Weekly roundup

Catch up on last weeks news and features from the hottest team on the web

While the terrible weather dominated the UK and managed to effect what little sailing action was planned - the Pompey Perisher was postponed once again as gales hit the south coast. The main racing focus was at Key West Race Week and the Melges World Championship.
Leading into the week E-Ticket won the 27th annual Fort Lauderdale-Key West Race, then Key West opened with plenty of sun but not a lot of wind.

This was shattered by mid week when Stephen Murray's Decision, T-boned Tom Hill's Titan XI, approaching the windward mark on the first leg of the second race, but by the end of the week the wind was in short supply again and the final day was cancelled.
For the Melges 24s racing at Key West with a huge fleet of 78 boats it was a great start for Britain's Jamie Lea who led after the first three races, eventually Italian Flavio Favini put his mark on the racing and went on to take the world title.

In New Zealand the Volvo fleet were preparing for the next leg and found time to remember their roots, with a golden tinged fleet racing in Finns.

Ed Gorman was in New Zealand and spoke with Ian Walker on the syndicate's transition between Cowes and Auckland and the logistical problems. Ed also had his Ear to the Ground as he looked at the plans for the new GBR Challenge boat and what's happening in the Viaduct Basin. He was also there for the stage managed meeting of Grant Dalton - the tough charismatic skipper of Amer Sports One - welcoming his old enemy Paul Cayard into the afterguard of his Volvo 60.

James Boyd took an depth look at just where the next Volvo Race is going and what could be done to improve the world's premier round the world grand prix.

Mark Chisnell weighed in with his diary from the One World camp and gave his thoughts on Ben Ainslie's departure.


Leg four of the Volvo Ocean Race kicked off on Sunday, taking the boats back into the depths of the Southern Ocean and some of the world's largest waves - James Boyd looked at their prospects.

After the launch of Bruno Peyron's new 110ft Gilles Ollier-designed catamaran in Marseille, Nick Moloney contributed the first of his diaries from the speeding catamaran as they work-up for their attempt on the premier sailing speed record, the Jules Verne Trophy.

Back in Britain the Royal Yachting Association have revised the format for the 2002 RYA National Match Racing Championships. In addition to the BUSA and Youth Championships, the series will consist of three qualifiers that will each accept a maximum of eighteen entries. While one of the grand old ladies of UK dinghy racing, the Enterprise, celebrates sail number 23,000 this year we take a look the latest happenings in the class.

Andy Rice spoke with Hayling Island SC Commodore, Tim Hancock, to find out just how he manages his business commitments, supervise the building of a brand new, Lottery-funded super-club, coach the Team GBR Tornado Squad as the RYA's official catamaran coach, and find time to sail the 505 and International 14 at World level.
And last but not least Nigel Cherrie talked to Andy Hemmings, the sole Brit on Prada's sailing team, on how he has settled in and where the team is with their training programme.