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VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2008-09 NOTICE OF RACE PUBLISHED
The Notice of Race for the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race has been published. Eleven ocean legs and eight In Port races are scheduled, with the race beginning on 4 October 2008 with an In Port race in Alicante, Spain, with a slated finish around 20 June 2009 in the Baltic Sea.

The total race distance for the tenth edition of one of the sailing world's grandest events will be approximately 39,000 miles. The scoring system remains the same as the previous race, with each boat receiving points equal to the number of boats starting the race minus those placed above her in each offshore leg. The same formula applies in the In Port races and at the scoring waypoints, except the number of points is halved.

The crew must consist of seven to eleven members, except for a team including five or more women when the maximum is increased to 12 members, or for an all female crew, for which the maximum crew size is 14.

At least 30% of crew members must be under 30 before the start of the race, unless all the crew are aged 50 or above.

The provisional schedule in the Notice of Race is as follows:

- Leg 1: Alicante, Spain to South Africa, via scoring waypoint at Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, 6,500 nm, start 11 October 2008
- Leg 2: South Africa to the Middle East, via scoring waypoint at 20 degrees south, 5,000 nm, start 16 November 2008
- Leg 3: Middle East to India, 1,600 nm, start 20 December 2008
- Leg 4: India to South East Asia, via scoring waypoint at island of Palau Weh, Indonesia, 2,000 nm, start 3 January 2009
- Leg 5: South East Asia to China (port 1), 2,200 nm, start 24 January 2009
- Leg 6: China (port 1) to China (port 2), 300 nm, start 8 February 2009
- Leg 7: China (port 2) to Brazil, via scoring waypoints at 36 degrees South and Cape Horn, 12,000 nm, start 22 February 2009
- Leg 8: Brazil to the North East USA, via scoring waypoint at Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, 4,800 nm, start 18 April 2009
- Leg 9: North East USA to Western Europe, via scoring waypoint on the longitude of St John, Newfoundland, 2,500 nm, start 16 May 2009
- Leg 10: Western Europe to Sweden, 1,500 nm, start 6 June 2009
- Leg 11: Sweden to Finish. 250 nm on a flexi-course, start 19 June 2009

In Port races will be held in Alicante, Middle East, South East Asia, China (port 2), Brazil, North East USA, Western Europe and Sweden.

To view the Notice of Race:
volvooceanrace.org/pdf/NoticeofRace_2008_01.pdf

The Volvo Ocean Race is an ISAF Special Event. For more information on the Volvo Ocean Race, the Volvo Open 70 and the teams competing, visit the official Volvo Ocean Race website - www.volvooceanrace.org

From the ISAF at sailing.org

OPTIMIST WORLDS: FINAL DAY
Julian Autenrieth from the Bayerischer Y.C., Germany is the 2006 IODA World Champion.

The final day of the championship was nail-biting! Race 15a was completed by 1230 in shifting winds but several attempts to sail the other four divisions were abandoned as the Race Committee and sailors waited in 32 degree heat for the huge swings to give way to the incoming northerly.

By chance Julian was in the same start as the overnight leader Griselda Khng (SIN). His target was to finish in the top nine and two points ahead of his rival. This he did with very little to spare and emerged as champion by just two points. Latin American sentiment was consoled by the well-deserved bronze taken by Edgar Diminich of Ecuador who, at 55kg, contradicted the idea that this was a regatta for lightweights.

Champions of girls' sailing may regret that we do not have a female champion to follow Tina Lutz's 2005 win but it is notable that 7 of the top 21 sailors were female. -- Robert Wilkes

Top ten final places:
1. Julian Autenrieth, GER, 72 points
2. Griselda Khng, SIN, 74
3. Edgar Diminich, ECU, 90
4. Stephanie Zimmermann, PER, 95
5. Rufina Tan Hong Mui, MAS, 95
6. Marcus Hansen, NZL, 107
7. Jonathan Martinetti, ECU, 121
8. Benjamin Grez, CHI, 140
9. Leonardo Dubbini, ITA, 148
10. Russell Kan, SIN, 150

www.optimistworlds.org.uy

YACHT: A HANDMADE BOOK ABOUT HANDMADE BOATS
Michael Frith's wonderful watercolour paintings and sketches of Classic yachts in a handbound, leather trimmed limited edition book which evokes the style of the Classics. " Frith's light, suggestive line, in sketches as well as paintings, is immensely evocative" CB Magazine, Jan 2007. Foreword by Harry Spencer, and quotes from sailors around the world. 160 pages, landscape A3 in handmade slipcase. 400 pounds. First 100 orders receive a free limited edition print of a Frith watercolour. See it at the Classic Boat stand at the London Boat Show or visit www.spotred.co.uk

VELUX 5 OCEANS
The International Jury of the Velux 5 Oceans yacht race today confirmed that Japanese skipper Kojiro Shiraishi, sailing onboard his Open 60 Spirit of Yukoh, was awarded a reduction on the elapsed time for the leg of 7.5 hours. Kojiro Shiraishi's overall elapsed time for the first leg in the Ultimate Solo Challenge is officially 45 days, 18 hours and 30 minutes. This now puts Kojiro Shiraishi 67 hours and 12 minutes behind race leader and defending champion Bernard Stamm.

The Japanese skipper applied for redress after he arrived in Fremantle (Western Australia) at the end of the dramatic first leg of the classic round the world race, which saw Alex Thomson abandon Hugo Boss in the Southern Ocean. Although Thomson was ultimately rescued by fellow British skipper Mike Golding in a heroic early morning effort, Kojiro Shiraishi had already responded to a request to alter course and make for Hugo Boss as she was downwind from the stricken yacht and the damage at the time was still be assessed by Alex and his team back on land.

The International Jury concluded that Spirit of Yukoh's finishing place may have been made significantly worse by responding for a request for help. Depending on the assumptions made, Spirit of Yukoh lost between 3.5 and 8.5 hours due to the diversion. After considering a number of options, the International Jury made the decision that Spirit of Yukoh shall have her elapsed time for the leg reduced by 7.5 hours.

The Velux 5 Oceans organisers, race committee and International Jury wish to thank Kojiro Shiraishi for his professionalism and dedicated seamanship during the first leg. The experienced Japanese skipper did not hesitate to respond to the request for assistance and make best speed for Hugo Boss.

* Sir Robin Knox-Johnston:
Our next objective, once everything is in place, is to go sailing. This is set for Thursday with Friday as follow up. Saturday is for stowing food and gear and then a good relax so I feel fresh for [the start on] Sunday. The weather for Sunday does not look that exciting. At the moment it looks like headwinds as far as Cape Leeuwin, but once that is passed the winds are westerlies.

I cannot say I am looking forward to this next leg of the Velux 5 Oceans race. It is 14,500 miles, but half of that distance is just getting from here to Cape Horn. We are going into the zone of ice, cold water, very strong winds and high seas. The Race Committee have given us some waylines for this next leg to keep us clear of the ice, but no one really knows where it might lie so we are going to have to bear this in mind. It's a nasty, cold, miserable place. Why do we go there? Because if things are easy there is little satisfaction from the accomplishment."

www.velux5oceans.com

CASA DE CAMPO TO HOST FIRST REGATTA PRESIDENTE CUP
La Romana, Dominican Republic: The Casa de Campo Yacht Club and Marina, one of the Caribbean's most luxurious resorts located in the Dominican Republic, will host the inaugural Casa de Campo Regatta 2007 Presidente Cup, Feb. 6-10, 2007.

Regatta organizers plan to have four divisions. Division A will consist of one-design classes. Division B will consist of racing sailboats longer than 24 feet in length. Division C will feature performance cruisers, cruisers, bareboats and multihulls. Division D will consist of classic sailboats.

Already 17 entries have been received, ranging from J/24s to a 64-footer. There are also bareboat charters available for those wishing to race but unable to get their boat to the venue.

Racing will be held off Casa de Campo, on the south side of the eastern end of the Dominican Republic. The racecourse will be situated between Isla Catalina to the west and Isla Saona to the east.

Casa de Campo is located on 7,000 acres on the southeastern end of the Dominican Republic. The marina has 400 slips and a 120-ton Travelift. Entrants in the regatta will be provided free dockage between Jan. 15 and Feb. 15.

The five-star resort also has three polo fields, lighted tennis courts, and the only private airport that is serviced by a commercial airline. American Airlines has daily non-stop flights from Miami and San Juan.

The regatta is being partly organized by Force10 Marketing, an integrated sports and event marketing company based in Lymington, England, providing marketing, communications and management services for international events and sponsors worldwide.

For information on the Casa de Campo Regatta for the Presidente Cup, including the Notice of Race and a list of entrants, visit the event Web site at www.CasadeCampoRegatta.com . The marina's Web site is www.MarinaCasadeCampo.com .

BRIT STAR SPLIT
After five successful years on the Olympic campaign trail together, the British Star sailing duo of Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell have decided to pursue new challenges.

Consistently one of the world's top performing boats in the oldest Olympic sailing class, Team Percy-Mitchell's "Skandia Star" became the first ever British boat to win the Star World Championships in 2002 and subsequently medalled at the next three World Championships. However, Olympic glory eluded them at Athens in 2004, where they finished sixth overall.

Mitchell is now moving on to concentrate on further boats and coaching in the Olympic classes as one of the most highly respected British sailors, while Iain Percy will continue on the Olympic campaign trail with Skandia Team GBR in the Star, where he will be joined by two-time world and European Finn medallist and America's Cup strategist Andrew Simpson in a bid for Olympic gold at Qingdao in 2008.

Simpson has consistently been one of Britain's best sailors, only managing to stay out of the spotlight due to narrow defeats to Percy in 2000 and Ben Ainslie in 2004 in the Finn class.

RYA Olympic Manager Stephen Park commented: "Iain and Steve have shown that they are one of the world's best Star teams over the last five years and have been great ambassadors for not only the team but also their sponsors.

"However, winning Olympic medals is a ruthless business, and one where you need to be crystal clear how you are going to make the small differences between winning a medal or not. Reviewing the programme, Iain has decided he needs some new skills in the boat and from my perspective as Team Manager, having Andrew Simpson back in the World Class Programme is an exciting opportunity that I am confident will deliver the performance gains the Star team are looking for." -- Lindsey Bell

www.skandiateamgbr.com

SAILING IN THE CASPIAN SEA - COMING SOON
If you've run out of ideas for new places to sail, then you soon may be able to consider the Caspian Sea! Yachting is spreading with surprisingly rapidity to areas once hardly associated with sailing. On the eastern seaboard of the Caspian Sea, the town of Aqtau in Kazakhstan, known mostly for its nuclear reactors, is planning a marina for 150-200 yachts.

Last week the Aqtau town planning council approved a project for the construction of a ‘yacht seascape', which is basically a protected shelter for 150-200 yachts, or a marina.

According to the project's author, director of Briz-A company Andrei Chulakov, the seascape will be located in the natural bay of the Aktau coastland.

Other facilities will include Beach rescue services, diving and surfing, as well as a multifunctional leisure centre and hotels.

The head of the region charged the Aqtau akimat and Mangystau Investment Company in close cooperation with the project's author to study thoroughly the seascape construction issues. The expected project commencement date is March 2007.-- Nadezhda Ivanova, Kazinform/ Sail-World, www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=30175

PERSONAL EVEREST
Wheelchair-bound yachtsman Geoff Holt, 40, is set to sail round Britain solo in a modified 15ft trimaran this summer. Completely paralysed from the chest down, Geoff will leave his wheelchair behind on dry land as he embarks on the 50 day adventure in his bid to become the first disabled sailor to cover the 1,600 miles around Great Britain.

He will set off in a westerly direction from the Isle of Wight in mid-May. Sailing for 8 hours a day, he will be supported on the water by a fully crewed rescue craft and will spend each night ashore in his wheelchair accessible motorhome with his personal care proved by his wife Elaine.

As an experienced yachtsman, Geoff is well aware of the potential difficulties that lay ahead. Apart from the obvious dangers at sea like waves, commercial shipping and submerged obstacles, Geoff faces many personal difficulties brought about by his disability with the risk of pressure sores, fatigue and exposure to name but a few.

For further information about the Project and to see a list of supporting companies and organisations, please visit www.personaleverest.com

INDUSTRY NEWS
* Groupe Beneteau has released its Q1 sales figures for 2006/7, with boat sales amounting to 108.965 million Euros whilst earnings for its non-marine business units registered at 23.551 million Euros.

These figures compare to last year's 105.211 million Euros in boat sales and 18.665 million Euros for its non-marine units.

On a constant exchange rate basis, the group's sales came to 133.356 million Euros. In October 2006 company president Bruno Cathelinais predicted around three per cent growth for Groupe Beneteau in 2007 on the back of an encouraging 2006. -- www.ibinews.com

* Danish mast makers Nordic Mast and John Mast have agreed to divide their workload to allow each company to focus on its particular strengths.

Since 2000, Nordic has experienced a heavy boom in the demand for carbonfibre masts, and the company has therefore invested in brand-new production facilities.

Concurrently, John Mast has put much effort and resources into developing and enhancing the efficiency of its production of aluminium masts and booms.

The two companies have agreed to divide the tasks between them from January 1, 2007. The aim of the venture is to secure and develop market shares in a highly competitive market, based not on competition between composite and aluminium masts but between Danish companies and foreign companies. -- IBI news, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070008124630ibinews.html

* The British Marine Federation (BMF) published its annual report on the state of the UK leisure marine industry today at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show, which opened on Friday. According to the report, UK companies generated sales of around 2.8 billion pounds during the 2005/6 financial year, with manufacturing forming the foundation of the industry's success. In terms of Value Added contribution, this equates to just over 1 billion pounds, or 37.6 per cent of turnover.

The UK leisure marine industry, which is made up of more than 4,300 businesses, is said to have grown by a rate of approximately 7.8 per cent per annum since 1997. -- IBI News, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070008134904ibinews.html

* Cowes Online is filming at the London Boat Show and has several video reports online already with more to come.

Along with an intro report from all the activities of Press Day, there are some interesting interviews with Ben Ainslie, Shirley Robertson, and Mike Golding and Alex Thomson among others.

Find all the stories and video reports here:
www.cowes.co.uk/cb/zone?p=index;cat_id=136;cp=0-136

* A Yachting World special podcast from the London Boat Show at Excel

Part 1 kicks off with Matthew Sheahan's whistle-stop tour of the sailing hall at Excel before he interviews British America's Cup backer Sir Keith Mills, Alex Thompson, Ellen MacArthur and Iain Percy.

In Part 2 Ben Ainslie talks about the pressures of balancing an America's Cup role against his Olympic campaign in the Finn, while Shirley Robertson discusses how she combines being a mother of twins and Olympic training.

In addition, Matt visits the all action stand at the heart of the show, that of the UKSA, before talking to Oyster's Richard Matthews and Laser designer Jo Richards about two brand new designs at opposite ends of the sailing spectrum.

www.ybw.com/yw/podcast/yw_podcasts.html

Part1: www.ybw.com/yw/podcast/libs1.mp3
Part2: www.ybw.com/yw/podcast/libs2.mp3

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 Geraint Lewis: I read with much interest that Victory Challenge's new yacht, SWE 96, is on its way to Valencia by lorry rather than by ship because, according to shore manager Sam Murch "...it is the most effective method of transport, both as regards time and cost".

Strange then, that the next destination for SWE 96 is Trelleborg, from where it will travel by ferry to Travemunde in Germany on then onwards to Valencia, rather than use the new bridge linking Sweden to Denmark.

I think someone at Victory Challenge ought to get an update for their Tom-Tom. Failing that, I am open to offers to fill their vacancy as navigator...

THE LAST WORD
We need men who can dream of things that never were. -- John F. Kennedy

OC Events, ocevents.org , 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) plus the Extreme 40 Sailing Series for The iShares Cup.

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