Brought to you by boats.com Europe with the support of OC Events, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

DEE CAFFARI AND AVIVA LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW WORLD FIRST
Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group, is to sponsor the world record-breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari as she attempts another world first. Caffari, not content with one record, now plans to become the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world in both directions. Her next campaign will see her move into the highly competitive world of Open 60 racing. The Aviva Ocean Racing campaign is planned to culminate with her entry into the 2008/9 Vendee Globe.

Only seven months ago, in May 2006, 33 year old Caffari completed the Aviva Challenge, becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the world against the prevailing winds and currents.

Caffari's campaign will include a series of IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association) Open 60 races throughout 2007/8 in preparation for her entry into the 2008/9 Vendee Globe. In the first phase of the campaign she will use a training boat, 'Aviva', formerly known as 'Hellomoto'. The preparation of a new purpose built race boat for the 2008 Vendee Globe entry will also start immediately. Caffari and her team have selected the highly experienced Merfyn Owen of Owen Clarke Designs to design the new boat.

The Aviva Ocean Racing Team will be supported by campaign director Andrew Roberts and Harry Spedding as campaign manager. Both helped Caffari to success in her round the world solo challenge in 2006.

New to her team is project manager Joff Brown. Brown has been instrumental in a number of top class Open 60 campaigns including the preparation of boats for Mike Golding, Conrad Humphreys and Alex Thomson.

www.avivaoceanracing.com

ARTEMIS OCEAN RACING TEAM SIGNS NEW SKIPPER
Following a very successful first year in Ocean Racing including sponsoring an Open 60, breaking the Round Britain and Ireland record and competing in the Route Du Rhum, Artemis and Brian Thompson would like to announce that Brian will be leaving the team..

They have signed Jonny Malbon as their new skipper, it was announced today.

Malbon has been Boat Captain since Artemis commenced their Open 60 campaign and has over the last year proved his racing pedigree, skippering the boat to break the Round Britain and Ireland race record. No stranger to round-the-world racing campaigns, Jonny also managed the refit and was boat captain of the race winning Maxi-Cat, Doha 2006, during the non-stop round-the-world race, the Oryx Quest in 2005. Malbon also boat captained Ellen MacArthur's Route du Rhum winning Open 60 Kingfisher in 2002, before going on to successfully co-skipper the Open 60 under the Team888 flag. He has also raced extensively aboard Peter Harrison's superyacht Sojana, and has been part of the highly successful Chernikeef 2 team.

www.artemisoceanracing.com

A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION!!
Get a jump on your competition in 2007! Ullman Sails will add boat speed and power for your 2007 campaigns. Designed and constructed by world class sailmakers, positioned around the globe to serve you, make Ullman your sailmaker of choice. Let your New Year's resolution be an inventory upgrade with the "Fastest Sails on the Planet". Cutting edge designs and state of the art materials, such as, Ullman's new "FiberPath" sails, guarantee championship performance. Our goal: "maximize boat speed and provide the best customer support. "For an Investment in Performance" contact your nearest Ullman Sails loft and visit www.ullmansails.com

2008 ROLEX COMMODORES' CUP
The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), together with Rolex, has announced details for the 2008 Rolex Commodores' Cup to be held in Cowes, Isle of Wight.

With team managers and interested owners starting their campaign plans earlier and earlier in the intervening period between events, RORC's Rolex Commodores' Cup management team felt it important to respond by setting the parameters for the 2008 event as soon as practical after the previous (2006) edition.

Once again this tough mix of inshore and offshore races will be compacted into a challenging 7-day racing schedule on the testing waters in and around the Solent. As in 2006 the handicap system will be IRC (Endorsed) and there will be three rating bands.

The international teams will consist of three boats, with one boat from each of the following Bands:

Class 1
1.120 - 1.230
DLR (Displacement Length Ratio) 200

Class 2
1.075 - 1.119
DLR 200

Class 3
1.025 - 1.074
DLR 215

Within these Bands, each boat must also comply with STIX and AVS (Safety and Stability Indices) requirements.

A significant change for 2008 is in the racing programme for the week. Again, in an effort to evolve the regatta in line with the wishes of the main stakeholders - those that compete - RORC has carried out a thorough review of the weeklong schedule and made some bold decisions. Most striking is the positioning of the offshore race in the middle of the week and the short passage race, provisionally a Round the Island course, towards the end. The removal of one of the inshore races offers crews greater breathing space during an intense week of racing, but the final inshore race of the series carries double points adding to the excitement at the event climax.

Nationality rules remain as per 2006, with a 50% requirement. The relationship between Professionals and Amateurs has been reviewed in some detail, with considerable attention paid to competitors from both sides of the sport.

Full details at www.rorc.org

ROLEX YACHTSMAN AND YACHTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Jud Smith (Marblehead, Mass.) and Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) today were named, respectively, US Sailings's 2006 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. From a shortlist of nominees determined by the membership of US Sailing, a panel of noted sailing journalists selected the two sailors for the distinction.

Smith (Marblehead, Mass.) was recognized for his victory at the Audi Etchells World Championship in Australia. His domination of the Etchells class in 2006 also included victories at the Lands' End Annapolis NOOD Regatta, Florida State Championship and Acura Miami Race Week. At the helm of a Rhodes 19 he added to his resume wins of that class's National and East Coast Championships. He also crewed on the class winners at the Rolex Big Boat Series (Sydney-38 Copernicus), the Lands' End Chicago NOOD Regatta and the Verve Cup (both on the Farr 40 Inferno).

Since her first nomination in 2002, 2006 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) has been short-listed for this award five years in a row. This is a testament to not only the early rise to the top of the sport by this young sailor who will turn 20 years old in May but also her remarkable staying power over the subsequent years in the Laser Radial.

Railey's most impressive performances in 2006 were victories on foreign waters, which also contributed to her being honored last November as the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2006. That award recognized her sailing achievements between September 1, 2005, and August 31, 2006.

www.ussailing.org

SHARK-INFESTED WATERS
Fourteen year old Mike Perham sailed into the record books just after Christmas when, after nearly seven weeks at sea, he arrived in Antigua having sailed solo across the Atlantic in a Tide 28 trailer sailer, Cheeky Monkey. A solo Atlantic passage by any route is a major challenge. For a 14-year old to achieve this in such a relatively small boat fully deserves the recognition it got - or did it?

One report rather unfairly commented that for the whole crossing his father, following a mile or two astern in an identical boat, was 'babysitting' the lad whilst others over-egged the achievement with talk of his swimming in shark infested waters, braving mountainous seas and hurricane force winds. This achievement does not need exaggerating. The fact he managed it is enough.

But since the news of his arrival broke there has been an uncanny silence. What happened during the crossing? What broke? How did he cope with the solitude? What did he eat? Did he get enough sleep? Nothing. Nada.

Web editor Sue Pelling tried long and hard to interview him over the phone. Nothing. Antigua-based YW contributor Joel Byerly tried to get the story. Silence. The door was closed. Even his daily diary entries on his web site vanished.

But last Sunday, 7 January, all was revealed in an exclusive story in - the News of the World. Talk about swimming with sharks.

From Andrew Bray's blog:
www.ybw.com/yw/blog/andrew_bray.html

While you're at it, two other YBW blogs that are deservedly book-markable (a word is born!):

Elaine Bunting: www.ybw.com/yw/blog/elaine_bunting.html
David Glenn: www.ybw.com/yw/blog/david_glenn.html

NEW CLASS 40 ENTRY FOR GLOBAL OCEAN CHALLENGE
Global Ocean Sailing Ventures (GOSV) today announced that a new Rodger Martin designed Class 40 will be on the start line for the Global Ocean Challenge in September this year. The new boat, being built in Rhode Island USA by Al Fresco Composites, is for experienced sailors Stuart Williams and Jared Lazor. Williams, a former member of the US Ski Team will skipper the boat.

Both Williams and co-skipper Lazor felt that a local Rhode Island effort would bring some of the excitement of shorthanded around-the-world racing back to its birthplace. "The first Around Alone started and finished in Newport," said Lazor. "This city has seen some of the greatest shorthanded sailors leave and arrive and we hope to become a small part of that rich history."

The boat, to be named Gwaihir, after the Lord of Wind in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, has been designed by noted yacht designer Rodger Martin. "We tested a number of hull shapes and displacements in a weather matrix for an around-the-world course," Martin said. "Even though the Class 40 is a ‘box rule' we felt that there was some room for innovation and I believe that we have come up with a very fast and sea kindly boat for the Global Ocean Challenge."

The Gwaihir Racing Team expect to be sailing off Rhode Island in early spring.

www.gochallenge.net

ANCHORING IN A VOLCANO
Tony Mowbray with family and friends anchors inside a volcano, which last erupted in 1970, after crossing Drake Passage. It's cold and they are waiting for a gale to pass before heading south west to see icebergs.

...what an amazing thing to do…….anchor your boat inside a volcano that last erupted in 1970! Not so bloody long ago! Since I last wrote life has been full and interesting to say the least (not to mention VERY cold!)...the closing part of our Drake Passage crossing was beaut with a good following breeze and we managed to shut the motor down and get in some good sailing...as we closed the islands of the South Shetland group we were inundated by an incredible array of bird life ducking, weaving and diving around us...almost like a welcoming party saying..."Welcome to our home".

We closed in on Deception late on the evening of the 2nd Jan and motored through "Neptune's Bellows" (what a great name) at about 2am on the morning of the 3rd….the Bellows is the entrance (very narrow) to the waterway within. A small section of the rim of the crater collapsed allowing the ocean to flood in…...imagine the rush of water back then! The caldera is about 5 miles in length from SE to NW and tucked up in the very NW corner is a tiny kidney shaped inlet and that is where we are currently moored riding out a gale. When it blows down here...it blows! As I have written before, because the atmosphere is so dense here 30knots packs much more of a punch than 30knots in the tropics (don't mention the Great Barrier Reef to any of the crew or there might be a mutiny).

Full story at www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=20203

SHORT TACKS
* Saturday the 13th Jan will see the 49ers racing for the second year on the dock outside the London Boat Show. This year they will be joined by the 29ers. Racing starts at 12 with the prize giving at 5 in the central hall. Each fleet will do 3 races back to back. There will be no discard so it is all to count.

* Set by Ellen MacArthur aboard her trimaran, "Castorama," the world record for sailing between Taipei and Hong Kong was bested near the close of December 2006 by a crew of 8 people, with the leadership of Philippe Grelon, Boris Bourdin and Eric Frotier. Aboard a Sun Odyssey 47, under rough conditions, the crew sailed hard for 2 days and 15 hours at sea to best the previous record by one hour and 20 minutes! -- Vanessa Clairgeaux, www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=2373

* The skippers of the VELUX 5 OCEANS are counting down the final days until the second leg. Parked at the Fremantle Sailing Club, the formula one ocean yachts are beginning to look ready for the test that lies ahead. Whilst Bernard Stamm (SUI) and Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN) have enjoyed well over a month of preparation time in Fremantle (Western Australia), skippers such as Graham Dalton (NZL) and Unai Basurko (ESP) have had less than two weeks to prepare their yachts for the extreme conditions of the Southern Ocean. During the stopover, all the boats have come out the water and taken out their masts to ensure that everything is repaired and primed.

The clock ticks down towards 15:00 on Sunday (06:00 GMT) when the start gun fires and the fleet crosses the start line off Fremantle.

* More events counting towards the overall ranking, more prize money, more competitors and some new rules: this is the context of the 2007 ISA Speedsurfing Grand Prix Tour.

With total prize money of at least 100,000 Euros this years tour is again a big step forward compared to last year, when already more than 120 competitors from 26 nations, representing five continents fought for the titles in four categories.

The venues from last years tour are on again in 2007, and some more events are in the pipeline:

Karpathos June 22-29, Fuertaventura 27.07.-04.08 and Walvis Bay 01.09.-10.09 are confirmed. -- www.speedsurfing.org

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 Scott Judson, Complete Freight: Geraint Lewis questioned yesterday the logics regarding Victory Challenge transport from Gothenburg to Valencia and the use of the ferry from Trelleborg to Travemunde, and not the bridge. Firstly the need for additional escort cars and permits in Denmark are avoided. This of course cuts costs. Secondly in taking the ferry, the driver can also regain his driving hours and on arrival into Germany he can start driving immediately. You can only drive by night in Germany with such a load so this allows the yacht to gain maximum distance through Germany within the shortest time period. You get through Germany quicker. And you avoid the weekend restrictions when arriving to Spain.

* From Manfried Schreiber: Geraint Lewis comment on transporting SWE-96 across the bridge from Sweden to Denmark made me smile. I am sure that the route had been planned very carefully by the Swedish team and that a tom tom or other device is definitely not the equipment to help you find the best way to get an AC yacht to it´s destination. There is still another water to cross by ferry, from Denmark to Germany. And than we have a storm since some days which forces police to close the Fehmarnsund bridge for lorries and big transportation. A quick look at the map will show you what I mean. Mmh, but reading again, maybe Geraint just wanted to make a joke or sells tom tom´s. Who knows?

* From Volker Heubel: regarding Geraint's interest in the navigator's job on SWE 96 which is taking the ferry not the bridge on the way to Spain.... Please keep in mind that even in days of fancy navigational systems, nature is still there. Here's an update: Due to strong winds, Oresund-Bridge has been closed to lorries several days ago. Hence the ferry...

osb.oeresundsbron.dk/frontpage/?lang=1&area=traffic

On the other hand, it would be a thrilling sight witnessing the most spectacular launching ever.

THE LAST WORD
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. -- John Lennon

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.

Over 80,000 boats for sale on www.boats.com

Scuttlebutt Europe is available via email:
To subscribe, send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit scuttlebutteurope.com

Editorial and letter submissions to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/content/view/7/6/