The week that was...

A review of the last seven days on madforsailing.com

Today is your last chance to take advantage of the cut down subscription price of £14.99, click here to subscribe now. If you delay you face an increased cost of £25.99 tomorrow - it's still good value - but you might as well subscribe to your daily dose of original sailing commentary while it's still on offer.
The UK sailing season is just waking up, with the first day of racing in the Warsash Spring Series and the now established Hamble Warming Pan taking centre stage on the Solent last weekend. However, the world of sailing never stops, and again it was an action packed week with records being broken, news of Skandia's sponsorship of Cowes Week, and our first look at the high-octane sport of Ice Yachting.

Sunday


This time last week the American filanthropist Steve Fossett and his maxi-cat Playstation were racing east along the south west coast of England toward Plymouth, UK, on their attempt at breaking the course record for the Fastnet Race.

In the Volvo Ocean Race, the leaders entered the Doldrums. The battle at the front of the fleet was only just beginning and the prospect of shifty unpredictable winds was looming on the minds of the leading trio, illbruck, Tyco, and ASSA ABLOY. Meanwhile Orange was still in the clutches of the South Atlantic high giving the crew an opportunity to prepare the boat for the Southern Ocean.

The Solent was brought alive with all forms of dinghies darting around the mouth of Southampton Water in the Hamble Warming Pan, and out in the Solent there were tens of yachts competing in the opening day of racing in this year's Warsash Spring Series.
Monday
Despite taking five hours off the record for the Fastnet Race course, this time was well below PlayStation 's potential. madforsailing spoke to boat captain David Scully about her recent refit and her program for this year, including...a possible 24 hour record attempt by Steve Fossett, sailing this 125ft cat singlehanded.

In the Volvo Ocean Race the three front runners were already pulling out from the Doldrums but still neck and neck, while behind Lisa McDonald's Amer Sports Too lurched into fifth place ahead of Grant Dalton's Amer Sports One boy's boat. John Greenland spoke to Amer Sports One star crewmen Chris Nicholson and Freddie Loof about their voyage from the Olympics to the Volvo Ocean Race.

Orange on Sunday was forced to beat to cross a freak high pressure system en route to the Southern Ocean. Geronimo, the maxi-trimaran, limped into Brest at 25 knots.

Tuesday


Whizz! 110ft cats may be quick, but not half as fast as a 12ft ice yacht. Graham Nelson got hooked on 'hard water' sailing at the DN Ice Yachting World Championships.

In the Volvo Ocean Race the leaders continued to extend their lead over fourth placed SEB. Not matter how hard the ASSA ABLOY and Tyco teams pushed they just couldn't stop illbruck from pulling out a small lead. We also had an initial report that Pete Goss' former Aqua Quorum had been found off Brazil.

Orange arrived in the harsh environment of the Southern Ocean and soon started to pull out big 24 hour runs. Meanwhile in Brest strong winds continued to hamper Geronimo's attempt at getting into the dock to begin repairs on her rudder. The question, would Will de Kersauson set off again this season?

Over 60 boats have entered this year's installment of the Tour Voile. Two British boats are set to enter this year's Tour Voile.

Page two for Wednesday - Saturday...