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Welcome to the Harken NZ Newsletter for July,  We start this month off with the AC45 World Series launch in Cascais, Portugal. Talk about some great options for cruising boats and give you the opportunity to walk away with even more Harken Sport product in this month's competition. The Rugby World Cup promo machine will be in full swing so don't forget to book your tickets at the Auckland International Boatshow (September 15-18th). Held in the new events facilities in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour this year will be one not to miss. We'll see you there, The Team at Harken NZ

Cascais: D-Day for the AC45 World Series

The next big series on the racing calendar was the AC45 circuit launch event at Cascais, Portugal. Billed as one of the most anticipated regattas of the year the AC45s were expected to impress and with reputations on the line the action was be ferocious. Competing against a who's who of international sailing luminaries Dean Barker and Emirates Team New Zealand, although leading the Extreme 40 competition, had their work cut out for them to hold off the likes of Spithall, Coutts, Peyron and of course Terry Hutchinson. Who will no doubt remember the kiwis snatching victory at his home event in Boston, during Act 4 of the Extreme 40s back in June. For bios on all the skippers follow the link to the official site : http://www.americascup.com/en/Latest/News/2011/7/All-star-lineup-for-Cascais/ Both the Oracle boats have already provided some spectacular footage of what the AC45s are capable of when the breeze gets up. Spithall during early testing here on Auckland's Waitemata harbour and his Oracle team mate Russell Coutts, upping the ante, with his well-documented 'captain goes down with the ship' effort in San Francisco. Team Korea have also been in the press for all the wrong reasons recently after capsizing during a training session in Lisbon (pictured).  A forecast for breeze is the final ingredient needed for an action packed first race on August 6th.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjwY6O2zE0E After Cascais the road show moves to Plymouth, Great Britain where the flat water and consistent breezes are expected to produce some exciting action. The AC500 speed trial starts proceedings where all the teams will compete in a fastest boat time trial over a 500m course. This is followed by a fleet race where the top six  face off in a one on one match racing series to determine the match racing champion. All building towards the final event a winner take all fleet race for the Championship title. At the end of the series an overall championship and match racing champion will be crowned.

Halyard replacement 101

Wire halyards on yachts are history, and if you have had the unfortunate experience of jagging yourself on an aging wire halyard recently it may be time to consider the alternative.  Dyneema halyards are a cost effective and light weight solution to the spliced wire still found on a number of yachts. All Dyneema cored rope has minimal stretch and is significantly stronger than it's polyester equivalent. This makes it ideal for use on halyards where the loads can be substantial. But it is not only load bearing that makes rope the better choice when it comes to halyards. Using a rope that can be distinguished by its colour makes it easy to identify the right halyard when attaching to genoas or spinnakers. It also helps crew in the cockpit for the same reason and makes hoisting the kite much easier.  Marlow have a range of Dyneema cored ropes suitable for use as halyards but the one that stands out is the D2 Competition. Available in the most common halyard sizes of 8mm and 10mm, D2 is very cost effective, and the unique solid red with black and yellow fleck make this rope stand out from other control lines.  D2 competition has a double weave 16 plait cover with a 12 strand Dyneema SK75 core. This and provides excellent grip for jammers and wet gloves. But where it outperforms other rope options is in its application. A sacrificial internal traction jacket makes splicing a whole lot easier and the ability to be tapered makes D2 a winner. The 8mm retails for $ 6.55 incl. GST/m and has a impressive breaking load of 2025kg. To find out more about D2 check out the black and red Marlow stands at your nearest chandlery. Or drop an email to George Clark at purchase@fosterandco.co.nz

Auckland International Boatshow 2011

Held at Viaduct Harbour between 15th -18th September the 2011 Auckland International Boatshow will take advantage of the large number of visitors expected to the other big event held that month, The IRB Rugby World Cup. For those of you already planning excursions to Eden Park for the big games the Boatshow offers the perfect opportunity to get together with friends and make a day of it.  For this years event we have booked a big stand on Te Wero Island and will be giving visitors to the show the opportunity to win a fantastic clothing package from Harken Sport. Look for the distinctive red and white Harken banners as you enter Pavilion 4.  New to the stand this year will be the latest in the range of Marlow Ropes including Fusion 75, the pre-stretched Dyneema core dingy mainsheet that doesn't absorb water. From our extensive Harken range the new collection of T2 blocks will also be on display. The T2 range is the revolutionary series of lightweight blocks from the US manufactured without fasteners. - A must see! Harken will also have on display the full range of Radial winches. Becoming standard equipment on boats around the world the new design is not only lighter but it is also easier to maintain, featuring diagonal ribs to reduce rope wear and the dreaded override. If you have a build project on the go and want some advice our technical service team will be on hand to answer your questions.  We look forward to seeing you at the show!  For prebooking of tickets follow the link http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2011/sep/auckland-international-boat-show-2011/

Engineering the ultimate cruising block

The challenge when designing a good cruising block is strength and durability. Under constant strain over prolonged periods blocks are often subjected to high loads under testing conditions and gear failure at sea is not an option. Cruising blocks don't necessarily have to be the lightest on the market but they do have to be strong and that's where choosing the right blocks for your boat is important.  Getting the best performance for your budget often comes down to getting the right advice and when it comes to the higher loads generated by larger cruising boats Harken have it covered with the Cruising ESP range.  Simpler in design ESP blocks have higher load ratings than their equivalent racing block. There is a small trade off in weight but in the case of a typical cruising boat, packed with all the creature comforts, cutting down on the weight of the deck hardware isn't a high priority. Offset this with the added benefit of a higher working loads and a 40% cost saving on the comparative racing alternative and ESP blocks quickly become a great option.  Featuring sleeve bearings to handle high static loads and available in anodised aluminium or polished stainless steel the ESP range is very versatile.  A number of high profile local race boats also the ESP teardrop blocks (pictured) on the end of prods due to the exceptionally high loads and potential costs if gear fails. For more on the ESP range give our sales team a call on 0508 367 837.

Bamboo is the new black

When Harken Sport decided to design their range of technical sailing shorts and pants environmental impact was high on their priority list.  The design team looked at a range of materials and opted for the unique and renewable characteristics of bamboo. Why bamboo? Apart from the benefits to the wearer from the soft and breathable fabric bamboo grows without the need for pesticides, enriching the soil, rather than damaging it as is often the result with cotton.   In the case of bamboo it really is a win-win scenario for both the environment and the wearer. Bamboo has natural antibacterial properties that remain in the fabric, is 98% UV blocking, and has excellent moisture wicking (pulls water away from the skin keeping you dry). But where Harken Sport have really harnessed the benefits of bamboo is in the comfort factor. Apart from being exceptionally soft, bamboo is an excellent insulator, even when wet, which is obviously very important on a sailboat.   The spandex blend gives the fabric excellent stretch and quick drying characteristics and the use of carbon reduces odours. Sail Magazine conducted some field trials on the Ballistic Shorts and were suitably impressed "Harken chose a fantastic, quick-drying material that allows you to catch a direct hit by a wave and be dry and comfortable again within minutes."   Harken Sport's range of pants and shorts have every detail covered with reinforced back and knees and even a padded option in the shorts, ideal for long sessions on the rail. The reviews speak for themselves:   "These stretch, gusseted, reinforced, and durable shorts are hands down the best pair of sailing shorts that I've used in my 32-year sailing career." - Sail Magazine In this month's competition be in to win a pair of Mens Ballistic Eco Pants valued at $169.00.  Just answer the following question. What does ESP stand for? Entries to info@fosterandco.co.nz Congratulations to Sarah Lawrence who took away the Harken Squall Bag by correctly telling us that MRX stands for Match Racing 10. . Good luck for this month's draw!.