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10SQ. METRE CANOE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Sparkling conditions greeted the 39 competitors in the International 10Sq. Metre Canoe World Championship held at the McCrae Yacht Club on Port Phillip Bay. Warm sunshine and 10-15kts of SW breeze provided the perfect opener around a large triangular Olympic course.

The fleet was divided into three divisions; first away were the ICs followed 5mins later by the Development Canoes and then the Asymmetric Spinnaker Canoes, who shared the start and finish lines but who sailed a windward/leeward course. Undoubted star of heats 1 and 2 was Chris Maas in USA242 - a beautifully built and finished radical DC design. Maas sailed through the entire IC fleet to record two clear bullets.

In the IC class Bill Beaver USA219 just managed to cross ahead of Tim Wilson AUS16 to take the gun; Hayden Virtue AUS20 following these two. Steve Clark USA239 could make no impression on Maas in the DCs chasing him home nearly five minutes later, with Oliver Moore US240 in third. John Robson GBR283 led Tobias Kunz GER73 after a close fight all the way round.

The course was swung by 10 degrees for the second heat but in a rising wind the competitors found it hard to identify the immaculately laid windward mark against the background of the beach. As a result the majority of the IC fleet overstood the mark by a substantial amount and in turn misled the DCs and ACs. Once they had realized their mistake the fleet reached down in a spectacular stampede led by Virtue. In a nailbiting finish, on a course shortened due to increasing wind, he scraped home just ahead of Beaver with Seth Dunbar AUS14 relinquishing his slender lead in a final fluffed tack for the line to come in third.

Day 2 of the Worlds has been blown out, so four heats tomorrow. -- Christian Knott in Sail-world.com, www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=40499

International Canoe - Positions after 2 races

1. Bill Beaver, USA, 3 points
2. Hayden Virtue, AUS, 4
3. Tim Wilson, AUS, 7
4. Seth Dunbar, AUS, 9
5. Johan Elfström, SWE, 9
6. Colin Brown, GBR, 10
7. Christian Knott, AUS, 18
8. Eckhardt Pagel, GER, 19
9. Colin Newman, GBR, 21
10. Peter Ullmann, GER, 21

www.icworlds.org

12 FOOT SKIFF INTERDOMINION
Wellington New Zealand lived up to its windy reputation today. Everyone pulled out their little 4th or 5th rigs and some spectacular sailing was had by all.

The day was nicely summed up by our UK friends sailing in this years' regatta; this from Bob Clements on a UK based forum this evening:

'Good god these guys are hardcore! Today we were out on the 4th rig and struggling to keep it upright upwind (let alone downwind), and they were steaming downwind completely 'on it'. We've just had a bit of a 'go and send it' session, and Hoggie got Romulus (ex Stagecoach) completely airborne a number of times.'

The continued consistency of the New Zealand team gives it 626 points with Australia some distance away on 380. -- Shaun Sheldrake

Overall placings after six races with worst score discarded:

1. 'Nuplex' (NZL) Alex Valings and Jeremy Smith, 5pts
2. 'Garde' (AUS) Brett Hobson and Chris Johnson, 17
3. 'Gobsmacked Dwarves' (AUS) Paul O'Malley-Jones and Richard Billett, 20
4. 'Martin Hughes' (NZL) Chris Skinner and David Healey, 23
5. 'Romulus' (NZL) Steve Hogg and Rodger Barnes, 28

For a full list of results go to www.skiff.org.nz
For more pictures go to web.mac.com/dashz/Interdoms2007/Photos/Photos.html

The weather forecast means racing will start an hour earlier tomorrow.

www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=40488

MELGES 24 FLEET GEARING UP FOR KEY WEST
With only 17 days until Acura Key West 2008, the Melges 24 is shaping up to be the largest one design fleet at the regatta. There are 46 entries to date, including top competitors from North America and Europe. So how bad do you want to win?! Ullman Sails provides the highest quality sail inventory for speed and performance. Our record proves it. In 2007, Ullman Sails customers won the World Championships*, European Championships* and Gulf Coast Championships. *Partial inventory

Make a statement early in 2008 with the 'Fastest Sails on the Planet.' Contact a loft and visit www.ullmansails.com

CLIPPER RACE: TACTICAL DECISIONS AHEAD
With the top seven boats split by just eleven miles in terms of distance to finish, the fight for those all-important podium positions is really heating up.

As the fleet heads north the temperature rises with midday temperatures on deck close to 40C and even hotter below decks. The humidity is hardest to cope with and this will soon be climbing towards 90 percent as they head north towards the Tropics.

Only westernaustralia2011.com has made anything like a tactical move by staying further inshore after the start, relying on local knowledge to try to give them an advantage. This has backfired and they have now moved further offshore in hot pursuit of the boats ahead.

The remains of the tropical cyclone will be causing the navigators some headaches over the next few days as there are areas of very disturbed air and lumpy seas. The three options are to go west, go east or straight on through the middle.

The fleet is due to muster in Batam, Indonesia, on approximately 17 January, with a coordinated arrival at the new Marina at Keppel Bay in Singapore on Saturday 19 January.

Positions At 1200gmt 3 January 2008
1. Hull & Humber: Distance to Finish 2005
2. New York: 6 nm to leader
3. Nova Scotia: 6
4. Liverpool 08: 7
5. Glasgow: Scotland with style Clipper: 11
6. Durban 2010 and Beyond: 12
7. Qingdao: 13
8. westernaustralia2011.com: 30
9. Jamaica: 42
10. Uniquely Singapore: 51

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

COMINGS AND GOINGS IN WELLINGTON
Yesterday we learnt from the skipper Javier Sanso that the Spanish boat, Mutua Madrilena, currently in 4th position, was also set to make a pit-stop in Wellington for repairs. This latter arrived early morning in New Zealand and will have to wait until Saturday before it can set off again. As for Michele and Dominique, they are preparing to leave Wellington this evening (UTC time on Thursday), after a rather dense 48 hour pit-stop. The keel was able to be repaired to the great delight of the duo, as was the rudder, it too damaged during impact with a floating object. Benefiting from Temenos II's downtime, a number of other points on the boat have also been tested.

We should set off early morning. A strong gale is forecast so we'll have to see whether we'll get a tow out to sea or not. The local police are likely to make two of its boats available to us, so we'll have a good escort!

We've always remained racing and as soon as we found out that the keel could be repaired, Dominique immersed himself in the weather. Today, he positioned all the icebergs, which have already been indexed. There's an impressive list of them, so unless the weather is mild we're going to avoid playing in that particular zone. -- Kate Jennings

barcelonaworldrace.com

ENTRIES OPEN FOR THE LARGEST YACHT RACE OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD
Entries are now open for the next JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, which starts from Cowes, Isle of Wight, on Saturday 28th June 2008. The Notice of Race and entry form are available via http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk

Fundraising for charity has become an increasingly important aspect of the event and in 2007 over 70,000 GBP was raised for the race's four charities - Breast Cancer Care, Macmillan Cancer Support, Prostate UK and The Ellen MacArthur Trust. Typical of the many stories of courage and determination was Robin Wood, one of last year's top charity enthusiasts and the first official entry for the race in 2008. Robin and the crew on Noumanon competed in support of Prostate UK, a charity which has a special meaning for him.

Robin completed the course round the Isle of Wight in just over nine hours and achieved a creditable top third result in his class. He and his crew raised 3,000 GBP for Prostate UK.

Bill Pimlott, Commodore of the Island Sailing Club, which runs the event said:

"Last year we had the highest number of finishers in the history of the race and we look forward to welcoming newcomers and old friends alike in 2008. I know many competitors have more tankards than their mantelpiece can accommodate. If this is the case, skippers can make a note on their entry form and the Island Sailing Club will make a donation to charity in lieu of the memento."

Full information is available on www.roundtheisland.org.uk which also includes a new section "Your Feedback" in answer to matters raised through the competitor questionnaire introduced in 2007. -- Flavia Bateson

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

SLINGSBY TAKES LEAD OF AUSTRALIAN LASER CHAMPIONSHIP
On the penultimate day of the 2008 Australian Laser Championship, the first two races of the Finals Series were completed in 20-25 knot south easterly off Blairgowrie and world champion Tom Slingsby (AUS) fired up to lead, whilst Jo Aleh (NZL) is the new leader in the Radial Women's with one day of the Championship remaining.

The 298 boat fleet was divided into the Gold and Silver groups in the Standard and Radial fleets whilst the 4.7's continued to aggregate scores in their 12-race series.

In the Laser Standard, Slingsby had a good day with a win and a third to be leading the Regatta by four points from Rutger van Schaardenburg (NED) on 23 points. In third place, and just one point behind is Nick Thompson (GBR).

Yesterday's leader, Michael Leigh (CAN) has dropped back to fifth place behind Estonia's Deniss Karpak after a disastrous day with eighth and 33rd results. Karpak, on the other hand, lifted after winning the second race.

In the Laser Radial fleet Sarah Blanck, Australia's Women's single-handed Olympic representative, found the challenging weather conditions of Day 5 not to her liking. Leading the large internationally competitive fleet coming into today's races, she has dropped to third place, 10 points behind new leader Aleh on 24 points and Veronika Fenclova (CZE) on 28 points.

Heading into the final day, with a forecast for lighter winds, both the Standard and Radial results are sure to go right to the wire. -- James Mitchell/Di Pearson

www.viclaser.yachting.org.au and www.sailmelbourne.com.au

ROLEX MIAMI OCR: THE WORLD AT ITS DOOR
Miami, Florida, USA: As a January 21 "early deadline" draws near, US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR, scheduled for January 27 to February 2, 2008, is shaping up nicely as an international primer for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Qingdao, China this August. Over 100 teams have signed up, and many of the 25 represented nations -- including the USA, Canada and Great Britain, which have the largest contingents at 24, 15 and 11 teams, respectively -- either have sent their final teams or will be selecting who moves on to the Olympic or Paralympic Games based on results at this popular International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade One ranking event.

Racing in seven of 11 Olympic classes had to be eliminated due to Olympic-year scheduling conflicts with World Championships held overseas. However, the remaining four Olympic classes (Laser, Laser Radial, Star, Yngling -- the latter two of which are hosting their own World Championships in Miami) are joining a full run-up of Paralympic classes (2.4mR, SKUD-18, Sonar), so the Rolex Miami OCR has quite an intriguing show left to stage.

China is sending two Yngling teams -- a first for this regatta -- while Russia and Japan are each sending one Yngling and one Star team. The Star class is likely to be the largest with 39 current entries that will most likely remain in Miami for their Worlds in April. The Laser Radial is the second-largest class with 24 entrants.

Among the "stars of the Star class" are USA's representatives to the Games John Dane and Austin Sperry (Gulfport, Miss.); ISAF #1 ranked sailors Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Dominik Zycki (POL); Rolex Miami OCR defending champions Fredrik Loof/Anders Ekstrom (SWE); Great Britain's Iain Percy/Andrew Simpson (GBR); and Xavier Rohart/Pascal Rambeau (FRA).

The Rolex Miami OCR Yngling defending champions and 2005 World title holders Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe/Debbie Capozzi (Nashotah, Wis./Grosse Pointe, Mich./Bayport, N.Y.) are the brightest stars in that class and hope to be the leading challengers in Qingdao this year. New Zealand's Sharon Ferris must make the top five at the Rolex Miami OCR before her team can book its tickets for Beijing, so the stakes are high.

The 2008 Yngling Worlds, which immediately follow the Rolex Miami OCR, will decide the final four nations to qualify for the Olympic Yngling event in China. Greece is one of the countries trying for a berth (the USA has already secured its spot) and that country will be represented at the Rolex Miami OCR and the Worlds by skipper Sofia Bekatorou, 2002 and 2004 ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year (with Emilia Tsoulfa) and 2004 Olympic Gold medalist in the 470 class.

The Laser Radial class will see two long-time Florida rivals, Paige Railey (Clearwater) and U.S. Olympic Laser Radial representative Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation), pitted against each other and a strong contingent from Great Britain: Andrea Brewster, Lizzie Vickers, Charlotte Dobson and Penny Clark. Great Britain's selection trials for the women's single-hander will commence at the Rolex Miami OCR.

www.RolexMiamiOCR.org

FILE UNDER: SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION
Property mogul and maxi-sailor Mike Slade was profiled in this past weekend's Sunday Times Business section. A great read on his take on the present climate for real estate, interesting bits on his Sydney-Hobart campaign. And then the best part. His favorites, which include:

Favourite book: anything by Tom Bower
Favourite music: Dire Straits
Favourite film: The Godfather
Favourite gadget :bottle opener
Website: www.scuttlebutteurope.com
Last holiday: Cornwall

Clearly a very discerning man...

business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/movers_and_shakers/article3107439.ece

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 John Harwood-Bee: Having spent the festive period hoping(and occasionally praying) for 'seasonal goodwill' to break out between the AC warring factions, I return to find my prayers unanswered. The latest actions by SNG, incomprehensible to those with even a modicum of legal training, seem to finally scupper any hope of a rapid resolution to the conflict. It is now my contention that whatever the courts ruling later this month, there is an element in the Deed of Gift that should preclude any competition between Alinghi and BMWO and I quote:

"This Cup is donated upon the condition that it shall be preserved as a perpetual Challenge Cup for friendly competition between foreign countries.

I hardly think that the animosity between them could possibly qualify either team to compete as 'friendly competitors'.

That the marketable image of the AC has been badly tarnished is beyond dispute. What foresight by Chief Judge Wachtler in 1990 when ruling on the San Diego V Mercury Bay appeal:

"This case has little or no significance for the law, but it has caught the public eye like few cases in this court's history. Much of the reason for this attention, apparently, is the supposition that here at stake are grand principles - sportsmanship and tradition - pitted against the greed, commercialism and zealotry that threaten to vulgarize sport. In the end, however, the outcome of the case is dictated by elemental legal principles."

But in the end will it matter that a once respected event is reduced to the level of a cheap gladiatorial television show. It is a sad reflection on our times that confrontational shows such as 'Big Brother' 'X Factor' 'Idol' and 'The Apprentice' attract mass audiences baying for blood. Perhaps those sponsoring such shows will find a new investment in a dumbed down AC. If so perhaps we should make it more interesting still and fit the vessels with live cannon and let them fight to the death. It would certainly be a fitting end to this saga.

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THE LAST WORD
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