Around The World Of Sailing

Sub 60?

A couple of weeks ago I conjectured that Cheyenne might finish her round the world voyage in under 60 days. Current projections show her around 58 days.

This sub 60 time is something I thought of prior to The Race. I projected a 59 day trip

Tim Zimmerman author of The Race thinks thata sub 60 trip might last for awhile. He suspects Orange II might make it in 55 days, but that under 50 is a big ask for current technology.

Replying to Zimmerman I asked if a boat such as Cheyenne that had fewer problems might not approach 55 days. Zimmerman said, "my guess is they lost about a day to the equator, a couple of half days for the headstay and mast track repairs, a day or more approaching Cape Horn, and maybe a day heading north back to the equator." This equals out to 4 days, which would mean an under 55 day run. Does more durability=under 55?

I think that sub 55 is an eminent occurrence as Race Class cats become more durable.

For a time of 50 days or under I think the displacement issue has to be overcome. The maxi cats are fast, but there hulls still go through the water rather than over. Maybe Yves Parliers new seaplane inspired catamaran leads to the way to sub 50?

Student Built Mini

From Jim Stewart at the Bayfront Centre in Erie PA comes this news, "We are building a MINI 6.50 to compete in the 2005 MINI Transat. We work primarily with inner city neglected and delinquent youth and utilize boat building, sailing, environmental studies and underwater archeology to teach and reinforce traditional academic subjects and to introduce personal growth initiatives."

By the completion of the boat 1,000 children will have participated. It is being built at the Bayfront Center for Maritime studies. The mission of BCMS is to design and deliver unique, maritime-based educational, vocational, and recreational opportunities for the local community. BCMS provides programming for all the juvenile placement facilities in Erie County and seventeen public school districts in northwest Pennsylvania.

The boat is a Dudley Dix design being built of wood.

They hope to have the boat completed for the upcoming Boston to Bermuda Mini race, this June.

The mini is the smallest of the Open Classes at 21 feet. Every other year (next being 2005) these boats sail a 2 legged trans atlantic race, solo fashion.

Linky Sailing News

Racing Cheyenne progresing. Geronimo taking a southern option. Cayard already planning.

News A changing Vendee Globe Frostad becoming a tri guy.

Great Lakes Cruising on the Badger. Shipping in Detroit. Green Bay port planning. Welland Canal's 175th Opening.

College Sailing Hobart William Smith tops at team racing.

Volvo Ocean Race Boats Building

Next week, the Irishman Killian Bushe starts building the two boats with which ABN AMRO will participate in the Volvo Ocean Race. From Monday, one of the hangars of Schaap Shipcare in Lelystad (the Netherlands), will be used for these building works. Bushe was responsible for building the Illbruck, the winning boat in the last Volvo Ocean Race. To build the ABN AMRO boats he will gather an international group of specialists in Lelystad. Several Dutchmen, including five Schaap Shipcare employees will aid this group. In total, twenty people will be involved in building the boat.

The facilities available at Schaap Shipcare provide good conditions for Bushe to build the two boats. The large, light hall, measuring 60 by 35 metres will be fully adapted for the building and finishing/spraying of composite yachts. A special oven, which can heat up to 100 degrees celcius and measuring 30 by 7,5 by 6,5 metres, will be added. This oven is needed for baking the resin that will be used.

ABN AMRO announced its 2-boat participation in the Volvo Ocean Race on 11 March. The race around the world starts in November 2005 in Spain and will finish in the summer of 2006 in Northwest Europe. The Dutchman Roy Heiner is in charge of the sailing part of the project. Juan Kouyoumdjian, from Argentina is responsible for the boat design.

Geronimo's Southern Option

A few days ago, Geronimo was violently “ejected” from the south of this Pacific Ocean, whose name is undoubtedly open to question.

It now seems clear that since yesterday (30 March), our skipper Olivier de Kersauson, having gathered together every scrap of weather data about these deserted seas, has decided to dive south to the Horn, now less than 3,000 nautical miles away.

A position fix taken at 05:09 GMT today (31 March) puts the trimaran at 51°08S, 154°22W and continuing east-southeast on a bearing of precisely 116° at a spot actual speed of 20.4 knots.

This radical option, which seems increasingly certain as the hours go by, should see the trimaran progressing further and further south over the coming days: 52°, 53°, 55° - even more perhaps. If she can indeed “get through”, there should be two positive effects.

The most obvious is that it will shorten Geronimo’s route to Cape Horn in terms of longitude, because the closer you get to the South Pole, the closer together the meridians become.

The other benefit of this option is that it allows the trimaran to skirt south of a powerful low pressure system now establishing itself west of the Chilean coast.

The Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric crew know what it is to fight: we wish them bon courage in the battles to come

Cheyenne In the Trades

Summary 430 miles Tuesday progress in Trades. Nearly 4-1/2 days ahead of Orange 2002 RTW position. Finish targeted for early next week

A day of consistent NE tradewinds (now beginning to clock towards the East) has propelled Steve Fossett, Cheyenne and their international crew of 12 a further 430 miles N/NW over the past 24 hours (avg 17.91 kts) - not quite directly on course but not far off - with better wind angles ahead as the wind continues to shift towards the E and then SE over the next 36 hours. Distance to the official WSSRC start-finish line at Ouessant is now some 2400 nm. A finish early next week is now a distinct possibility.

Cheyenne's Round The World Sailing record attempt after 53 full days is almost 4-1/2 days ahead of the equivalent position for Bruno Peyron's Orange I, with the 2002 'phantom' rival some 1240 miles behind 'on the water' at a position just South of the Equator - and history shows Orange I then faced 4 slow days ahead.

Last 2 years of Jules Verne

In the Last 2 years

Geronimo has started 3 times with one 1 finish, outside of record time & 1 still in progress/

Kingfisher 1 start. Dismasted, DNF.

Orange II 2 starts. Has not made it to the equator.

Cheyenne 1 start, under 10 days to go, ahead of record.

The Seas Again

Geronimo seems to be in serious trouble. If Olivier de Kersauson says, "it's a matter of survival" it means the rest of us would be in the fetal position and praying for rescue. ODK& team are carrying on but are no longer sure of finishing or setting a record.

Once again it's the seas. Here's ODK on them: "We have an appalling sea...which makes for a dangerous beam sea that’s difficult to cope with...What we have is an amazingly harsh southern sea...The sea is impossible...I can't cross waves at this speed...the sea that is stopping us."

If this Jules Verne season has done nothing else it has showed us that waves trump wind in the maxi cat world.

Jules Verne Deja Vu

Today's report from Cheyenne contains this news, "[a] steel bushing holding the front beam to the boat had broken in the middle and worked out halfway on one side."

This potentially voyage ending problem came just ... days after Cheyenne had crossed the equator. Theoretically, it's the home stretch, the benign Atlantic after the horrifying Southern Ocean. As usual the gap between theory and practice was filled by Murphy's Law. Once again Cheyenne made repairs at sea and continued. This is their 3rd major repair/strike, but perhaps the maxi cat sails on the 9 lives theory.

This is not dissimilar to what occurred to Orange on the north bound leg of her Jules Verne record. In 2002 a titanium ball that the mast rests on failed, a near disaster for Orange. Orange had to finish her voyage at less than full tilt due to this. According to Steve Fossett, "we would love to pour it on. Instead we are sailing slower and conservatively."

Perhaps the key to future Jules Verne record success lies in a boat that can race 100% the entire way around the globe.

Linky Sailing News

Racing Too much for Geronimo? Another fix for Cheyenne. Star Euros. IFDS 2 person worlds.

News Kids building Mini. Reflecting Reynolds. Installing hardware

Great Lakes Fast ferries coming. Seaway sniping.

College Sailing Tufts best at AC monos

Geronimo: Is it Too Much?

Let’s remind ourselves of what Olivier de Kersauson said at the end of the radio link conversation on Monday 29 March:

“We’ve been off course for 4 days. We’re just surviving, and like all survivors, we hope that things will get better in the next 48 hours. If nothing changes, the only thing we’ll be able to do is to run for the north and not round the Horn at all”.

And: “In 2 or 3 days, we’ll have to evaluate the true risk. As things are, we can’t risk capsizing the boat. At this time of the year, in these waters… we’re not in the North Atlantic where there are people around. If you capsize here, you’re dead”.

Whatever the decision reached by Geronimo’s skipper, we can be sure that it will be in the best possible interest of the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric crew.

Whatever the content of his announcement, it will be indisputable since the choice will have been guided by the clear imperative of protecting human life, which is priceless and can never be compared with the exhilaration of performance.

Every one of Geronimo’s crew knows that they can count on the total support of their sponsoring partners.

Cheyenne: Another Fix

Summary: Immediate repairs avert mast disaster - again

370 miles in 24 hours (15.42 kts avg)

4 day lead over Orange 2002 position (based on latitude)

The maxi-catamaran Cheyenne and her crew under skipper Steve Fossett made a further 370 miles driving N/NW up the Atlantic at an average of 15.4s kts on Monday, leaving them some 2700 nm from the official finish line at Ouessant and 4 days ahead of the 2002 position of the current Round The World Sailing record holder.

But Monday was not all clear sailing, as a partial breakage at the front beam was discovered in the afternoon and immediate repairs were required to avert another major potential 'show stopper'. Steve Fossett describes the 'close call':
"When some crew heard a new creaking noise from the right front corner of the boat Monday morning, Nick Leggatt and I threw on our harnesses and ran up to see the cause. The carbon and steel bushing holding the front beam to the boat had broken in the middle and worked out halfway on one side. Another two hours of this upwind sailing and it would have finished coming out, the beam separated, and the mast fallen over from lack of support. That was a close call.

We slowed and the crew went to work trying to pound it back in to place. It only went part way back in. Then the drilling and bolting was started. The whole operation was completed in four hours. This temporary fix is likely to hold until the finish, but we have to take it easy on the boat. What a shame, because we have an excellent wind pattern into the finish and we would love to pour it on. Instead we are sailing slower and conservatively.

We will be relieved on Wednesday when we are done with this pounding from sailing upwind in the Tradewinds."

This morning's position at end Day 52 saw Fossett and crew at 9 20' N Latitude, 31 43' W longitude - just over 2700 miles minimum distance to the finish and some 4 days ahead of the existing RTW record holder's 2002 position based on latitude (In 2002, Orange I had reached 9 20' N, 28 48' W at the end of their Day 56).

Plastic Issues/A Million Good Causes

A customer recently said he'd heard 'horror stories' about plastic clogging saidrive intakes. Due to this he wanted to by pass the water intake located in the sail drive and switch to a regular thru hull with strainer.

I did some thinking and inquiring on this. Unfortunately plastic items are a fact of modern watery life. They can clog any intake you put on a boat. A sail drive intake might actually be less affected as it is nearer the prop and it's turbulence.

Should you decide this is really a problem, you might want to connect the sail drive and normal thru hull with a t-fitting.

All in all, considering the odds on a plastic clog, the money would probably be spent with a clean water advocacy group rather than modifying your engine. The problem isn't with the engine, but with the plastic in the water.

If you're a Lake Michigan sailor consider spending a little time working on the Lake Michigan Federation's Adopt a beach program. Involvement in this program will help clear up debris which clog engine intakes.

Ellen Goes Solo on Tri

IN BRIEF:

* B&Q SKIPPER, ELLEN MACARTHUR, HAS COVERED NEARLY 1000 MILES SINCE LEAVING THE FALKLAND ISLANDS ON FRIDAY NIGHT....

* FIRST SOLO VOYAGE ON THE NEW 75-FOOT B&Q CATAMARAN AS MACARTHUR IS REMINDED OF THE HARSH REALITY OF SOLO SAILING... "Six sail changes today as wind increased - it's exhausting..."

Visit http://www.teamellen.com for further information

IN DETAIL:

Ellen MacArthur has begun her maiden solo voyage on board the 75ft B&Q trimaran. She left Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands on Friday at 20:00 GMT (26.03.04) and will have covered approximately 1000 nautical miles by the end of today (29.03.04). This is MacArthur's first solo voyage for over 15 months, since the solo transatlantic Route du Rhum race in November 2002.

Her departure was delayed by a few hours as strong winds of up to 45 knots were forecasted. However, MacArthur left the islands quickly behind in a good 18 knot NW wind and is now heading out into the South Atlantic on the first part of her return trip. It will be another testing time for both skipper and boat, as they face upwind conditions of the South Atlantic. Ellen is already experiencing the harsh realities of solo sailing with the breeze varying between 15 and 30 knots. At 1000 GMT B&Q was approx 750 nm south-east of Montevideo, Uruguay at a position of 42 00S 043 05W, sailing an average of 15 knots in a 20 knot WSW breeze.

FROM ELLEN ON BOARD B&Q:

"Out at last, and great to be out on the water solo again, though at the same time very sad to leave the guys and everyone else behind. It all happenned very quickly - before I knew it we were in Port Stanley and it was time for everyone to leave. I can't believe that this is really the first time that I've sailed solo on board B&Q, nor that it's the first time that I've been without the guys either on land or sea. I'm looking foward to what's ahead and can't wait to see how she performs...so far, so good! But she can be hard work in these conditions - six sail changes today as the wind increased. The realities of singlehanded sailing can be pretty harsh sometimes and it's exhausting but awesome to be out here. Conditions are already getting warmer - the air temperature has gone up a few degrees."

"Our stay here in the Falklands has been just fantastic. We were totally welcomed and made to feel very much at home. Although we were busy checking and preparing the boat before I left, we had some time to see the Islands themselves. The sights were beautiful and remind me a lot of the north west of Scotland. The nature and the landscape was breathtaking. There were a few small things to fix on board before we left but all the testing went well so I was pretty confident leaving. "

ellen
x

The Transat Update

'One man, one boat, the sea...The Transat...established in 1960 as the OSTAR'

IN BRIEF:

* 2003 ORMA World Champion, Franck Cammas, one of the favourites in the 60ft multihull class will be relying on the existing Groupama for victory in The Transat, whilst Yves Parlier will be pushing the boundaries with his radical, new 60ft catamaran...

* Both Pindar AlphaGraphics and AT Racing are relaunched in Portsmouth as much publicity surrounds Thomson's quest for sponsorship...

* A look at 1968, the third edition of this 44 year-old solo transatlantic race, that delivered 60 knot storms and one skipper who took advantage of the rules to win...

Visit http://www.thetransat.com for further information

IN DETAIL:

Competitors in The Transat are this week continuing to get their boats ready for sea while those further advanced are setting out on their 1000 mile single-handed qualification passages.

Among those who are planning to set out shortly on their qualification passage are Franck Cammas on Groupama, Lalou Roucayrol on Banque Populaire, Roger Langevin on his much campaigned Open 50 Branec III and Etienne Hochede, who finished third in his class aboard his 35ft monohull four years ago, back this year on board his Open 50 PIR2.

All eyes will be on the progress of Cammas, for he is unquestionably one of the favourites for the coveted first place among the ORMA 60 multihulls. This class is highly competitive with 12 boats competing in The Transat, but last year out of six events on the ORMA circuit there was only one event the 31 year old Frenchman did not win. In 2000 Cammas finished third in The Transat, retired from the 2002 Route du Rhum (as did most of the boats) and will be looking to The Transat to gain his first single-handed transatlantic victory. Cammas will be relying on his existing ORMA World Championship winning multihull Groupama rather than the new Groupama constructed over the winter.

The most radical boat in The Transat will be Yves Parlier's Médiatis Région Aquitaine, the first race for this revolutionary new machine. Unlike the ORMA trimarans, Médiatis Région Aquitaine has two hulls rather than three and with a beam of 50ft is exceptionally wide for a 60ft long catamaran. She also has two rigs - one mounted over each hull. As if this weren't enough the hull shape of the boat is also ground-breaking with a very narrow V-shaped hull and a 'step' running across the underside of the hull, a device commonly used by racing power boats to reduce drag.

The boat has been sailing for less than a month now and has already clocked 29 knots. Parlier believes the boat to be capable of more than 40 knots. At present the team are in the middle of a 10-day sea trial during which they hope to see how the boat behaves in gale force conditions. A week after their return Parlier will set out single-handed on his qualifier for The Transat.

Currently Portsmouth harbour is a hive of Open 60 activity with both Pindar AlphaGraphics and Alex Thomson's AT Racing relaunched this week after winter refits. In a break with their traditional sponsoring of female crews Emma Richards' sponsor Pindar are instead backing New Zealand sailor Mike Sanderson for The Transat. Sanderson is an elite level sailor when it comes to crewed racing having competed in both the America's Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race, but this will be his first ever single-handed race. After a disappointing performance in the Transat Jacques Vabre last year, Sanderson is under no illusions of what is in store for him. "I am really going to be the new boy on the block and I am in awe of the other competitors and what they have done. I am definitely keeping my head down and just trying to get as many miles in under my belt single-handed as well as putting some hard pushed miles on this boat which so far we've never managed to do," he said.

Formerly Graham Dalton's Hexagon, Pindar AlphaGraphics has had her single daggerboard replaced with two new asymmetric boards developed and built in New Zealand. Sanderson will be out testing the new gear with a full crew shortly before setting off on his qualifier at the end of the first week in April.

Despite having gained much credibility when he set a new single-handed monohull 24 hour record in Le Defi Atlantique last year on his Open 60 AT Racing, Alex Thomson is still looking for a sponsor that will get him to the start line of both The Transat and November's Vendee Globe.

THIRD EDITION : 1968

If ever there was an edition of The Transat that proved what a tough proposition this race can be, it was the third edition held in 1968. During this the north Atlantic was swept by a massive depression bringing with it 60 knot, storm force winds. Many competitors hoved to, dropping all but a storm jib to sit out the terrible conditions. Only one competitor made a significant gain by taking advantage of the rules which had not outlawed weather routing - at that time, it was not considered a viability for solo skippers. At a time before satellite communications, on board internet access and web-based weather sites, Geoffrey Williams on board Sir Thomas Lipton was the first in the race ever to use weather routing. Via a hefty high frequency radio Williams would communicate with meteorologists in London who were running weather models using a very early computer and who would provide him with forecasts. Warned of the storm Williams sailed north missing the brunt of it and gained an estimated 300 miles over his competitors in the progress. Williams went on to win the race despite some controversy at the end when he sailed the wrong course. Weather routing was banned from subsequent races, but this year the ORMA class who govern the 60ft multihulls have agreed to allow weather routing.

The Transat starts on 31st May and email updates will be sent out every week until the start

ND Icebreaker

Notre Dame Freshman Icebreaker
Univ of Notre Dame
March 27-28, 2004

Saturday morning heavy fog briefly postponed racing. Partly cloudy skies and south winds at 8-12kts made for great sailing. Windward Leeward 2x courses were run. Races 1-8 were completed. Sunday, sunny skies and strengthening winds greeted sailors. Winds were from the south at 8-14kts. WL and WL2x courses were run.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
TOT

1
Wisconsin A 3 5 3 BKD 3 1 7 5 4 1 1 3 39
B 3 3 1 5 2 4 3 3 2 2 3 3 34
6 14 18 26 31 36 46 54 60 63 67 73

2
MSU1 A 12 1 6 7 7 5 1 10 7 3 3 6 68
B 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 16
13 15 23 31 39 47 49 61 69 73 77 84

3
Miami A 5 7 5 1 6 7 5 4 2 4 7 1 54
B 4 2 5 4 3 1 4 1 4 3 2 2 35
9 18 28 33 42 50 59 64 70 77 86 89

4
ND1 A 1 3 2 4 2 2 2 3 5 7 2 5 38
B 8 5 11 6 10 8 7 8 7 5 4 5 84
9 17 30 40 52 62 71 82 94 106 112 122
5
WMU A 8 6 7 5 8 10 9 7 3 9 8 7 87
B 2 6 4 3 9 7 5 10 3 4 5 6 64
10 22 33 41 58 75 89 106 112 125 138 151
6
Purdue A 7 10 4 3 5 8 4 2 11 10 6 4 74
B 7 4 8 9 11 12 8 5 9 7 6 4 90
14 28 40 52 68 88 100 107 127 144 156 164

7
Michigan A 2 2 12 12 4 3 8 6 6 5 9 8 77
B 5 8 10 7 6 6 10 6 5 9 11 8 91
7 17 39 58 68 77 95 107 118 132 152 168
8
Indiana A 4 4 1 2 1 4 3 1 1 2 4 2 29
B 13 12 13 12 13 13 13 13 10 12 9 11 144
17 33 47 61 75 92 108 122 133 147 160 173
9
Hope A 6 9 10 8 10 12 6 8 8 6 5 9 97
B 10 9 3 10 8 10 11 9 6 11 7 12 106
16 34 47 65 83 105 122 139 153 170 182 203
10
ND2 A 10 12 11 11 11 11 10 12 12 8 12 10 130
B 9 7 9 8 5 5 2 4 8 8 8 7 80
19 38 58 77 93 109 121 137 157 173 193 210

11
Minnesota A 9 11 9 10 9 6 12 13 10 11 10 11 121
B 6 10 7 2 4 2 9 7 12 10 12 10 91
15 36 52 64 77 85 106 126 148 169 191 212
12
MSU2 A 11 8 8 6 13 13 13 9 9 12 11 12 125
B 11 11 6 11 7 9 6 11 11 6 10 9 108
22 41 55 72 92 114 133 153 173 191 212 233
13
Kenyon A 13 13 13 13 12 9 11 11 DNS DNS DNS DNS 151
B 12 13 12 13 12 11 12 12 DNS DNS DNS DNS 153
25 51 76 102 126 146 169 192 220 248 276 304

A division = 12 Races

TOT
1. Indiana 29 Barret Rhoads '07/ Kerry Kilbourne (ND) '07
2. ND1 38 Dan Ryan '07/ Erin Elser '06
3. Wisconsin 39 Liz Prange '07/ Andy Muller '07
4. Miami 54 Jocelyn Pollak '07/ Anne Simiele '06
5. MSU1 68 Michael Fong '07/ Erin Holcomb '07
6. Purdue 74 Matt Conrad '07/ Mattox '07 (1-6,11-12) Fleck
'07 (7-10)
7. Michigan 77 Ben Seppalla '07/ Lisa Vanderboosche '07
8. WMU 87 Chris Koch '07/ Ben Bushkuhl '07
9. Hope 97 Charlie Sierzant '07/ Troy Schrock '05
10. Minnesota 121 Jones 05 (1-4,7-8,11-12) Lambert '07 (5-6,9-10)/
Lambert 07 (1-4,7-8) Gross 05 (9-12) Chan 04(56)
11. MSU2 125 James Hook '07/ Ed Lake '07
12. ND2 130 Ryan Wermeling '07/ Bethune '07 (1-6) Wieber '07
(6-12)
13. Kenyon 151

B division = 12 Races

TOT
1. MSU1 16 Rob Linden '06/ Meghan Walter '06
2. Wisconsin 34 Scott Eisenhardt '06/ Kelsey Cramer '07
3. Miami 35 Rush '07/ Heckler '07 (3-4,7-8,9-10)
Brennan '07 (1-2,5-6)
4. WMU 64 Joy Donahue '07/ Lindenberg '06 (1-4,7-12)
Brown '05 (5-6)
5. ND2 80 Tim O'Shaughnessy 06 (1-6) Tim Russell 07 (6-12)
/ Amy Becker '07
6. ND1 84 Dave Harmon 04 Mike Maus 06/ Kathleen Sabloff 07
7. Purdue 90 Charles Rush '06/ Peter Maloney '07
8. Michigan 91 Arbaugh '05 (1-2,5-6) Quasney '06 (3-4,7-8)/
Lieberzon (1-2,5-6) Vane '07 (3-4,7-8)
9. Minnesota 91 Saarela '04 (1-10,12) Chan '04 (11) / Gross '05
(1-8) Chan '04 (9-10,12) Saarela '04 (11)
10. Hope 106 Robert Croswell '07/ DeYoung '07 Davis '07
11. MSU2 108 Ryan Gates '06/ Katie Jacquemin '07
12. Indiana 144 Kiki Kaprel '07/ Jim Coyle '08 (ND)
13. Kenyon 153

Hurricanes +

For the first time there is a hurricane in the South Atlantic, albeit only a Category 1. Should it come ashore it will touch Brazil.

On a related line, what's the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon? The short answer, "not much". Typhoon is a term for the Western Pacific, while hurricane is used elsewhere.

Maryland Match Racing

Annapolis, MD (March 26, 2004)- Ed Baird's Team MUSTO decisively won the inaugural Annapolis Cup Match Race, defeating Terry Hutchinson's Team Annapolis Volvo on the final day of racing on the Chesapeake Bay. With the historic city of Annapolis, Maryland and the United States Naval Academy serving as a backdrop to the battle, Team MUSTO came away the victor after winning five of the six hard-fought races contested today.

Both teams of world class professional sailors came together for three days of match racing practice in preparation for the April 2004 Congressional Cup, the California stop on the Swedish Match Tour. Previously in the Annapolis Cup, Wednesday's practice day led to Thursday's four races which saw both teams in a 2-2 tie.

On Friday, the final day of racing, Baird, sailing with the majority of his Team MUSTO 2003 ISAF World Match Racing Championship crew, set the tone for the day by sweeping the first three races, held in a shifting, moderate 5-10 kts of breeze. In the fourth race of the day with the wind increasing to 10
- 13 kts, Hutchinson and his Annapolis-based Team Annapolis Volvo which included tactician Chris Larson, won the start and nailed the shifts on the first beat upwind. They developed a lead so big, the race was conceded by Baird before the finish and both boats decided to return to the starting area to go at it again and practice yet another dial-up, the key component in the start sequence of any match race.

A further unusual aspect of the event's remarkable format featured a move, during the fifth race, whereby Team Annapolis Volvo got an unfortunate twist in their chute and bagged the race, returning to the Race Committee boat and asked the Race Committee Chairman, John Potter, for another race to be started immediately. Team MUSTO agreed to the change and an unexpected sixth race was conducted. For the first time in the series, both boats were over early at the start and after restarting cleanly, Baird and his Team MUSTO, assisted by favorable rulings from the on-water umpires Dobbs Davis and Mike Jones, showed their transom to Team Annapolis Volvo yet again at the finish line. The final tally for the series was seven wins for Baird and three for Hutchinson.

The Annapolis Cup Match Race Awards Ceremony was held at the Boatyard Bar & Grill in Eastport, Annapolis. The Boatyard was filled to capacity with sailors and supporters, eager to rub shoulders with the cream of the world's match racing champions. Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer expressed her enthusiasm for the Annapolis Cup Match Race and admiration for the depth of the talent on the two boats. "Annapolis, the Sailing Capital of America, is honored to serve as the site for your racing practice," she said. "Our community wishes all of you the best of luck in next month's Congressional Cup and hopes you will return to Annapolis to race again soon."

Linky Sailing News

Racing Cayard/Trinter going to the Olympics. Cheyenne setting records & heading home. Geronimo slowing down. Mcdonald winning Star Euros. Anticipating key for Cayard.

News Langman building new boat. Canting news.

Great Lakes Ice breaking collision. Rising waters. Volunteering for water quality. Damage to 1,000 footer.

College Sailing #1 Harvard in winning form.

Cayard & Trinter to Athens

In the twenty years since Paul Cayard (Kentfield, Calif.) was a member of the U.S.A.’s 1984 Olympic Sailing Team – as an alternate – he has accomplished a number of sailing milestones that have made him the envy of most sailors. He has won the Star World Championship (’88), the Star North American’s (’03, ’94), and the Whitbread ‘Round the World Race (’98), all the while maintaining a very active career in America’s Cup sailing. However, the lure of the Olympics has been like an unrequited love affair. That is all about to change.

After finishing fifth in the first race of the day, Cayard and crew Phil Trinter (Lorain, Ohio) wrapped up their win of the US Olympic Team Trials-Sailing in the Star class. Trinter, a 1993 Star World Champion, and Cayard have been sailing together for the last two years, having met during the 2000 America’s Cup. For the last 10 days, Cayard and Trinter have done battle on Biscayne Bay in a “Star-studded” fleet that included five additional Star World Champions, three of whom are Star Olympic Gold Medallists: Steve Erickson (’84), Mark Reynolds (’00), and Magnus Liljedahl (’00).

This was the fourth time at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Cayard (’84, ’88 and ’96) and the third for Trinter (’96 and ’00). “This regatta was pretty sweet,” said Cayard. “We put a lot more preparation in this time,” he added when asked what was different this time around, explaining that many of the lessons he learned during the America’s Cup he could afford to implement for these Trials, something he would not have been able to afford when younger.

While Cayard and Trinter were able to sit out the last two races of the series after mathematically securing their win, racing continued for the remaining 21 teams who were fighting for second through fifth place in the overall standings to secure a spot on the 2004 US Sailing Team. The US Sailing Team annually recognizes the top-five ranked athletes in each of the nine classes chosen for the Olympic Games. For 2004, the rankings were determined solely by the Olympic Team Trials.

Andy Lovell (New Orleans, La.) and Olympic Gold Medallist Magnus Liljedahl (Miami, Fla.) finished 3-4-12 today for second place overall on 65 points.

George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.) and crew Mark Strube (West Palm Beach, Fla.) posted finishes of 11-7-5 today to remain third in the overall standings at 69 points.

Eric Doyle (San Diego, Calif.) and Brian Sharp (Norwalk, Conn./Franklin, Mass.) placed 6-6-3 for a final total of 76 points, and fourth place overall.

Olympic Gold Medallists Mark Reynolds (San Diego, Calif.) and Steve Erickson (Seattle, Wash./Hood River, Ore.) finished 2-10-7 today to net 80 points and fifth place in the overall standings.

Cheyenne Day 51

Summary Still fighting Doldrums

269 nm run (avg 11.2 kts)

Less than 3000 miles to finish line

3 days ahead of Orange 2002

Another long night of squalls through the Doldrums and Steve Fossett and crew saw the end of a day which began with the crossing of the Equator in record time and finished this morning with a hard-fought 269 mile run (avg 11.2 kts) and a net distance back to the start-finish line of less than 3000 miles. Current lead over the 2002 RTW record of Orange I is still calculated at 3 days. *

(*Although Cheyenne's estimated lead is still 3 days, in mileage terms we have now reduced the estimate to 1125 miles, as the widely differing courses of the two boats make direct comparisons unreliable. So we are now simply measuring each boat's distance to the finish and using the difference as any lead / deficit.)

Cheyenne's times of 50 days 3 hours 3 minutes from the Ouessant start to the second Equator crossing (3 days 1 hour faster than Orange 2002), as well as the 10 days 6 hours 47 minutes passage from Cape Horn back to the Equator (7 hours faster than Club Med during The Race 2001) are both new segment bests for an RTW attempt.

Steve Fossett commented last night when told of the Horn - Equator mark:
"We were shocked to hear that we set a segment record from Cape Horn to Equator. We thought we were unlucky with the weather because we were brought down to minimal speeds five times by lack of wind. Perhaps the South Atlantic is always difficult and all of the other fast boats have had comparable problems."

Geronimo at the Date Line

The Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran crossed the antimeridian (International Date Line) at 22:10 GMT Sunday 28 March (estimated time).

She therefore reached and crossed the International Date Line approximately 31 days, 22 hours and 53 minutes after crossing the Jules Verne Trophy start line at 23:17 GMT on 25 February.

This time is even better than that recorded by Geronimo herself in 2003, when she crossed the 180° longitude line (also called the International Date Line) after 32 days, 3 hours, 13 minutes and 47 seconds. Geronimo is therefore ahead of her own performance of last year.

The catamaran Orange, which set the current Jules Verne Trophy record in 2002, took approximately 34 days, 9 hours, 20 minutes to cross this imaginary line at 180° longitude.

In fact, Geronimo has been getting closer to the tip of Brittany at 5°W ever since she crossed 176°E longitude. Olivier de Kersauson and his crew now have the psychological boost of knowing that, from this moment on, every nautical mile covered brings them closer to home and the Jules Verne Trophy finish line.

Cheyenn Equator Report

Sunday 28 March 2004 - 1110 GMT - 654 miles N/NE Recife, Pernambuco (Brasil): Still driving hard after 50 days on their official Round The World Sailing record attempt, American Skipper Steve Fossett and his crew of 12 on board the maxi-catamaran Cheyenne crossed the Equator at 08:13 am today (Sunday 28 March) and re-entered the northern hemisphere. Seven weeks of hard sailing, plus a powerful 543 mile run over the past 24 hours leaves them with an imposing lead of more than 3 days over the current global record (set at 64 days 8 hours 37 minutes in 2002 by French Skipper Bruno Peyron on the catamaran Orange). Fossett and Cheyenne are now on Day 51 of their RTW attempt, and hope to reach the official start-finish line between France and the UK in a further 10 days time.

© Claire Bailey 2004

Steve Fossett was pleased at today's milestone, but aware that the task is not yet complete: "We have 22,000 miles behind us and just 3200 to go to the finish. We will sail it hard, but at the same time try to control the risk of breaking anything which would stop our attempt."

This voyage has already been marked by several breakages - and extraordinary repairs en route by Cheyenne's experienced international crew. A broken forestay (critical to holding up the mast) was fixed at day 19 off South Africa. The track holding the mainsail on the mast tore off just before Cape Horn. "The creative ability of these guys to make major repairs without stopping will account for our success if we break this record," Fossett said.

Steve Fossett is best known for achieving the First Solo Balloon Flight Around the World in July 2001 - after six spectacular attempts. But he is also, of course, an accomplished sailor who has set 21 official world records since 1993, including the TransAtlantic Record from New York to England in an astounding 4 days 17 hours (2001) and twice setting the 24 hour record of sailing (1999, 2001). But the Round The World Sailing record is the target that still drives him:
"This would cap my sailing career. The Round the World record is the most important of all. And to be the first American to hold this record in almost 20 years would be another bonus."
Team meteorologist Ken Campbell of Commanders Weather has estimated that Cheyenne could finish as early as 1800 GMT on April 7 (60-1/2 days). The finish is a N-S line from Ouessant island France to the UK landmark 'The Lizard' in Cornwall - where Fossett and his crew started just over 50 days ago.

The last American attempt on the global sailing record was the successful solo voyage of Dodge Morgan, who sailed around the world from Bermuda in 150 days in 1985-86 on American Promise. His record was broken in 1990 by Titouan Lamazou of France in 109 days. Since then, the RTW record has been successively reduced to the present 64 day target by the great multihull

Cheyenne at the Equator

Sunday 28 March 2004 - 0813 GMT - position 0 degrees latitude, 28 38 W longitude - 70 miles South of St Peter's and St Paul's Rocks (Br): Just 3 hrs and 3 minutes into their 51st day at sea Steve Fossett and crew aboard the 125' maxi-catamaran Cheyenne have crossed the Equator for a second time on their Round The World Sailing record attempt - this time Northbound, over 3 days ahead of the pace of current RTW record holder Orange I from 2002. They are now some 3250 nm from the official RTW finish line (a N-S line between Ouessant island off France and the UK landmark 'The Lizard' in Cornwall) - which they hope to cross in another 10-11 days.

Fossett and crew ended their 50th RTW day this morning having logged an impressive 543 nm (avg 22.6 kts) over the past 24 hours through what are normally 'The Doldrums' in their race towards the finish. But the Doldrums - with their associated calms and local storms - now still lie to the North, and promise to be difficult - with the worst squalls predicted between 00 40 N & 01 30 N.

Fossett and Cheyenne's target is the most important record in sailing: Orange I's 2002 RTW record (skipper Bruno Peyron) of 64 days 8 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds from Ouessant - Ouessant.

Geronimo Takes a Beating

The trimaran's anemometer readout rarely fell below 45 knots on Day 31 of this attempt. With no sail flown at all, the boat was sailing under her mast alone. It became difficult to move, everything was soaking wet and icy cold, the sea was monstrous, with a westerly swell and 7-metre waves coming from the south. Didier was suffering with his back, and multiple injuries and fatigue were making manoeuvres dangerous. The 11-man French crew have taken a real beating over the past two days.

"CRAPPY SEA BRRRRR
VERY HARD ASKING MYSELF HOW LONG WE CAN
CARRY ON IN THESE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
GET THE FEELING THAT WINTERS
ALREADY HERE WIND ROTATIONS VERY BRUTAL
AND UNSAILABLE LATER OLIVIER"

A short period of respite is expected this afternoon before part two of the beating begins tonight (dawn in the antipodes). With "only" 40 knots of southerly wind, this new "punch-up" is forecast to sweep an area from 40°S to 60°S east of New Zealand and is moving rapidly east, where a very deep depression is now stationary at 52°S, right across the route to the Horn. A welcome toast from the Pacific, no doubt.

Saturday's Star

Finally, the blustery winds that all week had plagued Biscayne Bay gave way to a more user-friendly breeze. Rejoicing at the morning forecast of 18-22 knots, organizers sent the competitors at the 2004 US Olympic Team Trials-Sailing out for an on-time start. Not only did the forecast hold true, but also it allowed three races to be completed by the Star fleet who raced for the second day in a row under the watchful eyes of VIP observers: Bill Martin (Ann Arbor, Mich.), past President of US SAILING and currently Acting President of the U.S. Olympic Committee (Colorado Springs, Colo.), who was on the water yesterday; and Janet Baxter (Chicago, Ill.), who is not only the current President of US SAILING, but also the first woman to hold that position in the organization’s history, went out to watch today’s action.

The added attention evidently did not change the strategy of conservative sailing that continues to keep Paul Cayard (Kentfield, Calif.) and Phil Trinter (Lorain, Ohio) in the lead position of the 22-boat fleet. Today the duo placed 4-3-5 to earn a low score of 24 points — and 22 points of breathing room over their closest competitor.

Once 12 races were completed the scoring rules allowed competitors to take a second drop in calculating the overall standings. Reaping the most benefit were Andy Lovell (New Orleans, La.) and Olympic Gold Medallist Magnus Liljedahl (Miami, Fla.) who rocketed up to second overall once they were able to discard the OCS (on the course side) and the DNS (did not start) they earned on day one of racing – a byproduct of losing their mast. Between the points they dropped, and the eight they added after finishing 5-1-2 today, the pair hold second with 46 points.

George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.) and crew Mark Strube (West Palm Beach, Fla.) posted finishes of 8-9-8 today to drop back from second to third in the overall standings on 48 points.

For the second day in a row, Eric Doyle (San Diego, Calif.) and Brian Sharp (Norwalk, Conn./Franklin, Mass.) won the first race of the day. They followed with a sixth and a fifth, the latter of which became an OCS. They remain fourth overall with 61 points.

Olympic Gold Medallists Mark Reynolds (San Diego, Calif.) and Steve Erickson (Seattle, Wash./Hood River, Ore.) won the final race of the day after finishing 3-11 in the earlier races. They stand fifth overall with 61 points.

Cheyenne Nears Equator

Summary Now 1410 miles (3 days) ahead of RTW record pace

Cheyenne makes 516 miles North Friday averaging 21.5 kts

Saturday 27 March 2004 - 0510 GMT - 238 miles E of Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, 567 miles S of the Equator: Steve Fossett and his team aboard Cheyenne had an excellent run North yesterday riding E and SE trades, and began their 50th day at sea this morning with a 3 day lead over the RTW record pace of current record holder Orange I. Their run of 516 nm (avg 21.5 kts) leaves them 567 nm from the Equator - which they hope to cross Sunday (Doldrums permitting), and a little less than 4000 miles (minimum course distance) back to the official WSSRC start-finish line, drawn between the French island of Ouessant and the UK landmark of The Lizard, Cornwall.

Back in the Pacific, Olivier de Kersauson and his team on the 114' French trimaran Geronimo spent part of Friday negotiating a small Low pressure system, covering 317 nm, ending their day 795 miles behind the equivalent Day 30 position of Cheyenne.

Geronimo in 50 Knots

After a day of struggle, Geronimo finds herself at the centre of a storm which has been intensifying since last night. She cannot go further north, where the sea state is even worse, nor can she go south, because of the threat of ice. The 11-man crew are trying to escape to the east-northeast, with over 50 knots of wind howling at their heels. Even in these damaging and dangerous conditions, the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran is still managing to average 19.5 knots.

Due to its low temperature (4.5°C at midday today), the air is very dense, and combined with 50 knots of wind, has quickly raised a sea that is very difficult, not to say impossible, for multihulls. Together with her special design, the exceptional level of crew involvement at every stage of the trimaran's design and construction has resulted in a boat made by sailors for sailors. This boat is capable of holding off catamarans 20% longer and more powerful than herself, but is also, and crucially so, a boat designed for the high seas. That's the trademark of this crew led by Olivier de Kersauson, Didier Ragot and Yves Pouillaude: the development of exceptional racing craft, built for speed, even in the worst possible conditions. In the tradition of Sport-Elec, loaned to Francis Joyon this winter for his round-the-world record voyage, it is now Geronimo's turn to step up and prove her exemplary qualities.

The fact remains that these conditions are more damaging to men and machine than conducive to pure speed. The crew can hardly wait for the end of this punishing day in which the elements will inevitably have the final word....

1 Race Friday

For the second day in a row, high winds kept the 22 Star teams competing in the 2004 US Olympic Team Trials-Sailing postponed ashore in hopes that the early morning winds, with gusts to 35 knots, would decrease. Between noon and 1300, reports from observers on Biscayne Bay indicated breeze of 18-20 knots, which got the sailors off the dock. Although two races were sailed in 15-19 knots, it did not change the positions among the top-four teams in the overall scoring.

Eric Doyle (San Diego, Calif.) and Brian Sharp (Norwalk, Conn./Franklin, Mass.) won the first race of the day, and followed with an eighth place finish in race two to remain fourth overall with 54 points.

Vince Brun and Mike Dorgan (both San Diego, Calif.), after adding today’s finishes of 11-6, carry 51 points for third-place overall in the standings.

George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.) has been quoted this week as preferring flat water and light winds. That preference seems not to have adversely affected his performance in the rougher water and blustery winds that have earmarked the two days of racing since the layday. Finishes of 3-3 today kept Szabo and crew Mark Strube (West Palm Beach, Fla.) in second overall, but lost them a bit of ground on the point spread between themselves and the series leaders. With 32 points, they are 15 points behind Paul Cayard (Kentfield, Calif.) and Phil Trinter (Lorain, Ohio). Cayard and Trinter added only 3 points to their total after they won the final race of the day, having placed second in the first race. They now have 17 points for the lead.

Olympic medalists Mark Reynolds (San Diego, Calif.) and Steve Erickson (Seattle, Wash./Hood River, Ore.) moved back into the top-five, after finishing 7-4 today, and carry 59 points.

Water Level Update

Below you'll find water level info that pertains to Lakes Michigan and Huron.

Reference Point- Measurements in Inches

Difference from Chart Datum -4
Difference from last month +3
Difference from last year +7
Difference from long term average for March -17
Difference from Record High -47
Difference from Record Low +13
Forecast for 26 April 2004 +4

Click for information on other lakes.

Linky Sailing News

Racing Cayard sails safe

News NZL OLY opinion. Swedish Match Cup

Great Lakes Lakers to be busy. Endangered places.

College Sailing Georgetown defends MAISA/SAISA

International Rolex Regatta USVI

Personalities at the 31st annual International Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas, USVI, are proving to be as colorful as rainbow spinnakers against an azure blue sky. With racing at the three-day event starting tomorrow, March 26, and continuing through the weekend, hundreds of sailors registered on 92 boats have prepared for the regatta's traditional mix of tough competition, warm Caribbean breezes and blue-water courses. Crew rosters are sprinkled with high-profile names from the America's Cup and Olympic arenas, as well as those famous in these Caribbean parts for their own notable accomplishments.

"I've sailed all over the world," said Geordie Shaver, the bowman on BMW Oracle Racing during the last America's Cup, "but I've never raced here, so it's going to be a real treat." Shaver, from Newport, R.I., is taking his turn as bowman on the Farr 65 Team Atlantic, skippered by Bill Dockser of Bethesda, Md. The boat is entered in the Spinnaker Racer/Cruiser Class 1 and will compete against eight others, including Igoodia, a Jeanneau 52.2 that won its class at the recent Heineken Regatta and was named most worthy boat in that event's 'round-the-island race.

Another America's Cup notable, Josh Belsky of Hood River, Ore., will also transfer his skills--as pit man for Alinghi--to the position of pit man for Tom Hill's Puerto Rican entry, Titan XII, in the Spinnaker Racing ("Over 50 ft.") Class. The Reichel/Pugh 75 also will have onboard Peter Holmberg, the Commodore of the St. Thomas Yacht Club who is not only an America's Cup veteran, but also an Olympic medallist and past Rolex Regatta winner. The Over 50 foot Class will have seven boats competing, including past favorites Equation, an Andrews 68 owned by Bill Alcott of Detroit, Mich., and the custom 72 Donnybrook, owned by Jim Muldoon of Washington, DC. Added to the class mix this year will be Richard Matthew's (Ipswich, UK) Corby 50 Flirt, which won its class last year at this event; Raincloud, a J/145 48-footer owned by David Leuschen of New York, N.Y.; the custom 44-footer Storm, owned by Les Crouch of Henderson, Nevada; and Rosebud, Reichel/Pugh Transpac 52 owned by Roger Sturgeon of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Headlining in the Beach Cat division is Puerto Rico's designated 2004 Olympic Tornado team and defending champions Enrique Figueroa and Jorge Hernandez. The duo, known as Team Movistar/Suzuki/Red Bull, decided to sail a Hobie Tiger, an 18 footer that is popular in Europe and which Figueroa, the Hobie dealer in Puerto Rico, is trying to promote in the islands. "It is very much faster than a regular Hobie 18 and more like our Olympic Tornado." Figueroa explained that a Portsmouth Handicap system will keep them honest, however, when it comes to matching up with the other catamarans in their class.

The fun is not all reserved for the top-end racers. Plenty of cruising boats are signed up, one of them a J/30 named Zing built in 1979 and owned by native St. Thomian Chris Thompson, whose father, Rudy Thompson, represented the USVI in the Flying Dutchman class at the 1967 Olympics. According to Chris, who has sailed in the event for 20 years and wears one of the three Rolex's he and his father have won here, the regatta isn't necessarily about racing with hot equipment. "It's about sailing with friends and doing the best you can with what you've got." Chris just took ownership of Zing and will sail in the Non-Spinnaker Racing division with his father, now 75 years old, as one of his crew. Zing's class will sail separate courses from the Spinnaker Racing divisions.

Having their own race circle for the first time will be the IC24s, which have exploded growth-wise in the Caribbean. Introduced to the regatta in 2001, the boat is a hybrid design, constructed from an old J/24 hull with a new deck mold similar to the Melges 24. The result is a yacht that is relatively high-performance, very inexpensive and more comfortable to sail than a J/24. The IC24 class will be packed with local talent, including the class's founder and four-time Rolex winner in the Melges 24 class Chris Rosenberg aboard Old and Gray.

Complete results, photos and competitor lists are online.

Geronimo Day 30

The Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran crossed the Jules Verne Trophy start line at 23:17 GMT on 25 February, so the position fix taken at 23:16:56 GMT on Thursday 25 March marked the first month (minus 4 seconds) at sea for Olivier de Kersauson and his crew.

This 30th day at sea, logically referred to on our spreadsheets as "Day 29" because electronic counters begin at zero, rather than at 1 as we humans are prone to do, was decidedly one of round numbers.

In fact, the trimaran covered 480 nautical miles point-to-point in the 24 hours, at an average speed of exactly 20 knots.

Reporting a position of 53°09S, 149°29E, Geronimo ended Thursday having taken a slight diversion to the north in order to skirt around a windless pocket shown up by the weather maps. There is every reason to suppose that she will resume her infernal east-southeasterly route as quickly as possible.

Cheyenne Back Up to Speed

Summary: 244 nm run past 24 hours takes Cheyenne back to stronger breeze 1032 miles (2-1/2 days) ahead of RTW record pace 612 miles S of Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

A steady day's run of 244 nm tacking upwind (avg 10.16 kts) Thursday has taken Steve Fossett and his Round the World Sailing record attempt crew aboard the 125' maxi-cat Cheyenne to the southern hemisphere tropical tradewinds - finally. At 0510 this morning (location 18 00S, 32 17W) they were making 20.4 kts in a 15 kt Easterly breeze after 3 slow days in the light airs off Rio de Janeiro.

Their lead over the 2002 RTW record pace of Orange I is now back to 1032 miles (2-1/2 days). Several days of good running North are now expected until the ITCZ (inter tropical convergence zone) - also known as the doldrums - is reached, with the milestone of Equator still hoped for on Sunday.

Windy Condtions for Star Trials

With both Star sailors and organizers anxious to resume racing after yesterday’s layday, the Race Committee sent an observer out on blustery Biscayne Bay to take wind readings after early-morning reports came in at 15-22 knots. Armed with the information that the observer never recorded anything in excess of 18 knots, the fleet competing in the 2004 US Olympic Team Trials-Sailing headed out to the course where half an hour before the noon start, winds ranged from 13-18 knots. Under conditions acknowledged as “excellent for Star sailing,” the course was set for W-2 (windward-leeward twice around). However, by noon the winds had increased to 18-21, and by the time the lead boats had completed the first two legs, winds had increased from 22-25 knots – with gusts as high as 32 – resulting in a decision not to run additional races for the day, once the race in progress was completed.

With their win of the only race sailed today, George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.) and Mark Strube (West Palm Beach, Fla.) have improved another position in the overall scoring. They have been steadily improving their placement over the course of the series, and today’s win, their second thus far in eight races, puts them 12 points behind series leaders Paul Cayard (Kentfield, Calif.) and Phil Trinter (Lorain, Ohio). Cayard and Trinter finished fourth today and now stand first overall with 14 points.

Vince Brun and Mike Dorgan (both San Diego, Calif.), dropped back one place to third overall after adding a 10th-place finish to their scoreline. With 34 points, they trail Szabo and Strube by eight points.

Posting an 11th-place finish didn’t cost Eric Doyle (San Diego, Calif.) and Brian Sharp (Norwalk, Conn./Franklin, Mass.) anything in the overall scoring. In fact the two moved up from fifth to fourth on the strength of 45 points. Rounding out the top-five in the overall scores, one point behind Doyle and Sharp, are John MacCausland (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and Brad Nichol (Sunapee, N.H.) after finishing eighth today.

Racing continues tomorrow, Friday, March 26, through Sunday, March 28. The Race Committee will plan for three races each of the remaining competition days in an attempt to complete the planned 16-race series.

2004 America's Cup Schedule

The first three Acts in the four-year story of the 32nd America’s Cup will take place during September and October, 2004, with three regattas to be sailed at two different venues. Michel Bonnefous, the CEO of AC Management, organiser for the America’s Cup, made the announcement on the occasion of a gala dinner hosted in Paris by Louis Vuitton.

“We are delighted to be able to divulge the 2004 competition programme for the 32nd America’s Cup here, at the home of our friends at Louis Vuitton,” Bonnefous said.

“When we unveiled the plans for the 32nd America’s Cup last November we spoke of an exciting new format for the competition, the dawn of new era for this already epic saga.

“We see the America’s Cup as a play, whose theatre is Europe, whose main venue is Valencia, and whose story will unfold, as in a play, across a number of acts,” Bonnefous explained.

“The first three Acts of the 32nd America’s Cup will take place in 2004, several more in 2005 and 2006. The climax of any play comes with the final Act, and in 2007, we will bring you the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America’s Cup Match, the denouement of our story.

“But back to 2004, with Act 1 in Marseille, and Acts 2 and 3 in Valencia - we are sure the first scenes in this play will be full of characters and emotion, action, drama, and intrigue, setting the scene for what is to come later on,” Bonnefous concluded.

The location for the disclosure of the sports programme for 2004 was the family house of Louis Vuitton in Asnières, Paris. Hosting the evening was Yves Carcelle, President of Louis Vuitton, and present among his guests were, Francisco Camps Ortiz, Presidente de la Generalitat Valenciana, Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, and France Gamerre, Adjoint Mayor of Marseille.

“I am delighted that these first Acts, which bear the name Louis Vuitton, will be in Marseille and Valencia – two cities which share a long passion for the America’s Cup,” said Yves Carcelle. “I am also happy to see the programme coming together so quickly, and that the hard work of AC Management is already bearing fruit.”

Representatives of the Defender Alinghi, along with the three French Challenger projects, Le Défi, K-Challenge and Team France were also amongst the guests, all of whom declared their intentions to compete this year. Several other projects are expected to join them in the races in Marseille and Valencia. The Defender, Alinghi, and the Challenger of Record, Oracle BMW Racing, will attend all three Acts.

The Marseille Louis Vuitton Act will feature an exciting format of both fleet and match racing, over a week-long programme.

One month later the America’s Cup teams will get their first taste of racing in Valencia during Act 2 of the 32nd America’s Cup. Spanish fans of the America’s Cup are to be treated to a spectacular double billing of action as the latest ACC boats battle just metres from the shore.

Racing for Act 2 begins on the 5th of October with a dramatic match race event based in the Host City of the 32nd America’s Cup and will conclude with a spectacular celebration on Spain’s National Day, the 12th October. Act 3 concludes the season with four days of fleet racing beginning on the 14th October.

The 2004 Sports Programme for the 32nd America’s Cup :

Marseille Louis Vuitton / Act 1 of the 32nd America’s Cup : 5th – 11th September : Fleet and Match Racing

Valencia Louis Vuitton / Act 2 of the 32nd America’s Cup : 5th – 12th October Match Racing

Valencia Louis Vuitton / Act 3 of the 32nd America’s Cup : 14th 17th October Fleet Racing

New America's Cup Entry

A new challenge for the America’s Cup from the Circolo Vela Gargnano (CVG) has been accepted by the Defender, the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG).

The CVG, represented by the Clan Des Team sailing team, is the first challenger to join the Golden Gate Yacht Club’s Oracle BMW Racing team in challenging for the 32nd America’s Cup.

Lorenzo Rizzardi is President of the challenging yacht club and Head of Syndicate for the Clan Des Team.

One of Italy’s leading yacht clubs, situated in the picturesque town of Gargnano on the western side of Lake Garda, the CVG is well known in sailing circles as being the organiser of the famous Centomiglia Race, a marathon 100-miler up and down the lake in September each year.

A specialty of European lake sailing is the Libera Class open 40-foot monohull class, with huge rigs and numerous crew on trapezes.

In 2003 the Centomiglia was won by Clan Des Team in its Libera Class and it is this sailing team that has challenged through the CVG.

Reflecting on how it felt to become a challenger for the America’s Cup, Clan
Des Team’s Technical Director, Cesare Pasotti said: “It’s an incredible feeling because it is everybody’s dream to race for the America’s Cup. This is like a very beautiful dream. That’s the best way I can describe it.”

The challenge from the CVG was accepted by President Pierre-Yves Firmenich, on behalf of the Defender, the Société Nautique de Genève.

“This is the first new challenger for the 32nd America’s Cup, joining Oracle BMW Racing, the Challenger of Record, and of course our team, Alinghi,” Firmenich said. “I welcome the Clan Des Team to the America’s Cup and I wish them the very best of luck.”

The challenge process for the CVG was completed on the 25th March after the club fulfilled a number of formalities as well as posting a performance bond, as is required from each challenger. At that point, a registered letter from the SNG was dispatched to Mr. Rizzardi in Italy, reading in part:

“The Société Nautique de Genève hereby confirms its acceptance of Circolo Vela Gargnano’s challenge to compete in the 32nd America’s Cup.”

Rizzardi and Pasotti didn’t wish to reveal many details about their challenge, keeping their counsel when asked about potential skippers or boat designers. The team is planning a public launch on the 23rd April in Milan.

But Pasotti said the Clan Des Team intended to race in the first Act of the 32nd America’s Cup in Marseille in September 2004, and in the two Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts in October as well.

“It’s important to have many opportunities to create value for our partners so the idea of all the different events for the next four years of this America’s Cup programme, is very important for us,” Pasotti acknowledged. “We intend to participate in the events this year.”

The team expects to have two ACC boats training on Lake Garda this summer and to use a third boat to compete in the 2004 Acts, in Marseille and Valencia.

Pasotti went on to reveal that the Clan Des Team plan calls for two new ACC boats to be built in advance of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series in 2007.

Whilst it is extremely rare for a challenger to win the America’s Cup on its first attempt Pasotti says the Clan Des Team has its sights set on capturing sailing’s biggest prize.

“We are challenging to win,” Pasotti said moments after the challenge was accepted. “We don’t participate just to be there, we want to win.”

It should be remembered that the current Defender, the SNG was the last club based on a lake to challenge for the America’s Cup. The Swiss club won the America’s Cup from New Zealand in March 2003.

The Circolo Vela Gargnano is a 53-year old club on the shores of Lake Garda. Apart from its flagship event, the Centomiglia, it hosts an active racing programme, and has organised many world-class regattas.

Italy has had a strong presence in recent America’s Cup competition, fielding challengers in the last five of the last seven America’s Cups, winning the Louis Vuitton Cup twice (Il Moro de Venezia in 1992 and Luna Rossa in 2000).

Cheyene Day 47

Summary: 276 miles run to NE

941 miles ahead of RTW record pace

Day of tacking ahead

Thursday 25 March 2004 - 0510 GMT - 600 nm due East of Rio de Janeiro: It took them two tries to break through the Low pressure trough yesterday morning, but since then Cheyenne has crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and continued to work towards the NE and E. Eventually 276 miles of progress (avg 11.5 kts) in the right general direction have left Steve Fossett and crew aboard Cheyenne with a lead of 941 miles over the 2002 Round The World Sailing record pace of Orange I and looking forward to - another long day of tacking North.
Navigator Adrienne Cahalan wrote this morning:

"We are currently beating upwind in 15kts of north east wind and will be for the next few days as we punch through up to and in the south east trades. We still have a day of tacking to get to the south east trades as the low pressure system to our west has disrupted their normal pattern. We do not anticipate that we will see the trademark, trade wind blue skies and nice small white cumulus until about latitude 17S. It will be important in the south east trades to pull out a couple of 450-500nm days to keep on record pace.
After the south east trades we pass into the ITCZ (the area of no wind at or near the equator) which is currently located at around latitude 2S. We are looking to pass through the ITCZ at about longitude 30W (where it is the smallest) on Saturday night or Sunday. After we cross the ITCZ and the equator we will be again be sailing upwind in the 15kt north east trade winds."

(For the rest of Adrienne's report - and her view of tropical fashion onboard - see full story below)

Tropic of Capricorn (latitude 23°27' South) marks the farthest point south at which the sun can be seen directly overhead at noon (on the Summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere December 22)

Geronimo Day 29

The first few hours of Day 29 have been just as good as, if not better than, yesterday for the trimaran Geronimo, as she continues to extend her lead over the current Jules Verne Trophy record.

Reporting a position of 52°44S, 138°47E at 03:18 GMT today (Thursday 25 March), the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric crew were making a true spot speed of 26.1 knots, which is equivalent to a speed on land of 48.3 kph (30.18 mph).

Geronimo’s helmsman was following a heading of 97°: a route just south of due east.

“The light has been fantastic recently. We have inky blue skies that are almost black, with gold in the clouds – the sun’s even out – it’s extraordinary, really beautiful”… those were Olivier de Kersauson’s words spoken some days ago when describing the entrancing beauty of the Indian Ocean, the last few miles of which Geronimo is now charging across at full speed before entering the immensity of the Pacific.

Linky Sailing News

Racing Star Trials Report + photos. Star Euros

News Forbes best sailing sites.

Great Lakes Ferry launched. Indy dunes.

College Sailing Brown hosts, Kings Point Defends Owen Trophy.

Sailors and Their Stomachs

Kip Stone Open 50 owner and skipper "Since these sails don't come with directions, I find myself closer and closer to being able to write the instructive little handbook, "You and Your Code 5." It will come bundled with the definitive, "How to Eat out of a Pot," a very necessary little piece of writing in the event you plan to sail one of these boats alone and one that should help to fill a void while Martha is occupied with her defense."

From onboard Cheyenne Brian Thompson reports, "Today Guillermo brought out a stash of sauces to complement the fine selection of main meals so we have a choice of Thai, Caribbean and Louisiana sauces."

I believe I see an opportunity for some sponsorship synergy. How do you make freeze dried food palatable for a 60 day sailing voyage? Why we, the crew of really fast boat x, used Tabasco brand pepper sauces.... the skipper liked original, the port watch loved garlic Tabasco, while the bowman became found of Tabasco Habenero sauce on his cornflakes after repeatedly bashing his head against the mast....

Olivier de Kersauson had this to say upon passing Cape Leeuwin:
"We haven't had much wind for the last 20 hours or so, but there is wind ahead of us. What's coming looks good, but I'd prefer smaller seas!"

Yup, more evidence that flat seas are as important as wind with these big cats.

He also commented, "Today, my Jules Verne Trophy focus is Peyron's record. We must focus on him, because he has the record for the moment".

That's one way of looking at things. If I was in his sea boots I'd be pacing myself based on Cheyenne. I'd be trying to sail as fast as whoever was fastest whether an on paper record or a boat still on the water.

Neal McDonald: "Of the round the world races I have done by far the less stress full was a non-stop one."

As always, it's the land not sea that's the source of stress.

Lake Express Ferry Launches + Fares Announced

This past Satruday the 192 catamaran ferry that will begin Milwaukee-Muskegon ferry service on 1 June was launched. The ship has been named 'Lake Express'.

Fares have also been announced. You'll be able as a passanger to make a round trip for under $ 100.00. Complete fare structure is below.

On the launch barge

Out of the Build Shed

Side View

Transon with name and home port

Photos by Michelle Bowden Austal USA

Lake Express Fare Structure

Jules Verne Update

The race for the Jules Verne trophy continues, although at a slower pace this past week. On Day 43 of her attempt, Cheyenne covered only 213 miles. This is the lowest daily mileage for either boat so far. Geronimo did manage 3 days over 500 miles, but as she neared Cape Leeuwin she had 3 straight days of only 350 miles.

Despite the current slow going both boats are ahead of current record pace. Last week Cheyenne rounded Cape Horn. Her time was 39 days 16 hours, 58 hours ahead of Orange's 2002 record. Most recent reports show her still 800 miles ahead of Orange despite some slow going.

Yesterday Geronimo rounded Australia's Cape Leeuwin. Her time was 26 days 11 hours. This is 68 hours faster than Orange. However, the time was 21 days slower than Cheyenne's mark.

The trend is that both boats are ahead of Orange, with Cheyenne having a slight edge over Geronimo. For insance after 27 days-the current length of Geronimo's voyage- Cheyenne has an 800+ mile edge.

Cheyenne is sailing upwind in light air, fun for no known type of boat. The light air traverse north to Europe is what ended Geronimo's chance at the record last year. Cheyenne's track is near the Brazillian coast while Orange's record track was much farther to the east. Neither is on a direct course to the finish. For Orange's record to fall creative, speed maximizing routing will have to replace high speed, high stakes chaos.

Biblical Tacking

Recently I received the following inquiry, "I am hoping you can help me, without much effort on your part, to establish when the general knowledge of tacking was gained? Our Bible Study group is trying to figure out the capabilities of the sailors/fishermen during the time of Jesus and in his vicinity. Did they know how to tack? We are trying to learn a little about the hardships faced by these fishermen when on the water. Any input would be appreciated, but please do not spend a lot of your time on this. "

I did some searching and found some good references . For instance, " As regards rigging, the Phoenician ships of the time of Ezekiel, as seen in Assyrian representations, had one mast with one yard and carried a square sail. Egyptian ships on the Red Sea about the time of the Exodus, from reliefs of the XIXth Dynasty, had one mast and two yards, and carried also one large square sail."

I would imagaine that tacking was known by Biblical sailors. However, square rigs are not an efficient upwind rig. I'm sure if possible oar power was used when sailing upwind. Also, I bet every effort was made to sail off the wind and avoid sailing inefficiently upwind.

A Biblical scholar I am not. I'd appreciate those with more knowledge helping answer this question.

Geronimo Passes Cape Leeuwin

Geronimo passed Cape Leeuwin at 10:50 GMT today, 26 days, 11 hours, 33 minutes after crossing the Jules Verne Trophy start line.

Geronimo therefore passed this second cape with a lead of 2 days, 19 hours and 49 minutes over the time set in 2002 by current record holder Bruno Peyron and the catamaran Orange.

The reference time for the current record (Bruno Peyron, Orange, 2002): 29 days, 7 hours, 22 minutes.

Cheyene Day 46

Summary: 234 miles run over past 24 hours on Eastward crossing of Low pressure trough

893 miles ahead of Orange I's 2002 RTW pace

After spending most of the day heading East across the trough, with a very slow period late in the day, Cheyenne has been gradually heading again towards the NE since late Tuesday, (compass heading was 023 degrees at 0510 GMT today). Steve Fossett and crew covered 234 miles over the past 24 hours (averaging 9.75 kts) as they traversed the Low off the coast of Brasil. Their lead over the 2002 RTW record pace of Orange I is now 893 miles.

The target remains Bruno Peyron's 2002 official Round The World Sailing record of 64 days 8 hrs 37 mins 24 secs - and their attempt must arrive at the official WSSRC start-finish line (a line between the French island of Ouessant running North to The Lizard in Cornwall, UK) by Sunday afternoon, April 11th to break the record. That is, of course, some 18 days and 4700 nm distant - or a required average hourly speed of less than 11 kts. But that is also measured on a straight line - and a large High pressure area in the North Atlantic will probably see Fossett's team pushing well North before driving across the North Atlantic back to the line - for a greater remaining distance and higher average speed.

Linky Sailing News

Racing Cayard/Trinter's winning day. Cayard's story Geronimo at Cape Leeuwin, slow time for Cheyenne

News Water expected to be up. Alignhi's new hire. Artforms news. Fuel thoughts. Ditch bag. Mcdonald on vor

Great Lakes Ferry prices Beach safety. Cruise Ship Orion.

College Sailing This weekend: Minnesota defends ND Icebreaker

Double Bulletts for Cayard/Trinter

A blustery northerly that ushered in cooler temperatures also made for a speedy ride out to the racecourse once the postponement flag came down for the 22 Star teams competing in the 2004 US Olympic Team Trials-Sailing. During the morning, wind readings built from 14 to 20 knots, and were predicted to peak around noon at 24 knots before dropping off in the afternoon. When the first race got started at 1300, winds were recorded at 18 knots with puffs to 20, and, as predicted, by the start of the second race had dropped to 16 knots.

Paul Cayard (Kentfield, Calif.) and Phil Trinter (Lorain, Ohio) won both of the day’s races and go into tomorrow’s layday with the lead in hand. They are 14 points ahead of Vince Brun and Mike Dorgan (both San Diego, Calif.), who continued their move up the overall standings after posting finishes of 5-3 today. Just one point back, also moving up one spot – from fourth to third overall –are George Szabo (San Diego, Calif.) and Mark Strube (Miami, Fla.) after finishes of 4-2 today.

Eric Doyle (San Diego, Calif.) lost crew Brian Sharp (Norwalk, Conn./Franklin, Mass.) overboard during the second race and dropped two spots in the overall scoring – down to fifth – after placing 10-12 today. They have 34 points thus far for the series. Following four points back, in fifth overall, are John MacCausland (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and Brad Nichol (Sunapee, N.H.) who finished 15-5.

Tomorrow is a mandatory layday. Racing resumes on Thursday, March 25, 2004, when the Race Committee will attempt to run three races.

Readers Write

I often give advice on troubleshooting engines via email, phone and through our forum. Overheating is a common subject that I am asked about. In the case of an engine that seems to run hot or overheat I often ask if the engine has recently had impeller problems. If water flow is cut off, an impeller can burn up or disintegrate. When this happens pieces of the rubber impeller can take up residence in the cooling system and cause overheating issues.

Recently I received a report from a customer on troubleshooting his engine's overheating. Stay with it as there's a twist about how impellers can be the source of overheating towards the end.

A while ago, I wrote to you about an overheating problem I had on my Universal M3-20 diesel. I feel compelled to tell you what happened with the overheating.

After tearing every part of the seawater cooling system off, replacing the hoses, replacing (and upgrading the size of) the heat exchanger, replacing the impeller a couple times and going through the fresh water side with a fine toothed comb, I came to the conclusion that there had to be a restriction on the inlet of the sea water pump.

Since I had taken the system apart piece by piece several times, I was certain that it had to be the thru-hull was sized too small for this engine in the temperature water we sail. In a last ditch effort to prove or disprove this, I decided to run a test.

A large tank (read: Garbage can) would be placed in the cabin, a submersible pump would feed that via a garden hose and a volume of water would be maintained in the tank to preclude any restriction in flow. A hose would be taken directly from the sea water pump on the engine to the tank. Since I needed a long hose, I would complete the operation by again replacing all the hoses on the engine.

Since this hose is far from cheap, I decided to start by removing a small section of the hose to take with me to make sure I got the right size and type. The shortest section was the one between the thru-hull and the strainer, so this is the one I removed.

On a whim, after the hose was out, I placed my hand over the top of the thru-hull valve and opened it. There was sufficient water flow to push my hand up! I looked at the volume of water coming in and realized that there was a helluva lot more water coming in than had ever come out the back end of our boat!. I shut the valve and decided to do some tracing. I put the hose section back in and removed the one from the outlet of the strainer. Opening the valve, I was again surprised to see a torrent of water! I pulled the hose off of the inlet to the seawater pump and repeated the process to again be surprised by the volume of water pouring out. Realizing that with the impeller blades blocking the way, I would not see a repeat of this were I to remove the hose on the outlet of the pump, I decided to once again investigate the inside of the pump.

The pump in question is an Oberdorfer with a 90 degree pipe elbow on the outlet and a 30 degree pipe elbow on the inlet. The inside of the pump was as clean as a whistle, and I again expected to see another flood of water when I opened the thru-hull, but instead, there was only a dribble! I had cleaned the outlet elbow on several occasions, but this was a new one on me.

My wife, looking over my shoulder with camera in hand, asked, "what is that in the inlet?" "Oh, it can't be anything in there. It would have to force stuff BACKWARDS against the flow if there was anything stuck in there." Just to prove her wrong about it possibly being fouled, I got out an Allen wrench and poked it into the 30 degree bend. Out came a palm full of old impeller parts! After digging them all out, I replaced the hose and opened the valve again. This time I had an awful lot of water. It didn't take me long to reassemble the engine cooling system and fire it up. For the first time since I have owned this boat, a bolt of water shot out the back of the boat about 6 feet long. We took the boat out on the bay and slowly throttled up. Prior to this, 4 1/2 knots, even in the winter, was about all we could get to. In short order, we were doing just under hull speed with the temp gauge acting like the needle had been nailed in the 160 degree position. Since then, we have upgraded to a 3 blade fixed prop and now reach hull speed, and the temp still doesn't go above 160.

About now you are probably thinking, "Well, this doofus fried an impeller and just didn't get it all out!" That would be a pretty fair assumption except that the engine was 10 years young when I bought this boat 2 years ago. At that time, the previous owner told me that he had always had temperature problems with this boat and that I would always be restricted to below 5 knots! I am hoping that between the removal of the "lifetime restriction" and the larger heat exchanger, I will not be temperature limited in this boat, no matter what temperature the seawater in the gulf gets to! The idea of impeller parts getting jammed into the INLET has left several respected mechanics scratching their heads at the end of this story. That, at least, allows me some degree of ego retention.

Karine Fauconnier daughter of a sailor

On 31st May 2004, yachtswoman Karine Fauconnier, skipper of the trimaran
Sergio Tacchini, will be lining up on the start of the most difficult
transatlantic yacht race, which the French refer to as the English Transat
and which this year is being run under the name The Transat. Karine is
competing 20 years after her father Yvon Fauconnier won the race on his
trimaran Umupro Jardin V, on 18th June 1984. A rather special win it was
too as Yvon changed course for several hours to rescue Philippe Jeantot
whose boat had capsized. Sailing in the wake of where her father raced his
way into international yacht racing history represents a major challenge
for Karine. In a few weeks, the only female skipper of a 60 foot trimaran,
currently lying third in the world rankings of the discipline, may well
add a further win to the Fauconnier family track record.

Under the new name of "The Transat", this single-handed passage is run
from Plymouth to Boston. Since 1960, this race has been considered as the
most trying of all transatlantic yacht races, taking the boats through the
cold and ice of the North Atlantic. Along with Yvon Fauconnier (1984),
other well-known yachtsmen feature in the race's history - Sir Francis
Chichester (1960), Eric Tabarly (1964 and 1976), Geoffrey Williams (1968),
Alain Colas (1972), Philip Weld (1980), Philippe Poupon (1988), Loïck
Peyron (1992 and 1996), Francis Joyon (2000),…

Karine was just 12 years old when she welcomed her father as he crossed
the finishing line to win the race in Newport (finish from 1964 to 2000).
Yvon belongs to the generation of ocean-racing pioneers from the 1980's
and this race remains the highlight of his racing career.

Yvon's win remained in people's minds for a long time. Yvon rescued
Philippe Jeantot whose catamaran Crédit Agricole II had capsized. Jeantot
used the radio on Umupro Jardin V to organise his boat's recovery. Yvon
spent 16 hours assisting his fellow competitor. In the home stretch of his
race, he sailed very fast indeed thanks to an excellent southerly option,
crossing the line just 11 hours after the first boat in to Newport, namely
Philippe Poupon. When the 16 hours were deducted from his race time, Yvon
was declared winner.

As the daughter of a yachtsman, Karine was lucky enough to spend the
first years of her life on board the famous Vendredi 13. The three-masted
schooner took part in several transatlantic races and was chartered in the
Carribean where she became the meeting point for a whole generation of
sailors. Karine grew up hearing tales of maritime adventures undertaken by
her the famous sailors who surrounded her - Philippe Poupon, Titouan
Lamazou, Florence Arthaud…

At the age of 24, she decided to set out in offshore racing. Since
starting out, she has made her mark on the Figaro circuit, winning the
Lorient-St Barth in 2000 with Lionel Lemonchois. Afterwards, in just two
seasons on board her trimaran Sergio Tacchini, she took 3rd in last
November's Transat Jacques Vabre 2003. Karine currently ranks 3rd in the
world in this discipline.

Local Notice to Mariners go Electronic

To improve service and reduce costs, the U.S. Coast Guard is moving to issuance of the Local Notices to Mariners (LNM) exclusively via the Internet.

Recently, we revised our Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Manual (COMDTINST M16500.7) to authorize elimination of printed LNM. Effective April 1, 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer print and mail copies of each LNM.

A Notice concerning implementation of Internet delivery of LNM has been published in the Federal Register on March 2, 2004. The electronic versions of LNM appear on the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center’s Website .

For many years, each U.S. Coast Guard district has printed and mailed LNM free of charge to any mariner requesting a subscription. LNM provide important safety information; however, the cost of printing and mailing has become prohibitive. Technology now allows us to provide LNM in a timelier and less costly manner via the Internet. All individuals are encouraged to register for List Server notification on the Navigation Center’s Website, so when LNM are posted for the district(s) in which you are interested, you will receive automatic notification of their availability.

Internet delivery of the LNM is part of a much larger U.S. Coast Guard effort to integrate, improve, and streamline the collection and dissemination of all navigation safety information

Cayard's Memories of Blackaller and Star's

The following dates from the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race. Paul Cayard sailed one leg. During that leg one of his emails concerned his start in the Star Class. Now seems an appropriate time to post this as he is currently sailing the US Olympic Star Trials.

A Story… Tom Blackaller, the king of sailing

ok, since the race has turned into watching grass grow, close grass
growing though, I'll share a story with you.

In 1978 Tom Blackaller, the king of sailing on San Francisco Bay, asked me
to crew for him in his Star. Blackaller was a two-time Star World
Champion with a character and charisma second to none. As keen as you'd
be, being 18 and being asked by the king of sailing, I said, “Absolutely,
positively,” then he told me the what, where, when and how.

The mission I had already signed up to was to drive the boat from San
Francisco to Toronto and back for the Star North American Championship.
Further, I was to get the boat fully prepared and measured. Tom would fly
in the night after the first race, as he was busy 'doing something else.'
Then, after the racing, Tom would fly out; I would pack up the boat and
drive back to San Francisco. It sounded reasonable to me.

Shortly after, I was contacted by Craig Healy, another young San Francisco
sailor like me, who wanted a ride to Kingston for a Laser race. So we
loaded the Laser on the roof of Blackaller's light blue, Chevrolet Malibu
station wagon, a.k.a. the blue pig, and hooked up 'Faster Horses' (6150
for you Star trivia buffs) and headed out.

About 68 hours later, young Healy and even younger Cayard arrived in
Toronto. First mission was to get to the club. It is out on an island.
There are many sub stories that include having 'royal letters' (official
admonishments) being written back to St. Francis Yacht Club for
ungentlemanly behaviour, such as taking your shirt off in 90 degrees heat,
while washing the boat in the boat park, but I wont get into those now.
If you haven't been to the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, then ask someone who
has, like our Presidente Paul Henderson {President of ISAF].

So I got the boat washed, and organized, measured every piece of rigging
to make sure all was equal side to side, mast up, just like my written
instructions indicated. Beyond that, I put a big effort into making sure
my area, the jib sheet controls, was well marked and equal side to side.
This was my tryout, the biggest opportunity of my sailing career. I am a
meticulous person by nature and I did not skimp here. I presented the
boat for measurement and went through all the formalities. I even
daringly and without written permission took the boat out for a spin
asking Ding Schoonmaker if he thought it would be ok.

Finally the day of the first race arrived and I was sad to see everyone
leave the dock and our boat just sitting there. Dennis Conner and my
friend Ron Anderson (2 x four gold bars.. that means two time World
Championship winning crew) won the race. Sure enough, Tom showed up that
night, with a girlfriend and all three of us piled into one hotel room.
He hadn't seen the girlfriend in a while, I think more to the point, she
hadn't seen anyone in a while. So no one slept very well. Another part
of the educational process for young Cayard getting older and wiser by the
minute.

Next day...to say that I was keen was an understatement. I was keen. I
fully expected that Tom and I would win this regatta. My mother used to
get mad at the people I crewed for if we did not win. We had a bit of a
delay at the ferry from downtown to the island where the club is, because
Tom said some unkind things to the ferryboat captain who tried to enforce
the blazer requirement on Tom. You can imagine how that discussion went,
between the king and this poor 'bus driver'. Anyway we made our way to
the island and launched a glistening 6150.

Out on the course 45 minutes early, we checked the line thoroughly and had
a good start in about 12 knots of wind. Tom was a bit tired and jet lagged
as he had had a hard 24 hours so I was just happy that we were up in the
noise. We rounded the first leeward mark about fourth in a bunch with DC,
Buchan, Melges, Schoonmaker and Knowles. I pulled the jib in and hiked my
measly 210 lbs over the side and waited about 30 seconds to let things
settle in. Then I popped the question that led to a career marking
statement from my mentor...

pc: 'How's the jib?'
tdb: high pitched voice, 'What?'
pc: 'How is the jib trim?'
tdb: higher pitched voice, 'What?'
pc: 'How is the jib? I mean, is it on the marks? Are you happy with the
jib?'
tdb: 'Oh, anywhere in there is fine. If that was important I'd be doing
it.'

Whoa. I felt about that big. I just curled up in a ball on the side of
the boat and did not say another word for the rest of the beat.

I felt about that big just then but I am not easily deterred. I went on
to sail many a regatta with Tom including two America's Cups. I miss him
and wish he could see how much good he did for