Come Celebrate the 20th Raja Muda Selangor Regatta
Already over 40 yacht owners have indicated they are entering this years 20th anniversary event. Some Phuket based multihull's are organising an event within the event from Penang onwards to Langkawi. The organising committee have been busy tracking down past winners and inviting them to attend this 20th milestone. Festivities begin at the Royal Selangor Yacht Club on Friday 13th November and continue along the island hoping route to Langkawi till Nov 21st. During stop over's in Pangkor and Penang numerous activities like tri-shaw racing, windward/leeward racing and fancy prize giving presentations are being planned. The public are welcome to go down to the marinas along the way to cheer on there favourite team and get a taste of what yacht racing is all about. NOR, more info at: http://www.rmsir.com or if you want to join in the fun by chartering a yacht or take up a crewing position contact them by Phone: +603 3168 6964 or Email: info@rmsir.com

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CONTENTS

1. EDITORIAL - AYGP Newsletters and AYGP Updates to market the 2009-10 Championship
2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS - Next Up - Singapore's Western Circuit (Aug 16th, 22nd, 23rd & 29th) - 3rd round of Platu Championship 2009 (15/16th Aug) - ASEAN Para Games rolls out - Sail Bunaken Indonesia's Premier Maritime Event for 2009 - Dates for Borneo Challenge announced (Oct 9-14) - Kiteboard Tour proposed for Asia (KTA) - Hong Kong yachts in Fastnet Race - Superyacht Conference in Singapore (13-15 Oct) - Frank Pong comments on RC 44 Championships
Up next - Singapore's Western Circuit - Sail Bunaken - Sail Indonesia - 5th ASEAN Para Games - 3rd round of Platu Championship
3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Cowes Week defies all odds - Solitaire du Figaro underway - Fastnet Race on 9th Aug - Trans Atlantic on a 20ft catamaran - Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 Special Awards
Follow the: Solitaire du Figaro - Fastnet Race - Audi MedCup TP52 & GP42 Series - iShares EX 40 Cup - RC 44 - World Match Racing Tour - Rolex Events.
4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS - Around Britain on a Mini 6.5m - Alfa Romeo smashes Transpac Record by over a day - Double handed Transpacific record broken - Mediterranean Record broken again - First 800 mile/day, then 900 mile barrier broken - Trans Atlantic Record goes under 4 days
5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - Savage Beauty hits the beastly rocks

1. EDITORIAL

The 2009-10 AYGP Championship got off to a great start at Phuket Raceweek. After the e-anarchy newsletter stated that Asian regattas are very good for cruising boats, we are going all out to prove that the Asian Racing Class is as good as it gets, anywhere in the world. Despite the small number of entries we always say it is a matter of 'Quality versus Quantity'. It would take a brave person to try telling the competing owners that their crew work is not up to International standards. Quite a few team members have had America's Cup and Sydney Hobart Race experience plus competed at the Olympic Games with distinction. To put the record straight, we have launched the monthly AYGP Newsletter to keep our readers up with all the news, expert analysis, regatta results, progressive pointscore and the AYGP Updates when the popular regatta photo galleries are posted after each of the ten regatta/races that score points towards becoming the AY Skipper and Yacht of the Season. Which I can assure you is not taken lightly, as in past years the annual champion has won at least 4 or 5 regattas on the circuit and scored podium places at others before they could take the title home.

Launching these new publications has bought with them some more great advertising opportunities aimed at complimenting the new look AsianYachting layout. Four sponsor / advertising spots at the bottom of these publications are available to display your companies wares, which can easily be incorporated into your marketing strategy. We will be sending out 12 X AYGP Newsletters and 10 X AYGP Updates to our 3000 valuable subscribers and hope to garner some International recognition and show of support for the Asian racing scene. Check out the AY Advertising opportunities and the Reduced Rates at: http://www.asianyachting.com/Mall/Advertising.htm

After many years in the design and building cycle, Maxi Multihull racing campaigns or the 'G'iant Class as Bruno Peyron used to call them, are fast coming back into vogue. Both maxi-trimarans, Banque Populaire V and Groupama 3 have crossed the Atlantic in under 4 days, shattering the previous record and lifted the 24 hour above 900 nm barrier. After all the court bickering the America's Cup has turned into an unlimited design race, because there's no parameters the defender Alinghi and challenger BMW Oracle Racing have embarked on launching and testing 90ft x 90ft multihull craft for the upcoming showdown. Staunch supporters of the AC have stated that The Cup for them has always been a design race. A few months ago we published 'Be careful what you wish for?' and as Alinghi will be announcing the venue for the 33rd AC shortly, the media are looking forward to this 'no holds barred contest' turning into perhaps the most interesting design Cup that's ever been seen. I say 'Bring it on!'

August seems to be a very busy month for yacht racing all over the world. Presently underway in the South East Asian archipelago is the Sail Indonesia Rally where 150 yachts are heading for Indonesia's premier maritime event Sail Bunaken at Manado, North Sulawesi. Singapore comes alive with the Western Circuit and One Design Platu 25 sailors are headed for Pattaya to contest Round 3 of this years Championship. Malaysia will host the 5th ASEAN Para Games and the sailing competition will be held at Port Dickson (15-19 Aug). All these topics and more are either covered below and regularly updated on the new look AsianYachting website. Enjoy!
Capt Marty Rijkuris

2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS

2.1 Next Up - Singapore's Western Circuit (Aug 16th, 22nd, 23rd & 29th)
Taking advantage of the solid SW monsoon breezes, the Western Circuit Sailing Regatta is a combination of windward/leeward courses and passage races over three weekends in Western Singapore waters. Co-organised by Raffles Marina and Singapore Management University this event is recognized as one of Singapore's premier regattas. The IRC fleet will be taking on the Pisang Race up the Malacca Straits for the first time this year on the 22nd Aug and all classes will be contesting the SMU President's Cup on the 23rd. The 2009 edition features six divisions: IRC A & B, One Design J-24 & SB3, PY, Beach Catamarans including the One Meter Radio Controlled boats this year. The Western Circuit has gained the enviable reputation as being one of the most popular regattas, were both Singaporean and regionally based keel boats can join together in a competitive and friendly atmosphere. All participating yachts will get free berthing at Raffles Marina. More at http://www.westerncircuit.com/

2.2 3rd round of Platu Championship 2009 (15/16th Aug)
Round 3 of this years Championship is on 15/16th August, in Pattaya at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club. Both previous rounds this year have been well attended by first class crews from near and far and the next event promises more of the same, exciting, close, One Design racing . Who will be there? The current Thailand National Champion, Rolf Heemskirk and the current Thailand Open Champion, Scott Duncanson plus this years Coronation Cup winner, Ray Roberts, along with others equally able to compete at the highest level, so come and join the fun. As usual, they have top quality charter boats available, with or without sails. Contact the organiser Kev Scott by email kevscott@hotmail.com or Thai mobile + 66 878 25 00 11 Other details and NOR is available on the clubs web site http://www.OMYCsailing.com

2.3 ASEAN Para Games rolls out (15 to 19 Aug)
Malaysia will host the 5th ASEAN Para Games, the parallel sports event for the Southeast Asia Games, in Kuala Lumpur from 15 to 19 August with the theme “ASEAN Moving Together". The biannual multi sport event will be participated in by more than 1,200 athletes and officials from 10 ASEAN countries. The games aim to promote friendship and solidarity among persons with disabilities as well as to rehabilitate and integrate persons with disability into mainstream society through sports. The sailing competition will be held at Admiral Marina & Leisure Club in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan on Access 2.3 and Access Liberty classes specially designed for the disabled sailors in mind. If you can't make it to Pt Dickson follow the competition at: http://www.aseanparagameskl09.org.my

2.4 35th birthday celebrations at Sunsail
The 35th Birthday celebrations are continuing at Sunsail with a new round of selected dates and vessels that qualify for the whopping 35% discount packages on offer. The world’s largest yacht charter operator, have a diverse range of yachts at several locations that offer all year round sailing opportunities in Asian waters. Sunsail's base in Phuket, Thailand have relocated to the brand new Ao Po Grand Marina which is conveniently near the airport and closer to the famous Phang Nga Bay cruising grounds. The extended season allows the yachts to be available for the 20th Raja Muda Selangor Regatta in November and just issued a reminder to get in early for December's King's Cup at the beginning of peak season in Phuket. Visit Sunsail Asia website www.sunsailasia.com and receive regular updates on Sunsail's new activities in the Asian region contact Tel: +66 (0)76 239057 Email: sales@sunsailasia.com

2.5 Sail Bunaken Indonesia's Premier Maritime Event for 2009
The 150 yachts from 22 countries that participated on the Sail Indonesia Rally and Darwin Ambon Yacht Race have safely arrived in Ambon and after a few days celebrating they will be tackling Sail Bunaken Indonesia's Premier Maritime Event for 2009. The route takes them north from Ambon to Ternate then onto Bitung and Manado for Sail Bunaken's main event - Indonesian Fleet Review and Sail Pass on 19th August. After that Sail Indonesia takes over again and the recommended route is west about Sulawesi's majestic coastline stopping at Toli Toli – Mamuju – Pare Pare and Makassar before going on to the islands of Bali – Banjarmasin – Kumai – Belitung - Batam and exiting Indonesia for Singapore and Malaysia. Yacht Rallies have made it easy to enter and sail the 15,000 Indonesian islands with a minimum of fuss. Amongst other festivities planned in Manado, the is a parade of warships and tall ships from Indonesia and other participating countries including an American aircraft carrier. That should make it more interesting...

2.6 Dates for Borneo Challenge announced (Oct 9-14)
The Borneo International Yachting Challenge, the first international yachting event held in Borneo waters each year, is a joint effort between three East Malaysian States - Sarawak, the Federal Territory (F.T.) of Labuan and Sabah, organised under the auspices of the Sarawak Sailing Association. Each participating yacht will receive RM$1000 as an added incentive to help with boat and crew expenses during the event. This year’s Borneo Race celebrates its 6th season and will see yachts taking part in the reverse format from previous years starting with the Miri Bay Regatta, Passage Race from Miri to Labuan, the Labuan Harbour Regatta, the Passage Race from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu and finishing with the KK Bay Regatta. For more information goto: http://www.borneorace.com or contact them at Phone: +6085413099 Fax: 60-85-417249 Email: borneorace@gmail.com / mveno@samling.com.my

2.7 Quantum Sails just keep getting better...
Have you noticed lately that more and more winning yachts have the big Green Q Quantum Sails logo firmly planted on their sails. All over the Austral-Asian region anything from the small Olympic dinghy classes to the full blown racing yachts are proudly displaying the Green Q on their winning sails. The US has not been spared from this phenomena as the successful Charleston Race Week wrapped up with Quantum Sails dominating much of it. 1st (4 of the top 5) in the Melges 24 class; 1st in the new Melges 20 class (with Quantum's new MX sails); 1st & 2nd in the J/24 class; 1st in the J/105 class and 3rd in the J/80 class. All this proves that Quantum's latest products are helping both the family race programs and top one design teams win regattas. Come see for yourself what the deal is with Quantum Sails visit http://quantumsails.com

2.8 Kiteboard Tour proposed for Asia (KTA)
A new continental kiteboard tour approved at the continental tour level and set to commence at towards the end of this year in Asia, has been sanctioned by the IKA. The KTA tour will be the first of its kind in the Asian region and aims to highlight the growing kiteboarding scene here, promote the opportunity for more local riders to gain the experience of international competition and perhaps act as a springboard towards higher levels of the professional tours in the future. Open to both Asian and non- Asia riders, the KTA will result in two outcomes with both KTA Tour Champions and the first Asian Champions. The KTA will launch with its first tour stop at the beginning of October 09 in China and then move on to Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand to finish there in March 2010. This will see the tour operating throughout the stronger wind monsoon months in Asia. For further information: http://www.kiteboardtour.asia

2.9 Hong Kong yachts in the Rolex Fastnet Race
Hong Kong's flagship under the ownership of Karl Kwok is one of the region's top owners and has launched a series of yachts under the name Beau Geste. 2009 sees that latest addition to the fold, an 80-foot (24-metre) Farr designed racer that steps a 38-metre, "5 spreader, cathedral in-line rig, built from high modulus carbon fibre mast, stayed with the same continuous carbon rigging as the Volvo Ocean 70s". Hong Kong's second set of representatives will be sailing something quite different to Beau Geste. Frenchman, Denis Lazat who lives and works in Hong Kong will compete in his Pogo 40, Jumpa Lagi, half the size and around a quarter of the crew, since the Class 40s are typically sailing with five. Lazat is a member of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and all his crew are from the territory. Further information about the Rolex Fastnet Race including a provisional entry list may be found at http://fastnet.rorc.org

2.10 Replica balangay launched in Philippines
A replica of an ancient Philippines boat, called a balangay, has finally been launched in Pasay City in Manila after many months of effort by a group of adventurers intent on showing the world the old mariner skills of the people of the Philippines. Measuring 3 meters wide by 18 meters long, and drawing about a meter, the newly constructed balangay is made from a hardwood locally known as lupanga (or lutanga), an ubi-ubi family of apitong and dungon trees sauced from the eastern part of Tawi-Tawi. They will re-trace some of their ancestor’s journeys in the Indo-Pacific during pre-colonial times, and in the spirit of the long forgotten maritime heritage. It will be an ambitious four-year voyage which will carry them around Asia and on to Africa. The craft is a copy of an ancient wooden boat excavated in the south in the 1970s, and carbon dated to 320 AD. The vessel, christened 'Ngandahig', will visit every major port in the Philippine archipelago for the year, covering a distance of about 2,108 nautical miles. It will then cross over to Sabah on the Malaysian part of Borneo from the southern Philippines and to Micronesia and Madagascar by next year.

2.11 DK Yachts lead the way in composite manufacturing
If your serious about forming a racing team and joining the racing class at major regattas in the region, there are two Mark Mills designed DK46's, that have won nearly every major event in the South East Asian region on the market. DK is one of the most technologically advanced composite manufacturing facility in the SE Asian region. The design office works on high performance IBM CAD/CAM systems which are data supply linked to production and directly command the five-axis milling machine that accurately cuts hull plugs and moulds. Contained within the 110,000 sq ft facility is a multi-cycle computerised temperature oven (25m x 5m x 3.5m), a spray chamber (18m x 6m x 5.5m), an engineering workshop and a dedicated laminating room. In addition, DK also has an in-house 40m long auto-clave to cure carbon fibre and kevlar finished products. So what are you waiting for? Serious Yachts for Serious Sailors can be found at http://www.dkyachts.com

2.12 Superyacht Conference in Singapore (13-15 Oct)
The Superyacht Singapore Association (SSA) has announced it is organizing the First Annual Asian Superyacht Industry Conference to be held on the 13-15 October 2009 in Singapore. The whole of the yachting world is looking to Asia as the next great cruising ground and we are seeing a steady growth of both visiting yachts and privately owned yachts in the region. The whole of the yachting world is looking to Asia as the next great cruising ground and we are seeing a steady growth of both visiting yachts and privately owned yachts in the region. The two day conference will include keynote presentations and a mixture of round table discussion groups designed to open up commercial opportunities and create new international partnerships. More on SSA activities at: http://www.superyacht.sg/ or contact Ms Priscilla Tang at: marketing@superyacht.sg

2.13 Frank Pong comments on RC 44 Championships
Frank Pong and his Team Jelik, from Hong Kong, made their first appearance in the RC 44 Championships at the Malcesine Cup. As well as discovering the beauties of Lake Garda the first race was also a very special moment for Frank Pong owner and helmsman onboard Jelik, for their first outing on the RC 44 Tour. Comments through out the week ranged from 'There is obviously a lot of work to do for this new team, tomorrow will provide a good opportunity with no less than eight flights on the menu' to “This was my first regatta on an RC 44 and only the third match race in my life, so it is clear that I have a lot to learn. I am still in the “doing” stage of my sailing page, so I want to steer the boat. I would recommend to any owner to do the same. It is very intimidating at first but it is great.” Praises for the unusually helpful advice and set up from other teams can be viewed on the in the Malcesine Cup YouTube video clip at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dxHfAILgy4 Follow the rest of the RC 44 Championships at: http://www.rc44.com

2.14 Discovery & Learn to SAIL courses in Malaysia
We are constantly updating the Learn to Sail with Asian Yachtmasters keelboat training scheme with courses that suite the local sailing scene. If you would like to receive a brief taste of what sailing is all about, check out the dates for the Discover Keelboat Sailing program. If you are looking for a more hands on approach to sailing on a racing yacht then Register Online... for the 2-Day Introduction to Sailing course. No previous sailing experience is needed and start your trip by flying to KLIA (Port Dickson is less than a hours drive from the airport). Also available for pre-Chinese wedding photos, team building or impressing your friends with a quick trip around the harbour. If your interested in AY Sailing Courses goto: http://asianyachting.com/AYmasters/classes.htm or contact the AY Headquarters on +6 06 6477701, Hasslan +6 016 2564532 or Email: info@asianyachting.com

3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3.1 Cowes Week defies all odds
Rain is expected on the opening days of the annual week-long regatta, which not only defies the weather gods but the best efforts of assorted bankers to push racing sailboat owners into penury. Entries are, not unexpectedly, down by about 15 per cent, for an event that goes back over 150 years and no replacement has been found to inject the considerable dollop of sponsorship cash which financial services company Skandia used to hand over. Despite the economic gloom on land, if you want to win your class, and there are 37 of them for the 887 yachts entered, or raise one of the major trophies, especially the New York Yacht Club Challenge Trophy or the Britannia Cup, there will be no gimmes. The Solent remains as tricky a track as ever. Joining in this year are nine 40-foot catamarans contesting the third of six regattas which constitute the iShares Cup on a special course laid in front of the Green. On Wednesday a fleet of 10 Open 60s will contest the 50-mile course round the Isle of Wight for the Artemis trophy, and a handful of big boys, including Mike Slade's Leopard and Carl Kwok's Beau Geste will strut their stuff as impressively as the uncertain weather will allow. More by Stuart Alexander in The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk Follow the Rolex Fastnet Race at http://fastnet.rorc.org

3.2 Famous Solitaire du Figaro underway
The famous single handed Solitaire du Figaro race started on Thursday 30 July. The Vendee Globe may be the ultimate solo marathon but the Solitaire du Figaro is the ultimate 'sprint' - intense racing on short legs, sailing within just a few meters or a few miles of your closest competitors. The 1,700-mile race is broken down into four legs visiting Brittany, Ireland, Spain and the Vendee region of France. Jonny Malbon will be racing the Artemis Figaro, a one-design boat just 33-feet in length, and has been training hard over the last few months in preparation for this annual event that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Fifty-two competitors were on the start line including many of France's leading solo specialists including Vendee Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux. Follow Malbon during the Solitaire du Figaro at http://www.artemisoceanracing.com - latest news, 2d tracking showing the entire fleet, results and video blogs in English at the official site: http://www.lasolitaire.com

3.3 Fastnet Race on 9th Aug
The world famous Fastnet Race will kick off on Sunday 9th August starting from Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The 600 nautical mile race will see a fleet of 300 head along the English Channel and out towards the famous Fastnet Rock on the Southern tip of Ireland, the fleet will then turn around and head back to the finish in Plymouth. The first boats are expected to finish on 11 August, weather dependent. The current course record is held by Mike Slade's 100-foot super maxi ICAP Leopard standing at 1 day, 20 hours, and 18 minutes. The race was brought to national attention in 1979 after an extreme storm swept through the Irish Sea, 15 crew as well as 4 from the trimaran shadowing the race and two from a cruising yacht, tragically died. Only 85 boats finished, 194 retired, and 24 boats were abandoned. Follow the Rolex Fastnet Race at http://fastnet.rorc.org

3.4 Trans Atlantic on a 20ft catamaran
Pierre-Yves Moreau, has haunted the multi scene for years, PYM, as he is known, has indeed crossed the Atlantic from Dakar to Pointe a Pitre (Guadeloupe) in 11 days 11 hours - WSSRC ratified - with his partner in crime Benoît Lequin aboard a 20-ft custom built catamaran... and now the two guys intend to do it from New York to Lorient, and the midget multihull is sitting in Liberty Landing Marina at the moment to prove it. What we need is about 18 knots really, nothing like the strong conditions the giants have to take off in." On paper, the idea seems a bit crazy, because those 3000 miles are not quite like a nice Trade route crossing, and one has to picture a nimble 20-ft beach cat caught in the Newfoundland fogs and cold airs, or getting to grips with the powerful westerlies that blow up there. "Yeah, we're used to people calling us loonies", says Benoît, "and it's fine but it also needs to be nuanced a bit, because the degree of preparation and our attention to details is obsessive. The success of that campaign lies a lot in preparation, in anticipation, and we're not setting off just with a! gung- attitude and the will to battle it out. The idea is to be readier than ready, whatever happens."

3.5 Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 Special Awards
The final prize giving was an opportunity to remember and celebrate all that has happened on this magnificent adventure. The most poignant moment came with the inaugural awarding of the Hans Horrevoets Rookie Trophy, which was created in memory of Hans, who was lost at sea during the last edition of the race. His wife, Petra, was on hand to present the award and her emotional speech saw even the most hardened of sailors wiping tears from their eyes.

The award was created to recognise a rookie sailor who was younger than 30 when the event commenced. Each skipper was asked to nominate a who has shown a significant drive to make an improvement to their own skills and to the skills of the team and who has shown a significant contribution in strengthening the team onboard. The Race Committee made a selection from those nominated. The winner of the inaugural Hans Horrevoets Rookie Trophy is Michi Mueller from PUMA Ocean Racing, whom skipper Ken Read said had grown from a raw, untested rookie, into a linch-pin of the team.

It was a good night for PUMA as the Inmarsat Media Prize went to Rick Deppe, who was recognised for his outstanding work across the entire race. Deppe won the prize for leg 10 (his fourth win), as well as the overall prize (which included a cheque for 10,000 euros), and he was quick to pay tribute to his colleagues, asking all of the media crew members to join him on stage.

The Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Seamanship Award was given to the PUMA Ocean Racing shore crew (Neil Cox, Sean Healey, Will Oxley and Kimo Worthington) for rending assistance to Telefonica Blue, after they ran aground at the start of Leg 9 in Marstrand.

4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS

4.1 Around Britain on a Mini 6.5m
Ben Rogerson and his Mini-Transat 6.50m yacht 'Mini Minx' successfully completed the 1,924 nm solo non-stop Round Britain & Ireland passage at 0625 hrs UTC Saturday 25 July 2009 in a total of 15 days 3 hours and 8 minutes. Rogerson used this test as part of his build-up to the Mini Transat (solo transatlantic race in 2011), and was the first Mini-Transat 6.50m to achieve this feat and believed to be the first boat of this size of any design to do so.

4.2 Alfa Romeo smashes Transpac Record by over a day
Honolulu, HI (July 11, 2009) - Alfa Romeo, Neville Crichton's Reichel Pugh 100, set a new elapsed time record for monohulls in the Transpacific Yacht Race by making the 2,225-nautical mile crossing in 5 days, 14 hrs, 36 mins and 20 secs (subject to ratification). The sixteen-man crew beat the previous course record set by Hasso Plattner's Morning Glory in 2005 of 6:16:04:11 by over a day. Alfa Romeo II crossed the finish line at 00:36:20 am HST and Crichton's team included Stan Honey, Ben Ainslie, Michael Coxon, David Endean, Ryan Godfrey, Stan Honey, Andrew Hutchinson, Phil Jameson, Lance Jenkins, Gavin McPherson, Peter Merrington, Murray Spence, Craig Sattherwaite, Joao Signorini, David Rolfe, Tony Mutter and Alfa's shore crew, Ian Goldsworthy. If you have been following the Volvo Race closely you will probably notice that half a dozen members of the record-breaking Ericsson 4 teammates are on the crew list.

Navigator Stan Honey's comment on the Transpacific crossing 'The weather conditions enabled the team to break Morning Glory's previously set 24-hour run and Race Record in 2005 "We had steady winds. We never had a slow spot." Alfa Romeo had a 399-mile day, a 423-mile day and a 393-mile day. Transpac 09 was the first distance race in the open ocean that America's Cup helmsman, Ben Ainslie, has sailed. Ainslie got the team off to a roaring start when he nailed the pin at the start of the race on July 5 off of Point Fermi, the southernmost point in Los Angeles. Among the many trophies that Crichton's Alfa Romeo team have won, is the top foreign entry and the Merlin Trophy for the fastest elapsed time for the Unlimited Class yachts and will have the honor of setting back the Clock Trophy and the Transpacific Yacht Club New Course Record trophy. The Clock Trophy was donated by Roy E. Disney and is awarded to any monohull yacht that establishes a new elapsed time course record. In the past 100 years, Transpac has become synonymous with challenge, adventure, teamwork and excellence ... inspiring a sense of achievement and camaraderie in participants, that lasts a lifetime. More at: http://www.transpacrace.com

4.3 Double handed Transpacific record broken
July 13 - The record for double-handing the 2,225-mileTranspacific yacht Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu has been broken. At 4:38:35 am HST today, Philippe Kahn and Mark "Crusty" Christensen, crossed the Diamond Head finish line in the Open 50, Pegasus 50, in a record time of 7 days, 19 hours, 38 minutes and 35 seconds. They shaved over two and a half days off of the previous record set by Howard Gordon and Jay Crum in 2001 sailing the Open 50, Etranger. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/m2mwcn

4.4 Mediterranean Record broken again
Marc Thiercelin at the helm of Open 60' DCNS 1000, on July 11th set a new singlehanded, IMOCA class 60-foot monohull record of 01:09:13:30 (subject to ratification) for the 458 mile Mediterranean crossing (Marseilles, France to Carthage, Tunisia). Thiercelin's crossing was at an average speed of 13.78 knots and over 12 hours faster than the previous record of 01:21:20:29 set by Kito de Pavant on Groupe Bel on June 4, 2009. Franck Cammas set a new crewed multihull record aboard his 105-foot maxi trimaran Groupama 3 on May 16, 2009 of 17:08:23.

4.5 First 800 mile/day, then 900 mile barrier broken
An incredible battle has been going on since last Wednesday in the Atlantic Ocean. First it was Franck Cammas and his nine crew on the 103-foot Groupama 3 breaking the symbolic 800 mile limit by covering 841 miles at an average of over 35 knots! Then Pascal Bidégorry and 11 crew onboard the 131-foot maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V dethroned Groupama 3 from the 24 hour record when they logged 908 miles at an average speed of 37.8 knots all day and peaked at speeds in excess of 40 knots. More at: http://www.cammas-groupama.com

4.6 Trans Atlantic Record goes under 4 days
When Franck Cammas on the 103-foot Groupama 3 crossed the imaginary finish line from Lizard Point they took 9 hours 44 minutes from the previous record set by them on 24th July 2007. In a matter of minutes Pascal Bidégorry and 11 crew onboard the 131-foot maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V, created further history by slashing another 2 hours 47 mins 26 secs from the Trans Atlantic Record just set by Franck Cammas and his crew onboard Groupama 3. Both maxi-trimarans, Banque Populaire V and Groupama 3 have crossed the Atlantic in under 4 days, shattering the previous record that had been held by Franck Cammas on Groupama 3 since July 2007. Pascal Bidegorry, on Banque Populaire V crossed in 3 days 15 hours 25 minutes 48 seconds to become the new record holder. Cammas crossed in 3 days 18 hours 12 minutes and 56 seconds, bettering his previous fastest time by 9 hours 44 minutes which equates to 10% more speed since last time. Franck Cammas and his nine crew congratulated Pascal Bidégorry and his crew on their 24 distance record (907 miles) and capturing the Trans Atlantic Record but warned them they are looking forward to their Jules Verne Trophy clash coming up latter in the year. More at: http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr

5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"

5.1 Savage Beauty hits the beastly rocks
26th July: "Savage Beauty" (a Flying Tiger) was competing in the YRA 2nd 1/2 opener, which is generally a pleasant jaunt out the Golden Gate to Point Bonita and then down hill all the way back to the Oakland/Alameda Estuary and finish at the Encinal Yacht Club. Yesterday had a very large flood tide as a component and many of the boats took well over an hour to get from the start area just to the Golden Gate bridge. Seeking relief, many boats utilize the north sides rocky shoreline, dancing within inches of the massive basalt wall on the Marine side. Savage Beauty was with a herd of other boats in a taking duel and got a tad closer than they should or wanted to. Attempts to dislodge the boat initially failed, and when the Marine County Sheriff Dept arrived with USCG, they quickly accessed the situation and ordered the crew off. Between sets of swells they dashed in and grabbed crew members and hauled them into their RIB... when all was unloaded and the owner finally rescued, they hung out a bit waiting for a salvage crew to arrive and attempt saving the Flying Tiger...not sure if they even got a line on her, but within an hour, the boat was reduced to large pieces of flotsam and jetsam... which littered the area just west of the Golden Gate bridge between Point Diablo Slideshow by Erik Simonson can be found at: http://scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=925

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