The Fat Lady has sung

by Rob Kothe and the Sail-World Team on 10 Apr 2015 Volvo Ocean Race- after 6,776 nautical miles of sailing and 18 days of close ocean racing the Emirati entry Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing won the epic Volvo Ocean Race Leg 5 from Auckland New Zealand to Itajai Brazil. Abu Dhabi ng skippered by Ian Walker has established a seven-point advantage at the top of the overall standings after winning the marque fifth leg in the epic, round-the-world race. .

Abu Dhabi set a new 24-hour distance record for this edition of the race clocking up 550.82 nautical miles over a 24-hour period.

“This is a hugely satisfying result,” an exhausted but elated Walker told the near 10,000 spectators on the pontoon in Itajai. “You always have to be wary of the Southern Ocean and this time was no different. We saw some of the most ferocious conditions any of us has seen – but we stayed strong and made it through. Setting a new IWC speed challenge record was a massive bonus!”

ADOR started the leg as overall race leaders tied on points with the Chinese entry Dongfeng Race Team. However, disaster struck for Dongfeng on Day 12 when they snapped off the top section on their yacht’s mast, forcing them to divert to the Argentinean port of Ushuaia, before ultimately retiring from the leg.

Sail-World will be talking to VOR CEO Knut Frostad tomorrow and to Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker next week as soon as he returns from a much required break

Sadly a solo from our Fat Lady... Following the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) decision on 3 February 2015 that sailing will not be included in the Tokyo 2020 Games, the ISAF Executive conducted a review of the decision process.

As a result, the ISAF Executive took the lead and full responsibility for future discussions with IPC regarding the inclusion of sailing in future Paralympic Games.

On 2 April, ISAF President Carlo Croce and ISAF Vice-President Scott Perry met with the Chief Executive of the IPC, Xavier Gonzalez, and the Paralympic Games Sport and NPC Services Senior Manager, Juergen Padberg in Bonn, Germany.

It was confirmed by the IPC to ISAF that the process to select sports for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games has officially ended meaning the IPC's decision on 3 February 2015 stands. So sailing is out, end of sentence. We trust that 2024 will see a different scenario. Australia has been amongst the Paralympic sailing leader, our sailors deserve better.

On the local scene in FNQ, the Mickey Ink Port Douglas Race Week 2015 is upcoming. There are less than six weeks before the flag falls to signal the start of racing fgor the famous Clipper Cup.

Organizing authority Port Douglas Yacht Club is hoping to eclipse the record 44 entries set in 1995 when Port Douglas Yacht Club and Cairns Yacht Club jointly hosted the first Clipper Cup Regatta.

With four divisions catering for mono-hulls (with spinnakers), mono-hulls (without spinnakers), multi-hulls and mono-hulls under nine meters there is a division to suit every boat. A separate sub-division for the J24 class is expected as the number of J's climbs to five.

Visit website for more information and to get your entry in, info below

QantasLink Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race 2015 - Queensland’s own Black Jack was officially confirmed as the line honours winner and winner on corrected time in the 2015 Easter race. The team has previously won the line honours trophy on three occasions as well as the prestigious Courier Mail Cup once, but this is the first time they have achieved the double, as did Grundig in 2002.

Tasmanian based TP52 Alive, was came second on line honours and second on handicap in both IRC and PHRF divisions and they won on ORCi.

Other good performances came from Leon Thomas on Guilty Pleasures VI who had a good showing in both ORCi and PHRF, Kerumba who took third in IRC and Italian Job who dominated the smaller boats in all divisions.

Right now the full Australian Sailing Team and Squad is assembling in Hyeres on the French Med. ahead of next weeks Sailing World Cup event. We will be there to bring you all the news.

Lots more from the Oz and international scene, enjoy.