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All sailing news will be posted here before being posted on the links on the right on Tuesdays.

July 13 - Thirty young men and women have been chosen from among 538 applicants for Roy Disney's Morning Light film project, including Australian Jeremy Wilmot. They will participate in Selection Trials in August before the final team of 15 will be announced. After four months training on the Transpac 52 Morning Light in Hawaii they will race from Los Angeles to Hawaii in the 44th Transpacific Yacht Race starting July 15, 2007. Media release at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0713d.htm

July 13 - Ellen MacArthur and crew will start the 100th Cowes–St. Malo race today on the world record-breaking 75ft trimaran B&Q. This will be the last competitive race for MacArthur on this boat. Her next project is a new two-boat Open 60 team to compete in the IMOCA World Championship circuit 2007-09. http://www.teamellen.com

July 13 - AREVA Challenge, the French Team for the 32^nd America’s Cup, has received the number FRA93 for it's new boat which is expected to arrive in Valencia at the end of October. Their old boat, FRA60, was the winner of the 2000 America’s Cup with Team New Zealand. http://www.areva-challenge.com

July 13 - Laser Europeans, Poland. Paul Goodison GBR wins the event. Aussie placings - 15. Michael Backburn, 20. Tom Slingsby, 22. Brendan Casey. http://www.eurolaser2006.pl/

July 13 - Locman Cup – Elba Island, Stage 8 of the 2005-’06 World Tour, Porto Azzurro, Elba Island, Italy. With five flights remaining to sail, Ian Williams GBR, Peter Gilmour AUS, Cameron Dunn NZL and Staffan Lindberg FIN remained atop the leaderboard. Media release by Sean McNeill at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0710c.htm

July 13 - Entries close for the Sydney Mooloolaba and Sydney Mackay yacht races at 5.00pm this Friday, 14 July 2006. Grant Wharington’s 30m Skandia is amongst the latest to enter the 903 mile race to Mackay via Mooloolaba. Media release by Lisa Ratcliff at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0713c.htm

July 13 - Treleaven's Travels - Ian and Andrea Treleaven watch the World Cup semifinal in Sicily then sail their 47ft Beneteau yacht to Tunisa. Diesel in Tunisia is .73 Australian cents a litre, although this is high compared to the .45 cents they paid two years ago. More at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0713b.htm

July 13 - 2006 Finn Gold Cup - A second victory places Athens Silver medallist, Rafael Trujillo from Spain on the top of the rankings. Anthony Nossiter AUS 14th, Ricky Ironmoger is placed 9th in the juniors. Media release by Corrine MacKenzie at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0711d.htm

July 13 - Yachting Australia (YA) and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), today signed an in principle agreement regarding the delivery of training in Australia. The agreement will see the two organisations cooperating to offer qualifications in Australia endorsed by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency at Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster levels. Media release at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0713a.htm

July 13 - The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) will work in partnership with Yachting Australia to deliver its internationally acclaimed sail and motor boat training courses in Australia. RYA Training’s Penny Haire said the RYA was initially approached by several Australian sailing schools to offer RYA courses in Australia but it was important for the UK-based company to work alongside other relevant boating organisations, especially Yachting Australia. Media release by Susan Boyd at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0713.htm

July 12 - Australian Yachting Awards - Presented with their awards by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, in her capacity as Patron of the Gipsy Moth Global Project and Patron of the UKSA, the winners were as follows: Male Sailor of the Year: James Spithill (NSW), Female Sailor of the Year: Allison Shreeve (NSW), Youth Sailor of the Year: Kyle Langford and Evan Walker (NSW), Sailor of the Year with a Disability: Paul Borg (VIC) and Don Scott (NSW), Services to Yachting: Lou Abrahams (VIC), Bill Joselin (NSW) and John Kirkjian (NSW), Media: Graeme Adam (NSW). Media release at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0712.htm

July 11 - The Inner Circle Polar Challenge was run in a lovely little sou' westerly. The concept – hit a given longtitude at any point, then turn and bolt for home. Adjusting for the current and how the breeze may shift is the trick to a good race. The Short Handed Sailing Association of Australia was pleased to have 14 starters this year, and the competition was as fierce as ever!  Media release at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0711a.htm
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July 11 - James Francis has skated, windsurfed and walked 550 kilometres from Adelaide to Coober Pedy. 'It was really weird sailing down the highway doing about 30kmh at night,' said James. 'I gybed into the main street of Coober Pedy and then did another gybe into the servo.' http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0704a.htm

July 11 - Five Queensland teams will represent Australia in the upcoming F18 Catamaran World Titles in Hyeres, France on July 9 - 16. Media release by James Kyle at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0711.htm

July 11 - Margaret Williams has been anchored in the Whitsunday Islands repairing her rigging which is threatening her attempt to became the first woman to sail around Australia solo, nonstop and unassisted. She plans to continue sailing today. The sidestays have been reinforced to the best of her ability, and she will keep an eye on them sailing up the coast. Follow her voyage on her website at http://www.solosailoz.com.au/

July 10 - Tour de France a la Voile - Paul McKenzie and his team Perpignan-Mediterranee are third in Class 2. Event website: http://www.tourvoile.fr

July 10 - The Outright Transatlantic West to East World Record set by the 120ft catamaran Orange II with Bruno Peyron and eleven crew has been ratified by the WSSC as 4 days 8 hours 23 minutes 54 seconds with an average speed of 28 knots.

July 10 - Gipsy Moth IV sailed through The Sydney Heads at 1400hrs on Sunday July 9 amongst a flotilla of yachts under glorious sunshine. Onboard was skipper Richard Baggett, Mate Simon Hay, Project Founder Paul Gelder of Yachting Monthly, James Blake, son of Sir Peter Blake and Elaine Caldwell voyage participant. Media release at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0710b.htm

July 10 - Sydney International Regatta has been granted Grade 1 status by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Media release by Robyn Valentine at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0710.htm

July 10 - Queensland Government South Pacific Boomerang -  The Volvo 60 Andrew Short Marine-Club Marine has finished the 1850 nautical mile Melbourne to Vanuatu race, winning line honours, her division and setting a race record of seven days seventeen hours and six minutes. Media release by Event Media at  http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0707.htm

July 9 - BMW Sydney Winter Series - The 2006 BMW Sydney Winter Series pointscore sailed slowly - very slowly, in fact - to an end today on the Harbour as fickle winter winds went up and down in strength, here and there and everywhere in direction. Media release by Peter Campbell at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0707b.htm

July 8 - Yngling World Championship, La Rochelle, France. Monica Azon, Sandra Azon and Graciela Pisonero ESP win the women's event. Nicky Bethwaite, Karin Gojnich and Helen Impey AUS placed 15th. http://www.srr-sailing.com/

July 7 - Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), UK, July 12 - 21. Racing starts July 14. A team from Australia will be competing. http://www.youthworlds.org/

July 7 - Sarah Blanck returns from international competition to be named Yachting Victoria’s 2006 Female Sailor of the Year. The night also honoured Sandringham Yacht Club’s Lou Abrahams. Media release by Tanya Outen at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0707a.htm

July 7 - Queensland Government South Pacific Boomerang - Race leader Andrew Short Marine-Club Marine has reached the half way point in the Melbourne to Vanuatu race. Behind her, the fleet was blasted by a strong southerly squall. Don Fraser’s and Bruce McKechnie’s Beneteau 47.7 Elektra suffered a broken gooseneck and Phil Coombs’ Dekadence suffered main sail and carr damage, adding to the problems they were already experiencing with the auto helm. Both boat have retired from racing and are heading to Sydney. http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0707.htm

July 6 - James Francis and Lachie Paramor left Adelaide on July 2 on two gigantic skateboards with windsurfer rigs. They are sailing up the Stuart highway to Darwin but for the first three days there was little or no wind and they skated for most of the time. By Thursday they had travelled only 180km but according to Jamie most of the hills are behind them. Photos at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0704a.htm

July 6 - Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race - The fleet have started the Transatlantic race from New York to Jersey. http://www.clipper-ventures.com/2006/

July 6 - Bruno Peyron and his eleven crew aboard Orange II set a new Transatlantic record from New York to The Lizard of 4 days, 8 hours, 23 minutes and 54 seconds at an average speed above 27 knots via the theoretical route. The maxi catamaran has smashed the 24-hour record twice in this journey, reaching an average speed of almost 32 knots and clocking 766 miles in one day. Damage to the rudder delayed their finish by an estimated 6-8 hours.  Media release at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0706a.htm

July 5 - Treleaven's Travels - Andrea and Ian Treleaven were in Italy for the Australia verses Italy football match and will continue to follow it as it's entertaining just being in the town squares with the locals. They sailed from Amalfi to the Aeolian Islands. Sardinia is now charging cruising yachts a visiting permit fee. Full report at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0705e.htm

July 5 - Singapore Airlines have substantially lowered their ticket prices to fly to Australia and also offer 50kg free excess baggage for competitors in Sail Melbourne 2007 events. Media release at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0705g.htm

July 5 - Yachting New South Wales announces the appointment of Andrew Cribb as their new Development Officer. Media release by Robyn Valentine at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0705f.htm

July 5 - Queensland yachtsman Matthew Percy will have just two weeks to learn the ropes on his new Beneteau 44.7 Alacrity before he lines up for the start of the Sydney Mackay Yacht Race on Saturday 29 July. Media release by Lisa Ratcliff at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0705d.htm

July 5 - Nominations are invited for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2006 - the pinnacle award of recognition in the sport of sailing. Anyone can nominate a sailor and all nominations must be submitted on the official nomination form. For link to form and list of winners see http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0705c.htm

July 5 - The America's Cup racing season closes in Valencia with Emirates Team New Zealand on top of the leaderboard. Media release with an update on each team at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0705b.htm

July 5 - The Intermediate Youth Team from The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club sealed a hat trick of regatta wins by securing victory at the 3rd Inter Club Challenge held at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron last Sunday. Media release by Rodney Skinner at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0705a.htm

July 5 - Two SECUMAR Survival 150N life jackets with harnesses were presented to the winners of the inaugural SECUMAR Sydney to Botany Bay race - Peter McCorquodale and Rob Evans. Media release at http://www.boatingoz.com.au/news06/0705.htm

July 4 - Tour de France a la Voile - Paul McKenzie and his team Perpignan-Mediterranee are leading Class 2. They have placed 10th and 6th in the first 2 races and have finished second in the first stage between Dunkerque and Dieppe. Other Australians onboard include his brother Tony McKenzie and Michael Dunstan. From Corrine McKenzie. Event website: http://www.tourvoile.fr
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