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Emirates Team New Zealand Reveal Big AC50 Breakthrough
Photo by Richard Gladwell, www.photosport.co.nz. Click on image for photo gallery.

Emirates Team New Zealand have splashed their new AC50 in Auckland this morning and revealed another break-though.

In the 2013 America's Cup the team designed the first foiling catamaran even though that concept was not contemplated in the rules. It was widely reckoned that they revealed their secret too early and other teams were able to copy in the time available.

Instead of conventional grinding pedestals the AC50 features cycle grinding pedestals ('pedalstals') which allow the crew to use their more powerful leg muscles to grind and provide the power for the AC50 systems.

All other teams have used conventional arm driven grinding pedestals which are a lot less effective, cannot be driven for extended periods at a high heart rate, and use a much weaker muscle group. The bonus for Emirates Team New Zealand is that they have four grinding positions per side, while the other teams have two - but with two grinders on each.

The use of cycle pedestals where the crews pedal to provide the power are not new; they were tried in the 12 Metre Class in 1977 by the Swedish Challenger, Sverige. In that use, the crews were mostly below decks, which also reduced windage. -- Richard Gladwell in Sail-World.com

www.sail-world.com

Record Entry For RORC Caribbean 600
A fleet of over 80 yachts is expected for the ninth edition of the 2017 RORC Caribbean 600 in which 900 sailors from 30 different nations will race non-stop around 11 Caribbean islands, starting and finishing in Antigua. Passionate corinthians will be rubbing shoulders with Olympic medallists, America's Cup winners and round the world sailors in a race to take home the coveted RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy. The 600 mile course is designed to offer a tactical, high speed race with stunning vistas at every corner.

Entry list

Featuring a magnificent collection of yachts, an incredibly varied fleet will be racing under the IRC, CSA and MOCRA rating systems, as well as Class40s racing under class rules. Rambler 88, Phaedo3 and Maserati will be gunning for course records, however, the winner of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy will be decided by the yacht with the best corrected time under IRC.

George David's American Maxi Rambler 88 is back with an impressive crew line-up for another tilt at the race record, the overall win and class honours. New Zealand's multiple America's Cup winner, Brad Butterworth is part of an impressive afterguard including fellow Kiwi, Brad Jackson and Australian navigator, Andrew Cape. Virtually the entire crew are America's Cup winners and stars of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Lloyd Thornburg's American MOD 70 Phaedo3 has lowered the bar for the multihulls for the last two years and this year will be up against stiff competition from Giovanni Soldini's Italian MOD70, Maserati.

Phaedo3 has assembled a phenomenal crew for the race and multiple world record holder, Brian Thompson is joined by Volvo Ocean Race winners Robert Greenhalgh and Damian Foxall. Extreme 40 champion, Pete Cumming and the formidable talent of Michel Desjoyeux, the only sailor to have won the Vendée Globe twice. Maserati's skipper, Giovanni Soldini is Italy's most decorated offshore sailor and Maserati has been fitted with foils which can provide a speed advantage over Phaedo3. A fascinating contest for multihull line honours is expected.

The winner of the Multihull Class will be the yacht with the best corrected time under MOCRA. Seven teams are entered including Shaun Carroll's Australian Modified Sea Cart 30, Morticia which is the smallest yacht competing in the entire fleet, and the head-turning all-carbon R-Six, skippered by Robert Janecki, which is the first ever entry from Belize.

Overall winners of the previous eight editions of the race have all come from IRC Canting Keel and IRC Zero. Amongst this year's favourites are two Maxi 72s: Hap Fauth's Bella Mente - overall winner in the 2015 race, and current holder of the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy, George Sakellaris' Proteus.

Whilst the two Maxi 72s are firm favourites, the stellar cast racing in IRC Canting Keel and IRC Zero includes; Farr 100 Leopard and three Volvo 70s, Lionel Pean's SFS II from France, Trifork skippered by Dutchman Bouwe Bekking and Green Dragon, skippered by Austrian Johannes Schwarz. The dark horse of the canting keel class is Maverick, skippered by Oliver Cotterell. The Infiniti 46 with DSS side foils was class winner for the RORC Transatlantic Race and the Rolex Middle Sea Race.

caribbean600.rorc.org

The 36th Copa Del Rey Mapfre Going For Record Numbers
The Real Club Nautico de Palma has published the Notice of Race for the high-profile Mediterranean event, for Club Swan 50, Swan 45, Club Swan 42, X-35, J80, IRC, ORC, Maxi 72, TP52 and also the GC32, to return to the Bay of Palma as a guest class. The Regatta organisation is expecting record numbers for this year's event

Organised by the Real Club Nautico de Palma since 1982, the 36th Copa del Rey MAPFRE will be held on the Bay of Palma from 29th July to 5th August; the first two days for registration confirmation and measuring, and racing will begin on Monday 31st July.

Six intense days of competition lie ahead, and the Regatta Committee aims to complete a programme of 12 races for the Swan 45, X-35 and J80 classes; 24 races for the GC32 and 11 for the other participating classes.

In the last edition of the Copa del Rey MAPFRE, the Bay of Palma saw a vast fleet of 126 teams and 19 nationalities, made even more spectacular by the Maxi 72 and GC32 classes joining the racing.

All teams wishing to participate can undertake their pre-registration from tomorrow until 1st June, online at the official regatta web site www.regatacopadelrey.com

Notice of Race

Seahorse March 2017
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

World news
Thomas Coville redefines the solo game, Jo Aleh looks offshore, the gentlest of (fast) Hobarts, Key West shines on and ARMEL battles metal fatigue (as well as Alex Thomson). Ivor Wilkins, Blue Robinson, Patrice Carpentier, Dobbs Davis

Be afraid!
The Dynamic Stability System has moved in from the lunatic fringe... Gordon Kay reviews the progress and acceptability that have been achieved

Unclipping the wings
James Boyd clambers inside some of today's new AC Class wings... metaphorically speaking

Personnel critical
A crew may not be a deciding factor in winning the America's Cup but they can certainly lose it. Ken Read introduces his new Cup column...

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Colman's Slow But Sure, Boissieres Due Friday
Conrad Colman has been making modest but positive progress since he managed to set sail under his jury rig very early this Wednesday morning. The Vendée Globe skipper whose Foresight Natural Energy was dismasted just around 2200hrs last Friday night reported that he had set part of his mainsail and was planning also to fashion a foresail as well. He had made around 40 miles in a north westerly direction since early this morning but his biggest problem is lack of wind.

It is believed he is heading west and north to try and hook into some stronger downwind and reaching conditions which would hopefully allow the Kiwi skipper to quicker speeds towards Les Sables d'Olonne, 725 miles to his north east. Colman now has a working computer and has been able to send some test e-mails. Sailing at angles closer than 90° to the wind is not really ideal. The sail plan is not suitable and it might put too much strain on the rig when the wind strengthens. In the lighter winds, the tacking angles would be massive. Under such a jury rig, the ideal is moderate winds at an angle of greater than 90 degrees. Colman is likely to avoid the southern part of the Bay of Biscay where the wind will be light and blowing from the East from Saturday. It looks more likely that he would sail northward to position himself north of the Azores high and the associated ridge. He could then sail in westerly winds which will strengthen over the next few days and will push him towards the finish line in Les Sables d'Olonne by the end of next week.

Arnaud Boissieres had less than 190 miles to make to the finish line off his home port of Les Sables d'Olonne. While he was still making a solid eight to 10 knots late this afternoon, he looks set to endure a slow final day in a wide high pressure ridge. Ironically that system is responsible for beautiful spring like sunshine around Les Sables d'Olonne where the flags are scarcely lifting in the light breezes. Boissieres will be impatiently counting down the hours until he can be re-united with his infant son, Leo, who was only one month old when the race started. Boissieres on La Mie Câline is expected to finish Friday morning entering the channel around 1000hrs.

vendeeglobe.org

Air, Defence & Security Industry Sailing Cup
Solent Events are delighted to announce the launch of a brand new sailing regatta for 2017. The Air, Defence and Security Industry Sailing Cup will take place on Wednesday 7th June and is sponsored by Ajilon Technology Services, part of the Adecco Group. This one day Sailing Cup is a great opportunity for networking, team bonding or client entertaining.

All entries will help raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund, a charity that does great work for serving and former RAF members and their dependents.

The event starts from the Royal Air Force Yacht Club in Hamble (near Southampton) and will provide an action packed day on the water for teams of 8 guests under the watchful guidance of our 2 professional and friendly crew.

Racing will take place on a matched fleet of 40 foot cruiser/racing yachts with a comprehensive package including breakfast, lunch, post sailing drinks and a BBQ with prize giving.

A range of sponsorship opportunities are available to expose your company, enhance the event and enable us to make a larger contribution to the RAF Benevolent Fund. Talk to us about what options may suit your requirements and budget.

www.solent-events.co.uk

Blu26 Season 2017 To Start On Lake Garda
Bluboats is organizing the eight edition of the blu26 Regattatraining on Lake Garda, in cooperation with the Sailingcenter Tegernsee. This time for the first time in Riva del Garda together with Fraglia Vela Riva. For four days, from the 30th of March to the 2nd of April 2017, pro sailor Christian Scherrer and Stephan Eder will coach you to become a better sailor. In addition to the training and racing on the water, video analysis and theoretical parts, we guarantee the usual friendly social time and great Italian food. The training will end with a short regatta series. Teams and individuals with or without their own boats are welcome.

For more information contact us by email . The registration form for the training is available here.

The Lake Garda Regattatraining is followed by the blu26 Cup Zug which will open the Bluboats Cup 2017, the yearly overall class championship. The Bluboats Cup counts a total of five regattas including a Swiss Championship which can't be discarded.

Additionally to the Regattatraining and the Bluboats Cup the class is organising for the second time in cooperation with the Porto Montenegro Yacht Club and the local Montenegrin blu26 fleet the blu26 Race Montenegro which will be held in the first half of the season.

blu26.org

YCCS Virgin Gorda To Host Top International Regattas In March
The team at YCCS Virgin Gorda, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's Caribbean home, are putting the final touches to their newly redeveloped Clubhouse and Marina prior to reopening in time for three international regattas taking place in the first half of March 2017. The Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean (1-5 March), the YCCS 50th Anniversary Regatta (7 March) and the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous (10-13 March) will kick off a year of celebrations to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Club's foundation.

The third edition of the biennial Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean currently boasts a fleet of 18 participating yachts covering a wide spectrum of the most iconic designs from the Nautor's Swan shipyard. Entries range from Courdileone and Earlybird - two of the latest Clubswan 50 one-design racer-cruiser models penned by Juan Kouyoumdjian - to the new blue water cruiser Swan 54 ALBA and the regal Swan 90s B5 and Freya, not forgetting the flagship of the fleet - the 2016-launched Swan 115 Highland Fling 15. Also competing alongside their cutting-edge sisterships will be several of Nautor's classic yachts from the 1970's including Best Buddies, Spirit and Vahine.

Full entry list

The YCCS 50th Anniversary Regatta, the first of the Club's special events to commemorate its foundation in Porto Cervo, Italy in 1967, will take place on 7th March and will consist of a festival of sail open to yachts large and small. In honour of the 50th anniversary, proceedings will be observed by a delegation of YCCS Members from around the world taking part in a cruise of the British Virgin Islands aboard the historic triple-masted windjammer Sea Cloud.

www.yccs.it

YCCS Marina will then host an impressive fleet of eighteen of the world's largest sailing yachts for the seventh edition of the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous, organised in collaboration with Boat International Media and with the support of luxury brand Loro Piana as title sponsor. Former winners Nilaya (2014, 2016) and P2 (2015) will line up against other regulars at the event such as the 46-metre Ganesha and the 60-metre Perseus 3. Alongside seasoned competitors, the entry list for the 2017 event includes a host of newcomers, including the 2016-launched Ammonite, competing for the first time in Caribbean waters, as well as Q (ex-Mondango), at 52 metres the second largest sailing yacht in the fleet.

www.boatinternational.com

Featured Brokerage
2006 Farr 42 WoW. 169,950 EUR. Located in Dublin, Ireland.

Well-Equipped with a great inventory. 2016 Cork Week - IRC Coastal Winner.Designed for both inshore and offshore performance. The boat is in immaculate condition, with a great inventory of sails and equipment. Professionally maintained from new, WoW is in regatta winning condition.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Joe Hall
Farr Yacht Sales Europe

+44 1983 200901

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2003 Swan 45-026 'Checkmate'. 295,000 EUR. Located Marina di Scarlino, Italy.

Checkmate is a three-cabin Swan 45 and has recently been introduced to the brokerage market. Currently lying at the Nautor's Swan Service Center in Scarlino, Italy, she is offered for sale in VAT Paid status.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek & Stefano Leonardi

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2014 Swan 60-910 'Thor'. 3,250,000 EUR. Located in California, USA.

‘Thor’ was launched in November 2014 and is ready for racing or cruising. Currently lying in Mexico, she is available for immediate delivery.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Lorenzo Bortolotti

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled my energies and drove me in new directions. -- E. O. Wilson

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