Goodbye Rule 69
Alltid like kontroversielle Magnus Wheatley lägger ner sin blogg, Rule 69. Han har framförallt varit högljudd i debatten kring Americas Cup, och har bjussat på en del intressanta rykten (och synpunkter).
Frågan är om det är familjen, etablissemanget, juristerna eller hans nya Mumm 30 som får honom att sluta?
This ain’t no adios…this is goodbye…
I’ve taken some time to think about it but this is the last post on this blog and the site will be taken down on Moday 17th March. I just feel that we’ve taken it as far as we can and that on the internet you have to stay relevant and on the ball before you sound hackneyed and worn out. I’ll probably be back but for now, that’s it. The sailing scene is pretty dull right now and at the top end which I enjoy, it’s just a ridiculous farce on the verge of irrepairable damage. Shame, but that’s the way it goes…if it re-ignites spectacularly then I might come back.
And just to stop the rumour mill in its tracks. We haven’t been put out of business despite Dan Meyers’ best efforts and we don’t have any outstanding legal disputes. This is my decision and my decision alone…I just want to spend some more time with my family rather than being obliged to blog every evening. Hurricane Harry is growing-up fast and I need to spend my evenings with him and my wife. As many of you know, this blog was always just a hobby aside from my main career and I think it’s the right thing to concentrate on that for the time being. It’s been fun and now for the thank yous…
Cheers first and foremost to every single person who logged on and made this site a phenomenal success. Thanks to all the photographers for sending in such wonderful shots and thanks to the gossipers who provided me with occasionally great story leads. I must also say a big thank you to Simon at Siris Digital for building and hosting the site and to my sponsors who stuck by me through thick and thin – you took a chance and I appreciate that.
Farewell…it’s been a blast. Good sailing…
Blondie IV seglar…

Eamonn Rohans nya King 40, Blondie IV, seglar för första gången. De laddar för Commodores’ Cup i år, och första racet blir RORC Red Funnel Easter Challenge där ett antal coola båtar lär dyka upp. Bland andra Rán, Niklas Zennströms IRC-optimerade TP 52 med Steve Hayles ombord (någon som vet vilken båt detta är?).
Kuriosa är också att David Aisher, RORCs Commodore, skall segla sin helt nya J/109, Yeoman XXX… Way to go! Det lär ju dröja ett tag innan man kan sätta XXX efter båtnamnet!


Sweet… Orca Class 40

Ytterligare en cool Class 40. Denna gång Orca 40 från Humphreys Yacht Design. Byggs på Ocean Tec Company i Slovenien och skall sjösättas de närmaste veckorna.
Orca Class40 by Humphreys Yacht Design and Ocean tec
The new Class40 box rule has created conditions for the fastest growing offshore racing fleet in the world. Its success is mainly based on the Class40 prime subjective: to introduce affordable and manageable offshore yacht for both professional and amateur sailors, that could be sailed shorthanded or fully crewed.
Taking advantage of the latest knowledge in hydrodynamics and naval architecture enabled creation of extremely fast boats that exceed the speed of much bigger boats from previous generation, despite severe rule restrictions on hi–tech solutions such as canting keels and use of carbon fibres. Vacuum-infused epoxy PVC sandwich laminates with integral secondary structure in a monocoque arrangement is a leading edge “3D infusion” process developed by Ocean tec to promote structural longevity. This construction approach produces significant weight savings and better mechanical properties at the same time, thus making the boats lighter, stiffer and safer.
The design work on the Orca yachts is entrusted to Humphreys Yacht Design, a company which has consistently struck the right note between experience, innovation, style, and performance. Having Rob Humphreys in a pro-active, steering role in Orca’s product development gives Orca yachts the direct benefit of his insight into the world’s yachting market.
Although the Orca Class40 is a “full on race boat”, the very features that enhance her shorthanded capability give her a strong cruising capability, enriching both her afterlife value and general usability. Orca Yachts will make sound sense to any potential customer who has a hankering for speed and style as well as comfort, safety, and reliability.
The Ocean tec`s design expertise, its technical ability, and its state of the art production processes add detail strength to this base philosophy, giving the Orca brand a very precise compass course to steer by.
Orca Class40 yachts are going to be built in Epoxy glass PVC sandwich “3D infused” laminate from production moulds. The tooling process is underway and the prototype is scheduled to be launched in late February 2008 to compete in the Transat race in May 2008.
NORLYS | uppdaterade standardbåtar
Nu har NORLYS presenterat sin uppdaterade lista med standardbåtar. 111 båtar, eller varianter, förutom de som finns i den vanliga LYS-tabellen. Nya Dehler 34 och X-34 är redan med. Kuriosa är att J/109 nu finns med som standardbåt – 1.29 med fock.
| 12.5 kvm krysser | 0.95 |
| Arcona 40 DS | 1.19 |
| Banner 28 HR | 1.18 |
| Banner 28 LR | 1.14 |
| Bavaria 30 cruiser | 1.10 |
| Bavaria 32 cruiser 01-05 | 1.14 |
| Bavaria 32 holiday 96-98 | 1.14 |
| Bavaria 36 ac 98-99 | 1.18 |
| Bavaria 36 CR 01-05 | 1.19 |
| Bavaria 37 AC 99-02 | 1.18 |
| Bavaria 37 CR | 1.18 |
| Bavaria 38 Cruiser 02-05 | 1.23 |
| Bavaria 38 holiday 96-98 | 1.20 |
| Bavaria 38 Match | 1.31 |
| Bavaria 39 CR | 1.23 |
| Bavaria 40 AC 98-02 | 1.22 |
| Bavaria 42 cruiser | 1.24 |
| Bavaria 42 Match | 1.34 |
| Bavaria 44 AC 01-04 | 1.26 |
| Bavaria 46 CRUISER | 1.28 |
| C&C 115 | 1.35 |
| Comet 33 | 1.21 |
| Dehler 33 CR | 1.21 |
| Dehler 34 SV | 1.29 |
| Dehler 41 | 1.27 |
| Dehler 47 | 1.38 |
| Delphia 33 | 1.15 |
| Diva 36 E | 1.27 |
| Dk 46 | 1.49 |
| Dufour 34 Performance | 1.25 |
| Dufour 34 Standard | 1.23 |
| Dufour 36 | 1.20 |
| Dufour 365 | 1.17 |
| Dufour 385 | 1.21 |
| Dufour 40 HR | 1.31 |
| Dufour 40 Standard | 1.30 |
| Dufour 44 HR | 1.42 |
| Dufour 44 Performance | 1.38 |
| Dufour 44 Standard | 1.36 |
| Elan 333 | 1.22 |
| Elan 37 | 1.30 |
| Elan 40 | 1.31 |
| FARR 40 OD | 1.48 |
| First 34.7 | 1.28 |
| First 44.7 | 1.40 |
| First 456 | 1.30 |
| First 47.7 | 1.34 |
| Grand Soleil 37 | 1.23 |
| Grand Soleil 37 B&C | 1.32 |
| GRAND SOLEIL 40 C | 1.29 |
| GRAND SOLEIL 40 R | 1.33 |
| Grand Soleil 42 R | 1.43 |
| Grand soleil 43 | 1.31 |
| Hanse 312 98-05 | 1.15 |
| Hanse 342 04- | 1.22 |
| Hanse 370 | 1.26 |
| Hanse 400 | 1.30 |
| Hanse 400 e | 1.31 |
| Hanse 411 1998-2005 | 1.29 |
| Hansson 31 | 1.21 |
| HR 342 | 1.20 |
| HR 39 | 1.17 |
| J/109 | 1.29 |
| J/133 | 1.42 |
| J/92 S | 1.26 |
| Jeanneau One Design 35 | 1.29 |
| Kelt 29 | 1.07 |
| Knarr-variant | 1.05 |
| LOHI 25 | 1.04 |
| Mantra 31 | 1.25 |
| Mantra 7000 | 1.15 |
| Mantra 8.5 | 1.14 |
| Maxi 1050 | 1.22 |
| Mini 650 serie | 1.18 |
| N-yachts 41 | 1.30 |
| NORDSHIP 28 | 1.06 |
| Oceanis 323 clipper | 1.16 |
| Oceanis 331 Clipper | 1.17 |
| Oceanis 343 Clipper | 1.20 |
| Oceanis 361 Clipper | 1.21 |
| Oceanis 393 Clipper | 1.17 |
| Oceanis 411 Clipper | 1.20 |
| Performance 35 | 1.30 |
| RS Elite | 1.12 |
| Rush Fun 25 | 1.12 |
| Sun Fast 35 | 1.22 |
| Sun Fast 36 | 1.22 |
| Sun Fast 37 | 1.24 |
| Sun Fast 39 | 1.23 |
| Sun Fast 40 | 1.28 |
| Sun fast 40.3 | 1.28 |
| Sun Od 35 | 1.15 |
| Sun Od 36.2 HR | 1.17 |
| Sun Od 36.2 LR | 1.16 |
| Sun Od 37 | 1.21 |
| Sun Od 40.3 | 1.19 |
| Sun Od 45.2 HR | 1.30 |
| Sun Od 45.2 LR | 1.26 |
| Tartan 3400 | 1.25 |
| Tiamat 40 | 1.47 |
| X-102 mk I | 1.18 |
| X-3/4 | 1.21 |
| X-34 | 1.27 |
| X-37 | 1.32 |
| X-382 Mk I | 1.28 |
| X-40 | 1.35 |
| X-41 od | 1.44 |
| X-43 | 1.37 |
| X-452 | 1.34 |
| X-46 | 1.42 |
| X-50 | 1.46 |


