Sailing News Summary

Bob Oatley's new Wild Oats XI skippered by Mark Richards wins line honours, breaks the record by an hour and is the winner of the Tattersalls Cup for overall winner. Wild Oats is the first yacht to win the treble since Captain John Illingworth and his yacht Rani won the inaugural race 60 years ago. Neville Crichton's Alfa Romeo was around 14 miles behind Wild Oats.

Ireland's Gerard O'Rourke won IRC Division B with his Cookson 50 Chieftain. Lou Abrahams capped off his 43rd race by winning IRC Division C and the Sydney 38 Division with Challenge and plans to race again next year. Wot's Next skipper Graeme Wood has marked his initiation into Rolex Sydney Hobart ocean racing with a win in IRC Division D. The oldest boat in the fleet, Mike Freebairn's 37 year old Ray White Koomooloo, won IRC Division E in better time than in 1968. Japan-based David Ferrall and his yacht Pekljus won the PHS Division. 

Berrimilla, the 10.2m 28 year old yacht skippered by Alex Whitworth, arrived in Hobart on New Year's Eve after finishing the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race for the second consecutive year. That's not unusual but in the meantime Whitworth and his friend Peter Crozier have also competed in the Rolex Fastnet Race in the UK - again not unusual - but these guys did it on the same boat, sailing it to and from the events and that is an extraordinary achievement.

Skandia finished third despite the engine breaking down about 24 hours into the race. They then had to sail with the keel locked on the centreline.

AAPT, the former line honours winning (as Nicorette 2004) 92-footer raced by Sean Langman this year, finished 5th across the line, reaching Hobart with a broken boom. "It's very dry and comfortable," Langman observed at Constitution Dock.

From 85 starters five yachts retired, some giving up for lack of breeze.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE
In Port Race - Mike Sanderson's ABN AMRO ONE left the rest of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet for dust as he consolidated his position at the top of the leaderboard with a sizzling performance around the cans in Cape Town.

There was little wind, but place changes, protests and frayed tempers made for plenty of drama at the start of the second leg from Cape Town to Melbourne on January 2.

The Australian/Dutch team that competed in the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race and finished fifth has been modified, renamed and improved. The boat was re-launched in Cape Town as ING Real Estate/Brunel.

The historic 234ft tall ship James Craig will lead a parade of sail as part of the official welcome celebrations for the Melbourne Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race.

CLIPPER ROUND THE WORLD YACHT RACE
Barbecues on Rottnest Island and basking in the sunshine on Cottesloe Beach have been some of the highlights for the crew who sailed over 10,000 miles to get to Western Australia in time for Christmas. Media release by Catherine Green at www.boatingoz.com.au/news05/1224.htm

After a spectacular start in Race 5 to Singapore on January 1, Cardiff Clipper was forced to turn back to Fremantle after sustaining rudder damage and Glasgow diverted to Geraldton to drop off a crew member with a suspected fractured arm. Western Australia, Qingdoa and Durban are all close at the front of the fleet. www.clipper-ventures.co.uk/n05_06/homepage.php

KEEL BOATS & CLASSICS
Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race started January 2 with 62 yachts in the fleet. Wild Oats X (not XI)leads with owner Bob Oatley and Rolex Sydney Hobart winning helmsman Mark Richards on board.

As part of the Clipper stopover in WA, five local yacht club commodores raced the new Clipper 68 yachts off Fremantle. Protests were forbidden and Commodore Colin Hall from East Fremantle Yacht Club brought Qingdao home first.

Neville Crichton has secured a substantial sponsorship package to take Alfa Romeo to Europe in 2006 to contest the leading blue water classic events.

Jan 4 - The South Atlantic Race (formerly the Cape-to-Rio) will set sail from Cape Town to Salvador

Feb 1 - 5 -- The Classic Yacht and Couta Boat Challenge is a five race regatta that will be sailed during the Volvo Ocean Race Stopover in Melbourne.

2005/6 29er Australian Championship, Waterloo Bay, Brisbane - David O'Connor and Alain Sign win the championship with a 26 point lead.

1219 Financiers 63rd Australian Sharpie Championships at Lake Cootharaba. As the competition hots up there's none more fierce than between Nambour-born twin brothers Bucky and Godfrey Smith.

Jan 2 - 2005/6 Laser Australian Championship, Waterloo Bay, Brisbane. After 6 races Brendan Casey holds a two-point lead over Tom Slingsby in the standard rig. Mathieu Frei of France has a 5 point lead over Krystal Weir and Sarah Blanck, both on 13 points after five races in the Radial championship. 

Jan 2 - Sail Melbourne - Six classes start sailing today - A Class, Cobra Cat, Flying Dutchman, Mosquito, Stingray and VS 15' skiff Australian Championships.

Jan 2 - 7 -- The Hogs Breath Hobie Cat Nationals will be held at Nedlands Yacht Club on Melville water with the city of Perth as a back drop. Strong regular afternoon sea breezes and easterly morning breezes will provide exciting sailing. 

Jan 6 - 14 -- 46th Interdominion 12 Foot Skiff Championship, Auckland Sailing Club. The top performers in the Australian 12 foot skiff squad will be competing.

DISABLED SAILING
Greg Omay is Yachting Australia's new Paralympic Program Coach/Coordinator. In this role he will oversee the coaching program for the Australian Sailing Team - Paralympic classes, both in Australia and overseas, and will also be responsible for the development of Paralympic classes in Australia. Media release by Jo Dikkenberg at www.boatingoz.com.au/news05/1223a.htm