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California Dismasted In Stormy Conditions In The Pacific Ocean
California, one of ten entries competing in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, has been dismasted in the latest storm to hit the fleet as the teams race across the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco. All the crew are reported to be safe and four of California's competitors, along with a merchant vessel in the vicinity, have diverted to rendezvous with US entry and offer assistance if required.

At around 1600 GMT on Sunday 22 March, Falmouth coastguard contacted Clipper Race office to advise that California's EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) had been activated. The race team made immediate attempts to contact the boat through all the options open to them, but were unsuccessful. The on board tracking system indicated that the yacht had spent a couple of hours of very slow progress before picking up speed and then travelling at an average of seven knots towards San Francisco.

The knowledge that the area in which the yacht was sailing had been hit by a significant storm with winds in excess of 50 knots and associated heavy seas made it essential to establish why the EPIRB had been activated. Falmouth Coastguard handed over the incident to the US Coastguard who promptly sent a C130 aircraft towards the transmitting emergency beacon.

The crew of the aircraft successfully located the yacht and communicated with skipper Pete Rollason using VHF radio. The aircraft also made contact with fellow race entry, Jamaica Lightning Bolt, whose skipper, Pete Stirling, was able to relay the first brief detail back to the Clipper Race office.

* Fellow competitor Jamaica Lightning Bolt has rendezvoused with the dismasted yacht and skipper, Pete Stirling, was able to talk to California's skipper, Pete Rollason, via VHF radio. The skipper explained how the yacht had come to lose her mast and reported that at 15.45 GMT on Sunday 21 March, the 68-foot racing boat was hit beam on by a very large sea coming from the port side. The impact caused the boat to roll to starboard through approximately 120 degrees and as the yacht righted herself (as she is designed to do), the mast was broken in two places.

With storm force winds blowing in excess of 50 knots, California was sailing under a very conservative sail plan with just the storm jib hoisted. During the roll, a large amount of water came through the main hatch and flooded the navigation station, cutting off the boat's communication systems. The EPIRB ensured that the relevant authorities would be quickly aware and that the incident could be communicated.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Split Olympic Sailing Week
Great conditions on closing day of Split Olympic Sailing Week 2010 ! Southeasterly averaging arround 17 knots made everybody happy.

While some of the favourites in 470 and RS-X have secured their leading position even before the final day of the event, top Finn and Laser sailors had to "fight" until the finish line.

After 6 races, three being held on Saturday, and again last three copmleted on Sunday, International regatta "Split Olympic Sailing Week" has finished. In spite of lack of wind for the first two days in a row, thanks to perfect conditions and good management race has been sucesfully completed. We had to wait for the last race to find out the winners in three classes with larger number of competitors.

Among 38 competitors from Croatia, Austria, Slovenia, Poland, Russia, Monaco, France, Italy and Hungary in Laser the best overall is Milan Vujasinovic (YC Labud, Split) with four bullets , second and fourth place.

Even without current European champion in Finn class, Ivan Kljakovic-Gaspic from Split (he did not compete due to illness) there has been a lot of action and exciting moments. Mate Arapov (JK Mornar), one of the best Croatian sailors ever in the Laser clas has been racing in the Finn class for the first time and has shown outstanding performance in the borrowed boat.

Some great sailors from Finn class like Rafal Szukiel or Eduard Skornyakov were outperformed by Arapov. It will quite interesting if he continues in Finn especialy with Finn european championship beeing organised in May in Split by YC Labud. (Mate is sailing in the Star lately).

470 hase been dominated by Slovenian sailors. Current European and World champions Šime Fantela and Igor Marenic from Croatia did not compete this time in SOSW.

RS:X was dominated by local sailor Luka Mratovic (Mornar).

Final podium positions:

Laser
1. Milan Vujasinoviae, CCRO, 6 points
2. Tonei Stopanoviae, CRO, 12
3. Daniel Miheliae, CRO, 27

Laser Radial
1. Sophie de Turckheim, FRA, 7
2. TIna Mihelic, CRO, 11
3. Nenad Bugarin, CRO, 12

470
1. Mitja Mikulin / Sebastian Prineie, SLO, 6
2. Tina Mrak / Teja Èerne, SLO, 8
3. Dylan Tidd / Nejc Dolinsek, 15

Finn
1. Marin Misura, CRO, 9
2. Mate Arapov, CRO, 15
3. Rafal Szukiel, POL, 17

RSX
1. Luka Mratoviae, CRO, 5
2. Mihovil Fantela, CRO, 10
3. Aljaz Maslo, SLO, 15

www.jklabud.hr/sosw/

Henri Lloyd TP2 Ventura Jacket
Henri Lloyd TP2 Ventura Jacket The TP2 Ventura Jacket from Henri Lloyd's Coastal & Inshore Range has been developed for the cruising/coastal sailor who is passionate about the importance of comfort and durability.

Manufactured using highly breathable and 100% waterproof/windproof TP2 fabric, the TP2 Ventura Jacket incorporates many of Henri Lloyd's special features including an OPTIVISION Hi-Vis foldaway, streamlined hood that offers unrivalled peripheral vision. The extra high collar system with its shaped, fleece lining also incorporates a fully adjustable storm shield, which significantly reduces water ingress. With a focus on safety and high visibility, the Ventura has pre-moulded reflective patches on the shoulders, chest storm flap, and hood.

www.henrilloyd.com

Gavin Brady Unhappy With Race Decisions
Team New Zealand won the finals series 2-nil, with only one race sailed on the final day, after it was reduced to a best of three contest from a best of five.

Mascalzone Latino skipper Gavin Brady says the fans were short changed and the decision was made too early. He says with Team New Zealand ahead one nil, things changed and organisers made a decision to cut racing to a best of three.

He says it did not feel right to have the mainsail on the deck at 1.30 in the afternoon, while being towed past spectators who were expecting them to race.

Brady has also questioned the moving of the course out of the Waitemata Harbour. He says the sailors, sponsors and fans wanted to race in the Harbour, but they had to sail off into the Hauraki Gulf. -- Radio Sport, www.radiosport.co.nz/SportsNews/spyac/Detail.aspx?id=172858

* Next America's Cup will see Team NZ sailors on retainers thanks to private funding from NZ and overseas backers

Just a day after winning the Louis Vuitton Trophy on the Waitemata Harbour, Team New Zealand is getting down to the business of signing key personnel for the next America's Cup.

Grant Dalton has confirmed the syndicate has received millions of dollars in private funding from backers here and overseas, to stop other teams stealing key sailors and decimating the team.

Dalton will not say who the backers are, but the money will ensure sailors will be on retainers next time around.

www.radiosport.co.nz

New Courses for the 2010 BVI Spring Regatta
Nanny Cay, BVI: New for the 2010 BVI Spring Regatta, April 2 - 4, are two courses for the Sol Racing Area specifically designed for the big boats . For the likes of Titan XV, Tom Hill's new Reichel Pugh Custom 75', Bill Alcotts'Andrew's 68', Equation and Bella Pita, the Caribbean based Tripp 75 owned by Jim Grundy, two courses have been added to the program which will give these big boys the opportunity to strut their stuff.

With the start south east of Road Town, Course One will takes the big boys through Round Rock passage, south of Virgin Gorda and then north of Richard Branson's Necker Island before turning southwest and skirting between Tortola and Jost Van Dyke. A hard left at Great Thatch will send the boats back to the start/finish line to complete the 56 mile course. Course Two is a little longer routing these racing machines not only around Virgin Gorda but also the BVI's furthest point, Anegada, before threading their way back between the Dogs and Scrub Island to finish in the Sir Francis Drake Channel. In the event that the winds are such that it might be more fun to go the other way, Course Two allows the race committee to reverse the course.

For the smaller boats, there will also be some round the rocks, round islands racing.

New for 2010, the International Yacht Club Challenge will pit competitors from yacht clubs throughout the world against each other in Sunsail Beneteau 39's. Participants will receive up to a 10% discount on the charter and compete for a grand prize of a free week's charter from Sunsail.

www.bvispringregatta.org

Summer 2010 Corporate Sailing Charters
Mainsail Charters Finding the right type of boat for your corporate sailing event can be tricky, especially if you are not used to boats or sailing.

In order to make things easier for you, Mainsail has several fantastic yachts available for you to charter, from a magnificent Swan 70 to exciting racing boats and imposing power vessels. Each boat has been carefully selected to offer guests a fabulous day afloat.

We have availability throughout the summer and some openings remain for the JP Morgan Round the Island Race and Cowes Week. To view the boats we have on offer, please visit our website www.mainsail.co.uk/corporate-sailing.html or email tel +44 1983 200901.

Sign up for our Email Newsletter: www.mainsail.co.uk/newsletter.html

The 1st Half Ton Commodore's Cup
The Half Ton Class Europe, in association with the Royal Temple Yacht Club and Ramsgate Week, is extremely proud to announce a new regatta format exclusively reserved for the former IOR-half tonners.

The event will be held on the final three days of Ramsgate Week 2010; 19-20-21 August. The half tonners will race as part of the regatta in IRC Class 3, as well as in team races for the Half Ton Commodore's Cup. The event is named as such after the Commodore of RTYC bought a 1924 trophy previously awarded in Ramsgate and named 'The Commodores Cup'.

This is undoubtedly going to be a truly International event with several teams from Belgium, UK and France expected to compete. There will be no restrictions to the number of teams, but all entries must hold a current IRC certificate.

The three-boat teams must consist of two Classic 'one off' Half Tonners and one classic production Half Tonner, as follows:

- 1 Classic Half Tonner one off with TCC above 0.950
- 1 Classic Half Tonner one off with TCC between 0.935 and 0.950
- 1 Classic Half Tonner production boat (list available at www.halftonclass-europe.net ).

It is the wish of the Half Ton Class Europe for this event, with the inclusion of a production half tonner in each team, not only to incite owners of such halftonner production boats to participate at regattas, but also to enter their boats in International events such as Ramsgate Week, allowing owners and crews alike to gain huge International sailing experience at a relatively low cost.

The event will be held every two years during Ramsgate Week, in even years. In uneven years the halftonners sail their traditional Half Ton Classics Cup. The date for 2011, which will be held at a UK venue, is yet to be decided.

Industry News
* Clipper Ventures today announced their continued long term partnership with Henri Lloyd, selecting the specialist British marine clothing company as the Official Technical Clothing Supplier to the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11. Henri Lloyd will provide a comprehensive team collection to Clipper Ventures Race Management and VELUX.

For 2010, Henri Lloyd has launched a revolutionary innovation aimed at advancing more eco-friendly marine technical apparel, taking the marine industry's first steps to link product development and eco-friendly problem-solving with the Henri Lloyd Blue Eco Jacket. Henri Lloyd have applied their skills and expertise of innovative design technology to reduce energy consumption and decrease unnecessary waste, by offering the industry's first 'infinite loop' recycling system for marine apparel.

Henri Lloyd is the first partner to join the VELUX 5 OCEANS under the banner of TAKING ON THE ELEMENTS, and expect to be present in race villages around the world. -- henrilloyd.co.uk

* Germany's Bavaria Yachtbau has completed its financial restructuring after new owners Anchorage Advisors and Oaktree Capital Management injected a substantial amount of capital into the company.

The strengthening of Bavaria's balance sheet involved an injection of 55m in cash and the write-down of over 90 per cent of the company's 900m-plus debt. As a result, Bavaria will be able to accelerate new product launches, expand and strengthen its distribution channels and continue to support existing customers and distributors.

Bavaria has also revealed that Andres Cardenas will be stepping down as CEO, returning to his role as an advisory board member. Head of Sales Mike Reuer has also resigned from the company. Cardenas will continue to support the business in an interim role while a search for his replacement is undertaken. -- International Boat Industry IBI, www.ibinews.com

* Wireless marine electronics experts, Tacktick have launched a complete set of online videos to inform customers of the benefits of their wireless range of electronics and to assist with the installation and set up of the instruments.

The new Tacktick online videos are available on the Tacktick website at http://www.tacktick.com or on You Tube at www.youtube.com/user/tacktickvids

The online videos are short and informative and cover the range of Tacktick instruments including the Micro Compass for dinghies, Race Master for sports boats, Micronet and the newly launched Entry Level range for cruising yachts.

* As the superyacht industry has grown and developed over the years, we feel the yachts and the designers and craftsmen behind their construction deserve to be recognised specifically in the areas of interior design, styling, innovation and technology.

The ShowBoats Design Awards will adopt the individual design awards formerly presented at the World Superyacht Awards. A number of new categories will also be added to recognise and acknowledge, for the first time ever, the industry's talents specific to craft and design. Roger Lean-Vercoe will act as Chairman of the Judges, a neutral panel of experienced and passionate yacht owners, project managers, designers and craftsmen from a variety of backgrounds within the world of design.

Nominations for the ShowBoats Design Awards 2010 are now open and submissions are welcome up until the closing date of 15 April. Boat International Media's team of editors will review these nominations and refine this list to a group of outstanding finalists to be judged by the independent panel at the Judges Day in Monaco in June.

The winners of The ShowBoats Design Awards will be announced at a gala evening at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's private members club in Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday 26th October 2010.

www.showboatsdesignawards.com
www.superyachtdesignsymposium.com

* This year's Marine Industry Regatta moves back to its original April dates after a straw poll of entrants showed the July dates clashed with holidays, in spite of - in theory - being able to offer a better chance of good weather.

This year's event will see the boats being collected on the evening on Tuesday April 20 and the racing take place on Wednesday April 21. With the boats collected on the Tuesday, crews congregate in the Portsmouth Harbour Yacht Club for a mass supper - all included in the price, of course. Including a jug or two of beer per table.

We also present the charity cheque to a representative from the John Merricks Sailing Trust - last year Ian Walker came along.

Registration is £985.00 including VAT and the JMST donation.

For more information and an entry form, call Peter Nash on 01892 545696, or Alison Russell on 02392 222221,

www.boatingbusiness.com

* A J Boat Open Day will take place in Hamble on Saturday March the 27th. Anyone and everyone who is interested in finding out more about these asymmetric cruiser-racers and sportsboats, and perhaps wishing to try a J Boat for themselves, are invited to attend.

J-UK, the distributor for J Boats in the UK and Ireland, has arranged a series of short, informative talks to take place on Saturday morning in the comfy environs of the Banana Wharf Bar in Port Hamble Marina. In the afternoon visitors will be invited to sail any of the J Boats in the current range, including the new J/97 and the new J/95, which features a lifting centreboard. Guests will be able to establish for themselves precisely why these asymmetric yachts drive so much interest and excitement amongst racing and cruising sailors alike.

If you would like to join the J Boat Open Day on Saturday March 27th, please just email Emma Vaughton ( ) and let her know.

Featured Brokerage
Featured Brokerage Boat 2000 Farr 40, $US 160,000. Located in Hamburg, Germany.

Epoxy/E-Glass/Foam/Balsa composite wet pre-preg, vacuum bagged and post cured in oven/ Aluminum grid for keel attachment and mast support structure. Forepeak is open for sail storage Marine head with holding tank is forward of bulkhead 4 lower tilting berths with cushions. All listed sails have undergone full condition assessment and maintenance programme at North Sails, Hamburg in May/June 2008

Brokerage through Stagg Yachts: staggyachts.com

Complete listing details and seller contact information at staggyachts.com/content/view/46/8/

The Last Word
Good music is very close to primitive language. -- Denis Diderot

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