Weekly Sailing Summary

AROUND THE WORLD

A dramatic start to race four of Clipper 09-10 in Cape Town saw eight of the boats cross the start line for the 4,700-mile race to Geraldton, Western Australia, while a collision between Hull & Humber and Cork resulted in the two teams returning to harbour. None of the crew were hurt and the Race Director and the shore team are assessing the damage to Hull & Humber’s port aft quarter and Cork’s bow. Check out the Clipper Round the World website for more details.

Jessica Watson has crossed the equator into the northern hemisphere and will shortly round Christmas Island before heading south. She has caught her first fish. Her official website: Jessica Watson.com.au.

KEEL BOATS

Ed Psaltis and Bob Thomas’ AFR Midnight Rambler are locked in a three way tie with Matthew Short’s TP52 Shortwave and Ray and Sandra Entwistle’s J/122 Jackpot on nine points in IRC Division 1 of the Grant Thornton Short Ocean Spring Pointscore. AFR Midnight Rambler currently holds the advantage of leading on countback, but will have to pull out a strong result in the final race of the current pointscore to clinch victory. More details.

Kevin Robinson and the gang on 'No Fearr' took out the 2009 Melbourne Latitude Series Bass Strait Race. One of the best things about the MLS is that the way the boats finish is the way they stand on the podium. This is because each boat's turning latitude has been calculated out based on their handicap. More information at the ORCV.org.au website.

Tasmanian entrants for the 2009 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Auch, Archie, She’s the Culprit and Dekadence, each filled a top handicap place in the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s Tasports Maria Island Race. Check out the RYCT.org.au website for more details.

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron team of William Tiller, Donovan Neill, Shaun Mason and Arnau Farras-Knowles won the 2009 Harken International Youth Match Racing Championship following a day of scorching 40 degree heat with breezes ranging from 10 to 25 knots on Pittwater. More details.

In an attempt to improve the competitor experience, the Audi Victoria Week executive has introduced a change to the format for 2010 with two divisions; Grand Prix and Production. The Production class has been added in light of global trends and early season IRC results. The new class will boast a maximum of ten well performed production boats in the 12-14m length range. Victoria Week.com.au.

Organisers of the 2011 Around Australia Ocean Race and the 2011 Around Australia Ocean Rally have received 211 entries. A key feature of both events is that participants can start and finish their participation in the event from a principle port of choice, which may be their home port or a port nearby. Crew changes are permitted at stop-over ports. Sail Arouind Australia website.

The CYCA Board of Directors will hold an inquiry into the incident that occurred during the Flinders Islet Yacht Race on 10 October 2009. Rear Admiral Chris Oxenbould AO RAN (Retired) has accepted the invitation of the board to chair the 2009 Flinders Islet Inquiry Committee. Other members of the committee include Past Commodore John Brooks and Past Commodore David Kellett AM. CYCA.com.au.

Australia’s best-known professional yacht regatta manager, Denis Thompson, has been appointed Race Director for the inaugural Coffs to Paradise and Sail Paradise events, which will be staged by the Gold Coast’s Southport Yacht Club in January. The Notice of Race and entry form for Coffs to Paradise and Sail Paradise can be found at Southport Yacht Club.com.au.

18 FOOTERS

Michael Coxon, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas have taken a tight grip on the NSW 18ft Skiff Championship after only three of the five scheduled races when they scored their third successive win in Thurlow Fisher-City on Sydney Harbour. More information at 18 Footers.com.au.

LOUIS VUITTON CUP

Francesco Bruni and his Azzurra crew defeated Emirates Team New Zealand 2-0 in the grand final of the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Côte d'Azur. Azzurra, from the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, made its international sailing debut at the 1983 Louis Vuitton Cup, but has been in hiatus since the 1987 event off Western Australia. The team was re-launched last month. Louis Vuitton Trophy website.

AMERICA’S CUP

The latest decision from the New York Supreme Court has ruled that both boats shall be measured with all ballast on board. Justice Kornreich took advice from three America's Cup experts and former jury members on a number of technical issues. David Tillett (AUS), Graham McKenzie (NZL) and Bryan Willis (GBR) returned a unanimous opinion on each of the five issues. www.Sailing.org.au.

TRANSAT JACQES VABRE

The leading yachts in the two handed Transat Jacques Vabre, Safran and Groupe Bel, pressed the stealth button in unison to complete their final miles away from the public tracking system. Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier-Bénac on Safran had a 90 miles lead with less than 200 miles to go on the 4730 miles course from Le Havre, France to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. More information.

MULTIHULLS

The WSSR Council announces the ratification of a new nautical mile world record with an average speed of 50.17 knots to l’Hydroptère, skippered by Alain Thébault FRA with ten crew.

NEWS BRIEFS

The British government is refusing to pay the $US7 million ransom being demanded by Somali pirates for the release of retired cruisers Paul and Rachel Chandler. In a recent interview, the Chandlers believe they will be killed or handed over to another terrorist group soon.

NSW Maritime has a new Minister for Ports and Waterways, the Hon. Paul McLeay, MP.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Dec 1 - Yachting Australia Roadshow at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia at 7.30pm. A presentation night aimed at introducing new initiatives, answering questions and providing information on the services it offers to the yachting community.

2009

Dec 5 – 8 -- Sydney International Regatta - Olympic Class regatta on Sydney Harbour: NSW Yachting.org.au.

Dec 14 – 19 -- Asia Pacific Regatta, part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, is a grade one Olympic Class regatta. Sail Melbourne.com.ua.

Dec 26 – Rolex Sydney Hobart Rolex Sydney Hobart.

Dec 31 – New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour – Family fireworks at 9pm with the main show on at midnight. More details.

2010

Jan 21 - 26 –- Audi Victoria Week is the largest sailing regatta in Australia with over 450 yachts competing over the four days and plenty of shoreside activities take place for those not competing. Victoria Week.com.

Jan 26 – Australia Day – Events on Sydney Harbour include a Ferrython, Awesome Forces displays, best dressed vessels competition, tall ships race, 174th Australia Day Regatta, Sydney Ports Jazz on the Water Concert. For details see Australia Day.com.au.

Feb 5 - 7 -- Melbourne International Boat & Lifestyle Show, Docklands. MIBLF.com.au.

Feb 12 – 21 -- JJ Giltinan International Championship, Sydney Harbour - sometimes referred to as the 18 Footer Worlds 18 Footers.com.

Feb 19 – 21 -- The Melbourne Wooden Boat Festival will be held at the Docklands precinct on Victoria Harbour. Wooden Boat.com.au.

Feb 25 - 27 -- Variety Splash - Participants will travel a round trip from Docklands’ Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel, with nightly stopovers at Sandringham Yacht Club and Royal Geelong Yacht Club. Variety Splash.org.au.

Photograph: Assessing damage to Hull & Humber sustained at the start of Race 4 of Clipper 09-10 in Cape Town courtesy of