Brought to you by YachtsandCruisers.com with the support of OC Events, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

NEW YORK COURT DOES NOT GRANT INJUNCTION
After a brief hearing in the New York Supreme Court today before Justice Cahn, the Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG) is pleased to announce that the Judge did not grant the Golden Gate Yacht Club's (GGYC) application for an injunction, and instead ordered the parties to submit written legal arguments designed to dispose of the case in the shortest possible time. The Judge set the 22 October as the date to hear legal arguments to resolve the central issue, which focuses on the validity of Club Nautico Espanol de Vela (CNEV), the Spanish challenge, accepted by the SNG after winning the 32nd America's Cup.

The Spanish challenge, CNEV, also advised the Court that it will intervene in the case as a party so as to reinforce and confirm its legal standing as Challenger of Record for the 33rd America's Cup.

Importantly, this is the second successful legal outcome in only a matter of days, following the America's Cup Arbitration Panel's ruling over the weekend that declared legitimate the Challenger of Record, and that the 33rd Protocol complies with the Deed of Gift.

"Naturally we are pleased with this outcome which is another welcome positive result in this unfortunate legal process," said Hamish Ross, Alinghi General Counsel, adding: "As we had asked the Court, SNG will be submitting, as planned, its motion to dismiss the case entirely, and we look forward to having an opportunity to clear this matter up as quickly as possible on the date set by the Court. We now need to draw a line under the uncertainty and damage created by the Golden Gate Yacht Club and BMW Oracle Racing's actions and focus on the future."

www.alinghi.com and www.americascup.com

AND MORE AMERICA'S CUP UPDATES...
* ACM, Event Authority for the 33rd America's Cup, named Tom Schnackenberg as the class rule and competition regulations consultant for the design consultation period due to start on 15 September with current challengers.

He will ensure that all views are taken into consideration in the process that will eventually lead to a new class definition to be announced on the 31 October 2007.

The challengers, which include the Challenger of Record, Desafío Español, TeamOrigin, Team Shosholoza, Emirates Team New Zealand and United Internet Team Germany, will join the Defender for a series of open discussions, starting 15 September. This group will consider rule drafts leading to the new class rule which will become public, two months ahead of schedule, ensuring an 18 month period before the first race in the new class.

* Claims by Team Alinghi General Counsel, Hamish Ross that the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron was not incorporated during the period 1987 to 2003, when it was a Challenger and Defender of the America's Cup have been dismissed by Commodore John Crawford.

'Under New Zealand law, becoming 'incorporated' is simply a means of limiting individual Club Members' liability,' explains Crawford, in response to a question from Sail-World.com

'The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has operated as a legal entity since 1859 and has had H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh as its Patron since 1986.

'The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron was granted a warrant to fly the Blue Ensign by the British Admiralty in 1902 and has subsequently been awarded a warrant to fly the New Zealand Blue Ensign by H.R.H Queen Elizabeth.

'This would surely indicate it was properly constituted.'

Under the Deed of Gift for the America's Cup the challenging clubs needs to be 'incorporated, patented, or licensed by the legislature, admiralty, or other executive department'

In New Zealand, yacht clubs will choose the most efficent style of legal structure suitable for their activities, and this will vary from club to club, and may vary from time to time, especially for older clubs, with substantial assets and/or trading activities. -- from Sail-World.com, www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=37299

* Desafio Espanol's communications director, Miguel Angel Garcia-Juez, has presented its new organisation structure for the 33rd America's Cup campaign and introduced a new director of finance and marketing, Enrique Planells. In addition to these two division heads, the technical and sporting division will be overseen by Agustin Zulueta.

Zulueta explained that, since the final of the last edition, a staff of 28 has continued working and this should rise to 60 by September 17. Desafio presently has sponsorship of 60 million Euros, from Iberdrola, so is in a position to forge ahead. Zulueta said that the new boat was a very significant thing, as it would make the large teams more vulnerable to defeat, since starting from scratch would give smaller teams a better chance of having a competitive boat.

Last week, Desafio Espanol signed a contract with Farr Yacht Design, but Zulueta confirmed that John Cutler will remain in charge of the technical division and 60% of its existing personnel will be retained. Also, another main designer will be taken on, in addition to Farr, to work full time at the Valencia base. "By the end of this month," said Zulueta, we want to have the design/technical office set up in the base, so 95% of the team can be in place from the first week in October."

Asked about the controversy surrounding CNEV, Zulueta said that, he didn't want to comment on what was outside the daily management routine, which was focussed on developing a great team. On the possibility of another Spanish entry, he said he welcomed any project that raised the profile of Spain and Spanish sailing. -- BYM News, www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=15027

GARMIN HAMBLE WINTER SERIES
The Garmin Hamble Winter Series is the UK's premier late season racing series attracting over 280 entries across 14 classes. Run over eight weeks commencing October 7th, the 2007 series sees further development of the successful formula with two race areas, weekly prize-givings, and on-the-water press reporting. Week two and four includes the high profile Garmin Hamble Big Boat Series and week three includes the Laser SB3 Autumn Championship, this year on their own dedicated course.

Early entry discounts are available until September 15th with full details and entry form downloads at www.garminhamblewinterseries.co.uk

ABERDEEN DRAGON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Germany's Tommy Muller, Vincent Hoesh and Max Sheibmayr have won the Aberdeen Dragon World championships on Sinewave after a light air series on Dublin bay cut short by lack of wind on Friday.

Second overall was Swiss Olympic medallist Ulli Libor with Stephan Hellriegel and Frank Butzmann on Gaudium. Third was Britain's Len Jones crewed by Claus Hoj Jensen and Jamie Lea on Rumours.

Four Irish boats featured in the top ten with Irish champions Neil Hegarty, David Williams and Peter Bowring sixth.

Simon Brien's Belfast Lough entry 'Kin' was seventh and Royal St.George's Andrew Craig eighth. Club mate John Ross Murphy ended the six race series tenth.

www.dragonworld2007.com/dragon

ADRIAN FLANAGAN IN THE NORTHERN ICE
The Alpha Global Expedition team is faced with the Devil's Question. Western Arctic Marine Operations HQ in Murmansk is currently handling 47 vessels in the iced section of the Northern Sea Route. Some of these vessels are held in ice and icebreakers will provide assistance to them. So while its a hectic day for the Alpha Global team its also a very hectic day for WAMOHQ. The crew of a Dutch yacht that had been hoping to make a transit this year, as third time lucky, have given up and left their boat in port while they fly home and hope for next year.

The three small merchant ships that Adrian was due to join up with are steaming in a slow circle around the RV point while they wait for further information and the icebreaker.

Due in to the Port of Tiksi is a large timber carrier that is able to take (Adrian's boat) Barrabas as deck cargo through Proliv Vil'kitskogo to a port on the other side of the frustratingly narrow section of thick ice.

Just to twist the knife a few more turns, the latest satellite images from the MDA/KSAT Radarsat show a virtually clear inshore channel West. The Western end of the route is reported to be ice free. On the face of it Adrian has a route home.

What firmly twists the knife is the expectation of the wind backing to North over the next few hours. This is leading to pessimistic assessments for the deep water NSR and could mean that ice sweeps back into the shallow inshore channel.

www.alphaglobalex.com

OYSTER MARINE LTD
As we head towards our 35th year, our ongoing success means that everyone at Oyster's Ipswich HQ is full on busy and we need additional help.

Project Managers
We have vacancies for Project Managers with relevant experience in the operation, construction or management of quality cruising yachts. Successful candidates will share our passion for excellence and innovation and must be team players with a "can do" attitude.

Administrative Assistants
We are also seeking Administrative Assistants to support our Production and Commercial Managers.

Apply in confidence by email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

THE FASTNET QUIZ...
Last week's question:
Who skippered the American entry Williwaw in the fateful 1979 Fastnet Race?

Answer: Dennis Conner

This week's question:
Who was the youngest person to sail in a Fastnet? He was so young, in fact, that when his father applied for a cadet membership for him four years after sailing the Fastnet, the application was rejected for he was still under the cadet membership minimum age of 15?

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 the famous Dubes T-shirt. This soft texture 100 per cent cotton T-shirt reveals the secret of the famous Knot Ur Dubes deck shoe knot.

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 http://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

JAMAICA JOINS CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE
The Jamaica Tourist Board will field an entry in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race for the first time when one of the yachts competing in the 07-08 edition of the race bears the name of the Caribbean nation. The race, which starts in Liverpool on 16 September 2007, will also call into Port Antonio, Jamaica, during the 35,000-mile circumnavigation.

Although Jamaica will compete for the first time alongside yachts representing cities including New York, Glasgow, Singapore, Durban, Qingdao and the state of Western Australia, the Clipper fleet has enjoyed the country's hospitality before. The ten 68-foot ocean racing yachts berthed at Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio during a port visit on the Clipper 05-06 Race.

Jamaica will be officially named in Albert Dock, Liverpool, at 12.30pm on Saturday 15 September in a ceremony attended by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of Clipper Ventures Plc.

Jamaica's skipper, Simon Bradley, was very pleased to hear the news commenting, "I'm ecstatic. I couldn't be more pleased to be representing Jamaica. It is a country with a great identity, recognised around the world. I'm very proud."

Simon competed as a crew member on the winning yacht, Bristol, on the Times Clipper 2000 Race and now, as a fully-qualified skipper, is the only professional sailor on board.

The fleet is due to arrive in Port Antonio, Jamaica on 19 May 2008 and will leave on the start of leg seven on 25 May, heading north towards New York.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

SPEED WINDSURFING WORLD CHAMPIONS
The Overall Title for both men and women was decided by the last races of the last event in 2007. In the mens fleet, four riders had the chance to catch the 2007 title. Best positioned were Antoine Albeau (FRA), first in the ISA ranking after the Fuerteventura event, and Finian Maynard (BVI). If Finian could beat Antoine in Walvis Bay, he would be able to defend his world title. Third ranked Jose Bahadour (GOU) was not able to compete in Namibia, as he couldn't get a flight out from Gouadeloupe due to an upcoming hurricane, so he was already out of the race. Patrik Diethelm (ITA) and Bjorn Dunkerbeck (SUI) also had some chances to go up higher in the ranking.

From the first day of the surf & action Walvis Bay Speedweek, Bjorn Dunkerbeck and Antoine Albeau dominated the seven races. After two discards, Bjorn ended up first with a perfect score of 3.5 points. Antoine came into second with a lot of second places, and Patrik finished third only 0.7 points behind.

Reigning world champion Finian Maynard didn't get the right trim for the Speedstrip on the Walvis Bay sandbar and ended up fourth. For the world overall ranking Bjorn jumped up to vice world champion, and Antoine Albeau got his first speed world championship crown. Finian ended up third after the 2007 season.

In the womens fleet, Valerie Ghibaudo (FRA) was head to head with Karin Jaggi (SUI) after the first two events in Karpathos and Fuerteventura. Valerie won all but one races with an impressive topspeed of 37.47 knots and clearly claimed the world title. Karin Jaggi into second, and Zara Davis (GBR), which injured herself in a bad crash in leg 4, ended up third.

In the production category, the world titles went to Patrik Diethelm and Karin Jaggi. In second Greek Philip Adamidis (Fanatic) and Zara Davis, third places to Thorsten Luig (GER, F2/Thommen, North) and Maaike Kallenborn (NED).

The Manufacturers ranking are won by F2 and North, the Nations ranking goes clearly to France.

In total, more than 120 competitors from 25 nations, representing 5 continents, took part so far in the ISA Speedsurfing Grand Prix Tour 2007, and some more events are coming up in the next month, as famous Weymouth Speedweek, the Austrian, German, Dutch and Belgium championships, which all count towards the final world ranking.

www.speedsurfing.org

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

FOSSETT SET CABO RACE RECORD
Long Beach, California, USA: As the search for Steve Fossett, record-setting aviator, adventurer, sailor and elapsed time record holder of the 1995 Long Beach to Cabo San Lucas International Yacht Race enters the second week, preparations for this year's race hosted by the Long Beach Yacht Club and set for Nov. 2-9, have taken on a sense of hope and concern.

Fossett set the first-to-finish record in 3 days, 2 hours and 59 minutes in Nov. 1995, the last time the race was run, in the 60 foot trimaran Lakota. He reminded LBYC race chairman David Stotler of this in a recent email.

"Great to see you are having the race again," Fossett wrote. "Many fond memories of sailing to Cabo. It will be interesting to see if the modern monohulls can improve on our time."

With the Oct. 1 regular entry deadline nearing, the entry list of monohulls continues to grow as Kevin Flanigan's Ocelot, Kernan\Wylie 44, CYC Portland; Ricardo Brockmann's Ruahatu, Concordia 47, Acapulco YC; Steve Washburn's Pacific High, Columbia 30M, ABYC Long Beach; and Andy Rasdal's Valkyrie, DK 46, SDYC San Diego throw their hats into the ring of committed entrants.

Other boats include Doug Baker's maxi-sled, Magnitude 80; Mike Campbell and Dale Williams' Kernan 68, Peligroso; Peter Tong's Santa Cruz 70 turbo-sled, OEX; Brack Duker's Santa Cruz 70 Holua; Bob Lane's Andrews 63 Medicine Man and Bill Durant and Rick Brizendine's Santa Cruz 52, Relentless.

When Stotler asked Fossett if he was going to defend his record against this formidable list of monohulls, Fossett replied, "I no longer have a sailboat and will be in Argentina attempting glider records in November."

Those that know Fossett and have raced with him are comforted by their confidence in his exuberance for life and enduring passion for adventure.

When signing off on a recent email, Fossett wrote,

"Wish you the best for a great race, Steve". -- Rich Roberts

BFA MARINE LIFERAFT RECALL
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE - RECALL FOR CORRECTIVE ACTION
BFA marine (*) has identified some overpressure valves failures (**) on life rafts in use (***), which may lead to a complete deflation of the compartment when broken.

In the event both overpressure valves of the 2 independent compartments would happen to break, the life raft will not be functional anymore and be useless.

As a preventive measure, BFA marine urges its owners to bring back without delay their life raft to the nearest BFA approved service station, in order to check and potentially replace those overpressure valves.

The scope of the corrective action includes all BFA life rafts manufactured from 1997 until April 2007. (Serial number from 10 001 to 50 180 until year 2002 and all serial numbers starting by prefix XDC after year 2002)

Web: www.bfa-marine.com
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fax: +33 (0)5.46.87.72.22

(*) a brand of Zodiac International company
(**) due to mis-assembly operation
(***) Models concerned: ATLANTIC, PACIFIC, BALTIC, XM/BFA OFFSHORE

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 James A. Gretzky: AMERICA II, US 42 is now in Greenwich having just received a new paint job. She was nicknamed the LEGO boat as a result of the versatility built into her. She was fitted with a conventional keel when launched but also had two other keels for testing, one of which was an AUSTRALIA II look alike. Her chainplate structure was longer than normal so that variations in balance with the different appendage packages could quickly be looked at. I was onboard her yesterday as she was being outfitted. She looks great in her new colors of ENDEAVOUR Blue topsides with gold stripes, white boot top and a red bottom.

US-44 is the boat in Hawaii. She has been modified to carry passengers and no longer has a 12M rig. US-46 is at North Cove in Manhattan.

FEATURED BROKERAGE
Yacht Chieftain - 2007 Fasnet Winner - For Sale - 2006 RBI Winner - Sydney to Hobart Class winner - 2006 Boat of the Year - Lying in Hamble - Demo sails available - extensive refit 07 - owner building bigger yacht.

The Yacht Chieftain is a high tech Cookson 50 designed by world famous designer Bruce Farr and built by Cookson Boatyard in New Zealand. The boat is built out of carbon fibre and is incredibly light for its size. The boat is fitted with groundbreaking Canting keel technology, which gives the boat a quantum leap in performance.

Contact Ger O Rourke on: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it / tel 00 353 872534639

www.chieftainracing.com

THE LAST WORD
The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible. -- Oscar Wilde

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.

www.YachtsandCruisers.com the new place to buy and sell prestige boats, the website has been designed to showcase high-end boats. People looking to buy prestige boats will be able to easily navigate their way around the site quickly. The portfolio of thousands of boats can be viewed by category, make, location and price. Alternatively the 'Advanced Search' facility will benefit those buyers who have a specific boat in mind.

Scuttlebutt Europe is available via email:
To subscribe visit scuttlebutteurope.com

Editorial and letter submissions to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/content/view/7/6/