Activate Your Laser Fleet workshops two and three took place at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th February. Saturday welcomed representatives from Clubs in the East of England; a long haul for many, while Sunday greeted Southern region representatives.

The mornings were spent ashore developing ideas of reinvigorate activity in the number of under used Laser fleets in these two regions. Some of the more creative ideas included a Friday afternoon “skivers club” for those who managed to leave work early or have free time on Friday’s and want to get afloat and a “Pimp my Laser day!”

A fantastic outcome of the last weekends workshops was the pooling of resources and combining of ideas between local clubs. Many of the clubs have also considered the social elements of sailing and will be investigating fleet BBQ’s for the summer months. Improved communication amongst Laser sailors at a club and local level has also been recognised as an area for attention. 

Auckland, New Zealand - 2nd March 2010. The Italian sailing team Azzurra from the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, skippered by Francesco Bruni with Tommaso Chieffi calling tactics, today took part in the official practice session of the Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta which is scheduled to start tomorrow, March 3rd 2010.

Bruni will race against an impressive line-up of top international match racing skippers which includes:

Adam Minoprio (NZL - BlackMatch Racing)
Torvar Mirsky (AUS - Mirsky Racing Team)
Sebastien Col (FRA - ALL4ONE)
Ben Ainslie (GBR - TEAMORIGIN)
Francesco Bruni (ITA - Azzurra Sailing Team)
Bertrand Pace (FRA)
Magnus Holmberg (SWE)
Dean Barker (NZL - Emirates Team New Zealand)
Chris Dickson (NZL - Dickson Racing Team)
Karol Jablonski (POL)

Entry to the Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta is by invitation only; as a result some of the biggest names in the America’s Cup and on the world match racing circuit are competing.

The regatta promises four days of intense, close-quarter sailing action on the inner Auckland harbour. Racing will start each day, weather permitting, at 10am. A grandstand erected near the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will give a great view of the entire course.

Following their hero’s welcome and an unforgettable stopover in the Shandong provincial city of Qingdao, China, the teams competing in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race were treated to a spectacular send off for Race 7 of the 35,000-mile global challenge to San Francisco. As the brave sailors manned their boats and prepared to do battle with the largest ocean on the planet, thousands lined the breakwater of the Olympic Sailing Centre to send them on their way. A 15-knot breeze from the north gave a gentle introduction to the 5,680-mile race to California, USA, the longest leg in the history of the Clipper Race.

Having taken line honours on the race into Qingdao, Spirit of Australia immediately showed they were a force to be reckoned with as they crossed the start line in first place. Hot on their hees were the two North American entries, Cape Breton Island and California with Uniquely Singapore, Hull & Humber, Edinburgh Inspiring Capital, Qingdao and Jamaica Lightning Bolt completing the order across the line.

As they rounded the first mark Hull & Humber had moved into the lead with Qingdao in second place, much to the delight of the home crowd. California had moved ahead of Cape Breton Island with the Canadian entry rounding just seconds behind Spirit of Australia. Next at the mark was Jamaica Lightning Bolt, the only team to opt for their Yankee 1, followed by Uniquely Singapore and Edinburgh Inspiring Capital.