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Welcome to the Wonderful World of AsianYachting May 2008 News and Views

DK Yachts For race winning Mumm 30, Farr 40, 52 & DK 46 sailing yachts.

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AsianYachting.com is now a major yachting news provider in Asia which averages over 2000 page views per day.

CONTENTS

1. EDITORIAL - Sailing action in Asia now swings over to the Gulf of Thailand - Monthly Photo Gallery
2 . AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS - Cats back in the Olympics? ISAF Mid-year discussions - Fifty three nations qualify for Beijing Olympic Games - National match racing teams invited to Nations Cup - Major milestone as Fedor sets new world records within a record - Earthrace is at it again - Volvo Ocean Race to showcase India's potential - ISAF Highlighted Keel Failure Safety Concerns
Up next - Top of the Gulf Regatta - Koh Samui Regatta
3 . INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Skandia Team GBR strips nude for Olympic calendar - Artemis Transat - the oldest solo race in the history sets sail - TP52 Audi Medcup kicks off in May - Extreme 40 catamaran action - Adrian Flanagan to complete 'vertical' circumnavigation - R. I. P. Nucci Novi Ceppellini - Hold onto your hats - l'Hydroptère ready to go fifty
4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS - Lionel Lemonchois Gitana 13 setting new Pacific & Asian records - WSSRC ratifies Francis Joyon IDEC records
5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month" - Day four carnage at Star Worlds 08.

Goto Archived AY News & Views and Race Reports 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 98-99

1. EDITORIAL

Welcome to the 99th edition of the monthly AY News and Views. Although many might say it's time to change hands, we would like to think that promoting Asian sailing events, for over eight years now, has contributed significantly to the sports popularity and developing tourism in the region. We certainly have enjoyed our time and proud of the growth so far and take this opportunity to thank regatta organisers, all the competitors and other yachting media outlets for getting on the band wagon to tell the world about one of the best all year round sailing destinations.

The sailing action now swings over to the Gulf of Thailand. The hardy folks at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club kick of with their signature event the Top of the Gulf Regatta from the 1st to 5th May. Anything from Optimists, beach catamarans, windsurfers, sportsboats to multihulls and ocean going keelboats make up this sailing bonanza. Amongst other things the National Optimist Championships and the long standing Coronation Cup for Platu 25 keelboats is being contested which is also the second event of the 2008 One-Design Platu Championship Series. Organisers expect the action to be fast and furious between International teams and the local suspects who wont give an inch away on home waters.

Competitors then have a few weeks grace before making their way across the Gulf for the Koh Samui Regatta in early June. Even though Ray Roberts and Quantum Racing have an unassailable lead going into the final round of the AsianYachting Grand Prix Championships and will don the ‘Blue Blazer’ at the lavish Gala dinner and Awards Ceremony. There is still the ‘bragging rights’ to fight for and the chance to hoist high the beautiful Waterford Crystal KSR perpetual bowl. The entry list already has some hot yachts confirmed and Canadian Bill Bremner with his new TP52 Foxy Lady IV from Singapore is vowing to defend his Samui crown to the death. But the likes of Neil Pryde on Hi-Fi, Frank Pong's Jelik, the Kinmoth / Burns Mandrake and Chris Mead’s ever improving Corby 43 Full Metal Jacket will be pushing all the way to prevent Ray from lifting both trophies. But the TOTGR and Samui Regatta are not just about the Grand Prix yachts. We should not forget the many other boats that travel thousands of miles to compete in the other classes and come together to make these regattas such friendly and attractive events.

As the northern summer approaches, European racing comes alive after the long winter spell, so the International Section is full with major single handed, fully crewed, multihull and monohull events on the horizon with links so readers can follow all the action as it happens. Enjoy!
Safe and happy sailing
Capt. Marty Rijkuris

2 . AUSTRAL - ASIAN NEWS

2.1 Cats back in the Olympics? ISAF Mid-year discussions...
The ISAF Executive Committee have put forward an Urgent Submission M06-08 for the ruling body's Council to reaffirm or otherwise their decision taken in Nov 07 on the classes/events selected for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition. The Executive Committee intent in making this submission is to bring to a close the current speculation challenging the Council decision. This gives the multihull enthusiasts a glimmer of hope to be reinstated. However as a two-thirds majority is required at the mid-year meeting in Qingdao this May just for the proposal to be revisited latter in the year, the chances maybe very slim. It has taken fifteen letters from Member National Authority's, like the RYA and Yachting Australia to reopen the case.

Also up for discussion will be listing the possible equipment to be used for each event in 2012 though these are only the classes ISAF considers may possibly be appropriate for selection at the 2008 Annual Conference. We hope that the meetings this month will pave the way for an inclusive and modern slate of events which will showcase our sport in the best possible light in 2012. The World Cup concept is back on the table for discussion. The idea of a annual World Cup for all Olympic Classes staged a various places throughout the year would go a long way to keeping up the interest and participation in non-Olympic years. As winning the multiple event WC would be a harder task than a single Olympic regatta, AY would go as far to say the WC would soon usurp the Olympics as a true measure of sailing abilities and achievement.

2.2 Fifty three nations qualify for Beijing Olympic Games
After a hectic round of world titles during the first few months of the year, fifty three nations have qualified sailors for the 11 sailing events at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Australia, France, Germany, GB, Italy, NZ, USA and of coarse the hosts China have qualified for all eleven classes. Asian sailors have qualified for the Men's and Women windsurfer RS:X, Laser and 470 events which are mainly the boats raced in the region. Japan with six qualifiers is by far the best of the rest and managed to get up in the 49er class, Singapore also in the Laser Radial and somehow the Thai's stepped up in the Star class. Now it is up to the individuals to fight it out among themselves to get selected to represent the nation.
Hong Kong: RS:X M, RS:X W
Indonesia: RS:X M
Japan: RS:X M, RS:X W, Laser, 470 M, 470 W, 49er
Korea: RS:X M, Laser, 470 M
Malaysia: Laser
PR China: HOST Nation has free entry to all events
Singapore: Laser, 470 M, Laser Radial
Thailand: RS:X M, RS:X W, Star

2.3 National match racing teams invited to Nations Cup.
The ISAF Nations Cup is a global match racing competition to find the world's top match racing nations in both open and women's events and to develop match racing
infrastructure around the world. More than 50 Member National Associations will send their top racing teams to fight it out at eight Regional Finals from September to December 2008. The top teams in the Regional Finals will then go onto the Grand Final at the Porto Alegre, Brazil 23 – 28 March 2009. You only have to look at past winning skippers Ed Baird (1991) Roy Heiner, Helena Strang (1993) Claire Leroy, Mathieu Richard (2006) to realise that this event is a stepping stone for teams to advance onto the more lucrative World Match Racing Tour events. Asian countries have been divided up between the Asian and Oceania Regional Finals (See below). Full rundown on all events, dates, venues, national eligibility and boats to be used can be found at: http://www.sailing.org/23118.php General NC 08-09 Info at: http://www.sailing.org/nations-cup.php
Regional Finals
Asia Open & Women Mumbai, India 14 – 19 October 2008
Oceania Open & Women Auckland, New Zealand 18 – 21 September 2008
Grand Final
Open & Women Porto Alegre, Brazil 23 – 28 March 2009

2.4 Raimon Land - Thailand's Award Winning Property Developer
Few real estate companies in Asia enjoy the success of public-listed Bangkok-based luxury property developer Raimon Land. The company has positioned itself as the developer of choice for buyers and investors who seek the best in lifestyle developments that posses a excellent track record of delivering quality residential projects. From Bangkok to Pattaya and Phuket the company has projects in all the most sought-after areas which proudly achieve high yield holiday rentals through their professional management team. Raimon Land’s impressive list of completed projects includes: The Lofts Sathorn, The Lakes, The Legend Saladaeng, Northshore (Pattaya) Kata Gardens (Phuket) and The Lofts Yennakar More at: www.raimonland.com or goto AY Real-Estate page..

2.5 Major milestone as Fedor sets new world records within a record.
Fedor Konyukhov, the Russian adventurer trailblazing an inaugural sailing record around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, chalked up another milestone on Day 72 of this extraordinary voyage. After passing through Gate 14 within the circular 3-lane racetrack around Antarctica, the 56 year old became the first solo yachtsman to sail non-stop from Cape Horn (GATE 8, 67E) across the South Atlantic Ocean to the junction of the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean (GATE 14 20E) keeping below latitude 45° South. Other yachtsmen have sailed across the South Atlantic before but most sailed northwards after Cape Horn up to the Falkland Islands, and across the South Atlantic Ocean north of the Roaring Forty latitudes. Konuykhov however, has remained south of the 45° South latitude throughout, running a gauntlet through 'iceberg alley' as the South Atlantic has been termed this year. For the record, the distance sailed by Konuykhov and his 85ft yacht Trading Nework Ale Parusya between Cape Horn and Good Hope is 3,750 nautical miles in an elapsed time 25 days, 15 Hours, 42 Minutes. For Fedor, however the time to celebrate is when he completes the final 4,350 mile Indian Ocean leg of this circumnavigation and expected to return to Albany early in May to claim the World Sailing Speed Record Council ratified record for racing around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack. Check on their progress at: http://www.antarcticacup.com/

2.6 Earthrace is at it again...
Pete Bethune, the skipper of the 78 foot bio diesel powered trimaran Earthrace set off on April 27th from Sagunto, Spain for the 2008 World Record attempt. Earthrace will attempt to set a new world record for a powerboat to circle the globe, running 100% sustainable biodiesel fuel, and a net zero carbon footprint. The crew hopes to complete the voyage in under 65 days. The current record for a powerboat to circumnavigate the globe is currently 74 days, 23 hours and 53 minutes. This record was set by UK boat 'Cable & Wireless Adventurer' in 1998. Follow the progress at: http://www.earthrace.net

2.7 Warning to all offshore racers.
DK Yachts are warning all offshore racers to sit up and take notice when one of their World Champion Mumm 30, Farr 40, Farr 52 or Mills DK46 lines up on the starting grid. They just keep turning up and sailing away with all the major prizes. If your looking for proof, just ask Ray Roberts how Quantum Racing has an unassailable lead going into the final round of the AsianYachting Grand Prix Championships and will don the ‘Blue Blazer’ at the lavish Gala dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Koh Samui Regatta. This successful result confirms that DK46's are still head and shoulders above the rest, be it for offshore or inshore racing. Have you ordered one yet? Serious Yachts for Serious Sailors can be found at http://www.dkyachts.com

2.8 China wins big at Christofle Asia Boating Awards
Shanghai, April 11, 2008: Qingdao has been named Asia's Maritime Capital at the fourth edition of the Christofle Asia Boating Awards, held at Le Royal Meridien in Shanghai. This is the first time a Chinese city has been awarded such a sought-after accolade. It recognises the tremendous effort that has been put into turning that city into a sailing hub in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games. The city is now widely acknowledged as China's City of Sailing, and boasts some of the finest boating facilities. This year's event was a big one for China. The newly created China Cup International Regatta was named Yachting Event of the Year, and for good reason. The China Cup, which runs from Hong Kong to Daya Bay, on the Shenzhen coast, is already one of Asia's biggest events. With the recent purchase of 20 new boats for the one-design class, the China Cup promises to be the biggest yachting event in Asia in only its second year. The creator of the event, Wei Di, was named Personality of the Year for his efforts. Other notable wins included the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, which was awarded Best Asian Marine/Yacht Club of the Year. Best New Asian Marine/Yacht Club went to the Marina at Keppel Bay, which has already staged a number of flagship events and hosted the recent Boat Asia show. The 2008 award winners can be viewed at: http://www.asiaboatingawards.com/pdf/caba2008winners.pdf

2.9 Gitana 13’s Asian tour
In a few days time, Lionel Lemonchois and his men will bid farewell to Japan to continue with their 2008 record campaign. The next stopover for the maxi-catamaran equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild is the town of Dalian, 1,432 miles away in China. Sylvain Mondon (Météo France) details the weather scenario required to set off on this latest record attempt: 'To leave Tokyo Bay in optimum conditions, we're after E to SE’ly winds, which could be generated by a low climbing up from the S or SW in a similar fashion to the low encountered by Gitana 13 during its arrival in Japan. The goal is essentially to set off on this course with some sufficiently regular downwind conditions, ideally in excess of 25 knots. If these conditions come together, Gitana 13 may be able to minimise the number of maneuvers and thus make Dalian in three or four days.' In 2006, the English sailor, Ellen MacArthur, raced a similar circuit to that of Gitana 13. Over certain destinations, Lionel Lemonchois and his crew will be able to attack the time set by the skipper of B&Q (a 22.9 metre trimaran). Gitana 13’s Asian stopovers: Dalian, Qingdao (China), Taipei (Taiwan), Hong Kong and Macao prior to returning to Hong Kong to set off on the Tea Route. More at: http://www.gitana-team.com

2.10 Sunsail the best way to explore Asian waterways
As Sunsail Asia is constantly expanding there fleet and opening up new cruising grounds, the best way to economically explore South East Asian countries for the first time is by chartering one of there family friendly sailing yachts. Choose from there five SE Asian bases in Phuket, Langkawi, Koh Samui, Koh Chang & Nha Trang in Vietnam to explore any of these spectacular new cruising grounds. For the less experienced they also operate a RYA Sailing School offering 5 day sailing courses from their Phuket base or join a MileCatcher voyage to gain some valuable sea miles. They have led the way for many years by opening up new SE Asian destinations and are proud to give you a chance to discover some of the most intriguing and unspoiled countries in the Asian region. Check them out by Calling +66 76 239057 Fax: +66 76 238940 Email: sales@sunsailasia.com or visit http://www.sunsailasia.com and http://www.sunsailthailand.com

2.11 Volvo Ocean Race to showcase India's potential
The Indian stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race in Kochi from December 3 to 13 will help showcase India as an emerging economic giant while highlighting business as well as tourism and leisure opportunities in the State. Jointly hosted by the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) and Kerala Tourism, it is the first time in the 35-year history of the race that an Indian port is selected for the stopover. The rare honour for Kochi shows its emergence as an exciting international sailing hub and a vivacious leisure and lifestyle destination. Regarded as the ultimate in ocean-racing competitions, the race will have stopover at Cape Town, Singapore, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Goteborg Stockholm and finish at St. Petersburg, Russia by mid-2009. Seven teams including the country teams from Spain and Russia have confirmed participation. “The waving of the entry fee of Euro 10 million is a rare gesture from the organisers. We have decided to make it a people’s event by roping in all sections of society,” said Mr. Ramachandran.

2.12 VOR Singapore stopover puts Rob Turnbull in charge
One15 Singapore Ocean Race Pte Ltd, the company set up to promote and organise the inaugural Singapore Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009, has appointed Rob Turnbull as Chief Operating Officer (COO). As the COO, Mr Turnbull will be in charge of directing and managing operations for the Singapore Stopover including sponsorship, marketing and public relations. The Singapore Stopover will represent the first time that the race has visited South East Asia, and One°15 Marina Club on Sentosa Island will host the yachts. Mr Turnbull will work closely with Volvo Events Management United Kingdom, the global organiser of the Volvo Ocean Race, and competing teams to ensure a successful stopover leg.

2.13 Hostages freed, pirates captured
French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that 32 hostages held on the 288 foot superyacht Le Ponant seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia have been released. The trimasted cruiser was hijacked and was anchored off Garacade, near the town of Eyl in Puntland, a breakaway northern region of Somalia, 500km north of Mogadishu.

The hostages including 22 French and 10 Filipino, Korean and Ukrainian crew aboard were freed 'without incident', Sarkozy said without providing details. Twelve pirates stormed the 88-metre Le Ponant as it was returning, without passengers, from the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. The pirates then guided the vessel down Somalia's eastern coast. In a further statement France's General Jean-Louis Goergelin has said that French forces arrested six pirates an hour after the release of the hostages, once the crew were safely ashore. The General said no public money was used to pay a ransom. But it appears that that the French shipping company CMA-CGM, the owners may have made cash payments. The French troops have recovered 'interesting bags,' he said. The six captured pirates were being held on a French Navy vessel, the President's office reported. They 'gave themselves up without too much difficulty' and will be handed over to French judicial authorities. Unconfirmed reports two days latter is that up to six of them had been killed or captured by local Somali militia, after coming ashore. -- Full story Washington Post, read on: http://tinyurl.com/3enejn

2.14 Advanced Crewing Techniques course
Demand for team building exercises and as pressure is on to form racing teams, a 2-day Advanced Crewing Techniques course is being introduced this month to compliment the existing Introduction to Sailing course. This Advanced Crewing Techniques Course concentrates on crew roles, spinnaker handling and teamwork. Participants should have completed or be familiar with the basic sailing techniques covered in the Introduction to Sailing syllabus before proceeding onto the advanced course. Further info on AY sailing courses, directions to PD World Marina, links to the entire AY Syllabus and Online Registration can be found at: http://asianyachting.com/AYmasters/classes.htm Overseas participants planning a trip to SE Asia, that would like to receive a brief taste of what sailing is all about or looking for a more hands on approach to racing should incorporate a course into their travel plans. Start your trip by flying to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Port Dickson is less than a hours drive from KLIA). A wide variety of accommodation exists and budget flights around Asia can be arranged for the rest of your stay.

2.15 ISAF Highlighted Keel Failure Safety Concerns
The ISAF Offshore Committee has highlighted the safety concerns relating to the growing number of keel failures and are investigating amendments to the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations to help improve safety standards. The spate of recent keel and hull failures has highlighted the need for yacht designers, boat builders and owners to check their yacht structure and take steps to ensure such structural problems stop. Careful design, build and maintenance of keels and keel attachments are essential as to lose a keel can be catastrophic with loss of life. At the 2007 ISAF Annual Conference last November, in response to recent design and build failures, the ISAF Offshore Committee appointed a working party to review the requirements for racing yacht design and build as part of the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations. Under the existing regulations, yachts racing in Category 0, 1 and 2 should be constructed to one of the following three standards:
- the EU Recreational Craft Directive for Design Category A
- the ABS Guide for Offshore Yachts, approval for yachts under 24 metres withdrawn some years ago
- the newly approved International Standard for yacht structure - ISO 12215
The working party has now agreed that, in future, only the International Standard ISO 12215 shall be used for evaluating structure in the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations and is currently considering the implementation of a building plan review scheme to begin mid-2009 at the earliest.

3 . INTERNATIONAL NEWS

3.1 Golden Age Of British Sailing
Photo by Ranald Mackechnie.
Britain's Beijing-bound sailors from Skandia Team GBR have stripped and posed for a good cause. They previously got down to bare essentials prior to the Athens Games when KOS shot the images to raise money for Sail for Gold, the charity that helps put money into the hands of the sailors who in 2000 and 2004 made sailing Britain's most successful Olympic sport. This time, nine hours of body panting by Phyllis Cohen and a 19-hour shoot was needed by Ranald Mackechnie to create the golden aura. Notice how sports science has sculpted the sailors' bodies to the specific weight and musculature of the particular boats they sail. Many people think that stripping off and posing for good causes that the, er, novelty has worn off, but Tim Jeffery from the Telegraph UK says without getting too anatomical about this, I make the point that many people still think sailing is about blazers and gin and tonic? Pah!

3.2 Transat - the oldest solo race in the history sets sail
The Artemis Transat, the oldest solo race in the history of ocean racing, will start on Sunday, 11th May 2008 from Plymouth (UK). Up to 40 IMOCA 60 and Class 40 racing yachts are expected to gather at Sutton Harbour, Plymouth for the 13th edition of the race that will see the skippers face 2,800 miles of tough racing across the treacherous North Atlantic to Boston (USA). Early entrants in the IMOCA Class include: Jonny Malbon, Dee Caffari, Jeremie Beyou and Sebastien Josse. In the Class 40, Italy's favourite sailor Giovanni Soldini (41) has officially entered Telecom Italia. More at: http://www.thetransat.com/

3.3 TP52 Audi Medcup kicks off in May
The TP 52 Class should continue it's inevitable journey toward becoming the World's premier Grand Prix racing yacht, with another exciting round of 'AUDI MEDCUP' regattas at six venues on the Mediterranean Sea this year. The first regatta will be for the City of Alicante Trophy, sailed out of the port of the city of Alicante, Spain on the Costa Blanca, starting on the 12th of May and racing through to the 17th. Winning the Audi MedCup Circuit is really difficult as it requires the best score from all races sailed across the six events that make up the season. Unlike past seasons, this year there will be no discard races. Mistakes or breakage will prove extremely costly to a team's overall score and title chances, increasing the importance of consistent and reliable performance throughout the series.

3.4 Extreme 40 catamaran action
The iShares Cup, which takes place in Extreme 40 catamarans, is a multi-stage sailing circuit which visits five fantastic venues around Europe - each chosen for their superb sailing, excellent spectator viewing, and stunning locations. The 2008 iShares Cup kicks off in the mountain city of Lugano, racing on the beautiful lake on the Swiss-Italian border over 30 May-1 June, before moving on to the French leg of the circuit at Hyères. It then heads to Britain on 2-4 August to race during Skandia Cowes Week - one of the biggest regattas in the world, held on the Solent. The fourth event on the circuit will be held in Germany from 29-31 August, before the iShares Cup concludes in Amsterdam as the Extreme 40s return to the scene of last year's dramatic finale, racing right in the centre of the Dutch city over 19-21 September. Follow all the action and find out more about the teams at the new event website: http://www.iSharesCup.com

3.5 From the top to bottom and back again
Adrian Flanagan is about to set sail on the final leg of his challenge: to become the first solo yachtsman to complete a 'vertical' circumnavigation of the earth. The last part of the voyage is a 1,600 mile stretch from Mehamn in northern Norway to The Royal Southern Yacht Club on England's south coast. Adrian, 47, has already sailed more than 30,000 miles. Departing the south coast of England on 28th October 2005 Adrian had to break the Alpha Global Expedition twice. Delays in gaining permissions from the Russian government to enter their territorial waters meant Barrabas had to spend the winter of 2006/7 in Nome, Alaska. She spent the 2007/8 winter season in Norway after reaching the treacherous Norwegian Sea too late after passing across the top of the world from Alaska to Europe. During the course of his voyage around the world on Barrabas, a French designed 40-foot Trireme constructed entirely of stainless steel, Adrian has been shadowed by pirates, suffered two capsizes at Cape Horn and dislocated both his wrists. At one time and in severe storm force conditions, he was swept from the deck of his boat without a lifeline but managed to scramble back on board, cheating death by the narrowest of margins. 'It has been long and hard, but the pursuit of dreams is not an easy business. I've wanted to do this since I was a teenager,' Adrian said.

3.6 R. I. P. Nucci Novi Ceppellini
ISAF has announced that The ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy - which honours an outstanding voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing - has been awarded posthumously to ISAF Vice-President Nucci Novi Ceppellini (ITA). Nucci, who passed away in February this year, was dedicated to the sport of sailing throughout her life. An active and successful sailor, Nucci cared deeply for the sport she loved, demonstrated through her appointment as a national Race Official together with a far reaching involvement in the sport’s management. Today, Nucci's influence can be seen across the sport and she is an outstanding recipient for this award. ISAF President Göran Petersson said, "I am very proud to honour the contribution Nucci has made to sailing through the awarding of the ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy. Nucci's passion for sailing was infectious, whilst her vitality, expertise and integrity benefited and guided many areas of the sport. Those who knew Nucci were fortunate to have worked with a dynamic, kind and generous individual - Nucci's legacy is immense." -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/4nvjro

3.7 Is it a bird, a plane, no its super Bertarelli
‘Le Black’, the 41ft Alinghi catamaran designed by Jo Richards and Sébastien Schmidt and built in 2000 for racing on Lake Geneva, was relaunched by helicopter from the yard facility in Villeneuve in Switzerland. This high performance light air speedster is far from the future 90ft monster multi-hull that is to be built for the 33rd America’s Cup, but has been undergoing modifications by the Alinghi shore crew for use by the design team as a research tool with the Deed of Gift Match in mind. - http://www.alinghi.com

3.8 BMW Oracle Racing 90ftx90ft multihull underway?
Anacortes, WA (April 9, 2008) The third America’s Cup racing yacht to be built in Anacortes is well underway, BMW Oracle Racing, the U.S. Challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup, confirmed today. The multihull yacht is being built for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) team for a match against the defender Alinghi later this year. This will be the third America’s Cup racing yacht the U.S. team has built in this waterfront community 100 miles (160 km) north of Seattle. The rules that govern the America's Cup, the Deed of Gift, require the boat to be constructed in the country of challenge. Does a couple of photos with people laying up carbon fibre actually constitute building the challenger? Judge for yourself - http://tinyurl.com/3wdtul

3.9 Hold onto your hats - l'Hydroptère ready to go fifty
On April 4, 2007, the team onboard l'Hydroptère beat two world speed records ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC): An average of 44.81 knots over 500 meters, speed record in category D; An average of 41.69 knots over one nautical mile (Outright Nautical Mile) in all categories. Both those records were set in an open ocean setting, and now with the team's goal being to break the all-time sailing speed record and mythical barrier of 50 knots, the hydrofoil trimaran has been undergoing modifications that will increase speed and better adapt to an ideal, smooth water course. The boat has just arrived in Toulon (South of France) to begin this campaign. - http://www.hydroptere.com/_en/

4. WORLD SPEED RECORDS

4.1 Lionel Lemonchois Gitana 13 setting new records
(April 10, 2008 - 01:26) The 100-foot maxi catamaran Gitana 13 completed the North Pacific of 4,501 theoretical miles of the (direct) course in a record time of 11 days 12 minutes and 54 seconds at an average speed of 17.04kts. Leaving San Francisco on Saturday, March 29th at 22h45’46’’UT, Lionel Lemonchois and his ten crew crossed the finish line off Yokohama, in Tokyo Bay on Wednesday, April 9th at 22h58’40” UT. The maxi-catamaran equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild improved on the previous reference time by 3 days 22 hours 27 minutes 46 seconds, held by Olivier de Kersauson and his crew on Geronimo since 2006. The boat covered 5,616 miles through the water at an average of 21 knots, and it was kicked around by one weather system after another. Top speed burst was 39.7 knots, and the best day's run covered 612 miles. -- http://www.gitana-team.com/en/gitana/index.asp

4.2 WSSRC ratifies Francis Joyon IDEC records
The World Sailing Speed Record (WSSR) Council announced that Francis Joyon (FRA) had set the Equator to Equator, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean singlehanded speed records onboard the 97-foot trimaran IDEC. The elapsed times are: Equator/Equator: 41 days 9 hours 14 minutes; Indian Ocean: 9 days 12 hours 6 minutes; and Pacific Ocean: 10 days 14 hours 26 minutes. Joyon also briefly held the 24 hour singlehanded distance record of 613.5 nm in December 2007 before Thomas Coville (FRA) established a new record onboard the 105-foot Trimaran Sodebo of 619.3 nm on the January 6, 2008. -- http://www.sailspeedrecords.com

5. "Unluckiest sailors of the month"

5.1 Day four carnage at Star Worlds 08.
It was rough and tumble gear breaking day with the race start delayed almost an hour and three boats were black flagged at the start after a postponement and a general recall. This was Biscayne Bay on a wild and windy day four at the Star Worlds, the figures tell the story - Some 27 boats did not finish, more than eight masts were lost, one boat capsized, and one of the top three finishers fell out of his boat just seconds before the finish line. The last downwind run is when all hell broke loose. The gusts and lulls were coming fast and for a few teams who didn't respond quick enough, their masts snapped in two. Steve Mitchell, crew with Ross Macdonald of Canada said he saw broken masts on at least six boats including Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne (IRL) who were running a great race in the top five from the first weather mark to the rounding of the windward mark and looked like they would make it to a solid finish. Luigi Viale confirmed that masts were falling everywhere on the last downwind run. 'Peter Bromby lost his mast just 50 meters in front of us,' he said. The winds were from the NW at 18 knots with gusts up to 30 knots on the downwind run. As crew Bob Carlson from one of the USA teams described it, 'There were streaks of white foam running down from the tops of six foot waves, and our cockpit filled with water twice.'

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Come on girls! - Let's go shopping?
As the South East Asian region is turning into a world-class yachting tourism destination, AY is expanding the Shopping Mall to include a Charter Yacht page for the popular "Fly in, have fun, fly out" sailors. Plus a Real-Estate page to promote the ever increasing residential Condominium, Resorts and Marina developments the region has on offer. Browse the full AY advertising rates and find other things for-sale including the Fastest Sailing Gloves on the Planet in the AY Shopping Arcade here...

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Need some fast and effective advertising?
Want to get a last minute promotion out quickly in Asia or market your products to a diverse marine oriented audience, around the globe? NO Problems! Join some of our regular advertisers DK Yachts, Quantum Sails, Raimon Land and Sunsail just to mention a few, who have successfully negotiated and wisely chose to use AY marketing tools and advertising space to get their message out. For obligation free quotes E-mail info@asianyachting.com or browse the full AY advertising rates at: http://AsianYachting.com/Mall/Advertising.htm

AsianYachting Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (Co. No. 627106-T)
A 308 PD Perdana Condo Resort, Jln Pantai, 71050, Pt Dickson, Malaysia
Tel: 6 06 6477701 Email: info@asianyachting.com
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Yachting at http://AsianYachting.com