The final day of Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship will get underway at 11.00am off Shark Island and it is looking like a picture-perfect day.

The sun is out and Principal Race Officer, Denis Thompson has plans. “We’ll probably set a big windward/leeward course for the first race, to start off Shark Island and head offshore,” he said. “We’ll finish the race offshore and then crack into a short race – probably a windward/leeward,” he said.”

Courses will be put in place to suit what Thompson said would start as a north-north-easterly wind, moving further east as the day progresses. “I wouldn’t expect more than 10-15 knots,” Thompson said.

Early this morning, the sun was out with the promise of some serious warmth – a perfect spring day.

Apart from the inaugural Beneteau First 40 Championship being decided by this afternoon, this is the last chance competitors will have to vie for the trophies and gift vouchers from Helly Hansen, a leading water sports and technical apparel supplier, and Sydney City Marine at Rozelle, one of the most accessible places to take large and small power and sailing boats for repairs, refits and antifouling.

One lucky winner, drawn from the top three in each division, will also going into the draw to win a stylish fine time piece from Bausele.

All information on the Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship, including Sailing Instructions: www.ssorc.mhyc.com.au

During the night from thursday to friday Armel Le Cléac’h overtook his compatriot Francois Gabart’s first place in the Vendée Globe while the britisch Samantha Davies’ yacht was dismasted  Thursday night north of Madeira.

Armel Le Cléac’h is the new leader of the Vendée Globe. By dawn 05:00 CET Friday, Banque Populaire was ahead  7.5 miles of François Gabart (Macif)  and  about 9.5 miles of the Swiss Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat). Gabart, leading the race around the world solo and non-stop since the day of departure Saturday, was caughtup by Le Cléac’h favored by a better positioning in the west. Comming in between Le Cléac’h and Gabart, Stamm should also pass by midday.

The only woman involved in the Vendée Globe, “Sam” Davies is not injured and does not require assistance, her team announced Thursday shortly after midnight. When her ship was dismasted, the 38 year old British Savéol was about 130 miles (200 km) north-west of Madeira. “At dawn, Sam will carry out a check of the boat before starting the engine to route to Madeira,” reported her team Friday morning.

Ranking at 05:00 (French time) ::

1. Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA / Banque Populaire) at 22466.1 miles from the finish

2. François Gabart (FRA / Macif) 7.5 miles from the leader

3. Bernard Stamm (SUI / Cheminées Poujoulat) to 9.5

4. Alex Thomson (GBR / Hugo Boss) to 73.5

5. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA / Virbac-Paprec 3) to 87.7

6. Vincent Riou (FRA / PRB) to 96.9

7. Jérémie Beyou (FRA / Master CoQ) to 102

8. Mike Golding (GBR / Gamesa) 134.7

9. Jean Le Cam (FRA / SynerCiel) 151.3

10. Dominique Wavre (SUI / Mirabaud) to 174

source: http://www.eurosport.fr/voile/vendee-globe/2012-2013/vendee-globe-2012-armel-le-cleac-h-(banque-populaire)-nouveau-leader_sto3493897/story.shtml

The French François Gabart was still in the lead thursday evening of the Vendée Globe but only for 2 small miles, his fellow countryman Armel Le Cléac’h has been catching up like a rocket and the Swiss Bernard Stamm, 3rd, isn’t also very far anymore (8,2 miles).

Held back by a softening breeze, Gabart – who has been leading the race around the globe on his own non-stop since last saturday – has been caught up south-west of the Canaries des Canaries by the dogging bevy who has been benefiting from more supportive winds. A Classic accordion effect. We will know friday morning if the dream that Gabart (Macif) has been living will find an end or if it has been a matter of only a temporary delay.

By midday Gabart noted that there wouldn’t be any major strategic choices until the Pot-au-Noir, with a relative simple trajectory.

“We will have to count the points at Cap Vert in two days”, confirmed Vincent Riou (PRB) for his part, estimating that his delay towards the head of the race ( 86 miles thursday evening) “wasn’t dramatic”.

The day had also been marked by the damage on the boat of the Spanish Javier Sanso (Acciona), who has gone off course towards Madeira “due to a technical problem (…) to get shelter and repairs”.

According to “Bubi” Sanso, “the damages aren’t that bad and the situation is under control.

Ranking at 20h00 (French time):

1. François Gabart (FRA / Macif) to 22544.7 miles from the finish

2. Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA / Banque Populaire) at 2 miles from lead

3. Bernard Stamm (SUI / Cheminées Poujoulat) 8.2

4. Alex Thomson (GBR / Hugo Boss) 85.9

5. Vincent Riou (FRA / PRB) to 86

6. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA / Virbac-Paprec 3) to 91.6

7. Jérémie Beyou (FRA / Master CoQ) 108.3

8. Mike Golding (GBR / Gamesa) 142.4

9. Jean Le Cam (FRA / SynerCiel) 147.2

10. Dominique Wavre (SUI / Mirabaud) to 222.3

source:

http://www.eurosport.fr/voile/gabart-toujours-en-tete.-pour-2-petits-milles_sto3493671/story.shtml

The the French François Gabart (Macif) is still in the lead wednessday morning of the Vendée Globe 2012-2013, followed by the Swiss Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) and another French Français, Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire).

This morning by 05h00, Gabart was ahead for about 60 miles (± 100 km) of Stamm and Le Cléac’h. the 3 leading sailors prgressed at more than 10 knots in weakening western winds north of Madeira.

Eighteen IMOCA monohulls of 60 feet (18.28 m) remained in the race Wednesday after the dropouts of Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) Monday and Marc Guillemot (Safran) on Sunday.

The yacht of the French Louis Burton (Bureau Valley) was hit by a trawler in the Tuesday night wednesday announced his team said the skipper unharmed.

Burton, the youngest of the fleet, will decide around 10h00 French time (9:00 GMT) on whether to continue the race after assessing his damages.

The collision took place off the coast of Lisbon, this information was verified by the same source. It is the second collision during this race after the one which forced the French Kito de Pavant to abandon.

Ranking at 05:00 (French time):

1. François Gabart (FRA / Macif) to 23045.5 miles from the finish

2. Bernard Stamm (SUI / Cheminées Poujoulat) in the first 60 miles

3. Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA / Banque Populaire) to 63.3

4. Jean Le Cam (FRA / Synerciel) to 64

5. Mike Golding (GBR / Gamesa) to 73.6

6. Arnaud Boissières (FRA / Akena Verandas) to 97.7

7. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA / Virbac-Paprec 3) 118.5

8. Jérémie Beyou (FRA / Master CoQ) 122.6

9. Alex Thomson (GBR / Hugo Boss) 125

10. Vincent Riou (FRA / PRB) 126.4

source: http://www.eurosport.fr/voile/gabart-toujours-en-tete-suivi-de-stamm-et-le-cleac-h_sto3491498/story.shtml

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