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THUNDER AND LIGHTNING STOP RACING AT THE LOUIS VUITTON CUP
Flight 5 of Round Robin Two of the Louis Vuitton Cup was postponed for the day on Thursday in Valencia, the Race Committee sending the fleet home at 16:15.

Conditions were nearly impossible for racing, with a series of thunder cells rolling up from the south, bringing rain, hail, thunder and lightning to Valencia and the waters around Port America's Cup.

In between thunderstorms, a light gradient breeze from the south at near 8 knots appeared, but there was never enough time between storms to set a race course.

A double flight is scheduled Friday, with Flight 5 followed by Flight 6.

Friday's schedule:

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

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

* Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team has been found in breach of the America's Cup Class Rule during its win over Desafio Espanol 2007.

In its findings the Jury stated it is satisfied that the breach had no significant effect on the outcome on the match. Notice of Race 14.2 allows the Jury to impose a penalty other than disqualification in such circumstances. The Jury considers that the most equitable arrangement is to re-sail the match and impose a fine of 10 000 euros. Arrangements for the re-sail will be made with the Regatta Director and will be included in the written decision to be published on Friday.

Class Rule 44.1, 'Compliance whilst racing', which was amended through Rule Amendment No. 1 on June 14 2005, states in part: "Whilst racing…backstays, topmast backstays and check stays shall remain permanently attached to their fixing points on the mast and the hull, deck or cockpit and in the same load bearing position throughout the race."

Desafio Espanol lodged the protest within the time limit after viewing video of the race and observing the set-up on ITA 99. The Jury ruled the protest was valid and had been filed in time.

Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team acknowledged using the backstays in the manner described by Desafio Espanol and the Measurement Committee advised the Jury that they had determined ACC Rule 44.1 had been broken.

In effect, the Italian team had the backstays stowed alongside the mast for much of the two upwind legs, to avoid drag, but set them up before the final run, to provide more support to the topmast.

Desafio Espanol asked the Jury to disqualify Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team from the race and award the points from the match to the Spanish team, arguing the illegal use of the backstays amounted to an advantage for its opponent.

Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia replied that it crossed the starting line more than 11 seconds ahead of the Spanish boat and was in a strong position to win the race for the entire contest. The breach was accidental, "a stupid error", and resulted from not complying with the amendment to the ACC Rule. -- www.americascup.com

* The weekly America's Cup Quiz:
Last week's question was:

When was the first multiple challenge?

Answer: Not 1970, but on December 6th 1884, J. Beavor Webb wrote, as follows, to the Secretary of the New York Yacht Club: " Sir, I am instructed by Sir Richard Sutton, Bart., and Lieut. W. Henn RN, as owners of the Yachts Genesta and Galatea respectively, to challenge the New York Yacht Club for the possession of the America's Cup."

This week's new question (answer next Friday):

Which boat was fouled and her owner refused a race win, and when?

Submit your answer at scuttlebutteurope.com

First correct answer wins a 32nd America's Cup DVD, the 32nd correct one wins a 32nd America's Cup Official Book, and all entries get a shot at winning a Louis Vuitton Cup poster.

* Seahorse readers have been 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!

Prefer a print version? Subscribe!

You can do either at: www.seahorse.co.uk/americas/eu/

DOWN TO THE WIRE FOR SIR ROBIN & BASURKO
The Velux 5 Oceans 10:20 UTC (Thursday 3 May) position poll shows that Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is now 140 miles from the Leg 3 finish line, 50 miles off the north coast of Spain, due north of Cape Penas, the peninsular just west of Gijon. Leading fourth place Unai Basurko by 171 miles, Sir Robin's ETA to cross the finish line is currently 04:00 local Spanish time (02:00 UTC/03:00 BST) on Friday morning. He will arrive into Bilbao in daylight at approximately 08:00 local Spanish time (06:00 UTC/07:00 BST).

A bird flew into Sir Robin's cabin last evening. Black on top, white underneath with a red and brown face and has stowed itself away. Mother nature has sent dolphins too, who played around his boat for about 10 minutes as he was crossing the Finisterre to Ushant traffic lane.

Meanwhile Unai Basurko feels like he is spiritually closer to home and he is now sailing in familiar waters. Yesterday he made radio contact with the marine radio at Cape Finisterre and they have warned him that he is sailing into some busy waterways. But his target is a point on the Spanish coast called Estaca. When he turns this corner he feels as if he will be on the home run and is anticipating that he will be into Bilbao in the early hours of Saturday morning.

In overall elapsed time Basurko leads Knox Johnston by 1 day 16 hours.

www.velux5oceans.com

ULLMAN SAILS IN THE NEWPORT-ENSENADA RACE
In the 60th Lexus Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, Mark Folkman & Mike Galloway's "Ono" won PHRF C and the President of USA Trophy, correcting out on all PHRF entries. In last two years, Alec Oberschmidt's R/P 50 "Staghound," has won the Maxi class and President of Mexico Trophy. Other winning Ullman customers: PHRF A, Kjeld Hestehave's "Velos"; PHRF B, Bud & Mel Richley's "Amante"; PHRF F, Henry Plant's "Still Crazy"; Sprit A & J120 Class, Jed Olenick's "Doctor No"; and XS Racing, Randy Reynolds' "Cat Attack". Congratulations all!!

For the "Fastest Sails on the Planet" contact Ullman Sails www.ullmansails.com

ISAF WORLD SAILING RANKINGS
The first of the year's ISAF Grade 1 European regattas brought a record number of entries and well over 1,000 sailors to Hyeres, France. After a disappointing performance in Palma, the Brits came back with a bang, claiming two gold medals a result which consolidates their position as top nation in the latest release of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings.

Less than three months remains until the start of the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal and the first of the year's major European regattas brought all the top stars of the Olympic Classes to Hyeres. Light conditions through the early part of the regatta made for tricky conditions and threw up a number of surprises before the easterly breeze arrived for the last two days of racing, providing perfect conditions for the Medal Races.

The shifty breeze through the early part of the regatta left many of the pre-regatta favourites languishing down the leaderboard, including world #1 crew Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark (GBR) and double World Champions Marcelien De Koning and Lobke Berkhout (NED) in the Women's 470 fleet. Whilst the World Champs were able to fight back, the Brits could not and consequently the two trade places at the top of the Rankings, the one change across the eleven world #1 spots.

The other British world #1 Paul Goodison (GBR) does hold on to his top spot and is the Rankings' longest leader, having been at the summit of the Laser Rankings for nine consecutive Ranking releases. The Brits also have one other #2 spot and two #3s giving them top nation in the Rankings ahead of Germany, who together with Australia and Spain, hold two top spots.

The next Rankings release will be on 30 May 2007, following the ISAF Grade 1 Holland Regatta.

Top five by class:

Heavyweight Dinghy - Finn
1. Jonas Hoegh-Christensen, DEN
2. Daniel Slater, NZL
3. Edward Wright, GBR
4. Daniel Birgmark, SWE
5. Peer Moberg, NOR

Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser
1. Paul Goodison, GBR
2. Tom Slingsby, AUS
3. Matias Del Solar Goldsmit, CHI
4. Andrew Murdoch, NZL
5. Michael Blackburn, AUS

Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470
1. Mathew Belcher, AUS
2. Nicolas Charbonnier, FRA
3. Sven Coster, NED
4. Nathan Wilmot, AUS
5. Gabrio Zandona, ITA

Men's Keelboat - Star
1. Hamish Pepper / Brad Nichol, NZL
2. Robert Scheidt / Bruno Prada, BRA
3. Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki, POL
4. Xavier Rohart / Pascal Rambeau, FRA
5. George Szabo / Andrew Scott, USA

Multihull - Tornado
1. Darren Bundock / Glenn Ashby, AUS
2. Fernando Echavarri / Anton Paz Blanco, ESP
3. Yann Guichard / Alexandre Guyader, FRA
4. Johannes Polgar / Florian Spalteholz, GER
5. Xavier Revil / Christophe Espagnon, FRA

NP RS:X (Men)
1. Ivan Pastor Lafuente, ESP
2. Przemek Miarczynski, POL
3. Nicolas Huguet, FRA
4. Nick Dempsey, GBR
5. Joao Rodrigues, POR

NP RS:X (Women)
1. Marina Alabau, ESP
2. Bryony Shaw, GBR
3. Romy Kinzl, GER
4. Lisa Vidal, FRA
5. Zofia Klepacka, POL

Skiff - 49er
1. Jan-Peter Peckolt / Hannes Peckolt, GER
2. Marcus Baur / Hannes Baumann, GER
3. Pietro Sibello / Gianfranco Sibello, ITA
4. Stevie Morrison / Ben Rhodes, GBR
5. Chris Draper / Simon Hiscocks, GBR

Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
1. Evi Van Acker, BEL
2. Tania Elias-Calles, MEX
3. Anna Tunnicliffe, USA
4. Sarah Blanck, AUS
5. Jo Aleh, NZL

Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470
1. Marcelien De Koning / Lobke Berkhout, NED
2. Christina Bassadone / Saskia Clark, GBR
3. Sylvia Vogl / Carolina Flatscher, AUT
4. Ingrid Petitjean / Nadege Douroux, FRA
5. Lenka Smidova / Veronika Fencloua, CZE

Women's Keelboat - Yngling
1. Ulrike Schuemann / Ute Hoepfner / Julia Bleck, GER
2. Anna Basalkina / Ekaterina Maximova / Vlada Ukrainstsera, RUS
3. Sarah Ayton / Sarah Webb / Pippa Wilson, GBR
4. Vlada Ilienko / Nina Shtromberger / Natalia Gaponovich, RUS
5. Sally Barkow / Carrie Howe / Debbie Capozzi, USA

Full rankings at sailing.org

ETCHELLS NORTH AMERICANS
Houston, Texas, USA: Thirty Etchells were greeted by steady, 16-knot winds out of the east with gusts to 20 at the start of the first race of the 2007 North American Championships in Galveston Bay Thursday morning. Two boats were forced to retire with equipment malfunctions before reaching the first weather mark, and two more followed before the end of four-leg course. After taking second in the first two races sailing USA 1111, Jud Smith - 2006 World Champion and three-time North American Champion - scored a bullet in the third race that put him comfortably into first place for the day. Four points behind him was Hank Lammens on USA 1349 in second with nine points total, followed by Chris Busch on USA 969 in third with eleven points.

Top five after three races:
1. Jud Smith, 5 points
2. Hank Lammens, 9
3. Chris Busch, 11
4. John Kolius, 16
5. Justin Palm, 19

Complete results at
www.etchellsnorthamericans.com/index.php?pageID=4

THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
Long Beach, California, USA: The Russians are coming to Long Beach, on their way to . . . the America's Cup?

Eugeny Neugodnikov and Andrew Arbuzov, currently sixth and 24th in the International Sailing Federation's world match race rankings, will be among 10 competitors in the Long Beach Yacht Club's 43rd Congressional Cup, presented by Acura, May 15-19, Tuesday through Saturday.

While the more familiar world-class talents duke it out in Valencia, Neugodnikov and Arbuzov are believed to be the first Russians to compete in a match racing event in the U.S. If Neugodnikov's performance matches his ambition, he'll be leading Russia's first America's Cup challenge the next time around.

Neugodnikov, 25, has been match racing only five years but claims success against two AC skippers on the world circuit---2-0 vs. James Spithill of Luna Rossa and 1-1 vs. 2000 Congressional Cup winner Dean Barker of Emirates New Zealand.

He has his own slick website with the name of his team ( www.lordofsail.com ) in Russian and English, plus a few sponsors for support.

His all-Russian crew is Ekimov Alexander, Kornev Nikolay, Besputin Konstantin, Pozidaev Mihail and Karelskiy Maksim.

The competitors, six to a crew, will sail 10 Catalina 37s, rotating boats each day. Each team will race every other team twice. The six that fail to reach the semifinals will sail a 10-mile fleet race on the final championship day. -- Rich Roberts

www.lbyc.org/concup/

SHORT TACKS:
* Entries for the 2007 Sekonda RS Feva National Championships are at a record high, with over 50 boats already signed up for what promises to be an exhilarating three days of racing. Still with three weeks to go, the entry at Whitstable Yacht Club looks set to top last year's turnout of 85 boats. The majority of sailors competing on 26 - 28 May are travelling from across the UK, a sure sign that the RS Feva class is going from strength to strength. What's more, the event sponsors, including Sekonda, have generously offered to extend the entry pack offer to 14 May 2007. Anyone signing up before this date will receive two free watches, a free RS Feva Boom Bag, and an RS Feva Goodie Bag. Entry online at www.rs-association.com

* So Tony Bullimore has set off from Hobart at last to try to break Ellen MacArthur's solo round the world record of 71 days. I certainly wish him the best of luck but I have not changed my view: Tony is sailing home.

It's 1 May! The round the world season is well and truly over now. In a month's time it will be midwinter in the Southern Ocean, with right stormy old weather and only eight hours of daylight each day at 50 degrees S. Can you imagine the risks then?

Tony Bullimore's route round the world takes him north of the Azores before turning south to continue round the Cape of Good Hope. Midway, he will be just a hop, skip and a jump from home. If he heads back to Hobart from the Azores, I will eat a Team Bullimore hat. -- Elaine Bunting's blog in Yachting World: www.yachtingworld.com//yw/blog/20070401063043blog_elaine_bunting.html

* One lucky Yachts and Yachting reader is about to win the chance to get their old dinghy 'pimped' by our special panel of experts in our fantastic 'Pimp my Dinghy' competition. Who wins? You decide.

We have lined up an impressive panel of experts who are poised ready to turn one of the shortlisted boats into an impressive racing machine, starting off with a visit to Pete Vincent's famous 'dinghy hospital' at West Country Boat Repairs, and including a set of sexy new fittings by Harken and a complete new rig and sails by dinghy mast and sails experts Selden and P&B. And we haven't forgotten the image side of things; Grapefruit Graphics and Gill will make the boat and its crew look cool as well!

Vote for the most pimp-able dinghy at
www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2924

* Volvo Ocean Race Podcast: This week we talk to one of the giants of the sport - Paul Cayard. A former Star World Champion, winning Whitbread skipper and a world sailor of the year, Paul talks about the America's Cup, the TP-52 circuit, the World Sailing League and the new look Volvo Ocean Race. There's also the latest from Valencia with America's Cup website editor Peter Rusch, and news that the Volvo is going to India.

As ever, live Thurs evening/Fri morning at:
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 Virginia Jones: The piece about Deer Isle and the famous racing sailors who came from that part of Maine and were often part of the America's Cup racing crews noted that Columbus Iselin summered there. I'm not sure when that would have been. For many, many years, he and his family owned a large piece of property on Martha's Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts, and lived here. He was one of the early heads of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute which is located in Woods Hole, MA, just across the water. He was a noted sailor and pushed hard for WHOI to build, and sail ATLANTIS the large steel ketch that they had built in Germany between the wars. She was one of the first purpose built oceanographic research vessels and Dr. Iselin was the delivery skipper when she sailed home. Some of his family continues to live here.

THE LAST WORD
I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires. -- Susan B. Anthony

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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