Weekly Sailing Summary

KEEL BOATS

For the first time ever, the line honours and overall handicap winners of Britain’s famous Rolex Fastnet Race will contest the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in the same year. More details at BoatingOz.

Details of Australia's new east coast offshore circuit, which is scheduled to be held between Pittwater, Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast next January, are now available following the posting of the Notice of Race for all three events. More information.

The 2010 Australasian Dragon Championship for the Prince Philip Cup and Ted Albert Memorial Regatta will be held from December 30 to January 7 off the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in Perth. More details.

After a hiatus of eight years, the Sunseeker Australia Cup has returned to Perth attracting the world's most elite skippers and their international crews to contest the hottest invitation-only Sunseeker Australia Cup, to be held from 26-29 November. More information.

  --- INTERNATIONAL

The Argo Group Gold Cup is the last opportunity for teams to gather World Championship points before the final Tour showdown at the Monsoon Cup in December. More details.

The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) launches a new challenge with the participation of team Azzurra in the Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta, scheduled to be held in Nice from 7-22 November. More details.

MULTIHULLS

Since the new Gitana 11 was launched in September, Yann Guichard and the Gitana Team's technical crew have been out for a number of test sails aboard the 77 foot maxi-trimaran. More information.

The International Tornado Association’s, new-look committee is headed by ITA President and Olympic bronze medallist, Roland Gaebler. The recently-formed committee is comprised of some of the biggest multihull sailing names worldwide and not only from the Olympic scenario. More details.

AMERCIA’S CUP

The Swiss Defender of the 33rd America's Cup has docked in the Emirate of Ras al Khaimah after a 12 day, 4,400nm voyage aboard a cargo ship. More details.

Just two days after the high-tech catamaran belonging to America's Cup Defender Alinghi arrived in Ras al Khaimah, venue for the next Cup, Challenger BMW Oracle asked a New York court to change the location. BMW Oracle cited 'grave safety concerns' because of the emirate's geographical proximity to Iran. More details.

A statement from Société Nautique de Genève's Brad Butterworth, four-time America's Cup winner and skipper of the America's Cup defending team Alinghi, following yet another lawsuit from the American challenger BMW Oracle. More info.

AROUND THE WORLD

Jessica Watson, the 16 year-old Queensland teenager aiming to be the world's youngest person to sail non-stop unassisted around the world single-handed arrived quietly in Sydney and is moored at The Spit at Middle Harbour. More details.

Clipper Race: In what is proving to be a difficult leg of the race from La Rochelle to Rio de Janeiro, California and Uniquely Singapore are grateful to be moving again and Team Finland's skipper is proud of his crew's performance in their continuing lead. More information.

It is just one year before the start of the Velux 5 Oceans 2010-2011 race and it is shaping up to be the most successful for a decade, with nine skippers representing seven countries already entered. More details.

OLYMPIC CLASSES

US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR will bring together the world's top sailors for elite-level competition in the classes selected for the Olympic and Paralympic Games from January 24-30, 2010 and the Notice of Race is now online. More details.

OFF THE BEACH

Mark Kristic and Andrew Wilson from Victoria won the NSW i14 State Championship 2009-10 sailed on Sydney Harbour. More information.

The sailing component of the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games will be held from October 12-16 on Sydney Harbour. One of the biggest names competing is respected Olympic coach, Mike Fletcher, from Sydney. More details.

Storm force winds and relentless seas restricted competition on the final day of the 2009 PWA World Tour - the freestyle and slalom windsufers were itching for their final day of competition, but it was not to be, Tour officials said any form of World Class competition was way too dangerous, so it was replaced with a 'Super Expression' competition with some great images at the end. More details.

PRODUCTS

Navico’s revolutionary BR24 Broadband Radar has won the 2009 EDN Innovation Award for ‘Best Application of RF Design’. More details.

With a width of only 235mm, the NEW WAECO CDF-11 is the smallest kompressor driven fridge/freezer on the market. More information.

NEWS BRIEFS

Fans of wooden boats will be able to get their fill at the Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival which will come to the Docklands precinct on Victoria Harbour from 19-21 February 2010. More details.

The new Sandringham Yacht Club situated in Melbourne, officially opened its doors in an all-day and evening extravaganza attended by 3,000 plus members and their guests. More information.

A new beauty has been added to Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson’s privately owned collection of luxury retreats. Necker Belle, a magnificent 32 metre (105 foot) put on a smile on Sir Richard’s face and international yachting photographer, Andrea Francolini, was there to capture the moment. More details.

Plymouth’s Mayflower Marina is supporting young sailor Oliver Hancox in his bid to become the youngest person to sail single-handed across the English Channel. More information.

Mike Perham, the youngest person to sail solo around the world, has become an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust, the British youth charity headed by HRH Prince Charles that helps change young lives. More details.

The 2009 ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy, which honours an outstanding voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing, has been awarded to rules expert Bill Bentsen (USA). More information.

MARINE INDUSTRY

Planning is already underway for the 22nd Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show to be staged from 20-23 May, 2010, with the expected release of the Exhibitor Application online late October. More details.

The Marina Industries Association of Australia (MIAA) has announced the appointment of a new chairman of the peak industry's Board of Directors, Andrew Chapman, CEO of The Marina Hindmarsh Island in South Australia. More information.

VALE ARTHUR BYRNE

Arthur Byrne, a member of the CYCA since 1964, recently passed away. Arthur competed in seven Sydney Hobart yacht races on his yachts Salacia and Salacia II. He competed in the 1971 Admiral's Cup with Salacia II alongside Ragamuffin and Koomooloo, at which the team finished second. More details.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Oct 10 – 18 -- Sydney Harbour Island Hopping on Saturdays and Sundays for all ages on four islands. More details.

Oct 9 – 11 – Club Marine Mandurah Boat Show, Mandurah Offshore Fishing & Sailing Club WA. Mandurah Boat Show.

Oct 17 – 18 – Darwin Boat Show, Darwin Convention Centre. Darwin Boat Show.

Oct 24  25 -- The Copper Cove Marina Festival in South Australia will combine the best products and produce from local boating, seafood and wine suppliers. More details.

Nov 1 – Try Sailing Day NSW - Sailing and yacht clubs around NSW devote their club, boats and instructors to give people of all ages, with little or no experience a chance to experience the joys of sailing for free. BIA "Try Sailing" website.

Nov 14 – 15 - Club Marine Sail Boat Show, Sandringham Yacht Club. More details.

Nov 21 – 23 -- Club Marine Boating Extravaganza, Goolwa, SA - 150 on-water sites, more than 200 hard stand sites and a number of hands-on exhibitions and demonstrations. More information.

Photograph: Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Belle courtesy of international yachting photographer, Andrea Francolini.