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LOUIS VUITTON CUP
The wind cooperated on Friday with two flights completed, no sailing on Saturday due to light wind, and only one of two scheduled flights completed on Sunday.

On Sunday morning, the event organisers for the 32nd America's Cup and the Louis Vuitton Cup announced a change to the schedule for the Louis Vuitton Cup.

"A stretch of unusual weather has forced the cancellation of five out of six days of racing over the past week," said Michel Bonnefous, the CEO or AC Management. "As a consequence of this situation and following consultation with the Challenger Commission, AC Management, as the sole event authority to the 32nd America's Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup, has decided to modify the competition for Round Robin One and Round Robin Two of the Louis Vuitton Cup."

The changes mean that there will be no 'off day' between Round Robin One and Round Robin Two. All full flights of racing will be sailed in order, with partial flights scheduled on the end. There are two reserve days (May 8 and May 9) at the end of Round Robin Two. If needed, Round Robin Two may include two races per day. The date of the start of the Semi Finals is unchanged, with racing scheduled to begin on May 14.

Ranking after RR1 Flight 3
1. USA 98, BMW ORACLE Racing, 9
1. ITA 94, Luna Rossa Challenge, 9
3. NZL 92, Emirates Team New Zealand, 6
3. ITA 99, Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team, 6
3. SWE 96, Victory Challenge, 6
6. ESP 97, Desafio Espanol 2007, 5
6. FRA 93, Areva Challenge, 5
8. RSA 83, Team Shosholoza, 4
9. ITA 85, +39 Challenge, 2
10. GER 89, United Internet Team Germany, 1
10. CHN 95, China Team, 1

* Bob Fisher in Sail-World.com: What a way to run a Regatta

'We did analysis of the weather statistics and Valencia was always the best,' said America's Cup Management CEO, Michel Bonnefous at a press conference this morning, and stuck to that line through intensive questioning. 'We have done precise research and have good numbers - the worst case in April was losing four days.'

One of the sailing crew aboard Emirates Team New Zealand recalled after that press conference that there were nine days last April when sailing was not possible. Does that collaborate America's Cup Management's 'precise research'? No. Bonnefous called this year's lack of wind, 'An unusually bad stretch of light weather.'

It could have been avoided by holding the entire event later in the year, but Bonnefous explained that ACM had chosen the ideal date for the America's Cup match and worked backwards from there. On that basis, little consideration was given to the challengers to allow them to present a worthy opponent for the defender.

Regatta Director Dyer Jones explained the nuts and bolts of the change, saying that there would not be a day intervening between Round Robin 1 and Round Robin 2. This has the effect of limiting the period of change of the boats to eleven hours. That will keep Ken McAlpine and the measurers busy. Jones added that changes were constantly possible that did not require flotation tests or weighing.

This situation does not benefit any of the challengers and is the result of one organisation running the racing for the challengers and defenders. All benefits go to the defender and enhance Alinghi's ability to mount a successful defence. It is a situation that must never be repeated.

Full editorial at www.sail-world.com/nz/index.cfm?nid=32885

* With placid sea winds transforming the America's Cup competition into a pleasure cruise for the fourth straight day, corporate sponsors are fuming and impatient television broadcasters are pulling the plug on planned live coverage.

"It's like Wimbledon starting with a full week of rain."

In one of the bigger television markets, the German public broadcasters ZDF and ARD are rotating coverage but pulled the plug when all that was available were scenes of sailors sunbathing under blue parasols and race boat officials dancing in wigs and hula skirts to cheer up the crews.

ZDF broadcast live on Monday for 50 minutes till the scene turned into a cork bob. ARD was even more brutal on Tuesday, cutting its coverage from 100 minutes to 15.

"We had 90 percent no-sailing and so why should we torture our viewers?" said Michael Ohry, who is leading ZDF's television coverage in Valencia. He noted that ZDF is offering live cup coverage for the first time and considers the competition on "parole."

Versus, Comcast's network in the United States, was planning on airing two minutes of Cup coverage nightly during breaks in the National Hockey League finals. But with the most exciting footage showing sailors munching sandwiches and tossing fishing lines overboard, the network is not showing anything, according to Katie Bradshaw, a spokeswoman for the channel.

Canal +, which has the rights in France, has persevered, showing boats floating endlessly in the Mediterranean on its specialized sports channel.

"The audience for that competition is used to wind problems like that and they understand that the race is postponed," said Antoine Banet-Rivet, a spokesman for Canal +. -- full article by Doreen Carvajal in the International Herald Tribune, www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/19/sports/SAIL.php

Photos from Day 7 courtesy Oskar Kihlborg / Victory Challenge at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/ in the America's Cup section.

SEMAINE OLYMPIQUE FRANCAISE
Light and shifty conditions provided for tactical racing for the first day of the Semaine Olympique Francaise in Hyeres.

The difficult conditions created some surprises in some classes where the usual favourites didn't perform as expected.

In the Yngling class the favourite British teams helmed by Sarah Ayton and Shirley Robertson suffered from the tricky conditions and it is the newly formed team of the Rawlinson sisters and Sue Monson who created the surprise by winning today's both races.

In the Tornado, the vice European Champions Pashalides/Trigonis are leading the Tornado fleet after sailing consistently with 7th and 4th finishes.

In the 470 Men, two of the favourites are down the fleet after a disappointing first day. 2006 ISAF Games champions, the Australians Wilmot/Page are placing in 107th place and British team of Rogers/Glanfield, Rolex Liami OCR winners, are 86th after underperforming in the first race and collecting penalties on the start line in the second.

In the women's division, the day was bright for Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol. The Italians, 10th in the Princess Sofia regatta and in the ISAF World ranking have dominated the fleet by winning the first race and placing behind second race winners, the Chinese Wen Yemei and Yu Chunyan, 15th overall.

Only one race was completed in the Lasers split in 4 groups.

Racing in the laser radial didn't favour the class favourites. Jo Aleh (NZL) took the lead of the scoreboard with a bullet and a 4th. She is on equal points with Charlotte Blon (FRA). Katarzyna Pic is 3rd overall.

35 races were completed after a 2 hours postponement waiting for the sea breeze. The weather forecast is suggesting the same conditions and sailing should be tricky again. -- Corinne McKenzie

Top three by class:

RS:X Men
1. Ho Chi Ho, HKG, 5 points
2. Chan King Yin, HKG, 6
2. Tom Ashley, NZL, 6

RS:X Women
1. Blanca Manchon, ESP, 3 points
1. Bryony Shaw, GBR, 3
3. Lise Vidal, FRA, 4

49er
As one group only has raced today, no overall ranking available.

470 Women
1. Giulia Conti / Giovanna Micol, ITA, 3 points
2. Ingrid Petitjean / Nadege Douroux, FRA, 10
3. Noa Botzer / Laia Trajtenberg, ISR, 14

470 Men
1. Patryk Piasecki / Kacper Zieminski, POL, 6 points
2. Nicolas Charbonnier / Olivier Bausset, FRA, 8
3. Pierre Leboucher / Vincent Garos, FRA, 10

Tornado
1. Iordanis Pashalides / Konstantino Trigonis, GRE, 11 points
2. Thomas Zajac / Thomas Czajka, AUT, 14
3. Darren Bundock / Glenn Ashby, AUS, 15

Yngling
1. Victoria Rawlinson, GBR, 2 points
2. Anna Basalkina, RUS, 10
3. Janneke Hin, NED, 10

Sonar
1. Avi Zur, ISR, 1
2. Shimon Ben Yakov, ISR, 2
3. John Robertson, GBR, 3

Laser
1. Julio Alsogaray, ARG, 1 point
1. Tonci Stipanovic, CRO, 1
1. Milan Vujasinovic, CRO, 1

2.4
1. Thierry Schmitter, NED, 3 points
2. Jens Als Andersen, DEN, 6
3. Damien Seguin, FRA, 7

hyeres.ffvoile.net

READY TO SEE SOME FAST AMERICA'S CUP ACTION?
Seahorse readers will shortly be mailed copies of 'There is no Second' - the Seahorse guide to the 32nd America's Cup.

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!

www.seahorse.co.uk/americas/eu/

HUBLOT PALMAVELA REGATTA
Palma de Mallorca, Spain: Dutchman Peter de Ridder's Mean Machine-Valle Romano TP52 team couldn't have dreamed for a better start to the new Transpac 52 European season. The team that won the 2006 Medcup Circuit finished the Hublot Palmavela regatta with an 8 point lead ahead of second place Cristabella, and 11 points on third place Anonimo Q8.

De Ridder's team had America's Cup veteran Tom Dodson onboard calling the tactics.

This Sunday saw the fleet compete in one windward - leeward race only, with a breeze that tipped over the 10 knot mark.

This event was the first race meeting of this season for the Transpac 52 fleet. 9 TP52's were present in Palma de Mallorca, among them a recently launched addition to the fleet, American boat Glory, owned by John Buchan.

Alongside Mean Machine-Valle Romano on the starting line were British teams Stay Calm and Cristabella, who were the center of a fierce battle for the coveted second place on the podium, the Italians Anonimo Q8, US team Bambakou and the Spanish team Aifos, among others.

Results;

1. Mean Machine-Valle Romano, Peter De Ridder, 11.00
2. Cristabella. John Cook, 19.00
3. Anonimo Q8 Riccardo Simoneschi, 22.00
4. Stay Calm. Stuart Robinson, 22.00
5. Bambakou. John Coumantaros, 32
6. Bigamist. Alfonso Domingos, 35
7. Glory. John Buchan, 38
8. C Quadrat Raines Wilhelm, 44.00
9. Aifos Ricardo Alvarez, 47.00

www.mean-machine.nl

2007 Medcup circuit: 2007.medcup.org

CAN YOU FIND THE RIGHT BERTH FOR YOUR SUPERYACHT?
If you looking for a long term base with specialist superyacht facilities then perhaps you should consider Grand Harbour Marina in Malta. With outstanding weather all year around, it offers a wide range of quality facilities that you would expect from a C&N Marina and outstanding benefits for owner and crew. Exclusive berthing is also available on a 25 year licence.

For more details take a look at our Malta Information Sheet on www.cnmarinas.com/indexCN.php?contentId=61
or visit our website www.cnmarinas.com

A FIRST FOR THE THIRD
The third edition of the Calais Round Britain Race promises to be decidedly animated on a number of levels: the announced line-up, the diversity of the architects represented, the confrontation between the proven names on the IMOCA circuit and the new prototypes.

Eleven to thirteen boats is the line-up announced for the Calais Round Britain Race, which is symbolic of the importance of this opening event in the 2007 IMOCA calendar. This is highlighted by the fact that over half the 60 foot monohulls will be brand new prototypes setting off on their first offshore race.

Added to this are architects like the American firm Farr Yacht Design, the English Owen Clarke Design and the French Finot Group, which will measure their new machines against the proven forces from the previous generations of Marc Lombard, Finot-Conq, Far rand Owen-Clarke.

The originality of this third edition is also based on the decision about which direction to go around the British Isles; a decision that will be made by the organisation just a few days before the start. The primary objective for all the crews is to improve on the reference time set back in 2005 by Roland Jourdain on Sill in a time of 6 days 16 hours 43 minutes 21 seconds, at an average of 12.28 knots.

Confirmed entries on 19th April 2007
Jeremie Beyou - Delta Dore - FRA (Farr design 2006)
Arnaud Boissieres - Akena Verandas - FRA (ex-VMI, Finot 1998)
Dee Caffari - Aviva - GBR (ex-Hellomoto, Finot 1998)
Samantha Davies - Roxy - GBR (ex-PRB, Finot 2000)
Yann Elies - Generali - FRA (Finot 2007)
Jean Le Cam - VM Materiaux - FRA (Lombard 2004)
Jonny Malbon - Artemis Ocean Racing- GBR (ex-Pindar, Owen Clarke Design 2002)
Vincent Riou - PRB II - FRA (Farr 2006)
Bernard Stamm - Cheminees Poujoulat II - SUI (ex-Virbac-Paprec, Farr 2003)
Dominique Wavre - Temenos II - SUI (Owen Clarke Design 2006)
Alexandre Toulorge - Maisonneuve - FRA (Lavranos 2005)

Competitors still to confirm
Michel Desjoyeaux - Foncia -FRA (Farr 2007)
Roland Jourdain - Veolia - FRA (Lombard 2004)
Late News : an unexpected guest has joined the conference this morning : Mike Golding. He announced that he works very hard to be at the start of the Calais Round Britain Race on june 3rd, with his boat Ecover.

Programme for the Calais Round Britain Race 2007
30th May: all the monohulls in the port of Calais
1st -2nd June: exhibition races for the public 3rd June: start off Calais
9th June on...: first finishers expected

www.calaisroundbritainrace.com

LYMINGTON BASKS IN SUNSHINE
Unlike Valencia, Lymington has been enjoying fine sailing weather now for several weeks. With an outstanding marine infrastructure, and Christchurch Bay on the doorstep, perhaps Lymington would have been a better choice for Cup Racing.

Lymington is also packed with marine specialists, from designers to boatbuilders. In fact everything you want to win a yachting event - including sailors - can probably be sourced within 50 miles of this great yachting centre - down to the last titanium screw!

And if shallows are a problem then take a look at the Solent Shallows pictures on the Strawberry Marketing website: www.strawberrymarketing.com

MONOHULL GENERALI LAUNCHED
Having taken twelve months to build, the 60' IMOCA monohull Generali that Yann Elies will sail in the next Vendee Globe, has just been launched at the Multiplast yard in Vannes. While the yacht is the 8th monohull to be built by the yard, this is however the first prototype with a canting keel and a 4.5-m draught.

Since January when Generali's deck and hull assembly was revealed to all in the presence of her godfather Zinedine Zidane, the monohull has been a hive of activity. One of the biggest jobs was the making of the canting keel. Technically, an innovative and complex element, it was manufactured in collaboration with an aeronautical sub-contractor in order to ensure a high degree of precision. The shaping of the carbon fin took a whole week with machines working around the clock in three eight-hour shifts.

Generali will be heading for her shore base where for safety reasons she will undergo the compulsory 180 degree self-righting test. Then the mast will be steeped, before the dynamometric strain tests can be carried out at the pontoon, and finally it will be time for the sea trials.

Another first for Generali, is that for environmental protection reasons, the moulds will be turned into microfibres and recycled into industrial plastics.

Generali will make her racing appearance at the Calais Round Britain Race in early June 2007. Once Generali has left, Multiplast will be continuing with the building of a second 60-foot IMOCA monohull for the Vendee Globe, which is due to be launched this summer.

www.yannelies.com and www.multiplast-yachts.com

Photo of the new boat at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/ in the Launchings section.

SHORT TACKS
* Eurosaf Open Match Racing European Championship: Taking place in Sopot, Poland, from 18 to 22 july, still there are places to enter the 2007 EUROSAF Open Match Racing European Championship.

Entry deadline has been extended to allow interested sailors to enter the championship.

Go to www.yachting.com.pl

* New Illusion class website at www.illusionclass.org

* Five Wally Yachts To Take Part In The Superyacht Cup:
The latest entries to confirm this week are Tiketitan, Dark Shadow, J One and Open Season and the latest Wally, Y3K which is launching this week will also be heading to Palma.

The Superyacht Cup incorporating The New Zealand Millennium Cup is expecting up to 60 yachts from 30m to over 80m length overall. It will be held at Dique del Oeste in Palma, Mallorca, June 16 -19th 2007. The Millennium Cup was last held in New Zealand during the 2003 America's Cup and this will be the first time it has been held in Europe. The Superyacht Cup and Millennium Cup are being held between the Louis Vuitton finals and the America's Cup which starts on June 23rd, and it is anticipated many of the superyachts taking part in Palma will return to Valencia to watch the America's Cup.

* Unofficially dubbed the "biggest little regatta in the Caribbean," the Scotiabank Caribbean International Optimist Regatta, hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is set to sail for its 15th time from June 21 to 24, 2007. A starting line with 80-plus skippers from 8 to 15 years of age is expected, and participants will hail from all three U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Trinidad and other Caribbean island nations such as Martinique and St. Lucia. "We're also expecting up to four teams of sailors from the U.S. mainland, Florida and New York," says Karen Rice, who co-directs this year's regatta with Cindy Hackstaff. -- www.styc.net

* The IFDS Race Management Manual which was originally published in December 2004 has been updated and is effective immediately. A summary of the changes that have been made and the updated IFDS Race Management Manual are attached and can be found on the website.

IFDS Race Management Manual -
www.sailing.org/disabled/rmm/race_management_manual.pdf

Changes to the Race Management Manual 2005 -
www.sailing.org/disabled/rmm/changes_April_07.pdf

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 Sheila Goddard: Having just returned from five days in Valencia I would like to say that Valencia is a beautiful clean and very friendly city. The Americas Cup venue is amazing,all of the bases are impressive, the museum housing models of past cup boats is fantastic. The people are extremely interested in this event. The Opening Night ceremony was a sight to behold. The buses and taxis are frequent and in expensive. The restaurants,sidewalk cafes and food are the same. The river walk and new buildings are really impressive, Old Town is wonderful.

Day and night one feels safe. Trains still run on time. All they need is WIND.

Thank you Valencia for a vacation to remember.

THE LAST WORD
I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life. -- Rita Rudner

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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