All the weeks News, Features and Results

Missed a story or only just been able to log-on, then here are all the links

As the week started the Volvo fleet piled into the Bass Strait at Southern Ocean speeds, illbruck has swept into the lead, following the wipe out of Gunnar Krantz's SEB.

We had some great responses to Bentley's Block Review and some high-profile comment on the 'my-boat's-faster-than-yours-under-IRC' debate. For the second year running the Yanks put their 'T-foil' technology to devastating effect by winning the International 14 World Championships in Bermuda. We have the results and the action photos.

Flying Fifteen World Champion Charles Apthorp says adopting carbon technology for the venerable keelboat would be wrong, but wasn't it the Fifteen's designer, Uffa Fox, who said the only good place for weight was in a steamroller?

In Sydney the RYA took home the Hardy Cup, the JPMorgan finished, while over in New Zealand GBR Challenge get a visit from Ol' Two Jags.

On Monday we had the latest from Ed Gorman on Paul Cayard, the 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup runner-up and 1997-98 Whitbread Race winning skipper. It was inevitable rumours of his involvement with a Volvo Ocean Race syndicate would start up. Read Ed Gorman's exclusive interview.

There was a sense of deja vu in Darling Harbour, Sydney, as John Kostecki's illbruck Challenge again assumed the top spot just a stones throw from the Opera House finish line.

The Royal Southampton YC completed the final day of racing in their Winter Series. Meanwhile the sailing season in the Southern Hemisphere was only just starting. Team Sunday Telegraph lead the New South Wales 18-foot Skiff Championship after heat one in the battle to win selection for the JJ Giltinan Trophy International to be held in January. Alexandre and Eduardo Paradeda of Brazil are the new Snipe World Champions, finishing clear ahead of the battle for second place.

Daniels and Mellor were square after week one of the Warsash Finn Winter Series. Corrections to race one results of the Hamble Winter Series IRM division gave Too Steamy the overall title.

Tuesday John Kostecki's illbruck romped through Sydney Harbour first home in the Volvo Ocean Race's second leg. They crossed the finish line off the Opera House at 0022 GMT this morning. After 6,550 miles of racing, the first five boats finished within six hours. On their arrival Grant Dalton was whisked off to hospital with at least one broken rib.

And for some amazing action shots, see our gallery of photos from the finish including some of Amer Sport One broaching...

Andy Beadsworth described a day in the life at the GBR Challenge camp in Auckland and how it works for those in the family way. And the RORC report that there have been a record number of IRC certificates awarded this year.

Wednesday In the Volvo finish so close were the six Volvo Ocean 60s as they approached the Sydney Harbour Heads that the crews were forced to keep pushing to, and sometimes beyond, both human and equipment limits.

Thursday was when the yaching world was stunned by the news that New Zealand yachting legend, Sir Peter Blake has been murdered by armed attackers while acting as a United Nations Environment Programme Ambassador in Brazil. Blake's yacht, Seamaster was attacked at 10.15 PM local time Wednesday night and he is reported to have died instantly. It appears the Blake died trying to defend his crew against the attackers.

Reports on Friday indicated that arrests had been made in the case.

Ed Gorman talked with Jo Richards, a successful sailor and designer, and more importantly one of the four key members of the GBR Challenge Design Team. Rumours were the new GBR Challenge America's Cup boat came from Richard's initial designs. Judge for yourself - is there a hidden speed machine under construction in the team's boat shed?