Paprec-Virbac strikes UFO, Desjoyeaux on the Cape Horn straight

[Source: Vendée Globe] Jean-Pierre Dick looks set to give up his battle to stay in the Vendée Globe after a collision during his night which removed his port rudder and assembly off the transom of Paprec-Virbac 2.

The Nicois skipper considered tonight that his race is over. After damaging his starboard rudder in a similar type of collision with a semi-submerged object 16 days ago when he was leading the race, Dick had fought valiantly to make a repair, and was in sixth position when the cruel blow occurred.

He was sailing at around 15 knots of boat speed, under mainsail and gennaker when incident happened during the hours of darkness.

The skipper reported to his shore team that he has no idea what the object was. He immediately slowed the boat, reduced sail to two reefs and a staysail and turned on to the opposite gybe so that he could steer with his starboard rudder.

Video highlights from day 52 of the Vendée Globe. 31 December 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

His position was approximately 47 deg 49.53 S, 143 deg 08.10 W. That places him about 1700 miles south of the French Polynesian Islands, 2700 miles WNW of Cape Horn, and about 1800 miles from New Zealand.

The Nicois skipper is unharmed, there is no other damage reported to the boat and he is making a compass course of about 350 degrees towards the South Pacific high pressure system which will initially provide calmer winds and seas while he and his team assess the options.

"At 13h00 (GMT), Paprec-Virbac 2 was sailing on the starboard tack under mainsail and gennaker at 15 knots. I was sleeping and heard a big-bang, a loud noise. I rushed outside and saw the port rudder was out of the water and was wobbling around. The whole structure has been damaged. I was just about to put on my foulies, when the whole thing broke off and fell in the water. It all happened in less than a minute. It had to be the port rudder when the starboard one was already damaged. I hit a UFO, probably a growler, and it's extremely depresssing to see that again. Sailing with one rudder would be dangerous. The Vendée Globe is over for me.” Reported Dick.

“It was a dark night and suddenly there was a very violent hit and carbon breaking noise, I woke up very rapidly.” Jean-Pierre told the special radio broadcast, “I woke up rapidly and when I got out I could see the port rudder was up and a few seconds later the whole thing, the cassette, everything, dropped and sank deep into the Pacific. I could only watch.”

“ I am heading north to try to reach the anticyclone zone to avoid the stronger winds. Then I will choose between the French Pacific Islands or New Zealand.”

“It is so very disappointing. There is such a lot of work to participate and try to win. It is a four year campaign with a new boat, and a lot of big personal involvements. It’s your whole life. And everything is gone. You are without that objective. It is not good.” Dick said.

On the last day of 2008 the leaders are on the straight line to Cape Horn, 1600 miles away, with Michel Desjoyeaux holding a lead of just less than 100 miles over Roland Jourdain. The leaders now have to choose between heading south in search of stronger winds or keep with the straight line course and risk less consistent breezes nearer the Chilean coast.

Meantime British skippers Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) in ninth place and Steve White (Toe in the Water) are battling with their electrical and mechanical problems as they struggle into the New Year. Thomspson is struggling with what may be an electrical fault with his alternators, while White has had to slow to a near halt to, again, try to construct a fully functioning, autopilot from his faulty ones.

A note again on the unreliability of the mileages on the rankings tables at the present time. The problem is in the method that is used to calculate the distance remaining to the finish via the security gates. At present when the competitor passes the east edge of the gate in the south then they are credited with a big mileage gain.

Vendée Globe: Paprec-Virbac 2 loses port rudder

[Source: Vendée Globe] At around 1300hrs GMT, Vendee Globe skipper Jean-Pierre Dick suffered a collision with a solid object which is reported to have removed the port rudder and most of its assembly from the stern of Paprec-Virbac 2.

Dick has explained how he was alseep when he was awoken by a loud bang and the brutal crunch of breaking carbon. He was pulling on his foul weather trousers quickly and got into cockpit just in time to see the damaged, twisted assembly fall into the water off the transom.

"I was sleeping and heard a big bang, a loud noise. I rushed outside and saw the port rudder was out of the water and was wobbling around. The whole structure has been damaged. I was just about to put on my foulies, when the whole thing broke off and fell in the water. It all happened in less than a minute. It had to be the port rudder when the starboard one was already damaged. I hit a UFO, probably a growler.

" It is extremely depresssing to see that. Sailing with one rudder would be dangerous. The Vendée Globe is over for me."

He was sailing at around 15 knots of boat speed, under mainsail and gennaker when incident happened during the hours of darkness.

The skipper reported to his shore team that he has no idea what the object was. He immediately slowed the boat, reduced sail to two reefs and a staysail and turned on to the opposite gybe so that he could steer with his starboard rudder.

His position was approximately 47 deg 49.53 S, 143 deg 08.10 W. That places him about 1700 miles south of the French Polynesian Islands, 2700 miles WNW of Cape Horn, and about 1800 miles from New Zealand.

The Nicois skipper is unharmed, there is no other damage reported to the boat and he is making a compass course of about 350 degrees towards the South Pacific high pressure system which will initially provide calmer winds and seas while he and his team assess the options.

5-time World Champ Glenn Ashby wins A-Cat Pre-Worlds; James Spithill 4th

[Source: 2009 A-Cat Worlds Media Center] Five times A-Cat World Champion Glenn Ashby reminded everyone just why he is the A-Cat King today. He has produced a dominating display in the five race Australian A-Cat titles on Lake Macquarie. His scorecard was 1, 1,3,3,1 – an impressive result in an 85 boat fleet.

The vertically challenged sailor, he is only 5 foot six inches (1.68 metres) has blistering speed, surprising when another six inches or 150mm would get more weight to windward.

Ashby has a different trapezing style to most of his competitors; his body is much lower on the boat, his airborne hull seems to just skim over the waves. His head is so low it’s clear he often can’t see the leeward hull, but his boat is flat and flat is fast.

Glenn Ashby (right) and James Spithill racing in the 2009 A-Cat Pre-Worlds. Belmont, Australia, 31 December 2008. Photo copyright Sail-World.com /AUS

Ashby says ‘It comes from the Tornado. Darren (Bundock) is a low trapper and I need to be lower than helm, so I've always been a very low trapper. It provides maximum efficiency and I need that because I am far from tall.'

As well as speed, Ashby has always been a very smart sailor; he has five A-Cat World titles to prove that. But his silver medal Olympic Tornado campaign has sharpened his course skills even more, in the last two years especially.

He agrees. ‘The last two years of the Tornado campaign have certainly improved my racing skills. Things like picking starting positions and shifts. The Olympic campaign has polished up some of the edges.’

‘I guess it comes out best on tricky days. Today was a really ‘woolly’ day; we had a westerly from 6 knots to 28 knots, shifty, puffy wind. Really tricky conditions. There were some huge snakes and ladders. It was not a speed day; it was an eyes out of the boat day.’

In the first race of the day, the fourth in the series, Steve Brewin won from Tom Slingsby, Glenn Ashby and Brad Collett. In Race Five, Ashby took the gun from Andrew Landerberger and Brad Collett. Slingsby was seventh.

2007 Australian A Class Champion Steve Brewin commented back in the boat park, ‘Glenn is always very hard to beat, so it was nice to do that in the first race today. On Monday he gave us a sailing lesson right from the start and that was a wake up call.

‘I would have said that Tom Slingsby is probably the biggest improver that I’ve seen in a long while, in the shortest time. Today he had a 2 and a 7. Scott Anderson’s doing a lot of training with Tom and certainly he’s come up to pace.’

James Spithill racing in the 2009 A-Cat Pre-Worlds. Belmont, Australia, 31 December 2008. Photo copyright Sail-World.com /AUS

In fourth place overall was BMW Oracle America’s Cup match racer James Spithill, who had a 16, 12 day after a second and seven yesterday.

‘I’ve been able to string together a few good results. However I think my family who were watching on the first day, just think it’s a miracle I have not capsized. I’ve almost done it coming into the finish. Yesterday in one race, closing on the finish line I just pulled off this gybe and my boat was right on the edge. I somehow flattened it out and it was a Spithill family disappointment, obviously’ he laughed.

Slingsby, dual World Laser champion is another freshman in the A-Cat's who is messing with the pecking order.

He came ashore today with a huge grin on his face, after a second in this morning's race ahead of his Australian Sailing Team mate Ashby and then a seventh this afternoon.

Slingsby commented ‘Starting catamarans is a whole new thing for me, so timed runs in are a bit different for me; but it’s pretty crazy. I’ve been lucky to get off the start so far. I had one bad one yesterday.

‘Glenn’s quick. It’s not the only thing. I think off the start line people can match him; he’s just smart and his boat handling is better than everyone else’s.

‘In one race I saw him duck ten boats. It was just one of the biggest duckings, but then he came out and went the right way and was gone. I think his 'smarts' are what are getting him in front of everyone. He knows how to sail his boat, that’s for sure.

‘I like plenty of wind because I am a bitter heavier than most. The more shifts the better, (like today) I think. I’d prefer having a bit more of a mind game than everyone else. But it’s fun, it’s a great boat, a great class and I’m really enjoying it' concluded Slingsby.

The A-Cat Worlds commence at Belmont 16 foot Sailing Club on Lake Macquarie on the 3rd January, with the Practice race. The Championship starts on January 3rd and racing concludes on the 9th January.

Five more teams present Amicus Brief supporting SNG in NY court

Related PDF documents

- Amicus Brief filed by the 5 Challengers
- Notice of Motion

[Source: Alinghi] Five additional challengers have presented an Amicus Curiae Brief in support of the Société Nautique de Genève against BMW Oracle Racing, including two 32nd America's Cup challengers. (On the 13 of November Team French Spirit, Team Shosholoza, Green Comm Challenge, Argo Challenge and Ayre Challenge as well as the city of Valencia filed an Amicus Curiae Brief).

These are the five additional challengers:

- K-Challenge
- Deutscher Challenger Yacht Club
- Dabliu Sail Project
- Italia
- Russian Challenge

Vendée Globe halfway through - A designer's perspective

[Source: IMOCA] Whilst the main protagonists are still at sea, the IMOCA talked to a group of people that have played a crucial role in getting the sailors to where they are today. Boat designers were asked if recent events in the race have surprised them and if the skippers are pushing their boats too hard? We also hear from Alex Thomson who was forced to retire earlier in the race.

Merf Owen, Owen Clarke Design Group (Designer of Algimouss Spirit of Canada; Aviva; Ecover 3; Temenos II): "Breakages are rarely linked they all have their own causes. If a mast breaks it could be rigging, a tube or a fitting. If a keel is reported as breaking it can also be a generalisation - in Dominique Wavre's case a fitting on the top of the keel, in other cases in the past a whole keel, or a failure of the hydraulic rams...."

Pascal Conq, Finot-Conq (Designer of Brit Air; DCNS; Génénerali; Hugo Boss; Akena Véranda; Roxy; Spirit of Weymouth; Aquarelle.com): "In these sorts of conditions, it really is down to where each of the skipper puts himself that makes all the difference and that depends on his state of mind and how he/she wants to control their race. It is not about pushing the boats 100% to their potential. I'm not surprised or worried about the events that have taken place as we all expected lots of retirements. The fact that they are being caused by masts, keels or rudders, is nothing unusual......."

Patrick Shaughnessy, President of Farr Yacht Design (Designers of BT; Delta Dore; Foncia; Gitana Eighty; Paprec-Virbac 2; PRB; Cheminées Poujoulat): "We been very proud to see a good number of our teams in the top 5 or top 10 boats and at the same time we've been devastated by the retirements our teams have experienced." "Of course in the end we at Farr Yacht Design hope that one of our teams will ultimately win the Vendee Globe race. That said, it feels way too early to be talking about those expectations when the sailors have so much hard work in front of them." "The second generation of boats benefited from a better understanding of how the boats are sailed and generally explored more powerful solutions but also with a strong focus on balance and the skippers ability to use as much of the boat as possible..."

Simon Rogers, Rogers Yacht Design Ltd (Designer of Artemis) : "The new generation 60 have proved that they need considerably more time to set up and find their speed potential over previous generations. Miles on the water with their skippers are proving critical along with striking a balance between reliability and weight saving. With over a third of the Vendee fleet abandoned with the leaders only half way round the world, reliability is playing its hand and proving that the Vendee is largely still about the sailor."

Marc Lombard (Designer of Veolia Environnement; VM Materiaux): "The retirements are not surprising at all. Masts always come down as they are such a crucial part of the overall performance. A mast that's too heavy kills a boat's performance, a mast that's too light can break. Its durability also depends on how it is treated all the varying conditions and varying wind strengths. There's no 1 reason for a mast breaking, sometimes it's the mechanics, and other times the original calculations or overworking the rigging. The only common theme is that it is a sensitive part of a boat!...."

Alex Thomson, IMOCA Executive Committee member & skipper of Hugo Boss: "This is the world's toughest challenge, it shouldn't be easy!..."

Team Russia drops out of the Volvo Ocean Race due to insufficient funds

[Source: Team Russia] Team Russia today announced it has suspended racing upon arrival in Singapore at the end of Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race due to insufficient funds to continue the campaign.

The team has been actively approaching sponsors in recent months to secure enough financial support to continue the Volvo Ocean Race onto Qingdao (China) and beyond. However no sponsorship has been forthcoming and the team has no alternative but to suspend racing until further financial support can be secured.

Team Russia arrives in Singapore, the end of their journey in the Volvo Ocean Race. Singapore, 23 December 2008. Photo copyright David Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race

“From the outset, it was always a goal to bring commercial partners into the project,” explains Oleg Zherebtsov, the Team principal. “Until now, I have financed the team with my own money, in advance of anticipated sponsorship funding. By this stage in the Volvo campaign we had intended to find sponsorship, but this process has been impacted by the global economic situation.”

Cessation of racing also means that Team Russia is unable to continue its partnership with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS). The team was proud to “Sail For The Whale”, during the first three legs of the Volvo Ocean Race and was instrumental in spreading the call for safe habitats for whales and dolphins around the globe. WDCS is very proud to have been a part of this race and will continue to work for the creation of 12 large marine protection areas by the year 2012 and will find new ways to work with the international sailing community as well as the general public to achieve this goal.

Windy night ahead for Vendée Globe skippers

[Source: Vendée Globe] Three low pressure zones stretching across the race course from front-runners to rear markers look set to ensure everyone has a windy night tonight. Those on the western edge are still skirting the edge of a low which will see winds averaging 50 knots affecting the west of the Kerguelens, with a second storm brewing in the next 48 hours.

In the middle of the fleet a low is deepening to the south-east of Heard Island and looks set to bring violent winds from tomorrow through to Wednesday — making for an exciting Christmas Eve, even if for the skippers it is going to be spent slaving over GRIB files, rather than a turkey… These winds are set to move northwards, towards the south of Australia. For the leaders, a low that formed over Cape Leeuwin last weekend and then headed off towards Tasmania is now moving towards the south of New Zealand, generating some strong gusts in the thundery squalls.

Video highlights from day 43 of the Vendée Globe. 22 December 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

In this evening’s update, the boats with most favourable conditions seem to be in the second row — Vincent Riou (PRB) in 6th making the most ground in 24 hours, with fifth-placed Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) also clocking averages of over 18 knots. Fastest over this afternoon has been Jean-Pierre Dick, whose rudder repairs to Paprec-Virbac 2 seem to be holding with speeds creeping over 20 knots.

Further ahead, leader Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) is diving further south-east, whilst the chasing trio have all gybed today onto a more north-easterly course. Can they undo the damage Foncia has wreaked? In one week Sebastien Josse (BT) has lost 150 miles in one week, Jean Le Cam (VM Materials) conceded 180 miles, Armel le Cléac'h (Brit Air) nearly 270 miles and Vincent Riou (PRB) 250 miles – there will be no let-up in the Pacific just yet…

Emirates Team NZ Newsletter: Grant Dalton’s update

Base is buzzing as we prepare for LVPS

Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

Boats launched January 15-19

Team practice starts January 24

Racing starts January 30 and continues until February 14

The base is buzzing again as preparations for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series pick up pace.

On top of that, the team is also right into its TP52 project, with the build well-advanced at Cookson’s yard on the North Shore. The yacht will be launched a few days after the final of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

At the Viaduct Harbour base, boatbuilders, electronic and hydraulic engineers, riggers and sailmakers are working to re-commission the yachts and build the identifying spinnakers for each team. All this and the Christmas-New Year holiday season is approaching fast.

The BMW Oracle Racing yachts arrived from Spain a few days ago and shore crew are working on them.

The four yachts will be back in the water in the third week of January, ready for sea trials and the start of practice for participating teams on January 24.

There’s much more to this regatta than just the four racing yachts and 200 yachtsmen. Once again we have tapped into that special New Zealand spirit that just makes things happen. The regatta could not have been held without the willing help of dozens of people and organisations. Individuals are lending their boats, companies are donating product or heavily discounting products and services.

The Government and Auckland city and its agencies have given great support and practical help. We couldn’t have asked for better. Without their help, New Zealand and Auckland would have missed out on a great event.

One of BMW Oracle's two yachts to be used in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. Photo copyright Emirates Team NZ

Nothing has been too much trouble for the harbour master and police who have made it possible to run the races close in to the shore. Courses will be laid right across the approaches to the busy commercial port so that spectators on shore can share the action.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is organising on-the-water activity. They have brought together a large number of volunteers to man the fleet needed for course and racing officials - the umpires, marshals, mark layers and the “ferries” to get race crews on and off the yachts.

It’s a big job but the Squadron, with a couple of Louis Vuitton Cups and America’s Cups behind it, is well-practiced at handling the logistics of a big regatta.

While all the on-the-water activities are being worked through, Louis Vuitton, Auckland City, the people at Viaduct Harbour Marine Village and SKYCITY are working to ensure the race village and on-shore entertainment becomes a reality.

And, because a large number of international journalists are expected to be in Auckland for the regatta, Tourism New Zealand and Tourism Auckland are working to ensure that we miss no opportunity to promote New Zealand and the region.

TP52 Programme

It’s good to see the TP 52 project coming together so well. We will campaign the TP 52 on the Med Cup circuit, one of the most competitive on the international racing calendar. Five regattas (in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy) are planned in 2009, the first in the third week of May.

Our yacht is due to be shipped to Europe in March after sea trials have been completed. A workshop container and chase boat will travel with it.

A TP 52 has a crew of 15. The regattas will give the core sailing crew the chance to sail together, an essential part of the buildup to the next America’s Cup.

The TP 52 project is being funded by Emirates and staunch supporter of the team Matteo de Nora.

Top: Emirates Team New Zealand boat builder Peter Ockleston and Colin Driver. Bottom: Some of the TP 52 build team: Ian McLean, Anthony Murray, Andy Howden and Mark Borley show off their handiwork. Photo copyright Emirates Team NZ

America’s Cup

Meanwhile the America’s Cup saga continues: Alinghi is proceeding to organise a multi-challenge America’s Cup for 2010 even though the Oracle appeal in the New York courts has still to be resolved.

Oracle’s Larry Ellison has told Alinghi that it would not enter the event by Alinghi’s December 15 deadline (and as a pre-condition withdraw its legal challenge) and would persevere with the appeal.

That leaves two possible outcomes: Oracle’s appeal is dismissed and the Spanish yacht club CNEV is confirmed as the challenger of record and a multi-challenge America’s Cup is back on track.

Oracle wins the appeal and a Deed-of-Gift challenge is sailed in the multihulls, in Oracle’s case a 90ft trimaran which the team has been trialing off San Diego. Alinghi’s multi-hull has yet to be seen in public.

The outcome is unlikely to be known for some months.

The team thanks our suppliers and sponsors for their patience and continued support. It’s comforting to know they’re behind us.

Season’s greetings to everyone.

Grant Dalton

Back in the sun ... after more than a year in the shed, NZL 92 gets ready for racing. Photo copyright Emirates Team NZ

K-Challenge unveils crew for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

[Source: K-Challenge] K-Challenge is proud to introduce its crew list for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series which will be held in Auckland, New Zealand, from 1-14 February 2009.

This team that was gathered by Sebastien Col will arrive in Auckland on January 23, in order to start the training with the nine other competing teams. FRA93 is now ready to sail again, and a training session against other teams is now being organized for January.

Stephane Kandler, K-Challenge CEO: “The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series will be a fantastic opening for the 2009 season for K-Challenge, who will represent France for this great event, which is going to be exceptional. Sebastien Col gathered a top quality team with him: they are sailors who have a huge experience of America’s Cup Class boats and of match racing, besides their impressive prize lists. Our goal will be to use the maximum out of this potential, and our leitmotiv will be to go as far as possible in the competition.”

Sebastien Col and his K-Challenge crew won the Portugal Match Cup. From left (holding the trophies) Olivier Douillard, Frederic Guilmin, Christophe André, Gilles Favennec and Sebastien Col. Troia, 28 September 2008. Photo copyright Wander Roberto

Crew list- Bow: Jean-Marie Dauris (United Internet Team Germany 2007, Le Défi Areva 2003)
- Mid-bow: Christophe André (Areva Challenge 2007, Equipe de France de Match Racing with Sebastien Col)
- Mast: Jann Neergaard (BMW Oracle Racing 2007, Alinghi 2003)
- Pit: Gilles Favennec (Areva Challenge 2007, Equipe de France de Match Racing with Sebastien Col, Le Défi Areva 2003)
- Pit Assist: Bruno Jeanjean (America’s Cup with the French teams in 1992 and 1995)
- Grinder: Federico Giovanelli (Desafio Español 2007, Prada Challenge 2003)
- Grinder: Carlo Castellano (Desafio Español 2007, Mascalzone Latino 2003, Il Moro de Venezia 1992)
- Trimmer / Spinnaker: Olivier Douillard (Areva Challenge 2007, Equipe de France de Match Racing with Sebastien Col, Le Défi Areva 2003)
- Trimmer / Jib: Christian Scherrer (+39 Challenge 2007, Alinghi 2003, Equipe de France de Match Racing with Sebastien Col)
- Grinder: Enrico de Maria (Alinghi 2007, 2003)
- Trimmer / Main Sail: Yann Gouniot (Alinghi 2007, France3 1995, Ville de Paris 1992, French Kiss 1987, France3 1983
- Traveller: Erwan Israel (Equipe de France de Match Racing with Sebastien Col)
- Helmsman: Sebastien Col (Areva Challenge 2007, Le Défi Areva 2003)
- Tactician: Rod Dawson (BMW Oracle Racing 2007, Oneworld 2003)
- Strategist: Fred Guilmin (Areva Challenge 2007, Equipe de France de Match Racing with Sebastien Col, Le Défi Areva 2003)
- Grinder : Virgilio Torrecilla (Desafio Español 2007, Bravo España 2000)
- Navigator : Philippe Mourniac (United Internet Team Germany 2007, Le Défi Areva 2003, Ville de Paris 1992)

Sebastien Col and his K-Challenge crew won the Portugal Match Cup. Troia, 28 September 2008. Photo copyright Wander Roberto

“It is a great satisfaction to have gathered a powerful crew for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series with K-Challenge”, says Sebastien Col. “In this team, we will have seven sailors who took part to the 2008 World Match Racing Tour with me; moreover they all won at least one of the events of the circuit.

For the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, I relied on several people to build the best team by co-optation, so that each person in the group has already sailed at least once with another one. So we have a group that starts with common human bases.

It has been a lot of work, but my method was to involve a maximum of team members in the building of the team, looking at the people working together on board.”

Jean-Pierre Champion, President of the FFVoile, French Sailing Federation concludes: “The crew looks really promising, with several young talents coming from the French Match Racing team, as for example most of the guys in the afterguard. This recruitment is the result of the work that the K-Challenge team carried out these last months. Besides, they are also the only French team competing in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Louis Vuitton for the organization of that event which will mark the beginning of the 2009 season.”

Telefonica Blue wins leg 3 of Volvo Ocean Race

[Source: Volvo Ocean Race] Fighting for every inch, Telefónica Blue, skippered by Dutchman Bouwe Bekking, crossed the finish line at the end of leg three of the Volvo Ocean Race to score an emphatic victory in Singapore today at 1451 GMT (2251 local time).

It was among the closest finishes in the race history, with the top four boats finishing within 20 minutes following nearly 10 days of racing.

The Spanish team takes a valuable eight points towards their overall score, which now stands at 30.5 points, putting them into second place overall (subject to protest).

The 1950 nautical mile leg, which started from Cochin, India, on December 13, has been a leg of mental and physical torture for the crew, which took nine days, four hours, 51 minutes and 22 seconds to complete (09:04:41:22)

Telefonica Blue arrives victorious in Singapore. 22 December 2008. Photo copyright Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race

PUMA, led by Kenny Read/USA claimed second, 17 minutes behind the Spanish team, (finish time 1508 GMT) adding seven points to her tally, giving her a total of 27.5 points and third place overall. (Elapsed time: 09:05:08:01)

The final podium spot went to Ericsson 3 (Anders Lewander/SWE), who beat their teammates on Ericsson 4 (Torben Grael/BRA) to take third, and a total of 23.5 points overall. (Finish time 1509 GMT, elapsed time 09:05:09:48s)

Ericsson 4 was relegated to fourth place, adding five points to the four they earned for passing through the scoring gate a Palau We in first place. They still lead the race overall, but the margin has narrowed to just 4.5 points over Telefónica Blue. (Finish time 15:10:28 GMT elapsed time 09:05:10m28s).

After crossing the finish, Bouwe Bekking and his crew were ecstatic. Speaking from Telefónica Blue as they motored to Race Village at Sentosa Island and the waiting crowds and families, Bekking said:

“It is a very sweet victory. Very special - just before Christmas – a nice little gift for us and very nice because all the families are here. It will be good to see all the happy faces when we get in.

“It was incredible for us. We were in the lead, then we lost it and then took it back again. In the final six or seven miles, the breeze died completely and the other guys got very close, then we got a little puff of breeze and I managed to bring her home.

“I have never seen the guys so happy. I have known them for quite a while and normally they are very cool, but they were just ecstatic when they went through the finish. It is a huge thing for us.

“I told the guys to take it easy as especially in this part of the race, the seas can change in half an hour, and then we sailed a really good race from that point on. We had a couple of really good shifts and, tactically, it went our way and the guys sailed very fast in light airs, which is was why we won. It shows that Ericsson 4 is not invincible and it is really good overall for the race itself.”

Puma arrives in second position in Singapore. 22 December 2008. Photo copyright Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race

Ken Read on finishing second said:

“I have never done anything like this before. Not really sure I want to do it again. Unbelievable. Hats off to the Telefónica guys, they did a nice job, congratulations. Nobody can remember the last time they either slept or ate. It has really been all hands on.”

Anders Lewander, skipper of Ericsson 3, the Nordic team, said:

“It’s been so enormously tough - all of this leg…but it’s been really amazing. I’ve really enjoyed it because of the close tactics and the mix of conditions. It’s hard work but the close encounters and the whole situation on this leg has been really challenging.

“I must admit that on several occasions during this leg, I truly believed we were able to win. I’m really proud and happy about our achievement…this short gybing and close encounters is really good racing.

”The Malacca Strait was challenging with night sailing up the shoreline…then the line-up with the four of us in very variable, light wind conditions. It was a bit of a lottery situation. But it was important to keep in mind the big picture and not necessarily look just at the short term.”

The next boat to finish will be Telefónica Black (Fernando Echávarri/ESP) at approximately 1800 GMT.

Leg Three Finishing Order Singapore
1. Telefónica Blue: 8 points (FINISHED)
2. PUMA : 7 points (FINISHED)
3. Ericsson 3: 6 points (FINISHED)
4. Ericsson 4: 5points (FINISHED)

Overall Leaderboard (Subject to Protest)
1. Ericsson 4: 35 points (FINISHED)
2. Telefónica Blue: 30.5 points (FINISHED)
3. PUMA : 27.5 points (FINISHED)
4. Ericsson 3: 23.5 points (FINISHED)
5. Green Dragon: 17.5 points (RACING)
6. Telefónica Black: 13.5 points (RACING)
7. Team Russia: 8.5 points (RACING)
8. Delta Lloyd: 8 points (RACING)

Vendée Globe leaders reach halfway point, to face icebergs

[Source: Vendée Globe] The leaders continue to drag race towards the New Zealand gate this evening, newly moved north in order to bring the fleet away from the ice risk below the West Pacific and East Pacific gates — not everyone will be hoping for a white Christmas this winter.

Previous editions have seen this section of the race dotted with icebergs — in 2004, Jean Le Cam took the lead on 20th December. Two days later, he informs Race HQ that he has seen a dozen icebergs, and on the 23rd December 2004, Sébastien Josse hits a growler and breaks his bowsprit. That Christmas Day, Mike Golding added his concerns after seeing some more icebergs.

Four years later, and Seb Josse and Jean Le Cam are still right in contention – Le Cam is currently 200 miles off leader Foncia, fourth of the leading, southerly group. Mich Desj’s relentless pace continues, with Foncia once again the fastest boat in the fleet this evening, currently sailing at 18 knots and covering over 375 miles in the past 24 hours.

Video highlights from day 42 of the Vendée Globe. 21 December 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

Behind them, taking a more northerly line, Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) and Vincent Riou (PRB) have tonight cleared the East Australian gate, meanwhile Dee Caffari (Aviva, GBR) and Arnaud Boissieres (Akena Vérandas) have reached the West Australia waypoint.

Of the international skippers, Brian Thompson has a long night ahead of him. Bahrain Team Pindar is still making nearly 10 knots, but is now on a north-easterly heading and has covered just over 100 miles in the past day as Thompson battles to make good his structural repairs. In his latest update Brian reported that some of the carbon laminating he did yesterday has failed to set because of the movement of the boat, so he is going to cut up floorboards to stick to the damaged section, then use epoxy, adhesive sealant, and bolts to hold it all into place.

“I have about 18 hours before the next depression starts rolling through to get it done. I have not looked at all where the other boats are, it is likely they are streaking away and I am getting caught from behind, but that is really not an issue until I can get this broken boat mended to restart the race.”

Others facing a tough evening are those at the back of the fleet, particularly Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport Kapsch) and Raphael Dinelli (Fondation Océan Vital), who have been skirting to the north of a low pressure system predicted to bring storm force winds overnight.

L'hydroptère capsizes after reaching speed peaks of 61 knots

L'hydroptère, the record-breaking French trimaran, capsized this morning after reaching the spectacular speed of 61 knots, under winds between 35 and 38 knots and gusts reaching 45 knots. The sea being considerably choppier than the previous days, the same gusts that propelled the French yacht to record-breaking speeds caused her also to capsize.

Fortunately, there were no serious injuries and the crew suffered a few scratches. The yacht will be towed to Fos sur Mer, once conditions allow it.

L'Hydroptère capsizes after reaching 61 knots. 21 December 2008. Video copyright l'Hydroptère


L'hydroptère capsizes while trying to break her own record. Fos sur Mer, 21 December 2008. Photo copyright Photo Gilles Martin-Raget / Hydroptere

L'hydroptère capsizes while trying to break her own record. Fos sur Mer, 21 December 2008. Photo copyright Photo Gilles Martin-Raget / Hydroptere

L'hydroptère capsizes while trying to break her own record. Fos sur Mer, 21 December 2008. Photo copyright Photo Gilles Martin-Raget / Hydroptere

L'hydroptère capsizes while trying to break her own record. Fos sur Mer, 21 December 2008. Photo copyright Photo Gilles Martin-Raget / Hydroptere

Australian Navy lends Vendée Globe a hand

The Australian Navy lent the Vendée Globe a valuable hand these past couple of days. It took HMAS Arunta frigate almost two days to reach 34-year-old Yann Elies on his 60-foot yacht, which was about 900 nautical miles south of Perth on Australia's west coast. The frigate reached him on Saturday and two crew members transferred Elies to the HMAS Arunta from his Generali yacht.

The Australian Navy's contribution didn't stop there though. After rescuing Eliès, HMAS Arunta supplied Mike Golding with additional fuel, meat and some fresh bread. Golding is aboard his dismasted Ecover 3, on his way to Australia.

Australian Navy's HMAS Arunta drops supplies to dismasted Ecover. 20 December 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

Yann Elies waves to sailors on the starboard waist of HMAS Arunta as the ship's RHIB pulls alongside preparing to transfer him to the ship for evacuation. 20 December 2008. Photo copyright Australian Navy

HMAS Arunta stays in position off of Generali during the evolution, transferring the casaulty from his yacht to the ship. 20 December 2008. Photo copyright Australian Navy

The boats crew on HMAS Arunta's RHIB assist medical personnel onboard Generali as they help the injured French yachtsman Yann Elies in to the RHIB on a stretcher. 20 December 2008. Photo copyright Australian Navy

Amended Protocol of the 33rd America's Cup

[Source: America's Cup Management] Following discussions and agreements between the Defender, the Challenger of Record and the entered challengers in recent Competitor Meetings in Geneva, an amended version of the 33rd America's Cup Protocol has been published today.

ACM has published two different documents. The first one is the final, clean version of the Protocol while the second one contains comments on the amendments and modifications made.

Related PDF documents

- Protocol of the 33rd America's Cup

- Commented Version of the Protocol of the 33rd America's Cup

Michel Desjoyeaux keeps lead of Vendée Globe

[Source: Vendée Globe] Just what the doctor ordered… another 300-mile day for several of those in the top six, time to stretch away and leave the dramas of the past few days behind.

Michel Desjoyeaux has had his lead trimmed to just over 55 miles by second-placed Roland Jourdain, from over 80 first thing this morning. Foncia will be first into more north-westerly winds, while the chasing pack still have the breeze behind them — Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux), Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) and Vincent Riou (PRB) all clocking over 300 miles in the past 24 hours — but we shall have to wait and see how the wiley Mich Desj fares overnight.

Video highlights from day 41 of the Vendée Globe. 20 December 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

The bigger change in conditions is due to hit those still in the Indian Ocean, with the current shifty westerlies of 20-30 knots expected to rise to a Force 10 gale tomorrow afternoon in the area south of the Crozet Islands and to the west of the Kerguelens, in the fleet's first true Indian Ocean storm.

Sam Davies (Roxy, GBR) and Marc Guillemot (Safran) are now back on track for the East Australia gate — the duo are now side by side, just 10 miles apart having both diverted to assist Yann Eliès’ rescue.

Good news also from Yann, who has been seen by the medical team on board the Australian frigate HMAS Arunta. “Yann was very pleased to see us. He was in his bunk. A diagnosis confirmed a fractured left femur. An examination also revealed several broken ribs. Everything else appeared to be normal. After his transfer he was able to eat and drink. His left leg is now in traction. He is very tired after the past 48 hours, but has been able to ring his wife. We shall be monitoring him closely until we reach Australia,” confirmed Medical Officer William Bee, who has been taking care of the Generali skipper.

The Australian Navy rescues Yann Eliès. 20 December 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

Vendée Globe: Yann Elies successfully rescued

[Source: vendée Globe] Yann Elies, the skipper of Generali who broke his left femur on December 18, has been successfully transferred to the Australian Navy’s HMAS Arunta, an Anzac Class Frigate.

The Arunta reached Generali, around 850 miles south-south-east of Perth this morning, and at around 0940h (GMT) a RIB came alongside Generali. Two personnel were immediately dispatched on board the yacht to assess Yann Elies’ condition, while the Arunta remained around 200 metres upwind of Generali, holding station to provide a lee shelter.

At 1040hrs GMT an emotional Marc Guillemot, skipper of Safran who had been standing by alongside Generali, confirmed on this morning’s live radio broadcast that the transfer of Yann Elies from Generali onto HMAS Arunta has been completed.

The Generali yacht awaiting the arrival of the Australian Navy. 20 Decmeber 2008. Photo copyright Marc Guillemot / Safran / Vendée Globe

Speaking from the scene he said: "Some highly professional work. They prepared Yann for the transfer. Still heavy swell but they carried out manoeuvre perfectly. Yann is now aboard the frigate and has a doctor taking care of him."

"It was like a dream. It didn't seem real. They took care of that magnificently."
On board the Frigate Elies will be assessed by the civilian doctor on board and is expected to be taken to Perth military hospital.

The Australian frigate's RIB then returned to Generali to pick up two crewmembers who were left to secure the boat. The Open 60 was left sailing slowly northwards under a very minimal sail plan, away from the track of the worst of the low pressure systems. The Vendée Globe race directors will continue to monitor her position.

A crew from Team Generali, have left for Australia to go aboard a motor launch which will take them out to the area, and they will sail her back to Southern Australia.

Guillemot, who suffered two broken legs at sea in 1985 when the catamaran Jet Services capsized, said: “The only advice I gave Yann was to remain patient and not behave like I did. In the future he will be back again.”
Guillemot and fellow skipper Sam Davies on Roxy, who had also left the race to head towards Generali and was around 70 miles away at the time of the rescue, will now continue with their race.

Marc Guillemot added: “I said before that when Yann was in safe hands, I would set sail again. The conditions will me allow me to rest. I am tired after all this stress.”

A doctor from the Royal Flying Doctor Service, embarked in the Anzac-Class frigate, has begun administering emergency medical treatment.

The ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Stephen Bowater said his crew has displayed exceptional professionalism during the two days to reach the French sailor.

“From receiving the order to deploy late on Thursday evening to sailing out of HMAS Stirling in the very early hours of Friday morning, we only had a precious few hours to get the ship operational,” Commander Bowater said.

“This was achieved without compromise to the safety of the crew or the operation of the ship.

“We have proven again that the Navy constantly maintains the ability to respond at short notice to emergency situations.”

CMDR Bowater said Yann Elies is receiving excellent medical care from the RFDS doctor and is resting comfortably.

HMAS Arunta is now returning to port, where the solo Vendee Globe skipper will be transferred to a civilian hospital.

Ericsson first and third at the scoring gate

[Source: Ericsson Racing Team] Ericsson Racing Team strengthened its overall lead in the Volvo Ocean Race today when Ericsson 4 claimed 4 points for being first boat past the Leg 3 scoring gate north of the island Pulau We.

The International crew, skippered by Brazilian Olympic medalist Torben Grael, passed the gate at 1409:30 GMT. The feat increased their total to 30 points, but it didn’t come easily.

“It's taken a while to get here,” said Ericsson 4 media crewman Guy Salter. “My media desk sounds like a box of Lego every time we go over a wave, but it’s still working so I won’t open it, just Incase it acts like a jack in the box when I get the lid off.”

A couple later, teammate Ericsson 3 cleared the gate in third place. Last night Anders Lewander’s Nordic crew consolidated their position by sailing down and in front of Puma, and then covering their every move. Ericsson 3 cleared the gate within sight of Puma.

This past week has illustrated the competitiveness of the fleet. Although this is a circumnavigation race, the close boat-for-boat tactics resemble an inshore race among one-designs.

The fleet is very evenly matched in terms of boatspeed but, more importantly, the skippers and navigators plotting the courses also seem evenly matched.

Ericsson 4 moved into the lead last night when it pulled even with Telefónica Blue in terms of longitude, but was placed about 14 nautical miles to windward.

“Ericsson 4 grabbed the lead over Telefónica Blue in convincing fashion. This has been possible by hard and skilled sailing, superior management of the racecourse geometry and, to be truthful, a little help from the weather gods,” said team meteorologist Chris Bedford.

With the scoring gate behind them, the finish line in Singapore is some 500 nautical miles ahead. But the passage through Malacca Strait won’t be easy.

“Although reasonably good moderate east/northeasterly pressure is expected to hold for about 170 nautical miles or so beyond the gate, the wind will eventually ease off and much more variable conditions are expected,” Bedford said.

“Just this morning, there was a nice batch of thunderstorms over the central Malacca Strait. Similar storms are there at some point nearly every day. There is little doubt clouds and squalls will be a randomizing factor on the final approach to the finish. Because the final 300+nm of Leg 3 has the potential of being so very random, it makes the scoring gate points to be won tonight and tomorrow morning even more important,” said the meteorologist.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE LEG 3 LEADERBOARD
(Dec. 19, 2008, 1859 GMT)
1. Ericsson 4, 553 nautical miles to finish
2. Telefónica Blue, +8 NM
3. Ericsson 3, +15 NM
4. Puma, +17 NM
5. Telefónica Black, +33 NM
6. Green Dragon, +40 NM
7. Kosatka, +71 NM
8. Delta Lloyd, +160 NM

Team French Spirit to use Alinghi's SUI-64

[Source: Team French Spirit] Team French Spirit will use her for its training program and compete during the multi-challengers regattas in Valencia in July 2009. “With this boat in the hands of Bertrand (Pacé) and Philippe (Presti), the French will be tough contenders and we are pleased to look forward for some common training sessions”, says Brad Butterworth, three times winner of the Cup.

A more positive future

Registered since December 2007 under the burgee of the Yacht Club de Saint-Tropez, Team French Spirit, and the other 10 original challengers (12 including the Defender), has now been joined by 7 new candidates including Prada Challenge, a Russian team as well as a second French team. Missing is BMW Oracle who is pursuing its legal action, trying to force Defender Alinghi into a direct confrontation with a multi hull dog-match. The New York Court of Appeals is expected to issue its decision sometime by the end of February 2009.

“19 teams, from 12 nations : it’s more than the previous record (14 entries in 1987 in Perth, AUS). It certainly demonstrates that organising eliminatory races in a similar way to the Louis Vuitton series is the right method for ACM to select the one going to challenge the Defender” comments Marc Pajot (twice in the semi-finals).

“I regret that, given the current economic situation and despite our attempts to unify our efforts, K-Challenge has chosen a different path. Our sole objective was and remains to see a French team competing successfully.

With the strong experience of our skipper Philippe Presti and helmsman Bertrand Pacé – they together total 9 participations to the Cup – and the support of the younger talented generation represented by Mathieu Richard – N°1 World Match Race ISAF 2008 - Team French Spirit is able to build a strong, efficient and experienced French crew.

Supported by a dozen founding members, Team French Spirit is now going to put more efforts to associate major partners and sponsors to its endeavor to bring home this prestigious trophy.”

A tight schedule

- AC management will issue the Protocol governing the 33rd AC within a few days.
- The new Measurement Rule for the new, lighter and faster, monohull Class America boat will be issued on January 31st, 2009. Only one boat per team as well as a set of additional restriction should enable to split previous budgets by half.
- For Team French Spirit, this means that construction of the new boat is due to start in June 2009.

Puerto Calero RC44 Gold Cup - Video highlights

The 2008 RC44 racing season came to an end last week with the RC44 Gold Cup in Puerto Calero. Team Ceeref was the overall winner both in match and fleet races. James Spithill couldn't have done a better job in the match race series, scoring a perfect 10 while the boat's owner, Slovenian Igor Lah, struggled but finally also prevailed in fleet racing.

Here are the video highlights from the event, together with short interviews from the protagonists. The RC44 fleet will return to Puerto Calero in late February for the opening event of the 2009 season, the Puerto Calero RC44 Cup.

Video highlights from the Puerto Calero RC44 Gold Cup. 19 December 2008. Video copyright RC

Ericsson 4 grabs leadership of Volvo Ocean Race

[Source: Chris Bedford, Ericsson Team meteorologist] Ericsson 4 has grabbed the lead over Telefonica Blue in convincing fashion. This has been possible by hard and skilled sailing, superior management of the race course geometry, and to be truthful, a little help from the weather gods. Likewise, Ericsson 3 is also now threatening Blue thanks to a more northerly position, faster boat speed and similarly high quality course management. Puma is close behind Ericsson 3 which is no doubt giving them extra inspiration to sail hard and fast.

Overnight, the wind has been relatively even on Ericsson 4 and Telefonica Blue. It seems that Ericsson 4 has a hair better boat speed and/or height in these tight upwind sailing conditions. There may have been slightly more breeze on Ericsson 4, but more likely it has been a case of Telefonica Blue squeezing into a lower apparent wind angle (and thereby slowing) to try and get further north and minimize the gauge against the boats to the north. As if to help out Ericsson Racing Team, the wind has been backed slightly left of what the models have been forecasting. This is likely due to the NE Monsson breeze wrapping around the northern tip of Sumatra. The backed wind has enabled the Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4 to sail more directly toward the mark, making Blue’s more southerly position even more tenuous.

Ericsson 4 tries to dodge a large storm cloud on the way to Singapore. It could bring good winds, but the crew is being careful. 18 December 2008. Video copyright Ericsson Racing Team

Neither Ericsson 4 nor Telefonica Blue should be able to lay Pulau We Island at the northern end of Sumatra. They will be forced to tack north to get around it and clear the scoring gate. For that reason, Ericsson 4’s lead is actually even great than what the scoreboard shows since they have northerly leverage on this coming tack. The wind will continue to hold around 20 knots and may veer right slightly, becoming more ENE before reaching the scoring gate. Unfortunately for Telefonica Blue, the veer is not expected to be enough to erase any advantage.

Elsewhere on the track, Puma is well and truly in the mix right on the heels of Ericsson 3. Telefonica Black and even Green Dragon must be watched very closely as they are certainly within striking distance. All these boats will need to make the same tacks and maneuvers to get through the scoring gate and therefore, their options are limited. Watch the Russians up to the north. While they are not a threat to the top four, they will be able to lay through the scoring gate and could close up considerably by later today.

Best ETA to the scoring gate is between 1700 and 1800 GMT tonight (Friday evening). For those of you already in Singapore, you might want to set the clock for a 0200 local time Saturday morning check of the positions.

After the scoring gate, there is still 600nm of mind melting sailing to go. Although reasonably good moderate ENE pressure is expected to hold for about 170nm or so beyond the gate, winds will eventually ease off and much more variable conditions are expected. Just this morning, there was a nice batch of thunderstorms over the central Malacca Strait. Similar storms are there at some point nearly every day. There is little doubt clouds and squalls will be a randomizing factor on the final approach to the finish. Because the final 300+nm of Leg 3 has the potential of being so very random, it makes the scoring gate points to be won tonight and tomorrow morning even more important.

Ericsson 4 navigator Jules Salter talks about the approach to the scoring gate. 18 December 2008. Video copyright Ericsson Racing Team

Yann Eliès rescue is under way

[Source: Vendée Globe] The decisions have been made, everything is under way. So now unfortunately it can only be about waiting. For Yann Eliès any wait is too long, but the knowledge that help is on its way will be some comfort. The Royal Australian Navy’s 118 m long HMAS Arunta left dock in Perth at around 1800hrs GMT and can make 30 knots depending on the sea conditions, and so is expected to arrive in around 40 hours.

Marc Guillemot was making his best speed towards Generali and is believed to be about 15 miles (20h GMT) away while Sam Davies is heading east as fast as safely possible on Roxy to try and be of assistance to her friend who is a fellow team member from the Pole France Course Au Large training school at Port La Foret.

Highlights from day 39 of the Vendée Globe. 18 December 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

“I'm ready to anything I can to come to the help of Yann, and this is now my first goal. I'll stay alongside him for as long until the rescue team arrives, so that he is not alone. I'm doing as much as I can to get some rest to ensure I'm in good shape when I reach him."

Eliès has been advised to try to rest, to remain as still as possible and to try and focus on the fact that everything that can be done is being done to evacuate him as quickly as possible.

HMAS Arunta is one of the Royal Australian Navy’s eight long range Anzac class frigates which is capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. She has a full medical team on board.

Vendée Globe doctor Dr Chauve has been in regular contact with the Generali skipper, monitoring any changes and offering words of advice and encouragement.

Many skippers have volunteered their help and their teams ashore have sent messages of support. At the head of the fleet Michel Desjoyeaux continues to extend on Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) while Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) and Seb Josse (BT) are now more than 120 miles behind the leader.

Nineteen teams entered to race for the 33rd America’s Cup in 2010

[Source: Alinghi] AC Management today announced the entry list for the 33rd America’s Cup that includes 19 teams, eight of which are new entries. All of the 32nd America’s Cup challengers have re-entered, bar one.

Aside from the Defender, Alinghi and the Challenger of Record, Desafío Español, a total of 21 teams presented a Notice of Entry and 17 were accepted. Three of the entered teams are pending minor details towards their official registration and have been granted an extension until January 15. Three other teams were denied entry as no further documentation beyond the Notice of Entry was received by the December 15 entry deadline. Carbon Challenge has withdrawn.

Video motion of the 33rd America's Cup entry list. Valencia, 18 December 2008. Video copyright Alinghi

The teams have been working together over the past few months at regular Competitor Meetings to amend the 33rd America’s Cup Protocol and to design the new class rule; this process is ongoing and will continue into the New Year with further meetings planned and a publication date for the class rule scheduled for the end of January.

The 33rd America’s Cup schedule is for two pre-regattas in Valencia in 2009, the first in July and the second in October, plus the Club Náutico Español de Vela annual regatta in November, followed by an America’s Cup Match in 2010.

Brad Butterworth, Alinghi team skipper, comments on a very exciting fleet: “Having 19 teams from 12 countries entered for the 33rd America’s Cup is a clear expression of the huge worldwide interest in the competition. It’s fantastic to see such an international fleet with newcomers such as Russia. It is also significant that all but one of the teams from the previous edition have entered again. We will continue to work together with these challengers to make the 33rd America’s Cup a success, regardless of BMW Oracle’s decision to pursue their legal strategy to eliminate all challengers and force their way into an America’s Cup Match, something they have never achieved on the water.”

33rd America’s Cup teams (in order of entry):

1. Alinghi, Société Nautique de Genève (SUI) – Defender
2. Desafío Español, Club Náutico Español de Vela (ESP) – Challenger of Record
3. Shosholoza, Royal Cape Yacht Club (RSA)
4. TeamOrigin, Royal Thames Yacht Club (GBR)
5. Team New Zealand, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (NZL)
6. DCYC, Deutscher Challenger Yacht Club (GER)
7. Green Comm Challenge, Circolo di Vela Gargano (ITA)
8. Ayre Challenge, Real Club Náutico de Dénia (ESP)
9. Victory Challenge, Gamla Stans Yacht Skallskap (SWE)
10. Argo Challenge, Club Nautico Gaeta (ITA)
11. Mascalzone Latino, Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia (ITA)
12. Team French Spirit, Yacht Club de St Tropez (FRA)
13. Luna Rossa, Yacht Club Punta Ala (ITA)
14. Russia Team - Fiona, Yacht Club Seven Feet (RUS)
15. Joe Fly, Società Canottieri Lecco (ITA)
16. K-Challenge, Cercle de la Voile de Paris (FRA)
17. Greek Challenge, N.O.K. Poseidon - Nautical Club of Kalamata (GRC)
18. Dabliu Sail Project (ITA)
19. China Team, Qingdao International Yacht Club (CHN)

Carbon Challenge not to continue with participation in the 33rd AC

[Source: Team Carbon Challenge] Team Carbon Challenge, which submitted a challenge for the 33rd America’s Cup on December 14th 2007 through the Royal Belgium Sailing Club (RBSC), has today decided not to continue with participation in the 33rd America’s Cup.

This decision was taken in agreement with the RBSC after evaluation of the latest legal developments regarding the 33rd America’s Cup.

Instead of investing further in maintaining a position as a challenger for several more months in uncertainty about whether the 33rd America’s Cup will be organized as a multi-challenger event or sailed in a “Deed of Gift” format, the Carbon Challenge board has decided to fully focus its efforts on developing its climate change management training academy and surrounding activities. Carbon Challenge hopes to remain active in the America’s Cup community and will, through not-for-profit foundation Carbon Challenge Academy, continue to offer its expertise and resources to the America’s Cup family in its pursuit of sustainability-related goals.

At the time of lodging its challenge, Carbon Challenge was not in total agreement with the wording of certain clauses in the protocol originally put forward by by SNG and CNEV, but was never in any doubt as to the sincerity of the defender’s commitment to a fair event. Carbon Challenge feels that all disputes about the protocol and other regulations for the 33rd America’s Cup can be resolved through constructive discussions among sports teams. Participation in the recent competitors’ meetings has proven that to be possible. In these meetings, both SNG and CNEV have demonstrated their earnest resolve to agree to protocol changes that put beyond any doubt that their intention is to provide an event of high quality in which the best sports team will win.

Carbon Challenge’s withdrawal is a direct consequence of GGYC’s decision to continue its legal actions which have placed the 33rd America’s Cup on hold for almost 18 months.

Carbon Challenge sincerely hopes that the America’s Cup will be back on the water soon as a multi-challenger regatta to avoid further damage to the world’s oldest international sports trophy and most prestigious sailing regatta.

Delta Lloyd breaks hyrdraulic ram

[Source: Volvo Ocean Race] At 7:30 this evening, we were sailing upwind in 20 knots of wind - pounding away in a short steep sea state with our J1 headsail and a reef in the main. All of a sudden, there was a massive breaking sound from inside the boat.

One of the hydraulic rams, that cants the keel from side to side, had ripped off the bulkhead that connects it to the boat. Immediately we put our safety plan into place.

Unsure of extent of the structural damage and integrity of the boat, everyone moved to their areas. We took down our headsail. The water pumps were deployed and put on standby. Survival suits and grab bags were pulled from the safety locker in case we were sinking and needed to abandon the boat. I called the race office to tell them our position and to be on standby in case we needed assistance from another boat. I also worked on finding ports that we could take refuge. The closest ones were 400 miles away. Meanwhile the guys on deck limped the boat along at three knots.

Broken hydraulic ram on Delta Lloyd. Indian Ocean, 18 December 2008. Photo copyright Sander Pluijm / Team Delta Lloyd / Volvo Ocean Race

The next phone calls were to the designer, Juan Kouyoumdjian to help us assess the implications of the structural failure. He helped us determine that we could continue to sail, with our keel locked in the centre position by using the starboard hydraulic ram.

Right now, we are sailing with our little J4 headsail and a reef in the main towards the northern tip of Indonesia, which also happens to be the location of the scoring gate. Using the sails to heel the boat helps to reduce the slamming loads on the hull. We are making decent headway at about nine knots of boat speed. Over the next two days, we will work with our shore team to figure out how we are going to get to Singapore.

It was a very scary moment onboard, but it was great to see the entire team handle the emergency in a calm and professional way. We are fortunate to be able to continue east towards Singapore. However, every wave that we crash into is a bit more worrisome than normal. Hopefully, we can get the boat safely to the Malacca Straights in one piece. For now, we are happy to be safe, which is always our first priority.

Stop the press: Vendée Globe: Yann Eliès severely injured

[Source: Vendée Globe] This morning (Thursday), as he was carrying out manoeuvres on the bow, Yann Eliès fractured his thighbone. While he waits to be taken off his boat, following a request from the race directors, Marc Guillemot has changed course in order to offer him some moral assistance. Safran was only a hundred miles from Generali at the time.

This morning (Thursday 18th December) at 10h precisely, Yann Eliès, taking part in the sixth Vendée Globe, was carrying out manoeuvres on the bow. Resting on the pulpit, as he was preparing a sail, his 60-foot boat, Generali, came to a brutal standstill slamming into a wave. The sailor felt a sudden acute pain. He collapsed on the foredeck and had to crawl back inside his boat to contact his team. According to the initial diagnosis from Dr. Jean-Yves Chauve, the race doctor, Yann is suffering from a broken thighbone.

The monohull, Generali, that has hove to, is currently 800 miles south of Australia in the Indian Ocean. The Australian emergency services were immediately alerted and are looking at ways to get Yann off as quickly as possible.

Italia Challenge starts training in Palermo

Team Italia presented yesterday its crew in the premises of the Club Canottieri Roggero di Lauria di Palermo, taking advantage of the training sessions the team is currently carrying out, aboard 2 TP52 yachts off the Palermo coast. "It's an honor for us to be able to host this group of sailors so closely related to our nation", stated Gabriele Guccione Alù, President of the Club Canottieri Roggero di Lauria.

The team's schedule calls for a series of training sessions both offshore and ashore (sailing, physical training and tactics) until the 22nd of December. It will then move to Valencia and Auckland for the final training sessions before the start of races.

For Vasco Vascotto, Italia Challenge skipper and tactician, "this test represents an important phase in our sport and technical preparation and will be fundamental in the cohesion of the crew". According to Vascotto, organizing this phase hasn't been an easy task at all and required a great effort from the entire team. All they wish now is to take full advantage of all available time.

According to Francesco Bruni, helmsman of the team, "these will be very intense days where every moment is valuable for the team". The schedule is obviously very tight but for Bruni "the guys are uniquely professional". The team will move to Auckland at the beginning of the year in order to train on the Hauraki Gulf, "a beautiful adventure", according to Bruni.

Estrella Damm renews sponsorship of Barcelona World Race

Estrella Damm, the Spanish beer group announced yesterday it would once again be the main sponsor of the Barcelona World Race, the round-the-world race scheduled to start two years from now, on December 31st 2010. According to its CEO, the first edition of this new event was proven to be a commercial success for the group and as a result the renewal was an obvious choice.

In addition to being the event's main sponsor, Estrella Damm will also take part in the race with a team that will bear its name, just like it did in 2007 with Guillermo Altadill and Jonathan McKee. The Estrella Damm boat, even though its details are not yet fully known, will be presented next spring and its first regatta will be a transatlantic one between Barcelona and New York.

In the 2007-2008 edition, Estrella Damm was forced to retire one month into the race, following its diversion to Cape Town to repair a problem with its rudders.

The Estrella Damm boat during her official presentation and sail. Barcelona, 27 September 2007. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Update on "Arabian 100" - Oman Sail's new flagship multihull

[Source: Oman Sail] Currently being built in Australia and destined to be the first ever modern ocean racing boat to be assembled in the Middle-East, the first Arabian 100' trimaran will, when she hits the water in the winter of 2009, become part of a select group of the longest sailing trimarans ever built! She will join the Oman Sail Racing Team fleet as the largest sailing boat to be based in Middle-East region and, along with Musandam (ex-B&Q), form the embryo of a fleet of ocean racing boats based in the Arabian Peninsula.

As announced recently, Musandam plans to depart for her first big ocean challenge in the new colours of Oman Sail on January 8th – aiming to get the first ever Omani around the world. The heart of Oman Sail is about getting Omanis out on the water, from beginners through the Oman Sail Academy to the highest level of ocean competition, and the new Arabian 100 trimaran will provide the team with unrivalled capacity to develop ocean racing in the Gulf and Indian Ocean.

The Arabian 100 - Oman Sail's new flagship multihull, under construction in Australia. 17 December 2008. Photo copyright Oman sail

This new Oman Sail flagship has been been conceived as the first member of a new One-Design class (identical boats), rather than a one-off boat. On purpose, Oman Sail have not opted to simply build a bigger and better boat with records like the Jules Verne in mind – instead the new Arabian 100 will provide a challenging and exciting platform very suitable to the often lighter wind conditions in the region as well as the storms of the Southern Ocean, and within reach of the sailing capabilities of the developing Oman Sail team in the coming years. If, as it is hoped, the Arabian 100 becomes the Class of choice for other developing sailing teams in the region, thereby avoiding the arms race seen in other big unlimited multihull classes, the One Design aspect will create close-combat racing whilst remaining in a context of controlled costs.

Proud heir of the Musandam world-record breaking trimaran, the Arabian 100' is an already proven concept, developed by multihull experts Nigel Irens (UK) and Benoît Cabaret (FRA). Oman's new flagship is a direct development of Francis Joyon’s IDEC, round-the-world record holder, and sistership to Thomas Coville's Sodeb'O, currently attempting to break IDEC's reference time, and new holder of the solo 24-hour record, both also designed by the Irens/Cabaret partnership. Although the Arabian 100' will differ to her counterparts in terms of deck and interior layouts, since unlike the French trimarans she has been adapted to be raced by a full crew of up to five.

The Arabian 100 - Oman Sail's new flagship multihull, under construction in Australia. 17 December 2008. Photo copyright Oman sail

When working on the blueprint of this new speed machine, the designers took Dame Ellen MacArthur's B&Q (now Musandam) as a reference and adjusted the general balance given the increased proportions of just over 100 feet (32 metres). Relying on a long central hull that extends beyond the lateral floats, the Arabian 100' is safe at high speeds in rough sea conditions - her massive bow prevents dangerous nose-dives whilst sailing downwind, and thus allows for high average speeds over long periods of time.

The sailplan, the "engine" of the boat, has been carefully designed to remain manageable even in stormy conditions, and the mast is stepped rather far aft in order to take some pressure off the forward sections (again to prevent nose-diving). To add clearance, the crossbeams are high above the water, ensuring the boat will not sustain any damage by repeatedly hitting the crests of waves - a phenomenon which has been known to become a speed-reducing factor for many ocean-going multihulls.

The Arabian 100 - Oman Sail's new flagship multihull, under construction in Australia. 17 December 2008. Photo copyright Oman sail

Capable of speeds in excess of 35 knots (65 kph), this giant trimaran is clearly among the fastest ocean racers ever conceived, yet her programme will not include the classic European based records or solo races, being instead focused on the development of ocean racing in, and from, the Arabian peninsula region, and extending out along historical trading routes to Asia and Africa. At the head of the Indian Ocean and the gatekeeper of the entrance to the Gulf, Oman looks south to Antarctica, and east to India and Asia. These are the playgrounds for the ocean racing part of Oman Sail, and it is hoped in future, professional ocean racing in the Gulf region in general as other countries in the region take up the challenges that the new Arabian 100 Class offer.

The first Arabian 100 should be sailing by the winter 2009, and the production has been implemented to allow the construction of further identical boats for 2010 if the challenge is taken up elsewhere.

The Arabian 100' in figures
Length: 105 ft - 32 metres
Width: 54 ft - 16.50 metres across its 3 hulls
Mast height: 115 ft - 35 metres
Maximum sail area (approx): 5,920 square feet - 550 square metres

Building the Arabian 100' - process and timeline
• Major elements (central hull, floats and crossbeams) built by Boatspeed, Australia using their highly successful “Custom Preg” system. The spars will be constructed in New Zealand by Southern Spars and the winch system will be supplied by Harken Italy.
• Assembly to take place in Sallalah in the south of Oman from May 2009
• The assembly facility will be promoting apprenticeship and encouraging the sharing of technical knowledge, while at the same time showcasing Oman's forward thinking and opportunities.
• Launch date boat 1: winter 2009
• 2010 and beyond, series of record passages and event development in the Middle-East and Asia

The Arabian 100 - Oman Sail's new flagship multihull, under construction in Australia. 17 December 2008. Photo copyright Oman sail