London Will Host 2012 Olympics, Weymouth To Be Sailing Venue SINGAPORE (July 6, 2005) — Today at 1949 local time in Singapore, the IOC announced that London has been voted as the city to host the 2012 Olympic Games, with the sailing site to be at Weymouth. In Singapore and present when the IOC decision was announced, the ISAF President Goran Petersson commented, ‘Weymouth will host an excellent sailing venue. Weymouth is renowned for its sailing, both the organization and the conditions. Numerous international events have been held there and ISAF has excellent relationships both with the London 2012 Organizing Committee and the national authority, the Royal Yachting Association. We are very happy with the IOC choice of venue and look forward to the next seven years of collaboration.’ The ISAF President went onto say, ‘ISAF visited the sailing venues for all five candidate cities and they were all able to provide outstanding venues, conditions and co-operation for the sport.’ Great Britain will host the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition at the new Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA). HRH The Princess Royal, IOC Member and President of the Royal Yachting Association, officially opened the £7.85 million purpose built Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Thursday 9 June. www.sailing.org Joyon Breaks Transatlantic Record (July 6, 2005) — Francis Joyon onboard the trimaran IDEC has smashed the eleven year old single-handed transatlantic record by almost a day, subject to ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC). The Frenchman crossed the finish line at the Lizard, Great Britain at 12:44:03 UTC to record a time of 6 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 37 seconds at an average speed of 19.75 knots, bettering the record by 22 hours, 33 minutes and 5 seconds. The record as ratified by the WSSRC was set in June 1994 by Laurent Bourgnon (FRA) on Primagaz and stands at 7 days, 2 hours, 34 minutes and 42 seconds, at an average speed of 17.15 knots for the 2,925nm crossing from Ambrose Light, New York, USA to the Lizard, of the south coast of Great Britain. Joyon left Ambrose Light just over six days ago at 08:42:26 UTC on 30 June. During the trip Joyon also bettered Bourgnon’s 24 hours distance run record by three miles, recording 543nm, subject to ratification by the WSSRC. www.sailing.org New York YC Introduces the NY42 NEW YORK, N.Y. (July 1, 2005) – The NYYC is in final negotiations with Nautor’s Swan and the Frers design office for a new 42-foot one-design class, the NY42. The base price is expected to be under $500,000 with another $100,000 for sails and electronics. The class will be one-design with strict sail limitations to keep the price of racing down. Opti North Americans Trinidad and Tobago (July 4, 2005) — Colin Smith emerged as the champion of the 2005 Opti North Americans. His final standing overall was third, as Alexander Zimmerman of Peru, the 2005 Open Champion, and Alexandre Alencastro of Brazil finished first and second, respectively. Among the girls, finishing 20th overall was Anne Haeger of Illinois, barely ahead of Eliza Richartz of Connecticut, who finished 25th. The 2005 Opti North American Team Racing Championship final results were: 1. Peru 2. Bermuda 3. Mexico 4. Trinidad 5. Argentina 6. Puerto Rico Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race MARBLEHEAD, Mass. (July 5, 2005) — The running of the 2005 Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race (MHOR) begins on a Sunday, July 10th in the early afternoon at Tinkers Gong just outside of Marblehead Harbor. There are currently 137 boats registered for the race. The running of the 2005 MHOR is preceded by a long history. The race began in 1905 as an informal competition among sailors from the Boston, Eastern, and New York Yacht Clubs. The race was run sporadically until 1939, when the Boston Yacht Club (BYC) joined with the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron (RNSYS) to formalize a biennial event. Since that time, the Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race has run regularly on alternate years from the Newport Bermuda Race, as one of the pre-eminent ocean races of the North Atlantic. Swedish Match Cup MARSTRAND, Sweden (July 4, 2005) — The ladies started the Swedish Match Cup on Monday and the racing continues in round-robin format with Marie Bjorling from the hosting club GKSS (The Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club) in first with club-mate Linda Rahm in third. After the morning races the final result was that Marie Bjorling (SWE), Claire Leroy (FRA), Linda Rahm (SWE) and Malin Millbourn (SWE) are now ready as the final four. 1. Marie Bjorling (SWE) 6 – 1 2. Claire Leroy (FRA) 5 – 2 3. Linda Rahm (SWE) 5 – 2 4. Malin Millbourn (SWE) 4 – 3 5. Lotte Meldgaard-Pedersen (DEN) 3 – 4 6. Christelle Philippe (FRA)2 – 5 7. Nina Braestrup (DEN) 2 – 5 8. Sandy Hayes (USA) 1 – 6 http://www.swedishmatchcup.com/ Ericsson Racing Team’s Volvo 70 LYMINGTON, United Kingdom (July 1, 2005) — The Ericsson Racing Team yesterday launched its VO70 yacht at Green Marine. After being towed to Gosport, the yacht will have her keel and rig fitted before the crew takes her out for her first sea trials. Jason Carrington, who has been supervising the construction of the team’s Farr-designed boat said: “This is possibly the best boat I have ever been part of building. The attention to detail in all aspects of the construction is fantastic, and I will be very surprised and unhappy if this is not the lightest boat in the fleet.” Neal McDonald, skipper, said: “It is a great day for the team. We are through the tough construction phase and we are looking forward to getting on the water and trying her out. I congratulate all the boat builders at Green Marine and all suppliers who have done a fantastic job to finish the boat.” 29er Nationals SAN FRANCISCO — The 29er Nationals took place last week in San Francisco Bay. There were 67 boats from around the world. David O’Connor and Scott Babbage, both from Australia, won the top spot by a margin of 14 points over Americans Brooks Reed and Bora Gulari. Six points back in third were fellow Americans Jen Morgan and Anthony Boscolo. Racing in the 29er Worlds begins Tuesday at St. Francis YC. ICSA North Americans to be aired on ESPNU The ICSA/ Gill North American Coed Dinghy Championship will be broadcast on ESPNU July 6 at 9p.m. and July 21 at 5p.m. Airdates for the ICSA/Layline North American Team Race Championship on ESPNU July 6 at 9:30p.m. and July 21 at 5:30p.m. All airdates are eastern times. http://www.jobsonsailing.com/
