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Barcelona World Race: Cheminees Poujoulat On The Prowl
All of the leading group are going west as expected. GAES Centros Auditivos were first to gybe around 1300hrs this afternoon, hence losing initial miles to the leaders. Hugo Boss and Neutrogena gybed west at almost the same time some two hours later and then Cheminees Poujoulat were last to go. In reality Hugo Boss are still some 18 or 19 miles directly in front of Cheminees Poujoulat, the evening ranking skewed by the proximity to the rhumb line and the distance south, but in reality little will have changed since the last position report. Hugo Boss has still covered the greatest distance.

That said GAES Centros Auditivos do seem to have been more lifted on their angle back to the west. And for sure Cheminees Pojoulat are on the march, putting Hugo Boss under pressure on the most optimised Farr design which should be improved in these conditions.

Breezes are still solid, good trade winds and the pace relentless.

Next up are the Cape Verde islands, and another decision, through or round the west or east?

Rankings 07/01/2015 at 19:00:00 UTC
1. Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson / Pepe Ribes
2. Cheminees Poujoulat, Bernard Stamm / Jean Le Cam
3. Neutrogena, Guillermo Altadill / Jose Munoz
4. GAES Centros Auditivos, Anna Corbella / Gerard Marín
5. Renault Captur, Jorg Riechers / Sebastien Audigane
6. One Planet, One Ocean / Pharmaton, Aleix Gelabert / Dídac Costa
7. We Are Water, Bruno Garcia / Willy Garcia
8. Spirit of Hungary, Nandor Fa / Conrad Colman

www.barcelonaworldrace.org

McDougall + McConaghy International Moth Worlds
Sorrento, Australia: The Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club (SSCBC) has received a record 165 entries for the McDougall + McConaghy 2015 International Moth World Championship due to be sailed in the popular seaside town of Sorrento from 9-16 January, 2015, on Port Phillip.

Among the entries is defending world champion Nathan Outteridge. The NSW 2012 Olympic 49er gold medallist and America's Cup skipper for Artemis Racing will attempt to defend his title and in the process become one of the first world champions in the New Year.

Outteridge is well aware those he will race against are just as credentialed. Concentrating on his 2016 Olympic 49er campaign in Rio and the Worlds in Santander, he has also been flat out in his role as skipper for Artemis Racing in San Francisco these last few months.

"I actually haven't sailed my Moth at all since the 2014 Worlds in Hayling Island back in July," said the multi-skilled sailor.

www.mothworlds.org/sorrento/

Mirror Worlds
Villiersdorp, South Africa: With no racing on day one of the regatta due to a strong westerly, both competitors and race officials were eager to get on the water and an early start was called. Unfortunately, due to the light conditions in the morning, the first race only got away at lunch time, but thanks to a well run afternoons racing, we managed to get in four races.

At the end of the first days racing, Michaela & Ryan Robinson (SA) lead the pack followed by Eleanor Keers & Isobel Pugh (GBR) and Douglas & Charlotte Raftesath (AUS).

Overall top five after seven races

1. Michaela Robinson / Ryan Robinson, RSA, 22
2. Eleanor Keers / Isobel Pugh, GBR, 22
3. Douglas Raftesath / Charlotte Raftesath , AUS, 23
4. Eben Vivier / Johan Vivier South Africa, RSA, 31
5. Scarlett Shepherd / Esme Shepherd, GBR, 34

Full results

2015worlds.mirrorsailing.org

Sailing and Marine Manager - Middle Island Vacancy
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, one of the oldest sailing and rowing clubs in Hong Kong, is looking for a high calibre individual to fill the post of Sailing and Marine Manager.

This is a full-time contract based in Hong Kong commencing March / April 2015. Reporting to the Marine Services Manager, the successful applicant will lead and manage the sailing development, regatta events and marine activities at RHKYC's Middle Island property. The island is located 8km from central Hong Kong, is accessed daily by a 2 minute club owned ferry ride from the shore. The primary focus of this role shall be to foster and mentor the talents of suitable youth members graduating from the training programs to podium positions at regional and global competition in Optimist, Laser, 29er and 420 classes. The position duties include the supervision of the marina, hardstand, ferry boat services and the repairs and maintenance of a very substantial fleet of club keel boats, sailing dinghies, work boats, rowing and paddling craft. Currently there are 16 full time staff plus casual instructors as reporting staff.

We look for people with:

- Successful results as a participant and coach at ISAF recognized dinghy or keelboat competition.
- Senior management experience in marine operations and preferably sailing school / academy management.
- Experience with special event logistics and international race management.
- Hands on knowledge of fibreglass repairs and deck hardware installation.
- A managerial level of finance and administrative ability.
- A mature and mentoring personality with excellent communication skills.
- The flexibility to work on weekends and midweek shifts.
- An above average level of fitness.

This is a very senior position at the RHKYC. We offer an attractive remuneration and excellent fringe benefits to the right candidate. Closing date for applications is 7 February 2015.

Interested parties should submit a comprehensive CV to The Human Resources Manager, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Kellett Island, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong or e-mail to

Hungarians Claim 11th Flying Dutchman World Title
Hungary's Szabolcs Majthenyi and Andras Domokos have claimed their 11th Flying Dutchman World title following a dominant display in Sydney, Australia.

With a day to spare and one further race scheduled the Hungarians have an unassailable lead with their worst result of a second their highest discard of two.

Enno Kramer and Ard Geelkerken (NED) have guaranteed themselves silver medal whilst the final podium spot is to be decided in the final race after an exciting penultimate day.

Full results

Entries Open This Week For J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round The Island Race
The J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organised annually by the Island Sailing Club (ISC) in Cowes, is on many a sailor's bucket list. Thousands have competed since the Race was first held in 1931 with entry numbers peaking at 1,908 in the 80th Anniversary year in 2011.

Since then, the Race has enjoyed steady entry numbers averaging 1,500 boats and around 16,000 sailors competing annually. One of the unique attractions of this Race is its even-handedness and the opportunity for Olympic and World champion sailors to be racing alongside amateurs, families and club sailors of all ages.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is delighted that it will remain the official charity of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race for a further two years.

Entries open at 00.01 on January 9th.

The Race takes place on Saturday June 27th with a first start time scheduled for 0700. www.rtir.me/entries

The Island Sailing Club is grateful for the continued support of the Race Title Sponsor, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and the Race Partners: Dream Yacht Charter, Haven Knox-Johnston, Henri Lloyd, Old Pulteney, Raymarine, Volvo Car UK.

Official Race website:
www.roundtheisland.org.uk

Oracle Gets Early Jump On America's Cup Rivals
America's Cup holder Oracle have taken a jump on their rivals, launching a test boat next month and moving to Bermuda in April.

Oracle Team USA chief executive Sir Russell Coutts confirmed a shift to the new America's Cup venue was imminent with the team determined to acclimatise to local conditions.

Bermuda hosts a World Series qualifying event in the modified AC45 catamarans in October and the challenger finals and America's Cup match will be sailed there in 2017.

"The team's got to do one last session in San Francisco in February. They're going to be sailing a new test boat that has been built. That's going to be starting in February in San Francisco and then the whole operation will move to Bermuda. The team is planning on being there in April." -- Duncan Johnstone

www.stuff.co.nz

Seahorse February 2015
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

World news
And it's top (Rhum) marks for Alex Pella and our own roving correspondent Miranda Merron, Bermuda wins the opening skirmish of America's Cup 35... and Grant Dalton reacts, Xabi Fernandez explains the changes onboard Volvo entry Mapfre... some context to 'Nicho's' heartbreak and Wild Oats heads for Hawaii... Carlos Pich, Blue Robinson, Ivor Wilkins, Patrice Carpentier, Dobbs Davis

Rod Davis
And how Artemis Racing intend to rewrite the playbook for the 35th America's Cup in 2017

ORC column
Making life easier for regatta organisers (and competitors). Dobbs Davis

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ORC Announces New ORCy Rule For Superyachts
An initiative by the SuperYacht Racing Association (SYRA) led to collaboration with the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) and ultimately the creation of a new superyacht handicapping rule - the ORC SuperYacht Rule (ORCsy).

Handicapping widely disparate superyachts represents one of the most formidable challenges any rule authority can undertake. With racing yachts that include schooners, sloops and ketches of varying lengths and with displacements ranging from 50 to 600 tons, it is a challenging task.

Selecting a handicap rule for any regatta is a decision that is made by each individual Regatta Organizer. It is not a decision made by the SYRA and the SYRA does not administer the rule. The YC Costa Smeralda, Bucket Regattas and Superyacht Cup Palma will use the ORCsy for their respective 2015 regattas.

The ORC began development of the new superyacht rule last summer and their working party includes respected names familiar to many in the handicapping arena - Andy Claughton, Nicola Sironi, Alessandro Nazareth, Paolo Massarini, and Martyn Prince of the Wolfson Unit at the University of Southampton.

The ORCSY handicap application is available now at the Superyacht section on the ORC website: www.orc.org/superyacht

M2H Race Yacht Aground On Return Voyage
The winner of the Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster Race, the Victorian yacht Seduction, early today ran aground on Gull Island in the Furneaux Islands on the return voyage from Hobart to Melbourne, with the delivery crew of five rescued by a Police launch within two hours.

The yacht was returning to Melbourne after competing in the ORCV 2014 Melbourne to Hobart ocean yacht race and was en route to Lady Barron on Flinders Island.

The crew was rescued by the Flinders Island police boat at approximately 0640 hours this morning.

Other yachts in the vicinity heard their MAYDAY call, including two ORCV yachts returning from Hobart, Trybooking and Cartouche, which were then about four hours away on the west side of Cape Barren Island, but were not required in the rescue operation.

The yacht is currently still aground and investigations are under way regarding a salvage operation, including minimising the impact on the environment.

Seduction won the ORCV 2014 Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster in all three handicap divisions (AMS, IRC and PHS) and also won the Sovereign Series which also included to Cock of the Bay and the King of the Derwent races in all three handicap divisions. -- Peter Campbell

King Of Derwent Crown To The Fork In The Road
Former world champion and Olympic dinghy sailor Gary Smith today added another crown to his illustrious career, steering The Fork in the Road to victory in Hobart's iconic harbour race, the 2015 Lexus of Hobart King of the Derwent.

The noted Tasmanian yacht won the IRC handicap division of the spectacular round-the-buoys race giving her the coveted title of King of the Derwent to add to line or handicap honours in almost every offshore race in the State, including her fourth line honours win early this week in the National Pies Launceston to Hobart Race.

Smith recently was inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame, the first yachtsman to receive this honour in more than three decades.

The Fork in the Road also won the AMS division, with Seduction second and Paul Einedor's Beneteau Oceanis 37 third.

The PHS division went to Paul Einoder's Off-Piste from The Fork in the Road and Tony Ellis' Moonshadow.

The results of today's Lexus King of the Derwent has seen the National Pies Launceston to Hobart Series go to Off-Piste, taking out all three handicap categories, IRC, AMS and PHS. -- Peter Campbell

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 Bob Fisher: I do not think that the Master and Pilot of the Hoegh Osaka can possibly qualify for membership. It was their deliberate action that saved the vessel from sinking. It may well have resulted in the beaching of the vessel, but they were aware of what they were doing and therefore it was not an "inadvertent" error, one of the basic essentials to be considered when assessing for membership of the SWSYC.

Interestingly, on Thursday morning the Commodore, David Latchford, accompanied by a Custodian, met with Wouter Verbraak to invite him to become a member.

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The Last Word
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