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FIRST BACK-TO-BACK LINE HONOURS WIN IN 42 YEARS
To the relief of her 23 exhausted crew and owner Bob Oatley, this evening Wild Oats XI gybed her way under spinnaker in the dark up Hobart's Derwent River to secure her second consecutive line honours win in the Rolex Sydney Hobart, the first back-to-back win in the race since Peter Warner's Fife-designed Astor, in 1963-4.

Having passed the Derwent River's Iron Pot light at dusk, Wild Oats XI crossed the finish line at Castray Esplanade in Hobart at 21:52:33 making her elapsed time for the 628 mile course 2 days 8 hours 52 minutes and 33 seconds, more than 14 hours slower than their record time in last year's Rolex Sydney Hobart when they scored the coveted race triple of line honours, Tattersall's Cup handicap win, and record time.

The slower time was hardly surprising given the severe upwind conditions experienced in this year's race that has caused nine retirements from the 78 initial starters, including two dismastings and one sinking.

Wild Oats skipper Mark 'Ricco' Richards' crew included round the world navigator Adrienne Cahalan and former America's Cup skipper Iain Murray.

After a speedy run out of Sydney Harbour when their boat speed had touched 23 knots, for Wild Oats XI the most critical decision was made on the gruelling first night at sea when they chose to leave ABN AMRO One to her offshore strategy, sailing in more wind and more current, but also in considerably worse sea. While the Volvo Ocean Race winner was being battered by 30-35 knot winds, instead they headed towards the calmer waters inshore where it was blowing 25 knots.

The only damage Wild Oats suffered was on that first night when they blew out their heavy #1 head sail.

After ABN AMRO's dismasting, Wild Oats led the fleet for the remainder of the race, although it was far from plain sailing. A game of snakes and ladders developed between the remaining line honours contenders. Wild Oats had extended her lead to 40 miles only to spend four hours becalmed to the north of Flinders Island. Fortunately Cahalan had seen this coming and they had been able to cover Skandia and Ichi Ban before they were becalmed.

Wild Oats is off tomorrow for the return trip to Sydney to make the start of the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race. She will then be loaded back on to a ship and will return to Europe to compete in races in the Mediterranean next season.

In the end, Ichi Ban managed to hold on to second place finishing at 01:42 local time, almost four hours after Wild Oats. She was followed just 16 minutes later by Skandia, who had been closing continuously since they had freed up rounding Tasman Island.

The next finisher is expected to be Geoff Ross' new Yendys late morning today. Sixty-six boats remain racing.

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

SAD END FOR BEAUTIFUL AND FAMOUS KOOMOOLOO
Ray White Koomooloo was one of the oldest and certainly the most beautiful yacht competing in the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Her varnished mahogany hull shone out among the modern boats, built of fibreglass and carbon fibre, as she headed out into the Tasman Sea yesterday afternoon.

Koomooloo was well positioned in the fleet as she passed the seamark off Sydney Heads and it came as no surprise to me when her name appeared at the top of the IRC leader board last evening and again still early this morning.

Yet, just over 20 hours after the Boxing Day start, skipper Mike Freebairn and his crew were forced to abandon Koomooloo as she began to sink. Far to sea, some 60 nautical miles off the coast from Bateman's Bay, they sent out a Mayday call, and were rescued by the British yacht Adventure which had immediately turned back to render assistance.

Later this afternoon they were transferred to the NSW Water Police launch Alert and taken to Eden this afternoon. On the way back Alert picked up an injured crewman from Illusion.

While it has not been confirmed that Koomooloo has sunk, the skipper told race officials after being rescued that he did not expect her to remain afloat much longer.

It is a sad ending to a fine and internationally successful ocean racing yacht; in particular Mike Freebairn and his father Don, from Brisbane's Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. They had spent a decade in lovingly restoring the 41-footer and it made its comeback to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race in the 2004 race, retiring in heavy conditions.

Last year, in more favourable weather, Koomooloo sailed a splendid race, winning IRC Division on corrected time and 22nd on IRC overall results. At one stage, she looked a possible winner of the Tattersalls Cup - repeating her victory of 1968.

Sydney yachtsman Ted Kaufman designed Koomooloo, with acknowledged input by the late Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) as a bigger version of his Admiral's Cup yacht Mercedes III. Master craftsman Cec Quilkey built the boat, with its superbly varnished mahogany topsides, for young Sydney yachtsman Denis O'Neil, who skippered her to victory in her first Hobart Race in 1968.

The following year Koomooloo was selected in the Australian team to defend the Admiral's Cup in England, along with Syd Fischer's new Ragamuffin and Ted Kaufman's Mercedes III. Two-thirds of the way through the Fastnet Race, Australia seemed to have the Cup won, but the long final race turned into a drifter and the American team squeezed the Australians back into second place.

Koomooloo was again chosen for the 1971 Admiral's Cup, this time under the ownership of CYCA Commodore Norman Rydge junior, with ace helmsmen Jock Sturrock and Mick Morris in his crew. Again the Australian team look set for victory going into the final race, the 610 nautical miles Fastnet.

With 141 miles to sail, Koomooloo was holding third place, with the Australians sailing well as a team. Within the next mile, however, her rudder blade broke off and she was forced to retire. The Australian team placed third overall in the 1971 Admiral's Cup behind Britain and the USA.

Koomooloo competed in the 1970 (placing 4th), 1971 (8th), 1973 (6th), 1973 (43rd), 1974 (10th) and 1975 (39th) Sydney Hobarts under various owners, but was then retired from ocean racing until the Freebairn's bought her and began their ambitious task to restore her to past glory. As mentioned, she made a comeback in 2004, retired in heavy weather, won her division in 2005 and was looking good to do well again this year under her favourable (and well deserved for her age) IRC rating.

Many people will be saddened by the fate of such a fine boat - her past and present owners, her designer and builders, the many yachtsmen who have crewed aboard Koomooloo over the past 38 years. Not to mention those of us who have had the pleasure to look closely at the boat at the CYCA marina or in Constitution Dock or on the water as she has headed south.

But then, a better grave than ending up a rotting hulk up some backwater or creek. -- Peter Campbell

www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=29842

PODIUM POSITION FOR SIR ROBIN KNOX-JOHNSTON!
After spending Christmas Day at sea (on day 64) of the Velux 5 Oceans round the world race, 67 year old sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston crossed the finish line at 11:57.15 GMT on Wednesday 27th December 2006.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person ever to sail solo non-stop around the world (1969) is racing alone around the planet again, aged 67 and has now completed the first 12,000 mile stage of the race from Bilbao (Spain) to Fremantle (Australia), taking 68 days 0 hours 57 minutes and 15 seconds.

Sailing his 60 foot yacht Saga Insurance Sir Robin finished in third position having been frustratingly thwarted by winds from the wrong direction for the last week of the race. He had hoped to be in before Christmas Day and cooked a freeze dried Chicken Tikki Masala on his single burner stove to commemorate the occasion. He asked for two cold beers and a steak and chips for this arrival in Australia.

"It was much easier 38 years ago, no messing around with technology. They said I was missing for four and a half months and prepared my obituary, but I always knew where I was. These boats are Formula 1 racing machines, like a thoroughbred horse. You need to remain alert and be on top of the boat the whole time in order to sail fast and safe. It was different on Suhaili, I remember we once hit 7 knots! With these Open 60 yachts you hit 28 knots; I am very impressed. They are remarkable boats, very exciting to sail, although you have to work hard to get on top of them."

"I had to helm the last four hours of the race because the autopilot broke. My main concern as I finished was to look after the boat and getting the sail down safely. Mike's mast breaking was a tragedy and such a shame as he was doing so well. Mike and Alex are old friends and I will miss them as competitors, but the good news is that they are safe and sound."

The port of Fremantle is preparing for an historic arrival. John Longley (an Australian America's Cup winner / international sailor) described Sir Robin's adventure as 'like Sir Edmund Hilary climbing up Everest thirty seven years after he made history'

www.velux5oceans.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ULLMAN SAILS
In 2006, championships at all levels of racing in Australia, Europe, and the USA found Ullman Sails at the top of its game and truly assisting customers in realizing their sailing dreams in both one-design and offshore competition. We value your business, and pledge to continue delivering the latest and best sail technology in 2007. Whether racing with Ullman's new FiberPath sails, cruising or day sailing with the most durable sails, we stand ready to meet your sailing needs. For the "Fastest Sails on the Planet," contact your nearest Ullman Sails loft and visit www.ullmansails.com

EUROSAF NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 2007
The European Sailing Federation (EUROSAF) Annual General Assembly for 2007 will take place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on Saturday 31st March 2007. The meeting will commence at 10:00 local time. As is normal, there will be Discussion Forum the morning of the following day, Sunday 1st April.

EUROSAF Member National Authorities are invited to send one delegate to this meeting. Observers are also welcome. If sufficient partners and family attend, our hosts, the Croatian Sailing Federation, will arrange a tour of the city and surrounds.

The venue, subject to confirmation at the Executive meeting on 13th January 2007, is likely to be the Hilton Hotel, Dubrovnik. www.hilton.co.uk/dubrovnik

More details will follow in due course. Anybody having items for the agenda should notify the Secretary General.

Elections:
Elections will be held for the offices of two Vice-Presidents.

Olivier Bovyn (FRA), having been elected by the General Assembly in 2004, is due to retire and is not eligible for re-election for one year under the terms of the agreement reached in Riva del Garda, Italy.

Kjell Borking (SWE), having been elected by the General Assembly in 2005, is due to retire under Article 23(a) of the Constitution and is eligible for re-election under Article 23(e).

Nominations are invited under Article 23 of the Constitution for both offices.

Nominations must be in writing and supported by the National Authority of the candidate. They should be received by the Secretary General no later than 28th February 2007. -- John Friend, Secretary General

www.eurosaf.org

GOVERNOR'S CUP GETS UNDERWAY IN TABLE BAY
Thirteen yachts set sail in near perfect weather conditions in Table Bay, Cape Town on Thursday, 28 December for the 1675 nautical mile Governor's Cup. This biennial event is sailed between Cape Town and the tropical island of St Helena.

The fleet got underway at 14h00 when the Governor of St Helena Mr Michael Clancy fired the start gun off the naval minehunter SAS Umkomaaz. Defending handicap champions Our Dianne, skippered by veteran sailor Billy Leisegang, Swimlion and Aurora took the early lead in a light westerly breeze of approximately 10 knots.

Leisegang is sailing with a mixed crew of South African sailors and so-called Saints from the island, who travelled to local shore as part of St Helena's youth sailing development programme. Leisegang has been victorious in the past two races and is hoping for a repeat performance this year.

He is, however, keeping a careful eye on the weather forecast as heavy weather has been forecast for the weekend.

According to the South African Weather Bureau, a north-westerly front is due to hit local shores by Friday. The Governor's Cup is particularly popular as it is a fast, downwind race that capitalises on the traditional South Atlantic trade winds and the front is set to cause some uncharacteristic weather conditions. -- Ronelda Visser

www.thegovernorscup.co.za

JOB OPPORTUNITY WITH AN EXCITING FUTURE
Ker Yachting Ltd is seeking to engage the services of an experienced Build Manager to take responsibility for the roll out of a range of new yachts. The Candidate will have a sound, proven track record in the Boatbuilding industry, with experience in high tech construction methods and epoxy wet-preg techniques. He/she will be required to deliver high quality IRC Cruiser/Racer yachts to demanding timescales, and meet stringent weight and cost budgets. He/she will have an active interest in yachting and be willing to relocate as necessary to Southern Europe. Applicants please email a covering letter and your CV to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE SECRET WINE CELLAR OF AMERICA
In the main cabin of the yacht America the steward carefully lit each of the oil lamps. In the galley the cook worked all day long to prepare the 1851 Christmas dinner. The black schooner sailed at full speed in the gathering darkness towards Cadiz, which it hoped to reach before the end of the year.

Aboard was the new owner Lord John de Blaquiere - he had acquired the yacht on September 1st, 1851, ten days after its historic win around Isle of Wight. The new owner was comfortable below, soothed by the sound of the water rushing along the powerful hull. Having set off from Plymouth on November 27th, he was looking forward to the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea where this cruise would take him and enjoying sips from a glass of a luxurious Madeira offered to him by John Cox Stevens, the head of the syndicate which had built the America. The wine was a wonderful gift, if an inadvertent one.

W.T. Porter, a friend of Commodore John Cox Stevens, and the publisher and editor of the sporting magazine The Spirit of the Times, wrote an interesting story following the triumph of America, explaining how the wine came to be aboard, and why it was offered as a gift to the new owner.

"Before the America sailed (in June 1851, from New York) Mr. Stevens placed on board two dozen of the celebrated Bingham wine, derived from the cellars of the late Mr. Bingham of Philadelphia, father of the wife of the late English minister in the United States, Lord Ashburton. It was more than half a century old, and the Commodore designed to drink it to the health of her Majesty. It would appear that the Commodore's excellent wife 'in setting to rights' various little matters in relation to the outfit of the America, concealed these two dozen of Madeira in a secret cranny in the vessel, so that when he sold the yacht, without his knowledge the wine went with her. He presumed that through some oversight it must have been taken ashore, and never discovered his mistake until his return home, when he immediately wrote to Lord John de Blaquiere that if he would look in a certain hidden locker in the America he would find some wine 'worth double the price of her', of course making him a present of it."

Full story on the America's Cup site:
americascup.com

SHIPPING FIRM BRINGS BACK DAYS OF SAIL
A shipping company is planning to go back to the future, by harnessing 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.

The technology he has developed is a throwback to an earlier age of maritime travel when ships relied solely on wind, but it addresses a key concern of the modern age: climate change.

Backers of "SkySail" call it a "green" project - by cutting fuel use it could help to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

Mr Wrage, 34, said that depending on the vessel and the winds, fuel costs could be cut by more than 500 pounds a day.

After four years of tests, it is anything but a pie-in-the-sky project.

The inventor first tested a prototype of the SkySail on a three-metre boat, and then gradually increased the size of the craft, before testing it last year on a 55-metre vessel, the Beaufort.

"It's going to save money in the long run and it's environmentally friendly," said Verena Frank, the project manager at Beluga, a firm with 40 vessels.

"We've integrated the system into our new ship from the start of construction, but ships can also be retro-fitted," she said. "Ours will be the first commercial use in cargo shipping. There will be some teething pains."

"We won't be able to switch the engines off. But we're confident we can reduce fuel usage - and cut emissions." -- Erik Kirschbaum

news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=180237200

THE LAST WORD
New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. -- Mark Twain

No issue for Monday, Happy New Year to all!

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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