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WILD OATS XI MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW
The Sydney maxi Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, has made yachting history this morning, crossing the finish line of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race at 10:24am to secure her third consecutive line honours victory. Richards has been at the helm each time.

Wild Oats XI is the first yacht to achieve this feat since Claude Plowman's Morna made it three in a row between 1946 and 1948, today's result confirming her place as one of the most successful yachts in the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart, with three consecutive line honours, an overall win and the race record.

Her elapsed time for the race was one day 21 hours 24 minutes 32 seconds, the third fastest time for the 628 nautical mile course.

Bob Oatley's 30m maxi Wild Oats XI was the pre-race favourite and has dominated since the opening minutes of Australia's premier yacht race which began from Sydney Harbour at 1pm on 26 December. She led the fleet out of the Harbour and never looked back. In the opening 10 hours of the race she surged down the New South Wales coast reaching speeds of 22 knots in almost perfect conditions, but light southwesterly winds in Bass Strait yesterday quashed hopes of bettering her own record set two years ago.

Northerly winds overnight allowed her to make up a lot of time as she sped down the Tasmanian coast, reviving faint hopes of a new record, but it was always going to be a big ask.

Wild Oats XI crossed the finish line ahead of the British maxi City Index Leopard, skippered by Mike Slade. Slade staged a dramatic comeback over the course of the morning. At one stage the two frontrunners were 21 nautical miles apart and by the time the crew of Wild Oats heard the sound of cannon fire, thanks to members of the Militaria Association of Tasmania who dress in period costume to fire the cannon historic Battery Point, City Index Leopard was in the Derwent River and only four miles short of glory.

The result is an extraordinary achievement for Mark Richards who assembled a line up of international yachtsmen with an extraordinary 233 Rolex Sydney Hobarts between them to mount the historic challenge.

In September Wild Oats XI was dismasted during the Rolex Maxi Yacht Cup in Sardinia and it has been a massive job getting a new mast and sails in time for the race, the boat only re-launched in the first week of December.

Currently in third place is Matt Allen's modified Volvo 70 which this morning bore down on Grant Wharington's Melbourne maxi Skandia which is limping to Hobart under jury rig after snapping the top of its mast at 2.30am this morning. Skandia is currently third but set to overtake is Roger Sturgeon's Rosebud.

Morna, which sealed her third consecutive win in 1948 with an elapsed time of 4 days 5 hours and 1 minute, was a Fife design, a 65 foot Bermudan cutter which took line honours three times as Morna and went on to finish first over the line a further four times as Kurrewa IV. Morna was built in Sydney for the then Commodore the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Dr Alexander MacCormick, and was owned by a number of prominent Sydney yachtsmen including the late Sir Frank Packer.

* At approximately 02.30am this morning whilst under A2 spinnaker sailing off Bicheno (Tasmania) with 150 miles to go, the Skandia super maxi's mast broke between the third spreader and the forestay.

The mast was still standing, with the top four metres dangling on rigging lines.

Bowman Casey Smith has been up four times to tie the rig down and secure all pieces. The crew had considerable difficulty dropping the mainsail as it was still attached to the broken mast tip.

The spinnaker, which wrapped itself around the keel, has now been retrieved and the crew is sailing under jury rig with a storm sail, still heading for the finish line.

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

JOYON LESS THAN 1000 MILES FROM CAPE HORN
Francis Joyon and IDEC are now on a direct route to Cape Horn, now less than 1,000 from the famous landmark.

At 21:00 last night, after nearly 34 days at sea, Francis Joyon (FRA) turned his giant red trimaran to a direct course to Cape Horn, the third and final of the Great Capes he will have to round in his attempt on the solo round the world record. At this morning's 10:52 UTC poll, Joyon is less than 8,00 miles from the finish of the 26,000 mile circumnavigation and 3,200 miles ahead of Ellen Macarthur's record pace.

Although everything still appears to be going to plan for Joyon he described yesterday, 26 December, as "the hardest day since my departure". Sailing close to the centre of a vast low pressure system, through a "minefield" of icebergs, in winds reaching up to 50 knots, he was tested to the absolute maximum. With seas of 6-7 metres, capsizing is a near-permanent danger, and fatigue is also taking its toll, with Joyon saying he is operating at "only 80% of what I can do!"

Today though, Joyon is again approaching average speeds of 20 knots over 24 hours, and is expecting that to increase as the swell grows, conditions in which IDEC has proven formidable. Cape Horn awaits...

The Record To Beat

Record: Round the World, non-stop, singlehanded
Yacht: B&Q
Skipper: Ellen MACATHUR (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
World Sailing Speed Record Council - www.sailspeedrecords.com

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SUGGESTION
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SAINT 'ELLEN' ACROSS THE ROUTE
The name 'Saint Helena High' has never been so fitting in the eyes of Thomas Coville, such is it currently protecting Ellen MacArthur's record. The immense 'high pressure zone' stretches right across the whole Southern Atlantic and is barring the course of the Trimaran Sodeb'O to the Cape of Good Hope and the Indian Ocean. The skipper has thus resolved to round to the West of the zone of high pressure, extending his course by around 800 miles, that is close to two days. Prior to his departure, Thomas recalled that on a record, solely the conditions for the first few days can be selected and that afterwards it's the meteorological sequences that set the tone. Here we have a perfect example of that.

The conflict of love and duty for Thomas and his weather team: To cut through the zone of high pressure would be to risk being stuck within its centre for several days. Passing to the East of it would involve tacking off Africa. As a result Sodeb'O is heading along the Brazilian coast towards Rio, at an average of over 20 knots. The aim is to maintain a good speed, thanks to downwind conditions at the edge of the high pressure zone, until Thomas is able to catch up with the E'ly winds, which are around 36 degrees South in principal. Thomas is aiming for a depression which is currently making headway in the Pacific, astern of Idec, the trimaran skippered by Francis Joyon (the latter positioned less than 1000 miles from Cape Horn). The strategy is complicated for the skipper of Sodeb'O, who must hit this depression whilst avoiding dropping too far South, where the ice climbs very high in this region. -- Kate Jennings

Follow the positions, the cartography and the latest news from the Trimaran Sodeb'O at www.sodebo-voile.com

FORT LAUDERDALE TO CHARLESTON RACE: REBIRTH OF A CLASSIC OCEAN DUEL
Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) Management, which includes members of the Storm Trysail Club (STC) and Lauderdale Yacht Club (LYC), today announced the formal opening for race entries for the 2008 Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Ocean Yacht Race. Scheduled to begin April 23rd at 1400 hours, this event marks the rebirth of a race that originated in 1968 and ran for 10 years. The race will start just outside of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and finish just outside of Charleston Harbor.

The Race is also an official leg of the 2008 US-IRC Gulf Stream Series where IRC boats earn points for placement in an overall chase to be the series champion.

A number of boats have already entered, including Rima 2, the 55-foot Reichel/Pugh design - a prime candidate for setting a new race record.

The 408-nautical mile race is sailed straight up the Gulf Stream. Competitors will enjoy a constant two- to four-knot push as navigators work to keep boats in the axis of the stream and avoid counter currents.

The inaugural race in 1968 was won by Dr. Dean Woolsey in his 40-foot Columbia yacht. The race record is held by the 53-foot sloop Bumblebee, owned and skippered by J.D. Kahlbetzer, which completed the 1976 race in 40 hours, 34.5 minutes.

www.fortlauderdalecharlestonrace.org

COLLINS STEWART LONDON BOAT SHOW
London's largest annual event, the Collins Stewart London Boat Show, will take place at ExCeL - the heart of London's entertainment district - from 11-20 January 2008. Now in its 54th year the Show promises to offer something for all, and will welcome some 140,000 people, encouraging visitors to take to the waters.

Visitors to the Show have a plethora of exciting features to explore and enjoy such as Start Boating, Deck Games, an interactive Watersports Zone, Anchor Watch, Classic Boats and the Guinness Bar. There will also be a chance to climb aboard the HMS Exeter, the very first Royal Naval Destroyer to the Show.

www.londonboatshow.com

PAPREC-VIRBAC 2 LEADS INTO THE PACIFIC
Paprec-Virbac 2 has left Cook Strait in its wake as skipper Jean-Pierre Dick and co-skipper Damian Foxall begin the second half of the Barcelona World Race with their well-earned lead in good shape. They've begun their descent southwards again, heading to the Southern Ocean for the second time.

After waiting to see when Hugo Boss would cross the Cook Strait scoring gate, Paprec-Virbac 2 was happy to see that it is the stage winner, having the fastest elapsed time on the first Southern Ocean leg. None of the remaining three boats can beat this time. Hugo Boss completed the stage and then headed for the quay in Wellington - the clock began running on their 'pit-stop' at 03:00 GMT.

Just behind, the third place boat, Temenos II, continues to charge towards Wellington. Co-skipper Michele Paret says they're also trying to find the right balance between speed and safety as they nurse their damaged keel to New Zealand. The boat will be hauled out in Wellington with experts on stand-by to attack the repairs immediately.

Just behind, Mutua Madrilena has made up 50 miles on the leader over the past 24 hours, while at the back of the fleet, Educacion sin Fronteras has crossed through the Australian safety gate after altering course dramatically to the north to reach the gate.

Day 47 - December 27, 14:00 Gmt - Position Report With Distance To Leader

1. Paprec-Virbac 2 - Jean Pierre Dick / Damian Foxall - 0
2. Hugo Boss - Alex Thomson / Andrew Cape - 275
3. Temenos 2 - Dominique Wavre / Michele Paret- 1539
4. Mutua Madrilena - Javier Sanso / Pachi Rivero - 1918
5. Educacion Sin Fronteras - Servane Escoffier / Albert Bargues - 2950

Abandoned - Veolia Environnement - Roland Jourdain / Jean Luc Nelias
Abandoned - Estrella Damm - Guillermo Altadill / Jonathan Mckee
Abandoned - Delta Dore - Jeremie Beyou / Sidney Gavignet
Abandoned - PRB - Vincent Riou / Sebastien Josse

www.barcelonaworldrace.org

* 10 days after their dismasting, Roland Jourdain and Jean-Luc Nelias continue with their slow progress under jury rig towards the Australian coast which is still 500 miles away...The two Breton skippers course takes them to Perth / Fremantle, they are still doing an average of 5-6 knots and hope this time, thanks to the help of a tow arranged for their arrival, to celebrate New Years Eve on land.

RUSSIAN SAILING VESSEL ARRIVES IN NZ
One of the world's largest and fastest tall sailing ships has arrived in Auckland.

The Russian training vessel STS Pallada wowed holiday makers, as it pulled into Princes Wharf.

The 180 passengers and crew are taking a four day break, before continuing a round the world voyage, visiting historical sites discovered by Russian navigators since the 18th century.

"For us its very important to remember our history, to remember our sailors, to meet with New Zealand and today's life," says Captain Nikolay Zorchenko.

The Pallada will be open to the public on Saturday afternoon.

tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411365/1524513

THE OTHER AUSSIE RACES...
The Kidder Williams Melbourne to Launceston and the Heemskirk Consolidated Melbourne to Hobart races started at 11am on 27th December from Portsea pier.

The boats left the heads in light south easterly conditions and have spent a comfortable night. Tacticians and navigators will have been working hard during the night to keep on course whilst picking up the wind wherever possible.

During the night the wind has gone to the north, as predicted, and the fleet is now enjoying the 10 - 12 knot north easterlies as they travel under spinnaker towards the finish line of the Launceston race at Tamar Heads.

Paul Buchholz has edged his DK46 eXtasea into the lead and is currently sitting just 5 nms ahead of a group of five in a line albeit with slightly different longitudes. Alex-Team MacAdie. The Jones/Hart designed Alex is sailed two handed by father and son Jock and Hamish MacAdie.

As a two handed boat their greatest enemy is fatigue when pitted against boats that are fully crewed. They are however an experienced team, having won the Melbourne to Osaka race earlier this year, this race covers 5500nms and is for two handed racers only.

The Coombs/Hannford DK46 dekadence are chasing down the slight lead of eXtasea and are joined by Alan Saunders in his Farr 47 Ninety Seven Tony Fowler in his Inglis 47 Ocean Skins and Otter/Caulfield in the Mummery 45 Ice Fire.

With the northerly kicking in the downwind boats will be winding up for a cracking run to the Tamar heads.

The first boat is expected to make the finish line by the middle of the afternoon.

www.melbournehobart.com

CORK WEEK ONLINE ENTRY
Drawing on years of experience, both as a competitor at and organiser of events, Dave Meagher, Chairman of the Cork Week Race Committee, has designed an on-line entry system for next year's event, which takes place from July 12th to 18th 2008. "Effectively, all you need is your Sail Number and a credit card and you're on your way to competing at the world's friendliest Regatta," says Meagher. The on-line system automatically picks up boat details from the IRC Database.

For those entering before February 1st 2008 , the Organising Committee have decided to maintain the 2006 Entry Fee. "Many of our competitors have been coming to Cork Week for many years and we see this as a way of recognising their loyalty to the event,"

Check out www.corkweek.ie for on-line entry and we also invite you to register to the Cork Week 2008 Newsletter in order to receive future updates.

PALAMOS CHRISTMAS RACE
Palamos, Spain: Laser radial sailor GintareVolungeviciute is the absolute winner of the 32nd Palamos Christmas Race. Winner of the class and with the best results out of all the participating classes, the Lithuanian sailor takes back home with her the Manuel Albalat Trophy.

Top three by class:
470 Men (34 entries)
1. Gabrio Zandona/Andrea Trani, ITA, 37
2. Paco Sanchez Ferrer/Alejandro Ramos Lopez, ESP, 44
3. Lucas Zellmer/Heiko Seelig, GER, 62

470 Women (13 Entries)
1. Stefanie Rothweiler/Vivien Kussatz, GER, 30
2. Sylvia Vogl/Carolina Flatscher, AUT, 35
3. Marina Gallego/Tamara Echegoyen, ESP, 37

Laser Radial (20 entries)
1. Gintare Volungeviciute, LTU, 31
2. Tatiana Drozdovskaya, BLR, 45
3. Larissa Nevierov, ITA, 46

Laser Standard (37 entries)
1. Eduardo Van Vianem, NED, 29
2. Rodrigue Cabaz, FRA, 56
3. Emmanuel Sanchez, MON, 80.4

Yngling (7 entries)
1. Anne-Claire Le Berre/Alice Ponsar/Marion Deplanque, FRA, 31
2. Monica Azon/Graciela Pisonero/Sandra Azon, ESP, 32
3. Trine Palludan/Ida Hartvig/Susanne Boidin, DEN, 40

www.christmasrace.org

NATIONS COMPETE FOR OLYMPIC SELECTION AT LASER WORLDS
So far 143 entries have been received by organisers of the 2008 Laser World Championship to be sailed off Terrigal from 4-13 February and for many there is more at stake than Championship gold.

From the top ranked sailors around the globe, approximately 10 nations are depending on the regatta to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games in Terrigal; their final opportunity to do so. Others will be seeking Olympic selection into their respective teams.

Fierce competition and close final results proved nobody is a sure bet when it comes to winning the Laser Worlds, to be sailed on offshore courses near the pretty seaside holiday destination on the NSW Central Coast.

Canada's Michael Leigh won SIRs, but it came down to the final day of racing, after the series lead changed from day to day.

The largest numbers of entries to-date come from Great Britain (13), Canada (9) and France and Italy with eight each. Smaller nations include the Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Lithuania, Moldova, Barbados, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago.

Of the 53 nations entered so far, 30 have qualified for the Games They are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Uruguay, USA. China, as host nation, automatically qualifies.

Qualifying races will be held from 7-10 February, with the finals to be held from 11-13 February. Two races per day have been scheduled for each. The Notice of Race and other useful information can be found on the official website: aus08.laserinternational.org where Sailing Instructions will be posted on February 4. -- Di Pearson

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