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BARCELONA OLYMPIC SAILING WEEK
A spectacular final day brought the ISAF Grade 2/3 Pharo Regata-Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week to a close, with double Spanish victory in the Medal Races. After getting the better of Miami winner Gustavo Lima (POR) in the Laser, Javier Hernandez (ESP) was crowned absolute winner of the Pharo Regatta and awarded the International Ciutat de Barcelona Trophy.

After a great week of racing in Barcelona, the final day rounded off the regatta perfectly, with northeasterly winds of 20 knots, building beyond 25 by the finish and waves above 2 metres.

The Pharo Regatta was the first qualifying regatta for the 2007 Spanish Pre-Olympic selection in the Laser, Laser Radial, Men's and Women's 470. The focus on the Olympic Classes now switches to Palma and the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy, where racing begins on Monday 2 April.

Top three by class:

470 Men
1. Kambouridis Panagiotis/ Orologas Gerasimos, GRE, 48
2. Matthias Schmid/ Florian Reichstaedter, AUT, 53
3. Andreas Kosmatopoulos/ Andreas Papadopoulos, GRE, 67

470 Women
1. Ai Kondo/ Naoko Kamata, JPN, 33
2. Fernanda Sesto/ Consuelo Monsegur, ARG, 35
3. Adi Gilboa/ Vered Bouskila, ISR, 44

Europe
1. Marc Paris, ESP, 6
2. Dani Codina Serra, ESP, 10
3. Miquel Llargués, ESP, 10

Laser Radial
1. Lucia Reyes, ESP, 35
2. Gintare Volungeviciute, LTU, 38
3. Susana Romero, ESP, 42

Laser Standard
1. Javier Hernandez, ESP, 33
2. Mike Bullot, NZL, 43
3. Gustavo Lima, POR, 43

bosw.org/00/main.php?idioma=en&area=a00&seccio=s00

ADRIAN STEAD 4 DAYS BEFORE LV ACT 13
Adrian Stead, afterguard member for Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team, speaks about the team and its activities in the final days leading up to the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

MLCT: How does the team feel about the 2 boats, Ita 90 and Ita 99?

AS: "Well, I think we've got two good boats. Obviously we had problems with Ita 90 at the start of last year - that's no secret. We've fixed that, and Ita 90 has been a really reliable boat. Between 90 & 99 we've had some really good racing which has helped push our programme forward. Certainly having two boats has been essential for this winter period. We're very pleased that we were able to find the money to build Ita 99 so that we're sailing here with two new generation boats and not trying to race one boat against Ita 77, an old generation boat. I think the team feels pretty happy about them. Yes, we've probably got one we prefer more than the other in certain conditions. It's great having two good boats and we will keep pushing to try to make each boat faster."

MLCT: They say that the rule is now so tight that the boats are virtually indistinguishable except for their paintjobs, is that true?

AS: "It's quite interesting actually. People have said to me, which boat are you racing at the moment. Between Ita 90 & Ita99, personally, I can tell the difference and I suppose, when you work in the base for six months, the difference is obvious. There are some subtle differences between each boat. It is nice to know that people are struggling to tell the difference. I think either boat we bring out we can sail well and get the result."

MLCT: In the past Cup teams have had a tendency to hang on to their technical developments only revealing them at the final moment. Do you see the same happening now?

AS: "The unveiling on the first of April is going to show what people are going to be using for the Act. I am sure that people may still have other small modifications to their appendages. One thing that is really notable this time is that the racing is going to be close. People are not going to be winning races by minutes, like they were in Auckland.

MLCT: Do you expect to see big differences in speed this year?

AS: "I think the biggest difference in speed that we will see will be between the mode of the boats: if people have decided to make their boat a light air flyer at the extreme of the rule, or an all around boat, or a heavier breeze boat. So it depends where they pitch their boat within the rules. I think that's where we'll see the biggest speed difference. Obviously, because in April we're going to have potentially different wind conditions to what we might have in June. You've got to get through April and May before you can race in June. The biggest difference in speed we'll see will depend on what conditions the boats are made for."

MLCT: Would you agree with the statement that the new format favors Alinghi?

AS: "The new format means Alinghi get to see everybody racing, the whole time. People are showing their hand earlier because they have to win races to get through to meet Alinghi. You could argue that the new format favours Alinghi. You could also argue that the format makes the challenger stronger, because he's done some incredibly close racing against 10 other very good teams, made up of personnel striving to make their individual teams as good as possible. You could say that the challenger is in good shape, but you could also say, that the challenger arrives, maybe, burned-out after so much racing. I think that you can argue it either way. You could say that the Defender is relatively sitting in the dark until the Cup. But I think we've seen in the past, that the Defender is happy to invite certain teams to race against - unofficially. The main thing is that the America's Cup looks very healthy with this format. I think people should take that as a very big positive. The event is very good now with the Acts. It is something that is very marketable over this two or three year cycle, depending on where the Cup goes. It's important for the future of the Cup."

Full interview at www.mascalzonelatino.com

UNVEILED: 1:100 ACC BOAT MODEL
As the teams in the 32nd America's Cup prepare to show all on Sunday, at least one ACC boat is already in full display.

Already a big hit with visitors to Valencia, the official display boat model now available at the 32nd America's Cup webstore has been faithfully recreated from the CAD-drawings of former challenger, GBR-44.

Available at a very reasonable price and in two colours, this 37cm high 1:100 scale model is a great talking piece.

www.americascupstore.com/cart/add_to_cart.asp?id=23ORBOAT.1

TEAMORIGIN SIGNS MIKE SANDERSON
Mike Sanderson, the record-breaking ISAF World Sailor of the Year and winning skipper of the 2005-06 Volvo Ocean Race, has been appointed Team Director for TEAMORIGIN, the new British America's Cup campaign.

TEAMORIGIN was launched earlier this year by Sir Keith Mills, the British businessman who ran London's victorious bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The team has committed to participate in at least two America's Cup campaigns - the 33rd and 34th editions of the event, likely to take place in 2009 and 2011.

Sanderson will have overall responsibility for TEAMORIGIN's performance operations, reporting directly into Sir Keith Mills. Sanderson will work with Mills to select and appoint key team members for these areas of the campaign over the coming months, so that the core performance team is in place by the end of July.

Sanderson, who was recently awarded the prestigious accolade of ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year for 2006 by the International Sailing Federation, has performed at the highest level in almost all forms of sailing. He has been involved in three America's Cup campaigns, most recently as mainsheet trimmer for Oracle BMW in 2003, where his team reached the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Series Finals.

His record in offshore sailing is even more impressive. He has won the Volvo Ocean Race on two occasions, and last year led TEAM ABN AMRO to one of the most emphatic victories in the history of the race, winning six out of the nine off-shore legs and five of seven in-port races. He has also broken a number of world records, including the 24 hour speed record as skipper of ABN AMRO ONE, and was skipper of Robert Miller's Mari Cha IV, which captured the historic transatlantic monohull world speed record in October 2003.

Sanderson, 35, from Whangarei in New Zealand, is married to the British yachtswoman Emma Richards MBE. Mike and Emma were married in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, in May 2006.

www.originsailing.com

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE
Commitment needed to succeed continues to increase. Fast sails backed up by outstanding customer support are the hallmark of Ullman Sails. The quality of service you receive from your sailmaker will determine whether you are maximizing your boat's performance. Ullman sailmakers are industry leaders in sail development and customer support at more than 20 locations around the world. Our participation in world class events keeps Ullman Sails on the cutting edge of ultimate boat speed. To insure that your program is receiving the best sails and support, contact your nearest Ullman Sails loft and visit www.ullmansails.com

DOES TONY BULLIMORE'S RECORD BID STAND A CHANCE?
Tony Bullimore, 68, has been on standby for his attempt at Ellen MacArthur's solo circumnavigation record for so long that we'd almost forgotten about him. He and his team have been in Hobart, Tasmania, for three months, waiting for a suitable weather window to try and break the round-the-world speed record set in February 2005 by Ellen aboard her trimaran B&Q.

When he finally heads out of Hobart, Bullimore and his 102-ft (31m) catamaran Doha will track east into the Indian Ocean, with Cape Horn the first waypoint, onto the Azores, past the Cape of Good Hope and back again to Hobart. To break the existing record of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds, he would have to sail the 23,000 mile route at an average speed of 13.5 knots, over 323 miles a day...

His new sponsors will provide him with up-to-the-minute technology that will enable him to communicate with the outside world via mobile phone and even text messages during his quest. Bullimore is an odd choice to fly the flag for a communications company, as he is renowned more for his lack of communication than his love of it. Delivering Doha to Tasmania last November, a glitch with his communications equipment led to a worrying 11-day silence. And back in 2001, he took four journalists, including YM's ed Paul Gelder, on a 'daysail' to Falmouth that didn't go to plan. Throughout the five day, 1200 mile trip that eventually landed in Portugal there was a radio silence because the boat's communications equipment wasn't set up, and the crew were left with no way to let their loved ones know where they were.

Unfortunately, YM didn't get the chance to ask if things would be different this time around… as Tony's phone call was cut off mid-sentence. By, you've guessed it, a communications failure.

www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20070228165223ymnews.html

PETERS & MAY - 3 ANTONOVs, 4 AC YACHTS
Hard on the heels of last months movement of 2 yachts for Emirates Team New Zealand and 1 yacht for BMW Oracle Racing in Antonov aircraft from Auckland to Valencia, Peters & May have now flown a 4th AC yacht in a 3rd Antonov. This latest movement from Dubai to Valencia on behalf of the Defender was coordinated by Peters & May's offices in Dubai, Valencia and the UK and saw the world leaders in yacht transportation and logistics move the AC yacht plus 50 tonnes of support equipment by air plus 12 containers by sea.

www.petersandmay.com

UK FIREFIGHTERS SAILING CHALLENGE
The UK Firefighters Sailing Challenge, hosted jointly by Hampshire and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Services, will take to the waters of the Solent for its fourth successive year from the 1st to 3rd May 2007.

Event organisers are delighted to announce that ex-firefighter Mike Golding, one of the world's best offshore racing sailors, is supporting the event and hopes to play a part in the competition's prize-giving ceremony.

From a modest starting entry of 11 yachts in 2004, this year's event has already attracted 25 confirmed teams. The Challenge is open to 37-foot one-design yachts crewed by public sector Fire and Rescue Service personnel from all over the UK, including teams from Jersey and Guernsey. The popularity of the event has also seen enquiries from the country's Police and Ambulance Services and to recognise the special relationship the Emergency Services share, they have been invited to participate - making this a unique blue-light sailing event. Colleagues from the Coastguard Service have also indicated that they will take part next year.

As funds will be raised for two very deserving charities this year, the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund and the Children's Fire and Burns Trust, organisers are delighted to have attracted sponsorship for the event. WL Gore Associates, the highly respected clothing manufacturer, and Telent Plc will be the prime sponsors, with Telent also entering their own yacht in the event. Other significant contributors include Southampton-based Critchley Management Solutions Ltd, SVGC Ltd of Salisbury, and Marine Travelift International, the world's premier manufacturer of boat handling equipment to the marine industry.

The testing three-day event, which includes a passage race and a series of round the cans races, will be contested onboard Jeanneau Sunfast 37's chartered from Sunsail, Port Solent. The Royal Solent Yacht Club in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, will be hosting the competitors at the end of the first two days.

www.ukfsc.org.uk

VOR PODCAST
This week's podcast includes an exclusive interview with one of the world's top sailors who talks about a momentous announcement for the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race which will see him skipper a brand new boat. If that is not enough, we've also got all the latest from Valencia as the build up to America's Cup reaches fever pitch. We also talk to the legendary Mike Golding about his plans for the next Vendee Globe and to Rob Mundle who reveals all the latest happenings in the sailing world Down Under.

www.volvooceanrace.org/podcast

INDUSTRY NEWS
* The second issue of the Yachting World supplement devoted entirely to superyachts, Supersail World, will publish the official programme to th. Superyacht Cup Ulysse Nardin, Palm. 2007. which incorporates the New Zealand Millennium Cup 2007, following an exclusive agreement with The Superyacht Cup.

Supersail World editor, David Glenn, sees this as a perfect partnership building on the first supplement's success. David also emphasised the importance of the timing of The Superyacht Cu. between the Louis Vuitton Cup to decide the America's Cup challenger and the Match itself starting on June 23 in Valencia.

Supersail World & The Official Superyacht Cup Ulysse Nardin Palma 2007 Programme will be included with the June issue of Yachting World, on sale 10th May 2007.

* Blue Ocean Wireless, an Irish company focused on expanding communication capability in the merchant maritime sector, today announced the launch of the world's first GSM network for merchant maritime vessels.

Blue Ocean Wireless is a joint venture between private investment firm, Claret Capital, and Irish technology communications company, Altobridge. Blue Ocean Wireless' service will, for the first time, enable seafarers to use their existing mobile phones on board vessels in deep ocean water in exactly same way that they would do in port or on land. Users of the service will be able to make and receive voice calls, send and receive SMS text and email messages and browse the internet using their existing handset. The service will be directed at more than one million seafarers serving as crew on more than 40,000 merchant ships in service world-wide.

Blue Ocean Wireless will, together with Inmarsat, the leading global satellite communications service provider, and a leading mobile network operator, provide a global GSM mobile service specifically focused on crew members of merchant ships. This technology can also be applied to Superyachts and other merchant vessels.

* The Norwegian International Boat Show, which ran from March 16-25 in Oslo, faced a small decline in visitor numbers this year to just 56,955 people.

Nevertheless, almost 700 boats were sold during the 10-day event, making it one of the strongest shows ever.

The next boat show to be held in Norway will be the Bater i sj0en, also known as the Norwegian International In-Water Boat Show, which runs from September 6-9 in Sandvika. -- Lars-Ake Redeen, IBI, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070228113249ibinews.html

* In response to requests for a list of exhibitors for the Earls Court Boat Show, James Brooke, MD of the Earls Court Boat Show, wrote to Boating Business to say: 'confidentiality of these companies remains a priority while they feel that public support for the Earls Court Boat Show could warrant pressure from the British Marine Federation (BMF) before Southampton Boat Show stand space has been allocated'.

Among the interesting points he raises, Brooke says they are targeting 220,000 for the inaugural show. He also says the ECBS has, since January 15, 'initiated several conversations with the BMF and continue to offer them our support. The most recent conversation included an offer to sponsor a BMF stand at Earls Court'. -- Full text of James' letter in Boating Business: www.boatingbusiness.com

* According to the chancellor's budget statement last week, duty on fuel used for private pleasure boating or private pleasure flying will, from November 1, 2008, 'no longer benefit from the reduced and exempt rates of duty currently in effect'.

The statement went on to say 'there will be formal consultation on the implementation of the new regime later this year'.

'I am pleased that the government has listened to our case for a lengthy transitional period in order for industry to manage the infrastructure changes that will be required,' said Howard Pridding, executive director of the British Marine Federation (BMF). 'The implementation date of November 1, 2008 will give marine businesses the time to plan and budget for that change. We will continue to work with government over the coming months as they develop the detail of the new legislation.' -- Boating Business, www.boatingbusiness.com

* National Boat Shows (NBS), a subsidiary of the British Marine Federation (BMF), has announced that plans for a new Liverpool Boat Show in 2008 have been put on hold following the unavailability of a suitable site. NBS, which also organises both the London and Southampton shows, says that it will continue to research the Liverpool project.

This year's Southampton International Boat Show will run from September 14-23, followed by the London International Boat Show at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in January 2008. -- IBI News, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070229131433ibinews.html

* Garmin Ltd announced that it has acquired nearly all the assets of Nautamatic Marine Systems Inc, manufacturer of the TR-1 Gold and Gladiator marine autopilots. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Nautamatic Marine Systems, which has operated under the name TR-1 Autopilots, was founded in 1994 by Graham Dorland and Doug Ford. According to a statement, the company is known for its patented marine autopilot technology that does not require a rudder-angle sensor. TR-1 Autopilots are currently factory-installed by boat manufacturers and are offered as an aftermarket accessory through a network of dealers.

The statement noted that Garmin will continue to offer existing TR-1 autopilot products, but will eventually develop new marine autopilot products that will be integrated with Garmin Marine Network products. -- IBI, www.ibinews.com

* Clipper Ventures Plc, the AIM-listed international marine events company, has announced the appointment of James Allen to the new post of Head of Clipper Training.

James, 32, will develop the company's growing Clipper Training division based in Royal Clarence Yard in Gosport, Hampshire,

Clipper Ventures has been running bespoke training for its Clipper Round the World Yacht Race crews for the last eleven years and this sought-after programme of big boat training is now being rolled out to the public as part of a joint venture with Falmouth Marine School.

His previous roles include Skipper of Me to You Ocean Racing Team in the Global Challenge 2004-05. Prior to that James skippered Spirit of Southampton in the Round Britain and Ireland Challenge 2003 and acted as First Mate on BP Explorer for the Challenge Transat 2002.

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 Dwayne Daniels: I can not help but believe that even those who still believe in coincidence must have had an amused smile on their respective faces as they read the recent press release from the Transpac Yacht Club -- raising the maximum speed limit for their 2000+ mile race -- just three months before the race starts. Isn't it a coincidence that this rating limit change occurs exactly at the same time that long-time board member (and benefactor) Roy Disney's top-rating maxZ86 Pyewacket is undergoing major surgery? Old timers may remember that years ago, TPYC also raised the race's maximum speed when Mr. Disney turbo-charged his Santa Cruz, 70. And several years later they raised it again when Disney originally built his maxZ86. Just a coincidence I'm sure.

Real old timers will recall that in days gone by, boats had to be in measurement trim and have their final rating certificate by the end of March to even be eligible to enter the July Transpac Race. No more. Some skeptics are now wondering if the Transpac YC's next press release will formally announce their name change - to the Mickey Mouse Yacht Club.

THE LAST WORD
A thick skin is a gift from God. -- Konrad Adenauer

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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