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MINI-FASTNET START DELAYED TO THURSDAY 21ST... AND NO FASTNET
One hundred Classe Mini boats were due to start on the 2007 Mini Fastnet double handed race at 12.00 Sunday 17th, but the bad weather system approching rapidly changed the course.

The race comittee announced that the French naval authorities will not allow any Classe Mini boats in the open sea after Tuesday morning. The original route of the Mini Fastnet is 700 miles from Douarnenez, round the fastnet Rock and back to Douarnenez. Instead the fleet will only be doing a two hundered miles long race nearer to the coast of Brittany. As high winds (up to 40 knots) are expected the skippers are due back in Doaurnenez late Monday night, Tuesday morning. After a day of rest the organisers of the Mini Fastnet are planing on making another two short races in Douarnenez on Wednesday and Thursday.

Of course this did not go down well with the skippers who were expecting to do the race in record breaking time. Especially since the race comittee had no problems organising a prologue for one hundred boats in 25 knots of wind (with gusts up to 34 knots) on a 10 miles radium. There are a lot of high profile names here in Douarnenez: Armel Tripon, Phil Sharp (2006 classe 40 Route du Rhum winner), Dee Cafari and even Franck Cammas was here to join Isabelle Joschke as a guest on the prologue. Add to this the skippers of Classe Mini - Yves Le Blevec, Isabelle Joschke, Erwan Le Roux, Peter Laureyssens, Adrien Hardy, Andraz Mihelin and Kristian Hajnsek - who all have serious chances of winning and you have a whole list of very unhappy skippers who were expecting a very exciting race for the podium positions.

After the anouncement I spoke to Phil Sharp who is joining Slovenian Andraz Mihelin onboard Adria Mobil 510 how he felt about the race beeing 500 miles shorter. His responce: "We came here to get our revenge. Last year Andraz and I were third and this year we were going for the win. So 200 miles along the coast of Brittany, just won't be the same". To this Andraz added: "it is really frustrating. Imagine winning the race and saying - I've won the 2007 Mini Fastnet - but at the same time knowing that you didn't even round the Fastnet Rock. Is it stil the Mini Fastnet then?". -- From Leo Voorneveld's Mini forum: www.minitransat650.com/simple/

Event site: www.winchesclub.com/minis650/fastnet650/FR

AMERICA'S CUP
An analysis of the two race crews who will meet in the 32nd America's Cup Match is necessarily a bit speculative. Neither team will divulge their racing line-up until the morning of the first race. And with Alinghi not having competed since Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, changes on board the Swiss boat are difficult to discern. For the Kiwi team, it's a little easier; we expect to see the same line-up that beat Luna Rossa Challenge 5-0 in the Final of the Louis Vuitton Cup.

But some clues are out there when trying to guess who will be on board Alinghi. When one considers that Ed Baird has been at the helm of Alinghi for the majority of its informal racing against eliminated challengers, it's quite likely he will steer the boat in the match. Similarly, it would be very surprising not to see skipper Brad Butterworth calling tactics, Warwick Fleury on the main sheet, Simon Daubney trimming the genoa, Dean Phipps working the pit or Murray Jones up the mast, in his wind-spotting role.

After all, this is the core group of New Zealanders who Russell Coutts asked to follow him to Alinghi from Team New Zealand seven years ago. It's a group who have won three consecutive America's Cups; a 15 match winning streak.

Still with Alinghi, it would also be surprising not to see Francesco 'Cico' Rapetti at the mast. He's the only Italian to win the America's Cup (with Alinghi in 2003) and is also 'boat captain' of the Swiss challenger. Nicola 'Ciccio' Celon and Lorenzo Mazza, are two other Italian sailors, who have been with Alinghi since the start of this latest campaign. -- BYM news, www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=10449 , citing Bianca Ascenti on www.americascup.com

* On Sunday, visitor number 5 million strolled through the gates at Port America's Cup in Valencia. This includes all visitors to the AC Park in Valencia in 2004 along with any visitor to Port America's Cup since June 2005.

The lucky '5 millionth' visitor was a couple, Charles and Luz Fenech, who are English and who have been living in Valencia for around two years.

The average number of visitors to Port America's Cup has been increasing steadily. During race days in 2004 and 2005, the average daily visitor count was around 17 000. This doubled in April of this year during Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 to 35 000. The record number of visitors in one day was recorded on May 1 of this year at just over 68 000 people.

Racing in the America's Cup Match, between the Defender, Alinghi, and the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, begins next Saturday on 23 June. The America's Cup Match is a 'first to five' series. -- www.americascup.com

QUITE POSSIBLY THE BEST WAY TO SEE THE CUP RACES IN VALENCIA.
Our Shosholoza team spectator boat has a reserved place in the front row of the VIP zone closest to the start box and laylines. And, our rooftop terrace overlooks Alinghi, so you'll be up close both on land and sea. We have live TV and expert commentators on board. Shaded upper deck. Full buffet lunch with drinks. All the fun you would expect from "The Soul of Sailing".

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

THE SUPERYACHT CUP ULYSSE NARDIN
Palma de Mallorca, Spain: Stronger winds and testing tactical conditions saw major changes in fortunes throughout the Superyacht Cup fleet for the second day of sailing for the Astilleros de Mallorca Rally.

The change to an easterly wind direction led to a close reach along the coast to the Fortis mark off Caba Regana, where a colourful array of spinnakers were set as the fleet headed across the Bay of Palma to the turning mark off the Isla de Sech.

Fortune favoured the early starters and the tacticians who chose to reach up into the bay when the wind first died and then changed to a south westerly.

The J-Class Velsheda was one of the major losers as her owner/driver time and again tried to cross the fleet on port to get on the right side of the mark, finally crossing close to Mystere's bow to get back in contention. Even with the time lost, Velsheda still managed to finish 12 minutes ahead of close rival Ranger.

The fastest elapsed time around the course was set by Wild Oats IX in two hours 39 minutes, with Alfa Romeo seven minutes behind despite having held an early lead, and the Wally Y3K third fastest with an elapsed time of two hours 45 minutes.

The points weighting multiple for the second day was 1.0 compared with 0.3 for the first day. For the final day the start order will again be the reverse of the previous days elapsed time, but the vagaries of the conditions will have undoubtedly upset many of the start times.

The Superyacht Cup concludes on Tuesday with the New Zealand Millennium Cup followed by the New Zealand Millennium Cup Ball and a dockside crew party.

Results Astilleros de Mallorca Day Two:

Division 1
1. Ganesha
2. Timoneer
3. Eleonora

Divison 2
1. Arrayan
2. Visione
3. Kokomo of London

www.thesuperyachtcup.com

Registration day photos by Kos / www.kospictures.com in the Scuttlebutt Europe gallery, scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/

HIGH DEMAND FOR LIGHTWEIGHT, BREATHABLE CLOTHING
To meet these needs, Camet International has introduced a new line of sportswear to satisfy it's sports-minded and outdoor enthusiast customers. The collection offers an array of possibilities from highly technical products that scream "performance," to lightweight, wrinkle-free products for on-the-water and off-the-water activities. We look for fabrics that move perspiration away from the body, dry quickly, and are wrinkle-resistant; characteristics sought by adventurers and sailors alike. The summer line not only serves a purpose, it is also very fashionable. With solid color schemes, Hawaiian prints, and multi-functional designs.

Check them out at www.camet.com

EUROPEAN 18 FT SKIFF GRAND PRIX
The last day of the European 18ft Skiff Grand Prix brought a fitting climax to the event, both in terms of the racing and the weather conditions.

The wind dialled in a little later than usual on Friday meaning that only two races could be scheduled. But it made up for it with the quality of the breeze, with a steady 10-12knots Ora settling in nicely. The winners podium position was already assured by Pegasus Racing (USA) with a flawless display during the week - with two discards, they actually coutend a perfect set of bullets to have an unassailable lead with two races to go - a truely oustanding performance that later at the prizegiving Howie Hamlin paid credit to his crew, Mike Martin and Trent Barnabas, for delivering. The action was then for scond place overall with a three way battle between Yandoo (AUS), Pindar Radii (GBR) and GE Commercial (GBR).

Going into the last race, Yandoo had secured second spot overall, and it was down to GE versus Pindar Radii for the top European slot, with the former just one point ahead after their tactical master plan in the first race of the day - they could not afford to play the same game however as TMF (GBR) could theoretically trump them both with a good result. The breeze by this time had really started to kick in - gusting 15-16knots. GE and Pindar had a perfect starboard end start and lead the fleet to the top mark. A blasting downwind in the big rigs kept the pack close together and as the fleet rounded the leeward mark an ominous black cloud appeared in the South. Within a couple of minutes all hell broke loose - a 40 knot squall with rain drops the size of Pinot grapes came crashing across the fleet laying everyone flat within an instant and effecticelly calling a halt to the racing. It was now just a case of survival with the crews sheltering on the upturned hulls and the rescue teams ensuring everyone was safe and sound. Eventually the wind died to a point where the teams could race back to shore before the next storm hit. A couple of broken rigs and bruises later the fleet was all acocunted for on the shore.

This left then Pegasus Racing taking the event crown, with Yandoo and GE Commercial taking up the podium positions - an eventful finish to a competitive series! -- Andy Richards

Top Five Final Results (11 races, 2 discards, 25 starters)
1. Pegasus Racing, USA, 9
2. Yandoo, AUS, 29
3. GE Commercial Finance, GBR, 37
4. Pindar Radii, GBR, 38
5. TMF, GBR, 42

Photos by Christophe Favreau, www.christophefavreau.book.fr in the Scuttlebutt Europe photo gallery, scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/

TRANSATLANTIC MAXI YACHT ROLEX CUP
Porto Cervo, Italy: Rolex SA and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) are to strengthen their quarter-century collaboration with the development of a new ocean race - the Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Although the inaugural race is set to take place in late November, many Maxi yacht owners have already expressed their interest.

Promoted by the International Maxi Association (IMA), the regatta is organized by YCCS in collaboration with the Real Club Nautico de Tenerife for the start and the Sint Maarten Yacht Club for the finish. It is open to monohull Maxi yachts with a minimum overall length of 18 metres (59 feet) that are in compliance with the IMA's five division regulations (Racing, Cruising, Wally, Spirit of Tradition, Mini Maxi).

The fleet will assemble at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Marina in Tenerife - the largest of the seven Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa - in preparation for the start on Monday, November 26, 2007. The Maxis are expected to navigate approximately 2,600 nautical miles across the North Atlantic Ocean for approximately ten days before reaching the finish line off the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles.

IMA President Claus Peter Offen, from Hamburg, Germany, was one of the first entrants to sign on for the event and will race aboard his new Wally 100. Peter Harrison, the driving force behind Great Britain's 2002 America's Cup Challenge will also compete aboard Sojana, his Farr 115 cruising ketch.

The regatta is also linked to the IMA's efforts to establish a seasonal circuit for Maxis that will allow owners to compete in offshore events on the Mediterranean and in Europe during the summer before moving to the Caribbean for the winter racing season. Many of the competing boats expect to remain in the islands for several months and are likely to take part in other regattas, including the International Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas, which will offer an IRC division for the first time in 2008.

The Notice of Race is available online at www.yccs.it

AN ABSORBING INTEREST
Bob Fisher's two-volume history of the America's Cup is causing considerable critical acclaim, but the author believes the best yet came from a lady (necessarily nameless) who approached him at a social occasion in Valencia, saying: "You are ruining my sex life," adding, "when I go to bed, my husband prefers to stay with your book on the couch!" All the best things in life are worth waiting for; buy a copy and cure a headache. Go to: www.wiley.com/go/americas for purchasing details.

BRITISH CLASSIC YACHT CLUB AND SPIRIT YACHTS REGATTA
The British Classic Yacht Club Regatta is on course for a healthy turn out at Cowes, the Mecca of world yachting, in July - the height of the season. With the Notice of Race just issued the entry list for this, the UK's leading annual International Classic Yacht Regatta, is growing steadily. It is likely to reach around 60 of the UK's top classic yachts, from 32ft to 70ft, famous ocean racers, historic, classic metre yachts and a host of beautiful cruising yachts. Numbers are bolstered by the inclusion, for the first time, of the Spirit Yacht Class, a range of modern classic models stunningly crafted in wood from Suffolk-based Spirit Yachts.

All classic yacht owners are encouraged to enter, subject to qualification of the design and length of their boat, and for those who don't have a week to spare there is an option to take part in just the Classics Round the Island Race on Sunday 15th July.

A line up of new and old includes such legends as Cygnet of London, 101 years old this year, and the 1936 Bermudian Cutter Foglio. Yet its hard to believe that - her immaculate appearance aside - Spirit 52 Flight of Ufford was built only last year.

The Classic Regatta is part of a two week festival of classic events in Cowes which includes the Six-Metre World Championships and the Metre Centenary Regatta.

www.britishclassicyachtclub.org

DANISH OPEN
The official entry list for the 2007 Danish Open, the 10th event in the World Match Racing Tour 2006/2007 season, is complete, and it is an impressive list of skippers and crews who have accepted the invitation to sail at the event. The Danish open will take place out from Skovshoved Harbour, north of Copenhagen, from the 8th of August until the 12th.

Among the eleven confirmed skippers are last year's winner and runner up (Sebastian Col and Jesper Bank respectively); the ISAF Match Race ranking list is represented by skippers placed 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11 and 16 and the World Match Racing Tour is represented by skippers placed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 in that ranking. Six of the skippers have been involved in the 32nd America's Cup, so there is no doubt that this will be a very exiting event to follow. The 12th and final entry is reserved for the winner of the Danish Open Qualification event held off Middelfart, Denmark on August 4th – 5th. August.

Apart from earning valuable points for the World Match Racing Tour ranking the sailors will also compete for the $60,000 prize purse. The final event of World Match Racing Tour will be the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia where the official ISAF Match Race World Champion will be crowned.

The following skippers will compete in Danish Open 2007:

Ian Williams, Great Britain, Team Pindar
Mathieu Richard, France, Saba Sailing Team
Sebastien Col, France, Areva Challenge
Paolo Cian, Italy, Team Shosholoza
Bjorn Hansson, Sweden, Team Apport.net
Staffan Lindberg, Finland, Alandia Sailing Team
Jesper Bank, Denmark, United Internet Team Germany
Peter Wibroe, Denmark, Team Wibroe
Phillipe Presti, France, Luna Rossa Challenge
Sten Mohr, Denmark, BMW Oracle Racing
Jesper Radich, Denmark, Desafio Espanol

For more than 10 years the Royal Matchrace Center, the Royal Danish Yacht Club and Skovshoved Yacht Club have been organizing international match race events at Skovshoved Harbour - just north of Copenhagen.

Racing begins Thursday August 9th with a Round Robin followed by semifinals on the Saturday and the final on Sunday August 12th.

UK FORGES AHEAD WITH ALCOHOL LIMIT FOR BOATERS
UK Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman has announced that he will be pressing ahead with the introduction of legislation to limit boat owners from navigating while under the influence of alcohol.

A limit of 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood will apply to those involved in the navigation of a vessel greater than 7m (23ft) in length and/or capable of a maximum speed of more than 7kt.

The regulations will not apply to jetskis because of a Court of Appeal ruling stating that the PWC's are not classed as ships. However plans exist to extend the legislation to them in due course.

The UK's Royal Yachting Association (RYA) said it was puzzled why the step was being taken now, three years after the Department for Transport completed its consultation on drink boating legislation.

Rod Carr, RYA CEO, said: "The RYA's view remains unchanged from that of 2004. We believe that new legislation is unnecessary because there is still no evidence of the existence of an extensive problem relating to alcohol and boating."

"However, given that the Government is intent on pressing ahead with the introduction of an alcohol limit for leisure mariners then we will work hard with the Department of Transport to ensure that sensible measures are put in place." -- International Boat Industry news, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070513165446ibinews.html

THE LAST WORD
You are wise to climb Mt. Fuji, but a fool to do it twice. -- Japanese Proverb

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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