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THE BRITISH PLAN TO BE BACK IN THE CUP
Just six months before the 32nd America's Cup is staged in Valencia, comes news of a new British challenger for the oldest international sporting trophy.

Details of the new British America's team will be announced Thursday at a press conference to be staged in London's Design Museum.

Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport will be in attendance to hear the details of the new team, believed to be led by Sir Keith Mills who has been known to have been planning a new British team for some time.

Britain has had a dismal record in the America's Cup over 155 years, with the last British challenger being the GBR Challenge led by Peter Harrison. The current line up of challengers in Valencia, who will battle it out to determine which team challenges the Swiss team Alinghi, holders of the Cup, in June does not include a British team.

Sir Keith Mills founded the Air Miles business and, in 2003, was appointed International President and CEO of London 2012, the company that successfully bid for the 2012 Olympics. Having established the London Organising Committee for the Games, Sir Keith has become non-executive Deputy Chairman alongside Lord Coe, and will supervise the staging of the Games in 2012. He is a keen amateur sailor and in 1999 was one of the crew that won the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

British sailors will be hoping that he has more success than his predecessor Peter Harrison in raising the essential sponsorship required to fund an America's Cup campaign.

Cowes Online:
www.cowes.co.uk/cb/zone?p=story;story_id=2284

YOUNGEST SOLO ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
A 14-year-old schoolboy has entered the record books by becoming the youngest person to sail across the Atlantic single-handed.

Michael Perham, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, ended his 3,500-mile voyage when he sailed into Nelson's Dockyard on the Caribbean island of Antigua at 10am (2pm GMT).

The teenager, who has endured more than six weeks at sea, was escorted into dock by a flotilla of boats. During the trip he has had to contend with giant waves, shark-infested waters and hurricane winds.

His mother, Heather, who watched his arrival from home in Potters Bar with other members of his family, said she had just spoken to her son. 'He is just so, so excited. He could see all the boats coming out to meet him from the harbour. He is just amazed by the reception he has had.' she said.

Michael, who has been sailing since he was seven, set off on his voyage from Gibraltar on November 18. He has used the trade winds that have carried sailors from Europe past Africa to the Americas for centuries. His father, Peter, an experienced yachtsman, has been shadowing the trip and was in regular radio contact with his son. Michael was expected to finish his voyage on Tuesday but a problem with a sail on the 28ft boat delayed his arrival in Antigua by 24 hours.

He was inspired to attempt the record-breaking journey after watching the previous record being set. Sebastian Clover, 15, from the Isle of Wight, sailed from the Canary Islands to Antigua in January 2003.

www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=29971

OPTIMIST WORLDS
Heavy winds delayed launching but clearance was given around 13.30 and it is hoped to sail three races. Winds were still around 18 knots and the after-effect of the morning's breeze combined to produce a difficult chop.

With five races sailed leaders are beginning to emerge. Julian Autenrieth (GER) did not dominate so completely in the heavier winds but has still opened up a 10 point lead at least until the first discard is taken. By contrast Marcus Hansen (NZL) will be praying for more of the heavy stuff. Not for the first time the battle for the girls' prize is raising the over-all level of girls' results. Griselda Khng (SIN) has moved into third over-all and Stephanie Zimmermann (PER), already in 6th place, will be another beneficiary of the first discard.

Sixteen countries are represented in the top 20, including at least two from the smaller countries - Ramon Gonzalez of Puerto Rico and Victor Diaz de Leon of Venezuela. Also doing well by the standards of their countries are Virgin Islanders Alec Anderson (IVB) and Alex Coyle (ISV), Eduardo Ariza (DOM) and Ahmed Ragab -- Robert Wilkes

Event site: www.optimistworlds.org.uy

LIFE AT THE EXTREME
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.

WOMEN'S HIGH PERFORMANCE DINGHY EVALUATION EVENT
An evaluation event analyzing equipment for a possible Women's High Performance Dinghy event at the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition will be held in Hyeres, France from 16-19 April 2007. The event will look at whether there are suitable boats for a High Performance Dinghy event for a crew of two women.

The ISAF Council decided to hold an evaluation event for a Women's High Performance Dinghy in advance of the decision on the ten events for the 2012 Olympic Games, which will be made at the 2007 ISAF Annual Conference this November in Athens, Greece.

Amongst the fundamental criteria set out by ISAF are:

- The boat must be a monohull
- The dinghy must be able to sail faster off the wind than the wind
- The dinghy is for a crew of two women (average combined weight 120-140 kgs)
- Targeting a price of 14,500 Euros ready to sail

A report on the Evaluation Event will be completed by the ISAF Mid-Year Meeting, to be held in Paris, France from 4-6 May.

The invitation to enter the event and full details of the criteria and Evaluation Panel can be found on the ISAF Technical microsite - www.sailing.org/technical

ROGERS YACHT DESIGN REQUIRES
FULL-TIME EXPERIENCED YACHT DESIGNER
A vacancy has arisen for a full time experienced yacht designer with a minimum of 5 years design office experience, specifically with grand prix race boats. The successful candidate must be well versed with Microstation, Maxsurf, Hydromax, Rhino and Win Design and have excellent organisational skills and the ability to work on their own initiative. Evidence of project leadership will also be necessary.

Please send CV and relevant references to Rebeca Rogers: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visit our web site at: www.rogersyachtdesign.com

420 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kiwis dominate in preliminary results after day one of the 420 World Championships 2007 with four in the top five in both the Open and the Women's division. The regatta started today in the waters off Takapuna Boating Club on Auckland's North Shore.

Defending World Champions, Carl Evans and Peter Burling (NZL) lead the Open fleet after three races, with two wins and a second. Jo Aleh and Olivia Powrie (NZL) lead the Women's fleet after two races sailed today.

Blustery winds gusting up to 30 knots from the south west prevailed over the race course off Takapuna today for the start. A number of boats suffered gear damage forcing some to retire early, with many more capsizing.

116 boats are competing in the regatta with 67 entries in the open division and 49 entries in the Women's division.

Open Division Top Five

1. Carl Evans & Peter Burling, NZL, 4 points
2. Mike Snow-Hansen & Joshua McCormack, NZL, 9
3. Will Ryan & Max Bryden, AUS, 11
4. Simon Cooke & Scott Illingworth, NZL, 12
5. Andy Maloney & Blair Tuke, NZL, 16

Women's Division Top Five
1. Jo Aleh & Olivia Powrie, NZL, 2 points
2. Shelley Hesson & Bianca Barbarich-Bacher, NZL, 6
3. Imke Brockerhoff & Hannah Schwich Duisburger, GER, 12
4. Leah Moncheur & Briar Dye-Hutchinson, NZL, 15
5. Sarah Berry & Emma Berry, NZL, 18

www.420Worlds2007.org.nz

LOOKING FOR A NEW DIRECTION IN 2007
OC Events, part of the OC Group owned by Dame Ellen MacArthur and Mark Turner, are looking to expand its events team in charge of a number of high profile projects including the inaugural double-handed Barcelona World Race and the new Extreme 40 European grand prix circuit. Primarily looking to fill two positions Account Director and Operations Director for the above two named events. The role could include overseeing the management and coordination of the events from a commercial, sporting and logistical perspective.

Candidates must be of senior manager to director level, have extensive experience in event sport management, realising commercial rights packages, sponsorship and marketing. A knowledge of the professional sailing world and languages, such as, French, Spanish and German, would be beneficial. Ultimately, the successful candidate(s) must have the right business experience, drive and commitment to make things happen. They will be joining a highly motivated and committed team of individuals at the OC Group who are proud to deliver some of the world's best sailing sponsorship projects.

Candidates will primarily be based in Cowes, Isle of Wight (UK) but extensive travel is also required. Full salary package available on successful application. Please send your CV and letter of motivation to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

RAYMARINE WARSASH SPRING SERIES 2007
The premier early season Solent series starts on Sunday 11th March, when the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series for keelboats gets underway. Now in its 24th year, the Series continues to evolv. and Warsash Sailing Club looks to retain the elements of the regatta that have proved so popular in the past, whilst adding some updates. Features of the plans for 2007 include:

- Two "big boat" weekends, racing under IRC and IRM, with eligibility limited so that boats should be broadly similar,

- Two Spring Championship weekends for White Group boats, with a separate start line for Laser SB3s,

- Sportsboat Rule class - trapezes and moveable ballast now permitted,

- Level class racing for J/109, J/105, Laser SB3, Hunter 707, 1720 and J/80,

-Extracted results for any class with eight or more boats in an IRC-rated class.

As always there will be a warm welcome for all competitors at Warsash Sailing Club's base at Shore House by the entrance to the River Hamble where class prizes of Mumm champagne will again be available in the Club each week, courtesy of sponsors Raymarine. The Notice of Race is now available on the website www.warsashsc.org.uk as well as from the Raymarine stand at the London boat show. On-line entries can be made by credit card.

Enquiries regarding the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series can be made to Warsash Sailing Club 01489 583575 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

MEANWHILE, DOWN UNDER...
* The Australian 18ft Skiff Championship commences on Sydney Harbour this Sunday and will continue each Sunday and Australia Day (26 January) until 4 February.

Hugh Stodart will be defending his championship in Asko Appliances but will face stiff opposition from a number of experienced and young teams in the 24 boat fleet.

Among those expected to throw out the major challenges are Giltinan (world) champion Michael Coxon (Fiat), NSW champion John Winning (Ssangyong Yandoo), as well as former world champions Euan Mc Nicol (Club Marine) and John Harris (Rag & Famish Hotel).

* Ocean Racer of the Year for 2006. Ray Roberts, today demonstrated his flat-water fleet helming skills and tactics in steering his Cookson 50 Quantum Racing into the overall lead in the IRD Division of Boag's Sailing South Race Week on Hobart's River Derwent.

Although beaten in today's morning race by the Victorian yacht Flirt, skippered by Chris Dare with expat Tasmanian Roger Hickman calling tactics, Quantum Racing scored an impressive win in the fresher conditions of the second race.

Roberts has chartered the 50-footer, a canting keel ocean racer built in New Zealand to a Farr design, for 18 months and has been joined by most the crack crew of his former Quantum Racing, a DK46.

With three of the six race series sailed. Quantum Racing has scored 1-2-1 for 4 points, just one ahead of Flirt, an imported Corby 49 which has placed 2-1-2 for 5 points.

CYCA Vice Commodore Matt Allen's Jones 70 Ichi Ban has spreadeagled the fleet in all three races. but has not broken away sufficiently to win on her high IRC rating, compounded just before the Rolex Sydney Hobart by a penalty for the big boat's unusual-looking square mainsail head.

Ichi Ban is equal on 11 points from IRC handicap placings of 5-3-3 with the Hobart-based Farr 40 One Design Wired, skippered by Stephen Boyes, with a scorecard so far of 3-4-4.

Flirt, an imported Corby 49, picked the wind shifts and best breeze in a fluctuating nor'easter blowing down the river to take advantage of her lower IRC rating in finishing third across the finish line astern of Ichi Ban and Tuesday's first race winner Quantum Racing.

Today's racing has been windward/leeward courses, 12 nautical mile in the first race and 14 miles in the second race of the day. -- Peter Campbell

WEATHER SETTLES FOR GOVERNOR'S CUP FLEET
After the turmoil of the first weekend at sea, the remaining ten yachts participating in the 2006 Governor's Cup have settled down in more favourable sailing conditions and are making good progress towards the island of St Helena. The fleet was battered by heavy seas and strong winds, which led to three withdrawals.

The Miura 2 prototype Raging Bull has resolved their rudder problems after having to wait for close to 48 hours before they could do the necessary repairs. For skipper Tom Brown, the frustration of being almost motionless for two days finally came to an end and they are currently making good progress. Brown's chances of taking the R10000 purse for the first Miura across the line has been severely affected as they estimate only arriving at St Helena Island by next Thursday. The Miura challenge is however still very much alive with both Patches and Diddakoi currently logging good speeds. Patches managed to repair their spinnaker pole and reported that they were flying a spinnaker and scudding along in a 20 knot southerly wind. Andrew Tozer on board Diddakoi also reported good progress covering 177 nautical miles in the past 24 hours.

Race leader Our Dianne maintains her lead with an average boat speed of 7.3 knots. Billy Leisegang and his crew of 2 South Africans and 3 Saints have officially crossed the halfway mark to the island with Swimlion, Aurora, Diddakoi and Summer Love following close behind.

As the South Atlantic high pressure system moves slightly lower, the weather conditions are settling in and the typical south/south-easterly trade winds are making the voyage more comfortable for the intrepid sailors.

Single-handed sailor Graham Wentworth arrived safely at his home port of East London earlier today after a harrowing experience when he had to abandon his trimaran on New Year's Eve. In a midnight rescue, he was picked up by a container ship bound for East London. -- Ronelda Visser

www.thegovernorscup.co.za

THE LAST WORD
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature.... Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. -- Helen Keller

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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