When we were preparing to launch our Sail-World cruising site many years ago, we put an advertisement in Sail-World. A few days later we got an email from an Australian cruising sailor, living in Turkey. She and her husband Ted Nobbs were part the way thru a round the world cruise.

I went off to read her blog about Blackwattle and their adventures. Within minutes I was enthralled. So Nancy became our Sail-World Cruising editor and we and our audience followed these adventurers home, while we had hours of skype conversations along the way. The tales Nancy recounted to our rapidly growing audience formed the basis of Nancy's book Shooting Stars and Flying Fish. Its a great read, I've read it twice and laughed out loud, at stories I almost know off by heart. Its about sailing, but more is about life and the decisions we make. Its a sea-change and a tree-change rolled into one and I smile every day about some of the on deck conversations between Nancy and Ted, and these days happily enjoy listening to them in person.

Read it, give it to your friends. Talk to Nancy at the Sydney Boat Show, she'll sign a copy for you.

In this newsletter there is a review on the book and right at the bottom a link to a recent newspaper feature article, thats definitely worth reading too.

Rob Kothe & the Sail-World Team

Book Review – Shooting Stars and Flying Fish written by Nancy Knudsen Allen & Unwin, Book Review – Shooting Stars and Flying Fish. A light-hearted but inspirational memoir about a remarkable couple who left behind the corporate rat-race to follow their dream of sailing around the world - a story that demonstrates the rewards of taking risks to follow one's star.... [more] Share this story

Boat Shows need feedback - win a $14,000 holiday and boat NOW!! MarineBusiness-World.com, Most boaters and fishers have been to many boat shows, finding it a rewarding, informative and fun experience. The Marine industry needs that to be the case. Boat Show organisers spend the entire year working to deliver a better experience for showgoers and exhibitors alike. To make sure they are putting their emphasis on the things that will have you coming back they need to understand the... [more] Share this story

2011 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, July 7-16 in Croatia Craig Heydon, With the 2011 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship being held this week in Zadar, Croatia. Australian sailors are aiming to make an impact. After competing in Germany and taking gold in two events, confidence is high in the team.... [more] Share this story

Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race 2011 entries closing in a week Jennifer Crooks, Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race to be held at The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia July 30. This race has seen some of the Australia's best come out for glory. Fierce competition is expected between Ainsworth, the title defender, and Blackmore who's coming off a win at the Brisbane Gladstone Race.... [more] Share this story

IFDS World Championships - Australians in the medal hunt Craig Heydon, 2011 IFDS World Championships. Australian crews are in a position to win a medal in the Skud 18 class and qualify the country for London 2012 in the 2.4mR and Sonar classes... [more] Share this story

Northern NSW bar crossing rescues – Day of drama Stephen Reading, Sunday 3rd July 2011 saw Marine Rescue Units at Brunswick and Ballina respond to overturned vessels on their river bars. Brunswick rescue vessel BR 20 responded to the incident, picked up one of the survivors - the other two being brought in by Brunswick SLSA. At Ballina the same day, the Unit was stretched to the limit responding to three call outs within several hours.... [more] Share this story

Rolex Ilhabella Sailing Week 2011 - Day 3 images by Carlo Borlenghi Carlo Borlenghi images, Rolex Ilhabella Sailing Week 2011 - Carlo Borlenghi images of the racing action from the Alcatrax Race.... [more] Share this story

IFDS Worlds 2011 - New Skud Champions Rickham and Birrell IFDS Worlds, One title is decided as Brits Alex Rickham and Niki Birrell wrap up their third straight SKUD crown on the penultimate day of the IFDS Worlds. But the race for the Sonar and 2.4mR titles are still in the balance as the 155 sailors that have done battle on the 2012 Paralympic Waters of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy this week prepare for one final race tomorrow.... [more] Share this story

PWA Pozo Gran Canaria World Cup 2011 day 3 - The women shine Ed Sinclair, PWA Pozo Gran Canaria World Cup 2011 day 3. The judges' let the ladies loose onto the competition area, allowing the first few heats of the single elimination to be completed. First up was multi-talented Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North) verses new girl to the tour Sarah Bibby (Simmer) and on the other side of the heat Silvia Alba Orozco verses Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne).... [more] Share this story

Open Europeans Helsinki - Star gold medal decided Kurt Lönnqvist, On Thursday morning the winds surrounding racing area in Helsinki were very light, therefore, the Race Officer decided that it was best to wait for more suitable conditions ashore. Stars finally got their Medal Race going at 13:30, one hour and a half behind the original schedule.... [more] Share this story

Stena Match Cup Sweden 2011 Day 2 - Young Australian skipper on top WMRT, Stena Match Cup Sweden 2011 Day 2 and the Australian duo of Gilmour and Swinton dominated the headlines. The starts were key to Swinton's success, bossing opponents Rasmus Viltoft (DEN) Team Viltoft and Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team around the box in the pre-start sequence to gain the upper hand in both races.... [more] Share this story

Swan European Regatta 2011 set to start Cailah Leask, The 15th edition of the regatta will welcome a total of 46 Swan yachts from eight nations that will be competing across four separate classes. Racing will all be located in the Solent which has a reputation for its testing tidal conditions.... [more] Share this story

Transatlantic Race 2011 existing speed record still stands Kirsten Ferguson, Transatlantic Race 2011 Although conditions in the North Atlantic for the 26 yachts competing in the race put at least one on pace to break speed sailing records, the existing record, set in 2008, will stand for a while longer. Via satellite link, navigator Peter Isler (San Diego, California) detailed the knarly conditions of the last 24 hours aboard Rambler 100.... [more] Share this story

America's Cup: Int Jury upholds basis of Challenger selection Richard Gladwell, Sail-World understands that the International Jury for the 34th America's Cup has upheld the position advanced by the Defender, Golden Gate Yacht Club, over the transition of the original Challenger of Record role to Sweden's KSSS. The full Jury decision can be read in this story... [more] Share this story

Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race return entry from Yorkshire Heather Ewing, Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race - Yorkshire is set to take on the world with the announcement today that it is to compete in the Clipper Race as the only English entry in the ten-strong field for the global contest which is ‘raced by people like you'. This will be the third consecutive edition of the Clipper Race, now in its 15th year, in which the county has been represented... [more] Share this story

2011 Yachting NSW Youth Championship NoR Online Now Daniel Williams, The 2011 Yachting NSW Youth Championship, part of the Youth Sailing Grand Prix, will be held at Illawarra Yacht Club on Lake Illawarra from Saturday first to Monday October 3rd.... [more] Share this story

Offshore newcomers welcomed YWA Offshore, The ocean racing debut of a number of new yachts and crews has been a highlight of this winter's Valmadre Cup series, conducted by Fremantle Sailing Club in the waters between Fremantle and Rottnest Island. Crews are currently preparing for the Ensign Race, the second race in the series, with an ideal forecast of chilly ten to fifteen knot easterlies and flat seas for this Saturday morning.... [more] Share this story

European Championships: Long day on water for Australian Laser sailors Craig Heydon, The light and tricky conditions which have dominated the first week of the 2011 Open European Championships in Helsinki, Finland, have continued to have a major influence on the day four of racing for the Laser fleets.... [more] Share this story

IFDS World Championship 2011 in Weymouth reaches the business end Craig Heydon, 2011 IFDS World Championships in Weymouth, England- Heavy winds have tested crews with competition heating up on the water as the regatta reaches the business end.... [more] Share this story

Stena Cup: France victorious in Olympic Womens Match Race run up Sail-World, French women's match racing star Claire Leroy scored a crucial win in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics with victory in the at the Stena Match Cup Sweden today. The world number two put on a downwind masterclass to come from behind in the last race of the final to snatch victory over American rival Anna Tunnicliffe.... [more] Share this story

ISAF Match Race Rankings July - Ainslie and MacGregor retain top spots International Sailing Federation, ISAF World Match Race Rankings - Ben Ainslie and Lucy MacGregor retain the number one positions for Great Britain in the ISAF World Rankings but there are plenty of changes below them as the 2011 season continues. Ainslie retains the number one position on the ISAF World Match Race Rankings but his hold on the top is diminishing as the 2011 World Match Racing Tour gains pace.... [more] Share this story

Solo Around Australia sailor Bruce Arms confirms start date Suzanne Arms, Bruce Arms has confirmed he will be departing for his Solo Around Australia world record attempt from The Yacht Club at Mooloolaba Marina on Sunday 10 July at 12 noon. Arms, after months of hard work and preparation, said today he is ready to embark on the epic voyage. He aims to create a world record by sailing solo around Australia in just 35 days in his 14 metre catamaran, Big Wave Rider.... [more] Share this story

Preliminary Notice Of Race for the 2013 Melbourne to Osaka race. John Curnow, The Committees of the Sandringham Yacht Club, Osaka Hokko Yacht Club and the ORCV are very pleased to provide the Preliminary Notice of Race for the 2013 Melbourne to Osaka event. In addition to a slightly earlier start time window, the other main element is that the race will now be a Category One event.... [more] Share this story

Voyage of Reconciliation Fiona Harper, 'The ship struck and stuck fast,' so notes James Cook, unceremoniously ‘discovering' the Great Barrier Reef as HMB Endeavour struck the reef near Cairns. The 18th century replica of Cook's ship is circumnavigating Australia on a voyage of friendship and reconciliation. It's particularly relevant to indigenous crew, given that relations weren't always quite as congenial during the original voyage.... [more] Share this story

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