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WILL THOMSON TO ABANDON THE SEAS?
Alex Thomson is considering his future in ocean racing after his harrowing experience in the Southern Ocean. It seems inconceivable that such a determined sailor will not return to race in the most inhospitable seas on the planet, but Thomson, 32, was a changed man as he arrived back in Britain with the man who rescued him, Mike Golding.

The cocksure skipper who left Bilbao on November 22 at the start of the 5 Oceans was contemplative and humbled. Thomson may emerge stronger and braver but he said that he will make decisions after Christmas about his original intention to follow the 5 Oceans race by competing in the 2007-08 two-handed Barcelona World Race and the 2008-09 Vendee Globe.

Thomson said that at the moment his plans would remain unaltered but he added: "I need time to think about the whole thing and make sure I make the decision for the right reason. I've signed up for Barcelona and for the Vendee Globe, but this has been a pretty traumatic experience and I don't want to say, 'Yeah, I can't wait to get back to the Southern Ocean', because at this very moment I don't really want to go back there. It is time to reflect."

Having to abandon the stricken Hugo Boss will weigh heavily on Thomson's mind, but, like Golding, he is one of the best-funded sailors in the business and he does have a new boat under construction in Lymington that is scheduled to be delivered in April.

Thomson has been shaken by his second narrow escape from the Southern Ocean. Ending up limping back into Cape Town and drinking in the same bar, two years after his withdrawal from the 2004-05 Vendee Globe when a mast broke, can do strange things to a superstitious sailor.

Having recounted their experiences time and again yesterday, Golding - who also abandoned the 5 Oceans race after turning back in Ecover to rescue Thomson - looked just as exhausted. He has been plagued by a recurring nightmare in which he fails to save Thomson. "I've had dreams, bad dreams, of going round to get Alex and Alex going out of sight," Golding said. -- by Matthew Pryor in the Times, full article at www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4041-2490946,00.html

SEAHORSE SAILOR OF THE MONTH
Last month's winner:
Phil Sharp (GBR)

Wow! A monster turnout voted for the clearly popular Channel Islands-based winner of the first major Class 40 prize - in the 2006 Route du Rhum. Sailing a production Groupe Finot-designed Pogo 40, Sharp rapidly cleared out from his tough fleet of rivals after choosing a northerly route early in the race and finding sustained fast but rough conditions. He also did a good job of promoting the international appeal of this fast-growing class, proving in its very first major event that you need neither a French surname nor a large budget to be successful. Many trailing Sharp into Guadeloupe had far more funding and several were racing more expensive custom designs; Sharp proving yet again that in shorthanded ocean racing it is about having enough rather than the most speed, thereafter it is all down to the man or woman driving the bus. Very positive stuff!

This month's nominees:
Jud Smith (USA)
Four times the bridesmaid, sailmaker Jud Smith finally got that first Etchells world title in Perth at the end of November. Smith also did his bit for the class, proving again that you can be as competitive with four crew as with three (runner-up Alastair Gair was also sailing four-up). No one has done more to encourage newcomers into the Etchells class than Smith and his was an extremely popular victory.

Mike Golding (GBR)
Not only did Golding bash his way back uphill in the Southern Ocean to rescue fellow competitor Alex Thomson, but the alert solo skipper had already started to slow down after getting concerned about his rival's poor progress. No one will ever know if the extra wear to Golding's Ecover may have cost him a race win, but such considerations did not - and do not - seem to unduly concern this fine seaman.

Cast your vote at seahorsemagazine.com

Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Harken McLube, Dubarry & Henri Lloyd.

ULLMAN SAILS HOLIDAY GREETINGS!
From all of us in the worldwide network of Ullman Sails lofts, we wish you and your families a Happy and Safe Holiday Season. Ullman Sails looks forward to meeting your sailmaking needs in the coming year. We value your business, and pledge to continue to bring you the latest and best sail technology that our industry can provide. "For an Investment in Performance" and "The Fastest Sails on the Planet", please contact the nearest Ullman Sails loft and visit us online at www.ullmansails.com

TRANSAT 6.50 CHARENTE-MARITIME/BAHIA 2007
The Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia confirms its International extent this year again. On the 14th of December 43 skippers from 16 different countries have already subscribed for the race.

Australia: Nicholas Brennan, Rafiki
Australia: Raeffer Govoni, Mini Minx
Belgium: Gregoire Beauduin, Vange
Belgium: Peter Laureyssens, Ecover
Brazil: Luis Carlos A. De Matos, Azougue Too
Brazil: Izabel Pimentel, Atlantic Freedom
Croatia: Sime Stipanicev, Marina Tribunj
Czeck Republic: David Krizek, Atlantik Ft
Czeck Republic: Daniel Vodika, Ck Fischer
England: Oliver Bond, Base Camp
England: Alex Franklin, Mojo
England: David Rawlinson, Oceanchallenges.Com
England: Andrew Wood, Domosofa.Com
England: Andrew Magrath, Seascript Of Hamble
England: Stephen Simpson, Blue One
Estonia: Tamme Jaanus, Lendur
Finland: Ari Huusela, Dorade
Germany: Antoine Koch, Meteor
Germany: Henrik Masekowitz, Beijamar
Germany: Dominik Zurrer, Ubik245
Italy: Andrea Caracci
Italy: Andrea Pendibene, Perle De Sueur - Citta Di Viareggio
Italy: Maurizio Vettorato, Spaziolibero
Netherlands: Jelmer Bouw, Alchemist
Netherlands: Lucas Schroderm T-Mobile One
Netherlands: Koen Van Esch, Dutch Drive
Poland: Jaroslaw Kaczorowski, Allianz.Pl
Portugal: Francisco Lobato, BPI
Slovenia: Kristian Hajnsek, Adria Mobil
Slovenia: Andraz Mihelin, Adria Mobil Too
Spain: Alvaro Lopez-Doriga, Naturaleza
Spain: Gerard Marin Julia, Escar L'escala / Cn Llanca
Spain: Nacho Orti, Medi - Valencia
Spain: Alex Pella
Spain: Hugo Ramon, Emotion Sailing Team
Spain: Juan Carlos Sanchis, Spasmos
Switzerland: Herve Favre, Teamwork Management
Switzerland: Bertrand Imobersteg, Retrouvailles
Switzerland: Jacques Valente, Telekurs Twing
Switzerland / France: Thibault Reinhart, Les Blouses Roses - Colas
USA: Andy Abel
USA: Alex Mevay, Genasun

The race starts from Fort Boyard Francce on the 16th of September. The route is from Fort Boyard / Funchal (Madera - Portugal) / Salvador de Bahia (Brazi, a total of 4200 miles (7800 km). Maximum enrollment is 75.

The race village is at the "Bassin des Chalutiers" in La Rochelle. -- From the Grand Pavois organisation

RACE RECORD NO LONGER AN OPTION ACCORDING TO MAXIMUS CO-OWNER
At the end of their first day back in the water, Charles St Clair Brown, co-owner of the New Zealand 30m maxi Maximus said that there was still a lot of fine tuning to do on the boat before Boxing Day, and he anticipated the boat will spend the next three days out on the water.

"Sadly we had commitments to my partner's clients today so we had to make it part of a corporate day, so really we haven't done a lot of sailing," he said. "We had enough time to just pull a couple of sails up and try and tune the rig a little bit we've got a lot more to do there. A hell of a lot more.''

Brown said that even though the early forecast is for heavy conditions, far from ideal for the 30 metre maxis he was confident Maximus would hold up.

"This is an ocean race and we've got to be able to handle those sorts of conditions, but with strong southerlies and a southerly set, it's going to be hard on the boats. It's going to be hard on every boat. It's going to be about keeping the boat together and sailing it conservatively, playing the percentage game."

Brown concedes though that the forecast favours the Volvo 70s: "I think it's an ideal forecast for the Volvo 70s, they're round the world racers. The problem with these big yachts (the 30 metre maxis) is slowing them down when the big waves start."

Brown said the biggest disappointment for him is that Maximus will not threaten the race record. "The sad thing is it's decidedly not a record breaking forecast and our goal for this boat was to create race records. We're not going to have a chance to do that.

"Our goal is not to win it on rating, that's not what we built this boat for. It's all about line honours. If you build a maximum length yacht you shouldn't have to worry about rating, it's all about who gets there first.

Brown said he and Wild Oats XI can expect a serious challenge from Skandia.

"Skandia has been completely reconfigured, she has a slightly bigger main than we have, new mast and new keel. There's no reason why Skandia won't go just as fast." -- Jim Gale

* The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is continuing to monitor the pre-race weather forecasts provided by the Bureau of Meteorology in the lead up to the start of the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on Tuesday 26 December at 1.00pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology's updated forecast released this morning shows the weather leading up to race start is still very dynamic. The forecast predicted a strong low may form over eastern Bass Strait on Christmas Day with gale force south-westerly winds. However, this low is expected to have moved to the east by the time the race frontrunners reach this area.

The Bureau's latest computer model guidance has the low slightly further south than described at the race media briefing on Wednesday. This will result in a more westerly, rather than southwest to southerly flow during the early part of the race. The low is expected to move away on a southeast path into the Tasman Sea during Tuesday and Wednesday and the gales near the centre will move out of Bass Strait.

The strong southerly winds east of Tasmania will generate an increasing southerly swell up the south coast of NSW later on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The race should start in a fresh to strong westerly wind with fresh southwest winds generally moderating along the NSW coast during Wednesday and local sea breezes may develop. Yachts approaching Bass Strait on Wednesday may see another burst of fresh to strong W/SW winds. -- Sail-World.com, www.sail-world.com

Event site: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

LIFE AT THE EXTREME
The official book of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06, chronicles over eight months of relentless competition in the world's most menacing of oceans.

Author and broadcaster Rob Mundle together with the world's best sailing photographers have captured every angle of the world's top offshore sailors doing battle over 31,500 nautical miles. The highs, the lows, the hardships in the quest for the overall prize - the Fighting Finish Trophy.

With over 150 pages of words and pictures, Life At The Extreme is available to buy online at www.volvooceanrace.org/booksanddvds or from leading high street book stores.

Editor: Please note proper address tonight, last night's issue had a run on from dvds to "or from" that bolluxed up the link.

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 JP Chomette: Regarding Mike Sharp's comment on canting keels, and supporting Grant Wharington's reply, I would point out that the two top yachts of the 2006 RORC Season - all classes considered - are kanting keel boats, namely Chieftain and Solune. That seems to prove that "canting killers" can do more than hold their own against any type of fixed keelers, even under an avowed corinthian rule like IRC.

* From Mark Chew: Re Grant Wharrington's Letter 'Butt 1126

I don't for one moment begrudge Grant the pleasure he gets from sailing a canting keel maxi, but please don't assume sailing aboard cutting edge designs is the primary way to get satisfaction from our sport.

I sail an "old clunker" as he puts it........A beautiful fifty year old Phil Rhodes Clunker. We have sailed in a few regattas where Grant's Skandia has competed and despite the fact that we travel at about a quarter of his speed, and despite the fact my boat probably costs about a twentieth of his boat, I would defy him to tell me that I got less satisfaction from sailing hard and well than he did.

The big mistake is assuming a necessary correlation between speed, technology and pleasure. Dennis Conner now chooses to sail a 1924 Q Class "clunker". Sean Langman who for the last few years has sailed to Hobart on a 60ft "skiff on steroids " has chosen this year to make the journey on 1932 30ft Cliff Gale clunker.

It would be a wrong to indicate to our kids that the faster they go, the more pleasure they will get from the sport. True satisfaction must come from honest achievement at any speed.

I seem to remember that last year Skandia pulled out half way through a long east coast race so that Grant could make it to the Etchells Nationals on time. I wonder why?

THE LAST WORD
A personal story to share with all of you, particularly fathers of young children, to save you from THIS particular blunder I made last year...

My daughter figured out last Christmas that Mom and Dad were Santa... she did it by handwriting analysis, the little twerp (she's got many IQ points on her father). The To and From handwriting from Santa gifts was the same as mine and her mother's.

This upset her no end. Later Christmas night she was snuggled up in bed with my wife, sniffling a bit. My wife was trying to comfort her, when I walked in and said "Hey, we love you lots... Santa is in your heart honey, he's real there, but not really real in the world. It's like the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy".

Whereupon my daughter screamed "THE EASTER BUNNY AND TOOTH FAIRY AREN'T REAL EITHER ?!?!?!!?" and burst into tears. My wife looked at me and silently mouthed the words "Oh... My... God..."

At which point my superb parenting was complete and I left (fled). Perhaps not my finest moment.

Best Holiday Wishes to all...

David McCreary
PS: No issue for Monday, see you on Boxing Day for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race!

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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