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WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR: TROIA PORTUGAL MATCH CUP
At the end of the first day's racing in the Troia Portugal Match Cup, only three of the twelve skippers have unbeaten records. Gavin Brady (NZL) of the BMW Oracle Racing Team won all three of his matches in the round robin, as did Peter Gilmour (AUS) of the Pizza-La Sailing Team.

Five skippers, Sebastien Col (FRA), Mathieu Richard (FRA), Bjorn Hansen (SWE), Ian Williams (GBR) and Philippe Presti (FRA), won two of their three matches and Paolo Cian (ITA) and Staffan Lindberg (FIN) each had one win while Sally Barkow (USA), Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS) and Alvaro Marinho (POR) suffered three defeats apiece.

It was a day of mixed wind conditions; the early westerly breeze gave way to a shifting northerly at the end of the third flight, but the race officer waited until this had largely settled before resuming the racing. No flights suffered as a result of the change but there were many close matches with all the match racing gambits employed.

There are still four flights of the round robin and the five flights of the repecharge for the last three skippers in each of the two groups in the round robin, before the quarter-finals begin on Friday. -- Bob Fisher

Results:

Group A:
Gavin Brady, USA, 3-0
Sebastien Col, FRA, 2-1
Mathieu Richard, FRA, 2-1
Bjorn Hansen, SWE, 2-1
Sally Barkow, USA, 0-3
Eugeny Neugodnikov, RUS, 0-3

Group B:
Peter Gilmour, AUS, 3-0
Ian Williams, GBR, 2-1
Philippe Presti, FRA, 2-1
Paolo Cian, ITA, 1-2
Staffan Lindberg, FIN, 1-2
Alvaro Marinho, POR, 0-3

worldmatchracingtour.com
www.naval-sesimbra.pt

2007 IRM UK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2007 IRM National Championships were hosted by the Royal Southern Y.C. over the weekend of the 20th to 22nd July. Considering the appalling conditions that the middle of England was suffering the weather in the Solent started fairly wet but improved dramatically so that by Sunday the boats enjoyed ideal racing conditions. With several regattas taking place off the north shore P.R.O. Peter Bateson took the fleet to the East and set windward / leeward courses near the Burgess Salmon buoy.

The conditions on Sunday could not have been better with sunshine and a reasonable, steady breeze. The first race on Sunday really turned the screws on the leaders. Agne Nilsson (Fortis Excel) won whilst the Hennings could only manage 5th and so, with a discard now allowed, the next two races would be crucial. Race 9, and after a clean start 'Alice II' and 'Fortis Excel' managed to get ahead of the rest and that was the order in which they finished, with 'Werewolf' in 5th. This gave 'Alice II' a little more breathing but in the final race 'Werewolf' came out with her teeth bared and cleaned up. 'Alice II' was 40 secs behind and 'Fortis Excel' was next home 2 minutes after the gun. This gave the overall title to the Hennings with 18 pts. Nilsson & Otter were tied on 23 pts but 'Werewolf' took 2nd overall with four race wins.

Results:
1. Alice II, Simon & Mike Henning, 18 points
2. Fortis Excel, Agne Nilsson, 23
3. Werewolf, Jerry Otter, 23

www.irmclass.org

* Photos by Eddie Mays, www.eddiemaysphotography.com , in the Eurobutt Gallery: scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=188

WET, WILD, WESTERN APPROACHES
Wolf Rock. Longships. Seven Stones. Those lights are out there somewhere but it's raining sideways and blowing big dogs off heavy chains. Welcome to the Western Approaches. 'Code 4, guys.' The foredeck's an ugly place to be right now but the reflective strips and F1-inspired super-grip of Dubarry's new Fastnet boots gives your crew the confidence to work fast and work safe. The Dubarry Fastnet boot - built for foredecks in a Force 8.

www.dubarry.com

THOUGHTS ON THE PAST TWO DAYS IN THE AMERICA'S CUP
Between them, the two billionaires, Ernesto Bertarelli and Larry Ellison, have outlined their plans for America's Cup 33. They are so different. On the one hand the defender has issued plans to hold the Cup in 2009 in Valencia, while the Deed of Gift challenger has introduced a new CEO and planned a totally different venue - the New York State Court, as soon as possible.

Ellison made his statement at a Press Conference in Valencia at the BMW Oracle Racing headquarters. He first introduced Russell Coutts as his CEO and skipper for the next America's Cup - the world's worst kept secret was out in the open at last. Then he said that since there was no agreement forthcoming from Bertarelli over matters pertaining to the Protocol and the status of the Challenger of Record, he would pursue the matter in the courts.

There had been a meeting of challengers earlier in the day and Ellison claimed almost universal support from those present. He said that what he wanted to see in the Protocol was mutual consent, but there was no sign of this from the Alinghi team boss. He agreed that it would be more exciting racing (for television) in bigger, faster, lighter displacement boats with deeper draft, but thought that the design advantage that Alinghi already held in this area would make the racing one-sided.

He announced that if the court ruled in favour of his Deed of Gift challenge (by disqualifying CNEV as a legitimate challenger), he would hope to hold the races from Valencia in 2008 and then, if successful, restore the Cup to its normal state in Valencia in 2009. He added that he didn't expect to give it to the city free of charge, but would need a sum to run it, probably less than the ACM demands.

The following day, there was an ACM Press Conference at which Bertarelli carried on as if nothing had been heard from the Golden Gate Yacht Club and announced that the Cup races would be in Valencia in 2009, three weeks later in the calendar than in 2007. This would possibly eliminate the dubious weather for the early challenger trials, such as these might be with the defender taking part in all of them, at least until it was satisfied with its own performance.

He also announced that there would be two Acts in Valencia in 2008 with the new sponsor (Rolex, as yet to be named).

The bait that was offered to teams to sign up to challenge came in the form of being allowed to have input into the rule for the proposed 90-foot class for AC33. Each Team would only be allowed to build one new boat to this rule. It also emerged that the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron had joined the other three challengers, CNEV, the Royal Cape YC and the Royal Thames YC.

The Arbitration Panel is in place and the Jury is being finalised - all appointments have been made by Bertarelli's company, ACM. This is one of the sticking points in the Protocol that Ellison mentioned as making the next Cup one-sided and far from independent in its judiciary.

The City of Valencia confirmed that 105 million Euros would be made available for the Cup - 40% from central government, 40% from regional government and 20% from the city. In addition, the recently re-elected mayor, Rita Barbera, announced that an additional 15 million Euros would be needed from the city's funds to finish the infrastructure.

Finally, under questioning, Bertarelli declared his intentions over the possible court case in New York: I'm going to defend this case with every ounce of breath in my body." He went on to describe Ellison's actions in the single word: "Bull****." And that with all the Spanish and Valencian dignitaries in the room. -- Bob Fisher in www.fishersailing.com

TOYOTA SOPOT MATCH RACE 2007 EUROSAF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Sopot, Poland: In the final of the European Championship Toyota Sopot Match Race Peter Wibroe ( DEN ) defeated Pierre Antoine Morvan. In the fight for the third place the defender of the title Staffan Lindberg ( FIN ) defeated Jure Orel ( SLO )

Final standing sof the European Championship 2007:

1. Peter Wibroe ( DEN )
2. Pierre Antoine Morvan ( FRA )
3. Staffan Lindberg ( FIN )
4. Jure Orel ( SLO )
5. Przemyslaw Tarnacki ( POL )
6. Eric Monnin ( SUI )
7. Dario Kliba ( CRO )
8. Andreas Willim ( GER )
9. Rui Boia ( POR )
10. Marek Stanczyk ( POL )
11. Jacopo Pasini ( ITA )
12. Andriej Arbuzov ( RUS )

In the final the Danish team: Peter Wibroe (skipper), Jeppe Rasmussen, Phillip Guhle, Jonas Hviid-Nielsen defeated the French team: Pierre-Antoine Morvan (skipper), Nicolas Pauchet Devan, Le Bihan, Mathieu Renault 3:1. In the Petit Final Staffan Lindberg defeated the representative of Slovenia Jure Orel 2:0. The only Polish team that made it to the second round: Przemyslaw Tarnacki (skipper), Zbigniew Gutkowski, Piotr Przybylski, Marcin Banaszek, finished at 5th place.

Watch the regattas on the Internet: www.regaty.finder.pl or www.yachting.com.pl in Live Racing.

* Photos by Juerg Kaufmann, www.go4image.com , in the Eurobutt Gallery: scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=187

CGMER PARTNERS WITH BOATS.COM AND YACHTWORLD.COM
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BRITISH CLASSIC YACHT CLUB AND SPIRIT YACHTS REGATTA
The British Classic Yacht Club Regatta finished in style on Saturday when over 50 yachts in 5 classes completed a week of racing and rallying in the Solent. The meaning of the word 'classic' in yachting has undergone some radical changes in recent years. All the yachts are IRC rated and race competitively in class, most completely restored to an immaculate and highly competitive level, only the perfect varnish work and bronze winches hinting at there being any other reason than winning, to own one.

Marc Busschots from Belgium secured the class 1 trophy in the Metre Class when his 1936-built 8 metre Ilderim gained two 1sts and two 2nds to beat Andy King's Gluckauf into second place. In the Spirit Yacht Class, whose incredibly elegant yet state of the art boats, are mostly only one or two years old, a fierce duel between two Spirit 46s, Sean Macmillan's Fight of Ufford and Tom Hill's Dido resulted in a 2 point difference, with Dido triumphing finally.

Class 3 was typified by the most characteristic of classic boats where the larger of the yachts were to be found. The likes of 78ft ketch Rona which was helmed by Ellen MacArthur on one particular day, was pitted against the 1960s Admiral's Cup legend Noryema made famous by Ron Amey then, and now in the hands of Patrice Vazeuze, while comedian Griff Rhys Jones's beloved Undina sparred with Tim Blackman's Infanta.. Brand new to classic racing was Sinbad of Abersoch, collected from her previous owners only a fortnight before by Adam Gosling, who scooped the silverware in class 4. Class 5 was won by Jonathan Dyke's Cereste, which also by the nature of having the lowest points, was the overall regatta winner.

The week kicked off with a clockwise race around the Isle of Wight which saw every type of weather from thunder and lightening with torrential rain to flat calm, the latter of which got the better of 50% of the fleet off Yarmouth, who ended up retiring. A handful managed to pull away including Stiren which achieved Line honours. A convincing lead held by Strega was dashed, when she hit Black Rock and finally had to resort to motoring off.

In the Solent races winds ranged from extremely light to in excess of 30 knots.

Despite the conditions losses were minimum, perhaps the most lamentable being the loss of the top of a 100 year old mast by Corrie who despite this completed a race with a reefed main. -- Marina Johnson

www.britishclassicyachtclub.org

SASKIA'S FIRST TWO WINS AT COWES METRE CLASS REGATTA
Saskia, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron's entrant in the Metre Class Centenary Regatta at Cowes on England's Isle of Wight, has won her first two races in the 8-Metre division, sailed overnight on The Solent.

Fresh from winning the Sira Cup for Classic yachts at the 8-Metre Centennial World Championships at on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, Saskia outsailed a smaller fleet of nine 8-metre and 8-metre cruiser/racers.

Saskia, owned by Squadron members John and Michael Stephen, won the opening race on The Solent from the British entry Siris (Avia Willment) and the Belgium yacht Iderim (Marc Busshots).

In the second race, the Australian boat beat Iderim and another Biritish entry, Athena, owned by the Early of Cork & Orrery and David Glasgow, which placed 4th in the Neptune Trophy division of the World Championships last week.

However, Siris, which placed 6th in race two, received redress of average points and still holds second place overall behind Saskia.

Conducted by the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Metre Class Centenary Regatta continues through to Friday with six races, the last two being longer races starting off the RYS at Cowes.

The 8-Metres are part of a near 60 boat fleet of yachts built to the Metre Class yacht design rule, introduced in 1907, with yachts still being built to this classic design.

Other 'metre' boats competing in the historic regatta include 12-metres, among them the 1957 British America's Cup contender Sceptre, 5.5 metres, Darings (built to the 5.5 metre rule) and 2.4 metres, with the largest divisions being the 6-metres and classic 6-metres which between them have 25 entries.

Saskia, built in Scotland in 1931, is the third oldest boat in the 8-Metre division, but the oldest yacht in the fleet is the Classic 6-Metre Cailin, owned by Irish yachtsman Sean Cullinan.

Saskia represented Britain at the Olympic Games in the 1930s and was brought to Australia in 1950 by the late Sir William Northam, Australia's first Olympic gold medal winning skipper in sailing, to win back for the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron the Sayonara Cup, an intercolonial match racing series, then held by the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria. Which he did!

The present owners, Sydney surgeons who have raced Saskia on Sydney Harbour for the past 12 years, decided to ship the yacht back to her birthplace on the Clyde in Scotland for the 8-Metre Centennial World Championship and then bring her south for the Metre Class 100 Years Regatta and Cowes Week.

John Stephen is helmsman of Saskia with his crew, in addition to his brother Michael, including navigator Lindsay May who last December skippered Love & War to overall IRC honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

The project manager in bringing Saskia to the UK is 80-year-old Mick York, who was a member of the crew of Gretel in Australia's first challenge for the America's Cup in 1962. -- Peter Campbell

* There was no racing in the Metre Centenary Regatta in Cowes today, due to high winds and bad weather. The race committee judged the winds which averaged 20 knots, gusting to 26 knots, which is more than the metre yachts choose to race in.

Results of the first two races, held yesterday are on www.rys.org.uk/metreregatta.

The official photographer of the event is kos picture source www.kospictures.com but a list of official photographers is also available on the event website.

* Photos of the beautiful Saskia by Erik Russell, www.erikrussell.co.uk , by way of Peter Campbell (thanks!) in the Eurobutt gallery: scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=189

INTERNATIONAL 420 CLASS OPEN AND LADIES EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Clear blue skies and soaring temperatures met the sailors arriving in Istanbul for Championships today. The event is being organised by the Turkish Sailing Federation and hosted by the Istanbul Sailing Club / Yelken Kulübü.

Measurement is well under way. There were some challenges for the boats that have come from the colder parts of northern Europe, in particular due to expansion of metal in the intense heat.

Entries have been received from 15 countries including Argentina and New Zealand, with 64 boats registered in the Open Fleet and 54 in the Women's. Fierce competition is expected among the sailors of this very competitive class. With national champions from around Europe competing, this promises to be an exciting event.

Racing starts in earnest on Friday 27 July with the Qualifying Races.

Event website: www.istanbulyelken.org.tr/420european/
Class website: www.420sailing.org

ROUTE DE ELISSA
Today, Jo Royle, Pindar Ocean Racing's Volvo 60 skipper, will join 30 women representing eight different European countries to set sail for the third edition of the offshore yacht race the 'Route de Elissa'. The 'Route De Elissa' which takes the fleet from Tunisia to Italy, is the only all female offshore race in Europe, and has important and interesting historical foundations, carrying a message of European unity in memory of Princess Elissia of Lebanon, founder of Tunisia and the creator of Cartage, Tunisia.

Approximately 2,000 years ago Princess Elissa, her family and countrymen were forced to flee their home country of Lebanon. Led by Princess Elissia they set sail to an unknown land, not aware she would become the creator of the Mediterranean's first finest civilised city, Cartage, Tunisia. For five centuries the city of Cartage remained as the Mediterranean's richest city, until the Roman Empire hijacked the city as it posed a threat to Roma, this saw the start of the Punic War. For 300 years the people of Cartage battled to keep their beautiful land, until eventually the Roman Emperor ordered his soldiers to burn the City.

The race originally started in Beirut, Lebanon, but due to the current political unrest in the city, this year's edition will not visit the country, instead starting from Tunisia. Jo is sailing with the French team skippered by Frederique Brule. They will race alongside teams from Monaco (lead by Florence Arthaud), Lebanon (lead by Alexia Barrier), Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The fleet will leave the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said on the 25th, and is expected to arrive in Roma, Italy on the 29th.

www.routedeelissia.com
www.pindar.com/teampindar

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.

* From Jim Champ re: The Lessons of Troia: Sorry Mr Fisher, but I cannot believe that it is acceptable for any Olympic event to be competed for by just 6 countries, even if women's match racing does now take part in sufficient countries, the requirement on which it fell down last time. With one country being the host nation that means only 5 berths, all of which will doubtless be white first world nations, and quite possibly all from Europe, with the chance of one North American and/or one Oceanian Nation.

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THE LAST WORD
Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. -- Vince Lombardi

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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