Weekly Roundup

It's been an action packed week around the sailing world...

Considering the sailing season is only now kicking into full swing in the northern hemisphere it's been a jammed pack week here on madforsailing.

Bruno Peyron's maxi-cat Orange has been chewing through the miles. This time last week she was zipping under the southwestern tip of Australia, now she is almost at Cape Horn.

Monday



Last Monday Orange was 30 days into her record attempt and was due to pass the longitude of Cape Leeuwin (SW tip of Australia) through the night.

Following the Volvo Ocean Race race committee losing their protest against SEB, we looked at the implications of being able to hit another boat and get away it.

During the final day of racing in the Red Funnel Easter Regatta there was some particularly close racing, however it wasn't without incident. In your feedback, readers gave their views about the illbruck- SEB collision and Orange's distance measuring.


Tuesday



Grant Dalton is apparently not a happy man. He told James Boyd why, clearing up some rumours about Amer Sports Too in the process.

In Weymouth, the Volvo RYA Youth Nationals got underway today with a record entry.

Both the International Rolex Regatta and the China Sea Race reached their conclusion, we had the reports.


Wednesday

On Tuesday Mike Slade's maxi-yacht Leopard lost her rudder and was taking on water 600 miles SW of Land's End. We broke the story and at the same time gave you news of Zephyrus V , the first of the new generation maxZ86 super sleds.

Further south, details of Orange's delamination problems started to emerge. Following part one of his interview on Tuesday, Grant Dalton today gave madforsailing his views on the future of the Volvo Ocean Race and reveals what his personal plans are. There are 19 confirmed entries for Around Alone, James Boyd assessed their form.

Day one of the Volvo RYA Youth Championships produced great racing and the usual crop of winners and losers.


Thursday

STOP PRESS: For the second time in the week we were first off the starting blocks. This time it was Ross Field stepping off News Corp

Following in the footsteps of Ms MacArthur is no mean feat, yet this is what Conrad Humphreys intends. James Boyd spoke to BT Global Challenge winning skipper about the Vendee Globe 2004 and his new boat.

Orange was going at blistering pace to the south of Tasmania, a great relief to the crew after their ordeal to date. Peter Bentley was in Palma for the Team GBR training and produced a superb gallery of action photos. Racing was cancelled at the Volvo RYA Youth Championships yesterday.

New to the Swedish Match Tour is a UBS-sponsored pro-am event to be held this summer in Newport, RI. If you missed Wednesday's report on Zephyrus V, first of the new generation maxZ86 super sleds, on Thursday we added a superb collection of photos.


Friday



STOP PRESS: We told you it was a busy week. On Friday we broke the news that Gartmore had dismasted, and Leopard was abandoned.

Following the recent drowning of Tornado sailor Johannes Haeupl madforsailing opened the debate over what can be done to make dinghy sailing safer. Safety boat regulations and compulsory carrying of knifes? What's your view?

There are three new faces taking part in the Open 60 circuit this year. James Boyd brought us up to date, adding in the latest on Kingfisher.

Racing was chaotic in fickle winds on Thursday at the Volvo RYA Youth Championships - see our report and photos.


Saturday

The weather sorted itself out at the Volvo RYA Youth Nationals, where Pippa Wilson and Jenny Marks (left) annihilated the male competition in the 29er fleet. See here for our report, results and photo gallery. Following this the 96 members of the Youth Squad were announced.

38.6 knots. 45mph. In built up areas you would be booked for speeding going this fast. At sea many powerboats can't achieve this speed. But the maxi catamaran Orange was as she ate up the miles between New Zealand and the Horn.


Sunday



Bruno Peyron's maxi-cat Orange continued to churn through the miles, clocking up close to 1000nm in just 48 hours. The team are now facing several tricky weather systems en route to Cape Horn, their next target on their Jules Verne Trophy attempt.

James Boyd took a look at the Official America's Cup Jubilee Regatta book. Click here to read his views of the only official book commissioned by the organisers.