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0 FOR 4
These days are getting very redundant. Valencia: 0 for 4. What are the odds of this? I asked the great meteorologist Roger "Clouds" Badham this morning, "less than 1 in a million" was his reply.

For sure this is a record that will stand for a very long time. I have been sailing for 40 years this year. The only time I can think of that I was at a regatta and did not race for four days in a row may be at the 1978 Star North Americans in Toronto. We took up lawn bowling on that occasion!

There may be one good reason that there hasn't been any wind for four days. You may remember that +39 broke its only new mast during the fleet racing two weeks ago. They were hit by the Germans and it was the Germans' fault. The Germans offered to give +39 one of their spare version 5 masts...the latest. The jury was willing to make the necessary changes to make it happen but the challenger group voted it down. So +39 put in an old Alinghi mast and has been "ready to race" with that mast since the beginning of Round Robin 1. Meanwhile their shore team has been working night and day to repair the broken mast. The mast will be put in the boat tonight and +39 will sail at 0800 tomorrow to tune the repaired rig. Being an Italian team, maybe someone above is taking care of the justice!

The agitation amongst the teams and sponsors is growing. The television teams are going crazy trying to figure out how to handle their audiences. -- Paul Cayard, www.cayardsailing.com

* While the wind and the weather are not providing the media with much to say, as far as racing is concerned, at the +39 Challenge base the shore team is giving the final touches to the generation 5 mast.

"We will be working all the evening, once again- says skipper Luca Devoti- and if it is necessary we will go out in the dark to test and tune our rig. All the fittings have been mounted in the afternoon, the crane has already started to operate and once the mast is stepped back we will go to the water and we will be ready to race."

"I wish to thank everyone- declared earlier Team Manager Cesare Pasotti- everyone has been working without respite for the last ten days. The team has showed once again its force and its solidity."

* The Valencia police, the Guardia Civil and AC management have all told BYM News that there is no foundation to the rumour of brigandic bands of hooligans, or even modern day Robin Hoods, holding up tourists on the streets of Valencia.

An AC Management spokesperson said "This is a high profile event and, like the Olympics, or the Football World Cup, it will attract certain undesirable elements, but the Independant's report of hooded bands of robbers roaming the streets, looking for America's Cup tourists, is simply not true."

A local police spokesman said "Incidences of street robbery are around the normal levels for a city of this size, there have been no specific cases relating to America's Cup tourists." -- www.bymnews.com

* Bob Fisher on Thursday's Measurement Briefing:
What was billed as a 'Press Briefing' with the Technical Director of the ACC Rule, Ken McAlpine, attracted many more of the syndicate lawyers and a broad swathe of the hierarchy of Luna Rossa, together with a handful from the design teams, than the interested journalists.

'That was not a television story,' was overheard as the briefing broke up.

Quite naturally, McAlpine was guarded in his answers, but when asked if a loophole existed, he spoke categorically: 'There is no loophole.' Subsequent questioning about the Public Interpretation No 22 was countered with Plain 'Yes' or 'No' answers, even one that sought to find an answer to a question of naval architecture about stored energy being utilised to improve the efficiency of a keel.

McAlpine was the model of diplomacy - as Technical Director he has to observe the confidentiality of all matters, and this he achieved to perfection. He has to preserve the anonymity of those who seek interpretations, even after the interpretations have been made public. And from April 1st 2006, all interpretations are mandated that way.

What was apparent was that the Measurement Committee has no intention of allowing any anomalous structure that would give any team an unfair advantage and that this body was aware of what the questions were leading to that brought Interpretations 22 & 23. 'We were satisfied that the questions were clear and that we were not being led down the garden path,' said McAlpine.

The integrity of the ACC Rule has not been breached. There will not be a canting keel boat in the 32nd America's Cup, not even one whose keel is linked to its mast. 'Boats are not allowed to use the sideways deflection of the mast to affect the keel,' were McAlpine's last words on the subject. -- from Sail-World.com (by the way, Happy 10th Birthday Sail-World!), full article at www.sail-world.com/nz/index.cfm?nid=32762

* Chief Measurer Ken McAlpine explains the Public Interpretations:
americascup.com/en/acmag/votre_interview/index.php?idIndex=0&idContent=16306

Friday's schedule:
Flight 1:
1. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team vs. Emirates Team New Zealand
2. +39 Challenge vs. Areva Challenge
3. Bye - Desafio Espanol
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 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

THE WEEKLY QUIZ
Last week's question:
When did a yacht that finished first lose the race on handicap?

Answer:
Ans: 1901. Shamrock II finished two seconds ahead of Columbia and lost the race by 41 seconds.

This week's puzzler from Bob Fisher:
When was a yacht protested for an alleged navigation light infringement?

Cast your vote at scuttlebutteurope.com

First correct answer each week gets a 32nd America's Cup DVD, the 32nd correct answer wins the Official 32nd America's Cup Book. All entries get a shot at a 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup print.

THE TRANSAT CONFIRMED FOR 2008
OC Events have officially announced today that there will be a 2008 edition of The Transat, formerly the OSTAR, the first ever single-handed ocean race that began in 1960.

The Transat 2008 will run from a UK port to a North American port, in May 2008. A number of city bids are under consideration, and in particular in the UK the shortlist has been narrowed down to two - including Plymouth, the city from which the race has started ever since Sir Winston Churchill agreed to host the race as Commodore of the Royal Western Yacht Club. "We have been very pleased with the response to our tender document. The quality of city bids returned has been excellent and as a result we have had to extend the decision date for the host start city but a decision will be made before the 1st May to allow us complete the evaluation work," commented John McKenna, Commercial Director from OC Events.

The Transat is known for its demands on both the skipper and their boats as they race against the prevailing winds across the North Atlantic which, even in early summer, can propel huge storms and gale force winds into the paths of the competing boats. Then as the fleet close on the Newfoundland coast, the threat of icebergs becomes a reality making the final section of this 2,800-mile race a stressful one for the skippers who are already in a state of mental and physical exhaustion.

As it has always done, The Transat 2008 will see the very best of the worlds ocean racing skippers competing. The Notice of Race will be published in May, defining the other invited classes, exact course, dates and conditions. The Transat was 'saved' by OC Events in 2004, but in 2008 is set to be restored to its former glory as 'the' original transatlantic race, the toughest of them all - the North Atlantic Alone.

www.thetransat.com

ULLMAN SAILS POWER AUSTRALIA WINNERS
In Western Australia a number of 2006/2007 State Champions were powered by Ullman Sails. Congratulations to the following State Champs: S80 Class, "Fifth Element" Ray Smith (Helm), Brad Sheridan (Tactician); M27 Class, Rob Brown on "Romper Stomper"; and in the Thunderbird Class, Bruce Spencer on "Thunderation". In the Mandurah Return Offshore Cup, Gary Smith and Brad Sheridan sailed a Beneteau 347 to victory with a full inventory and new Ullman FiberPath sails. If you and your crew are ready for the "Fastest Sails on the Planet" contact your nearest Ullman Sails loft and visit www.ullmansails.com

THE ISAF WORLD SAILING RANKINGS
Great Britain stay ahead of the game in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings released 18 April, with the leaders consolidating their positions across all 11 Olympic Classes. After a disappointing showing in Palma, the Brits are finally looking vulnerable as the Aussies eye the top nation spot.

Atypical conditions greeted a massive turnout in the Olympic Classes at the 38th ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma, Spain, and they remained that way throughout the week. Only for the Medal Races did the breeze really fill in and by then many of the pre-regatta favourites had already fallen by the wayside.

Whilst the Spanish, British and French crews struggled, the Kiwis seemed to relish the conditions and posted a fantastic set of results across the regatta. With two gold, a silver and two bronze medals, they were far and away the top performers in Palma. In this Ranking release they remain sixth in the national stakes, but some of their key performers, including Palma gold medallists Tom Ashley (NZL) and Barbara Kendall (NZL), look poised to move up during the year.

Certainly it is not all doom and gloom for Great Britain. With two top spots, two #2s and one #3 they still lead the way in the Rankings ahead of Australia with two #1s, one #2 and 1 #3. Britain's two leading crews also jointly hold the distinction of being the Rankings' longest leaders, with both Paul Goodison (GBR) in the Laser and Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark (GBR) in the Women's 470 making it one full year in the world #1 spots.

It is little surprise that Tornado stars Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby (AUS) hold the top points total of any of the 2,576 crews Ranked across the 11 Olympic Classes. The Australian duo have been close to unbeatable for the past six months, lifting the Tornado and Formula 18 World titles and recently adding victory at the Tornado Europeans to their win earlier in the year in Miami.

Next stop for the Olympic Classes is Hyeres, France and the first of the year's ISAF Grade 1 European regattas. Racing at the Semaine Olympique Francaise gets underway this Sunday 22 April with all the top names expected to feature.

The next Rankings release will be on 2 May 2007, following the ISAF Grade 1 Semaine Olympique Francaise.

Full rankings at sailing.org

2007 STAR EASTERN HEMISPHERE CHAMPIONSHIP
Final top ten:
1. Robert Scheidt / Bruno Prada, BRA, 17
2. Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki, POL, 32
3. Negri Diego / Viale Luigi, ITA, 34
4. Maxwell Treacy / Anthony Shanks, IRL, 36
5. Rohart Xavier / Rambeau Pascal, FRA, 39
6. Flavio Marazzi / Christoph Christen, SUI, 39
7. Marc Picke / Ingo Borkowski, GER, 39
8. Matthias Miller / Manuel Voigt, GER, 42
9. Luca Modena / Michele Marchesini, ITA, 45
10. Hamish Pepper / Brad Nichol, NZL, 48

Full results:
www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=view&Event_id=1137

THE SEAHORSE DREAM TEAM
'There is no Second' the Seahorse guide to the America's Cup is written by: Paul Cayard, Russell Coutts, Dennis Conner, Chris Dickson, Tim Jeffery, Tom Schnackenberg, Paul Bieker, Hamish Ross, John Bilger.

Scuttlebutt and her sister title Scuttlebutt Europe have been given exclusive access to 20,000 free digital preview copies of this title - download it fast, when the meter hits 20K the shutters will come down!

The download address will be posted here early next week

ISAF EVALUATION
The Women's High Performance Dinghy Evaluation Event continues in Hyeres, France, with day three of testing in bright sunshine and 6-8 knots. You can now view the ISAF photo gallery of the action so far at www.sailing.org/isafcal/photos/Photo%20Gallery%20Online/06_WHPD/index.htm

On Wednesday the day began with a windward-leeward course set up to give the sailors and observers an opportunity to compare the boats directly against one-another.

The Daily Sail has a report by Toby Heppel, an excerpt:

Clearly the International 14 has been a big success with most of the sailors having the biggest grin after sailing this boat but watching it out on the water it is clear many of the lighter teams (around the 110-120kg mark) are pretty powered up in what are essentiality very light conditions.

The Cherub Daemon and the Carbonology GT60 both seem to be putting smiles on people's faces but many of the sailors here are struggling to see how the classes would become Olympic. On the whole there seems to be a general feeling that if the boats were to be selected for an Olympic spot they would necessarily become a little more dumbed down and so less fun to sail.

Finally the RS800 seems to be a favourite with many of the sailors we have been talking too. Many are holding this opinion for a variety of different reason though the main ones are: It is already in mass production so what they are sailing at the Trials is almost exactly what they would sail at the Olympics. It feels more of an adult, slightly less patronising choice. Its waterline length (16ft) makes it one of the quickest boats out on the water without needing to be too extreme in design. The main problem raised by sailors so far is the boat is probably the easiest to sail of all the designs here and it is clear some are uncomfortable picking what may be perceived as an easy boat for an Olympic spot.

Full report at www.thedailysail.com

THIS WEEK'S VOR PODCAT
This week on the Volvo Sailing Podcast we talk to one of the candidates for the title 'First Lady of Sailing' - Belgium's Carolijn Bouwer. We also talk to America's Cup website editor Peter Rusch about a wind-free Valencia for the start of the Louis Vuitton round robin series and we hear how the Volvo Ocean Race ensured it will be stopping off in China next time round.

www.volvooceanrace.org/podcast

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 David Pitman: Whilst the multi million pound projects wait to thrash out who is the fastest and (hopefully) what new venue the Cup will move to, spare a thought for the spectator boats, some of whom have paid fortunes to berth nearby.

From the start, the Americas Cup Management decided to charge like raging bulls for berthing. For instance a 40 metre yacht was quoted by them at around 430,000 Euros to berth in the Superyacht dock for the race period from April to mid July. I wonder if this is the reason why this dock has been just about empty for the last year? You have to wonder just what fags the AC management are smoking!

* From Paul Antrobus: Re the piece about enduring 1950's design - the Solo in this case - in Butt Europe 1208, does anyone have some ideas for us? We have been thinking about finding some old Herons. Here's why.

We are Weybridge S.C on the Thames. Our sailing has diminished because the river is too narrow to set up RYA type sailing - but we are a thriving recreational boating club. We want to re-build a sailing activity that suits our bit of water, our members and our type of largely fun boating often for people 'of an age'. We want a boat we can sail under a couple of bridges with 13 foot air draft, in order to sail 'passage ' races instead of just around a 200 metre course in the Shepperton Lock Basin. So we thought a Gunter Rig would do this, plus add some seamanship skills to the sail race i.e. lowering and raising the rig with enough momentum to get under the bridge, and/or with paddles to get through when sailing upstream.

We want a two sail two man boat 15ft max. with enough sail for the light and very variable winds. Spinny not necessary. ( We have Mirrors but they are a little too under powered for adults sailing them).

Any ideas to me (club commodore) please. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Info on the club at www.weybridgesailingclub.co.uk

* From Euan Ross: I had been skeptical about the marginal returns in performance gained from the staggeringly expensive Version 5 rigs, but now it all becomes clear. The boys at North Sails are generally one step ahead, in this case pioneering a geometric and functional convergence of the mainsail and boom tent. It's now obvious that these hot new dual-purpose rags are necessary to compete successfully and avoid skin cancer through spring in Valencia. The rectangular mainsail-cum-boom-tent could well be the main technological trickle-down to emerge from this contest.

* From Manfred Schreiber: The classic SOLO featured in Scuttlebutt 1208. What a coincidence, I cannot believe this. Yesterday the boatbuilder, Thomas Bergner, famous for the German National H-Jolle, ordered materials to start building the first SOLO's in Germany. New Epoxy hulls of course. I am keen to try it out.

* From Rich Roberts: For what it's worth, this is kind of interesting. The weather history recorded over recent years (I presume) at the Valencia airport says the best winds are in January (14k W), February (15k W), March (13k W) and -- wow! -- April (13k W). Then it goes down in May (10k E) and June (10k E). Go figure. Average high temps go from 59 in January to 79 in June.

www.myforecast.com/bin/climate.m?city=61943&metric=false

THE LAST WORD
If you're never scared or embarrassed or hurt, it means you never take any chances. -- Julia Sorel

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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