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Whatever you do... don't look into Hicko's eyes!!!

'Roger Hickman and his Wild Rose Crew have made it three wins in a row.' © Andrea Francolini Photography Click Here to view large photo

`What did we just tell you?’

Roger Hickman of Wild Rose; Rolex Sydney Hobart Race 2012 Division 4 IRC handicap winner - Crosbie Lorimer

Roger Hickman and his Wild Rose crew seem to have a hypnotic hold over the Sydney IRC racing fleet at the moment.

Wild Rose is a 28 year old Farr 43, the original Wild Oats and should be being hosed by the slew of modern IRC racers. But over the last few season she has been getting better and better results.

Another outstanding win in the Cabbage Tree Island Race on the weekend, following on from the Bird Island Race and Flinders Island Race, its three offshore wins in a row for the Tasmanian Devil and his very experienced crew.

The message for all the other skippers, is don't look into Hicko's eyes. Sammy Hunt who joined our Sword of Orion crew, ex-Atara warned us repeatedly about that when we were sailing a lot against Hicko back in the late 1990's.

Seriously....Onya Mate, we hope the Sydney Hobart weather suits you and you get more than apples when you reach Constitution Dock.

Its coming up FAST but entries are still being accepted for the ISAF Sailing World Cup - Melbourne Olympic classes, the full suite which will be sailed in Rio, as well as the Sail Melbourne Invited Classes.

This combined event is the second regatta of the 2013-2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup series and is being organised by Yachting Victoria at Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne, from the 1st -8th December 2013.

The 2013 Sail Melbourne Invited Classes are Laser Radial Men, Laser 4.7, Men and Women’s Kiteboard, Viper, 420, 29er, Optimist, OK dinghy, 2.4R, SKUB18, Liberty Access and Cadet dinghy. Full entry details below.

Outteridge and Jensen heading into some Port Phillip Bay choppy seas. - ISAF Sailing World Cup - Sail Melbourne 2011 - Teri Dodds - copyright

Half a world away, the 2013 ISAF Annual General Meeting in Muscat, Oman is underway.

There are a raft of subcommittee meetings with nothing extraordinary happening.

But in between meetings, as Sail-World predicted, the hot button subject in the corridors is the new concept for the ISAF World Sailing Championships, based on the new elite series we detailed over the last month.

There are certainly very divided opinions about it, many discussions among the Olympic Classes and especially the smaller MNA's, who see their chances of participating in a World Championship (as the Class Worlds) disappearing, being relegated to regional events.

Even larger MNA's are uncertain, because they know so little about the concept, costs, qualification to the top 25 level and the effects on their development squads.

While the proposal could well pass through in Events Committee and Council, as it has strong support especially from the President and Executive, there are many questions yet to be answered.

The key voting group is Europe where all but a few Olympic class regattas are held. Today we have some background from Dan Ibsen the Vice President of EUROSAF, representing 43 countries in Europe.

We will being you more from Marco Predieri, the EUROSAF President, who is a strong supporter of ISAF President Carlo Croce in the next few day. More news from Muscat as decisions are made.

Tom Slingsy leads the Laser fleet around the course - 2011 ISAF Sailing World Cup - Sail Melbourne - Teri Dodds - copyright

Sad news from Brisbane, where 18 footer crew David 'Casper' Hansa died on Saturday after being trapped under his capsized skiff during a Brisbane 18 footers Sailing Club race on Waterloo Bay race. We join with the entire sailing community in offering condolences to his family.

Another great report on the weekend's Club Marine series from John Curnow, who drives the media boat for the series, as well as reporting, with excellent images from Teri Dodds and Alex McKinnon. Make sure you read, compare and contrast with reports on your local events.

Ikon stood out all day – great sailing team. - Club Marine Series - http://www.alexmckinnonphotography.com!©_Alex_McKinnon

Our audience traffic stats show us that John's strong technical reporting is much appreciated by our knowledgeable sailing audience. It is in strong contrast to reports written from results sheets which are sadly so common these days.