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ITALIA TELECOM WINS TJV CLASS 40
On Monday morning at 03 hours 02 minutes and 22 seconds, French hour, Giovanni Soldini and Pietro d' Ali crossed the finishing line of this 8th edition of the Transatlantic race Jacques Vabre as winners in Class 40. "Italia Telecom" sailed the course in 22 days 13 hours of race, nearly five hours ahead of "Atao Audio System". Arriving in the afternoon to take the final podium position was Monbana Chocolates. Also joining the pontoon at El Salvador de Bahia was Great American III, skippered by RIch Wilson and Mike Birch, in 16th place, the final IMOCA 60 to finish.

Giovanni Soldini is one of Italy's most famous and accomplished offshore sailors. His resume includes the Vendee Globe, BOC Challenge and extensive oceanic multihull racing. Pietro D'Ali was the winner of hte last Transat AG2R and a member of Prada during the last America's Cup.

It was your first test in Class40. Your impressions?
" Class 40 is a super boat, fun to sail and very simple. You can make a boat in five months and then win a race! The budgets are not very big, there is not thus too much pressure and thus you sail! I will remain in Brazil until January then I will return in a convoy. Then, I will go to Great Britain to take part in the OSTAR. Better than to remain six months in a building site,eh? (laughter!) "

The following five have finished:
1. Telecom Italia, Giovanni Soldini / Pietro D/Ali
2. ATAO Audio System, Dominic Vittet / Thierry Chabagny
3. Chocolats Monbana, Damien Grimont / Erwan Le Roux
4. Appart City, Yvan Noblet / Patrick Morvan
5. A.ST Groupe, Marc Emig / Bertrand de Broc

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

MACARTHUR SAYS HER RECORD WILL GO
Dame Ellen MacArthur believes her solo round-the-world record will be broken by one of two Frenchmen this winter.

Francis Joyon, 51, set sail from Brest last Friday in an attempt to regain the record taken from him by MacArthur in February 2005.

Both Joyon and his compatriot Thomas Colville, who is yet to leave, are sailing longer boats than MacArthur's B&Q, which should ensure greater speed.

"I expect one of them to break it," said the 31-year-old Briton. "I don't know how I will feel about that. I just can't say until it happens."

MacArthur set the record of 71 days 14 hours.

Joyon, the 24-hour solo speed world record holder, should beat it in his 97ft trimaran IDEC II, which is 20 feet longer than the boat MacArthur used.

Colville, who had briefly to postpone his departure on Friday from Les Sables D'Ollones, has a 15ft advantage on MacArthur's B&Q in his boat, Sodebo.

The symbolic mark for the record is 70 days.

Mark Turner, MacArthur's long-time friend and business partner, hinted she would eager to reclaim the record should it be broken.

An attempt could take place after 2010, when her company's new multi-million pound sponsorship deal with BT expires. -- full article in BBC Sport: news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/sailing/7112672.stm

* "I have to carry an alarm that warns me as soon as the boat crosses the 31 knots of boat speed mark," explained Francis Joyon this morning. "And all night, the alarm has been going off regularly in the cockpit!"

The first 24 hours for the IDEC skipper has been tough to say the least - 423 miles covered at 17.72 knots average and, with all the usual reservations, theoretically 82 miles ahead of Ellen MacArthur's record. At this pace it will not take long to pass Cape Finisterre...conditions remain excellent with the Azores high established and a depression over Morocco. This provides a wide corridor of wind very well oriented for IDEC. "Now is the time to gain the maximum miles. The wind varies between 34 and 27 knots from the northeast, conditions very attractive to IDEC. The conditions ahead are very favorable, and we should continue to move quickly." -- TheDailySail.com

21ST CENTURY COMPASS TRANSDUCER FROM NEXUS MARINE
Among the range of new instruments introduced this month by Nexus Marine, the HPC compass transducer stands out as a truly innovative product that will be appreciated by racing sailors everywhere. Although only the size of a mobile telephone the HPC (heel pitch compensated) compass sensor uses the latest materials and precision engineering techniques to give an accuracy of plus/minus 1 degree to a maximum heel of 60.

Fully compatible with most leading instrumentation systems, the this exceptional instrument features a six-axis configuration that also incorporates heel and pitch, giving exceptional results for data such as true wind angle even when the boat is at a substantial angle of heel.

For more information go to www.nexusmarine.se

CLIPPER RACE: MEDIVAC OFF SOUTH AFRICAN COAST
New York is preparing to carry out a medical evacuation of a 46-year-old crew member off the coast of South Africa.

Tony Peters, a paramedic from Hanworth, Berkshire in the UK, sustained a head injury when a large wave swept him across the cockpit on the second day of Race 4 from Durban to Fremantle.

New York Skipper Duggie Gillespie reported the incident to Falmouth Coastguard, who advised him that due to the nature of the injury the crew member should be transferred to shore to receive medical attention.

Tony remained conscious throughout the incident and is in a stable and comfortable condition onboard.

New York has stopped racing and is currently heading back towards Durban in approximately 30 knots of wind. At 15:30 GMT New York was 220 miles south east of Durban.

The South African Navy vessel Isaac Dyoba that led the formation yesterday has been tasked by the coastguard to evacuate Tony from New York. They are expected to rendezvous with New York at around 07:00-08:00 GMT and to reach Durban by early afternoon tomorrow. Tony will be taken to a local hospital for treatment and he will be accompanied by a member of the Clipper Race Team.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

THE DOLDRUMS LIVING UP TO THEIR REPUTATION
A report from Temenos (Dominique Wavre / Michele Paret) in the Barcelona World Race:

Though we'll have to wait for the fleet to be right out of the inter-tropical convergence zone before we can really analyse the situation on the water, for the two leaders this is clearly the case given the noon position report. Since yesterday evening PRB has snatched back the reigns in the Barcelona World Race to the detriment of Paprec-Virbac.

Slowed, sometimes halted but never for very long, the majority of the boats were continuing to make headway in relatively mild doldrums if we look at the progress of the fleet since yesterday. However, mild does not mean accommodating and can be even more relaxing as Dominique confirmed when rapidly contacted mid afternoon today. There are squalls about, broken up my periods of flat calm and such conditions require continual patience on deck. Sometimes it's time for manœuvres to quickly adapt the sail area on their steeds with the abrupt arrival of a squall, sometimes it's trimming in order to get the most out of any little veins of wind, so the duos certainly aren't lacking jobs.

Aboard Temenos II, last night was fairly hectic, whilst this morning was quite the contrary.

"We've had a difficult night, with non-stop manoeuvring under driving rain, with a vast amount of reef taking and sail changes. We got hit by a big line of squalls, with gusts at 30 knot, and a wind which has gradually been backing as we make headway. We ended up virtually upwind, under jib and with 3 reefs in the main. This morning we found ourselves in a totally calm zone for nearly 3 hours and had to hoist everything. We then saw another front coming, with some more 30 knot gusts so we just haven't stopped! There are messy seas so as soon as the wind dies it shakes the boat every which way. This morning in the calm conditions, you really had to hang on to be able stay on deck. The boat felt like it had mad cow disease! (laughs). The doldrums are really living up to their reputation with shifty wind, violent squalls and a huge amount of manœuvres to be done." Dominique concludes on the advantages of double-handed sailing "it's really good that there's two of us!" -- translation from Kate Jennings

www.barcelonaworldrace.com

SAVILLS 30TH SHORT OCEAN RACING CHAMPIONSHIP
Sydney, Australia: Bob Steel's latest yacht named Quest is a real winner, the Transpac 52 outsailing a small but elite grand prix ocean racing fleet in the IRC Racing Division 1 at the Savills' 30th annual Short Ocean Racing Championship, sailed off Sydney Heads over the weekend.

In doing so, Steel beat two of the favoured contenders for IRC honours in next month's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Geoff Ross' Yendys and Graeme Wood's Wot Yot.

However, Steel has elected not to enter this Quest in the 630 nautical mile ocean race, which he won in 2001 with his previous Quest.

Although beaten into second place, Geoff Ross, owner/skipper of the state-of-the-art Reichel/Pugh 55 Yendys, was happy with the performance of the boat and its crew. -- Peter Campbell

Full results: www.mhyc.com.au/savills

A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE
Competing in the Sydney Hobart race is a risky business. Combine the ever-present dangers with a prophecy of cataclysmic storms and the stakes couldn't be higher. But should the Sydney Coastguard take this unconventional warning seriously? Bestselling author Hector Macdonald's tempestuous new thriller, The Storm Prophet (Penguin), is "a terrific read" declared ABC Sydney. "I was glued to it," said Bob Fisher. "A beautiful book" and "just wonderful" say the reviewers.

Meet Hector at stand 1M61 at the Earls Court Boat Show. For the perfect Christmas present, order a signed and dedicated first edition from www.hectormacdonald.com

BALTIC SPRINT CUP 2008
Only one month after publishing the Notice of Race for the fourth edition of the Baltic Sprint Cup 2008 sixteen yachts are officially entered and twenty more are pending.

"We know there are some very big boats checking the stopover ports. It's possible we could create a separate Maxi-class in 2008", said Event Director Henning Rocholl "There is sufficient depth for even the deepest maxi in or very close to all the stopover harbours. The 82ft 'Calypso', ex 'Wild Thing', has already registered. We really hope that 'UCA' (86 ft) will join us again and we are in contact with other international maxis." The Baltic Sprint Cup is perfectly scheduled following the Eurocard Gotland Rund (29th June-3rd July) so boats can easily sail down the Swedish coast from Sandhamn to Travemunde to take part (Baltic Sprint Cup check-in starts 18th July).

Early Baltic Sprint Cup entries qualify for an early-payment-reduction of 15% by 30th November or 10% by 31st December and automatically join the lottery closing 29th February 2008 when the main prize is completely free entry for the lottery-winning boat.

Baltic Sprint Cup 2008 ports:Travemunde-Karslkrona-Klaipeda-Gdynia-Gdansk-Ronne (Bornholm). Classes in IRC (racer) and ORC Club (cruiser-racer). -- Alan Green

Latest entry list and full details are at www.balticsprintcup.com

Course map at www.balticsprintcup.com/index.php?id=295

CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT
New York Yacht Club Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex
July 19-27, 2008
Newport, Rhode Island

July 19-20 Classics Regatta and Olin J. Stephens's 100th Birthday Celebration
July 24-27 Handicap & One-Design Racing

This popular regatta's unique format offers serious competition on the water and good times ashore. Over the weekend of July 19-20, a regatta for classics will bring together some of the sport's most awe-inspiring yachts, including historic 12 Metres and Sparkman & Stephens (S&S) designs to coincide with the 100th birthday celebration of America's legendary yacht designer Olin J. Stephens, whose legacy of cruisers, racers and America's Cup 12 Metres is unmatched. For Race Week at Newport's second segment -- from Thursday, July 24 through Sunday, July 27-- up to 200 modern racing machines will converge on Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound for IRC, PHRF and one-design competitions. In addition to windward-leeward courses, a distance race around Conanicut Island will be offered, adding to the unique challenges and epic beauty of a racing arena that from 1930 to 1983 hosted the America's Cup and continues to make Newport one of the country's most desired sailing destinations.

Rolex timepieces will be awarded for specific performances. Shore-side activities will be hosted at Harbour Court, the NYYC's clubhouse on historic Newport Harbor.

For more information, visit www.nyyc.org or contact the New York Yacht Club Sailing Office, Harbour Court, 5 Halidon Avenue, Newport, R.I. 02840; phone 401-845-9633; fax 401-846-3303; email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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 and Christmas 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 Earls Court Boat Show Hall of Fame in Association with Yachting World, 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

RYA WINTER CHALLENGE MATCH RACING SERIES
Germany's Carsten Kemmling secured the first place in the prestigious RYA Winter Challenge Match Racing Series Final in March skippering his crew to Challenge Series 1 victory at Queen Mary Sailing Club this weekend (24-25 November).

Alongside five British teams, match racers from Turkey, Holland, Germany and Italy competed in the RYA's fleet of J80's at Queen Mary in the Grade 3 event.

Sailing in a variable breeze of around 10 to 15 knots, Mark Campbell-James (GBR) with his usual team of Dave Mason, Andrew Yates and Andy Clark dominated the round robin without losing a race.

The rest of the round robin was hotly-contested with semi final places undecided until Nick Cherry had completed a re-sail against the Dutchman Jelle Roos, following an incident in the final moments of the last match of Saturday.

Joining Campbell-James in the semi finals were Cherry (GBR) (second in the round robin), Kemmling (GER) (third) and Ed Hill (GBR) (fourth), leaving Simon Ferrarese (ITA) and Jon Pinner (GBR) to contest for fifth and sixth place.

Round two of the Series takes place at Queen Mary on 7 -9 December. -- Karenza Morton

RYA Winter Challenge Match Racing Series 1 Results:
1. Carsten Kemmling (GER), Georg Hecht, Urs Wihlfahrt, Christoph Wahling
2. Mark Campbell-James (GBR), Dave Mason, Andrew Yates, Andy Clark
3. Nick Cherry (GBR), Matt Adams, Sam Richmond, Gaz Owen
4. Ed Hill (GBR), Christian Hamilton, Charlie Somerset, Kirsty Law, Lauren Martel
5. Jon Pinner (GBR), Tom Heywood, Adam Richards, Matt Pinner
6. Simon Ferrarese (ITA), Arborea Claudio, Giuseppe Filippis, Tom Dawson
7. Jelle Roos (NED), Frans Hin, Chicl de Leeaw, Marc Bocmans
8. Orkun Soyer (TUR), Onursal Soyer, Conor Byrne, Ismail Inan
9. David Tabb (GBR), Ben Scroggie, Robert Kemp, Jason Foster

www.rya.org.uk

GEOFF LEE SAILS HIS FINAL VOYAGE
Prominent Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron member, yachtsman and yachting benefactor Geoff Lee AM OAM has died after an extended illness.

Geoff was the immediate past chairman and a life member of the Australia Day Regatta and was instrumental in maintaining its status as the world's oldest continuously conducted sailing regatta.

Geoff had been a member of the RSYS since 1964 and was also a member of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and a past flag officer of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.

He donated many perpetual trophies to sailing, including one for line honours in the Australia Day ocean race to Botany Bay and return.

Over many years of active sailing, Geoff raced a succession of yachts named Taurus in ocean races and, in latter years, in harbour racing with the RSYS Division 1.

Geoff was also involved in supporting many other activities, including the Scouting movement and the Sydney Heritage fleet.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service to celebrate Geoff's life to be held at St Mark's Church Darling Point Road, Darling Point on Tuesday December 4 at 11.30am.

There will be a gathering of family and friends after the Memorial Service probably at the CYCA. - Peter Campbell

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 B. Dalrymple-Smith: Carolijn Brouwer's letter was otherwise spot on, but I cannot understand the continuing dogma that women cannot compete on a equal footing with men in a sport that is not always meant to be a test of strength or weight. Surely everyone would agree that there should be at least ONE class of boat in the Olympics that could be used as an open event for men, women and don't knows without fear or favour. It is a matter of perception and self confidence. Everest was difficult to climb in 1953 but since then has almost become a tourist excursion. Ellen Macarthur is petite & feminine and yet has shown the way to compete equally with men in an arena where the benefit of strength is arguably greater than in most Olympic classes. Now she has shown the way let's encourage some of the women who regularly beat me in club racing have a crack at the macho hotshots at olympic level.

* From Peter Ingram: It has been interesting reading about the ongoing issue over ISAF's choice of women's match racing over a high performance affordable dingy. I did note that just a matter of days before the final vote of classes to be included in the 2012 games Clare Leroy, the talented French match racer won ISAF sailor of the year - coincidence?

* From Owen Sharpe: The court deed has established the primacy of the America's Cup in sailing. I am far removed from the back room deals, but I can have confidence in the Cup competition. I will always have more faith in an independent court than I would ever have in any 'trustees'. I don't object to the deed being rewritten to allow a court the advice of 'trustees', but the court must remain the final arbiter.

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Brokerage through Farr Yacht Sales: www.FarrYachtSales.com

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THE LAST WORD
In the information age, you don't teach philosophy as they did after feudalism. You perform it. If Aristotle were alive today he'd have a talk show. -- Timothy Leary

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 Artemis 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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