Zana (Konica Minolta) also in Valencia

Also at the RCN Valencia is the 30m maxi Zana aka Konica Minolta. Zana did a couple of years hard sailing around the world before suffering a structural failure in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, the same year that Skandia lost her canting keel. This boat has been sitting at the dock here in Valencia for a number of months, does anyone know what's going on? Have they dumped it and done a runner? Send in your comments.

Zana in Valencia

Chinese AC boat arrives in Valencia

I was enjoying a beautiful winters day in Valencia today and found my way down to the Real Club Nautico Valencia to find the new Chinese America's Cup yacht sitting in the yard. Apparently this boat arrived on Friday and is waiting for a final paint job. Check out the reverse bow in the photos below.

CHN-95 at RCN Valencia

CHN-95 Knuckle bow

CHN-95 in RCN Valencia

Big Boat Challenge

On Tuesday some of the biggest, meanest maxi boats in the world raced on Sydney Harbour, making for a crowded waterway. Entries included Wild Oats XI, Skandia and Ichi Ban (once a VO70). Wild Oats XI eventually won, beating Skandia by 2 minutes. Check out Andrea Francolini's website here.

Extreme Downwind Sailing

Here is a great video of some extreme downwind sailing including VO60's, VO70's and Mumm 30's. I really liked the footage of the Mumm 30 guys sending it downwind, one boat manages to stick it into the wave in front then complete a spectacular chinese gype. Click here.

Can they do it?

There are currently two teams attempting to crack the 50 knot barrier. The UK based Sailrocket team and the Australian based Macquarie Speed Sailing Team.

The first, Sailrocket are a brand new outfit attempting the record for the first time. Their design concept is a boat, quote "with no obvious stability limits". It certainly seems unconventional but they may just do it. Check out the teams latest news and video.

The second, Macquarie Speed Sailing have been there before and have a wealth of experience, Lindsay Cunningham being an instrumental part of the Yellow Pages team in 1993 when they set a new speed sailing record of 46.52knots. He is at it again and in late 2005 their wing exploded soon after starting a run. The speed at that moment was 46knots and from the graph trend, it looks as if they were on their way to 50knots. Keep updated with there progress here.

AC Fact 2 - Luna Rossa have a jumperless mast

Over the past two days the Luna Rossa America's Cup team have been testing a jumperless rig. We have already seen the defender's Alinghi and challenger of record BMW Oracle test their versions of the jumperless mast earlier this year and now Luna Rossa have decided that they need to check in on this little piece of equipment... or lack there of! We'll try and get a photo for you over the next few days.

It will be interesting to see if any other team sports one of these rigs before Act 13, considering the estimated cost of tooling, labor, materials and shipping would be around US$500,000 per mast.

AC Fact 1 - Victory Challenge go to Dubai

Today, Victory Challenge confirmed in a press release that they will be going to Dubai in January for a period of 4 weeks to continue their winter training program. Apparently Victory will not be based at the Dubai International Marine Club with Defender's Alinghi but a location approximately 3 km's away. Another surprise is that the team will fly their equipment to location in not one, but two Russian Antonovs... That must be costing them a packet! Sounds like this exercise would just be a disruption to the team. No doubt they are going places but if you consider all of the recent recruitment's and the imminent arrival of their new boat, the team appears to have "more on" than the first settlers!

Monsoon Cup - Holmberg wins

Peter Holmberg has come from almost not making the semi's to winning the regatta 3-2 against Mathieu Richard. 4th place went to Ian Williams beating Peter Gilmour 2-1. Probably the biggest upset of the regatta was James Spithill finishing 9th... ouch!

World Match Racing Tour

New Zealand Match Racing Championship 2006

Dean Barker has won the NZ Match Race Championship beating Gavin Brady 3 - 2 in the final. Barker and Brady had a nice old dust up in the 4th race resulting in a collision on the finish line. See the photo here

Official Site

2006 Audi Etchells Worlds - Jud Smith Wins

Congratulations to Jud Smith and his team on winning the 2006 Etchells Worlds in Fremantle. A fantastic achievement for a guy who has been bridesmaid many times before. Jud took an early lead in the championship, then lost it to Kiwi Alastair Gair mid regatta and then won it back again when it counts. Note placings 1 and 2 were crewed by teams of 4 people.

Also a good effort by Alastair, I've never heard of this guy, can someone fill us in?

Poor showing by the Aussies, the highest placed finisher being Cameron Miles in 6th.

Results
Official site
Photos

2006 Audi Etchells Worlds

John Bertrand has won race 5 of the Etchells Worlds in Freo. Cameron Miles (1999 World Champ) finished second and Craig Healy of the USA was third.

Jud Smith holds onto the lead 4 points clear of second.

Results
Official site
Photos

NZ Match Race Championship

The New Zealand Match Race Championship starts on Thursday. America's Cup teams BMW Oracle and Team New Zealand have entered their No. 1 helmsman (Chris Dickson & Dean Barker) in the regatta. Let's hope we see a proper dust up between these two early on! Interestingly Gavin Brady is also in the entry list, flying a BMW Oracle flag.

Promising young Kiwi sailors and brothers Simon & Adam Minoprio have individual entries in the regatta. Adam recently won the Asian Match Racing Championship.

Entry List
Dean Barker (Emirates Team New Zealand / RNZYS)
Simon Dickey (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron)
Chris Dickson (BMW Oracle / Golden Gate Yacht Club)
Gavin Brady (BMW Oracle / Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club)
Simon Minoprio (Vision Yachting RNZYS)
Adam Minoprio (Blackmatch RNZYS)
Phil Robertson (RNZYS Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme)
Scott Dickson (Long Beach Yacht Club)
Graeme Sutherland (Royal Akarana Yacht Club)
Laurie Jury (Vodafone Kiwi Match /RNZYS)

Carnage - 18ft Skiff's take a beating

Check out the video of these 18ft Skiff’s on struggle street in a fresh south westerly on Sydney Harbour. You should watch the whole thing because there is some really great stuff toward the end of the clip.

Video

On a roll - Pepper wins Star North American's

Hamish Pepper and Carl Williams have won the Star North American Championship winning 3 of the 5 races held. These guys won the Worlds in October. Two impressive results in two months.

The same can be said of Robert Scheidt. He placed 2nd in the worlds and now 3rd at the North American’s. Looks like Robert has made the transformation from Laser legend to Star legend already?!

Results

2006 Audi Etchells Worlds – Jud out in front

With a 1,2,1 scorecard Jud Smith (USA) has a 5 point lead (no drop yet) to Andy Beadsworth (GBR). Currently the highest placed Australian is Cameron Miles in 5th. Com’on guys better get a move on this is only a 8 race regatta!

Results
Official site
Photos

2006 Audi Etchells Worlds - Jud Smith wins race 1

In a nice SW breese 10-15 knots Jud Smith has taken out the first race of the Etchells Worlds in Fremantle. Jud and his team apparently sailed through Australian Cameron Miles to win by 26 seconds. Briton Andy Beadsworth was third.

Results
Official site

Day 3 Etchells Nationals - Lissiman Wins

Congratulations to Skip Lissiman and his team of Ben Durham and Kane Williamson who won the 2007 Slam Etchells Australian Championship on Sunday. Mark Bulka finished 3rd on a points count back with Andy Beadsworth from Great Briton. Thank god my early pick worked out!

http://www.etchellsworlds2006.org/results_p.asp?divid=383

Day 2 Etchells Nationals - Lissiman Leads

Skip Lissiman & Co. have managed to hang on to their points lead in the 2007 Slam Etchells Australian Championship with 9th and 10th placings on Day 2.

Looks like my early pick of Andy Beadsworth getting to the podium may come good as he is now sitting in 2nd place overall 8 points behind the leader.

Rob Brown will have to do some fancy work on the final day tomorrow he currently sits in 7th place.

Results
Official site
Local Perth weather forecast

Valencia - Friday November 10

After the terrible weather of the past few weeks, Valencia is back to its trade mark blue sky and warm temperatures. Cup teams were able to squeeze in a little training today in a light seabreeze.

Here is the Spanish team heading out for a session. With TNZ, BMW Oracle & Alinghi now gone to their respective winter training venues, it's up to the remainder to keep the venue looking busy.

The Spanish head out for training.

Conner No Show

Dennis Conner will not be competing in the Etchells Worlds to be held later this month. What's the matter Dennis? Not going because no one in Freo will buy you a beer?

The media has been once again trying to beat this one up as the "America's Cup rematch" between big bad Dennis and John Bertrand. Are you kidding me! Lets do the math. 1983 was 23 years ago, almost a quarter of a century and these guys are either 60 or about to be. Get over it. I am sure Bertrand, Conner and the rest of the public have.

Day 1 Etchells Nationals - Master V Apprentice

Skip Lissiman leads the 2007 Slam Australian Etchells Championship with a 2, 1 scorecard. In the second race of the day Lissiman and team came from 26 seconds behind John Bertrand to win. According to Sail-World it was an "America's Cup" style match race to the finish with the former apprentice beating his former master to the line. Don't you love the way these guys try and talk it up!

Last years champion Rob Brown has had a slow start with a 19th & 4th. My prediction of Andy Beadsworth coming up with the goods also looks sketchy (8th & 12th). But it is early days yet.

Here is a direct link to the official site and results.