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READY FOR ACTION
Racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup begins on Monday afternoon, with the first warning signal scheduled to fire at 14:05. 11 challengers from nine countries are racing for the right to battle Alinghi in the 32nd America's Cup Match.

Each of the teams with a choice of two boats to race in the Louis Vuitton Cup have announced they will select the newest of their boats, meaning NZL 92 and USA 98 will make their competitive debuts on Monday.

On Monday, racing is scheduled to begin at 14:15 in Round Robin One. The challengers race two full Round Robin series with only the top four advancing to the Semi Finals. The winners of each Semi Final best of nine will advance to the Final, from which the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will emerge.

* +39 back sailing:
Sunday afternoon +39 went back to sailing after the damage to the mast caused by the unfortunate collision during Act 13 of the Louis Vuitton Cup. ITA 85 was tested at sea with the mast that was given to the Italian team by Alinghi, a profile of the old generation, slightly less stiff than a version 5, where the new rules allow for a higher module carbon fibre and the possibility of mounting a halyard and jumper shrouds in a material other than steel. The team, led by Olympians Iain Percy, Ian Walker and Rafael Trujillo encountered medium range winds, around 9/10 knots. The results of the test were defined positive, there is still some upgrading to the spreaders to do, to adapt them to the sails that were designed for a generation 5 rig.

At the +39 base, in the meantime, the shore team and the technicians went on working to fix the broken mast. The profile is again in one piece, but the lamination, the curing and the mounting of the whole structure is still to be done. It is a task that will be handled on the first days of next week. Nobody is making any precise schedule but it seems that by the half of the first Round Robin the Marstrom mast will be stepped again on +39.

* Super model Tatjana Patitz meets model athletes - the native of Hamburg is due to go aboard with BMW ORACLE Racing in Valencia on Monday, 16 April, and will be experiencing the fascinating "Formula One of Sailing" live and up close in the official race.

The position of 18th man is unique in the international world of sports, because this is as close as it gets. The America's Cup 2007 in Valencia is not only the highlight of the year from a sports point of view. Sports-mad Tatjana Patitz is well known throughout the world. The team of CEO and Skipper Chris Dickson believes that the model will bring them luck. In all likelihood, her presence on the yacht will further boost the motivation of the crew on the first regatta day of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

* Patrizio Bertelli, Head of the Luna Rossa Syndicate, this morning at the press conference stated: "The races will be very close and interesting. The quality of the Challengers is high and all the teams are competitive. It would be a mistake to try to identify ahead of time which could be our worse opponent in the finals."

Concerning the format of this edition Patrizio Bertelli, Head of the Luna Rossa Syndicate, stated: "I think that the Act formula has been interesting. I believe instead that the round robin series as it is structured now is wrong, there are too few of them. It would have been better to have an additional round robin and instead cancel the last Act, which served no purpose."

Speaking then about the possible format of the next edition the President and CEO of Gruppo Prada said: "I am totally against a version of the America's Cup held every two years; it is too short of a time span to put a team together and create a project which holds any vision. The great risk is that of standardizing the technical aspect and racing then with one-designs. We mustn't change the true nature of the America's Cup by changing it into a racing circuit similar to the many ones that already exist, taking away the prerogatives of the Defender. To transform the America's Cup into a circuit would be dangerous and would take away its charm. If the America's Cup is to take place every two years we will weigh our participation." -- www.lunarossachallenge.com

* The tears will not just be before bedtime, they will start at breakfast and run all day when the America's Cup regatta, in the form of the Louis Vuitton Cup elimination series, starts here in Valencia tomorrow.

"This is a festival of misery and sado-masochism," says Luca Devoti, the ever-bubbling boss of the cash-strapped and so far luckless ugly duckling of the trio of Italian teams, +39. He makes no bones about the pressure that all of these 11 challenger teams from nine countries will face over the next 21 days, in which they all have to complete 20 races. It is, he says, as intense as the Tour de France.

It is also as nerve-racking as a relegation battle. At the end of two rounds in which they all sail against each other once, only the top four will go through to the challenger semi-finals. Seven, after the sweat of up to three years' work and the expenditure of millions and millions of euros, will suddenly have no reason to be ready for a working day that can run from 6am to 10pm. -- Stuart Alexander in the Independent, he's got a podcast linked up from the article as well: sport.independent.co.uk/general/article2449914.ece

* Pulling no punches: Bob Fisher's editorial in Sail-World.com:

Valencia is not all that it was cracked up to be. Ask the newspaper journalist whose car tyre was stabbed and whose cash and keys were removed from his jacket while he changed that rear tyre; ask the television journalists whose carefully chained bicycles were not there when they returned; ask the two young ladies working for a syndicate who were robbed of money in the street; ask anyone who has walked the smelly streets and felt the full power of the odour of the drains. Ask around.

Any number of light shows and firework displays will not hide, or in any way ameliorate, the underlying climate of crime and filth that pervades the city. It is not a fit place to hold the America's Cup, an event that increasingly becomes 'made for television' and where the weather is sufficiently unreliable that the first day that Sky was due to air live coverage (of Act 13), racing was abandoned for the day.

Yet despite the seemingly dreadful state of Valencia, the crowds are flocking to the Cup Village and the two million mark of visitors has already been passed, even with the fortress-like state of the compounds.

Hopes of another America's Cup in 2009 evaporated with only three of the owners, Ralph Dommermuth of United Internet Team Germany, Stephane Kandler of Areva, and Vincenzo Onorato of Mascalzone Latino, in favour of a two-year return to action. Bertarelli clearly stated that he didn't think it should be a circuit, which was strange as he and Ellison had created just that.

Full article at www.sail-world.com/nz/index.cfm?nid=32639

Monday's schedule:

Flight 1: 1. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team vs. Emirates Team New Zealand
2. +39 Challenge vs. Areva Challenge
3. Bye Desafio Espanol 2007
4. United Internet Team Germany vs. BMW ORACLE Racing
5. Team Shosholoza vs. Victory Challenge
6. China Team vs. Luna Rossa Challenge

Flight 2:
1. Desafio Espanol 2007 vs. +39 Challenge
2. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team vs. Areva Challenge
3. Bye Emirates Team New Zealand
4. United Internet Team Germany vs. Team Shosholoza
5. China Team vs. BMW ORACLE Racing
6. Victory Challenge vs. Luna Rossa Challenge

www.americascup.com

VELUX LEG 3 START POSTPONED
Race Director David Adams announced on Friday that the start of leg three has been postponed as a result of the severe weather expected to hit Norfolk, Virginia (USA), over the weekend. With less than 48 hours to go before the fleet of skippers were due to set sail for Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain) and complete their solo circumnavigation of the planet, the weather has dealt a blow to race start plans as a powerful low pressure system moves into the Chesapeake north of Norfolk and looks set to deliver intense storm conditions, reminiscent of the start of the race in Bilbao.

The latest forecasts from NOAA show 40-55 knots of wind offshore (over 20 miles from land) on Sunday morning, with gusts up to 60 knots and waves of 25 feet east of 1,000 fathoms (over 100 miles offshore). After the front has hit, the storm is then expected to back off with up to 40 knots of wind on Monday, diminishing to 25 knots late in the day. These formula one ocean machines would not only contend with these challenging conditions, but would have to battle against the tides, significantly worsening the sea state and increasing risk of damage.

Race organisers have not set a new time for the start but will review the situation every 12 hours and make their decisions as the weather develops, in constant consultation with meteorologists from across USA and Europe, as well as the skippers and their teams. The news is a blow to the planned events for start day, which included a helicopter trip for the skippers out to HMS OCEAN and festivities down at the Waterside Marina in Norfolk. However, the skippers will still attend a special farewell ceremony onboard HMS OCEAN on Sunday with guests from Velux and representatives from the city of Norfolk to formally bid farewell and celebrate the end of the stopover in Virginia.

www.velux5oceans.com

RAINBOW JACKET BY MURPHY&NYE
As visitors to Port America's Cup over the last weeks have noted, it's not always shorts and t-shirt weather here in Valencia.

The 32nd America's Cup webstore has the answer to the many, varied winds of Valencia with the great jacket and gilet range by exclusive clothing licensee, Murphy&Nye.

The Rainbow jacket, based on Murphy&Nye's famous Waikato jacket, is the perfect wind and raincheater for onshore use and inshore sailing. Available in both men's and women's cuts, please view the Rainbow and many more styles at:

Men's: americascupstore.com/cart/stock.asp?id=122
Women's: americascupstore.com/cart/stock.asp?id=182

TROPHEE BPE
After 21 days 9 hours 11 minutes and 23 second, at an average course speed of 6.68 knots, Nicolas Trousel on Financo has crossed the finish line of the Trophee BPE - Banque Privee Europeenne.

Running as far back as 18th place between April 1 and 5, he took an extreme southern route, sailing practically down to the latitude of Marie Galante before turning right on April 6. On April 2, nearly 1000 miles separated him from the sailors who chose the northernmost route. By April 9 he had moved from 16th place to 3rd. A very bold gamble that has paid off.

Top ten as of 1800 GMT Sunday 15 April ( Trousel crossed 4 hours later ):

1. Financo, Nicolas Troussel, 27 miles to finish
2. Defi Mousquetaires, Thomas Rouxel, 4.1 nm to leader
3. Bostik, Charles Caudrelier, 9.0
4. Sojasun, Liz Wardley, 95.9
5. A.ST Groupe, Marc Emig, 126.7
6. Lenze, Franck Le Gal, 167.4
7. Luisina, Eric Drouglazet, 174.3
8. Gedimat, Armel Tripon, 175.5
9. Banque Populaire, Jeanne Gregoire, 182.4
10. Les Mousquetaires, Bertrand de Broc, 182.9

www.tropheebpe.com

START LINE FIASCO
TheDailySail uncovers start line problems at the Princess Sofia Trophy:
The Princess Sofia Trophy came to a close last week in Palma, kicking off the European Olympic circuit. The event was a success in many ways, but a dark cloud sat over the regatta with yet another media friendly policy decision from ISAF leaving many competitors at the event feeling cold.

During the ISAF Race Management Meeting held last autumn a decision was made to attempt to reduce the number of general recalls, with a view to making races start closer to their advertised start time, allowing television a better chance to keep to their scheduling. In Palma, we understand, race officers were briefed before the Princess Sofia Regatta to proceed with racing giving only individual recalls and not call a general recall provided they felt the start line was even. This, of course led to the ludicrous sitatuion where many competitors were pushing the line, hiding their sail number behind other peoples' sails and managing to start on occasions as much as 10s of metres ahead of the line without receiving an OCS or being recalled.

At the Princess Sofia, the issue was particularly noticeable on the Finn course where Skandia Team GBR coach David (Sid) Howlett was monitoring the racing. "The race officers in Palma took it to an extreme. Personally I have not seen the instruction to race officers about exactly what they are to do but there were lots of sailors over the line that were not called back," he told thedailysail. "There were starts in the Finn class that should definitely have been recalled but were not. On one of the last starts there were boats that I would say were 40-50m over. It is absolutely ridiculous."

Full article at www.thedailysail.com

LIVING THE 32ND AMERICA'S CUP FROM THE INSIDE
Moor your boat in one of the exclusive marinas located just next to the race course and within the venue. Enjoy the show, see the ACC yachts passing through the canal, be part of this unique nautical event in Europe.

Apart from the regattas, the 32nd America'sCup will offer continuous activities, from gourmet restaurants, sight-seeing bars, parties, games, night-club and other sail related events.

You can see it with your own eyes. Will you miss it?

Port America's Cup Marina: in the heart of the passion.

Tariffs and booking are available on www.portamericascup.com

GIPSY MOTH HEADED HOME
Gipsy Moth IV will return to Plymouth on Monday 28th May 2007 and Cowes on Sunday 3rd June 2007. Gipsy Moth IV is due to complete her global circumnavigation by sailing into Plymouth exactly 40 years to the day since Sir Francis Chichester returned from his record breaking voyage.

After an extensive restoration driven by UKSA, Yachting Monthly and the Maritime Trust, supported by premier partner the Isle of Wight and global partners BT and Corum and countless other supporters, Gipsy Moth IV set sail on a second circumnavigation of the globe with the Blue Water Rally, providing over 80 young people with the opportunity of a lifetime during the 20 month voyage.

Gipsy Moth IV will return to her new home port of Cowes and join UKSA's fleet of yachts to continue taking young people on sailing trips. These charitable trips will be funded by Gipsy Moth IV sailing experiences which can be booked via UKSA. The day, weekend and 5-day trips will give sailors the opportunity to take to the helm of one of the world's most famous yachts and practice traditional navigation and seamanship.

Background information on the project and skippers logs accounting the voyage can be found at www.gipsymoth.org

STORMY PETREL OUTSAILS FLEET IN GREAT VETERANS RACE
The classic Sparkman & Stephens-designed 36-footer Stormy Petrel added another fine trophy to her long and distinguished sailing career today when she outsailed a small fleet in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's annual Great Veterans Race for the Windward Trophy.

The race, on Sydney Harbour, was open to yachts built before 1970 and which had sailed in a Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. A disappointing fleet of six boats took part today, with several regular contenders committed to other events, including the Squadron Cruise.

However, this did not detract from the fine performance of Stormy Petrel, skippered by owner Kevin O'Shea. She took line honours and placed first on corrected time, beating last year's winner Lolita, skippered by veteran CYCA member Nick Cassim, third place going to Roiaata (Michael Kirby).

Stormy Petrel has had an illustrious offshore racing career spanning 37 years since being built originally for Charles Curran (owner of Sydney). He chartered Stormy Petrel to Syd Fischer who skippered her to victory in the 1971 One Ton Cup in New Zealand.

Stormy Petrel's first Hobart Race was in 1970, her last of nine in 2005, a tribute to the dedication of current owner Kevin O'Shea and his crew in bringing the old boat back to her best for a tough ocean race. -- Peter Campbell

ANDRZEJ OSTROWSKI
It is with great sadness ISAF reports that Andrzej Ostrowski (POL), an ISAF International Judge (IJ) since 1988, an ISAF Committee member for over 20 years and a dedicated servant of the Finn class has died, aged 71.

Andrzej was a long-time member of the ISAF Centreboard Boat Committee and also a member of the ISAF Measurement Committee.

A committed Finn sailor, Andrzej went on to become deeply involved in the development of the class. By 1977 he was an advisor and measurer to the International Finn Association (IFA) and became a Vice-President Administration by 1982. He was also Honorary Secretary of Polish Finn Association during the 1980s.

From 1982-89, Andrzej was the chairman of the Finn Technical Committee. In this role he brought a period of stability and credibility to the measurement process, completing a lot of the good work started by his predecessors, in particular Richard Creagh-Osborne. Since 1989, Andrzej has continually been a member of the Technical Committee and continued to provide valuable input right up until his death.

ISAF: sailing.org

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 Manfred Schreiber: With reference to the Trophee BPE Race and the French competitor Robert Nagy on Theolia, is there any Frenchy out there who can tell me if this is the same Robert Nagy who campaigned in the DIV II boards at their Olympic highTime and later in the Tornado class? Always being successful and a good sportsman. Food for thought what one could do to have a competitive "sailing life" in all decades of life. Anyway wishing him and all others out there on the high Seas a safe journey.

BIG CORRECTION
Jez Greenaway has noted that your Editor was the Blunderer last week, when he missed a rather glaring error in an article quoted about Sir Robin Knox-Johnston:

Article in The Times:
"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."

Mr. Greenaway:
RKJ is going to have to do quite a few more RTW solos over the next 20 years or so before he can honestly claim to be the world's most ancient solo circumariner.

He's been beaten to that by around half a dozen others, one of whom he knows well, and that's Saito-san - the delightful Japanese Minoru Saito. He's seven circs to his credit, the last completed in his 72nd year.

THE LAST WORD
The secret of happiness is to make others believe they are the cause of it. -- Al Batt

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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