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TAKING IT SERIOUSLY...
I got another Kiwi tip-off about an interesting interview with Michel Hodara, the CEO of America's Cup Management (ACM), on BYM News. And he says ACM are taking the GGYC court challenge seriously. This is what Hodara had to say about the court action:

'Yes, Golden Gate omitted a very important date from the Media Backgrounder that was issued a few days ago and has created a wrong impression of what happened on August 22nd. The date it failed to mention, under the heading "2007 Timeline" was August 17.

'Although the GGYC filed suit in the Supreme Court for the State of New York, on July 20, Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG) was not served with the papers until August 17. The response to those papers was scheduled to be answered by mid-September and SNG was working on responding by then. However, just 5 days later, GGYC went into court and asked for the time scale to be accelerated. They want it accelerated for the original suit and they also want to know from SNG the racing rules and the location for the multihull challenge they claim for.

'All that happened in court, on August 22, was that the court set a date for hearing whether there is reason to accelerate things. SNG has to reply by September 5 and the hearing will be on September 10. This was not a victory for GGYC, as the impression has been given. Nothing was decided, the court has not taken any position whatsoever, it has just set a date for a hearing and nobody knows what will happen on the date. The court may agree to the request to accelerate, or it may not.'

So, that sets me straight about whether or not ACM are up for this...

I'd urge you to read the whole interview as this is a more thoughtful and temperate response to the current circumstances than the statement ACM put out in response to the court order - which is a pity. In my very first blog on the new Protocol for the 33rd Cup I was willing to give ACM the benefit of the doubt over what appeared to be a very one-sided document. Since then, public opinion seems to have largely hardened against ACM, and backed the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC)/Oracle challenge to the Protocol. Not least because ACM have refused to recognise that people have legitimate concerns with the document, or even explain their reasons for the controversial clauses - perhaps Mr Hodara should be given the stage more often. Now, if he could just come up with a conciliatory tone and a willingness to negotiate, we might be getting somewhere. -- the full editorial by Mark Chisnell at markchisnell.blogspot.com

BRITTANY FERRIES RACE
Everything has been a little hectic so far but great fun, great speed and right at the front of the fleet just about sums things up. After a great start in St Malo we lead the fleet away before a few twisted halyard issues inside the mast slowed our progress. With no pilots set up yet, getting Tanguy up the rig (he volunteered!) wasn't the easiest job but after two visits we were sorted and back racing, all be it at the back of the fleet. With a light NE breeze slowly building up to 15 knots, we headed directly to Plymouth and showing great speed we moved past the entire fleet up to ATAO AUDIO who was leading. With very light and shifty conditions inside the Plymouth breakwater, the whole fleet bunched up and eventually we passed the inner breakwater at 0445 BST on Monday morning, overlapped with ATAO and CHOCOLATES MONBANA!. With half a mile left to go, we hit the front and just had to pass south of the Royal Western Mooring buoys and cross the line. Disappointingly, ATAO AUDIO decided to miss out the mooring buoys and head straight for the finish, although we are unsure yet, they will no doubt get a time penalty for this and as we crossed just ahead of MONBANA, a fantastic moral victory in our first race. This was only leg one though of course!

With everyone re -starting exactly 6 hours after they finished leg 1, the front runners were a little disappointed to start just before 1100 in no wind. Hence we had a total restart and in the end it was MONBANA who slipped ahead and maintained this lead in glorious 15 to 20 knot NEs all the way across the channel, although we were second and in hot pursuit a few hundred yards behind the whole time and with only APPART CITY in sight behind, it was a great start. Since then the wind built up to 30 knots last night and we have averaged over 12 knots going down through the sail wardrobe to just the solent and a reefed main. We can no longer see any other boats and our Sat C (positioning beacon) seems to have stopped working, so we will enter the marina in Santander with interest! We've had various dramas but nothing too major, have pushed hard and are all ok, more news later as there is lots to do onboard and we have only 75 miles to go until the end of this leg.

Position 44 47N and 04 04W, speed 11 knots, course 175, wind 14 knots from the NE. -- Nick Bubb and Tanguy De Lamotte

www.tanguydelamotte.com

Event site: millemilles.snbsm.com
Nicely done position chart: millemilles.snbsm.com/lespositions.html

THE ULTIMATE WINTER TRAVEL GUIDE - KEY WEST
WHAT TO DO: Join thousands of international racing sailors heading to the island paradise of Key West this winter for North America's premiere keelboat regatta: Acura Key West 2008.

WHEN TO GO: Race dates are January 21 - 25.

CLIMATE: Ideal sailing conditions with sunny skies, warm waters and great breeze.

ATTRACTIONS: Outstanding One Design, IRC and PHRF competition, Premiere Racing's professional race management, a unique race week village, legendary nightlife and a tropical island ambiance.

INSIDER TIP: For invited classes, charter listings, marinas, planning details and Notice of Race visit: www.Premiere-Racing.com

J-CUP
Having enjoyed superb conditions for the first day of racing at the J-Cup in Plymouth on Thursday, the 52 boats racing at the event (hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club under PRO Mike Pearson) were primed and ready for three more races on Friday with the final two scheduled for Saturday.

A northerly breeze of up to twenty knots had prevailed on the opening day, but due to the stationary low in the north Atlantic, on both Friday and Saturday the fleet had to wait for the sea breeze to arrive and cancel out the light northerly before racing could get underway. Not to worry; the sun beat down throughout the postponements and the crews reveled in bikini conditions. For the final two days of the regatta eight to ten knots became the norm, and directionally, anything from 355 to 190 degrees. So it is 'sun-hats off' to the Race Management Team who still managed to set strong courses and to get the entire seven race series away in tricky conditions.

The 2007 J/109 National Championship title went to Bruce Jubb and Jeff Dakin on Johnny Blue II, with the 2006 champions, Mike Ewart-Smith and Ben Richards second in Zelda. Matt Boyle finished third overall in Shiva.

The B&G Prize, which this year was an extremely generous package of Deckman software, went to Michael Ewart-Smith and Ben Richards in Zelda.

The Dubarry Boot, which is awarded by Dubarry (another event sponsor) each year for Outstanding Achievement was presented to Mike West of the J/105 Juneau. Mike was a race winner in his class at the J-Cup and one of only two double-handed finishers in the 2007 Fastnet. A long and challenging race in one of the smallest boats eligible to compete and with his problems compounded by a defective transducer causing his forepeak to flood; Mike proved an extremely popular winner.

The Elvstrom Sobstad Trophy for Best Newcomer to the J-Cup was this year presented to Richard and Valerie Griffiths who achieved an extremely creditable fifth place overall in the J/109 National Championship sailing Outrajeous. This is their first year in the boat and their first time at the J-Cup.

Peter Wanstall's J/80 Jem was awarded a crate of wine from local surveying firm Alan Cummings and Co for being the most successful local boat at the regatta; Class Winner no less.

The J-Cup is awarded by J-UK each year and it does not necessarily go to the boat with the lowest points score. This year, the J-Cup was presented to Jeff Dakin and Bruce Jubb. Not only did they win the 2007 J/109 UK National Championship but they did it in a borrowed boat after their own sustained some damage during Cowes Week.

Winners by class:

IRC 1 - Jump, Stewart Hawthorne, RSYC
J 105 - J-Dream, david & Kirsty Apthorp, RAF Yacht Club
IRC 3 - True Love, Colin Wall, Royal Southern
J 80 - JEM, Peter Wanstall, RWYC
J 109 - Johnny Blue II, Bruce Jubb, Warsash

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

THE INTERNATIONAL OPTIMIST DINGHY ASSOCIATION SEEKS A SECRETARY GENERAL
We are: the major Under-16 sailing Class in the world and one of the most successful organizations in sailing.

We seek:
- a good honours graduate or an individual who has received relevant training to an equivalent level, and/or
- a person with experience of managing a small or medium-sized business
- who would like to dedicate his or her talents and experience to the development of young people through sport, and
- has the ability to work successfully with intelligent and dedicated volunteers and executives in a truly global business

Please go to www.optiworld.org/iodanewsecadvert.pdf for more details and how to apply.

FORMULAS SPARS UK 18FT SKIFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The final day of the Formulas Spars UK 18ft Skiff National Championships in Torbay drew to a close on Monday with champagne sailing conditions. After a couple of lighter shifty days, the gradient easterly wind brought with it a steady 12-14 knots with clear skies and sunshine, and a few Atlantic rollers to make the downwind legs a little more interesting.

Andy Richards and his team of brother Dave together with Andrew Fairley where the on-form team to beat this weekend in Pindar Radii. Having already notched up 4 wins and a 2nd place, they were clearly out to retain their UK Nationals title in style.

Pindar Radii were crowned worthy National champions for the second year in a row. GE Commercial took the runners up spot just ahead of Gill Wet and Wild, while Fat Face will have been content to pick up a well earned 4th place in a competitive fleet after a shaky start to their series.

In addition to the National Championships, the class kicked off their speed challenge sponsored by B&G - although not a big breeze event by any means, this was won by Mason Woodworth who clocked up a respectable top average speed (SOG) of 16.0knots - this side event will now be a regular feature of all UK events and we will no doubt see the teams pushing the 30knot barrier with the right conditions.

Overall Results (7 races, 1 discard)

1. Pindar Radii, Andy Richards / Andy Fairley / Dave Richards, 6 points
2. Commercial Finance, Mason Woodworth / David Brown / Simon Hamilton, 16
3. Gill Wet and Wild, Ed Browne / Mark Addison / Graeme Oliver, 17
4. Fat Face, Tim Penfold / Matt Alvarado / Will Penfold, 24
5. Base 1, Ian Turnbull / Paul Constable / Alec McKinlay, 27
6. PICA, James Mears / Andy Ramus / Stewart Mears, 30
7. Hurley Palmer Flatt, Steve McLean / Jocki Christophers / Sandy Wright, 39
8. Grapefruit Graphics, John Archer / Miles Woodgrove / Dom Hurndall, 39 9. SBR Racing, 54

www.uk18footer.org

INDUSTRY NEWS
* The British Marine Federation (BMF) is sorry to announce that following the recent issues affecting BA Peters plc, Brian Peters OBE is stepping down as President of the BMF. The BMF Management Board will now consider this situation and make proposals regarding his successor to the BMF National Council.

Rob Stevens, BMF Chief Executive, said: "We are sorry that Brian has decided to step down as BMF President but of course we understand and support his decision. Brian has been a great servant to the marine industry, particularly during his time as Chairman of National Boat Shows helping to plan and run the London and Southampton Boat Shows. We wish Brian well for the future."

* The Stockholm Floating Boat Show is to set a new record this year with more than 300 boats on display.

"We have an increase in numbers of exhibited boats of 65 per cent compared with 2006," says show organiser Picko Troberg (pictured). "We have a new cooperation with the Biskopsudden Marina that is a big part of the growth, but we didn't anticipate that the show should grow this much. I see this as proof that the market for new boats is still very hot."

Among the new boats making an appearance at this year's show will be the new Bavaria 33 Sport and 37 Sport, the Örnvik 700 Weekend, the Elling E3 and the Flipper 705 DC.

The Stockholm Floating Boat Show runs from August 30 to September 2 at the Wasahamnen Marina and Biskopsudden Marina, both in the heart of Stockholm, Sweden.

For more information, visit the show website at www.flytanddebatmassan.se -- from IBI News, www.ibinews.com

* Clyde Marine plc held an Extraordinary General Meeting on Aug. 22 and voted to approve changing the company name to Lewmar Marine plc. The name change, announced by Peter O'Connell, newly promoted CEO, is expected to better reflect the true nature of the company's business to the financial market.

Lewmar Marine plc is the holding company of Lewmar and Navtec whose principal business is the manufacture and distribution of deck equipment and rigging for leisure boats.

In July 2007, Navtec, the world leader in performance rigging for the marine industry, was integrated into Lewmar to become a branded division of the company.

Lewmar and Navtec combined have four factories and nine sales subsidiaries, offering customers significant manufacturing resources and technical support

Lewmar Marine plc is a publicly traded company on London's PLUS Markets.

* Veteran sailmaker and world class sailor Larry Leonard (Annapolis, MD) has joined North Sails and will work within the Performance Resource Group for the world's largest sailmaker. Leonard, who co-founded Leonard Sails with his father after graduating from college in 1976, and later founded Quantum Sail Design Group, brings more than 30 years of experience to the North Sails team.

Leonard's role within North Sails' Performance Resource Group will include working on special projects, providing ongoing customer service and support and consulting with both the design and technology departments.

* A dwarf crocodile skin handbag from West Africa will be one of the more unusual exhibits at the Southampton Boat Show next month.

HM Revenue & Customs will be showing the item, along with others seized as they were illegally imported into the country.

An Indonesian rain stick, examples of carved ivory and a toy sheep that contains a hiding place for drugs are among the others lined up for the show.

The show takes place at Mayflower Park from Friday 14 to Sunday 23 September. HMRC officers will be on stand B003.

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 Anthony Richards: Stuart Alexander's writing on errors of judgement is generally well written and interesting. However his judgement on the decision of RORC to postpone the start would have more validity if RORC had cancelled the race. It should be noted that, in sailing, postponenment due to weather conditions is fairly routine, although most usually due to a lack of wind. Even so, postponement due to strong winds is not unprecedented. The Round Ireland race in 2004 (run by Wicklow Sailing club) was postponed by 6 hours to allow a 50 knot front to pass through. Americas Cup races have been postponed due to strong winds. The RORC decision cannot be regarded as nannying or undermining or assuming responsibility - the Fastnet competitors were still sent out into the expected conditions.

I should add that that Mr Alexander's conclusion that the forecast conditions "never came true" because the highest gusts reported to him were a little less than the 60 knots predicted is really quite amazing. Did the weather system not come through as predicted with the expected features? His conclusion appears consistent with journalistic tendency toward drama and sensationalism and does not reflect the best judgement.

Curious then, to be writing about errors of judgement when a broader perspective is required!

* From Eero Lehtinen: Spot on - Stuart Alexander covers some major issues in today's top level sailing and yacht racing.

America's Cup - a total farce and disaster, for all. How amazing it would be to see these teams racing in one design yachts, when team performance would be the winning factor, not the deepness of the pockets never mind the size of the syndicate boss's head...

Quingdao - are we just going to hope and pray or could something still be done about this. Sailing in no wind is not an exciting sport for either sailors or spectators.

Fastnet postponement - this is only a sympton and was then and there most likely a wise and understandable decision. But why do we need this type of parenting when the elements are supposed to play a major role in these events? It all comes down to the recent trends to build faster, lighter and more vulnerable yachts, walking in the footsteps of the Volvo Ocean Race and Open 60 designers and teams, which are struggling to finish their qualifiers and test sails without major incidents. Last VOR and Velux 5 Oceans were pure madness, and the future does not seem to be any wiser. More retirements, ocean rescues and drama to follow as the market forces and eager designers (who don't have to sail these yachts) are closing their eyes from the unavoidable: the weather gets at times really nasty and no matter how fast these flyers are in ideal conditions, they cannot take the storms and seas of the oceans. Where is the common sense? Nowadays also more and more people can afford large racing yachts and they don't usually have as much experience as they have money. Hence the organisers have to start making the decisions for them.

Thanks to Stuart Alexander for bringing up these issues!

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THE LAST WORD
The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind. -- William James

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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