In this Issue:
Macatawa Bay Commodore's Cup
Sydney to Hobart recommendations
Explorer- New York-Miami
Steve Fossett- Newport/Bermuda

Commodore's Cup
    This past weekend saw the
Macatawa Bay Yacht Club host their
Annual Commodore's Cup regatta. For
many of the 30 Lake Michigan based boats
this was their initial racing action of
1999.
    A total of 4 races were sailed,
2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Boats
sailed in 5 divisions.
    The S2 7.9's had their own start
with a total of 5 boats on the line. Second
Wind won 3 of 4 races giving her a 5 point
margin of victory.
    In the Etchell Shields division
Wildcat sailed to a 1-point victory over Coup.
    The final One Design class was composed
of 6 One Design 35's. New to Lake Michigan One
Design 35 racing were: Extreme, Avanti and sailing
in her first regatta Outlaw.
    As usual the One Design 35's raced in
close fashion. Extreme edged Heartbreaker by one
point. Heartbreaker won the odd numbered races
(1&3) while Extreme took 2 & 4.
    The Commodore's Cup also has 3 sections
sailing under PHRF. PHRF 1 had the bigger boats.
It was a good regatta to be a big boat as
John Neadeau's Nelson Marek 68 won 3 of the 4 races.
2nd was Gauntlet. 3rd was the Santa Cruz 70
Pied Piper.
    PHRF 2 saw Hot Tuna take 1st by 1 point
over Rush.
    This weekend will see further racing on
Lake Michigan at the South Haven Invitational and
at the Detroit NOOD regatta.
    For complete Commodore's Cup results see:
http://www.torresen.com/races/1999Commcup.htm
    Regatta organizers are encouraged to send
race results to Torresen Sailing Site in
electronic form. We publish both this weekly
newsletter and a 4 times a week column called
Sailing Daily. Send them to: atwos@torresen.com
we will see that they are published.

-

Sydney Hobart Race will have changes in 1999
    In the aftermath of the tragic 1998 Sydney
to Hobart Yacht Race the Cruising Yacht Club of
Australia appointed a committee to review the
incidents of the race. The committee has released
its findings.
    One of the main findings is: "As a result,
there is no single change that can be identified
for the future running of the race that could
preclude the repeat of such incidents. However,
there is a series of incremental changes, that
while on their own may appear of little
significance, will together have a substantive
and lasting impact on the organization, running
and safety of the event."
    A review of the race also found: the
decision to race should remain in each skippers
hands, many of the knockdowns were caused by
exceptional waves 20 to 100% bigger than
prevailing seas, sailors tended to
understate the forecasted conditions, design type
was not a determining factor as boats of all
ages were affected, and that the level of crew
experience required was sufficient, but that
safety knowledge was not good on the whole.
    In view of these findings there will be
significant changes for the 1999 Sydney to
Hobart race.
    Among these changes are:
1. Having a weather forecaster on duty in the
Race Control center to issue forecasts that
sailors understand.
2. Mandatory reporting of winds above 40 knots
by competing yachts.
3. No crew under 18 allowed.
4. Requiring new boats to compete in a 200 mile
offshore race to prove their qualification.
5. Mandatory attendance by 30% of a yachts crew
at safety and weather seminars.
5. 406 MHZ EPIRBS to become mandatory.
    Commenting on the Report, CYCA Commodore
Hugo van Kretschmar said: "Whilst it would be
unreasonable to believe that these recommended
changes (or anything else for that matter) could
ensure the ultimate safety of every participant
in future Sydney to Hobart races - there is no
doubt that the safety of all competitors in
future events will be improved as a result."
    It seems as though the committee has put
forth a serious of reasoned recommendations.
Many of them seem to be directed towards making
competitors more aware of their surroundings.
Hopefully this bring about a safety first
approach that allows offshore sailing to
continue on.
    Note: Complete copies of the Report
of the 1998 Sydney Hobart Review Committee are
available in book form for a fee of $20.00 from
the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia,
New Beach Board, Darling Point, NSW 2027,
Telephone: (02) 9363 9731, fax (02) 9363 9745.

Explorer- New York to Miami
    Bruno Peyrons's legendary maxi catamaran
left Miami at 18 29 44 GMT on Sunday May 30.
Explorer sailed in a 15-20 knot easterly wind at
the start.
    After 13 hours Explorer had covered 270
miles an average of 20.77 knots. Explorer's crew
had divided into two watches- one French and one
American and according to Bruno Peyron: "There's a
bit of a competition between two continents being
played out by the record attempt crew."
    After 24 hours the distance covered was 440
miles making the average 18 knots. The evening Explorer
had two incidents of note.
    One, she hit a whale. Bruno Peyron commented:
"I think it was a humpback whale. I hope we didn't
hurt it. As for the boat, she seems to have come out
unharmed. It's amazing the number of times we have hit
these cetaceans, since we have been sailing with this
boat."
    Second half of the jib track tore lose from
the catamaran's main beam.
    As Explorer neared Cape Hatteras the breeze
dropped to 5 to 8 knots.
    At last report Explorer was within 150 miles
of the finish. The wind was back up featuring 20 knot
south westerlies.
    Explorer's expected finish time is between
1500 and 1700 GMT.
    For more see:
http://www.therace.org/english/index.htm &
http://www.teamadventureusa.org/

Next for Fossett- Newport/Bermuda Record
    This week Steve Fossett will tackle
the Newport to Bermuda record. Whilst his new
boat the 105 Playstation is repaired in New Zealand
Fossett will use his 60 foot trimaran Lakoata in
this attempt.
    The benchmark for the 635 mile course was set
in November by Cray Valley. This is the Finot designed
Open 50 that J.P. Mouligne skippered to an Around
Alone class II victory.
    For more check:
http://www.playstation-europe.com/challenges