Last minute news :

Following the protest, the race jury has disqualified Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Elite in the second race for a question of starboard priority at the downwind mark. As a result, Courrier Dunkerque is now 8 points ahead of Groupama, and Team Oman Sail is 6 points behind Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Elite (instead of 13 !)

For more details, please go to the officiel website, to read the Jury’s decision

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In brief :

- Courrier Dunkerque still 7 points ahead of Groupama

- Corinthian team Normandy Acerel now only 2 points from pro team Ville de Genève – Carrefour Addictions

- Team Oman Sail is getting further away from a chance of a podium

- Nantes St Nazaire won his second race since the beginning of the event

- Start of the last offshore leg tonight at 8.30pm, to Nice

Now three days before the end of the Tour de France à la Voile, Daniel Souben’s obsession is to prevent Franck Cammas and his crew to collect any more points and to get closer from them. Courrier Dunkerque reached his objective today as the two rivals are still 7 points apart on the leaderboard, like yesterday.

Courrier Dunkerque finished three boats ahead of Groupama in race one today and Groupama finished three boats ahead of Dunkerque in race 2. Tie.

In the battle for third place, Team Oman Sail lost a few more points and are watching their chances of a podium flying away. Sidney Gavignet and his team are now 13 points behind Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Elite. Mathematically, they can still close the gap, but Nicolas Troussel and his crew have found their marks with their new crew and and are making less mistakes on the race course.

While the two race leaders are fighting for victory, the Corinthian teams are more and more visible at the forefront of the fleet. Nantes St Nazaire won the first inshore race, his second victory since the beginning of the event. And Normandy Acerel won the other race. The crew of Baptiste Choquenet has been boosted by the arrival of Figaro sailor Alexis Loison and match-racer Cédric Château onboard. The ‘Normands’ also finished second in the first race and with these two excellent results, they are now only 2 points from the pro team Ville de Genève – Carrefour Addictions.

The last offshore leg of the event will be a 100 mile course to Nice with a scoring coefficient 3. The fleet will leave Hyères at 8.30pm.

Quotes of the day :

Daniel Souben, skipper of Courrier Dunkerque

In the second race, we were in front of Groupama but we made a mistake in our positionning in the first downwind leg. Then the wind dropped, the fleet gathered together and it was tight at the bottom mark. There is a few protests going on so we will see the results later on this afternoon.

The offshore leg to Nice tonight will be tricky because we can’t read the wind too far. We will have to control our rival. But we could also be 100% confident in our tactical option and not worry about the other boats. We have to assess the pros and cons. If it works, it could be the Jackpot, but if it doesn’t we would have to limit the damage. So the key is to find the right compromise. The other key point will be to manage our level of tiredness, because if we finish in Nice in the middle of the day when it’s really hot, it could end up being really difficult for everyone. We just have to do some crew rotations during the night and have a proper rest.

Franck Cammas, skipper of Groupama 34

In the second racen we started a match-race with Dunkerque almost right from the start, without looking at the rest of the fleet so we were a bit behind, but we managed to pass them and to finish third, which is still a good result. The leaderboard will remain unknown until the end. Well, I hope so. We have to keep putting the pressure on Courrier Dunkerque so that they don’t increase their lead. The next leg will be sailed at night with light winds, so it will be a bit unpredictable and we will have to be very watchfull

Overall ranking :

1 Courrier Dunkerque 3, Daniel Souben 894 pts

2 Groupama 34, Franck Cammas 886 pts

3 Bretagne - Crédit Mutuel Elite, skipper Nicolas Troussel 841 pts

4 Team OmanSail, skipper, Sidney Gavignet 835 pts

5 Ville de Genève – Carrefour Addictions, Nicolas Groux 780 pts

6 Normandy – Acerel, Baptiste Choquenet 778 pts

7 Toulon Provence Méditerranée, Florian Simonnot 749 pts

8 Nantes Saint-Nazaire, Jean-Baptiste Gellée 746 pts

9 Be Brussels Bienne Voile, Delphine Wolters et Olivier Besire 668 pts

Offshore leg ranking

1 Courrier Dunkerque 3, Daniel Souben 366 pts

2 Bretagne – Crédit Mutuel Elite, Nicolas Troussel 350 pts

3 Team Oman Sail, Sidney Gavignet, 340 pts (…)

Technical ranking :

1 Groupama 34, Franck Cammas 546 pts

2 Courrier Dunkerque 3, Daniel Souben 527 pts

3 Bretagne - Crédit Mutuel Elite 497 pts (…)

Amateur ranking :

1 Normandy - Acerel, Baptiste Choquenet 778 pts

2 Toulon Provence Méditerranée, Florian Simonnot 749 pts

3 Nantes Saint-Nazaire, Jean-Baptiste Gellée 746 pts

4 Be Brussels Bienne Voile, Delphine Wolters et Olivier Besire 668 pts

Find out about the First World War and life in the trenches
Saturday 26 July to Wednesday 3 September
This summer, we explore the FirstWorld War, involving families in lively learning about the
progress of the war and trench warfare.

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Find out how and why the FirstWorld War started as our costumed interpreter explains which
countries were involved and who was on whose side. Using our large interactive map, we’ll be
asking you to represent troops from different nationalities and actively demonstrate how far they
had advanced in the conflict.
From 11.30am to 3.30pm, between the Flying Aircraft and the Air and Sea exhibitions, discover
what trench life was really like and how trenches changed and developed over the four years of
the GreatWar.
Explore our small replica trench; see how it would have looked at the beginning of the First
World War in 1914. Moving through, you’ll see how different the trench experience was by the
end of the war, in 1918. As you travel through the trench, you can handle objects that would
have been used by the Tommies, including replica respirators. You’ll also be able to try on mini
replica FirstWorld War uniforms, webbing and head dresses. Look through the periscope to spy
on what’s happening in No Man’s Land.
Our costumed interpreter, representing a First World War infantryman, will give timed talks
throughout the day and will answer questions about life in the trenches.
He’ll explain the European political issues that led to the outbreak of war.
We’ll also look at how outdated military strategies versus the development of new technology led
to the emergence of trench warfare.
Discover what life was like in the trenches as we find out about the daily duties undertaken by
the men and how they endured the cold, the rain, the smells and the problems caused by pests
such as lice and rats. Find out what the troops ate and how they entertained themselves during
the long hours between battles.
We’ll look at the legacy of the FirstWorld War and how new military tactics and technological
advancements changed warfare forever. This included the first use of aircraft for reconnaissance
duties (including dropping messages directly into dug outs from the air) and aerial attack. It also
included the introduction of tanks and a return to mobile warfare.
You can also get creative by making and painting Airfix models of FirstWorld War aircraft in our
AirSpace exhibition between 10.30am and 2.30pm.
Airfix are running a new competition at IWM Duxford during the summer holidays. Creatively
colour in the Airfix model box design on our template sheet. Let your imagination run wild and
make your design as colourful and vibrant as you like.
There are two categories for entries: aged eight and above and under the age of eight. The prize
in each category is a family ticket (two adults, two children) for a return visit to IWM Duxford and
a hamper of Airfix goodies. The competition will be judged at the end of the summer holidays.
We look forward to seeing lots of wonderful artistic designs.
Join us this summer to explore the First World War from the tactics to the trenches.
Summer holiday family activities are included in general admission to IWM Duxford*. Visitors
aged 15 and under enjoy free admission to the museum and to our summer holiday activities.
Airfix Make and Paint is suitable for ages eight and above.

Fort Worth, Texas, July 24, 2014 - A ceremony was held today at Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], commemorating the official roll out of the first two F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

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"Today, we celebrate a milestone in the U.S.-Australia partnership, a partnership built on strength, friendship, and technological innovation," said Frank Kendall, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics. "We join Australia, as one of our original partners, to celebrate this roll out and the numerous Australian contributions to the Joint Strike Fighter program. For both our nations, this program represents an exponential leap in capability on the cutting edge of technology -- and an integral component of our ongoing joint commitment to stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific."

Joining Mr. Kendall at the ceremony, among various distinguished guests in attendance, were Air Marshal Geoff Brown, Chief of RAAF; and Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and CEO.

The F-35 Lightning II aircraft will provide the Royal Australian Air Force with a transformational 5th generation fighter capability and provides significant benefits to the Australian aerospace industry, with more than $412 million (USD) already contracted and up to $6 billion (USD) in expected manufacturing orders over the life of the program.

"It's fitting that in the year Australia commemorates 100 years of military aviation, we also mark the arrival of the most advanced fighter ever developed," said Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and CEO. "The F-35 Lightning II will lay the foundation for the next century of Australia's military air power."

The aircraft, known as AU-1 and AU-2, are scheduled to undergo functional fuel system checks before being transported to the flight line for ground and flight tests in the coming months. The jets are scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force later this year, and will be based at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where they will be used for Australian and partner country pilot training.

The F-35 Lightning II is the world's most advanced military aircraft and for over a decade, the U.S. and our allies have invested in developing this fifth-generation, international, multirole fighter aircraft that will serve as a cornerstone of global security in the 21st century.

Google captured our streets and now a Norwich man is bringing web users up close and personal with duck eye views from more than 100 miles of Broads waterways.

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Broadsview is an exciting collaboration between engineer Joe Rutland and the Broads Authority to bring detailed panoramas direct from the waterways into people’s homes, in the same vein as Google’s Streetview

It aims to provide virtual online experience of all 120 miles of navigable waterways within the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads , with the goal of increasing the number of people using this magical waterland.

The project, which is funded by the Broads Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF), will capture the required imagery by pedal power alone. The images are captured using a bespoke panoramic camera, mounted above a pedal drive in the middle of the boat.

Joe, along with numerous volunteers, has so far brought 60 miles of the Broads to Broadsview. The project continues to expand week by week.

Joe said: “This project will give potential visitors the power to explore and plan their journey before they even leave their house and aims to increase use of the Broads as a source of enjoyment and exercise.

“We are well underway with it, having completed half of all the navigable waterways and are very grateful to the Broads Authority for the SDF funding and practical support. It has been a really enjoyable experience.”

Adrian Clarke, Senior Waterways and Recreation Officer for the Broads Authority, said: “Joe has done a really amazing job of promoting the Broads in this way and helping people appreciate its unique and beautiful qualities. We’re proud to support his work and can’t wait to see the finished project. It will be really useful to anyone interested in this part of the National Park family.”

Check out progress at www.broadsview.co.uk. A 360 degree timelapse video showing a Broadsview image capture trip between Wroxham and Malthouse Broad is available to watch at http://youtu.be/sVLuVn-7rtU

Former England rugby sevens Captain and 2009 IRB Player of the Year, Ollie Phillips has joined the team at Clipper Ventures, the company that owns and operates the unique Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, as a partnerships and development ambassador.

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The deal follows Phillips’ participation in the GREAT Britain team during the 2013-14 edition of the international Clipper Race which finished in St Katharine Docks next to Tower Bridge in London on Saturday 12 July following eleven months racing round the planet.

Phillips retains the option to join the Great Britain rugby sevens team for Rio 2016, when the sport makes its Olympic debut, should he be selected in either a playing or support capacity.

“We are very pleased that Ollie is joining the company,” said Clipper Ventures’ Chief Executive William Ward. “The passion and experience he has developed with the Clipper Race, through his participation over the last year, puts him in an excellent position to act as an ambassador for our partnerships, social engagement and personal development programmes.

“Ollie will be sharing that experience with existing and new partners at special events and bespoke presentations to both grow and add value to our sponsorship portfolio.”

The former Newcastle Falcons and Stade Francais player took on the Clipper Race challenge after suffering a serious calf injury. The highly competitive sportsman helped take the GREAT Britain Clipper 2013-14 Race team to a ‘silver’ finish in second place on the podium overall out of the 12-yacht field.

“I joined the Clipper Race with absolutely no sailing experience or knowledge about the event and have learned so much over the last eleven months; it’s opened up a totally new world,” explained Phillips. “It’s been the best experience of my life. I’m extremely excited about joining the company and helping to build on its successes.

“The Clipper Race is a unique and extremely powerful international platform. I got to witness first-hand how it provided trade and tourism benefits for team sponsors such as GREAT Britain and major brand partners like Land Rover, while also providing opportunities for a variety of innovative social engagement programmes.”

Throughout the race Phillips helped to host business guests in ports of call aboard the GREAT Britain yacht in major global markets. He also worked as an international rugby sevens ambassador, engaging with Federations in Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, China, the United States and Northern Ireland to coach national and local teams during stopovers with the aim of increasing awareness of the Clipper Race to broader sports networks.

One of the most notable events took place in Brazil where Ollie and the Clipper Race joined up with Rio 2016 Olympic organisers to introduce youths to rugby for the first time during a training session with the Brazilian rugby Captain and Rio’s favela based coaches, on Flamenco beach. The session included a tour of the GREAT Britain boat at the 2016 Olympic sailing venue, Marina da Gloria.

Phillips added: “I’m incredibly passionate about the Clipper Race and see many exciting possibilities to develop its links with business and the international sports industry to help generate even more widespread awareness for this unique and incredible event. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience with as many people as possible.”

ALICANTE, Spain – Team Brunel stole pole position in the first competitive meeting of the new Volvo Ocean 65s, as the inaugural edition of the Marina Rubicón Round Canary Islands race took place in Lanzarote this week.

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Bouwe Bekking’s crew, who completed the 650-nautical mile course in 57 hours and 39 minutes, secured first prize in a race against two of their Volvo Ocean Race rivals - the Spanish-backed boat skippered by Iker Martínez, and the all-women’s crew of Team SCA.

“The race was really fun, with various conditions”, said Team Brunel’s Lithuanian crew member Rokas Milevic(ius. “We had strong wind, light wind, no wind – and we sailed up and downwind”.

Featuring seven islands, and a host of tricky transition zones, the course is a notoriously turbulent one – and Rokas reckons that the added experience of his team played an integral role in the win.

“We knew exactly what to expect, because Andrew ‘Capey’ Cape has done this race before”, he added. “He did a great job in preparing the race. We knew where the wind would die, and where the wind would increase.”

Meanwhile, in a fight to the death for the silver spot, the Spanish-backed boat narrowly pipped Team SCA to the runner-up place.

Newly-named runner-up skipper Iker Martínez and his crew made it back to Lanzarote in 59 hours and 40 minutes – just 10 minutes before their rivals.

And despite losing out on victory, the Spaniard was delighted with the performance of his team. “It’s been a good surprise”, he said.

“We came here to see where we’re at, and to establish a base upon which to start learning. The truth is that we are better off than what we first thought”.

It was back to the drawing board for Team SCA though, who admitted that after months of tough training, their first competitive race in the new boat was a real learning curve.

“We have a long way to go”, said American sailor Sally Barkow. “It just highlights what is important in an offshore race, so I think everyone now has a better concept of what we need to get better at”.

But third place is not the end of the world, according to her teammate, Abby Ehler, who believes that the team still have reason to be confident.

“This is what we’ve been training for the whole time – to race”, she said. “We were able to hang in there and give the other boats a run for their money. I think we can be pretty happy with ourselves”.

As the teams were landed back into Lanzarote, Dongfeng Race Team continued their pre-race preparations with a session of T’ai Chi.

The ancient martial art, famous for its numerous health and well-being benefits, originates from the city of Shiyan, one of the Chinese-backed team’s platinum partners.

French skipper Charles Caudrelier sees it as the perfect way to unite his multi-cultural - and multi-lingual - crew.

“It’s something we all enjoy”, he said. “It’s interesting for the western crew to discover new things like this everyday with our Chinese sailors”.

Meanwhile, Team Alvimedica and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing arrived in Southampton, UK earlier this week, following successful transatlantic crossings from Newport, Rhode Island.

The trip – which under strict Volvo Ocean Race rules was not a race – saw the boats navigate some tricky weather conditions, including 40 knot winds, and thunder and lightning storms.

“We are really on our toes”, said ADOR navigator Simon Fisher, during the crossing. “It’s really, really relevant race training, for sure”.

And Team Alvimedica, in particular, will be pleased to spend some time on dry land following long spells at sea in recent weeks – but their preparations were well worth it, according to their Onboard Reporter Amory Ross.

“Heaps of tough miles, and each of them valuable in so many ways”, he wrote. “I think it’s safe to say that everyone feels they were extremely well spent”.

The voyage saw Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s skipper, Ian Walker, return to his hometown – and the respective boats will remain on the south coast Aberdeen Asset Management’s Cowes Week, which runs from August 2-9, before embarking on the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race the following day.

The two teams will also be joined by Team SCA, the Spanish-backed boat, and Dongfeng Race Team.

This week Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin gave a speech at the Western Conservative Summit concerning the issues facing America on immigration. She talked about the immorality of the impending border bailouts proposed by both President Obama and Speaker Boehner and their impact on those attempting to become Americans legally.

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In her speech she says, "millions of immigrants come to America - legally - to pursue the American Dream. We admire them for playing by the rules, respecting American law, and contributing to our country and our communities. We are for legal immigration - and against illegal immigration. There is already a legal path to citizenship for those wishing to come to the United States. Our government should not reward those who choose to get off that path, cut the line, and break the law - to do so would be immoral, in fact, as it would unfairly punish those who chose to follow the law and play by the rules. By simply respecting the rule of law and securing the border, we will send a message to the rest of the world that we welcome immigrants who come here legally ... and reject those who do not."

You can read the rest of the speech here. Be sure to call your Congressman, write your Senators and to tell them to vote NO on ANY border bailout. Tea Party Patriots has also put together toolkits that will show you many ways you can get involved in the fight! As Jenny Beth says, "to give them an extra little bit of incentive - tell them, 'Vote NO on the border bailout - or I'LL be voting NO on YOU in November.'"

In Liberty,

Tea Party Patriots National Support Team

P.S. Please forward this to 10 of your friends and ask them to call their representatives and tell them to vote NO on the border bailout!

Mentor

Mentor

Price: SEK 3 500 000 + VAT

Unique and extremely lavish high-speed taxi boat with twin Volvo Penta D6 with DPH-sterndrives. Built in 2009 from a Combat 90E-hull. 13.6 x 3 meters. 34 knots.

Specifications

Flag state:

SE, Sweden

Classification:

Not certified

LOA:

13.60 metres

Beam:

3.04 metres

Draft:

1.25 metres

Air draft:

5.5 med antenner metres

Consumption:

3.2 l/Mile

Shipyard:

Nya Westers Mekaniska, Sweden

Year built:

2009

Material hull:

Aluminium

Thickness:

6 mm

Material superstructure:

Aluminium

Thickness:

5 mm

Tonnage:

14,5 GT / NT

Light ship:

11 tonnes

Cruising speed:

25 knots

Top speed:

34 knots

Home port:

Stockholm, Sweden

No. of passengers:

12

Machinery

Main engine:

2 x Volvo, D6-330A-C, 330 bHp, 5100 running hours Installed 2009

Propeller:

Volvo Penta, Duo Propeller

Stern drive:

Volvo Penta DPH

Engine room equipment

Heater:

Kabola, HR400

Hot water boiler:

Mobitherm

Bilge pump:

2 x 350 l/min

Inverter:

Xantrex 1800W

Navigation equipment

Navigational Unit:

Lowrance

Instruments:

Charts, Sonar

Surveillance camera:

Waeco

Computers:

HP

Radar:

Furuno

Autopilot:

Simrad, AP50

GPS navigator:

Echo sounder:

AIS:

Furuno, FA-50

VHF:

Sailor

Other:

Lowrance LCX 37, Navionics with log, distance, water temp, echo sounder. Furuno screen with Navnet charts and radar. Olórin screen PC for Transas chart and can be connected to the TV in the lounge 2 wipers in the front and washer fluid. Radiators with 2 fans in the lounge and front windows. 2 x BeGe chairs, captain's chair is electric tilting so you can almost sit outside. Furuno SC-30 Satellite Compass

Tank capacity

Diesel:

1200 l

Septic:

100 l

Fresh water:

600 l

Safety equipment

Fire fighting, engine room:

CO2

Life raft:

Sea-Safe, KHY, 12 persons

Deck equipment

Anchor windlass type:

Engbo

Other:

2 solar cells that charges 80 watts each.

History

The hull was built by Storebro, Sweden from a Combat Boat 90E hull. The boat was extended from the middle of the salon aft of aluminum and the forward part remains in carbon fiber. The floor and deckhouse has been built in aluminum. The boat was equipped with twin Volvo Penta machines and sterndrives instead of water jets. The boat is considered as a new building from 2008-09-01.

General arrangement

Wheelhouse with two suspended and electrical BeGe seats. Three independet navigational systems with different chart systems. CCTV for aft deck. Electric door. Double bunks in the bow under the fore deck with windows.

The lounge with a sofa around a table on the port side and folding chairs to starboard. TV that can display navigation maps. Exit to the rear deck. Radiators on both sides of the ship. CD changer and music system.

Modern galley with propane stove, microwave oven and refrigerator. Fresh water tap and cupboard storage. The toilet with shower facilities, sinks, ventilation and window. Can change between fresh- and sea water.

Easily accessible engine room with double doors that open with lifting arm. Two Volvo Penta D6, Mobitherm water heaters, Kabola boiler and sea water pump.

Foredeck built for taking on pasengers. Rubber fender around the entire vessel. Aft deck with dive platform and windlass. Solar cells on the roof.

Seatrial in Stockholm archipelago.

Certificates and documents

Life raft and fire e

 Life raft

Will be reinspected.

  All details given in good faith but not guaranteed.