Weekly Sailing Summary

KEEL BOATS

Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas' modified Farr 40 AFR Midnight Rambler was the IRC overall winner of the 24th Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race. The National Jury heard four protests and received three statutory declarations pertaining to the race before final results were announced. More details.

The 26 yachts racing in the 3rd Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race started the 348 nautical mile race under spinnaker in just over four knots breeze. Later a 15-20 knot south easterly pushed Peter Harburg’s Black Jack over the line to smash the record it set last year by nearly four hours, claiming line and overall honours. More details.

The tropical paradise of Airlie Beach will again be transformed into a regatta city when the high-standard fleet competes at the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week to be held from August 14-20. More info.

-- INTERNATIONAL

The 8,500 competitors at this year's Cowes Week enjoyed another day of sun on day three with a southerly wind of 10-15 knots that increased to 15-20 during the afternoon. More details.

The third annual Artemis Challenge at Cowes Week will see ten of the world’s leading Open 60 sailors, who between them have notched up nine solo circumnavigations of the globe, accompanied by some well-known faces on the high-speed sprint around the Isle of Wight. Details.

Fifty two solo sailors competing on the 40th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro set off on the first of four legs from Lorient to La Coruña in Galicia, across the Bay of Biscay. Yann Elies (Generali) crossed the finish line in Coruna first, followed within the space of an hour by no less than 15 of his rivals. More information.

The second stage of the 2009 La Solitaire du Figaro gets underway from Coruna in Spain on Tuesday, with the fleet re-crossing the Bay of Biscay in a 365 mile passage to the port of St. Gilles Croix de Vie in France’s Vendee region. Details.

It's not often that the stars of the Open and Women's match racing events get to compete side by side at the same regatta, but in the coming week the EUROSAF European Match Racing Championship 2009 in Denmark will do exactly that. More information.

The prestigious St. Moritz Match Race will unite some of the world's best match racers in the Swiss Alps from September 1- 6. Details.

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s September sporting calendar consolidates the entire spectrum of modern-day yachting as sailing superyachts, competitive maxis and racing sport boats congregate in Porto Cervo for four events which attest the Club’s decision to concentrate on two distinct areas of development - superyacht events, designed to bring the cream of the nautical world to the YCCS, and competitive regattas for leading one-design classes. More info.

AMERICA’S CUP

Judge Shirley Kornreich ruled that America's Cup defender Alinghi can use an engine for trimming sails and other functions. Opponent BMW Oracle, which objected to the engine in the New York State Supreme Court, welcomed the clarification, but said it was a 'sad day' for the America's Cup. More info.

MULTIHULLS

During Groupama 3’s bid to beat her own Transatlantic record Franck Cammas and his nine-man crew broke the 24 hour distance record, covering 841 miles at an average of over 35 knots. More details.

Banque Populaire V set out from New York two and a half hours after Groupama 3 but was first to finish at Lizard Point (Cornwall, UK) beating Groupama 3’s 2007 Transatlantic record. Groupama 3 finished 12 minutes later. An incredible finish with the two rivals within sight of each other. More info.

AROUND THE WORLD

The new route for the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race has been unveiled by race founder and legendary solo sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and will include the addition of an eighth leg, delivering a second Great Cape for the non-professional crews. Details.

OLYMPIC CLASSES

The last day of the ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship 2009 was full of surprises, and the big sensation of the day was Australian Nicky Souter's impressive dominance, beating the reigning world champion Claire Leroy (FRA) in the semi-finals and taking three straight victories against Marie Bjorling of Sweden in the final. Fellow Australian Katie Spithill placed fifth. More info.

Finland’s Sari Multala worked her way from third at the first mark into first place to win Race 11, and in doing so won the Laser Radial Worlds in Karatsu, Japan. Australian Sailing Development Squad member Gabrielle King placed 15th. Detailed wrap.

Tom Slingsby from Australia scored a first place in the second race of the Laser European Championship in Borstahusen, Landskrona, Sweden, on Monday to take an early lead on countback from Zsombor Berecz (HUN), Roelof Bouwmeester (NED) and friend Michael Leigh (CAN), all on six points. More details.

Swiss sailors Flavio Marazzi and Enrico De Maria have taken an early lead of the Star World Championship at Varberg, Sweden, scoring a pair of third places, to overtake race one winners and defending world champions Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki from Poland. hMore information.

OFF THE BEACH

Jason Waterhouse, the 17 year-old who won the Hobie 16 class Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Brazil in July, is now preparing to sail an 18ft Skiff with the Australian 18 Footers League during the 2009-2010 season. More details.

The UK weather put paid to a spectacular final day showdown at the 2009 Mirror World Championship at Pwllheli Sailing Club in North Wales, leaving officials no alternative but to abandon, and father and son combination Andy and Tom Smith from Great Britain took home the world title with a 12 point lead. More details.

PWA Grand Slam: Jose 'Gollito' Estredo (Fanatic/North Sails/MFC) and Sara-Quita Offringa (Starboard/NeilPryde) punched the sky when they were officially announced as the winners at the packed beach after the wind, once again, refused to blow enough to run a contest in Fuerteventura. More info.

NEWS BRIEFS

An on-line maritime alert, based on official weather data, has been launched to help boat owners and rock fishermen prepare and plan a day out on or near the water. Details.

Police Inspector Glenn Finniss of the NSW Water Police will take up the position of interim Chief Executive of the new volunteer maritime rescue group, Marine Rescue NSW. More information.

On 15 October 2007 a ceremony marked the official commencement of the building of Sandringham Yacht Club’s new clubhouse. Now two years on come October this year, the vision is set to become a reality when the new Clubhouse is officially opened. Details within.

The purchase of five new patrol boats at a cost of almost $750,000 will provide NSW Maritime safety officers with an increased presence on the State’s waterways. More info.

A state of the art recreational boating facility is to be built at Yeend Street Wharf at Birchgrove, in Sydney’s inner west. More information.

More than $50 million in maritime developments will go ahead at Rozelle and Blackwattle Bays in Sydney. Details.

MARINE INDUSTRY

Australia’s boating industry has confirmed its intention to develop a new single national entity to represent the interests of its members across Australia. More info.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

August 12 - 16 -- Perth International Boat Show, Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. Perth Boat show.

Aug 13 – 20 -- Airlie Beach Race Week, Meridien Marinas Abel Point Marina. Airlie Beach Race Week.

Aug 16 - Want a new angle on Sydney? The National Maritime Museum invites you to climb to the top of its historic lighthouse for a different view of Darling Harbour and the city beyond. More information.

Aug 21 – 29 -- Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Hamilton Island Race Week.

August 28 - 31 -- Brisbane International Boat Show, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Brisbane Boat show.

Aug 29 – Sep 4 --  Multihull Solutions Multihull Rendezvous. APYC Yachting.

Sep 11-13 -- The Great Tropical Jazz Party on Magnetic Island follows on from Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week, with many crews lingering on to relax after a week of competitive sailing. More details.

Sep 12 - Great Whitsunday Fun Race Whitsunday Sailing Club. 

Photograph courtesy of Andrea Francolini/Audi: AFR Midnight Ramber racing towards victory