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Nick Craig And Alan Roberts Win 2013 Endeavour Championship
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex: Nick Craig and Alan Roberts representing the Merlin Rocket class have won the 2013 Topper Sailboats-supported-Endeavour Championship at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.

After finishing second to Christian Birrell and Richard Anderton (Fireball) in the opening race of the eight-race dinghy champion of champions series Saturday, Craig and Roberts achieved an impressive run of seven straight wins. This overall win also marks an historic occasion for Craig, who now enters the record book for winning the Topper Sailboats-supported-Endeavour Trophy six times, ahead of previous record holder Geoff Carveth. The winning team is also arguably the first to have won the event with seven first places.

For Craig and Roberts it was a huge achievement not least because they were able to prove their dynamic skill in both light and breezy conditions. Although Craig confesses he is no fan of light airs, he and Roberts managed to pull off a fine display of tactical, light wind sailing yesterday. Sunday, they did it again, but this time the weather couldn't have been more perfect for the champions; torrential rain, and a stiff breeze with gusts reaching over 25kts.

While some of the lighter weight crews struggled in the gusty conditions, Craig and Roberts were extremely comfortable despite a slow start in the first race of the day when they found themselves buried in ninth place at the first mark after a committee boat startline pile-up.

Birrell and Anderton (Fireball) led the race but by the second beat Team Craig/Roberts had reverted to default and once again led the fleet to the finish and won by just over a minute. They didn't have it all their own way however, because James Date and Toby Wincer (RS800) sailed equally well in the breeze and managed to clinch second place - their best result of the weekend.

At the prizegiving at the Royal Corinthian YC, Craig and Roberts were presented with the stunning solid silver scale model of the J Class yacht Endeavour. In his acceptance speech, Craig said he was delighted to have had the honour to sail at this special and unique event once again, and thanked the club's commodore Robert Coyle, all the sponsors and the race team, including Edwin Buckley and Kim Allen, the organisers and race officers.

Overall Results (after 8 races and 1 discard)
1st Merlin Rocket - Nick Craig and Alan Roberts (7pts)
2nd 2000 - Jasper Barnham and Graham Sexton (21pts)
3rd Fireball - Christian Birrell and Richard Anderton (37pts)
4th RS200 - Matt Mee and Emma Norris (40pts)
5th Scorpion - Steve Hall and Oliver Wells (51pts)
6th Streaker - Tom Gillard and James Dawes (57pts)

royalcorinthian.co.uk/endeavour

RYA Seeks Interest From Owners For Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup 2014
The RYA is planning for next season's premier sailing event, the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup which is being held in Cowes, Isle of Wight between 17-25 July 2014.

The biennial event, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, is one of the most prestigious events on the international yachting calendar culminating in a tough mix of inshore and offshore racing across a tense seven-day racing programme on the testing waters of the Solent.

With RYA GBR Red having won the event in 2012, the pressure is back on for a successful defence of the trophy. In order for owners to be able to plan and prepare their boats and teams, the RYA is looking to invite either owners or their representatives to a meeting in London or Southampton in late November to inform them of the selection process and to discuss training weekends and qualification events in the build-up to selecting the teams to represent the RYA.

The Commodores' Cup, which started in 1992, is an international three-boat team event using the IRC Rating system and is open to boats rated between 1.020 and 1.230, with only one boat rated above 1.150.

Janet Grosvenor, Chair of the RYA Offshore Racing Group, said: "The Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup next year is coming up fast and we need to make sure we have the buy-in of owners and sailors at an early stage so that we can help support them in their preparations both for the trials as well as for the event itself. Having spoken to RORC it looks like another high quality year with regards to entries and we are excited about the prospects of the potential RYA teams for next year."

"The RYA has in place a Selection Committee who will be introduced at the meeting. They have the challenging job of working with the teams over the winter and spring and making the final decision on which boats are finally selected to represent the RYA."

The RYA is urging interested parties to register their interest in the BDCC Owners Meeting and the opportunity to represent RYA Team GBR at the 2014 regatta as soon as possible.

For more information on the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup meeting or if you're interested in finding out more then please contact , RYA Technical and Racing Services Manager.

www.commodorescup.rorc.org

Gildas Morvan French Champion of Offshore Solo Racing
This afternoon in Sete, Gildas Morvan has just been crowned champion for the fourth time in his career. This title recognizes the consisten results the skipper of Cercle Vert has had on three events counting for the championship in 2013 : 2nd in the Transat Brittany Martinique , 14th in La Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bompard cashmere and second in the Generali Solo.

He had already won three Championships in 2000 , 2008 and 2009 . At 45 , he holds a hand with four aces . A performance hitherto unparalleled .

The top 10 of the Championship of France Offshore Solo Racing
1. Gildas Morvan, Cercle Vert, 96 points
2. Fabien Delahaye, Skipper Macif 2012, 101
3. Yoann Richomme, DLBC, 101
4. Adrien Hardy, Recovery Act, 112
5. Anthony Marchand, Bretagne Credit Mutuel Performance, 127
6. Frederic Duthil, Sepalumic, 130
7. Skipper Herault, Xavier Macaire, 167
8. Thierry Chabagny, Gedimat, 194
9. Corentin Horeau, Bretagne Credit Mutuel Hope, 197
10. Yann Elies, Queguiner - Leukemia Hope Group, 203

Champions since 1991
1991 Yves Parlier
1992 Dominic Vittet
1993, 1994 and 1995, Jean Le Cam
1996 and 1998 Michel Desjoyeaux
1997 Franck Cammas
1999 and 2001 Eric Drouglazet
2000 , 2008, 2009 and 2013 Gildas Morvan
2002 and 2005 Jeremiah Beyou
2003 Armel Le Cleac'h
2004 and 2006 Yann Elies
2007 Nicolas Troussel
2010 Francois Gabart
2011 Fabien Delahaye
2012 Morgan Lagraviere

Innovation and Evolution at Green Marine
In the summer of 1983 a 43ft racing yacht called Panda took to the water and with her was launched a boatbuilding company that has since built 215 boats including seven Volvo racers, five America's Cup contenders, seven TP52s and more than half the UK's all-weather search-and-rescue fleet.

Back in 1983 epoxy and carbon were still regarded as exotic boatbuilding materials; expensive and difficult to use. The build of every boat was a challenge. There was an obvious and absolute need for the materials and processes to improve, and for boatbuilders to learn and innovate.

The development of such a culture is a powerful force; it has been the defining feature of Green Marine for 30 years and is the reason that we became and remain at the top of the racing yacht industry in 2013.

Epoxy resins and unidirectional carbon, Kevlar and S-glass were a huge step forward in the early 1980s, and the replacement of PVC foam by Nomex honeycomb was an equally big step for us in 1984. Honeycomb was tricky to use with wet lay-up, so the arrival of wet-pregs in 1985 was quite a relief. Over the following five years epoxy resins improved: working times lengthened from four to 48 hours and specialist adhesives took away the hit-and-miss operation we called core bonding. By the time 'proper' pre-preg was offered to us in 1989/90 we'd had more than enough of long working time epoxy hard eners which were proving to be both toxic and corrosive.

Full article in Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

www.greenmarine.co.uk

18ft Skiffs: 3-Buoys Challenge, Race 1
Sydney Harbour, Australia: Strong North-Westerly winds played havoc with the Australian 18 Footers League's fleet for the opening 18ft Skiff race of the 2013-2014 Season on Sydney Harbour today.

25-knot winds gusting to more than 30 knots, saw only four boats attempt to start the race, which was sailed over a three-lap windward-return course.

A long delay to the original starting time made little difference with most teams electing to stay on shore rather than risk early season damage. With only two teams being declared official starters it was a credit to both that they completed the course.

Today's winner was the ever-reliable Smeg, sailed by Nick Press, Dan Phillips and Dave Ewings, the winning margin being 18m16s. This team has long been one of the best heavy weather combinations and it was no surprise when they mastered the conditions. Brett Van Munster, Harry Bethwaite and Joel Castle also completed the course in Rabbitohs-Kenwood Create More.

After the race, winning skipper Nick Press said that conditions on the first lap were the worst as they moderated a little towards the finish.

"The hardest part was actually getting off the beach and out to the start. As a team, we all agree that the best way to learn how to sail the 18s in big winds is to get out there and do it".

When asked did it remind him of his recent 18ft Skiff regatta in San Francisco, Nick said "yes it did - only warmer". -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League, www.18footers.com.au

Three World Title Holders Set To Sail at 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland
The entry list for 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland will feature at least three reigning Olympic class world champions giving local and international sailors the opportunity to rub shoulders with, and compete against the world's best.

After an incredible season for the NZL Sailing Team three of New Zealand's double-handed sailing crews are 2013 world champions including Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie (women's 470), Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech (49erFX skiff) and Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (49er skiff).

All three pairs know the Waitemata and Hauraki Gulf like the back of their hand and all will compete at 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland, New Zealand's foremost Olympic and invited classes regatta which runs from 1st - 4th February 2014 at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club.

Organizers are offering travel rebates for sailors outside the Auckland region.

On-line registrations open now on the Oceanbridge Sail Auckland website.

www.sailauckland.org.nz

40th Scottish Series Yacht Race
Forty years on and sailors from all round Scotland and further afield shall gather from the 23-26 May 2014 to participate in the renowned Scottish Series yacht race organised by the Clyde Cruising Club, CCC. The scenic west coast village of Tarbert, Loch Fyne, aims to welcome over 100 yachts into the harbor where shore side hospitality will be enjoyed as much as the four days of competitive racing.

This event has evolved since its inception in 1973 where it grew from an offshore passage race from the Clyde to Tobermory. For the 40th celebration the Organiser's have selected key ingredients of the last 4 decades and created an attractive programme, which once again makes this a priority event for yacht sailors.

Recently, shorter and increased quantity of races has been the trend, whereas the series used to have passage races of 200miles. The 2014 racing schedule will not disappoint with the "Clyde Challanger Passage Race" from Gourock to Tarbert. The most recent sponsor to come onboard is the Clyde Challenger. This is the former Glasgow Clipper yacht which is now privately owned and welcomes guests to "Take the Challenge" and experience this ocean racer yacht in some of world's best sailing water.

Sponsors involved in Scottish Series 2014 are Malin Waters, Tunnocks, Argyll and Bute, Tarbert Harbour Authority, Tarbert Enterprise Compnay, Portavadie Marina, Bowmore, Clyde Challenger, Hyde Sails, Event Scotland, Highland Spring, RYA Scotland, Saturn Sails, Yachting Life, Scottish Sailing Institute and Hempel Paints.

www.clyde.org

Industry News
A Hampshire-based yacht company has been fined a total of £25,000 for breaching health and safety law after a fire broke out on board the Malcolm Miller tall ship.

The company was also ordered to pay £65,000 in costs after pleading guilty to two separate breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Yacht Project Associates Ltd (YPAL) and company director Allan Foot were overseeing a major refurbishment project on the Malcolm Miller tall ship when a fire broke out and almost killed 45-year-old Rolf Kitching.

Mr Kitching, from Portsmouth, suffered 40 per cent burns to his upper torso and head as a result of the fire at Hythe Marina in June 2008.

Welder Mr Kitching was employed by a separate company and was working in a saloon area on steelwork that had been sprayed with insulation foam when the fire broke out.

He was found unconscious after other workers risked their lives to enter the burning ship and rescue him.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that hot work on board the ship was poorly controlled and managed by YPAL and Allan Foot.

Read more at www.ybw.com

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The 2013 edition of the Grand Pavois boat show drew to a close with a three per cent increase in visitor numbers, the event organiser has reported. Some 92,000 people attended the show in La Rochelle, one of the most important French nautical events, held from September 25-30.

There were 800 exhibitors this year and about 550 boats at dock and on land, fewer than the previous year. Pierrick Garenne, the boat show's director of communications, told IBI that the figures were relative. "Yes, there are 20-30 per cent fewer boats in the harbour, but we are pleased to see how loyal our exhibitors still are, 800 of last year's 850. There are economic problems, but the professionals are still here, even though there are slightly fewer exhibits. It's a fair reflection of what is happening in the country's nautical industry which has dropped 20-25 per cent this year."

Grand Pavois is traditionally considered a boat show for French-made boats, sailing boats and for enthusiasts on the Atlantic and Manche coasts of the country.

Next year's Grand Pavois will be held from September 17-22, 2014.

IBI News: ibinews.com

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Brandspot AB will work closely with the event organizer Goteborg & Co in planning and developing the event surrounding the big finish of the Volvo Ocean Race in Gothenburg in the summer of 2015. Sweden's leading organizers of sailing events are looking forward to help put the spotlight on one of northern Europe's leading event cities.

The next edition of Volvo Ocean Race, the worlds biggest yacht race around the world, starts in Alicante, Spain in October 2014 and ends nine months later with a big Race finish in Gothenburg in June 2015. Brandspot will be developing and planning this huge event together with the event organizers in the Host Port.

The assignment has been awarded to Brandspot through a public procurement from Goteborg & Co in Gothenburg and there is a lot of experience from managing sailing events within the company. Brandspot employees were involved in organizing the last Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Sweden when the Race visited Stockholm in 2009. Also, the company has been the managers Stena Match Cup Sweden of- Sweden's biggest annual sailing event - since 2007 and RC44 Sweden Cup since 2011.

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Nautor's Swan has announced the opening of an office in Palma de Mallorca Spain. Nautor's Swan - Mallorca International is an initiative led by Thomas Bohrer and Jan Oplander of Nautor's Swan Germany - Austria. This new office creates a base for the company in the prestigious harbour of Port Adriano, as well as fellow European Swan agents, including Nautor's Swan Benelux led by Gideon Messink.

"This is a great initiative on the part of long-standing team member, Thomas Bohrer. Nautor's Swan - Mallorca International is the ideal location to showcase the SwanLine and promote the company's full range of performance cruising yachts, as well as offer comprehensive services to the many Swan owners who frequent Palma," said Luca Lucheschi, Commercial Director, Nautor's Swan.

Letters To The Editor -
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* From Euan Ross: Just to be clear about this: Nationality rules were introduced on 15th July 1980 after Andy Rose, an American sailed for Alan Bond in 1977. A Trustee Interpretative Resolution on March 9, 1982, defined nationality as holding a passport, having domicile, or by having a principal place of residence in the country concerned for a couple of years before the match. Previously, the New York Yacht Club was always happy to poach in the other direction. Charlie Barr skippered the Scottish Cup challenger 'Thistle' in 1887, then the unsuccessful American defender candidate 'Vigilant' in 1895 before skippering the successful 'Columbia' in 1899. Barr did indeed take US citizenship in 1899, but returned to his wife and son in England each winter after the sailing season and is buried at Southampton. According to Barry Pickthall, he became an American after this first defence: "Barr's remarkable skill, intelligence and racing pedigree with Colonia were principally responsible for him being chosen as the first non-American skipper to lead a US America's Cup defence campaign." In any event, whether he took citizenship before or after (via his generous winning bonus package), Barr was as American as Russell Coutts was Swiss during the 2003 Alinghi challenge. And Barr's Scandinavians were nicknamed "Norwegian Steam" because they didn't represent a nation, they were just the best power-plant money could buy. 'Defender' made the headlines in 1895 because she boasted an all-American crew; this was unusual. One lesson learned by all challengers for the Auld Mug over the years is that, above all, don't make assumptions about what is or isn't in the Deed of Gift. The rumour is that 'Artemis' were not enthusiastic about another stint as 'Challenger of Record' after being ground down by the sheer weight of Oracle's stone-faced lawyers and partisan factotums. Good luck, then, to the bold, gentlemen-combatants of Hamilton Island.

* From Martin Nichol: Dear Euan, well spoken. I see that the Committee of the RYS unanimously recommended that ladies be allowed to become full members of the yacht club. We wait with baited breath to see what the full membership have to say about that. It also calls itself the UK's most prestigious yacht club and among the most prestigious in the World. How can that be when it restricts membership to 50% of the population and of those men only a few have the right connections, and lets face it, this is not just about money.

* From Adrian Morgan: OK, last one. The Kiwis, a team on a limited budget from a tiny nation, head for an isolated lake to test a revolutionary idea: a foiling 72ft AC catamaran. They develop it on a shoestring in the best traditions of make-do experimentation (think Barnes Wallis or the Wright Brothers) and spring it on the unsuspecting world in just enough time (ridiculously they are restricted in their testing days by the rules) to tune up their single boat for the Cup (they can't afford two). The defenders with an unlimited budget and plenty of time on their hands, are caught unawares and throw their huge resources at it. The Kiwis still, brilliantly, manage to stay ahead of the game, until Race 8 of the Cup, when the defenders finally learn how to sail their boat, with a little help from Sir Ben. All credit to the defender for catching up in time, but gosh, it makes me wish I were a Kiwi...

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The Last Word
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