Sailinginnovation.com

Latest Press Releases

Briefings - 8 October 2008
Contents

IRC Owners Association formed
2009 ISAF Youth Worlds Selection Policy announced
Advocacy update - ARC applauded

HSBC Premier Coastal Classic seeks race media contacts
Changes to 2009-2012 Safety Regulations require action by some clubs
Exceptional start to Waikawa summer season
Wairoa River Regatta and Jubilee Celebrations
Bathtub Derby sports sail division

Roy Dickson becomes IRC National Champion
Useful tips from SPARC’s Club Kit
Precious vintage races the Cook Strait
Coaching courses attract terrific numbers
Summer issue Yachting Quarterly publication deadlines

 
IRC Owners Association formed
An IRC Owners Association is now reality. Designed to make the rule work more effectively in New Zealand, the concept was mooted at the September open meeting of the KORC Committee, and a group of owners met several weeks later. Its key objectives are to promote IRC racing in New Zealand with clubs and regattas, to enable New Zealand to influence ROCC on the rule, to promote IRC to boat owners and to bring Mike Irum to New Zealand to “explain the rule”. The interim committee has set up a non-commercial maritime membership of Yachting New Zealand and meetings are being organised in both Auckland and Wellington to scope the level of support for IRC, pros and cons of IRC and to consider a way forward for the rule here. Another meeting will be held after the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic, and all past and existing IRC certificate owners will be sent a questionnaire to scope their thoughts and ideas.  

2009 ISAF Youth Worlds Selection Policy announced
In August 2008 Yachting New Zealand, released a draft edition of the Guidelines for Nomination and Selection of the 2009 ISAF Youth Worlds Team. Since this announcement there has been significant debate with respect to amending the process to give New Zealand sailors a better chance of success at the ISAF youth worlds, as well as various Class World Championships.

Due to the intense and high level of interest,  the High Performance Classes Committee met to discuss issues raised. Key issues were around the timing and location of ISAF Youth Worlds nomination pointscore series events for the selecting of the 2009 ISAF Youth Worlds Team and to discuss how this process integrates with the National Youth Development Pathway.

The prevailing view was that the selection of the Youth Worlds Team from year to year is always too late in the season and too close to the pinnacle event to get the best performance from the selected sailors. The Committee agreed with the views expressed by many, that earlier selection could improve results at pinnacle regattas.

The Committee was also of the view that, given support for the two event selection process, this should be retained. Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland  and the NZL Class Nationals were considered to be the appropriate selection events from now on. Class nationals are held in different regional venues each year and this should give all regions an opportunity to remain part of a selection event from time to time.

After giving consideration to the full range of themes & points of the arguments for and against the announced draft, the committee’s recommendations for ISAF Youth Worlds Selection Process for 2009-2011 periods are as follows.
 
The nomination point score events for 2009 to be the respective class nationals and the respective class division results of the Sail Auckland regatta;
The two event selection process to be retained
The tie break of any disciplines point score to be broken by the overall result of the last event sailed;
The 420, Laser Radial, RSX & Hobie 16 class association should be finalised before the end of February in the year of selecting the team.
Rig size for the youth men’s division of national RSX Championships to be 8.5m. Rig size. Rig size for RSX youth men’s division of Sail Auckland should be 8.5m.
Youthsail 09 to not be a nomination pointscore regatta for the selecting of the ISAF Youth Worlds Team in 2009

These recommendations have subsequently been accepted and approved by the Board of Yachting New Zealand, and are represented in the Guidelines for Nomination and Selection document now published.

Click here for a full copy of the Nomination & Selection Guidelines for the 2009 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team.

Advocacy update - ARC applauded

As an environment court case looms regarding aquaculture in Northland, Yachting New Zealand wishes to acknowledge the great work that Auckland Regional Council is doing by excluding large tracts of sea area utilised by recreational boaters from potential aquaculture activities. ARC believes in cautious, careful management of aquaculture and this approach is one that we believe will result in the best long term outcome for most users. The Auckland approach, and details of how you can have input, are on the Yachting NZ website - click here.

HSBC Premier Coastal Classic seeks race media contacts

Each year the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic uses messages from the race fleet to keep its website up to date for thousands of online spectators at home, and to help the media – including national radio and TV stations - to cover the race. Can you help by becoming an official race contact? All that is required is for your boat to designate somebody to send as txt or pxt messages (or to phone in) as often as you can manage during the race. To bring the action to life we want to hear everything – serious stuff like what the conditions are like, what’s happening, what boats you can see – and funny stuff like what you are having for dinner!  Anything goes (almost!) Email zoe@wildemedia.co.nz or txt your name and your boat name to 021 273 5070 to register your details with the HSBC Premier Coastal Classic team.

The great race north starts from 10am on Friday 24 October 2008. The race website will follow the fleet closely - www.coastalclassic.co.nz.

Entries close in the Coastal Classic this Friday 10 October.

Changes to 2009-2012 Safety Regulations require action by some clubs
For the next edition of Yachting New Zealand’s publication of the Racing Rules of Sailing also known as the ‘Rule Book’, Part 1 of the Yachting New Zealand Safety Regulations for 2009-2012 will be significantly condensed from previous editions. The 2009-2012 Safety Regulations Part 1 will generally contain the information up to and including clause 14 of the current edition. Current information beyond clause 14 will be deleted.
 
The reason is that those further clauses and the “Memorandum” are not regulations but guidelines and advice.  Also, while it may have been useful to have it in the rule book at one time, it is now considered to be more appropriate for it to be in a club’s Risk Management Plan where it can be made specific to the club.  When the information was first included in the rulebook, most clubs did not have Risk Management Plans.
 
Any club referring to Part 1 of the regulations as a base for their Risk Management plan should update their plan to specifically include deleted items from the 2005-2008 edition.  They may also wish to add information on safety boat handling. The RYA Powerboat Handbook and RYA Safety Boat Handbook (available through Transpacific Marine) are good sources of information.  These documents give general safe procedures although there may be better methods for specific craft and situations. 
 
The ‘Rule Book’ will be available from Yachting New Zealand in November.

For more information contact Andrew Clouston at Yachting New Zealand  Andrew@yachtingnz.org.nz or Jim Park at jim.park@xtra.co.nz.

Exceptional start to Waikawa summer season
Waikawa Boating Club’s summer racing is already scorching. With Summerhouse Wines putting on the prizes, 30 boats turned out to the first day’s brilliant Sounds racing, destination Blackwood Bay and around Allports Island.  The race was incident free despite two ferries passing through the fleet, Bavaria, skippered by Aaron Blackmore, won Division two, with Paperchase second and Bright Eyes third.  Paul Tredinnick won Division one with Country Mile, with Misty Clipper second and Paradym third.  Bryce Ecklein continued his good run in the Open Division winning with Velocity from Global in second place and Slingshot third.

Wairoa River Regatta and Jubilee Celebrations
Wairoa Yacht Club will celebrate fifty years of sailing with a special regatta and celebration weekend from 8-9 November 2008. The Wairoa River Regatta is sailed on the lower Wairoa River and is open to all centreboard and small trailer yachts. It will also host the East Coast Championships for the Optimist Green Fleet, P Class and Laser Classes. On the evening of Saturday the 8th November the Jubilee celebrations will take place at the clubhouse and all sailors, non-sailors and their friends and family are invited. A barbeque meal will be served with a small cover charge. Drinks are BYO.
 
The Wairoa Yacht club wants to see as many past and present members as possible, whether sailing or not. So mark this date in your diary and come and enjoy a great weekend of sailing and celebration in the picturesque town of Wairoa. The event is proudly sponsored by the Port of Napier.

For further details email secretary Larry Grooby, phone 06 8386626 or view the NOR by clicking here.

Bathtub Derby sports sail division

The Englefield Bathtub Derby organisers, in conjunction with Takapuna Boating Club, have asked us to let you know that this novel event has a sail category and is going to raise funds for Coastguard Northern Region. Englefield provide the bathtub, and you rig it and make it go fast. The event will be held from midday on Sunday 9 November 2008 at Takapuna Beach, and entries close this Friday 10 October. Visit www.bathtubderby.co.nz  

Roy Dickson becomes IRC National Champion
Veteran champion sailor Roy Dickson, sailing with members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth Team, proved that Stewart 34, which is a 50-year old design, is probably one of the best sailed boats in New Zealand when it took out the title of IRC National Champion in the 2008 IRC National Championships hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron this 3-5 October.

The first day of racing offered a 15-20 knot westerly for a 27nm harbour race starting and finishing in the Northern Leading area and offering good racing on all points of sail. Saturday and Sunday each consisted of back to back windward leeward racing, dominated by Akatea (Simon Minoprio) and Playbuoy (Dickson) in their respective divisions. 

IRC supporter John Kensington says, “The good news for the average New Zealand owner who hasn’t quite got their head around IRC is that first and third were two easily accessible and easily affordable boats.”

Third place went to another boat that would be easily accessible to the average New Zealander, the Farr 1020 Shockran, held by Joe Brownley. 

Jim Farmer and Georgia One won the last IRC Nationals held earlier this year. Roy will be presented with his trophy for winning the IRC Championship at this year’s Yachting Excellence Awards dinner.

Full results and commentary are at www.rnzys.org.nz

Useful tips from SPARC’s Club Kit
For those not already in the know - Club Kit is a free one-stop online resource library found on SPARC’s website.  Club Kit aims to help clubs, including yacht clubs, succeed and give members more time to enjoy their sport. It contains hundreds of tips, guides, checklists and templates under dozens of headings covering most areas of club management and operations.  Check it out at their website – www.sparc.org.nz

Precious vintage races the Cook Strait
As dawn breaks over the Marlborough Sounds tomorrow, a fleet of between twenty and thirty yachts from around New Zealand will head off into the Cook Strait carrying a precious cargo to Wellington.  The race, called the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Deep Water Classic, marks the official launch of the Marlborough regions new vintage Sauvignon Blanc. Secured in padlocked wooded boxes each yacht will carry a single bottle of undisclosed new vintage Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from one of Marlborough’s leading wine producers.Wineries such as Cape Campbell, Catalina Sounds, Forrest Estate, Grove Mill, Hunters, Lawson’s Dry Hills, Seresin, Spring Creek Estate, Spy Valley as well as many others are expected to participate in this year’s event.

Coaching courses attract terrific numbers
58 coaches took part in Yachting New Zealand’s modular coaching courses in the month of September. Andrew Brown says this was a great number of coaches. “Well done to the facilitators and the participants on all the effort that has gone into these courses.” Courses were held in Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga, Napier and Auckland.

Latest Press Releases

* The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2009-2012 (RRS) has been made available to
download online ahead of the worldwide date of implementation on 1 January
2009. The RRS are the definitive rules which govern sailing races around the
world. They are revised and published every four years by ISAF. The new
edition of the RRS includes marginal markings to indicate important changes
to the rules in Parts 1–7 and the Definitions. — Full details:
http://www.sailing.org/25474.php?PHPSESSID=c73c7fe1d3bf356b319351b90a8094a3

Complete report:
http://www.sailing.org/25475.php

ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards
Madrid, Spain

www.sailing.org/worldsailor
The Nominees

September 22, 2008

ISAF and Rolex are proud to announce the Nominees for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2008.
ISAF received nominations from across the world representing all aspects of the sport in two categories - male and female - and the following 10 nominations have been shortlisted. The qualifying period is the year up until 1 September 2008 and all achievements during this time are taken into consideration.

The 2008 nominees are:

Female
Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB & Pippa WILSON (GBR)
Claire LEROY (FRA)
Elise RECHICHI & Tessa PARKINSON (AUS)
Alessandra SENSINI (ITA)
Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA)

Male
Ben AINSLIE (GBR)
Tom ASHLEY (NZL)
Francis JOYON (FRA)
Vincenzo ONORATO (ITA)
Ian WILLIAMS (GBR)

The winners will be selected by the ISAF Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world, who are now invited to vote for the one male and one female nomination who they believe most deserves the Award.

The winners will be announced at the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards presentation and dinner which is being held on Tuesday 11 November 2008. The venue for the event is the stunning Quinta de Jarama in Madrid, Spain.

Each winner will be presented with the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award Trophy and a distinctive Rolex timepiece.

The achievements of the 2008 Nominees are:

FEMALE NOMINEES

Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB & Pippa WILSON (GBR)

With one goal in mind for 2008 - Olympic gold, the talented British team of Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB and Pippa WILSON spent the lead-up to the Games proving to the world they were the number one Yngling crew by claiming a clean sweep of the highest graded events of the year.

Heading to Miami for the Yngling Women’s World Championship in February 2008, AYTON, WEBB and WILSON were keen to start the Olympic year with a gold medal and they did just that, convincingly defending the World title they picked up in 2007 with a massive 39 points margin over the second place Australian team.

A return to Europe saw the team competing in Palma, Spain at the HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE where they picked up a silver medal before travelling to Blanes, Spain for the Europeans, where once again they ended the regatta at the top of the podium. There were bronze medals at the next two ISAF Grade 1 events in Hyères and Medemblik before the team settled into Qingdao for the big one, the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.

It was in wet, blustery conditions that the first ever Medal Race of an Olympic Games took place and the British Yngling team led by one point from their closest rivals from the Netherlands. In an extremely close race AYTON, WEBB and WILSON demonstrated once again their cool, calm style and supreme ability to make it count when it really matters. They controlled the race from start to finish and in securing the race victory they entered the record books as the first crew to win an Olympic Medal Race and with that, the first gold medal of the Competition. The ultimate dream was a reality; Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB and Pippa WILSON were the 2008 European, World and Olympic Champions.

1 - RYA Winter Challenge Match Racing, GBR - ISAF Grade 4 - Nov 2007
5 - Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
1 - Yngling Women World Championship, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade W - Feb 2008
2 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - Yngling Women European Championship, Blanes, ESP - ISAF Grade C1 - Apr 2008
3 - Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2008
3 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 1

ISAF World Sailing Rankings # 1 from 3 October 2007 to 6 February 2008 and 9 April to 3 September 2008

Claire LEROY (FRA)

2007 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, French skipper Claire LEROY continues to dominate women’s match racing. In 2008 LEROY notched up another five ISAF Graded event wins, defended her World Champion title and maintained her seat at the # 1 position on the ISAF World Match Race Rankings where she has been since 4 May 2005.

Her first victory in 2008 came in February when she secured the RYA Women’s Winter Challenge. She then clinched the New Zealand Women’s title in Auckland and the Harken Women’s International Championship in Australia before returning to Auckland for the 2008 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship. The successful defence of her title was shared with crew member Elodie BERTRAND and new crew mates Marie RIOU and Claire PRUVOT.

After the Worlds it was back to Europe and another gold medal at the ISAF Grade 1 Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand followed by a silver medal in Calpe, Spain at the ISAF Grade 1 International Women’s Match Race Criterium. This remarkable young skipper continues to prove her ability to dominate her field of women’s sailing.

8 - IV Open de España, Calpe, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Sep 2007
2 - Brasil Women’s Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
12 - Brasil Sailing Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
1 - RYA Women’s Winter Challenge, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Feb 2008
1 - New Zealand Women’s Match Racing Championship, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - Harken Women’s International Match Racing Championship, CYCA, AUS - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Apr 2008
1 - Match Cup Sweden, Marstrand, SWE - ISAF Grade 1 - Jun 2008
2 - XI International Women’s Match Race Criterium, Calpe, ESP - ISAF Grade 1 - Aug 2008

ISAF World Match Race Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (30 July 2008) - # 1

Elise RECHICHI & Tessa PARKINSON (AUS)

Well known faces from the ISAF Youth Worlds, this young team showed their intent at the 2008 470 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, where they picked up their first bronze medal of the year. Hitting the European graded event circuit, they posted some mixed results before once again making the results count where it mattered with another bronze at the ISAF Grade C1 European Championships in Italy.

But it wasn’t bronze that this team was after when they got to Qingdao for the Olympic Sailing Competition. Gold was the colour they dreamed of and their win was convincing. One of just four crews who won a gold medal with no previous Olympic experience, RECHICHI and PARKINSON went into their Medal Race with an 18 point lead over their nearest rivals, the three time World Champions from the Netherlands.

They sailed a tactical Medal Race to ensure the Dutch team could not steal their gold medal away and crossed the finish line to secure an Australian 470 double for coach Victor KOVALENKO. At just 21 years old RECHICHI and PARKINSON were the youngest gold medallists at the Olympic Sailing Competition and look set for a bright future.

24 - Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
3 - 470 World Championships, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
15 - Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2008
9 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2008
3 - 470 European Championships, Riva del Garda, ITA - ISAF Grade C1 - Jun 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 6

Alessandra SENSINI (ITA)

Alessandra SENSINI entered the record books in 2008 when she became the first woman to win four Olympic medals in sailing.
At the age of 38, SENSINI has been a force to be reckoned with on the windsurfing circuit for decades and continues to demonstrate her outstanding skill by adapting seamlessly to new equipment as the sport develops and maintaining the extreme physical fitness demanded by the discipline.
She began her 2008 season with a gold medal at the 2008 RS:X World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, her second title in the class since the inaugural World Championship in 2006. After a solid series including five race wins, SENSINI was on equal points with fellow veteran windsurfer Barbara KENDALL from New Zealand, but the Italian sailed a clinical Medal Race to secure her fourth windsurfing world title.

Back to Europe and SENSINI picked up another gold medal at the HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE in Palma, Spain and 20th at the Europeans in Brest, France. On to Qingdao for the Olympic Sailing Competition and SENSINI had her sights set on the podium again. An impressive series of results, not finishing a race outside the top ten, SENSINI flirted with the top of the leaderboard throughout the opening series. Going into the Medal Race she had to put two competitors between herself and the Chinese sailor and duly put in a true champions performance to convincingly win the race. The action unfolding behind SENSINI gave YIN the gold medal but SENSINI was delighted with her historic achievement of a 4th Olympic medal by adding the silver to her gold medal from Sydney in 2000 and bronze medals from Athens in 2004 and Atlanta in 1996.

2 - RS:X New Zealand National Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - RS:X World Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
1 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
20 - RS:X European Championships, Brest, FRA - ISAF Grade C1 - May 2008
2 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 6

Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA)

Anna Tunnicliffe has been a quiet but dominant presence in the Laser Radial fleet for some time and set out in pursuit of her Olympic dream four years ago. Her determination and discipline has seen her pick up medals from four ISAF Grade 1 events in 2008 and seen her top the ISAF World Sailing Rankings for more than half of the nomination period.

TUNNICLIFFE’s consistency was the key to her success at the Olympic Sailing Competition and with only one race finish lower than sixth she was in great shape to claim her first Olympic medal after the opening series. One of TUNNICLIFFE’s great strengths is her ability to read the wind shifts and shine under pressure, which she demonstrated to perfection to pull off a magnificent comeback in the Laser Radial Medal Race.

Challenging for the gold medal were two other sailors and a poor start for TUNNICLIFFE saw her back in ninth place at the start of the second lap with her dreams of glory over. TUNNICLIFFE was not giving up without a fight and read the shifts perfectly to battle her way back through the fleet to third by the final mark. With the wind decreasing on the final leg, the fleet compressed but TUNNICLIFFE fought on, finished the race in second place and clinched her first Olympic gold medal.

4 - US Women’s Match Racing Championship, Detroit, USA - ISAF Grade 3 - Sep 2007 (Match Racing)
6 - Rolex Osprey Cup, St Petersburg, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Oct 2007 (Match Racing)
9 - Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade C1 - Jan 2008
2 - Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
3 - Sail Auckland, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 1 - Feb 2008
6 - Laser Radial Women’s World Championship, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Mar 2008
2 - Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2008
1 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 08
14 - Kiel Week, Kiel, GER - ISAF Grade 1 - Jun 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 Sep 2008) - # 1

ISAF World Sailing Rankings # 1 from 3 October to 19 December 2007 and 9 April to 3 September 2008

MALE NOMINEES

Ben AINSLIE (GBR)

Unbeaten in the Finn since 2004 and twice a previous winner of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, Ben AINSLIE is a sailor who knows how to pick his moments. Returning to the Olympic circuit following the conclusion of the 32nd America’s Cup, AINSLIE kept his hand in on the match racing circuit but sent a clear signal to the Finn fleet in December 2007 that he was back on the scene and hungry for a third Olympic gold medal.

His first Grade 1 victory of this nomination period came at the Sydney International Regatta in December 2007 and he marched on to pick up another gold medal at Sail Melbourne before taking on his fifth Finn Gold Cup in January 2008. After a solid series Ainslie consolidated his record number of Finn Gold Cup wins by bringing his tally to five. The next two events also saw AINSLIE on the top of the podium and before setting off to China for the Olympic Games he claimed his fourth European title in a nail biting final race in Scarlino, Italy.

On to China and AINSLIE rarely looked troubled out on the complex waters of Qingdao. With just one real challenge left by the Medal Race it was business as usual for this unstoppable Brit. The gold medal was his and he made another strike in the record books, joining the ranks of the world’s most successful Olympic sailors with three gold and one silver medal. AINSLIE ends the nomination period with the European, World and Olympic titles to his name.

1 - RYA National Match Racing Qualifier, Weymouth, GBR - ISAF Grade 4 - Sep 2007
1 - Cento Cup, Trapani, ITA - ISAF Grade 1 - Oct 2007 (match racing)
1 - Go for Gold Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - Sydney International Regatta, Sydney, AUS - ISAF Grade 1 - Dec 2007
1 - Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
1 - Finn Gold Cup - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
1 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - Finn European Championship, Scarlino, ITA - ISAF Grade C1 - May 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 13

Tom ASHLEY (NZL)

The quest for Olympic glory has been on the agenda for this young Kiwi sailor for some time. Since finishing 10th in Athens at the age of 20, ASHLEY has matured into a world beater on the windsurfing scene, a status he confirmed in January 2008 when he won the RS:X World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. A consistent series with four race wins saw ASHLEY start the final day at the top of the leaderboard and sail a tactical race to ensure he secured the Championship title in front of his home crowd.

A quick trip to Europe and a bronze medal at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik and ASHLEY was set up for achieving his Olympic dream.

ASHLEY’s intensive training regime and focus on being the best all round sailor paid dividends again in Qingdao and with a consistent series he went into the Medal Race third overall but just one point behind the leader. ASHLEY sailed a near flawless Medal Race to win a tight three way battle for the gold medal, the first for New Zealand in sailing since 1992 and he ends the nomination period as World and Olympic Champion.

1 - RS:X New Zealand National Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - RS:X World Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
3 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 4

Francis JOYON (FRA)

It took Francis JOYON just 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds to sail solo, non-stop around the world aboard his 98ft trimaran IDEC.

Departing from Brest, France on 23 November 2007 JOYON’s voyage encompassed 26,400 nautical miles of excitement, which he covered at an average speed of 15.84 knots slicing a staggering 14 days off the previous record set by Ellen MACARTHUR in 2005.

JOYON’s journey began as he meant to continue. Precisely following the battle plan drawn up by his weather router, he covered over 500 miles a day to reach the Equator in six days and a little over 18 hours. After just ten days of sailing, JOYON was already 800 miles ahead of MACARTHUR’s record and he shot round the Cape of Good Hope after 15 days, increasing his lead to four days.

JOYON reached the halfway point in 27 days and after carefully threading his way through storms, calm and iceberg territory he reached Cape Horn on 29 December, 35 days after departing from Brest and notching up an average speed of 21 knots.

As JOYON began the home straight the slowdown was sudden. Becalmed and sailing upwind, the South Atlantic showed no mercy. On 8 January he finally managed to pick up the easterly trade wind and began to wind back up to speed, crossing the Equator two days later. A trip up the mast to repair the main halyard highlighted a more serious problem which could have brought the mast - and the record - crashing down in seconds. JOYON climbed his 32 metre mast three times to limit the potential damage but there was more to come. The final days of this epic voyage were spent with the dangers of a deep depression in the Bay of Biscay but JOYON triumphantly arrived back in Brest, completing the remarkable feat in a record breaking 57 days and picking up four other records along the way.

WSSRC Ratified Records - IDEC 98ft Trimaran
Single-handed Round the World Record - 23 Nov 2007 - 19 Jan 2008 - 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds, average speed 15.84 knots
Single-handed 24 hour record - 12 Dec 2007 - 613.5 miles, average speed 25.56 knots
Single-handed Indian Ocean record - 18 Dec 2007 - 9 days, 12 hours and 6 minutes
Single-handed Pacific Ocean record - 28 Dec 2007 - 10 days, 14 hours and 26 minutes
Single-handed Equator to Equator record - 10 Jan 2008 - 41 days, 9 hours and 14 minutes

Vincenzo ONORATO (ITA)

Vincenzo ONORATO and his Mascalzone Latino sailing team claimed a sailing first in 2008 when they won the Rolex Farr40 World Champion title for an unprecedented third consecutive year.

ONORATO has only once not finished on the podium of a Farr40 event in 2008 and his list of accolades includes second place at the prestigious ISAF Offshore Team World Championships in Sardinia and the European title.

The first event for the Mascalzone Latino team in 2008 was Acura Key West Race Week, where ONORATO lead his team to the podium and a silver medal. From Key West to Miami and another silver medal at the Acura Miami Race Week, the team were set for their defence of the World Championship title in April.

After finishing in tenth place at the Pre-Worlds, ONORATO got down to business. Only finishing two races outside the top ten, the Italian team lead the overall standings from day one. In an all Italian showdown for the title on the final day of racing it was to be ONORATO’s day. He finished the series 24 points ahead of second placed Joe Fly skippered by Giovanni MASPERO to win his third World Championship.

ONORATO’s commitment to the Farr40 class is tireless and his results speak for themselves. The intense, competitive Farr40 racing is not for the faint hearted and the talented Italian wrapped up the nomination period by adding the European crown to his World title at the Rolex Farr40 European Championship in Travemunde, Germany.

2 - Acura Key West Race Week, Key West, USA - Jan 2008
2 - Acura Miami Race Week, Miami, USA - Mar 2008
10 - Rolex Farr40 Pre-Worlds, Miami, USA - Apr 2008
1 - Rolex Farr40 World Championship, Miami, USA - Apr 2008
3 - Audi Farr40 Cup, Sardinia, ITA - Jun 2008
2 - Rolex Sardinia Cup ISAF Team Offshore World Championship, Sardinia, ITA - Jun 2008 (team result)
1 - Farr40 Copenhagen Regatta, Copenhagen, DEN - Jul 2008
1 - Rolex Farr40 European Championship, Travemunde, GER - Aug 2008

1 - Circuit Nordic European Farr40 2008

Ian WILLIAMS (GBR)

Ian WILLIAMS from Great Britain won the 2007 ISAF Match Racing World Championship title after sweeping to victory at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia, the final event of the 2007 World Match Racing Tour. WILLIAMS’ victory in Malaysia was all the more fitting as he claimed his title by defeating 2006 World Champion Peter GILMOUR (AUS) in the final.

WILLIAMS followed up his world title competing at Grade 2 and 3 events in Europe where he claimed yet more podium positions before returning to the World Match Racing Tour in April 2008. WILLIAMS competed at all five Tour events of the 2008 season which took place within the nomination period and picked up podium finishes at three of them.

The first event of the 2008 Tour was the Brasil Sailing Cup in Vitoria, Brazil and WILLIAMS signalled his intentions from the outset. After leading into the knockout stages he eventually finished third but secured valuable early points on the Tour leadboard. Consistent results from WILLIAMS and Team Pindar and they were at the top of the Tour Standings at the end of the nomination period with a total of 72 points, a cushion of 15 points over their nearest rivals. WILLIAMS rounded off the nomination period with victory at the Danish Open in Frederikshavn.

The city lawyer who left the court house for the race course has become one of the great names on the match racing circuit and has flirted with the # 1 position of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings throughout the nomination period.

6 - Latium Match Cup, Fiumicino, ITA - ISAF Grade W - Sep 2007
12 - King Edward VII Gold Cup, Hamilton, BER - ISAF Grade W - Oct 2007
5 - Brasil Sailing Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
1 - Monsoon Cup, Kuala Terengganu, MAS - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
1 - ISAF Match Racing World Championship & World Match Race Tour Winner
1 - RYA Winter Challenge 2, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Dec 2007
3 - RYA Winter Challenge 3, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Feb 2008
1 - GKSS Ice Breaker, Langedrag, SWE - ISAF Grade 3 - Apr 2008
3 - Brasil Sailing Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Apr 2008
4 - Match Race Germany, Langenargen, GER - ISAF Grade W - May 2008
2 - Korea Match Cup, Jeongok, KOR - ISAF Grade W - Jun 2008
9 - GKSS Match Cup Sweden, Marstrand, SWE - ISAF Grade W - Jun 2008
1 - Danish Open, Frederikshavn, DEN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Match Race Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (30 July 2008) - #2

ISAF World Match Race Rankings #1 from 26 September to 24 October 2007 and from 25 June to 30 July 2008.

For further information www.sailing.org/worldsailor

International Rolex Regatta
St.Thomas, US Virgin Island

The User-Friendly Caribbean Regatta

September 19, 2008

www.regattanews.com

It’s time to plan for next Spring’s three-day International Rolex Regatta, which has opened online registration and posted its Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions in an easy-print format on its website (www.rolexcupregatta.com).

“Simple is how we’re making it,” said event Co-Chair John Sweeney about the regatta, which — in its 36th running — is scheduled for Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29. He explained that helpful tips have been added to the website and that the regatta’s host, St. Thomas Yacht Club, centers all racing and social activities around its waterfront facility on the east end of St. Thomas, providing moorings in front of the club and launch service to nearby Christmas Cove, should boats prefer to drop a hook there.

“It is the Caribbean, after all, and on-the-hook in a beautiful cove after racing is a great place to be,” said Sweeney, who added that, nevertheless, American Yacht Harbor (www.igy-americanyachtharbor.com) and Yacht Haven Grande (www.yachthavengrande.com) are also at-the-ready to provide first-class accommodations for anyone preferring a full service marina. Both marinas are a 20-30 minute motor out to the racing areas.

“Many families make our event part of a get-away vacation and we want to help competitors, families and friends get the most out of the regatta and the island,” said Sweeney.

Condos are available at the Anchorage and Cowpet properties that are a simple beachfront walk to the St. Thomas Yacht Club. Information for this and a resource for villa rentals have been added to the website. Sweeney also stressed that for added convenience provisions are available through the club, which provides a complimentary light breakfast for all sailors each morning, low-cost lunches and dinners, and plenty of post-racing music and parties. For those wanting to venture out, restaurants and a grocery store in Red Hook are only a five-minute taxi ride away.

“Racing, which is really at the heart of all the fun, is a quality blend of around the islands and windward/leeward courses,” said Sweeney. With mid-morning starts right off the club and nearby finishes, everyone is back to shore by 1630.”

While CSA (”Caribbean Rule”) and one-design racing are popular inclusions, the International Rolex Regatta offers IRC racing and will have an IRC measurer on hand. It is part of the US-IRC Gulf Stream Series and for the second year is joining with the BVI Spring Regatta to add the action-packed option of participating in Virgin Islands Race Week.