Transat Jacques Vabre

Mike Golding and Javier Sanso fin ished the Transat Jacques Vabre on a perfect Caribbean morning, arriving into Costa Rica's historic Puerto Limon - where in 1502 Christopher Columbus landed - to secure a hard won third place in race which winner Marc Guillemot had described as the toughest of his career.

Sailing upwind through the gentle, long swell in just a gentle breeze Golding and Sanso eased the IMOCA Open 60 Mike Golding Yacht Racing through the finish line in the early morning to be greeted by a large, colourful and noisy crowd. Mike Golding Yacht Racing finished at 8:59 in the morning, Costa Rica time, 14:59h GMT. Their time for the course from Le Havre is 17 days, 1 hour, 29 minutes and 38 seconds, finishing 1 day, 6 hours, 7 minutes and 28 seconds after the first placed IMOCA Open 60 monohull Safran.

The duo played their stealth card for the final stage of the race, a spoiler just in case there was any unexpected, major slow down in the final hours of the race, but in the end it was not needed as they never stopped moving through the last hours, trimming hard until the finish gun confirmed their success.

Safran is the Winner

The tricky approach to the coast of Costa Rica ended successfully for the duo, Guillemot - Caudrelier Benac. In light winds, they led Safran to a fully deserved victory after 15 days, 19 hours and 22 minutes of intense sailing. It was daylight in France, but still dark in Puerto Limon when Safran crossed the finish at 2h 52’ and 10’’ (local time) or 8h 52’ 10’’, GMT. It marked the end of some genuine suspense, as Safran and the boat chasing after her, Groupe Bel had both been sailing in stealth mode since the previous day. Marc and Charles did not have any information about their most dangerous rival. As soon as they arrived, Jean-Paul Herteman, President of the board of the Safran group, thanked the two winners.

Safran’s race in figures
Race time: 15 days 19 hours 22 minutes 10 seconds
Average speed on the direct route: 12.46 knots
Average speed out on the water: 13.87 knots
Distance covered: 5263 miles

Transat Jacques Vabre

The last few miles may still hold a sting in the tail for the leading duo as the weather may slow the leading boat, with some nervous hours to the finish. On a race which has a recent history of close, tight finishes, the final miles of the Transat Jacques Vabre can be the most nerve racking.

The finish line is all but in sight, the miles counting down with a pleasing whirr, but for Safran's Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier - who are seeking to convert the lead they have held for nine days - they still have no shortage of pressure, and it is likely to stay heaped upon them until the end.

And with less than 450 miles to go in this ninth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, the gap back from Safran to Kito de Pavant and Francois Gabart on Groupe Bel is just over 70 miles.

Groupe Bel are an ever present threat, as they have been to Safran since they eased past Mike Golding Yacht Racing a week ago, Saturday night 14th, to install themselves in second place.

A relatively stationary little low pressure trough has installed itself over the Gulf of Panama. That has contributed to some spicy squall activity for the two leaders today but so there is the distinct threat that the final miles in to the finish line off Costa Rica's Puerto Limon will not be easy.

Safran crossed the longitude of Cartagena (Colombia) which was the finish for the Transat Jacques Vabre from 1993 to 1999, with a time of 13 days and 22 hours of sailing.

Underlining the evolution of the class ten years ago, the winner of the IMOCA Open 60 division took 19 days and 17 hours over the same course. By comparison with the course record to Salvador de Bahia, JP Dick and Loick Peyron's 13.51 knots in 2005 compares with the course average so far of Safran at 13.26 knots. Safran had done 375 miles over the 24 hours to 1100hrs today.

While Mike Golding Yacht Racing and Foncia seem assured of third and fourth, the race for sixth to eighth remains the closest group of the IMOCA Open 60. While Pepe Ribes and Alex Pella now hold sixth place on W-Hotels, Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson were breaking away from eighth and the heat of battle to effect a rapid pit stop to collect a replacement generator control panel at a rendezvous off St Lucia. The British duo were just two miles short of Veolia Environnment's seventh when they diverged north.

Transat Jacques Vabre

As Safran lead across their theoretical half way point of this Transat Jacques Vabre from Le Havre to Costa Rica and life has become considerably easier for the IMOCA Open 60 crews and the remaining Multi50 duos, the days of sunshine and trade winds sailing may be pleasant but the pace is still intense right down the fleets, seeking every small gain, trimming more accurately and hand steering as long as possible.

Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier top the IMOCA Open 60 standings by just 23.3 miles this morning, with Kito de Pavant and Francois Gabart on Groupe Bel gaining ten miles since the same time yesterday morning. A third of their lead devoured, Guillemot remarked yesterday that his preference is normally to do the hunting rather than be hunted.

The two leading sister-ships are very evenly matched now, whilst Mike Golding, the British skipper sounded mildly irritated this morning that, try as hard as they can, the two French boats have gained consistently over the last two days. In fact they have been breaking into slightly stronger breeze progressively and both Golding and Sanso acknowledged this morning that they may be losing a little time through manoeuvres - sail changes, mainly - due to their lack of time together as a duo.

Golding and Sanso have lost 34 miles over 48 hours.

Conditions are still not perfect, settled tradewinds. The unstable 12-20 knots breeze swings around in direction and rises and falls in strength, sailing under spinnaker may be pleasant but it is also tiring.

Completing the ninth day at sea today the biggest threat to the leaders might be Michel Desjoyeaux and Jeremie Beyou on Foncia.

Desjoyeaux noted that three hours of solid spinnaker trimming had worn out Beyou. They are now up to fourth place, accounting for Veolia Environnment who are now 45 miles behind and slowed too close to the cente of the high pressure, but Foncia are still 355 miles in arrears of the leader Safran.

Having made just 14 miles on Safran since the same time a couple of days ago, then the leading trio can feel safe for the moment.

Transat Jacques Vabre

Virtually the full range of emotions were starkly evident on the Transat Jacques Vabre race track today as the leading trio fast approach the half way mark for the IMOCA Open 60 fleet on their 4370 miles course from Le Havre to Porto Limon, Costa Rica.

As under-pressure leaders Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier on Safran bent to the task of holding off the rapidly advancing, Kito de Pavant and Francois Gabart, their smiling, chilled rivals on identical design sistership, the laughing cow' logo'd Groupe Bel, back on eighth placed Aviva Britain's Dee Caffari declared herself one 'happy bunny' as she and Brian Thompson hit the trade-winds conveyor belt, into the warmth , the sunshine and brisker winds, for some fast, champagne sailing and a chance to unwrap herself from the layers of warm, waterproof clothing she has had on for the best part of week,

But for Alex Thomson, once again it is the unfortunately familiar welling up of bitter disappointment to deal with, as he and co-skipper Ross Daniel are forced to head for the Azores, limping north with Hugo Boss taking on water after they hit something at high speed yesterday afternoon. After a night at slow speed trying to keep the damaged area, an indentation of about 30 cms, Thomson and Daniel's race is over, all too soon.

If the anger and frustration feels like dejà vu after having to pull out of last year's Vendee Globe with structural damage sustained in the first big storm, less than 36 hours into the race, Thomson's shred of consolation this time is that he had done a good job through the worst storm and had earned a strong position with Hugo Boss. But this afternoon that was a bitter pill to swallow. He had certainly achieved the objective of giving former boat captain Ross Daniel a first hand insight into the rigours of ocean racing on the Open 60 with a view to maximising gear reliability for future endeavours.

When Daniel went forwards after striking an object with a thud during yesterday afternoon he found four tonnes of water in the watertight compartment.

Transat Jacques Vabre

A harrowing day for sailors in the Transat Jacques Vabre came to a safe conclusion as Seb Josse and JF Curzon were brought to safety by helicopter in the Azores. Their technical team were due in the Azores this evening ready to attempt a salvage mission. The pair set off their EIPRB beacon at around 10:20hrs Friday morning while 200 miles north of the Azores after the coachroof was badly damaged by the pounding waves. They said that the boat was taking water and required immediate assistance. At one point to a depth of nearly two thirds of hull was filled with water.

With storm-force conditions in excess of 55 knots overnight, Sam Davies onboard Artemis Ocean Racing this morning reported further damage to the boat. Sam called the shore team at 1030 GMT this morning to report: "We have lost a mainsail batten (third down from the top) which flew out of the sail, the third reef pin on the boom has gone and our main Iridium handset is broken - either water-logged or from the shock of the boat pounding through the waves."

None of the damage is terminal but the loss of the mainsail batten will compromise their race performance, however in a call at 1700 GMT today, Sam confirmed that after much consideration there is no plan to stop for repairs, but instead to press on in the best direct route to the finish.

It has also been confirmed that Veolia Environnement (Roland Jourdain and Jean-Luc Nelias) is heading to the Azores to try and repair damage to their mast track - the same damage incurred by Brit Air in the opening stages of the race that resulted in their retirement.

With the testing conditions forecast to last for another 24 hours, the British duo (Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson) took advantage of a brief becalmed period to send co-skipper Brian Thompson up the mast to replace the wind wand. As a result of the repair, Aviva has lost miles within the northerly pack of the IMOCA Open 60 fleet, but with the instruments now fully functioning, Caffari and Thompson will be looking to battle through the elements in an attempt to claw back some miles.

The breakaway trio, Safran, Mike Golding Yacht Racing and Groupe Bel continue to profit from the excellent conditions through Sunday, all seeing the speed readouts peaking over 20 knots for periods as the they relish wind, sun and high speeds.

Their Sunday has been a time to re-group, catch up on repairs but most of all simply making sure the pace does not drop off.

As the distance remaining of the 4730 miles course from Le Havre to Costa Rica counted down under 3000 today, Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier's Safran has continued to be a little faster than her pursuers, opening up a lead of 53.7 miles on the British-Spanish duo on Mike Golding Yacht Racing, whilst Kito de Pavant and Francois Gabart is just a little more than 12 miles behind.

The threesome are sprinting south with a cushion of 134 miles back to the British crew on Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson and Ross Daniel, and the best part of 300 miles ahead of the best of the southern group, Foncia. Michel Desjoyeaux and Jeremie Beyou lie eighth.

Golding, pointing out that Safran was still no more than three hours ahead of him, remarked that he felt the three runaways have themselves a 'glamour hand', but that there are no guarantees. The current routings today sees a more northerly course still paying off, with a much more southerly option still bringing that southerly groups in 200 miles behind the leading trio as they enter the Caribbean Sea, but the weather predictions further down the track are changing all the time.

For Sam Davies and Sidney Gavignet on 11th placed Artemis, they have been getting towards the end of their long jobs list, one which has left them exhausted and which Gavignet said this morning has cost them many miles, not least 20 hours or so trying to sort out their mainsail problems.

Improvements to 2010 ORC VPP

The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) has accepted and approved all changes made by the International Technical Committee (ITC) to next year’s VPP to be used in ORC International and ORC Club rating systems. This is the first year the ITC had met to finalize their changes and ratify them through the ORC test fleet of 300 designs prior to the ORC’s Annual General Meeting in Busan.

The following is a summary of the main changes:

Hydrodynamic model: The treatment of truncated sterns and the length assessment study has been finalized thanks to the thorough work coordinated between Axel Mohnhaupt, the programmer and the Chairman. A description of Axel's algorithm has been distributed. This formulation will finally address the IMS L sensitivity experienced in the past, and boats with truncated sterns will have the advantage they need to be competitive in ORC.

Aerodynamic model: The new Upwind Aero Model introduced last year is refined with a procedure for flat and reef parameters used in sequence and decoupled. This causes only minor changes on the test fleet.

Double Rudder: The Double rudder treatment, following a 2008 submission, has been developed and a proper evaluation has been programmed into the VPP that takes into account the distance of the rudder from centerline and its angle so that it can calculate which part of the rudder is out of the water. The rudder data is added at the end of the OFF file following the old code that was used as a simplified rudder measurement.

Regulations: The Racing Division regulations have been removed and all those boats who are not eligible with the Cruising Regulations, now renamed “Performance,” and the Cruising Division text has been revised by eliminating complex language that was a consequence of several layers of Rule revisions. This has simplified into two pages the simple concepts that define accommodation standards that are common and make sense for everyone. The Table of minimum requirements was replaced with simpler formulae.

Moveable Ballast Boats: Default Righting Moment for Moveable Ballast boats has been revised to validate a more appropriate VPP for these kinds of boats. Age allowance will maintain the same annual increment, but will have a top value reduced from 1.3% to 1%, corresponding to an age of 15 years. This is the proposal submitted by FIV, and addresses also a submission on the same topic coming from Argentina. 3D files (like RHINO or IGES) provided by Designer will now be accepted and processed by the ORC rating office to create valid offset files to issue new ORC International certificates, provided freeboard reference points are identified which are common to the real mold/hull and the OFF file provided by the Designer. A procedure to validate these offsets files will be prepared by the ORC and tested before the end of the year in Australia for the boats that will race in next month’s Sydney to Hobart Race.

Carbon Mast Default weight: A new default weight and VCG is being formulated to account for light carbon masts fitted with fiber rigging that would be applied when the “carbon mast” and “fiber rigging” tabs are activated. This will be substantially lighter than the present Default mast weight, which remains in use for unweighed aluminum masts and for all weighed masts to derive the gyradius increment due to the mast. This will ensure that unweighed carbon masts would get an unrated advantage, so the requirement for weighing carbon masts can be suppressed.

SPL: A new Blanketing function is being tested to produce an influence of SPL/TPS length on spinnaker performances. This new function, based on the ratio SPL/SMG (or TPS/AMG) will take into account the more exposed sail area to the apparent wind (less coverage from mainsail) that is obtained with a longer pole (SPL) or bowsprit (TPS).

Heavy Items: will be eliminated from the certificate, and their effect on gyradius adjustment ignored. Only anchor and chain weight will remain as gyradius correctors, if placed in the bow.

Jib Furler: The use of only one jib associated with a Jib furler will modify jib aero coefficients to assess the reduced efficiency of this configuration in the same way in ORC International as it currently does for ORC Club. Power driven winches (and generally stored power) will be allowed also for C/R boats under 20 m, with a penalty of 0.5% applied to all handicaps. This has been fixed to avoid exploitation of this configuration on aggressive C/R, so the ratio between Declared Crew Weight and Default Crew Weight squared will be used to diminish this penalty for reduced crew boats that really require the help of stored power. Internal VPP area for mainsails has been revised to take into account high roach and square top mainsails in a way more related to the true surface of these sails. Other minor adjustments have been made, like the revision of crossover point between jib and spinnakers, revised DA for non overlapping boats, non-spinnaker configuration revision, correction of Code 0 area for cruising boats to let them race without penalties.

Tank Test Research: The Congress funded the construction and testing of three new models that will be developed and designed to better represent the current racing fleets Hopefully the results of these tests may be ready for implementation in 2011.

Transat Jacques Vabre

Enjoying a temporary lull through part of today, skippers in the Transat Jacques Vabre were steeling themselves, preparing for one more beating which stands between them and the easier, faster conditions south of the Azores.

Once again the conditions will be tougher for those in the northern group, one which is looking like an increasing advantage for the meantime. Those who took the ''high road, the northern routing, have so far escaped relatively unscathed - fatigued and with a few bumps, bruises and the odd mechanical and electrical problem - while already some of those who elected to go for the seemingly prudent southern routing, were today regretting their decision.

Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier became the fourth leader of the IMOCA Open 60 class when they steadily overhauled Seb Josse and JF Curzon on BT over today, with the radical, chined Prevost-Verdier design taking a lead of 4.7 miles ahead of Josse and Curzon, while Britain's Mike Golding may be struggling to get on top of autopilot problems and an electrical blackout from early this morning, but was up to third place on the late afternoon rankings.
Those on the southern routing have started to tack this afternoon. With a deficit of 277 miles Foncia turned NW this afternoon, as did Vincent Riou and Arnaud Boissires on Akena Verandas.

It has been a torrid and stormy time for Sam Davies and Sidney Gavignet onboard Artemis Ocean Racing in what has turned into a battering for the IMOCA 60 fleet in the Transat Jacques Vabre.

Decisions about the route for the highly experienced pair have been about preservation of the boat rather than the optimum course.

Transat Jacques Vabre

The Transat Jacques Vabre fleet will have to deal with some difficult wind and sea conditions through Wednesday and Thursday as they encounter the first big Atlantic storm of the race. Crews on both the IMOCA Open 60's and the Multi 50's were preparing for winds which are forecast to exceed 40 knots at times and big seas.

Seb Josse, co-skipper on BT, the IMOCA Open 60 which has lead the fleet through the day, admitted this morning that there are no clear cut advantages between the more northerly routing which he and Jeff Curzon have been following, and that of the double Vendee Globe winning Michel Desjoyeaux on Foncia, who last night seized the opportunity presented to maximise his southing with co-skipper Jeremie Beyou, and split away from the southerly grouping.

British pairing Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson on Aviva continued with their strong position, racing through the day in second place, sliding on the afternoon ranking to sixth with a 14 miles deficit to BT. Racing virtually alongside Kito de Pavant and Francois Gabart, only about 400 metres apart during the morning, Thompson highlighted the similarity in speed of the diverse designs before they tacked off to the north-west this afternoon, leaving the Mediterranean pairing, for the meantime, to a more southerly track.

The split in the fleet, such as it is, sees a group of five opting for a more northerly routing - mainly BT, Veolia Environnement, Mike Golding Yacht Racing, and Aviva - while the southerly cluster now comprises mainly Akena Verandas, Artemis and W Hotels.

First to play the stealth card - going into furtive mode - was Yves Parlier and Pachi Rivero on 1876.

In the Multi50 fleet Prince of Bretagne has been forced to head for La Coruna after also suffering mainsail mast-track damage, while Crepes Whaou still leads from the advancing Region Aquitaine Port Medoc.

Grael - Tunnicliffe World Sailor of the Year

ISAF and Rolex are proud to announce that the male and female winners of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2009 are: Torben Grael (BRA) and Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)Torben Grael received his award tonight, and in his winning speech said, "It's an honour to be here. It's not the first time I've attended this award ceremony, but it's truly a different feeling to stand here," he said, from behind the podium. "I am very thankful, and to be here I represent not only myself but all the people who helped me run my campaigns: the sailors, my family, my parents, my wife, the company Ericsson. it's been a fantastic year and it was a fantastic [Volvo Ocean] Race. This year has made me aware of some feelings I am not used to," said an emotional Grael as he accepted his ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award. "I'd like to thank Rolex for their continued support- it's great what they do for our sport," said Anna Tunnicliffe, upon being named the female ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year. "I've had great fun competing in a variety of classes, I love doing it, and I'd like to thank my sponsors, my teams, my parents for being my managers, and my husband for always allowing me to sail."

Valencia is Final

In a letter written today to New York Supreme Court Justice Kornreich following the unsuccessful discussions with the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), the America's Cup Defender, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), has confirmed that it will conduct a Deed of Gift Match with GGYC in February 2010 in Valencia, which is the date and venue repeatedly requested by GGYC and previously ordered by the Court. SNG has also expressed its intention to publish the 33rd America's Cup Notice of Race with immediate effect.

When SNG's first choice of venue, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, was declared invalid by the New York Supreme Court, the Swiss Defender proposed two alternative Southern Hemisphere venues: Proserpine/Airlie Beach and Townsville in Australia, where the weather conditions are suitable in February.

GGYC's reaction has been to try to delay the Cup and to continue to try and gain competitive advantage while SNG attended the meetings in good faith with the objective of finding a settlement.

While SNG confirms Valencia as the venue for the 33rd America's Cup in February 2010, the offer to GGYC of an Australian venue for the same date remains on the table until 13 November 2009 provided GGYC agrees to withdraw all legal actions.

Transat Jacques Vabre

The first full day of racing in this ninth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, sees the fleet into the Atlantic with a pause for reflection, a chance to regroup before the first big weather systems descend on the fleet and, in time, the first telling strategic moves need to be made.

While Michel Desjoyeaux and Jeremie Beyou have lost little time in falling in line with their billing as pre-race favourites, leading out of the inky black of the first night at sea, quickly into a rhythm which can be established more readily thanks to the miles that both have sailed on the Farr design Foncia, which won this race in 2007, and more recently triumphed in the Istanbul Europa Race with co-skipper Beyou on board.

Foncia was leading the pack out of a ridge of high pressure early this afternoon, in close company with Groupe Bel - which has remained resolutely south since the start yesterday - Akena Verandas, which on board has Arnaud Boissires partnered by past Vendee Globe winner Vincent Riou, and record breaking British double-circumnavigator Dee Caffari with Brian Thompson well placed on Aviva in fifth.

Ahead for them is the first nasty weather system of a sequence of depressions which are forecast to bring them 40-45 knots and big seas on Wednesday. Such weather is standard fare for this time of the year in the Atlantic, but by Friday - the 13th - they should be through the worst of it and negotiating the Azores archipelago.

Transat Jacques Vabre

After days of rain, wind and even hail storms, the waters off Le Havre offered the 20 crews setting off on the ninth edition of the two handed Transat Jacques Vabre relatively benign conditions as they headed down the Channel, making west and south from the autumnal chills of Northern Europe for the sunshine of Costa Rica.

And for all that the six Multi 50's have a theoretical 5050 NM's to complete, leaving Barbados to starboard, and the 14 IMOCA Open 60's have 4730 miles to Costa Rica, leaving the Dominican Republic to starboard, no one was shy about pushing it on the start lines.

Appropriately, as leading lights in the class, in the multihulls Franck Yves Escoffier and Erwan Leroux were the first break the start line of this edition, easing away under gennaker in the 7-9 knots of breeze, picking up pace to forge through the sloppy, leftover sea and the spectator boat wakes.

The IMOCA Open 60's pushed harder to their start gun. Kito de Pavant and Francois Gabart on Groupe Bel were the first to unroll their gennaker, early for the line. Forced to scrub off speed to make the leeward end of the start line, they broke to the left early. Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson proved they are out to give this course their all, and made a nicely timed start at the windward end of the line, with Seb Josse and Jean Francois Cuzon on BT in the middle of the lineup with Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier urging Safran across, all virtually at the same time.

A complex weather scenario awaits. Fast reaching conditions in a NW'ly breeze were due to give way to variable, light wind conditions of a high pressure ridge for the first full day at sea. Strategically there still seemed to be the option of staying north and fighting winds of perhaps over 40 knots on the front of the first of a series of depressions which will track across the North Atlantic, or prudently to head south early and try and breach the lighter breezes of the first part of the Azores high pressure system first.

The first Position report at 1600hrs (GMT) showed Crepes Whaou to be eading the Multi 50's from Actual and Guyader.

Groupama Circumnavigation

Groupama 3 set off from off the Creac'h lighthouse (Ushant Finistere) in a good NW'ly breeze and big seas. Franck Cammas and his nine crew will have to be back from their circumnavigation of the globe spanning over 24,000 miles, prior to the morning of 26th December.

A granulated sky, gusts, intermittent showers, setting sun, big Atlantic swell, squalls, breaking waves: here we have the setting for this latest departure to gain a new reference time in the Jules Verne Trophy, the round the world record held by Bruno Peyron and his crew since 2005 (50d 16h 20m). Groupama 3 left the pontoon of the port of Le Chteau in Brest, NW France this Thursday 5th November at 1300 hours before a warm crowd of locals and the crew's families, which came out as far as the Petit Minou lighthouse to bid them farewell. Under two-reefed mainsail and a small jib, Groupama 3 then released her tow at 1400 hours and headed out to sea in a building swell... As such the giant trimaran had to put in a few tacks to get to the North of Ushant before setting the clock running at 15h 50' 22'' UT.

The NW'ly wind associated with the low, which passed over Brittany on Wednesday, was still very active: the stormy sky with its cumulonimbus was generating a twenty to twenty-five knot breeze, gusting to over thirty-five knots... Above all though, the seas were hard at the exit from the English Channel with waves of nearly seven metres offshore! As such conditions weren't ideal for the start, but the next stage in the programme is highly favourable, once the crew reaches the Portuguese coast. As a result, for half a day, Franck Cammas and his nine crew are likely to be tackling beam winds and may even have to sail close-hauled for a few hours.

Transat Jacques Vabre

For some it's the first big chance to restore pride and confidence after the brutal last edition of the Vendee Globe, to others it is simply the next big challenge on the competition itinerary, but the 2009 edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, which starts from Le Havre this weekend has drawn a remarkably strong fleet of 14 IMOCA Open 60's and a fleet of six Multi50 class multihulls which includes three brand new build boats.

With two days to go before the start the atmosphere, if anything, is slightly restrained. The pressures of the global economic downturn has perhaps eliminated some of the adventurers and those who might normally be taking their first steps on the ladder with this biennial classic race. That means that the IMOCA Open 60 fleet, seven months after the finish of the Vendee Globe, has been pared back to serious teams which are all well funded, highly professional and prepared to approximately the same high level. Meeting their respective international press contingents today both Michel Desjoyeaux, who is out to defend his win in the 2007 edition of this race, and Hugo Boss skipper Alex Thomson individually observed that the fleet of IMOCA Open 60's for this race contains neither weak boats, nor weak crews.

Eight of the 28 IMOCA Open 60 skippers here did not finish their Vendee Globe, from the unfortunate Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel), Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) and Marc Thiercelin (DCNS) who were among the victims of the first big storm, Jeremie Beyou (who races on Foncia with Michel Desjoyeaux) to Sebastien Josse (BT), Vincent Riou (PRB)now Akena Verandas with Arnaud Boissieres), Mike Golding (Ecover, now Mike Golding Yacht Racing) and Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) who was the last who was soloist who was forced to retire whilst lying second. All are back here, racing this new course to Puerto Limon,Costa Rica
French sailing legend Yves Parlier returns to the IMOCA Open 60 fleet, sailing on the Spanish flagged 1876 partnering Spain's Pacchi Rivero. Parlier is a past winner, in 1997 with the late Eric Tabarly, which he still describes as the highlight of his sailing career, and last competed in 1999 with Ellen MacArthur.

British female skippers Sam Davies and Dee Caffari are back in the fray too. Davies is sailing Artemis with Sidney Gavignet, while Caffari is joined on Aviva by Brian Thompson whose third Transat Jacques Vabre this is. While Caffari's confidence after the Vendee Globe and an all girl Round Britain record attempt on Aviva in the summer, is at all time high, Davies, along with Gavignet is just getting to grips with the very powerful Rogers designed Artemis.

SNG Offers Australia

Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), the 33rd America's Cup defending yacht club, has proposed an alternative venue to the American challenger in a bid to end their continued litigation and return the Cup to the water.

Ahead of tomorrow's hearing at the New York Supreme Court, the Swiss Defender has proposed a solution to the legal impasse brought about by the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC). While the Defender's first choice for the Deed of Gift Match is Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, in order to achieve a Match in February SNG proposes to stage the 33rd America's Cup on the east coast of Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere, in compliance with the Deed of Gift. This is a venue that should be acceptable to both teams if, as expressed publicly, the true intention of BMW Oracle is to race for the America's Cup on the water.

A specific race course in the Pacific Ocean off the east coast of Australia, with weather conditions suitable for racing in February, will be announced promptly should GGYC accept this offer and cease their legal strategy. The east coast of Australia offers several locations with ideal sailing conditions for the best-of-three match. A venue in this region would be approximately two and a half weeks away by ship from BMW Oracle's base in San Diego, while Alinghi's voyage from Ras Al Khaimah would take approximately three weeks.

SNG is hopeful that this offer will be accepted and that the competition will resume on the water rather than in court.

Alinghi's Request Rejected

The Appellate Division in New York has rejected the Swiss defender's request to freeze last week's Supreme Court decision that Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) did not comply with the Deed of Gift for the 33rd America's Cup. Golden Gate Yacht Club said Ras Al Khaimah was wrong all along. The Supreme Court said it was wrong last week. And the Appellate Division said no to a Stay today. The message is clear. SNG/Alinghi will try one more time to have Ras Al Khaimah re-installed in a fast-track expedited Appellate Division application due to be heard in the coming weeks.

The race dates for the 33rd America's Cup remain unchanged, commencing February 8th, 2010. Justice Kornreich ruled from the Supreme Court bench on Wednesday October 27 that Ras Al Khaimah was not Deed-compliant. There will be a further hearing before her this Friday. The Court will determine if Valencia (Spain) is confirmed as the venue - as both sides had previously agreed to this in Court - or if SNG/Alinghi can still choose a Deed-compliant location in the Southern Hemisphere despite the expired six month notice of the venue that the Defender is required to give the Challenger.

Groupama in Volvo

The Groupama Insurance Group confirmed today that it will enter the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race with its long term French skipper, Franck Cammas, a commitment that will last until 2015.
The announcement was made as Cammas was in the French port Le Chateau in Brest, preparing to set off on a bid to conquer the Jules Verne Trophy aboard the 32-metre maxi trimaran. The chosen designer for Groupama's new boat is Argentinean Juan Kouyoumdjian, the designer of the winning boats in the last two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race.
"It's now been over 12 years that Groupama and Franck Cammas have worked together as a team. Today, we have decided to continue this commitment by participating in the Volvo Ocean Race to inspire a more international dynamic in our common project," said Frederique Granado, director of external communications at Groupama.
"Groupama is developing strong links overseas, where we carry out nearly 30 per cent of our business, and the Volvo Ocean Race is clearly the most suitable sports event to reflect our group's new expansion," Granado explained.
Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race is very pleased about the return of a French boat to the Volvo Ocean Race: "The French certainly have their place in the Volvo against the cream of the Anglo-Saxon and European crews. It is excellent news that the Groupama team is joining the race. I have known Franck Cammas and his team for a long time. They are formidable competitors, who are remarkably well organised. It is going to be an exciting race."

Appeal on Ras Al Khaimah

The Defender of the 33rd America's Cup, Societe Nautique de Genve (SNG), is to appeal New York Supreme Court Justice Kornreich's decision of 30 October rejecting Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates as the venue for the 33rd America's Cup. SNG has applied for an expedited appeal to avoid any delay to the February 2010 Deed of Gift Match.

The choice of Ras Al Khaimah was made based on the plain language of Justice Cahn's (Kornreich's predecessor) May 2008 Court Order that ruled the location of the 33rd America's Cup Match to be in 'Valencia or any other location selected by the SNG'.

The Emirati venue was selected by the Defender for several reasons: the suitability of the weather conditions for a February Deed of Gift Match; the infrastructure offered by the country and the experience the UAE brings in organising world class sporting events.

While the Deed of Gift stipulates that racing for the America's Cup between 1 November and 1 May must take place in the Southern Hemisphere, Justice Cahn's 12 May 2008 New York Supreme Court Order 'that the location of the match be in Valencia or any other location selected by the SNG' led the America's Cup defending yacht club, Societe Nautique de Genve, to select Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

Larson Melges 24 World Champion

The fifty-one international teams, who had travelled from across North America and Europe to compete in the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championships, finally got the welcome opportunity to race in double-digit breezes on the final day of the regatta. Despite the Championship racecourse being shrouded in appropriately Halloween style mist for most of the day, the Race Committee successfully banged off two four-leg races in winds which peaked at around fourteen knots.
Chris Larson at the helm of 'West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes', who had led the regatta on-and-off for much of the week, took a seventeen point lead into the final day and looked odds-on to take the title. However with the potential for three races to be sailed today, Larson was always potentially vulnerable to attack from second placed Gabrio Zandona at the helm of the Italian entry 'Joe Fly'.
If Larson was in fact feeling the pressure of leading the championship into the final day, there was no visible evidence at the start of the first race. With several of the top teams including Zandona, Lorenzo Bressani on 'Uka Uka Racing' and Terry Hutchinson on 'Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team' being called OCS soon after the start, Larson was able to pick his way skilfully through the melee at the pin and followed eventual race winner Nico Celon on 'Fantastica' off the line. Rounding the top mark with only Carlo Fracassoli on 'Gullisara' in front of him, Larson sailed a calm and composed race and went on to record his fourth second place of the week. Zandona, Bressani and Hutchinson all received twenty percent Z-flag penalties and following an announcement from the Race Officer that there would be no third race, Larson now found himself in an unassailable position. With no reason to compete in the second race of the day, he and his delighted crew: Mike Wolfs, Curtis Florence! and tactician Richard Clarke, headed ashore to start to begin to celebrate their Melges 24 World Championship victory.