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LOUIS VUITTON CUP
For the second consecutive day, good racing conditions blessed the waters off Port America's Cup in Valencia and two full flights of racing were completed. Conditions were ideal for America's Cup racing with winds up to 13 knots on the south race course and between six and 10 knots on the north race area.

BMW ORACLE Racing remains the only team to be undefeated at the Louis Vuitton Cup, today securing a win over Areva Challenge in Flight 7. The Americans are at the top of the table, one point ahead of Emirates Team New Zealand.

It was also a big day for the home team of Desafio Español who earned two wins to climb the leaderboard. The Spanish side made a nice passing move over Shosholoza in the last match of the day, diving inside the South African team around the windward mark to eke out a small advantage. The Spanish extended to win the race and move into fifth place overall.

Flights 8 and 9 of Round Robin One are scheduled on Thursday when a frontal system is expected to bring cloudy skies, the possibility of rain and an Easterly 10 knot breeze.

* They don't give up onboard +39, no matter the technical problems or the lack of training and testing on their ITA85, the international crew led by Iain Percy is struggling every day to try and get the best of these races. During the first one against the Swedes of Victory Challenge is the jib hook which to be blocked, with Gabriele Bruni who cuts his left hand while trying to solve the problem and has to leave the boat, substituted by Corrado Rossignoli. During the all-Italian match against Luna Rossa, just before the first upwind mark when +39 is leading for a few metres, it's the trim tab to get stuck.

"We wanted to tack and be to the starboard- explained the Spanish main trimmer Rafael Trujillo- but sadly the trim tab was blocked and we lost contact to Luna Rossa."

"With the new keel configuration the boat has certainly improved in performance upwind –added Swiss trimmer Christian Scherrer also known Blumi during the mixed zone- and the speed downwind is ok. Honestly, though, we had not enough time to know her reactions and that explains the fact that we can't have good starts."

And then the wind decreased progressively until it was a mere 5 knots, not the ideal intensity for +39. The result is another disappointing day, with no positive score to add to the results table of Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin 1. -- piu39challenge.it

* Bob Fisher reports from Valencia in Sail-World.com:
To watch Dean Barker behind the wheels of Emirates Team New Zealand in the pre-start of the match with Shosholoza was like watching a cat toy with a mouse.

Paolo Cian simply had no answer when the Kiwis came in with speed on starboard tack and left the resultant dial-up with pace while the South African boat floundered, trying to fall off on port tack.

Barker came back again and again, each time forcing Cian to go back on starboard with little or no way on the boat. It was a masterly performance and quite naturally, Emirates Team New Zealand was able to start on the right with pace and after a minute was a boat's length clear.

For excitement, there was a wait until the last race of the day – a 'put up or shut up' match between Desafio Espanol and Shosholoza. The pre-start was interesting enough, but Paolo Cian, having learned his lesson at the hands of Barker, nailed the committee boat end for Shosholoza as the breeze rose to 15 knots on the South course (interestingly, at the same time on the North course it was dropping to six knots).

Using the power of the right, Cian fought off repeated challenges of Karol Jablonski up the first leg to lead by six seconds, but a poor spinnaker hoist on the South African boat allowed the Spanish to pull off to leeward and establish an overlap. Jablonski and Cian battled down the run, but Desafio Espanol had the advantage and rounded the leeward mark 20 seconds ahead.

Could it be possible that there is even more wind tomorrow? Some of the teams' forecasters talk of it blowing the oysters off the rocks. Now, that would be a turn up for the book. -- Bob's full article at www.sail-world.com/news_std.cfm?Nid=33009&SRCID=3&RequestTimeOut=180

Ranking after RR1 Flight 7:

1. BMW ORACLE Racing, 15 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand, 14
3. Luna Rossa Challenge, 13
4. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team, 12
5. Desafio Espanol, 11
6. Victory Challenge, 10
7. Team Shosholoza, 8
8. Areva Challenge, 5
9. United Internet Team Germany, 3
10. +39 Challenge, 2
11. China Team, 1

Photos from today's racing, courtesy Oskar Kihlborg / Victory Challenge, at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos

Thursday's Schedule:

Flight 8
1. Desafio Espanol vs. United Internet Team Germany
2. Victory Challenge vs. Areva Challenge
3. China Team vs. Emirates Team New Zealand
4. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team vs. Team Shosholoza
5. BMW Oracle Racing vs. +39 Challenge

Flight 9
1. Desafio Espano vs. Victory Challenge
2. Emirates Team New Zealand vs. Luna Rossa Challenge
3. Areva Challenge vs. China Team
4. Team Shosholoza vs. +39 Challenge
5. BMW Oracle Racing vs. Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team

www.americascup.com

* One more day left in this week's America's Cup Trivia Quiz. This week's question:

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.

GRAHAM DALTON ARRIVES IN NORFOLK
Having completed two legs of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, the tenacious skipper will not be able to race Leg Three but will sail to Bilbao to finish his own personal journey

At 02:57 local time (06:57 GMT) on Wednesday April 25, brave solo skipper Graham Dalton finally arrived in Norfolk, Virginia (USA), 102 days after leaving Fremantle (Western Australia). Having now finished leg two of the Velux 5 Oceans, he will not be able to complete leg three within race rules and will therefore be classed 'Did Not Start Leg 3'; Dalton will not be classed as a finisher in the Velux 5 Oceans 2006-07. However, after a journey that has captured the imagination of sailing fans and people from all over the world, the determined skipper will still sail back to Bilbao to complete his own personal journey and a monumental solo circumnavigation that is a testament to his character and conviction.

It is a devastating blow for the experienced yachtsman, who was hoping to finish the race in memory of his son Tony, who died of cancer in 2005, and complete the daunting challenge following his retirement from the last race in 2002, when he dismasted after rounding Cape Horn. Sailing onboard an Open 50 yacht, named in Tony's honour, Dalton's race has been plagued by onboard problems that have caused him to make no less than six pit stops around the world.

"To complete the race is something I've wanted to do for 40 years and that I've worked towards my entire life. Not just Leg 2, but 40 years. Everything you've done in your life has been geared towards this. But these things happen. I'm going to Spain, I've said before and I'll say again, "there'll be snow on the Equator before I give up." I can't change any administrative decision, that's a simple fact of life, but what I can change is the way I react to it. The way I react it is we will do what we have to do here, and we will reach Spain."

Race rules state that a competitor must spend a mandatory 72 hours in Norfolk and start leg three within one week of the start gun firing. The remaining competitors left Norfolk at 12:20 on Wednesday April 18. This meant that in order to respect the 72 hour rule, Dalton needed to arrive in the Virginian city by 12:20 on Sunday April 15. Although he will now not officially complete the race, he has in fact already completed a solo circumnavigation of the planet, as his qualification for the Velux 5 Oceans was a solo navigation from Norfolk to Bilbao; so his arrival in Norfolk will complete the circle he started in September 2005.

www.velux5oceans.com

HOLMATRO APPOINTS FIRST US REPRESENTATIVE
Holmatro Marine Equipment, hydraulic supplier to the NYYC Club Swan 42, is pleased to announce that they have appointed their first U.S. service representative, Integrated Marine Services. Integrated Marine Services plays a large role servicing rigging and hydraulics within the marine industry. They have worked closely with many prominent racing campaigns as well as the Nautor Swan office. They are conveniently located at The Newport Shipyard, the epicenter of New England Yachting and home to Nautor U.S. Holmatro's new U.S. service representative can be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at (401) 662 5348 -- www.holmatro-marine.com

GROUPAMA NEARS THE CANARIES
After departing from Cadiz on Tuesday morning, Groupama 3 has settled into a rhythm in the first 24 hours. In spite of capricious winds, both in regards to direction and strength, Franck Cammas and his team travelled 476.3 miles at a mean velocity of 19.8 knots during the first day of the record attempt.

What really matters, of course, is the race against the stopwatch. According to the team, they have a time/distance advantage of forty miles over Playstation's position in its record-making transat.

Benefiting now from a more established windflow, Groupama is moving on a fast pace towards the Canary Islands, where it will leave Gran Canaria, an obligatory waypoint on the Discovery Route, to starboard. It was expected to make the turn late afternoon Wednesday.

The wind forecast calls for 25-28 knots between the islands, followed by tradewinds of 18 to 25 knots.

www.cammas-groupama.com

* A nice position tracker is at cammas-groupama.geovoile.com/cadix-sansalvador/ An audio interview with Cammas (in French) at www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/groupama/fc250407a_fr_e.mp3

ENTRIES JOIN FROM SWEDEN AND POLAND
THE BALTIC SPRINT CUP 2007 - DON'T MISS IT!
This week entries have been received from Swedish yachts, joining those already entered from Germany, Canada and Britain for the Baltic Sprint Cup 2007 starting on July 20th at Copenhagen. The Swedish yachts will carry crews from sponsoring Bank DnB NORD, keen to compete in this unique offshore adventure in the summer Baltic. News from Poland is that Bank DnB Polska will also charter a yacht for their employees. Parties and Receptions at all of the 7 ports are set up ready to go.

www.balticsprintcup.com

MINI PAVOIS STARTS FROM LA ROCHELLE
A fleet of 64 Mini 6.50 single handers set sail Wedneday from La Rochelle, on a 550 mile journey to Gijon and back. Under partly cloudy skies, 6-8 knots of north winds, the fleet first rounded the Ile de Re, 5 miles from the start line. A short distance, but a tactical one nonetheless given wind on the nose, a contrary current, and coastal effects.

Given their experience, it was no surprise that the leading four were Yves Le Blevec (#624 - Actual Interim), Samuel Manuard (#679 - Sitting Bull), Peter Laureyssens (n#618 - Ecover) et Erwan Le Roux (#621 - Dephemerid-Trois).

At the end of the afternoon the fleet began its attack on the Bay of Biscay. Strong winds are forecast, gusts to 30 knots. The wind direction will allow for a downwind run under spinnaker; it will be necessary for the sailors to manage not only to keep their gear from breaking, but to also manage their own physical condition, getting enough rest and food to keep alert. The first boats could well arrive in Spain at the end of the day Thursday.

One man's misfortune... Estonian competitor Jannus Tamme was forced to retire from the race after his autopilot broke down. First on the wait list, Thomas Ruyant, was thus able to join the race. While his start was delayed several minutes behind the fleet, by the Ile of Re he was just 22 minutes behind leader Yves Blevec. Ruyant is determined to achieve a top-ten finish.

First ten around Ile de Re:

1. Yves Le Blevec, Actual, FRA (Proto)
2. Samuel Manuard, Sitting Bull, FRA (Proto)
3. Peter Laureyssens, Ecover, BEL (Proto)
4. Erwan Le Roux, Dephemerid-Trois, FRA (Proto)
5. Olivier Cusin, Negawatt, FRA (Proto)
6. Francois Duguet, Credit Agricole Skipper Challenge, FRA (Proto)
7. Isabelle Joschke, Degremont Synergie, FRA (Proto)
8. Clayton Burkhalter, Acadia, USA (Proto)
9. Franck Colin, Quietude Promotion / Super U De Magne, FRA (Proto)
10. Herve Favre, Team Work Management, SUI (Proto)

In 11th place, the first Series boat: Pierre-Yves Lautrou, Altaide - Moovement, FRA

www.grand-pavois.com/gdpavnew/gpo_evenements.htm

FRIDAY, JUNE 15 A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
It was hot, it was cool, it was fun and we were full. That sums up last years Jazz on the Solent charity cruise. Some 200 of us enjoyed the evening so much the next one is planned for Fri. June 15. The cruise benefits the Tall Ships Youth Trust.

Leaving Gun Wharf Quay, Portsmouth at 7pm we will make a pickup at Gosport Pontoon before starting our 3 hour cruise on board the Solent pleasure cruiser "Wight Scene". The music will be provided by local Jazz favourites "The Milton James Four" and a buffet supper is included. Please join us for a great summer party.

Tickets are 20 pounds each. Or for group bookings of 8 or more 17.50 pounds each. Please contact Peter Poulton on Tel. 02392 460714 email. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or John Claisse Tel. 01730 829001 email. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to book your places

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 H. Lane: I think Mr. Cayard needs to get his facts straight. I believe all the dates for the Cup Match and Challenger Series were by mutual consent. Three years ago when they chose the Cup Match the Tour de France was at it's commercial height and this event (back then) certainly could not have overlapped such an event, As Bonnefous said "We worked back from there" and I believe that the challengers were in agreement with the dates set and their own format for selection. These events are very complicated with numerous working parts and I hope that Mr. Cayard isn't suggesting that we go back to two separate entities to run the two events (LVC & Cup). I believe we could easily find a quote from Paul calling for a central body to organize the event from either '92, '95, '00 or '03 or all four. It's easy to take shots from the outside but I hope he gets the chance to show us how it really should be done with his WSL. He may then sing a different tune.

THE LAST WORD
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. -- Sir Winston Churchill

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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