Weekly Sailing News Summary

Summary for w/b - 01 Feb, 2006 12pm

Grant Wharington, skippering his 98ft canting keeled super maxi Skandia, broke his own race record in the Passage Race from Williamstown to Geelong. Ray Roberts and his crew on the DK46 Quantum Racing won the Scotchmans Hill Series with Steven David's Wild Joe in second place overall. 

The largest contingent at Skandia Geelong Week came in the three-division Cruising Class, boasting 150 yachts in three divisions.

National Sports Boats Championship - Julian Newton sailing Game Over won the event by 3 points. 

Trailable Multihull Nationals, Skandia Geelong Week. Keith Glover's Grainger Tri, Trilogy won the event.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE & MELBOURNE STOPOVER EVENTS
Skippers, key crew members and designers were unanimous in their support of the Volvo Open 70 Rule at the conclusion of a landmark forum in Melbourne. The forum was convened by the race organisers in light of the issues over durability and safety which arose during the first two legs.

Brunel Teamwork will be the new name for Grant Wharington's team. To enable a fully competitive challenge in the event, the racing programme will include the In Port Race at Melbourne February 4 and possibly the short leg to Wellington. The boat will be shipped to the US following improvements and modifications and will continue racing from Baltimore to the finish at Gothenburg, Sweden.

Brasilia, Queen of the Desert - Brazil 1 emerged from the Australian desert, dusty but unmarked from the road voyage that will dry sail her 4,000 km from Fremantle to Melbourne to a fresh start in the Volvo Ocean Race.

movistar replaces the titanium rams of the canting keel with the stainless rams.

 - EVENTS -
Feb 1 - 5 -- The Classic Yacht and Couta Boat Challenge - All yachts will be berthed at Docklands near Waterfront City.

Feb 2, 3 & 5 -- Four guided tours will be conducted between these dates on the 132-year-old three-masted iron barque James Craig at Workshop Pier Williamstown. Tours cost $5.

Feb 3 - Celebrity race - in 7.5m Beneteaus on Victoria Harbour

Feb 4 - Volvo Ocean Race - In port race

Feb 10 - 12 - NewQuay Marina Summer Boat Show - Corner Harbour Esplanade & Docklands Ave, Melbourne. New boats and accessories, boat licence testing, water ski school, wakeboard competition, fishing tournament, and try sailing.

Feb 12 - Start of Leg 3 from Melbourne to Wellington, New Zealand then Brazil.

Federal Minister for Sport, Rod Kemp, launched a new Australian-designed yacht, the SKUD18, for the 2008 Paralympics, and opened the largest regatta in Australia for sailors with disabilities at Melbourne Docklands.

Access Class Australian and International Championships, Melbourne Docklands. A number of rookies put on a good showing, with some achieving championship status. In the final wrap-up, honours went to entrants from five states and an international competitor.

The ISAF Grade 1 Auckland Match Racing Cup - Dean Barker wins the event defeating Bertrand Pace in the final. Chris Dickson defeated Cameron Appleton in the petite final.

Michael McKensey on the 18 footer Frame Group delivered a sharp message of warning to the Sydney Flying Squadron's fleet on the weekend, with a clear victory in heat 4 of the Club Championship.

Belmont 16ft Sailing Club will host the 24th Annual Australian 16ft Skiff Sprint Championship on February 4 - 5. More than 40 boats will converge on Belmont from a number of clubs in NSW and Queensland.

Rolex Miami OCR, an Olympic classes regatta, the second Grade 1 event for 2007 using the new Olympic format. Aussies Iain Murray and Andrew Palfrey placed 12th in the Star class and Brendan Casey 7th in the Lasers.

Sail Auckland, Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, February 2 - 6. Sail Auckland is one of Auckland's largest international regattas for Olympic, international and national dinghy, multihull and windsurfer classes.

See also Disabled Sailing - Access Class Australian & International Championships

For more information see www.boatingoz.com.au