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Tell us about your favourite Sailor's Bar for our annual Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar contest.
See scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars.html

Minoprio Title Bid Down to the Wire
Kiwi sailor Adam Minoprio and his BlackMatch racing crew face several tough obstacles in their bid to defend their world match racing crown at this week's season-ending regatta in Malaysia.

The young team, who last week picked up the overall gong at the Yachting New Zealand's Excellence Awards, are seeking back-to-back titles on the prestigious world tour with a win in the Monsoon Cup, which begins tomorrow at the Malaysian resort of Kuala Terengganu.

But Minoprio and his crew of Nick Blackman, Dave Swete, Dan McLean and Tom Powrie will have to fend off a number of challenges for their crown. They are locked in a five-way battle for overall honours heading into the final deciding event.

The tense finish to the series has drawn comparisons to the recent grandstand finish in Formula 1, which saw four drivers go into the final grand prix of the year with a shot at winning the title.

Although five sailors are in with a mathematical chance of winning this year's title, in reality it is likely to be a three-way battle between Minoprio, Frenchman Mathieu Richard and Britain's Ben Ainslie.

Richard has a handy 15-point advantage at the top of the leaderboard and can wrap up the championship with a top two finish in the Monsoon Cup.

Minoprio lies in second place on the overall standings, but can defend his crown if he wins in Malaysia and Richard finishes no better than third, while Ainslie will need to win this week's regatta and rely on a couple of other results to go his way to steal the crown.

But with the conditions at the Malaysian resort notoriously difficult, there is a very real chance of upsets.

If there is a lot of rain the week before the regatta, the rivers become raging torrents and turn Pulau Duyong into a very difficult area to sail. In the past, red hot favourites have been undone by calls they misjudged in the unforgiving current.

The Monsoon Cup will be Minoprio's last appearance on the world match racing tour for the foreseeable future.

Next year the 25-year-old will take up a new challenge - ocean racing. Minoprio will join Team New Zealand's 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race campaign. -- Dana Johannsen in the New Zealand Herald

www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10690955

Zhik Australian 49er Championship - Day 3
More shifty breeze today brought plenty of challenges to both 49er and 29erXX crews. Outteridge and Jensen were within 50 metres of the finish line in the first race when a sudden shift saw them overtaken by four boats.........

The first two days of the series have been tough for sailors and race officers. Twenty-five knots of breeze on Saturday brought lots of dramatic capsizes and tension at the marks. One competitor was taken to hospital with a dislocated shoulder, and a second suffered torn ankle tendons when his foot was caught in the foot straps.

Sunday took us to the other extreme - very light and shifty from the north-east, then the west, then round to the north and back again to the north-east. Race officials and sailors were kept on the hop, with postponements, change of course, a shortened course and some races abandoned. The New Zealanders Peter Burling and Blair Tuke took the opportunity to overtake Australia’s Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen, and finished the day in the lead by two points.

More shifty breeze today brought plenty of challenges to both 49er and 29erXX crews. Outteridge and Jensen were within 50 metres of the finish line in the first race when a sudden shift saw them overtaken by four boats, to finish fifth over the line. They recovered in subsequent races to overtake the kiwis again, and now lead by two points going into the final day. Tom Johnston and Rhys Mara are in third place four points behind Burling and Tuke.

Full results at www.yachting.org.au

www.wangirslasc.yachting.org.au

Wight Vodka

Wight Vodka Favourite Yachting Bar Competition
Our second annual contest has brought in dozens of submissions to date. Here's a smattering of some of the best, and most favoured watering holes:

Favourite Bar: The Dog Watch Cafe, Stonington CT
Why Favourites: The Dog Watch is a sailors bar, located just a foot from the water in Stonington CT at Dodson Boatyard. They have made this place not only a great place to eat but also a great place to share stories of voyages. One of the owners raced in the Mini Transat and has an Uncle that is a well know yacht designer. If you arrive as a stranger, you will surely leave as a friend.

Favourite Bar: Bitter End Yacht Club - British Virgin Islands
Why Favourites: In May of 2009, my husband and I made the trek to BEYC from San Diego. Its not an easy flight (s) and were so tired when we arrived. Once our luggage was delivered to our room, and we were all checked in, we headed to the Bar. The atmosphere is so very laid back. It was our first moment of "ahhhhh .... we've arrived." After serving some very tasty Dark & Stormy's, we immediately relaxed into "Island Time" :-)! Can't wait to return!

Favourite Bar: The Main Bar at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
Why Favourites: Having grown up in HK, I honed my drinking, sailing story telling and social skills in the Main Bar - it is the one place in the world, I feel AT HOME... oh and it's where I met both my husbands... AND where I tried my first Seabreeze - Vodka, Cranberry and Grapefriut Juice - one of the most refreshing drinks in the World

Favourite Bar: Boatyard Bar and Grill
Annapolis, Maryland, USA
Why Favourites: This little place in Annapolis is a virtual sailboat museum! Autographed Photos of famous sailors and boats, antique trophies and burgees from all over the world adorn every inch of the walls. Good place to kibbitz with world class sailors. The food is excellent and did I mention the PINT sized vodka, Mount Gay and margarita drinks??!?!?! Absolutely top notch!!!

Favourite Bar: Little Ship Club
Why Favourites: A wonderful setting on the banks of the Thames in the City of London where you can enjoy great compnay in the enviroment of a real sailing club where you might least expect to find one

The deadline for the submissions is Saturday the 4th December. A panel of judges from Wight Vodka, Seahorse magazine and Scuttlebutt Europe will read each essay and choose the Top Ten Bars to put forward for the vote.

From Saturday, the 11th December, the Top Ten Bars will be announced and the voting will begin. Voting this year will be accessed through the Scuttlebutt Europe website and will be open until Saturday the 27th December.

Tell us all about YOUR favorite bar (every bar in the world is eligible except last year's winner, the glorious Peter Cafe Sport in the Azores, see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars/27.html )

Submissions at: www.scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars.html

Fremantle To Bali Race
November 22nd marked the start of a new era of ‘big boat’ ocean racing in Western Australia with the official launch of the Visit Indonesia Fremantle to Bali 2011 event hosted by Fremantle Sailing Club.

Fremantle Sailing Club Vice Commodore Kaye Riseley announced Visit Indonesia as the major event sponsor, through a five-event partnership with the Indonesian Government’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, starting in 2011.

“At 1440 nautical miles, the event is more than two-and-a-half times the distance of the Sydney to Hobart, so it will be a real challenge for competitors,” Vice Commodore Riseley said.

2011 marks the 30th anniversary of the first Fremantle-Bali race. The event has not been held since 1997 and the Fremantle Sailing Club looks forward to bringing highly competitive international ‘big boat’ racing back to Perth.

Event Patron and Australian yachting legend Rolly Tasker competed in the first Fremantle to Bali race in 1981 and still holds the record time of six days, 15 hours and 39 minutes in his yacht Siska.

The Visit Indonesia Fremantle to Bali 2011 comprises an ocean rally commencing 23 April, an official yacht race from 26 April, and the two-day Visit Indonesia Festival on 25 and 26 April 2011. Depending on the weather, the fleet is expected to start crossing the finishing line at the Royal Bali Yacht Club from 29 April 2011.

www.fsc.com.au/1/17/1/home.pm

Travemuende 2011 to Host Four Worlds and Four Europeans
Luebeck Bay in Germany has long been known as a superb venue for sailing championships, but the 122nd edition of Travemuende Week (22 to 31July 2011) looks set to amaze more than a million regular visitors to this famous regatta and festival on shore. Four World Championships and four European title contests, plus further German and regional championships make the last week in July, more than ever, a truly international gathering of top sailors and a top-class event. Travemuende Week will also be the perfect venue for the birthday of a grand old lady, as Travemuende’s famous landmark, the four-masted bark ‘Passat’, will be celebrating her 100th birthday next year.

A little younger, but still an enjoyable sight for all lovers of classic sailing, is the 68-year-old, long keel Folkboat class, which will be one of the many attractions to look forward to in the Passat harbour in 2011. Around 80 crews and their boats are expected, sailing for the Gold Cup in the Folkboat World Championship from 24 to 29 July. Before the event begins, the crews of three Folkboats will meet for the traditional warm up race at the Niendorf “Treibyacht” (16 to 17 July).

The fleet expected for the World Championship of the International Canoe (23 to 30 July) will be of a similar size. This rather wobbly design, with its unique sliding hiking seat, enjoys great popularity - especially in North America.

Around 30 teams are expected for the world title contest of the Laser II class (23 to 29 July). There will be ten race courses in the Luebeck Bay, including the re-opened race course ‘Echo’, close to the Brodten shore, for the Laser II class.

The 49ers are celebrating a ‘junior’ world premiere at Travemuende. For the first time, there will be a World Championship for the under-23 age group in this Olympic skiff (24 to 31 July).

Another class contesting its European Championship at Travemuende Week is probably the most spectacular design in the dinghy world - the International Moth (25 to 30 July).

The Europe dinghies, originally related to the Moths but a separate class for 40 years now, will also arrive in large numbers in Travemuende. Eighty girls and eighty boys could be at the start line for the European Youth Championship (25 to 29 July). The European Championships for the J/22 keelboats (23 to 26 July) are also expected to attract strong entries, especially from competitive Dutch teams and the German Baltic coast. The Javelin class Europeans completes the program of continental title matches.

The Tornado class demonstrates its loyalty to and preference for Travemuende Week by hosting its 2011 World Championship at the event. The catamarans’ International German Championship will also take place in Luebeck Bay next year. The races will be held close to the promenade on the river Trave, giving the public a ringside view and once again making a great addition to the racing festival. The setting for the Tornados’ memorable contest on short courses is alongside none other than Travemuende’s elegant elderly lady - the 100-year-old ‘Passat’. -- Andreas Kling

Vacancy Elliott Match Racing Coach Position - The Netherlands
Vacancy Elliott Match Racing Coach Position - The Netherlands The Royal Netherlands Yachting Union is seeking a:

FULLTIME WOMENʼS MATCH RACING COACH (M/F)
Purpose of the position:

The coach has a solid and clear vision and is responsible for the program, team, individuals and results.

Main tasks:
- Guidance of the sports technical development of the sailors
- Training of the sailors
- Coaching during high performance events
- Lead and manage a team of specialists and supporting staff
- Collect, develop and share sport technical knowledge
- Develop and support the long term sport technical educational plan
- Stimulate the development of competences of sport technical staff - Scout talent.

Job demands:
- Rich experience with coaching and managing in complex (elite sports) organisations
- Inspiring, smart, creative and strong communicator
- Good verbal and writing skills
- Realising results
- Analytic abilities
- Professional performance and attitude
- Good cooperative and social skills.

Earnings and benefits: Depending on age and experience. We strive to set up a service level agreement based on performance preferably with an independent coach / company.

Applications and inquiries:: Further information: Mr. Hessel Evertse, head of the RNYU high performance department (+31 621 546 089).

Applications send before the 1st of December 2010 to:

Bahamas Sailing: The Sands Supremacy
Nassau Sailor Seventeen year old Christopher Sands added his fourth Bahamian national champion title in sailing this year by winning the 2010 Sunfish National Championship regatta, narrowly beating his rivals for the coveted first place. Earlier this year Chris Sands won the Sunfish Junior Nationals and also the Laser Junior Nationals. Last weekend he became the Bahamas Laser National Champion at senior level and now he also captures the Sunfish senior title.

In contrast to last weekend's blustery weather conditions in which Sands sailed so well, this weekend not only did he switch to a different class boat, he had to deal with much lighter wind and proved that he can handle any conditions. This dynamic young sailor is becoming a major force to be reckoned with.

During the Presentation Ceremony held on Sunday at the Nassau Yacht Club, John Lawrence, President of the Bahamas Sailing Association commended Christopher on his achievement. He also paid tribute to the juniors who participated for their tremendous efforts and dedication, not only in this regatta but throughout the year. " It's great to see how much they [the juniors] have progressed and improved and fantastic to see them competing at senior level" said Lawrence.

Full results are posted here bahamassailing.org/results/sunfish_nationals_2010.htm

Industry News
Multi One Design SA is pleased to be part of the World Yacht Racing Forum 2010 taking place in Estoril, Portugal, on December 14 and 15. The Networking Lunch on Tuesday December 14 will be sponsored by Multi One Design SA, organiser and promoter of the new ocean MOD 70’ multihull circuit. Exciting topics will be on the programme: ocean racing, sustainability and eco-responsible communication.

In the morning before the Networking Lunch, on December 14, Franck David, Executive Director of Multi One Design SA, will also be on the panel dedicated to the future of Sailing’s Premier Events. The panel will bring together Knut Frostad, CEO Volvo Ocean Race, Eddie Owen, CEO Royal Offshore Racing Club, Jim O’Toole, CEO World Match Racing Tour and Luc Tabourdet, President of the IMOCA Class.

The first MOD 70’ is being assembled in Lorient at CDK Technologies. The first four boats will be ready in 2011. Carrying the Swiss flag, the MOD 70’ nr 1 will be launched in March 2011. She will be named “Multi One Attitude”, after the Multi One Attitude Foundation, a foundation that has been set up to fight for the preservation of water on our planet.

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YachtWorld.com today announced their participation at the forthcoming Salon Nautique de Paris with their YachtWorld Brokers Village. The Village will feature 23 brokerage houses and a database of more than 3,000 yachts for sale.

The participating brokers include: AYC Yachtbroker, Ancasta, Ankarea Yachts, Atlantique Brokerage, Aventure Oceane, Baies des Anges Yachting, Bernard Gallay, Boat Diffusion - Cap3, Dufour Yachts, Fine Yachts, Fleming Yachts, MGM Boats, Moby Dick, Nordwest, Premier Yacht Sales, Power to Sail, S&D Yachts, Sunsail Brokerage, Sunseeker France, Tenor Yachts, X-Boat, Moody France and X-Yachts France.

The YachtWorld Brokers Village will be located in Hall 1, Stand K97. The participating brokers will showcase over 500 boats in the Village, along with all of their searchable database entries for more than 3,000 boats for sale.

The YachtWorld Brokers Village will be manned by knowledgeable, multilingual YachtWorld staff who are on hand to help visitors find the boat they are looking for from the wide selection on display and available online.

The Salon Nautique de Paris takes place December 4-12 at Porte de Versailles. Full details can be found at http://www.salonnautiqueparis.com

The YachtWorld Brokers Village will also be a feature at the forthcoming Tullet Prebon London Boat Show and Boot Dusseldorf. For further details, visit www.yachtbrokersvillage.com

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Coinciding with its annual conference, the Spanish federation of yacht harbour associations (FEAPDT) has published its yearly report with an in-depth analysis of the current 129,550 yacht berths and moorings within the 358 harbours devoted to recreational boating along 7,900km of coastline.

This new edition covers a categorisation of facilities, the various existing forms of management, main repercussions of the recently passed harbour law (33/2010), detailed marina extensions and new developments, price changes for long- and short-term leases, plus a section on superyacht facilities.

The report mentions in its conclusions a number of major threats including the current economic turmoil, a drop in boat matriculations and berth prices, an increase of government fees and stronger competition from other tourist destinations with lower taxes.

The report can be downloaded at www.feapdt.es

Manuel Sevilla Moroder writing in IBI Magazine, ibinews.com

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The trio of premium partners at Kieler Woche HSH Nordbank, AUDI AG and Veolia Umweltservice GmbH , becomes a quartet: SAP AG, as announced by Kieler Woche Marketing GmbH, will be attracting attention as new premium partner at the world’s greatest sailing regatta and biggest summer festival in Northern Europe.

“We are very proud, that Kieler Woche Marketing GmbH succeeded in finding such a prestigious partner as SAP to complete the quartet of premium partners for the first time,” says a delighted Cathy Kietzer, Executive Chairman and President of the City Council of Kiel, as well as her deputy Dr. Henning Winter, Chairman of Kieler Yacht-Club on Thursday, 25th of November 2010. HSH Nordbank, partner since 2004, AUDI AG and Veolia Umweltservice GmbH both on board since 2010 , have already prolonged their commitments for the coming years.

As in previous years, the Kieler Woche sailing regatta will again be supported by boot Dusseldorf. -- www.kieler-woche.de

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Almost 31,000 visitors attended this year's Scandinavian Boat Show - an increase of 1,000 people. During the show, which ran from November 10-14 in Stockholm, Swedish boating industry association Sweboat reported a 10 per cent rise in boat sales for 2010.

The number of boats displayed at the show was up by 34 per cent. More than half of the boats were 11m (37ft) or more. -- Lars-Ake Redeen in IBI News, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20101025114543ibinews.html

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Tim Hall will replace David Campbell James as the RYA’s Competitions Manager in January following Campbell James’ retirement from the role.

DCJ, as he is affectionately known, has spearheaded the RYA’s World Class Events strategy since 2008 working tirelessly to ensure Britain attracts and runs top class international regattas as well as the whole range of domestic events.

Hall’s first event at the RYA Competitions helm will be the RYA Volvo Youth National Championships at Hayling Island Sailing Club from Monday 11 to Friday 15 April, which will see the UK’s top youth sailors go head-to-head for national titles and a place on RYA Volvo Team GBR - GBR’s ISAF Youth Worlds team.

Following that he will be responsible for delivering Britain’s edition of the ISAF World Cup Series, the Skandia Sail For Gold Regatta in Weymouth and Portland 5-11 June as well as the IFDS World Championships 1-8 July also in Weymouth and Portland.

Hall, a previous Flying Fifteen World Champion and keen RS400 club racer, has held two positions at the Welsh Yachting Association (WYA), High Performance Manager and Director of Sailing. And he hangs up his shoes having run his own marine consultancy business for the past year to take up the RYA Competitions Manager reins. -- rya.org.uk

Featured Brokerage
Featured Brokerage Boat 1989 82' Bushe and Lipsett Maxi. US$380,000. Located in Barbados.

Built for the 1989 Whitbread as NCB Ireland and well looked after and refitted ever since/

Brokerage through Berthon International: www.yachtworld.com/berthon/

Complete listing details and seller contact information at
uk.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatFullDetails.jsp?boat_id=2015399

The Last Word
Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others. -- Fyodor Dostoyevsky

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