FRANCIS JOYON STAYS ON COURSE FOR WORLD RECORD
It is a case of 'Go', 'Slow' and 'Stop' for the three French multihulls ravenously eyeing Ellen MacArthur's solo and Bruno Peyron's fully-crewed non-stop round-the-world records.

Progress continues to be immensely encouraging for the first to set off, Francis Joyon. Thomas Coville is just picking up the pace again, while Franck Cammas and his team has reverted to Code Red, the record-voyage world's shorthand to indicate that his departure is no longer likely in the medium term for a crack at the Jules Verne voyage record.

As the man whose record MacArthur improved two years ago, so Joyon's yearning to claim it back gets ever closer to fulfilment. His IDEC has had a particularly good climb north from Cape Horn, avoiding the light, variable headwinds which pushed MacArthur beyond the point of total exhaustion in her 71-day voyage aboard B&Q.

After 40 days at sea, Joyon's notional lead fell for the first time yesterday, but IDEC still remains 3,300 miles ahead of B&Q's pace. IDEC is now in the mid-south Atlantic, on the latitude of the Plate estuary. By reference, B&Q was still in the Southern Ocean two years ago, just over halfway between New Zealand and Cape Horn. -- Tim Jeffery in the Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/01/03/sosail103.xml

A WINDOW CLOSES UP AGAIN
After a false alert at Christmas, a new 'weather window' has closed up again at the start of this year, preventing Groupama 3 from setting out on its circumnavigation. Tomorrow evening, Thursday 3rd January, the giant trimaran and its ten crews were likely to set off from the Creac'h lighthouse (Ushant) on its attempt to beat the Jules Verne Trophy record. However, the situation has changed over the past few hours...

The 'window' of 3rd January offered a good opening, with the ephemeral installation of a depression centred over Biarritz creating a 15 knot E'ly over the tip of Brittany. By rounding this low pressure, Groupama 3 could very quickly catch onto a NW'ly airflow offshore in the Bay of Biscay and reach the Canaries in two days!

However the centre of the low pressure has disintegrated prior to making Europe, dispelling any chances of a beneficial situation to make rapid headway to the African tradewinds...

A situation that Franck Proffit revealed to the crew in an email this morning: "Code red... the window on 3rd January has closed up again. The centre of the depression remains in the West, off Ushant, and is expanding over the entire Bay of Biscay. This would mean an upwind start... not favourable to the record. The seas are still very big and in this configuration we would reach Saint Helena too late in the day to get past it. We are sorry for the travellers (Jan and Ronan back from South Africa and Brazil), but we didn't really have any choice... That's life for record hunters!"

www.cammas-groupama.com

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

TEMENOS TO RETURN TO BARCELONA RACE
Since yesterday evening (UTC) Temenos II has been on a technical pit-stop in Wellington. With gusts of 38 knots, the approach to the New Zealand port proved to be rather tricky for Michele and Dominique, who hadn't bargained on such treatment.

With Temenos II moored in the Wellington marina, the crew on zone didn't delay in setting to work. There was time for an express breakfast, a final technical briefing and then everyone set about their tasks. The boat was quickly lifted onto the hard and the keel was meticulously scrutinised.

"The zone was sanded and then examined with magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound by the keel constructor. This examination didn't reveal any damage or any serious cracks. The metal is rusted but the corrosion remains superficial. As a result there is no deep attack on the metal. They have already begun the repair and are redoing the keel 'cover'. Given the time we have to respect for the drying cycles of the epoxy resin and paint, if all goes to plan, we should be fit to relaunch Temenos II at the end of the day." (Morning of Thursday 3rd UTC)

As regards the cause of the damage, it would seem that the impact with a floating object which dates back to 7th December was the source of the problem. "We suppose that during this impact a small shard got up into the keel casing and damaged the coating, but without damaging the structure."

As the two co-skippers thought, this unfortunate encounter caused other damage to the hull as well as the port rudder, but nothing that can't be quickly repaired by the workforce at the Southern Ocean Marine yard, which travelled there from Auckland.

Even though the duo was prepared for the eventuality of having to retire, Michele's words yesterday left no doubt as to their motivation and desire to head back out into the race. "It's a very great relief for us. We are really very happy to be able to continue the race."

Prior to that though, Michele and Dominique will have to wait for all the work to be finished and that the 48 hour time penalty for making a pit-stop is up. Temenos II is likely to be laid up in Wellington until the end of the day UTC on 3rd January. -- Kate Jennings

www.barcelonaworldrace.com

WHY ALINGHI'S LATEST EFFORTS WILL FAIL
Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ's Editor comments:

The motion filed by SNG depends on the use of the word 'keel yacht' in the opening paragraph of the Notice of Challenge, and asks the Court to accept SNG's assumption that such a boat can only be a monohull. The certificate goes on to advise of the draft of the boat with centreboards raised and with centreboards down. It should be noted that with this size of multihull (which a boat 90ft x 90ft can only really be) that it is common practice to include some ballast in the centreboards to ensure that they have more than neutral bouyancy. Other yachts all use varying combinations of crew, ballast and form stability to provide righting moment, and it is difficult to believe that SNG are serious in their assumption that a boat of this size would be expected to have no external ballast, or be of a single hull, or that the dimensions of the smaller hulls are relevant from the perspective of designing a suitable opponent.

The relevant section of the Deed of Gift states:

'Accompanying the ten months' notice of challenge there must be sent the name of the owner and a certificate of the name, rig and following dimensions of the challenging vessel, namely, length on load water-line; beam at load water-line and extreme beam; and draught of water; which dimensions shall not be exceeded; and a custom-house registry of the vessel must also be sent as soon as possible. Center-board or sliding keel vessels shall always be allowed to compete in any race for this Cup, and no restriction nor limitation whatever shall be placed upon the use of such center-board or sliding keel, nor shall the centerboard or sliding keel be considered a part of the vessel for any purposes of measurement.'

There is no requirement for the Challenger to give a general description of the vessel with which they intend to challenge. In fact if this were the case there would always the be opportunity for the Defender to argue that their general description was in some way misleading, even though all the measurement requirements of the Deed of Gift had been met.

More at www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=40294

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LEIGH VERSUS SLINGSBY FOR AUSTRALIAN LASER CHAMPIONSHIP
In a repeat performance of the Sydney International Regatta (SIRs) held in December, Canadian Michael Leigh and Laser world champion Tom Slingsby from Australia are fighting it out at the front of the 125-strong international fleet for the Australian Laser Championship at Sail Melbourne.

Host venue Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron held the final race of the qualifying series today and Leigh, who won SIRs from Slingsby, remains in the lead with 13 points following a second place today, Slingsby giving chase just two points behind after finishing today's Race 8 in third.

However both will have to watch their backs. Nick Thompson from Great Britain won Race 8 and is now only one point in arrears of Slingsby, with Dutch sailor Rutger Van Schaardenburg only a further point away. Although an international cannot claim the title, they can win the series.

Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron spokesman James Mitchell described today's conditions as "challenging." Mitchell told: "We had a 20 knot southerly on steep choppy waters. We really put the 125 sailors through the ringer; they raced three laps around the course. There are a lot of tired sailors this afternoon."

Mitchell told how one boat sank, but was retrieved. "We had some minor injuries to sailors and three broken masts too. It was a tough day," he said.

The fleet will now be split into groups for the series final and the winner will come from the gold group. The event is an important lead-up to the Laser Worlds to be held off Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast in February. The best Australian sailors will be selected from this series to represent at the Worlds.

Despite not competing today, Victorian sailor Sarah Blanck leads the Laser Radial Women's fleet from international adversary Veronika Fenclova (Cze). Blanck, who will represent Australia at her second Olympic Games in Beijing, is just four points ahead after the Czech girl broke the start today. -- Di Pearson

For full results go to: www.sailmelbourne.com.au

LASER 4.7 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Hermanus, South Africa: At the half way stage of the 2007 Laser 4.7 World Championships in Hermanus, South Africa, Andraz Gulic from Slovenia holds a comfortable lead 13 point over his 114 fellow competitors.

The fleet from 26 countries and 6 continents have been sailing a qualifier series of up to ten races, split into two groups daily, that concludes on Wednesday 2 January followed by two days of finals racing.

The start of the new year brought a change in the weather and a southerly wind that was unstable.

Overall top vie after 7 races and one discard:
1. Andraz Gulic, SLO, 21 points
2. Alexander Zimmermann, PER, 33
3. Boris Bignoli, ITA, 34
4. Matthew Shore, RSA, 35
5. Jacob Bozic, SLO, 44

Full results: laser4.7worlds07.sailing.org.za

BOATS AND PLANES
A yachtsman is celebrating a double solo ocean crossing - the first time in a plane and the second time by boat.Tristan Gooley, 34, arrived at Marigot Bay, St Lucia, on the afternoon of the 1st of January in Golden Eye, a Contessa 32 after 26 days at sea.

In May 07 he flew from Goose Bay, Canada to Oxford, England in a single-engine Cessna Caravan, re-fuelling in Greenland, Iceland and Scotland during the epic 2 day flight.

The only other person to have achieved both is the legendary American navigator, Steve Fossett, who is still missing after a routine flight in Nevada in September.

Tristan is using his achievements to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer, a disease that kills one man every hour. He is also paying tribute to Steve Fossett. -- Yachting Monthly, www.yachtingmonthly.com/auto/newsdesk/20080002094818ymnews.html

INDUSTRY NEWS
* Swedish sailboat producer Najadvarvet opened a new mould production factory last month in Amal, which is located some 200km from the island of Orust where Najad has its main facility. The first hull has already left the plant and has been moved to Najad on Orust for end production and assembling.

Najad was in need of a new mould and plastic parts producer in Randers, Denmark, when vacuum cleaner producer Nilfisk closed down its factory in Amal and moved 160 jobs to Hungary. Najad, together with the local authorities, soon found a solution and now the completely new factory is up and running.

One of the Najad models that will be built in Amal is the Najad 57, as well as the brand new Najad 355, which was recently chosen "2008 Best Small Cruiser" by US magazine Cruising World. All assembly and final production will continue to take place at the Najad factory in Henan, Orust. -- International Boat Industry, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20080002111921ibinews.html

* Sailing World magazine has announced the winners of the biggest annual honors in sailboat building, the Boat of the Year awards. Topping the list for 2008, the Laser SB3 was named overall winner. The Laser SB3, a 20-foot high-performance sportboat, was selected over 17 other new designs. The 2008 contest marked the 24th time the top magazine for racing has honored the best in boat design and building.

The Laser SB3 is Europe's fastest growing one-design raceboat. Vanguard Sailboats (Portsmouth, R.I.) and its parent company, Performance Sailcraft Europe (England), introduced the SB3 to U.S. sailors for the first time this fall.

Sailing World awarded honors for Best One-Design Dinghy to the Laser Vago XD, another product of Vanguard and Performance Sailcraft Europe. The Best Daysailer award went to the Sabre Spirit, built by Sabre Yachts (South Casco, Maine). The Danish-built X-41 One-Design took the Best Crossover title, and the Club Swan 42, built by Finland's Nautor's Swan, was selected as the Best Offshore One-Design. All the winners are featured in the January/February issue of Sailing World, which hit newsstands in mid-December.

www.sailingworld.com/sailboats/boat-of-the-year/sailing-world-announces-boat-of-the-year-winners-for-2008-21031646.html

* Papers were signed on December 14, 2007, and Matrix Masts officially became Hall Spars & Rigging.

Eric Hall, President of Hall Spars & Rigging, along with Jeff Adam, a member of Hall Inc.'s Board of Directors and a financial consultant, completed the acquisition in Auckland. Tim Hall was also part of the visiting team, surveying the operation to determine what equipment is needed to complete the transition to mandrel-molded seamless mast products.

Tim worked closely key members of the New Zealand team, Mike Elley and Dave Ridley, who oversee engineering and shop operations. He also met with the shop personnel.

Current Matrix owners Garry Hassall and Murray Jones will remain as managing partners of the new company.

Hall Spars & Rigging currently operates factories in the U.S., Holland, and New Zealand. In addition, there is a sales and service office in Italy. Hall Spars & Rigging supplied the spars to the 2007 America's Cup winner Alinghi. -- www.hallspars.com

* The Boating Business Exhibition (BBEx) is the exhibition for the UK's leisure marine trade. The UK leisure marine business is the second largest in Europe. It is an industry that sells more than 1.98 billion GBP worth of boats, equipment and services each year. To help this market thrive and develop, BBEx provides a business-oriented meeting place where professionals can get together to find solutions to problems through innovation and expertise. -- www.bbex.co.uk

* Organisers of the 20th annual Belgian Boat Show said that this year's show will have more boats and events to attract new people to boating. The show, which runs February 9-17, 2008, will have 220 exhibitors in seven halls at the 36,000sq m Flanders Expo in Ghent.

A statement noted that this year's event will have boats that range from 2m (7ft) inflatables to 20m (66ft)-plus motoryachts. The show's website said that attendees are fairly evenly divided between watersports enthusiasts and those looking to enter boating for the first time. The list of exhibitors includes yacht and equipment manufacturers, but also a number of non-profit boating associations. -- www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20071021144511ibinews.html

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THE LAST WORD
To my mind, the only possible pet is a cow. Cows love you...They will listen to your problems and never ask a thing in return. They will be your friends forever. And when you get tired of them, you can kill and eat them. Perfect. -- Bill Bryson