Let The Racing Begin!

Tuesday - July 15 2008 - 0900 PST - When entries closed on Friday 11 July, organizers of the annual Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race were pleased to see a quality fleet of 78 entering the winter coastal classic which will start from Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Saturday 26 July.

The Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht race marks the opening of the CYCA's 2008/09 Blue Water Pointscore series. One late entry has been received taking the total number of entries to 79. Late entries can still be made up until this Friday 18 July.

A fleet of top IRC racers including Steven David's Wild Joe, Bob Oatley's Wild Oats X, Peter Harburg's Black Jack and four TP52s Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin, Graham Wood's Wot Now, Bob Steel's Quest and Alan Whitley's Cougar II, amongst others, will be jostling on the start line in a fortnight's time.

These boats will be joined by many new boats including Geoff Boettcher's Secret Mens Business III, Matthew Short's Shortwave and Chris Dare's Flirt (pictured above). The historic Sanyo Maris skippered by Ian Kiernan AO will also take to the start line - coming out of retirement to celebrate her 50th birthday.

"As the Organizing Authority we are very excited about the high number of quality entrants for this race. This is the third highest fleet since the race began. Depending on the weather we may just see the 9 year old race record of 27 hours 35 minutes 03 seconds set by Brindabella in 1999 fall," said Sailing Manager Justine Kirkjian.

Seven boats will make their way north to Sydney from Victorian waters for the start of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, with three South Australian entrants and two Queensland entrants.

Nine Sydney 38s will make up an exciting one design division for the 384 nautical mile Audi Sydney Gold Coast.

The official start of the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race will be at 1pm on Saturday 26 July. When the race concludes at the Gold Coast, boats will be welcomed by key local sponsor of the Southport Yacht Club, Audi Centre Gold Coast.

This event also marks the third event in the four part Audi IRC Australian Championship series that will be decided at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Now in its second year, the Audi IRC Australian Championship sees the winner drive home in a sporty Audi Q7 SUV, as well as an Australian Championship title.

For more on the race go to Gold Coast Yacht Race.

Coville Breaks North Atlantic Speed Record

Tuesday - July 15 2008 - 0855 PST - In a pea-souper fog, Thomas Coville and his 105-foot maxi trimaran Sodeb'O crossed the finish line this morning at 09 hours 17 minutes and 40 seconds. With a time of 5 days, 19 hours, 29 minutes and 20 seconds - a time which is yet to be approved by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), Thomas Coville and Sodeb'O are the new holders of the solo North Atlantic crossing record. The previous record, held by Francis Joyon since 2005, was 6 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 37 seconds. Photo Daniel Forster.

Brits Lead in Volvo Youth Sailing World Championship

Brits Lead in Volvo Youth Sailing World Championship.

Tuesday - July 15 2008 - 0838 PST - Great Britain is leading a close four-country battle for the Volvo Trophy, awarded to the best-performing nation at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.

The young British sailors can enjoy the lay day in Århus, Denmark today, after a highly successful start to the championship which puts them 17 points clear at the top of the Volvo Trophy standings. New Zealand follow the Brits in second place, whilst the defending champion Australia lie third, just ahead of the host nation Denmark. France, nine-time winners of the Volvo Trophy, complete the top five, but has a lot of ground to make up with a 45-point gap separating them from the British team. For more on this event click here.

The Olympic Venue

Tuesday - July 15 2008 - 0823 PST - Here's a report from Tornado Olympian Charlie Ogletree, who, with partner John Lovell, has now arrived in China in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.

We're about half way through our two-week training session here and it has been very productive. We've managed approximately ten hours of sail training and testing in six days which is pretty darned good, given that we missed a couple of days because there was no wind at all.

Conditions here continue to be challenging. Our hosts seem to be getting on top of their weed problem but they haven't figured a way yet to get rid of fog. It makes for some pretty wild training. We raced in a peasouper the other day when the weather leg took only one minute. The starting line was longer than the weather leg and the fog was holding down visibility to around 10 meters. You couldn't see the other end of the line or the weather mark. This is where a hand-held GPS comes into its own, for racing and finding your way home.

Once you're on the water and in the fog, the hundreds of sampans scooping up algae are another hairy problem. There have been as many as 2,000 boats working on the weed, from sampans to small coastal freighters. You can hear their old gasoline engines chugging and listen to the voices and the yelling but it's all in Chinese and we can't understand a word. If that's not enough, we sail close to the shipping lanes and the occasional blast from a big ship's foghorn adds to the surreal experience.

The most wind we have seen during training was ten knots and more typically it has been four to six knots so we've been getting in some good light air training when we are on the water. Ashore we've been productive during our down time, getting all our boat work finished and our spare parts prepared for the games. We hit the gym twice a day and continuing to lose weight. Johnny is down to 75 kilos while I am at 66 kilos. We're both lighter than we were in Athens when we won our Silver Medals, so our efforts are clearly paying off.

We have been training with the German team of Johannes Polgar and Florian Spalteholz, as well as teams from Canada and Belgium. On the 15th we'll be joined by our Dutch training partners Mitch Booth and Pim Nieuwenhuis for more training before we head home on the 20th. After a short break we'll head to Los Angeles for team processing where we'll get our uniforms and credentials. We come back here for the final push on July 30th. Photo Charlie Ogletree.

More Heavy Hitters Join Volvo Ranks

Tuesday - July 15 2008 - 0815 PST - Two offshore specialists with long associations with the Whitbread/Volvo have signed on for duty in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race . For one of them, Sweden's Roger Nilson, who has been announced as a navigator with the Telefonica team, it will be his seventh lap of the course and eighth circumnavigation in all. The other was aboard Orange II for the Jules Verne Trophy in 2005.

Nilson, 59, made his debut in the Whitbread in 1981-82 aboard Alsaka Eagle. His most recent race was the 2001-02 Volvo aboard Amer Sports One. The Swedish doctor is looking forward to the 2008-09 race, not least the technological challenges.

"I am delighted to be with the Spanish team, I enjoy the more Latin way to do these races," he said. "Since I was in the Volvo in 2001-02 there has been a really big jump, much bigger teams, much more support, the boats are lots faster and also the technology in the navigation area is completely different. So I have to learn new things everyday."

Meanwhile, the Green Dragon team have bolstered their crew experience with the addition of Neal McDonald (pictured) to the ranks. McDonald comes highly decorated and, along with the confirmation of Anthony Merrington, take the team's quota of sailors with Whitbread/Volvo expertise to four.

McDonald, 45, of Great Britain, who fills the role of watch leader, has three America's Cups and three Whitbread/Volvo campaigns to his name. His debut in the Whitbread was aboard Fortuna in 1993-94. His subsequent races included 1997-98 (Silk Cut) and 2001-02 (Assa Abloy). He had a stint as skipper of Ericsson in the 2005-06 race and is delighted to be returning for the 2008-09 edition. McDonald was part of the delivery crew from Gosport to Cork.

Dutchmen Win F-18 Worlds

Monday - July 14 2008 - 0900 PST - On the Nigrán race zone, the suspense reached fever pitch at the finish of the last race. With the breeze disappearing, the F-18 catamarans ended their world championship. The hierarchy reigning since the start of the week was shattered as a result of a shifty wind both in terms of strength and direction. Strewn across the race course in the bay of Nigrán, the world's top racers were struggling. In the end it was the young Dutch crew, Coen de Koning and Jeroen van Leeuwen who were visibly shocked to find they are the champions. They won with a two point lead over the crew of Groupama and ten over the other Dutch crew Mischa - Tentij. Photo J-P Guillou / Groupama.

Volvo Youth Worlds Are On

Monday - July 14 2008 - 0855 PST - There are over 250 competitors from 60 nations taking part in this year's Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. Volvo are the title sponsor of the event, which is run by ISAF and encompasses single-handed Laser (boys) and Laser Radial (girls), the double-handed 29er (boys and girls), the RS:X windsurfer (boys and girls), and multihull SL16 (open) classes in this world class event.

An integral part of the ongoing success of the Youth Worlds has been the support of title sponsor Volvo Ocean Race. In 2008 the Volvo Ocean Race will sponsor the Championship for the ninth time. The first Youth Worlds supported by the Volvo Ocean Race took place in Finland in 1999, with 38 nations taking part. Since then the Championship has gone from strength-to-strength, with a record 48 nations entering in 2001.

In 2004 over 50 nations participated in the Youth Worlds in Poland, whilst two years later a new record of 62 nations was set in Great Britain. 222 sailors from 50 nations attended the event in Kingston, Canada in 2007 making this the biggest Youth Worlds held in North America.

First day drama at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship - ­There was an international feel to day two of racing at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Århus, Denmark where sailors from Europe, Oceania and Africa occupy the leaderboard top spots.

 The British team lead the charge in the 29er with two strong performances in both the girls and boys fleets, while the Cyprian sailors carried on dominating in the Laser and Boy's RS:X. The strong winds returned to the Bay of Århus today keeping the sailors working hard on the second day of the event.

 There was a change at the top of the leaderboard in the SL16 multihull fleet with the ISAF Athlete Participation Programme (APP) sailors from South Africa taking the top spot from the Danish team. Matthew Whitehead and Micheal Ovenstone who were in fourth after the first day found their form on the water with a first and second. Whitehead commented, It was quite breezy out there on the water with huge waves which is what we like to sail in. We overstood one mark and came screaming in, nearly taking a few boats out! We had a brilliant day.

These sailors are amongst the 29 APP sailors who are helped each year to compete by ISAF and the programme. They get financial backing and an internationally renowned coach in the form of Jim Saltonstall (World Youth Sailing Trust coach) to help them throughout the week.

 Maja Knezevic (SRB) in the Laser Radial class is another young sailor who has been helped by the APP scheme to represent her country. It is the first time Serbia has competed at the Youth Worlds and she is very proud to be here. ³I am loving my time here. Jim is a really great coach and looks after us all, as well as some of the other sailors who need extra help. I just want to do as well as I can, said Knezevic.

 The breezy conditions made for plenty more excitement on the 29er course and following three races in both boy¹s and girl¹s fleet the British and Australian teams continue to dominate the overall standings. James Peters and Ed Fitzgerald (GBR) won the opening two races in boy¹s fleet and although they dropped to tenth in race five after hitting a wave and pitch polling on the final run, they hold the overall lead. Byron White and Rhys Mara (AUS) are just three points behind in second, whilst Judge Ryan and Hans Henken (USA) climb five places to third overall and were the standout performers with 2, 3, 1 scores today.Â

 Great Britain also leads the Girl's 29er fleet, with Frances Peters, James's older sister, and Claire Lasko posting first, second and third place finishes today. After five top-three finishes the pair have built a six-point cushion at the front but are not getting carried away yet.

"I am really pleased to get consistent results this early in the competition but we have a long way to go so we have to keep it up. We have to take each day as it comes," said Peters. It was also a good day for the Dutch crew of Annemiek Bekkering and Jeske Kisters, who scored a sixth and two bullets to move up six places to fourth overall.

  The top three places in the Boy's RS:X fleet have remained the same with the Cypriot windsurfer, Michalis Malekkides posting a first and fourth. This is his second Youth Worlds and he was looking for a top six place before he came but now thinks he can do better. I worked a lot over the year with my coach to improve on my strength. Especially when it's windy I think I'm very good and in the light wind I do well. I think that the work is paying off now, said Malekkides.  Follow all the action from Århus including news, results, features and more on the 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship go to Youth Worlds. Photo by David Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race/onEdition

Safran Gets Refit for Upcoming Vendee

Monday - July 14 2008 - 0850 PST - Four months from now, the Vendee Globe will be just a few days old. It is certainly not far off and it is time for the final summer refit for Safran, Marc Guillemot's monohull. To make further improvements to the monohull, all the appendages are going to be changed… and as always with the help of some of the Group’s companies.

"We're not building a new boat, but it is almost as if we were," said a half joking Thierry Brault, head of the Safran Sailing Team. Work began on her after her return from the United States and the Transat. She was taken out of the water in late June and now Marc Guillemot's monohull is benefiting from an important overhaul. All of the appendages or almost all are going to be changed. Thierry Brault explains: "We're fitting new daggerboards, new rudders, a new boom, a new keel."

While there is no new mast, the running and standing rigging are also to be replaced by new. Everything was studied by the designer, Guillaume Verdier, with the calculations being carried out once again by companies inside the SAFRAN Group.

Work on Safran will continue throughout July, the goal being to relaunch the boat at the end of the month on 26th or 27th. "The overall idea is to reduce the weight on top to add some below, thus stepping up the performance," explains Brault. "Having a lighter boom enables us to transfer weight into the keel."

The rudders will be made of a "3D weave", a technology coming from the group, which is used for the blades in jet engines. "By weaving carbon in this innovative way, we obtain better resistance to shock and above all it prevents an impact developing into serious damage, as can happen with traditional methods of construction," summed up Pascal Chadail, Safran's project leader. Photo courtesy of www.safrangroup.com.

Tomorrow's Stars Today

Monday - July 14 2008 - 0840 PST - Solid winds blew through the Southern California this past weekend for the Junior Olympics hosted by the California Yacht Club in Los Angeles. One hundred and eight boats were on hand with some outstanding young sailors battling it out. Above is Reece Bennet (#55) behind Duncan Swain (#30) at the weather mark, but that all changed in the overall. Bennet came out on top with 21 points in 9 races. Other winners were Oliver Toole in the Laser Radials, Caleb Paine in Laser Class and Shone Bowman in the 420 division. For complete results click here. Photo Pat Reynolds

Moth Worlds End After High Winds Ace Out Most Races

Monday - July 14 2008 - 0820 PST - After 7 races in 2 days ( 10 and 11th July) John Harris (AUS) is the 2008 Moth World Champion. Andrew McDougall (AUS) is 2nd and first master. Sam England (AUS) 17th and first female. Next year Moth World will be in USA in August 2009. For more results go to International Moth Class Association. Photo courtesy of Th. Martinez.

'Near Miss' Does Not Miss

Saturday - July 12 2008 - 1705 PST - If there was any doubt left that the QUEBRAMAR GP42 Cup didn't offer us close and exciting races, it was dissipated like morning mist this afternoon in Valencia. We had three breathtaking races, where the score table was turned upside down several times and great photo finishes. All competing sailors agree to the fact Near Miss and AIRIS are the fastest of the fleet.

The first race started right on time, albeit with slightly lighter conditions than yesterday. Being noon, the breeze hadn't built up and was blowing at 7-8 knots. With the exception of Caser-Quum, the whole fleet went to the left. The form book was clearly followed, with Desafío, AIRIS and Near Miss leading from the start. The Spanish Desafío kept a comfortable margin throughout the race, while Roma GP42.2 managed to overtake Near Miss and force the Swiss to their worst finish so far in the event.

The second race was probably the most thrilling, exciting and close we have seen so far this year. With the breeze dropping to 7-8 knots and some shifts, at least in theory, the results were open. After a clear start, Near Miss, Desafio, Roma GP42.2 and Airis went to the left. That decision paid off and that group rounded the top mark ahead of the rest in that order. Near Miss at no moment felt threatened and managed to increase their lead over the fleet.

The real battle was happening for second to fourth place, especially between Desafío and Roma GP42.2 who staged a fierce gybing fight throughout the last leg. AIRIS, took advantage of it and climbed to second place, with a comfortable margin over the other yachts. Still, the real thriller took place a few tens of meters from the finish line when MADRID, after a great recovery, slipped in between Roma GP42.2 and Desafío, relegating the Spanish to fifth.

In the third and final race of the day the book form was really thrown on Valencia’s blue waters. As the weather low was approaching Valencia, the dark clouds that were hovering over the sky raised the breeze up to 12 knots. Near Miss and Roma GP42.2 continued their excellent performance crossing the finish line first and second, while the great surprise came from newcomers Caser-Quum. After a bad start and a 6th place at the first weather mark, the Spanish yacht kept passing the fleet, only to be blocked by Paolo Cian's Roma GP42.2. Both Desafío and AIRIS paid the price of their tactical errors.

Racing will end tomorrow Sunday and, once again, the race committee will try to give 3 starts, weather allowing of course. To follow the action go to www.GP42.net.

Light Winds On Lake Garda

Saturday - July 12 2008 - 1640 PST - The wind was not at its best on Lake Garda today for the long distance DHL Trophy. However, the nine RC 44's managed to sail an interesting regatta. Banco Espirito Santo made the best out of the conditions to win the race, ahead of Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano and Ceeref. Armando Giulietti's Team Hiroshi is now alone at the top of the fleet race ranking.

The weather was looking promising at the start of the long distance DHL Trophy, with a lovely 12 knots thermal breeze blowing despite the big clouds surrounding the top of the nearby mountains. Unfortunately, the hopes of a fast race didn’t last long, and the wind started dropping as the boats sailed up the course.

Igor Lah and James Spithill's Ceeref were the first team to grab the lead, thanks to their lovely start at the pin end of the line and excellent early tactics on the beat towards Malcesine. Soon before the first mark, the japanese entry Beecom, with Isao Mita at the helm, benefited from an appropriate right shift and managed to grab the lead.

After rounding the mark, the nine RC 44's had to cross the lake towards Campione, usually well known for the strong gusts that blow along the impressive cliffs; however this time it was all down to delicate trimming, crew positioning and fine steering in order to make the best of the light puffs of wind.

Five teams proved to master the exercise better than the rest of the fleet: Banco Espirito Santo, who rounded the windward mark in the lead, ahead of Ceeref, Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano, Team Sea Dubai and Beecom. BMW ORACLE Racing and Team Aqua followed a few hundreds meters behind, whilst team Organika and Carbon Affairs had clearly lost any hope to come back at this stage.

The run towards Malcesine proved eventless. Patrick de Barros and Russell Coutts were easily controlling their opponents and all the teams were struggling to keep their spinnakers flying. The only event took place soon after the windward mark, when Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano managed to overtake Ceeref; needless to say that it wasn't a breathtaking move. Thanks to their second place, Armando Giulietti and his team now sit alone at the top of the leader board, one point ahead of Patrick de Barros' Banco Espirito Santo and two points ahead of Igor Lah's Team Ceeref and Markus Wieser's Team Sea Dubai.

DHL Trophy Results:

1) Team Banco Espirito Santo. 2) Team Hiroshi - Città di Milano. 3) Team Ceeref. 4), Sea Dubai. 5) Team Beecom. 6) BMW ORACLE Racing. 7) Team Organika. 8) Team Aqua (DNF). 9) Team Carbon Affairs (DNF).

For more photos and full results go to RC44.com.

Moth Worlds Begin.... Finally

Friday - July 11 2008 - 0926 PST - The Moth World Championship finally got underway yesterday getting in four races under some pretty nasty weather. Winds were blasting at 20-knots or more and sailors were fighting to keep it all together. The competitors must complete at least five races, so today will be the last day - not what was hoped for, but in what they lacked in on-water racing they made up for in extreme conditions. And you know those mothies love it when it gets hairy! Andrew McDougall (pictured) leads after the first day and John Harris is one point behind. Photo courtesy of International Moth Class Association.

Video From The North Atlantic

Friday - July 11 2008 - 1025 PST - Well, sadly we don't speak French, but we do enjoy watching 105 foot trimarans sail across oceans. So for you French speaking folk, enjoy what Thomas Coville has to say as he attempts to break the North Atlantic solo speed record. For everyone else - turn the sound down and you'll find it's still cool.

Big Breeze Hits F-18 Worlds

Friday - July 11 2008 - 0820 PST - If the breeze the day before was scarce, day 4 of racing at the F-18 Worlds was the complete opposite, with three races for both ‘gold’ and ‘silver’ groups held under grey skies that threatened rain from early in the day, and provided a true display of the spectacular speed and prowess of the best catamaran sailors in the world.

The gold group headed out for the race course mid-morning with south-westerlies blowing 8-11 knots and swiftly rising as the fleet moved into the windward mark just in front of the Playa de Ladeira in Baiona. A favoured left under Monte Louredo gave those ashore a sight for sore eyes as the 66-strong fleet battled it out for solid positions at the top.

A fantastic day for Mitch Booth and Pim Nieuwenhuis, who gave some absolutely beautiful starts for NED 1 at the Committee Boat end and proving that the F18 legend was in his element as the breeze continued to rise, peaking at 18-20 knots at the top mark. A first and two thirds has moved the twice Olympic medallist and three times F18 World Champion from 16th to 5th place on the leader board.

Close on his heels was young Dutch team Coen de Koning and Jeroen van Leeuwen whose steady performance throughout the championship has moved them into a solid lead; two second places and an 8th ensures them a 25 point advantage at the top.

Admittedly happier in stronger breeze the French duo of Jean-Christophe Mourniac and Franck Citeau had a disappointing first race but moved up and forwards, to grab a second place in race 3 and in the general classification overall.

Consistency is the name of the game, as proven by fellow Frenchmen Vaireaux and Petit, even 2nd with FRA 11 at 48 points, with multi-hull magician Franck Cammas and Jeremy Lagarrigue dropping to 3rd.

As the cold front moved over and out of the Bay of Baiona, sunshine briefly put in appearance, enough to highlight two spectacular performances from British Olympic Tornado and X40 sailor Hugh Styles and Adam Piggott, whose two first places have moved them to 5th.

Tough competition indeed for speedy Dutch duo Mischa Heemskerk and Bastiaan Tentij who are now in 9th and will have some work on their hands today for the final day of the championship.

Birth of the SIG

Friday - July 11 2008 - 0758 PST - We took an interest in this boat when we first got a glimpse a couple of years ago. Designed by Van Peteghem Lauriot Prevost (VPLP) noted for their ORMA designs, the SIG appears to be a boat that will nicely blend comfort, speed and style. With legendary multihull speedster Bruno Peyron acting as technical advisor, we bet the boat will reach the projected 20 + knot speeds. From what we understand, like so many projects, the actual build of the SIG has gotten sidetracked, but now they have definitively made the leap and began the process.

"The boat will have its World Premiere in Cannes this September," says Hugo Le Breton owner of Le Breton Yachts. "The build is coming to a conclusion soon, and the boat is looking beautiful already. We expect to be finished around the middle of August. We will do sea trials around here in Tuscany, and then head to Cannes for the show."

Coville Averaging Over 20 Knots in Record Pursuit

Thursday - July 10 2008 - 1100 PST - A very fine first day's sailing for Thomas Coville who is racking up the miles with the constancy of a metronome. 24 hours after leaving New York, the skipper of Sodeb'O has covered 546 miles and has a 192 mile lead over Francis Joyon's time in 2005. he has racked up 546 miles in 24 hours for an average of 22.8 knots.

As forecast, Thomas Coville has benefited from relatively flat seas for the first 24 hours and a very steady 20 knot SW'ly. These conditions have enabled him to sail under full mainsail and small gennaker for the majority of the time. During the night, he reduced the sail area a little and hoisted the solent due to a large amount of shipping and a peasoup fog which prevented the skipper from seeing either the top of the mast or the bow of the boat. Since he has got into deeper waters, the famous fog generated by the Nantucket banks has naturally lifted. Not only can the skipper see the horizon but he can also be seen and pinpointed, which will enable him to get a little rest. This will be very welcome as Thomas has only slept for short periods over the past 24 hours, with just two 20 minute catnaps. Over the next few hours, these stable conditions will last and the maxi trimaran may be able to round Cape Race by the end of Friday - the cape is the most E'ly point of the North American continent and the last taste of land prior to the Atlantic crossing. Once there it will be a big run across the North Atlantic.

To beat the record time achieved by Francis Joyon in 2005, Sodeb'O will have to cross Lizard Point (SW tip of England) prior to Tuesday 15th July, 1545 UT, but we should take the maxi trimaran's lead into consideration after just 24 hours. Indeed Francis set off relatively slowly but we know the end of the course to have been a perfect ride of 6 days 4 hours, one minute and 37 seconds, crowned by a solo 24 hour record of the time, that of 540 miles on the second day. Since then, the 24 hour record has developed. It has been beaten several times, notably by the self same Francis. The current record now stands at 619.3 miles and it is Thomas who has held this since January 2008.

Goils on Foils!

Thursday - July 10 2008 - 1044 PST - Despite the last few days of sailing canceled at the Moth Worlds due to too much breeze, Sam England (AUS), Clare Dallimore (GBR), Helen Rollinson (GBR), Katherine Knight (GBR) and Florence Beal (SUI) are the five female foilers in the event who are especially happy to be at the regatta.

The girls are looking forward to taking on the guys in the racing and think they can give them a run for their money.

"It's a physical boat to sail, but heaps of fun," said Sam England (AUS.)"Both the sailing and the social aspect of the class are better than most classes, and as long as your willing to put the time in, it's a great class for female sailors because you don't need to be heavy, just fit and have the skills."

The moth class is as diverse in sailors (the youngest is 17 the oldest 65) as it is in boat designs. New boats coming on the market include a low cost entry level version of the Bladerider - the FX - and cut down sails have long been an option in high winds. Katherine Knight (GBR) has a 7 square metre KA sail that some of the guys are looking enviously at given the 40 knot winds. Photo of Sam England thanks to Th. Martinez.

Groupama Leads in F 18 Worlds

Thursday - July 10 2008 - 1035 PST - Yesterday it was a slow, hot and very light start to day 3 of the F18 Class World Championships in Nigrán. A beautiful sunny day but alas the most important component was missing - wind! Finally at near to 2.30pm the postponement flag came down and a north-westerly of 6-8 knots across a clearly fluky race course saw the majority of the fleet heading off towards Baiona with clearly more pressure on the left.

New yellow and blue groups were assigned for the final race of this classifying round of the championship. Conditions remained light for Race 6 at 8-9 knots, a true test for some of the favorites admittedly more comfortable racing in bigger breezes.

Hobie Cat young guns Mischa Heemskirk and Bastian Tentij had a disappointing last race; called over the line by the Race Committee at the start, drop from first to seventh place in the rankings (according to provisional results). Race 6 proved to be contentious for the yellow group with a number of boats lodging protests with the jury and a complete reshuffle of the championship top ten.

Groupama skippers Franck Cammas and Jeremy LaGarrigue once again head the blue group for race 6, making a beautiful start at the Committee boat end along with Dutch team Coen de Koning and Jeroen van Leeuwen who skimmed across the fleet to place themselves centrally off the line. However it is the French multi-hull expert who grabs a third victory and catapults into first place overall, just a point ahead of NED 3, after they finish seventh.

The "golden" 66 boats are qualified after six races (provisional results to be finalized) with some noticeable changes at the top, and all is still to be played out in the remaining two days of the competition.

Photo J-P Guillou / Groupama.

Team Telefonica Rescues Refugees While Training

Thursday - July 10 2008 - 0950 PST - The two Telefonica team boats have come to the aid of a stricken refugee vessel on the second day of their qualification run in the Mediterranean. Telefonica Black and Telefonica Blue were sail testing off the coast of Almeria for the Volvo Ocean Race when they encountered a six-metre boat with over 30 people including young children on board.

Authorities confirmed that some of the occupants, believed to be of African origin, had died during the ill-fated journey after the engine on the craft had broken down. Both Spanish Volvo Open 70s abandoned testing to assist the vessel. Having notified the Spanish Coast Guard the crews stood by until rescue teams arrived. The incident was logged at 18.15 hours (GMT) last night and occurred 30 miles south of Almeria (36.13N 02.44W).

The rescue, by the Spanish Coast Guard, took place at 20.10 GMT. The Telefonica boats were cleared to resume training and headed for the Atlantic 20 minutes later. The Telefonica syndicate head Pedro Campos, who has been in direct contact with the crew members on both Spanish boats, reported that they were disturbed at coming into direct contact with the tragedy but were pleased that they were able to facilitate the rescue. Photo of an older Telefonica courtesy of Volvo Ocean Race.