Pimp my ride

[source: Sailing Anarchy and some dude named “Sportscar”!]

Well OK maybe just sell the shitter and upgrade to a flat out IRC racer. This is yet another new "Chutzpah" for Bruce Taylor of Melbourne. Designed by Reichel-Pugh and built by Hart Marine on the Mornington Peninsula, this 40 foot IRC racer is sure to turn some heads.

Looks like Bruce has decided to throw everything at winning this years Sydney to Hobart, a goal which has eluded him for many years.

The boat features a nice long bowsprit for hanging those massive asymmetric sails off. Double spreader rig, twin steering wheels and a chine in the stern area (a common feature on today’s racers TP52, VO70, etc).

Nice job fellas! Can’t wait to see it out sailing.

Ichi Ban wins the Corinthian Doors Peppers Anchorage F40 Regatta

After three days of racing at Port Stephens on the central coast of New South Wales, Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban has defended their title from 2006 and won the Corinthian Doors Peppers Anchorage Farr 40 regatta. Seven boats raced in the nine race series and enjoyed a variety of conditions, from picture perfect spring weather to thunderstorms and torrential downpours.


The final day of racing and the fleet sailed for a third day just north of Cabbage Tree Island. After waiting under postponement for nearly two hours while the race committee waited for the breeze to settle, racing eventually got away in an eight knot nor’easter.

Overnight points on the leader board had the first five boats within striking distance of each other so crews were keen to make every move count. Leading the fleet around the mark for the first time was Jeff Carter’s Revolution Edake with Ichi Ban in pursuit. Ichi Ban managed to sail through Revolution Edake and stay in the lead to cross the line for the first of their two wins for the day.

Race nine and the pin end of the start line became rather congested while Ichi Ban and Transfusion ran down the line from the boat end. Ichi Ban timed the start perfectly and showed the fleet a clean set of heels as she headed to the right side of the course. They continued to extend their lead but a headsail halyard breaking just after they rounded the bottom mark gave them a slight fright but the crew made a quick recovery and they went on to take the second gun for the day.

“It’s been great to be back sailing with the Australian fleet and the racing has been close all weekend. We had a moment today when the crew worked really well together to recover from a halyard breaking and it shows how important good crew work is in this fleet. The local fleet will see a number of teams back racing over the next few regattas and we are looking forward to an exciting season with the Australian fleet”, commented Allen after his win.

Class newcomer Guido Belgiorno-Nettis’s Transfusion had a great start to they Farr 40 racing coming second to Ichi Ban on a countback with Lisa and Martin Hill’s Estate Master filling the third place on the podium. “We’re very pleased with this result and Matt and his team have shown us what we have to aim for”, said Guido Belgiorno-Nettis.

The Farr 40 class would like to thank event sponsors Corinthian Doors, Peppers Anchorage and Club Marine Insurance for their continued support.

The next event on the Australian Farr 40 schedule is the Pittwater Regatta being hosted by Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, October 26-28.

Women's Match Racing Worlds Head Down Under

[Source: ISAF]

The Notice of Race for the 2008 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship is now available on the newly launched championship microsite.

View the Notice of Race, along with past World Championship results, at the newly launched championship microsite - www.sailing.org/wmatchworlds.

The tenth edition of the ISAF Women’s World Championship will also be the first held in the Southern Hemisphere, with the world’s top women match racers set to go head to head in Auckland, New Zealand from 1-6 April.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, winner of the 1995 and 2000 America’s Cup, will host the 2008 Worlds.

Racing on Waitemata Harbour will take place in ten Elliott 6m boats owned by the Squadron and used for the New Zealand Women’s Match Racing Championship over the last few years.

On 1 April 2008 the Opening Ceremony at the RNZYS will get the Worlds underway, with the final, to decide the 2008 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Champion, scheduled for 6 April.

Fourteen skippers will be invited to contest the title. As defending champion Claire LEROY (FRA), long time leader of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings and a nominee for the 2007 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award, receives an automatic invite. Invitations will also be sent to the top ten skippers from next release of the Women’s ISAF World Match Race Rankings on 24 October (affectively the top 11 with LEROY already occupying the #1 spot).

Two qualifying events – the ISAF Grade 2 CYCA Harken Women’s Match Race in Sydney and the ISAF Grade 3 New Zealand Women’s Match Racing Championships will offer lower Ranked skippers an opportunity to earn the right to challenge for the World title. In addition to this their will be one wildcard entry.

John CRAWFORD, RNZYS Commodore, is looking forward to host the Worlds, "We have the world class resources to run this event!” he said. “Ten fully equalized boats, experienced Race and Boat Management teams, a great umpire team, including America's Cup Umpires - we are really looking forward to hosting this world class competition."Sara ROBERTS, RNZYS Sailing Manager and a former match racer, added, “It is a great opportunity to see the world’s best girls here in Auckland. We are sure that we will have a real World Championship on a very high level!”

Gotta Love It 7 takes the Alf Beashel Trophy

[Source: Australian 18 Footers League]

The new 18ft Skiff season got off to a great start today with a 12knot North East wind and a 21-boat fleet on hand on Sydney Harbour.

The Gotta Love It 7 team, skippered by Seve Jarvin with crew of Sam Newton and Robert Bell, showed they were again going to be a force when they took out the Alf Beashel Trophy by 41secs.

Pure Blonde (James Francis) finished second with Southern Cross Constructions (Chris Pomfret) a further 44secs back in third place.

Right from the start Gotta Love It 7 took the lead as the fleet headed for the triple windward marks near the Beashel Buoy.

Closely bunched behind the leader were Fiat, Asko Appliances, Rag & Famish Hotel and Active Air-2UE.

Nearing the windward marks, Rag & Famish crossed 7 to grab a narrow lead but it was the “C/Red” mark skiffs which came out on top as the fleet headed downwind.

Southern Cross Constructions led Maytag which “B/Blue” marker skiffs Gotta Love It 7 and Maytag led the chasers.

Fisher & Paykel was fifth, followed by CST Composites, with Rag & Famish (the leading “A/White” marker) seventh just ahead of Fiat.

Pure Blonde gybed inside Southern Cross at the wing mark to take the lead then held her lead at the end of the first lap - but it was now Gotta Love It 7 in second place.

7’s upwind speed was enough to lead narrowly at the 3-buoys windward marks the second time and the pair staged a good duel on the straight run back to the leeward mark.

Although Pure Blonde’s crew continued to pressure the Gotta Love It 7 team, the t crew maintained their advantage over the final lap of the course to score a good first up win.

Many new teams were having their first race start and once they have gained a little more experience we are in for another great season.

Next weekend we stage another 3-buoys handicap race for the Life Members Trophy.

Frank Quealey
Australian 18 Footers League

CYCA Bluewater Pointscore - Bird Island

The first race in this years Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Blue Water Pointscore was held on Friday night. With a forecast that promised fresh to frightening NW conditions, all competitors were hopefull of finishing the 85 nautical mile course in well under 12 hours. Unfortunately is was not to be and before the boats had even left the harbour after the 7pm start they were becalmed. It proved to be a challenging night, with frequent holes in the breeze and sloppy conditions on the Tasman Sea.

It was day break before the first boat "Wot Yot" rounded Bird Island, the 40nm leg taking just under 12hours (painfully slow). At this stage a moderate NW breeze was in and all were hoping that the forecast would come true. The leading yachts held onto this breeze but once again the small boats got shafted! The Easterly sea breeze battling the hot nor-westerly. "Splash Gordon" reported completing several auto-gybes, sailing peacfully along in the westerly only to have it completely crap out and come instantly from the east.

"Wot Yot" beat Syd Fischer's new Ragamuffin (ex-Morning Light TP52) who finished 3rd with the once great maxi Brindabella 2nd across the line.

Here's a link to the IRC results.
http://www.cyca.com.au/sysfile/downloads/bwps_208rr.htm

ISAF World Sailing Rankings - 3 October

Good news for Australia! Lets hope these great results continue into 2008.

[Source: ISAF]

Australia hold onto their three top spots whilst there is just one change amongst the leaders in the latest release of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings on 3 October.

The Aussies stay at the top of the Laser, 470 Men and Tornado Rankings thanks to Tom SLINGSBY, Nathan WILMOT and Malcolm PAGE, and Darren BUNDOCK and Glenn ASHBY respectively. The single change amongst the world #1 crews sees the Polish team of Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ and Tomasz HOLC move up one place to claim the top spot in the Star. Even without regular crew Dominik ZYCKI, KUSZNIEREWICZ claimed a top ten finish at the recent ISAF Grade C1 Star Europeans to leapfrog Xavier ROHART and Pascal RAMBEAU (FRA) and reclaim the world #1 spot he held once before in May.

Despite Australia’s three world #1 spots, it is Spain who can claim the title of top nation in this Ranking release with four teams occupying top three spots. Marina ALABAU leads the RS:X Women Rankings, Fernando ECHAVARRI and Anton PAZ, and Iker MARTINEZ and Xavi FERNANDEZ lie second in the Tornado and 49er Rankings respectively, whilst Ivan PASTOR stays at #3 in the RS:X Men Rankings.It is also a very good Ranking release for Germany and Poland. The Germans, like Spain, hold four top three spots, whilst Poland hold two top spots and a second place. The Netherlands also perform well, however Great Britain drops off the pace somewhat. After being the top nation in the previous Ranking release, the Brits lose two of their top three spots and fall back to sixth nation.

2007 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Nominations

Source: ISAF

ISAF and Rolex are proud to announce the shortlisted nominees for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2007.

The criteria for nomination for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2007 was "outstanding sailing achievement" in the period 1 September 2006 to 31 August 2007. ISAF received numerous nominations for sailors from across the world and in a variety of disciplines who met the criteria.

The nominees are:

Female

Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB & Pippa WILSON (GBR)

Marcelien DE KONING & Lobke BERKHOUT (NED)

Claire LEROY (FRA)

Evi VAN ACKER (BEL)

Male

Ed BAIRD (USA)

Franck CAMMAS (FRA)

Vincenzo ONORATO (ITA)

Robert SCHEIDT & Bruno PRADA (BRA)

Rohan VEAL (AUS)

The ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs) - the national governing bodies for sailing around the world - are now invited to vote for the one female nominee and one male nominee whom they feel deserves the honour of receiving the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award 2007.

The winners will be announced at the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards Dinner and Presentation which is being held on Tuesday 6 November 2007. The venue for the events is the beautiful Penha Longa, a historic and gracefully restored monastery in the hills just outside Estoril in Portugal.

Each winner will be presented with the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award Trophy and a distinctive Rolex timepiece.

New York Court does not grant Injunction

[Source: Alinghi]

After a brief hearing in the New York Supreme Court today before Justice Cahn, the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) is pleased to announce that the Judge did not grant the Golden Gate Yacht Club’s (GGYC) application for an injunction, and instead ordered the parties to submit written legal arguments designed to dispose of the case in the shortest possible time. The Judge set the 22 October as the date to hear legal arguments to resolve the central issue, which focuses on the validity of Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV), the Spanish challenge, accepted by the SNG after winning the 32nd America’s Cup.

The Spanish challenge, CNEV, also advised the Court that it will intervene in the case as a party so as to reinforce and confirm its legal standing as Challenger of Record for the 33rd America’s Cup.

Importantly, this is the second successful legal outcome in only a matter of days, following the America’s Cup Arbitration Panel’s ruling over the weekend that declared legitimate the Challenger of Record, and that the 33rd Protocol complies with the Deed of Gift.

“Naturally we are pleased with this outcome which is another welcome positive result in this unfortunate legal process,” said Hamish Ross, Alinghi General Counsel, adding: “As we had asked the Court, SNG will be submitting, as planned, its motion to dismiss the case entirely, and we look forward to having an opportunity to clear this matter up as quickly as possible on the date set by the Court. We now need to draw a line under the uncertainty and damage created by the Golden Gate Yacht Club and BMW Oracle Racing’s actions and focus on the future.”

Meanwhile work continues apace on the 33rd Americas Cup in Valencia following the first Competitors Commission meeting on Friday of last week and with further meetings being scheduled. This period of consultation with the five registered challengers runs until the end of October when the new class rule will be published, ensuring that the America’s Cup remains at the pinnacle of international sailing.

Arbitration Panel confirms validity of CNEV

On Friday the AC33 Arbitration Panel investigating the validity of the CNEV (Spanish) challenge for the 33rd America's Cup reached its decision. And what do you think that decision might be...

It is interesting however, that the arbitration panel has made a recommendation to SNG and CNEV to amend some of the provisions in the protocol. I can't wait to read what these may be on Monday. Perhaps the right of Alinghi to sail in the challenger elimination?

By America's Cup Media 07-09-2007

This afternoon, the Arbitration Panel reached a decision on the ACAP 33/01 case, in the matter of the Protocol governing the 33rd America’s Cup and in the matter of an application filed by SNG on July 20, 2007 in respect of the validity of the challenge of Club Nautico Español de Vela (“CNEV”) for the 33rd America’s Cup.

In compliance with directions from the Arbitration Panel, the full document will be made available from this website Monday September 10, but it the meantime this is the summary of the decision:

“[162] The decision of the Panel is the following:
- The Panel (i) has the competence to rule on its own jurisdiction and (ii) also has jurisdiction to rule on the present matter;
- The challenge for the 33rd America’s Cup made by CNEV on July 3, 2007 (i) is a valid challenge entitling CNEV to challenge for the America’s Cup as Challenger of Record and (ii) SNG is obligated to accept (as it was the first valid challenge it received);
- The Protocol signed by SNG and CNEV on July 3, 2007 complies with the Deed of Gift; and
- Although this does not affect the compliance of the existing Protocol with the Deed of Gift, the Panel believes that SNG and CNEV should consider amending the Protocol in respect of some of its provisions as stated in point points [155] and [156].”

http://33rd.americascup.com/en/

33rd America's Cup Dispute Timeline

ACM have set out the timeline for the dispute resolution as below.

By America's Cup Media

Golden Gate Yacht Club v. Société Nautique de Genève: Arbitration/Litigation status (as of 24 August 2007)28-08-2007

In order to keep our readers up to date with news of the dispute playing out in the New York court between the Golden Gate Yacht Club and the Société Nautique de Genève, we have drawn out a simple timeline and explanation which explains the steps that have been taken and the ones to come.

The dispute between SNG and GGYC is now proceeding on three paths: (i) the arbitration before the arbitration panel under the 33rd Protocol, (ii) the complaint filed by GGYC in NY court, and (iii) the motion filed by GGYC in NY court.

Arbitration
- SNG, CNEV, ACM and Royal Thames have made submissions to the Arbitration Panel.
- GGYC was invited to participate in the arbitration but refused.
- A ruling is expected as to the validity of CNEV’s challenge in the coming weeks.
- Two of the three arbitrators were also arbitrators for the 32nd America’s Cup.

Litigation: GGYC’s Complaint
- GGYC’s complaint which challenges CNEV’s status as Challenger of Record was dated 20 July but was not served on SNG until 17 August.
- SNG’s response is due in mid-September.
- SNG believes GGYC’s claims are without merit and will defend itself against them.

Litigation: GGYC’s Motion
- On 22 August GGYC applied to the NY court seeking:
- An expedited schedule for the case commenced by GGYC’s complaint under which
discovery (the exchange of information between the parties) would be completed in
September and trial would be held in October, and
- A preliminary injunction requiring that SNG (i) provide GGYC with SNG’s club sailing
rules and (ii) identify where a two-team match between SNG and GGYC in July 2008
would be held.
- The 22 August “order” of the NY court only sets a schedule for the parties’ submissions on GGYC’s application and in no way addresses the substance or merit of the application.
- SNG’s written response to the motion is due to be filed 5 September.
- A hearing on the motion before the NY court is scheduled for 10 September.
- The complaint and the motion are part of the same case and are before the same Judge (Justice Cahn) in NY.

http://33rd.americascup.com/en/