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Mini Transat - Douarnenez To Pointe-A-Pitre
The wind has finally eased in the race area and the Ministes can bring out their summer wardrobe at last. As the sailors reduce the number of clothes they wear, so they can increase the amount of canvas they hoist. In the race everyone is gradually wending their way south.

The main objective is to escape the northern latitudes where the wind continues to go light. It's been a successful move for Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) and Aymeric Belloir (Tout le Monde Chante contre le Cancer). They were the first to lead the way in the great movement towards a southerly route, and they are now being joined by the vast majority of the fleet.

Louis Mauffret (Solidaires) left Madeira hoping to have solved his power problems. The Brest navigator does not intend to throw in the towel, even if he has to do another express stop at Puerto Calero. Ludovic Mechin (Paris Texas), experienced a brief slump when he first stopped in Rabat, but he was met by such a chain of incredible solidarity that it convinced him to fix everything quickly and put to sea again.

Cegelec / Eurovia Ranking (prototypes) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Benoit Marie, benoitmarie.com, 2256.9 nm to the finish
2. Giancarlo Pedote, Prysmian, + 6 nm
3. Remi Fermin, Boreal, + 72.4 nm
4. Bruno Garcia, Sampaquita, + 138.5 nm
5. Bertrand Delesne, TeamWork Proto, + 186.6 nm

Yslab Ranking (series boats) at 16.00 (GMT +1)
1. Aymeric Belloir, Tout le Monde chante contre le Cancer, 2255.9 nm to the finish
2. Justine Mettraux, TeamWork, + 5.9 nm
3. Simon Koster, Go 4 it, + 58 nm
4. Jean-Baptiste Lemaire, Oeuvre du Marin Breton, + 79 nm
5. Tanguy Le Turquais, Terreal - Reve d'enfance, + 145.7 nm

www.minitransat.fr

Slingsby Re-Sign A Tip-Off For Next America's Cup?
Australian Olympic Gold Medalist, Tom Slingsby, told Sail-World that he will stay with America's Cup Defenders Oracle Team USA has implications in a number of areas for the 35th America's Cup.

The Protocol has not yet been published for the trophy which was defended earlier this year, in the tightest contest ever for the Cup.

Currently the Defenders are supposed to be in a consultation process with other teams, and the Challenger of Record, Hamilton Island Yacht Club.

The signing of Slingsby might be considered the strongest indication yet that there will be at best only a very weak nationality clause in the new Protocol, not withstanding the fact that Slingsby holds dual AUS and USA passports, however he has represented Australia in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and in many world championships.

It seems that Oracle Team USA will most likely continue where they left off in terms of sailing team composition from the 34th America's Cup which finished just under two months ago.

Cup watchers had expected that Slingsby would been a target to sail for the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, who were a surprise choice for the role of Challenger of Record for next America's Cup, expected to be sailed in 2017. The fact that the Defenders are taking about five months to announce a Protocol points to a four year gap between America's Cups, rather than the more usual three years for a successive Defence.

Richard Gladwell's full article in Sail-World.com:
www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=116674

Candidates Line Up To Join Team Dongfeng
The recruitment campaign for Team Dongfeng is off to a flying start. Less than three weeks after the announcement of the new Chinese entry in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, Team Director Bruno Dubois is delighted with the number and quality of the applications.

Recruitment opened a week after the official announcement of Team Dongfeng on October 30 and applications to get a place onboard the boat backed by Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Company are already flooding in for both the international and Chinese spots.

The first phase of the recruitment process is focused on the sailing team. Team Dongfeng are looking for Chinese athletes who want to be on board, and professional sailors who will race alongside them.

At the same time, they are also recruiting additional positions within the shore team, communications and sponsor account management roles. In addition to the race team, a key objective is the transference of knowledge and experience to the shore and support team, so that China can have a 100% Chinese entry in future editions of the Volvo Ocean Race. The selection and training programme of the Chinese applicants will begin in December and run through to January.

The new one-design Dongfeng boat is expected to leave Green Marine and hit the water for the first time at the beginning of December ahead of extensive sea trials in England before shipping to China where the sailing programme will continue from February 2014.

www.volvooceanrace.com

30% Lighter And 20% More Breathable - Henri Elite Offshore Range Launched At Mets 2013
Henri Lloyd has unveiled the brand new ELITE OFFSHORE range at METS 2013 yesterday to an audience of international media.

The range uses game changing technology, using an exclusive new fabric developed in collaboration with GORE-TEX®, combined with a layering system to create an offshore suit that is 30% lighter and 20% more breathable.

Graham Allen, Henri Lloyd's Commercial Director introduced the new range which is the result of the Henri Lloyd's commitment to Intelligent Innovation and delivers a range of foul weather garments that support performance by reducing weight, increasing breathability and therefore improves comfort, flexibility and reduces fatigue.

The ELITE OFFSHORE range will be available instore and online in December.

Henri Lloyd have added a number of other new products for 2014, including:

The New Orion Windstopper Range designed with the sports boat sailor in mind - a stylish range which uses bi-component fabrics for comfort and flexibility whilst maintaining waterproof and wind proof performance.

The New Cyclone Range of jackets - a highly breathable, high stretch soft shell garments - superbly versatile, flexible and comfortable.

The New Ocean Warrior boot - waterproof leather sailing boot with Outlast technology to keep feet at the optimum temperature and with all the waterproof and slip resistance you would expect form Henri Lloyd.

The New Cobra Gloves - a range of gloves short fingered, long fingered and winter gloves for all sailing conditions.

www.henrilloyd.com

IKA Kiteboard Course Race World Championship
Boao, Hainan, China: The 2013 kite racing world championships kicked off in spectacular fashion Tuesday with a firework-laced opening ceremony before the athletes blasted around the course in their final warm-up sessions before the action begins in earnest on Wednesday.

Riders chose 8m to 10m kites to match the winds which ranged from 18 to 20kts as they ripped over the clear waters of Boao's King Bay in preparation for the International Kiteboarding Association's (IKA) course racing world championship being staged in China for the first time.

Reigning world champions Johnny Heineken (USA) and sister Erika went through their paces on the two tracks laid side-by-side during a series of practice races. A fleet of 160 riders, from more than 40 countries around the world, enjoyed the moderately smooth waters inside the reef.

The IKA Kiteboard Race World Championship, which is managed and locally organized by King Bay resort and Kite Tour Asia (KTA), will see five days of action in the forecast moderately strong winds to crown the new men's and women's champions. -- Michalis Pateniotis

Video highlights from the practice race day can be found here: https://vimeo.com/79850538

www.kiteboardtour.asia

Gotta Love It 7 Team Puts The Pressure On
Photo by Frank Quealey. Click on image to enlarge.

The Giltinan Champion Gotta Love It 7 team have already shown they mean business in the two races they've contested so far this season, but from their performance last Sunday they are putting as much pressure on their boat as they are on the opposition.

After failing to answer a recall for an OCS, the team went about a staggering display as they powered around the three lap course in the 15-18 knot Southerly on Sydney Harbour.

Just how much pressure Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Scott Babbage put on their skiff is clearly evident in the attached photo which shows a centreboard taking the full strain.

Don't forget, the '7' team has taken to social media this season to better engage with their supporters and sponsors.

Follow the boys at www.facebook.com/7skiff annd 7skiff.com

Gotta Love It 7 will be in action again next Sunday when the Australian 18 Footers League conducts Race 6 of the 3-Buoys Challenge Series.

With three races still left in the series, Jonathan Whitty's Lumix leads on five points, followed by Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (Michael Coxon) on 12, Yandoo (John Winning) 13, Smeg (Nick Press) 14, Rabbitohs-Kenwood (Brett Van Munster) 17 and Mojo Wine (Chris Nicholson) on 18 -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League

www.18footers.com.au

2013 Speed Challenge In Luderitz - The Chris Benz World Record Race
Sebastien Cattelan and Sophie Routaboul the 2 organizers of this amazing records factory in Luderitz delivered the 2013 edition: Chris Benz World Record Race had 18 different nationalities competing and produced better performances in lighter wind conditions. The channel for this year's event was further improved in length, width and better angle. A total of 36 records from 11 nations were broken.

This Speed Challenge has proved year on year to be the most efficient place for numerous riders to achieve new records which now total 64 National and 11 World Records.

The only place now where you can see the Legends of Windsurfing such as Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Antoine Albeau and Anders Bringdal, together defying the elements and competing to be the fastest in the world, is in Luderitz, Namibia.

21times World champion and current World Record Holder in Windsurfing Antoine Albeau was leading the race with 50.07 kts in light conditions but was surpassed by Swede Anders Bringdal, World Record Holder on a production board who reached 50.43 kts.

Zara Davis (UK), World Record Holder in Windsurfing, once again performed very well by reaching the best speed in Windsurfing female ranking with 43.77 kts.

The French Kitesurfer, organizer and double World Record Holder Sebastien Cattelan, reached the best overall performance this year with 55.36 kts. He was really close to breaking the World Record again this year; his co-organiser and partner Sophie Routaboul, who achieved the best performance in Kitesurfing (ladies) with an impressive 45.44 kts

At the 2012 event, Dutch Jurjen Van der Noord was the revelation and at this year's event, Hans Kreisel, also from the Netherlands impressed everyone with his performances. He is also one of the youngest sailors.

www.luderitz-speed.com

Fine Art Classic Boat Prints
A selection of limited edition classic, historic and contemporary sailing prints spanning the beginning of yachting photography to current images of classic yachts, printed on fine art paper for the home, office, boardroom and reception areas.

Each edition within the Classic Boat range is limited to 100 numbered prints, individually produced using the Giclee fine art printing system. This matches high quality archival standard inks with selected 300gsm fine art photo rag textured paper to produce outstanding black & white and colour images.

Limited edition prints are supplied unframed and deliverd in art tubes.

We also offer a mounting and framing service, but due to the irregular size of many of these prints, prices have to be quoted individually and orders can ony be taken over the telephone or via e-mail.

Subjects include

- America's Cup
- Contemporary Classics
- Cowes
- Dinghies
- Dragons
- Eileen Ramsay
- Historic Collection
- Keelboats
- Sir Francis Chichester

Available from 10x8 to 60x40 ins.

Contact:

Phone (UK) 44 (0)1243 555561
Email:

A great gift idea: pictures.classicboat.co.uk

2013 Dame Award Winner
Sleipner Motor's Vector fins stabilizers has been named overall winner of the DAME (Design Award METS). The Norwegian firm was praised by the jury for thinking outside the box and taking, in the words of chairman Bill Dixon, a "fairly mundane piece of engineering and looking at it in a new way." The elegantly curved fin better suits many of the modern hull forms to which stabilizers are becoming a standard fit.

"It's quite a beautiful piece of engineering that will sit under the water and most people won't see," added Dixon, who presented the award to the firm's Ronny Skauen at the DAME Award ceremony held this morning.

It represents a significant coup for Sleipner with this being its first ever product entered into the DAME Awards. The Vector fins stabilizers, which was also named winner of the Machinery, Propulsion, Mechanical and Electrical Systems and Fittings category, is a genuinely revolutionary product, according to Skauen, bringing the benefits of stabilization at speed to motoryachts from 50ft-70ft. "The fins work with boats traveling up to 40kts," Skauen told IBI. "This product can help the boat industry - so many people drop out of boating because they feel uncomfortable on their €2m boat. People can now get the benefits of stabilization on say a 55-footer, they don't have to buy a 70-footer and have crew they don't want."

Sleipner will have Vector fins for bigger boats and superyachts going forward. -- Report from IBI News, ibinews.com

Overall winner and winner in the Category Machinery, Propulsion, Mechanical And Electrical Systems And Fittings:
Sleipner Motor for the vector fin stabilizers

Category: Clothing and crew accessiores
boarding ring by boarding ring

Category: Marine electronics & Marine related software
Glass Cockpit System by Volvo Penta, AB

Category: Lifesaving and safety equipment
Monolite by Port Supply

Category: Deck Equipment, sails and rigging
NOMEN CLIP-cleat by Nomen Products GmbH

Category: Interior Equipment, furnishing, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins
SKYSOL Motion by Oceanair Marine Ltd.

Category: Marina Equipment, boatyard equipment and boat construction tools and materials
Vanclaes by Vanclaes

Category: Marine electronics & Marine related software
Evolution Autopilot by Raymarine UK Ltd.

Category: Interior Equipment, furnishing, materials and electrical fittings used in cabins
GISATEX neckroll and pillow by GISATEX GmbH & Co. KG

Category: Deck Equipment, sails and rigging
KJ Karver Jammer by Karver

Category: Clothing and crew accessiores
Lifedge waterproof case for iPhone 5/5S by Scanstrut Ltd.

Category: Machinery, propulsion, mechanical and electrical systems and fittings
Max-Prop Whisper by PYI Inc. / Seaview Progress

Category: Deck Equipment, sails and rigging
Oval 15zero Davit by Cooney Marine International Ltd.

Category: Marine electronics & Marine related software
quatix watch by Garmin

Category: Deck Equipment, sails and rigging
Sargasso Opening Hull Window by Trend Marine Products Ltd.

Category: Marine electronics & Marine related software
Vaavud wind meter by Vaavud

Details on the products at: www.metstrade.com

And In Other Industry News...
Dominion Marine Media used the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo to unveil DX1, the first cloud-based software system to provide end-to-end management of inventory, leads and sales for dealerships.

"We believe this will revolutionize the way you do business," senior vice president Ian Atkins told a gathering at the company's booth in the Orange County Convention Center Monday night.

"We'd like to give you back 82 working days per year," Atkins told dealers, referring to an estimated time savings of 30 percent that they could gain by using DX1 rather than entering product and customer data onto multiple websites and managing the data over those platforms.

"The problem in the industry is that each software provider tries to solve only a small slice of the [data management] problem," vice president of technology Damir Tresnjo said. "It's a common problem for a dealer to have to manage multiple websites with different passwords and then have to train their employees on the site. DX1 stops all the repetition."

DX1 is still in the beta stage of testing and refinement, Tresnjo said, with an official launch expected sometime in the first quarter of next year.

Soundings Trade Only: www.tradeonlytoday.com

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Gosport based Marina consultancy, Marina Projects Ltd, has announced the appointment of Assistant Project Manager, Christopher Doe. With a strong sailing background, BSc in Marine Geography, and several seasons aboard a superyacht, Chris further enhances the wealth of Marina Projects' knowledge and experience, particularly within the superyacht sector.

While at Southampton Solent University, Chris's BSc covered numerous topics including Marine Resource Development, Coastal Management, Ocean Policy, Coastal Zone Management, Coastal Defence Management and Geographic Information Systems.

As well as working in the marine industry as a professional skipper and coach, Chris is passionate about sailing and water based activities. An active member of Poole Yacht Club, Chris has headed up the youth section over previous years, introduced new events and coached members at various levels. Previously a member of the GB Mirror squad, Chris now competes more regularly aboard race yachts over 30 feet.

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Fort Lauderdale show reports largest crowds since 2006.

Many of the exhibitors at the 54th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show had similar observations - the weather was good for a change and there seemed to be more people.

Five days of sunshine speaks for itself, but as it turns out there were a lot more people. Organizers reported Wednesday that gate attendance for the Oct. 31-Nov. 4 show was up 28 percent from the prior year and the highest since the 2006 show.

More important, the buying mood also was apparently brighter, as numerous exhibitors said they had their best sales figures in years.

"Exhibitors have reported a very strong show," Efrem "Skip" Zimbalist III, CEO of Show Management, the company that manages and produces the show, said in a statement.

Featured Brokerage
1974 Palmer Johnson Custom S&S. US$ 350,000. Located In Oxnard, California, USA.

KIALOA III is truly part of ocean racing history, designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built at Palmer Johnson in 1974. She has circled the globe twice and has won some of the most prestigious ocean races, including the World Ocean Racing Trophy in 1979, with an impressive record of wins. First to finish the 1975 Trans Atlantic Race to Cowes, the Sydney Hobart (setting a course record!), and the Trans Pac in 1977, are just a few of her impressive race records. Converted to a sloop in 1978, KIALOA III is now set up for cruising in comfort, yet remains a fast passage maker. She is strong, capable and ready to go. Located in Newport Beach, California.

Brokerage through Ardell Yacht and Ship Brokers: www.yachtworld.com/ardell/

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

The Last Word
Madness is confusion of levels of fact...Madness is not seeing visions but confusing levels. -- William Burroughs

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