Weekly Sailing Summary
Peter Gilmour AUS wins World Match Racing Tour again, Katie Spithill AUS wins ISAF Grade One match racing title, solo sailor starts Australian record attemptSummary for w/b - 06 June, 2006 12pm
Australia's Katie Spithill claimed the ISAF Grade One Boat U.S. Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA yesterday, defeating Giulia CONTI (ITA) in a dramatic final.
Winter hit Sydney Harbour and the fleet of 144 boats competing in the BMW Sydney Winter Series with a vengeance as chilly and gusty sou'westers swept down from the mountains. One yacht was spectacularly dismasted, another snapped off its rudder, there was at least one serious collision, and many wild broaches and gybes as sharp "bullets' of 25 knots and more hit the fleet.
Solo sailor Margaret Williams detests the thought of "unfinished business", so she's all set to tackle one of the world's last standing sailing records
- again. She has spent the past six months readying her boat and steeling her nerves for her second attempt at becoming the first woman to circumnavigate Australia solo, non-stop and unassisted.
Tom Braidwood, a professional sailor from Lake Macquarie NSW, is aiming to be the first Australian entry to complete the Mini Transat yacht race in 2007. The Mini Transat is a biennial race sailed in two legs across the Atlantic in 21ft yachts. It is one of the most adventurous and extreme events on the sailing calendar.
The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is proposing to introduce in summer a non-spinnaker division to the Saturday pointscore racing, and to encourage more fast one-design and sportsboats to race with the Squadron's handicap divisions.
The Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron is hosting the 16th Annual Women's Keelboat Regatta over the June long weekend. Boats from all around Port Phillip Bay are competing plus one from Sydney.
The Australian Etchells class mid-winter championship in Mooloolaba on the June holiday weekend has attracted a number of high profile one-design sailors, including Sydney 2000 Olympic 470 class Gold Medallist Tom King, Etchells World Champions Iain Murray, Cameron Miles, and Peter McNeill, Americas Cup winner John Bertrand and defending champion Rob Brown.
Yacht designer Jeremy Rogers helmed his Contessa 26 Rosina of Beaulieu to win the Gold Roman Bowl in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race again. 1587 boats took part in the race around the Isle of Wight.
Crew applications are available online for Roy Disney's "Morning Light," a real-life adventure feature film recorded as it happens in next year's 44th Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii. Applicants must be 18 years old and applications close June 19. Selection Trials are in Long Beach, California August 6, and 13, 2006, and if selected you must be available between January 1 and July 31.
MULTIHULLS
JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race - The Dutch VX40 Holmatro catamaran took line honours.
- Pete Goss and Paul Larsen, sailing the ultra-lightweight SeaCart 30 trimaran, took line honours in the Multihull Grand Prix and MOCRA classes. The team used the race as a ‘shake down' for next week's two-handed Shetland Round Britain and Ireland race, which commences in Plymouth Sound on June 11.
Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix Portsmouth, UK. Winning one race and scoring three second places in the remaining races, Alister Richardson steered the all British Team Basilica to victory in the overall series.
Boatspeed, north of Sydney, will build a 95 - 105ft trimaran designed by Nigel Irens and Benoît Cabaret and commissioned by SODEB'O and Thomas Coville, to be geared for breaking the single-handed round the world multihull record.
The first Fountaine Pajot's Mahé 36 is due to land in Australia in January 2007. Three orders have been taken for the catamarans in the Asia Pacific region. The Mahé 36 was designed to meet three stringent objectives: to be affordable while offering excellent value for money, be ergonomic and comfortable, and to possess outstanding sea performance with centralised handling.
Stockland Cleveland Peel Island Marathon yacht race is particularly popular among the catamaran and skiff classes, which circumnavigate Peel Island twice during the race.
AROUND THE WORLD
Volvo Ocean Race - It's a tight yacht race out in the Irish Sea. Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard) is about two boat lengths away from Brunel (Matt Humphries), who is just nudging ABN ARMO ONE (Mike Sanderson), while Brasil 1 (Torben Grael) is the new leader, from Ericsson Racing Team in second place, two miles behind. The boats are expected to arrive into Rotterdam around June 7.
Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race - Due to the continued presence of Tropical Revolving Storm Aletta across the path of the boats, and uncertainties over its development, a decision was made to finish Race Eight early. The fleet is making their way as quickly as possible to Panama for the Canal transit.
The Coral Coast Rally from Dunk to Dent had Social Instructions, and although not compulsory it was strongly recommended that every boat partake in the festivities, including a home made or boat made bikini competition.
See also Book Review of Letters from the Med.
- Try Sailing Lesson - only $50 (normally $95). Two hours on Sydney Harbour
- Try Spinnaker Lesson - only $50. Two hours exciting sailing on a J24
- $100 discount on all sailing courses
- $50 off a second course
- C5 - Small Craft Safety Course half price $198 - September 3 and 9. This course provides great background knowledge for Competent Crew certificate and Power Boat Licence.
Ph: 02 9326 2399
BOOK REVIEW
Letters from the Med by Andrea and Ian Treleaven is a written and photographic account of their three summers cruising around the Mediterranean on a 47ft Beneateau yacht. Andrea's letters are concise and informative, conjuring up the atmosphere of the European ports with their old cities, modern marinas, stylish shops, restaurants and the passing parade of scantily clad people.
Letters from the Med is ideal for people planning to charter or cruise in the area. For those who have already been it is sure to bring back great memories.
Southport Yacht Club's 60th Anniversary Gala Evening will be held on June 24.
- Skipper with Marine Master Class 5, Melbourne
- Marine Surveyor, Queensland
- Fireman with Training Cert IV, Sydney
See www.boatingoz.com.au
The Marina Association of Australia announces new courses to assist in the professional development of marina staff.
From September 1, Ronstan will take on the exclusive distribution of the FSE Robline range of yachting ropes for North America, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.
WHAT'S ON
June 10 - 11 -- Oceanic Whitsunday Boat and Leisure Show, Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach. A boating and marine products expo, showcasing the Whitsunday region's extensive marine-based industries both to trade and the general public. Featuring yachts, cruisers, charters, bareboats, services and supplies.
June 11 - Australian F1 Superboat Series, Newcastle
June 12 - Queen's Birthday Holiday (all states except WA)
Photo - SeaCart 30 trimaran sailed by Pete Goss and Paul Larsen
More information at www.boatingoz.com.au or subscribe to receive weekly email news with links.
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