A surprise e-mail from Bruno Peyron only a few days after skippering his maxi catamaran Orange to officially become the fastest crew to sail non stop around the world thanking AsianYachting for publicising their efforts during the record breaking attempt has made all the years hunched over a computer worth while. A personal invitation to be a guest on "Orange" for a 30+ run was greeted with a anytime, anywhere you just call it reply! Hopefully during future press promotions for The Race or as next year's Jules Verne aspirants are preparing. Keep your fingers crossed!

The current craze of criss crossing the worlds oceans and seas by these sailing adventurers on their flying machines attempting to set new speed records seems to be the in thing lately. American skipper Steve Fossett and his crew of 12 aboard the maxi-catamaran PlayStation captured Florence Arthaud's 11 year old Trans Med (458 nm -Marseille-Carthage) sailing record (set in August 1991 on the 60' trimaran Pierre 1er). Pending ratification by the WSSRC, Steve (sailing on both Lakota and PlayStation) will now hold 9 of the 10 fastest "outright" world records of sailing - including the 6 fastest - plus the 24 Hour Record of a staggering 687.17 nm. At an average speed of 24.38 kts the new Marseille-Carthage mark will become the second fastest in the book - after PlayStation's extraordinary October 2001 4-1/2 day Trans Atlantic crossing averaging 25.78 kts. Exciting and extra ordinary stuff Hey! More can be found by going to the International section.

Unfortunately as most of the circumnavigation races start and finish in Europe these almighty globe trotting record breaking through breeds are yet to make an appearance in Austral Asian waters. Perhaps as Orange Telecommunications are launching a new service in SE Asia a promotional tour through Asia with a attempt to set a multi hull record on our own WSSRC approved Indian Ocean West – East circumnavigation course from Langkawi to Langkawi that Malaysian sailor Datuk Azhar Mansor established a few years ago could be arranged. Wishful thinking? You may ask! But following these monstrous cats around has conjured up some wonderful thoughts that politicians often call delving into the big picture.

 

Sailors interested in keeping up the the exciting Open 50's and 60's news as they make final preparations before setting sail on the Everest of global challenges latter this year, the solo round the world Grand Prix yacht race Around Alone 2002/3 from New York on Sept 15^th.

 

Meanwhile good news on the local scene as some governments have relaxed crucial regulations affecting the stay of visiting yachts and given approval for several new marina plans to cater for the expected influx of visitors allowing the region to develop into a world standard cruising ground. (See Asian News) Hopefully somewhere along the east coast of the Kara peninsula (In Malaysia and Thailand) facing out to the South China Sea can be found to build a marina or provide a safe mooring area all year round for pleasure craft. This would really enhance an area which in my mind has the potential of becoming the worlds latest and greatest cruising destination yet to be explored. Just remember, You read it HERE First!

The complete Asian Yachtmaster's sail training syllabus can be found in full colour absolutely FREE! on the web today! Try browsing or take a copy of the easy step by step boat handling manoeuvres and simple crew drills required to gain the essential skills to safely master any type or size of pleasure yacht anywhere in the world at http://asianyachting.com/AYmasters/aymenu.htm

 

So what are you waiting for check out some of the Yachts for Sale in our part of the world including a charter yacht business in Bali. Click on http://asianyachting.com/boats/yachtsforsale.htm to browse current listings

 

1. Windrose at 46m (152') long, displacing 150 tons built by Holland Jachtbouw and launched late last year with Adix a 58m (190') long, 380-ton schooner left the Ambrose Tower (New York) on the 10th of May in an attempt to personally better the 1905 record set by Charlie Barr on Atlantic when she crossed in 12 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 19 seconds. On May 22nd both yachts passed the Lizard in Cornwall completing a thrilling transatlantic duel to record their personal best time in yachts of similar dimension and style to Atlantic, something Adix's skipper Paul Goss in particular has been trying to do for years. - Yachting World website

If it all seemed like a throwback to a bygone era, perhaps it was. "It's been a long time since two yachts like this have done a private match across the ocean," said Windrose's captain, the British-born sailor Andy Russell-Smith. "I haven't heard of anything quite like this happening since before the Second World War."

2. Lets set the record straight as sailors have been arguing for years that other yachts have bettered Atlantic's race record and put Charlie Barr to rest as he must be rolling over in his grave with the endless politicking and ambush marketing going on. In 1905, he skippered Atlantic to a Transatlantic Race Record of 12d-4h-1m. That monohull race record still stands from New York to the Lizard says WSSRC, part of ISAF. See: http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/oceanrace.html WSSRC makes a distinction between "Passage Records" -- where yachts wait for optimum conditions -- and "Ocean Race Records" that have a starting date set well in advance. One isn't better than the other - everybody is in awe of Steve Fossett's achievements - they're just classified different. Like apples and oranges.

A race implies if not a franchise than a tradition. The Fastnet is associated with the RORC. There is nothing to stop an organizer from staging an identical race at a time promising more optimal conditions. Writes WSSRC, "This yacht might have a case to claim a WSSR ratified passage record. However, the WSSR would not recognize this new time as the Fastnet Race Record." Atlantic's 100-year-old race record will be in play in May 2005 when the NYYC hosts the Transatlantic Challenge.

The monohull Passage Record everybody is chasing belongs to Bernard Tappy's 244ft four masted monohull Phocea which is considerably quicker than Atlantic's time and carries the distinct classification with the aid of power winches (like Adix and Windrose), set a time in July 1988 of 8d 3hr 29min. http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/ratified.html

3. For the first time a major global race for purpose built 25m fully crewed monohull yachts is starting and finishing in the Indian Ocean and sailed entirely in the Southern hemisphere. Expected to take about 45 days the Antarctica Cup 2004 "dash for cash" through the Southern Ocean is a non-stop race around Antarctica, with US$6.4 million in prize money, the most ever offered for a sailing race. Starting in Fremantle, Australia some world renown yachtsman including Paul Cayard, Roy Heiner, Australia's Grant Wharington and team Brit XL represented by John Quigley have all booked their places The all embracing entrance fee of US$4, 625,000 includes the ownership of the 25m (82 ft) Ron Holland designed maxi-yacht to race on and is aimed at controlling costs which makes allot of commercial and competitive sense.

The unique format of the Antarctica Cup has allot of first time offers to attract ocean racers including the opportunity to win substantial amounts of prize money. A 'skins' format has been incorporated with a total cash pool of US $6,400,000 to be won. FIRST Yacht across the finish line receives US $ 2,500,000 - SECOND US$ 900,000 and THIRD US$ 400,000. The race is divided into eleven legs and each time you pass through a gate they're going to award prize money to podium place winners. A 5-day conference (the Antarctica Cup Conference) to finalise the maxi-yacht design and fine tune the race format will be held in Fremantle in July 2002.

4. With the first five boats finishing only 6 minutes and 50 seconds apart after 1000+ miles of racing, Leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race turned into a close tussle with the lead changing several times to produce the closest finish yet. In a thrilling finale ASSA ABLOY showed their winning form and held on for another spectacular first place finish in the Gothenburg Archipelago. It was a glorious arrival just after midnight, with hundreds of spectator boats out in the dark Swedish night to greet the sailors.

Although illbruck's position of overall race leader looks safe other news has ASSA ABLOY claiming commercial success in the media stakes by generating a brand exposure value estimated to be worth US$ 40.5 million and achieving its main objective of integrating more than 25.000 employees, working in more than 100 different companies worldwide before the race is over. With over a year of publicity generated and the high returns available for the money spent it's no wonder then why more companies find sponsoring yachts on these long distance races a valuable marketing tool.

5. Tracy Edwards 110ft Maxi-Catamaran, Maiden II with 2 reefs, yankee and storm jib in a ball of spray broke the four-day barrier and clocked over 40 knots to establish the inaugural Antigua to Newport record. With a mixed crew of 16, skippered by Helena Darvelid and navigated by Adrienne Cahalan, Maiden crossed the finish line doing an astonishing 40 knots off Castle Hill at 15 30 15 local time, giving a record time of 94 hours 31 minutes and 58 seconds, subject to World Sailing Speed Record Council ratification.

6. May 21/22 - An attempt by Aussie Sean Langman on Grundig - an extended Open 60 with 66 feet of waterline - to eclipse the current world monohull 24-hour sailing speed record has failed. Grundig left Sydney Australia on Tuesday, May 21 in 25-30 knots of wind. However after damaging his reaching sails, Langman was forced to abandon his record attempt when the breeze failed to live up to expectations.

7. Mumm 30 Circuit - Having won the prestigious Key West Regatta, and performing well in the Acura SORC Regatta, Australia's Richard Perini sailing his Malaysian built DK Mumm30 Foreign Affair has some unfinished business as he continues his charge towards the 2002 Mumm 30 Worlds this fall (25 - 28th Sept) in Annapolis. To keep up-to-date with the Mumm circuit, go to: www.mumm30.org

8. Weather forecasts and warnings broadcasted in Australia by Telstra on HF radio, and the radiofax transmissions of weather and ocean charts broadcast by the Royal Australian Navy, will cease on July 1. A new HF radio network operated by the Bureau of Meteorology will commence, providing essential maritime information by voice and radiofax. New frequencies and broadcast schedules will apply to services broadcast by voice. See the link from the Bureau's Marine Weather & Oceanography Services pages.

9. France's America's Cup team, le Defi Areva, have started legal proceedings against Greenpeace in the wake of the damage inflicted on the newly launched FRA-69 (That troublesome number again) when the cup yacht was rammed by a protester's boat. Allot of accusations and dirty linen has already been aired in the media with Greenpeace claiming the collision was unintentional. The tactics used by the environmental group are under severe scrutiny and described as being more akin to terrorist activities that has lost the group allot of creditability within the sailing community.

10. New Zealand yachting legend and Laureus World Sports Academy founding member Sir Peter Blake, was posthumously given both the `Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award' and the `Laureus Sport for Good Award'. Peter's widow Lady Pippa and their two children accepted the two awards to a standing ovation from Hollywood legend Sir Sean Connery who gave a moving tribute to Peter at the 2002 Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco. World F-1 champion Michael Schumacher has been named 2002 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

11. Ever wondered just how much an average America's Cup mainsail costs? Try around US$90,000. If you have any money left after betting on the football world cup place some on Dennis Conners Stars and Strips team chances of returning the Cup to the US. In a sport which chews up money at a alarming rate the second and forth richest guys in the world and four billionaires have helped shape the New York Yacht Club challenge into a formidable team who are no strangers to dealing with lengthy legal battles on and off the water. Choosing to train in the US and displaying a underdog attitude is a ploy by the old grey fox to downplay their present strengths and positioning.

12. CSS Stellar announced the acquisition of Craigie Taylor International (CTI), the specialist sport and leisure marketing agency. Craigie Taylor manages the communications strategy for the British America's Cup team, GBR Challenge, Tracey Edwards Maiden II and is the international press office for Nautor Swan. The initial consideration is £3.45 million in cash and shares, which could rise on performance to a maximum of £10 million