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GOOD JOB DONE
In like a lion, out like a lamb, racing for the Breitling MedCup TP52 circuit's Portugal Trophy on the beautiful Algarve coast may have opened Tuesday with an invigorating blast of over 25 knots, but with insufficient wind Friday and Saturday, but it expired with barely a whimper today as the current Breitling MedCup 2006 champions, Peter de Ridder and his crew, emerged with their first overall regatta win this season.

Monaco based De Ridder and his crew - which includes six members of the Team New Zealand America's Cup team - collect the Portugal Trophy, the Corinthian Trophy for the regatta's top owner-helm, and the Santa Ana Trophy for winning the 25.18 miles coastal race.

After finishing second in Alicante at the 2007 season's curtain raiser in June, Valle Romano Mean Machine's Portuguese triumph is the first this season by a 2006 build boat.

De Ridder's crew, with Ray Davies calling tactics supported by Tom Dodson as strategist, won four of the six races including winning both stages of the coastal race.

Their final score of 17 points gave them a cushion of 15 points over Russell Coutts and his crew of Torbjorn Tornqvist's Artemis, while Ian Walker and the crew of Patches, Eamon Conneely's Irish flagged Reichel Pugh designed boat earned their first podium place of the season, finishing third, ten points behind Artemis.

An exciting showdown is set for Hyeres, France where the five regatta Circuit concludes, starting on September 10th.

De Ridder is in the advanced stages of ordering a new boat for next season, asked if he might have second thoughts, given how well his 2006 Judel Vrolijk design, which was built in Wellington by Hakes Marine, has performed here, he responded:

"No, we are having a new boat. We certainly seem to get the best out of the old lady, but the fact is that her younger sisters - the 2007 generation boats - are a little bit quicker, but it is also interesting to note that already this season the leaders have more points after four regattas than we won the series with last year over six regattas."

Final overall standings:

1. Valle Romano Mean Machine (P de Ridder, MON-Judel Vrolijk 2006) 17 points
2. Artemis (T Tornqvist, SWE-Judel Vrolijk 2007) 32
3. Patches (E Conneely, IRL-Reichel Pugh 2007) 42
4. CxG Corporacion Caixa Galicia (V Tirado, ESP-Botin & Carkeek 2007) 44
5. Windquest (D de Vos, USA-Botin Carkeek 2006) 49
6. Bribon (Jose Cusi, SM Juan Carlos, ESP-Judel Vrolijk 2007) 55
7. Stay Calm (S Robinson, GBR-Judel Vrolijk 2006) 58
8. Siemens (A Roemmers, ARG-Judel Vrolijk 2007) 62
9. Cristabella (J Cook, GBR-Judel Vrolijk 2006) 70
10. ONO ( Inaki Castaner-Botin Carkeek) 71

2007 Breitling MedCup, Standings after 4 of 5 regattas:

1. Artemis 173 points
2. CxG Corporacion Caixa Galicia 173
3. Bribon 193
4. Patches 200
5. Valle Romano Mean Machine 204

www.medcup.org

* Photos by Thierry Martinez, www.thmartinez.com , at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=219

RIGGED TO WIN - TP52 CLASS
Congratulations to Peter de Ridder and his TP52 team, winning the latest Breitling regatta. It's nothing short of unadulterated 'on the edge' excitement for TP52 sailors and spectators in this year's Medcup. Different winners for each regatta, demonstrating not only the depth of talent but the variations in design/technology used on the four winning yachts. Rig design has played a key part in performance gains this year. Southern Spars' latest TP52 rig development has produced a 20% increase in fore/aft rig stiffness without compromise as well as other enhancements. Learn more about these sophisticated TP52 rigs, visit

www.southernspars.com

FORMULA SPARS UK 18FT SKIFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The English Riviera lived up to its name when Torbay laid on blue skies and sunshine for day 1 of the Formula Spars UK 18ft Skiff National Championship. With a high pressure sitting over the south coast, the only hope for any wind would be a sea breeze, and by 11 o'clock 5-8 knots started to place some ripples on the glassy calm. By the time the fleet got to the start line nearly 10 knots had built, however this was pretty variable in direction and kept all the teams on their toes.

In a marked improvement on previous years, the fleet has now matured with a depth of talent that could have any one of 4 or 5 boats capable of taking this years title.

In race one, it was reigning UK champions Pindar Radii who got a great start and overhauled early leaders Gill Wet and Wild by the second leg.

In the second race, it was Gill Wet and Wild who led at the first mark with Fat Face and Grapefruit graphics just behind. Pindar Radii followed in fourth, but gybe set having spotted a shift in the breeze and managed to take the leading pack by the end of the downwind leg. They then proceded to pull out an unnasailable lead to take their second bullet of the day. Gill Wet and Wild put in another consistent second, while this time Fat Face got the better of GE Commercial Finance to take third.

The Royal Torbay Yacht Club race committee then tried to run a third race, however just after the start what little gradient breeze there was got the better of the sea breeze and turned the upwind leg upside down. This led to the race's abandonement, with time running short to bar opening the race officer called it a day. Forecast is for better sea breezes to build over the the last two days of the championships when hopefully the skiffs will be able to stretch their legs a bit. -- Andy Richards

Results (2 races, no discards)

1. Pindar Radii, 2 points
2. Gill Wet and Wild, 4
3. Fat Face, 7
4. GE Commercial Finance, 7
5. PICA, 10
6. Base 1, 12
7. Grapefruit Graphics, 15
8. Hurley Palmer Flatt, 17
9. SBR Racing, 20

uk18footer.org

* Photos by Christophe Favreau, www.christophefavreau.book.fr , at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=220

THOUGHTS ON QINGDAO
As a venue Qingdao finally delivered the ingredient that money can't buy - wind. Ashore the facilities are being given the big tick, by the ISAF and Chinese bigwigs – but most sailors will be more interested in seeing fair racing in good winds, rather than the degrees of incline of the Olympic launching ramp.

For much of the regatta, it had all of the excitement that you'd expect of a Formula 1 Grand Prix event staged in the middle of a petrol strike. For most of the fans of Olympic sailing the view they have of a regatta is of the action on the water – and if there is no wind, then there is no event. How TV coverage can be scheduled in such circumstances beggars belief.

Full marks to the race officials who stuck to their guns and allowed the racing to get underway only when there were fair sailing conditions – even though these may not occur until late in the day. Whether their resolve can withstand the pressure in Olympic year to run races to suit TV schedules, remains to be seen.

If not, then the scene will be set for a full on crap-shoot. Maybe the sports funding and investment bodies around the world would be better advised to use 2007 as a better benchmark of Olympic campaign progress and return on their investment. -- Richard Gladwell in Sail-World New Zealand, www.sail-world.com

B&G RELEASES NEW DECKMAN V8.2 WITH INTEGRATED GRIB.US WEATHER DATA
Following the teaming up of B&G and GRIB.US, B&G has launched a new version of its highly regarded Deckman tactical navigation software, offering sophisticated new functionality, including integrated weather data delivery.

Deckman v8.2 includes as standard integrated GRIB file functionality in the form of UGRIB from leading weather data specialist GRIB.US. This gives Deckman users instant access to high quality and reliable weather information, enabling enhanced routing decisions and increased tactical prowess for navigators.

UGRIB weather data that can be viewed within Deckman as a weather overlay, integrated into Deckman routes for optimal tactical decision making. Free upgrades available within v8.

www.bandg.com

BRITTANY FERRIES 1000: NICK BUBB
I am racing this season onboard the new Rogers designed Class 40, built in Thailand by Pom Green and his team at CMI. The owner of the boat is a close friend of mine, Tanguy de Lamotte, and he along with his French sponsors, NOVEDIA GROUP and SET ENVIRONNEMENT, have kindly asked me to be co-skipper for the 2007 season. Tanguy, who was involved in the design with Simon Rogers and his team, has also been out in Thailand managing the build of the boat and on the eve of her first race, is like a proud father. There is some slightly disappointing news however, as we will not be receiving an official classification (i.e. can't take home the chocolates) in the Brittany Ferries 1000. This is due to the boat not quite measuring on the maximum righting moment test. Currently we are 5% over so we will have to remove a little lead from the bulb after this race and re-measure. Although slighlty annoying, it is always hard to get to the favourable limits of all the rules first time and we are pleased to know that after this slight modication we will be one of the lightest and most powerful bosts in the fleet, a good combination!

The Brittany Ferries 1000, our first race this season starts Sunday August 26th), at 1100 BST from St Malo. Tanguy and I will race to Plymouth, Santander and then back to St Malo, a total of just over 1000 miles. A unique feature of this race are the compulsory 6 hour pit stops in Plymouth and Santander. These could be especially useful to us as we try to keep on top of the inevitable long job list that accompanies a new boat.

One of the race favourites has to be Dominic Vittet (ATAO AUDIO), the current class 'world' champion and former winner of the legendary Solitaire in the Figaro class. By his standards, Dominic came a disappointing 8th in the Route du Rhum and he'll be looking to make amends. Other top skippers include: Yvon Noblet (APPART CITY) who earlier this year won the Azores race, Benoit Parnaudeau (JARDIN BIO) who is a relative veteran of the class and Vendee Globe hero and Miranda Merron on 40 DEGREES who has competed in most of offshore racings top events and along with co skipper Peter Harding, has got some good miles under her belt already this season.

On paper Tanguy and I match up with all the top crews and we certainly have a boat which offers a lot of potential, whether this race is a little too early in her development or not, we will have to wait and see. The main focus of the race is to complete the 1000 mile course which is also our qualifying passage for the TJV. I should tell you that we will be taking it easy and slowly pushing harder as we get to know the boat. However, experience tells me that this will not be the case and we will end up giving it everything from the off! With a relative short run up to the TJV, we need to learn as much about the boat as we can in the short time we have available. Our Sat C system will be regularly providing the organisers with an update of our position but as yet it is unclear what they'll be doing with this information.

The event website is millemilles.snbsm.com , it is all in French but I'm sure you'll understand the results section. We are unsure whether we will feature in the results as unclassified or not but our actual latitude and longitude will be reported along with everyone else, so with a little maths you can see how we are doing! I will send out updates from each pit stop and, if I get a chance during the quieter moments, from onboard. You can find further information and some pictures at www.tanguydelamotte.com -- Nick Bubb

* Editor: Including Nick and Tanguy's boat, there are a total of nine Class 40's in the race. They left St. Malo Sunday morning at 10 AM and are expected at the beginning of the night. Each boat must stay in port for six hours.. but it's based on arrival time. Those coming in later in the evening may face a very difficult departure with virtually no wind forecast and an adverse tide.

THE FASTNET QUIZ...
Last week's question:
Which boat set a new course record in 1985 of 60 hours, 41 mins, 15 secs?

Answer: Nirvana

This week's question:
What is the name of the 27m yawl that held the Fastnet race record for 19 years?

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 Dubarry Knot Ur Dubes T-shirt. With its soft handle and made from 100 per cent faded cotton, it's ideal for on and off the water.

At the end of the competition, one entrant will win a pair of Dubarry Fastnet boots - with GORE-TEX breathable inner lining and Non-Slip Non-Marking sole. See the Dubarry Fastnet boot at dubarry.com

Submit your answer for this week's quiz question at: www.scuttlebutteurope.com/index.php?option=com_philaform&form_id=5&Itemid=1

LEDRO CARPISA CUP - INTERNATIONAL SAILING FOR THE GRASSROOTS
The seventh Ledro Champions Cup, now sponsored by Carpisa, for Optimist team-racing by club teams again showed that international racing need not be just for the hot-shots.

The fifteen teams, each of which had won its national team-racing championship, represented a wide range of clubs from the famous such as El Masnou (ESP) and the Royal Lymington (GBR) to much smaller clubs such as Radolfzell (GER) from the Untersee of Lake Constance. The sailors too are from a wide range of levels and certainly the majority were not "full internationals": the winners C. Tevere Remo (Tiber Rowing Club!) included no Worlds sailors.

The hosts, A.V. Lago di Ledro, match the spirit of the participants. A small club on a small (3km x 1 km) lake in a remote mountain valley calls on the help of a high proportion of its members as well as from neighbouring Fraglia Vela Riva to run superb events. This year they have bought 40 Optimists, jointly sponsored by what might translate into English as the union of village councils of the valley (population 4,500) and the local farmers' bank.

This track record has led to the decision this year to hold the Optimist European Team-Racing Championship at the club for the next three years. This will be sponsored by the provincial government of Trentino and, like the Ledro Cup, offers free entry and accommodation for 16 teams.

At the prize-giving ceremony IODA president of honour Helen Mary Wilkes stressed that the new event, for national teams, would not replace the inter-club championship and there would now be two events at the same venue.

And next week the club hosts a Women's Match Race Grade 1 event.

www.teamlab.ch/sail/champscup2007/Default.htm

SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW
The Southampton Boat Show in association with ITV Meridian returns to Mayflower Park this September. Celebrating its 39th year the Show, which has Europe's largest purpose built on-water marina, takes place from 14-23 September 2007. This year, the Show will see an exciting line up of famous boats on the feature berth of the Hydropool Marina. Not only will Sir Robin Knox-Johnston be there with his Open 60 "Lombard Marine Finance:, along with Mike Golding and the Open 60 ECOVER but TEAMORIGIN, Official Challenger for the 33rd America's Cup, will bring the newly liveried GBR 75 race training America's Cup boat to the Show.

www.southamptonboatshow.com

LOCH NESS MONSTER RACE
Team Basilica overcame challenging conditions to take line honours in the Loch Ness Monster Race, sailing past the finish line over forty minutes ahead of the pack with its closest contender the Tornado out of sight. The Team which included Scottish sailing legend Mike McIntyre and Americas Cup Sailor David Carr, James Grant, Nick Houch and James George, battled the persistently changing weather conditions to come in second place overall, behind the first placed Tornado, taking into consideration its quarter time handicap.

An hour of little or no wind at the start of the race made it impossible for Basilica to win on its handicap, but conditions improved and as the day progressed the sun came out and the wind picked up. Basilica reached the windward mark at Fort Augustus after three hours of stop start sailing but the crew managed to push the boat to speeds of over twenty five knots against the wind.

On the return journey with miles of water in between Basilica and the rest of the field, the Team showed spectators what it was made of, flying down the centre of Loch Ness with the sun behind it. A succession of gusts led to a few knife edge moments but the crew maintained control and crossed the line at 15.53, finishing the fifty mile course in four hours and thirty three minutes.

Team Basilica are currently leading the iShares Cup with the final leg being held in Amsterdam from 14th - 16th September.

www.basilica.co.uk - www.extreme40.co.uk - www.isharescup.com

* Photos by Mark Lloyd, http://www.lloyd-images.com at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=221

ROUND THE ISLAND RACE AT LARGS ANNUAL REGATTA WEEK
Racing Round the Islands of Great and Little Cumbrae was the format of the day at Larg's annual Regatta. The Yachts set off first and were followed by the dinghy fleets and windsurfer fleet. The start line was just south of the marina entrance and the first leg of the course took the boats through the Largs Channel before continuing round the islands.

With Westerly winds the spinnakers were hoisted through the 'Tann' between the islands which must have looked spectacular if you happened to be on Millport beach. The Keel boat fleets were doing a figure of eight course and as a result there were boats crossing in the 'Tann' all with spinnakers but some going North to South, whilst others, making the return coming South to North.

The Dinghies had a fantastic downwind leg on the west side of Cumbrae and the 49er and the formula windsurfers were really moving fast in the fresh force 4. Liz Balmforth, Pure Magic, said "it was great breeze and fantastic to watch the dinghies and the formula windsurfers speeding through the keelboat fleets". Eleven Toppers made the 12 mile sail round and the winner was Jamie Noyes in his boat haggis. Andy McDaid won the laser fleet and will be challenging his competitors in the series of evening races starting on Tuesday.

In Class 1 Local Hero dominated the fleet of 17 yachts and not only won the days race but was also awarded the Scottish Enterprise Rose Bowl for overall winner of the event. Owner Geoff Howison said "it has been the best racing weekend this season with well set courses and excellent organization."

Midweek racing will have keelboats and dinghies racing in the Channel over three evenings. The Scottish 2 handed race will take place over Saturday and Sunday with class 1 boats circumnavigating Arran.

The full results are posted on www.scottishsailinginstitute.com and www.largssc.co.uk

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 Jack Turnstin: With reference to the delay in the Fastnet taken by the organisers, RORC, what would have happened if the system had stalled or slowed long enough to put the fleet in the Celtic Sea? This would have caused bigger damage and crew injury or even loss of life. Who would be responsible then? I know that the responsibility lies at the door of the skipper, but by moving the start that takes a large proportion of responsibility and choice away from the skipper.

THE LAST WORD
A man's penmanship is an unfailing index of his character, moral and mental, and a criterion by which to judge his peculiarities of taste and sentiments. -- Philip Dormer Stanhope

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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