Sunday, Nov. 23 was a beautiful, warm day to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activity. Manhasset Bay, which usually by this time of the year is devoid of boats, was a bevy of activity, relatively speaking. A kayaker was spotted enjoying the warm day, there were several power boats out for a pleasurable afternoon sail, and eight frostbiters were on the starting line. When the weather was as beautiful as it was on Sunday, it seems an oxymoron to call Sunday's sailing "frostbiting." But we all know the day will come when these sailors will face the wintry elements that give credence to those who choose to sail in rain, sleet and snow. The Race Committee managed to complete five races and one crew race, which was quite a feat since the NE wind ranged from a high of 4-6 knots at the start of racing, and slacked off to about 2-4 knots as the day progressed. The winners for the day: 1. #536, Pedro Lorson/Eva Lund, 2. #707, Bob Kirtland/Mark Cornachio, and 3. #514, Ted Toombs/Matt Cornachio. Mark Cornachio won the crew race. There was a dispute in race #4, but no protest was filed-but it is worth mentioning. Stephanie Baas, with crew member Dana Schnipper, on #511, was in a neck-to-neck photo finish with Pedro Lorson. The Committee called Pedro the winner, while the mark boat at the other end of the line, called the Baas/Schnipper team the winner. The Committee call is the one that counts, so the win was awarded to Pedro. Congrats to Stef Baas and Dana Schnipper for a well-sailed race. Considering the competition these two were up against, warnings are now issued to watch out for this "dangerous duo."

On the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, six frostbiters were on the starting line in weather that was a little more appropriate for frostbiting. The weather was 48 degrees and the forecast was for high winds that would have prevented the teams from competing. As it turned out, the wind was 12 to 16 knots, with gusts clocking in at about 20, and RC gave the "go-ahead" for the day. Only four races were completed, and there was no crew race. Top boats for the day (crew names unavailable): 1. # 536, Pedro Lorson, 2. # 603, Pat Kelly, and 3. #514, Ted Toombs.

Ever since the Swiss team, Alinghi, won the last America's Cup, many changes in the management of the Cup have taken place. One of them is the method for choosing the host city for the next Cup, scheduled for 2007. In the past, the winner of the Cup would host the next Louis Vuitton Challenge Series and Cup competition. But because the land of chocolate is land-locked, and cannot host the Cup according to the America's Cup Deed of Gift, the city fathers were forced to start looking at other venues in Europe that would satisfy the deed, and also offer good winds to prevent the many cancelled days of sailing that occurred in Auckland this year. To do this, those involved with Team Alinghi formed AC Management, which is planning the 32nd America's Cup, who retained eight European venues last March for consideration as the host city for the Cup. In June of this year that number was reduced to five, Lisbon (POR), Marseille (FRA), Naples (ITA), Palma de Mallorca (ESP), Valencia (ESP). Each city was given a Manual for the Candidate Cities, which included 80 questions and asked to reply by the end of July. After presenting their dossier to AC Management, representatives from all five sites traveled to Geneva to make a final oral presentation to AC Management, after which AC Management evaluated each city's suitability for the next Cup. According to Michel Bonnefours, the CEO of AC Management, "The process we are using to identify the city that will host the next America's Cup bodes well for the potential of expanding the scope and reach of this great event among a new and broader audience." Since Spain had two entries, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia and the AC Management wanted only one city per country on the short list, Palma was dropped as a candidate. The short list included four venues: Lisbon (POR), Marseille (FRA), Naples (ITA), Valencia (ESP).

On Wednesday, Nov. 26, AC Management announced their decision. For readers who love to travel and are sailing enthusiasts, and are looking for a great vacation destination for the summer of 2007, you may want to consider Valencia, Spain, the site chosen for the next America's Cup competition. Many believe Valencia won out over the other three because the Spanish have the money, it is a nice site on the Mediterranean Sea, and their King, Juan Carlos I is an enthusiastic sailor. And to celebrate in the style which is fitting the America's Cup, Michel Bonnefous, who is in charge of venue selection and running the America's Cup event, and Ernesto Bertarelli, from the Alinghi syndicate, chartered a plane for his closest sailing friends (read sailing's most elite sailors - including Dennis Conner of Stars and Stripes fame) to join him in flight as they awaited announcement of the next Cup venue. Once the announcement was made, Bertarelli et all landed to congratulate the city fathers.

Looking for a holiday gift for your special sailing friend, maybe a loyal crew member, or relative? If they love sailboat racing, and want to improve their skills, why not give them a subscription to Speed & Smarts, a 16-page instructional publication, published by David Dellenbaugh, that is written especially for racing sailors. It is packed with tips and tools that will help improve racing performance. Check out a free sample copy on Dellenbaugh's website, www.SpeedandSmarts.com. For those who may be unfamiliar with Dellenbaugh's credentials, he was a coach and tactician for Mighty Mary during her 1995 America's Cup campaign. He was also the starting helmsman and tactician on America3 during her successful defense of the 1992 America's Cup. He is a Lightning world champion, two-time Congressional Cup winner, six time Thistle national champion, winner of the Canada's Cup and a former U.S. Match and team racing champion. Dellenbaugh's sailing career is equally matched by his ability to write. His writing background includes being the associate editor of Sailing World magazine, where he was the original author of the popular column, Around the Buoys, co-author of Smallboat Sailing, published by Sports Illustrated, and is the author of the Quick Reference Rules card. As director of marketing for North Sails, he produced the North U. Fast, Smart, One Design and Cruising courses. And finally, he is a USSA-certified senior judge and former member of the US Sailing Racing Rules Committee. With a sailing and writing background like this, Speed & Smarts may be just the gift you need for your sailing friends. You may even want to treat yourself to this bi-monthly newsletter. For more information, go to his website noted above or call 800-356-2200.