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ISAF SAILING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The first of the Medal Race line ups have been decided after day six of racing at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal. Tomorrow the top ten crews in the Tornado and Star fleets will face off to decide the 2007 World Champions.

Along with the final races in the opening series for the Stars and Tornados, there was plenty more action going on out on Cascais bay. The 470s raced in big swells and plenty of breeze on course area 5, whilst further inshore the 49ers and RS:X fleets had another busy day. It was also the first day of racing in the gold fleets for the Laser and Laser Radials, whilst the Finns and Ynglings had their lay day.

It was another day of shifty conditions and again those sailors who got their head out of the boat got the biggest rewards. Further inshore the conditions got more flukey, but as the regatta progresses, consistency and the ability to bounce back from a high score are features of all the front runners.

The first day of racing in the Laser gold fleet on race area 3 saw the entire fleet struggle for consistency. Overnight leader Tom SLINGSBY (AUS) posted 16,9 scores today but maintained a double-digit overall lead, as his closest rivals all found the racing equally difficult.

The first of eleven Medal Races to decide the 2007 World Championship titles get underway Monday. The Stars kick things off at 15:00 local time, followed by the Tornados at 16:30. You can watch the Medal Races live on http://www.Sail.TV

Top three by class:

Tornado
1. Fernando Echavarri / Anton Paz, ESP, 34
2. Carolijn Brouwer / Sebastien Godefroid, BEL, 40
3. Mitch Booth / Pim Nieuwenhuis, NED, 41

470 Men
1. Nathan Wilmot / Page Malcolm, AUS, 11
2. Stuart McNay / Biehl Graham, USA, 21
3. Francisco Sanchez / Alejandro Ramos, ESP, 22

470 Women
1. Marcelien De Koning / Lobke Berkhout, NED, 9
2. Giulia Conti / Giovanna Micol, ITA, 14
3. Therese Torgersson / Vendela Zachreisson, SWE, 14

49er
1. Stevie Morrison, GBR, 5
2. Morgan Lagraviere / Stephane Christidis, FRA, 13
3. Rodion Luka / Georgiy Leonchuk, UKR, 13

Finn
1. Aimilios Papathanasiou, GRE, 7
2. Pieter Jan Postma, NED, 8
3. Rafael Trujillo, ESP, 10

Laser
1. Tom Slingsby, AUS, 31
2. Mate Arapov, CRO, 32
3. Deniss Karpak, EST, 45

Laser Radial
1. Petra Niemann, GER, 37
2. Tania Elias Calles Wolf, MEX, 39
3. Nufar Edelman, ISR, 39

RS:X Men
1. Przemyslaw Miarczynski, POL, 4
2. Ricardo Santos, BRA, 7
3. Piotr Myzka, POL, 7

RS:X Women
1. Zofia Klepacka, POL, 6
2. Lise Vidal, FRA, 12
3. Alessandra Sensini, ITA, 14

Star
1. Robert Scheidt / Bruno Prada, BRA, 15
2. Xavier Rohart / Rambeau Pascal, FRA, 19
3. Iain Percy / Andrew Simpson, GBR, 25

Yngling
1. Sarah Ayton / Sarah Webb / PIppa Wilson, GBR, 14
2. Shirley Robertson / Annie Lush / Lucy MacGregor, GBR, 25
3. Sally Barkow / Carrie Howe / Deborah Capozzi, USA, 27

www.cascaisworlds2007.com

* Photos by Guilain Grenier and Gilles Martin-Raget, www.martin-raget.com , and Robert Deaves, International Finn Association, at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/

WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR: MATCH CUP SWEDEN
Marstrand, Sweden: On a day that was a spectacular counterpoint to the light air that plagued most of the event, Bjorn Hansen, SWE and his Team Onico consisting of Tompi Hallberg, Gustav Tempelman, Pontus Meijer, and Mathias Bredi went three straight against Magnus Holmberg, SWE to win Match Cup Sweden. Despite being a competitor at this event six times over the past seven years, this was Hansen's first victory at Match Cup Sweden and his first win at a World Tour event.

Even Jesper Radich, DEN, who was defeated in four matches by Hansen in the Semi-Finals, paid tribute to his speed today. He said "It was a joy to watch the way his team was working the trim and the boat today."

The level of skill exhibited by the eight remaining teams in the event was far more than just surviving the conditions, as all battles were hard-fought, both in pre-starts and around the track.

Hansen's victory has also earned him 25 points on the World Tour, advancing him from 13th to 4th in the Tour standings. Mathieu Richard earned 8 points with his 6th place finish to maintain his position at the top of the leaderboard.

Final places:
1. Bjorn Hansen, SWE
2. Magnus Holmberg, SWE
3. Jesper Radich, DEN
4. Mattias Rahm, SWE
5. Gavin Brady, NZL
6. Mathieu Richard, FRA
7. Sebastien Col, FRA
8. Simon Minoprio, NZL
9. Johnie Berntsson, SWE
10. Ian Williams, GBR
11. Evgeniy Neugodnikov, RUS
12. Eric Monnin, SUI
13. Torvar Mirsky, AUS
14. Claire Leroy, FRA
15. Jenny Axhede, SWE
16. Malin Millbourne, SWE

www.worldmatchracingtour.com
www.matchcupsweden.com

MARK YOUR CALENDAR - ACURA KEY WEST 2008
IRC, One Design, and PHRF sailors from around the world are making plans for winter's premiere keelboat regatta - Acura Key West 2008. World class competition, Premiere Racing's professional management, Key West's brilliant sunshine, dependable winds and shoreside attractions all make this a must do. With the racing, the fun, and exchange rates better than ever - it's the perfect time to plan your escape! Race dates are January 21 - 25, 2008.

Invited class include: Farr 40, Club Swan 42, Melges 24 and 32, Mumm 30, J/105, J/80, J/109, TP52 (and more). For logistics and planning details visit: www.Premiere-Racing.com

J80 WORLDS
La Trinite, France: It first came as a surprise but the astonishing superiority of a strong Spanish contingent at the beginning of the week turned into a close to complete triumph as Santander's skippers Jose Maria Torcida Seghers and Ignacio Camino struggled against each other until the last and decisive 11th race. Torcida Seghers comes out a beautiful yet modest champion with 5 wins overall :

"We came here with very limited objectives knowing we would face the word's best. We've only been sailing seriously and competitively the J80 since last october. We decided to train as a team with the entire 30 boats strong fleet gathered in Santander. All that hard work has paid off." Germany's Ulrich Muenker's third place overall prevents the Spaniards from heading home with a unique grand slam in the J80's World history. For the very first time, the winner does not come from the organizing country. 124 J80s entered this competition.

Overall top five
1. Jose MariaTorcida Seghers, ESP, 29 points
2. Ignacio Camino, ESP, 46
3. Ulrich Muenker, GER, 57
4. Rayco Tabares, ESP, 61
5. Sylvain Pellissier, FRA, 65

www.j80worlds2007.com

LOICK PEYRON TO TAKE PART IN THE NEXT VENDEE GLOBE
While remaining in charge of the Gitana Team, Loick Peyron will be skipper of the new Gitana Eighty from the end of this month. The skipper's main goal is the 2008 Vendee Globe, which starts on 9th November 2008 from Les Sables d'Olonne.

Gitana: a name, which is full of history. It was in homage to his father, Baron Edmond, who would have been eighty this year, that Baron Benjamin de Rothschild decided to name the new boat, which is about to join the Gitana fleet, Gitana Eighty. Designed by Farr Yacht Design and under construction at the Southern Ocean Marine boatyard in New Zealand since last winter, Gitana Eighty will sail for the first time at the end of July 2008. Having arrived in Europe on 6th July, she will have to wait a few days before entering her homeport of la Trinite sur Mer. The self-righting test will then be carried out, and the boat taken out of the water for some final checks. Once relaunched, and with her mast stepped, which is due to take place around 25th July, Gitana Eighty wll then be ready for her first sail.

The Gitana Team monohull is one of the latest Farr designs and sistership to Jean-Pierre Dick's Virbac Paprec. Apart from a large number of innovations concerning her interior fittings, Gitana Eighty also benefits from a hull, the shape of which can be modified using a trim tab. This is located right at the stern of the monohull by the rudders. It enables the boat's balance lengthwise to be adjusted to adapt it to the wind, sea conditions and point of sail. Another important new feature: the sliders, two sliding panels between the mast and the rear section. They offer aerodynamic gains, reducing the amount of water in the cockpit and thus making it more comfortable for the skipper allowing him to trim the sails more precisely and more often. This improvement in work conditions finally enables the yachtsman to maintain his well being and physical condition.

It will be an exciting time for Loick Peyron rediscovering the monohull, when he sails her in a few days time, having spent so much time working on her with his team. He cannot hide his enthusiasm and a certain degree of excitement: "With a few hours to go before the boat arrives, it is a bit like being a new Dad in the maternity unit, waiting to see a newborn child. Just like a baby, a boat takes 9 months to make and then there is the long period of learning to walk. I can't wait to see her heeled over in the wind with her sails up as she takes her first steps in la Trinite sur Mer Bay. It will also be the moment to share her with the whole of the Gitana team, which has worked so hard on the project."

www.vendeeglobe.org

DANISH YACHT SHIPYARD HOSTS FARR 40 EURO CIRCUIT
Danish Yacht, specialists in superyacht new build, is looking forward to welcoming the 24 strong Farr 40 fleet from 12th- 14th July for the Euro Circuit. Crown Prince Frederik will be racing Nanoq and is due to officially open the 100th anniversary celebrations for Skagen at the event.

The Regatta takes place under the burgee of the Royal Danish Yacht Club and Danish Yacht is a shore service partner, reinforcing their interest in the racing yacht market.

The yard will provide full boatyard support and an emergency repair service. Anyone wishing to use these facilities, should book with the race centre. Representatives from Danish Yacht will be at the event.

The fleet was delivered from Olbia in Sardinia to Fredrikstad in Norway by ship in time to arrive for the event in Hanko from 5th to 8th July. The boats then move onto Skagen.

www.danishyacht.com

HSH NORDBANK BLUE RACE
Hamburg, Germany: The 90-foot Rambler, owned by Connecticut businessman George David and skippered by America's Cup veteran Ken Read, is the winner of the HSH Nordbank blue race from Newport, Rhode Island, to Hamburg, Germany, after a blistering 11d, 16h, 13m, 59s voyage across the North Atlantic. Ramber finished the race on Thursday, July 5 and corrected out to first overall today while its main rival, the 80-foot Bon Bon, remained at sea.

Rambler's record-setting passage - its time was over a day-and-a-half faster than the previous record for the event, set in 2003 - was highlighted by a survival storm with winds nearing 60 knots, when the boat hit a top speed of 41.9 knots.

Rambler's finish capped off an eventful week of racing. On July 2, the 52-footer Outsider was the first to complete the course on elapsed time after a trip of 14 days, 20 hours. Outsider was followed nearly two days later by the 50-foot Chieftain, and the third boat across the line was the Swan 82 Grey Goose. All three Class II boats started on June 16. Rambler was fourth on elapsed time, and the first in the second group of Class I starters, which left Newport on June 23. Earlier this week, the Class I entry Parsifal III, the largest boat in the fleet at 177-feet, retired after damage to her rig and main and mizzen sails.

Earlier today, three more Class II entries completed the course, including former New York Yacht Club commodore Lawrence Huntington's 50-footer Snow Lion, whose arrival was sandwiched between the finishes of two German entries, the Andrews 56 Norddeutsche Vermogen Hamburg and the 53-foot Bank von Bremen. Huntington said he'd hope to cross the finish line a day earlier, but that Snow Lion's progress was hampered in light air due to a broken gennaker pole.

For Rambler, the HSH Nordbank blue race was the start of a full season of racing, including the upcoming Fastnet Race and, later this year, the Cape Town-Rio Race. -- Herb McCormick

www.hsh-nordbank-blue-race.com

CUXHAVEN OPEN SHIP
Sailors and everyone interested in the sea and ships will have a special welcome at Cuxhaven's new annual Sea Festival "Cuxhaven Open Ship" on August 15-19 this year. The festival celebrates the 150th anniversary of Albert Ballin, founder of the Hamburg-America line which carried many German and European migrants to the USA in the 19th and 20th centuries. Modelled on other highly successful traditional sea festivals, Cuxhaven Open Ship will see a unique gathering of many vessels including Alexander von Humboldt, Dar Modziezy and Sedov, the giant Russian training tall ship. Pilot schooners will race in the River Elbe, and parties for sailors and guests are scheduled. Cuxhaven is about 2 1/2 hours by train from Hamburg. Cuxhaven is the finish line port for the 3,600-mile HSH NORDBANK blue race now in progress ( www.hsh-nordbank-blue-race.com ). -- Alan Green

www.openship-cuxhaven.de/en/

TOUR VOILE: RED SPINNAKER FOR TAHITI
The winner of this offshore leg, Toulon Provence Mediterranee - COYCHyeres, arrived a bit less than twelve hours after the departure from Cherbourg. A very tight race, after which Tahiti et ses Iles took the first place of the overall ranking, only one point and a half in front of Ile de France.

Only one minute and twenty-seven seconds behind Toulon Provence Mediterranee - COYCHyeres, Nouvelle Caledonie fought until the end. The navigator Dominic Vittet tells us about the situation: "we tried to attack in the channel of Paimpol, but it wasn't a big hit. All the favourites were in the head of this leg, a pity; we would have liked to take their place in the overall ranking!" During such a long offshore leg, the start is decisive as the race is more or less a straight line". The boat finished 55 seconds in front of Tahiti et ses Iles.

The Tahitians were still satisfied: "it was very tight, we did a great job" and the result can be seen in the overall ranking, "we got the Tetra Pak red spinnaker!" The two step difference was enough to remove Ile de France (Victor Lanier, Nicolas Pauchet) from the top of the podium. In the Amateur ranking, Ville du Port - Region la Reunion ((Marc Guessard, Gabriel Jean-Alb! ert) takes the lead, in front of Bred (Sylvain Chtounder) and Saint-Ma lo Purflo Team SNBSM (Pierre Hingant, Francois Lebourdais). In the School ranking, Caisse d'Epargne - HEC - Ecole Navale (Herve Gautier) keep the first place, four places in front of Les Saisies - INSA (Sylvain Leboeuf) and eleven places in front of Brest - Grandes Ecoles ENSIETA ESC (Loïc Le Garrec).

Glad to have sailed with a gentle wind in the sun, the crews will take their partners on board tomorrow for a coefficient zero - race in front of Paimpol - Cotes d'Armor. They will sail a 120 nautical miles long offshore leg towards Ecole Navale - Port Poulmic. -- Anatole Lucet

www.tourvoile.fr

* Photos by Juerg Kaufmann, www.go4image.com , in the Eurobutt Gallery, scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/

JONATHAN MCKEE CO-SKIPPER FOR ESTRELLA DAMM SAILING TEAM
Top American sailor, Jonathan McKee, today has been confirmed as co-skipper to Spanish skipper, Guillermo Altadill, for the IMOCA 60 Estrella Damm campaign. The duo will be gunning for a podium finish in this winter's double-handed, non-stop Barcelona World Race starting 11th November. The two sailors have never raced together before but their combined experience is set to make them a competitive force.

Based in Seattle, USA, Jonathan is a natural sailor and his skills were quickly snapped up by the America's Cup, which saw him race with the One World Challenge in 2003 and recently Luna Rossa in 2007.

Aged 48 and a father of two young children, Jonathan will be training with Guillermo within two weeks and they are aiming to qualify for the Barcelona World Race as soon as possible.

Guillermo Altadill, who will be racing in his seventh circumnavigation of his career, commented: "I'm really delighted that Jonathan accepted our invitation to compete in the Barcelona World Race with me onboard Estrella Damm. He is a great sailor and we both have Olympic background as well as grand prix and offshore racing. I believe that together we can learn fast about IMOCA Open 60s as Jonathan already has some previous experience on Kingfisher, and that we can become a great team." -- Coralie Rassinoux

estrelladammsailingteam.com
www.barcelonaworldrace.com

WARNEMUNDER WOCHE STARTS WITH STRONG WINDS
The Warnemunder Woche started it's 70th edition with strong winds: After the majority of the dinghy classes firstly joined in the competitions on Sunday the sun shined with the first winners: Karsten Hitz is the new international German champion of the OK-dinghy class, the offshore racers completed their long-distance race under tough conditions. The participants of the World Championship of the Tempest and Laser II had their first Baltic Sea experiences. There were 1340 sailors from 22 countries and 14 boat classes starting at the kick-off weekend.Karsten Hitz is the new international German champion of the OK-dinghy class

The "First Ship Home" at the long distance race of the off shore championships is the "Unique". After ten and a half hours the 16 meters long and therefore biggest participating yacht crossed the finishing line first. The boat of the Kieler Yacht Club (KYC) competed under the command of Bernd Kriegel as helmsman. Yesterday afternoon at 2:45 pm at almost seven Beaufort 32 crews were starting to the 100 miles course to Neustadt and back. However, the winner of the race of the IMS class 1 and 2 was "Beluga - Sailing Team" with helmsman Christian Plump from Bremen. "It wasn't an easy walk-over, only the way back under full sails and spinnaker was real fun. We made speed up to 20 knots" enthused the crew. Among them, also the experienced match race sailor Markus Wieser, who was hired as tactician.

At first, the beginning of the Tempest championship had to be postponed because of too tough winds. Winds of up to 7 Beaufort did not allow any sailing. The approximately 80 participants used the time to measure their sails. Among them was also the president of the DSV, Rolf Bahr. The 68 aged from Berlin wanted to reach the top again, together with his foredeck hand Thomas Olbrich. The team reached second at four world championships, but the success at the German Open four weeks ago makes them confident. Now they want to succeed. Both they started with delay for the practice race before there will be the final decisions tomorrow. The start of the last race will be at 11 a.m. -- Nadja Arp

warnemuender-woche.com

THE LAST WORD
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. -- Les Brown

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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