Overcoming not only a tough competitor but also difficult sailing conditions, France’s Bertrand Pacé and his Team France crew have won the 18th annual, ISAF Grade 1 ACI HTmobile Cup.

Pacé and crew – Benoit BRIAND (headsails), Tanguy CAIDOU (mainsail), Fabrice LEVET (tactics and pit) and Romain TROUBLÉ (bow) – defeated Peter GILMOUR’S Pizza-La Sailing Team, 3-0, in the final that was plagued by light and extremely shifty winds.

“I feel relieved,” Pacé said afterwards. “When it’s finished it’s very easy.”

Pacé won the first flight outright. In the second flight he came from behind when the wind shifted 180 degrees during the race.

Gilmour got a penalty on Pacé in the third flight pre-start, but the Frenchman was able to extend far enough ahead in the light conditions to perform his penalty turn at the finish line and claim the championship while Gilmour was still some eight lengths behind.

“Bertrand did a good job,” said Gilmour. “He started better than us and kept himself alive.”

“We came here to win a regatta,” said Gilmour, clearly upset. “We’re consistently in the finals, but we’re not consistently winning. We’ll have to go back to the drawing board.”

Gilmour has won two events, but he has placed second in the last two events. He lost to Russell COUTTS at the Toscana Elba Cup two weeks ago. And he placed fourth at the Congressional Cup in April, after winning the round robin.

In yesterday’s final, both crews were put to the test. A decent wind failed to materialize until late in the day. The first attention signal scheduled for 11:00 a.m. was postponed until 2:50 p.m.

A low-pressure system centered over host city Split was the culprit. The system moved over the area five to six hours earlier than predicted, and then parked, robbing the area of any kind of wind pressure.

The race committee attempted a flight around 2:00 in a southeasterly wind, but it quickly died after the first pair, the petit final match featuring Magnus Holmberg’s SeaLife Rangers versus Jes GRAM-HANSEN’S Team Denmark, started.

Their flight was abandoned after four and a half minutes.

Another 45 minutes passed before the race committee attempted to race again.

Once racing started, Pacé displayed a calm demeanor, despite the trying conditions. Despite competing in just his second event on Tour, he sailed brilliantly.

“My crew did a great job,” he said. “Fabrice did a great job calling the wind and everyone was very supportive.”

Pacé was particularly pleased with his starts. Gilmour is renowned for his finesse in the pre-start, but Pacé felt that was the key to his victory.

“I got what I wanted in every start,” said Pacé, who started to the left of Gilmour in the first flight, and then to the right of him in the next two flights.

In the petit final, Holmberg defeated Gram-Hansen 2-0. Wind shifts and patchy conditions had an impact on the outcome.

In the second flight, Holmberg held a big lead up the first beat and around the windward mark. But Gram-Hansen attacked downwind, and closed up around the leeward mark.

Gram-Hansen gained the lead early on the second beat, and led around the second windward mark. He seemed on his way to victory, given that Holmberg was carrying a penalty for contact in the pre-start.

But Gram-Hansen sailed into a hole on the run and Holmberg, trailing, jibed away to the inside of him. Gram-Hansen tried jibing to cover, but couldn’t escape the clutches of the windless hole.

Holmberg retook the lead and did his penalty circle on the finish line. As soon as the race committee signalled Holmberg’s finish, Gram-Hansen, frustrated, fired up his engine and powered back to the dock.

Full results are available on the event website - www.aci-matchrace.com

Final ACI HTmobile Cup Standings

1. Bertrand Pacé/FRA, Team France, 17-2, $12,000

2. Peter Gilmour/AUS, Pizza-La Sailing Team, 13-8, $8,000

3. Magnus Holmberg/SWE, SeaLife Rangers, 13-7, $6,000

4. Jes Gram-Hansen/DEN, Team Denmark, 10-8, $4,000

5. Gavin Brady/NZL, BMW Oracle Racing, 9-5, $2,500

6. Mathieu Richard/FRA, 7-6, $2,000

7. Mattias Rahm/SWE, Team Stena Bulk, 5-8, $1,500

8. Kelvin Harrap/NZL, Team New Zealand, 5-9, $1,000

9. Staffan Lindberg/SWE, 3-11, $750

10. Mate Arapov/CRO, 3-11, $750

11. Frano Brate/CRO, 2-12, $750

Swedish Match Tour 2003-04 Rankings

(After six of eight events)

1. Peter Gilmour/AUS, Pizza-La Sailing Team - 117 points

2. Magnus Holmberg/SWE, SeaLife Rangers - 64 points

3. Gavin Brady/NZL, BMW Oracle Racing - 55 points

4. Jesper Radich/DEN, Team Denmark - 43 points

5. Russell Coutts/NZL, Alinghi Team - 35 points

= Bertrand Pacé/FRA, Team France - 35 points

7. Ed Baird/USA, Team Musto - 31 points

8. Jes Gram-Hansen/DEN, Team Denmark - 26 points

Nick Moloney

If early forecasts prove correct, Nick Moloney and Skandia will sail directly into the path of a North Atlantic low pressure when The Transat race gets underway on Monday, 31st May in Plymouth UK bound for the United States.

The Transat fleet could face winds 30+ knots and difficult seas when they leave the sanctuary of the English Channel and enter the North Atlantic ocean. Despite the tough weather predictions Nick is upbeat and declared himself 100% ready to go today. 'I'm totally prepared and really happy with Skandia - she is a glam,' he said from Plymouth.

'I'm so impressed with how everything has come together for this race. My shore team John Hilderbrand, Marcus Ashley-Jones, Nick Black, have done a first-class job preparing Skandia.'

With all the supplies onboard and all systems double checked early, Moloney has been able to spend time studying weather charts provided by Météo France. Winds of 25-30 knots are expected for Monday's start off Plymouth breakwater, but as soon as the fleet clear the Lizard (at the south-west tip of England) on the first night, conditions could get worse.

'The biggest problem is a large depression in the mid-Atlantic,' explained Nick. 'It's slowed up and deepening and is sending a huge seaway towards the English Channel. As we pass over the continental shelf we're expecting some big wind from the north-west and a huge seaway. It's a recipe for a hiding'.

'In light of that, we're not deterred as our preparation has been really good and I know the boat really well,' he continued.

Adding jokingly: 'That doesn't mean I'm looking forward to getting soaking wet, freezing cold and thrown around for four days!'

This will be Moloney's fourteenth Atlantic crossing and in two of the three solo races - the 1999 Mini-Transat and the 2002 Route du Rhum - he has encountered gale force head winds in the opening 48 hours. 'I'm starting to think it's me,' he quipped.

Icebergs are another hazard Nick could face. 'The ice lays in the path of the shortest [rhumb line] course,' he explained, looking ahead to the second-half of the 2,800 nautical mile race. Weighing up the option all skippers will face, he posed the question: 'It is going to be better to sail a shorter course slower or longer course faster with less stress? There's also a chance you could get a good flogging from a storm in the ice region with heaps of obstacles in your way.'

The Open 60 fleet of 15 boats are skippered by some of solo sailing's heavyweights. Briton Mike Golding on Ecover and Frenchman Jean Pierre Dick on Virbac, two new and refined designs, are considered the joint favourites for Transat line honours. Considering Skandia's potential for the Transat, Nick said: ' If I can make the top five I'll be really happy and if I can make the podium I'll be jumping out of my skin. It would be a dream result.'

Russian tennis beauty Anna Kournikova will fire the start gun for the Transat on Monday (May 31) at 1400 hrs GMT. Skandia is expected to finish in Boston between 13 and 15 days later.

For more information visit http://www.nickmoloney.com or contact :

Helen King - hk@offshorechallenges.com  T : +44(0)870 063 0210 M : +44(0)7870 678360

The morning of the final racing day at the SPA Regatta in Medemblik, Holland, started off with hardly any wind. Races were therefore postponed until the afternoon when the wind picked up and all classes could sail the last races.

Mistral sailor Jessica Crisp (AIS/NSWIS) was Australia’s best overall result finishing 2^nd overall. Crisp was overtaken by Faustine Merret (FRA) who scored a 2^nd place on the final day of racing, while Sydney 2000 silver medallist Amelie Lux finished third on countback from Crisp.

Chris Nicholson (AIS/NSWIS) and Gary Boyd (AIS/NSWIS) were amongst a tight 49er fleet with first and fourth place awarded on countback. Jonas Warrer and Peter Kruger Ander (DEN) took first place on countback after finishing on equal points with Iker Martinez and Xavier Fernandez (ESP).

Nicholson and Boyd joined Tim Wadlow and Pete Spaulding (USA) and current world number one Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks (GBR) on 69 points. After thirteen races and two drops the USA crew took 4^th place followed by the Aussies and then the Brits.

Another OCS for Lars Kleppich (AIS/NSWIS) in the final race of the men’s Mistral class forced him to carry a penalty in his final tally. Kleppich's other scores (6th,7th,5th,11th,7th,6th) show competitive and consisitent results.  

In other Australian results Colin Beashel (AIS/NSWIS) and David Giles (AIS/NSWIS) did not finish the final race in the Star class dropping one place to 15^th overall. Yngling crew Nicky Bethwaite (AIS/NSWIS), Kristen Kosmala (AIS/NSWIS) and Karyn Gojnich (AIS/NSWIS) finished 18^th overall. Finn sailor Anthony Nossiter (AIS/NSWIS) and Laser sailor Brendan Casey (QLD) finished 22^nd and 38^th respectively.

Mistral Final Results (9 races/2 drop)

1. Faustine Merret (FRA) (2,OCS,1,OCS,5,1,3,1,2) 15pts
2. Jessica Crisp (AUS) (5,6,6,2,3,3,1,2,9) 22pts
3. Amelie Lux (GER) (3,14,4,1,2,5,4,3,12) 22pts
15. Allison Shreeve (AUS) (15,8,7,13,13,15,15,RAF,10) 81pts

49er Final Results (13 races/2 drop)

1. Jonas Warrer/Peter Kruger Ander (DEN) (3,5,13,1,7,2,1,18,25,6,4,2,1) 45pts
2 . Iker Martinez/Xavier Fernandez (ESP) (6,14,2,1,4,3,5,3,4,1,25,15,2) 45pts
3.Michael Hestbek/Dennis Dengsoe (DEN) (2,2,4,OCS,3,2,16,2,8,8,13,6,16) 66pts
5.Chris Nicholson/Gary Boyd (AUS) (10,4,6,11,9,1,7,OCS,7,3,1,24,10) 69pts

Mistral Final Results (9 races/2 drop)

1. Joeri Van dijk (NED) (1,15,4,2,1,3,1,1,DNF) 13pts
2. Bontemps Julien (FRA) (4,1,2,10,3,4,16,8,OCS) 32pts
3. Nick Dempsen (GBR) (10,3,9,7,12,5,5,3,2) 39pts
13. Lars Kleppich (AUS) (OCS,6,7,OCS,5,11,7,6,OCS) 81pts
26. Corey Plant (AUS) (30,25,18,18,29,31,14,23,OCS) 157pts

1. Peter Bromby/Lee White (BER) (16,17,5,1,3,2,5,15,1) 32pts
2. Ross MacDonald/Mike Wolfs (CAN) (9,6,10,2,2,3,10,12,4) 36pts
3. Mark Neelman/Peter van Niekerk (NED) (5,9,14,4,4,16,3,8,5) 38pts
15. Colin Beashel/David Giles (AUS) (17,19,3,6,OCS,5,26,26,DNF) 102pts

Yngling Final Results (9 races/2 drop)

1. Kristin Wagner/Anna Hoell/Veronika Lochbrunner (GER) (2,1,4,5,1,10,9,18,11) 32pts
2. Giulia Conti/Alessandra Marenzi/Angela Baroni (ITA) (15,10,5,9,3,1,6,5,7) 36pts
3. Shirley Robertson/Sarah Ayton/Sarah Webb (GBR) (1,5,12,6,17,22,4,4,4) 36pts
18. Nicola Bethwaite/Karyn Gojnich/Kristen Kosmala (AUS) (OCS,16,19,14,11,15,1,6,19) 82pts

Finn Final Results (9 races/2 drop)

1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) (1,7,4,2,20,15,2,2,2) 20pts
2. Ben Ainslie (GBR) (14,OCS,1,1,1,1,DNF,1,4) 23pts
3. Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) (3,5,6,4,8,14,6,8,18) 58pts
22.Anthony Nossiter (AUS) (17,22,27,22,9,27,37,22,5) 124pts

Laser Final Results (12 races/2 drop)

1. Zbogar Vasilij (SLO) (2,1,3,1,1,1,1,1,1,3,2,DNF) 14pts
2. Karl Suneson (SWE) (OCS,9,2,1,3,1,1,1,6,OCS,1,7) 32pts
3. Gareth Blanckenberg (RSA) (6,OCS8,2,1,2,5,7,10,1,20,5) 47pts
38. Brendan Casey (AUS) (12,OCS,11,17,31,3,14,34,13,OCS,15,DNF) 190pts

After the challenging – almost survival conditions of the previous day 141 sailors at the Harken Laser Masters Championship enjoyed close tactical racing in a 9-12 knot westerly on the final day of racing. Only one race was completed when, against all forecasts and predictions, the north westerly backed 65 degrees whilst the Radial and Apprentice fleet were racing forcing an abandonment of their races and the two remaining fleets were unable to start because of a time limit cut off.

The Grand Masters fleet got away at the first attempt in their first race, but unfortunately second placed Rob Lowndes AUS was OCS and had to retire at the top mark, where Magnus Olin SWE led from Willy Gerber GER and Michael Kinnear GBR. After a tense first run, the order was largely unchanged at the start of the second windward leg.  After the next windward leg Colin Cain AUS had overtaken Olin followed by Kinnear with Mark Bethwaite AUS and David Edmiston AUS in close contention.  Kinnear took the lead on the second downwind held his lead to the finish ahead of Olin and Cain.

With this second place in what turned out to be the final race, Magnus Olin SWE moved to second overall in the Series, behind Mark Bethwaite AUS, who had won with a day to spare.  Both David Edmiston AUS third and Rob Lowndes AUS fourth, were very close behind Olin on points.

In the Masters Tracey Usher USA led at the first mark.  Usher started at the committee boat end whilst most of the masters started near the port end of the line.  Usher commented “it looked like there was more pressure on the right so that’s where I went.  Andre Martini DOM went furthest right and had the led the fleet for most of the beat but he let me get right of him just before the mark and I got the lead at the first mark.  Downwind the wind went light and the fleet compressed.  Colin Dibb AUS and I were not looking good until some new pressure pulled us back and I went through the gate in first.  I took the right hand mark and went right looking for pressure but Javier Estarellas Coll ESP and Peter Sherwin GBR took the other mark and they went further right and played the shifts to round first and second ahead of Stefan Kurys-Romer and me.  These positions did not change for the rest of the race although we had some close racing and worrying moments as the wind built and died.

Arif Gurdenli TUR led the apprentice fleet at the fist mark coming from the right ahead of Steve Cockerill GBR, Martin Lehner AUT and Mati Sepp EST.  Downwind Cockerill dropped back whilst Gurdenli held his lead.  On the second upwind there was a left hand shift  which gave Gurdenli and Lehner a 100 metre advantage over the EST and Cockerill.  With Brett Beyer AUS going into the race 2 points ahead of Lehner and points ahead of Cockerill there was careful covering throughout the race. Beyer rounded in fifth which meant that Lehner was in the overall lead.  On the last downwind the wind dropped to 3 knots for a time until new pressure developed from behind.  Lehner takes up the story “I was trying to protect my position when I saw Cockerill and Sepp coming with new wind from behind.  I moved over to stay between them and the mark but the new wind never got to me and they passed me.  This cost me the race.”   Cockerill won the race, Lehner finished third and Beyer finished fifth which left all 3 tied on 20 points and the division decided on a 3 way tie break in favour of Beyer.

Cockerill commented “Brett had more first’s and I ate more bananas” referring to his mistake two days earlier when he thought he saw a shorten course flag on a mark boat when he was leading.

In the Radial combined fleet Great Grand Master, Jack Hansen NZL, was led the fleet at the first mark.  Apprentice David Early AUS rounded in fifth.  On the reach Early pulled through to second and then took Hansen on the downwind leg of the outer loop trapezoid course which he held until the finish.  With all divisions well mixed in the light winds there were places won on lost within the fleet.  Hansen dropped ninth which was academic as fourth placed Peter Seidenberg USA had already secured the overall title in the Grand Masters.  In the Masters series leader, Lyndall Patterson AUS was looking good on the last reach befor ethe short upwind to the finish.  She cheerfully commented “I snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.  I was lying in Seventh and had Goran Bonacic CRO behind him me when I slipped into a hole and dropped to fifteenth and let Goran past me.”

Final Results

Apprentices

1	AUS 171104	BEYER Brett, Male	20,0	7	3	1	1	(raf)	1	1	1	5
2	GBR 179660	COCKERILL Stephen, Male	20,0	1	1	3	3	(5)	5	3	3	1
3	AUT 171358	LEHNER Martin, Male	20,0	2	2	2	5	2	2	2	(14)	3

Masters

1	AUS 172220	DIBB Colin, Male	21,0	(20)	3	1	5	1	1	1	3	6
2	AUS 176895	SCHLACHTER Jack, Male	27,0	5	(9)	2	2	4	2	2	1	9
3	USA 171007	USHER Tracy, Male	47,0	(24)	19	3	1	7	4	4	5	4

Grand Masters

For a full list of results visit the event website - http://www.laserchampionships.org/worlds04/

On Saturday, the fourth day of the SPA Regatta the fierce competition in most of the eleven Olympic classes was the main reason for the heated atmosphere.

The heat will continue tomorrow in the women’s Mistral class as Australia’s Jessica Crisp (AIS/NSWIS) attempts to maintain the number one spot. A 1^st and 2^nd on day four racing knocked Amelie Lux (GER) out of the top spot and made way for Crisp. Crisp and Lux now sit on equal points with one scheduled race remaining.

Mistral male sailor Joeri van Dijk (NED) can put his board to rest and prepare or the European Championship which will be eld from the 2nd till the 12th of June in Sopoi, Poland. Joeri van Dijk won both races on Saturday, and is
overall leader with 13 points. He is now unreachable for all his opponents. Australia’s Lar Kleppich (AIS/NSWIS) remains in 13^th overall.

In the 49-er class anything can happen. The overall leaders Iker Martinez and Xavier Fernandez (ESP) had a bad day and finished 25th and 15th in today’s races. Jonas Warner and Peter Kruger Ander (DEN) climbed from third to second position. Friday’s number two, Michael Hestbek and Dennis Dengsoe are now in third position. Australia’s Chris Nicholson (AIS/NSWIS) and Gary Boyd (AIS/NSWIS) continue their surge thanks to a bullet in race seven. The pair move up five places overnight and are now placed 5^th overall.

Ross Macdonald and Mike Wolfs (CAN) are still the leaders in the Star class with 42 points. Behind them there have been some shifts. Roberto Bermudel de Cas and Pablo Arrarte (ESP) are now on second place with 45 points. Third place is in hands of Peter Bromby and Lee White (BER). They’ve got 47 points, just like Mark Neeleman and Peter van Niekerk in fourth place.

Until now the SPA Regatta has been great and everyone is ready for Sunday’s climax.

Mistral Women - Day Four (8 races/1 drop)

1. Jessica Crisp (AUS) (5,6,6,2,3,3,1,2) 22pts
2. Amelie Lux (GER) (3,14,4,1,2,5,4,3) 22pts
3. Faustine Merret (FRA) (2,OCS,1,OCS,5,1,3,1) 35pts
15. Allison Shreeve (AUS) (15,8,7,13,13,15,15,RAF) 86pts

49er Results - Day Four (12 races/2 drop)

1 . Iker Martinez/Xavier Fernandez (ESP) (6,14,2,1,4,3,5,3,4,1,25,15) 43pts
2. Jonas Warrer/Peter Kruger Ander (DEN) (3,5,13,1,7,2,1,18,25,6,4,2) 44pts
3.Michael Hestbek/Dennis Dengsoe (DEN) (2,2,4,OCS,3,2,16,2,8,8,13,6) 50pts
5.Chris Nicholson/Gary Boyd (AUS) (10,4,6,11,9,1,7,OCS,7,3,1,24) 59pts

Mistral Men - Day Four (8 races/1 drop)

1. Joeri Van dijk (NED) (1,15,4,2,1,3,1,1) 13pts
2. Bontemps Julien (FRA) (4,1,2,10,3,4,16,8) 32pts
3. Nick Dempsen (GBR) (10,3,9,7,12,5,5,3) 42pts
13. Lars Kleppich (AUS) (OCS,6,7,OCS,5,11,7,6) 81pts
25. Corey Plant (AUS) (30,25,18,18,29,31,14,23) 157pts

Star Results - Day Four (8 races/1 drop)

1. Ross MacDonald/Mike Wolfs (FRA) (9,6,10,2,2,3,10,12) 42pts
2. Roberto Bermudel de Castro/Pablo Arrarte (ESP) (11,10,8,10,1,1,25,4) 45pts
3. Peter Bromby/Lee White (BER) (16,17,5,1,3,2,5,15) 47pts
14. Colin Beashel/David Giles (AUS) (17,19,3,6,OCS,5,26,26) 102pts

Yngling Results - Day Four (8 races/1 drop)

1. Kristin Wagner/Anna Hoell/Veronika Lochbrunner (GER) (2,1,4,5,1,10,9,18) 32pts
2. Giulia Conti/Alessandra Marenzi/Angela Baroni (ITA) (15,10,5,9,3,1,6,5) 39pts
3. Shirley Robertson/Sarah Ayton/Sarah Webb (GBR) (1,5,12,6,17,22,4,4) 49pts
15. Nicola Bethwaite/Karyn Gojnich/Kristen Kosmala (AUS) (OCS,16,19,14,11,15,1,6) 82pts

Finn Results – Day Four (8 races/1 drop)

1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) (1,7,4,2,20,15,2,2) 33pts
2. Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) (3,5,6,4,8,14,6,8) 40pts
3. Emilio Papathansious (GRE) (5,6,16,6,4,3,11,DNF) 61pts
25.Anthony Nossiter (AUS) (17,22,27,22,9,27,37,22) 146pts

Laser Results - Day Four (11 races/2 drop)

1. Zbogar Vasilij (SLO) (2,1,3,1,1,1,1,1,1,3,2) 11pts
2. Karl Suneson (SWE) (OCS,9,2,1,3,1,1,1,6,OCS,1) 15pts
3. Gareth Blanckenberg (RSA) (6,OCS8,2,1,2,5,7,10,1,20) 42pts
37. Brendan Casey (AUS) (12,OCS,11,17,31,3,14,34,13,OCS,15) 150pts

Other Links
	SPA Regatta website

The Apprentice fleet was first away today in an 18 knot north westerly. Dual race winner of yesterday Brett Beyer AUS again showed his upwind speed by rounding the first mark in the lead which he had kept until the finish. Second and third around were Frank Walsh IRL and Hugh Leicester AUS however points leader Martin Lehner AUT and Stephen Cockerill GBR had superior pace on the first downwind leg and sailed into second and third respectively which they also held until the finish.

Race 2 was panning out in similar fashion with Beyer leading the whole race, but on the last downwind leg the wind dramatically increased in strength. Beyer said “I thought ‘Don’t do anything stupid just sail conservatively to the bottom mark and I will win the race”. Mati Sepp EST also survived the run without incident to take second ahead of Cockerill.

In the Masters fleet race 1 series leader Colin Dibb AUS led at the first mark and from there was untroubled to score his fourth race win for the regatta. He led home Jack Schlachter AUS and Ian Lineberger USA who passed Brett Wright BER and Mark Bear USA on the final downwind leg to claim third place.

In race 2 Tracey Usher USA led at the first mark from Dibb and Schlachter with a good break to the remainder of the fleet. Usher held his lead to the following windward mark but then capsized on the reach allowing Dibb through. Dibb capsized on the gybe at the downwind leg but recovered fast enough to hold his lead from Schlachter. However to his dismay on righting the boat he found his sheet rope had wrapped itself around his boom, he attempted to sail the bottom reach in that condition which drastically reduced his boatspeed allowing Schlachter to gain buoy room at the final Mark. From there Schlachter was able to hold on for the win with Peter Sherwin GBR who passed Dibb when he had his second capsize shortly after the mark rounding trying to clear his main sheet.

In the Grand Masters, the first race was sailed in a relatively mild 20 knot Meltem.  It turned into a stirring contest between the Australian and Swedish Olympians, Magnus Olin and Mark Bethwaite.  Olin led narrowly at the first mark after finding more on the left side of the beat, but Bethwaite passed him on the reach and extended his lead on the run.
They finished in that order, with Rob Lowndes AUS finishing third.

Olin had his revenge in the second race.  Once more, he led narrowly at the first mark, but Bethwaite again passed him on the reach.  As the fleet was on the first run, a gust of some thirty knots hit the fleet.  First Olin then Bethwaite capsized, with Lowndes showing great boat handling skills to lead the fleet at the bottom gate ahead of Olin, Kevin Pearson GBR and Bethwaite.  Olin and Bethwaite were locked together at the top mark, with Lowndes third.  In a close finish, Olin won from Bethwaite and Lowndes.

With a win and second today, Bethwaite AUS has won the Grand Masters with a day to spare, but second and third places will be closely fought out on the final day.

In the combined Radial fleet apprentice, Martin Baltscheffsky FIN, led the fleet home in both races as did all category winners.

Two races are scheduled for the final day although all the forecasts are showing different wind directions and strengths.

Results Apprentices

1	AUS 171104	BEYER Brett, Male	15,0	7	3	1	1	(raf)	1	1	1
2	AUT 171358	LEHNER Martin, Male	17,0	2	2	2	5	2	2	2	(14)
3	GBR 179660	COCKERILL Stephen, Male	19,0	1	1	3	3	(5)	5	3

Results Masters

1	AUS 172220	DIBB Colin, Male	15,0	(20)	3	1	5	1	1	1	3
2	AUS 176895	SCHLACHTER Jack, Male	18,0	5	(9)	2	2	4	2	2	1
3	BER 177306	WRIGHT Brett, Male	32,0	4	1	4	4	6	8	5	(18

Results Grand Masters

1	AUS 177791	BETHWAITE Mark, Male	12,0	5	1	1	1	(6)	1	1	2
2	AUS 178622	LOWNDES Robert, Male	27,0	(14)	5	9	2	1	4	3	3
3	AUS 177734	EDMISTON David, Male	30,0	(13)	7	2	3	2	7	4	5

Results Laser Radial Masters

1	AUS 178787	PATTERSON Lyndall, Female	14,0	(8)	1	4	1	2	4	1	1
2	CRO 177841	BONACIC Goran, Male	15,0	5	(7)	1	2	1	1	3	2
3	USA 159089	MARTINSON Bruce, Male	20,0	(7)	3	2	3	5	2	2	3

Results Laser Radial Women's Masters

1	AUS 178787	PATTERSON Lyndall, Female	7,0	(2)	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
2	AUS 178656	BONNITCHA Jenni, Female	15,0	1	(3)	2	2	2	3	3	2
3	NZL 163923	WILSON Amanda, Female	18,0	(3)	2	3	3	3	2	2	3

Results Laser Radial Grand Masters

1	FRA 179950	MARCON Poopy, Male	13,0	(9)	7	1	1	1	1	1	1
2	USA 168272	SHATTUCK Alden, Male	16,0	1	1	3	2	(5)	3	3	3
3	GBR 176743	WHIPP Peter, Male	18,0	(7)	4	2	3	3	2	2	2

Visit the regatta website for a complete list of results - http://www.laserchampionships.org/worlds04/

The third day at the SPA Regatta was a day filled with sunshine. Although in the morning the wind was weak, all races were sailed.

For the people present at the Regatta center in Medemblik, there was a nice surprise today. The 49ers finished in the harbor, which created a spectacular view. It is intended to finish in the harbor each day.

In the Mistral women’s class Jessica Crisp (AIS/NSWIS) maintains her 2^nd overall placing and now sits four points from the top. Star sailors Colin Beashel (AIS/NSWIS) and David Giles (AIS/NSWIS) moved up one place to 9^th overall, while Australian 49er crew Chris Nicholson (AIS/NSWIS) and Gary Boyd (AIS/NSWIS) move back into the top ten.

Lars Kleppich (AIS/NSWIS) sailed consistently to achieve a 5^th and 11^th on day three racing. These results see Kleppich climb six places to 13^th overall.

Mistral Women - Day Three (6 races/1 drop)

1. Amelie Lux (GER) (3,14,4,1,2,5) 15pts
2. Jessica Crisp (AUS) (5,6,6,2,3,3) 19pts
3. Natasha Sturges (GBR) (10,1,OCS,3,8,4) 26pts
14. Allison Shreeve (AUS) (15,8,7,13,13,15) 56pts

Star Results - Day Three (4 races/1 drop)

1. Ross MacDonald/Mike Wolfs (FRA) (9,6,10,2,2,3) 22pts
2. Peter Bromby/Lee White (BER) (16,17,5,1,3,2) 27pts3. Roberto Bermudel de Castro/Pablo Arrarte (ESP) (11,10,8,10,1,1) 30pts
9. Colin Beashel/David Giles (AUS) (17,19,3,6,OCS,5) 50pts

49er Results - Day Three (9 races/2 drop)

1 . Iker Martinez/Xavier Fernandez (ESP) (6,14,2,1,4,3,5,3,4) 22pts
2.Michael Hestbek/Dennis Dengsoe (DEN) (2,2,4,OCS,3,2,16,2,8) 23pts
3. Jonas Warrer/Peter Kruger Ander (DEN) (3,5,13,1,7,2,1,18,25) 32pts
10. Chris Nicholson/Gary Boyd (AUS) (10,4,6,11,9,1,7,OCS,7) 44pts

Mistral Men - Day Three (6 races/1 drop)

1. Joeri Van dijk (NED) (1,15,4,2,1,3) 11pts
2. Bontemps Julien (FRA) (4,1,2,10,3,4) 14pts
3. Marcos Galvan (ARG) (5,2,8,3,15,12) 30pts
13. Lars Kleppich (AUS) (OCS,6,7,OCS,5,11) 68pts
28. Corey Plant (AUS) (30,25,18,18,29,31) 120pts

Yngling Results - Day Three (6 races/1 drop)

1. Kristin Wagner/Anna Hoell/Veronika Lochbrunner (GER) (2,1,4,5,1,10) 13pts
2. Karianne Eikeland/Beate Kristiansen/Lise Birgitte Fredr (NOR) (3,6,2,22,4,5) 20pts
2. Giulia Conti/Alessandra Marenzi/Angela Baroni (ITA) (15,10,5,9,3,1) 28pts
21. Nicola Bethwaite/Karyn Gojnich/Kristen Kosmala (AUS) (OCS,16,19,14,11,15) 75pts

Finn Results – Day Three (6 races/1 drop)

1. Ben Ainslie (GBR) (14,OCS,1,1,1,1) 18pts
2. Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) (3,5,6,4,8,14) 26pts
3. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) (1,7,4,2,20,15) 29pts
24.Anthony Nossiter (AUS) (17,22,27,22,9,27) 97pts

Other Links
	SPA Regatta website

Copenhagen: Last weekend was the Danish Youth Match Racing Championships (under 23) sailed at the Royal Danish Match Race Center in Copenhagen in J22 class keel boats.

OzBoyz Challenge team was represented by 17 years old Seve Jarvin Trimmer, Wade Morgan Bowman and Skipper Michael Dunstan at the helm. 'We arrived at the regatta a couple of kilograms over and had to sit in the sauna to lose the weight, which turned out to be a blessing as the entire regatta was sailed in moderate to fresh winds - only one race of the final was sailed as the wind got over 25 knots,' said teenage Australian Seve Jarvin.

One round robin was completed, but there was no time for semi finals. The OzBoyz Challenge Team went straight into the final against world number 70 from Denmark Peter Wibroe. 'We won the start and played the shifts well. We then extended on to win by nearly 3/4 of a leg. We were then told that the wind was too strong to continue the final, so the result from the first race of the final gave us the win,' added a delighted Skipper Michael Dunstan.

'To win the Danish Championship is a great confidence boost for the team and a good lead up to the Antibes Cup this week in France. The crew will be Michael Dunstan, Seve Jarvin, Ben Morrison-Jack and Nick Partridge,' commented OzBoyz Challenge spokesperson for the 2007 America's Cup Phil Edmiston.

NEXT GENERATION TO TEST THE OZBOYZ CHALLENGE TEAM

Perth: OzBoyz Challenge announced this week that Next Generation Bibra Lake will host WA's physical and psychological testing. OzBoyz Challenge is a national project with a strong focus on mental and physical fitness. 'In partnering with Next Generation, state of the art fitness facilities will be available for OzBoyz candidates and potential crewmembers to undergo testing. After the testing period, those short-listed will have the opportunity to train under the guidance of Next Generation's professional team of instructors,' said Sebastien Destremau of OzBoyz Challenge.

INFORMATION EVENING ON 9TH JUNE IN BIBRA LAKE

An information evening has been organized for Wednesday 9th June at Next Generation Bibra Lake - 25 Port Kembla Drive, Bibra Lake, WA from 6.30pm-7.30pm. The evening will provide details on the OzBoyz Challenge and the road to Australia's bid for the 2007 America's Cup. Media and OzBoyz Challenge supporters are invited to attend.

For further information, contact:

Phil Edmiston - OzBoyz Challenge Spokesperson
P: +61(0) 419 195 529
E: pedmiston@ozboyzchallenge.com  

Pippin

The Notice of Race and Application to Enter is now available on the official website: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

0418 428 511 or + 61 2 9363 9731 or lisaratcliff@bigpond.com or

The fleet had two more exciting races today in the Harken Lasers Masters championship in Bitez, Turkey. 

The offshore winds at times gusted 30 knots at the end of the first race before settling back to an average of 20 knots for the second race. 

Colin Dibb from Australia was the only sailor to achieve two firsts places in any fleet.  Sailing in the Masters fleet, who were first to start on a daily rotating system he did not have it all his own way.  In the first race Jack Schlachter AUS was first to show but was overtaken by Dibb at the first downwind mark.  Schlachter took Dibb on the upwind but blew his chances on the next downwind after 3 further swims.

The first lap in the second race was closer than the first. Tracy Usher (USA) benefited from a right hand shift on the first beat to lead the fleet around the first mark with Dibb and Schlachter in close pursuit. Dibb again showed good speed to take the lead at the end of the second beat followed closely by Usher and Schlacter.. Dibb extended on the second downwind for a comfortable first from Schlachter and Andre Martin from the Dominican Republic.

In the Grand Masters first race Rob Lowndes AUS and series leader Mark Bethwaite AUS led from the start. On the first run Bethwaite capsized to miss a Master sailor on the beat and then headed for the wrong gate!  Lowndes gybed and could not see the second boat as he rounded the bottom mark after carnage on the run. 

For the third race in a row it was AUS 1,2,3 with Lowndes leading home David Edmiston and then Frank Walsh. 

In race 2 Bethwaite made amends by leading after mixing it with Bob Blakey NZL and Uwe Clausen GER who got a big lift out of the right hand side. Bethwaite won comfortably from Clausen followed by former Finn Gold Cup winner Magnus Olsen SWE. 

The Radial Fleet were third to start and in both races were recalled.  In the first race lady master, Lyndall Patterson  AUS in the masters division, again showed the men the way rounding the first mark inside fellow Radial Master Goran Bonacic CRO and Apprentice Aydin Yurdum TUR.   Squeezing the inside berth cost Patterson her lead when she hit the mark, had to do a 360 turn and then capsized.  Yurdum took over the lead which he held to the finish ahead of Bonacic.  In the lighter winds of the second race Bonacic got his revenge to take the winning gun after passing David Early HKG in the second half of the race.

In race 1 of the Apprentice fleet Brett Beyer AUS led around the first mark but unfortunately for him located  Mark 3 instead of Mark 4 and lost around ten places. By the time he realised his error he eventually finished in seventh place. This left a tight group of 5 boats dicing for the lead on the second upwind beat and runs to the finish. Mati Sepp EST led at the windward mark the second time from Nick Walsh IRL and Martin Lehner AUT however a capsize at the gybe mark cost Sepp the lead. Walsh eventually won the race from Lehner with Hugh Leicester AUS taking third in a close finish with the top 5 boats crossing the line within 25 seconds of each other. 

Mark 3 instead of Mark 4 and lost around ten places. By the time he realised his error he eventually finished in seventh place. This left a tight group of 5 boats dicing for the lead on the second upwind beat and runs to the finish. Mati Sepp EST led at the windward mark the second time from Nick Walsh IRL and Martin Lehner AUT however a capsize at the gybe mark cost Sepp the lead. Walsh eventually won the race from Lehner with Hugh Leicester AUS taking third in a close finish with the top 5 boats crossing the line within 25 seconds of each other.In the second race Beyer and Leicester held on to the starboard tack coming out of the start longer than the rest of the fleet and found a shift to the left to be equal leaders at the top mark, with Lehner rounding third. Positions remained the same on the run however Lehner rounded the opposite gate to the leaders and picked up a shift from the right to take over second place. From there positions remained the same with Beyer beating Lehner then Leicester.

Two days racing remain and if completed a second discard will allowed.

Results Apprentice

1	AUT 171358	LEHNER Martin, Male	10,0	2	2	2	(5)	2	2
2	AUS 171104	BEYER Brett, Male	13,0	(7)	3	1	1	7	1
3	GBR 179660	COCKERILL Stephen, Male	13,0	1	1	3	3	(5)	5

Results Masters

1	AUS 172220	DIBB Colin, Male	11,0	(20)	3	1	5	1	1
2	AUS 176895	SCHLACHTER Jack, Male	15,0	5	(9)	2	2	4	2
3	BER 177306	WRIGHT Brett, Male	19,0	4	1	4	4	6	(8)

Results Grand Masters

1	AUS 177791	BETHWAITE Mark, Male	9,0	5	1	1	1	(6)	1
2	AUS 178622	LOWNDES Robert, Male	21,0	(14)	5	9	2	1	4
3	AUS 177734	EDMISTON David, Male	21,0	(13)	7	2	3	2	7

Results Laser Radial Masters

1	CRO 177841	BONACIC Goran, Male	10,0	5	(7)	1	2	1	1
2	AUS 178787	PATTERSON Lyndall, Female	12,0	(8)	1	4	1	2	4
3	USA 159089	MARTINSON Bruce, Male	15,0	(7)	3	2	3	5	2

Results Laser Radial Womens Masters

1	AUS 178787	PATTERSON Lyndall, Female	5,0	(2)	1	1	1	1	1
2	AUS 178656	BONNITCHA Jenni, Female	10,0	1	(3)	2	2	2	3
3	NZL 163923	WILSON Amanda, Female	13,0	(3)	2	3	3	3	2

Results Laser Radial Masters

1	USA 168272	SHATTUCK Alden, Male	10,0	1	1	3	2	(5)	3
2	FRA 179950	MARCON Poopy, Male	11,0	(9)	7	1	1	1	1
3	GBR 176743	WHIPP Peter, Male	14,0	(7)	4	2	3	3	2

Results Great Grand Masters

1	USA 170375	SEIDENBERG Peter, Male	11,0	3	2	(4)	2	3	1
2	IRL 178148	O'SULLIVAN Denis, Male	11,0	(4)	3	1	3	2	2
3	NZL 170535	HANSEN Jack, Male	12,0	1	1	2	4	(bfd)	4

Visit the regatta website for a complete list of results - http://www.laserchampionships.org/worlds04/

Day two of the SPA Regatta brought practically the same weather conditions as Wednesday, the first day. Both wind speed and direction fluctuated which made it difficult for all competitors.

Mistral sailor Jessica Crisp (AIS/NSWIS) has again produced the best overall Australia performance. Overnight a 6^th and 2^nd place moved Crisp to second overall.

Australia’s biggest leap came from Star class sailors Colin Beashel (AIS/NSWIS) and David Giles (AIS/NSWIS). The pair moved 10 places to 10^th overall, scoring a 3^rd and 6^th in race three and four respectively.

After two days of racing, all races have been sailed. Competition is fierce as some teams still need to qualify for the Olympic Games. Other teams are sailing a sail off between two or more teams and others are in their final preparation for the Games. The SPA Regatta competition, with over 60 nations participating, will finish Sunday 30 May 2004.

1. Amelie Lux (GER) (3,14,4,1) 8pts
2. Jessica Crisp (AUS) (5,6,6,2) 13pts
3. Romy Kinzl (GER) (6,2,5,6) 13pts
11. Allison Shreeve (AUS) (15,8,7,13) 28pts

1. Frednik Loof/Anders Ekstrom (SWE) (2,5,6,12) 13pts
2. Iain Percy/Steve Mitchell (GBR) (4,2,11,8) 14pts
3. Ross MacDonald/Mike Wolfs (FRA) (9,6,10,2) 17pts
10. Colin Beashel/David Giles (AUS) (17,19,3,6) 26pts

49er Results - Day Two (6 races/1 drop)

1. Pietro Sibello/Gianfranco Sibello (ITA) (5,1,11,3,1,1) 11pts
2.Michael Hestbek/Dennis Dengsoe (DEN) (2,2,4,OCS,2,3) 13pts
3 . Iker Martinez Xavier Fernandez (ESP) (6,14,2,1,4,3) 16pts
12. Chris Nicholson/Gary Boyd (AUS) (10,4,6,11,9,1) 30pts

Yngling Results - Day Two (4 races/1 drop)

1. Kristin Wagner/Anna Hoell/Veronika Lochbrunner (GER) (2,1,4,5) 7pts
2. Ekaterina Skudina/Tatiana Lartseva/Diana Krutskikh (RUS) (4,4,21,1) 9pts
3. Karianne Eikeland/Beate Kristiansen/Lise Birgitte Fredr (NOR) (3,6,2,22) 11pts
21. Nicola Bethwaite/Karyn Gojnich/Kristen Kosmala (AUS) (OCS,16,19,14) 49pts

Mistral Men - Day Two (4 races/1 drop)

1. Bontemps Julien (FRA) (4,1,2,10) 7pts
2. Joeri Van dijk (NED) (1,15,4,2) 7pts
3. Marcos Galvan (ARG) (5,2,8,3) 10pts
19. Lars Kleppich (AUS) (OCS,6,7,OCS) 52pts
25. Corey Plant (AUS) (30,25,18,18) 61pts

Finn Results – Day Two (4 races/1 drop)

1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) (1,7,4,2) 7pts
2. Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) (3,5,6,4) 12pts
3. Ben Ainslie (GBR) (14,OCS,1,1) 16pts
24.Anthony Nossiter (AUS) (17,22,27,22) 61pts

Laser Results - Day Two (6 races/1 drop)

1. Zbogar Vasilij (SLO) (2,1,3,1,1,1) 6pts
2. Karl Suneson (SWE) (OCS,9,2,1,3,1) 16pts
3. Gareth Blanckenberg (RSA) (6,OCS,8,2,1,2) 19pts
30. Brendan Casey (AUS) (12,OCS,11,17,31,3) 74pts

Other Links
	SPA Regatta website

Peter Merritt & Ross Kilborn

Peter Merritt, President of Yachting Victoria, today announced the appointment of Ross Kilborn as the new Chief Executive Officer of Yachting Victoria.

In his announcement Peter said ‘ We are very pleased to have Ross join us, he has an excellent career to date in business and organisation development and has succeeded in what was a rigorous and demanding selection process.'

Ross’s business background includes an initial ten years in financial management roles, before moving to general management in several medium size companies. Most recently he was general manager of a consumer marketing consultancy company which he established seven years ago, and which developed to be the leader in its field in Australia.

Ross has been involved in yachting in Victoria for nearly 30 years. He has sailed off the beach, trailable and keel boats. He is currently an active catamaran sailor at Port Melbourne Yacht Club, where he is also Principal of the Sailing School.

Ross commenced at the office today, and said ' I am very much looking forward to this opportunity to work with the Executive and staff of Yachting Victoria and our member clubs in developing an exciting future for yachting in Victoria, and in particular all members.'.

Contact details – Phone (03) 9597 0066 or mobile 0412 171 666

Nick Moloney and his Open 60 yacht Skandia make their solo ocean racing debut this weekend in The Transat race starting from England. They take on  the wily North Atlantic Ocean and the most formidable fleet of Open 60s ever assembled.

For Moloney and Skandia, in her new livery of the international long-term savings company, The Transat is the final test of form before the pair race  around the world this winter in the Vendée Globe. The three-month solo non-stop circumnavigation starts from Les Sables d'Olonne in France on November 7.

Three leading international fund management companies, Invesco Perpetual, Gartmore Investment Managers and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, recently signed-up with Skandia to create the Skandia MultiManager campaign, which will fund Moloney's decade-long goal to complete a historical hat-trick in round the world sailing by completing the Vendée Globe.

Invesco Perpetual, Gartmore and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers are partners in Skandia's pioneering MultiManager investment programme that is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year. All four companies are now partners in the first entry by an Australian into the race.

This combined investment allowed Moloney to acquire the four-year old boat raced by Briton Ellen MacArthur to second place in the last edition of the Vendée Globe in 94 days and four hours still the third fastest solo time around the world.

A thorough three-month refit means Moloney, 36, feels he has a boat Capable of claiming a top five position against an expected fleet of 20 Open 60s, including five new designs.

'It's hard to describe how honoured and indebted I feel to Skandia, Invesco Perpetual, Gartmore and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers for this opportunity and how nervous I am to justify the huge trust they've put into this project and me.

“The Transat and the Vendée are the pinnacles of solo sailing and for me it will certainly be the biggest challenge of my sailing career,' he said.

Skandia's association with the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team – the company that manages Moloney's Vendée programme, began last year with their three-year sponsorship of Nick's team-mate Sam (Samantha) Davies. She competes full-time on the solo Figaro circuit.

Skandia then co-sponsored Moloney and Davies to compete in the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race from France to Brazil last November on the Open 60, then named Team Cowes.

'We have been hugely impressed with the commitment and professionalism of both Nick and Sam,' said Andre Oszmann, Skandia's Group Marketing
Director.

'Not only in their pursuit of achieving their sailing goals, but also in their dedication to helping others enjoy the sport.

'Skandia has been a long supporter of international sailing at all levels and a key aim of our Skandia Set Sail sponsorship programme is to give aspiring sailors the chance to realise their dreams.  Nick has proven his determination over and over again and we at Skandia were equally determined to ensure he competes in the 2004 -'05 Vendée Globe.

Skandia had already provided sufficient funds for Moloney to secure theOpen 60 for the year, to prepare her for racing and to compete in The Transat. 'We are delighted that the Skandia MultiManager campaign is now in place and with our three partners we can confirm Nick's participation in the Vendée Globe,' added Oszmann. 'We wish him a fast and safe journey.'

Should Moloney complete the Vendée Globe, it will be a record-breaking triple in round-the-world yacht racing and the final of three ambitious goals he set himself at the age of 25.

The first was to compete in a fully crewed round the world race with stops. This he did when he was selected to race on Dennis Conner's (of America's  Cup fame) entry Toshiba in the 1997-'98 Whitbread Race.

The second goal was completed two years ago in 2002. Nick won the Jules Verne Trophy for the quickest non-stop lap of the planet.

He was the only English-speaking crewman on the giant French 110-foot catamaran Orange when she set a blistering time of 64 days.  That record stood until April this year.

His third, and most challenging goal is a non-stop solo lap of the planet. By finishing the Vendée, he will be the first person to circumnavigate the world in these three different events.  'The Vendée is the final pinnacle for me and I am prepared to give it everything,' he added.

Moloney has also competed in two America's Cup campaigns in 1992 and 1995. His CV boasts nine sailing world speed records and one Guinness World Record for becoming the first (and still the only) person to windsurf across the Bass Strait from mainland Australia to the Island of Tasmania. Nick Moloney was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for services rendered to the sport of sailing.

Other Links
	The Transat Website

SPLIT, Croatia (May 26, 2004) — On a day of predominantly light winds, Bertrand Pacé of France overtook Australian Peter Gilmour for the overall lead at the ACI HTmobile Cup, an event of the Swedish Match Tour.

With Round Robin 1 and the first two flights of Round Robin 2 complete, Pacé leads the event with a 10-2 record.

“It’s still very early,” said a wary Pacé, the slated helmsman of potential America’s Cup syndicate Team France. “There are eight more flights to sail before the semifinals. Anything can happen.”

Sweden’s Magnus Holmberg lies second with a 9-3 record, the same as Gilmour, the Day 1 leader. The two have split their round-robin matches, but Holmberg owns the tiebreaker due to his victory in Round 2 (Flight 13 overall).

Denmark’s Jes Gram-Hansen is fourth with an 8-3 record, and followed by New Zealander Gavin Brady of the Oracle BMW Racing syndicate for the America’s Cup, at 7-5.

Frenchman Mathieu Richard, the world No. 2-ranked match-race skipper, is sixth with a 6-5 record. Team New Zealand’s Kelvin Harrap is 5-7, and owns the tiebreaker for seventh over Sweden’s Mattias Rahm, also at 5-7.

Finland’s Staffan Lindberg, who returned to racing a day after undergoing a procedure to repair a broken facial bone, moved up to ninth with a 3-9 record, followed by Croatians Frano Brate, 2-10, and Mate Arapov, 1-11.

Today’s racing at the 18th annual regatta was held in lighter winds than Day 1. While the Race Committee, led by Alen Kustic and Tonko Petesic, rolled off eight flights and 40 matches yesterday, today they were able to complete just five flights and 25 matches.

Pacé has been on a roll. The champion of the inaugural Swedish Match Tour in 2000 had won six straight races before losing to Gram-Hansen in his final match of the day.

With the west/southwesterly wind down to 6 knots, the Jeanneau One-Design 35s were a bear to handle. The boat’s heavy displacement (8,000 pounds) and short-chord length keel means it side-slips dramatically.

“If you have no speed there’s a lot of leeway,” said Pacé.

That did in Pacé in his match against Gram-Hansen when he hit the pin end at the start.

“There was a lot of tide running,” said Pacé. “We misjudged the layline and the time and distance to the pin. It was a very (crappy) start, to be very clear about it.”

The lighter winds forced a different mode from the crews when compared to yesterday’s 15-knot breeze. Sweden’s Rahm explained that it requires a more tactical mindset than when there’s more pressure.

“You have to be more focused and concentrate harder,” Rahm said.

Rahm relied on a bit of experience in the light winds to help him beat Gilmour in the last flight of Round 1.

“I felt they were similar to last year,” said Rahm, who placed seventh last year. “When the wind dropped in the afternoon, there was a big right-hand shift.”

Anticipating the shift, Rahm opted for a split tack start with Gilmour. He pushed the Aussie toward the pin end, and then tacked to port just before the gun.

The two sailed to opposite corners of the racecourse, and met for the first time at the top of the initial beat.

“When we came together we were ahead by about 100 meters, and that was basically the race,” Rahm said.

After winning his first seven races yesterday, Gilmour stumbled today when he won two of five matches. He lost his first match of the series in today’s first flight, when he faced Gram-Hansen.

With the winds between 3 and 5 knots, Gilmour entered the start box on port and Gram-Hansen on starboard. Former Swedish Match Tour champion (2002-’03) Peter Holmberg feels entering the start box on port in light air is akin to being in jail, and Gilmour found himself penalized for a port-starboard incident with Gram-Hansen when he had no forward momentum.

Gram-Hansen rode a zephyr to Gilmour, who was essentially stopped dead in the water, and lined him up perfectly for the penalty.

Gram-Hansen got a second penalty on Gilmour just after the start of their match, when Gilmour tacked too close in front of the Dane. Forced to perform one of the penalty turns immediately, Gilmour was behind and had little chance of passing in the light winds.

The light winds were welcome by Lindberg. The 32-year-old skipper from Mariehamn, Finland, was knocked to his knees two days ago when hit on the right side of his head by the boom during a practice jibe. Lindberg said he saw stars while on the cockpit floor.

Today, however, the 6-foot, 5-inch tall sailor said he didn’t feel too bad after undergoing surgery yesterday to repair the broken bone. “I feel fine,” Lindberg said. “It doesn’t hurt at all. I have no problems with vision or dizziness.”

Lindberg proved his resiliency by going 3-2 on the day to move up to ninth overall.

Lindberg underwent surgery at the City Hospital of Split to repair the zygomatic arch, the arch of bone that extends along the front or side of the skull beneath the orbit, on the right side of his face.

Dr. Vladimir Ivancev, M.D., the attending physician, explained that the surgeon, Dr. Pavicic, made a one centimeter vertical incision, inserted a hook and pulled the arch back into place.

“It was a simple procedure,” Ivancev said. Lindberg had just two stitches closing the wound.

Last night, Lindberg was measured for a special mask that was delivered this morning. Ivancev emphasized to Lindberg that he should wear the mask to protect the damaged arch in the event of another accident.

Lindberg was a bit hesitant to wear it. “I can’t see that well out of it,” he explained about the inhibited periphery vision. “And I might not be able to see the boom if it comes across again.”

Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow with an attention signal slated for 10:50 a.m.

ACI HTmobile Cup Standings

(After 13 of 22 scheduled flights)

1. Bertrand Pacé/FRA, Team France 10-2
Crew Benoit Briand, Tanguy Caidou, Fabrice Levet, Romain Troublé
2. Magnus Holmberg/SWE, SeaLife Rangers 9-3
Crew Peter Anderson, Martin Krite, Lars Linger, Stefan Rahm
3. Peter Gilmour/AUS, Pizza-La Sailing Team 9-3
Crew Rod Dawson, Mike Mottl, Kazuhiko Sofuku, Yasuhiro Yaji
4. Jes Gram-Hansen/DEN, Team Denmark 8-3
Crew Michael Arnhild, Christian Kamp, Rasmus Kostner, Chresten Plinius
5. Gavin Brady/NZL, Oracle BMW Racing 7-5
Crew John Kostecki, Craig Monk, Robbie Naismith, Brad Webb
6. Mathieu Richard/FRA 6-5
Crew Greg Evrard, Olivier Herledant, Alexis Ponsot Pierre, Yannick Simon
7. Kelvin Harrap/NZL, Team New Zealand 5-7
Crew Andy Hemmings, Jeremy Lomas, Grant Lorentz, Chris Ward
8. Mattias Rahm/SWE, Team Stena Bulk 5-7
Crew Johan Barne, Claes Dahlberg, Pontus Meijer, Henrik Valderyd
9. Staffan Lindberg/SWE 1-9
Crew Johan Karlsson, Daniel Mattsson, Johan Mossberg, Daniel Wallberg
10. Frano Brate/CRO 2-8
Crew Boris Bakotić, Zvonko Jelačić, Denis Stanojević, Mirko Ukas
11. Mate Arapov/CRO 1-9
Crew Ivan Bulaja, Luka Radelić Ognjen Uljević, Stjepan Vitaljić

For more information contact:
Sean McNeill
Swedish Match Tour Director of Public Relations
Mobile: +1 401/662-1501
E-mail: smcneill@f10marketing.com

Joakim Hermansson
Swedish Match Tour Director of Public Relations, Nordic countries
Mobile: +46/70/604 25 04
E-mail: Joakim.hermansson@home.se

2003 Australian Youth Team

This year’s Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, to be held in Gdynia, Poland from 8-17 July, will see a record number of nations competing not only in individual events, but also for the overall Volvo Trophy for the best performing nation.

With an extra event this year in the form of the Open Multihull, which for 2004 will be sailed in the Hobie 16 Race Speed, the total number of nations competing is 53, five more than competed at the previous record-breaking event held in Crozon-Morgat, France in 2001.

The Hobie 16, which for 2004 sees its first year of mandatory inclusion, will see eleven nations compete for the title of Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Champion in the class.

The additional number of nations competing mean that there are several new ones taking the journey to Poland in the summer, Latvia, Cuba, Morocco, are all funded by the ISAF Athlete Participation Programme and will attend the event for the first time in its history.

Latvia is represented by Rudolfs VETRA, an 18 year old who will sail the Boy’s Single-Handed event in the Laser Class whilst Cuba is represented by Zoe Barrios FLEITAS in the Girl’s Windsurfing, Jesus ALBERTO in the Boy’s Single-handed Dinghy, and Anneris FALCON and Yisel Suarez CASANAS in the Girls Double-handed Dinghy, which will be the International 420 in 2004. Morocco will be sending El Amri ANAS in the Boys Single-handed Dinghy event.

As well as the first time nations, there are many sending full teams across all seven events, and all will make huge bids on stopping Australia successfully defending the Volvo Trophy for the best overall performance by a nation. Out of last year’s successful Nations Cup winning team, Australia are sending Nathan OUTTERIDGE, this year helming for Iain JENSEN, as well as Elise RECHICHI, who won the Girls Double-handed event alongside Raychele MARTIN. This year her crew is Tessa PARKINSON. Corey PLANT returns in the Boys Windsurfing Event, whilst there is new blood in the remainder of the team. The renowned Craig FERRIS returns in his usual role as inspirational team leader, and Australia will be tough to beat with their mix of returning veterans and new talent.

Other Nations sending full teams are Brazil, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the home nation, Poland. All in all some tough competition for the Volvo Trophy, but one in which Australia must count as early favourites.

Of each of the events, the Single-handed classes replicate their big brothers in the Olympic field as being the most represented. There are 43 representatives in the Boys Single-handed Dinghy - Laser, 33 in the Girl’s Single-handed Dinghy - Laser Radial, and 36 combined in the Boys and Girls Windsurfing Events.

Since the First ISAF Youth Worlds in 1971 in Angelholm in Sweden, 91 nations have sent sailors to compete in the world’s pinnacle event for under 19 sailors.

All in all the event, hosted by the Gdynia Sport Centre, on behalf of the Polish Yachting Association and Municipality of Gdynia looks set to be one of the best Youth Worlds ever.

Nations Competing in 2004

The SPA Regatta, in Medemblik, Netherlands, began overnight with all eleven Olympic classes completing their scheduled races.

Australia has entries in seven of the eleven classes. The best Australian overall result came from Mistral women’s sailor Jessica Crisp (AIS/NSWIS), who secured a 5^th and 6^th to be placed 5^th overall.

A full report will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Mistral Women - Day One (2 races)

1. Romy Kinzl (GER) (6,2) 8pts
2. Sigrid Rondelez (BEL) (4,5) 9pts
3. Natasha Sturges (GBR) (10,1) 11pts
5. Jessica Crisp (AUS) (5,6) 11pts
11. Allison Shreeve (AUS) (15,8) 23pts

1. Michael Hestbek/Dennis Dengsoe (DEN) (2,2,4) 8pts
2. Stevie Morrison/Ben Rhodes (GBR) (3,4,3) 10pts
3. Chris Draper/Simon Hiscocks (GBR) (4,5,2) 11pts
10. Chris Nicholson/Gary Boyd (AUS) (10,4,6) 20pts

Yngling Results - Day One (2 races)

1. Kristin Wagner/Anna Hoell/Veronika Lochbrunner (GER) (2,1) 3pts
2. Shirley Robertson/Sarah Ayton/Sarah Webb (GBR) (1,5) 6pts
3. Ekaterina Skudina/Tatiana Lartseva/Diana Krutskikh (RUS) (4,4) 8pts
19. Nicola Bethwaite/Karyn Gojnich/Kristen Kosmala (AUS) (OCS,16) 40pts

Finn Results – Day One (2 races)

1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) (1,7) 8pts
2. Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) (3,5) 8pts
3. Jaap Zielhuis (NED) (7,2) 9pts
20.Anthony Nossiter (AUS) (17,22) 39pts

1. Iain Percy/Steve Mitchell (GBR) (4,2) 6pts
2. Rohart Xavier/Pascal Rambeau (FRA) (6,1) 7pts
3. Frednik Loof/Anders Ekstrom (SWE) (2,5) 7pts
20. Colin Beashel/David Giles (AUS) (17,19) 36pts

1. Bontemps Julien (FRA) (4,1) 5pts
2. Marcos Galvan (ARG) (5,2) 7pts
3. Huguet Nicolas (FRA) (3,8) 11pts
21. Lars Kleppich (AUS) (OCS,6) 45pts
29. Corey Plant (AUS) (30,25) 55pts

1. Zbogar Vasilij (SLO) (2,1,3) 6pts
2. Anders Nyholm (DEN) (4,4,1) 9pts
3. Allan Julie (SEY) (2,7,3) 12pts
36. Brendan Casey (AUS) (12,OCS,11) 63pts

Other Links
	SPA Regatta website

After no racing was possible due to insufficient winds yesterday the wind gods smiled on the fleet of 141 master sailors with today’s racing being held in 20 to 25 knots from the north west.

In the first Apprentice race it was extremely close as the top 6 boats rounded within 10 seconds of each other. Leading was Martin Lehner AUT. The leaders were in a close group after the reach and downwind leg. Series leader Stephen Cockerill GBR had improved from 8^th to 3^rd. Positions remained the same for the next beat until the next downwind leg where Cockerill led for the first time in the race. On rounding Mark 5 the leader thought he had seen a shortened course flag and stopped to eat a banana allowing Brett Beyer AUS and Lehner to pass him to finish first and second with Cockerill recovering to finish third. He said after the race “ I undoubtedly won the daft sailor award for the day” costing himself a race win.

In race two Nick Walsh IRL started close to the committee boat and held on to the port layline to round Mark 1 with a comfortable lead from Mati Sepp EST. Beyer worked a shift on the right on the second beat to drastically reduce Walsh’s lead to round in second place and eventually pass Walsh on the last downwind legs toscore his second win for the day, Walsh finished second with Cockerill coming through to finish third.

In Masters group scoring was the closest of all fleets with two boats scoring 4 points for the day. In Race 1 Jack Schlachter AUS got a great start and hit the left side to take an early lead at the first mark followed closely by Colin Dibb AUS. By the first downwind mark both had opened quite a lead on the following pack now lead by Tracy Usher USA. Positions remained unchanged through the second beat, top reach and final run… but with a capsize at the jibe mark Schlachter lost first to Dibb. Not to be outdone, Usher capsized introducing a bit of drama for third but did manage to recover and hang on.

In the second race Schlachter got a great start and led the fleet for the first part of the windward leg. However, Usher managed to be enough to the right of Schlachter on the first beat to pick up a favourable shift, putting him in the lead at the first mark, with Schlachter very close behind.  <![if !supportEmptyParas]>As in the first race the first two had quite a lead on the following pack. Usher and Schlachter had a tight race, swapping the lead at several times during the second beat and on run, but with Usher leading at the marks, hanging on to win the race. By the final beat the pack had sorted itself out with Dibb coming home third.

In race one of the Grandmasters, the fleet headed left, Mark Bethwaite AUS and Rob Lowndes AUS tacked away early and missed some of the lift from the left but Bethwaite managed to lead at the first mark with good boatspeed. On the first downwind leg several of the top group capsized allowing Dave Edmiston AUS through to second place where he finished the race behind Bethwaite with Frank Walsh AUS finishing third.

In race two the whole fleet sailed to the port layline, Bethwaite again led at the first mark with Sydney Barlow IRL rounding in second. Lowndes and Edmiston passed Barlow on the runs and then held position to finish second and third behind Bethwaite again.

In the first race of the Radial fleet Great Grand Master Dennis O’Sullivan IRL came off the start and went to the right and had a big lead at the first mark in the combined fleet.  Downwind he sailed wide of the straight line course and which allowed Goran Bonocic CRO into the lead.

Lyndall Patterson AUS scored a result for the ladies in the second Radial race leading the combined fleet from start to finish.

With a day off tomorrow the fleet will have a chance to recover from an exciting day’s sailing and prepare for the final 3 days of racing.

Results Apprentice

1	AUS 171104	BEYER Brett, Male	5,0	(7)	3	1	1
2	GBR 179660	COCKERILL Stephen, Male	5,0	1	1	(3)	3
3	AUT 171358	LEHNER Martin, Male	6,0	2	2	2	(5)

Results Master

1	RUS 171513	NIKOLAEV Alexander, Male	9,0	1	2	(10)	6
2	AUS 172220	DIBB Colin, Male	9,0	(20)	3	1	5
3	BER 177306	WRIGHT Brett, Male	9,0	(4)	1	4	4

Results Grand Master

1	AUS 177791	BETHWAITE Mark, Male	3,0	(5)	1	1	1
2	AUS 177734	EDMISTON David, Male	12,0	(13)	7	2	3
3	AUS 178622	LOWNDES Robert, Male	16,0	(14)	5	9	2

Results Laser Radial Masters

1	AUS 178787	PATTERSON Lyndall, Female	6,0	(8)	1	4	1
2	CRO 177841	BONACIC Goran, Male	8,0	5	(7)	1	2
3	USA 159089	MARTINSON Bruce, Male	8,0	(7)	3	2	3

Results Laser Radial Womens Masters

1	AUS 178787	PATTERSON Lyndall, Female	3,0	(2)	1	1	1
2	AUS 178656	BONNITCHA Jenni, Female	5,0	1	(3)	2	2
3	NZL 163923	WILSON Amanda, Female	8,0	(3)	2	3	3

Results Laser Radial Grand Master

1	USA 168272	SHATTUCK Alden, Male	4,0	1	1	(3)	2
2	FRA 179950	MARCON Poopy, Male	9,0	(9)	7	1	1
3	GBR 176743	WHIPP Peter, Male	9,0	(7)	4	2	3

Results Laser Radial Great Grant Master

1	NZL 170535	HANSEN Jack, Male	4,0	1	1	2	(4)
2	IRL 178148	O'SULLIVAN Denis, Male	7,0	(4)	3	1	3
3	USA 170375	SEIDENBERG Peter, Male	7,0	3	2	(4)	2

Gilmour and crew Rod Dawson (NZL), Mike Mottl (AUS), Kazuhiko Sofuku (JPN) and Yasuhiro Yaji (JPN) – the runaway leaders of the Swedish Match Tour Championship Leaderboard, won all of their races today enroute to a 7-0 record after the first eight flights of the 18th annual event off Split Harbour.

Frenchman Bertrand Pacé and Team France trailed close behind at 6-1, and there was a tie for third between Sweden’s Magnus Holmberg and the SeaLife Rangers crew and Team Denmark’s Jes Gram-Hansen, both at 5-2.

‘It was beautiful sailing conditions today,’ said Gram-Hansen, who has placed fifth at this event twice before. ‘Our team was working well and we had some luck, which you need.’

New Zealand’s Gavin Brady and the Oracle BMW Racing team stand fifth at 5-3, and are followed by Mathieu Richard (FRA, 4-3), Mattias Rahm (SWE, 3-4), Kelvin Harrap (NZL, 2-5), Frano Brate (CRO, 2-6), Mate Arapov (CRO, 1-7) and Sweden’s Daniel Wallberg, who filled in for injured Staffan Lindberg of Finland, but was 0-7 on the day.

After a 68-minute postponement this morning due to light winds, the race committee took an aggressive approach to conducting racing.

The south-westerly breeze started at 6 knots for Flight 1, but by Flight 2 it had increased to 10 knots. The wind would gust up to 16 knots throughout the afternoon, and the race committee ran eight flights, 40 matches overall in a bit more than seven hours, over the standard windward/leeward, twice-around course.

‘I think it was very clever of them to get that much racing in,’ said Gilmour. ‘I’ve been at these events where they knock off at 5:00 and then there’s nothing later in the week.’

‘For us it’s like this 65 to 75 days a year,’ said Event Director Emil Tomasevic, who this morning predicted a classic sea breeze, one that builds in strength and veers right after a windless morning. He was spot on.

The conditions were in stark contrast to yesterday’s blustery north-easterly for practice and crew training in the Jeanneau One-Design 35. The wind topped out around 20 knots, and took its toll on two Scandinavian skippers.

Sweden’s Rahm and Finland’s Lindberg both suffered injuries during practice. Rahm suffered a cut on his head that required a trip to the hospital for cleaning and dressage, but Lindberg’s injury was more serious.

This morning the 6-foot, 5-inch tall skipper underwent surgery to repair his orbital bone and cheek bone under his right eye. The injury occurred during a practice jibe.

‘I was pulling the boom across and he didn’t stand back far enough,’ said Lindberg’s mainsail trimmer Wallberg, 24, of Marstrand, Sweden. ‘The boom hit him under the eye.’

Rahm also suffered his injury during a jibe. The 6-foot tall Swede didn’t duck low enough during a jibe and the boom swept across his head.

He reported having a scrape on his head, but not one that kept him from racing today.

Rahm said that both his and Lindberg’s crews practiced last week for this event on DS 37 Match-Racers in Sweden, the boat used at the Swedish Match Cup and the Danish Open.

‘The boom on that boat isn’t as long as the one on this boat,’ said Rahm, comparing the practice boat to the race boat.

Wallberg will fill in for Lindberg on the helm until he is ready to return. Wallberg, who has crewed for Lindberg the past year, began match-racing in 2000. Also joining the crew is local Croatian Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic.

The International Jury, headed by Chief Umpire Bo Samuelsson, has cleared the way for Lindberg to return to the helm when, and if, he feels ready.

‘We took the opinion of the skippers at the umpires’ meeting and they were in favour of us granting Lindberg the permission to return,’ said Samuelsson.

Pressed into service at the last minute, Wallberg, who sailed a Soling briefly in 2000 before match-racing was removed from the Olympics, had a rough day on the helm and left the water with a 0-7 record.

‘Next time I’d want to have some more practice,’ Wallberg said at the end of the day with a laugh. ‘It got better as the day went on. At least we figured out where the start line was.’

Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow with an attention signal slated for 10:50 a.m.

For more detail on today’s racing, results by flight, complete crew lists and the upcoming schedule, please visit www.SwedishMatchTour.com.

Sailors from around Australia have less that four weeks to become part of this year’s Australian Schools Team Racing Championship, hosted by Victor Harbour Yacht Club and Victor Harbour High School, in South Australia. 

From the 7-11^th July, schools teams will come together to demonstrate their sailing talent and compete for the prestigious title.

The maximum number of entries in this pinnacle youth team racing event was last year extended to 12 teams, allowing more schools to enter and increase the competitive spirit.

The regatta will be at Goolwa Aquatic Club located in the District Council of Alexandrina on the lower River Murray near the river’s mouth, approximately 75km south of Adelaide.

Competitors can expect shallow flat water and a range of wind conditions. Spectators will be able to view the racing from the club or a marquee on the grassed beach area with the racing area only 200 metres offshore.

The Notice of Race is now available, and entries (which shall be endorsed by your MYA) must be lodged to Yachting South Australia by the 21^st June, 2004.

Other Links
	Event Information

Around Australia World Record Holders, Sailors with disABLITIES (SWD) is calling for volunteers who would like to be involved in the NRMA Northern Youth Campaign, which has been running over the last six years, kicking off from Airlie Beach on 31 August.

The NRMA Northern Youth Campaign, provides the opportunity for disabled children to experience sailing for the first time, and by doing so encourages them to pursue their goals.  The program also gives carers a chance to enjoy a day on the water.

Crew volunteers are now required to assist with disabled children who will be sailing out of Airlie Beach, then Mackay, Rosslyn Bay, and Mooloobah. Volunteers can be from each port or within close proximity.

David Pescud, President, Sailors with disABILITIES, said, 'We’re now looking for people who’d like to join us as we make our way down the Queensland coast.  You can be with us in one port only, or join us for a run through a couple of ports.

Volunteers will spend time at sea aboard the 54ft around Australia record breaking yacht, meet some of the crew, but more importantly this program is about having fun for everyone. It all takes place in Queensland waters and we need people who are enthusiastic, enjoy sailing, love working with kids. 

For more information on the specific dates and travel arrangements please contact:
Karen Hawker via email: karen@smra.com or on 0411 754 571

Airlie Beach

31 August and 1 September - 6 volunteers each day

Following the two races sailed on the first day of racing day two dawned with the promise of eight to ten knots of south-easterly breeze for the Harken Laser Masters World Championships.

But promises get broken and instead the wind hovered around four to five knots for the sailors across nine disciplines sailed in both the Laser standard rig, and the Laser Radial.

As a five knot average is required in order to start racing, organisers were forced to abandon racing for the day, so current results are the same as for day one.

Full results are available on the event website at the address below, along with photographs and further information about the event. 

Event Website
www.laserchampionships.org/worlds04/

141 Master sailors from around the world left shore for the first two races in the Harken Laser Masters Championship with the promise of a good day’s sailing with a westerly forecast to build to around 14 knots.

However when racing got under way the forecast wind had not developed and racing began on time in 7 to 8 knots from the south west.

The Apprentices (35 to 44 years) in the standard rig group were first away with Stephen Cockerill (GBR) eventually winning the first race of the day despite only rounding the first mark in 7th place. The leader at the first mark was Ari BARSHI (DOM) who eventually finished third as he had also been passed by Martin LEHNER (AUT). In the second race Cockerill led from start to finish to have the perfect score after two races. Lehner again finished second with Brett BEYER (AUS) third.

In the first Masters (45 to 54 years) race Alexander NIKLOLAEV (RUS) led all the way after favouring the right hand side of the first beat. He also displayed exceptional down wind speed to extend his lead to end up with a comfortable win of over 2 minutes from Andre MARTINI (DOM) and Mauro LENTINI (SUI). In the second race Brett WRIGHT (BER) was the leader at the first mark ahead of a group of around 5 boats who were close behind. Although the racing was close Wright managed to lead the whole race to win from Nikolaev who fought his way to second ahead former Masters World Champion, Colin DIBB (AUS).

The Grandmasters (55 years plus) were the third fleet to start and were sailing the outer loop of the trapezoid course. In the first race Dennis LAPHAM (ZIM) blitzed led at the first mark but was passed on the downwind legs by British light weather ace Kevin PEARSON. Pearson went on to win from Mike KINNEAR, also of Great Britain with Lapham third.

In the second race, Mark BETHWAITE of Australia led around all marks to win convincingly, with Canadian Joe VAN

The Radial fleet, starting last, is the largest fleet of the regatta with 62 boats incorporates the Women’s fleet as well as the over 65 Great Grandmaster fleet which has 24 competitors. In the first race again the right side of the beat paid with Alden SHATTUCK (USA) leading at the first mark from Mike Burns (GBR) who had started at the port end of the line and crossed the fleet. Shattuck led all the way round to finish ahead of Don BONNITCHA (AUS) and Olivier FALQUE (FRA) third. First women was Jenni BONNITCHA (AUS). In the second race the breeze had filled in to around 9 knots and Alden SHATTUCK again led the fleet for the entire race. 

Event Website
www.laserchampionships.org/worlds04/

A Notice of Race and Entry Form for the Hayman Regatta is available through Rob Mundle Promotions. Call (07) 5527 1126 or email to Rob.Mundle@bigpond.com.au

For more information, go to www.hobieclass.com or www.hobieworlds.com. The next Hobie 16 World Championship will be held in 2006 in South Africa.

After scraping into the gold fleet and then getting a little anxious to improve, we finally found the turbo button, and charged up the scoreboard. No racing on the last day due to no wind and thunderstorms, put a stop to our tremendous run. We were only 9 points from the leaders with 2 more races to sail. Another 4^th…..

This does not sound too unusual, until I let you know that after the qualifying series we were in 24^th position. Admittedly, we should not have been that far back but a light wind, tricky qualifying series saw many of the top sailors struggling to be consistent. Into the finals and we won the first race, but were ‘ocs’ (disqualified for being over the line at the start) hence, making our goals difficult to achieve.

But it was pointed out to me that “you are never lost unless you think you are”. Taking on the challenge, we sailed so well in the final series, charging through the fleet to make a huge comeback.

The final series for us was the most consistent we have sailed in a long time, with all results in the top 4. The lessons from the qualifying series are now well cemented in our heads too. We have made some big improvements in our light wind sailing which we are excited about. After all, Greece is likely to be a light wind venue at the time of the Olympics.

Now, Jenny and I have taken off to opposite sides of the globe to visit members of our families for the 10 days we have off, before the next competition in Germany which starts on the 1^st of June. It is our last real break before we head into Athens so we are enjoying the time.

Our next report will be from the Europeans in Warnemunde, Germany so until then,

Thanks a million for all the support, and messages of encouragement, even when we were down.

Regards,

Belinda and Jenny

Sailing Girls www.sailinggirls.com.au

Hello again,

I know this news most people already know, from all the emails and SMSes wehave received.  Thank you!!

WE ARE THE 2004 WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!

This regatta was the 2nd most important this year.  We are very happy withthe result.

There was 6 races in qualifying.  We started this section in a very consistent manner.  We had very light wind through this phase.  This is normally our weakness, so we were very happy to know that our work in this area had paid off.  There was a little hick-up in this phase.  Race 6 - ended up being the curse of us and most sailors in the 'blue qualifying group'.  On the 3rd and final day of the qualifying, 100m from the finish (with us leading) the race committee abandoned the race.  This abandonment was after the 1st group had completed their race.  So as they had 6 races and our group only 5, we had to complete this race before moving onto the final phase of the regatta.  After being held on the water for 6 hours and 1 more abandonment, we were sent home for the day.  So we had to push onto the 4th day of the regatta to complete this race.

We hit the water early that day, with a tricky land breeze.  We started well,and lead at every mark (again!!) with the race being abandoned (again!!) after a 40 degree wind shift about 2/3rds of the way through the race.  We then waited for a further 2 hours for the new breeze to settle when we had our 4th start of race 6th.  After the wind completely died on the 1st upwind it was abandoned for the 4th time.  After a 2 hour rest on the shore, we gotsent out again for the completion of race 6.  This attempt went ok, with us finishing the race at 8pm in 4th place.  This was not as good as the 1st places we were holding in the other abandoned races, but after 2 full days (6hrs + 8hrs) on the water we were satisfied with a solid result.

The 1st day of finals was a very tricky day.  The wind varied 60 degrees and went from 0 to 15 knots.  So if you were not in the right place at the right time, you got punished.  We did not have a great day.  After the 3 final races we slipped from 3rd overall to 9th.  But as it was a tricky day for all, the points stayed very close between the top 15 boats.  We knew with all good races we could capitalise on the competitors very quickly and easily.

The 2nd day of finals... was awesome.  We sailed very conservatively and accurately and rounded every 1st mark in the top 10.  Then we sailed hard downwind to take large distance and pass other boats.  So we ended the day with a 2,1,3 to take 1st overall by 7 points.  With 1 day, 2 races to go we were in the right spot.

Last day - what a nervous hard day.  We arrived at sailing just like normal to no wind.  But we thought it would come, and we made sure we were mentally prepared.  Then the rain came, the wind came, the wind went, the rain stayed... this continued for 5 hours before the 3pm deadline came for the last race on the last day.  So when the flags went up to formally confirm the day was over, the sun came out and the celebration started!!

It was awesome to be on the No.1 podium spot and listen to the Australian Anthem.  This certainly has motivated us towards Athens.  This title will not stop us continuing to work and developing towards the Olympics.  We still have a lot of work to do.  It is just great to have our performance and development measured in such a way.

I also wanted to give a special 'thanks' to our coach Victor.  He is tireless in his dedication to us and the team.  This is his 9th 470 World title and only our 1st.  An awesome feat.  Also a special thanks to the Aussie 470 team Jenny, Belinda, Nathan, Ayden, Mat, Nick, Rike and Elise.

Nathan and I have now headed in separate directions for a 2 week break. Nathan has gone to Newport, USA to visit his family and girlfriend, while I have just arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria and will be staying with my wife and her family.  We all meet in Germany at the end of May to prepare for the European Championships.

Thanks for all your support and emails.  It is great to know Australia is with us.

Cheers
Regards
Malcolm

As I return to Australia after a month in Europe, here is a run-down on the final day of the Laser Worlds in Bitez, Turkey, the most exciting of my trip.

Going into the last two races, Robert Scheidt (BRA), the 6-time winner was on 14 points, I was on 18 and American Mark Mendalblat was on 27, rounding out the top three.

The race committee sent us out an hour earlier, to try to get two races in and hence make a 10 race series which would only then include a second discard.  As we could only drop one race from the final series but potentially two from the qualifying races, the later fact would advantage Mendalblat by letting him discard an earlier bad race – if finished well..

We were delayed an hour waiting for the breeze to steady and build to about 15 knots. Robert kept a close eye on me during a few false starts and managed to get a little break on me when we finally got away. At the top mark he was about 10th and me about 15th. Meanwhile the American was in 3rd.

Robert is known for working his boat hard. On the reach he worked it too hard and was given the yellow flag penalty for excessive body movement. As he turned his boat through 720 degrees I slipped past him. On the next run he steered straight up behind me, blanketing me.  We came even, and then he slipped ahead on some good waves half way down the run. Toward the end of the leg I had the better run of the waves and rounded the bottom mark just head. We were now in 7th and 8th positions.

We traded tacks a few times on the next beat and he slipped past again when the breeze went lighter and shiftier. I gained again on the next run and we were level again on the last reach. All throughout, a Jury boat (with two members aboard) followed us closely, keeping us honest. I watched as Robert did three big pumps of his sail to try surf down a wave. I thought that surely that would be enough for the Jury to give him his second yellow flag and hence a disqualification from the race. I saw them look at each other, talk about it and pick up the yellow flag but then nothing.

After the bottom mark, there is a short upwind sprint to the finish. Robert led round the bottom mark by a boat length. I tacked off immediately and we split, virtually leaving the outcome at the mercy of any wind shift. I thought I was looking good half way up but then it shifted the other way and Scheidt was ahead again. He dumped on top of me 50 m from the finish line and looked sure to gain more points on me. But then he did something odd. He made his wiry body do three more large bounces. This time the Jury responded immediately. Scheidt had his second yellow flag and was disqualified from the race. I was 7th, the American 2nd.

Before the start of the final race my coach Arthur did the calculations and I could have won the regatta by keeping Robert Scheidt back to 5th or worse. The American had a harder task, having to finish 1st in the race to beat me.  Before this regatta I’ve finished 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in Laser Worlds so I decided trying to slow Robert down (and ignore the American’s small chance) was the thing to do – it is my last Laser Worlds.

From the 5-min pre-start signal I sought out the Brazilian and matched raced him. We dodged and weaved among the 70-boat Gold fleet preparing to start the race plus a number of coach and jury boats. It’s always exciting to see a match race within a fleet race and the waiting silver fleet, coaches and jury boats saw what was going on and started to follow the action closely. There were four general recalls and on a couple of the false-starts I ended up in a favoured position while in the other attempted starts he slipped away.  All the recalls were black flag starts and the race committee disqualified those who were over, reducing the fleet by nine.

I’ve done many hours of match racing in Lasers during my regular training. And from that I know it is hard to trap or tag a nimble boat like a Laser. This was made more difficult by the number of escape routes open to Robert by way of other Lasers, the committee vessel and other power boats.  Also, the wind had now built to 20-25 knots, and conditions were ripe for the lanky Brazilian to use his remarkable upwind boat speed to escape any cover I could slap on him.

In the final 20 seconds before the actual start Scheidt found a gap on the line next to a fellow Brazillian and nestled close to him, eliminating my chances of luffing him over the line. I came in below the other Brazilian, losing some advantage, and tried to luff both. However, Scheidt had space to windward of him and did two quick tacks to give himself more space and I was stuck where I was. Once the start gun went I seemed to hit a lot of bad waves and Scheidt turned on the speed, forging ahead quickly. The other Brazilian seemed to ‘disappear’.

I struggled in the next few minutes, being forced into a bad position by other boats and fell back. Meanwhile, Mendalblat cracked a great start from one end of the line and led to the top mark with Scheidt 3rd. Up the second beat I was still too far back to make a difference and retired from the race. At the finish it was USA 1, BRA 2.

That meant Robert would win his seventh Laser Worlds, with Mendalblat 2nd and me 3rd.

Last year I was happy with 3rd at the worlds but this year is completely different.

However, I am happy that I sailed well, having visibly improved in some key areas and I eagerly look forward to future events.

Good sailing,

Michael.

After the race Robert said he was ‘very adrenalised’ and gave me a hug.

Wild Oats

Already four yachts have been nominated for the 60^th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race since the Notice of Race was published this week on the official race website – www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

Wild Oats nomination has been followed by three more Applications to Enter – Matt Allen’s champion Farr 52 Ichi Ban, Geoff Hill’s MKL49 Strewth (because of engine trouble she missed the start of last year’s race) and Komatsu A Few Good Men, Shane Kearns’ latest boat, a Mumm 36.

Because of other plans, Roger Hickman’s long time friend Howard Piggott will skipper Wild Oats to Hobart with his young and very capable crew.

Both Hickman and Piggott hail from the Apple Isle and it is Piggot’s intention to have a solid contingent of Tasmanians in his crew.

'The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has always been a goal in my sailing life and I am very enthusiastic about competing in the 60th race and to sailing on the Derwent River in the Sailing South Race Week regatta immediately following the Sydney Race,' Piggott commented (Hobartians often endearingly refer to the Rolex Sydney Hobart as the ‘Sydney Race’).

CYCA Commodore John Messenger believes that having boats like Wild Oats ramping up to do the 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race sends a good message to all owners of both new and old yachts. 'The 60th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race certainly has some interesting initial interest,' Commodore Messenger said.

Wild Oats is a Farr 43 designed and built 19 years ago whilst in contrast Ichi Ban is one of the latest creations of the now US-based Farr design office. She will go into the 60^th Race one of the favourites to be Overall Winner following an outstanding past season that saw her win IRC Division A of last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, quickly followed by an IRC Division win in Hobart’s Boag’s Sailing South Race Week and Geelong’s Skandia Week.

Since then she has won the IRC Australian Offshore Championship sailed out of Pittwater in March and the IMS Division of the Brisbane to Gladstone Race in April.

The Notice of Race and Application for Entry for the 60^th anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race can be found on the official website www.rolexsydneyhobart.com under Race Documents. A quality printed version will be available shortly from the CYCA.

Further media information:

CYCA Communications Manager Lisa Ratcliff on  0418 428 511 or + 61 2 9363 9731 or lisaratcliff@bigpond.com or Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Media Director Peter Campbell on 0419 385 028 or + 61 2 9869 8197 or peter_campbell@bigpond.com

The Olympic Games is the culmination of years of hard work for the hundreds of athletes who participate in the World’s most high profile multi sport event.

For sailors the Olympic Sailing Competition is no different, every athlete having trained hard for immense periods leading up to the Games.

All this preparation on the part of the sailors, coaches, Member National Authorities and National Olympic Committees is simply for a two-week long regatta held every four years, and for all the difference between success and failure in this pinnacle competition for sailors can come down to single races and single decisions.

It is doubtful that there is a sailing fanatic in the world who does not remember the epic last race battle between Ben AINSLIE (GBR) and Robert SCHEIDT (BRA) in the single-handed dinghy Open at Sydney 2000, but few know that the seed of this battle was planted four years earlier in Atlanta 1996.

Both sailors, at both Olympic Games were using their knowledge of the ISAF Racing Rules OF Sailing (RRS) to score an advantage over their opponents. In Atlanta, Ben became a victim of being judged OCS at the start of the final race, whilst in Sydney, Robert was disqualified in that final race for failing to give the other boat room to keep clear.

Both Ainslie’s and Scheidt’s confidence in the RRS, and in the system that supports them, meant the difference between a Gold and a Silver medal at both events. When it came down to the protest committee, it was members of the International Jury who ultimately decided the awarding of those medals.

In recent years, and increasingly more so in the sailing competition, those decisions are in the eyes of the world media. Athletes have worked so hard to reach this level of competition that it is the responsibility of all those involved in the organisation to ensure that that competition is the best run in the world.

For ISAF, ATHOC and the army of volunteers now based in the Agios Kosmas Sailing Centre, 2004 is no different. A finely tuned organisational system from the measurement of boats, to the removal of trolleys from the slipway, has been tested over a number of years.

ISAF, in it’s structure of training, educating and qualifying race officials, have ensured that the highest level of decision making, standard throughout the world, is maintained. ATHOC has employed organisers with the highest level of local knowledge and authority who, with the assistance of ISAF training and education, have been tested through no less than two regattas prior to the start of the first race on 14 August 2004.

ISAF has appointed 52 International Technical Officials who will be going to Athens in August. As well as the ISAF officials, there are 58 competition organisers employed by ATHOC, as well as the Competition management.

The Competition management team is headed by Dimitrios ALEVIZAKIS, and includes Administration Manger Constantinos TSANTILIS, Technical Operations Manager Lisa STATHATOU and Results Manager Anastasia PAPAGIANNOPOLOU. The Field Of Play manager is Evangelos ROMEOS.

The 52 ISAF Appointed officials, and 58 ATHOC officials cover four separate areas of the event administration.

The technical aspects of the sport, as laid down by the IOC, are the responsibility of the International Federation and as such ISAF have 10 International Measurers who are class specific, assisted by 11 National class measurers from Greece overseeing that process prior to racing commencing. They are supported by the ISAF measurement committee, which consists of four senior measurers and two ISAF staff, under the direction of Chief measurer Jean-Paul MARMIER (SUI). As well as ensuring that all class rules are adhered to strictly, the measurement team also have the power to change any class rules both before and during the competition.

During races, measurers will be present within each course area to ensure that, following the initial allocation of boats and boards, or initial check measurement, no team are in breach of measurement rules during the Competition. They have the final say when it comes to any breaches of measurement rules.

The Jury in Athens is wholly appointed by ISAF and includes members from 24 countries. All members of the International Jury have the title of “International Judge” (IJ), a position appointed by ISAF for a period of four years and one in which the highest level of consistency is achieved worldwide through a programme of education, examination and development. Every member of the jury has vast international experience and has sat on the jury at a number of the highest level Olympic Classes Regattas. Seven protest officers from Greece assist them in their roles.

The Jury primarily has two roles: The first is to observe the adherence to the Racing Rules of Sailing and to arbitrate and decide any protests that arise alleging breaches of these rules between athletes and secondly the on-water observance of athletes in relation to Rule 42.

Rule 42 can make or break a championship. This “Kinetics” rule allows and disallows certain body movements in the boat, which can cause the boat to go faster than would otherwise be the case simply by using the action of the wind and water. If adjudged to have breached this rule, an athlete can be “yellow flagged”. If an infringement is signalled by the on-water jury with a yellow flag, the athlete must immediately do a 720-degree turn. If he or she is caught for a second time in the competition then they must retire from that particular race a third time, it’s game over, red card, and end of Olympics. The International Jury has a huge responsibility on its hands.

As well as the jury and the measurement team, there is a huge team of course officials, who run the actual races, set the start lines, courses, marks, exclusion zones, and timing. An in-depth local knowledge is vital in these roles, which are primarily covered by the ATHOC Field Of Play officials who have been training at the venue and on the field of play for the last two years. There are 38 Field of Play officials, covering the four courses and includes race officers, assistant race officers, course layers, timing specialists and a host of other officials. The course areas themselves are tightly controlled and only accredited boats are allowed within buoyed exclusion zones. These are patrolled and controlled by ATHOC Marshals and the Hellenic Coast Guard.

Eight ISAF course representatives who advise and ensure that the technical aspects of each race are met as set out in the RRS assist the ATHOC Field Of Play officials.

All aspects of the Olympic Sailing Competition, and the technical side of the organisation are the responsibility of the International Sailing Federation, and the Technical Delegation is headed by Goran PETERRSON (SWE) and Jerome PELS (ISAF), whose role it is to lead the close working relationship between ISAF, ATHOC and the army of volunteers, to create the best Olympic Sailing Competition ever.

Other Links
	Olympic Sailing Officials
	Athens 2004
	ISAF Athens 2004 Microsite

Paris (FRA), New York (USA), Moscow (RUS), London (GBR), and Madrid (ESP)' were today accepted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board in Lausanne as Candidate Cities to host the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012.

The decision was made following discussions that led to a unanimous consensus. The cities were accepted from a total of nine Applicant Cities, which also included Leipzig (GER), Istanbul (TUR), Havana (CUB), and Rio de Janeiro (BRA).

The Candidate Cities were selected after a study of their application submitted earlier this year on 15 January. The study was made by a working group comprising Olympic Games experts who made a technical assessment of each Applicant City's ability to stage successful Olympic Games in 2012. The technical assessment was based on 25 questions which included the areas of Government Support and Public Opinion, General Infrastructure, Sports Venues, Olympic Village, Environmental Conditions and Impact, Accommodation, Transport, Security, Experience from Past Sports Events, Overall Project and Legacy.

The five Candidate Cities now have until 15 November 2004 to submit their Candidature File to the IOC. Candidate Cities will benefit from a detailed Observer Programme throughout the Games in Athens. The Candidature Files will be analysed in detail by an IOC Evaluation Commission, which will also visit the Candidate Cities, before issuing a report one month prior to the election.

The final decision on the host city for the Games of the XXX Olympiad will be made by the full IOC membership during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore in July 2005.

Further details on each candidate and the bidding process are available on the IOC website at the address below.

Cities are listed in the order of drawing of lots. 

IOC Website
www.olympic.org

Athens 2004
www.athens2004.com

That’s the question being asked heading into the third to last event of the 2003-’04 Swedish Match Tour schedule, the ACI HTmobile Cup, May 24-29, in Split, Croatia.

Having amassed 97 points after five events, Gilmour’s Pizza-La Sailing Team seems destined to win the Tour Championship. With crewmembers Rod Dawson, Mike Mottl, Kazuhiko Sofuku and Yasuhiro Yaji slated to sail in Croatia, they hold a 48-point lead heading into the final three events.

The crew has placed in the top four at every event they’ve attended, and history would suggest that they’ll fare well in Croatia. Gilmour is the event’s most decorated champion with four titles to his credit (1993, ’94, ’95 and ’97).

Featuring a prize purse of $40,000, and $12,000 for the winner, the ACI HTmobile Cup is one of the oldest events on Tour. Founded in 1987, the event is full of repeat winners.

The organizing authorities are the Yacht Club Croatia – Opatija and the Adriatic Croatia International Club of Opatija. This year marks the 18th edition of the event, but the list of winners is just 10 names long. Five skippers have won it a total of 12 times.

‘I remember the local people really enjoying participation by everybody during the event,’ Gilmour said. ‘I remember their genuine warmth and hospitality.’

Gilmour’s goal of a fifth title won’t be easy. Sweden’s Magnus Holmberg and the SeaLife Rangers crew, placed second on the Tour, and New Zealand’s Gavin Brady of the Oracle BMW Racing crew, who is placed third, are looking to close some ground on the Tour leader. They trail Gilmour by 48 and 52 points, respectively.

The lineup features Denmark’s Jes Gram-Hansen, (third overall on last year’s Tour), Team New Zealand’s Kelvin Harrap (looking to add a top finish to his pair of fifths on the Tour), and Italian Paolo Cian (who is lined up with the fledgling Italian Challenge for America’s Cup 2007).

France will be well represented by Bertrand Pacé (the 2000 Swedish Match Tour champion), and Mathieu Richard (fourth at last year’s match-racing world championship).

Sweden’s Mattias Rahm (eighth at the Congressional Cup) and Finland’s Staffan Lindberg (eighth at the Nippon Cup last November) also will be on hand.

A pair of Croatians, Franco Brate and Mate Arapov, plan to defend the locals’ honour against the foreigners.

Racing will be conducted in Jeanneau One-Design 35s, designed in the early 1990s by Daniel Andreiu for Jeanneau Yachts. Racing will consist of a double round-robin, followed by semi-finals, final and petit final.

‘We’re looking forward to going there,’ said Gilmour. ‘The ACI Marina is what the event is all about. They’re a fabulous conglomerate of marinas along the Adriatic coast. They really give you a great sense of what Mediterranean sailing is about.’

Gilmour and Brady recently have been the two most active skippers on Tour. Both competed in the Congressional Cup last month and the Toscana Elba Cup – Trofeo Locman two weeks ago.

Gilmour placed fourth and second, respectively, and has a combined 32-10 record in those events. Brady scored a pair of thirds and a combined 30-12 record.

Head-to-head, Brady owns a 3-1 advantage, including two straight dating back to the Petit Final of the Congressional Cup.

After Croatia, the Swedish Match Tour rolls into Germany for the penultimate event to the 2003-’04 schedule, Match Race Germany, June 8-14, on Lake Constance in Langenargen, Germany.

For more information on the Swedish Match Tour, its competitors and events please visit www.SwedishMatchTour.com.

The thermal Meltemi (wind) failed to develop today for the sixth day of racing in the Harken Laser World Championships in Bitez, Turkey.  Whilst the fleet were held ashore the Race Committee watched a light easterly swing slowly to the south.  They then watched a thunderstorm build over the Greek Island of Kos, five miles to the south of the course, which further affected the wind.  As the storm cell dissipated the fleet were called afloat only to find another storm cell building which also affected the wind. 

When that disappeared an attempt was made to start even though further cells were developing 8 miles to the north of the course area.  After three attempts at a start the gold fleet finally got away in 12 knots of southerly wind.  Five minutes later the northerly system started affecting the course turning the beat into a fetch for those on the right side of a 60 degree shift and the race was abandoned.

The wind then died and started to fill from the north as the sun came out and a new course set in the hope that the breeze would build.  It managed 7 knots but was unstable and at 5pm the Race Committee sent the fleet home.

Strong winds are forecast for the last day and an earlier start has been scheduled in an attempt to get to ten races so a second discard can be counted.

Whatever happens tomorrow Robert Scheidt (BRA) and Michael Blackburn (AUS) cannot be caught by the chasing pack.  They will have their own race with 6 times world champion, Scheidt, going for an unprecedented seventh world title in one of the most competitive classes currently sailing. 

The Match 38 is proving to be a boat that will give the larger IRC boats a run for their money.  Results since the October 2003 launch have seen 3rd places in the Pittwater to Coffs IRC division 3 and the Joico regatta.  The FKP Sydney to Mooloolaba race had the Match 38 taking 2nd place in the IRC Overall and IRC Division B, being beaten to the top spot by John Walker's Impeccable by a mere 43 seconds. 

The Match 38 is leading the charge by Bavaria yachts to provide a boat that is multi purpose for those who want a competitive boat when racing in handicap divisions but can also be enjoyed in cruising mode as well.  Available with either aluminium or carbon rigs, Game Set is set up with the carbon rig.  

'We have a lot of plans for the Match 38 and Game Set is helping us show how much potential these boats are going to have on the Australian racing scene' said Kirby.  NSY staff will be making a ' fun entry' in the RPAYC Wednesday afternoon races - aboard an alloy rigged Match 38 with Dacron sail and furling genoa.  Anyone wanting to join the crew to have fun and see first hand what the Match Series is all about contact Andrew Parkes or Damien Goff on 99989600 for details.

The Match 38 will be on show at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show in Queensland being held May 20-23 and then at the Sydney Boat Show July 29-August 3.  North South Yachting is the agent for the Bavaria designed boats and more information can be viewed at www.northsouthyachting.com.au

Media Contact: Sam Crichton ph +61 (0) 407 63 64 16 or email samcrichton@smartchat.net.au

For more information contact Nicky Ronalds or Linda Hamilton-Evans at Rob Mundle Promotions on 02 9997 1126. Email nickyronalds@ozemail.com.au

Skandia in her new livery Photograph:Jon Nash & DPPI

Skandia, the international long-term savings company, today (Monday) unveiled the yacht that international yachtsman, Nick Moloney, will race in this winter's Vendée Globe. Three leading international fund management companies, Invesco Perpetual, Gartmore Investment Managers and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, have signed up with Skandia to create the Skandia MultiManager campaign which will fund Moloney's decade-long goal to complete a historical hat-trick in round the world sailing.

Invesco Perpetual, Gartmore and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers are partners in Skandia's pioneering MultiManager investment programme that is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this year.

All four companies are now partners in the first entry by an Australian into the Vendée Globe a three-month solo non-stop circumnavigation starting from Les Sables d'Olonne in France on November 7th 2004.
Moloney's Open 60 was named 'Skandia' today and carries the colours of Skandia as well as those of Invesco Perpetual, Gartmore and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, who will also benefit from corporate hospitality and marketing opportunities through their distribution partnership with Skandia.

This combined investment has allowed Moloney to acquire the four-year old boat once campaigned by Briton Ellen MacArthur to second place in the last edition of the Vendée Globe in 94 days and four hours still the third fastest solo time around the world.

A thorough three-month refit means Moloney, 36, feels he has a boat capable of claiming a top 5 position against an expected fleet of 20 Open 60s, including five new designs. In the Vendée nothing is sure, and just to finish in itself an enormous achievement, but to have a boat capable of a good result is a great boost for Moloney: 'I'm the proudest skipper in the world at the moment'.
'It's hard to describe how honoured and indebted I feel to Skandia, Invesco Perpetual, Gartmore and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers for this opportunity and how nervous I am to justify the huge trust they've put into this project and me. The Vendée is the Everest of sailing, and for me it will certainly be the biggest challenge of my sailing career,' he said. Moloney's professional sailing career includes the Whitbread, now Volvo, Race and the America's Cup.

Skandia's association with the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team - the company that manages Moloney's Vendée programme, began last year with their three-year sponsorship of Nick's team-mate Sam (Samantha) Davies. Sam competes full-time on the solo Figaro circuit.
Skandia then co-sponsored Moloney and Davies to compete in the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race from France to Brazil last November on the Open 60, then named Team Cowes.

'We have been hugely impressed with the commitment and professionalism of both Nick and Sam,' said Andre Oszmann, Skandia's Group Marketing Director. 'Not only in their pursuit of achieving their sailing goals, but also in their dedication to helping others enjoy the sport.
'Skandia has been a long supporter of international sailing at all levels and a key aim of our Skandia Set Sail sponsorship programme is to give aspiring sailors the chance to realise their dreams. Nick has proven his determination over and over again and we at Skandia were equally determined to ensure he competes in the 2004 -'05 Vendée Globe.”

Skandia had already provided sufficient funds for Moloney to secure the Open 60 for the year, to prepare her for racing and to compete in The Transat starting on May 31. 'We are delighted that the Skandia MultiManager campaign is now in place and with our three partners we can confirm Nick's participation in the Vendée Globe,' added Oszmann. 'We wish him a fast and safe journey.'

Moloney's first test on 'Skandia' will be the 2,800-nautical mile Transat, starting on May 31. Leaving from Plymouth, England, Moloney will race solo across the harsh north Atlantic arriving in Boston, USA, two weeks later.As the prevailing winds blow from America towards Europe, this race sends competitors into westbound gales and currents and through dense fog and icebergs off the Newfoundland coast.

Virtually all of the yachts Moloney will race against in the Vendée are using The Transat as a qualifier or final test of form. 'Competing in The Transat will be a real feather in the cap for us,' says Moloney. 'It's an extremely tough race, both physically and mentally but it will give me a lot of confidence in Skandia in her new form. I can start the Vendée knowing no stone will be left unturned.'
Should Moloney complete the Vendée Globe, it will be a monumental and record-breaking triple in round-the-world sailing and the final of three ambitious goals he set himself at the age of twenty-five.

The first was to compete in a fully crewed round the world race with stops. This he did when he was selected to race on Dennis Conner's (of America's Cup fame) entry Toshiba in the 1997-98 Whitbread Race.

The second of his massive goals was completed when, two years ago in 2002, he won the Jules Verne Trophy for the quickest non-stop lap of the planet. Moloney was the only English-speaking crewman on the giant French 110-foot catamaran Orange when she set a blistering time of 64 days. That record stood until April this year.

His third, and most challenging goal is a non-stop solo lap of the planet. By finishing the Vendée, he will be the first person to circumnavigate the world in these three different events. 'The Vendée is the final pinnacle for me and I am prepared to give it everything,' he added.
Moloney has also competed in two America's Cup campaigns in 1992 and 1995. His CV boasts nine sailing world speed records and one Guinness World Record for becoming the first (and still the only) person to windsurf across the Bass Strait from mainland Australia to the Island of Tasmania. Nick Moloney was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for services rendered to the sport of sailing.

For further press information please contact: Helen King on 0870 063 0210 or hk@offshorechallenge.com

With four races to go at the Harken Laser World Championship, Sydney 2000 Olympic bronze medallist Michael Blackburn (AIS/NSWIS) has reduced the overall lead of silver medallist, Robert Scheidt (BRA). Blackburn has narrowed the margin to four points to set the stage for an exciting final two days.

After a one hour delay waiting for two conflicting breezes to sort themselves out, the first day of finals provided some excellent racing. For the first time all the top sailors sailed two races together in the gold fleet and, as expected, the racing was close and tough with mistakes costly. Good starts were essential as was a good first windward leg.

In an 8 to 10 knot wind the gold fleet got away at the second attempt under a black flag. Peer Moberg from Norway was leading at the first mark with series leader, Robert Scheidt (BRA) buried in 15^th position. The leaders went high on the reach whilst Scheidt went low and took 13 boats to get to second before starting the downwind leg.

This included his closest rival in the overall points, Michael Blackburn (AUS) who started the downwind leg in fifth position. By the end of the downwind and next windward leg Blackburn had pulled up to first ahead of Moberg and Scheidt.

Moberg dropped to third on the second downwind behind Scheidt with Blackburn still in the lead. There was a twist in the end when Blackburn received a yellow flag penalty from the on water judges and had to do a 720 degree turn. As he did his turns Scheidt passed him but not for long as Blackburn responded to pass Scheidt again before the last short windward leg to the finish. Behind, Hamish Pepper NZL also passed Moberg on the last reach to finish third.

The wind increased to 13 knots average for the second race. Andreas Geritzer (AUT) started at the pin end and went hard left with Andre Streppel (BRA). These two rounded second and first respectively with Geritzer passing Streppel on the reach.

Blackburn and Scheidt were playing catch up in tenth and fifteenth position. Geritzer extended his lead throughout the race to finish first. Behind him the battle was on for the runner up positions amongst Streppel, Hugh Styles GBR and Patrick Bergmanns BEL.

On the second downwind this group had been joined by Scheidt and Blackburn who both had good second windward legs and the group traded places in close racing on the downwind. At the mark Blackburn caught a wave and surfed through Streppel, Scheidt, Bergmanns and Mark Mendalblatt USA, into second. On the reach Scheidt passed Streppel as did Mendelblatt. With no further changes on the short windward to the finish the race ended with Blackburn second, Scheidt third and Mendelblatt fourth as each protected their hard earned positons.

Australia’s Tom Slingsby (NSW) continues to impress, moving into the top ten of the gold fleet. Slingsby is keeping pace with the top Laser sailors finishing day five racing 5^th and 6^th.

1. Robert Scheidt (BRA) (6,5,1,1,1,1,2,3) 14pts
2. Michael Blackburn (AUS) (3,6,2,4,5,1,1,2) 18pts
3. Mark Mendelblatt (USA) (4,25,3,1,3,4,8,4) 27pts
7. Tom Slingsby (AUS) (11,18,8,DSQ,7,7,5,6) 62pts
15. Brendan Casey (AUS) (15,25,3,6,6,3,44,52) 102pts
55. Ricky Ironmonger (AUS) (33,45,21,23,14,18,43,67) 197pts

Visit the regatta website - http://www.laserchampionships.org/worlds04/

The CYCA’s plans to celebrate the 60^th race to Hobart since 1945 are contained in the Notice of Race now published on the official website – www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

The single biggest change to affect this year’s fleet, however, is the fact that the Overall Winner of the 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will be the boat that wins the IRC (International Rule Club) handicap category overall on corrected time, announced by the CYCA in February.

Any of the grand prix boats, or indeed those entered in the 20 and 30 Year Veteran’s Divisions, will be eligible for the Tattersalls Cup which has, for the past ten years, been presented to the boat that wins the IMS (International Measurement System) handicap category.

There will be no IMS category in this year’s race, only IRC, PHS and one-design class divisions.

To allow for early planning and a maximum international fleet to celebrate the 60^th anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Notice of Race, or requirements of entry, and Application for Entry is now available on the race website with printed copies expected by mid-year.

The Rolex Challenge international teams event will be sailed as part of the Rolex Trophy, with the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race as the final and double-scoring race. Teams will comprise two boats with an IRC rating band of 1.050 to 1.615 inclusive. A separate interstate/interclub teams competition will also be held.

A significant change to the Notice of Race from previous years is that owners may not be required to submit a current, valid IMS certificate to satisfy the stability requirement. However, in its place, they will still have produce certified evidence of stability as detailed in the Notice of Race.

After a process of consultation with a number of affected owners, the CYCA also announced earlier this year that there would be a slight increase in the upper speed limit from 1.61 to 1.615. The decision means that a boat such as the 30m LOA Skandia, will remain eligible to compete in 2004 despite its rating having increased.

A separate Notice of Race will be published shortly for the new Rolex Trophy regatta that begins Saturday, 11 December, following the traditional Canon Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour on Friday, 10 December. The Rolex Trophy will continue through to 19 December, with racing on the Harbour and offshore.

The Notice of Race and Application for Entry for the 60^th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is now available at www.rolexsydneyhobart.com under Race Documents.

Nineteen year old sailors Axel Silvy and Pauline Jupin, from Guadeloupe, French West Indies won the Coca a Cola Hobie 16 Worlds raced on the waters of Rivier Maya, Mexico.

With 236 teams from 29 countries these two young sailors showed maturity and great skill in the choppy waters to win convincingly. With winds varying between 7 and 18 knots for the series they showed they were the best sailors by having a discard of 10^th place.

In second place was the defending Hobie 16 World Champions Gavin Colby and Simone Mattfield (AUS) 50 penalty point behind the winner. In third place Andrew Keag and Naomi Angwin (AUS) a further 8 points behind.

The youngest sailor in the finals was ten year old Cody Alter sailing with father Jeff  who finished as the top USA team in twentieth place.

1	Axel Silvy Pauline Jupin	FRA		3	4			3		1	5			10	1	8	1	2	7	1	4	1	51	10	41
2	Gavin Colby Simone Mattfield	AUS	2		1		21		1		7		3		23	35	3	6	6	4	3	11	126	35	91
3	Andrew Keag Naomi Angwin	AUS		4		8	1			3		2	2		8	25	7	3	5	19	13	24	124	25	99

Full story, photos video and results can be found at www.hobieworlds.com

'It's like Westfield on a Saturday out here,' said CYCA sailing manager Justine Kirkjian, as the fleet stalled on the start line of Race 4 of the BMW Sydney Winter Series in less than 3 knots of breeze.

It took some boats up to an hour to cross the start line and as they drifted hopelessly, those heading into the melee were putting fenders out to minimize any damage from potential collisions.

'You could have walked from one end of the start line to the other,' said dockmaster Scott Finsten, describing the mayhem.

The light west sou'west breezes and balmy temperatures continued into the afternoon, sending some frustrated competitors back to the marina, but for those sitting patiently on the rail, prayers were finally answered when the wind freshened to 15 knots.

The 155-strong fleet then settled into some perfect autumn sailing, the only incident when George Snow's Brindabella collected the Bradley's Head mark during a rounding and dragged it 50 yards down the course, however this didn't dent her performance as she finished second in Division A.

Denis O'Neil's Atomic was declared the Division A winner ahead of Brindabella and the third placed Andrew Short Marine while in Division B the supremely sailed Lady Ann (J & A Kirkjian) took the gun from Stuart Gilbert's Inner Circle Rum, which bettered last week's position by one place, and Warwick Sherman's Occasional Coarse Language, aptly named for today's race.

In Division C, the Pittwater-based Super 30 The Cone of Silence (J & J Neill) was too strong for Peter Franki's Salt Shaker and Alan Kendall's Talon.

In Division D results, Don Young's Foreshore led from Richard Lavers' Summersalt and Michael Belakhov's Sea-Change while in Division E, David Champtaloup's Caprice of Huon pipped Neil Hamilton's Kelly 2 and Ann and Bob Penty's Big Blue.

Following a frightening broach in last Sunday's race, Phil Bower and David Eastwood made the most of the lighter conditions, sailing Wild Child into first place in Division F, and in the process relegating Gary Corstorphan's Youngstar to second and Philip Grove's Diana to third.

Ben Shakespeare's Argy Bargy finished the Division G winner while Always Sailing School Sirocco (J. Stevens) placed second and Carl Braden's Cocomo third, and in the non-spinnaker Division J, Denis Doyle and Lynne Smith's Sextant was too good for Tanami (626 Marketing) and A Bientot (John Walton).

In the Sydney 38 Division, CYCA Commodore John Messenger out-sailed his fellow one-design skippers to finish first in division ahead of Team Lexus (Henry/Miller/Mayo) and Robin Tedder's Stonybroke.

Australian Allison SHREEVE finished second overall after a DNF in the final race at the Formula Windsurfing European Championship on Lake Garda in Italy, after leading for most of the series. 

Shreeve, the only Australian in the Women’s 21 competitor event, will be a little disappointed, having led from the eventual winner, Dorota STASZEWSKA (POL), for some time and the prize money would not have gone astray either, considering the amount of time and money Shreeve has spent on her Mistral Olympic campaign of late.

However, the 22 year-old did say this series would be, ”mainly to test my equipment and look at the other competitors so I can do well at the Worlds.’”

Karin JAGGI who held down third place throughout the Championships, held on to finish third overall.

In the men's fleet, the title went to Wojtek BROZOZOWSKI, making it a Polish double for the event. He was closely followed by Antoine ALBEAU (FRA) and Devon BOULON (ISR). Full results are available on the event website at the address below.

Top Three:

Women

1 POL Staszewska Dorota 8,2
2 AUS Shreeve Allison 19,4
3 SUI Jaggi Karin 20,4

Men

1 POL Wojtek BROZOZOWSKI 13,5
2 FRA Antoine Albeau 17,8
3 ISR Decon Boulon 18,8 
Event Website
www.formulawindsurfing.org/event.php?id=4

In perfect sailing conditions two more races were completed to end the qualifying series of the Harken Laser World Championship in Turkey.

Australia’s Michael Blackburn (AIS/NSWIS) continues to hold onto the number two spot, securing his first bullet of the championship in the yellow fleet.

'I had a good start and good speed. I was patient and waited for the knock and then had a few good tacks sailing the high angles and got to the top mark third behind Brendan Casey (AUS) and Mark Mendelblatt (USA). On the second windward I had a little bit of extra speed, which hasn't been the case in every race, and got to the top mark first,' Blackburn reports.

Queensland’s Brendan Casey advances into the top ten for the first time in the championship, while Tom Slingsby (NSW) made a huge leap from 49^th to 15^th, securing himself a spot in the gold fleet. Youngster Ricky Ironmonger (VIC) produced his best results so far, a 14th and 18th, place him 48th overall.

Current championship leader Robert Scheidt (BRA) completed a perfect day by winning both blue fleet races.

'Again I played the shifts nicely up the first beat and came to the top mark behind Andreas Geritzer (AUT). We had a bit of a match race for the rest of the race and I managed to win by twenty metres,' Scheidt said.

1. Robert Scheidt (BRA) (6,5,1,1,1,1) 9pts
2. Michael Blackburn (AUS) (3,6,2,4,5,1) 15pts
3. Mark Mendelblatt (USA) (4,25,3,1,3,4) 15pts
9. Brendan Casey (AUS) (15,25,3,6,6,3) 33pts
15. Tom Slingsby (AUS) (11,18,8,DSQ,7,7) 29pts
48. Ricky Ironmonger (AUS) (33,45,21,23,14,18) 109pts

Visit the regatta website - http://www.laserchampionships.org/worlds04/

Last year they finished second at the World Championship in Cadiz, this year they strived to do one better in Zadar, Croatia, and succeeded.

Overnight Australia’s Nathan Wilmot (AIS/NSWIS) and Malcolm Page (AIS/NSWIS) were crowned the world’s newest sailing champions, taking out their first 470 class title.

Things looked positive for Wilmot and Page early on in the championship, however some average mid competition results and the strength of the fleet made it difficult to maintain position.

Moving into the final series the current world number two crew were placed 9^th overall. A superb second last day of competition, saw Wilmot and Page consolidate when possible, risk when required, taking home a 2^nd, 1^st and 3^rd.

A seven-point lead going into the final day of competition still meant the pair needed to work hard to ensure they were not over taken by Johan Molund and Martin Andersson (SWE).

However, torrential rain saw racing postponed and then as the 15.00hrs deadline approached, AP over A was raised to signify the end of possible racing for the Championship.

Wilmot and Page follow the lead of 2000 gold medallist Tom King and Mark Turnbull who won the corresponding World Championship leading up to the Sydney games.

This win will be a big boost of confidence for the Aussie pair who will now prepare for the 470 European Championships in Warnemunder, Germany.

In other Australian results, Mathew Belcher (QLD) and Nick Behrens (TAS) finished 21^st in the 101 crew fleet, while Nathan Outteridge (NSW) and Ayden Menzies (NSW) finished 36^th.

In the women’s fleet, Sydney 2000 gold medallists Jenny Armstrong (AIS/NSWIS) and Belinda Stowell (AIS/WAIS) made a miraculous surge in the final series of the world championship.

As the finals approached Armstrong and Stowell were placed 23^rd overall, this soon crept up to 13^th and then as the pressure was on the pair produced three consecutive 2^nd places to finish 4^th.

The women’s championship was one of the closest in many years. The top three spots separated by only two points. The Swedish team of Therese Togersson and Vendela Zachrisson taking the title from the Slovenian crew of Vesna Dekleva and Klara Maucec courtesy of a bullet in the final race.

New Australian 470 combination Elise Rechichi (WA) and Rike Ziegelmayer finished with some top results in the silver fleet (1^st and two 8^th) to take 29^th place overall.

Final Results

Gold Fleet

1. Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page (AUS) (1,1,10,2,9,4,19,11,23,2,1,3) 44pts
2. Johan Molund/Martin Andersson (SWE) (1,4,3,6,15,2,3,1,21,18,7,9) 51pts
3. Nick Rogers/Joe Glanfield (GBR) (2,18,5,10,4,5,8,15,3,3,9,5) 54pts
21. Mathew Belcher/Nick Behrens (AUS) (3,5,19,9,24,21,27,17,8,5,15,17) 119pts

Silver Fleet

36. Nathan Outteridge/Ayden Menzies (AUS) (25,22,8,19,31,6,1,4,13,9,5,3) 90pts

Final Results

Gold Fleet

1. Therese Togersson/Vendela Zachrisson (SWE) (3,14,6,1,1,8,20,7,9,7,12,1) 55pts
2. Vesna Dekleva/Klara Maucec (SLO) (10,2,1,1,21,3,9,14,2,6,8,23) 56pts
3. Nike Kornecki/Vered Bouskila (ISR) (15,15,9,4,1,1,11,7,5,5,3) 57pts
4. Jenny Armstrong/Belinda Stowell (AUS) (11,17,5,8,4,16,OCS,4,1,2,2,2) 64pts

Silver Fleet

29. Elise Rechichi/Rike Ziegelmayer (AUS) (22,18,14,25,12,7,8,5,10,1,8,8) 90pts

Visit the regatta website - www.uskok.biz.hr/470wc2004/index.htm

Simone Green, Media and PR Co-Ordinator, Yachting Australia
Phone: (02) 9902 2155 or 0402 278 178
Email:simone.green@yachting.org.au

News From Greece...
Wonderful news has come through that 4 time world Champion and 2002 ISAF sailors of the year Sofia Bekatorou has been released from Hospital after succesful surgery this week to correct a suspected disk compression. The Greek champion has been released to bed rest at home before starting intensive Pysiotherapy and doctors has advised that she should be able to resume 'On-Boat' training in less than a months.. Our thoughts are with you.

Day five results 470 Men (12 races/2 drops)

Gold Fleet

1. Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page (AUS) (1,1,10,2,9,4,19,11,23,2,1,3) 44pts
2. Johan Molund/Martin Andersson (SWE) (1,4,3,6,15,2,3,1,21,18,7,9) 51pts
3. Nick Rogers/Joe Glanfield (GBR) (2,18,5,10,4,5,8,15,3,3,9,5) 54pts
21. Mathew Belcher/Nick Behrens (AUS) (3,5,19,9,24,21,27,17,8,5,15,17) 119pts

Silver Fleet

36. Nathan Outteridge/Ayden Menzies (AUS) (25,22,8,19,31,6,1,4,13,9,5,3) 90pts

Day five results 470 Women (9 races/2 drops)  

Gold Fleet

1. Therese Togersson/Vendela Zachrisson (SWE) (3,14,6,1,1,8,20,7,9,7,12,1) 55pts
2. Vesna Dekleva/Klara Maucec (SLO) (10,2,1,1,21,3,9,14,2,6,8,23) 56pts
3. Nike Kornecki/Vered Bouskila (ISR) (15,15,9,4,1,1,11,7,5,5,3) 57pts
4. Jenny Armstrong/Belinda Stowell (AUS) (11,17,5,8,4,16,OCS,4,1,2,2,2) 64pts

Silver Fleet

29. Elise Rechichi/Rike Ziegelmayer (AUS) (22,18,14,25,12,7,8,5,10,1,8,8) 90pts

When the Black Flag came up on the second start of the last race, it penalized 11 sailors. The third start under the Black rule was going to take a toll among Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ opponents for the Championship title. 

The current was pushing the sailors towards the crowded pin end of the line. Ben AINSLIE, Sebastien GODEFROID, Emilios PAPATHANASIOU, Ali Enver ADAKAN and Gasper VINCEC took an aggressive start despite the risk of disqualification with the Black Flag flying.

At the top mark, their names were on the race committee black board, forcing them to leave the race, scoring a disqualification on the last race of the event. “It was such a relief, I could sail my own race.” declared Mateusz. “My only worry was the down wind legs. I had to restrain myself from moving. I have never been so still in the boat, but I couldn’t afford a third penalty.” Mateusz, who had to retire from race five after receiving 2 penalities for rule 42 infingements would have to retire from the whole regatta if he received a third one.

The championship was in the bag for the Polish personality, who went on to win the last race. With the second and third placed boats out of contention, Guillaume FLORENT, fourth before the last race had to place in the top eight to take second overall or better than 30 to place third.

The French sailor was looking good in the top five before the last beat, but chose to go right on the last upwind leg. He finished the race in thirteenth place, taking Bronze, leaving the Silver to Ben AINSLIE. Dean Barker finished fourth in his first European Championship in front of Sebastien GODEFROID.

The five countries who have qualified for the Olympic regatta are (subject to ISAF ratification): Argentina (Alejandro COLLA 28th), Russia (Vladimir KRUTSKIKH, 29th), Hungary (Balazs HAJDU, 33rd), Austria (Florian RAUDASCHL, 36th), Italy (Michele MARCHESINI, 39th).

For the Prize Giving Ceremony, the Yacht Club invited all the famous French Finn sailors of all time to come and congratulate the World’s best. Among them, Serge MAURY, Olympic Champion in Kiel in 1972, Didier POISSANT, Olympic Games representative in 1956 in Melbourne, Yves-Louis PINAUD, 1960 in Roma, Gerard de VILLARD, Tokyo in 1964, Philippe SORIA in Mexico in 1968.

Final results

1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) (2,2,2,1,3,DNF,4,7,1) 22pts
2. Ben Ainslie (GBR) (20,4,1,4,2,15,2,2,BFD) 58pts
3. Guillaume Florent (FRA) (11,5,9,2,13,10,8,4,13) 62pts
13. Anthony Nossiter (AUS) (53,8,13,25,9,16,28,18,12) 129pts

Visit the regatta website for a full report and results-

www.srr-sailing.com/divers/pagesiteeuropefinn.htm

Going into the final day, it looked as though any of six crews could win the championship. With 10 knots blowing from North East on the race course, the conditions were perfect for the show down between the crews.

But it was not only for those trying to win the championship, but also those in their selection regattas as well as those still trying to qualify their nation for Athens!

A clean start and a good first beat saw Shirley ROBERTSON and her crew of Sarah WEBB and Sarah AYTON (GBR) lead round the top mark. They were closely followed by Kirstin WAGNER, Anna HOLL and Veronika LOCHBRUNNER (GER) and Karianne EIKELAND Beate KRISTIANSEN and Lisa FREDIRKSEN (NOR). But it was behind them that the real battles were taking place. Trine PALLADUN, Christina OTZEN and Ida HARTVIG who going into today's racing were fourth overall, rounded in fourth place.

She needed to be at least seven boats ahead of compatriots Dorte JENSEN Helle JESPERSEN and Rachel KIEL in order to take the championship. JENSEN would round in the mid teens with Carol CRONIN, Elizabeth FILTER and Nancy HABERLAND, stuck in the middle of the fleet.

ROBERTSON continued to lead down the run and rounded the bottom mark clear ahead of the rest of the fleet.
The positions did not change up the second beat and it was again ROBERTSON, followed WAGNER. PALLUDAN rounded the top mark in fourth with EIKELAND in fifth. JENSEN knowing that to follow the fleet would not enable her to make up any places, gybe set at the top mark in search of clear air and to hopefully get back some of the boats between her and the championship.

The Dutch crew of Annalies THIES, whilst having secured their nation and entry to Athens, was now fighting for her selection. However after THIES had a poor start it was the other Dutch crew of Janneke NIN, Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN and Hanne BUIS in the controlling seat.

ROBERTSON took a comfortable race win from WAGNER in second and BARKOW in third. PALLUDAN finished in fourth and only had to count the number of boats between her and JENSEN. In the end JENSEN's gamble down the run did not pay off as expected, crossing the line in 12th place with CRONIN one place behind.

So at the end of a very exciting weeks racing, where no one boat has stood out from the fleet, it is Trine PALLUDAN and her crew of Christina OTZEN and Ida HARTVIG who are crowned the Yngling Women’s World Champions for 2004.

JENSEN, who has had a few disappointing results, finished in second place, just two points behind PALLUDAN, with CRONIN third.

Looking to Athens, subject to ratification by ISAF, it is the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Canada who will join the other 12 qualified nations on the start line at Athens in three months time.

For the Netherlands, it is HIN who has been selected to go to Athens, eventually beating THIES by five points overall. THIES will be very disappointed as they had won previous regattas at Palma and Princess Sofia earlier in the year and had been leading for much of these championships.

Final Results

1. Trine Palludan/Christina Otzen/Ida Hartvig (DEN) (2,12,4,14,8,29,15,22,3,4) 84pts
2. Dorte O Jensen/Helle Jesperson/Rachel Kiel (DEN) (4,4,10,OCS,6,2,31,17,2,12) 86pts
3. Carol Cronin/Elizabeth Filter/Nancy Haberland (USA) (31,20,8,OCS,9,1,2,5,1,13) 90pts
9. Nicola Bethwaite/Kristen Kosmala/Karyn Gojnich (AUS) (32,1,15,3,29,17,12,10,9,24) 120pts
37.Patricia Warn/Margaret Morgan/Joyce Warn (AUS) (27,30,28,29,34,35,34,37,36,DNC) 288pts

Visit the regatta website - http://www.rcmsantander.com/yngling/index-y-i.htm

Racing started on time today as a 15 knot north westerly wind greeted the sailors as they arrived on the course area. As with previous days the breeze was again very shifty and it was the fourth start before yellow fleet successfully got away after two general recalls and one postponement.

At the first mark Andre Strepple (BRA) led from Alexander Schlonski (GER) with eventual race winner Karl Suneson (SWE) rounding in fourth. By the time their second windward leg began the breeze had increased to 20 knots.  Suneson found more speed in the stronger wind and gradually picked off the boats ahead of him to take the winners gun.

In the second race Suneson scored a second after Mark Mendelblatt (USA) had a victory to go with his third in the first race.

Seven time former world champion Robert Scheidt, (BRA)l put his competitors on notice by winning both heats of Blue fleet. Robert said of the first race “I started in the middle of the line and tacked onto port and then held that tack for a fair while. I finally got a shift back to the right so I tacked and was able to cross the whole fleet.” In both races he led Paul Goodison from Great Britain.

The two victories for Scheidt has put him to the lead in the overall standings, two points ahead of Michael Blackburn, Australia with Suneson in third a further 10points behind.

Day Three Results (4 races)

1. Robert Scheidt (BRA) (6,5,1,1) 13pts

2. Michael Blackburn (AUS) (3,6,2,4) 15pts
3. Karl Suneson (SWE) (6,16,1,2) 25pts
11. Brendan Casey (AUS) (15,25,3,6) 40pts
49. Tom Slingsby (AUS) (11,18,8,DSQ) 29pts
57. Ricky Ironmonger (AUS) (33,45,21,23) 78pts

For the Unqualified countries the equation is simple... win silver fleet.

Daily report unavailable at time of publication. Coming soon.

Day five results 470 Men (9 races/2 drops)

1. Johan Molund/Martin Andersson (SWE) (1,4,3,6,15,2,3,1,21) 20pts
2. Philippe Gildas/Nicolas Le Berre (FRA) (1,1,1,13,13,61,OCS,2) 25pts
3. Yevgen Braslavets/Igor Matvienko (UKR) (2,3,1,5,1,7,12,30,29) 31pts
9. Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page (AUS) (1,1,10,2,9,4,19,11,23) 38pts
28. Mathew Belcher/Nick Behrens (AUS) (3,5,19,9,24,21,27,17,8) 82pts
39. Nathan Outteridge/Ayden Menzies (AUS) (25,22,8,19,31,6,1,4,13) 73pts

Day five results 470 Women (9 races/2 drops)  

1. Vesna Dekleva/Klara Maucec (SLO) (10,2,1,1,21,3,9,14,2) 28pts
2. Therese Togersson/Vendela Zachrisson (SWE) (3,14,6,1,1,8,20,7,9) 35pts
3. Fernanda OliveiraAdriana Kostiw (BRA) (1,9,10,2,7,20,2,5,20) 36pts
13. Jenny Armstrong/Belinda Stowell (AUS) (11,17,5,8,4,16,OCS,4,1) 58pts
35. Elise Rechichi/Rike Ziegelmayer (AUS) (22,18,14,25,12,7,8,5,10) 73pts

Three different race winners and a new leader are the result of racing today. Following on from yesterday’s layday, the 37 crews sailed out in to the bay of Santander and were greeted by a gentle 5-7 knot breeze and clear blue skies.

With the Dutch team of Annelies THIES (NED), Annemieke BES and Petronella de JONG and the Danish team of Dorte JENSEN tied for the championships on 26 points each, today's three races proved that the title was far from settled!

Race 7 in the series of ten started with an individual recall. Paula LEWIN (BER) and Shirley ROBERTSON (GBR), Sarah AYTON, and Sarah WEBB (GBR) both returned to re-start but the crews of Loreana JACOB (COL) and Lena CARLSSON (SWE 51) didn't and were scored OCS for the race.

Up the first beat the majority of the fleet headed inshore to the left had side of the course. It was noted that the few boats that headed to the right hand side were sailing in a different wind to the others and benefited greatly. At the top mark it was the local boat Mar CASTANEDO, Sheila MEDIAVILLA and Laura CHINCHURRETA (ESP 2), who showed good upwind speed, that held a minute lead over the American boat of Carol CRONIN. (USA). As CASTANEDO hoisted around the top mark, a twenty degree right hand shift came in, allowing the following fleet to gybe set at the mark and sail directly for the bottom mark. CASTANEDO had sailed beyond the shift and had to gybe late to sail back to the rest of the fleet. However they had retained enough of their lead to round the bottom mark at the same time as CRONIN. These two leading boats were soon followed by Coraline JONET (FRA 5), Katerine GIAKOUMIDOU (GRE 1) and Kristin WAGNER (GER 268).

CASTANEDO again showed good upwind speed and tactics to lead again around the top mark for the second time with a healthy 30 second margin over CRONIN. Behind it was Yumiko SHIGE (JPN 1) who also had a good beat to round in fourth place behind BARKOW (USA 337). The run saw CRONIN again chase down CASTANEDO, who just managed to hold on for the race win with CRONIN only a boat length behind. The Japanese crew of Yumiko SHIGE, Ako NAKURO and Mitsue HIROTSU did very well to take third place, followed by the next American crew of Sally BARKOW in fourth.

Race eight of the series was sailed in a slightly more wind averaging around 8-10 knots. This time the fleet got away cleanly and with the wind settled at 300, the beat was a more even affair. As the boats reconverged at the top mark it was the French crew of Anne LE HELLEY, Elodie LESAFFRE and Marion DEPLANQUE (FRA) who rounded first, coming in from the right hand side of the course. She was closely followed by the Norwegian boat of Karianne EIKELAND (NOR) and Betsy ALLISON (USA) who came in from the left hand side. As with the beat, the run was tactically open and the fleet were undecided as to which was the best route to the bottom mark. LE HELLEY managed to pick the best course and rounded clear ahead of the fleet and would continue to stay ahead to take the race win. Behind it was the Ukranian crew Ruslana TARAN who was showing good speed again to take third place behind EIKELAND (NOR 406) and just ahead ALLISON (USA). CRONIN continued her run of good form to take fifth place.

Race 9 again started in the 8-10 knot breeze. This time it was Dorte JENSEN'S turn to shine as she led the up the beat to round first. Having scored a 31 and 17 in the first two races of the day, the World number 1 started to show some of her previous form. Again it was CRONIN who was doing the chasing as she rounded in second place. Ekaterina SKUDINA (RUS) rounded in third place followed by WAGNER (GER), PALLUDAN (DEN), Karianne EIKELAND (NOR) and FERRIS (NZL).

JENSEN and CRONIN extended from the rest of the fleet whilst having a battle between themselves for the lead. CRONIN, who had showed good downwind speed all day, edged out JENSEN at the gate to lead up the second beat. SKUDINA rounded in third with EIKELAND in fourth, WAGNER having lost two places on the run.

JENSEN and CRONIN continued the battle up the beat and it was CRONIN who just managed to sneek around the top mark before JENSEN. CRONIN extended on the run for the race win and to finish the day with an impressive scoreline of 2, 5, 1 for the day.

Overall, JENSEN has moved up into first place but with CRONIN having a very consistent day, she has jumped from 15th to 2nd overall, just one point behind CRONIN. The Dutch team of THIES, who were leading before today's racing, dropped down to third with a not so impressive scoreline of 9, 30, 16.

When asked about today's racing THIES commented, 'With the calibre of the fleet here, the start and first beat is so important for a good result. You have to round in the top five otherwise you are sucked into the fleet and are struggling the whole time.'

As THIES looks set to qualify the Netherlands for Athens, she now has to concentrate on beating the second Dutch boat of Janneke HIN, who is lying in seventh. 'We are not really concentrating for a win here as we really just need to beat the other Dutch crew, though it would be a bonus if we did get a medal here!', said THIES of the importance of tomorrow’s race.

The second Danish boat of PALLUDAN (DEN) and second American boat of BARKLOW (USA) rounded out the top five with fourth and fifth respectively.

Tonight as the boats are being packed away, evidence of the intense rivalry of some of the crews is shown as the two Russian boats vying for selection have both filed protests against each other. These will be heard later this evening and could change the top ten score board.

Tomorrow’s race will be vital with only sixteen points separating the top eight crews. Where all of the top boats have been struggling at some point during the regatta, it is still very open and no one is willing to say who will become the Yngling World Champion.

With Holland looking almost definite to qualify, the next three qualification spots look likely to go to New Zealand, Norway and Canada.

1. Dorte O Jensen/Helle Jesperson/Rachel Kiel (DEN) (4,4,10,OCS,6,2,31,17,2) 76pts
2. Carol Cronin/Elizabeth Filter/Nancy Haberland (USA) (31,20,8,OCS,9,1,2,5,1) 77pts
3. Annalies Thies/Annemieke Bes/Petronella De Jong (NED) (28,3,9,2,2,10,9,30,6) 79pts
9. Nicola Bethwaite/Kristen Kosmala/Karyn Gojnich (AUS) (32,1,15,3,29,17,12,10,9) 96pts
37.Patricia Warn/Margaret Morgan/Joyce Warn (AUS) (27,30,28,29,34,35,34,37,36) 253pts

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Seven hours spent on the water was worth it for both competitors and race committee in the Harken Laser World Championship. The championship finally got underway with two races completed after a delayed start and one race having to be abandoned and re-sailed for one of the two fleets.

In 8 to 9 knots the yellow fleet were recalled on their first start and then started under a black flag. Michail Aristeidis (GRE) led at the first mark from Maciej Grabowski (POL) and Michael Bullot (NZL).  Aristeidis extended his lead throughout most of the race.  Bullot passed Grabowski on the loop and closed Aristedis for a short period on the last reach of the trapezoid course but this was not enough to threaten the Greek. The blue fleet race was abandoned after the wind shifted 40 degrees on one side of the first downwind causing chaos at the downwind gate.

Hamish Pepper from New Zealand was first to show at mark one on a re-set course  in winds of 13 to 15 knots. By the end of the first downwind defending champion, Gustavo Lima from Portugal had caught Pepper and they both rounded opposite marks of the gate at the same time with Michael Blackburn just behind.  At the reach mark Pepper looked comfortable and Blackburn had edged ahead of Lima. Lima had a powerful downwind leg to overtake Blackburn and close on Pepper but it was not enough to dislodge Pepper.

The second yellow fleet race, in similar winds, saw Matias del Solar from Chile leading at the first mark from Mathieu Murati from France. Murati found a shift on the left halfway up the second windward leg to pass the Chilean and then lead for to the finish after a 39th in his first race.

Mathias Rieck from Germany led the second race from start to finish which together with his ninth in the first race places him 3rd overall, a good start to his chances of achieving his national Olympic committee's tough qualification criteria.

In a day of mixed fortunes several top sailors scored a bad result. Lima was one of these who scored a bad race, getting trapped on the left hand side of the course in his second race and finding himself well back in the fleet which even a defending champion could not recover from.  However, in this highly competitive fleet with nine nations from five continents in the top ten, there is a long way to go.  A mixed forecast for the remainder of the championship will most likely see a few more stars have at least one bad race.

Day Two Results (2 races)

1. Hamish Pepper (NZL) (1,8) 9pts

2. Michael Blackburn (AUS) (3,6) 9pts
3. Mathias Rieck (GER) (9,1) 10pts
20. Tom Slingsby (AUS) (11,18) 29pts
32. Brendan Casey (AUS) (15,25) 40pts
79. Ricky Ironmonger (AUS) (33,45) 78pts

Day four results (6 races/1 drop)

1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) (2,2,2,1,3,DNF) 10pts
2. Ben Ainslie (GBR) (20,4,1,4,2,15) 26pts
3. Sebastien Godefroid (BEL) (1,6,3,35,7,11) 28pts
14. Anthony Nossiter (AUS) (53,8,13,25,9,16) 71pts

www.srr-sailing.com/divers/pagesiteeuropefinn.htm

There is no question that the Australian dominates, but there is a mad scramble for positions below him on the Swedish Match Tour.

Featuring names like Coutts and Gilmour, Baird and Brady, Holmberg and Radich, the top eight on the Swedish Match Tour Championship Leaderboard have achieved great success in all levels of sailing and match-racing in particular.

The combined resumes of the top eight on the Tour include three America's Cup victories, four Olympic Gold medals, 13 match-racing world championships, two Swedish Match Tour Championships, and countless world, regional or national championships.

‘The Leaderboard proves that the Swedish Match Tour is the series that sailors choose when they want to hone their skills and advance their match-racing careers,’ said Tour Director Scott MacLeod.

Gilmour, a three-time match-racing world champion and veteran America's Cup campaigner, and his mixed Australian and Japanese crew have the Tour in a stranglehold.

With top-four finishes in all five events they've entered, they have amassed 97 of a possible 125 points, and are the clear favourites to win the $60,000 bonus from Tour sponsor Swedish Match and Wedgwood-crafted championship trophy.

While Gilmour and crew are in line to become the fifth different Tour champion in its five years of existence, there's a mad scramble taking place for second through eighth to be eligible for parts of the $200,000 bonus purse from Swedish Match.

Six points separate second through fourth on the leaderboard, and 18 points separate second through sixth. Three more events remain for competitors to solidify their standing.

Sweden's Magnus Holmberg and his SeaLife Rangers team hold second, with 49 points. Holmberg, the 2000-'01 Tour champion, and crew are just four points ahead of New Zealander Gavin Brady and the Oracle BMW Racing crew.

Consecutive third-place finishes at the Congressional Cup and Toscana Elba Cup have moved Brady, the silver medallist at the 2001 Star World Championship, up the ranks to third from seventh after the first three events.

Jesper Radich, the reigning Tour champion, and his Team Denmark crew, who placed sixth at the Toscana Elba Cup, are fourth overall with 43 points.

By winning the Toscana Elba Cup in early May, New Zealander Russell Coutts, the record-setting skipper of America's Cup champion Alinghi Team, leaped to fifth place, with 35 points.

Coutts, who holds the record for most consecutive victories in the America's Cup Match at 14 straight, is expected to miss the next two events but is scheduled to compete at the Swedish Match Cup in July.

American Ed Baird, the reigning match-racing world champion, and Team Musto, champions of the 40th Congressional Cup, are sixth with 31 points.

New Zealander Dean Barker, skipper of Team New Zealand and the Omega Match Race Team, is seventh with 24 points. Barker hasn't competed on the Tour because he is preparing for the Olympics.

Four skippers are tied for eighth with 20 points, including four-time Olympic medallist Jesper Bank (DEN), three-time match-racing world champion Chris Dickson (NZL), the CEO and skipper of Oracle BMW Racing, Kelvin Harrap (NZL), of Team New Zealand, and Terry Hutchinson (USA), who placed second at the Congressional Cup.

The Tour awards 25 points for first at an event, 20 points for second, 15 points for third, 12 points for fourth, ten points for fifth, eight points for sixth, six points for seventh and four points for eighth.

Gilmour and Brady are the only skippers in the top eight scheduled to compete at each of the three remaining Tour events.

Next up is the 18th annual ACI HTmobile Cup (May 24-29) in Split, Croatia.

The seventh annual Match Race Germany (June 8-14), on Lake Constance in Langenargen, Germany, is the penultimate event, followed by the season-ending 11th annual Swedish Match Cup (July 5-9), in Marstrand, Sweden.

For more information on the Swedish Match Tour, its competitors and events please visit:

www.SwedishMatchTour.com.

Five races were sailed yesterday in ideal conditions and 10 – 15 knots of breeze. 60 boats from 23 nations took to the water for the first race of the day (race eight) was won by Axel SILVY and Pauline JUPIN (FRA) followed by Tom PHIPPS and Jon COOK (GBR) in second and Andrew KEAG and Naomi ANGWING (AUS) in third.

Keag and Angwing followed up this result with a second in race ten and race eleven and are now lying in first place overall with twelve points, just ahead of defending champion Gavin COLBY and Simone MATFIELD (AUS) who have fourteen. Colby and Mattfield only sailed two races yesterday, posting a seventh in race nine and a third in race ten.

Race nine got underway after the race committee altered the course due to the wind shifting shortly followed by race ten due to the tight schedule. Race ten produced one of the most spectacular finishes of the championship and gave the race committee a tough time deciding who had crossed the line first. Blaine and Roxanne DODDS from South Africa eventually took the bullet from Keag and Anwing.

Races eleven and twelve were completed with victories going to Christophe RENAUD and Alban ROSSOLLIN (FRA) and Aaron WORRALL and Sean SEIBOLD (AUS) respectively. The race committee will announced the 56 teams eligible for the finals after considering protests.

Complete results are available on the event website www.hobieworlds.com

Open Semi Finals

1	ANDREW KEAG NAOMI ANGWIN	AUS		4		8	1			3		2	2		20	8	12
2	Gavin Colby Simone Mattfield	AUS	2		1		21		1		7		3		35	21	14
3	Axel Silvy Pauline Jupin	FRA		3	4			3		1	5			10	26	10	16

Day four at the 470 World Championship in Zadar, Croatia was emotion filled, with races postponed for the men, women striving for success in the first race of their final series, and an injury that could see a champion’s career end.

'An 11.00hrs start was postponed as the morning 6 knots disappeared, only to fill in again, to tempt a race on both courses that eventually saw abandonment. Several more attempts were unsuccessful as race officials re-jigged courses to the shifting breeze,' Darren Dunkley-Smith reports from Croatia.

At 13.30hrs, as the 470 sailors waited onshore a storm covered the racing area bringing with it an 18-20 knot. By 14.15hrs racing got under way in a dying breeze for one of the two men’s fleet waiting to complete their qualification series.

Things were not as lucky for the other men’s fleet and the women’s gold fleet who waited until 17.30hrs to begin their races. A solid and consistent 10-12 knots made for a very even start after a general recall in the men and the following Women.

There is no doubt Australia’s Nathan Wilmot (AIS/NSWIS) and Malcolm Page (AIS/NSWIS) would be feeling the frustration of the up and down conditions. Before yesterday’s controversial abandonment, Wilmot and Page led two races and today led another, only to have the races abandoned. Finally in the completed race in the afternoon, the Aussie crew scored a 4th to move to 3rd overall.

A great race six effort by young Australian crew Nathan Outteridge (NSW) and Ayden Menzies (NSW), a sixth, moved the pair from 70^th to 58^th.

A futher two races were contested overnight at the 2004 Formula Windsurfing European Championship, being held at Lake Garda, Italy.

Overnight Sydney-sider Allison Shreeve (AIS/NSWIS) maitained the top spot and continues to impress the Italy locals and race competitors.  

Results - Day Three
    

Plc	Sail No	Competitor	Total	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4 Race 5   Race 6
1	AUS-911	Shreeve Allison	9,4	0,7	3,0x	0,7	3,0      2,0      4,0x
2	POL-1	Staszewska Dorota	9,4	2,0	0,7	2,0	4,0x     0,7      6,0x
3	SUI-14	Jaggi Karin	13,7	8,0x	2,0	3,0	5,0      3,0      0,7