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COPA DEL REY CAMPER AUDI
The Embat was present today in the bay de Palma, in the three racing areas of the 26 Copa del Rey Camper Audi. It was between 200 and 225 degrees (Southwest), 10 to 12 knots, conditions that made it possible to complete the programme scheduled for the fourth day of competition, after which everything is possible, especially in three classes.

Unquestionable leadership in GP 42 for Quebramar-Chrysler, with two new victories today, making a total of five out of the seven races sailed. The Desafio Espanol crew on this boat showed once again their skill in the two windward-leeward races sailed today, although in the first one Italian boat Roma finished at only two seconds from them.

New change of leader in the TP 52. First place is now for Mutua Madrilena, with Italian sailor Vasco Vascotto as helmsman and ten points advantage over Alberto Roemmers and Majorcan Pedro Perello's Siemens. The coastal race sailed today in this class in replacement of the traditional offshore race, was a 27mile course in the bay of Palma, counting double points.

In IMS 570, that makes its debut this year in the 26 Copa del Rey Camper Audi, Dufour 44 icaro reconfirms its leadership. The boat from Catalan owner Luis Mas has already 13 points advantage over second place, six more than yesterday, after adding a second and third place in the windward-leeward races sailed today. There is a fierce battle for second place between three Comets in second, third and fourth place with only one point difference between each other.

The compact group of the IMS 670 is still closely grouped at the top of the fleet with three X-37 on the podium. Jesus Pintos's Navantia- the current class world champion- reacted today, and left behind Jose Maria Van der Ploeg's Turismo Madrid –the class world second classified-. It was not a good day for the Barcelona 92 Olympic champion, and the boat from Galicia gained fourth points advantage although it did not have a brilliant performance either. Third place is still for Movistar, with Majorcan sailor Javier Moyà at the helm, and which is now closer to second place at only one point. Fourth place is for Alessandro Ferrari's Dehler 36 Aquasonic that shone today finishing first and second.

In IRC, there is a fierce battle between US maxi Bon Bon and Farr 52 Plis Play from Alicante owned by Vicente Garcia Torres.

Tomorrow windward-leeward courses are scheduled for all participating classes in the 26 Copa del Rey Camper Audi. Races are scheduled to start from one o'clock provided weather conditions are favourable. The TP 52 and GP 42 will try to sail three. It will be the day before the end of the competition because this edition of one of the most symbolical events in the Mediterranean will finish on Saturday and not on Sunday as traditional, due to the disappearance of the lay day.

After two races:
1. Mutua Madrilena (ESP) 1, 2 - 3 points
2. Siemens (ESP) 3, 1 - 4 points
3. Platoon (GER) 4, 4 - 8 points
4. Bribon (ESP) 9, 3 - 12 points
5. Stay Calm (GBR) - 7, 6 - 13 points

www.medcup.org
www.regatacopadelrey.com

THE RACE TO CORK STARTS AGAIN AT LANDS END
Nicolas Berenger (Kone Ascenseurs) holds on to a narrow lead in the as the Figaro sailors face the last 140 miles. The leaders passed Runnel Stone, off Lands End, the last headland on the South coast of England, this afternoon to continue upwind on a North Westerly breeze across the Celtic Sea to the Bay of Cork. The latest ETA is given for Friday between 08h00 and 12h00 French time. Kone Ascenseurs lead with 142.6 miles to go to the finish, but 47 of the competitors are hot on his heels and within just 15 miles!

Two distinct groups formed this morning and the lead swapped hands repeatedly over the last 24 hours for 49 sailors taking part in La Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro race. An early morning shift created two groups, further southwest a runaway group of four boats made up of Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert), Eric Drouglazet (Luisina), Marc Emig (AS.T Group) and Gerald Veniard (Scutum). "The aim is to go and catch the wind as it veers round to the West, South West" explains Morvan, "I do not understand why they (the other boats) went to shore against the current when a the wind rotation is due to come in from the left" he continues. The second group, furthest North and closest to shore spearheaded by Thierry Chabagny (Brossard) this morning used the current to work to their advantage on the final approach to Runnel Stone which has put them in a good position for the final crossing.

The sailors now wait for the wind to back this evening, which will theoretically give the boats a chance to cross the Celtic Sea on one tack. The first competitors are due to cross an anticyclonic ridge which will give them slightly less wind; 7 to 10 knots, for the first third of this last stretch of the race, whilst those behind should not slow down and have more breeze which will reduce the time deficit on the leaders. These gaps should close up as the breeze builds in the early morning to 20 knots.

The wind is forecast to increase to 20-25 knots, gusting 30 on Friday afternoon.

Top ten at last report:

1. Thierry Chabagny, Brossard
2. Frederic Duthil, Distinxion
3. Nicolas Troussel, Financo
4. Desjoyeaux Michel, Foncia
5. Berenger Nicolas, KONE Ascenseurs
6. Lepesqueux Marc, Rapid' Flore - Caen-La-Mer
7. Svilarich Etienne, Grain de Soleil
8. Treussart Ronan, Groupe Celeos
9. Mahe Gildas, Le Comptoir Immobilier
10. Mouren Jean-Paul, M@rseillEntreprises

www.lasolitaire.com

SOLING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Arendal, Norway: Another day with great wind at the 2007 APL Soling Europeans Two more windward / leeward races were sailed today in Arendal, Norway for the APL Soling European Championship, both with winds from the South West of 16 to 20 knots and what is not less important under nice temperatures and a clear sky at the end of the day.

Only 51 boats could start today and although NOR 130 with the only woman helming at the event will start tomorrow another boat won't be able to continue racing due to severe hit at the bow.

And although the event has new leader overall with Edding team from Argentina (ARG 32) with Gustavo Warbug, Maximo Smith and Miguel Lacour the races bullets went for Marinepool team GER 300 with Roman Koch, Maxl Koch and Gregor Bornemann and the Slovenian team SLO 1 with Bostjan Antoncic, Gennadi Skrath and Sergey Pichuguin.

The 2007 will come to an end Friday with one more race and a prize giving ceremony together with free dinner.

Event website and complete results www.solingeuropeans.com

ULLMAN SAILS ON 2007 TRANSPAC RACE
Ullman Sails would like to congratulate Jack Taylor's Santa Cruz 50 Horizon and Steve Calhoun's Cal 40 Psyche for their outstanding finishes in the 2007 44th Biennial Transpacific Yacht Race. Taylor's Horizon finished 4th overall out of a fleet of 80 competitors and 2nd in Division 50/52. Calhoun's Psyche won Division 6 on corrected time, finishing 2nd on line. Both competed with a full inventory of Ullman Sails, proving once again that Ullman Sails delivers the speed and reliability to win world-class regattas. For the "Fastest Sails on the Planet," contact an Ullman Sails loft and visit www.ullmansails.com

M'LEARNED FRIENDS ARE SQUARING UP
Excerpts from Stuart Alexander's must-bookmark blog www.stuartalexander.eu :

If justice is on your side, then argue justice. If the truth is on your side, then argue the truth. If you have neither, then argue the law. Lord knows how many time I have quoted that and now, it seems, that, unfortunately, the minutiae of legal interpretation will determine not necessarily the format of the next America's Cup but the power struggle between two rich and stubborn men.

While it is easy to have some sympathy with the sentiment of Larry Ellison's complaint about the terms and tone of the protocol presented by Ernesto Bertarelli's America's Cup Management on behalf of the Societe Nautique de Geneve, it is tempting to say that a little more jaw-jawing should have been attempted before going to war. And, while there was an attempt by Ellison himself to focus on why he feels aggrieved when he coincidentally introduced Russell Coutts as his new ceo and skipper, that appeal on the basis of fair play was hardly given the sort of worldwide push that could have built a head of steam against the protocol for America's Cup 33.

Perhaps being told that, having dared to stand up to Bertarelli, he would, whatever happened, be frozen out of the next cup, Ellison just shrugged his shoulders and plumped for high noon. But there are always back channels for negotiation and little spotlight has been played on a willingness by either side to reach a settlement.

Claims, fostered by Bertarelli's Alinghi men, that the petition to the New York Supreme Court was not properly served first time round have been hotly denied by spokemen for the Golden Gate Yacht Club. All was done, they say, according to Hoyle. So the clock, if they are right, is ticking and SNG has 30 days to respond.

In a bid to pre-empt anything the court may decide, Alinghi has referred the legitimacy of the newly-formed Club Nautico Espanol de Vela to be the challenger of record to a three-man arbitration panel appointed by ACM. None of them has been named, but the law firm which represents GGYC, Latham and Watkins, has sent a letter from its Third Avenue, New York office to the man it regards as its chairman, Prof. Henry Peter, at the panel's Geneva office.

It is gloriously American in its aggression and ebullience, with shades of Rome's greatest legal orator, Cicero, who developed the tactic of discrediting witnesses in order to discredit that witness's evidence, even it it were just, truthful and accurate.

THE FASTNET QUIZ...
Last week's question:
A storm overtook the race area causing many casualties in which year?
Answer: 1979

This week's question:
When the winner of a Fastnet race announced that he intended to win the next race as well, he was roundly booed by attendees at the awards ceremony. What year, what boat? (Bonus points for why!)

Two correct answer winners this week and for the following weeks of our contest: one will win a copy of the new Fastnet book "Beyond Endurance" ( see www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780771057557 ) Another lucky sailor wins a free Dubarry T-shirt. This high quality cotton T-shirt is plain on the front, and the back reveals the secret of the Dubarry deck shoe knot.

At the end of the competition, one entrant will win a pair of Dubarry Fastnet boots - where F1 motor sport technology grips the deck with Dubarry's unique Non-slip Non-Marking sole.

Cast your vote at www.scuttlebutteurope.com/index.php?option=com_philaform&form_id=5&Itemid=1

WILL AN AUSTRALIAN CHALLENGE BID FOR THE 33RD AMERICA'S CUP?
Despite a great deal of time and effort by two teams (C7 & OzBoyz Challenge) to prepare for the last America's Cup, the 32nd edition was the second America's Cup in a row that Australia missed.

Rumors has it that an Australian America's Cup challenge is currently underway for the 33rd to be held in Valencia in 2009. The project's board of director has been in discussion with leading Australian corporations and with some of the best sailors and yacht designers in the last couple of months. They are believed to be very close to finalizing funding and logistical arrangements required to mount a challenge of the size and expense required.

Will this project includes some of the C7 or an OzBoyz Challenge key player is not sure at this stage. Interestingly it has to be reminded that OzBoyz Challenge did announce their commitment to the 33rd when they had to pull out a couple of years ago.

Although there has not been any formal announcement yet, it is believed that further information will be released in September. A date apparently chosen to coincide the 24th years of the Australian victory. -- Jose Desmar

BREAKING NEWS ABOUT A SECOND SPANISH SYNDICATE...
A breaking story, on the sidelines of the exciting Copa del Rey in Palma, is certainly going to capture to attention of the media. We have been following this developing story and we are in position to know that a very serious project concerning the creation of a second Spanish America's Cup challenger is currently at an advanced stage.

According to the available information, the project's leaders have the intention to represent the Royal Yacht Club of Palma and have been in contact and discussions with leading sailors and yacht designers in the last couple of months. Although there is no available information yet, it is believed that major Spanish and European corporate groups have also shown interest in funding the project.

It is expected that within the next few days the project's leaders will make a public announcement. -- from Valencia Sailing, valenciasailing.blogspot.com

* It is understood from other sources that Paul Cayard and Jaun Kouyoumdjian (designer of ABN Amro One and part of the design team with BMW Oracle Racing), may be involved. -- Sail-World.com : www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=36270

* Leading Mallorcan yachtsman Pedro Perello is hoping to put together a well funded syndicate to make a second Spanish entry in the 33rd America's Cup. Perollo, whose TP52 Siemens is, currently, leading the Copa del Rey, has been in discussions about the project for about three months and is has Paul Cayard & Guillermo Parada in mind for the roles of skipper/tactician and helmsman.

Ideally, Perello would like to have his design team led by Juan K, who was part of the BMW Oracle team for the 32nd America's Cup and designer of the two ABN AMRO yachts for the Volvo Ocean Race. The problem is that the Argentinian already has several offers on the table from other potential challengers.

Nothing has yet been decided about the challenging yacht club; there are several options, but Perello is hoping it will be the Real Club de Palma. The decision depends on whether the local Balearic Government is prepared to support the project financially.

Perello is aiming for a minimum budget of 100 million Euros, which he sees as essential for a potentially winning project and is hoping to raise this from sponsors worldwide. He also wishes to focus on the social benefits of the campaign, as Team Shosholoza did in the last cup, and will probably form a liason with the Fundacion del Duque de Palma, Inaki Urdangarin, husband of the Infanta of Spain.

With a Cup looming in 2009 and ACTS in 2008, Perello knows he needs to move quickly, if he is to acquire a version 5 IACC yacht for the ACTS and build a new boat for the competition proper. He is, however, taking an approach which is the opposite of that of the teams that have already entered and seeking sponsorship before making an entry. -- Marian Martin in BYM News, www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=13150

OPEN FINNISH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE DRAGON CLASS
Hanko, Finland: The Open Finnish Championships in the Dragon Class started on Thursday, as a prelude to the main event, the Volvo Dragon European Championship coming up on Monday.

The first day of racing was held in medium to light southwesterly winds. Wave conditions were a bit choppy, especially in the dying breezes of the second race.

Markus Wieser in his Ukrainian Dragon Bunker Queen mastered the conditions well and moved into an early lead, ahead of Patrick Gifford from the United Kingdom. Russian and Finnish yachts were well up front during the first day of racing.

Preliminary top results of the first day's racing (37 participants):

1. Bunker Queen, Markus Wieser - Sergei Pujachev - Thomas Aurachev, BUC, Ukraine, 3 points
2. Nereid, Patrick Gifford - Michael John Gifford - Charlie Sprake, AYC, Great Britain, 11.4
3. Annapurna, Vladimir Ikonnikov - Alexander Shalagin - Anatoly Mikhaylin, Russia, 17
4. Red Oktober, Georgy Shayduko - Sergey Dzienbaev - Marat Nevlutov, Pirogovo, Russia, 17
5. Rat-Pack, Henrik Dahlman - Lars Henriksen - Oskar Dannström, ÅSS, Finland, 18

LARS GRANDE
It is with great sadness ISAF reports that Lars Grande (NOR), an International Judge since 1994, has died at sea. He was 61 years old.

On 18 July, Lars left Soly marina in Moss, Norway alone in his Viknes 1030. The destination of the journey was Travemuende in Germany, where he was to be one of the International Judges during Travemuende Week.

It was stormy weather and rough sea, but Lars was an experienced yachtsman. Close by Hvaler Islands outside Fredrikstad somehow Lars suddenly fell out of his yacht. The Coast Guard led a big rescue and search operation involving helicopter, police, divers and the Red Cross. At the same time the family and friends started a spontaneous search with many boats. The official operation was called off on Friday evening without any result, but the private search continued. Lars was found on Monday evening in the sea not far away from the place of the accident.

For Moss Seilforening and for the Norwegian Sailing Federation, Lars has been a tremendous resource. He was pleasant, kind, smiling and always reliable. Lars was company manager for the firms Belamarin and Raymarine in Norway. He has held many roles. He has been the Principle Race Officer at many international events. Since 1994, Lars has been an ISAF International Judge and has worked on many International Juries. For the Athens Olympics he was rules consultant for the Norwegian Olympic Sailing Team.

Lars was only 61 years old. He will be deeply missed among his friends in the sailing environment both local, national and international.

ISAF extends our sincere sympathy and condolences to Lars's family and friends.

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 Jonathan Manser (Bow on Blizzard 1979): Help! The 50th anniversary gathering celebrating the Admirals Cup this week seems like a good opportunity to ask if any one has a copy of the Southern Television documentary, commentary by Bob Fisher, on the '79 Admirals Cup and Fastnet. It was memorable mainly for stunning footage of the inshore races. I had a video copy for years but the children ... I'll pay! Write me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE LAST WORD
Laughter is an instant vacation. -- Milton Berle

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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