Weekly Sailing Summary

KEEL BOATS

The new Gusto (the old Xena), an MBD designed Open 66, is the 11th entrant in the 2010 Melbourne to Vanuatu race. The boat is waiting in Brisbane for new rigging to arrive from overseas, then the stick will be put back in and the boat delivered down to Melbourne in time for the start on July 4. ORCV.org.au.

Ray Roberts is the new owner of Rosebud, the yacht designed by Bruce Farr, previously owned by American Roger Sturgeon, winner of the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart race and of other events in the US and Europe. As he will not be able to get the yacht to Australia in time for this year’s Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Roberts will compete on his Cookson 50, Evolution Racing but he plans to race to Hobart in December on Rosebud renamed Evolution Racing. Hamilton Island Race Week.com.au.

A fleet of 27 boats started the Melbourne to Apollo Bay race on 15 May. Five yachts retired early in the race possibly due to the light conditions. ORCV.org.au.

The fourth race of the Audi Winter Series hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia was sailed in light air. At least the sun was shining and the temperatures were in the early 20’s, making it a pleasurable way to spend a lazy Sunday. CYCA.com.au.

The 13th edition of Match Race Germany, Stage 2 of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour, will be held 19-24 May. The racing will be live on the internet this year, a first for Match Race Germany. The 12 team line up from eight different countries includes Australians Torvar Mirsky and Peter Gilmour. WMRT.com.

JESSICA WATSON

Jessica Watson arrived in Sydney on Saturday 15 May and celebrated the end of her seven month, non-stop, sail around the world with fellow solo circumnavigators Mike Perham, Jesse Martin, Brian Caldwell, David Dicks and Jon Sanders. She arrived a few hours later than anticipated to an overwhelming welcome, keeping the Prime Minister and Premier waiting. Jessica turned 17 on May 18th. JessicaWatson.com.au.

The spectator fleet on Sydney Harbour to greet Jessica was estimated to be 1,000 by Maritime NSW. Maritime.nsw.gov.au.

EXPEDITIONS

The crew on the Talisker Bounty Boat Expedition got a taste of what it is like to have an unquenchable thirst during the days leading up to their first decent downpour. On an uninhabited island in Fiji, British crew member David Wilkinson announced his decision to quit the expedition as he struggled with the rations endured by Captain William Bligh and his crew 221 years previously. With skipper Don McIntyre close to calling out a reserve crew member, David Wilkinson re-considered his options and pledged to finish the expedition. TaliskerBountyBoat.com.

SANCTUARY COVE BOAT SHOW

This year’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on 20-23 May has drawn 421 exhibitors with on-water displays at the marina, hardstand displays through the waterfront Marine Village, and exhibits through three large pavilions. Visitors can wander past close to 200 boats on water ranging from super yachts through to glamorous luxury cruisers, sail boats and multihulls. This year two new components have been introduced – a Prestige Brokerage and Charter area on water and a dedicated Sea Trial area, which is an Australian first. Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.com.au.

AROUND THE WORLD

The crew of Cork is racing in the Clipper 09-10 as a single unit for the first time since their original boat ran aground in Race 5. Ten boats lined up for the start on 16 May for the short sprint from Panama to Jamaica. ClipperRoundTheWorld.com.

PRODUCTS

RFD has released a new range of life rafts specifically targeting the offshore yachting and racing markets. The RFD Transocean life raft meets both ISAF and Yachting Australia standards, being perfectly suited to Australian offshore racing conditions. The RFD Transocean raft is a canister style raft designed to be deck mounted.

Modern boat owners need to protect their engines and fuel systems from the damage and contamination that often occurs during storage. Poorly maintained fuel systems can adversely affect engine reliability, which is why Quicksilver developed its Fuel System Treatment & Stabilizer. If added before each fill-up it helps maintain fuel integrity and protect the fuel system against varnish and gum deposits, rust, corrosion and oxidation.

CRUISING / INDUSTRY NEWS

The Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX), the peak body for the Australian Marine Export Industry, has been lobbying for several years to get GST removed on boats sold to overseas buyers who wish to sail in Australian waters. The GST law required the boat to be exported within 60 days or GST would be payable. As part of the recent Federal budget, overseas buyers of Australian boats can sail in Australian waters for recreational purposes for up to twelve months without needing to pay GST. MarineQLD.com.au.

NEWS BRIEFS

Craig Escott was awarded the Governor’s Cup for Outstanding Yachting Achievement at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s annual trophy presentation dinner. Fifteen years ago Craig was regarded as one of Tasmania’s best young ocean racing sailors, a winner of the Melbourne to Hobart Race and runner-up in the Sydney Hobart Race. Suddenly, his sailing career seemed finished when he was hit by a car and severely injured while crossing a street at Airlie Beach. RYCT.org.au.

A seven metre Naiad Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat is being refurbished at the NSW Maritime state headquarters at Rozelle Bay in Sydney. NSW Maritime will be donating this boat to the volunteer organization Marine Rescue NSW. Maritime.nsw.gov.au.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

May 20 - 23 -- Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Gold Coast. Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.com.au.

May 20 – 23 -- 1770 Festival, Town of Seventeen-Seventy, Queensland. Celebrating the "Birth Place of Queensland", this festival has been an annual event for 17 years and commemorates the visit of the Endeavour and landing of Lt. James Cook and his crew in May 1770. 1770festival.com.au.

May 21 – 30 -- Port Douglas Carnivale, Tropical North Queensland. The seaside resort village of Port Douglas sets aside ten days each year to celebrate music, arts, sport, food culture and entertainment. Carnivale.com.au.

May 22 - Dent to Dunk Rally starts. APYC.yachting.org.au.

May 27 – June 21 -- Vivid Sydney, a festival of light, music and ideas, featuring the spectacular illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails. EventsNSW.com.au.

May 29 - Dent to Dunk Race starts. APYC.yachting.org.au.

June 8 - Long Distance Offshore Sailing Seminar - Search and Rescue at Royal Brighton Yacht Club at 7pm. ORCV.org.au.

June 13 - 14 -- The Oceanic Whitsunday Boat & Leisure Show, Meridien Marinas Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach. Whitsunday Boat Show.com.

June 16 - Alex Whitworth tells his story of sailing Berrimilla through the North West Passage above Canada in 2008 at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Rushcutters Bay, Sydey. Arrive early, view the yacht, enjoy dinner on the deck and be seated for the 6.30pm start. Free and all welcome. Please register attendance with CYCA reception by email reception@cyca.com.au or 8292 7800

July 1 - 5 -- Melbourne Boat Show, Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Melbourne Boat Show.com.au.

July 6 – Aug 17 -- CYCA Medical Management for Mariners course - St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney aims to teach those who go to sea in small craft, especially yachts, how to deal with a medical emergency should it arise when professional medical assistance may be hours or even days away. The course consists of seven three-hour nights at the hospital followed by a three hour practical session taught by Helicopter Rescue Paramedics on board a yacht at the CYCA.  During the course, participants are shown how to treat and stabilise a patient and prepare and package the injured person for rescue. All welcome. CYCA.com.au.

July 4 - Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V) ORCV.org.au.

July 15 - 18 -- Adelaide Boat Show, Adelaide Convention Centre. Adelaide Boat Show.com.au.

Photograph: The new Gusto (the old Xena) courtesy of