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ONE FOR THE AGES
Emirates Team New Zealand earned an incredible win in Race Three of the 32nd America's Cup to take a 2-1 lead in the Match. The Kiwis came from behind on the final run to overtake Alinghi and win the race by 25 seconds.

But that doesn't tell the whole story. Early in this race, it appeared as though Grant Dalton's Emirates squad would run away with a big win. After a two hour postponement, racing started in light, shifty, tricky conditions. Kiwi skipper Dean Barker appeared to be under instructions to win the right at any cost, as he started late and slow, but on the right hand side.

Off the starting line it was Alinghi on the left with the early advantage, but soon, a big right hand shift, with pressure, came good for the Emirates team, who built a seemingly insurmountable 1:23 second lead at the top mark.

But Alinghi gained on the run and a poor spinnaker drop on the NZL 92 allowed SUI 100 skipper Brad Butterworth back into the race. Near the top of the leg, the Swiss Defender made the pass, rounding the top mark 15 seconds ahead.

But on the second half of the final run, the Kiwis made their move, finding more pressure on the right hand side of the race course, and sailing past for an improbable win. -- www.americascup.com

* Excerpts from Bob Fisher's nightly must-read:
It was probably the most exciting America's Cup race in history, with the possible exception of the seventh, and deciding, race in 1983, one in which the lead changed on several occasions, including dramatic moves and diabolic separations on a day when the wind dictated the strategies. It proved that the ability to maintain the pressure is of the utmost importance.

One might have been forgiven for believing that it was all over when Emirates Team New Zealand went into a massive lead on the first leg to round the first mark 1:23 in front. To come back from that would need to employ the wind shifts differently and this is what occurred, but it still hadn't finished with the teams. It's never over until it's over...

It was a pity that the Alinghi team were such bad losers that they didn't send a member of the afterguard to the Press Conference, as they are contracted to do by America's Cup Management, who of course it appointed to make these rules. Ernesto Bertarelli complained to a Swiss radio station that the race should never have taken place and that it was more like Las Vegas.

'We waited for two hours to start a race at the last second (the time limit for starting would have expired) on a situation that was no better than had been before.' He added: 'Then there was a 20 degree shift and you can't beat a 20 degree shift out of nowhere.' Yet the Kiwis' weather team had predicted it.

Perhaps Mr. Bertarelli should know that the most consistent phrase that sailing journalists hear about the weather at regatta sites is: 'It's not normally like this here.' -- full article in Sail-World.com: www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=35113

ETCHELLS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The first day of racing at the Etchells World Championship, hosted by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Cowes, brought two incredibly challenging races for the forty five boat, eight nation fleet. With rain squalls running across the Solent on a regular basis the wind was constantly shifting by up to 40 degrees and ranged in velocity from 6-16 knots. The difficulty of the conditions is amply demonstrated by the results with only three teams - GBR1361 Andy Beadsworth, GBR1332 James Howells and NZL1058 Anatole Masfen - ending the day with two single digit race results.

The Race Committee experienced its own dramas when the principle committee boat caught fire as a result of an electrical fault. Fortunately the crew successfully fought the fire without assistance before transferring to another boat to continue their duties, leaving the competitors none the wiser until the end of the race.

The extreme weather conditions during the first race were the subject of much discussion and a protest was lodged to have the race thrown out, however the jury dismissed the protest and the results of both races stand.

Wednesday's forecast is for south westerly winds in the mid teens but with more showers also forecast conditions are likely to remain unstable. Two further races are scheduled with the first signal planned for 1100. -- Louise Morton

Top Ten After Two Races

1. Andy Beadsworth, GBR, 7 points
2. James Howells, GBR, 8
3. Jud Smith, USA, 12
4. Anatole Masfen, NZL, 12
5. Ante Razmilovic, GBR, 20
6. David Burrows, IRL, 20
7. Mark Thornburrow, HKG, 24
8. Bill Steele, AUS, 26
9. Noel Drennan, AUS, 27
10. Jervis Tilly, AUS, 29

Full results at www.etchellsworlds2007.org

BARCELONA RACE: BRIAN THOMPSON SWITCHES ROLE
Following the recent birth of his second child, for personal family reasons British sailor Brian Thompson has made the difficult decision to step down as co-skipper to Guillermo Altadill in the Barcelona World Race. Brian will remain with the team as coach to pass on his IMOCA 60 experience to Guillermo and a new co-skipper who will be selected in the coming weeks, in time for the Rolex Fastnet Race starting 12th August.

"This has been an extremely difficult personal decision for me, as ever since this race was announced I've been excited by the prospect. The new Farr boat we have has been superbly built, and we definitely have a chance of being on the podium with her. The boat went in to the water last week, and I am looking forward to finally seeing her sail and to developing her for Guillermo and the team. But I am very disappointed that I won't be onboard for the Barcelona World Race but my family has to come first in this case," concluded Brian.

In addition to Brian retaining an integral part of the team, British sailor Neal McDonald is joining the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team as Performance Technical Manager from now until the start of the Barcelona World Race. McDonald brings extensive experience to the team with his background in offshore racing at the very highest level. The team is in discussion with other top-level offshore skippers and an announcement will be made in due course to confirm the co-skipper.

The title sponsor of Altadill's campaign for the Barcelona World Race will officially be announced on the 2nd July.

www.barcelonaworldrace.com

THE FASTNET QUIZ
Enter our latest quiz, get the answer right, and each week you could chosen (winners chosen at random) to receive a free copy of Beyond Endurance, the new book by Adam Mayer, published by Random House, which chronicles the infamous 1979 race. You can read about the book at www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780771057557 :

Beyond Endurance is the story of the 1979 Fastnet race, which culminated in a night of terror, courage, and split-second reactions, of ferocious seas that forced each sailor either to give up and face almost certain death or to find within himself the extraordinary strength and skill that might, just might, keep him alive. Not all of them made it. Among the survivors were twenty-six men from Canada, Britain, and the United States, whom Mayers has interviewed about what they still call "that night."

At the end of the contest, we'll pick one entrant (whether you got the question right or not!) to win a pair of Dubarry's new Fastnet boots.

This week's question:

In 2005 a remarkable feat was accomplished by Alex Whitworth and Peter Crozier who sailed their Brolga 33 from Australia, raced in the Fastnet, then sailed back to Australia again. What was the name of their boat?

Submit your answer at scuttlebutteurope.com

DUBARRY FASTNET BOOTS: BECAUSE THE ROCK IS A HARD PLACE
If you've sailed off the Atlantic coast of Ireland in winter, you'll understand the importance of warmth, comfort, durability and grip for your footwear. Dubarry of Ireland makes the world's best technical performance marine footwear, and now we've created a sailing boot that encapsulates our every ideal, utilising fabrics and knowledge gathered from over 70 years of manufacturing excellence. What do you call the best ever boots made by a company that's become an icon of performance and endurance in yacht racing? It's obvious, isn't it?

The new Fastnet boot by Dubarry. www.dubarry.com

GRYPHON SOLO DUO TAKES LINE HONORS IN BERMUDA 1-2
Joe Harris and Dobbs Davis worked hard for their line honors in the double-handed leg of the Bermuda 1-2. They drove Gryphon Solo across the finish line at marker R2 off of Newport at 23:41:30 on Monday night. Their unofficial elapse time from the Friday start from St George's Bermuda was 82 hrs 41 min 30 seconds. By Tuesday morning, they were still standing 1st in class and 1st in fleet on the iboattrack leader board.

When Gryphon Solo finished, the next closest boat was Wildeyes sailed by Michael Millard and Jim Fauci. They were almost 200 miles southeast of Newport and going about 6kts. At the 06:15 Tuesday morning Wildeyes was 163 miles from the finish and averaging about 5kts.

In a call to his shore crew after they finished, Harris said, "We were lucky to get through the Gulf Stream and keep a steady breeze all the way to the finish. We scratched and kicked and clawed our way through the stream in light air and emerged on the north side with a nice southwesterly breeze allowing us to make 10 knots toward Newport."

"The wind was pretty steady," Harris said. "It came from the WSW over the remaining 250 miles just as predicted and we were tight reaching and putting some distance on the competition."

"This was a great introduction for me to doublehanded sailing," Crewmate Dobbs Davis said, "and I couldn't have had a better mentor than Joe. Despite some trying conditions, we had a great time sailing together. I think his knowledge and experience will make him a potent force in his future races on Gryphon Solo."

Joe set a course record for the solo leg of the event earlier this month. His elapse time sailing south was 62:37 from his start on June 9th. The old Bermuda 1-2 solo course record of 66:57 was set in 2005 by Kip Stone aboard the Open 50 Artforms. The un-official record for leg 2 of 70:14 set by Artforms in 2005 remains unbeaten.

The big red boat will be berthed at the Newport Shipyard and the leaking rudderpost and other breaks and damage will be repaired. Marblehead to Halifax, a 360-mile cold-water race, is next on Gryphon Solo's schedule.

The race starts from Marblehead on July 8th. -- Talbot Wilson

www.gryphonsolo.com

RECORD SNSM START
The Record SNSM is a 284 miles passage, passing the coasts of Loire Atlantique in Pays de Loire then the coasts of Brittany. This course highlights the 56 SNSM stations between Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Malo. The Socient Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM) is the equivalent of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in Great Britain, and just like the RNLI is funded solely by public donations. -- ISAF, sailing.org

After a 48 hours delay due to bad weather in the bay of Saint-Nazaire, on Tuesday 35 boats set out from Saint Nazaire, including ORMA trimarans, Open 60s, Figaro Beneteaus and Class 40's. A picture postcard day with 15 knots of wind from the Northwest. This is the first race for Michel Desjoyeaux's new Foncia Open 60, built at CDK Technologies in Brittany. He was unable to get the boat finished for the recent Calais Round Britain race.

At press time the leading boat was Franck Cammas' Groupama 3, sailing at 24 knots past Ouessant with 140 miles to the finish.

Retirements include Yann Elie's new Open 60 Generali, which had trouble with it's solent jib and is now in Lorient, and Gitana XI with damage to its bow pulpit. Gitana was headed to Trinite-sur-Mer to affect repairs.

The record for the passage is held by Yvan Bourgnon on the ORMA 60 Brossard, 13h 26' 49'' at an average speed of over 21 knots. The record for IMOCA 60s is 1dat 8h 48' 35'' held by Mike Golding on Ecover.

French language only, but a great race tracker on the official site: www.recordsnsm.com

THE ROYAL SOUTHERN YACHT CLUB REQUIRES THE SERVICES OF A SAILING SECRETARY
This demanding post requires a motivated individual who is able to work with a minimum of direct supervision. Responsibilities include the promotion and administration of all of the Clubs Sailing Activities, including management of our Club, National and International Regattas, Youth Programmes and Moorings.

Please apply in writing with cv to:
Rear Commodore Sailing
Royal Southern Yacht Club
Rope Walk
Hamble
SO31 4HB
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Or apply online at www.royal-southern.co.uk

SAIL #101 ISSUED
On Tuesday morning, sail number 101 was issued by Ken McAlpine, the technical director of the America's Cup Class. There is no information as to which team is building the new boat.

During the 32nd America's Cup, teams are limited to building two new boats. So this new number could only be issued to one of the 'one boat' campaigns - China Team, United Internet Team Germany, Victory Challenge, Areva Challenge, Team Shosholoza or +39 Challenge.

Both Shosholoza and the German team indicated they were planning to build a new boat following their elimination from the Louis Vuitton Cup, so they are the most likely candidates.

There is no rule restricting a new boat to just the current competitors, so it is possible that this could be a new team, or a group that hasn't made its intentions about the next America's Cup clear, but that is unlikely.

Under the Rules, the measurers announce when a number has been assigned. It is up to the team to decide if or when they want to say that they are the ones building it.

* A few hours after that press release from the ACM, Internet Team Germany sent out a release stating that the new build was theirs:

The yacht that the United Internet Team Germany began to build during Louis Vuitton Cup will have the sail number GER 101.

After the inspection of the construction's progress America's Cup Chief Measurer Ken McAlpine assigned this number to the new German cupper. It is the 100. sail number of the boat class called International America's Cup Class (IACC) - the number 13 was not assigned **.

Like the GER 89 also the GER 101 is build at the shipyard Knierim-Yachtbau in Kiel. Since May 22nd seven boat builders and engineers of the United Internet Team Germany have been constructing the yacht, supported by Knierim-Yachtbau. GER 101 is based on the knowledge that the United Internet Team Germany Design Team has gained in the last two years. A technical progress has already been made during the mold production. After only four weeks it was finished and the construction of the hull started.

"We are very happy about this further important moment for the first German America's Cup team. The GER 101 is the link between the Germany I and possible further yachts for the next cup. She will help us technologically to close the gap to the top teams. In sailing matters she will, together with the GER 89, be the basis for a solid two boat campaign in the future", says Syndicate Head Michael Scheeren.

**Editor's note: Sail number 69 was also not assigned, despite reports that the French said they'd be very happy to get it, as it were.

www.united-internet-team-germany.de

EUROCARD GOTLAND RUNT
After a few years of lower participation numbers, this year's Eurocard Gotland Runt is breaking that trend. In total 254 boats have been entered so far. More than 70 boats in the elite class of offshore sail racing, IMS, have been entered to this year's largest offshore race, which makes the IMS class more interesting and compatible than ever.

Last year's winner, Ralf Aspholm at Data Communication, will race, as well as HQ Banks Gutta Johansson, with pure elite crews. In the race Sandhamn Open a week ago, the smaller IMS 2 boats Matrisen and Muchacha were as fast in the light winds, resulting in a second and third position. From Finland, as well as some from Estonia, Germany and Russia, some 20 very competitive boats are coming with crews that are quite as hot for the attractive victory.

Prior to Eurocard Round Gotland this year, KSSS decided to enter a new class into the race, using the well-tried measurement rule LYS to attract more cruising sailors and sailboats. The trick succeeded and suddenly LYS became the largest class with well over 90 boats entered.

Other news is that the one type class X-35 will enter 14 identical 35 feet boats manufactured by X-Yachts in Denmark. On two of the boats, Audi R8 and Audi R10, the Swedish Alpine ski teams of ladies and men are sailing, changing the Alps for the waves. Maria Pietila Holmner, Jessica Lindell-Vikarby and Therese Borssen are challenging the male skiers Oscar Andersson, Mattias Hargin and Johan Brolenius. Onboard the Audi boats are also some very experienced offshore sailors and skippers to complete the teams.

The Volvo Ocean Race boats Ericsson and ABN Amro will perform their own duel around Gotland, and the 60 ft Super trimaran HiQ are running a two handed with Klabbe Nylof and Andreas Andersson.

Eurocard Round Gotland Race starts Sunday July 1, 12.00 and finishes starting Tuesday July 3.

www.gotlandrunt.se

FEATURED BROKERAGE
2006 Farr Yacht Design Transpac 52 'STAY CALM'

Design # 597 is Farr Yacht Design's most recent generation Transpac 52. Designed and built beyond typical Med Cup standards, this Goetz-built TP52 is an All-Purpose design, capable of offshore racing in any condition. Stay Calm was launched in 2006 and immediately won Key West Race Week and continued to show great performance at the 2006 Global Championships and 2006 Med Cup Series. Currently lying in Palma, Spain Stay Calm is immediately available for the 2007 Med Cup Series or the up coming USA IRC and TP52 winter events. This is a fantastic offering on a current model All-Purpose design Transpac 52.

Exclusive brokerage through Farr Yacht Sales: www.FarrYachtSales.com

Complete listing details and seller contact information at:
www.farrdesign.com/brokerage/597_StayCalm.htm

THE LAST WORD
Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. -- George Bernard Shaw

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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