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CONTENTS

1. EDITORIAL - Mixed program for March - 2009-10 AYGP continues
2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS - Quantum One Design Platu Championship 2010 - Phoenicia rounding Cape of Good Hope - Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta (2-6 March) - 14th Asian Sailing Championship (March 20-29) - Karl Kwok cleans up at Caribbean 600 - New WMRT stop Vietnam Match Cup - No more paper IRC certificates - Rolex China Sea Race - Oman Sail’s Indian Ocean 5 Capes - Don McIntyre ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ voyage - Top of the Gulf Regatta bigger than ever - Radio Sailing Future At ISAF - Sawadee.com Regatta is a ‘must attend’ event - Solo Tasman Challenge kicks off 4th April - Perth International Regatta Dates Announced - Nanjing to host 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2014
Up next in Asia - Rolex China Sea Race (Starts 1st April) - Commodore’s Cup (April 6-10) - Top of the Gulf Regatta (1-5 May) - Sawadee.com Regatta (May 31 - June 5)
3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Miami Grand Prix (March 4-7) - Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland (9 - 21 March) - RC 44 Tour kicks off in Dubai - Audi MedCup Circuit 2010 schedule - Slowly revealing the Volvo Route - 33rd America's Cup - BMW ORACLE Racing wins 2-Zip - VESTAS SAILROCKET Part 2 - Bruno Peyron re-launches The Race - Nanny Cay Challenge for Round Tortola Record - WHY Oh! Why bother? - New J-Class Regattas Announced for 2012.
Follow the: Ongoing Clipper Race - Miami Grand Prix (March 4-7) - Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland (9 - 21 March)
4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS - Franck Cammas Groupama 3 set new record
5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - SV Concordia capsize & sinks - TRANSGLOBE Challenger (Army) returns to NZ - Team Finland mast clipped - Full on Extreme Racing - Red Bull capsize

1. EDITORIAL

The 2009-10 AYGP now swings over to the South China Sea and March is the month big boat owners spend repositioning and completing further modifications to their boats before the final four events get underway. Full scale battle resumes on April 1st with the classic 565nm Rolex China Sea Race between Hong Kong and Subic Bay in the Philippines. We then go straight into the Commodore’s Cup (April 6th - 10th) in Subic Bay which caps of the Philippine escapade in style. After traversing the entire length of the South China Sea to Ocean Marina in Pattaya, Thailand, the Top of the Gulf Regatta takes place from 1st to 5th May and is open to all forms of racing craft including monohull, multihull and dinghy classes. The final event on the AYGP Championship is the Sawadee.com Regatta on Koh Samui, Thailand (May 31st - June 5th) which is turning into a festival of sail and the spectacular prize presentation on the majestic lawn setting of the Centara Grand Beach Resort should not be missed.

Small keel boat enthusiasts take center stage this month with the first of 4 events that make up the Quantum One Design Platu Championship 2010. First off the rank is the OPEN Championship of Thailand from 11/14th March at Ocean Marina Yacht Club (OMYC) Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, Thailand. There are still some charter boats available and already a very interesting international crew line-up has arisen with entries from Russia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Serious dinghy sailors will be contesting the 14th Asian Sailing Championship (March 20-29) in Shanwei, Guangdong province, China. This is the lead up event to the Asian Games in December and has included an Open Keelboat competition using 4 person J80's in a match racing format. Interesting to see who goes as funding for most national organisations is based on winning medals and as yet keelboats do not rate a mention as they tend to upset the status quo of the committee and the present levels of funding.

On the International scene Australia and New Zealand are still going strong for the remaining months of summer. The Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta (2-6 March) is quickly followed by Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland (9 - 21 March). The lower latitudes of the Northern hemisphere are springing into life with the Miami Grand Prix (March 4-7) and the just completed RC44 Tour in Dubai where Torbjorn Tornqvist and his Artemis team led by Terry Hutchinson came up trumps.

All these topics and much much more on the Asian and International scene are covered (Below) and regularly updated on the AsianYachting website.
Enjoy!
Capt Marty Rijkuris

2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS

2.1 Quantum One Design Platu Championship 2010
As the seasons switch from the northerly monsoon to the southwest monsoon, sailors in Thailand now look forward to the first of 4 events that constitute the Quantum One Design Platu Championship 2010. First off the rank is the OPEN Championship of Thailand from 11/14th March, followed by the Top of the Gulf Regatta in May. This year there is an extra racing day and also a practice day so that long traveling crews get more for their money. There are still some charter boats available and already a very interesting international crew situation has arisen with entries from Russia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The running battle between Rolf Heemskirk and Scott Duncanson will re-open and this one always goes down to the wire. Plus Geoff Cassidy will be there with his hot crew who were robbed of a place on the podium at the Nationals last year only because their jib halyard broke. The Japanese entry Kenta, could also be fighting for top honours after his good results at last years World Championships and the Russian crew with Alexey Bunzja from Omsk, Siberia is a world class helm aboard. Watch out also for Puma and Pine Pacific as these boats are gaining speed with every event. Maybe Morten Jackobsen could spring a surprise this time as he has been seen practicing regularly with some Korean experts. And good luck to the local Thai entries of K. Surapol and K. Pote who will be flying the flag for Thailand. Plus, we will have an honoured guest aboard the current champions boat, The Ferret, this year . Eduardo Barni is the International Platu Association's President and will travel from Italy for the event. This is part of a reciprocal arrangement when Kev Scott (aka Ferret) will sail with Eduardo at this years world Platu Championships in Spain. The added spice is that the crew in Spain will all be 60 years plus! See http://www.OMYCsailing.com for full details and NOR's. Or telephone Kev, Thailand +66 878 25 00 11

2.2 Phoenicia rounding Cape of Good Hope
The good ship Phoenicia is coming up to a crucial part of the expedition within the next week and attempting to navigate one of the worlds most dangerous stretches of coastline; the Cape of Good Hope. 'We sailed into our first South African port, Richards Bay, at the end of January and had a wonderful welcome from a convoy of local yachts, press and public. Since Richards Bay we have called at Durban, East London and our current position Port Elizabeth. At each port we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the local yacht clubs (Zululand Yacht Club, The Point, East London and Algoa Bay) who have organised welcome flotillas, press conferences, accommodation, dinners, parties and even safari trips for the crew!' Please keep your eyes on http://www.phoenicia.org.uk over the next few days for updates on our progress during this exciting part of the voyage.

2.3 Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta (2-6 March)
Some of the world's top international match race teams are set to descend on Auckland for the Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta in March. Skippers who have accepted invitations to compete are: Dean Barker (NZL); Ben Ainslie (GBR); Francesco Bruni (ITA); Sebastian Col (FRA); Karol Jablonski (POL); Magnus Holmberg (SWE); Chris Dickson (NZL); Bertrand Pacé (FRA); Adam Minoprio (NZL); Torvar Mirsky (AUS). Racing will take place in identical Farr-designed MRX yachts and will comprise a double round robin, semi-final and final. Weather permitting, the semi-finals and finals will be decided by the first skipper to win three matches. -- Details: http://www.rnzys.org.nz/

2.4 14th Asian Sailing Championship (March 20-29)
To be held in Shanwei, Guangdong province, China. Fourteen sailing events will be contested at the Guangdong Ocean Sports Training Centre (GOSTC) Racing will be held in six men’s, five women’s and three open events, including Optimist, 420, 470, Mistral, RS:X, Laser, Laser Radial and Hobie 16 classes plus Open Keelboat Match Racing Teams. Find out more about the event at the Asian Sailing Federation website http://sailingasian.org

2.5 Karl Kwok cleans up at Caribbean 600
(February 25, 2010) - Following the RORC Caribbean 600 start on February 22nd, Karl Kwok's 80-foot Farr designed Beau Geste led the 24 entrants to take line honors early today. Covering the 605 mile course around 14 Caribbean islands in an elapsed time of 2 days, 11 hours, 21 minutes, 13 seconds Karl Kwok will be awarded the RORC Caribbean 600 trophy for best yacht overall under IRC, the line honours trophy for monohulls and Class trophy for IRC Super Zero "I have never cleaned up as well before so it feels really good," smiled Karl Kwok upon hearing the news. "There may have been a lack of wind but we kept on going all the time and when the wind was with us we had flat water and some fantastic sailing. Beau Geste has a great spirit, I have been friends with Gavin Brady for two decades and we sit down and decide who we will have on board. Friendship is very important to me, we choose the best sailors but also the right people. I have to say a big thank you to Gavin Brady and the two watch captains, Jonno Swain and David Endean but all of the crew did a great job. -- Event website: http://caribbean600.rorc.org/

2.6 New Year Bargains at Sunsail
An incredible selection of New Year holidays on various sailing craft are on offer in the Austral-Asian region. Grab a fantastic Sunsail bargain for your next sailing holiday. Vessels are booking fast so don't miss out! They are proud to announce that the Leopard 38 - better known to Sunsailors as the Sunsail 384 - has been named 'Boat of the Year' by Cruising World, earning the titles 'Import Boat of the Year' and 'Best Multihull Cruiser'. This is the second award for this brand new innovative catamaran with SAIL Magazine awarding it their 'Best Boat 2010' status in the Cruising Multihulls category. Some yachts are still available for the Top of the Gulf Regatta in May and Koh Samui Regatta 2010 in June. 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

2.7 New WMRT stop Vietnam Match Cup
6 Feb 2010 Vietnam – The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) has awarded Rainbow International Co. Ltd the rights to organise the Vietnam Match Cup. This will take place in the picturesque east coast city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam this September. The event will be the eighth stage of the Tour this year, and is the first time that Vietnam has featured on the WMRT schedule. The appointment gives Rainbow International the rights to host and promote the event that will be held at one of the world’s most beautiful bays, Nha Trang, in Nha Trang City. “It is a great honour for Rainbow International to host such a large scale program in Vietnam. For the first time, Vietnamese people will have the chance to witness the competition amongst the worlds best sailors right off the shores of their homeland. It is going to be one of this countries biggest sporting events in 2010. More at: http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com

2.8 No more paper IRC certificates
The RORC Rating Office has undertaken a paper-saving initiative for 2010, in consideration of the environment and to reduce the amount of unnecessary paperwork going through the office. Not only does this mean they will be storing a boat's history on the computer rather than in a paper file, but moving forward with technology and changing the policy regarding sending out IRC certificates, in the role as GBR Rule Authority. Therefore, as from 1st January 2010, they will e-mail Amended and Trial certificates but will not send a copy in the post unless specifically asked. Excel Amendment and Trial application forms can be downloaded from the Forms Page Here...

2.9 Rolex China Sea Race
With the start less than a month away entries to the Rolex China Sea Race, are already seeing to their safety preparations for this Offshore Category 1 Race. Organised by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) since 1962 as a biennial event, this is the 25th time that yachts will brave the 565nm between Hong Kong and the Philippines. Over the years the race has developed from a somewhat 'cruisy' event into one of Asia's finest offshore races, with entry now open only to IRC rated boats. A tactically challenging event, the first night of the race is not for the faint hearted, with lumpy seas and a stiff 20 knots of breeze. Conditions usually improve the next day and, as competitors near the Philippine coast under brilliant blue skies, a game of 'cat and mouse' develops. The 'cat' is the variable and unpredictable coastal breeze, which often gives any line honours hopeful a dawn wallow on day three, or delays racers for a few hours in an inconvenient 'hole' on their way into the coast. The race record of 47h 43m 07s, set by Karl Kwok on the Open 60 Beau Geste, still stands but with a strong IRC racing division which is likely to include the TP52's Strewth, Evolution Racing and FfreeFire 52, together with defending Line Honours holder, Neil Pryde on his modified Welbourn 52, Hi Fi, and evergreen Mills 51, EFG Mandrake, Kwok's 10 year old record could well fall this year. Notice of race and entry form are available at http://www.rolexchinasearace.com

2.10 Oman Sail’s Indian Ocean 5 Capes
Oman Sail’s 'Majan' (A100) is now tracing out this new course taking the big dive south for a giant tour of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes facing the challenges of all the combined might of the Southern and Indian Oceans. “We started from Muscat on the 6th February on a line just off the Royal Palace 23° 37.55 North. In the early hours of this morning, 23rd February, we crossed the same latitude South about 400nm SE of the Mauritius Rodrigues Islands” said Mark Covell, media crew onboard Majan. Having spent a few days holding back for a very ugly depression, that turned into a storm, then into a tropical storm, then into a hurricane, Majan and the crew are now ‘blast-reaching’ on a heading of 240 degrees. They are regularly touching speeds in the high 20’s (knots). “Meanwhile, the waves are picking up and my job is getting a touch harder. typing this email". Omani crew member Mohsin describes the changes as, “The waves have changed from being those ‘bumps in the road’, to large show-jumps, and now they are looking more like the side of a stable block. They are expected to finish Leg 2 in Capetown in the next few days before they depart for Fremantle Australia. Follow their progress at: http://www.oceventsasia.com/index.php/indian_ocean_5_capes_race/

2.11 Don McIntyre ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ voyage
One of Australia's greatest adventurers, Don McIntyre, is getting ready for his recent expedition – to re-create one of the most extraordinary stories of survival and determination, Captain William Bligh’s 4,000 mile open boat ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ voyage. The reenactment, following the journey across the Pacific from Tonga to Timor, will launch on the same day (April 28th), at the same time and in the same place 221 years after the original mutiny journey. The seven week expedition aboard the Talisker Bounty Boat – a 25ft long, 7ft wide, open wooden vessel – will see the crew -facing the same deprivations as the original crew that were cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific, including: no navigation charts; only two weeks of water; hardly any food; and, of course, no luxuries like a torch or toilet paper! Alongside Don McIntyre, the international crew includes experienced English sailor David Wilkinson, US sailor and businessman Peter Stier and the youngest ever Solo circumnavigator, 17 year old Brit Mike Perham. The crew met together for the first time a little over two weeks ago and have spent the last fortnight together in Sydney, training and making last minute preparations for the journey, a journey that has been Don’s dream to complete for 20 years. To follow the expedition and donate to this cause, visit http://www.taliskerbountyboat.com

2.12 Top of the Gulf Regatta bigger than ever
Now in it's seventh year, the 2010 Top of the Gulf Regatta (TOGR) will take place on 30th April to 4th May, at Ocean Marina Yacht Club (OMYC) Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, Thailand. As Ocean Marina continues the renovation started last year, the increase in berths and range of services is seeing an increase in numbers of racing and cruising yachts entering the Jomtien fleet, with the Top of the Gulf Regatta expected to be bigger than ever. Entries for the racing classes are already coming in and interest is high. 2009 IRC Racing Class winner, Matt Allen, plans to return to defend his crown on his Beneteau First 44.7, Ichi Ban. Ray Roberts and Neil Pryde are looking to bring their boats and give the big boat classes a boost. Local Thai-based boats are looking to be out in force. Particularly the Ocean Multihull class. Of the large fleet of Corsairs, seven or more are expected to take part and with a Phuket contingent including Henry Kaye's Seacart 30 Thor showing interest, the Ocean Multihull fleet could grow to be 12-15 boats this year. The dinghy classes are again looking to flourish this year and expectations are high that the 2008 record of 128 Optimists may be exceeded this year. In addition, a Laser fleet and some Byte II's are expected to join in. More TOTGR info from: http://www.topofthegulfregatta.com and contact them at: info@topofthegulfregatta.com to enter the sailing events held at Ocean Marina.

2.13 DK 46's still on Top of the Podium
If your serious about forming a racing team and joining the racing class at major regattas in the region, there is a specially modified Mark Mills designed DK46's, that has won nearly every major event in the Austral-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 computerized 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 autoclave 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

2.14 Radio Sailing Future At ISAF
Radio Sailing, its promotion, development and position within ISAF were all topics under discussion at a recent meeting between the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and the Radio Sailing Division's new Permanent Committee. RSD is an ISAF Affiliate Member which looks after the 30 radio sailing divisional members and radio sailing class associations. The RSD Permanent Committee, the new Permanent Committee members met with ISAF at the offices of the ISAF Secretariat in Southampton, Great Britain. Discussion focused on the future organization and management of radio sailing and its involvement with ISAF. It was agreed that RSD would change its name to International Radio Sailing Association (IRSA), thus removing the anomaly of "Division". IRSA would remain at this stage an ISAF Affiliate Member. It was agreed to look into strengthening the relationship over the next two years. Both the options of class associations and formalising the terms of affiliation of IRSA to act on ISAF's behalf for radio sailing were discussed. IRSA will continue to work with ISAF to help publicise and promote all aspects of radio sailing by promoting the four existing International classes and encouraging the new up-and-coming classes to become part of the IRSA family. Full details at: http://www.sailing.org/31726.php

2.15 Sawadee.com Regatta is a ‘must attend’ event
If you have never attended an Asian regatta before, then the Sawadee.com Regatta on Koh Samui, Thailand (May 31st - June 5th 2010) is the one for you. In addition to the competitive sailing, this ‘must attend’ event is about great onshore activities, fun parties and is firmly established on the international sailing circuit. The 2010 regatta will see the debut of a golf tournament that tee's off at the island’s premier ‘Santiburi Samui Country Club’ on June 3rd. Race headquarters for the 9th time will again be the ‘Centara Grand Beach Resort’, that welcomes crews from far and wide year after year. If not racing, spectator boats will provide a unique opportunity for members of the public to get ‘up close and personal’ with all of the ‘on-water’ sailing action. Tickets for the public are also available for the legendary ‘off-water’ parties that feature renown bands and fabulous entertainment. An added bonus in 2010 is that the regatta has teamed up with the Samui Jazz Festival, ensuring great entertainment for spectators who fly in from all corners of the globe. The regatta provides an ideal mix of Thai charm and great sporting action, in a location that people jump at the chance to return to year-after-year. More info, Entry Forms and NOR can be found on the website at: http://www.samuiregatta.com or email ksr@mobyelite.com See you there!

2.16 Solo Tasman Challenge kicks off 4th April
Singlehanded yacht skippers from both sides of the Tasman are gathering in New Plymouth, New Zealand for the 2010 Fitzroy Yachts Solo Tasman Challenge, the 11th single handed yacht race to Mooloolaba, Australia. Each yacht will be fitted for the 'Dash Across the Ditch' with a satellite transponder so that supporters will be able to follow the sailors progress via the race website, http://www.solo-tasman.org.nz , organizing committee chairman, Ron Scott said. 'It's state of the art stuff,' he added, 'it'll take this historic event straight onto computer monitors all over the world.' There had been over 40 expressions of interest in competing but this had whittled down to a 'very committed fleet of 19 skippers who will sail out of the port on fourth April.' The race was started in the late 1960's when New Plymouth sailor / boat builder, Dennis Lobb, realized he couldn't afford to sail to England and start in the Observer Singlehanded TransAtlantic Race (OSTAR). Lobb sat down with fellow yachtsmen, Howard Vosper and Phillip Goodsell, and a plan was hatched. 'If Lobb couldn't make it to the race – why not bring a race to Taranaki?'

2.17 Perth International Regatta Dates Announced
Perth 2011 Event Director John Longley today announced the dates of the major test event for the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. “After negotiation with Yachting Australia and ISAF, I am pleased to advise the dates for the Perth International Regatta are from Tuesday 16th to Sunday 21st November 2010,” Mr Longley said, from Perth “It will be held on the same waters as Perth 2011 - Bathers Bay, renamed ‘Centre Course’, as well as Success, Parmelia, Inner Harbour, South Beach, Owen and Leighton Courses, in Fremantle.” Mr Longley said he expected a significant number of the 80 countries that will compete at Perth 2011 to register for the test regatta, which will be held one year out from the World Championships. The Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships will be held between 3-18 December, 2011 and is an Olympic qualifying Event for London 2012. More details E-mail: samantha.scott@perth2011.com Website: http://www.perth2011.com

2.18 Nanjing to host 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2014
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has elected Nanjing, People's Republic of China, as the host city of the second Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2014 during the 12second IOC Session in Vancouver, Canada. Nanjing received 47 votes to edge out runner-up Poznan, Poland, which received 42 votes. “We had two outstanding candidatures from two fantastic cities. Both expressed the spirit of the Youth Olympic Games and both were capable of staging the event,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge. “We are looking forward to working with Nanjing, and are confident the Youth Olympic Games in 2014 will be a success.” Some 3,600 athletes ranging in ages from 15 to 18 are expected to compete at the second Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014, which will feature competitions in 26 sports.

3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3.1 Miami Grand Prix (March 4-7)
There will be no shortage of top-tier competition at the 2010 Miami Grand Prix. Racing sailors from across the country and around the world are setting their sights on Premiere Racing’s second South Florida event. Melges 32, Farr 40 and IRC boats will race in the sparkling ocean waters off beautiful South Beach March 4-7. The Miami Grand Prix provides another opportunity for Farr 40 programs to fine tune crew work and boat speed in preparation for their April World Championship in the Dominican Republic’s Casa de Campo. Jim Richardson’s Barking Mad (Newport, RI) and Massimo Mezzaroma’s Nerone (Punta Ala, IT) will look to improve on their 2nd and 3rd place finishes at Key West Race Week. Follow the action at http://www.Premiere-Racing.com

3.2 Louis Vuitton Trophy Auckland (9 - 21 March)
Racing starts Tuesday, 9th March. Eight teams will take turns racing the two boats in four matches a day to complete a round robin seeding series before a ladder elimination culminating in the finals on Sunday, 21st March. Mascalzone Latino Audi Team, the recently-anointed Italian Challenger of Record for the 34th America’s Cup, joins seven other Cup contenders on New Zealand’s Waitemata Harbor. Italian team, Azzurra, led by Francesco Bruni won the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Côte d’Azur, defeating the favorite Emirates Team New Zealand and its skipper Dean Barker 2-0. Great Britain’s TEAMORIGIN, skippered by four-time Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie makes a return appearance along with the French ALEPH Sailing Team kippered by Bertrand Pacé, All4One is a combined French/German team with skipper Jochen Schümann, Artemis from Sweden has Paul Cayard as skipper, Russia’s Synergy Russian Sailing Team is skippered by Karol Jablonski. Follow the action at: http://www.louisvuittontrophy.com

3.3 RC 44 Tour kicks off in Dubai
Dubai, UAE (February 27, 2010) - In the opening event for the 2010 RC 44 Championship tour Chris Bake and his Team Aqua won the fleet regatta portion of the RC 44 Al Maktoum Sailing Trophy, but it was Torbjorn Tornqvist and his Artemis team led by Terry Hutchinson that conquered the overall prize (the combination of the match race and fleet race rankings) ahead of Pieter Heerema's No Way Back and Markus Wieser's Team Sea Dubai. The next tour stop is from April 29 - May 4 on Lake Traunsee in Gmunden, Austria. -- RC44 Class website: http://www.rc44.com/en

3.4 Audi MedCup Circuit 2010 schedule
Has been announced for the TP52 and GP42 fleets. The 5-event circuit begins in Cascais, Portugal May 11-16, continuing on to France and Spain before concluding in Cagliari, Italy September 20-25. New rules for the TP52's allow for a square topped mainsail, bigger asymmetric spinnakers on bowsprits instead of a spinnaker pole, a reduction of crew numbers by two, and a required guest spot onboard every boat for each race. -- Details: http://2009.medcup.org/

3.5 Slowly revealing the Volvo Route
The route for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race is now set and the first port of call announced will be Cape Town, South Africa, making its eighth appearance as a host. "We have received port bids from many different cities, each with their own cultures, specialties and challenges," said CEO Knut Frostad. "We have taken our time to evaluate carefully over 80 bids from ports around the world who wanted to host the event, before making our decisions. Leg one from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, a distance of 6,500 nautical miles, is one of the longest in the race and historically, the team that wins this leg has gone on to claim the overall trophy. In the 2008-09 race the eventual race winner Ericsson 4 took 21 days, 17 hours and 54 seconds to complete the passage. While the rest of the course is due to be officially revealed during March, the Valencia Life Network speculated that Abu Dhabi is set to replace the Indian port of Kochi from the 2008-09 race. The publication also said, “It also appears that Qingdao is also out, but talks are underway to include Australia or New Zealand, with Miami now replacing Boston, and St Petersburg (Russia) being deleted in favour of Gothenburg (Sweden) as the final port. Several insiders expect it to read something like: Alicante/Cape Town; Cape Town/Abu Dhabi; Abu Dhabi/Australia or New Zealand; Australia or New Zealand/Rio de Janeiro; Rio de Janeiro/Miami; Miami/England; England/Gothenburg.” Moore at: http://www.volvooceanrace.com

3.6 33rd America's Cup - BMW ORACLE Racing wins 2-Zip
It has taken 9 court cases and over 250,000 man-hours to build two of the most technically advanced sailing yachts in history to race the 33rd America's Cup. In the end, it took little more than four and a half hours of racing for Oracle software billionaire Larry Ellison, skipper James Spittall, team boss Sir Russell Coutts, tactician John Kostecki and the rest of their BMW Oracle crew to wrest the 159 year old trophy from the Swiss hands of Ernesto Bertarelli and his Alinghi crew with a 2-0 victory. The fight, which began in 2007 with cries of foul play and demands for a level playing field by the challengers, after Bertarelli, a 2-time Cup winner, attempted to establish a Formula 1 style commercial race series, but with rules, heavily slanted in the defender's favour. Club Nautico di Roma becomes the Challenger of Record for the XXXIV America's Cup with Mascalzone Latino Audi Team expected to bring back the technical and sporting tradition that has distinguished the America's Cup in sailing. There are now some big questions that the America’s Cup community and the sport of yacht racing are asking. 1) Where will the 34th America’s Cup be sailed? 2) What will the boats be like? 3) What structural changes will take place, if any, in the management of the America’s Cup? If you blinked you may of missed it over Chinese New Year, so take a look at the Live coverage beginning with the complete AY Roundup and racing images in the AY Race 1 Photo Gallery, Race 2 & Roundup Photo Gallery If you missed out on watching either of the two races from the 33rd America's Cup, here are the links courtesy of BMW Oracle to watch the replay: AC33 Race 1 and AC 33 Race 2

3.7 VESTAS SAILROCKET Part 2
This summer, the huge ‘Union Jack’ doors of the Columbine shed in East Cowes will part and true to the shed's origins, one more and perhaps final,amazing flying boat will emerge. The UK based team behind the VESTAS SAILROCKET project are building a new boat to finish the job of setting the outright world speed sailing record. The new craft will be an evolution of the innovative concept upon which their original craft was based. Pilot/project leader, Paul Larsen- “This represents a fantastic opportunity to develop a real breakthrough concept. Our first interpretation of it did a brilliant job of demonstrating the potential. I’m very proud of what we have achieved but also very aware that we haven’t finished the job. I personally can’t live with that. The first boat did what it was supposed to do... but by the time it did, the record had moved on. As it stands we still need to go two knots faster to break the current world record. I still believe our first boat could break that record but I also know she is near her limits. As a team we are now well positioned to design and build a much better, safer and above all faster boat which is more suitable for the challenges to come. To continue reading click here: http://www.sailrocket.com/node/260

3.8 Bruno Peyron relaunches The Race
Bruno Peyron has officially announced the relaunch of The Race - the non-stop crewed race around the world without outside assistance and without limits. After several months of consultation, a second edition of the around the world race for giant G-class boats is planned for 2013-2014, starting from a port in Southern Europe. After talks with leading maxi-multihull G-class skippers, apparently out of the dozen which have been built, between eight and ten of them will be lining up for the start, and that is not counting any new boats. -- Read on: http://www.therace.org/

3.9 Nanny Cay Challenge For Round Tortola Record
Tortola, British Virgin Islands: Nanny Cay, a British Virgin Islands resort and marina, has launched the Nanny Cay Challenge for the round Tortola record. Yachts visiting the British Virgin Islands are invited to make an attempt to beat the latest monohull and multihull round Tortola records,set in the 2009 PegLegs Round Tortola Race. The current multihull and overall record is held by Triple Jack, a Kelsal 47 trimaran with a time of 3 hours, 33 minutes, 27 seconds. The monohull time to beat of 4 hours, 15 minutes and 5 seconds, set by Dave West's Melges 32 Jurakan. It's an all-comer, any-day event, starting and finishing off Nanny Cay. The start transit will be in line with PegLeg Restaurant's upper deck at the entrance to Nanny Cay Marina. Competitors must attempt the record anti-clockwise and round Beef, Scrub Island, Great Camanoe and Guana Island to port. An entry fee of a $250 donation to a BVI charity of the challenger's choice will include two night's dockage (before and after attempt) at Nanny Cay. Competing yachts will be provided with a Boat-Eyes satellite tracker which is a satellite yacht tracking system for the Caribbean, will be used to record elapsed times. Spectators will be able to track the challenger's record attempt on-line and it will also be broadcast live in PegLegs Restaurant. To enter the Nanny Cay Challenge, challengers should contact Miles Sutherland-Pilch, General Manager, Tel: (284) 494 2512, email miles@nannycay.com Web http://www.nannycay.com

3.10 WHY Oh! Why bother?
A famous French shipbuilding company and one in Monaco have joined hands to build this enormous yacht called WHY. The dimensions are: 58x38. (58m long x 38m wide) She has an area of 3400 m2 with seating for 12 passengers and 20 crew. This is also a "green" yacht as Wally et Hermès use green energy to 20 to 30% fuel savings and 40 to 50% electricity consumption on board from 900 m2 of solar panels that produce a daily output of 500 kW. There are three decks, a 25 meter pool, spa, helicopter pad, sauna, gym, massage room, a 130m promenade, music room, dining room, cinema, sun decks, suites, terraces and lounge. The luxury is at the rendezvous. The decks are connected by stairs but there is also an elevator. The suite of the owner has an area of 200m2 which completely covers the third deck. The sea view is great and there is a private terrace of 25 meter long. The yacht is the shape of a horseshoe and has a roof so everything is bathed in a sea of light. The spacious lounge on the lower deck are the common areas, such as lounge, piano bar and dining room that opens onto the sea view. Five suites for the guests with sea views are on the middle deck. There is also a fully equipped reading room. My friend George Viczena that sent me this article said 'She is somewhat too grand for my Spartan taste, but if No propeller perhaps the latest AC wingmast technology could be far more efficient and probably even drive this "floating nonsense" at some reasonable speed.!!!

3.11 New J-Class Regattas Announced for 2012.
Nobody knows what will happen to BMW ORACLE’s America’s Cup winning trimaran USA17 or Alinghi’s sleek catamaran Alinghi 5. Chances are they will never see another race. They are definitely innovative and some would say beautiful, but they won’t still be racing in 50 years time and it is unlikely that many people will hold the same nostalgia for them as the J Class yachts. The J Class Association has plans for a series of spectacular regattas in England during 2012 – the Olympic Year. This will be the first time in history that more than four of these imposing yachts will race together in a fleet. They have received a positive response from J Class owners and event planning is now proceeding. Many yachts in the fleet are now preparing to be on the start line for these 2012 events. According the to the Official website of the class, the events will include: FALMOUTH – The first regatta will be based in Falmouth, Cornwall, hosted by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. Races will be held in the bay and along the coastline.
SOLENT – The second regatta will be based in the Solent, the traditional home of J Class racing in the UK during the 1930s.
ROUND THE ISLAND – The last race will be held over the original course around the Isle of Wight, for the 1851 Hundred Guinea Cup Race, which is now known as the “America’s Cup”. More information at http://jclassyachts.blogspot.com/2010/02/2012-j-class-regatta.html

4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS

4.1 Franck Cammas Groupama 3 set new records
(Day 25 - February 24, 2010; 18:02 UTC) - Since passing between New Zealand and Auckland Island, Franck Cammas and his nine crew have eased off the throttle slightly to negotiate a slightly more chaotic sea. After picking up the record for the Indian Ocean crossing on Wednesday morning (8d 17h 39'), Groupama 3 is plunging towards the SE, regularly extending her lead over the reference time. Naturally the skipper of Groupama 3 was happy to have broken their first WSSRC record on this Jules Verne Trophy (from the Agulhas Cape to the South of Tasmania: 8d 18h 39'). Most important of all though is the 200 mile lead the crew are boasting at the entrance to the Pacific, which has resulted in them tracking nearly half a day ahead of Orange 2's course. The midway point of this round the world has also been crossed this Wednesday, at around 0630 UTC, which means that Franck Cammas and his men are closing inexorably on the finish stretch now. However, they've got to get to Cape Horn yet and it's a long old haul!" -- Follow them on the map at: http://cammas-groupama.geovoile.com/julesverne/index.asp?lg=en

5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"

5.1 SV Concordia capsize & sinks
21st Feb 2010: Dozens of sailing students were forced to spend over 40 hours in life rafts being battered by huge seas, after their Canadian training ship sank off the coast of Brazil. The three-masted 188ft square-rigger SV Concordia was part way through a five month voyage around the world when a sudden, vertical blast of wind knocked the 188-foot-long ship on its side, forcing the 48 students and 16 training staff to scramble for the life boats before it sank. All 64 people aboard were rescued by Brazilian navy early on Friday. After docking at Rio de Janeiro, the exhausted survivors described their ordeal which had left many wondering if they would die before rescue arrived. The ship's captain William Curry said the Concordia's crew had prepared a day beforehand for what they anticipated would be rough but not unusual weather. He was below deck when the ship suddenly keeled, which was not unusual. But when it immediately keeled a second time Mr Curry said he knew instantly the vessel was in great danger. Mr Curry blamed the wreck on a 'micro burst,' a sudden, vertical downdraft of wind. "The ship had gone from sailing upright to being on her side in the water in about 15 or 20 seconds," Mr Curry said. "I knew, of course, that the blow to the ship was fatal and that she was not going to right. More details Click Here...

5.2 TRANSGLOBE Challenger (Army) returns to NZ
A short holding statement was issued on Friday 12th Feb, 2010 by the Exercise TRANSGLOBE Project Officer, Squadron Leader Neil Cottrell, explaining that HMSTV Challenger (Army) was approximately 300 nm East of the Chatham Islands on Thursday 11 Feb when the skipper, Becky Walford, reported that the mainsail mast track has lifted from the mast for a distance of about 3m in the area of the top shroud fitting. This damage prevents the mainsail from being hoisted fully and so the crew needed to make some urgent repairs. The other two yachts participating in Exercise TRANSGLOBE, Adventure (Royal Navy) and Discoverer (RAF), converged on Challenger's position and a transfer of spares and tools to make good the damage has since been completed. The skippers of Adventure and Discoverer have checked their own mast tracks for damage and have found none and have turned Eastwards to resume the passage to Montevideo. The nearest piece of land is the Chatham Isles which were about half way between us and New Zealand! 'Off we set, but with inspection of the Lonely Planet and some advice from the New Zealand Royal Navy we concluded that perhaps the Chatham's was a nice place for a cruise or holiday, but not really the place to re-fuel and re-provision a 14-man yacht.' So they continued on to Wellington and have carried out repairs then returned to sea but are way behind the schedule. -- Follow their progress at:http://www.exercisetransglobe.com

5.3 Team Finland mast clipped
14:Feb:2010 After a weekend of 30 knot headwinds and 5 meter waves, it was on Sunday evening when Team Finland reported to the race office that they had lost the top third of their rig, that all the crew were safe, and they were heading due west towards the Taiwanese port of Hualien. This is the second significant casualty of the race that saw Cork, one of ten original starters, strike a rock a month ago in the Java Sea, around 200 nautical miles north east of Jakarta, with significant damage leading to the rescue of the crew but the loss of the boat. Clipper Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, says, "One of the givens in long distance ocean racing is to expect the unexpected. We know that this section of the race can deliver some of the hardest conditions faced by our crew and it is clear that they have dealt with the incident in a seamanlike manner." Team Finland's crew worked hard removing a seven metre piece of broken mast without incident. Skipper Rob McInally and his team have been made very welcome by the local community who are celebrating Lunar New Year and the start of the Year of the Tiger. Watch leader and round the world crew member, Mark Cole reports "All the standing rigging deck fittings have been removed in addition to the fittings from the broken mast piece. We have fitted some blocks to the masthead that should enable us to fly the tri-sail and storm jib if required and the holes in the deck at the starboard gateway have been temporarily repaired with a plywood/epoxy sandwich, bolted through the deck." A diver has also completed a full hull check to ensure there was no damage while the folded rig was hanging over the side of the 68-foot yacht. Team Finland left Taiwan en route for Qingdao, China. At 0720 GMT (19:02:2010) under jury rig and will motor sail to the Chinese Olympic sailing city where the rest of the fleet is due to arrive this weekend. Team Finland expected to take six or seven days to reach Qingdao and once there she will be fitted with a new rig. The new mast is en route to Atlantic Spars in Torbay, Devon, UK, where riggers have begun work on it before it is flown out to China. -- Race website: http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/

5.4 Full on Extreme Racing - Red Bull capsize
Thousands gathered on the beach on the first public day of the Muscat event of the Extreme Sailing Series Asia to see the six teams race in the biggest breeze so far. Nose dives, rooster tails, close calls, penalties, breakages, fraught mark roundings... For the sailors it was physical and stressful, for the spectators it was pure entertainment drawing cheers as the six teams threw themselves around the short race track. Inevitably the pressure piled on and Red Bull Extreme Sailing, still leading overall, got caught out in race 5. Trying to hold on to their huge gennaker for as long as they dare as they approached the final downwind mark, the furl wasn't slick enough, and the breeze caught in the sail enough to tip them over as they attempted to round the mark for the final sprint to the finish line. Skipper Roman Hagara, was taken to hospital to have stitches put in his hand. Game over, not only for the day's racing but also as the team had to relinquish their overall lead to Thierry Barot's China Team, helmed by Hugh Styles, on the penultimate day of the Muscat event - the final round in the Asian Extreme Sailing Series. Watch the videos of Red Bull Extreme Sailing Team capsizing, and the Muscat highlights at: http://www.extremesailingseriesasia.com/multimedia.asp

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