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LAST OF THE CLIPPER FLEET CROSS THE EQUATOR
Following a tactical decision to move away from the Brazilian coast Nova Scotia has given away second place to Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper. There a chance the Scottish team will also have to tack away from the coast later today but it is possible that Nova Scotia has moved too far from the coast for the boat to regain second place.

Durban 2010 and Beyond has finally cleared the difficult stretch of the Brazilian coast that has been worrying skipper Ricky Chalmers for the last few days. The South Africans have now managed to take advantage of Nova Scotia's tack away from the coast and extend their lead to 63 nautical miles.

Joff Bailey, Race Director, comments, "It would appear as though Durban 2010 and Beyond has a clear run home to the finish in Salvador but the winds can be fickle and unpredictable when sailing close to the shore especially at night time and with more than 200 nautical miles still to cover the positions could change again."

Liverpool 08's tactics of staying further east have finally paid off as they moved ahead of Hull & Humber into fourth place. This lead should be consolidated over the next 24 hours as Liverpool 08 has a more favourable angle on the wind than Hull & Humber.

The entire fleet is now in the Southern Hemisphere. The final five boats crossed the Equator yesterday (Sunday 14 October) at the following times GMT:

westernaustralia2011.com 04:39
Uniquely Singapore 10:00
Qingdao 12:48
New York 15:30
Jamaica 15:43

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

PHILIPPE PRESTI WINS THE GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MATCH RACE
Geneva, Switzerland: After 3 days of great sailing action on Lake Geneva, Philippe Presti (FRA) won the 5th edition of the Geneva International Match Race, a grade 2 event. In the final, Presti beat French skipper Michel Cohen in light wind conditions. Despite Cohen's crew's local knowledge, having sailed on Lake Geneva for years, they couldn't do much against Presti's clear domination. In the "petite finale" for the 3rd and 4th place, Simon Minoprio (NZ) beat Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) in two straight matches (2-0).

Final results, Geneva international Match Race :
1. Philippe Presti, France
2. Michel Cohen, France
3. Simon Minoprio, New Zealand
4. Pierre-Antoine Morvan, France
5. Marek Stanczyk, Poland
6. Manuel Weiller , Spain
7. Alexis Littoz, France
8. Nicolas Denervaud, Switzerland

www.nautique.org

* Photos in the Eurobutt Gallery: www.scuttlebutteurope.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,30/

HELPING THEM WIN RACES
They wonder what I'm doing half the time, glued to my screen and nudging the Skipper – checking Facebook, they reckon. That's OK, they've got to talk about something on the rail, they know what I'm doing. I'm looking at tides, predicting vectors, checking forecasts, calculating laylines - putting us in the right place at the right time. Helping them win races. That's the plan, anyway. I spend so long with my face in a screen that I need to know my feet will stay where I put them. Dubarry's new Fastnet boots: the way to go.

www.dubarry.com

THE FLEET SLOWS DOWN
As expected, and because of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the fleet's leaders seriously decelerated last night. The boats could barely sail over 4 knots. Consequently, Yves Le Blevec's domination - on his proto Actual - is obvious this morning. He extended his lead to 76 miles margin over of a group led by Adrien Hardy on Brossard. It seems that the main tendency is to get back to the direct route. Only Fabien Despres (Soitec) and Kristian Hajnsek (Adria Mobil) are still sailing west.

This evening, all the skippers will have passed the Cape Verdes mark. Except fir Hugo Ramon (Volkswagen sailing experience) and Sebastien Gladu (Clichy sous bois, Clichy sur l'eau) who just left the Canaries.

Today, the unlucky Andrea Carraci (Speedy Bonsai), that dismasted 3 days ago, is awaited in Mindelo. There, he will meet not less than 7 skippers that should leave the island soon after repairs.

As for Isabelle Joschke (Degremont Synergie), she was able to leave Mindelo yesterday evening and her speed Monday morning (over 10 knots) should encourage her for the rest of the race. Also, Samuel Manuard confirmed that despite his rig'ss problems he will not give up racing until Bahia.

The Series duet, Stephane Le Diraison (Cultisol-Institut Curie) and Herve Piveteau (Jules-Imprimerie Cartoffset) continue their "pas de deux". Who will be the first to crack down? Other Series duet to be followed, the Portuguese Francisco Lobato (BPI) and the French Vincent Barnaud (Stgs.fr), only 50 miles behind Le Diraison.

215 miles off Le Diraison, Laurence Chateau (Okofen) is challenging with Veronique Loisel (De l'espace pour la mer) and Benedicte Graulle (Barreau de Paris), to become the first woman to reach Bahia's bay. The three women are 10 miles away one from the other.

Top ten:
1. Yves le Blevec, Actual, Proto, 1360.17 nm to finish
2. Adrien Hardy, Brossard, Proto, 62.3 nm to leader
3. David Sineau, Bretagne lapins, Proto, 71.5
4. Nicholas Brennan, Rafiki, Proto, 77.72
5. Ronan Deshayes, Pco technologies, Proto, 78.67
6. Yann Riou, Cameleon, Proto, 87.97
7. Fabien Despres, Soitec, Proto, 100
8. Kristian Hajnsek, Adria mobil, Proto, 102.62
9. Peter Laureyssens, Ecover, Proto, 113
10. Francois Salabert, Areas assurances, Proto, 119.33

www.transat650.org

YACHT CLUB COSTA SMERALDA CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) had it all going on this September. Located in Porto Cervo, Italy, the club regularly hosts awe-inspiring events throughout the Mediterranean sailing season, but September 2007 stood out as a veritable festival of sailing. The occasion was the 40th Anniversary of the YCCS, established by his Highness the Aga Khan (and a small group of Founder Members) in 1967 after he settled on the sparsely populated island of Sardinia in the early '60s and – as the story goes -- bought land from the Sardinian women who controlled the purse strings in all business transactions at the time.

Four decades later, Porto Cervo is a vibrant destination paradise, synonymous with luxury living and bustling with activity during the "high season" of May through September. Yachting is as integral to the lifestlye in Porto Cervo as the Sardinian mistral is to creating epic sailing conditions or the "tafoni" (wind- and sea-sculptured granite rocks) are to dramatically enhancing the natural beauty of the island's "Emerald Coast," Costa Smeralda.

It is within this natural order that the YCCS has defined its place by luring magnificent racing machines and talented sailors to impeccably run competitions and stylish social events. The clubhouse, creating an ancillary hub of activity only minutes away from Porto Cervo's center, is often referred to as the Aga Khan's "second home," where visitors are treated as special guests. It houses his rare collections of America's Cup paintings, ancient nautical charts and bone-and-horn ivory ship models, while at the same time replicating the ambience -- through its distinctive architecture -- of a ship headed to sea.

Though relatively young by most standards (many sporting fraternities can trace their histories back hundreds of years), the YCCS is one of the most revered yacht clubs in Europe, if not the world, resting solidly on the Aga Khan's founding principals of uniting nautical enthusiasts and promoting the sport of sailing. Accordingly, the club has given birth to a string of internationally renowned regattas, including the Settimana delle Bocche, Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Rolex Swan Cup and Sardinia Cup, while pioneering various sporting achievements, including Italy's first America's Cup Challenge in 1983 with the 12 Metre Azzurra (with a re-appearance in 1987 as the Challenger of Record) and the Blue Riband Award for the transatlantic powerboat crossing record in 1992. -- Barby McGowan

Club site: www.yccs.it

* Photos in the Eurobutt Gallery: www.scuttlebutteurope.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,30/

DR. ENERSEN GIVES HIS PROGNOSIS ON THE AULD MUG
Long time America's Cup fan and TV producer, Dick Enersen, gives his views on the options for the America's Cup:

It is in the nature of the event, pretty much throughout its history, that conflict will exist off the water, as well as on.

The 'too bad' part is that the legal action between GGYC and SNG is holding up the ongoing flow of Cup matches which we've enjoyed since 1992 and follows on the heels of the most interesting Cup match since 1983. It is perceived as an urination contest between two rich and willful men, a waste of judicial resources and is just another reason why Joe Six-pack doesn't understand, or care about, our sport.

The Problem
Ernesto Bertarelli, Ed Baird and Fred Meyer (Vice Commodore of SNG), accompanied by America's Cup (in its custom made Louis Vuitton travel case), appeared at St. Francis last week to present their case for their view of the 33rd match. These are all nice, well spoken and sophisticated guys, whom I have known, and liked, for varying lengths of time, and their conception of an interesting and accessible yacht racing event isn't all bad; it just can't be confused with a regatta having to do with America's Cup.

The Solution
The Achilles heel of the SNG position lies in the fictitious, ad hoc, 'yacht club'¨ which is currently the Challenger of Record (COR) and has signed off on the new protocol. The first important hearing will be in New York on the 22nd. Cory E. Friedman, whose writing can be found in the Scuttlebutt Archives ( http://sailingscuttlebutt.com ), has done a wonderful job of analyzing the legal issues and I heartily recommend reading him.

With any luck, GGYC will prevail in court, quickly, there will be no appeal and GGYC will take over as COR. With a good deal more luck, the two clubs will agree to negotiate a new protocol for the 33rd match.

The full article on Sail-World.com:
www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=38250

CONGRATULATIONS TO FRANCK CAMMAS & CREW ON "GROUPAMA III"
Gori propeller is the chosen brand of propeller for high performance multi hulls and grand prix yachts, including GROUPAMA III, which broke the record crossing the Atlantic in less than 4 days, with an average speed of 28.1 knots.

Gori propeller when folded does not auto rotate, and has the lowest drag of all sailboat propellers. Find out more at www.gori-propeller.com

TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE: BIG CLASS 40 ENTRY INCLUDES 10 AKILARIA
A breath of fresh air in the world of long-distance racing, the Class 40' provides a fantastic springboard for top-quality sailors by allowing them access to the great transocean events aboard real racing machines, and to line up alongside the 60-foot giants but within still very reasonable budgets. Everyone is coming - and from all over the place. Their huge participation and the fact that thirty boats are entered in this Transat Jacques Vabre are an undoubted sign of the success enjoyed by this new series that dates from only 2004.

The formula offers a boat that is pleasant, technical, safe and fast - but don't be fooled, these boats are not suitable for all and sundry. They are powerful and demanding - a guaranteed adrenaline rush.

Mowgli - An Akilaria 40' Cruiser-Racer Designed by Marc Lombard, the Akilaria is a smaller but worthy successor to certain famous 60-foot "round the world racers", with the same streamlined coachroof, extended lines, shallow step above the waterline and pronounced angles fading away towards a wide open cockpit.

Florian Gonser, the boat's owner, has, at first glance, prudently opted for a toned down and rather more comfortable version of the Akilaria 40', constructed by MC-Tec, a new Tunisian boatyard which produces "production model prototypes", according to the accepted formula.

No fewer than ten crews are competing on board an Akilaria 40' - in fact, a third of the Class 40' boats. -- Gwenola Gallois

www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=16664

* It is slightly ironic that the skipper at present leading the Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia (Mini Transat) race very very nearly didn't make the start due to the normally strict limitations on the size of the fleet. 42 year old Yves le Blevec, who sails Actual was only admitted into the race the week prior to the start when, at the last moment, the entry list was bumped up to 89 in total. To be allowed to do this, another support ship had to be organised to accompany this race and le Blevec managed to persuade Vendee Globe skipper Benoit Parnaudeau to allow the Max Havelaar Open 60 to make the passage with the fleet...

While designer Marc Lombard appears to have fallen out of favour in the Open 60 class, le Blevec's new Mini is the latest from the La Rochelle-based designer and is apparently one of three new Lombard Minis, albeit the only one competing in this year's race. The last Lombard Mini was built for Spanish skipper Alex Pella for the 2003 race (and is again racing this year).

Actual's hull was built by a professional yard in Lorient and le Blevec, who himself is pretty handy with the epoxy, finished her off. The boat was put together in record time - just four months and launched in June last year. -- Excerpts from another must-read in TheDailySail.com: www.thedailysail.com

NO SHORTAGE OF HANDS FOR 2007 ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE
At close of entries, the 28th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race has attracted sixty-nine yachts, one more than started in 2006 and, if they all hit the start line this coming Saturday, the race will have set a new record entry level albeit only just. Perhaps most worrying for the organisers, the Royal Malta Yacht Club, not all the yachts are yet in Malta, which is currently being battered by 30 miles an hour winds. These winds are expected to steadily subside over the coming few days, hopefully sufficiently to enable all foreign competitors to arrive.

Many yachts and crews from abroad have chosen to come back and do the race again. One such case is Sean Murphy who is tackling the race double-handed for the second time on his J-105 Slingshot. He had originally planned to race with Bonello DuPuis, but a turn of fate left Slingshot sitting in Malta. "

The Greek Farr 52, Superfast Racing (Optimum 3), is also back again and in their case for the fourth time. Having won the race in 2004, owners Pericles Livas and Nikos Lazos are keen to repeat their victorious odyssey, as Livas describes, "we first competed in the 2003 Rolex Middle Sea Race finishing 12th. It was the first time the team raced continuously for 5 days. Every member got excited and in the stormy 2004 edition the team returned combat-ready and won first place overall. We could not defend our title in 2005 and then 2006 was a very light winds for us. So this year we are back again and very hungry. We are 15 Greek amateur sailing enthusiasts looking forward to create another great set of memories."

The Rolex Middle Sea Race takes the fleet on a 606 nautical-mile adventure that starts and finishes in Malta. The start line is unique, lying as it does between the 18th century Fort Manoel and the 16th century bastions of Valetta. The route takes yachts up the eastern seaboard of Sicily to the Strait of Messina, passing the active volcano of Etna. At the second active volcano - the island of Stromboli - the fleet turns west to the Egadi Islands and the northwest corner of Sicily. Here the fleet heads south passing the island of Pantelleria before turning back towards Malta at the island of Lampedusa.

The Rolex Middle Sea Race 2007 starts from Marsamxett Harbour, Malta, on Saturday 20th October 2007. The Malta Rolex Cup, a two-race inshore series on the 16th and 17th October, will precede the main race.

Robert McNeill's Zephyrus IV established the current Course Record of 64 hours 49 minutes and 57 seconds in 2000.

www.rolexmiddlesearace.com

BRANSON SAYS STEVE FOSSETT LIKELY LOST FOREVER
British entrepreneur Richard Branson says he's all but given up hope that Steve Fossett will be found alive.

Branson tells NBC's "Today" show that "chances are that he's no longer with us" and says that everyone involved has "pretty well given up hope."

Branson says Fossett's wife had written to him to say she was returning to Nevada for one final search, but the likely fate of her husband was "beginning to sink in." www.fox6.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=0824c290-97ac-4e43-b14c-1c47c38d3e9a&rss=tick

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
The first law of dietetics seems to be if it tastes good, its bad for you. -- Isaac Asimov

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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