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THE ARMS RACE
Excerpts from an article by Brett Bakewell-White in Sail-World.com:

Looking at the three remaining contenders for the 32nd Americas Cup, who has the technological edge when it comes to the boats?

The reality is that the evolution of the IACC boats has almost reached its zenith. There have now been 100 of these boats built over the eighteen year life of the class - more than the 12 Metre class that competed for the Americas Cup for the 40+ years following World War Two. This rapid evolution is due largely to the use of computers and the large numbers of challengers in modern times.

All of the contenders are in the same corner of the rule 'box' and so the difference is in the detail - a sure sign of this is when the boats get ugly. Hard corners, lumps, and extremes are a sure sign that there are no major breakthroughs left in terms of fundamental concept and so the designers have begun to explore how hard they can push the rule to gain those last little fractions.

All three of the remaining contenders are remarkably similar but at the same time distinctly different. In general the hull profiles are similar, the sheerline is straight and level with a 'ramp' at the bow to meet the freeboard requirements of the rule - ETNZ are the most extreme here. The aft run of the boats is controlled by the rule and so all of the boats have a similar stern profile that extends well aft of the static waterline in order to gain as much unmeasured sailing length as possible. The bows all sport the Davidson double knuckle profile to maximize waterline below the measurement point.

The profile of the midsections do however differ, with both Alinghi and Luna Rossa very flat fore and aft, whereas ETNZ has a more conventional rocker profile. This possibly indicates that ETNZ may be more maneuverable as a result.

Each of the design teams has pushed substantial amounts of volume forward to increase the prismatic coefficient of the canoebody, making the midsection smaller, and increasing the speed potential of the boat. They have however all taken a slightly different route to achieve this goal.

Alinghi has produced a deep 'chesty' forefoot containing volume but keeping the cross section through this area fairly 'U' shaped and soft by comparison with Luna Rossa who have carried their very square box-shaped sections right forward to the bow knuckle.

ETNZs sections are softer but they appear to have pushed the volume out more sideways so that not only do they have the knuckle bow in profile, but are almost knuckle shaped in the forward waterlines as well - almost scow like, and this probably accounts for the noticeably more messy bow wave.

Perhaps the area that is most difficult to assess and maybe the area of biggest difference is rig and sails. ETNZ are the only team using a four spreader rigging configuration. The performance edge here can change daily and a good example of this was ETNZ looking decidedly average in a breeze against Desafio when they chose the wrong mainsail, and yet a few days later with a different sail and even more wind ETNZ hammered the Spanish.

So who has the best weapon of choice? Well it seems that nobody at this stage is turning up to the gun fight with a knife. The boats are all reasonably close at a conceptual level but there are differences that will provide some strengths and weaknesses. It will be up to the competitors to figure how to make best use of these minor differences.

This is perhaps the difference in this 32nd Americas Cup. The winner is going to be decided by the people rather than purely the technology. The weather teams and the sailors appear to be the biggest single factor in who wins and who loses. This may be a sailors Cup rather than a designers Cup.

www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=34184

* Truth and honesty have never been vital values of competitors in the America 's Cup.

In fact it is amazing how sparingly these two values are observed, but one might have felt that good manners might have been observed when a 'Skippers Press Conference' was scheduled on the eve of the Louis Vuitton Cup final. Neither skipper appeared.

Dean Barker's excuse was the lamer of the two; he said that he had had a bad run in calling the toss of the coin to choose the end of the line for the first match, and preferred to leave it to someone else. Ironically, Terry Hutchinson, his stand-in at the press conference, lost the toss and Emirates Team New Zealand will enter from the committee boat end of the line on port tack for the first race.

Francesco de Angelis, who sent strategist Andy Horton in his stead, chose instead to use the weather window provided at the time to go sailing and testing Luna Rossa. He left word that he would meet the press a few hours later when his testing was completed.

Hutchinson was predictably reluctant to discuss the possible chances of Emirates Team New Zealand in the match against Luna Rossa for the right to challenge for the America's Cup. 'We will never underestimate Luna Rossa,' he said, but then came on strongly with the party line. 'We are going to take one start, one beat, one leg, one race at a time,' as if he were trying to convince the media that this was a new formula. -- Bob Fisher in Sail-World.com, his full editorial at http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=34185

* The weather forecast is calling for sea breeze condition over the next few days, with winds from nine to 14 knots. Racing is scheduled to start at 15:00, with the first warning signal at 14:50.

www.americascup.com

BE IN THE FRONT ROW OF THE SPECTATOR FLEET IN VALENCIA!
Our Shosholoza team spectator boat still operates - every race day until the end of the America's Cup Match. Morning briefing on our rooftop terrace overlooking Alinghi and Luna Rossa. Official "event flag" puts us in the reserved area closest to the start box and laylines. Live AC TV on board. Full buffet lunch with drinks. Expert commentators. All the fun you would expect from "The Soul of Sailing". Many hotels available, we can help. GROUPS WELCOME.

Reserve tickets online at http://www.cupexperience.com or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

GOODBYE TRAPANI... NEXT STOP TURKEY
Thursday at 18:00 local time the second leg of the Cap Istanbul race, 773 nautical miles from Trapani to Foca leg started. The wind will get slower over the next days, therefore the race committee decided to start the race one day ahead of schedule

The skippers repaired damaged sails before heading to Foça. Jean-Marie Vidal, the director of the race said: "My basic mission is not to ignore the sportive aspect of the race. I'm familiar with the Mediterranean Sea and its hard conditions. Therefore we took precautios. All the skippers agreed with my decision and they're excited to reach to the Turkish coasts."

Because the wind will be instable throughout this leg, tactics and strategies will be important in this leg.

The skippers will develop new strategies after Sicily. When they come to Aegean Sea their strategies will change to reach to Foca. The weather conditions cannot be predicted precisely now, so this will make the skippers be as careful as possible.

www.capistanbul.com

MCA ADDS SEABED MAPS TO GOOGLE EARTH
Users of Google Earth, the online bird's eye view of the entire planet, may enjoy a new feature that allows you to view the seabed alongside the images of the land.

According to a technical expert at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the data, which has to be downloaded from the MCA website, represents the majority of the Agency's re-surveying output for the last three or four years.

Step-by-step
1. Download Google Earth (it's free but it likes new computers best): earth.google.com

2. Go to the MCA website and download the seabed image files www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/

3. Open Google Earth on yor computer.

4. Go to: File - Open - and select the file you downloaded from Step 2 (which should end with the suffix: .kmz)

Warning: Not to be used for navigation! -- Practical Boat Owner, www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20070430160841pbogeneral.html

ULLMAN SAILS QUALITY INVESTMENT!
Why are Ullman Sails the "Fastest Sails on the Planet"? Simple, Ullman selects only premium sailcloth and marine hardware that the sail making industry can provide. Ullman Sails combines the latest proven sail design programs with proven construction technique that have an end result of simply the best sails available. Whether you race, cruise or just enjoy day sailing and are looking for top quality sails that combine performance, durability and service. There is only one clear choice, Ullman Sails.

Call your nearest Ullman Sails loft or visit us at www.ullmansails.com

LOWER NORMANDY TO HOST THE SOLOCEANS
Caen, France: Philippe Duron, President of the Conseil Regional de Basse-Normandie (President of the Regional Council of Lower Normandy) and Yvan Griboval, General Manager of SailingOne, designer and promoter of the SolOceans, signed an agreement to organize the SolOceans on the territory of the Lower Normandy Region, in the presence of Bernard Cazeneuve, first Vice-President in charge of the economic expansion and maritime policy of the Region, as well as Serge Even, President of the Ligue de Voile de Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy Sailing League), representing the Federation Française de Voile (FFVoile - French Sailing Federation).

Lower Normandy will therefore be reinforcing the expansion of its sailing industry, carrying out the international promotion of its coastal strengths and developing its maritime legitimacy. Consequently, the start and finish of the SolOceans will be in Lower Normandy.

The departements (counties), towns and suburbs, and harbours concerned by the prologue, as well as the start and finish of the SolOceans, will each be revealed in the weeks to come. Jean-Pierre Champion, President of the Federation Française de Voile (FFVoile - French Sailing Federation) stated enthusiastically "We are highly satisfied to see the SolOceans enter the Ligue de Voile de Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy Sailing League) programme. There is real legitimacy in this. The large harbours of the region, in particular Caen and Cherbourg, are reputed for their vitality and their skills in organising large sailing meetings. The solid support of the elected representatives of this region is an additional guarantee of quality. This announcement happens at a good time, since thanks to the work of the voluntary workers of the Ligue de Voile de Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy Sailing League) we are witnessing a boost in the activities of our clubs and our sailing schools. There is a lot of human and technical potential in Lower-Normandy. It is a traditional sailing region undergoing complete renewal. The SolOceans will therefore be an additional development factor".

www.soloceans.com

UNDEFEATED AFTER TWO DAYS AT SANTA MARIA CUP
Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Team 7 Sailing is undefeated after two days of intense racing on the River Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, at the Boat US Santa Maria Cup US Women's Match Race Championship. Laser Radial sailor Anna Tunnicliffe has joined our crew for this series in J/22s.

We're one of ten invited international teams racing out of the Eastport Yacht Club, and we're looking to repeat our success in winning this event in 2004. This year's field includes Aussie skipper Katie Spithill who won here last year and America's Liz Baylis who took the championship in 2003.

Adding to the excitement, the latest ISAF world rankings were announced yesterday and we're buoyed by our advances. Anna has moved up to #1 women's Laser Radial sailor in the world from the #3 position. Team 7 has shot up to #2. We were previously #6.

Right now, at the end of Day Two, we are on 14 points with a three point lead over Liz Baylis and Claire Leroy from France who are tied for second place. Claire is currently the #1 ranked woman match racer in the world and she and her team have dominated women's match racing since May 2005.

Tomorrow we have four races remaining to sail in Round Robin 2 and those are against some of the toughest competitors in the series - Baylis, Leroy, Spithill and her fellow Aussie skipper Nicky Souter.

Conditions here have been awesome, racing on Chesapeake Bay outside US Naval Academy and the mouth of the Severn. We've postponed for wind both mornings but we've a nice southerly has come in, with the breeze starting light each day and building to 10-12 knots both days, along with a typical Annapolis chop.

Anna has been trimming jib and spinnaker and, as she put it, "doing the muscle work." She commented that after the intensity of the Breitling Cup which we all raced in Holland last week, it was nice to relax while we do the communications and the tactics.

Josie Gibson from Great Britain should have been racing this week too, but the event web site reports that due to an unforeseen and unfortunate issue involving passports and visas, she was was unable to attend this year.

You can view all the Santa Maria Cup Results at www.santamariacup.org . You can also visit Anna Tunnicliffe's web site at www.annatunnicliffe.com or the Team 7 site at www.team7sailing.com

32ND AMERICA'S CUP - THE GAME
Just released to universal acclaim, 32nd America's Cup - The Game is the latest installment from the producers that brought you Virtual Skipper. Using a brand new Virtual Skipper 5 graphic engine, 32nd America's Cup puts you in Port America's Cup helming any of the 12 teams currently in Valencia. It's as close to reality as it is possible to be - unless you are expecting a call-up for helming duty any time soon.

Designed for PC, the game features many different modes of game play as well as a tutorial functions teaching sailing basics, networked gaming capability and a film-making function. Playable from ages 3-103.

boutique.gamesplanet.com/campagne/promo.html?partenaire=9&jeu=VSK5&affilie=23

TWO NEW TP52S
* Siemens is one of the new boats entered in this year´s MedCup Circuit. Designed by Rolf Vrolijk and built at King Marine in Valencia, the crew is made up principally of top Argentinian sailors under the leadership of owner Alberto Roemmers, owner of the maxi Alexia. The crew is headed by the Snipe world Champion Gullermo Parada. The Argentinian has been part of the previous Siemens entries in this event and was a key player in the 2006 incarnation winning the Copa del Rey.

This year he is the skipper and helm of the team and will be working with the American, Dee Smith who joins the boat as tactician for the season.

The crew is further bolstered by various world champions as well as Amercia´s Cup sailors Juan Pablo Cadario of Desafio Español and Alejandro Colla of +39

2007.medcup.org/news/?idioma=2&id=153

* The Real Club Nautico de Valencia was the setting for the presentation of the new CXG Corporacion Caixagalicia TP52, a new boat for a new challenge - the Breitling Medcup Circuit 2007.

Boat owner, Vicente Tirado, a true veteran of the sailing team and the actual circuit itself, emphasized the importance of a united team, and one that has combined the same talent and vast experience for the last eight years - helmsman Roberto 'chuny' Bermudez de Castro among many others, and that has been reinforced this year with sailing expertise such as tactician John Kostecki.

The satisfaction of boat builders and crew alike is evident - designer Marcelino Botín, Chimo Lopez, owner of boat yard Longitud 0 Composites, and builders Antonio Piris and Carlos Ruigomez can now admire their work in action, and yet all is to be decided in just two weeks time when the new CXG lines up on the start line in Alicante alongside the 23 other vessels in the fleet, in what looks to be one of the toughest and most exciting competitions we have yet seen in this class.

2007.medcup.org/news/?idioma=2&id=151

SPONSORS
* Nexus Marine has confirmed sponsorship roles in two major UK regattas this summer. Once again Nexus instruments will play an important part at Skandia Cowes Week (4 - 11 August). Six portable NX2 systems will be mounted on RIBs to roam the racing area collecting highly accurate data on local wind speeds and direction and relaying the information in real time back to the race committee, helping them to set the best possible courses for the current conditions.

Known as 'WindPros' these units have been used by Race Officers at regattas around Europe and are available for loan to any bona fide event organiser.

Nexus is also delighted to be supporting the J-80 Class Association by acting as the title sponsor for the J80 National Championships in the UK, being held this year in Cardiff 6 - 9 June. The event is being hosted by the Cardiff Bay Yacht Club with support from the Cardiff Harbour Authority. The Nationals are expect to attract a large and highly competitive fleet, and with the World's taking place just four weeks later at La Trinite-sur-Mer, this is sure to attract a significant international entry. -- www.cbyc.co.uk/j80nationals

* Marine footwear specialist Dubarry of Ireland has announced that it is to become the Official Marine Footwear Supplier to record breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari, and the Aviva Ocean Race campaign.

Having become the first woman in history to circumnavigate the globe single-handed against the prevailing winds and currents in 2006, Dee is set to continue testing her skill and endurance by competing in the Vendee Globe 2008 round the world yacht race - seen by many as the ultimate in ocean racing.

Dubarry is currently celebrating its 70th year in the footwear industry.

* The Island Sailing Club, organisers of the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, is delighted to announce Nautica Watches has joined the family of race partners for the event.

This is Nautica Watches' first sailing sponsorship in the UK although the company has had long-standing involvements internationally, most recently with the Accura Key West Race Week held in Florida last January.

Nautica Watches will also be donating a new trophy which will be presented to the lead boat in the Clipper 68 class, with watches going to each winning crew member. Ten Clipper 68s will be racing, level rated, against each other for the first time in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. For their skippers this will be a relatively short experience in comparison with their following fixture, the Clipper Round the World Race which leaves Liverpool in September.

* Champagne G.H. Mumm is the proud sponsor of this year's Ladies Day @ Skandia Cowes Week which is earmarked for Thursday, 9th August.

Ladies Day @ Skandia Cowes Week recognises and celebrates the contribution and achievements of women in sailing. The Event organisers, Cowes Combined Clubs (CCC), are keen that it should encompass all female sailors, ranging from Corinthians and those overcoming physical and/or mental difficulties in order to sail, to those who have undertaken remarkable challenges and achieved extraordinary results. It is a fact that more women than ever now compete at the Event and at least a third of the 8,500 competitors are female.

In order to highlight the increasing involvement of the fairer sex and to celebrate sailing as one of few mainstream sports where women compete with men on equal terms, CCC will award their Ladies Day Trophy at the Champagne G.H. Mumm Ladies Day Reception and Award ceremony to be held on the Thursday evening. Last year's inaugural Ladies Day Trophy was awarded to Betty Moore who, at 88 years young, was its first recipient. Betty was recognised for having sailed at Cowes Week every year since 1947; demonstration indeed of a remarkable woman making a remarkable contribution.

THE LAST WORD
Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore,
And that's what parents were created for. -- Ogden Nash

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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