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FRANCIS JOYON ON STANDBY SOON...
Francis Joyon and Patrice Lafargue, Managing Director of Groupe IDEC, have presented an overview of the solo round the world record attempt and announced the names of tri-maran IDEC's godfathers; Jean Todt and professor Gerard Saillant.The countdown has started; in one week, at the end of October, Francis Joyon will be on stand-by, waithing for the best window weather. The record to be beat is Ellen MacArthur time of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes

Joyon's dream of setting out to recapture his record is fast approaching reality. The new 30 metre trimaran IDEC is ready to go and so is her sailor, who hopes to achieve a sub-70 day time.

For the weather side, Francis Joyon - who did his own routing on his first record breaking voyage - will be guided by "the wizard", Jean-Yves Bernot, one of the best known routers in the world. Together they will decide on the best weather window for the all important start.

Jean Todt and Professor Gerard Saillant are the godfathers of the new IDEC, whose mainsail will carry the colours of a noble cause, that of ICM - Institute of the Brain and Spinal Cord - whose objective is to try to solve the world problem of diseases of the central nervous system. Consequently, it was natural that IDEC's godfathers should be two men who have done a lot to make it possible for ICM to become operational, from 2010, in the Salpetriere Hospital complex: Professor Gerard Saillant, one of the most eminent specialists in spinal column surgery and sports medicine and initiator of ICM, and John Todt, boss of the Ferrari Formula 1 team and one of the great personalities of sport, who has supported the ICM project for a long time.

A clean voyage, with no fossil fuels on board

"On all my boats, I have always tried not to create sources of pollution. I am too respectful of nature." said Joyon, who has no diesel engine in the boat. The energy needed for IDEC's equipment will be provided by solar panels, a fuel cell and a wind turbine.

Translation by Marian Martin/BYM News,
www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=17062

Joyon's site: www.trimaran-idec.com

SPITHILL WINS ROLEX OSPREY CUP
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA: Australia's Katie Spithill won the 2007 Rolex Osprey Cup - one of only two ISAF Grade 1 women's match racing events in the U.S. - held at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club (St. Petersburg, Fla.), from October 18-21. Along with crew Nina Curtis, Jessica Eastwell and Kristen Short, Spithill defeated Giulia Conti (Toscolano Maderno, Italy) in three straight matches in the 'first to win three' format. In the semi-final round Spithill knocked out another pre-race favorite #4 ranked Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.), a two-time world champion. In the other semi-final match, Conti defeated Liz Baylis (San Rafael, Calif.), a past Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and the current U.S. Women's Match Racing champion. Barkow, the 2005 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, went on to defeat Baylis in the round to decide third and fourth place, or the 'petit-final' as it is called in match racing, with a score of 3-1.

Conti, the 2005 Rolex Osprey Cup champion, did well in winning 12 of her round robin matches as she has not been actively match racing, preferring instead to concentrate on preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games where she will represent Italy in the 470 class.

Over the four days of racing in Sonar class keelboats, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club's race committee ran 113 races, including a complete double round-robin, semi-finals (first to win 3), three consolation series (first to win 2), petit-finals (first to win 3), and final (first to win 3). Racing conditions were excellent as they so often are on Tampa Bay, with wind at 5-10 knots and plenty of sunshine.

Overall standings -- Skipper (hometown) with crew members:
1. Katie Spithill (Pittwater, Australia) with crew Nina Curtis, Jessica Eastwell and Kristen Short
2. Giulia Conti (Toscolano Maderno, Italy) with crew Alessandra Marenzi, Alessandra Angelini and Giovanna Micol
3. Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis. USA) with crew Debbie Capozzi, Annie Lush and Lindsay Bartel.
4. Liz Baylis ( San Rafael, Calif. USA) with crew Lee Icyda, Suzy Leech and Karina Shelton
5. Katy Lovell (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA) with crew Alice Manard, Ann Graham and Carla Schiefer
6. Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla. USA) with crew Liz Bower, Ali Sharpe and Molly Vandermoer
7. Sabrina Gurioli (Forli, Italy) with crew Elena Orioli, Marta Reynes Nicolau and Marcella Trioschi
8. Caroline Bejar (#56, Brazil) with crew Andrea Grael, Isabel Ficker and Laura Zanni
9. Rachael Silverstein (#63, St. Petersburg, Fla. USA) with crew Jee Lee, Becca Thomas and Kristen Herman
10. Sandy Hayes (#18, Scituate, Mass. USA) with crew Cindy Olsen, Kathryn Zainea and Phyllis Karlberg

www.rolexwomensmatch.org

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

LOKI DESTROYED?
The 2007 Rolex Middle Sea Race has ended tragically for the crew and owner of Loki, one of the Australia's best ocean racing yachts. Loki's 16 man crew was forced to abandon ship during severe gales off the north coast of Sicily last night. Reports indicate that their rudder was damaged in 35 knot northerlies and terrible seas. Before leaving the vessel the crew deployed two anchors in the hope of keeping the boat off the shore.

However reports now indicate that this was unsuccessful and Loki has gone aground: details are sketchy at this stage and the extent of the damage remains unknown.

Loki's crew were rescued from a life raft by the Italian Air force after attempts to tow the vessel away from the lee shore of Golfo di Castallammare were deemed too dangerous.

Reports indicate that the anchor rodes were unable to withstand the terrible conditions and Loki has been wrecked on the coast of the Golfo di Castallammare. One reporter said that the boat had been 'destroyed' though it is not clear at this stage what the extent of the damage is.

Loki is owned by Stephen Ainsworth who decided to campaign the boat in Europe after a successful summer in Sydney. Apparently he had intended to bring Loki back to Australia for the Sydney/Hobart though this now looks to be very unlikely. -- Sail-World.com: www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=38531

ISAF WORLD MATCH RACE RANKINGS
After five months at #2 behind Ian Williams (GBR), Mathieu Richard (FRA) claims the world #1 spot for the first time, buoyed by his recent victory in Bermuda at the ISAF Grade WC Gold Cup. Williams had held the top spot since May 2007, but lost crucial Ranking points with a disappointing 12th place in Bermuda.

Richard has been one of the most consistent performers on the match racing circuit over the past few years, holding a top ten Ranking since October 2002. His win in Bermuda was his first ever on the World Tour and, in addition to giving him the world #1 spot, has thrown him right into contention with Williams at the top of the Tour standings. With just two events remaining, the 31 year old skipper will be aiming to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Claire Leroy (FRA), who holds both the #1 spot in the World Rankings and the World Championship title.

Denmark's Jesper Radich is the sole new entry into the top 20 after a fifth place finish at the ISAF Grade 1 Cento Cup in Italy. Winner in Italy, Ben Ainslie (GBR), is by far the biggest climber near the top of the Rankings, gaining over 100 places to move up from #161 to #47.

Claire Leroy's (FRA) run in the world #1 spot continues unabated, although Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (DEN) has made a considerable dent in her points lead. A dominant victory at the ISAF Grade 1 Ladies Match Cup in Germany helps the Danish skipper reduce the gap to the top spot from 875 points to 257. However Leroy has led the World Rankings for well over two years now and looks unlikely to give up the top spot without a fight. It has been an incredible 12 months for the 27 year old French skipper, whose victories have included the ISAF Women's Match Racing Worlds, the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final and the Women's European title - a string of performances rewarded with a nomination for the 2007 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award.

The next release of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings will be on 5 December.

Open Rankings - www.sailing.org/mrorankings
Women's Rankings - www.sailing.org/mrwrankings

HIGH PERFORMERS
There are many variables that go into performing well at a regatta. Some are controllable some are not. Clothing is a controllable variable. So when looking for high performance clothing check out the Code Zero quick dry shirt from Camet. The double circular knit, lightweight fabric is designed to wick away moisture, dry fast, be comfortable and, have maximum UV protection. This high performing shirt is perfect as a single warm weather layer or as an under layer for cold weather. Padded Shorts, Vest, Mylar bags etc.

www.camet.com

DAVID SINEAU 2ND AT BAHIA
David Sineau (Bretagne Lapins) crossed Bahia's finish line at 10H28min and 22 seconds - French Time. He is, then, second of Funchal/Bahia's leg. He sailed during 17 days 21 hours 11 minutes and 22 seconds at an average speed of 7,11 knots. He arrived 14 hours and 35 minutes after the amazing Yves Le Blevec. If we add up both legs he sailed during 24 days, 00 hours, 59 minutes and 22 seconds.

Following Sineau were five more prototypes:

Current top ten, leg 2:

1. Yves Le Blevec, Actual, Proto, Finished
2. David Sineau, Bretagne Lapins, Proto, Finished
3. Fabien Despres, Soitec, Proto, Finished
4. Nicholas Brennan, Rafiki, Proto, Finished
5. Ronan Deshayes, PCO Technologies, Proto, Finished
6. Adrien Hardy, Brossard, Proto, Finished
7. Yann Riou, Cameleon, Proto, Finished
8. Herve Favre, Team Work Management, Proto, 281.45 nm to finish
9. Koen Van Esch, K.L.M. Flying Dutchman, Series, 376.48
10. Sebastian Marsset, Maree Haute, Series, 417.71

www.transat650.org

HEMPEL 34TH GOSFORD TO LORD HOWE ISLAND YACHT RACE
New South Wales, Australia: Two classic yachts built nearly 40 years ago will represent Gosford Sailing Club when it conducts the Hempel 34th Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Club, which starts from Broken Bay this coming Saturday, 27 October.

The Camper and Nicholson-designed 55-footer Pacha, now owned by Bill Koppe, won the Sydney Hobart Race in 1970 while the Gosford-built Cole 43 Polaris of Belmont, now owned by Chris Dawe, has competed in 22 Hobart Races, placing second in the IRC Division in 2001.

The 414nm race across the Tasman Sea to world heritage listed Lord Howe Island will start at 1pm on Saturday from a line between Barrenjoey headland and Lion Island.

Once clear of Broken Bay,the fleet will race close along the Central Coast to a mark off Terrigal before setting a north-easterly course for Lord Howe, giving the public an outstanding view from coastal headlands between Box Head and The Skillion.

The Lord Howe Island Race is Australia's only Category 1 ocean race other than the Rolex Sydney Hobart, and many of the yachts will be using this year's event as a qualifier for the Hobart Race in late December.

Polaris of Belmont is a past winner of the Lord Howe Island Race, having taken both IMS and PHS handicap honours in 1997 when owned by John Quinn. Designed by Peter Cole, she was built by East Coast Yachts at Gosford in 1970.

The famous English yacht designers and builders Camper & Nicholson built Pacha in aluminium for a French yachtsman to contest the 1969 Admiral's Cup. She was the first yacht built in aluminium by Camper & Nicholson, giving add elegance to her classic looks with burgundy topsides and a laid teak deck.

She did not race particularly at the Admiral's Cup and Australian Sir Robert Crichton-Brown bought her. He re-rigged the 55-footer with a new mast 3.5m taller than the original one, vastly improving her performance and she won the Sydney Hobart in 1970.

She raced to Hobart nine more times during the 1970s and 1980s, including in the 50th Race in 1994 under the ownership of another CYCA member, Jose de la Vega, who later cruised Pacha around Cape Horn to his home country of Argentina before bringing her back to Australia through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific.

At least seven of the 19 boats in the Hempel Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race are expected to contested the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart, including AFR Midnight Rambler, owned by Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Aurora, Jim Holley's Farr 40 one-off from Lake Macquarie, the Gosford Sailing Club-registered Polaris of Belmont (Chris Dawe) and two other CYCA entrants, Solana (Phillip King) and Getaway-Sailing.com (Peter Goldsworthy) and Morna (Greg Zyner) from the Manly Yacht Club.

Getaway-Sailing.com, a former Volvo 60 round the world racer, is the biggest boat in the Lord Howe Island Race fleet and hot favourite for line honours following her fast time last year of 34 hours 52 minutes and 02 second, an average speed of just under 12 knots for the 414 nautical mile course.

This time stands as the race record for the new 414 nautical mile course, following the introduction of the first leg from Broken Bay to the Terrigal mark.

Favourite for IRC handicap honours is AFR Midnight Rambler, the modified Farr 40 One Design whose owners, Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas sailed their previous boat of this name, a Hick 34, to an overall IMS victory in 1999.

The current AFR Midnight Rambler finished second overall in last year's Gosford to Lord Howe Island Race, losing IRC first place to Merlin by just 40 minutes on corrected time. Merlin is not racing this year. -- Peter Campell

GIPSY MOTH IV: STAR OF THE WHYTE & MACKAY EARLS COURT BOAT SHOW
The all-new Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show isn't just about exciting shows andChristmas shopping, it's shining with stars from sailing past, present and future. See Sir Francis Chichester's world-famous Gipsy Moth IV; watch Dee Caffari live by satellite in her first Transatlantic race; Michael Perham - the Transat Kid - auctions Cheeky Monkey; Gigi, the Cape Horn-rounding Contessa 32 takes a newly restored bow. There's the National Maritime Museum's Hall of Fame, the Steve Curtis Power Boat Display, good food, Guinness and much, much more. The all-new Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show: you can't beat boating in the heart of London!

www.earlscourtboatshow.com

LAUNCHINGS
* Engineers at Stability Yachts have unveiled a new multi-hull design that they claim helps eliminate the conditions that cause seasickness.

Rich Guglielmi unveiled the cutting edge capabilities of this craft by skimming across the flats just off Cape Coral Florida. He said, "Although a proven technology, SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) vessels until now have not been practical for the private yacht owner."

Traditionally, these vessels have been very heavy with a deep draft. The engineers at Stability Yachts overcame this by developing a ballast system and infrastructure that allows its 60ft yacht to run in the catamaran mode at 17,000 lbs displacement with only an 18-inch draft. -- International Boat Industry, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070905102259ibinews.html

* Yesterday the first unit of the one-design monohull Veolia Oceans series was launched at Caen by Marc Lefebvre from V1D2 yard in the presence of Jean-Marie Finot the architect, Jean-Marie Vaur from JMV Industries (Cherbourg) the builder, almost 2 years prior to the day of the first edition of the SolOceans set for 25 October 2009.

The SolOceans is the first single-handed oceanic round the world race sailed on equal footing on sixteen-metre (52.5') high-tech one-design monohulls all identical to each other: the Veolia Oceans. The race will start in Lower Normandy (France) and will stopover in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, with a finish back in Lower Normandy (France). The start of the first SolOceans is set for 25 October 2009. The SolOceans will then be run every two years (2011, 2013, 2015…).

The mast built by Beat Wildberger from Alucarbon at Vieux Thann near Mulhouse (Easter part of France) will arrive in Caen today. The sails made by North Sails France will arrive directly from Vannes (Brittany) on Thursday morning. The masting will be done on Thursday 25 October. Friday will be dedicated to some adjustments for her first sailing session.

At 08.30 pm on Friday 26 October, a team composed by Yvan Griboval, Jean-Baptiste Daramy, Erwan Lebec, Erwan Tabarly and Benjamin Vernieres will leave the harbour of Ouistreham and head for Cherbourg. It will be the very first run of the Veolia Oceans.

On Saturday 27 October at around 10.00 am, the first Veolia Oceans® monohull will enter in Cherbourg harbour, its port of registry, where the hull and the deck came into being at JMV Industries. She will then reach Pontoon Q at around 11.00 am from where she will be christened according to tradition.

www.soloceans.com/en/news/22/Launching-of-the-first-Veolia-Oceans.html

* Avon Inflatables will be unveiling two new craft at the 2008 Collins Stewart London Boat Show. The new 4-stroke Seasport Jet 430 SC DL will be making its world debut whilst the new Adventure 410 will be making its UK debut and will incorporate an 'Avon first' new design feature.

The largest model in Avon's new range of turbo-charged Jet RIBs the 430 SC DL is propelled by a 4-stroke turbo-charged 98hp inboard engine.

* In December 2005, BENETEAU launched a new generation of cruising yachts with the introduction of the Oceanis 50. In its wake came the 46, the 43 and the 40... all hugely successful, with over 800 boats sold in less than 2 years. The Oceanis 37 unveiled at this autumn's boat shows is recognisably part of the same family, but has been given its own distinctive personality by designers Finot Conq.

The Oceanis 37 has set the style for the new Oceanis 31, born out of the same collaborative partnership between Beneteau, yacht designers Finot and Conq and Italian design studio Nauta.

The Oceanis 31 is offered in a two-cabin and head compartment version. An Exclusive version offering even more elegance and comfort is also available.

The new Oceanis 31 will be unveiled at the Paris, London and Dusseldorf boat shows.

* Coming soon to the RS line up - the RS Q'BA, which bridges the gap between the RS Feva XL and its little sister, the RS Tera, filling an important hole in the RS Range. The choice of a furling Sport sail in durable Dacron, or a battened, more powerful Pro sail, in light-weight Mylar, means that the RS Q'BA can be tailored to suit the sailor's experience and weight, while the optional jib kit can be fitted for double-handed sailing.

The light, rotomoulded hull, constructed using the proven Comptec PE polyethylene system, is easily car-toppable and, with virtually zero maintenance, the RS Q'BA is hassle-free.

The RS Q'BA is at the final stage of development - testing will continue throughout the winter of 2007, before the official launch at the London Boat Show. Production is scheduled to commence in time for Spring 2008 deliveries.

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* From Janet Grosvenor, RORC Racing Manager: re: Rolex Commodores' Cup

We are delighted that Australia is looking to send teams to the 2008 Rolex Commodores' Cup.

However I would like to clarify the numbers of professionals allowed at this event. The ISAF Sailor Classification Code will apply with Group 3 sailors being allowed as follows:

For Class 1 : two Group 3 sailors
For Class 2 : one Group 3 sailor
For Class 3 : one Group 3 sailor

All other crew shall hold a valid Group 1 or 2 classification.

These details are already published on the RORC website and the full Notice of Race will be published within the next ten days.

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THE LAST WORD
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra

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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