight for 12 years. Originally he was know for building Cherubs and International Moths and was keen to be a part of the foiling revolution in the Moth Class. Sadly troubles with his back saw him out of the class in the vital few years of development and though he hopes to go back to building Moths he has yet to go back to the class.

In early 2006 Patterson became aware, through conversations with Steve Clarke, of the International Canoe class' decision to consider a development of the class. The plan was to have several builders design new Canoes to a box rule and then make a final decision at the Worlds in winter 2007 on how the class should move forward. Patterson jumped at the chance of becoming a builder in a class undergoing a revolution and, as he had never been a part of the canoe scene, was able to look at the boat with fresh eyes. "The Canoe was starting to look a bit old and the people who were sailing it were, shall we say, a little older. I thought there was lot that could be done to make the boat more appealing," he explains.

Full story and some great pics at TheDailySail.com (subscription required, and it's an excellent gift idea...): www.thedailysail.com

VICTORY CHALLENGE TO DUBAI AND BACK
Complete Freight took on the air freight of the Swedish America's Cup team from Valencia to Dubai last week loading both yachts, two masts, three 40ft containers and one RIB into two chartered Antonov AN124 Aircraft. The team opted to use their preferred partner and specialist in Yacht Transport, Complete Freight to handle the shipment and are pleased to report that everything went as smoothly as expected. The return flights are scheduled for 1st Feb. For more information and to view photos please refer to the news section on the Complete Freight website at www.completefreight.com

ALLIANZ CUP AND MONSOON CUP ON AIRWAVES
The highlights programs for the recently completed Stages 5 and 6 of the World Match Racing Tour are set to be broadcast in the coming weeks.

Networks such as Versus (formerly OLN) in North America, Eurosport, Gaora Sports in Japan and Sky Sports in the U.K. and New Zealand will broadcast the shows of the Allianz Cup Presented by Oracle or Monsoon Cup.

Allianz Cup Presented by Oracle Broadcast Schedule*
ESPN Star Sports (Asia) - Dec. 18, TBD
Gaora Sports (Japan) - Dec. 20, TBD
Versus (North America) - Dec. 17, TBD
Sailing Channel (Italy) - Jan. 15, 2007, TBD

Monsoon Cup Broadcast Schedule*
Eurosport - Dec. 20, 8:30 pm
Gaora Sports (Japan) - Dec. 30, TBD
Sportsnet (formerly Showtime Arabia) - Jan 16, 2007, TBD
Sky Sports NZ - Jan. 2, 2007, TBD
Sky Sports UK - Dec. 31, 7:00 pm
Versus (North America) - Dec. 24, 2:30 pm; Dec. 25, 4:30 pm
Viasat (Scandinavia) - Dec. 23, TBD

(*Schedule subject to change, check local listings)

www.worldmatchracingtour.com

AUCKLAND MATCH RACING CUP: INTERNATIONAL YACHTING RETURNS TO AUCKLAND
The prestigious ISAF Grade 1 Auckland Match Racing Cup is returning following a highly successful inaugural event last summer. From 24 to 28 January the world's top skippers, including reigning Auckland Match Racing Cup champion Dean Barker, will battle it out on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.

The Auckland Match Racing Cup is five days of racing, where teams race on identical boats, for a $US50,000 cash prize and the prestigious Auckland Match Racing Cup.

The teams will sail on the Farr MRX match racing fleet used last year and for the former Steinlager Line 7 Cup regattas.

Line Up
Ian Williams (Gbr), Team Pindar - 2
Mathieu Richard (Fra) - 3
Eugeny Neugodnikov (Rus) - 7
Simon Minoprio (Nzl) - 16
Dean Barker (Nzl), Emirates Team New Zealand - 24
Brian Angel (Usa) - 32
Adam Minoprio (Nzl) - 46

To Be Confirmed
James Spithill (Aus), Luna Rossa - 27
Paolo Cian (Ita), Mascalzone Latino - 4
Bjorn Hansen (Swe) - 8
About The Auckland Match Racing Cup

The Auckland Match Racing Cup is a grade-one international event and entry to the competition is by invitation only. The New Zealand America's Cup Race Committee has been reconvened to oversee the event and the competition has been officially sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has hosted international match racing events since 1979, initially as the Citizen International Match Racing Series, then the Steinlager Cup and now there is the new era of the Auckland Match Racing Cup.

www.aucklandmatchracingcup.co.nz

LIGHTER, FASTER & MORE POWERFUL.
Words not usually used to describe instrument systems. Ockam is the leader in providing the most accurate real-time data available. The Pentium based Tryad processor combined with an available 3-axis rate stabilized compass paves the way in delivering a stable wind solution that takes the heel, pitch and roll of the boat into account. With performance and weight in mind, all sensors interface close to their location allowing the information to stream unimpeded throughout the system's single cable "daisy chain" network. Thus eliminating heavy multiple cable runs and expensive junction boxes. To learn more, contact Ockam: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.ockam.com

SINGAPORE SAILORS FINISH AS TOP NATION AT THE ASIAN GAMES
After nine days of racing at the Asian Games in Qatar, Singapore lead in the sailing competition winning five gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Singapore surpassed China who won four golds in the Men's Mistral heavy, Mistral women, Optimist boys and Laser Radial open classes.

Singapore duo Sarah Tan and Lim Tze Ting dominated the women's 420 class, winning ten races out of 12. Fifteen year olds Justin LIU and Sherman Cheng beat the Japanese to claim gold winning six races out of 12 in the men's 420 class.

In the Olympic 470 classes, XU Yuan Zhen and Terence KOH sailed the regatta to a silver finish, second in place to Koreans KIM Daeyoung and JUNG Sungahn. Japanese duo Ai Konda and Naoko Kamata have gold locked away after winning 10 of 11 races in the women's 470.

In the Olympic Laser class, Singapore's Maximilian Soh stormed home with the gold medal, winning by nine points over silver medalist Japanese Yoichi Iijima. And in the open Laser Radial, after a difficult and very competitive regatta, Laser world champion Xu took China's fourth gold medal in sailing winning by two points.

In the Laser 4.7 class, World Champion Colin Cheng won Singapore's second Laser gold medal with consistent sailing throughout every race, bar two, he concluded all with top three finishes. He was well clear of the rest of the fleet, taking the gold medal with a 10-point margin.

China's Ni Wei cruised his way to win gold in the Optimist boys division with a massive 15-point lead over Thailand's Navee Thamsoontorn.

Rufina Tan from Malaysia secured the gold medal in the girl's Optimist.

Veteran Hobie 16 sailors, Thai brothers Damrongsak and Sakda Vongtim secured a gold in the Hobie 16 class.

Singapore and India both made it to the final stages of the Beneteau 7.5 match racing class. Singapore, represented by skipper Youth World Champion Teo Wee Chin, Roy Tay, Ivan Tan, Renfred Tay and Justin Wong, took the honours, beating India 3-1 in the finals.

Overall, the Singapore sailors have put on their best performance ever at the Asian Games winning ten medals, a vast improvement from their four bronze medal haul at the 2002 Asian Games.

Event site: www.doha-2006.com

CARMEL WINKELMANN 2006 ISA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Carmel Winkelmann is the recipient of the 2006 Irish Sailing Association Volunteer of the Year Award. This is an annual award presented to a member of an ISA affiliated organisation, who made a significant voluntary contribution to sailing. Carmel is also sailing's nomination for the 'National Awards to Volunteers in Irish Sport' as operated by the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism.

Carmel will be formally presented with her award at the ISA National Conference & Awards Dinner (3rd & 4th Feb 2007 at the Tara Towers Hotel, Dublin). At the Awards Dinner Carmel will receive a prize cheque for 1,250E, made payable to the club which originally submitted her nomination - the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire.

The depth of Carmel's volunteer work spans almost 50 years. As Vice President, Carmel was the first female flag officer of the Irish Yachting Association, as the ISA was formerly known.

Carmel's huge contribution to sailing in the early years is matched by her current activities. Carmel is a member of the ISA Race Management Advisory Committee which is responsible for the development of ISA Race Officer Training Programmes. Thus she is instrumental in ensuring that Ireland has a panel of highly professional race management personnel who operate to the highest international standards.

A keen volunteer for Dublin Bay Sailing Club for the past 35 years, Carmel is involved in the management of their racing.

Carmel Winkelmann is a member of the National Yacht Club, the Royal Irish Yacht Club and the Royal St George Yacht Club.

www.sailing.ie

MEAN MACHINE - FIRST 2008/09 VOR TEAM ON THE WATER
Portsmouth, England: It was full speed ahead this week as the Mean Machine team began its intense testing and training programme. The second official entry in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/09, Mean Machine took to the Solent onboard the latest addition to the Mean Machine fleet - a Volvo Open 70.

This 70-footer is none other than The Black Pearl, the Farr designed VO70, built by Green Marine (UK) only 18 months ago. The Pirates of the Caribbean VO70 captured second place in the last edition of what many consider to be the most extreme of round the world sailing races. After a seven week refit at Endeavour Quay in Gosport (UK), Mean Machine is on the water, proudly displaying the team's traditional colours.

The Mean Machine team has an impressive racing pedigree spanning more than 20 years. However, December marks the end of the team's most successful year to date. Having won the prestigious Breitling Medcup earlier this year with the TP52 Mutua Madrilena-Mean Machine, Peter de Ridder, Founder and CEO of Mean Machine announced the team's intention to take part in the next edition of the most prestigious round the world race with New Zealander Ray Davies as Skipper and Dirk de Ridder (NL) as Operations Director.

Having recently returned from the Mumm 30 Worlds (Miami), the Mean Machine sailing team were onboard this week with Peter de Ridder, with the exception of skipper Ray Davies who is currently training in New Zealand as part of his America's Cup commitment to Emirates-Team New Zealand.

As the Mean Machine team looks ahead to the new year, sailing and strength testing is on the horizon for the VO70, as is Key West Race Week (15-19 January) for the Mumm 30 crew.

www.mean-machine.nl

* Photos at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/

SHORT TACKS
* Surfing the waves with a Laser. Great video clip:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2AubwtWnBY

* 12 foot skiff, doing the crash and burn:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-04W5_RulFo&eurl=

* A shipping company plans to harness wind power to boost the propulsion of its ocean-going container ships. The "SkySail", a 160 square-metre kite tethered to a mast, has successfully undergone lengthy trial runs and now the shipowner, Beluga Shipping, of Bremen, Germany, is building the container vessel MV Beluga SkySails equipped with one, to make its maiden voyage early next year. -- Boating OZ, www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=19752

* A fine claret jug won by the yacht Ella in the 1866 Anniversary Regatta, as the Australia Day Regatta was then known, has been donated for competition once more, starting with next month's 171st Australia Day Regatta. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=19769

* Jubilee Sailing Trust tall ship Tenacious rescued seven crew from rudderless and drifting French yacht Zouk in heavy seas last weekend before scuttling her.

Tenacious was headed for Antigua on a transatlantic voyage when she received the other ship's distress call on Saturday. At around 1530hrs GMT, the ship made contact with 43-ft Sun Odyssey Zouk, who had been drifting for over six days. Two of the crew transferred to the French yacht via RIB, helping her crew to rig a towing bridle and transferring three of the crew toTenacious, leaving the skipper and three crew onboard.

With no rudder to steer through the swell, the towing line was put under huge strain, and snapped on Sunday morning, leaving Zouk drifting once more.

Despite repeated attempts to tow the vessel, conditions were such that the decision was made to abandon the yacht, sinking it to prevent it from becoming a hazard to other shipping. The remaining four crew transferred to Tenacious, the largest wooden tall ship of her kind in the world, and are proceeding to Antigua safely under sail. -- YBW.com: www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20061112102935ymnews.html

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, and you may only write a single letter on a topic. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published.

* From Brian Hancock: In response to Sue Pelling's comments about the Global Ocean Challenge, I would like to point out that there is definitely no lack of entries in the upcoming event and neither Josh Hall or myself have ever entertained the idea of postponing the race. To date we have received well over a hundred serious inquiries with 12 competitors having formally registered by sending in the initial entry fee deposit. We know of a further 15 - 20 competitors anxiously awaiting our Title Sponsorship announcement before committing themselves. That announcement will be forthcoming shortly.

Where Sue perhaps misunderstood my comments was with regards the current Velux Race. While I am a huge fan of the 5-Oceans, I do think that a lack of entries has hurt their event and it may indeed have been wise for them to postpone their race a year in order to get more boats. I can't comment for them, but I believe that race organisers have a responsibility to their competitors and sponsors to put on the very best event possible, and that generally means a safe event with a good fleet.

We reasonably expect 15 to 20 boats on the start line in September.

FEATURED BROKERAGE
1998 Farr CM-60 RIMA, $625,000 usd Located in Newport, RI
Custom built by Carroll Marine of Bristol, Rhode Island, RIMA is a sister ship to NUMBERS and HISSAR. This is an exciting and easily handled yacht with many recent IRC optimizations, a competitive racer! RIMA has excellent handling ability with an emphasis on light-air performance with substantial downwind sail area. RIMA has proven successful under many handicap systems with wins in IMS, IRC ORR and PRHF; speed wins! Carbon fiber composite construction, with incredible of interior space and comfort and a large workable cockpit, RIMA is sturdy and perfect for offshore distance racing as well as buoy racing.

Brokerage through Farr Yacht Sales: www.FarrYachtSales.com

Complete listing details and seller contact information at
www.farrdesign.com/brokerage/414_Rima.htm

THE LAST WORD
Here's a rule I recommend: Never practice two vices at once. -- Tallulah Bankhead

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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