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SUPER STAMM MAINTAINS A BLISTERING PACE
Bernard Stamm claims he is sailing his Open 60 Cheminees Poujoulat "conservatively"... And yet the race and leg leader has been rocketing through the Southern Ocean at a blistering pace, clocking over 400 miles a day for the last few position reports. Riding in front of a low pressure system, the Swiss skipper has been sailing at an average speed of over 17 knots, five knots faster than any boat in the fleet. But on the daily radio vacation, the defending champion claimed to be sailing conservatively to preserve the boat and that he could be throttling along at 25 knots if he was pushing. An impressive rhythm from the experienced solo sailor.

Cheminees Poujoulat is now hurtling through 'Iceberg Alley', the cold and treacherous expanse of Southern Ocean beyond New Zealand. Although Stamm is yet to spy an iceberg, the skipper spends the days on deck and the nights down below trusting his radar. Looking ahead, Stamm expects that he and Shiraishi will get through a high pressure system, cutting them off from the rest of the fleet who will be left with strong upwind conditions. Not ideal for the Southern Ocean.

Kojiro Shiraishi, currently 465 miles behind Stamm in second place, has experienced the tougher side of the Southern Ocean after a few days of unusually kind conditions. Left floundering with no wind, the huge swells of the seas below New Zealand rocked the yacht violently from side to side, risking damage and making life horrible below deck. The Japanese skipper then received a blast of 40 knot wind from the north, which then swung round to a westerly. The constant sail changes and wind movements have meant a tiring and difficult days sailing for the skipper of Spirit Of Yukoh.

Back in the fleet, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on Saga Insurance is hoping to overtake Unai Basurko on Pakea. Although 44 miles separate the two yachts with respect to DTL, Knox-Johnston is positioned 150 miles south. However the sailing legend is expecting gale force winds to hit him tomorrow which may jeopardize his bid to move from last place. In third place, kiwi Graham Dalton continues to impress in his 50 foot yacht A Southern Man AGD, around 1,000 miles behind Stamm and 500 miles ahead of the back markers.

www.velux5oceans.com

LIKE QINGDAO
The wind remained light for a second consecutive day at US Sailing's Rolex Miami OCR, but for the 855 sailors from 49 countries competing here, it replicated the conditions expected in Qingdao, China for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Regattas. In fact, this event -- the largest in its 18 years of blanketing Biscayne Bay and area clubs with elite sailors and their finely-tuned boats -- also replicates the sailing format that will be followed at the Games: fleet racing held over multiple days and a final medal race on Saturday for the top 10 sailors in each class.

Great Britain's Olympic Silver Medalist Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield topped the scoreboard for a third consecutive day in 470 Men's class. Spain's Gustavo Martinez and Dimas Wood are their closest rivals and won today's second race after finishing 10th in the first race. Rogers and Glanfield posted a 6-2, which was enough to maintain their lead and keep Spain six points behind them in overall scoring.

Paralympic sailing at this event is at its finest ever, with the fleets having grown significantly over the years and, like the Olympic classes, hosting top talent from around the world.

Top-Three Results (Provisional) Day 3

Finn (49 boats) -- 7 races
1. Peer Moberg, NOR, 26
2. Jonas Hoegh-Christensen, DEN, 26
3. Dan Slater, NZL, 29

49er (47 boats) -- 7 races
1. Stevie Morrison/ Ben Rhodes, GBR, 19
2. Iker Martinez de Lizarduy/ Xabier Fernadez, ESP, 19
3. Morgan Larson/ Pete Spaulding, USA, 19

470 Men's (31 boats) -- 6 races
1. Nick Rogers/Joe Glanfield, GBR, 15
2. Gustavo Martinez/Dimas Wood, ESP, 21
3. Gideon Kliger/Udi Gal, ISR, 32

470 Women's (18 boats) -- 7 races
1. Marcelien de Koning/Lobke Berkhout, NED, 18
2. Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving, USA, 20
3. Giulia Conti/Giovanna Micol, ITA, 21

Laser (69 boats) -- 6 races
1. Michael Blackburn, AUS, 13
2. Tom Slingsby, AUS, 20
2. Matias Del Solar, CHI, 20

Laser Radial (69 boats) -- 6 races
1. Anna Tunnicliffe, USA, 10
2. Tania Elias Calles, MEX, 16
3. Karin Soderstrom, SWE, 18

RS:X Men (44 boats) -- 5 races
1. Samual Launay, FRA, 19
2. Przeymslaw Miarczynski, POL, 19
3. Nick Dempsey, GBR, 22

RS:X Women (28 boats) -- 5 races
1. Marina Alabau, ESP, 14
2. Bryony Shaw, GBR, 16
3. Marta Hlavaty, POL, 23

SKUD-18 (10 boats) - 8 races
1. Scott Whitman, USA), 16
2. Karen Mitchell/ JP Creignou, USA, 20
3. David Cook/Brenda Hopkin, CAN, 20

Sonar (14 boats) -- 8 races
1. John Robertson/Hannah Stodel/Stephen Thomas, GBR, 21
2. Dan Parsons/Tom Pygall/Guy Draper, GBR, 22
3. Vasilis Christoforou/Nikos Paterakis/Kostaris AN. Alexas TH., GRE, 33

Star (67 boats) - 5 races
1. Fredrik Loof/Anders Ekstrom, SWE, 7
2. Xavier Rohart/Pascal Rambeau, FRA, 12
3. Afonso Domingos/ Bernardo Santos, POR, 15

Tornado (43 boats) - 5 races
1. Darren Bundock/Glenn Ashby, AUS, 12
2. Leigh McMillan/William Howden, GBR, 12
2. Olivier Backes/Paul Ambroise Sevestre, FRA, 15

2.4 mR (25 boats) -- 7 races
1. Stellan Berlin, SWE, 21
2. Megan Pascoe, GBR, 21
3. Helena Lucas, GBR, 26

Yngling (18 boats) -- 7 races
1. Anne Le Helley/Marion Deplanque/ Catherine Lepresant, FRA, 20
2. Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe/Debbie Cappozi, USA, 20
3. Silja Lehtinen/ Maria Klemetz/Livia Varesmaa, FIN, 23

www.RolexMiamiOCR.org

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KIWIS OUT, JAPAN IN FOR WARREN JONES YOUTH REGATTA
Perth, Western Australia: For the first time in the five year history of the Warren Jones Youth Regatta, there will be no New Zealand skippers, but the Japanese are making their debut, while the Swedes are back after a gap, and the British are returning.

Eleven skippers under the age of 25 have accepted their invitations to contest the event in memory of the man who was the moving force behind Australia II's famous victory in the 1983 America's Cup.

Evan Walker from Sydney's Cruising Yacht Club of Australia leads a strong contingent of challengers from the eastern states of Australia, with a world ranking of 47, he starts the event as the favourite, having finished third last year sailing as tactician to fellow Sydneysider Seve Jarvin.

English skipper Alastair Hall is back for a third attempt at the Warren Jones Regatta, and is hoping to improve on his 6th place last year, which was a big step up from 10th place in 2005.

Yuki Nagahori is the first Japanese skipper to contest the event, and has specialized in match racing at home, where he won both the Spring Match Racing and the Youth Match Racing in Hayama.

John Back comes from one of the toughest match racing training grounds in the world, Sweden, where many of the young sailors aspire to climb the world ranking ladder, mixing it with the seniors he did exceptionally well to take 6th place at last year's Dubai Match Race Championships.

The event, which is hosted by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, and will be sailed in Foundation 36 yachts, runs from 29th January to 1st February, 20 years after Australia's unsuccessful defence of the America's Cup. -- John Roberson

BULLIMORE HOLED UP IN HOBART
What is Tony Bullimore up to? Since going incommunicado on the way to Australia in December and arriving into a media storm, the ebullient Bristol sailor has been holed up in Hobart, ostensibly waiting for the end of the Sydney-Hobart race to begin his bid to beat Ellen MacArthur's solo round the world record.

But the Sydney-Hobart boats are long gone now and Bullimore and his giant catamaran are still there. According to his PR adviser Barry Pickthall, Bullimore is awaiting some bits of gear: a headsail furling gear that didn't fit, and repair to a damaged runner.

The latest is that Bullimore is aiming to get going in the second week of February. This is nearing the end of the Southern Ocean season, so by then it will be one-shot effort. Next year, his chances of setting a new record will be slender as Thomas Coville and Francis Joyon gallop over the horizon, each in their big new custom-built record-breakers...

From Elaine Bunting's blog on YBW.com: www.ybw.com/yw/blog/elaine_bunting.html

WOMEN'S MATCH RACING
The new and improved Women's Match Racing Association (WIMRA) site is up and running and ready to be used at www.wimra.org . Work on the site is ongoing and new improvements will be coming online in the future.

The site allows designated members to update content online, and will feature a calendar, regatta reports and photo gallery dedicated to women's match racing. Planned features coming up are sailor Q&As and sailor profiles.

Women's match racing has gone from strength to strength over the last few years. The number of skippers on the Women's ISAF World Match Race Rankings has grown from 126 at the end of 2003 to 151 in 2004, 185 in 2005 and 196 in 2006. There are seven ISAF Grade 1 Women's Match Racing events scheduled for 2007, with the ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship taking place in St Quay, France from 6-11 August.

ISAF: www.sailing.org/default.asp?PID=20036

APL SOLING EUROPEANS
The 2007 APL Soling European Championship broke this morning the mythic barrier of 50 entries, with still 6 months to go; now the organization goes for more, although snow and ice covers Arendal, the beer sessions are kept regularly in the pub by the Soling sailors avid for the new season to come.

The Scandinavian championship knocking at their doors is the first serious commitment to be first sailed in Denmark at Skive on May 12 and 13 and the cup name is Danish Open Championship, following in June 16 and 17 the Norwegian Championship in Asker, later on in July the APL European Championship starting on July 28 and then the Scandinavian Championship ending in Sweden at their National Championship to be held in Tjorn from September 1 and 2.

The 2007 APL Soling Europeans organization is now seeking to break the 60 boat barrier and they know they have the potential for it, there are at least 100 Solings in the country and 35 could be easily race able from the 24 already registered for the event if not more. Neighbor countries like Sweden, Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands could also be potential for more entries.

Meanwhile the sailing activities in the fjord mostly are done in the barns preparing Solings and in the pubs with lots of talking, promises, discussions and bets... lets not forget the beer too. -- Matias Collins, ISA Secretary

INDUSTRY NEWS
* In October 2007, the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) in the UK will be holding an international conference on 'The Modern Yacht' to provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of all aspects of modern yacht design, construction, operation and survey.

The conference will address all aspects of yacht design, including performance, stability, sea-keeping, construction and safety, as well as survey, operation and service experience; applying to sailing yachts, both high performance and cruising and to motoryachts, in private or charter service.

'The Modern Yacht' conference will take place October 17-18, 2007 in Southampton. The deadline for the initial call for papers is April 6, 2007.

Details of all forthcoming RINA conferences, events and training courses may be obtained from the 'Events' page on the RINA website at www.rina.org.uk

Full story on IBI News:
www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070024131102ibinews.html

* Future Fibres and BSI A/S of Denmark announce a new collaboration after a number of successful joint projects.

BSI becomes Future Fibres' official metalwork partner and the two companies are working closely together to optimize rigging solutions and offer a complete rigging / component package to mast manufacturers.

BSI's existing range is to be complemented by Future Fibres' custom-designed fittings that will all be manufactured by BSI to satisfy the full spectrum of clients' requirements.

* At the European Yacht of the Year awards ceremony held on Saturday 20 January this year as part of the Dusseldorf Boat Show organized by Delius Klasing (publishers of 'Die Yacht' and 'Boote' magazines), Chantiers Beneteau received a Special Award in recognition of our exceptional talent for Innovation and Development.

The First 34.7 and First 50 models were nominated for the title of European Yacht of the Year, but rather than give an award to one or other of these two exceptional yachts, the judging panel of European yachting journalists (from Yate, Batnytt, Yachting World, Yacht Revue, Swiss Boat Yachting, Yacht, Badnyt and Waterkampioen) made the decision to reward Chantiers Beneteau as a company by creating the special award of European Boatyard of the Year in recognition of its commitment to Innovation and Development.

* A third major UK boat show is planned for Earls Court, to run from 1-9 December this year, organised by a Lymington-based sea school proprietor. Earls Court Exhibitions confirmed the dates to YM.

James Brooke, 34, founder of Advanced Yachting wants to 'bring back the magic' he experienced as a young teenager when his father took him to Earls Court in London's West End. The former Royal Marine coxswain and RNLI crew member claims to have major financial backing and has booked both of the Earls Court exhibition halls to show sailing boats, power boats and also construct a water sports section.

He claims to have conducted major market research and says he is 'overwhelmed' with industry support for the new show. -- Yachting Monthly, www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20070017140124ymnews.html

* The British Marine Federation (BMF) has published its response to the shock announcement this week of a new Earls Court Boat Show.

The BMF make clear they are unconnected with the Earls Court show and say: "The London Boat Show goes from strength to strength and will take place at ExCeL between January 11-20, 2008.

"Exhibitors are consistently expressing their belief that there is no need for an extra show in London, especially given its closeness to the flagship London Boat Show at ExCeL and what would be a clash with the Paris Boat Show.

"The marine industry has always shown support for its own show over privately owned exhibitions that pop up from time to time. This was evident with the Portsmouth Boat Shows in 2006 and the other Earls Court start-up show in 2004.

"The industry's opinion was that Earls Court as a venue was also failing to support them with dwindling attendances and logistical problems that led to an overwhelming vote by exhibitors to move the show to ExCeL in 2004." See the March issue of Motor Boat & Yachting for more. -- IBI news, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070019144742ibinews.html

* Jens-Thomas Pietralla takes over the role of President & Chief Executive Officer of Navico Holding A.S. following the official retirement of former CEO, Darrell Lowrance, as of 18th January 2007. Darrell Lowrance stands down as President & CEO of the Navico Group following a hugely successful half-century in the marine electronics business and will become a member of Navico's Board of Directors.

In September 2006 Pietralla joined the newly-created Navico Group headquartered in Oslo, Norway as Chief Operating Officer and CEO-elect.

As President & CEO, Pietralla is at the helm of one of the world's leading players in marine electronics, with responsibility for the company's four established brands, B&G, Eagle, Lowrance and Simrad. -- BYM News, www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=2674

* Organisers of Skandia Cowes Week have been granted permission to replace the North East Mining Ground Buoy, which was removed a couple of years ago, with a buoy sponsored by fractional sailing group SailTime.

The mark, which will be laid in early March 2007, will be positioned further inshore at location: 50 44.35N, 001 06.50W.

* Raimo Sonninen, founder, part owner and managing director of Bella-Veneet Oy, has been named Finland's Entrepreneur of the Year award in Ernst & Young's Finnish national competition of the same name. This included three categories for the trade, manufacturing, and service sectors, and separate Young Entrepreneur and Challenger Entrepreneur awards. Raimo Sonninen won both the manufacturing category and the Entrepreneur of the Year award. Sonninen will represent Finland at the international World Entrepreneur of the Year competition to be held in Monte Carlo in June 2007.

* Boats.com and YachtWorld.com, have announced the promotion of Business Development Manager Robert Corden, to the role of Commercial Director. Robert, previously President of Fairline Boats of North America and subsequently Sales and Marketing Director for a large marine equipment manufacturer, this year celebrates his 20th year in the marine industry. He will now assume responsibility for managing both the direct sales team in the UK as well as continuing to strengthen and grow the company's sales agent network in Europe, the Middle East and Australasia.

Ian Atkins, Managing Director of Boats.com Europe commented, "In addition to the promotion of Robert we have also appointed industry professional Nick Crang as a welcome addition to our in-house sales team. Nick, is a keen sailor, spent several years with Sunsail, latterly as manager of the crewed yacht charter business and most recently was a Director of a yacht brokerage business in Hamble".

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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* From S Fishwick, Amateur Yacht Research Society (sponsors of the Weymouth Speed Week):

According to my copy of the WSSRC Rules for 2005-2008, the only restriction on boats claiming the D-class 500m speed record is that of sail area (over 300 sq.ft.). There is no mention of a length limit.

(I think someone may be confusing the WSSRC categories with the ISAF Multihull D-Class rule, where there may indeed be a length limit)

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THE LAST WORD
Wisdom is what's left after we've run out of personal opinions. -- Cullen Hightower

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