Sail-World New Zealand: 11 January 2012

Sail-World New Zealand: 11 January 2012

Ben Ainslie Racing's AC45 Ben Ainslie Racing
Welcome to Sail-World.com's New Zealand newsletter for 11 January 2012

Last night, NZT, Ben Ainslie made his much anticipated announcement as to his plans post the 2012 Olympics.

No surprises, but he will be starting a new sailing team, Ben Ainslie Racing, under the auspices of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club - underwritten by Oracle Racing.

Effectively he/the team comes in on the Challenger side of the America's Cup equation, and then he jumps to the Defender side for the 34th America's Cup, while the team gets sidelined from May 2013 until after the 34th America's Cup.

Some take the pragmatic approach, and paint this as a good move designed to get a new team into the America's Cup.

Others liken it to switching sides at half-time.

In this edition of Sail-World, we try to cover both points of view and leave it to you to decide how you see it.

There's video coverage of the full media conference (35 minutes) at the London Boat Show, plus a highlights clip from the Show and Ben Ainslie sailing earlier with Oracle Racing.

The Ben and Russ Show. Ben Ainslie, four time Olympic medallist pictured with Russell Coutts, head of Oracle Racing and current holder of the Americas Cup. Ben Ainslie Racing

No sailors were announced with the team, save for Ainslie, and it will be interesting to see if he run with a group of British sailors and stays true to his objective of building a strong British team for the 35th America's Cup. Or, if he runs with a crew from Oracle Racing and stays true to his objective to do his best to help the Defender retain the America's Cup.

Top international yachting writer, Stuart Alexander, weighs in with his view of the announcement, too.

Announcement of the financial arrangements also begs the question as to whether other teams are on the same, or similar, sweet-heart deal as unveiled last night for Ben Ainslie Racing.

On Monday, and earlier, two Jury Decisions were posted by the International Jury for the America's Cup. One is a simple declaration that Emirates Team NZ's SL33's are not Surrogate Boats in terms of the America's Cup. The second relates to voting rights on matters involving the AC72's and the America's Cup Regatta itself.

It is claimed that only four of the nine ACWS teams have paid their USD200,000 entry fee for the 34th America's Cup Regatta Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com©

We report on the Decision and interleave an interview conducted by Peter Montgomery, before Christmas with Emirates Team NZ CEO, Grant Dalton - which traverses the background and gives Dalton's insight on the issue. It has a lot of hard hitting comments aimed at the second tier teams - who will not be progressing to the AC72's but have been voting on rule changes relating to that class, and an event, in which they will not be competing.

One of these is the development of the Code of Conduct, or so-called Dalton Amendment, being drafted and seen by many as potentially being used as a gagging device against teams and individuals who do not toe the America's Cup party line. A key case in point being whether the moves to the current format are a genuine attempt to reduce cost, or if they are really a move to skew the game as much as possible in favour of the Defender.

Again, have a read and decide for yourself.

Kimberly Lim (SIN) 2011 World Optimist Champion Matas Capizzano/Optiworlds

In Napier the Optimist Worlds have concluded with a good win for Singapore's Kimberly Lee. Eight countries featured in the top 10 overall, which underlines the the standard of competition in what is arguably the most keenly contested world championship of all the sailing classes.

Read Stuart Alexander's excellent backgrounder, written mid-regatta, which looks at the intensity of the Optimist class, and how many countries have incorporated the Optimist into their Olympic development program.

Rena stern section sinking from overflight on 10 January 2012 at 1030hrs Maritime NZ

Disaster of the week, has undoubtedly been the breakup of the MV Rena on the Astrolabe Reef. We have the officials report, video of the sinking of the stern section and photos of the wreck in this edition.

Quite what happens from here remains to be seen. However the number of containers that are unaccounted for is a major concern to sailors. The official line is that these will sink or come ashore, but as sailors know only too well, many float in a semi-submerged state waiting like a mobile reef for a passing yacht.

We will update when there is significant new released, or images/video. However at present it is a matter of wait and see, plus effect yet another clean up.

Andrew Mcdougall - KA Sails 2012 Australian Moth National Championship Lochlin Byrne

Many thanks to those who have contributed to this edition, particularly those using our online submission and image loading facility which can be accessed by clicking here

Good sailing!

Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor

nzeditor@sail-world.com

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Stay up with the latest sailing news, as it happens, on our website www.sail-world.com/nz

2011 Optimist Worlds: Singapore's Kimberly Lim is new World Champion
Nathalie van Dort,
The Delta Flag was raised at 10.41, meaning that racing would start at 11.41 for the final day of the World Optimist Championship being sailed at Napier, on the East Coast of New Zealand. It didn't take the 210 sailors long at all to get out onto the water. The wind was very mild, around 10 knots, but the sun came back out again.... [more]
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America's Cup: Olympic sailor Ben Ainslie launches AC campaign + Video
Richard Gladwell,
Four times Olympic medalist, Ben Ainslie (GBR) today announced the formation of Ben Ainslie Racing, which will compete in the America's Cup World Series from September 2012. No sailing team members were announced at the media conference staged at the London Boat Show, however the management team will be headed by Grant Simmer, formerly with Ainslie at the previous British America's Cup entity,... [more]
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Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - Derry-Londonderry maintains lead
Heather Ewing,
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - The last 24 hours have seen new tactics being applied in the race. While Derry-Londonderry is still leading the race, Gold Coast Australia's decision to take a more northerly route has seen them jump up the leader board from sixth to second position.... [more]
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Australian Youth Championships – Down to the wire
Craig Heydon,
Australian Youth Championships – There was a lot at stake for the 175 crews racing on Brisbane's Moreton Bay with the OAMPS Insurance Brokers Australian Youth Championships titles up for grabs, along with positions in the Australian Youth Sailing Team to contest the 2012 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships.... [more]
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Optimist Worlds: Long wait paid off for OptiWorldsNZ competitors
Nathalie van Dort,
For a long time it looked like todays' sailing wasn't going to happen on Day 7 of the 2011 Optimist World Championships, being staged at Napier on the East Coast of New Zealand. A passing tropical low pressure zone kicked up a big swell. Further up the coast the stricken container ship, MV Rena broke up three months after grounding on Astrolabe Reef.... [more]
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Rena Disaster: Stern section of Rena sinks + Video
Sail-World and Maritime NZ,
Maritime NZ are reporting this morning that the 130metre stern section of the MV Rena is reported to be slipping off the Astrolabe Reef. They have previously stated that if this happens they expect the section to sink, which at the mid-morning report seems to be happening, and more debris and containers will be released. Latest reports, video and images will be included as they come to hand... [more]
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Mark Foy Regatta - 52nd Interdominions final day + Video
Tomo,
In the Mark Foy Regatta, the final race started in a light to moderate S/E breeze with a forecast to increase significantly. The breeze did not rise as expected which left the conditions ripe for a low end two rig day. C-Tech held a one point lead overall over DeLongi Rabbitohs with a further three points back to CST. 15 boats from three countries, New Zealand, Australia and USA competed... [more]
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Gladwell's Line: Ainslie Racing plans novel approach to America's cup
Richard Gladwell,
Reports in an English newspaper reveal that Ben Ainslie will announce in a few hours, a team to be backed by the America's Defender's Patron, software billionaire, Larry Ellison. The team will be unsponsored with Ellison as its Patron. The team will be entered under the burgee of a British yacht club. The team plan to compete in the America's Cup World Series from September 2012... [more]
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America's Cup: Ainslie launches hybrid Challenge at London Boat Show
Stuart Alexander,
Top international yachting correspondent, Stuart Alexander, writing in the The Independent (UK) takes a look behind the newly announced Ben Ainslie Racing team pitched at the America's Cup World Series. The new team will sail under the burgee of an English yacht club, but will enjoy the patronage of the US Defence team.... [more]
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Volvo Ocean Race - Team Sanya make progress to secret safe haven port
Volvo Ocean Race,
Team Sanya, the first ever sole Chinese entry in the Volvo Ocean Race had to suspend racing in the second leg from Cape Town, South Africa when a key part of their mast's rigging failed while the team was leading the fleet. They now continue to sail cautiously towards the safe haven port to complete Leg 2 and collect valuable overall race points.... [more]
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Optimist Worlds: Britain's young Optimists head New Zealand way
Stuart Alexander,
Top international yachting correspondent, Stuart Alexander, take s a look at the 2011 Optimist Worlds in Napier: 'The best girls are just as good as the best boys,' says class president Peter Barclay. 'This is particularly true at 11 and 12, when girls are maturing physically more quickly than the boys, and, in any case, there is a weight limit of 60 kgs.'... [more]
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GME EPIRB key element in dramatic Sydney rescue + Video
Matthew Heap,
The 41' steel hulled MV Intrepid was fishing approximately 7.5kms from Sydney's famous North Head when the skipper noticed smoke billowing from the vessel's engine compartment. Realising the boat was now listing severely and they were in serious trouble, the decision was made to active their GME MT400 Emergency Beacon and abandon ship,.... [more]
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Sailing World Champions book tickets to London Olympics 2012
Mike Tancred,
In a year of sporting ups and downs, it was Australia's sailors that provided a shining light at the end of 2011, taking an impressive three gold medals at the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. The newly crowned World Champions are some of the athletes selected today by the Australian Olympic Committee to compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games.... [more]
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America's Cup: Emirates Team NZ has a partial victory on Voting Rights
Richard Gladwell,
Emirates Team NZ's question put to the International Jury has been answered with a favourable response. Before Christmas, CEO Grant Dalton traversed his thoughts on the situation where so-called 'second tier' teams, who really would be competing only in the America's Cup World Series in AC45's, were allowed to have a vote on the America's Cup Regatta itself - even though they weren't entered.... [more]
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Camper poised to pounce in the Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Ocean Race,
In the Volvo Ocean Race, the Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand crew will enter this weekend's Etihad Airways In-Port Race and Leg 3 start only eight points off the overall lead. The team will be poised to pounce and snap up any opportunity to close the gap on the race leaders Team Telefonica, skippered by Spanish double Olympic medallist, Iker Martinez.... [more]
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Australian whale defenders boarded Japanese Whaler in Australian water
Jeff Hansen - Sea Shepherd,
'It appears that the Japanese have clearly abducted three Australian citizens from the territorial waters of Australia inside the twenty-four nautical mile contiguous zone. These men were removed from Australian waters against their will without Australian Customs and Immigration clearance and they do not have passports,' said Captain Paul Watson.... [more]
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Volvo Ocean Race: Nicho on the lessons thus far for Camper
Chris Nicholson,
Camper skipper, Chris Nicholson reviews what has been learned so far in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, and what needs to be done to close the gap on race leader, Telefonica, but also keep their margin on the rest of the fleet. He explains why 'moding' is so important, and how the crews suggest and test potential changes before trying these in the race itself. Clearly the old days of 'try it and see... [more]
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2012 Australian Moth Championships day 2 images
Alexandra McKinnon images,
2012 Australian Moth Championships from photographer Alexandra McKinnon.... [more]
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London 2012 Olympic Games – New members announced for Team GB
Lindsey Bell,
London 2012 Olympic Games – Two of the rising young stars in British sailing are the newest members of Team GB, it was announced today by the British Olympic Association (BOA). Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell, who compete in the Men's 470 Class, have been nominated to Team GB by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing.... [more]
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Global Ocean Race Leg 2 in review
Oliver Dewar,
Descending through the Roaring Forties to the western Indian Ocean Ice Limit at 42S, the fleet remained compact with leadership changing frequently.... [more]
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Maritime NZ - Rena Disaster - 8 January: Ship breaks up in storm
Maritime NZ,
Maritime NZ, have advised that the container ship Rena, which has been the subject of a major salvage operation off the Tauranga coast has broken up on the most severe storm to hit the area since her grounding three months ago on the Astrolabe Reef. Read on for the latest updates and images. Updated with latest video... [more]
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Strong winds and rain for Tall Ships Regatta at the Bay of Islands
Stephen Western,
On the 7th January the Tall Ships regatta was held in what may be the wettest occasion on record. Only ten Tall Ships (category) Yachts finished and fifteen Classic yachts finished. The forecast was for 45 knot winds, which dampened down the usual enthusiasm some what.... [more]
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International OK Dinghy Australian Championship - Hughes dominates
Mark Roberts,
Having sailed the past two days in big southerly breezes of 20-25 kts and waves to match, day three of the championship showed little promise of producing any breeze whatsoever.... [more]
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A-Cats and multihull development
A-Cat Nationals media,
‘The A Class is great for really honing your skills for sailing on the bigger multihulls. Everything happens at double speed on the A Class compared to what happens on an bigger boat, so learning the do's and don'ts and what you can get away with and what you can't is absolutely applicable to boats like the extreme 40's, AC45's and bigger multihulls going forward into the America's Cup.... [more]
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