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HAPPY 99TH BIRTHDAY TO OLIN STEPHENS
In life, we shall find many men that are great, and some men that are good, but very few men that are both great and good. -- Charles Caleb Colton

COULD BE A PILEUP AT THE FINISH...
The epic struggle continues in the Figaro class' Trophee BPE transatlantic race. Remember the singlehanded sailors have been racing their Beneteau Figaro one design constantly now for more than two and a half weeks...

The match race continues between Thomas Rouxel and Charles Caudrelier, still only separated by 1.3 miles at the front of the fleet. However they still face a real threat to both their north and south. Overnight last year's Solitaire winner Nicolas Troussel has pulled up to third place and with the easterly trades wind airflow, of all the competitors is lining up to have the hottest angle into the finsh at Marie Galante. It also appears that at present he has more pressure - having averaged more than a knot faster than the leaders over the last four hours.

Among the most northern group Marc Emig has been making good progress too and this morning is 41.7 miles off the lead compared with 63 miles at the same time yesterday.

The forecast is still showing the wind to be getting lighter on the right side of the race course, so it will be interesting to see if Emig is still able to make gains over the next 24 hours. -- from TheDailySail.com, who, despite your Editor's mistaken remarks 2 nights ago, is doing far more than just translations. Yet another reason to pony up and subscribe...

Top ten at 1800 GMT 12 April:
1. Defi Mousquetaires, Thomas Rouxe, 545.8 nm to finish
2. Bostik, Charles Caudrelier, 1.7 nm to leader
3. A.ST Groupe, Marc Emig, 15.0
4. Financo, Nicolas Troussel, 17.6
5. Sojasun, Liz Wardley, 33.0
6. Gedimat, Armel Tripon, 50.6
7. Groupe Celeos, Ronan Treussart, 62.2
8. Luisina, Eric Drouglazet, 62.9
9. Les Mousquetaires, Bertrand de Broc, 69.6
10. Theolia, Robert Nagy, 74.5
11. Cercle Vert, Gildas Morvan, 243

Official site in French: www.tropheebpe.com

TEAM NZ DEFENDS DECISION TO RACE AGAINST ALINGHI
Team New Zealand today defended their decision to race informally against America's Cup holders Alinghi, days before the battle for yachting's biggest prize begins in earnest.

Team NZ pitted themselves against Alinghi this week, upsetting other challengers concerned about the benefits the Swiss syndicate received from the exercise.

Sailing and operations director Kevin Shoebridge agreed there had been some controversy in Valencia over the move.

He declined to comment on a report that the two races with Alinghi ended at 1-1.

"I'm not allowed to talk about this," he said with a laugh.

Shoebridge, who is in his sixth cup campaign, rejected the suggestion that informal races could produce misinformation because one side could be "sandbagging", or holding something in reserve.

"That's an interesting conspiracy theory that has been going on for years now in the America's Cup, but I've never ever been in a boat that's sandbagged," he said.

"It's a nice thing for people to talk about, but I honestly don't think it happens. These boats are so close in design I don't think there's the luxury of doing that."

www.stuff.co.nz/4025087a1823.html

BEST OF LOUIS VUITTON ACTS 1-12
On Monday the Louis Vuitton Cup finally gets underway. Check the form of the teams lining up in Valencia with the new official event DVD, The Best of Louis Vuitton Acts 1-12.

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.

Also available in the multimedia section of the 32nd America's Cup webstore are the official book of the event and the historical documentary "The House of the America's Cup - The Official Films".

americascupstore.com/cart/stock.asp?id=256

AMERICA'S CUP QUIZ #2 We have winners from last Friday's question:

Which yacht had a sail of Ramie fibre - the wonder fibre of its time?

Answer: Defender in 1895. The syndicate had bought the world stock of Ramie and had it processed and spun in Ireland and woven into cloth in the United States.

This week's puzzler, again from Bob Fisher:

When did a yacht that finished first lose the race on handicap?

Go to scuttlebutteurope.com to submit your answer. First correct answer gets a 32nd America's Cup DVD, the 32nd correct answer the official 32nd America's Cup Book, and all entries are eligible to win the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup Poster. Prizes courtesy the America's Cup Store and Louis Vuitton.

'I WANT TO GO AROUND WORLD AGAIN'
With his appetite for sailing renewed, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is considering his next challenge undefined.

Just hours after arriving in Norfolk, Virginia, at the end of a gruelling second leg of the Velux 5 Oceans, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston hinted that he might yet race round the world one more time. Already the first person to sail solo nonstop round the world, almost four decades ago, the 68-year-old has only to sail back across the Atlantic on the third leg into Bilbao to set another record as the oldest person to do so.

Although his first competitive race for 39 years has been dogged by equipment failure and bad luck, the challenge of racing his hi-tech Open 60, Saga Insurance, against a younger generation of sailors has clearly whetted his appetite for further adventure and competition. He does not feel he has done justice to himself or the legions of followers who have tracked Britain's grand old man of the sea in the past six months.

"I've had great sailing, yes, but racing, no," he said. "I've no regrets about taking on this challenge, but I don't feel I'm really succeeding, so I might have to find another race." The next major round-the-world solo race is the Vendee Globe in 2008. It will be tempting for a patriot Knox-Johnston to join the growing ranks of British solo sailors - Mike Golding, Alex Thomson and Dee Caffari among them - on the startline for a race that has been won only by Frenchmen.

Knox-Johnston feels, after 25,000 miles, that he is beginning to understand the capabilities of a boat that is so different from his beloved 32ft ketch Suhaili, which he sailed into Falmouth in 1968 and straight into the annals of maritime history. -- Andrew Longmore in The Times, www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/sailing/article1596528.ece

...AND THIS WILL HELP
Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky is delighted to announce its sponsorship of British sailing hero Sir Robin Knox-Johnston as he prepares to complete the Velux 5 Oceans race.

Known as the Genuine Maritime Malt, Old Pulteney has come on board to support Sir Robin as he sets sail from Norfolk (USA) this Sunday competing against four other competitors with the aim of a podium place in Bilbao, Spain.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have Old Pulteney on board, it's a fantastic whisky and I'm looking forward to savouring many a happy dram after a tough days sailing."

As an established sponsor of UK sailing and maritime events, Old Pulteney has a sailing sponsorship programme supporting the Old Pulteney IRC Scottish Championships, JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Henri Lloyd Falmouth Week, and the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta. Old Pulteney has also established the largest Maritime Photography Competition in the UK, Wish You Were Here, which challenges the UK's amateur photographers to capture the perfect shore-side image, see www.oldpulteney.com

* Editor: As an insufferable (and shameless) single malt snob, I can personally vouch for the excellent 17 year old version. As for the 21 year old, said distillery can contact me on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to get address details for shipping case-lot testing samples.

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

SIZZLER BYTE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
In a hard-fought world championship sailed over the past week off the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, South Pattaya, Thai teenager Keerati Bualung held off 31 competitors from seven countries for an excellent victory. He finished the 10 races with a total of 22 penalty points, seven clear of Singaporean Herman Nurfendi, second on 29, with a courageous Singaporean 'lioness' Valerie Chia Ying Ying finishing third on 42 points.

Valerie shared 42 points with two others, the brilliant Braziliano, Fabio Suyama Ramos and another Singaporean, Joanne Tay Jing Yi, but took precedence and third place on a tie- breaker countback.

Keerati's triumph was all the more remarkable in that he was also the youngest male competitor.

Over the week-long regatta a huge variety of conditions prevailed from vicious front-line squalls to enormous wind-shifts.

There were also troubled waters to dead-flat calms all with the strong tides usually encountered around Songkran.

Top five final results:
1. Keerati Bualung, THA, 25 points
2. Herman Nurfendi, SIN, 32
3. Fabio Suyama Ramos, BRA, 45
4. Valerie Chia Ying Ying, SIN, 47
5. Joanne Tay Jing Yi, SIN, 47

www.bytechamps.org/pages/home.asp?EventID=13

NEPHELE BACK TO DEFEND THE MILLENNIUM CUP
With the number of entries to The Superyacht Cup now exceeding 50, Nephele (Frers 34m) has just confirmed they will be taking part in the three days of racing in the Bay of Palma. As winner of the second Millennium Cup which was held in Auckland during the 2003 America's Cup, Nephele will be taking on a much larger fleet this time around. Launched in New Zealand in 2003, Nephele was then one of the newest boats taking part, but with the healthy growth of the superyacht industry over the past 4 years, many newer, bigger and very competitive yachts will be present at this years Cup, making it one of the largest gatherings of superyachts ever.

Palma is going to be the hub of superyacht activity for much of June, as the Dubois Cup is being held from June 13th - 15th at Marina Port de Mallorca immediately preceding the Superyacht Cup. This event is a three day 'family gathering' for the larger boats designed by Dubois Yachts during the last 30 years. The majority of the yachts in this regatta will then be joining the fleet across the Bay to take part in the Superyacht Cup and Millennium Cup, from June 16th (Registration Day) to June 19th.

The 500m of dock space available to yachts for The Superyacht Cup at Dique del Oeste is now very nearly full. At present there is only space for another 6 or 7 yachts and the overall length of the fleet so far, adds up to staggering distance of 2,100m.

www.thesuperyachtcup.com

VOR PODCAST
We talk to the best of British in this week's Volvo Sailing Podcast. First up are two Olympic gold medallists enjoying very different fortunes while helming during Act 13 of Americas Cup: Ben Ainslie ensured Emirates Team New Zealand finished as leading challenger going into the Louis Vuitton Cup, while aboard +39 Iain Percy lost the rig! All this and British Laser sailor Paul Goodison fresh from the Princess Sofia Trophy in Majorca too...

www.volvooceanrace.org/podcast/

ANTARCTICA CUP YACHT RACE TRACK BENCHMARK.
Fremantle, Western Australia: Serial Russian adventurer-sailor Fedor Konyukhov is to set a benchmark for sailing solo, non-stop around the Antarctica Cup Race Track, starting in December 2007.

The Antarctica Cup was created in 2002 by Perth, Australia, based sailor and sports promoter Bob Williams, to provide a spectacular yacht race through the most challenging waters of the world, the Southern Ocean.

Fedor will sail his 27 metre (88') boat "Alye Parusa" non-stop around the challenging Antarctica Cup Racetrack to set a benchmark for others to break.

The boat is currently undergoing a total refit at the Pendennis Shipyard, Falmouth, in the south west of England.

Chairman of Antarctica Cup Management, Bob Williams, is confident that by setting a benchmark Fedor will inspire future competitors and establish the Antarctica Cup Race Track as a challenge either as a record to be broken, or for a full-on race.

Fedor Konyukhov's participation in the ACYR is sponsored by the leading retail chain of supermarkets in Moscow "Trading Network Alyse Parusa" (Scarlet Sails). TN Alye Parusa has been the main partner for several of Fedor Konyukhov's offshore sailing record attempts, including single-handed round the world sailing on an Open 85 maxi yacht in 2005.

The Russian skipper will set out on the 14,500 nautical mile blast around the bottom of the planet from a southern Australian port, with Hobart and Fremantle currently being considered.

www.konyukhov.ru and www.antarcticacup.com

WHO STOLE THE CHOCOLATES AT THE RED FUNNEL REGATTA???
Sailors competing in this years Red Funnel Regatta found themselves leaving the mid layers on the dock and packing sun block instead.

Unfortunately the wind wasn't as generous as the sun, testing the 60 strong fleet with light to moderate breeze.

After the weekends racing in IRC SZ + Z boats powered by North Sails were 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 showing a powerful presence in these difficult conditions.

North Sails' managing director John Welch feels these results are indicative of North's renewed focus on the local market. "The fact that class IRC SZ & Z, IRM, IRC 1, and IRC 2 were all won by boats powered by North Sails, is testament to the performance of the North product."

www.northsails.co.uk

60 MELGES 24S HEADING FOR WORLDS AT SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz, California, USA: Sixty boats from seven countries are entered in the 2007 Fullpower Melges 24 World Championship May 3-12, hosted by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club---notably, two California sailors who have won three of the titles between them despite being born 43 years apart.

Vince Brun, 59, of San Diego and Samuel (Shark) Kahn, 16, of Santa Cruz will have their hands full attempting to replicate their successes against the likes of Italy's Gabrio Zandona, driving the daunting Joe Fly for owner Giovanni Maspero, and Riccardo Simoneschi, the recent Key West winner.

Three other world champions---Australia's James Spithill (2005), France's Sebastian Col (2004) and Switzerland's Flavio Favini (2001)---have a scheduling conflict: the America's Cup at Valencia, Spain.

But there are several other contenders including the United States' consistently strong Brian Porter, sailing with a crew of 2002 world champion Harry Melges III, Andy Burdick and John Porter, along with current U.S. national champion Chris Larson, driving for Scott Holmgren, and Dave Ullman, the top American in third place at Key West.

Brun won the first two Melges 24 Worlds in 1998 at Torquay, England and in 1999 at Long Beach, Calif., about 300 miles to the south.

Kahn, soon to be 17, won his as a mere lad of 14 on nearby San Francisco Bay in 2003. This time, despite veteran tactician Richard Clarke still alongside, he could have his young hands full just holding his own against the rest of the powerful Pegasus team: Ullman, Mark Christensen and his dad and event title sponsor, Philippe Kahn. The Kahns will be sailing on home waters, and Philippe's crew is former Star world champion Fredrik Loof, Olympic silver medalist Charlie Ogletree and Shark's former sidekick, Brian Hutchinson. -- Rich Roberts

www.usmelges24.com

NICK CASSIM & LOLITA TO DEFEND GREAT VETERANS RACE
Each autumn the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia pays tribute to older yachts that competed in early Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races when it stages the Great Veterans Race on Sydney Harbour.

This coming Sunday, 15 April, will see some of those veteran yachts, some skippered by equally veteran yachtsmen, compete for the Windward Trophy on the day that also marks the opening of the CYCA's Audi Winter Series.

Entries close at noon tomorrow, Friday, for Sunday's events, with the Great Veterans Race this year open to yachts built prior to 1970 which have competed in a Sydney Hobart.

Early nominations include last year's winner Lolita, Nick Cassim's classic 10.4m timber sloop, designed by Scottish naval architect Robert Clark and built on Lake Macquarie more than 60 years ago.

As an ocean racer, Lolita has a somewhat unique history in her seven Sydney Hobarts, which included two retirements.

Back in 1963, Lolita was the first boat ever to be rolled 360 degrees in the Hobart Race. Although dismasted, her then skipper John Farren-Price and his crew managed to get out a radio signal and the Royal Australian Navy submarine Trump located the disabled yacht and towed her safely to Eden.

Also entered for the 2007 Great Veterans Race is Stormy Petrel, Kevin O'Shea's Sparkman & Stephens designed sloop that won a world One Ton Cup back in the 1970s and still races in the CYCA's Short Ocean Pointscore.

French/Australian artist Catherine K is back with Sylphide, built in the mid-1960s and a competitor in four Hobarts, while other entrants so far include Chris Dawe's Cole 43 Polaris of Belmont, a Gosford-Lord Howe Island Race winner and Divisional winner in Sydney Hobarts, along with Carl Sriber's Suraya and Michael Kirby's Roitta. -- Peter Campbell

DOUBLE HANDED RACES WIN FAVOUR
Sixty yachts are due to set out in the Solent on Saturday, April 14, for the first race in the Royal Southampton Yacht Club's McGuigan Wines Double Handed series.

The RSYC is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the UK and pioneered double handed racing as far back as 1981 with the first 'Island Double' around the Isle of Wight. The concept was immediately popular and the Club has strengthened its position over more than 25 years.

The series from April to October and comprises four inshore races including the legendary Island Double around the Isle of Wight, plus four offshore races to destinations further afield.

The inshore events are: April 14 - Spring Solent Double, July 7 - Island Double, September 15 - Nab Tower Double and October 13 - Autumn Solent Double. The offshore races are May 5 - Solent to Weymouth Double, May 6 - Weymouth to Solent Double, May 25 - Cherbourg Double and August 24 - Brixham Double.

It is the first event under new sponsorship by Waverley TBS in conjunction with McGuigan Wines, one of Australia's top quality wine producers.

www.rsyc.org.uk

BILL ROBINSON
Editor, author, and sailor, died in his sleep Tuesday, April 3, at Navesink Harbor, Red Bank, New Jersey, USA.

Editor-in-chief of Yachting Magazine, he presided over the world's largest sailing publication from 1967 until 1978. When Yachting was sold, he "retired" to competing Cruising World as editor-at-large and added a dozen new titles to his list of books, bringing his lifetime total to 27. His favorite among them was A Sailor's Tales, a piecemeal autobiography that he dedicated "to my grandchildren, to save them the hours of having to listen to their grandfather in his old age." His lone novel, Destruction at Noonday, was based on his uncle's heroics as a ship captain during the Yokohama earthquake in 1922. With his late wife Jane Dimock Robinson, he lived in Rumson from 1946 on. For most of retirement they spent winters aboard their sailboat based in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Though he enjoyed racing, cruising was his passion, and most of his writing focused on adventure under sail.

A biography with a list of his many publications is available on Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Robinson_%28author%29

THE LAST WORD
The whiskey you're drinking should always be older than the woman you're with. -- Anonymous

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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