Weekly Sailing Summary

KEEL BOATS

The New Zealand maxi yacht Zana, also known as Konica Minolta, will be overhauled by new owners Peter Millard and his brother-in-law John Honan to compete in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race, her maiden voyage for the new owners and under her new name Lahana. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28504

As Audi Hamilton Island Race Week continues to expand under the guidance of super maxi owner Bob Oatley and his family, owners and crews of Sports Boats are invited to compete in a special division. If sufficient numbers in a class enter, they will compete in their own division. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28485

A few weeks ago Bruce Absolon's Farr 47 Ausmaid was dismasted during severe weather off Noosa and subsequently wrecked on a deserted beach. When Audi Hamilton Island Race Week starts on August 22 Absolon will be at the helm of the original Brindabella, a Farr 65. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28443

The second Sail Port Stephens regatta is over and dates have been set for April 2010 for the feeder races and the next event. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28458

INTERNATIONAL

Not for the first time, the wind failed to play ball in Capri, so the principal race officer blew the final whistle on Rolex Capri Sailing Week 2009 just before the stipulated cut-off point, making the Italian leaders overall winners! www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28479

The Phuket Race Week Notice of Race is on the regatta website and online registration is open with savings of up to 25 percent for entries received by 19 June. As usual, political strife elsewhere in Thailand hardly touched this holiday island, where fun and revelry are the name of the game. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28457

The recent confirmation that the 33rd America's Cup is to be raced in multihulls has resulted in the withdrawal of Alinghi in the World Match Racing Tour for this year. Philippe Presti has been allocated a Tour Card for the remainder of the 2009 season. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28460

Thirty skippers in the OSTAR (Original Single-handed Trans Atlantic Race) 2009 set off from Plymouth in England on 25 May on a 2,800 nautical mile journey to Rhode Island, USA. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28464

AROUND THE WORLD

Volvo Ocean Race: Ericsson 4 again took maximum points when she crossed the finish of leg seven in Galway, Ireland, in first position, after sailing across the North Atlantic from Boston, USA. PUMA pipped hometown boat Green Dragon to second place, despite losing one of their rudders in heavy seas and fitting emergency steering. www.boatingoz.com.au/VOR0807

At the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe prize-giving ceremony the start date of the next race was announced as 21 October 2012, and already 29 competitors have declared their intention to compete. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28501

OLYMPIC CLASSES

The Australian Sailing Team is in the final stages of preparation for the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik, Holland, with racing set to begin on Wednesday. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28491

Noakes' compasscard will be the principle sponsor of this year's Australian Women's Match Racing Championship to be hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia from 29 August – 3 September 2009. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28452

The nomination deadline for candidates to represent their Olympic event on the ISAF Athletes' Commission has been extended until Sunday 31 May 2009. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28461

OFF THE BEACH

In the tightest finals series for a number of years, Haileybury eventually overcame 2008 champions St Leonard's College to win the 2009 Victorian Schools Team Racing Championships – part of the 2009 Victoria Harbour Schools Sailing Series at Docklands. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28453

Australian spar builder CST Composites announces their title sponsorship of the CST Composites 2009 International Moth World Championship, to be held 8-14 August in Cascade Locks, Oregon, USA, one of the most legendary high wind racing venues in the world. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28469

The 2009 PWA Ulsan World Cup proved to be a showcase of French windsurfing talent, as Antoine Albeau (JP / NeilPryde) and Valerie Ghibaudo (Loft Sails / Tabou) delivered outstanding performances to claim victory in their respective fleets. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28476

CRUISING

The regional government of Sardinia, an Italian island in the Mediterranean, has cancelled the controversial 'luxury tax' levied on visiting yachts. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28446

NEWS BRIEFS

The 21st Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show boosted confidence in the recreational marine industry with positive sales and strong sales leads from around the world. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28489

The annual Melbourne Club Marine Sail Boat Show returns to Sandringham Yacht Club on the weekend of 14-15 November 2009, the first major event to occur at the Club's new premises which will officially open in October. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28492

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

June 3 - Weather Wise Seminar at Royal Geelong Yacht Club - RSVP by Friday 29 May. http://www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28489

June 6 – 7 -- The Oceanic Whitsunday Boat & Leisure Show, Meridien Marinas Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=27784

June 12 – 14 -- Fire Water will present from 6pm to 8pm a dramatic interpretation of the fire that devastated the nineteenth century convict ship the Three Bees which sank in Sydney Cove 195 years ago. www.boatingoz.com.au/?page=28384

June 17 - Weather Wise Seminar at Frankston Surf Life Saving Club - RSVP by Friday 12 June. www.boatingoz.com.au/?Page=28379

July 2 - 6 -- Melbourne Boat Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre. www.melbourneboatshow.com.au/

July 16 - 19 -- Adelaide Boat Show, Adelaide Convention Centre. www.adelaideboatshow.com.au/

July 18 - Sail Indonesia Yacht Rally departs from Darwin. www.sailindonesia.net/

July 25 - Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race www.goldcoast.cyca.com.au/

July 30 - Aug 3 -- Sydney International Boat Show, Darling Harbour. www.sydneyboatshow.com.au/

August 12 - 16 -- Perth International Boat Show, Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. www.perthboatshow.com.au/

Aug 13 – 20 -- Airlie Beach Race Week, Meridien Marinas Abel Point Marina www.airliebeachraceweek.com.au/

Aug 21 – 29 -- Audi Hamilton Island Race Week www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au/

August 28 - 31 -- Brisbane International Boat Show, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. www.brisbaneboatshow.com.au/