Weekly round-up

22-30 June was a lively week in the world of yachting from Auckland, to Hawaii and the Swedish Archipelago

Above: Team Tonic at the start of the Round Ireland Race

As the season hots up it has been a busy week in the world of yachting.

In Auckland, America's Cup wranglings took another devious turn with the attempt by Larry Ellison's Oracle campaign to get Prada thrown out of the Cup.

Kit Hobday and Tim Louis' Bear of Britain narrowly lost the Round the Island race's coveted overall IRC handicap trophy, the Gold Roman Bowl to 11th hour winner - Jeremy Rogers on his Contessa 26. We spoke to monohull elapsed time winner Alex Cooper. Two of Laser's brand new production SB3s also took part - the smallest boats to do so - as did the 1720s.

madfor sailing editor James Boyd was still recovering from his trip round the Island on elasped time winner Maiden II and described what sailing a modern 110ft catamaran is like. He spoke to crewwoman Sam Davies (left) about how Tracy Edwards' campaign is going and what it's like sailing at 40+ knots. Later in the week Maiden II's 24 hour record was ratified at a figure lower than previously thought.

The finish of the Giraglia Rolex Cup's offshore race went to wire. While covering this glamorous Mediterranean regatta we had a look round the brand new Judel/Vrojilk maxi Sotto Voce. We also caught up with Roland Jourdain, the amiable skipper of the Open 60 Sill Plein Fruit and the hottest prospect on the Open 60 circuit at present who will give Ellen a run for her money in November's Route du Rhum.

Over in Hawaii the conclusion of the 49er Worlds saw Team GBR secure silver and bronze positions.

The weekend also saw Nick Hewson's Farr 52 Team Tonic speed into first place in the Round Ireland Race. On Monday Tonic was still maintaining her lead. Meanwhile on the opposite side of the British Isles, madforsailing spoke to Ross Hobson, skipper of the 40ft trimaran Mollymawk, the new leader in the two handed Round Britain and Ireland race who finished in Lowestoft with a boat two foot shorter than when it left...

One of the most picturesque events of the week was the Archipelago Raid, where some of the world's top crews, including several Volvo Ocean Race crews, raced and orienteered a group fo F18 cats around the gorgeous archipelago between Sweden and Finland. On Monday two ex-Volvo crewmen were leading, This continued on the Tuesday by which time the pace and gruelling nature of the race was taking its toll on the crews. Highlight was the photo French snapper Thierry Martinez took of Neal and Lisa McDonald caught mid-pitchpole. During the previous Saturday's Round Texel Race Mitch Booth had been injured in a nasty pitchpole, that was also captured on camera.

Our round-up of the weekend's UK dinghy open meets included the Dart 18 singlehanded races at Pentewan Sands Sailing Club, the Crewsaver Laser 4000 Race Report; Felixstowe Ferry SC, the Crewsaver Laser 5000 UK Series, Felixstowe Ferry SC, Gerber Vortex Grand Prix - South Eastern Championship, Queen Mary Sailing Club, the RS Classes at Lee on Solent SC, Gul Grand Slam at Stokes Bay - general report, RS200s, RS300s, 600s and 700s, the Int 14s Ranelagh Trophy at Beer SC, the Dart 16 Nationals and the RWO 2002 Byte Nationals, Stone Sailing Club

On Wednesday we published part one of our interview with Bruce Farr, OBE (right) in which the great yacht designer looked at the options available to Volvo for the new boat for their next Ocean Race. In part two Bruce Farr gave us his views on the use of one designs and cleared up some of the myths about Open 60s being 'cheap'. Finally on Friday other designers including Jim Pugh, Mani Frers, Marc Lombard and Merfyn Owen gave madforsailing their ideas on the new boat for the Volvo - including some interesting designs for monohull Jules Verne attempts.

Patrick de Radigues, the man who ended up on the beach in the last Vendee, announced a new high street brand name sponsor for his latest Open 60 campaign - starting with Around Alone and culminating with the next Vendee Globe.

A great race, but a disappointing result, was how Pete Selby, navigator on Nick Newson's Farr 52 Team Tonic, described their part in the Round Ireland Race. The event had an unexpected winner on corrected time, beating the much rated Imp.

On Thursday we were expecting the two handed Round Britain Race to conclude that evening. In fact it was early Friday morning when Mollymawk crossed the Plymouth finish to take her second consecutive win in that event. James Boyd spoke to winning skipper Ross Hobson.

Day one of the Olympic classes racing at Kieler Woche saw flukey conditions and a mixed bag of results reported our man on the ground there, Nigel Cherrie.

The penultimate day of the Archipelago Raid felt like a war of attrition for the crews taking part. Finally the event was won by former ASSA ABLOY crewman Klabbe Nylof and SEB's Magnus Woxen (left).

A star line-up is expected this week at the Swedish Match Tour finale in Marstrand, including another showdown between Dean Barker and his mentory Russell Coutts. On the subject of the America's Cup OneWorld navigator and former madforsailing editor Mark Chisnell gave us his crewman's perspective on the latest from Craig McCaw's campaign. Over in Long Beach, CA the likes of Dennis Conner and Paul Cayard were lining up to take part in North Sails Race Week, only to have their butts kicked on the first day.

Almighty winds hampered racing on the opening day of Kiel Week. This got worse the following day, although it was still looking good for Britain's Paul Goodison in the Laser.

Rob Greenhalgh and his Panther team showed the fleet the way round the course in the non-scoring 'prologue' race of the Tour Voile, only to put in a disappointing result on the first proper day of racing. John Greenland looked at the three British boats taking part and we published a complete list of entries.

If you're looking for some technical advice to mull over, Andy Rice have us his opinion on when one should gybe-set. At the end of next week the 60ft trimarans will reconvene in Beligum for the forthcoming Zeebrugge ORMA grand prix. This will feature two new 60ft trimarans - Michel Desjoyeaux's Geant and the new Gitana X skippered by Lionel Lemonchois.

Finally there was some lively feedback from you this weekend in reaction to Bruce Farr's ideas about a new Volvo boat, the Round Britain Race, the Commodore's Cup and Mitch Booth's pitchpole.

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See page two for our selection of top photos from the week