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TRANSAT CHARENTE - MARITIME/BAHIA
After a call back of the entire fleet, the Transat Charente-Maritime/Bahia second leg started at 12h17 local time Saturday. 5/7 knots wind, lightly heavy sea, the fleet had to round a buoy and then set off.

Sam Manuard (Sitting Bull) chose to race close to the coast, Yves Le Blevec (Actual) went off the coast; Isabelle Joschke (Degremont Synergie), first leg's winner, left slowly to be sure to avoid potential collisions. First at the buoy was Italian Andrea Carraci (Speedy Bonsai) followed by Adrien Hardy (Brossard), Yves Le Blevec, Fabien Despres (Soitec), Sime Stipanicev (Marina Tribunj), Herve Favre (TeamWork) and François Duguet (Credit Agricole Skipper Challenge). On series boats side, Francisco Lobato (BPI) passed first followed by Vincent Barnaud (Stgs.fr), Matthieu Sannie (Orange Mini).

Andraz Mihelin (Adria Mobil Too) was hit by David Le Carrou (Le Treport) afew minutes after the start. If David didn't notice important damages, Andraz unfortunately did. Andraz is more over vexed that he already had a collision with a spectator boat at the start the 18th of September in La Rochelle. Remember that he, anyway, ended 5th despite the bad luck.

Andraz has had to return to Madeira to fix is boat and then restarted at 15h45 UT. Sunday morning he was only 25 miles away from the head of the fleet.

More serious troubles for Alex Pella (Generalitat Valenciana) who noticed - just after the buoy passage - that his mast was cracked. He then had to come back to Funchal and left again at 11h12 (Local time). Alex is already in danger but the second leg is long and surprises and unexpected events can easily happen.

Last but not least, Tom Braidwood (Wombat) informed an escort boat that he was sailing back to Funchal, because of an autopilot failure.

Top ten leg 2 positions at 2200 hrs. 7 October:

1. Yves le Blevec, Actual, Proto, 2906.12 nm to finish
2. Andrea Caracci, Speedy bonsai, Proto, 2.58 nm to leader
3. Laurent Bourgues, Adrenaline, Proto, 3.46
4. Yann Riou, Cameleon, Proto, 9.7
5. Clayton Burkhalter, Acadia, Proto, 8.68
6. David Rawlinson, www.oceanchallenge.com, Proto, 9.38
7. Sebastien Gladu, Clichy Sous Bois - Clichy Sur L'eau, Proto, 9.63
8. Francisco Lobato, Bpi series, 9.8
9. Fabien Despres, Soitec, Proto, 10.25
10. Aloys Claquin, Vecteur plus, Proto, 11.76

www.transat650.org

MOBY M30 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Porto Cervo, Italy: On the fourth and final day of the Moby M30 Worlds, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, the Race Committee once again managed to fit in three windward-leeward races.

Matrix ArcaTxActive (ITA), owned by Luigi Melegari and Gianmarco Rinaldi and with Tommaso Chieffi on tactics, is the new M30 World Champion. Jim Richardson's Barking Mad (USA) with Terry Hutchinson calling tactics came second and Vincent Portugal's New Caledonia (FRA), with Francois Brenac on tactics, came in third.

Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino fought back from yesterday's ninth place to come in fifth overall behind Optimumm in fourth.

Race Seven, the first of the day, started with northerly winds of approximately 14 knots and saw Barking Mad take her first victory of the World Championship series ahead of Guy Stenings' Optimumm (AUS) and Lorenzo Santini's Uka Uka (ITA).

In Race Eight Enfant Terribile, owned by Gianluigi Serena took her first victory of the series over Mezza Luna (FIN) Harry Roshier in second and Maga Joanna (ITA), owned by Luigi Parente, in third.

By the start of Race Nine the wind had shifted to 340 degrees and dropped to approximately 5-6 knots. Matrix ArcaTxActive took first place in this final race of the series ahead of Fausto Rubini's Thule (MON) and Uka Uka. -- Barby MacGowan

Final top ten:

1. Matrix Arca Tx Active, Gianmarco Rinaldi, ITA, 50.00 points
2. Barking Mad, James B. Richardson, USA, 58.00
3. New Caledonia, Vincent Portugal, FRA, 60.00
4. Optimumm, Guy Stening, AUS, 70.00
5. Mascalzone Latino, Vincenzo Onorato, ITA, 97.00
6. Uka Uka, Lorenzo Santini, ITA, 100.00
7. Enfant Terrible, Serena Gianluigi, ITA, 114.00
8. Ann Be Espoir IDF, Yoann Richomme, FRA, 115.00
9. Assotubi Mummyone, Mingozzi / Bonora, ITA, 119.00
10. Groovederci, Deneen B. Demourkas, USA, 120.00

www.mobym30worlds.com

CORK WEEK 2008
"Competing at Cork Week is always a pleasure, because of the beautiful location, great sailing waters, varied racing, excellent race management and great competition. Winning in 2006 was especially satisfying as it was our first major victory in Magic Glove after many months of development, building and tuning. I'm already looking forward to 2008".

Colm Barrington - Magic Glove
Winner of IRC Zero and Boat of the Week

12th - 18th July 2008
www.corkweek.ie

MASCALZONE LATINO FILES AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF
Porto Cervo, Italy: Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia ("RYCCS") and Mascalzone Latino have submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Court Case between Golden Gate Yacht Club and Societe Nautique de Geneve and to bring their views to the attention of the Court.

"It is unfortunate that the America's Cup is in court once again, -Alessandra Pandarese general counsel of Mascalzone Latino and former Chair of the Challenger Commission- but no one, especially the defender, can be surprised that this has happened: the Protocol, promulgated by SNG with Club Nautico Espanol has essentially eliminated the role of the Challenger. In so doing, the Protocol contravenes the core terms of the Deed of Gift that created the America's Cup, which provides that the Cup shall be "a perpetual Challenge Cup."

Mascalzone submit that the group of provisions relating to SNG, through America's Cup Management controlling unilateral power to disqualify a challenging team; ACM power to appoint all race officials, ACM power to establish unilaterally the rules for all the phases of the event, and the class rules, have altered the nature of the America's Cup from the "Challenge Cup", to a type of competition totally governed by the Defender, in contravention of the basic principles of the Deed.

Mascalzone Latino submit that the Court should exercise its jurisdiction, enforce the terms of the Deed, and protect this historic sporting event from the Defender's usurpations.

Meantime a fair Protocol is being drafted with GGYC, and it will be submitted to all other challengers and all inputs will be welcomed.

Now it is time for SNG/Alinghi to be finally available to discuss and reach true mutual consent.

These are the reasons that brought Vincenzo Onorato to intervene once again:

a) the submission of the amicus brief.

"GGYC/Oracle is not the only team that contest the Protocol –underlines Onorato- we feel we have expressed the opinion of the sailing community that is interested in this event and wants it to remain competitive and not preconditioned in favour of the Defender."

b) the reasons of the court case between SNG and GGYC and the conflict surrounding the Cup.

"The conflict arose from the content of the Protocol and the case was brought by Oracle substantially to challenge this document signed between the defender and the challenger of record Club Nautico Espanol de Vela.

"If the Protocol had not distorted the event structure and totally eliminated the role of the Challenger from the XXXIII AC, we would probably all be in Valencia already.

"You would have to ask Ernesto Bertarelli - who said on many occasions that the XXXII edition of the Cup was the best ever held - why he has totally rewritten the rules? Wouldn't it have been better to improve on the previous text, perhaps even with the actual inputs from the challengers?"

c) Possible postponement of the Cup.

"A postponement is probably inevitable. Nevertheless as far as we are aware ACM did not consult any of challengers that are already registered before sending this release. ACM is continuing to make a fundamental mistake: behaving as if it were an organisation like the FIA, CIO, etc. Due to the peculiarity of the America' s Cup, ACM arises from the Holder of the trophy, therefore the power should not and cannot be absolute. In substance we hope that the orientation expressed in the release means that SNG has finally decided to come to the table and review all of the disputed matters."

d) Mascalzone Latino's participation in the next Cup.

"We are certainly ready to participate and it is for this reason that we are intervening in order to try to improve the rule context."

120 SKIPPERS AT THE START OF THE 2007 TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE
With 60 boats registered, the eighth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre confirms the success of this race and its establishment as a major classic. Created back in 1993, and indeed ever since, this race, which follows the historic route of the coffee trade, has grown continually both in terms of its fame and sporting interest. For each new edition, the greatest yachtsmen turn up to compete in the Transat Jacques Vabre.

60 boats at the start, while there were 38 two years ago and 13 for the first edition back in 1993. 120 of the top ocean racing skippers will be present in Le Havre, thus confirming the popularity of the ocean race and showing that all of the skippers still have that desire to take part.

Since 1995, the teams in Le Havre have managed to create some exceptional conditions for the hosting of the race, and steadily improved on them with each new edition. Today, Le Havre is one of the top homeports for ocean races. For this eighth Transat Jacques Vabre, a marina is going to be created at the back of the Paul Vatine Basin for the thirty Class 40 boats, with the multihulls and the monohulls spread over the two sides of the basin.

A wide-ranging permanent programme of events is planned for the 7000 m2 village, which will be open throughout the week. It will be open each day from Friday 26th October to Sunday 4th November from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with three late night openings.

The boats must be in harbour in Le Havre by noon on Friday 26th October.

The prize-giving ceremony will take place in Salvador in two stages. The first evening on Tuesday 20th November will concern the first boats to finish, while a second evening will reward the Class 40 boats on Tuesday 27th November.

www.jacques-vabre.com/fr/s01_home/s01p01_home.php

HUMAN DYNAMO
Human dynamo Jason Lewis, 40, has spent 13 years using just his own body power to get around the world. He has canoed, walked, skated, swum, cycled and even used a pedalo during his journey around the globe and now faces one of the most dangerous legs: paddling his canoe across the English Channel.

His 46,000 mile journey included crossing the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. He will be met at Greenwich on the prime meridian line - where he started in 1994 - by his parents and two sisters.

Having run up 20,000 GBP of debts he broke off the journey to work as variously an embalmer, and cattle rancher in Australia.

www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20070826100222ymnews.html

SPIDERTECH BLUE LINE
Fruit of research at Fiorenzi Marine Group, we are happy to announce the launch of a brand-new product named "Spidertech Blue Line". The sails are manufactured using our patented Spidertech lamination technology and have the capability of being adaptable to different boat ranges.

Spidertech Blue Line considerably cuts down the production time when compared to the standard tri-radial cutting process. It can be stocked and used when needed, without having to wait for long delivery times normally only acceptable by very organised racing teams. Spidertech Blue Line is a patent pending technology.

www.spidertechsails.eu/blueline.php

STEFAN HYDE IS ISA ALL IRELAND SAILING CHAMPION 2007
Stefan Hyde showed a light touch to win ISA All Ireland Sailing Championship 2007 on Dublin Bay Sunday afternoon

Junior Champion is Chris Penny while local girl Annalise Murphy claims the Girls Trophy.

At the start of this weekend Stefan Hyde said his favourite sailing moment was classic boat racing in west Cork on a sunny day but coming ashore to a fanfare at the National Yacht Club, Hyde noted that, "this tops a fantastic 12 months of sailing – 3 national titles, one world cup and now the All Ireland's."

Sailor of the Month last year (Nov 06), with Russell Treacy, and a member of the Trinity College Dublin sailing team that currently holds the Student Yachting World Cup, Stefan Hyde represented the J24 class in this 60th All Ireland Sailing Championship. A member of the Royal Cork Yacht Club, 25 year old Stefan Hyde raced the new SailFleet J80's with Daire O'Reilly and Declan McManus.

A lack of wind and sea fog delayed racing in the Championship, posing challenges for race officials however their patience was rewarded as lunchtime saw the breeze start to fill in. In the end, a light north easterly fading breeze saw the Junior & Girls racing just off Seapoint, while the senior fleet raced further out in the Bay. Racing was abandoned after one race but it was enough to decide the title holders.

The 2007 Junior All Ireland Champion is Chris Penny (Carrickfergus Sailing Club & East Antrim Boat Club) who is also a member of the ISA Youth Academy. A delighted Penny exclaimed, "It was only when I got ashore that it sunk in."

Local girl Annalise Murphy, from the National Yacht Club, is delighted to claim the title of All Ireland Girl Champion. Murphy received a wildcard invitation to compete based on her recent performances while campaigning for the Olympic Games in the Laser Radial Class.

All Ireland Sailing Championship 2007 – Final Results

Senior Champion
1. S Hyde; 2. M O'Connell; 3. T Fitzpatrick

Junior Champion
1. C Penny; 2. A McLaverty; 3. B Lynch

Girl Champion
1. A Murphy; 2. T Brien; 3. K White

www.sailing.ie/allireland/

J CLASS WEBSITE UPDATED AND REVISED
Visit the J Class Yachts website to see the latest photographs and stories about these beautiful classic racing yachts and their most recent regattas. The site is packed with news and information for any avid enthusiast, follower of the class and crew.

Latest updates include news of Endeavour II, now in build for completion in 2008. Plans for new builds can also be viewed of the original "Svea", a Tore Holm design which was never built and "Lionheart", a Ranger design, also never built.

www.jclassyachts.com

THIS DRUGS THING AGAIN...
Leaving aside the brouhaha over Simon Daubney's drug test entirely, there seems to be something of an assumption that professional sailing is as clean as a whistle. Sorry, but that's wilfully naïve.

Sailors are no more immune to pleasurable vices than any other cross-section of well-off middle-class society. Has anyone you know ever used cocaine? You bet.

Indeed you might as well ask: is there bribery and corruption in sailing; cheating; serious alcohol abuse? Yes, of course there is. It may well be an exception, but as long as someone can get away with it, someone's doing it.

One area of sailing where you might think it least likely to find recreational drugs is the puritan world of single-handed round the world racing. But you'd be wrong. I can think of one solo skipper whose habit was to prepare his boat with a spliff hanging from his lip. He couldn't have cared less who saw. -- Elaine Bunting, her full article on her blog at www.ybw.com/yw/blog/elaine_bunting.html

JONATHAN MCKEE TALKS ABOUT THE BARCELONA WORLD RACE
Right after the presentation of Estrella Damm's boat and team, Valencia Sailing spoke to Jonathan McKee, the American sailor that together with Guillermo Altadill will start off Barcelona next November and sail around the world.

Valencia Sailing: After a successful America's Cup with Luna Rossa, you choose a completely different path. Why?

Jonathan McKee: I really enjoyed the America's Cup as well as my experience with Luna Rossa but I always wanted to experience different styles of sailing and races and put myself in different situations. For me this is an opportunity to do something completely different. This type of ocean racing, especially short handed ocean racing is something I have some experience with and which appeals to me a lot. One thing that's great about it is how different it is compared to the America's Cup, not only in the sailing itself but in that the team is so much smaller and I can be much more involved in its overall decision-making and its personality. An individual sailor rarely has this involvement in the America's Cup.

Valencia Sailing: You'll be just two persons sailing together for more than three months. Can this lead to conflicts or problems?

Jonathan McKee For sure it's difficult and can create conflicts. I'll have less time with my family; I have a wife and two children and it's not going to be easy being away for three months. Luckily there is technology that helps in that sense a little bit but still it's a long time. That's a positive aspect of the America's Cup, you can go home every night and be with your family. It's a much more family-friendly environment. On the other side, this race will be over quite quickly. It lasts three months, it finishes and then you are on to your next assignment, while the America's Cup last almost 4 years.

Valencia Sailing: Why did you specifically choose the Barcelona World Race and not the Volvo Ocean Race or any other round-the-world race?

Jonathan McKee: For me the idea of going double-handed is much more appealing than going single-handed. Compared to the Vendee Globe this is a much more interesting race and more fun. You have more sleep, you share the duties and responsibilities and I'm sure I'll enjoy it more. As to the Volvo Ocean Race, I also think it's a very interesting one; it has a different dynamic with more crew, in-port races and stopovers. It's also a much longer race. It's an appealing challenge as well and it's not out of question I would do it also.

Full interview at valenciasailing.blogspot.com

FEATURED BROKERAGE
Hanse 300, 51,500 Euros. Lying Turkey.

This boat has not been much used since delivered new in april 2003, owners only used it in holidays. Has been covered up when left, and appears like new. Owners selling to buy a bigger model of Hanse.

Brokerage through YachtsAndCruisers.com: www.yachtsandcruisers.com

Complete listing details and seller contact information at www.yachtsandcruisers.com/boat/Hanse_Yachts/15680/

THE LAST WORD
Sailing is one of the few sports that you can do with a hangover. -- The Duke of Edinburgh

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.

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