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GERMANS WILL RETURN... WITHOUT JESPER BANK
The first ever German challenger to sail at the America's Cup has said it intends to move forward, one day after sailing its last race at the 32nd America's Cup. But skipper Jesper Bank has resigned from the team after winning just two of 20 matches at the Louis Vuitton Cup.

"No one in our team is used to such a series of defeats," Bank said at a press conference held at the German base on Thursday. "That's why it has not been easy for us. I am not content with my performance. I don't want to stand in the way for the development of this German campaign. I would like to thank the whole team for its great work in the past two years and I am proud that I have been part of the first German campaign."

The team says more details of its involvement in the 33rd America's Cup would have to wait until information about the dates and venue is revealed. But that can only come after the winner of the 32nd America's Cup is known- the new Defender has complete discretion on such things.

UITG syndicate head Michael Scheeren is optimistic the team will continue: "The most important criterion for success in the America's Cup is time - we have learned that. Therefore, we have decided to commission a new boat now. We will discuss the future with our sailors, who have been part of this campaign, in the next weeks. Furthermore we have announced our participation in the German Sailing Grand Prix in Kiel (in August)."

Willy Kuhweide, Commodore of the Deutscher Challenger Yacht Club (DCYC), was also excited about plans for a next campaign: "We at the DCYC are happy that this first German participation in the America's Cup shall not be a flash in the pan. We will continue to support the campaign as best as we can." -- americascup.com

* The weekly America's Cup Quiz:

Last week's question:
Which boat was fouled and her owner refused a race win, and when?

Ans: Sir Richard Sutton's cutter, Genesta, following a foul by Puritan in 1885. Puritan, on port tack, stuck her bowsprit through the mainsail of Genesta, on starboard tack.

This week's question:

Which was the longest boat overall to compete in the cup?

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.

Cast your vote at scuttlebutteurope.com

* CupInfo.com just unveiled a new statistical analysis page on the LVC RRs. A preview is now online: www.cupinfo.com/cupstats/

GRAND PRIX CHOPARD
Geneva, Switzerland: The 'Grand Prix Chopard' - the first stage of the Julius Baer Challenge - is intended exclusively for Decision 35s, and will allow the ten best catamarans on Lake Geneva to confront each other during a weekend which looks as if it will be rich in developments.

The regatta is being organised by the 'Yachting Leger' section of the 'Societe Nautique de Geneve', and will begin on Saturday morning off Port Noir. The courses, which are windward- leeward courses with gates, will allow both sailing enthusiasts and those who just love a good spectacle to follow the racing from the banks and the jetties at the 'Societe Nautique de Geneve', which will be open to the public on this occasion. The racing will continue on Sunday, with a last start possible around 3:00 PM.

For its third edition, the 'Grand-Prix Chopard' 2007 will benefit from the presence of two new boats. The Decision 35 fleet will from now on consist of ten boats, which makes the Julius Baer Challenge - the series' annual championship - one of the most competitive one-design multihull regattas in the world.

All eyes will be on Dona Bertarelli Spath's 'Lady Cat' (SUI 10), which will be sailed by an exclusively female crew and helmed by the French champion, Karine Fauconnier. Also under pressure for its first regatta, Christian Michel's 'Smart Home', with Christophe Peclard at the helm.

The winners of the Julius Baer Challenge for the last two years, Nicolas Grange's boat 'Okalys', will have to fight to keep its place as defender in the absence of Loick Peyron, who will join his crew on Lake Geneva for Geneva-Rolle-Geneva (9th June).

www.challengejuliusbaer.ch

ULLMAN SAILS AT SAN DIEGO 2007 YACHTING CUP
The second 2007 regatta of the Ullman Sails Inshore Championship series, hosted by SDYC May 5-6, Ullman customers swept top places in 5 classes. Thomas Coates' J105 "Masquerade"* finished 1st, followed by "Wings", "Current Obsession", "Invisible", and "Rock & Roll". Dave & Don Michaelis' Schock 35 "Mako" placed 1st, followed by "Power Play" and "JoAnn". Jed Olenick's J120 "Doctor No" won in a tie-breaker with "Caper". PHRF 2 Laura Schlessinger's "The Doc"* was 1st, "Arana" 2nd. PHRF 3 won by Geoff Longenecker's "Nemesis", "Penguin"* 2nd. (*partial inventory)

For the "Fastest Sails on the Planet" visit www.ullmansails.com

ISAF MATCH RACE RANKINGS
Ian Williams (GBR) becomes the first ever Brit to hit the world #1 spot in the latest release of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings on 9 May. In the Women's Rankings Claire Leroy (FRA) makes it an incredible two unbroken years at the top.

ISAF World Match Race Rankings - Open

After five months at #2, Ian Williams (GBR) finally displaces Sebastien Col (FRA) and reaches the top spot in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings, the first-ever British skipper to do so.

With no new event above ISAF Grade 3 in this Ranking release there are precious few other changes at the top, with the return to the top 20 for Luna Rossa helm James Spithill (AUS) the only other move of note.

ISAF World Match Race Rankings - Women

Claire Leroy's (FRA) win at the ISAF Grade 1 International Women Match Race Criterium was the latest nail in the coffin for her rivals in the Women's Rankings, with the 27 year old now 1,179 points clear of her nearest rival Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (DEN). Leroy has held the world #1 spot for 19 consecutive Ranking releases adding up to an unbroken two-year spell at the top. Such is her current lead that run;looks set to continue well into 2007, especially after her latest win in Spain.

The next Rankings release will be on 6 June 2007 following on from the ISAF Grade 1 Santa Maria Cup in the USA.

Top ten - Open
1. Ian Williams, GBR
2. Mathieu Richard, FRA
3. Sebastien Col, FRA
4. Peter Gilmour, AUS
5. Paolo Cian, ITA
6. Eugeniy Neugodnikov, RUS
7. Chris Dickson, NZL
8. Bjorn Hansen, SWE
9. Staffan Lindberg, FIN
10. Damien Iehl, FRA

Top ten - Women
1. Claire Leroy, FRA
2. Lotte Meldgaared Pedersen, DEN
3. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED
4. Silke Hahlbrock, GER
5. Marie Bjorling, SWE
6. Katie Spithill, AUS
7. Jenny Axhede, SWE
8. Nicky Souter, AUS
9. Josie Gibson, GBR
10. Silja Lehtinen, FIN

Complete rankings at the ISAF site: sailing.org

SIR ROBIN KNOX - JOHNSTON RETURNS TO THE UK
Having completed the Velux 5 Oceans, sailing legend Sir Robin Knox - Johnston on board Saga Insurance will be escorted back from the Needles by the Clipper Round the World Racing fleet to Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth on Saturday.

Nearly 40 years after Knox-Johnston became the first person to sail non-stop around the world in the 1968-69 Sunday Times Golden Globe, the 68 year old, who made history last week as he completed a second solo circumnavigation of the planet, will return to UK shores on his Open 60, Saga Insurance. Sir Robin becomes the oldest person to have completed this classic race and his natural ability, determination and perseverance has seen him beat the world's best skippers and fighting for a podium position in the final rankings.

Sir Robin will sail up the Solent in his Open 60 yacht Saga Insurance, accompanied by a flotilla of spectator craft and a Royal Navy escort.

Schedule for this Saturday:

07.30: Sir Robin Knox - Johnson onboard Saga Insurance will arrive at the Needles (off the Isle of Wight)
09.30 - 10.00: Sir Robin will be off Cowes, Isle of Wight for 11 gun salute from Royal Yacht Squadron
11.30: Sir Robin arrives at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour
12.00: Sir Robin passes Portsmouth Round Tower
12.30: Sir Robin and SAGA Insurance to arrive at the dockside at Gunwharf Quays

SWAN 601 ARTEMIS IS AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER FOR THE 2007 SEASON
This is a rare opportunity to charter this 2005 stunning high performance German Frers-designed Swan. Sporting full carbon composite construction and renowned Nautor Styling, Artemis will provide you with the ultimate racing experience. She is fully race-prepared to the highest standard and raring to go.

Racing with a maximum crew of 16, Artemis is available for Caribbean and UK based race charters and corporate entertainment. She will also be available in the Mediterranean for America's Cup 2007 series viewing.

Please contact Peter Bresnan on +44799097081 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE FISHER MAN'S TALE
Bob Fisher on the America's Cup

My first cup was in 1967
'It was the year I'd just finished the Little America's Cup against Australia (which we won) and my sponsor said would you like me to give you a present? I said "I'd like to go the America's Cup". He said fine. I went and caught the final two races. It was the year that Intrepid defeated Dame Pattie. What a pity that was. Intrepid was a bit of a wonder boat - the first 12m that had a separate rudder from a keel. It was one of Olin Stephens' masterpieces. I enjoyed it and I think I have been enjoying it ever since'.

I went to interview a computer in 1974.
'Courageous was the first yacht to have a multi-functional computer on board. It was in a grey box. The team referred to it as "Sydney Grey Box." I was determined to see it, I really wanted to see it and get a photograph. Back then the boats didn't come out of the water much but I noticed that Courageous was out of the water in Newport one day and I thought this is my opportunity. So I got up at 3am, put on black jeans and a black sweater, drove down to the yard, which was surrounded by a fence topped with barbed wire. I parked the car, climbed onto the roof and over the fence. I found a ladder and put it alongside Courageous, climbed up, and went below. I saw the box and, beside it, there was a list of the 32 functions the computer would do. So I sat there and wrote them down. I took a photo. The next day I went to a little breakfast bar. Already there was Rich McCurdy, the guy who installed the computer. I said to him I understood he had put a computer on Courageous. "Yeah," he said. "What are you doing this morning - why don't you come over and have a look? Bring your camera"'.

1958 was pretty bad - but 1964 was even worse.
'In 1964 the Brits got a hiding you wouldn't believe. Everyone still talks about Sceptre getting done over in 1958 by Columbia but Sovereign - oh god, that was really disgusting [Sovereign was thrashed by Constellation]. They were pretty ordinary. They got hammered by 20 minutes. They were poor boats, under-funded. Three things undo teams in the America's Cup: Inadequate funds, time or management. Get those in place and you can win'.

"There have been 78 twelve metres all in aluminium, why would you want to build one in glass unless you wanted to cheat," Dennis Conner asked.

'Tom Blackaller, the other American helmsman sitting alongside replied: "I don't think you can say that, Dennis."

"I take it all back," Conner said.

"I don't think you can," Blackaller replied.

I remember that as though it was yesterday. Then there was the debacle in San Diego: "Get off the stage, Farr - you're a loser," Conner told Bruce Farr.

It was black ugly. I wouldn't have missed it for the world'.

The full article by Julie Ash in the New Zealand Herald:
www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=106&objectid=10438979

AGELESS ULLMAN LEAPFROGS INTO FIRST IN MELGES 24'S
Santa Cruz, California, USA: At 61, Dave Ullman has discovered the secret of sailing longevity: one win a day keeps the younger dudes away.

At least he is making it look that easy in the 2007 Fullpower Melges 24 World Championship, hosted by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club. With a first and fifth Thursday and tossing his 18 from the first race Tuesday, Ullman, of Santa Ana, Calif., leapfrogged three rivals to assume first place by four points over Brian Porter, Winnetka, Ill. Next are defending champion Nicola Celon of Italy and France's Francois Brenac, who discarded his 59-point disqualification for an early start that cost him a win Wednesday.

They all say they love the breeze, and it was close to its Monterey Bay best at a peak of 22 knots, with gusts to 24, that roiled the sea and separated the elite from the bottom half of the 58-boat fleet.

Ullman guessed that he has won "eight or nine" world championships, although not yet a Melges 24 Worlds in five tries. His last three were 470 dinghy titles in 1977, '78 and '80---"a long, long time ago," Ullman said.

He is sailing with a crew of tactician Bill Hardesty, Brent Ruhne, Andy Estcourt and Shana Phelan, "and we still have a long way to go," Ullman said.

Top ten after 6 of 10 races; one discard
1. Pegasus 505, David Ullman, USA, (18)-1-1-11-1-5, 19 points.
2. Full Throttle, Brian Porter, USA, 3-5-3-5-(8)-7, 23.
3. Bete Bossini, Francois Brenac, ITA, 2-4-(16)-2-14-4, 26.
4. EFG/.Groupe Partouche, Nicola Celon, ITA, (16)-3-2-8-5-13, 31.
5. Pegasus 575, Mark Christensen, USA, (16)-3-2-8-5-13, 32.
6. Gannet, Othmar Mueller von Blumencron (C*), USA, 6-9-(23)-4-4-9, 32.
7. Team Barbarians, Stuart Simpson, UK, 14-12-6-1-2-(59), 35.
8. Altea, Andrea Racchelli, ITA, 13-10-4-(15)-6-8, 41.
9. Joe Fly, Gabrio Zandona, ITA, (28)-24-9-6-3-1, 43.
10. West Marine Rigging, Chris Larson, USA, 12-8-7-(29%)-15-6, 48.

*C---Corinthian

www.melges24worlds2007.com

BULLIMORE HEADS BACK ON AN EASTERLY TRACK
After spending two days heading northwards to repair damaged rigging on his 102ft catamaran Doha, British round the world yachtsman Tony Bullimore resumed an easterly course towards Cape Horn overnight.

In a brief message relayed back to Team Bullimore's Press Office, Tony said that he had now completed the repairs and was continuing in the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge. 'We will see how things go over the next 48 hours' he said.

Lee Bruce, Team Bullimore's weather router predicts that the winds will back and increase to 30-35knots later today. The gusts are expected to peak at 40-45knots at around 15:00 GMT today. Squalls will add to the misery. Another surge of N to NNW wind will reach Doha on May 11, but that will not be as strong and won't last as long.

Tony Bullimore's progress can be followed on www.teambullimore.com

1930'S CLASSIC DAY SAILOR COMES OF AGE
The new composite built Victory Class day boat Z73 "Zafirah" which will take place, fittingly, in front of HMS Victory in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard, on Friday 11 May.

In early 1934, as a result of decisions taken at a meeting of some 40 local yachtsmen at the famous George Hotel in Old Portsmouth, the Portsmouth Harbour Racing and Sailing Association was born. Its purpose was to co-ordinate the interests of all who sailed from Portsmouth Harbour.

A prime object was to introduce a one-design class of yacht suitable to race in the local waters and it was decided to adopt a class of gaff-rigged boats which had recently been replaced by Bembridge S.C. The boat was originally designed in 1904 by E.C. Cockburn but modified by a committee led by Alfred Westmacott who is recorded as the designer. He had already designed the Solent Sunbeam and X.O.D.

On its adoption the design was further modified to include a Bermudan rig by Charles Nicholson who was Britain's leading designer of the day.

That they had chosen well was manifested by the building of seventeen boats by the end of 1935 to add to the five ex-Bembridge boats, and by 1939 the fleet totalled 37. The fleet saw another surge of interest immediately after the war and in the 1980s John Perry built four boats.

The rig and sails have been updated from time to time to ensure that progress is maintained.

The Victory Class Limited realised that if they were to save the Class for future generations they had to look at ways of increasing fleet numbers, reduce maintenance and renewal costs. This resulted in a feasibility study being undertaken into a "glass" version. The decision was taken to produce a composite Victory that uses the existing wooden masts thus retaining the intrinsic style of these beautiful craft. Victory number 23, the overall Cowes Week winner in 2005 and 2006 was used to provide the plug for the mould from which Zafirah has been built by David Heritage Yachts of Cowes.

Hugh Pringle, Class Captain said "the birth of the composite version will ensure the survival of the Class and hopefully see a significant increase in boat numbers and close racing and rivalry being enjoyed between the old and new".

www.victoryclass.org.uk

IRC SOLENT SERIES
The 2007 IRC Solent Series starts on May 19 with the Clarkson Cup run by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club.

The Series is designed to encourage larger fleets of IRC rated boats to participate in closer racing during the summer months.

Seven different Solent clubs are involved offering a variety of courses over the Series. All IRC boats with ratings between 0.820 and 1.350 are welcome - the rating bands have been amended slightly this year to allow smaller boats to compete.

Last year entries varied from quarter tonners to TP52s with practically everything in between. The overall winner was Tony Dodd on Purple Haze who said "It was great to get so many boats competing together, and the variety of courses made it a challenging event."

The question this year is who will be able to catch him? -- Michael Ford, Royal Southampton Yacht Club

www.rsyc.org.uk

THE LAST WORD
Winning doesn't satisfy us -- we need to do it again, and again. The taste of success seems merely to whet the appetite for more. When we lose, the compulsion to seek future success is overpowering; the need to get out on the course the following weekend is irresistible. We cannot quit when we are ahead, after we've won, and we certainly cannot quit when we're behind, after we've lost. We are addicted. -- Stuart Walker

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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