Irina Abramovich, estranged wife of Roman, has agreed to a surprisingly low cut of his wealth in a divorce settlement. The total is believed to be about US $ 300 million and include one of the yachts, a plane, a house in Britain and a house near Moscow. You would imagine some cash and jewels would be included too. This sum represents less than 2% of his estimated US $ 18.7 billion fortune. Irina, 39, was married to Roman for 16 years after meeting him on a plane bound for Germany in 1990. She was a stewardess for Aeroflot at the time.

Organisers of the ‘Hare and Tortoise Swim’ fundraiser, Marilyn and Ray Linnington of ‘The Anchorage’ of English Harbour together with the staff and pupils of Cobbs Cross School and The Minister of Culture, Elston Adams, express sincere thanks and gratitude to the sponsors. EC $ 6,466.75 was raised from swimmers, sponsors and supporters in aid of constructing a reading room and computer lab at the Cobbs Cross Primary School. The government have agreed to match the money raised, bringing the total to EC $ 12,933.50.

The New Zealand skipper, Graham Dalton, of ‘A Southern Man-AGD’ has suffered a further set-back. Dalton collapsed with a bug and diarrohea while in the Northern Brazilian Port of Fortaleza. While he was in his sickbed the unattended boat was plundered of all the communication equipment, GPS, laptops, handheld phones and camera. Dalton will have to continue the voyage without computerised weather or electronic charts. He has managed to get a GPS and iridium phone. Dalton will rely on a barometer, compass and charts, as well as his skills in analyising the weather. Graham Dalton went ashore in Fortaleza after “A Southern Man-AGD’ struck an unidentified object which damaged the rudder. Dalton is expected to leave Fortaleza this morning.

The now seemingly ill-fated ‘Earthrace’ Biodiesel vessel has encountered tragedy to add to previous scares and disappointments. At midnight the 24 metre bio-diesel powered ‘Earthrace’, showing lights and travelling 15 knots hit a 5 metre Guatemalan fishing skiff which it did not see lights or radar signature of. The smaller boat disintegrated and sank immediately. Two fisherman was rescued but another is missing, presumed drowned. ‘Earthrace’ New Zealand Captain Pete Bethune said that one fisherman was in a serious condition when rescued but they managed to keep him alive until the Guatemalan Coast Guard arrived.

Dee Caffari and Mike Golding and their teams, Aviva and Ecover, have formed a technical alliance in preparation for the Vendée Globe 2008 single-handed around the world yacht race. Aviva and Ecover have agreed to develop and test their boats together in a quest for optimal performance. The object is to share important technical data on the new Open 60 Yachts. This is a significant step forward for British Sailing as it is the first time two major compeating teams in Ocean Racing have come together to face the competition. The French have dominated the Vendée Globe with five out of five wins.