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KOJIRO SHIRAISHI ARRIVES SECOND IN NORFOLK
Kojiro Shiraishi, onboard his Open 60 Spirit of Yukoh, crossed the finish line of leg 2 in the Velux 5 Oceans at 08:47 local time (12:47 UTC) on Thursday 15 May. After 60 days, 6 hours and 47 minutes at sea and 15,113 miles of racing, the popular skipper from Japan arrived in Norfolk (Virginia, USA). It marks the end of a tough and frustrating second leg in The Ultimate Solo Challenge for the spiritual adventurer, which saw him plagued by problematic weather patterns and bad luck ever since he left Fremantle (Western Australia) on January 14.

Only three days behind leader Bernard Stamm after the dramatic first leg, the Japanese hero is now over 15 days behind the defending champion from Switzerland. Although any hope of victory may now appear slim, the result still marks a monumental achievement for Koji.

The Velux 5 Oceans has seen Kojiro record a fantastic performance for a skipper competing for the first time in the 60 foot class. Kojiro only took ownership of the yacht months before the start of the race. His performance has been superb and an illustration of his seamanship skills and the professional organisation of his team, especially given the disadvantage of an older generation yacht without canting keel technology. Commenting on the fantastic performance of, Australian Race Director, and previous race winner, David Adams commented, "I think that Kojiro did a very good job. The first thing that struck me when Kojiro crossed the line was how impeccable his boat looked. There was no damage, his boat was very well looked after and this said to me that Shiraishi was indeed an impressive seaman."

Norfolk will play host to the Velux 5 Oceans throughout March and April as the other skippers arrive, with the yachts moored in downtown Norfolk at the waterfront marina in the heart of the city. The yachts will set off on the final leg of the round the world race to Bilbao on April 15, with a spectacular send off in Norfolk and the Chesapeake Bay ahead of the start of the Azalea Festival (NATO festival) and the 400 year celebrations of the Jamestown landings.

www.velux5oceans.com

GAME ON: 100 DAYS OUT
On Thursday morning, exactly 100 days before the first race of the 32nd America's Cup Match, and just 18 days before racing begins in the decisive, 2007 season, the America's Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup trophies arrived in Port America's Cup, the final stop on the 'Road to Valencia'.

The occasion has been marked in spectacular fashion today in Port America's Cup, with 32 skydivers tumbling from the sky in a 'D-100' formation. Another group of parachutists trailed a 32nd America's Cup flag emblazoned with 'D-100'. All landed safely in the middle of the AC Park, the main public area of the venue, where the two trophies - the Louis Vuitton Cup and America's Cup - were on display.

The 32nd America's Cup has featured racing in 12 Louis Vuitton Acts beginning in 2004. But this year, the ultimate season of racing begins. The final Act, featuring all 12 teams begins on April 3rd, preceding the start of the decisive Louis Vuitton Cup on April 16th.

The AC Park is already open, with several restaurants, bars, and exhibitions. Entrance is free. All of the animations, activities, restaurants, bars, and cafes will be running by April 1st, which is 'unveiling day' for the teams, who have to show the two boats they will use over the next three months of competition.

* The security measures for the Americas Cup races were announced yesterday, and these envisage some 2,000 policemen on almost constant watch. 1,500 of these will be from the national police, The Guardia Civil and the Maritime Security services, whilst the remaining five hundred would be from the Municipal police force. The new force will have 24 boats, five helicopters and over two hundred CCTV cameras that will serve to create a security area around Valencia Port. The Socialist government has called the operation 'the biggest security presence ever realised for this sort of event'. -- challengercommission.com

www.americascup.com

BEST OF LOUIS VUITTON ACTS 1-12
There is only one month to go until the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup. Check the form of the teams lining up in Valencia with the new official event DVD, The Best of Louis Vuitton Acts 1-12.

Clocking in at 180 minutes, this production retraces all the great moments throughout the Louis Vuitton Acts between 2004-06 with many added feature segments taken from the ACTV show, America's Cup Stories.

Quite simply, it's not to be missed. Check out the trailers on…
americascupstore.com/cart/stock.asp?id=256

MARSEILLE MATCH RACE
The first day of racing took place today with very light wind conditions in the early morning.

The first duels in Group A started just after 11am South-East of the Frioul islands in ideal conditions. Clear skies and 16 knots.

Mathieu Richard wiped the board by winning all five of his matches in group B. His team really enjoyed themselves in their tightly fought races.

Another good performer today was Neville Wittey (ranked 100, the lowest of all the skippers taking part). Last weekend (Y's Cup) he didn't win a single match, but today he showed he was getting to know the bay by winning two out of three of his matches.

Provisional ranking for Group B
1. Mathieu Richard, FRA, 5/5
2. Evgeny Neugodnikov, RUS, 4/5
3. Pierre Antoine Morvan, FRA, 3/5
4. Dimitri Deruelle, FRA, 2/5
5. Pierre Lanier, FRA, 1/5
6. Michel Cohen, FRA, 0/5

Group A's final 2 flights will be sailed on Friday.

Sailing in Group A:
Ian Williams, GBR
Damien Iehl, FRA
Matteo Simoncelli, ITA
Andy Cornah, GBR
Mads Ebler, DEN
Neville Wittey, AUS

www.ycpr.com

RED FUNNEL EASTER CHALLENGE SHAPES UP
Cowes springs to life for the first Bank Holiday of the year at Easter. The 16th edition of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge is set to kick-start a busy season of RORC racing. There is a mouth-watering prospect of a huge variety of yachts scheduled for seven races in just three days from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th of April.

The event is billed as a tuning regatta and this year there will be an increase in the number of world class coaches giving free tuition. Competitors can take advantage of support in the form of on-the-water advice and post-race debriefing team led by the world renowned Jim Saltonstall and Barry Dunning.

Over a dozen yachts are expected in the big boat class with crews bristling with talent from the Volvo Ocean Race, America's Cup and the Olympics; Steve Hayles, Ian Budgen, Jules Salter, Rob Greenhalgh, Dave Lenz, Andy Beadsworth, Jonathan Taylor, Simon Fry, Jeremy Robinson, Mike Broughton and Nick Pearson are all racing. As are many well known top professional and amateur sailors.

The big boat line up looks impressive indeed but there will be some great racing and interesting boats in all of the classes

Veteran yacht professional Jochem Visser will be racing the first ever X-41 in British waters with a top Solent based crew.

Harry Heijst's beautifully kept S&S 42 Winsome was an early entry and this year sees the revival of the Quarter Ton Class who have been given their own start for the regatta.

Spring tides this Easter will cause some head-scratching and catch out the unwary. It is too early to predict what the weather will be like at Easter, but the recent spell of fine weather would be most welcome. One thing is certain, this unique training regatta is the perfect opportunity to get free on the water world class coaching to kick start the season.

This year's Red Funnel Easter Challenge will have Racing Manager Janet Grosvenor handing out those Easter Eggs once again. Rumour has it that there may be a few surprises!

Enter for the Red Funnel Easter Regatta online via the RORC website: www.rorc.org by 30th March 2007.

ULLMAN SAILS J105 ONE DESIGN PERF0RMANCE
At San Diego Yacht Club's One Design Weekend, March 10 preceding the NOOD, Ullman Sails customers again dominated the J105 fleet. Congratulations to Mark Mitchell and his crew on "Straight Edge" finishing in 1st Place, followed by Bennett Greenwald's "Perseverance" in 2nd and Doug & Pam Werner's "Javelin" in 3rd. What did this trio have in common? Full inventories of Ullman Sails!! Contact your nearest Ullman Sails loft to find out how affordable your next sail or full inventory of the "Fastest Sails on the Planet" will be. For more information, visit www.ullmansails.com

CUSTOMS ALERT -- INTERNATIONAL ROLEX REGATTA
According to Customs in the U.S. Virgin Islands, any non-U.S. citizen wanting to gain entry to the U.S. Virgin Islands by way of a non-commercial vessel--for example a private sailboat--must have a visa. (Note: if you come by way of a commercial vessel--for example, by plane or ferry--the previously required passport will still suffice.)

This may cause unexpected inconveniences for boats being delivered by non-U.S. citizens for the International Rolex Regatta, which runs March 23-25 in St. Thomas. The normal procedure is for the boat and its crew to stop at Cruz Bay in St. John, USVI, check in to customs there, and then proceed to St. Thomas. But again, if a non-U.S. crewmember is without a visa, he or she will be turned away.

"The solution for those without visas is to re-route to West End, Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands," said International Rolex Regatta Co-Chair John Sweeney, "and take the 20 minute ferry ride to the St. John Customs Office. Since you came by commercial ferry, the customs office will stamp your passport and allow you to enter the U.S. Virgin Islands or even to re-enter at St. John aboard the private vessel--but you must have the documentation saying that you've been cleared."

Sweeney says the St. Thomas Yacht Club is on standby to assist with questions and has made arrangements to privately ferry sailors back to West End from St. John, should they need it, after they've cleared customs.

"It's especially worth the effort for the European boats to get to the International Rolex Regatta this year," said Sweeney, explaining that the new Governor's Cup will be awarded to the boat and crew that has traveled the farthest to race in the event. The winners will receive free accommodations at the popular Frenchman's Reef Hotel for the 2008 running of the International Rolex Regatta.

ROLEX BALTIC WEEK
Neustadt/Holstein, Germany: The fourth edition of the Rolex Baltic Week will draw together the elite of two internationally renowned one-design classes - the Farr 40 and the Melges 24. From the 17th to 19th August, on the Baltic Sea off Neustadt/Holstein, Germany the Farr 40 teams will open the race week with an event valid as the fifth and decisive series of the European Circuit - the first time there has been a Farr 40 regatta in Germany since the launch of the very first Farr 40 ten years ago. The Melges 24 holds its European Championship from the 18th to 23rd August.

For the Farr 40s, this regatta provides a useful warm-up before the 2007 Rolex Farr 40 World Championships commence off Copenhagen, Denmark, at the end of August. "We have moved the start of the Farr 40 one day forward to make it fit better with the international regatta calendar of the top sailors," explains Knappe in conjunction with the president of the Farr 40 European Fleet, Wolfgang Schaefer from Lueneburg, Germany. The two expect entries from the USA, Japan and Australia for the Rolex Baltic Week.

These non-European entries may sail as guests in the European Circuit, which comprises the Rolex Capri Week (28th to 30th April), the Rolex Farr 40 Europeans (6th to 10th June in Porto Cervo/Sardinia, Italy), the Farr 40 Open Nordic Championships in Hanko, Norway (5th to 8th July) and an event in Skagen, Denmark (13th to 15th July). All in all, 47 races must be sailed of which the nine worst results may be discarded. "Anyone who wants to win the European Circuit must be racing in Neustadt," believes the former European champion Schaefer, who will enter himself with Struntje Light.

"Rolex Baltic Week is expecting some 80 to 100 boats and more than 400 sailors," says Torben Knappe from the organizing authority NRV Marketing GmbH. About three quarters of the competitors should be from the Melges 24 class, which is well represented throughout Europe. The top favourites, though, are from Italy, France and Switzerland; and include the current world champion and former Olympian, Nicola Celon, at the helm of Enzo Amadori's Bete (Italy). "The top five from the last Worlds are all planning to come to Neustadt," reports Guenter Tzeschlock from Eigeltingen, head of the German class association, who is delighted with the high degree of interest prior to the regatta.

With no restrictions upon who may helm the amateur and professional teams race together on a level playing field for the Giorgio Zuccoli Trophy. This trophy is awarded to the overall Melges 24 European Champion and is named after the Italian sail maker who became the first Melges 24 European Champion in 1992. When Giorgio Zuccoli gained his first Melges 24 World Champion title in 2000, he was severely ill from bone cancer. Sadly, the very popular sportsman lost his hardest battle on 27th March 2001.

In addition to the overall trophy the Menno Meyer Trophy is awarded to the top performing Corinthian (all amateur) crew racing in the regatta. This trophy was donated by its namesake, a Dutch jury member in 2005, to acknowledge the impressive degree of professionalism shown by the best Corinthians sailing at the Europeans. This Corinthian Trophy is held currently by the German Melges 24 sailors Albert Batzill (Roeslerhof) and Eddy Eich (Munich), who intend to defend their title at this year's Rolex Baltic Week. Another contender for the title is the NRV member, Dietrich Scheder-Bieschin, from Hamburg, who was instrumental in bringing the Europeans to Neustadt and will take part with his MACS.

Another all-but certain entry is Joe Fly, but the question is - in which class? The mad-for-sailing owner Giovanni Maspero from Como, Italy is a two-time Melges 24 European champion and current defender of the title. He is also the owner of a Farr 40 and he plans to sail in the European Circuit. Last year, it was his countryman and America's Cup syndicate head, Vincenzo Onorato with Mascalzone Latino, who won not only the Grand Prix series in Europe but also the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds in Newport, USA. Onorato has snatched this title from the German Farr 40 owner/helmsman, Wolfgang Stolz (Frankfurt) and Opus One on the final leg of the last race.

Five months prior to the first start gun and the Notice of Race has just been published. Nine races are scheduled for the Farr 40 and twelve for the Melges 24. The new event website www.rolexbalticweek.com has also been launched, and entries for the regatta may be filed electronically via the Internet.

SWAN 601 ARTEMIS IS AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER FOR THE 2007 SEASON
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Racing with a maximum crew of 16, Artemis is available for Caribbean and UK based race charters and corporate entertainment. She will also be available in the Mediterranean for America's Cup 2007 series viewing.

Please contact Peter Bresnan on +44799097081 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

INDUSTRY NEWS
* Reed Exhibitions Messe Wien will present the first international boat show with a focus on central, eastern and southern Europe in Vienna, Austria, this year.

From November 22-25, the MessezentrumWienNeu will host international and national shipyards and dealers, aiming to provide a platform for all aspects of water sports.

Key international players in the industry have also shown an interest in the show, which is anticipated to draw more than 360,000 visitors. They include Bavaria Yachts, Beneteau, Elan, Grand Soleil, Leers Yachting, Mayer Yachts and Yacht Charter Pitter.

The new show in the capital will be an addition to the established Boot Tulln, which ran from March 1-4 this year and will continue in its current annual format. The Vienna show, organised by Reed Exhibitions Messe Wien in association with Salon Nautique Paris, Cannes International Boat & Yacht Show and Hanseboot Hamburg, will therefore be held in November to avoid any clash. -- IBI News, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070213154607ibinews.html

* The new course taken this year by the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show proved popular with visitors and exhibitors alike. This resulted not only in a substantial increase in the number of visitors (up by 4,084 on 2006) but also in good business for the exibitors. The boat show, which was held in Amsterdam RAI from Monday 6 to Thursday 11 March, attracted a total of 61,127 visitors. The Saffier 32 and Kuster A-42 were the winners of the title of HISWA Boat of the Year 2007 in their categories. The HISWA Innovation Award was won by ASA Boot Electro for the Torqeedo Travel electric outboard motor.

After making an advance selection, the jury shortlisted two sailing boats and four motorboats for the title of HISWA Boat of the Year at its first meeting. The jury subsequently tested the boats on Lake IJssel in October. Ultimately the sailing yacht Saffier 32 made by Saffier Maritiem of IJmuiden and the motor yacht Kuster A-42 made by Consonant Yachts of Vriezenveen were chosen as the winners. This was announced by the jury chairman on the first day of the show. The Saffier 32 is a 9.35 metre long, seaworthy sailing yacht that combines classic lines with modern sailing characteristics and is designed by Richard Hennevanger. The jury described the Saffier 32 as a distinctive product in the 30/32-foot category. Aspects of the Saffier 32 that especially impressed the jury members were its exceptional spaciousness, the quality of its finish and its convincing sailing characterictics.

The next edition of the HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show in Amsterdam RAI will be held from Tuesday 4 March to Sunday 9 March 2008. -- BYM News, www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=4822

* Earls Court Show would have significant detrimental effect says National Boat Shows director:

While we have been evaluating our Show and planning for 2008, the NBS team has frequently been asked for its thoughts and views, as well as its position, on the Earls Court Boat Show that is proposed for December this year.

We all know that competition is a fact of life. However, we are concerned about the news of this proposed boat show as I, and I think most of our exhibitors, believe that two London Shows hitting the same audience would not be of benefit to the industry a month apart.

If a show at Earls Court in December were to go ahead it would of course reduce our visitor numbers. To estimate the potential loss of visitors is difficult at this stage as it depends on so many factors e.g. the type and size of show at Earls Court, Advertising, Pre-Xmas apathy, exhibitor attendance etc. The event could mean a potential loss to our audience of 20,000 people (some believe more). With a target of 140,000 visitors in 2008 (we will demonstrate our reasoning for this increase over 07 at the roadshows) this would have a significant detrimental effect. As is well known, all of the profits from London and Southampton are invested, through the Federation, into activity that benefits the whole Marine industry. Any reduction in revenues, however caused, would either need to be made up elsewhere or Federation activities could be affected.

I have heard and read comments that refer to "the old days at Earls Court". NBS did not move the show on a whim and I'd like to reiterate the reasoning behind the members' decision to move the London Boat Show from Earls Court to ExCeL. The Show needed to continue its growth and development and the only way it could do that was to move.

Please do not forget the attendance was declining significantly before we moved. In fact, if the Show had remained at Earls Court an extension of the decline would have seen approximately 85,000 people attend a cramped 2007 show. I say cramped, because we should all remember that it was becoming impossible to get many boats in, especially with the new market ranges and their increasing sizes. Without the move how could companies launch new boats over 75ft at the London show?

* Around 722 exhibitors are expected to attend the 2007 Dubai International Boat Show, resulting in a 53 per cent increase over last year's levels. The show, which runs from March 13-17 at the Dubai International Marina Club in Mina Seyahi, will see exhibitor space rise by more than 33 per cent to 20,000sq ft. The event itself is expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors.

The show will be divided into four main areas: the Marina Display Area, which will be dedicated to power and sailing boats; the Luxury Supplies and Services Area for boatbuilders, waterside developers, interior design companies, charters and brokers; an External Area, which will showcase small to medium sized craft; and the Equipment Supplies and Services Area.

DIBS 2007 will also be a showcase for several superyachts of more than 25m (82ft) in length, offering facilities such as state-size dining rooms and state-of-the-art entertainment and satellite communications systems. -- IBI News, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070207131251ibinews.html

* Ten Hallberg-Rassy 342s delivered to British Kiel Yacht Club

The buyer is BKYC, British Kiel Yacht Club, who is a private club based in Kiel, Germany. The UK military is chartering the boats for adventurous sailing training. There are normally people from the UK Army sailing the boats, but also from the UK Navy and the UK Air Force or private people with connection to the UK Military. 5 to 7 men and women are onboard each yacht on a trip that usually takes around 5 days, goes to Denmark and covers 150 nautical miles.

The yachts are used extensively from early March until the end of November. Each boat is sailed about 7000 nautical miles per year, which corresponds to roughly seven years of sailing for an ordinary sailor.

The club changes boats about every three years and this is the third time the order goes to Hallberg- Rassy. No other boatbuilder has received so many orders from BKYC. BKYC has previously had a fleet of twelve Hallberg-Rassy 29 and another fleet of twelve Hallberg-Rassy 31. -- BYM News, www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=4518

* Rigging specialists Future Fibres says PBO is rapidly penetrating both the superyacht and production sailing yacht markets with designers and builders now specifying it as essential equipment.

At the Monaco Yacht Show in September last year the Hoek 53m at Vitters, Briand 38m at Perini Navi, Salperton III, Red Dragon II, Wally 148 and Wally 130 all announced they were opting for Future Fibres rigging. Mike Slade's super-maxi Leopard III, currently in build at M

Ruurt Meulemans of Hoek Design says they specify PBO: "We have seen this acceptance in carbon masts and are convinced it will happen with PBO as well. For the 53m it meant reducing the rig weight by 2 tonnes, increasing the righting moment and reducing the amount of ballast making a lighter and faster boat". -- IBI, www.ibinews.com

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 Brian Hancock: I think it's superb to see Maud Fontenoy successfully finish her voyage. It speaks volumes about her tenacity and perseverance and I hope once and for all silences critics who wonder about the place of women in sailing. She joins the ranks of Ellen, Dee and before them Claire Francis, Naomi James, Kay Cottee and many more outstanding female sailors that gave it their all and succeeded. Bravo.

* From Cliff Bradford: I've been sadly disappointed two days in a row now; yesterday I followed a link to the AC Acts DVD page only to find out the DVDs are PAL only, similarly today I go to the VOR site to find out their DVD is PAL only. I've already accepted the fact that all those hot ORMA DVDs and Seamaster sailing videos won't be coming my way because of their "PAL-ness" but I'd expect the AC and VOR to provide NTSC discs so we in the western hemisphere can watch them. To all purveyors of sailing videos and DVDs, please make NTSC (or multi-region) versions; we're starving for sailing videos across the pond.

* Editor: there are some software / configuration solutions, most notably for Mac OSX machines (you can change regions five times but then it's permanently stuck...), but you can also find 'region free' DVD players for less than 50 Euros on Ebay, Amazon,etc...

THE LAST WORD
May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door. -- an Irish Blessing

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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