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PEPPER SOLIDIFIES OVERALL LEAD IN QUEST FOR FIRST BACARDI CUP TITLE
Miami, Florida, USA: Defending Star Class World and North American Champion Hamish Pepper of New Zealand, sailing this week with his coach and crew David Giles, won the third of six scheduled daily races at the 2007 Bacardi Cup Regatta on the waters of Biscayne Bay.

The Kiwi victory increases their overall lead to six points ahead of Sweden's Fredrik Loof and crew Anders Ekstrom, the defending Rolex Miami OCR champions, who finished second.

Today's race was sailed in winds that escalated from 10 to 15 knots out of the North/Northeast and followed a traditional windward-leeward course.

Szabo and Liljedahl, an Olympic Gold medalist who is celebrating his birthday today, held third position off the starting line and through the second mark. They dropped to a fourth place finish, which moves them up to seventh overall.

America's Cup veteran Iain Murray and crew Andrew Palfrey of Australia finished sixth and keep their third place overall, while Poland's Mateusz Kusznierewicz and crew Dominik Zycki crossed the finish just behind them and keep their fourth position overall.

2004 Bacardi Cup champions Afonso Domingos and crew Bernardo Santos of Portugal took third in today's race moving them up to 33rd place overall. Even though their chances of winning were obliterated by a black flag on Day 1 and a 28th place finish on Day 2, Santos remains optimistic about finishing in the top 15.

www.bacardicup.com

VEOLIA NAMED SPONSOR OF THE SOLOCEANS
Paris, France: During a press conference in Paris, Denis Gasquet, the Vice-President of Veolia Environnement, announced the commitment of the world leader in environment services to backing the SolOceans. This is the first single-handed oceanic round the world competition that will be sailed on equal footing on One Design monohulls, all perfectly identical to each other, on a France - New Zealand - France course. The initial starting date has been set for 25 October 2009 and the SolOceans race will then be run every two years.

The France - New Zealand - France course will round the three capes: Cape of Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn. It will include two legs, each of about fifty to fifty five days, with approximately a month-long stopover in New Zealand. The 16-meter Oceanic One Design monohulls will be built as a series.

The Oceanic One Design will bear the official series name of Veolia Oceans. The Veolia Oceans construction using prepreg carbon, baked at 90 degrees, guarantees compliance with the weight and similarity of structure requirements. The quality and international reputation of the official suppliers as well as the nature of the agreements made with them guarantee reliable, high-performing, top-of-the-range equipment. North Sails 3DL sails; Harken winches; Lancelin rigging; Karver furlers and NKE electronics will equip the Veolia Oceans One Designs. They will be powered by a Nanni Diesel engine.

Veolia will be fully involved in the OceanoScientific® Programme imagined by Yvan Griboval which will now be known as the Veolia OceanoScientific Campaign. Charged with recording precise environmental data at various places around the globe, thanks to the movements of the Veolia Oceans fleet, which will sail around little explored lands, the aim of the Veolia OceanoScientific Campaign is to make this information available to scientists the world over, in order to better understand our planet and thereby protect it.

www.soloceans.com

STRONG WATER PROOFING FOR SPRAY HOODS MADE EASY!
Water and dirt repellence to spray on: Save time, get full protection. Boat canvasses come with impregnations from the factory. UV, moisture, dirt, friction and washing make it disappear quickly. Re-treatment is required. HOLMENKOL PowerImpregnation reproves and optimizes your spray hoods water and dirt repelling properties.

The nano-based durable PowerImpregnation copies the surface of the lotus flower preventing dirt and moisture from sticking to the cloth while maintaining full breathability.

Never been easier: Spray it on to your clean canvass and let it dry.

For More information please contact: www.holmenkol.com/bilder/download/Haendler_Aquatic_weltweit.pdf

2007 ALGARVE CUP MATCH RACE
After three days of racing with competitors from Russia, France, Spain and Portugal, Eugeny Neugodnikov from Russia (7th at ISAF Ranking) took a sensational victory at Algarve Cup Match Race (ISAF grade 2 event) after beating Portuguese Rui Boia.

In the petit finals, Manuel Weiller from Spain broke the French Pierre Antoine Morvan (20th at ISAF Ranking) convincing lead and won two matches in a row to take the third position. Pierre Morvan has more or less sailed without fault during the two first days and it was only in the finals he started to show any signs of weakness.

Algarve Cup Match Race had really good conditions all the three racing days with exciting competition on a high level in variable winds during the 46 matchs sailed. The changing wind has been very demanding for the teams and given them fun racing.

Vilamoura harbour is a fantastic arena for match racing with the race course as close to land as the audience can hear the calls onboard. This is match racing at its best, both for sailors and audience. -- Armando Goulartt, Chief Umpire

Results:
1. Eugeny Neugodnikov, RUS
2. Rui Boia, POR
3. Manuel Weiller, ESP
4. Pierre A. Morvan, FRA
5. Andrew Arbuzov, RUS
6. Tiago Roquette, POR
7. Miguel Allen, POR
8. Nuno Ferreira, POR

KOJI EATS UP THE MILES
This evening's position update shows Kojiro Shiraishi on Spirit of Yukoh still making the best progress among the four remaining boats at sea in the Velux 5 Oceans. Currently on the same latitude as the French Caribbean island of Martinque, Koji has covered 341 miles in the last 24 hours with 1,799 miles left to go until he reaches the Norfolk, Virginia finish line. While Bernard Stamm's track was to the west of the great circle route to Norfolk, Spirit of Yukoh is almost directly on it. The forecast for the days ahead is for more 'champagne sailing' conditions to propel him north at pace.

In third place Unai Basurko on Pakea is some 46 miles short of the latitude of the Brazil port of Natal, where he will be able to turn his bows left and will finally be able to head directly towards the finish line. His next step will be to pass the equator, some 500 miles down the track for him before he must tackle the Doldrums. The forecast is showing nothing untoward that might hamper his progress in the near future.

Graham Dalton on board A Southern Man AGD this evening has some 760 miles to go before he reaches Recife. The high pressure system that has remained steadfastly in the middle of the South Atlantic for the last few days has decided today to extend its reach westward towards Brazil but fortunately Graham is just out of its clutches. The same cannot be said for Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, bringing up the rear on Saga Insurance, who covered just 18 miles since the mid-afternoon position update and 15 over the six hours prior to that. The forecast charts indicate no wind at all at Saga Insurance's present position. This afternoon Sir Robin tacked back to the east presumably to search for wind, and the forecast has northeasterlies filling just north of his position. It is likely to be calm night, but one of intense frustration for the sailing legend.

www.velux5oceans.com

BALTIC SPRINT CUP 2007
A new world - easy access for owners and crew to start and finish ports, an unrivalled, little-known racing and cruising area with a large hinterland of unspoilt and welcoming summer tourist areas all at a typical maximum of 2 hours' low-cost flight away from the UK. This unique 624-mile offshore regatta achieves it in 5 legs visiting 6 ports in 6 countries with 6 local languages (all on the web site) and cultures. Brilliant! Starts 20th July.

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

THE FUTURE OF KEELBOAT RACING IN THE SOLENT
Mike Urwin, Technical Director of the RORC Rating Office, is to join in the discussions on 'The Future Direction of Keelboat Racing in the Solent' at the Royal Southern Yacht Club at 1600 on 10 March 2007. This event will be of great interest to all sports boat and IRC racers who have a concern about the way forward for our sport.

The Forum is being facilitated by a panel of 'movers and shakers' including Stuart Quarrie, Chief Executive of Cowes Week; Jonty Sherwill, well known racer and yacht designer; Tony Lovell, international race officer whose credits include Tour de France à la Voile. The focus for the Forum will be on types of events, race courses and management.

All are welcome at Royal Southern YC on 10 March 2007 at 1600 hrs. The event is scheduled to last for two hours and there is no charge for entry.

Come and have your say and help influence the future direction of racing events.

royal-southern.co.uk

HARKEN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MATCH RACING REGATTA
Ten teams contesting the ISAF Grade 2 Harken International Women's Match Racing Regatta will gather at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia tonight, Wednesday 7 March, for the official welcome before tomorrow's first day of racing on Sydney Harbour.

Thursday's forecast is for NW/NE winds at 8/13 knots ahead of a late southerly change piping up to 20/25 knots, conditions which will better suit those eight teams sailing with the extra weight of a fourth crew person.

Friday's outlook is for S/SW breezes at 10/20 knots which are forecast to ease to 5/15 knots on Saturday.

Defending champion Nicky Souter is the regatta favourite but is expected to face a stiff challenge for the silverware from her nearest ranked, Jess Smyth from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

She also believes RPAYC club mate Nina Curtis shouldn't be underestimated.

"Nina usually sails with Katie Spithill and she could be the dark horse of this regatta," admitted Souter this morning.

Souter's not at all perturbed by the forecast strong southerly, "I love the heavy conditions" she said.

Two round robins will be completed in the Rushcutters Bay vicinity from Thursday to Saturday before the semi finals and finals on Sunday 11 March.

Click here for the full list of competitors www.cyca.com.au/sysfile/downloads/Harken_Competitors_07.doc

LAST CALL FOR GBR BERTHS AT THE 2007 ISAF WORLDS
Calling all British Olympic classes sailors aiming to compete at the 2007 ISAF World Championship in Cascais this summer.

The RYA and the Olympic Steering Group has now allocated places to represent Great Britain in line with the RYA's World Championship qualification process, based on World Class Programme 'A' status sailors and 2006 National Ranking Series results.

A list of qualified sailors can be viewed at www.skandiateamgbr.com/crew/ISAFWorlds07.htm

Any British sailors not currently qualified as per the list and who wish to attend should apply for ISAF Commission places via the RYA.

To apply, sailors should read carefully the document 'ISAF Commission Places' and complete the form 'Application for Commission Places', both available via the link above.

Application forms for Commission places must be completed and returned to Wendy Maxwell, Olympic Operations Officer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) no later than the 12 March 2007.

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

LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR BOB ROSS
Veteran CYCA member and yachting journalist Bob Ross has received a Life Achievement Award in the 2007 Sydney Harbour Awards announced aboard the barque James Craig at Darling Harbour on Friday evening.

The awards recognise a group or an individual who has encouraged people to care for and share Sydney Harbour by informing, educating or engaging the community, with each of the five recipients this year receiving a replica of the distinctive red and white Hornby Lighthouse, located at South Head.

Bob has been a member of the CYCA since 1970 and active sailor for most of the near 50 years he has lived and worked in Sydney, contributing in many ways to the sport and to the activities of the Club.

His Sydney Harbour Life Achievement Award citation read:

- For almost half a century, Bob - a boating photo/journalist - has dedicated himself to the coverage and promotion of boating on Sydney Harbour.

- Bob is without peer in this field and has brought the harbour alive for countless thousands of people across Australia and around the world.

- A passionate sailor, from Olympic trials in dinghies to Sydney Hobart races in maxis, Bob has written and photographed boating on the Harbour and covered Sydney sailors at events around the world through his magazine, newspaper columns, books and electronic media. Bob Ross was the founding editor of Modern Boating magazine before establishing his own magazine, Australian Sailing. He has retired as editor but is still an active writer for the magazine as editor at large as well as overseas publications.

He is the author of many books on boating in general and sailing in particular and has covered most international events in Australia and overseas over the past 40 years, including the Olympic Games, America's Cup, Admiral's Cup and major ocean races such as the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race and the Rolex Fastnet Race.

He has twice received a Yachting Australia Media Award as well as an Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to yachting as an editor and journalist.

Fellow senior CYCA member and former editor of Offshore Yachting, Peter Campbell today described the Sydney Harbour Week Award to Bob Ross as "a most fitting recognition of Bob's contribution in promoting the sport and pastime of boating and sailing on Sydney Harbour over many years as a fine writer and outstanding marine photographer.

"His initiative in going out on his own to publish Australian Sailing was a bold step, with the magazine proving a wonderful educational tool for sailors, young and old, as well as publicising the sport from off-the-beach dinghy sailing to ocean racing, the Olympics and the America's Cup.

"Most importantly, he still enjoys writing about sailing and sailing himself - he was out racing his J24 Stamped Urgent this weekend in the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta."

BRITISH SPORTS COLUMNIST IAN WOOLDRIDGE DIES AT 75
Ian Wooldridge, one of the most influential and popular British sports journalists of his generation, has died. He was 75.

He died in a hospital Sunday night after a long illness, the Mail said.

"He was writing his incomparable column to the end, often in considerable discomfort," the paper said.

Woolridge covered every major sports event for the Daily Mail during a career that spanned nearly a half century. He wrote from 10 Olympics for the Mail and won numerous British newspaper awards. He was a two-time newspaper columnist of the year, five-time sports writer of the year and four-time sports feature writer of the year.

Woolridge was a particularly harsh critic of the Olympics, including former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch and former IAAF head Primo Nebiolo.

He was awarded the OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire - for his services to journalism.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah, and three sons. www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/other/4602825.html

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 Adrian Morgan: As a young sailing correspondent for the Daily Mail in the 1980s, I occasionally found myself sharing a desk with Ian Wooldridge at the old offices off Fleet Street. When he'd bashed out his piece he would ask me to read it, as if I could possibly find fault in anything he wrote, as it came off the page word perfect. But I was immensely flattered. He was always so gentlemanly, and so good at his craft. "I'll be out of your hair before you know it," he'd say, disarmingly if the sports desk sent him to do a feature on an event I was covering. Of course, he always found a brilliantly fresh angle. I remember once his advice to a nervous young reporter, anxiously awaiting the results of a big race at Cowes, with a deadline imminent. "Don't worry. You'll write much better after a few G&Ts." I can't remember what happened next.

THE LAST WORD
The more you find out about the world, the more opportunities there are to laugh at it. -- Bill Nye

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.

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