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CONTENTS

1. EDITORIAL - What’s new for the 2011-12 Asian Season?
2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS - Cambodian Genocide: Canadian’s killers finally face justice - Lucky 22 for the Raja Muda Regatta - Torvar Mirsky skipper of Venezia Challenge - China launches Volvo Ocean race bid - Clipper 2011-12 Qingdao named - America's Cup Teams announced - RHKYC to host Etchells Worlds in 2015 - ISAF Sailing World Cup goes from strength to strength - Joyful Capri - Double for Soriano’s Alegre - Australian marina industry recognizes their best - Aussie’s seek rationalisation of superyacht qualifications
Up next in Asia - Phuket Multihull Championship - Six Senses Phuket Raceweek - Darwin Ambon Race - Sail Indonesia Rally
3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Transatlantic Race update - EX 40 crash and bash goes to Boston - 49 Skippers for the Solitaire Du Figaro - SolOceans joins Velux 5 Oceans - Updated AC34 program benefits teams - Developing MOD70 Circuit
Follow the:AC 34 - Audi MedCup Circuit - Extreme Sailing Series - World Match Racing Tour - Volvo Ocean Race
4. World Speed records - Safran breaks Round Britain & Ireland Record - Joao Rodrigues 160nm Open Ocean Crossed
5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - Coutts capsizes AC45 on SF Bay Watch Video Here

1. EDITORIAL

What’s new for the 2011-12 Asian Season?
As a result of the Volvo, Clipper, WMRT, EX 40 sales and marketing teams regularly sweeping through Asian sponsorship circles, it didn’t take long for other city officials in this tropical wonderland to turn to sailing events and promote their fantastic holiday destinations. Having an International standard event will boost the local tourism authorities status plus by instigating the organisational and extensive networking required to run a regatta will bring further benefits to the boating community at large. The model is simple. On the large scale staging a high-profile event like a Volvo Ocean Race stopover provides a platform to promote a city internationally and introduce high end tourists to a new destination. They say for the model to work best, you need to align a host city or country with a participating team. On the small scale in Asia some Indonesian ports tend to be very ambitious but don't even have any pleasure boats in the vicinity.

Big news in SE Asian waters is two new Inaugural rally’s - Sail Maluku Archipelago Rally starts on Aug 15, after the Darwin Ambon Race festivities & the Sabang International Regatta Sep 15-25 is tapping into the lucrative Phuket/Langkawi market and then take them from North West Malaysia across to Sabang the main township on Weh Island, North Sumatra in the Aceh Province. The new tourism logo 'Wonderful Indonesia 2011' has already flown the flag during the Neptune Regatta and set the pace during the recent Fremantle Bali Race. With over 100 yachts between them the Darwin Ambon Race and Sail Indonesia Rally both start on the 23rd July in Darwin Harbour and then branch out in all directions across the Indonesian archipelago.

Also the Singapore Straits Regatta (Jan 26-31) is coming back home to Singapore waters in 2012 based from 1 degree 15 Marina for a few days of racing on the south/south eastern coast of Singapore. Combining the merriment with this years hosting club, RSYC welcoming party and then moves over to Nongsa Point Marina in Batam, Indonesia for a series of Upwind/Downwind races and the final awards & closing party.

Before we get to carried away with the new events, July brings with it the “Multi Only” 4th SEA Property - Phuket Multihull Championship from July 15–17 and a few days latter Six Senses Phuket Raceweek blasts into high gear (July 20-24) and has the distinction of being the opening round of the newly expanded 2011-12 AYGP Championship pointscore. From which ultimately the annual AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year is decided. Last year Evolution Sails were trophy sponsors and are presently looking at expanding into the overall Title Sponsor/branding role for the coming season. A Mini-AYGP Site has been set up to display the new pointscore and outline the 12 events plus explain how we envision proceedings going forward.

Coming on the back of the successful Neptune Regatta earlier this year, which bought sailors and boat owners together to have a bit of fun on their boats while racing to new destinations, Tunku Alang’s original Impy crew are being called back into action and under AsianYachting’s expert guidance have been asked to look seriously at staging the “Around Tioman Fun Race” next year at the end of June or the start of July. The SW tradewind should have settled in by then and the start/finish line is expected to be offshore from the Tekek Marina and the course may include an overnight stopover in Juara (East coast) for some classes.

A recce' is being conducted as we speak and contacts being made with the respective state marine authorities before we decide if the 35nm (55klm) course around the island is to be made in a clockwise or an anti clockwise direction, Competing boats will sail through a series of strategically placed passing/timing gates and open to any vessels (Motor or Sail) that can safely sail in open coastal waters. Scott McCook is already thinking of trucking selected “off the beach” cats and James Cole bringing some foiling moths from Singapore to Penyabong / Mersing and sail or transport them 30 miles out to Tioman for the race. Lively discussions are already underway on Facebook about holding a feeder race/rally from Singapore to get the closest monohull, multihull fleet and any visiting superyachts along the Malaysian coastline, through the Johor islands and up to Tioman before competing in the main event.

Even on the international scene, Asian participation is increasing dramatically with a new Chinese entry called 'Team Sanya Lan' joining Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in the Volvo Ocean Race. China and South Korea will also contest the next America's Cup, with their teams amongst those announced in San Francisco recently.

Competition is fierce and recently a Chinese businessman ordered 35 catamarans ranging from 35 to 55 feet (the largest order ever received) to grace his new marina and yacht club in China named after himself. Qingdao hosted the Olympics, Clipper Race and the Extreme 40 Sailing Series and with the possibility of hosting a round of the America's Cup World Series up for grabs. Amongst Kiwi skipper Mike Sanderson's duties will be to promote the City of Sanya as the 'Hawaii of the Orient', and to ensure the message is carried through the entire race, not just the Chinese stopover and brings the total number of entered boats in the 2011-12 VOR to seven.

Interesting to watch as countries and businessmen are willing to make large investments and use sailing as a mechanism to leap-frog other destinations in competition for tourism and investment.

Other International news: The Extreme Sailing Series, Audi MedCup Circuit and World Match Racing Tour have turned into slugging feasts and Live AYTV coverage has fired up the viewers imagination all over the world. There is all sorts of news coming out from the AC 34 and Volvo Ocean Race camps, as they get ready to unleash another round onto the sailing public. The latest news from these organisations and much much more can be found below.
Enjoy!
Capt Marty Rijkuris

2. AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS

2.1 Cambodian Genocide: Canadian’s killers finally face justice
From Wire Services Canada
Imagine the handsome son of your next door neighbour, venturing off on the yachting voyage of a lifetime, dashing off postcards from exotic spots around the world, and then vanishes of the planet. In response to his family's frantic search, his government investigations, they discover that Richmond, B.C. native and SE Asia yachtsman Stuart Robert Glass, was shot and brutally killed on August 1978 while sailing a 28-foot, Malaysian bedar named Foxy Lady off the coast of Democratic Kampuchea. As Cambodia was under the murderous Khmer Rouge army. who mercilessly gunned down the citizens and at the time running a genocidal regime, News outlets briefly reported and then abandon the story. History forgets. The fate of eight other Western yachtsmen – four Americans, two Australians, a New Zealander and an Aussie -- would be far worse – dragged off to the Khmer Rouge’s Tuol Sleng death house in Phnom Penh, charged with being CIA spies, tortured for a few months and then killed. Dave Kattenburg's book "Foxy Lady" charts the course of a parallel universe as Stuart’s life unfolds,– Pol Pot and his gang boring their way to power. It focuses on the career of the Khmer Rouge’s chief executioner, Kaing Guek Eav, alias ‘Duch’. It was Duch who conveyed the orders that Stuart’s pals and the other yachtsmen should be killed and their bodies burned to ashes. Duch was the first Khmer Rouge leader to be tried for his crimes, by an international tribunal in Phnom Penh. The tribunal delivered its verdict on July 26, 2010. The trial of Democratic Kampuchea’s most senior leaders (Case 002) began on June 27, 2011. Having stumbled on the story of murdered Stuart Glass, the author travels to Cambodia to watch Duch testify; interview former Tuol Sleng guards and investigate the death of the ‘Western’ yachtsmen. But ‘truth’ is elusive. Imperfect memories and conflation are among the most intriguing products of his three year, four-continent investigation. Compelling reading at: http://www.foxyladyachtsmen.com

2.2 Lucky 22 for the Raja Muda Regatta
For the 22nd consecutive year, the Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC) in Malaysia is organising the latest edition of the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (RMSIR). This challenging international sailing event consists of three overnight passage races, over 200 miles in total, from Port Klang (near Kuala Lumpur) to Pangkor Island, Pangkor to Penang Island and Penang to Langkawi Island, plus two days of “round the cans” harbour racing. Along the way, dinners and parties are organised almost every night, together with trishaw races, trips to heritage sites and lots of opportunities to socialise. For many crew members, these onshore activities can be almost as demanding as the sailing! A revised web site http://www.rmsir.com is now up and running to provide a wealth of information related to RMSIR, including the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, Hotel details, Charters and Crewing opportunities. Entrants can register and take advantage of “early bird” discounts via this site.

2.3 Torvar Mirsky skipper of Venezia Challenge
Torvar Mirsky has signed an agreement to helm Venezia Challenge to the America’s Cup’s adventure. Born in 1986, Australian, Torvar began very early his sport career, bringing home his first victory when he was only 12. Nowadays, Torvar, just 25, is 5th in the ISAF world ranking (2nd in 2010). “It’s the best choice we could do” – says Cesare Pasotti, Venezia Challenge’s team manager- “Torvar is young, motivated and extremely skilled, so I asked to Carlo Magna and Emanuela Pulcino to bring him on board”. Since the 14th of June, Torvar Mirsky will train in Palermo, at the Club Canottieri Roggero di Lauria, Venezia Challenge’s official sailing club, and then in July he will move to Cascais on the AC45. http://www.veneziachallenge.com/?p=143

2.4 China launches Volvo Ocean race bid
Beijing, China –17 June 2011 - China launched its first ever sole entry in the Volvo Ocean Race today and announced that one of the world’s leading sailors Mike Sanderson would helm the ex-Telefonica Blue to be renamed Sanya Lan for the grueling nine-month, 39,270 mile challenge beginning in October. Despite its huge technical and financial resources, the world’s most populous nation has never won a round-the-globe sailing competition but intends to make the breakthrough with the recruitment of New Zealander Mike Sanderson as skipper. Sanderson, 40, is a twice-winner of the Volvo Ocean Race and will chase a hat-trick of triumphs with a crew mixing experienced sailors with relatively raw Chinese members. It is the seventh world-class contender to join this year’s race with Sanderson going head-to-head with some of the sailing’s biggest names including American Ken Read (PUMA) and France’s Franck Cammas (Groupama). “This is a fantastic opportunity to race under the flag of such a great country and culture,” said Sanderson today at the Team Sanya launch in central Beijing. “We are building up a strong team and are ready to take on this exciting challenge. Our approach will be one of compelling intent, working fast and smart, representing this great country and team with ambition, dynamism and colourful energy.” More at: http://volvooceanrace.com/news/Sanderson-to-helm-Chinese-entry/3144

The race is regarded as sailing’s leading test for monohull yachts. It runs from 29 October in Alicante, Spain to 8 July next year in Galway, Ireland, the longest, continuous sporting event. It visits all the continents of the world with Sanya in China hosting a port stopover from 4-19 February. Other stops include Cape Town, Abu Dhabi Auckland, Itajai (Brazil), Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient (France). Known as the “Hawaii of the Orient”, Sanya city of China’s Hainan island province stood out from the competition to become one of the 10 ports to welcome the fleet in 2011-12. The exact location of the stopover is Luhuitou Bay, where construction is expected to finish in August 2011. When completed, the facility will be a world-class marina. More info visit http://www.VolvoOceanRace.com

2.5 QUANTUM Shift Continues...
A new chapter of the green revolution was completed at the opening round of the 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit. Engaging in fierce battles up and down the order, in 25-30 knots and surfing seas, Quantum Racing skippered by Ed Baird and Iberdrola skippered by Jose Maria Torcida are leading the overall standings in the TP52 and the Soto 40 series respectively. Not for the first time on the Audi MedCup Circuit and likely not for the last time this season the common hue of the leading teams is green, and the complexion of those who are chasing in pursuit might already be a similar shade. Some sail makers save their best stuff for only the big boat programs. Not Quantum. Their iQ Technology is evident on every sail from the smallest dinghy one design classes right through to the TP52 and beyond. No matter what your boat size or sailing venue, find your speed at: http://www.quantumsails.com

2.6 Clipper 2011-12 Qingdao named
Clipper 2011-12 Round the World Yacht Race is the world’s longest ocean race at 40,000 miles. It will begin from Southampton on 31 July 2011. Qingdao, one of ten internationally sponsored entries competing in the Clipper 2011-12 Round the World Yacht Race, has taken one step closer to the race start with the naming of the yacht in a special ceremony at St Katharine Docks in London. Skipper of Qingdao, Ian Conchie, and his crew are preparing for the start of Clipper 2011-12 race. Qingdao will host a stopover in February 2012 when all ten of the 68-foot stripped down racing yachts and their crews will visit the Chinese sailing capital for a week-long celebration. Leading the naming ceremony was Mr Yuan Zhiping, Vice President of Qingdao Yachting Association and consultant to Qingdao Sports Federation. Mr Yuan said, 'We appreciate this naming ceremony for Qingdao on behalf of Qingdao Municipal Government and the Qingdao people. As we all know the Clipper Race is one of the biggest sailing races around the world and it is also very famous in Qingdao because this race will mark the fourth time the race will visit Qingdao. Clipper news at: http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com

2.7 America's Cup Teams announced
San Francisco, California, USA: The field of international competitors for the 34th America's Cup revealed their game plans for winning the trophy and bringing the honor of hosting the Cup to their home country. San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee welcomed the teams to San Francisco, home of two 2012 America's Cup World Series events, and the Louis Vuitton Cup, America's Cup Challenger Series July 13 - September 1 and the America's Cup Finals September 7-22, both in 2013. The nine competitors will face-off for the first time in August at the inaugural America's Cup World Series event in Cascais, Portugal (August 6 – 14) where a fleet of ten AC45s will do battle in both fleet and match racing. The second stop on the circuit will be Plymouth, England on September 10-18, followed by the final stop in 2011 in San Diego November 12-20. ORACLE Racing will enter two teams in the 2011 AC World Series.
The competitors for the 34th America's Cup are (nation, team, yacht club)*:
China - China Team, Mei Fan Yacht Club
France - Aleph - Equipe De France, Aleph Yacht Club
France - Energy Team, Yacht Club de France
Italy - Venezia Challenge, Club Canottieri Roggero di Lauria
New Zealand - Emirates Team New Zealand, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron
Republic of Korea - Team Korea, Sail Korea Yacht Club
Sweden - Artemis Racing, Kungliga Svenska Segel Sallskapet
United States - ORACLE Racing, Golden Gate Yacht Club, (Defender)
* The Ninth confirmed Team was announced at a press conference June 23 in Europe The Real Club Nautico de Valencia (RCNV) and Green Comm Racing. The team, led by Francesco De Leo (former Manager Director of Telecom Italia, former Director and Head of Strategy and International Operations of Wind and 1999 Global Leaders for Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum), includes Marco Nannini - CEO (former Management Consultant to The Boston Consulting Group and Roland Berger) and Luca Devoti - Sport Team Manager (Silver Olympic Finn sailing and a successful sailing entrepreneur). Full details at: http://americascup.com

2.8 RHKYC to host Etchells Worlds in 2015
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC) in conjunction with the Hong Kong Etchells Association will host the Etchells World Championships in November 2015. Hong Kong was selected at the International Governing Committee (IGC) Meeting held on Saturday, 4 June in San Diego where over 80 yachts from 11 countries are currently competing in the 2011 Etchells Worlds. Commodore of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Ambrose Lo, was thrilled to hear the news: “This is very exciting news for both the Club and the fleet. The RHKYC is proud to be associated with the International Etchells class and is well positioned to support this event, both on and off the water.” The International Etchells Class has been the yacht of choice for many of the world’s most famous sailors. Dennis Connor and John Bertrand, both winners of the Americas Cup, are active Etchells sailors and the fleet continues to attract helmsmen and tacticians from the America’s Cup and other famous fleets. John Breen, Hong Kong Etchells Governor added: “I am looking forward to welcoming competitive local sailors to our fleet in the run up to what promises to be a top class Regatta.” Hong Kong last hosted the Etchells Worlds in 1997 when Paul-Ricard Hoj-Jensen took first place. Dates are yet to be finalised for 2015 but the proposed timing is for the first week in November.

2.9 Sailmaking... Evolved
Evolution Sails are a Global Sailmaking Group and present plans include further penetration into the Asian region. They have a new way of doing things and new technology to share in an industry that could use a few new ideas. From durable cruising sails to regatta winning EM Membrane racing sails, they have found innovative ways to improve their product through advances in manufacturing, engineering and design. Whether your plans include cruising the Med or crossing the Atlantic, Sydney/Hobart or winning IRC Nationals, Bucket or Sportsboat competition, Dinghy sailing or One Design racing, or just a weekday twilight race with your friends, you must consider Evolution for your next sails. Check them out at: http://www.evolutionsails.com/

2.10 ISAF Sailing World Cup goes from strength to strength
The 2010-2011 ISAF Sailing World Cup continues to grow after a successful third year which saw 74 nations and over 2,000 sailors compete at seven destinations in three continents. Speaking at Kieler-Woche, the final ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta in Kiel, Germany, ISAF President Göran Petersson said, 'The Olympic part of sailing is extremely important. We must show to the International Olympic Committee that sailing is a global sport and we do this through the ISAF Sailing World Cup.' But with the close proximity of some of the European events and the Olympic Test Event the ISAF Sailing World Cup has come under some criticism after some sailors opted out of sailing in Kiel. Under current plans, from 2013 the ISAF Sailing World Cup will take a new format with six regattas taking place. The World Cup will start in Asia/Middle East before moving to Oceania, the Americas and Africa/Middle East culminating in two regattas held in Europe. On the criteria ISAF will be looking for Petersson said, 'Many things will influence the choice. First we will look at the sailing conditions, and then we will look at venue facilities. And of course marketing and media appeal is an important factor that we will take into consideration. 'We have a strategic plan but it is a very fine balance between countries who are at the forefront of the development and developing countries”. After the Olympic test event in August all eyes will turn to Australia for the first regatta of the 2011-2012 ISAF Sailing World Cup, Sail Melbourne, which runs from 6-12 November 2011 before the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Perth, Australia from 3-18 December. Everything ISAF at: http://www.sailing.org/

2.11 Joyful Capri - Double for Soriano’s Alegre
In the beautiful surrounding of the Marina Grande Capri, Andre Soriano’s Mills 68, Alegre was full of jubilation as the international team were awarded the Line Honours Trophy for the Rolex Volcano Race. Soriano was quick to praise the entire crew, most of which have been racing on Alegre for the past four years. By the afternoon, virtually all of the fleet had been accounted for, and Alegre were also crowned overall winner of the inaugural event. Ed's Note: As well as competing on high profile events in Europe, rumors abound that Andy has put out feelers to acquire another big boat and make a return to the Asian circuit, further bolstering the racing class numbers and competition. Welcome home... Goto Rolex event page and fantastic Photo Gallery at: http://www.regattanews.com/photos.asp?eventid=262

2.12 Australian marina industry recognizes their best
Bi-annual international conference and exhibition, Marinas 2011 — hosted by the Marina Industries Association of Australia (MIAA) — ended with its annual closing reception and awards ceremony. This year, the MIAA recognized three marinas for their excellence. The larger marina category was awarded to Empire Marina Bobbin Head, located in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park near Sydney. Soldiers Point in Port Stephens took home the award for the best under 140 berths, and the yacht club of the year went to Royal Motor Yacht Club Broken Bay in Pittwater.

2.13 Aussie’s seek rationalisation of superyacht qualifications
The industry is producing experienced crew whose qualifications are not recognised. Marine qualifications in the superyacht sector was a key issue raised during the 1st Australian Superyacht and Marine Export Conference (ASMEX) in Sanctuary Cove last month. According to Superyacht Australia, the country is losing skilled industry personnel whose qualifications and experience gained overseas are not recognised in Australia. Alternatively, Australian qualifications are not recognised internationally. The primary issue concerning Australian crew is the lack of reciprocity of qualifications between those with MCA (yachting) qualifications and those with Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) qualifications. “In Australia, ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ for state certificates takes time to acquire, so that on return to Australia after gaining sea time on superyachts internationally, and if crew have RYA Yachtmaster qualifications, they have to go through an expensive and time consuming requalification process to meet state and AMSA qualifications,” said Donna Morris, Principal of Australian Superyacht Crew Recruitment and Training, during the conference. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is now working on a revision to Marine Orders Part 3, which will go further towards rationalising requirements for marine qualifications in Australia in accordance with the STCW Convention.

3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3.1 Transatlantic Race update
New York, N.Y., USA – Two starts (June 26 & 29) have come and gone but the hardcore TransAtlantic racers Puma, Rambler, Leopard & Asia's own Beau Geste don't get going until Sunday July 3rd. It is from this class that the fastest elapsed time is expected to set the benchmark for a new racing record on the 2,975 nautical mile course, stretching from Newport to Lizard Point, South Cornwall (UK), to be ratified by the World Speed Sailing Council. This history-making event is organized by the Royal Yacht Squadron, New York Yacht Club, Royal Ocean Racing Club and Storm Trysail Club, with pre-start activities taking place at the New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court clubhouse in Newport and the awards taking place at the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Cowes Castle clubhouse on the Isle of Wight. The separate starts are to “stagger” the yachts of different sizes and ability so that they will arrive in England in proximity to each other. Challenging their crews both mentally and physically, the larger boats hope to finish the race in 8 to 12 days, while the smaller boats may take up to 18 to 22 days to finish. In addition to class winners, Rolex watches will be awarded to the record holder and the overall winner (on corrected time) under IRC. Check out the entries and follow the fleet Tracking at: http://www.transatlanticrace.org/

3.2 EX 40 crash and bash goes to Boston
After the epic Act in Istanbul, the Extreme Sailing Series now heads to new shores for Act 4 - Boston in the USA - the first time the circuit has staged an official event in the United States. "Boston is proud to be the first U.S. city to host the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series to our waterfront for the city's July 4th celebration - one of the largest in the nation," said Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston. The Boston event will be staged at Fan Pier. Taking place from Thursday, 30th June to Monday, 4th July, every day is open to the public and there will be plenty of attractions. The 11-boat Extreme 40 fleet will showcase their close combat 'stadium' style of racing in front of the spectators at Fan Pier, a 21-acre site on Boston's waterfront spanning nine city blocks, owned by the Fallon Company, the official host venue partner to the Boston Act. Follow the action at http://www.extremesailingseries.com

3.3 49 Skippers for the Solitaire Du Figaro
A total of 49 skippers have confirmed their entries for the 2011 Solitaire du Figaro. Making up the group of predominantly French sailors are six foreigners, four British, one Portuguese and one German, and of the 49 starters almost 20% of the fleet are in their first full season in the Figaro class taking on the challenge of arguably the toughest singlehanded race. The fleet will sail a 1700-mile course over four stages, starting in Perros-Guirec on the North Brittany coast on 23 July and visiting Caen, Normandy, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, Les Sables d'Olonne, Vendee, before finishing in Dieppe, Pas de Calais, on 28 August. Three past winners of the Solitaire du Figaro will be racing in an attempt to join that elite club of skippers that have two overall victories to their name. Amongst them are Nicolas Lunven, who won the title in 2009 and is regularly at the top of the class leaderboard. He will be up against Jeremie Beyou, winner in 2005 and one of the top players in short-handed offshore sailing. Eric Drouglazet, the third participant to have won the race in the past, took the top podium spot in 2001 and has long been a central character on the Figaro circuit. Since 1970, 13 Britons have participated in Solitaire du Figaro. Nigel King is now the doyen of that group coming back for his third attempt. Amongst his compatriots are Conrad Humphreys of Vendee Globe fame, the very current Phil Sharp of mini transat success and the extremely talented Sam Goodchild, prodigy of the Artemis Academy. Follow their progress at: http://www.lasolitaire.com

3.4 SolOceans joins Velux 5 Oceans
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, President of Clipper Ventures who organised the VELUX 5 OCEANS, confirmed that the ninth edition in 2014-15 will welcome not only the successful Eco 60 Class, which has shown its durability during the 2010-11 race, but will also welcome the SolOceans One Design Class. It will allow sailors, both men and women, to race solo around the world on a level playing field. Thanks to its reasonable and controlled budgets, a good number of skippers and sponsors of all nationalities will therefore be able to take each other on using the same weapons in this unique adventure around the world. The SolOceans Class is a 52.5 foot high-tech carbon one-design yacht (16 meters), which has been designed by Jean-Marie Finot and Pascal Conq, with Michel Desjoyeaux as Technical Consultant of the Class. This monohull, imagined by Yvan Griboval (SailingOne), was conceived and developed between 2006 and 2010, thanks to the feedback provided by 25 leading offshore skippers who sailed onboard the first boat during the course of the 30,000 nautical miles covered in its test circumnavigation of the planet. Full details http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=87254

3.5 DK Technology 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

3.6 Updated AC34 program benefits teams.
San Francisco, CA (June 1, 2011) - With the newest generation of America's Cup boats exceeding the expectations of event organizers and the teams, the AC45 wing-sailed catamaran has now been selected by competitors for use in all America's Cup World Series events. Using the AC45 in all AC World Series events instead of switching to the AC72 in season two was one of several changes voted on by America's Cup competitors. This move also provides teams with another opportunity to manage competition costs. The larger AC72 will now appear on the water from July 2012. Teams will work up their AC72's and race the AC World Series leading into the Louis Vuitton Cup, America's Cup Challenger Series, and the 34th America's Cup Finals in San Francisco. The extended time-period for the debut of the AC72 allows teams more time for development of the boat. The race format and scoring for the 2011 AC World Series have also been released. The format will include a combination of Fleet and Match Racing with winners for each as well as an overall winner that will be determined on the final Sunday of the regatta. The AC World Series starts August 6, 2011 in Cascais, Portugal. Stay tuned at: http://www.americascup.com

3.7 Developing MOD70 Circuit
Paris, France: 7 July 2012 will herald the kick-off of the first crewed race in the MOD70 circuit. Six one-design trimarans will set off on the 2,950 mile journey from New York in the United States, bound for Brest in NW Brittany, where the planned mid-July finish will coincide with the start of the Tonnerres de Brest maritime festival. In this eastbound transatlantic race, the fleet of MOD70s will hoist the colours of a newcomer to the sponsor world: KRYS opticians. With an enduring partnership firmly in their sights, the association with the KRYS brand begins this year with the KRYS MATCH, the first MOD70 show in real conditions, which will take place from 6 to 8 October 2011. This will be the first time the series will be together as a fleet. Participants will be able to show what they're made of during speed runs, as well as having the chance to challenge each other.
Participating crews and boat owners:
MOD01: Launched on 25 March 2011 - Race For Water, Steve Ravussin (SUI)
MOD02: Launched June 2011 - Veolia Environnement, Roland Jourdain (FRA)
MOD03: Launch scheduled for August 2011 - Foncia, Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA)
MOD04: Launch scheduled for October 2011 - Edmond de Rothschild Group, Sebastien Josse (FRA)
MOD05: Launch scheduled for January 2012 - announcement to come
MOD06: Launch scheduled for April 2012 - announcement to come
Check out http://www.krys-oceanrace.com and http://www.multionedesign.com

4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS

4.1 Safran breaks Round Britain & Ireland Record
On Saturday 18th June the big monohull sailed by Marc Guillemot, Yann Elies, Loic Lingois, Cesar Dohy and Didier Le Vourch crossed the finishing line off the Lizard at 0734 hrs GMT. Safran completed the voyage in 6 days, 9 hours, 48 minutes and 50 seconds improving on the record time held since June 2009 by Dee Caffari's all-women crew on Aviva by 1h 42 minutes and 3 seconds. Safran completed the course at an average speed of 11.52 knots on the 1773 mile Great circle route (the theoretical course). However, on the water, she actually covered more than 2000 miles at an average speed of 13 knots. Setting out just under a week ago from this same location off the Lizard at 2145 hrs GMT on Saturday 11th June in a duel with Vincent Riou and Hugues Destremau's PRB, Marc Guillemot's crew just managed to achieve what they set out to do, while PRB was forced to retire after their forestay broke. The record was particularly difficult with some strong winds (up to 48 knots) and heavy seas. The strategy involving staying ahead of a warm front was soon no longer valid and they had to adapt to the situation, talking things through with Sylvain Mondon of Meteo France. "Off the Shetlands, we no longer had any advantage and at best we could aim for beating the record by three hours," explained Sylvain. The conditions they encountered were particularly tough: sailing upwind in winds averaging 35 knots gusting to 45 in heavy seas with 4 to 5 metre high waves. All of these figures await ratification by the WSSRC, the World Sailing Speed Record Council, the body which governs world sailing records. More at: http://www.safran-group.com/

4.2 Joao Rodrigues: 160 miles of Open Ocean Crossed
João Rodrigues has entered the Guinness Book of Records after sailing more than 160 consecutive miles (257 kilometers) between the Islands of Madeira and Selvagem Grande, on an RS:X One Design windsurfing board. It was an early morning start. 0645hrs to be precise. Wind speed 17knots. Ahead 160 miles of open Atlantic ocean to Selvagem Grande Island to the SSE. In the first five and a half hours, Joao averaged an impressive speed of 19 miles per hour. In the last 30 miles, two metre waves slowed progress somewhat. His overall average speed was 18.6 miles per hour (30 kilometres per hour). Arrival time 1706hrs local. Crossing duration just over 10 hrs. Of his RS:X equipment, Joao said at the onset of this attempt... "I have waited a long time for a board like the RS:X - that can reach 30 knots - to come along to try this otherwise impossible crossing. This crossing was only possible due to this technology" Goto full story and interview Here...

5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"

5.1 Coutts capsizes AC45 on SF Bay
When America's Cup sailors said their fast new catamarans were cutting-edge and exciting, they were factoring in inevitable capsizes. Monday 13 June afternoon on breezy San Francisco Bay, it was no less than one of the most dominant skippers in America's Cup history, Russell Coutts, whose 45-foot catamaran went head-over-heels in a spectacular wipeout. Grinder Shannon Falcone was thrown through the wing sail and into the chilly water, and another crewman was thrown into the water. Falcone was examined by paramedics on the dock and taken to the hospital for precautionary X-rays. Sailors wear crash helmets and foul-weather gear when sailing the speedy boats. Coutts, the CEO of defending champion Oracle Racing, was racing skipper Jimmy Spithill as part of a media day to publicize the U.S. debut of the new boats. His boat was bearing away during the prestart maneuver when the bows buried in a wave and the cat lifted into the air and went over before coming to rest on its side. The catamaran was pulled upright by a support boat. Sailors have known that getting up to speed in the new catamarans is going to be tricky and possibly dangerous. Said Coutts, a 49-year-old New Zealander: "Sometimes it helps to be a little younger, you know. You've got to get to the point of finding the edge and not going over the edge, and sometimes you're going to go over the edge. That applies not only in a sailing sense — we're challenged as sailors like never before, probably, in these boats — but in the design sense. These guys will tell you, that's one of the big considerations in the 72. Because the closer you design it to the edge, the faster it will go. But you don't want to go over the edge. Watch video on Capt Marty YouTube Channel.

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