Weekly Sailing News Summary

Summary for w/b - 07 Mar, 2006 12pm

BERRIMILLA ODYSSEY
The dynamic duo of Alex Whitworth and Peter Crozier made sailing history last year when they completed a circumnavigation of the world in between Rolex Sydney Hobarts. Now they've agreed to share their experiences at a special evening at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia on March 14.

The rest of the fleet are making quick progress up the coast of Argentina with barely 1000nm to go to Rio de Janeiro. ABN AMRO ONE (Mike Sanderson) continues to lead the fleet and The Black Pearl (Paul Cayard) has passed ABN AMRO TWO (Sebastien Josse).

Farr Yacht Design is deeply disappointed that problems have struck movistar just short of her rounding the sailor's most feared landmark, Cape Horn. It would appear that problems have developed with the fairing around the keel, and this caused water to enter the boat at an alarming rate through the wet box surrounding the keel mechanism.

KEEL BOATS
Five people washed off keel boats on Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay last Saturday (February 25) were lucky to escape with their lives when a fierce storm ripped through hundreds of yachts. The Dragon Elizabeth skippered by Robert Boyd sank and was later found by divers with all her sails up.

Audi announces two major new sponsorships as part of the company's commitment to sailing in Australia. The company has signed long-term agreements with well-known events, Hamilton Island Race Week and Geelong Week.

Inaugural Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta - All agreed that the Middle Harbour Yacht Club did a brilliant job in putting together what most described as "a fantastic way to end racing for the summer."

Deckhardware Sydney 38 National Championship - The protest room was the scene of some significant position changes.

Hamilton Island Farr 40 Australian Championship - Richard Perini wins the title for the second year in a row. Perini's scorecard of 5,1,1,2,1,2,1,1, 2 shows the consistent sailing of his world champion crew onboard Evolution.

Having put his revamped Volvo 70 Brunel on a ship to Baltimore last week, Melbourne businessman Grant Wharington will enter his 98 foot maxi Skandia in this year's Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race to fine tune the crew before rejoining the Volvo Ocean Race for the start of Leg 6 in Baltimore in April.

Mackay Marina is to be the destination port for three big ocean races with attached events this year. First up is the Mackay Marina AMOC (Australian Multihull Offshore Championships) Series at Easter, followed by the inaugural Sydney Mackay Yacht Race on July 29, which replaces the Southport to Mackay. The inaugural Port Vila to Mackay is to set off on August 1.

Jennifer F. Goldsmith Trophy for Lady Skippers, Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron. Lisa Hammond's Horizon Sprint and Emma Watt's Addiction battled for line honours whilst Helen Crossley's Mystique II claimed a handicap win yet again. A torn spinnaker on Addiction at the final downwind mark allowed Lisa and her crew on Horizon Sprint to hit the finish line first.

Harken Women's International Match Racing Regatta - A late withdrawal by New Zealand's Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club has provided an opportunity for the host Club to field three teams for the event, which commences on March 8 with an official welcome function.

Melbourne's Royal Brighton Yacht Club took an innovative step this time last year to promote interclub racing on the northern part of Port Phillip when it conducted the inaugural Top of the Bay Keelboat Regatta.

Ellen MacArthur will head-up a two-boat IMOCA Open 60 campaign for 2007-9 for the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team. She plans to step back from solo sailing and will not compete in the Vendée Globe in 2008. B&Q's headline sponsorship will conclude as planned following the upcoming 2006 Asian Record Circuit.

A 'China sails into the America's Cup' concert will be staged in Beijing on April 1 to celebrate China Team, the first Chinese challenger in the history of the America's Cup.

An Australian woman who vanished last week from an island off southern Thailand and presumed drowned has been found alive in Indonesian waters. Details are sketchy.

See also Multihulls Mackay Marina AMOC Series - cruise rally

 - Bareboat charter any yacht for a full day and only pay the half-day rate. Bareboat charter from 9am Friday March 10 and return by 6pm Sunday March 12 and only pay the 24-hour rate. For every four-hour skippered charter another hour will be free.

 - Book a BnB and receive a FREE one hour massage, 11 red roses, 11 strawberries dipped in chocolate, 11 per cent discount on the standard rate and if it's mid-week, a late checkout time of 11am. Ph: 612 9280 1110

Cruising in Panama - Bernie and Yvonne Katchor, pioneers in the charter industry in the Whitsundays, have been cruising around the San Blas Islands in Panama for a couple of years. Berths are available for a couple or a family of four to join them on their 43ft yacht Australia 31. Swim, snorkel, fish, bird watch and hike through the jungle to Kuna villages and trade for molas. For more information Ph: 0408 650 851

The lucky winner of the 'Sunsail' Skandia Geelong Week 2006 Rescue Boat Appeal competition is Mr. Tony Harris of Geelong, who wins the Charter of a 47 foot, six berth, Beneteau yacht for five nights in the Whitsunday's with a value in excess of $4000.

Two more... Double Olympic gold medal winning yachtswoman, Shirley Robertson GBR announces her two new crew, her title sponsor, her two supporting partners and the news that she is due to give birth in July – to twins.

NSW Maritime Medals recognise exceptional contributions to the boating and maritime community in the categories of Safety, Environment and Community. Nominations for the awards close June 30.

The City of Estoril in Portugal has won the bid to host the ISAF Sail the World Festival and Sailor of the Century Awards on September 1 - 2, 2007 marking the highlight of the ISAF Centenary celebrations.

MARINE INDUSTRY
Positions Vacant - Latest free listing on Boating OZ
  - Master 4 - 5 to skipper, Hamilton Island

Club Marine Sail Boat Show, Sandringham Yacht Club, Melbourne, April 8 - 9. Limited space is left for the show which is expected to host more than 100 marine exhibitors.

Queensland-based distributor of marine industrial materials, MarineWare, announces the opening of their first Sydney outlet, managed by Mark Swadling.

Mar 10 - 12 -- Hillarys Boat, Dive & Fishing Show, Hillarys Boat Harbour, Perth. Power and sail craft from sports cruisers to yachts. A weekend of FREE entertainment & water activities designed for the entire family!

Mar 11 - 12 -- Classic & Wooden Boat Festival, Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney. Fun for everyone… more than 150 boats on display, a vibrant market place selling all things nautical, non-stop live entertainment and lots more.

Mar 12 - Great Ferry and Workboat Challenge, Sydney Harbour. Forty boats start near the National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour at 1 pm and race to Fort Denison and back. Tickets available.

Mar 14 - Berrimilla Odyssey: see above

Mar 17 - 19 -- Rosehill Gardens Boat Show, James Ruse Drive, Rose Hill, Sydney. End of summer clearance sale. Anglers learn the latest casting techniques and lure use via the fabulous 'Supertank'. On-site licence testing for boats and PWCs.

Photo by Andrea Francolini - Berrimilla returning through Sydney Heads last December just six days out from the start of the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

More information on www.boatingoz.com.au or subscribe to receive weekly email news with links