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Ran Racing Lift Gaastra 52 World Championship Title
Photo by Ingrid Abery, http://www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Gaastra 52 World Championship Niklas Zennstrom and the Ran Racing team secured the Gaastra 52 World Championship title on the final run of the last race of the series after a thrilling showdown off Miami's South Beach up against 52 SUPER SERIES champions and former world champions Azzurra.

Although Ran Racing started the three race finale with a lead of four points and increased that to six points after they placed second in the first contest of the day with Azzurra fourth, Zennstrom's team then had what he later described as a 'shocker'.

Early in the penultimate race they missed the key windshift and could only manage seventh as the Azzurra team sailed to a relatively comfortable win.

That left the pair tied on points going in to the final race.

As a small gust hit Azzurra appeared to broach and lose control allowing Ran to slide past only centimetres to windward. Reports as to what actually happened differ. Ran believe their rivals were trying to luff and force a penalty. Azzurra's skipper Guillermo Parada later explained that it was a combination of small errors of timing which caused their costly broach.

Ran Racing's coolness paid off and they held on to cross the line just ahead of Azzurra to clinch the title by one single point.

Owner Doug DeVos steered Quantum Racing to win the tenth and final race of the regatta, in so doing narrowing their points deficit in third place to finish only one point behind Azzurra and two off new world champions Ran Racing.

Gaastra 52 World Championships, Results after 10 races.

1. Ran Racing, Zennstrom, SWE, 32 points
2. Azzurra, Roemmers, ITA, 33
3. Quantum Racing, DeVos, USA, 34
4. Vesper, Swartz, USA, 39
5. Gladiator, Langley, GBR, 43
6. Interlodge, Fragomen, USA, 49
7. Rio, Moshayedi, USA, 61
8. Gaastra-Pro, Blees, NED, 69

US 52 SUPER SERIES final after Quantum Key West 2013 and Gaastra 52 World Championships

1. Azzurra, 57
2. Ran Racing, 63
3. Quantum Racing, 66
4. Interlodge, 78
5. Gladiator, 85
6. Rio, 112

www.52superseries.com

Bacardi Cup at Bacardi Miami Sailing Week
Miami, Florida, USA: Five one-design fleets, awash with competitors representing over a dozen nations, concluded six days of racing as the 2013 BACARDI Miami Sailing Week (BMSW) presented by EFG Bank wrapped up today. With points tight among the top contenders in each class, the big story of the regatta was the win of the 86th Bacardi Cup by the Florida team of Mark Mendelblatt (St. Petersburg) and Brian Fatih (Miami). Having started their series on Monday by picking up the max number of points for an over early start, the duo worked their way back up the standings to end the penultimate day of the series in second overall. 

Mendelblatt and Fatih, who represented the USA in the Star class at the 2012 Olympics, won the single race contested by the 56 Star teams on the final day of the series to move to the top of the standings with 26 points. Lars Grael and Mario Lagoa (BRA), who had been atop the overall standings throughout the week, took second overall with 30 points after placing seventh in the race. Defending champion Xavier Rohart (FRA) ended the series tied on points with Grael after finishing the race in fourth place to take third in the overall standings. The only change for Diego Negri and Frithjof Kleen (ITA) or 2003 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Augie Diaz (Miami, Fla.) and Arnis Baltins, was in the point totals as both retained their positions in the top-five with, respectively, 33 and 41 points. 

The J/70 class made a strong debut in Miami with 20 boats racing. In pole position with no finish worse than third to start the final day of the series, Briane Keane (Weston, Mass.) added two wins to his score line to take the inaugural BMSW class win with 13 points. 

Complete resulst at www.MiamiSailingWeek.com and www.BacardiCup.com

Charter An Open 70
Project 1 Racing Experience the thrill of Volvo Open 70 racing! We have an extensive calendar planned for 2013. This includes: the RORC channel races, Fastnet, Cowes Week, Middle Sea Race, Arc Transatlantic and Caribbean Races.

We can tailor a package to meet your needs. Bring your friends and spend time with us team building with your colleagues, or take your clients out on an experience of a lifetime in a Volvo Open 70.

We can offer charters from the Solent, Europe or in the winter the Caribbean. We have vast experience of Inshore and Offshore sailing. If you'd like to join us for a particular event, check out our race events for more information.

Our boat charters are individual, and packaged to your specifications. Alternatively, if you are unable to get a full crew together, we can offer some individual crewing opportunities at many of the Race Events on our sailing calendar.

Our Volvo 70 is commercially coded and fully certified for the waters it sails. The Volvo 70 will accommodate up to 12 guests inshore and 8-10 guests offshore.

See our Race Events and more information on our new website: www.volvo70charter.co.uk

18ft Skiffs N.S.W. Championship, Race 5
Photo by Frank Quealey. Click on image for photo gallery.

18 Skiff Sydney Harbour. Australia: Gotta Love It 7 became  the 2012-2013 NSW 18ft Skiff champion when Euan McNicol (replacing regular skipper Seve Jarvin), Scott Babbage and Peter Harris took out the last race of the championship on Sydney Harbour today.

After trailing Pure Blonde (Tom Clout, Rob Bell, Matt Wark) by two boatlengths at the first windward mark, Gotta Love It 7 edged away to a 30s lead downwind, then from that point were never likely to lose.

Smeg (Nick Press, Dan Phillips, Dave Ewings) stayed in touch with '7' over the first two laps of the NE course but couldn't match the Giltinan champions over the final lap to go down by 2m52s.

Pure Blonde were consistent all day after their early lead and finished a further 46s back in third place.

Jonathan Whitty's Lumix was fourth, followed by De'Longhi-Rabbitohs (Andrew Cuddihy), Yandoo (John Winning), Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) and Mojo Wine (James Dorron).

Final pointscores in the championship were: Gotta Love It 7 on 10 points, Smeg 11 points, Thurlow Fisher Lawyers 15, Yandoo 16, Pure Blonde 17 and Coopers-Rag & Famish Hotel on 23.

The fleet was divided in rig choice with the NE breeze around 12-15-knots.

Results proved that the smaller #2 rig was the correct choice. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League, www.18footers.com.au, www.flying18s.com, www.18footerstv.com

Sydney Harbour Regatta Winners Announced
Photo by Andrea Francolini, www.afrancolini.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Sydney Harbour Regatta For the second year running, Middle Harbour Yacht Club's Sydney Harbour Regatta was blessed with beautiful conditions, both days boasting winds of 8-10 knots early on and reaching 16-17 knots by late afternoon.

Grant Wharington and his 100 foot long Wild Thing from Queensland took line honours in the Ocean Passage series, but it was Jack Stening's Sydney 36, Stormaway from the host club that claimed overall victory with two wins from the two races sailed this weekend.

While victory in the Premier IRC class windward/leeward six-race series seemed to be in the hands of Rob Reynolds and his DK46, Exile, 'Money Man' Paul Clitheroe pulled out all stops on the Division 1 offshore course on the Manly Circle today.

Clitheroe's three wins from three with his Beneteau 45, Balance, left no doubts as to his intentions and the CYCA member's handy work resulted in a three and a half point win over Exile, and nine points over third placed Obsession, the new MAT 1245 owned by Ray Roberts, who made a successful return to competitive race at the regatta after a break to concentrate on business.

Roberts' new boat is the first of its kind in Australia and it made its debut at this regatta. It did not take the yachtsman long to get his eye back in, but with years of winning practice in Australia and overseas, it is no surprise.

Over 220 boats in 26 classes on 10 courses contested the event hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht Club with assistance from the CYCA, MYC, NCYC, RANSA, RPAYC, RPEYC, RSYS, SASC, and SFS, who made the job easier.

The Sydney Harbour Regatta is sponsored by leading water sports and technical apparel supplier, Helly Hansen, and supported by Sydney Ports, Robert Oatley Vineyards and Sydney City Marine. -- Di Pearson

Full results, photos and more: www.shr.mhyc.com.au

Extreme Sailing Series Announces Three-Year Venue Deal with Singapore
The Extreme Sailing Series is set to be become a brand new international fixture on the Singapore sports calendar until 2015, in a three year deal announced today between Series organisers OC Sport, the Singapore Sports Council and Aberdeen Asset Management. And for the first time ever, a team representing Singapore, skippered by a Singaporean sailor and supported by Aberdeen Asset Management, will be on the start line at Act 2 hosted in Singapore from the 11-14 April.

For Aberdeen Asset Management, the sponsorship of Team Aberdeen Singapore and their status as the main Local Partner for the Singapore Act, adds to the global asset manager's growing sailing sponsorship portfolio, which includes 'Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week'; an event where they had their first foray into Extreme 40 sailing in 2011, entering a British team into the UK leg of the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series.

An aspiring Olympic laser sailor, 22-year-old Scott Glen Sydney is the man charged with the task of skipper, making him the first ever Singaporean to skipper an Extreme 40. Together with fellow Singaporean and Asian Games keelboat match racing gold medallist Justin Wong, 27, the duo will line up against some of the world's best sailors as part of Team Aberdeen Singapore as the invitational team in Act 2 of the Extreme Sailing Series.

The action in Singapore will begin on the 11th April with the official media day before the free to enter public Race Village opens from the 12th. The Extreme 40 fleet will race in the circuit's action packed 'stadium' format on Marina Bay Reservoir

www.extremesailingseries.com

Seahorse April 2013
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Seahorse Magazine

Update
Terry Hutchinson’s diary is filling up rewardingly fast, Wouter Verbraak explains how Gabart got the jump, Don Street sticks up for ‘amateur’ crew, Josh Hall’s all new Global Ocean Race and Rob Cook has words of caution for rail-hangers

World news
That Francois Gabart back-story in full, Bernard Stamm’s self-inflicted injury, our man gets onboard the ETNZ, Oatley’s tenacity and the bureaucrats’ convergence. Dobbs Davis, Blue Robinson, Patrice Carpentier, Ivor Wilkins

IRC
And a handful of very key words. James Dadd

Editorial
Andrew Hurst

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Mussanah Race Week Officially Opens
The official opening ceremony, which took place along the waterfront of Mussanah's Millennium Hotel, marks the beginning of the Oman Sail's 3rd annual Mussanah Race Week. There will be fierce competition in the Laser Standard class, where the likes of GBR's Olympic gold medalist Paul Goodison will be taking on Australia's Tom Burton who is currently ranked number one in the world, alongside New Zealand's top competitors Sam Meech and Andy Maloney, and many more. This outstanding level of competition will make for close and intense racing among the 222 competitors representing 27 different nations.

During the winter months, Mussanah boasts consistently good weather, steady sea breeze averaging around 14 knots, sunny 23 degree C temperatures and warm 20 degree C water.  Not only is the climate welcoming for the sailors, but the venue also offers a fully equipped gym facility, superb waterfront accommodation only a stone's throw from where the boats are kept, and array of cultural evening social events, to allow the visiting competitors to sample the local traditions.

This event has a unique and innovative approach to sailing in that it combines 2 days of world class coaching clinics for each of the disciplines (including: Laser Standard, Radial, 4.7, F18, Optimist and RSX Windsurfing) as part of the seven day regatta format, allowing competitors the rare opportunity to learn from the masters themselves. -- Daphne Morgan Barnicoat

www.omansail.com 

Arise Sir Ben
Click on image to enlarge.

Ben Ainslie Ben Ainslie's knighthood marks the culmination of over twenty years dedicated to the Olympics and the pursuit of gold. At London 2012 after securing his fourth gold medal Sir Ben Ainslie became the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, with four golds and one silver in total from five Olympic Games.

Speaking outside the Palace after the ceremony Sir Ben said, 'It's been a great day, there were lots of familiar faces here today including Lord Coe, Katherine Grainger and David Weir so it was great to cacth up with some old friends and also very proud to see all the people there who have done some amazing things.

For me, it is probably the proudest moment of my life and its even more special to be able to share it with my family and friends. It's a huge honour and a day to remember, but life moves on to the future and the next project and challenge. For me it's the America's Cup, it started in Britain in 1851 and yet we have't won it and that's something I feel is missing from our maritime history so it would be great if we can achieve that. We have a lot of great sailors in the UK so I hope that we can win the Cup, that's the next challenge'

Ben's visit to the UK is just a pit stop, he will now head back out to San Francisco to continue his America's Cup training. Ben will return to Europe in April to compete in the next America's Cup World Series event, it will be the final event of the 2012/13 series and his team J.P.Morgan BAR will be looking to clinch that elusive event victory, racing starts in Naples on Thursday 18th

www.benainslieracing.com

Coaching And Video Debrief At This Year's Banks Grand Slam Regatta
Taking a cue from the innovative RORC Red Funnel Easter Challenge, the Banks Grand Slam Regatta 2013 (for catamarans and monohull dinghies) at Weston Sailing Club near Southampton will also feature on water coaching for competitors this year, with video debriefs in the Clubhouse after racing each day.

The WSC Grand Slam event (the largest Easter dinghy regatta in the UK), will be offering 3 races / day and this year will run over 3 days (29-31 March). WSC, who also hosted the UK 49er Nationals last year are hoping to see many new faces attending and enjoying the social proceedings.

Please contact the Club website to let us know you are coming -- Chris Brown, Weston Sailing Club, (TP52 to RS100 in 4 years and enjoying every minute of it!)

www.weston.org.uk

Team USone Secure Tour Card
Chicago, Illinois, USA: Reigning US Match Racing National champion Taylor Canfield of the Chicago Match Racing Center (CMRC)has today been awarded a Tour Card to the 2013 Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT),the only North American skipper among eight international teams to receive this honor. 24-year old Canfield and his USone team will receive coveted invitations to all events on this year's Tour.

Canfield is joined on USone by the talented trimmers and Midwestern natives Matt Clark (Chicago, IL), Dan Morris (Minnetonka, MN), and Mike Rehe (Detroit, MI). Three-time Match Racing World Champion Rod Dawson of New Zealand fills the team's tactician role. Hayden Goodrick, a fellow kiwi and veteran AWMRT bowman rounds out the team.

USone's impressive performance last year - wildcard wins in Bermuda and in Malaysia - vaulted them to a 7th place finish in the overall Tour standings. Doubly impressive is that Canfield did not hold a Tour Card and only counted three finishes to other team's five. This success has given the team the opportunity to join the world's top professional sailing series and the confidence to commit to all stops on the Tour. They will travel to Germany, Korea, Sweden, Chicago, Holland, Bermuda and Malaysia in pursuit of the ISAF World Match Racing title and the Tours $1.75 million prize purse.

www.usonesailing.com
wmrt.com

Entries Open for the RYA National Match Racing Series
The RYA National Match Racing Series is now open for entries with the first of seven events taking place at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy between the 25-28 March in the RYA's fleet of Olympic Elliott 6m keelboats.

The RYA National Match Racing Series consists of seven qualifying rounds between March and November, with the RYA/BUCS/BUSA Championships being the first event of the Series, before the top British crews from each event are invited to go head-to-head at the Series Grand Final at the Queen Mary Sailing Club between 22-24 November 2013.

National Match Racing is a sailor's first step towards elite match racing events such as the America's Cup and ISAF World Match Racing Tour and the forthcoming events in March and April are seen as pinnacle events if sailors want to reach the Series Grand Final in November.

The opening event of the Series is the RYA/BUCS/BUSA Championships at WPNSA. The regatta will be sailed in Olympic Elliott 6m keelboats with university crews of 3-4 sailors weighing no more than 250kgs.

The 2013 RYA National Match Racing Championship Grand Final will be contested in the RYA's fleet of J80s with a maximum of 12 skippers accepted for each of the qualifying events. All events are open to enter, except the Series Grand Final which is invitation only.

The RYA are asking interested parties to get their entries in at least a month before each event to secure their place.

Entry forms for the 2013 RYA National Match Racing Series along with the NOR for each event can be found on the RYA event website, please send completed entry forms to

www.rya.org.uk 

Featured Brokerage
Featured Brokerage Boat 1997 Najad 361. EUR 139,500. Located In Netherlands.

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She is a safe and comfortable sailor, fitted out for long distance cruising. She is well maintained and updated by het owner.

Brokerage through De Valk Yacht Brokers: www.yachtworld.com/devalkyb/

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

The Last Word
The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money. -- Thomas Jefferson

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