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JOYON CROSSES EQUATOR IN LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS
Francis Joyon and his trimaran IDEC are in the southern hemisphere and over 800 miles up on the Ellen Macarthur's record time, after crossing the equator in less than seven days. Less than a week after his departure of Brest, Francis Joyon (FRA) crossed the equator on Friday and has since extended his lead over the record pace in his quest to reclaim the solo round the world record.

IDEC crossed the equator at 03:03 UTC on Friday morning, 6 days, 16 hours and 58 minutes. Joyon was faster to the equator than Orange II when Bruno Peyron (FRA) and his crew set the outright round the world record back in 2005 (their time was 7 days and 3 hours), and over two days quicker than current solo record holder Ellen Macarthur (GBR).

Over the weekend Joyon continued to make cracking progress, in an easterly trade winds of 10 to 15 knots, with IDEC posting average speeds around 17-20 knots through Saturday and Sunday. Joyon is currently focussing on playing the western edge of the St Helen anticyclone, avoiding the massive wind holes, whilst trying to maintain as direct a route to the tip of Africa as possible. Today, while sailing at the latitude of Rio de Janeiro, IDEC has slowed to around 15 knots.

At 07:00 UTC this morning, Joyon had already covered over 3,700nm (ie nearing a fifth of the total distance), was recording 13.9 knots and his lead over Macarthur's time was up to 813nm. However whilst his advantage over the record pace has never been higher, Joyon's average speed has dropped below the Macarthur's equivalent for the first time.

The Record To Beat

Record: Round the World, non-stop, singlehanded
Yacht: B&Q
Skipper: Ellen Macarthur (GBR)
Dates: 28 November 2004-7 February 2005
Elapsed time: 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds
Distance: 21,760 nm
Average Speed: 12.66 knots

Trimaran IDEC - www.trimaran-idec.com
Translation by the ISAF, sailing.org

CHALLENGER MEETING IN VALENCIA
Golden Gate YC, the Challenger of Record for the 33rd America's Cup have announced that various Challenger representatives met on Monday evening in Valencia in a joint effort to move forward the process for the next America's Cup.

'It was a very good meeting. The challengers agree that certainty is needed to return to a conventional America's Cup regatta and we are committed to working together to get the event back on track,' said BMWOR Head of External Affairs, Tom Ehman in the communique issued following the meeting.

Twenty-four representatives of 14 challengers met in Valencia and by telephone conference.

The website ValenciaSailing.com named those present as:

- BMW Oracle: Russell Coutts (CEO), Melinda Erkelens (GGYC General Counsel) and Tom Ehman
- Team Origin: Mike Sanderson (General Manager)
- United Internet Team Germany: Jochen Schuemann (General Manager) and Mirko Groeschner (Business Manager)
- Victory Challenge: Johan Stenman (General Manager) and Magnus Holmberg (Skipper)
- AYRE: Augusto Sanguinetti (Member of the Technical Team) and Jose Luis Del Moral (Legal Counselor)
- Desafio Espanol: John Cutler
- Mascalzone Latino: Alessandra Pandarese (General Counselor)
- Luna Rossa: Luis Saenz (General Counselor)
- Shosholoza: Shirley Mullins (Shore Base Manager)

The other teams are thought to be those previously involved with the 32nd America's Cup, being Emirates Team NZ (Grant Dalton and Kevin Shoebridge), K-Challenge, China Team, and a second Italian team plus a third ESP team.

Notable for their presence were Luna Rossa, who had earlier said they were not a competitor in the 33rd America's Cup, after the controversial CNEV negotiated Protocol was announced.

It is understood that Alinghi are meeting tonight (NZT) to discuss their position and future situation. This is believed to be a contemplation as to whether they lodge an Appeal, sail off in multihulls in July 2008, or negotiate a Protocol for a Match in 2009 in the AC90 class.

The majority of the Challengers are believed to be seeking an America's Cup to be sailed in 2009, in Valencia, in the AC90 class. Those that would not participate in 2009 would sail in 2011. -- Richard Gladwell in www.sail-world.com , citing Pierre Orphanidis in www.valenciasailing.blogspot.com (who caught a cold standing outside the hotel to take photos of the participants... get well soon!)

EARLS COURT: PUTTING THE 'SHOW' BACK INTO BOAT SHOW
From 1-9 December, the revamped Earls Court opens its doors to sailors, Christmas shoppers and show-goers visiting London. There's music and fashion shows, Riva, a spa for the footsore, the original special events Guinness bar, the Earls Court Boat Show Hall of Fame in Association with Yachting World, dozens of drams from the Whyte & Mackay family, acres of chandlery and boats! From a 'boat in a bag' to Gipsy Moth IV, a display of yachts on the pool and headline musical entertainment!

The all-new Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show: you can't beat boating in the heart of London!

www.earlscourtboatshow.com

PERFECT CONDITIONS AT PHUKET KINGS CUP
Blazing sunshine and glorious sailing conditions for the record 103 boat fleet on race day two at the 21st Phuket Kings Cup in Thailand.

Racing started in 12 knots of north easterly breeze, which built during the morning up to 20 knots. The Racing fleet sailed two windward leewards, five miles offshore in the beautiful Andaman Sea. Frank Pong's Jelik continued her dominance in the Racing class today, winning Race 2 line and handicap honours.

It had been a close start for the racing fleet, with helmsman Dong Qing pushing Microlab Moonlight Shadow, the former Sydney Hobart race Yendys, to the right.

Ray Roberts' DK46 Quantum Racing was well placed and the newest boat on the Asian circuit, Full Metal Jacket, skippered by Hong Kong based Kiwi Chris Meade, and Stephen Reith's now repaired Foxy Lady III all had a fast start and went right.

At the top mark for the first time Jelik stretched away from Mandrake and Microlab, Full Metal Jacket was ahead of Quantum, but the little Sydney 40 Foxy Lady III was close.

On the second beat it was Jelik then daylight, however Quantum who was on the right hand side sailed through Microlab and Full Metal Jacket and was doing particularly well.

Jelik took the gun and beat Ray Roberts' Quantum Racing over the line by approximately twenty minutes and by nearly four minutes on handicap. Foxy Lady III finished a creditable third.

The second race started in a building seaway. Jelik had a fast start from the Committee boat, while Microlab was mid line. In a winning move Quantum Racing went hard left as did Full Metal Jacket, Fortris Mandrake and Foxy Lady III. The left paid and Quantum Racing won from Foxy Lady III, with Full Metal Jacket third.

After three races, overall Jelik leads from Quantum Racing and Fortris Mandrake.

Meanwhile yesterday's mystery disappearance of two boats from the starting fleet has been explained. The Mumm 36 Emma and Foxy Lady III disappeared from their moorings on Kata Beach.

Jamie McPhail and the Foxy Lady III crew found their boat seven miles off Kata Beach, while Emma was a few miles further south.

Foxy Lady III had been anchored downwind of Emma and the two boats had matching damage. It appears that the Mumm 36 dragged its anchor and then fouled the chain of the down wind boat. In 25-33 knot winds they locked together and kept smashing into each other. -- Rob Kothe

www.kingscup.com

CHARLES CAUDRELIER AROUND THE WORLD WITH BOSTIK
Paris, France: Andre Ladurelli, CEO of Bostik and Yvan Griboval, CEO of SailingOne and Designer of the SolOceans made it official this morning on the stand of the Lower Normandy Region at the Paris Boat Show in the presence of Philippe Duron, President of Lower Normandy's Regional Council and MP for Calvados: Charles Caudrelier will be the skipper of the first Veolia Oceans one-design which will complete the Reconnaissance Tour of the SolOceans on a Caen la mer (France) - Wellington (New Zealand) run, followed after ten days stopover in the New Zealand Capital by a Wellington - Cherbourg-Octeville run through the Cape Horn.

For this occasion, Charles Caudrelier will sail under the colours of Bostik, his sponsor since 2002 with whom he won the Solitaire Le Figaro single-handed race 2004.

For this first leg leaving from Lower Normandy on the 16th of December in the early afternoon, Charles Caudrelier will be accompanied by three sailors: Liz Wardley, the Anglo-Saxon, native of Papua and of French sailors, Erwan Tabarly and Erwan Lebec. Liz Wardley has the experience of the hostile oceans of the South Hemisphere, thanks to a victory in the Rolex Sydney-Hobart (1999) and a round-the-world tour in crew in the Volvo Ocean Race (2001-2002). Liz Wardley will arrive in New Zealand in a known place as she built there a Mini 6.50 prototype. For Charles Caudrelier, Erwan Tabarly and Erwan Lebec it will be a first in the Great South, as they have never sailed towards New Zealand through the Indian Ocean.

This first Veolia Oceans chartered by Bostik for this winter circumnavigation 2007-2008 will also sail two Summer Transats under the colours of the adhesive company of the Total Group next Summer. Three or four Veolia Oceans one-design built during the coming months will also compete in this double oceanic trek.

The first transatlantic, from East to West, will be a four crew members with maximum two professional sailors on board. In those circumstances, the sponsor of the one-design or his guests, but also journalists for example could share this unique experience with oceanic racers. The second annual transatlantic, from West to East, will be a double-handed race. The Bostik one-design will inaugurate those two courses and will also stay a bit in the Mediterranean sea to take part on an experimental and promotional basis to two more traditional competitions: the Voiles de Saint-Tropez and the Rolex Middle Sean Race from Malta.

The start of Bostik for the first leg of the round-the-world reconnaissance Tour of the SolOceans is set for Sunday 16 December from Caen la mer and Ouistreham (Lower-Normandy) towards Wellington (New Zealand) through Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) and Leeuwin (Australia). The second leg will link up Wellington to Cherbourg-Octeville (Lower Normandy) through Cape Horn (South America).

During the stopover, Liz Wardley and Erwan Tabarly will step aside to two other sailors. Each leg will take between 50 to 55 days of sailing.

www.soloceans.com

SEAMLESS FOR SUPER YACHTS
Hall Spars & Rigging's racecourse success gives us a unique advantage when designing spars for super yachts. Using our competition-bred focus, we engineer every detail from the mast tube to the smallest sheave. Our proven seamless construction guarantees lighter overall weight with no compromise in safety. Our race-inspired approach results in minimum weight, minimum pitching, and minimum healing - the key ingredients for maximum speed. If you're going to have the largest yacht, why not make it the fastest? Visit our website and view the "gallery" for a sample of our super yacht projects.

www.hallspars.com

INTERVIEW WITH RUSSELL COUTTS
Today one of the largest Swiss newspapers punkt.ch published an interview with Russell Coutts talking about the cup, Juerg Kaufmann has translated it into English on matchrace.ch , some excerpts:

PC: How realistic do you see the chance that there will be an agreement with Alinghi to run the 33rd Cup as previously planned in 2009

Coutts:We think it is realistic, but we need to move quickly. The challengers and ourselves all want to race in Valencia in 2009. But to get started we need certainty, and that's why it will be important to complete a mutual consent challenge as soon as possible.

PC: In case of no agreement this means no challenger series, what would this mean for the sailing sport?

Coutts:That is up to Alinghi. We want a multiple challenger event, but as defender they are within their rights to reject a mutual consent challenge. If that happens a two-boat race is inevitable under the rules. It is however not our preference as we want to race a conventional America's Cup in Valencia in 2009, with as many challengers as possible.

PC: In this case the cup will be sailed on catamarans? If yes who would benefit of?

Coutts: We will see when - if - we get there. This would certainly not be good for the challengers. I think the entire event suffers from the current situation. It's not good for anybody. It's really time to move on and seriously discuss the future of the event.

www.matchrace.ch and
punkt.ch/inland/uebersicht/artikel-detailseite.html?no_cache=1&newsid=13451

'THE' NEW TOY TO HAVE THIS CHRISTMAS!
B&G have launched their NEW wireless, handheld, On-Deck, Tactical Navigation PC and it's a cracker! RaceVision3000 builds on previous versions of RaceVision, which has proven to be a vital tactical tool in today's competitive racing scene. Designed to meet the tough requirements of the racing navigation environment, the new model has a sophisticated yet rugged appearance and feels comfortable in the hand. Complete with the latest version of B&G's Deckman Tactical Software, the RV3000 provides the navigator with access to navigation data from all areas of the boat, allowing optimum boat performance.

Check the new RV3000 out at www.bandg.com

WISHING FOR STRONGER WINDS!
"It's starting to feel like the South", said Vincent Riou today during the video conference, echoing what Jean-Pierre Dick noted this morning.

But if the leaders are starting to take out warmer gear and seeing the horizon getting cloudier and cloudier, it's not the case for everyone, as Alex Thomson pointed out. Hugo Boss, like Veolia Environnement and Delta Dore, made important gains during the past 24 hours, but the leaders are back at full speed and won't be easy to catch...

"Going around the Saint Helena High has been slow, and to be honest we're quite impatient to encounter stronger winds", said Riou, still leading aboard PRB. "We caught a small front generating northerlies, and are still sailing under spinnaker, but we'll be glad to make progress under reefed main and staysail", he added.

According to the weather forecast, this will not happen before 24 to 48 hours, but Vincent and his co-skipper Sebastien Josse are naturally anxious to catch the "Southern train" and escape as soon as possible. A configuration which is not likely to please the boats at the back of the fleet, notably Mutua Madrilena (who lost some miles by temporarily heading west in search o f more pressure yesterday) and Estrella Damm.

Day 24 - December 4, 16:00 GMT - Position report with distance to leader

1. PRB - Vincent Riou / Sebastien Josse - 0.0
2. Paprec-Virbac 2 - Jean Pierre Dick / Damian Foxall - 31
3. Veolia Environnement - Roland Jourdain / Jean Luc Nelias - 178
4. Hugo Boss - Alex Thomson / Andrew Cape - 287
5. Delta Dore - Jeremie Beyou / Sidney Gavignet - 372
6. Temenos 2 - Dominique Wavre / Michele Paret- 532
7. Mutua Madrilena - Javier Sanso / Pachi Rivero - 782
8. Estrella Damm - Guillermo Altadill / Jonathan Mckee - 841
9. Educacion Sin Fronteras - Servane Escoffier / Albert Bargues - 1153

barcelonaworldrace.org

BRIAN THOMPSON TO COMPETE IN THE 2008 VENDEE GLOBE ABOARD PINDAR
Leading British print and electronic media company Pindar, prolific supporters of British sailing, announced at the Paris Boat Show today that veteran British ocean racer Brian Thompson will skipper Open 60, Pindar, in the 2008 Vendee Globe. Starting from Les Sable d'Olonne, France, on the 9th November 2008, Thompson is the seventh Briton and the 27th pre-entrant for the sixth edition of this classic single-handed non-stop round the world race.

Following the tragic loss of Pindar's mast just a week before the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre race, Team Pindar Earthwatch is now in the process of designing and building a new mast. The boat is due to be back on the water in early 2008, prior to the Artemis Transat, in which Brian will compete. The transatlantic race which starts from Plymouth, UK, on the 11th May 2008 and races to Boston, USA, both key territories for Pindar.

Brian Thompson, 45, is one of Britain's most experienced and successful offshore sailors. He has been racing professionally for over 15 years, holds 25 world sailing records to date and has clocked up more multi-hull and swing keel miles than any other Briton. This included twice taking the prestigious 24 hour world speed sailing record, with Playstation and Maiden II. Brian's experience in the IMOCA 60 fleet is extensive, having skippered Skandia and Artemis Ocean Racing, as well as co-skippering Mike Golding's Ecover in the 2003 Transat Jacques Vabre.

www.pindar.com/teampindar

RASCALS DOWN UNDER
Reigning Rolex Farr 40 World Champion Vincenzo Onorato and his Mazcalzone Latino team, will be racing alongside their Australian class mates in the upcoming Rolex Trophy One Design series being sailed off Sydney Heads December 7-9.

Onorato, who is a regular competitor at this event having won it in 2005, is the only Farr 40 owner who has achieve a class first this year by winning back to back Rolex Farr 40 World Championships in 2006 and 2007.

Onorato and Australian Farr 40 class President Matt Allen have both been at the Farr 40 class 10th Anniversary Regatta which was held in Miami, Florida. Both teams utilised the time in preparation for the 2008 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship which will be held in Miami April 16-19 2008.

Returning to the helm of Kokomo will be long-time class member Lang Walker. Walker was one of the four Australian teams who competed in Denmark at the class World Championship. Ivan Wheen's Sputnik finished fourth overall at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship and won their first event back with the local fleet at the recent Savills regatta.

This regatta will be the fifth event on the schedule for the Australian Farr 40 class 2007-08 circuit and local fleet members have their eye on the prize which will be decided in February 2008. Martin Hill currently leads the pointscore with Guido Belgiorno Nettis in second and Matt Allen in third.

Racing will kick off on Friday with eleven teams racing over the three days of competition.

www.farr40.org

FEATURED BROKERAGE
TP-52 "Fidessa fastwave II" now available. This is a 2005 JV boat, rebuilt in late 2006/7 and now effectively a new boat. IRC conversion done, including removeable bowsprit and partial IRC interior. Deck systems upgraded and boat ruggedised for offshore use, including additional forward bulkhead. Good sail inventory and adaptable transportation cradle.

Results in 2007 include; 1st overall Garmin Big Boat Series, 2 x 1st in Class RORC, 2nd LB Cup. 350,000 GBP, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.

THE LAST WORD
Racism isn't born, it's taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list. -- Denis 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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