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ISAF Rolex World Sailor Of The Year Awards
Muscat, Oman ISAF and Rolex are proud to announce that the winners of the 2013 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards are:

Male: Mathew Belcher (AUS)

Female: Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie (NZL)

Having being nominated twice before in 2010 and 2012, it proved to be third time lucky for Mathew Belcher, the Australian Olympic and World champion in the 470 dinghy class, whose current winning streak stretches to an amazing 17 consecutive regattas.

"It's a complete honour," said Belcher during the awards ceremony held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. "It's great recognition for this year and the efforts we've put in and the results we've achieved. I am very fortunate to have great support, from my coach Victor Kovalenko, crew and support staff."

470 sailors were also rewarded in the female category of the Awards. The New Zealand pairing of Jo Aleh and Olivia 'Polly' Powrie are the current women's Olympic and World champions in the Class.

"I'm a little bit shocked," said Aleh. "There were some amazing nominees this year and we are delighted to be part of this. We feel honoured to be part of the group." "We haven't done this alone and we had some wonderful people behind us who have been truly supportive," added Powrie.

The full list of nominees for the coveted and prestigious 2013 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards were:

Male
Mathew Belcher (AUS) - Men's 470 World & Olympic Champion
Francois Gabart (FRA) - IMOCA World Champion & 2012-13 Vendee Globe Winner
Johnny Heineken (USA) - Kiteboarding World #1 & 2012 Men's Course Racing World Champion
Paul Larsen (AUS) - Vestas Sailrocket 2 Outright Speed Record
Ian Williams (GBR) - Match Racing 2012 Match Racing World Champion
World #1 Open Match Racer for 16 consecutive releases starting in January 2012

Female Jo Aleh & Olivia Powrie (NZL) - Women's 470 World & Olympic Champions
Deneen Demourkas (USA) - Farr 30 2013 World Champion - third consecutive title
Erika Heineken (USA) - Kiteboarding 2012 Course Racing World Champion
Raiya Al Habsi (OMA) - First Omani Woman To Sail in the Rolex Fastnet Race

www.sailing.org/worldsailor

Courrier Vintage Win RORC Yacht Of The Year
In total just under 500 different yachts competed in the 2013 RORC Season's Points Championship indicating the strength of offshore racing throughout the UK, Europe and Worldwide with almost half of the boats coming from overseas to race with the RORC.

IRC Overall

All races are to count for the Jazz Trophy for IRC Overall in the Season's Points Championship. Winning this trophy requires dedication from skippers and crews, dedication which has rewarded Piet Vroon's Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3, for the third time in the last 4 seasons, winning this trophy again in 2013 after holding it for 2010 and 2011. Tonnerre's crew completed nine offshore races in 2013 and veteran skipper Piet Vroon was on board for the majority of the races:

Tonnerre also will be taking home the Stradivarius Trophy for best overseas yacht in IRC Overall and the Alan Paul Trophy for consistent high performance in IRC.

IRC Canting Keel

There is a separate class in RORC racing for boats that have canting keels and in 2013 this was won comprehensively by Andrew Budgen and Fred Schwyn's Volvo 70, Monster Project. This was their first season with this boat and the crew adapted well to sailing one of the fastest boats in the fleet in a variety of weather conditions including the low wind Cowes Dinard St Malo Race in which less than a third of the fleet finished.

IRC Zero

The major competition in 2013 was between 2 boats: Harm Prins' Volvo 60, Pleomax, and Windward Sailing's CM 60, Venomous. In the end it was Pleomax who came out on top but only with a narrow margin of 14 points.

IRC One The battle to win class in IRC One was intense with only seven points separating Andrew Pearce's Ker 40, Magnum III, in first place, from Bernard and Laurent Gouy's Ker 39, Inis Mor, in second.

Magnum have also won the Assuage Trophy, a championship for RORC members taking results from certain races in the domestic race season, and the Peter Harrison Youth Trophy.

IRC Two

Sam Marsaudon and Gery Trentesaux's MC 34 Patton, Courrier Vintage sailed away with the class win overall. Courrier Vintage won IRC Two in five races in the 2013 RORC season, including the Rolex Fastnet Race, results which put them over 50 points clear of the other boats in their class.

It is an acknowledgement of their hard work and their performance in class this season that led the RORC Committee to award Courrier Vintage with the prestigious Somerset Memorial Trophy for Yacht of the Year 2013.

IRC Three

Pascal and Alexis Loison's JPK 10.10, Night and Day, came late to the RORC season, with their first race not being until the end of June. However, the two-handed boat proceeded to win class in each of the five races they entered this season, including the Rolex Fastnet Race where they were also awarded with IRC Overall, the first two-handed boat to have ever achieved this win. This brilliant performance put them 100 points clear of the next boat in class.

IRC Four

IRC Four was the biggest class in 2013 with 135 boats competing, many taking part in the Rolex Fastnet Race. The top four boats consisted of two JPK 10.10s and two Sigma 38s who battled it out all season long for a place on the class podium. In the end it was Noel Racine's JPK 10.10, Foggy Dew, who came out on top

Complete list of all awards:

www.rorc.org

Marinepool Introduces Fortuna, The Interactively Designed Sailing Suit
Which is the best all round cruising sailing suit? What features would you like to see in your ideal suit? These are the sort of questions the readers of German sailing magazine "segeln" were asked. And they were keen to give their input into the development of this sailing suit. Loads of great ideas were put forward and found their way into Fortuna. 

Readers were called to send in their suggestions and remarks to the magazine's editorial office. Then, the proposals were collected and forwarded to the design department of Marinepool, which started the practical implementation of the interactive idea generation.  

A highly resistant, breathable and waterproof fabric as well as wearing comfort through pre-shaped sleeves and knees and highly visible colors and reflectors for safety precaution were considered the highest priority by the readers. According to the participants, cuffs on sleeves and trousers should be also carefully considered to prevent slipping up while moving and to retain protection against wind and weather. Suggested solutions included for instance inner cuffs with latex or PU seals, Velcro closures or elastic loops at the end of inner legs.

Furthermore, the readers perceived abrasion protection as well as well-shaped and well-positioned pockets for tools and items such as compass or flashlights as crucial. As a result, the Fortuna set offers reinforcements at collar, sleeves, back, knees and seating area as well as welded, transparent leg pockets. Special features are the loops with non corrosive eyelets to attach snap hooks outside as well as inside of the pockets. Other ideas were focused on improving the utilization or comfort of the sailing gear. Examples for this are  sewn in elastics at the back of jacket and trousers to improve adjustability, or hanging loops outside for easy drying.

Finally, Marinepool proudly presents Fortuna Offshore custom made foul weather gear and gives many thanks for the numerous readers who have sent in their ideas. Fortuna will be available through "segeln" magazine and the Marinepool retail network from 2/2014.

www.marinepool.com | www.segeln-magazin.de

Mini Transat - Sada - Pointe-A-Pitre: One More Day Of Delay
This morning the Race Director posted an amendment regarding a postponement of fifteen hours to the start of the race from Sada to Pointe-a-Pitre. The new warning signal will be given on Wednesday 13 November at 9am.

There are two reasons behind this new start: first, according to the race meteorologist, the fleet might encounter strong winds with a risk of winds gusting over 40 knots off Cape Finisterre. More importantly, the passage of a front overnight will cause heavy rain and very low visibility. To send a fleet of over 70 boats out at night into in a high traffic area where many fishing boats do not have AIS was an added complication in the circumstances. In many ways, given all the incidents and adventures of the Mini fleet since its departure from Douarnenez, this delay is only a small hiccup ...

Starting tomorrow morning, downwind sails will hoisted and the Minis should quickly be averaging over ten knots. They will have to negotiate the sheer face of Cape Finisterre where winds can sometimes reach over 40 knots. Then it will be a matter of choice. Some will prefer to head off to mine a vein of strong winds, which could be in excess of 35 knots. Others will choose to sail south along the coast of Portugal where the winds should be more manageable.

www.minitransat.fr

Raising The Stakes
The return of Brazilian sailing legend Robert Scheidt to Laser competition after nine years in the Star class has raised the stakes among the 2016 Olympic Games contenders at the Laser Standard Men's World Championships 2013 starting in the Sultanate of Oman on Sunday November 17, organized and hosted by the Ministry of Sports Affairs and Oman Sail.

Having won eight world titles and three Olympic medals in the class, the 40 year-old Scheidt is the most successful Laser sailor of all time. With the dropping of the Star class from the Olympics, he has now returned to Lasers to qualify for the Olympics on his home waters in Rio de Janeiro and is currently ranked number 71 Laser sailor in the world.

In his sights for the 2013 Laser World Championship title will be Australian national champion Tom Burton, who has been number one in the Laser world rankings for more than a year and who showed a fondness for the conditions in Oman when he won 2013 Mussanah Race Week (MRW) back in March.

The two champions have met just once in the heat of international battle when Burton won gold to Scheidt's silver at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyeres France in April 2013, paving the way for a tantalising rematch in what is a star-studded Laser fleet.

Of the 50 top ranked Laser sailors in the world, 46 of them will be on the start line at Mussanah Sports City in Oman, the world class sailing facility purpose built to Olympic standards, which is hosting its first ever sailing world championships. -- Daphne Morgan Barnicoat

www.omansail.com

World Yacht Racing Forum
Taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden, The World of Sailing and Yacht Racing is a fast growing sport and full of new opportunities. WYRF and YRDTS will bring together over 400 industry leaders and decision makers for two-days of debate and discussions giving participants the opportunity to contribute, learn and share strategies with industry leaders, peers and colleagues. The WYRF brings innovative thinking and exclusive insight to the major issues and opportunities facing the growing yachting industry.

Over 250 people attended the 2012 edition of the World Yacht Racing Forum and Yacht Racing Design and Technology Symposium in Gothenburg, Sweden. They heard from speakers including Ben Ainslie, Knut Frostad, Guillaume Henry, Mark Turner, Pat Shaughnessy, Juan Kouyoumdjian, Manolo Ruiz de Elvira, Bill Tripp, Ian Walker, Dawn Riley, Dan McLaren, Richard Brisius and many more.

Register your place today! bit.ly/16kVa79

For more information visit: bit.ly/14yiI55

Nigel King Takes Helm as RYA Racing Keelboat Manager
The RYA has announced the appointment of Nigel King as the RYA Racing Keelboat Manager - a new position within the RYA Racing Department.

King, who possesses a wealth of experience as both a sailor and a coach, was carefully selected by the Royal Yachting Association to plan, support and develop the sport of keelboat racing across the United Kingdom.

With 25 years of racing/coaching experience under his belt, King has managed and coached racing teams at top international level both offshore and inshore. Offshore, King has competed in crewed events such as the Volvo Ocean Race and Jules Verne trophy, in double handed IMOCA 60 races such as the Transat Jacque Vabre and has spent three years racing solo on the Beneteau Figaro II circuit. He has also completed four Sydney to Hobart races, three Rolex Middle Sea Races and five transatlantic races as skipper or crew.

Inshore, King has worked and raced in teams on the Olympic class circuit, RC44, Extreme 40, the World Match Racing Tour plus small keelboat campaigns in a variety of classes. His skills and talents have brought him together with some of the sport's top skippers; including Mike Golding, Ellen MacArthur, Paul Cayard, Dee Caffari and Cameron Appleton - giving him some invaluable contacts within the world of keelboat racing.

rya.org.uk

Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship
With the Cabbage Tree Island Race out of the way, yacht owners are now focussing their attention on Middle Harbour Yacht Club's 36th Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC), to be held on the weekend of November 30 and December 1.

An annual event, the SSORC affords yacht owners one of their final chances to test new boats and crew in advance of the 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Entries already received include Bob Cox's competitive DK46, Nine Dragons, past MHYC commodore Ian Box and his one year-old well-named XP44 Toy Box 2, Steven Proud's Kernan 44, Swish, and Andy Kearnan's Summit 35, L'Altra Donna.

The Series will provide competitors with a combination of short passage racing and windward/leeward courses. The passage race will take yachts from Sydney Harbour to Lion Island and return.

Following on Sunday, the Series will continue with a short offshore race, to start in the Harbour and finish offshore, followed by a quick windward/leeward sprint.

The Notice of Race is now online and Commodore McCuaig urges prospective entrants to go online and enter now, as entries close at 2400 hours on Friday 15 November, with late entries accepted until 2400 hours on Friday 22 November. Sailing Instructions will be available from Tuesday 26 November. -- Di Pearson, MHYC Media

www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au

Letters To The Editor -
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.

* From Barry Freed: A few years ago as a the coxswain of a Dun Laoghaire lifeboat I responded to a call from the Coast Guard to come to the aid of a motorboat with engine difficulties.

When they passed over the coordinates they added (sotto voce) that the boat's name was "Dirty Fecker". Using my best radio etiquette I requested the coast guard, on Channel 16, to clarify the boat's name, and, trying to keep the glee out of my voice, continued to use the name on every possible occasion on the radio, until the coast guard, in a damage limitation exercise, directed all radio traffic to a working channel.

I made sure I followed good practice by repeating the boats name three times every time I called him up --

Dirty Fecker, Dirty Fecker, Dirty Fecker, this is Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat, Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat, Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat, over.

* From David Pitman: I read your Boat Names paragraph with amusement ... and remembered about a old Tornado catamaran I had and wanted to sell.

The Club would not let me put a sign on the cover so I entered the Winter Series under the name "FOR SALE 2000".

Each week the results were printed in the local newspaper: 1st Tornado FOR SALE 2000 It sold of course, and the Club never even noticed.

* From Steve Chesney: The 1996 Fireball Nationals were held at Mounts Bay Sailing Club in Marazion. The prizes were presented, as usual by Lord and Lady St.Leven who were lovely old style nobility. My job was to read out the names of the prize winners. I kept an eye on her ladyship as I read out boat names such as "Bl** Job", "Slappy Ball Bag", "Spunky Down Under" and finally the winner "Slipper One" sailed by Colin Goodman and Jim Turner - nowadays better known as a Kiwi Star Olympian.

Not a flicker passed over her face until Jim gave her ladyship a great big kiss (strictly forbidden) and then commenced his acceptance speech with the immortal phrase "I would like to thank my solicitor for getting me out on bail so that I could attend this event". Her Ladyship then finally cracked a big smile.

* From Gordon Davies: My favourite name is still that given to a Firefly at Rickmansworth SC in the 1970s - which told us all we needed to know about the owner's family's financial priorities - the name of the boat was Mum's Mink!

* From Ken Burrough: Adding to the list there was a Fireball sailed by Dick Toomey

I believe he called it "Slipper Dick Toomey"

Featured Brokerage
2011 Volvo 70 Camper/Emirates Team NZ. 1,126,079 GBP. Located in Hamble, United Kingdom.

This Volvo 70 finished on the podium of the 2011/2012 Volvo Ocean Race, WINNING THE LAST LEG. She also collected the 24hr speed record. Built by Cookson Boats of NZ and Principal designer is Marcelino Botin, both parties have built and designed some the worlds fastest racing yachts. Spars are by Southern Spars.

Immaculately presented and maintained, comes complete with a very extensive spares inventory which includes 2 x rigs incl rigging, booms, 2 cradles, rudders and dagger boards plus full sail package.

The boat would make for an ideal offshore campaign to chase and beat records as she has been tried and tested and now comes with complete inventory and spares all ready to go.

Other options are for thrill seekers, this is a yacht at the very highest level of offshore sailing or a vehicle for a corporate experential/advertising campaign.

Brokerage through Nicolle Associates: www.findaboat.co.uk

Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com

The Last Word
Tradition wears a snowy beard, romance is always young. -- John Greenleaf Whittier

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