Andrew Owens, Proteus Sports has historically brought together the region's four oldest keelboat regattas into one unified circuit and will be producing 1/2 hour Omega AYC films at the Raja Muda Int. Regatta in Malaysia (14 -22 Nov), Phuket Kings Cup in SW Thailand (Nov 29 to Dec 6). Before venturing back down the Straits in January for the Singapore Straits Regatta (Jan 14 to 18). Then delivering the boat back across the South China Sea, up to Hong Kong in time for the April 8th start of the China Sea Race to Subic Bay in the Philippines. The TV series will first be broadcast on Star Sports in the Asia Pacific region then distributed by BBC Worldwide into over 120 countries and 200 million households around the world (Over 2/3ds in Asia alone).

Webmasters please note that all the above regattas and races are also ***** five star, grand prix yacht racing events at which the AsianYachting Ranking System is devised to grade competing Skippers and Racing Yachts each Season. in Asian waters. Check out last seasons scores and see how Peter Ahern and Yo! where eventually crowned the inaugural 2002 - 03 AsianYachting Champions at...

AsianYachting Ventures S/B has just been incorporated in Malaysia (Co.No. 627106-T) and we are looking forward to starting talks with anyone interested in being named the annual Title Sponsor (min 5 years) and discuss what it takes to become a trophy donor or sponsor of the AY Season and Ranking System by Emailing: info@asianyachting.com

As the Free On-line Learn to Sail with Asian Yachtmasters Syllabus WebPages are the most popular on the AY Website we have decided to fast track the AY Franchising Program by commissioning the construction in Malaysia next year of our own range of specially designed and trailable 28ft epoxy, composite, offshore, sports, keelboats that will be suitable and safe to train local novices in becoming qualified sailors and certified Asian Yachtmasters.

Wishing all sailors the best of luck and looking forward to meeting over a few drinks during the racing season.
Capt Marty Rijkuris 

2. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - Mini-Transat race competitors

Just when we thought that Jonathan McKee was going to win the gruelling Mini-Transat race, his D1 shroud failed and the mast broke above the 1st (lowest) spreader. He then constructed a jury rig and was able to keep sailing but only on one tack. Initially his plan was to get to Salvador if the wind direction cooperated. But the winds headed and his jury rig would periodically fall down and would have to re-rig, so he made the choice to head into Recife. Then we thought Sam Manuard was going to take the finishing line with a comfortable margin... until his mast came down with a near identical break just 80 miles from the finish.

This left the next in line to the throne, 28-year-old Armel Tripon, wondering if he could complete the job and complete it he did, taking the second leg win and overall honours in the process. As with all forms of competitive sailing there are many bleeding edge solutions to be found among the Mini-Transat fleet but Tripon has won aboard Moulin Roty, a 1995 Finot-Conq design with a fixed keel.

McKee made it safely to Recife in Brazil after a seven-day spell under jury rig. Jonathan was disappointed that he couldn't finish and that this gear failure kept him from winning, but he is proud of his performance. "Chalk it up to bad luck", he said "I have had so much good luck and been so blessed. This was just a random bad luck incident."

As one of the smallest Open class yachts in the world, the Transat 6.50 is a class that attracts pure enthusiasts who mostly race their boats on an amateur basis. Some have been fortunate enough to gain individual sponsorship but most struggle and do the entire campaign on a shoe-string. Singapore's Elaine Chua is setting her sights on campaigning a yacht in the next Mini Transat in 2005 and has launched a new website at www.elainechua.com She can be contacted for offers of assistance and sponsorship.

3. Austral - Asian News

3.1 PIMEX is definitely on
Phuket’s first International Boat Show (PIMEX) features air-conditioned booths, hardstand displays and in-the-water berths, has captured the imagination of the regional industry. The show will be held at the Phuket Boat Lagoon from 7 - 10th December - the day after the Phuket Kings Cup finishes “Bookings have been coming in thick and fast over the last two months, with 90 exhibiting companies confirmed from 10 different countries to date,” Grenville Fordham, managing director of PIMEX organizers Image Asia announced at a recent press conference held at Bangkok's JW Marriott hotel. He also added "That, with just over a month still to go, the show is 90 percent booked and bookings are still coming in". For more information visit www.phuketboatshow.com

3.2 China Coast Race Week this week
The RHKYC's China Coast Race Week runs from the 31st Oct until 07th Nov and will incorporate not only the Panerai Around The Island (Hong Kong) Race 2003 on 2nd Nov but also the Hainan Offshore Race starting on the 4th Nov. Supported by the HK Government as part of its "relaunch Hong Kong" campaign, the program features a full circumnavigation of Hong Kong Island for the first time in 10 years and boasts of some world-famous sailors and windsurfers attending, in addition to Hong Kong's finest sailors.

The sailing community in Hong Kong will also have the opportunity to see how Frank Pong's new Jelik  (Roy Disney's ex - Pyewacket) fares against the competition on her first Asian outing. The Hainan Offshore Race is the second five star grand prix racing event held over the eight month 2003/04 AsianYachting Season.  Full information and results are available at: www.chinacoastraceweek.com

3.3 Borneo Cup Yachting Challenge 2003
A boat with the same name spelt backwards Ulumulu emerged as the inaugural winner of the converted Borneo Cup Yachting Challenge 2003 trophy. The custom Sydney 46, owned by Troy Yaw and skippered by Bill Nicholson, won the cup "by a very close margin" announced Principal Race Officer, Mark Pryke at the presentation ceremony in Miri, Sarawak (East Malaysia) 

John McNae's S & S 36 Ambil Angin from Brunei took top honours in the cruiser / racer class while France's Kiki skippered by Roger Bussy was the winner in the Club Class. Philip Barbetti's Selkie kept the Aussie flag flying in the multi-hull class. The Web Edition of the Borneo Cup 2003 - AY Race Reports and Press Releases are posted with photos and links to the results at: http://asianyachting.com/news/BorneoRace.htm

3.4 Website for all the sailing news In India
The newly revamped, India Sailing website encompasses all 37 sailing clubs in India, as well as the 10 national class associations and is designed as a one-stop internet service for everything that is happening on the sailing scene in India at: www.indiasailing.org

3.5 Asean Regatta 2003 - It's that Peter Ahern's YO! again
The 4th Asean Regatta is the first grand prix event from which a performance based AY Ranking system for Skippers and competing Racing Yachts is derived in Asia. Points are awarded to the overall racing class winners at nine selected five star racing events over the eight month AsianYachting Season.

Last season Peter Ahern and Yo! where crowned the inaugural AsianYachting champions and their win at this years event gets them off to another good start this season. To browse the Asean Regatta 2003 Web Edition Race Reports with photos and results at: http://asianyachting.com/news/Asean03.htm

3.6 Looking for some Scuttlebutt on the weekdays?
To keep up with all the global yachting news and gossip each and every weekday, Scuttlebutt Europe publishes a FREE! Newsletter which delivers a daily yachting fix, via email and is read by nearly 10,000 sailors throughout the world each day. To Sign Up, go to http://scuttlebutteurope.com

3.7 A word of warning in Asian waters
The schooner Attu was lost on Sunday 18th October at about 0415 in about 20m of water eight miles offshore from Johor, Malaysia in an unusual and frightening episode.

3.8 Koh Samui Regatta Dates set
The dates have been set for the 3rd Koh Samui Regatta at 23rd to 29th May 2004. A racing team from Japan are looking for a 40' yacht to charter during the event and interested boat owners are asked to browse the updated website at: www.samuiregatta.com

3.9 Asian built 115ft super maxi monohull - Soon to be launched
Rumours are running thick and fast about which boats will be ready to compete, at which regattas and who will be coming to race on them. DK Yachts in Malacca (West Malaysia) are responsible for building, maintaining and modifying a number of grand prix racing yachts in the region. A Farr 52, Mumm 30, a custom built DK 43 and a modified Hugh Welbourne 46 will definitely be competing and expected to take podium positions and become overall racing class winners at the nine selected five star racing events over the 8 month AsianYachting Season.

Serious Yachts for Serious Sailors can be found at http://www.dkyachts.com and while you are there check out the progress and expected launch program, latter this year for Frank Pongs new and radical 115ft all carbon-fibre, record breaking super maxi monohull Maiden Hong Kong from world renown naval architect Juan Kouyoumdjian's office with water ballasted wings, go fast foils, canting keel and mast, et all!

4. International News

4.1 Demise of The Race?
Our good friend Bruno Peyron who was in Langkawi earlier this year promoting The Race Tour 2006 is very upset with Tracy Edwards who announced a £38 million deal with Qatar in (West Asia) for two new round-the-world races (a non-stop 2005 Oryx Cup and a multi-stage 2006 Qatar Sports Global Challenge) was hijacking his own plans and prospective competitors for The Race and The Race Tour. Although The Race for the giant class multihulls was due to start in February 2004 it was officially cancelled a few weeks ago due to the current economic climate in Europe and no sponsors secured by the entrants. Edwards stated "I am aware of the vitriolic accusations that a individual has made against me but you cannot lay international claim to the concept of a race round the world or claim ownership of a whole class." More can be found at: http://www.therace.org/ as Bruno is considering taking legal action.

4.2 Transat Jacques Vabre off this weekend
There is now a total of 76 skippers competing on 38 boats divided into 3 classes on the 6^th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre. It really is the calm before the storm at the start line in Le Havre (France) as the sun shines down on the fleet moored in the Paul Vatine Basin and the shore teams quietly go about their last minute preparations – a far cry from the conditions expected over this start weekend and during the 5000 plus nm race to the finish line in Bahia (Salvador).

The Good News, however, comes from the Race Organisers about the prizes to be won during this gruelling event. No less than 150,000 euros will be distributed amongst the victors. The first three boats in the two 60ft classes (mono and Multi) will receive respectively 45,000, 15,000 & 10,000 euros. The Open 50 (mono) winner will receive 8,000 euros, and the second placed boat 2,000 euros.Franck Cammas and Stève Ravussin Groupama established the multihull record of 14 days, 9 hrs, 3 mins and 25 secs at an average boat speed of 15.04 knots in 2001 and Roland Jourdain's monohull et Gael Le Cleac'h (Sill Plein Fruit) after 16 days 13 hrs 23 mins 41 secs crossed the finish line after an average speed of 10.92 knots. Follow the race over the next couple of weeks at www.jacques-vabre.com

4.3 'La Transat Anglaise'
Established in early 60's as the 'OSTAR' and since known by a number of variations to the words "ONE MAN, ONE BOAT, THE SEA" Offshore Challenges Events present the 2004 single-handed Trans - Atlantic race to be known officially as "The Transat" (it has been known in France for some time as 'La Transat Anglaise'). This race is the original and arguably the toughest of any trans-ocean race, taking competitors nearly 3000 miles upwind across the treacherous, North Atlantic starting from Plymouth, UK at 1400 hrs on 31 May 2004 and finishing in Boston, USA with potentially a fleet of over 40 X fifty to sixty ft raceboats. The race is the key event in both the IMOCA and ORMA class 2004 calendars. For the 60 foot monohulls it is the effective prologue to the Vendée Globe and for the multihulls it will be the first solo race since the storm-lashed devastation of the 2002 Route du Rhum. For the 50-foot class it will be an opportunity to line up on the same start line with the very best of ocean racers.

4.4 Industry News
Quantum Sails - South Asia has been absorbed by the US based mothership and from now on the Quantum Sail Design Groups Structurally Reinforced Membrane (SRM) sails and spinnakers for the world wide markets use will be made in Malacca, Malaysia. Place your order or obtain a obligation free quotation before the New Year to enjoy Great discounts at all US Quantum Sales Outlets - Check them all out at: http://www.quantumsails.com

4.5 Rolex America's Cup Hall of Fame
It was like a trip down memory lane for the 300-plus America's Cup devotees who attended the Rolex America's Cup Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (at long last!) for Alan Bond and Gary Jobson. There was a reflection into the past, which - at least for one evening - made the fast track of the modern day America's Cup competition seem like a smooth ride down a country lane in which close-knit neighbours live. To read the complete story and see the photos of this historic event go to: http://www.herreshoff.org/frames/amcframe.htm

While you are there Check out the Herreshoff Marine Museum / America's Cup Hall of Fame web site at www.herreshoff.org The new database, the brainchild of Edward I. du Moulin, provides users with easy "point and click" access to 5600 participants in the America's Cup from 1851 to the present, including detailed information such as names of crew, boat name, syndicate, year, countries, support groups, chroniclers, yacht clubs, judges, and other related data.

5. World Speed Records

5.1 Mari Cha IV Team to take on the world
Following their recent success of shatering the Trans Atlantic and 24hr run for monohull sailing vessels, next year, the Mari Cha IV Team plan to launch an attempt to become the first monohull ever to sail around the world in under 80 days. The current world record is held by the single-handed Michel Desjoyeaux's PRB is 93 days, 3 hrs, 57 mins and 32 secs during the fourth Vendée Globe.

5.2 Featured AY Grand Prix Racing Brokerage Listing
Mavrick II - Elliott 45 - LOA: 14 m Beam: 4.1m Draft: 3.7m. Winner of the 2003 double-handed Melbourne to Osaka Race will be open for inspection and ready to go in Hong Kong (with its carbon-fibre rotating mast and all) at the China Coast Race Week which runs from the 31st Oct until 07th Nov and at other regattas in the Asian region this season. The owner has done every thing he has ever dreamed of doing with her and now it's time to let someone else enjoy some fantastic sailing experiences and start winning races for only US350k. Photos, history and she comes complete with all the items on the extensive inventory list plus additional safety gear to Cat 0.

5.2 Olivier de Kersauson's Geronimo underway again
Following a six week refit at her base in Brest, Olivier de Kersauson's giant Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Schneider Electric-sponsored trimaran Geronimo was put back in the water and his team will now carry out further sea trials that will culminate in an attempt sometime mid-October early November on the Route of Discovery east to west transatlantic record - from Cadiz to the Bahamian island of Salvador - supposedly the route Christophe Columbus took when he 'discovered' America.

The current record for this 3,884 mile passage was set in February by Steve Fossett on the maxi-catamaran PlayStation and stands at 9 days 13 hrs 30 mins and 18 secs, an average speed of 16.92 knots. See also the World Sailing Speed Record Council website at http://www.sailspeedrecords.com

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Wishing all sailors the best of luck and looking forward to meeting over a few drinks during the racing season.
Capt Marty Rijkuris

AsianYachting Ventures S/B (Co.No. 627106-T)
A308 PD Perdana Condo Resort
Batu 5 1/2 Jln Pantai
Port Dickson 71050
Negri Sembilan
Malaysia

AsianYachting HQ Phone: +6-06-6477701
Capt Marty Rijkuris Handphone: +6-016-2714134
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Yachting at http://AsianYachting.com

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