Quadriplegic sailor, Geoff Holt sets the record as the first disabled person to successfully sail around Great Britain, a 1400 mile voyage he describes as his ‘Personal Everest’. Geoff left Southampton on 20th May this year, sailing every day that weather has allowed. Geoff had hoped to complete the voyage in around 60 days, but this summer’s inclement weather has hampered his progress and he has been weatherbound in several ports, causing his passage to take longer than anticipated.

7th September, 2007. Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy. Race 2 & Race 3 (Race 1).
Race Two of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup was a day of high drama. The 65 nautical mile Coastal Race took all four divisions all the way up the outside of the Maddalena Islands to Lavezzi and the southern tip of Corsica, returning back down the channel and beyond to the islet of Mortoriotto before a final return leg to the finish off Porto Cervo. This time the critical moment in proceedings was shortly after the start. But, once again, it involved the 30-metre supermaxi, Wild Oats XI (AUS). Within a few minutes of the start, her mast was seen to explode into three pieces. Four crew were launched into the water as the 12-tonne canting keel, then at maximum tilt and with nothing left above to balance it out, rolled the yacht violently to windward. All crew were safely recovered and, fortunately, only one crew was slightly injured during the catastrophe that brought to an abrupt end Bob Oatley’s quest for victory and the continuation of the duel with her near sistership, Neville Crichton’s Alfa Romeo (NZL).

The 18th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup featured 38 yachts from 11 countries including: Australia, Cayman Islands, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, San Marino, UK and U.S.A.

PROVISIONAL STANDINGS (8th September, 2007)
Place Boat Name Owner Nation, R1-R2-R3-R4-R5-Points

Racing
1. MORNING GLORY Hasso Plattner GER, 1-3-1-4-(6)-9.0
2. LOKI Stephen Ainsworth AUS, 2-1-4-2-(5)-9.0
3. TITAN XII Tom & Dotti Hill USA, (4)-2-3-3-3-11.0

Cruising
1. RANGER RSV Ltd USA, 1-(3)-1-1-1-4.0
2. VELSHEDA Turbat Inv. Ltd GBR, 2-2-2-2-(3)-8.0
3. GHOST Arne Glimcher USA, (11)-1-4-3-2-10.0

Below is the latest article regarding yachtsmen’s visa requirements in St. Lucia. I have had silimilar complaints from Antigua. Other articles in the local regional and sailing papers highlight other Caribbean nations. The concensus is that local governments are not cognisant of the benefit derived from the yachting sectors on their economies and that they are making immigration and customs much more difficult than they should be. The general feeling is that the countries that provide the best policies and promote yachting will win while other nations ignoring the economic factor do so at their peril. Your comments are welcome.

You can do it! DJ Norman Cook aka ‘Fat Boy Slim’ and his wife, the TV presenter Zoe Ball have a yacht in Sardinia that you can charter. ‘Barracuda’ is a beautifully restored 100 feet motor boat with 4 crew located in Portisco. The yacht has four guest cabins with bathrooms. Also to be found aboard is a cool sound system with 7,000 songs. The cost is £20,000 to charter for seven days and £10,000 for a weekend. The contact is Mr and Mrs Smith….aah, so that’s where they went after the movie..