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SCUTTLEBUTT EUROPE #1483 - 10 APRIL

Brought to you by boats.com Europe ( http://www.boats.com ) and Yachtworld.com Europe ( http://www.yachtworld.com ) Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

THE NORTH PACIFIC IN 11 DAYS 12 MINUTES 55 SECONDS Gitana 13 adds the North Pacific crossing to its list of conquests by covering the 4,482 theoretical miles of the (direct) course in 11 days 12 minutes and 55 seconds. Leaving San Francisco on Saturday 29th March at 22h45'45''UT, for the second record of their 2008 campaign, Lionel Lemonchois and his ten crew crossed the finish line off Yokohama, in Tokyo Bay on Wednesday 9th April at 22h58'40" UT. The maxi-catamaran equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild improved on the previous reference time by 3 days 22 hours 27 minutes 46 seconds, held by Olivier de Kersauson and his crew on Geronimo since 2006.

Sylvain Mondon, Gitana 13's router, announced it even before the maxi-catamaran had even slid its bows under the Golden Gate Bridge: "This Ocean is anything but Pacific!". By choosing to adopt a central route, in order not to extend the course, the sailors of Gitana Team knew that the weather conditions wouldn't be at all relaxing.

Gitana 13 covered the 4,482 theoretical miles of this crossing at an average speed of 16.96 knots. However, in practice, the maxi-catamaran had to cover over 5,616 miles, at an average speed of 21.26 knots, to make Japan. Explanation: on this record the direct route would force the sailors attacking the record to adopt a very northerly trajectory to make Yokohama. Weather conditions dictate a much more southerly course then the ideal track.

A peak speed of 39.7 knots Is a new personal record for the crew on this crossing. The best day recorded by Gitana 13 in terms of distance covered over the water in 24 hours is that of 3rd April with over 612 miles on the counter.

"We're certainly very tired at the end, as the past eleven days at sea have been intense. The Pacific offers some rapid and numerous weather sequences. In total we encountered two lows, including a very strong one at the approach to the Japanese coast, then three high pressure zones to round and as many transition zones to negotiate. Prior to our departure, the second part of our course was still very uncertain but everything fell nicely into place in the end. The storm over the past few days gave us a good boost on our journey to Japan. This period, though stressful, will remain a highlight of our time at sea. We had strong winds gusting to over 60 knots but it was the waves above all else which were impressive, rising to over 10 metres in cross seas. It was quite a spectacle!"

"Gitana 13 will remain in Yokohama until early May, since we're continuing our series of records in the China Sea. The next destination for the crew is Dalian, in China, after a 1,500 mile record crossing attempt between the two towns. We will then follow that by trying to set new record times between Qingdao, Taipei, Hong Kong and Macao, prior to returning to Hong Kong to set off on the Tea Route."

The crew on Gitana 13 Lionel Lemonchois (Skipper / helmsman / watch leader) Jacques Vincent (helmsman / watch leader) Ludovic Aglaor (helmsman/ watch leader) Cyril Dardashti (trimmer) Olivier Wroczynski (trimmer /computing manager) Jean-Baptiste Epron (trimmer / Photographer) Nicolas Raynaud (trimmer / video manager) Stefan Fodor (trimmer) Kojiro Shiraishi (trimmer) David Boileau (No.2 / trimmer/ deck hardware manager) Leopold Lucet (No.1 /supplies and medical manager)

http://www.gitana-team.com

BMW ORACLE BUILD IS WELL UNDERWAY The third America's Cup racing yacht to be built in Anacortes is well underway, BMW ORACLE Racing, the U.S. Challenger for the 33rd America's Cup, confirmed today.

The multihull yacht is being built for San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) team for a match against the defender later this year. This will be the third America's Cup racing yacht the U.S. team has built in this waterfront community 100 miles (160 km) north of Seattle.

"We are proud to be in Anacortes where we can draw on world-class expertise and where the team has enjoyed so much local support," said the team's Boat Construction Manager Mark Turner. The team built its two America's Cup Class yachts USA 87 and USA 98 in Anacortes for the 32nd America's Cup competition in 2007 in Valencia, Spain.

The rules that govern the America's Cup, the Deed of Gift, require the boat to be constructed in the country of challenge.

Turner is working alongside co-construction manager Tim Smyth. Housed in a 100-foot X 200-foot (30m x 60m), three-story shed, the building has been converted into a purpose-built composite yacht construction facility. The team also works with Janicki Industries in nearby Sedro-Woolley which provide high- tech precision tooling for the boat construction.

He said the team would provide further updates on the boat's construction soon. -- Jane Eagleson

http://www.bmworacleracing.com

BACK TO KINDERGARTEN Alinghi and BMW Oracle Racing helmsmen talk to thedailysail about the transition to multihulls This is something of a rarity at the moment: an article about the America's Cup which doesn't once mention the words 'New York', 'court' or 'Cahn'.

Both teams have recently decamped temporarily to France's multihull capital, Lorient. Alinghi were sailing on Gautier's Foncia until their unfortunate capsize last week. Over the last few days the BMW Oracle sailing team have been on Groupama 2 with Franck Cammas as they have been attempting to match race Pascal Bidegorry and his race team on Banque Populaire (helmsman James Spithill says it has been close with Groupama 2 having the edge upwind, but both boats being pretty even downwind).

At this stage the progress in each team's training will all come down to how receptive they are to new ideas, for while multihulls are boats that sail on the water this is pretty much where any similarity ends with the world of lead mines they are used to.

Given this, one has to wonder why neither team has filled their sailing squads with French or why Alain Gautier hasn't been employed to drive the Alinghi multihull while Cammas steers the BMW Oracle boat. Generally it is felt that both teams are looking at the big picture and while the 33rd America's Cup will be a brief distraction, something they want to get out of the way, neither camp wants to disband their monohull sailing team that they will continue on with towards the 34th Cup, bearing in mind this could be as early as 2011.

Full story on TheDailySail.com (with part two coming today... time to subscribe if you haven't already...)

http://www.thedailysail.com

HIGH PERFORMANCE CLOTHING There are many variables that go into performing well at a regatta. Some are controllable, some are not. Clothing is a controllable variable. Therefore, when looking for high performance clothing, the Code Zero quick dry shirt from Camet is a perfect choice! Made with a double circular knit lightweight fabric that is designed to wick away moisture, dry fast, be comfortable, and have maximum UV protection. This high performing shirt is perfect as a single warm weather layer or as an under layer for cold weather. Camet is the source for Padded Sailing Shorts, Pants, Vests, and so much more...

http://www.camet.com

NUCCI NOVI CEPPELLINI AWARDED ISAF BEPPE CROCE TROPHY ISAF is proud to announce that the ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy - which honours an outstanding voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing - has been awarded posthumously to ISAF Vice-President Nucci Novi Ceppellini (ITA).

Nucci, who passed away in February this year, was dedicated to the sport of sailing throughout her life. An active and successful sailor, Nucci cared deeply for the sport she loved, demonstrated through her appointment as a national Race Official together with a far reaching involvement in the sport's management. Today, Nucci's influence can be seen across the sport and she is an outstanding recipient for this award.

ISAF President Goran Petersson said, "I am very proud to honour the contribution Nucci has made to sailing through the awarding of the ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy. Nucci's passion for sailing was infectious, whilst her vitality, expertise and integrity benefited and guided many areas of the sport. Those who knew Nucci were fortunate to have worked with a dynamic, kind and generous individual - Nucci's legacy is immense."

Nucci's outstanding achievements and contribution to the sport were recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 2000 when she was awarded the inaugural IOC Women in Sport Trophy for Europe.

The ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy will be presented on Friday 9 May at a dinner hosted by S.Pellegrino at the Shangri-La Hotel in Qingdao, China. The Trophy will be received by a family member.

FIVE ISLANDS AND FIVE CASTLES This summer you can take part in a race in which Alnwick Castle is a mark of the course.

The race is the Coquet Yacht Club's '5 Islands and 5 Castles 24 hour Challenge'. It starts at 1830 on 20 June from Alnwick Castle. Two of your crew do the running: 10 miles round Warkworth Castle, on to Amble Marina and a sailing leg Holy Island. It's sponsored by the Alnwick Rum Company (I've never heard of Alnwick Rum, but I bet it works) and is to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis.

If sailing follows the trend in other sports for endurance and multi-discipline triathlon-type challenges, I predict a big growth in these running and racing events. This one sounds like a lot of fun.

More information from the Coquet YC. -- http://www.coquetyachtclub.org.uk >From Elaine Bunting's blog at http://www.ybw.com/yw/blog/elaine_bunting.html

* Editor: The history of Alnwick Rum at http://www.alnwickrum.com/history.php Your humble narrator has toured the Gosling's facility in Hamilton Bermuda, has forced down countless Dark n Stormy's at the RBYC and to his trained palate this 'blended' rum sounds a lot like Black Seal. Yummy.

CROATIA TO NORTHERN EUROPE Complete Freight recently shipped the first three Ker 39 yachts out of Croatia to Northern Europe. Hull #1 finished 1st in class zero of the "Red Funnel Easter Regatta" and won the Prix D' Elegance trophy. She has now completed and won her debut Kinsale spring series (race 2) in Ireland. James Hynes boat skipper of Silk Glove comments "Complete Freight ensured a swift delivery of Silk Glove from Croatia to Hamble. Looking after all aspects of the move enabled us to have the yacht ready for racing in what was a tight timescale to say the least". For more information on Complete Freight service please refer to the Complete Freight website on http://www.completefreight.com or telephone 01489 575763

ELLEN TAKES THE TORCH OVER THE THAMES Round-the-world yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur carried the Olympic torch amid stormy scenes in London this week.

Former Anthony Gell pupil Dame Ellen took the flame over the Thames, on the last leg of the relay course.

By the time she received the torch, 37 pro-Tibet protestors had been arrested, many for trying to extinguish the flame.

Dame Ellen said it had been a "difficult day" and she was disappointed the positive aspects of the Olympics had not been highlighted.

"If the Olympics were not being held in Beijing, then there would not be an opportunity to communicate these matters to this extent on a world stage," she added.

http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/Ellen-defies-Olympic-torch-protest.3961998.jp

FEDOR CROSSES GATE 14 Fedor Konyukhov, the Russian adventurer trailblazing an inaugural sailing record around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack, chalked up another milestone today. After passing through Gate 14 within the circular 3-lane racetrack around Antarctica, the 56 year old became the first solo yachtsman to to sail non-stop from Cape Horn (GATE 8, 67E) across the South Atlantic Ocean to the junction of the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean (GATE 14 20E) keeping below latitude 45° South.

Other yachtsmen have sailed across the South Atlantic before, most notably, Australian circumnavigator Jon Sanders, who completed the first a double circumnavigation aboard his S&S 34 monohull Perie Banou back in 1981/2. The West Australian, who has a gate within the Racetrack named after him and saw Konyukhov off on his record mission from Albany on 26 January, also passed south of the three great capes - Horn, Good Hope and Leeuwin - before continuing on around Cape Horn a second time and turning north to revitual his yacht in Plymouth UK before returning south around Good Hope and back to Fremantle. The difference is that Sanders sailed northwards after Cape Horn and rounded the Falkland Islands, and crossed much of the South Atlantic Ocean north of the Roaring Forty latitudes.

Konuykhov however, has remained south of the 45° South latitude throughout, running a gauntlet through 'iceberg alley' as the South Atlantic has been termed this year for the record number of icebergs that have been spotted floating up from the Antarctica Peninsular . For the record, the distance sailed by Konuykhov and his 85ft yacht Trading Nework Ale Parusya between Cape Horn and Good Hope is 3,750 nautical miles in an elapsed time 25 days, 15 Hours, 42 Minutes.

For Fedor, however the time to celebrate is when he completes the final 4,350 mile Indian Ocean leg of this circumnavigation and returns to Albany early in May to claim the World Sailing Speed Record Council ratified record for racing around the Antarctica Cup Racetrack.

http://www.antarcticacup.com

VOR STOPOVER IN KOCHI The Indian stopover of Volvo Ocean Race in Kochi from December 3 to 13 will help showcase India as an emerging economic giant while highlighting business as well as tourism and leisure opportunities in the State.

Jointly hosted by the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) and Kerala Tourism, it is for the first time in the 35-year history of the race that an Indian port is selected for the stopover.

Apart from the world's fastest ocean-racing yachts with the latest technology backup, the event will attract hundreds of other luxury yachts and sailing vessels to Kochi.

It will be a major business and sporting event. Several high profile global corporate leaders as well as some of the world's topmost brands and business houses that sponsor the race will be flying down to Kochi to cheer the teams.

"The stopover will be a milestone in marketing the destination and the unique tourism products of Kerala and in getting media exposure," says Tourism Secretary V. Venu.

As many as 1,200 high-end rooms are needed for the guests in and around Kochi. Kerala Tourism has decided to set up a 'houseboat village' comprising 100 to 150 houseboats.

A race village with 10,000 sq. metres of covered space will be set up at Willingdon Island to host the sporting as well as corporate events.

The public viewing areas will come up in areas overlooking the BTP jetty where the yachts are to be berthed.

"The waving of the entry fee of Euro 10 million is a rare gesture from the organisers. We have decided to make it a people's event by roping in all sections of society," Mr. Ramachandran said. -- S. Anil Radhakrishnan in The Hindu, http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/10/stories/2008041050160200.htm

* A three-member Ericsson team from Sweden visited the Cochin Port here to discuss the preparations for the Indian stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race here.

The team, led by Managing Director Richard Brisius, held discussions with Port Chairman N Ramachandran and officials of Kerala Tourism, official sources said.

Ericsson is sponsoring two teams in the premier offshore ocean marathon, which will have astopover at Cochin Port in December this year.

The other stopover ports for the race include Cape Town, Singapore, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Gothenborg and Stockholm.

The seven yachts participating in the race would stay berthed here for ten days, before starting the next leg to Sentosa Island in Singapore.

http://www.deepikaglobal.com/ENG6_sub.asp?ccode=ENG6&newscode=17803

TRANSAT QUEBEC - SAINT MALO A real institution in the world of crewed ocean racing, the Transat Quebec - Saint Malo returns this year for its 7th edition. A rendezvous is set on the St. Lawrence river for Sunday 20th July 2008.

Begun in 1984, the Transat Quebec - Saint Malo immediately stood out as a landmark event in crewed ocean racing with a superb finish between Royale and Charente Maritime. Every four years, following The Transat, the top ocean sailors in 40 to 60 foot multihulls and monohulls take the start line.

This year, whilst multihulls are not participating in The Transat for first time, the event is open to G.Class maxi-multihulls.

Franck Cammas has never missed this classic race, so exciting is the course with its superb and tactical descent of the St. Lawrence followed by an express Atlantic crossing and its often tricky arrival on the French coast, whilst the holidaymakers benefit from the summer heat.

Winner of the event in 2000 and second in 2004, Franck Cammas will be participating there for the first time aboard Groupama 2 on a course, which should suit it down to the ground, with the flat waters of the river and the downwind conditions in the Atlantic.

Event record: 7 days, 20 hours and 24 minutes, established by Loïck Peyron on Fujicolor in 1996.

http://www.cammas-groupama.com/en/courses/programme/quebec_saint_malo/index.jsp

THE LAST WORD Popularity? It is glory's small change. -- Victor Hugo

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