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VENDEE / BARCELONA RACE WARM-UP LAP
With three months to the start of the Calais Round Britain Race, the number of entries is shaping up nicely with a great mix of new prototypes and top names from the IMOCA circuit. At least twelve boats are expected in port on the Opale coast at the end of May as they prepare for the 1850 mile sprint across the most difficult seas in Europe.

It may well be that the line-up for this third edition of the Calais Round Britain exceeds the twelve potential crews, with some firm and numerous potential entries wishing to take the start on June 3rd 2007. The lap around the British Isles promises to be extremely important for all these teams, who must be firing on all cylinders for the Transat Jacques Vabre or the Barcelona Race at the end of the year.

Dee Cafari circumnavigated the globe against the tides and currents last year in 178 days 3 hours 6 minutes and 15 seconds and has just bought the Open 60 footer Hellomoto , Mike Golding's ex Group 4 , now know as Aviva . She is now preparing for the Vendee Globe 2008 on this Finot design and will be racing from Calais whilst awaiting her new boat. Another British entry, following a profusion of Figaro seasons, Samantha Davis, is now getting into the IMOCA class in earnest aboard Roxy, the ex- PRB and winner of the last two Vendee Globes.

Jean-Philippe Chomette, combining forces with Arnaud Boissiere, will also be part of the line-up with Solune-2, Sebastien Josse's ex- VMI . Despite its age the boat remains highly competitive, particularly downwind in the breeze. As far as Bernard Stamm is concerned, currently way out front in the Velux 5 Oceans, he will be testing out his new Cheminees Poujoulat-2 (ex- Virbac-Paprec of Jean-Pierre Dick), currently under refit in a yard in Caen.

Against this armada of perfectly optimised Open 60 footers, the fleet of new prototypes designed for the Vendee Globe and Barcelona Race will finally be able to measure themselves against each other on a semi-oceanic course, which is extremely hard on both the machines and their five crew. Among the new Farr designs, Jean-Pierre Dick has already done some sail trials in New Zealand on Virbac-Paprec 2 and is likely to sail back to France with a crew in the next few weeks: this Open 60 footer is characterised by a innovative 'trim tab' (planning board), which should enable the boat to be trimmed according to the wind conditions.

Also much awaited is Michel Desjoyeaux's new prototype now racing under the colours of Foncia : currently under construction at CDK Technologies. This fifth Farr design announced as part of the line-up for the Calais Round Britain Race 2007 is likely to have its first sail trials just a few days prior to the start in Calais. The Farr designs will be head to head with the sisterships belonging to Vincent Riou ( PRB-2 ) and Jeremie Beyou ( Delta Dore ), who were both forced to retire during the last Route du Rhum. Associated with Sebastien Josse for the Barcelona Race, the winner of the Vendee Globe 2004 is in the process of finalising PRB-2 's new mast, whilst the victorious single-handed Figaro sailor will be relaunching Delta Dore on the same dates, around 15th March.

Another change to the event this year is a boat from the VPLP office in association with Guillaume Verdier, designed for Marc Guillemot and currently under construction in the Arcachon basin: Safran is likely to be a new breath of air in the Imoca class since it is the first design (a sistership is under construction for Kito de Pavant) by the multihull specialists, Marc van Peteghem & Vincent Lauriot Prevost. Finally, the return of the Finot group will also provide some interest since Yann Elies has entrusted Jean-Marie Finot and Pascal Conq with the design of a 60 footer, drawing on their knowledge from four successive victories in the Vendee Globe. Generali, currently being finished off in Vannes, should already have a few miles under its belt prior to heading out into the Channel at the end of May.

The big question is whether the reference time held by Roland Jourdain in 2005 of 6 days 16 hours 43 minutes and 21 seconds will be beaten. Additionally, in agreement with the skippers and Imoca, the organiser, Royale Production reserves the rights to reverse the direction of the course around the British Isles according to the weather conditions.

Firm registered entries on 22nd February
Vincent Riou ( PRB-2 )
Jeremie Beyou ( Delta Dore )
Jean Le Cam ( VM Materiaux )
Jean-Philippe Chomette & Arnaud Boissiere ( Solune-2 )
Dee Cafari ( Aviva )
Jonny Malbon ( Artemis )

Potential entries
Roland Jourdain ( Veolia )
Bernard Stamm ( Cheminee Poujoulat II )
Jean-Pierre Dick ( Paprec-Virbac II )
Samantha Davis ( Roxy )
Yann Elies ( Generali )
Marc Guillemot ( Safran )
Michel Desjoyeaux ( Foncia )
Dominic Wavre ( Temenos II)

Possible skippers
Ellen MacArthur ( OC Challenges)
Mike Golding ( Ecover III )
Alex Thomson ( Hugo Boss II )
Jean- Baptiste Dejeanty ( Maisonneuve-Region Basse Normandie )

www.calaisroundbritainrace.com

SAN FERNANDO RACE
2007 marks the 30th anniversary of the San Fernando Race, inaugurated by Vic Locke (the then Commodore of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club) in 1977, with this year's event starting in Victoria Harbour on Thursday 05 April.

This popular biennial Category 1 race, billed as 'Fun in the Sun', is organised by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, under the auspices of Royal Ocean Race Club, and features 480 nautical miles of vintage sailing from Hong Kong to the Philippines during the Easter break.

On TP52 Ffree Fire 52 Sam Chan will be trying to beat his 2001 record (of 49 hours 55 minutes and 12 seconds) set on the original Ffree Fire 70. Around 35 other competitors will be doing their level best to reach the friendly shores of San Fernando first.

The charity element of the race receives high priority from the Race Committee, with proceeds from several fund raising events going to the Full Gospel Faith Temple Orphanage in San Fernando. The San Fernando Race Foundation Limited, which is a registered charity in Hong Kong, oversees the charitable activities and, since 1995, the money raised has been used to assist the Orphanage in improving its facilities, for both everyday living and the education of the children.

The Notice of Race, Entry Form and Sailing Instructions are now available from the Club's official race website: www.sanfernandorace.com

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.

A BACKMARKER BOUT
The Velux 5 Oceans 15:08 UTC position poll has the two leading boats averaging the best speeds in the fleet. Although they are separated by 2,900 miles, race leader Bernard Stamm and second place Kojiro Shiraishi are matching speeds, reaching north at just over 12 knots. Stamm and his Open 60 Cheminees Poujoulat are streaking north, 370 miles south of Bermuda and 1,000 miles from the finish line.

In the South Atlantic, Kojiro Shiraishi and Spirit of Yukoh are racing north parallel to the coast of Brazil, 270 miles south of Recife, the turning point on the easternmost limit of South America and a signal to head north-west, across the Equator and into the North Atlantic.

Trailing Shiraishi by 1,200 miles, third place Unai Basurko continues north-east towards the middle of the South Atlantic and his brave gamble with a massive high-pressure system spreading across the ocean.

Basurko hopes to connect with the south-westerly breeze on the far side of the system and reach north at high speed. "The truth is that I am very contented with how the things are going," he admitted earlier. "In addition to the good meteorological conditions that I have now, it is a pleasure to sail; good wind, little wave action and a temperature of 18 degrees...the ideal." The Basque sailor is so confident of his strategy that he shared details of his next tactical hurdle: "My next objective is to cross the Equator on 8 of March."

South-west of Pakea, trailing the Spanish yacht by 451 miles, fourth place Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Graham Dalton in fifth place are converging for a knock-out bout. Dalton is furthest west of the two yachts with Open 50 A Southern Man - AGD, chasing SAGA Insurance with just a 7 mile deficit this afternoon.

www.velux5oceans.com

TAKING THE ELLEN MACARTHUR TRUST FORWARD
Due to the amazing support The Ellen MacArthur Trust received in 2006, the charity has been able to expand their support for youngsters recovering from cancer and leukaemia. This will mean that nearly 150 children will attend the sailing trips in 2007 with The Trust, double the number taken in 2006.

The Trust will work with three new hospitals in Cambridge, London and Scotland adding to the eight established hospitals and children's cancer charities they currently work with. Children from The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and CLIC Sargent Scotland will attend four-day sailing trips over the summer months with The Ellen MacArthur Trust.

Also new for 2007, The Ellen MacArthur Trust will also establish its first residential sailing course, enabling children to gain RYA dinghy sailing qualifications, giving the children the skills to continue sailing at their local sailing club.

For those youngsters who have developed a passion for the sport after attending a Trust trip there will also be an opportunity to sail in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. When the Island Sailing Club opened the entry for this year's JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on 5th January, The Ellen MacArthur Trust was the first to sign up one of the three boats they will sail in the 55-mile race. Scarlet Oyster, a 48-foot monohull, has been donated by its owner to The Trust for their sailing days throughout 2007. Five children from The Ellen MacArthur Trust will race onboard the monohull, as well as five other children onboard the UKSA Catamaran "Spirit".

Trust Patron, Ellen MacArthur was the first person to make a donation to Team Ellen MacArthur Trust's Justgiving fundraising page for the Round the Island Race. If you would like to sponsor Team Ellen MacArthur for the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race please go to: www.justgiving.com/ellenmacarthurtrus

BALTIC SPRINT CUP 2007
Baltic Sprint Cup Free-entry Lottery for fast movers

This renowned event takes cruiser-racers on a continuous schedule of legs between Baltic ports starting 20 July in Copenhagen, calling at Sassnitz (Germany) Gdansk (Poland) Klaipeda (Lithuania) Ventspils (Latvia) ending 3rd August in Parnu, Estonia - all now are countries of the EU.

Free-entry lottery deadline is Friday, 2nd March at 23:59 (CET). New entries for the event –two legs as a minimum - are welcome for the best Baltic Sprint Cup ever!

Race results on ORC club. Full details at www.balticsprintcup.com
The cool way to explore the Baltic.

Principal sponsor Bank DnB NORD www.DnBNORD.com

IOC COMMISSIONS FOR 2007
The composition of the 26 International Olympic Committee (IOC) commissions for 2007 has now been finalized and is available on the IOC website. Amongst the members of the 26 commissions are a number of sailors who will help guide the IOC and the Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games in their missions.

Jacques Rogge (BEL), the President of the IOC, sailed in three Olympic Games from 1968-1976 and this year is being honoured with the ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy for his outstanding voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing.

Another member of the IOC Executive Committee, Ng Ser Miang (SIN), was an ISAF Vice-President from 1994-1998. Miang is also on the Coordination Commissions for the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. He is joined on the latter by Peter Tallberg (FIN), ISAF President from 1986-1994.

Triple Olympic medallist Barbara Kendall (NZL), currently on the campaign trail for Beijing, is a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission, whilst another Olympian, Fernando Bello (POR), is part of the Commission for Culture and Olympic Education.

Full list of IOC Commisions: multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_1130.pdf

IRC RATINGS CHANGE FOR BATTENED SPINNAKERS
Following IRC Notice 2007/01 regarding the rating of battened spinnakers, the IRC Policy Steering Group has reviewed the increase in TCC given to boats carrying such sails, with the intention of ensuring that the deterrent effect of the increase in TCC will be such as to discourage use of such sails. The IRC Policy Steering Group did not sanction the banning of Spinoas.

In light of this, the IRC Technical Committee is now reviewing the treatment of battened spinnakers. Owners are therefore advised that any IRC certificates to date including a battened spinnaker, trials or amendments, may be rescinded.

The RORC Rating Office or UNCL Centre de Calcul, as appropriate, will advise further as soon as possible.

IRC Rule Authorities are requested to directly contact boats under their jurisdiction advising them of this statement (see list below).

Mike Urwin
RORC Technical Director

To date, the following boats have applied for trial or amended certificates so may be affected:

Quantum DK 46 13722
Quantum Cookson 50 15511
Stickybeak Farr 40 15433
Akatea Cookson 12m 15313
Samba Pa Ti TP 52 15784
XLR8 R/P 46 13046
Meta Baron IMX 40 11012
Red TP52 15168
Wedgetail Welbourn 42 14614
Jazz J 145 12574

See www.rorcrating.com/ir2000/IRC/Interpret/IRC-Notice-2007-01.pdf

CAMET ANNOUNCES NEW TECHNICAL SHORTS
Camet International Clothing expands their line of technical gear by announcing their new Hobart Extreme Technical Shorts. Designed to be the lightest shorts on the market, they weigh in at only 9 ounces, and are designed with offset side seams to reduce chafing. The improved design provides extreme flexibility, while the Titanium silver nylon fabric has a durable water repellent finish that dries quickly, and has a UV rating of 40+. Features include two back pockets with Velcro closures, adjustable Velcro waist, two deep side-pockets, and a Cordura-reinforced seat for added protection from abrasive surfaces.

View all the Camet products: www.camet.com/?Click=122

FIFTH AMERICAN IN VICTORY CHALLENGE'S SAILING TEAM
Victory Challenge needed to temporarily reinforce the sailing team for winter training in Dubai, because some of the crew were also involved in making Jarv (SWE 96) ready in Valencia. One of the extra sailors was Keats Keeley, 33, midbowman for Young America in the 2000 America's Cup. He is now the 40th member of Victory Challenge's sailing team for the 32nd America's Cup.

Keats Keeley has been a professional sailor for more than fifteen years. He has a lot of experience, not only from the America's Cup but also from a range of international regattas and world championships. The last two years he has mainly sailed on Rosebud, a Transpac 52 yacht, which has had success in a number of regattas, particularly in the Caribbean. He knows two of Victory Challenge's sailors from Rosebud, Morgan Larson and Matt Smith. They were the ones who recommended him when Victory Challenge needed extra sailors for winter training in Dubai.

His contributions during the tough racing in the United Arab Emirates resulted in him being offered a job by Magnus Holmberg, Victory Challenge's skipper and helmsman.

He is the 40th sailor - and the fifth American - on Victory Challenge's crew. In Auckland 2002-2003 there were only sailors from Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland during the challengers' series, the Louis Vuitton Cup.

When the Louis Vuitton starts this time - 16 April - Magnus Holmberg, has sailors of eleven different nationalities to choose between.

Of these 40, 14 were part of the sailing team in Auckland. A further 15 have America's Cup experience, six of them from GBR Challenge in Auckland. The majority of the others have sailed in the Volvo Ocean Race or the Olympics. -- Bert Willborg

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. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.

* From Geri Conser: FINALLY SOMEONE HAS GOT THE RIGHT IDEA. How long have we waited for someone to get the idea of GREAT FAST BOAT RACING? For years multihull people have tried to get the idea out there that REAL FAST is REAL FUN and a very marketable item. Drag racing on the water with lots of high tech boats, wild colors and great sailors who could ask for more. EXCITING is the name of the game. Paul and Russel are on the right track. Get the excitment of sailing to the masses with lots of bright colors and wild boats and people.

THE LAST WORD
A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students. -- John Ciardi

OC Events, www.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

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