www.Sail-Search.com: A recent addition to the Sail Search Sailing Directory, Tropicalboat Charters, sent me off on a journey to see just what Yacht Charterers in Miami have to offer.

The proliferation of powered yachts on offer made me remember the days of the NBC TV programme Miami Vice which featured Don Johnson as Detectives James 'Sonny' Crockett and Phillip Michael Thomas Ricardo 'Rico' Tubbs fighting against the drug trade in Miami. Miami Vice ran for five seasons from 1984 to 1989.

The powerful cigarette boats and many bays were great settings for the show.

But, of course, the allure of a stink boat does finally wear off, whereas actually sailing and using the wind is one of life's greatest pleasures and places the sailor on a continual learning curve. Not to mention that there is nothing more conducive to relaxation and connecting with ones life partner and family than the slap of waves and creak of rigging as you explore sunny bays and anchor for the night under the moon and stars.

Of course the major added benefit of a sailing cruise is that it is environmentally friendly and a whole lot cheaper to boot.

Give me a wind powered yacht any day over power and I was pleased to see that MIami Yacht Charters have a 46 foot sailing yacht on offer. It certainly will not outrun Sunny and Rico if you want to carry a small bit of contraband, but, a chartered sailing yacht is guaranteed to ensure the most relaxed holiday you will ever have in a long time.

I couldn't find the pricing for the Miami Yacht Charters sail yacht charter but you can give them a call on 786-218-3030.

www.Sail-Search.com: AUCKLAND, Rocna Anchors, manufacturer of the revolutionary, high-performance Rocna anchor, has announced the release of a comprehensive online data resource comprising articles and information on anchors, anchoring accessories and the science of anchoring.

The Rocna Knowledge Base, is an indexed, searchable digital encyclopaedia, covering every anchor/anchoring-related topic imaginable.

Freely available to the public, the Rocna Knowledge Base began as a collection of material intended to deal with common enquiries Rocna Anchors receives from its customers. It quickly grew into a far more extensive resource, able to deal comprehensively and conclusively with many topics frequently raised by boaters all over the world.

The new website includes a section specific to the Rocna, including installation case studies and examples, complete with relevant photos for many common boat types. Advice, such as guidelines for designing and building the ideal bow roller, is also provided.

Other content from the 'Anchors' section includes analyses of independent testing, clear explanations of Lloyd's and RINA anchor classification, advice on sizing anchors, and much more.

Properly formatted pages can be printed from the website for easier reading if desired.

Content is not restricted to anchors. Other sections focus on the rest of the anchoring system: chain, rope, connectors (shackles and swivels), windlasses, etc. Optimising rode make-up is explained, with a mind to performance and practicality. Best practice anchoring techniques are covered, with entries on multiple anchor rigs, tandem anchoring and optimising the scope and catenary of the rode for best anchor performance.

The Rocna Knowledge Base is a collaborative effort. The company welcomes input from other parties. In particular, Rocna owners are invited to contribute to the bow installation case studies section for the benefit of other boaters.

Developed over five years and released in early 2005, the Rocna anchor has proven to be the ultimate boat anchor, confirmed by independent testing and positive user feedback. Available in galvanised and stainless steel, in sizes from 4 kg (9 lb) to 275 kg (606 lb), there is a Rocna for every vessel, from runabouts to small ships.

Contact: Rocna Anchors

More Rocna Articles

www.Sail-Search.com: Got a spare $850 000.00 burning a hole in your pocket?

Need four large wall-maps representing the four continents: America on 12 sheets; Africa on 8 sheets; Asia on 8 sheets; Europe on 12 Sheets to display above the chart table on your mega sailing yacht?

The Graham Arader Gallery in New York has a set of wall maps by the greatest Italian ancient Cartographer, Giacomo Castaldi (1500 to 1556) for sale at the knock down price of $850 000.00.

The four large-scale maps by Gastaldi are unique and remain unrivaled by any set of wall maps available today in terms of quality and importance. The maps saw a development through three different states as successive publishers added the latest information to them.

State one, dating from ca. 1569, is thought to have been published by Giovanni Francesco Camocio. In approximately 1588, Donato Bertelli also published the plates, with some changes to the map of America in order to correct errors made by Gastaldi's assistants after his death (such errors mostly had to do with the assembly of the printed sheets).

The second state of Gastaldi's maps appeared circa 1655, now enlarged with additional copperplate sheets. This edition was published by Stefano Scolari, who made minor nomenclature additions. On the New World map the title "America" was added, as were the names "California," "Nova Granada" and "Estotiland." Scolari was also responsible for another printing of Gastaldi's maps approximately seven years later, circa 1662.

For this third state, the publisher once again updated the maps and included the new names of "Stretto D'Anian," "Nova Albion," "Novo Amsterdan" and "Stretum Davis." The south coast of Greenland was also added and Tierra del Fuego was shown as an island. Gastaldi's maps not only represented the most accurate information available but are also remarkable for their exquisite engraving. Each was produced on eight or twelve separate sheets that were then joined, creating a single cohesive map with extensive written annotations and decorative elements, including fleets of sailing ships.

Most maps created during this period were printed on one or two sheets. A very limited number of large wall maps, involving numerous plates to print a certain area, were produced by major cartographic houses. Those few that were produced were ostensibly used for ostentatious public display, and the surviving number is exceedingly scarce. These wall maps were mounted on canvas and exposed to light, dirt and other environmental factors.

That not only one individual wall map, but indeed an entire set of four, has survived from this period is partially due to the constant esteem in which they (and their author) have been held since the time of their production, and partly due to sheer good fortune. Indeed, the number of wall maps by Gastaldi still in existence is extremely small.

Wall Map by Giacomo Gastaldi

More Maps by Giacomo Gastaldi

By the way, Shipping within the US will only cost you $3.00 - go figure, surely they could chuck shipping in for NOTHING!

If $850 000.00 is a little bit too rich for you then try this list of Rare and Second Hand Sailing Books starting from only $1.00 each.

www.Sail-Search.com: This morning near summer conditions returned once again to Saint-Tropez and participants gathered in La Citadelle for the prize giving ceremony that marks the closing of this year's edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. It is with a note of nostalgia that teams will leave this famous fishing village to return home until the 2009 edition of this spectacular event.

For the past three years there has been a special trophy given to the 16-metre Classic Yacht who accumulated the fewest points over the week of races. This year the winner was Graham Walter and his Marconi Rowdy, who finished the week at the top of her class. Philippe Schaeffer, Rolex France, presented Mr. Walter with the Rolex Trophy and a Rolex Submariner, close companion to all nautical achievements. Rowdy comes after previous winners So Fong (2006) and Agneta (2007) had inscribed their names on the Rolex Trophy.

Rowdy was designed by legend Nathanial Herreshoff and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in 1916 in Bristol, Rhode Island. She is part of the New York 40 Class, named so because the design is 40 feet off the waterline, and is one of the 14 or so boats in the class that was constructed between 1916 and 1917. Also known as the "Fighting Forties," these sailing yachts were built for members of the New York Yacht Club and Rowdy raced for many years with great success. World War I put a halt to further construction of the class and most of these great vessels have ceased to exist today. Rowdy is one of the few. She has recently undergone a major rebuild and won the yacht Club de France's Autumn Cup (Marconi Division) in Cannes just before her arrival in Saint-Tropez for the 2008 edition of Les Voiles.

BONA FIDE in the midst of the fleet
St. Tropez, 04/10/08 Les Voiles de St. Tropez 2008 Bona Fide
Photo:© ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

This year the racing was grand in spite of the Mistral crashing the party with violent winds that prohibited most racing on Thursday and all racing Friday. The final results are in and the winners in each category follow.

CLASSIC YACHT RESULTS, following three races
"Epoque" Sailboats (before 1950)

AURIQUE A
1. Moonbeam III, Erwan Noblet
2. Mariquita, Jim Thom
3. Altair, Stephan Benfield

AURIQUE B
1. Bona Fide, Guissepe Girdano
2. Oriole, Francis Van De Velde
3. Pesa, Jean Yves Roubinet

MARCONI A
1. Rowdy, Graham Walter
2. The Blue Peter, Mike Aalders
3. Cholita, Dany Degraci

MARCONI B
1. Anne Sopie, Hanns Klein
2. Classic Addy, Henk Bouma
3. Aile VI, Alain Ferri

MARCONI C
1. Mercury, Jordi Cabau
2. Stormy Weather, Christopher Spray
3. Tomahawk, Richard Bond

MARCONI D
1. Windhover, Marc Poullain
2. Lak, Guy Laforest
3. Arrow, Phil Plumtree

"Classic" Sailboats (1950-1975)

MARCONI A
1. Galvana, Freres Pella
2. Sagittarius, Frederic Laffite
3. Fantasque, Jacques Daligaux-Bordat

MARCONI B
1. Crazy Life, Bernard Olivieri
2. Pelikan, Peter Koerfer
3. Undina, Griff Rhys Jones

Spirit of Tradition Sailboats
1. Shamrock V, Nick Ryan
2. Finsco, Willi Balz
3. Savannah, Hugh Morrisson

Tofinou Sailboats
1. Bellerophon, Nicolas Edmiston
2. Grey One, Hervé Margolis
3. Cambronne, Bernard Vilarem

www.Sail-Search.com: With only a matter of days until the start of the 29th Rolex Middle Sea Race, organisers the Royal Malta Yacht club are rubbing their hands together at the prospect of an entry exceeding seventy boats for the first time ever. Not only that, but the yachts are drawn from most corners of the sailing world with the fleet flying no less than eighteen different national flags. Entries close on 11th October and the race itself starts from Marsamxett Harbour on the 18th October - so there is still time to be part of an historic contest that marks the 40th anniversary of this 607 nautical mile adventure.

The race is open to yachts from 9-metres to 30.5 metres and this year will see the full range. Currently, the 100-foot Farr designed Rapture (MAR) takes pole position in the size stake. This is not something that particularly troubles Jeff Hanlon, Rapture's captain, who explains "this will be the first of four planned offshore races for Rapture. We chose the Rolex Middle Sea Race because it is one of the most famous races you can do and we enjoy this style of offshore distance racing. We have an international crew joining us for the race, all good experienced offshore racers, a crew of good, well-humoured blokes that know what they're doing."

Hanlon has heard all about Malta's hospitality and the scenery around the course. Hanlon has also heard the race can be difficult, but again this is not an overriding concern, "I have known about the race for years. I was even told recently not to do it due to its tough reputation for bad weather, but that's yacht racing. It's as much against the weather sometimes as it is against the other boats." And with the Rolex Middle Sea Race tending to blow hot or cold and rarely in between, Hanlon is perceptive in this judgement.

Other big boats, over seventy-feet, include Stormvogel (GBR) 39-years after her last participation, Steinlager II (NZL) and Michael Cotter's Whisper (IRL), hoping to complete the course this time after retiring in the face of the storm last year. The newcomer is the Nauta 80 Acaia Cube (ITA) owned by Italian filmstar, Claudio Amendola.

Much has been written already about the battle royal shaping up in the 50 - 70 foot range, where the IRC race boats - Rosebud/Team DYT (STP65/USA) and Andres Soriano's Allegre (Mills 68/GBR) - have just been joined by a second STP 65, Jim Swartz's Moneypenny (USA). And the participation of the 60-foot, Veolia Oceans, Boogaloo (FRA) could add another twist to the tale. Those that represent shape of things today will find themselves up again some of the former workhorses of the oceans - the VO60, Big One (CRO) makes a welcome return and is joined by a trio of 2000 vintage Open 50s, 13 (ITA), Regione Piedmont (ITA) and Vento di Sardegna (ITA). The 50-foot Rolex Fastnet 2007 winner Chieftain is back under new ownership, Adrian Lee, and a new name, Lee Overlay Partners (IRL), but still sports her canting keel. The sole TP52 is the IRC optimized RAN (GBR) owned by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennström.

Elsewhere in this size band are a pack of cruiser/racers, such as the Baltic 56, Lurigna (SUI), the Shipman 63 Coral (RUS), the Swan 62 Berenice (ITA), the J/V 53 Bank von Bremen (GER) and the First 50 ISR 500, which is apparently the first ever entry received from Israel. Imagine owner Gil Tagar's surprise to find he will not be alone, with a second Israeli flagged yacht scheduled to on the startline - Wizsoft.

Wizsoft is one of six First 47.7s that will be engaged in a private competition in the sub-fifty foot bracket. The others are Enoch (ITA), headstart.at (AUT), Gyrate (GBR) and Femme Fatale (HUN) and RMYC Commodore Georges Bonello Dupuis' Escape (MLT). Other local Maltese boats fill the ranks here too - Arthur Podesta continues his uninterrupted run of participation with Elusive Medbank, past race-winner John Ripard Jr has entered Lazy Duck with a crew made up mainly of his children and other close relatives, David Franks goes again with Strait Dealer as does Tim Camillieri on Vikesha

Into the forty-foot and below segment and there are more familiar Maltese names, including Sandro Musu's Aziza, Jonas Diamantino's Gasan Mamo Comanche Raider and an entry from Maltese Falcon (the Maltese Beneteau 40.7 version) is expected today, which will bring entries to 77. Diamantino was one of three Maltese skippers to finish the storm-ridden race of last year, and would be forgiven for giving the race a miss this year. Not a bit of it. He's back and with a new boat, the old IOR two-tonner giving way to an ILC 40, explaining that "I felt that after the severe bashing she got in the last Rolex Middle Sea Race that the old boat required too much maintenance to consider her safe for more races."

It is not just any ILC 40 though; one previous owner was Spanish sailing star Pedro Campos. Even so, while he will never say never Diamantino does not hold up much hope of winning, "whilst my team and I sail the race for the pure pleasure of it and the sense of accomplishment it is always the intention to try and win it some day. Although we are unlikely to win it with this boat this year maybe some time in the near future we will! I am fortunate that I have had the same great crew for the last six years and I always look forward to sailing with them confident in their ability and confident in the knowledge that for them, like me, safety and fun is paramount."

There are a number of boats hovering around the minimum length mark, but rounding out the fleet at a shade over 31-feet looks to be Noel Racine's JPK9.6 Foggy Dew (FRA). According to Racine, "I have wanted to do the race for 3 or 4 years now, but it is a big logistical exercise getting a boat of this size to Malta." And though Racine has not done the race before, he has two Rolex Fastnet's under his belt - the long, slow 2005 race (good practice if this year's RMSR is tortuously difficult) and the 2007 high-wind, big sea version (good practice if we have another Mediterranean belter).

Last but not least, there are two multihulls competing and, if this is not testimony to the enduring fascination of the race, one is none other than Hans Nagel's HighQ1, which finished last in 2007 some 24-hours after the penultimate boat. Maybe Nagel has had a word with the wind gods and agreed a better package for 2008.

The Rolex Middle Sea Race commences on Saturday 18th October 2008 from Marsamxett Harbour, Malta. Entries close on 11th October. The final prize giving is at noon on 25th October.

George David's Rambler (USA) established the current Course Record of 47 hours 55 minutes and 3 seconds in 2007.

www.Sail-Search.com: Yesterday's wind was just a foretaste of what was to come today as the Mistral well and truly settled in, with winds of 30 knots onshore and certainly more outside the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. No coastal races were scheduled for the Classic Yachts, who stayed safely tied up at the dock, protecting their rigging and sails from the violent winds.

After two days of racing, Mariquita is on top of the rankings followed by Moonbeam III and Altair in the Schooner A category, while Bona Fide, Oriole and Maribel make up the Schooner B podium. In the Marconi A Division, Rowdy is currently leading by three points, followed by The Blue Peter and Agneta. Everything is on track for the Rolex Trophy but the suspense will continue to build until Saturday night, as only then will the overall winner be announced.

The Classic Yachts here this week have all been lovingly cared for and restored seemingly without regard to cost. That they are even still sailing is proof of the attention their owners have bestowed upon them. But it is also testimony to the underlying design and construction.

On board details CREOLE 1927
St. Tropez, 02/10/08 Les Voiles de St. Tropez 2008 CREOLE1927 GOELETTE MARCONICAMPER & NICHOLSON
Photo:© ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

CREOLE in action
St. Tropez, 02/10/08 Les Voiles de St. Tropez 2008 CREOLE1927 GOELETTE MARCONI CAMPER & NICHOLSON
Photo:© ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

Crews put real muscle into the job
St. Tropez,29/09/08 Les Voiles de St. Tropez 2008 LULWORTH 2 1920 COTRA AURIQUE WHITE BROTHERS
Photo:© ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

www.Sail-Search.com: Bright sun and fresh gusts welcomed the crews this morning in the bay of Saint-Tropez. Today the 300 participating yachts in this year's Voiles de Saint-Tropez were given the chance to truly test themselves for the first time this week. No more twiddling thumbs while waiting for the wind; with the Mistral in full effect since sunrise, the crews of the Classic Yachts had to put real muscle into their work in order to keep control of their vessels' massive sails, which can often exceed 200 m2.

Timeless wooden details at the docks
St. Tropez,30/09/08 Les Voiles de St. Tropez 2008 dockside
Photo:© ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

Today was a welcome change from yesterday, when the race committee was forced to shorten the racecourse due to capricious winds. In yesterday's conditions Agneta, winner of the Rolex Trophy in 2007, finished second in the Marconi division just behind Rowdy but in front of Oiseau de Feu who finished third. In the Schooner category Mariquita finished ahead of Lulworth, Moonbeam III, Moonbeam IV and Thendara.

A piece of the Camper & Nicholsons sailing story

For more than 100 years the products of the celebrated Camper & Nicholsons design house and shipyard have continued to shine in Mediterranean and European regattas. With Avel, Creole, Oiseau de Feu, Partridge and Sylvia, the Camper & Nicholsons fleet here in Saint-Tropez represents a beautiful collection of classic yachts.

The story behind the Camper & Nicholsons that we know today dates back to 1782 with a man named Frances Amos. Amos came from London to Gosport where he leased a plot of land as a boat builder. His business building small trading ships was fairly successful, and with no heir of his own, Amos passed the lease to his great nephew William Camper in 1824.

Working in close collaboration with Gosport sail maker James Lapthorn, Camper began to produce sailboats at the shipyard while continuing the production of trade ships. In 1836 Camper launched the cutter Breeze for James Lyon, and its success that same year at the King's Cup boosted the reputation and demand for Camper's sailing vessels.

In 1842 there was a new addition to the Camper shipyard: 14-year old Ben Nicholson who joined as an apprentice, but who quickly began to move up the ranks. It was in 1860 that Nicholson, who had become the chief designer at the yard, designed the successful and beautiful schooner Aline. When it came time for Camper to retire, Nicholson was the logical choice for his replacement. In 1863 Ben Nicholson took over the business, with continued support from the Camper and Lapthorn families, and changed the name of the shipyard to Camper & Nicholson.

The shipyard grew to almost double its previous size, bolstered by the success and durability of its schooners, and when Nicholson's three sons later joined the company the name was officially changed to its current Camper & Nicholsons.

Nicholson's eldest son, also named Ben, focused his talents on recruiting crews, a service the shipyard provided until 1939. The youngest of the three brothers, Arthur, was specialized in managing the yard's construction and maintenance facilities. It was the middle brother, Charles E. Nicholson, who took to design. When Charles' Dacia won fourteen races in 1892 the demand for Camper & Nicholsons sailing designs skyrocketed.

Interestingly, the shipyard has always produced more motorboats than sailing yachts, but this has not prevented a number of sailing innovations and great designs emanating from Camper & Nicholsons. In 1912 Istra was built with an incredibly lightweight, laminated wood construction, leading to the 1927 commission of Vira (later renamed Creole), a sailboat that some would say is one of Charles Nicholson's most beautiful creations.

Nicholson became known for his elegant, fast and reliable designs and when he was commissioned to build a yacht for Sir Thomas Lipton, the 1930 America's Cup Challenger Shamrock V was born. The designer produced three other J Class boats that raced in the America's Cup including the 1932 Challenger Velsheda, 1934 Challenger Endeavour I and 1936 Challenger Endeavour II. It is for these designs that Charles E. Nicholson is most often remembered in the sailing world. Two of his earlier designs, Astra and Candida, were later altered to conform as closely as possible to the J Class rule. It is a true tribute to the quality of Camper & Nicholsons construction to say that all of these, with the exception of Endeavour II, are still sailing today.

Charles E. Nicholson continued to play an active role in the company until his death in 1954 at age 86. Although many of his designs are still held in highest regard in the sailing community, racing yacht production was astonishingly less than ten percent of the company's output during Charles E. Nicholson's time in charge.

Nicholson was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 1997.

Here in Saint-Tropez some of Charles E. Nicholson's designs can be seen in action: Avel, Creole, Oiseau de Feu, Partridge and Sylvia, all of which are competing for the 2008 Rolex Trophy with the exception of Partridge. Seeing these great classics go up against one another is like a trip back in time. One could almost, and willingly, get lost amongst the sails as they fill the horizon; a strong reminder of sailing's glorious past.

LULWORTH
LULWORTH TRADITION 1920 COTRA AURIQUE WHITE BROTHERS Les Voiles de St. Tropez 2008
Photo:© ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

www.Sail-Search.com: Racing at the 10th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez began this morning under bright sun and almost summer conditions. With a promising breeze at the start that later fell still, today was the first race for the Classics who enjoyed the chance to hoist their sails and race one another over a 24-mile coastal course. Leading the fleet home were Altair and Rowdy within a hair's breadth of one another.

Today was also the first day of the Rolex Trophy, which is open to classic yachts over 16 metres in length. The winner of this trophy will only be known for certain when the overall scores are revealed on Saturday evening, adding to the suspense of what is sure to be an enthralling series. Whoever proves to be the winner, we may be confident that she will have been the most sure-footed of those competing this week.

With more than 300 monohulls on the water today, crowds onshore, spectator boats, the media and the numerous photographers on site, Organisers' the Societe Nautique de Saint-Tropez will be pleased with both their course planning and crowd control went so remarkably smoothly at this grand spectacle that is one of the sailing world's greatest annual gatherings.

Yesterday we took at look at how Olin J. Stephens changed the face of yacht design forever. Today we look towards William Fife Jr, another one of the great classic yacht designers, whose success spanned both the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Grandson and son of William Fife I and II, William Fife III (Fife Junior) was a descendant of a long line of family naval architects. Born in 1857 in Fairlie, on the West Coast of Scotland, William Fife Jr. grew up surrounded by his father's and grandfather's boat designs. Quickly initiated into the family business, Fife Jr. did not have long to wait before he made his own name in the industry. His drawings quickly seduced some of the greatest European families and the second yacht Fife Jr drew-up was Dragon, from which his trademark dragon signature was born; a symbol found on the bow of every vessel he designed from this point on.

In 1879 he completed the 190-ton schooner that was property of Jean Baptiste Charcot and that sailed under the name Why Not. Another yacht, originally named Yum, was finished by the Fairlie shipyard in 1898 and became famous under the name Pen Duick. By this time already Fife Jr was internationally recognized for the quality and beauty of the boats he designed and constructed.

Fife Jr soon became involved in the heady world of the America's Cup, notably drawing a series of boats named Shamrock for the challenges put forward by tea magnate Sir Thomas Lipton. Fife Jr's Shamrocks were ultimately unsuccessful, losing to Columbia in 1899 and to Reliance in 1903. This was not his only venture into thoroughbred racing yachts. Fife was responsible for some of the greatest and fastest 15 and 19-metre boats of the period after the first International Rule was established in 1906.

William Fife Jr was a prolific architect often creating over 50 designs annually, the majority of those drawings coming to life within a year. In 1903, Moonbeam of Fife was completed for Charles Plumtree Johnson and, it was following the war that Johnson ordered another of Fife Jr's most famous designs still in existence today: Moonbeam IV, completed in 1920.

For over 50 years Fife Jr's yachts won races all over the world and he designed almost 1000 during his career, which continued into his late seventies (Latifa was completed in 1935 when he was 78 years old).

Today no one knows exactly how many of Fife Jr's designs still exist, although there are thought to be about 100, perhaps half of which are still on the water, lovingly restored and cared for by justifiably proud owners. Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2008 is proud to welcome some those here to participate in the regatta. Any fellow Scotsman in Saint Tropez this week will take pride in seeing potential Rolex Trophy winners Cambria, Altair, Mariquita, Irina VII, Nan of Fife, Moonbeam III and Moonbeam IV on the docks; enough great names to make all the sailors in the world dream of both past and present glory.

www.Sail-Search.com: ISAF and Rolex are proud to announce the Nominees for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2008.
ISAF received nominations from across the world representing all aspects of the sport in two categories - male and female - and the following 10 nominations have been shortlisted. The qualifying period is the year up until 1 September 2008 and all achievements during this time are taken into consideration.

The 2008 nominees are:

Female
Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB & Pippa WILSON (GBR)
Claire LEROY (FRA)
Elise RECHICHI & Tessa PARKINSON (AUS)
Alessandra SENSINI (ITA)
Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA)

Male
Ben AINSLIE (GBR)
Tom ASHLEY (NZL)
Francis JOYON (FRA)
Vincenzo ONORATO (ITA)
Ian WILLIAMS (GBR)

The winners will be selected by the ISAF Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world, who are now invited to vote for the one male and one female nomination who they believe most deserves the Award.

The winners will be announced at the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards presentation and dinner which is being held on Tuesday 11 November 2008. The venue for the event is the stunning Quinta de Jarama in Madrid, Spain.

Each winner will be presented with the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award Trophy and a distinctive Rolex timepiece.

The achievements of the 2008 Nominees are:

FEMALE NOMINEES

Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB & Pippa WILSON (GBR)

With one goal in mind for 2008 - Olympic gold, the talented British team of Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB and Pippa WILSON spent the lead-up to the Games proving to the world they were the number one Yngling crew by claiming a clean sweep of the highest graded events of the year.

Heading to Miami for the Yngling Women's World Championship in February 2008, AYTON, WEBB and WILSON were keen to start the Olympic year with a gold medal and they did just that, convincingly defending the World title they picked up in 2007 with a massive 39 points margin over the second place Australian team.

A return to Europe saw the team competing in Palma, Spain at the HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE where they picked up a silver medal before travelling to Blanes, Spain for the Europeans, where once again they ended the regatta at the top of the podium. There were bronze medals at the next two ISAF Grade 1 events in Hyères and Medemblik before the team settled into Qingdao for the big one, the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.

It was in wet, blustery conditions that the first ever Medal Race of an Olympic Games took place and the British Yngling team led by one point from their closest rivals from the Netherlands. In an extremely close race AYTON, WEBB and WILSON demonstrated once again their cool, calm style and supreme ability to make it count when it really matters. They controlled the race from start to finish and in securing the race victory they entered the record books as the first crew to win an Olympic Medal Race and with that, the first gold medal of the Competition. The ultimate dream was a reality; Sarah AYTON, Sarah WEBB and Pippa WILSON were the 2008 European, World and Olympic Champions.

1 - RYA Winter Challenge Match Racing, GBR - ISAF Grade 4 - Nov 2007
5 - Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
1 - Yngling Women World Championship, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade W - Feb 2008
2 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - Yngling Women European Championship, Blanes, ESP - ISAF Grade C1 - Apr 2008
3 - Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2008
3 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 1

ISAF World Sailing Rankings # 1 from 3 October 2007 to 6 February 2008 and 9 April to 3 September 2008

Claire LEROY (FRA)

2007 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year, French skipper Claire LEROY continues to dominate women's match racing. In 2008 LEROY notched up another five ISAF Graded event wins, defended her World Champion title and maintained her seat at the # 1 position on the ISAF World Match Race Rankings where she has been since 4 May 2005.

Her first victory in 2008 came in February when she secured the RYA Women's Winter Challenge. She then clinched the New Zealand Women's title in Auckland and the Harken Women's International Championship in Australia before returning to Auckland for the 2008 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship. The successful defence of her title was shared with crew member Elodie BERTRAND and new crew mates Marie RIOU and Claire PRUVOT.

After the Worlds it was back to Europe and another gold medal at the ISAF Grade 1 Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand followed by a silver medal in Calpe, Spain at the ISAF Grade 1 International Women's Match Race Criterium. This remarkable young skipper continues to prove her ability to dominate her field of women's sailing.

8 - IV Open de España, Calpe, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Sep 2007
2 - Brasil Women's Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
12 - Brasil Sailing Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
1 - RYA Women's Winter Challenge, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Feb 2008
1 - New Zealand Women's Match Racing Championship, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - Harken Women's International Match Racing Championship, CYCA, AUS - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Apr 2008
1 - Match Cup Sweden, Marstrand, SWE - ISAF Grade 1 - Jun 2008
2 - XI International Women's Match Race Criterium, Calpe, ESP - ISAF Grade 1 - Aug 2008

ISAF World Match Race Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (30 July 2008) - # 1

Elise RECHICHI & Tessa PARKINSON (AUS)

Well known faces from the ISAF Youth Worlds, this young team showed their intent at the 2008 470 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, where they picked up their first bronze medal of the year. Hitting the European graded event circuit, they posted some mixed results before once again making the results count where it mattered with another bronze at the ISAF Grade C1 European Championships in Italy.

But it wasn't bronze that this team was after when they got to Qingdao for the Olympic Sailing Competition. Gold was the colour they dreamed of and their win was convincing. One of just four crews who won a gold medal with no previous Olympic experience, RECHICHI and PARKINSON went into their Medal Race with an 18 point lead over their nearest rivals, the three time World Champions from the Netherlands.

They sailed a tactical Medal Race to ensure the Dutch team could not steal their gold medal away and crossed the finish line to secure an Australian 470 double for coach Victor KOVALENKO. At just 21 years old RECHICHI and PARKINSON were the youngest gold medallists at the Olympic Sailing Competition and look set for a bright future.

24 - Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
3 - 470 World Championships, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
15 - Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2008
9 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2008
3 - 470 European Championships, Riva del Garda, ITA - ISAF Grade C1 - Jun 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 6

Alessandra SENSINI (ITA)

Alessandra SENSINI entered the record books in 2008 when she became the first woman to win four Olympic medals in sailing.
At the age of 38, SENSINI has been a force to be reckoned with on the windsurfing circuit for decades and continues to demonstrate her outstanding skill by adapting seamlessly to new equipment as the sport develops and maintaining the extreme physical fitness demanded by the discipline.
She began her 2008 season with a gold medal at the 2008 RS:X World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, her second title in the class since the inaugural World Championship in 2006. After a solid series including five race wins, SENSINI was on equal points with fellow veteran windsurfer Barbara KENDALL from New Zealand, but the Italian sailed a clinical Medal Race to secure her fourth windsurfing world title.

Back to Europe and SENSINI picked up another gold medal at the HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE in Palma, Spain and 20th at the Europeans in Brest, France. On to Qingdao for the Olympic Sailing Competition and SENSINI had her sights set on the podium again. An impressive series of results, not finishing a race outside the top ten, SENSINI flirted with the top of the leaderboard throughout the opening series. Going into the Medal Race she had to put two competitors between herself and the Chinese sailor and duly put in a true champions performance to convincingly win the race. The action unfolding behind SENSINI gave YIN the gold medal but SENSINI was delighted with her historic achievement of a 4th Olympic medal by adding the silver to her gold medal from Sydney in 2000 and bronze medals from Athens in 2004 and Atlanta in 1996.

2 - RS:X New Zealand National Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - RS:X World Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
1 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
20 - RS:X European Championships, Brest, FRA - ISAF Grade C1 - May 2008
2 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 6

Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA)

Anna Tunnicliffe has been a quiet but dominant presence in the Laser Radial fleet for some time and set out in pursuit of her Olympic dream four years ago. Her determination and discipline has seen her pick up medals from four ISAF Grade 1 events in 2008 and seen her top the ISAF World Sailing Rankings for more than half of the nomination period.

TUNNICLIFFE's consistency was the key to her success at the Olympic Sailing Competition and with only one race finish lower than sixth she was in great shape to claim her first Olympic medal after the opening series. One of TUNNICLIFFE's great strengths is her ability to read the wind shifts and shine under pressure, which she demonstrated to perfection to pull off a magnificent comeback in the Laser Radial Medal Race.

Challenging for the gold medal were two other sailors and a poor start for TUNNICLIFFE saw her back in ninth place at the start of the second lap with her dreams of glory over. TUNNICLIFFE was not giving up without a fight and read the shifts perfectly to battle her way back through the fleet to third by the final mark. With the wind decreasing on the final leg, the fleet compressed but TUNNICLIFFE fought on, finished the race in second place and clinched her first Olympic gold medal.

4 - US Women's Match Racing Championship, Detroit, USA - ISAF Grade 3 - Sep 2007 (Match Racing)
6 - Rolex Osprey Cup, St Petersburg, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Oct 2007 (Match Racing)
9 - Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade C1 - Jan 2008
2 - Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
3 - Sail Auckland, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 1 - Feb 2008
6 - Laser Radial Women's World Championship, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Mar 2008
2 - Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - Apr 2008
1 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 08
14 - Kiel Week, Kiel, GER - ISAF Grade 1 - Jun 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 Sep 2008) - # 1

ISAF World Sailing Rankings # 1 from 3 October to 19 December 2007 and 9 April to 3 September 2008

MALE NOMINEES

Ben AINSLIE (GBR)

Unbeaten in the Finn since 2004 and twice a previous winner of the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, Ben AINSLIE is a sailor who knows how to pick his moments. Returning to the Olympic circuit following the conclusion of the 32nd America's Cup, AINSLIE kept his hand in on the match racing circuit but sent a clear signal to the Finn fleet in December 2007 that he was back on the scene and hungry for a third Olympic gold medal.

His first Grade 1 victory of this nomination period came at the Sydney International Regatta in December 2007 and he marched on to pick up another gold medal at Sail Melbourne before taking on his fifth Finn Gold Cup in January 2008. After a solid series Ainslie consolidated his record number of Finn Gold Cup wins by bringing his tally to five. The next two events also saw AINSLIE on the top of the podium and before setting off to China for the Olympic Games he claimed his fourth European title in a nail biting final race in Scarlino, Italy.

On to China and AINSLIE rarely looked troubled out on the complex waters of Qingdao. With just one real challenge left by the Medal Race it was business as usual for this unstoppable Brit. The gold medal was his and he made another strike in the record books, joining the ranks of the world's most successful Olympic sailors with three gold and one silver medal. AINSLIE ends the nomination period with the European, World and Olympic titles to his name.

1 - RYA National Match Racing Qualifier, Weymouth, GBR - ISAF Grade 4 - Sep 2007
1 - Cento Cup, Trapani, ITA - ISAF Grade 1 - Oct 2007 (match racing)
1 - Go for Gold Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - Sydney International Regatta, Sydney, AUS - ISAF Grade 1 - Dec 2007
1 - Sail Melbourne International Regatta, Melbourne, AUS - ISAF Grade 1 - Jan 2008
1 - Finn Gold Cup - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
1 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
1 - Finn European Championship, Scarlino, ITA - ISAF Grade C1 - May 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 13

Tom ASHLEY (NZL)

The quest for Olympic glory has been on the agenda for this young Kiwi sailor for some time. Since finishing 10th in Athens at the age of 20, ASHLEY has matured into a world beater on the windsurfing scene, a status he confirmed in January 2008 when he won the RS:X World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. A consistent series with four race wins saw ASHLEY start the final day at the top of the leaderboard and sail a tactical race to ensure he secured the Championship title in front of his home crowd.

A quick trip to Europe and a bronze medal at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik and ASHLEY was set up for achieving his Olympic dream.

ASHLEY's intensive training regime and focus on being the best all round sailor paid dividends again in Qingdao and with a consistent series he went into the Medal Race third overall but just one point behind the leader. ASHLEY sailed a near flawless Medal Race to win a tight three way battle for the gold medal, the first for New Zealand in sailing since 1992 and he ends the nomination period as World and Olympic Champion.

1 - RS:X New Zealand National Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - RS:X World Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
3 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2008
1 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) - # 4

Francis JOYON (FRA)

It took Francis JOYON just 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds to sail solo, non-stop around the world aboard his 98ft trimaran IDEC.

Departing from Brest, France on 23 November 2007 JOYON's voyage encompassed 26,400 nautical miles of excitement, which he covered at an average speed of 15.84 knots slicing a staggering 14 days off the previous record set by Ellen MACARTHUR in 2005.

JOYON's journey began as he meant to continue. Precisely following the battle plan drawn up by his weather router, he covered over 500 miles a day to reach the Equator in six days and a little over 18 hours. After just ten days of sailing, JOYON was already 800 miles ahead of MACARTHUR's record and he shot round the Cape of Good Hope after 15 days, increasing his lead to four days.

JOYON reached the halfway point in 27 days and after carefully threading his way through storms, calm and iceberg territory he reached Cape Horn on 29 December, 35 days after departing from Brest and notching up an average speed of 21 knots.

As JOYON began the home straight the slowdown was sudden. Becalmed and sailing upwind, the South Atlantic showed no mercy. On 8 January he finally managed to pick up the easterly trade wind and began to wind back up to speed, crossing the Equator two days later. A trip up the mast to repair the main halyard highlighted a more serious problem which could have brought the mast - and the record - crashing down in seconds. JOYON climbed his 32 metre mast three times to limit the potential damage but there was more to come. The final days of this epic voyage were spent with the dangers of a deep depression in the Bay of Biscay but JOYON triumphantly arrived back in Brest, completing the remarkable feat in a record breaking 57 days and picking up four other records along the way.

WSSRC Ratified Records - IDEC 98ft Trimaran
Single-handed Round the World Record - 23 Nov 2007 - 19 Jan 2008 - 57 days, 13 hours, 34 minutes and 6 seconds, average speed 15.84 knots
Single-handed 24 hour record - 12 Dec 2007 - 613.5 miles, average speed 25.56 knots
Single-handed Indian Ocean record - 18 Dec 2007 - 9 days, 12 hours and 6 minutes
Single-handed Pacific Ocean record - 28 Dec 2007 - 10 days, 14 hours and 26 minutes
Single-handed Equator to Equator record - 10 Jan 2008 - 41 days, 9 hours and 14 minutes

Vincenzo ONORATO (ITA)

Vincenzo ONORATO and his Mascalzone Latino sailing team claimed a sailing first in 2008 when they won the Rolex Farr40 World Champion title for an unprecedented third consecutive year.

ONORATO has only once not finished on the podium of a Farr40 event in 2008 and his list of accolades includes second place at the prestigious ISAF Offshore Team World Championships in Sardinia and the European title.

The first event for the Mascalzone Latino team in 2008 was Acura Key West Race Week, where ONORATO lead his team to the podium and a silver medal. From Key West to Miami and another silver medal at the Acura Miami Race Week, the team were set for their defence of the World Championship title in April.

After finishing in tenth place at the Pre-Worlds, ONORATO got down to business. Only finishing two races outside the top ten, the Italian team lead the overall standings from day one. In an all Italian showdown for the title on the final day of racing it was to be ONORATO's day. He finished the series 24 points ahead of second placed Joe Fly skippered by Giovanni MASPERO to win his third World Championship.

ONORATO's commitment to the Farr40 class is tireless and his results speak for themselves. The intense, competitive Farr40 racing is not for the faint hearted and the talented Italian wrapped up the nomination period by adding the European crown to his World title at the Rolex Farr40 European Championship in Travemunde, Germany.

2 - Acura Key West Race Week, Key West, USA - Jan 2008
2 - Acura Miami Race Week, Miami, USA - Mar 2008
10 - Rolex Farr40 Pre-Worlds, Miami, USA - Apr 2008
1 - Rolex Farr40 World Championship, Miami, USA - Apr 2008
3 - Audi Farr40 Cup, Sardinia, ITA - Jun 2008
2 - Rolex Sardinia Cup ISAF Team Offshore World Championship, Sardinia, ITA - Jun 2008 (team result)
1 - Farr40 Copenhagen Regatta, Copenhagen, DEN - Jul 2008
1 - Rolex Farr40 European Championship, Travemunde, GER - Aug 2008

1 - Circuit Nordic European Farr40 2008

Ian WILLIAMS (GBR)

Ian WILLIAMS from Great Britain won the 2007 ISAF Match Racing World Championship title after sweeping to victory at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia, the final event of the 2007 World Match Racing Tour. WILLIAMS' victory in Malaysia was all the more fitting as he claimed his title by defeating 2006 World Champion Peter GILMOUR (AUS) in the final.

WILLIAMS followed up his world title competing at Grade 2 and 3 events in Europe where he claimed yet more podium positions before returning to the World Match Racing Tour in April 2008. WILLIAMS competed at all five Tour events of the 2008 season which took place within the nomination period and picked up podium finishes at three of them.

The first event of the 2008 Tour was the Brasil Sailing Cup in Vitoria, Brazil and WILLIAMS signalled his intentions from the outset. After leading into the knockout stages he eventually finished third but secured valuable early points on the Tour leadboard. Consistent results from WILLIAMS and Team Pindar and they were at the top of the Tour Standings at the end of the nomination period with a total of 72 points, a cushion of 15 points over their nearest rivals. WILLIAMS rounded off the nomination period with victory at the Danish Open in Frederikshavn.

The city lawyer who left the court house for the race course has become one of the great names on the match racing circuit and has flirted with the # 1 position of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings throughout the nomination period.

6 - Latium Match Cup, Fiumicino, ITA - ISAF Grade W - Sep 2007
12 - King Edward VII Gold Cup, Hamilton, BER - ISAF Grade W - Oct 2007
5 - Brasil Sailing Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
1 - Monsoon Cup, Kuala Terengganu, MAS - ISAF Grade W - Nov 2007
1 - ISAF Match Racing World Championship & World Match Race Tour Winner
1 - RYA Winter Challenge 2, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Dec 2007
3 - RYA Winter Challenge 3, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - Feb 2008
1 - GKSS Ice Breaker, Langedrag, SWE - ISAF Grade 3 - Apr 2008
3 - Brasil Sailing Cup, Vitoria, BRA - ISAF Grade W - Apr 2008
4 - Match Race Germany, Langenargen, GER - ISAF Grade W - May 2008
2 - Korea Match Cup, Jeongok, KOR - ISAF Grade W - Jun 2008
9 - GKSS Match Cup Sweden, Marstrand, SWE - ISAF Grade W - Jun 2008
1 - Danish Open, Frederikshavn, DEN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008

ISAF World Match Race Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (30 July 2008) - #2

ISAF World Match Race Rankings #1 from 26 September to 24 October 2007 and from 25 June to 30 July 2008.

www.Sail-Search.com: With a run of 49.84 knots, American kitesurfer Rob Douglas beat the outright World Speed Sailing Record over 500 metres today at the speed strip at Luderitz in Namibia. Frenchman Sebastien Cattelan reached 49,59 knots, also a great performance, to record the second fastest speed of all time. The "Luderitz Speed Challenge" has kicked off with a set of impressive performances, with the riders still having 25 days left to better the mythical 50 knots barrier. And why not?

The "Luderitz Speed Challenge" reached escape velocity today in Namibia as Rob Douglas smashed the record of Antoine Albeau (49.09 knots) with a run timed at 49.84 knots. Rob Douglas, 37, a former windsurfer who started kitesurfing in June, blew it away in Namibia. He had already beaten the previous US record earlier this week.

Sebastian Cattelan, alias "Catman", was not far off the pace. The Toulouse-born Frenchman, living in South Africa and an organiser of the event with Fred Dasse, clocked a run at 49.59 knots. He was initially credited with an unratified speed of 50.10 knots, but this speed was revised down by the WSSRC Commissioner after careful examination of timing data.

These two kitesurfers are definitely on the road towards the 50 knot challenge!

A record never falls alone, and several other great performances were established during today. Sjoukje Bredenkamp (South Africa) improved her existing world record with a speed of 45.20 knots: a new Women’s Outright World Record over 500 metres. The young South African has set the bar very high. Hennie Bredenkamp takes the African outright record with 47.59 knots, while David Williams and Jurgen Geiger respectively clocked at 43.32 and 44.90 knots to take the British Kitesurf record and the Outright Namibian record.

Performances of the day:
Day 4 – 19 Sept (WSSRC ratified)
Rob Douglas 49.84
Sebastian Cattelan 49.59
Alex Caizergues 48.69
Sjoukje Bredenkamp 45.20 (new women’s record)
Hennie Bredenkamp 47.59 (new Africa record)
David Williams 43.32 (new UK kite record)
Jurgen Geiger 44.90 (new Namibia record)

Some figures
49.84 knots Rob Douglas (USA): new outright world speed sailing record over 500 metres.
49.59 knots: Second fastest speed of all time for Sebastian Cattelan
49.09 knots: Outright world speed sailing record by French windsurfer Antoine Albeau in March 2008 in the "trench" of Saintes-Maries de la Mer
48.70 knots: Outright world speed sailing record on 10 April 2005 by windsurfer Finian Maynard in the "trench" of Saintes-marie de la Mer
47.92 knots: Kitesurf world speed record in Luderitz by Alexandre Caizergues in 2007
46.82 knots: Outright world speed record by Finian Maynard in Autumn 2004, ending several years of domination by sailboat, Yellow Pages
46.52 knots: Outright world speed sailing record set by sailboat, Yellow Pages Endeavour, on 26 october 1993 at Sandy Point in Australia
1986: Pascal MAKA is the first windsurfer to establish a new world record with 38.86 knots.