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L'HYDROPTERE HAS BEATEN TWO WORLD RECORDS
44.5 knots over 500 meters and 41.5 knots over one nautical mile. These are the exceptional speeds which have enabled l'Hydroptere to beat two world records, subject to official ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

On Wednesday 4th April 2007, South of Lorient, l'Hydroptere, helmed by Alain Thebault, was able to beat both speed records with 25 knots North-East wind and quiet sea conditions, in the presence of Michael Ellison, official timekeeper at the WSSRC.

The Crew of the Catamaran "Techniques Avancees" were the original holders of the amazing speed record in category D since 1997, together with Bjorn Dunkerbeck, who beat the absolute speed record on one nautical mile in 2006.

As a result of this teamwork, Alain Thebault and his Swiss-French crew, Jean-Matthieu, Jacques, François, Adrien, Pollux, Sebastien and Damien have proved that the dream can come true.

In 2005 their Channel Crossing was faster than Bleriot in his airplane in 1909. Shortly afterwards they add the two world records to their victories and show the carbon bird can always fly faster, higher and further.

Strengthened by this victory, the team will now concentrate on the next steps of their 2007 programme, i.e. prepare for future ocean navigation records, like the 24 hour record. At the same time continuing with the technological development of the Swiss-French lab boat l'Hydroptere.ch and the studies carried out for l'Hydroptere maxi.

www.hydroptere.com

* Two photos courtesy Arnaud Pilpre / Sea & Co at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/

ACT 13 RACING POSTPONED ON A COLD, WET, WINDLESS DAY
At 16:20, the Race Committee postponed racing for the day at the 32nd America's Cup, after the fleet was held at sea on a cold, wet spring day. When the 12 Cup teams left Port America's Cup for racing, they were faced with a cold, light Northerly breeze and a heavy swell. Rain squalls soon blew down the race area and at the scheduled start time of 14:05, racing was postponed.

The Race Committee kept the boats at sea from nearly two and a half hours, but it was in vain; the weather never improved and the wind never consistently held over 5 knots.

Two races are now scheduled for each of Friday and Saturday, the reserve day.

+39 Challenge, who were dismasted during racing on Wednesday, spent the day working on their old mast and have indicated they will be ready to race on Friday.

* Iain Percy and the +39 team must sit out the rest of Act 13 of the Louis Vuitton Cup because of a damaged mast. Despite offers of loans of spare masts from other syndicates, the +39 team has not received unanimous approval from competitors to sidestep event protocol.

It is a rule of the America's Cup that all equipment must be designed and built in the country of the challenge, in this case Italy, and Act 13 is part of that event, so an offer of one from the defender, Alinghi, must be rejected. The protest against the German yacht that caused the damage was continued last night, which is important for insurance reasons; the resulting loss could amount to the whole of +39's budget. -- Bob Fisher in the Guardian, sport.guardian.co.uk/sailing/story/0,,2051582,00.html

* Team New Zealand's Adam Beashel looks likely to keep his finger after surgey on injury sustained during racing yesterday Beashe. had surgery on his hand after getting it caught in the main sheet block before the start of racing in Valencia. -- www.radiosport.co.nz

* The Jury has ruled in the protest between +39 Challenge and United Internet Team Germany and awarded redress to the Italian team.

In terms of the incident on the water, the Jury ruled that the German team broke Rules 10 (opposite tacks) and 14 (avoiding contact) of the Racing Rules of Sailing.

Areva Challenge, originally protested by United Internet Team Germany, was absolved of any blame in the incident.

In terms of Redress, the Jury awarded +39 Challenge a fifth place finish in Race Three of Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 (no other positions in the race are affected).

In addition, +39 Challenge will hold on to the two bonus points it would earn from its current position on the Louis Vuitton Ranking table, regardless of its result in Act 13.

Further, the Jury ruled that the fairest solution for all boats was to allow +39 to accept the offer of the use of a Version 5 mast from United Internet Team Germany. The Jury acknowledges that this would require a Protocol amendment which it recommends.

Full costs have been directed against United Internet Team Germany.

The full written decision from the Jury is expected to be issued on Friday. -- Peter Rusch

* Some interesting 'second opinions' on BYM News:

Alinghi is fast, ridiculously fast and the team is a dream.

BMW/Oracle is fast but need to sort some bits and pieces out if they want to catch Alinghi.

Emirates New Zealand are very fast but so far in this act have been inconsistent.

Desafio Espanol are definitely working on their boat speed and team work and may have a few surprises in store.

Luna Rossa have a lot of pace but it just seems that there is something missing.

Mascalzone look great but seem to waste winning opportunities.

Shosholoza proved that they could be up there with the big boys after yesterdays result but today they were way off the pace and blew the second race when the head foil failed.

Areva is way off of the pace and needs a lot of work to be done if they are to have any chance at all in the Louis Vuitton.

United Internet have problems.

Victory Challenge have big problems.

+39 Challenge have had the most rotten luck anyone could wish upon them.

China Team: What can I say apart from that the paint job looks great (Come on guys, even the waiters in my local chinese takeaway have started cheering for the Spanish boat). -- www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=5903

AMERICA'S CUP TRIVIA QUIZ
Starting today, and weekly for ten weeks, we're running a trivia quiz where you can win prizes weekly. America's Cup expert and author Bob Fisher has provided the brain busters.

There will be a new question every Friday, with the answer on Tuesday.

The first correct answer wins an America's Cup DVD (see www.americascupstore.com/cart/add_to_cart.asp?id=LVCDVD.1 )

The thirty-second correct answer wins the official 32nd America's Cup Book (see www.americascupstore.com/cart/add_to_cart.asp?id=32BOOKS.1 )

And all entries get a chance to win the Grand Prize... a 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup poster. These are among the most coveted of all America's Cup memorabilia, for they are never sold.

First question? Which America's Cup yacht had a sail of Ramie fibre - the wonder fibre of its time?

Go to scuttlebutteurope.com to submit your answer!

DO YOU "ONE DESIGN?" WE DO!
Tornado, Melges 24, Sabots, Martin 242, Yngling, 470's, J/105, Beneteau 40.7, Etchells, Acat's, Farr 40, 505, Cal 20, Coronado 15, Fireball, J/24, CFJ, 420, Europe Dinghy, Harbor 20, International 14, J/22, Holder 20, Flying Scot, Lido 14, Lehman 12, Lightning, Optimist, Snipe, Thistle, Cal 25, Soling, Sonar, Santana 20, Santana 30/30, Capri 14.2, Melges 32, El Toro, Ultimate 20, Flying Junior, J/80, Hobie 21, San Juan 24, Nacra, Prindle, J/120, Antrim 27, Olson 30, Mumm 30, J/109. Ullman Sails has been one designing 35+ years, give your local loft a call or visit us at www.ullmansails.com

STAR WESTERN HEMISPHERE CHAMPIONSHIP
Flat water, wind at 10-20 degrees at noon, clouds on every shore. At one point, the anemometer read 6.9 miles per hour. There was a pile up at the pin for the first start and a general recall was signaled. The wind went further right and most boats tried to get a pin end start because it looked like a little more of the dying breeze would stay with them on the left side. Another general recall. The Z flag went up for the third start and the fleet spread out and hung back from the line. We had a clean start, but the wind got completely fickle.

Peter Bromby and Andy Macdonald who had match raced each other to claim the pin had to have looked up to weather at one point in despair. Freddy Loof sailed conservatively up the middle of the course. Several competitors chose to go right toward the port entrance and caught the fleeting zephyrs that just couldn't carry them all of the way to the weather mark.

Freddy Loof and Anders Ekstrom were nearly half way down the run when the race committee when the wind readings dropped to one mile per hour and the race committee fired off three guns.

The 2007 Star Western Hemisphere Championship ended with former World Champions Freddy Loof and Anders Ekstrom claiming the silver star (Loof's fifth!). - Lynn Fitzpatrick

Final top ten results:
1. Fredrik Loof / Anders Ekstrom, SWE, 11 points
2. Peter Bromby / Bill McNiven, BER, 21
3. Iain Murray / Andrew Palfrey, AUS, 23
4. Rohan Lord / Miles Addy, NZL, 24
5. Andy Macdonald / Mike Wolfs, USA, 25
6. Elvind Melleby / Petter Morland Pederson, NOR, 29
7. George Szabo / Andrew Scott, USA, 34
8. John Dane III / Austin Sperry, USA, 37
9. Brian Cramer / Tyler Bjorn, CAN, 43
10. Jock Kohlhas / Larry Scott, USA, 47

Event site: diyc.home.att.net
Class website: starclass.org

TROPHEE BPE
Race leaders Armel Tripon on Gedimat and Eric Defert on Suzuki Cars have tacked south as the three boats to their southeast, led by Robert Nagy's Theolia continue on their westerly tack in similar but slightly lighter conditions.

To the south, where the bulk of the fleet remain a northeast-southwest orientated ridge of high pressure has developed, those above it experiencing headwinds, those to the south favourable northeasterly. As a result of this the southerly group has split in two.

Among the northern group of the southerly bulk there is now a concentrated group of four led by Marc Emig and Ronan Tressart, who have been match racing for most of the last day. Close astern of them is previous winner of this event, Eric Drouglazet and Bertrand de Broc. This group seems to be suffering the most as a result of the ridge with the lowest speed sin the fleet over the last four hours, even most so than Gildas Morvan and Yannick Bestaven who are furthest south of the northern group and according to our forecast chart should be in lighter conditions still.

Meanwhile notorious corner banger, Nicolas Troussel on Financo, last year's Solitaire winner is going well in his position as the most southerly boat. Incredibly he is now heading for the Cape Verde island, so extreme is his route. -- translation by TheDailySail.com (at this point the only site covering the race in English), www.thedailysail.com

Top ten at 1800 GMT, 5 April:

1. Gedimat, Armel Tripon, 1657.5 nm to finish
2. Suzuki, AutomobilesEric Defert, 37.1 nm to leader
3. Theolia, Robert Nagy, 40.3
4. Domaine du Mont d'Arbois, T Duprey du Vorsent, 47.9
5. Art Immobilier, ConstructionDaniel Dupont, 88.5
6. A.ST Groupe, Marc Emig, 95.3
7. Groupe Céléos, Ronan Treussart, 102.4
8. Luisina, Eric Drouglazet, 116.2
9. Aquarelle.com, Yannick Bestaven, 127.9
10. Les Mousquetaires, Bertrand de Broc, 139.7

tropheebpe.com

SAN FERNANDO RACE
In Hong Kong, the 30th anniversary San Fernando Race got away to a late, chilly, grey start off Shek O Rock. In spite of good breeze in Victoria Harbour, Race Officer Jimmy Farquhar made the call to start outside the Harbour, after establishing that there was insufficient breeze to keep the fleet moving through the notorious Li Yue Mun gap at the eastern entrance.

This was a blessing in disguise for Sam Chan's Ffree Fire 52 which discovered late Wednesday that she had a leaking rudder bearing, and was lifted out for emergency work by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's boatyard early this morning, going back in the water just before midday.

The start gun was fired by the winner of the first San Fernando Race, Mr Barry Byrne, who skippered Drogheda to victory in 1977. The 10 boats in the IRC combined divisions got away in an 8 knot north easterly, with Halcyon Daze and Quest immediately hoisting their kites, however tracking of the fleet showed that Ffree Fire 52 had shown the other boats a clean transom within 2 hours of the start.

In HKPN Division, which caters for the remaining eight participants, Cordelia had done much the same thing and appeared to be keeping in touch with the IRC leaders.

Armchair enthusiasts can follow the action from home, as official tracking providers Pole Star and SkyWave have provided satellite airtime, Purplefinder technology and DMR 200 units to enable tracking of the fleet at www.sanfernandorace.com .

Photographs are available at www.rhkyc.org.hk/sanfernandorace/mediaimages.htm

12TH ANNUAL ST BARTHS BUCKET REGATTA
Gustavia, St Barths, French West Indes: The largest fleet of the largest racing yachts ever to meet converged for a spectacular weekend of racing in St. Barths. The wind gods were in our favor this year and helped to provide some of the most exiting racing the regattas have seen.

This year's participants were split into two classes. Les Gazelles des Mers (racing class) and Les Grandes Dames des Mers (cruising class). Sentimental favorites Kaori and Avalon placed first and second overall and the new Hodgdon Yacht Windcrest placed third overall.

Following are the results of the weekend:

First Overall: Kaori
Second Overall: Avalon
Third Overall: Windcrest

Les Gazelles des Mers:

2nd Highland Breeze
3rd Rebecca

Les Grandes Dames des Mers:
1st Kaori
2nd Windcrest
3rd Avalon

The Bucket Regattas began in August 1986 in Nantucket, MA, as a casual race to prove bragging rights among the owners & skippers of seven of the largest yachts in town - an afternoon sail, there and back again, with a galvanized bucket as the trophy. The Bucket Regattas have grown to become one of the most prestigious sailing events in the world, attracting the largest yachts ever to compete on the race course. A complete recap will be available on the website: www.bucketregattas.com

MERMAID MATCH RACING CHAMPIONSHIP. Once again the Sea View Yacht Club will be running the Mermaid Match Racing Championships on 21st and 22nd of April 2007. This RYA grade 3 international match-racing event has been run successfully for the last three years and gives competitors a chance to compete in the club's own Mermaid racing yachts. The Mermaid is a three-man 26 foot keelboat with a conventional spinnaker.

It is still possible to enter the Championship and the Notice of Race can be downloaded by visiting www.svyc.org.uk/regattas/mermaidmatchapr07.pdf and includes an entry form.

SPONSORS
* Holmenkol (available through Contender UK) have announced they are the proud new sponsors of Team Draper and Hiscocks

Olympic bronze medallists Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks, have been using Holmenkol a range of revolutionary nano technology products, on their Olympic 49er

Draper and Hiscocks have been supplied with all the products from the Holmenkol range

Simon Hiscocks says ; "Holmenkol coatings are designed to reduce friction, limit water absorption and improve UV protection. We used SealnGlide on our kites last season and immediately saw a dramatic improvement in their overall performance." -- www.holmenkol.com

* UK technical dinghy and sports boat apparel company Gul International, today announced its sponsorship of the 2007 Topper World Championships. From 25th to 31st August, over 150 Toppers are expected to compete at Fraglia Vela Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy for the title of Gul Topper World Champion.

Over the last year Gul has worked intensively with Skandia Team GBR sailors and coaches in developing technical sailing and onshore clothing for the team in training for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

* Cockburn's Port has been signed as the Official Port of Skandia Cowes Week 2007 by Cowes Week Sponsorship Limited, the commercial arm of the World's oldest and largest sailing regatta.

Port has had a long association with sailing and British naval traditions, which date back to the days when the wine was exported by sea out of the Portuguese city of Oporto back to the UK. We're looking forward to bringing these historical associations right up-to-date by sponsoring this famous annual sailing celebration, which is almost as old as the Cockburn's company itself, founded in 1815.

Cockburn's Port is sponsoring the yacht Red, the TP52 owned and skippered by the Carphone Warehouse CEO, Charles Dunstone that will be racing at key events, including Skandia Cowes Week, throughout this Summer.

* The 12ft Skiff Class this week signed a Team sponsorship deal with Aquaskipper UK, sole importers of the newest water-sports craze from the USA.

The "Team Aquaskipper" boat will be seen at all the UK 12ft Skiff events this season, starting with the Grand Slam this weekend at Weston S.C., in Southampton.

Throughout the sailing community the 12 foot skiff has an almost legendary status as a boat that is only sailed by the best and the maddest of people. Light enough to be lifted in and out of the water by its two man crew and powered by more sail area than your average yacht, these vessels are ridiculously over powered. The resulting racing events are filled with thrills and spills for both competitors and spectators. Further information is available at www.12footskiff.com

THE LAST WORD
Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young. -- J. K. Rowling

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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