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At Last Some Wind
While Barcelona and the rest of Spain was last night and today celebrating the Festival of the Three Magic Kings, the Barcelona World Race skippers, for the first time in recent days, shared the same present; the gift of good breezes. From the front to the back of the fleet wind speed were at least 15 knots, and boat speeds almost all reached double digits at times.

In fact the leading duo, the 'wise kings' aboard Virbac-Paprec 3 and Foncia 3 had the extra bonus of getting to the weather front which allowed them to tack from bouncing upwind in 20-25 knots of SW'ly breeze to faster reaching in the new NW'ly which should propel them south towards the Canary Islands at good speeds. The leading duo tacked at around 1230hrs today, with 35 miles separating Jean-Pierre Dick and Loick Peyron on Virbac-Paprec 3 and their speeds had already jumped two knots.

The last boat to emerge from being stuck fast in the Straits of Gibraltar was Hugo Boss early this morning and this afternoon Andy Meikeljohn (NZL) and Wouter Verbraak (NED) had the powerful IMOCA Open 60 fully powered up as the joint fastest of the fleet, making nearly 14 knots. And they had made some 40 miles on the leaders over the course of today. But they look set to encounter light winds again as the high pressure in front of expands slightly east.

While the leaders are tracking south to pass downwind close to the west side of Madeira, it will be not be as straightforward for this group who are giving chase. They will likely get to the frontal shift later this evening. Then they need to start thinking of they want to try to squeeze to leeward of the islands and risk the wind shadow from the islands, or whether to try to get out to the west of the islands, in which case they stand more chance of running into the light winds of the expanding high pressure earlier. A dilemma for the gang of five which may well split them up?

www.barcelonaworldrace.org

Outteridge Dominates Zhik Moth Australian Championship
Photo by Thierry Martinez, www.thmartinez.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Zhik Moth Australian Championship On the final day of the Zhik Moth Australian Championship, Australian Nathan Outteridge sent a strong message to his rivals for the forthcoming Zhik 2011 Moth Worlds- improve or expect more of the same.

Nathan won all three races of the day to finish the regatta on 5 points overall with his drop race of 8th place in race one denying him of a clean sweep.

Conditions improved on the final day generating full foiling conditions of 8-12 knots from the east south east that allowed the leaders to complete each race in less than 25 minutes. The racing was much closer today with many of the Internationals starting to get back into form. Most notable was Brad Funk (USA) who improved today posting solid results of 6, 5, and 4 after a "difficult" day one.

Scott Babbage celebrated his 2nd place overall by performing a spectacular crash on the finish line of the last race which received a rousing applause by spectators.

Joe Turner's 2nd place in race 6 was enough to see him claim third place overall and prove that he is the real deal for the 2011 Zhik Moth World Championship.

New Zealander 49er champion, Peter Burling had a great series and showed that he will be a threat at the Zhik world's to take 4th place overall and 2008 Moth World champion John Harris sailed consistently well throughout to round out the top 5 overall.

Overall results can be viewed at:
www.mothworlds.org/belmont/results/

With the 2011 Zhik Australian Moth Championships now completed, all eyes will focus on race one of the 2011 Zhik Moth World Championship which start tomorrow January 8th at 1300hr (ADST)

www.mothworlds.org

Vose and Brickwood Crowned 420 World Champions
Photo by Paul Wyeth, www.pwpictures.com. Click on image to enlarge.

420 Worlds Young RYA Volvo National Youth Squad sailors, Annabel Vose (16) and Megan Brickwood (15) have kick started 2011 in golden style securing themselves the Ladies World Title in Buenos Aires, Argentina after the 420 World Championships came to a close last night (Wednesday, 5 Jan).

In difficult choppy conditions the Hampshire based pair thought their chances of a medal from the event were over on day one, braking their mast just before the finish line in race two. But in a stroke of luck they managed to hold on to their sixth place position in the race crossing the line through pure momentum just in front of the rest of the fleet to hold on to second place in the overnight standings.

From then on the young duo, who have only been sailing together for a year and half, made no mistake in keeping a medal within their sights throughout the six day event, posting a consistent string of results and occupying the silver medalling winning position going into the final day.

A gold medal was just the tip of RYA Team GBR's success at the event. Fellow RYA Volvo National Youth Squad sailors, Tim Gratton and Ed Riley picked up a trophy for finishing second youths in the Open 420 class, ending the series in sixth place overall. Whilst Brits picked up a further three top ten results in the open fleet scooping Great Britain the best performing nation prize to cap off an extremely successful Championship.

The Australian National Youth event gets underway tomorrow (Friday 7, January) with high hopes of more success from RYA Team GBR's three Laser Radial sailors selected to compete at the events.

420 Worlds top ten results

Open
1. Volker / Cunill Martinez (ARG)
2. Mancinelli Scotti / Cucchiara (ITA)
3. Grez / Gonzalez (CHE)
4. Xammar / Herp (ESP) Junior
5. Wood / Stanley (GBR)
6. Gratton / Riely (GBR) Junior
7. Garcia Rodriguez / Olezza (ARG) Junior
8. Hayward / Carter (GBR)
9. Salzmann / Vergara (CHE)
10. Freeman / Gratton (GBR)

Ladies
1. Vose / Brickwood (GBR) Junior
2. Bohm / Linder (GER)
3. Lamaitre / Retornaz (FRA) Junior
4. Bonello / Tedin (ARG)
5. Horwitz / Middleton (CHE) Junior
6. Barnes / Barbuto (BVI) Junior
7. Gutierrez / Berhault (FRA)
8. Cucalon / Collin (ECU) Junior
9. Moretto Wiel / Mamusa (ITA) Junior
10. Golia / Lukosch (GER)

www.420sailing.org

Henri Lloyd - Experience The Shockwave
Henri Lloyd Shockwave is the world's only fully integrated and modular system of protective foul weather clothing for Offshore to Round the Cans racing. One system that lets you choose and modify the level of performance you require from the elements and impact protection.

Deck Armour - Putting the Shock Resistance into Shockwave.

The DECK ARMOUR system revolutionises the way sailors protect their bodies from impact and injury - a shock resistant and super lightweight 3D mesh which can be integrated within Shockwave garments at critical areas whilst still guaranteeing freedom of movement for the wearer. The lattice design of the DECK ARMOUR also ensures the breathability of the Shockwave products is not compromised.

Fabric Technology - Minimal Contact, Maximum Airflow. A hydrophilic laminate is applied directly to a microporous coating that further increases breathability and ensures the fast transition of internal moisture to the outside.

Optivision Window Panels - See the Advantage. Following the huge success of our OPTIVISION Hood System that has received critical acclaim from racing teams and media alike, the system has been extended into watch and course map windows being engineered into Shockwave garments - aiding the perfect start and race strategies.

www.henrilloyd.com

New Fleet for the Clipper Race
British sailing legend, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, is celebrating 15 years as chairman of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race by announcing a brand new fleet of twelve 70-foot racing yachts for his global ocean challenge.

Sir Robin says, "Racing around the world still remains one of life's great challenges and I'm extremely proud to have witnessed over the past 15 years how the Clipper Race has changed people's lives and turned almost 3,000 sailing novices into experienced ocean racers. With the eighth edition of the race, Clipper 11-12, set to start in August 2011, we have commissioned the highly respected naval architect, Tony Castro, to design us a new fleet that will bring the Clipper Race to the next level for Clipper 13-14 and beyond."

Tony Castro's Clipper 70 will form the third generation of Clipper racing yachts and his design is an exciting one, perfectly suited for this particularly gruelling sailing event. The new yachts will be built in China and fitted out by UK and international suppliers and the fleet will increase from ten to 12 yachts, with an option for a further four. The crew capacity of each yacht has also increased from 20 to 22.

The original Clipper 60 fleet completed four races between 1996 and 2003 before being replaced by the longer, lighter and faster Clipper 68 for the next four races. For the Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race the introduction of the Clipper 70 steps things up a gear once more.

New features include twin helms, twin rudders and a six-foot bowsprit which allows the inclusion of a huge Code Zero sail to complement a suite of Yankee headsails, staysail and main. This new sail will increase performance in light airs and deliver higher daily average speeds across the 40,000-mile race. The mainsail will have three reefing points and will be set from 92-foot mast.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

SLAM 12ft Skiff Interdominion Invitation Race
Sailing and swimming joined forces in the Invitation Race ahead of the first day of racing at the 51st SLAM 12 Foot Skiff Interdominion Championship on the Parramatta River this afternoon - and it was a Kiwi crew that handled the squally conditions better than the rest.

Sailing in a difficult 10-15 knot south/south-easterly wind on the upper Harbour, As Good As It Gets lived up to her name when Glenn Armstrong and John Shultz from Wellington sailed into first place, and backed up for third place on handicap, so good was their win. Their result bodes well for the 10-race series main event.

Aussie entries filled out the next two places on scratch; Gemmell Sails (Murray Press/Ben Gemmell) from Lane Cove 12ft Skiff Club and 2009 Interdominion champion and reigning national champion, Garde, sailed by Brett Hobson/Alex Johnson from Woollahra Sailing Club.

Adam Forbes/Richard Johns, also from WSC, sailed D Unit to a handicap win over Vantage Real Estate, skippered by Lane Cove 12's 63 year-old Jack Winning and crewed by Brett Phillips. Age and experience definitely overcame youth today.

It was not an easy day, and the 12's are one of the most difficult skiffs to control, even in lighter winds. "It was a good race," said Andrew Short Marine skipper Michael Spies. "There was lots of tacking and gybing up the channel; it sorted everyone out," he said.

Capsizes were aplenty, the flattened boats making the scene look like a graveyard, but at least threatening rain did not eventuate.

The Invitation Race was a good test for "the Interdominion", which is alternately hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club is host for this 51st event, to be held from 6-15 January 2011, with co-operation of Hunters Hill Sailing Club, which is generously loaning its facilities.

Racing each day will get underway from 2.30pm. The Interdominion Champion (first scratch boat) will be awarded the Silasec Trophy, while the John Brooke Trophy will be awarded to the best team in the Australia versus New Zealand competition; always a hard fought-for event.

There is also the Veterans Advanx Trophy for the best skipper over 45 years of age, a Rookie Nimble Trophy for the highest placed first time skipper - and last but by no means least, the Underall Champion Miners Trophy awarded to the most spectacular capsizer of the series. -- Di Pearson

Further information and results will be posted at: www.skiff.org.au

Measurer's Conference In Kiel
The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) and Deutscher Segler-Verband (DSV) have announced a Measurer's Conference will be held over 13-15 February 2011 in Kiel, Germany. The focus of this conference will be to provide theoretical and practical training in the measurement of offshore sailing yachts, use of the International Measurement System (IMS), an overview of new rating features and services available on the ORC website, and give ORC Rating Officers training on new software management tools for ORC Rating Systems (ORC Club and ORC International). The conference will also give a review on progress made towards achieving a universal system of measurement as it relates to ISAF's Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS). All aspiring and existing offshore yacht measurers are invited to attend, as this will be a unique opportunity to unify measurement methods and procedures across different rating systems.

The conference will be led by ORC Chief Measurer Nicola Sironi, with on-site organization and support being provided by Boris Hepp and Robert Jacobsen of the DSV.

The Registration fee of 130€ includes transport from Hamburg, lunches for Sunday through Tuesday, Monday evening dinner, and any materials associated with the seminar.

Online registration and more details on the programme and travel and accommodation logistics can be found at www.orc.org under Meetings.

Attendees of the conference are also invited to attend the International Yacht Forum held on Saturday, 12 February in Hamburg and organized by the German Offshore Owners Association. Details and registration can be found at www.iyfh.org

Yacht Broker - Lymington
Humphreys Yacht Design Humphreys Brokerage Ltd, a division of the Humphreys Yacht Design studio, is looking for an experienced Yacht Broker. Applicants must be self motivated, have a 'can-do' attitude and excellent interpersonal skills. In addition the candidate must have a good working knowledge of power and sailing yachts, the used boat market and the wider aspects of the yachting industry. He or she must also have strong marketing sense and good writing skills, with an ability to generate brochures and work up specifications.

The position represents a significant opportunity for the right person. Current brokerage listings include many existing Humphreys designed production yachts such as Oyster, Elan and Southerly as well as a number of larger yachts. Our most expensive central listing at present is €9m. New Yacht Sales listings include the exciting new 'Tempus Class' range of classically-inspired cruising yachts from 85-170ft. The diverse nature of the brokerage and new yacht sales listings requires the individual to be adaptable and enterprising in order to operate successfully with customers in all sectors of the market.

Competitive salary and commission opportunities.

For more information about the company, please see our website
www.humphreysdesign.com

Interested individuals should apply by email to

ISAF Measurer and Equipment Inspector Training
At the Equipment Committee and Equipment Control Sub-committee meetings held during the ISAF Annual Conference in Athens, a paper was presented which addresses the current extent of Measurer and Equipment Inspector activities and endeavours to develop ideas for ways to improve these through better and more relevant training.

This paper does not make detailed proposals for change (although it is proposed such are needed) but it does outline some possibilities for further consideration. Additionally this paper does not address how Measurers and Equipment Inspectors are appointed or who they are.

It is hoped this paper may be used as a starting point for a positive dialogue amongst the stakeholders leading to better Measurer and Equipment Inspector training. In this context it is important that the following stakeholders consider this paper:

- ISAF
- International Class Associations (ICAs)
- MNAs
- Manufacturers
- Race Organising Authorities
- Measurers / Equipment Inspectors

ISAF are now inviting the above group of stakeholders to review this paper and provide feedback which will be used to develop the proposals contained within the paper. Further as it is clear from the intricacy of the existing ISAF Regulations and associated documents, and for historical reasons, that the current span of Measurer and Equipment Inspector training and appointment is unclear. All stakeholders would benefit from clarification.

Throughout this paper consideration is only given to matters that might affect ISAF International Classes. National / Local classes should be considered separately.

Please click here to view the ISAF Measurer and Equipment Inspector Training document. admin.sotic.net/tools/

All comments should be sent to the ISAF Secretariat:

To See And Do At The London Boat Show
Win a precision watch at the Tacktick Cosworth Daily Winch Challenge at the London Boat Show.

Two of the marine industry's most innovative companies, Tacktick and Cosworth are joining forces to deliver a high-tech daily Winch Challenge for visitors to the 2011 London Boat Show, 7th-16th January 2011. Visitors taking part will be competing for daily Cosworth prizes as well as an overall winner walking away with a precision Suunto sailing watch worth several hundred pounds.

Wireless marine electronics manufacturer Tacktick has teamed up with Formula OneTM and America's Cup technology provider Cosworth to give visitors to the show the chance to compete not only against other visitors but also against some of sailings most talented celebrities including Olympic Gold medallist Iain Percy and Offshore sailing legend Nigel King. A state-of-the-art winch pedestal will measure contestant's winch grinding speed, torque and power with real-time results displayed on a 60" Plasma screen using Tacktick wireless technology combined with Cosworth's data electronics and Pi Toolbox analysis software.

The Tacktick Cosworth Winch Grinding Challenge will run 3 times a day throughout the show with prizes for best scores of the day and an overall London Boat Show winner taking home a precision Suunto watch.

The challenges will take place at midday, 2.00pm and 4.00pm on the Tacktick stand A20 in the North Hall each day.

Visit the Tacktick stand at the London Boat Show in the North Hall stand A20 to take part in this unique competition and to find out more about Tacktick and Cosworth's innovative electronics.

www.tacktick.com

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Specialist marine clothing brand Henri Lloyd will be announcing their plans for the upcoming season and also showcasing their new modular Shockwave Range which marks another year of innovation from the Henri Lloyd design team. This pioneering range of technical outerwear is the world's only fully integrated and modular system of protective foul weather clothing designed to be adapted for a wide range of sailing disciplines and provide high protection and comfort.

The Henri Lloyd team on stand C75 will be on hand throughout the show to discuss in detail their new 2011 range and answer any questions you have.

Specialist retailers Andark on stand D75, F105 and Marine Super Store on stand A78 will be in attendance where you will be able to purchase Henri Lloyd products.

www.henrilloyd.com

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Entering the Show via the new entrance at the East end of ExCeL you will be able to see the all new Watersports Action Pool. Measuring a massive 70m x 24m this huge pool will host a wide selection of have a go activities including canoeing and kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, wakeboarding, dinghy sailing and windsurfing . Visitors have the opportunity to have ago at these activities free of charge under the supervision of Rockley Watersports and Neilson Active Holidays. In addition visitors will be able to see demos by the experts including wakeboarding, canoeing and radio controlled sailboat racing.

The Knowledge Box is the place to see, listen and hear from the experts. With a full time table of presentations this is your opportunity to benefit and learn from the best in the business.

The Knowledge Box is a small intimate theatre with presentations running every day throughout the Show. A full schedule of talks are planned, on topics as diverse as the pitfalls to be faced on buying or selling a boat and wakeboarding tips and tricks, and even guest appearances from some well known faces. A seemingly never-ending conveyor belt of experts will try and answer your every question, and hopefully entertain you as they do, all free of charge to Show visitors!

www.londonboatshow.com

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 Eddie Mays: Please excuse me for being pedantic so soon after the New Year but surely the organisers of the Bloody Mary race this weekend are either using the RYA's Portsmouth Yardstick Number system or they are using a different system, perhaps based on the PY system.

They can't use 'their own Portsmouth Yardstick system'

What ever they use I hope that the weekend is its usual great success

Featured Brokerage
Featured Brokerage Boat PUMA's "il mostro" is seriously for sale. Constantly updated and immaculately maintained.

Why is "il mostro" now seriously for sale? With the new Volvo Ocean Race rules there is no more two boat testing allowed as a cost saving measure to help teams reduce their overall budgets. PUMA Ocean Racing is in the process of building a new boat for the 2011-2012 edition of the race, so "il mostro" is now available to an up-and-coming VOR team or ambitious owner ready to break records offshore under ORR or IRC.

Click on the "il mostro" button for all the details.

www.pumavolvo70forsale.com

The Last Word
Has there ever been a society which has died of dissent? Several have died of conformity in our lifetime. -- Jacob Bronowski

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