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Velux 5 Oceans Fleet Approach the Doldrums
The competition - and the weather - is really starting to hot up as the Velux 5 Oceans fleet press south towards the Equator. After ten days of sailing which have seen the fleet encounter a host of weather conditions from frustrating, light breeze to strong winds and high seas, the five ocean racers have their biggest challenge of the leg so far ahead of them: the Doldrums.

At the head of the fleet, American solo sailor Brad Van Liew continues to stretch his lead over the chasing pack. The latest position report at 12pm UTC put the 42-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, 86 nautical miles ahead of Polish ocean racer Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski as the pair blast south past the Cape Verde Islands.

Canadian Derek Hatfield changed course overnight to avoid the islands, and now trails Brad by 314 miles. A passage too close to them could cause problems for the sailors due to the light, unpredictable winds that can be found around the islands. The 57-year-old sailed west for eight hours to clear the islands and also put his Eco 60 yacht Active House on course to cross the Doldrums.

While Brad suffered two knockdowns on Le Pingouin and Gutek was caught out with too much sail up as they both headed through a low pressure system, Derek, who chose a similar course, has so far escaped unscathed.

Gutek has been recovering from a nasty injury to his head caused by the wind generator on Operon Racing. The blades on the wind generator sliced his forehead in several places yesterday forcing the 36-year-old to get out the needle and thread and stitch his wounds back together. To add more misery, Gutek got an electric shock from his hydrogenerator while trying to fix it yesterday. "Is it not enough that I'm already wounded?" he wrote this morning. "An electric shock now? Wonderful."

British skipper Chris Stanmore-Major, who chose a course closer to the coast of northern Africa, was last positioned off the coast of Mauritiana. Despite his fourth place, CSM clocked the highest average speed between the morning and midday reports on Spartan averaging 12 knots.

Christophe Bullens, more than 1,800 nautical miles behind Brad after returning to La Rochelle after the race start last Sunday, has also chosen a more inshore route hugging the Portuguese coastline. His yacht Five Oceans of Smiles too continues to be plagued by electrical problems and his average speed over the last 24 hours was polled at just 3.1 knots.

www.velux5oceans.com

ISAF World Match Race Rankings
The top three skippers on the open rankings remain the same with this ranking release, with Adam Minoprio (NZL) holding off the advances of Ben Ainslie. The real action is in the women's rankings where Nicky Souter (AUS) returns to the #1 position ahead of 2010 World Champion Lucy MacGregor (GBR).

Since the last rankings release, ISAF has crowned a new Women's Match Racing World Champion and the climax of the 2010 World Match Racing Tour is right on the horizon. Open Rankings

The gap between Adam Minoprio and Ben Ainslie has closed slightly after Ainslie defended his Argo Group Gold Cup title in Bermuda. Mathieu Richard (FRA) maintains his position in third overall ahead of Australia's Torvar Mirsky while Peter Gilmour (AUS) displaces Ian Williams (GBR) to complete the top five.

The World Match Racing Tour now moves to Malaysia for the final event of the season, the Monsoon Cup where all eyes will be on Richard, Minoprio and Ainslie all within striking distance of the World Championship title.

There are no Grade 1 Open events included in this release and just one Grade 2 event, the Master Espana Match Race. #7 ranked sailor Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) took the title in Bayona but does not change his ranking position.

Women's Rankings
The bronze medal for Nicky Souter at the ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championships has proved enough to boost her back to the #1 position but it is by the smallest of margins. The new world champion, Lucy is snapping at her heels just eight points behind. Claire Leroy (FRA) went out to Souter in the petit-final but was back on the top of the podium to claim her National Championship title; she slips one place down to #3. Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) moves up one place to #4 while previous #1, Renee Groeneveld, who finished in seventh at the Worlds slides down to #5. Silver medallist Sally Barkow (USA) makes her return to the top ten at #9. Feeling the effects of not competing at the Worlds is Silke Hahlbrock (GER) who falls out of the top ten, five places to #13.

The next release of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings will be on 8 December 2010.

Top ten open rankings

1. Adam Minoprio, NZL
2. Ben Ainslie, GBR
3. Mathieu Richard, FRA
4. Torvar Mirsky, AUS
5. Peter Gilmour, AUS
6. Ian Williams, GBR
7. Pierre-Antoine Morvan, FRA
8. Bjorn Hansen, SWE
9. Francesco Bruni, ITA
10. Peter Wibroe, DEN

Top ten women's rankings

1. Nicky Souter, AUS
2. Lucy Macgregor, GBR
3. Claire Leroy, FRA
4. Anna Tunnicliffe, USA
5. Renee Groeneveld, NED
6. Ekaterina Skudina, RUS
7. Katie Spithill, AUS
8. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA
9. Sally Barkow, USA
10. Julie Bossard, FRA

www.sailing.org

Farr 30 Pre-Worlds Action
Hyeres, France: Two-time Tour De France a la Voile winner Courrier Dunkerque sent a statement to the 2010 Farr 30 World Championship fleet today and Monday with a dominant victory in the 5-race pre-worlds series in conditions that ranged from 30-knot thunderstorms to sunny, 5-knot zephyrs.

Dunkerque helm and 2005 Farr 30 World Champion Pierre-Loic Berthet will have his work cut out for him, as leading the charge for this prestigious Class championship is 2010 Tour De France a la Voile winners Vincent Portugal and Bernard Mallaret with Nouvelle Caledonie.

The sole US challenger for the Championship is Santa Barbara's Deneen Demourkas, who finished fourth on the Tour De France with Groovederci.

Nine races are targeted for the Class World Championship beginning this Thursday on the Bay of Hyeres on the French Mediterranean coast. This will be the first Farr 30 World Championship in two years after a tragic fire at the 2009 Worlds venue and associated administrative issues prevented the Class from holding its 2009 Championship.

For Pre-Worlds results, updates, and photos, please check out the Farr 30 Facebook page or www.Farr30.org

UK-Halsey Rules Quiz
The UK-Halsey Rules Quiz animations have been called the best way to learn the rules, and the videos of the rules being explained make the learning process that much easier. We have already posted seven videos which cover: the importance of the definitions, the definition of when you are racing and when the rules and penalties apply, definition of being on a tack, definition of proper course, the definition of finishing and much more. The videos are only available as part of the Rules Quiz program and we will continue to post videos throughout the year.

The answers to all the quizzes were re-written for the rules changes by Rob Overton, who has been a member of the US Sailing Racing Rules Committee since 1993. Rob was one of five international rule writers who drafted the new Section C rules that took effect on January 1, 2009.

See the Rules Quiz page at www.ukhalsey.com/RulesQuiz/quiz_list.asp

You can buy the Quiz program for $55 or $100 for the program plus two of the best books written on the 2009-2012 Racing Rules - Understanding the Rules by Dave Perry and The Rules in Practice by Bryan Willis. Both are reviewed in our Rules Blog.

www.ukhalsey.com/store/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=4

RS:X Youth World Championship
Super light winds all day out of the south and two races for all fleets. The first round for the youth men is now complete. Thomas Goyard (FRA) will now go mano-a-mano against Michalis Malekkides (CYP) who is 2 points adrift in second. This battle is going to go right down to the wire which is from where Michalis snatched the 2009 RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships. 'Will he do it again?' may be the question on Thomas' mind.

Tomorrow we are expecting 8-10 knots out of the East so a second day of light airs is on the cards followed by a blast on Friday so it will be the all rounders who come out on top.

The good news is that Manfredi Misuraca, the 2009 RS:X Youth Bronze medallist, finally showed the form that we know he is capable of with a consistent - 2-3 - today. All is not lost for him in terms of the medal race if he doesn't make any more mistakes. He is carrying his second discard already - a 22nd - so the pressure is on...

Top 5 Youth Men
1. Thomas Goyard, FRA
2. Michalis Malekkides, CYP
3. Jerome Pasquette, FRA
4. Connor Bainbridge, GBR
5. Joan Carles Cardona, ESP

Top 5 Youth Women
1. Hanna Zembrzuska, POL
2. Izzy Hamilton, GBR
3. Helene Noesmoen, FRA
4. Kamila Smektala, POL
5. Antonatou Charalambia, GRE

youthworldwindsurfingchampionships2010.rsxclass.com

Imperia Winter Regatta Number 21
Photo by Fabio Taccola. Click on image to enlarge.

Imperia Winter Regatta Imperia, Italy: Imperia Winter Regatta , the event organized by Yacht Club Imperia, is becoming the most important winter Mediterranean sailing race: the 21st edition will be held as usual in Oneglia Harbour starting on 4th and finishing on 8th December 2010.

An even bigger number of teams are expected to take part in the event coming from all over Europe countries: this year once again at least 350 crews will be at sea: the racing classes will be 420 (open and ladies), Olympic classes 470 (man and women) and Laser /Standard (man), Radial and Radial boys.

At the moment at least 50 teams ahve alredy entered the event and the teams ara coming from Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerlan, Ukraine,

As usual L'Equipe teams will race in Imperia taking part in the International Meeting.

As in the past editions the fleet will race on different sail areas in front of Imperia Harbour and races will be managed by an international jury: ten races are scheduled for 470 and Laser classes, nine for 420 and L'Equipe classes. -- Laura Jelmini

i-w-r.com

Dates Announced For Warsash Spring Series 2011
Menace III (Derek Morland/Tim Rees) on her way to winning IRC4 in the 2010 Warsash Spring Series. Photo by Eddie Mays, www.eddiemays.com. Click on image to enlarge.

Warsash Spring Series Warsash Sailing Club has announced the dates for the 2011 Warsash Spring Series. Six Sundays are earmarked for the main Series with starts in the central Solent. These are 13th, 20th, 27th March and 3rd, 10th and 17th April. The Black Group fleet (4 IRC classes plus J/109, J/105, J/92) will generally have one long, challenging race a day, whilst White Group (Laser SB3, J/80, Sportsboats) will have three shorter races each Sunday.

The dates for the Warsash Spring Championship, with racing on Saturday and Sunday, are 9th/10th and 16th/17th April. Here selected Black Group boats (including the "Big Boat" class, Farr 45s, First 40.7s and others by invitation) will enjoy a total of 12 races. On the same days, White Group (Laser SB3s, J/80s and Sportsboats) have 14 races.

The Series and Championship will be completed before the Easter bank holiday.

The new "IRC Sportsboat" classification replaces the former RYA/RORC Sports Boat Rule in January 2011. Warsash Sailing Club will be offering an IRC Sportsboat class.

www.warsashspringseries.org.uk

The Norman Authorities Commit to the Normandy Channel Race
The press conference to launch the Normandy Channel Race 2011 took place in Lower-Normandy's Regional Council in Caen.

Represented at the gathering was the Town of Caen and the urban area of Caen la Mer, through the voice of its Deputy and Mayor and President Philippe Duron, Jacques Lelandais the Vice-President of Caen la Mer, the Lower-Normandy Regional Council represented by its Vice-Presidents Pierre Mouraret and Marie-Jeanne Gobert, as well as Paul Chandelier, Vice-President of the Calvados County Council and President of the Departmental Committee of Tourism. Together they reaffirmed their commitment to the Normandy Channel Race for the 2011 edition and subsequent editions.

At the point where an outstanding fleet of 46 Class40s is preparing to take the start of the Route du Rhum in a few days' time, the selection of the Class 40 as the craft for the NORMANDY CHANNEL RACE demonstrates both its pertinence and its potential.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the port of Caen-Ouistreham will also continue to provide important support on the harbour and marine level. -- Translated by Kate Jennings

www.normandy-race.com

Sail Faster And Smarter!
Speed and Smarts Speed & Smarts is a bi-monthly newsletter packed with tips to improve your racing performance. It's written by winning AC tactician David Dellenbaugh, and each issue has 16 pages full of instructional advice on tactics, strategy, speed, boathandling and rules (plus there's no advertising!).

Whether you race a one-design or big boat, at the top or bottom of your fleet, you'll find lots of valuable ideas in Speed & Smarts. In fact, when you consider the cost of other go-fast items you can buy, this newsletter gives you extremely good "bang for your buck."

View a sample issue at www.speedandsmarts.com/BackIssues/SampleIssue

Subscribe at www.speedandsmarts.com

Back With Hopes Of A Defence
Last time, from a very competitive IMOCA Open 60 fleet, it was Roland Jourdain who won the big monohull class at the Route du Rhum. He has a boat which is new to him for this race, a new Veolia Environnement.

Roland Jourdain takes his place in the nine boat IMOCA Open 60 line up, arriving Friday in Saint Malo from Concarneau as defending champion after winning into Pointe-a-Pitre in 2006.

Four years ago he left Guadeloupe high on the sweet smell of success. Here, in the cool Autumn weather of Brittany, Jourdain is back with a new Veolia Environnement a boat which is new to him, the Farr designed former BT which he has been working up for six months, with several changes to the configuration, not least a classical fixed mast, a change for Bilou after many years of rotating wings.

To progress and maintain his level of competitiveness he felt it essential to have a newer, faster boat, and even the 24 hours delivery from Concarneau was put to good use.

And all the training with the IMOCA Open 60 friends and rivals out from Port La Foret then Bilou is well acquainted with the fleet as it stands and how his new boat fits in:

"For sure all the boats are very close in performance. There were no real surprises for us, and for us it is really just good to have started with a different boat and to be ready with a good choice for the Rhum."

With ten years of experience in the IMOCA Open 60 Class he know the fleet andis well acquainted with the course, this will be the peak event for Jourdain's 2010 season. He returns to Saint Malo with the idea of victory in his head, but each race in turn dictates its own history.

www.routedurhum-labanquepostale.com

Saved By A Space Hopper
Saved by a Hopper On Saturday Charlotte Wright, 15, and her friend Hannah Woolacott 16, were minutes from drowning after they were washed off the pier in Dawlish, Devon.

After hearing the girls screams, Matthew Gribble, Andrew Riches and Leigh Larratt, all 24, called the coastguard and came to their rescue. After a lifebuoy didn't reach the girls quick-thinking Matthew threw out a neighbour's Space Hopper.

The girls who were 20 metres out from the seawall clutched hold the toy and reaching the tethered lifebuoy held on until Exmouth inshore lifeboat arrived. The boys urged the girls to keep their heads above the waves.

Two lifeboat crews and a rescue helicopter were scrambled. Both girls were treated in an Exeter hospital and later released.Raymarine is supporting Olly Rofix, a young leukaemia survivor, in his bid to sail single-handed around Britain. Olly will be raising money and awareness for the Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity that supports leukaemia sufferers and their families.

Olly was originally diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in September 2005, when he was 20 years old. His illness was later re-diagnosed as a very rare form of leukaemia - only ever recorded in three people. After four years of treatment and a bone marrow transplant, Olly is the only person to successfully survive the rare life-threatening disease and has now been given the all-clear. While in hospital, Olly wanted something positive to focus on and set himself the challenge of sailing single-handed round Britain.

Olly bought himself a Valiant 18 sailing boat, which he has named Jolly Olly. Raymarine, the Portsmouth based manufacturer has joined other marine industry companies to provide Olly with the vital electronics and safety equipment he needs to complete his trip. With Raymarine providing Olly with a C Series multifunction display, Lance Godefroy from Navionics has also supported the expedition by providing the essential electronic charts required.

Due to set off on his challenge in May 2011, and with the journey taking him 15-17 weeks to complete, Olly says one of the main aims of the challenge is raise awareness and get over 1,000 people to register as donors.

He also needs to raise nearly £35,000 before he can start. The money raised will go towards berthing fees, food and other costs. All monies remaining after the journey has been completed are going to be donated to The Anthony Nolan Trust to support other leukaemia sufferers and donors.

You can support Olly, keep up-to-date on his progress, follow him on Facebook and Twitter and make donations for The Anthony Nolan Trust via his website www.olivers-travels.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/

Leukaemia Survivor's Bid To Sail Single-Handed Around Britain
Raymarine is supporting Olly Rofix, a young leukaemia survivor, in his bid to sail single-handed around Britain. Olly will be raising money and awareness for the Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity that supports leukaemia sufferers and their families.

Olly was originally diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in September 2005, when he was 20 years old. His illness was later re-diagnosed as a very rare form of leukaemia - only ever recorded in three people. After four years of treatment and a bone marrow transplant, Olly is the only person to successfully survive the rare life-threatening disease and has now been given the all-clear. While in hospital, Olly wanted something positive to focus on and set himself the challenge of sailing single-handed round Britain.

Olly bought himself a Valiant 18 sailing boat, which he has named Jolly Olly. Raymarine, the Portsmouth based manufacturer has joined other marine industry companies to provide Olly with the vital electronics and safety equipment he needs to complete his trip. With Raymarine providing Olly with a C Series multifunction display, Lance Godefroy from Navionics has also supported the expedition by providing the essential electronic charts required.

Due to set off on his challenge in May 2011, and with the journey taking him 15-17 weeks to complete, Olly says one of the main aims of the challenge is raise awareness and get over 1,000 people to register as donors.

He also needs to raise nearly £35,000 before he can start. The money raised will go towards berthing fees, food and other costs. All monies remaining after the journey has been completed are going to be donated to The Anthony Nolan Trust to support other leukaemia sufferers and donors.

You can support Olly, keep up-to-date on his progress, follow him on Facebook and Twitter and make donations for The Anthony Nolan Trust via his website www.olivers-travels.co.uk

Featured Brokerage
Featured Brokerage Boat 2006 J Boats J/124. 195,000 GBP Tax Paid. Located In Port Hamble, near Southampton, United Kingdom.

The J124 is another great cruiser racer from J Boats. If the joy of sailing is a priority that feel of acceleration and response of a good boat but you still want to enjoy some overnight comfort on those yacht club cruises, then this is the J for you.

Her spec includes, heating, carbon wheel, cruising sails, racing sails and full navigation gear. Lying afloat in Hamble (South Coast, UK) and available to view seven days a week.

Brokerage through Ancasta International Boat Sales: www.yachtworld.com/ancasta/

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

Correction To The Recent Piece On Tanguy De Lamotte
Rogers Yacht Design would like to make a correction to the piece released in the 27th October issue of Scuttlebutt Europe. The Rhoute du Rhum press office released a factually incorrect release which stated that: 'Tanguy de Lamotte is almost unique in the class having designed his Class 40 Novedia-Initiatives'. Whilst Tanguy had an involvement in the design (to help him save costs), Rogers Yacht Design are the designers of his Rogers Class 40 and is a fact which is clearly stated on the Rhoute du Rhum website and indeed on Tanguy de Lamotte's own site.

We look forward to following the Rhoute du Rhum with our three Rogers Class 40s competing and wish the skippers every success.

The Last Word
It's good to shut up sometimes. -- Marcel Marceau

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