Sailors in the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race have been warned about the danger of pirates off the coast of Somalia and will be monitored by warships patrolling the Indian Ocean, organisers said.

The US boat Puma was leading the Volvo round-the-world yachting race early Wednesday as the eight boats competing battled strong winds and heavy seas off the southeast coast of Africa.

Skippered by Ken Read, Puma was at 0700 GMT seven miles clear of Sweden`s Ericsson 3 and another six miles clear of Ericsson 4.

MADRID, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - Stalled talks aimed at resolving a dispute between champions Alinghi of Switzerland and US sydicate Oracle that could see a postponement of the 2009 America's Cup in Spain are to be resumed on Monday in the US, organisers said on Sunday.

The head of organisers AC Management, Michel Hodara, told AFP that the two sides would talk again informally before a court case over the new rules governing the event that were proposed by Alinghi get underway in New York.

MADRID, Oct 21, 2007 (AFP) - Talks aimed at resolving a dispute between champions Alinghi of Switzerland and US sydicate Oracle that could wreck the 2009 America's Cup in Spain have broken down, the Americans said late Saturday.

The failure to resolve their differences over the organisation of the event will likely lead to the competition, due to be held in Valencia, being postponed to a later date, specialists said.

MADRID, Oct 20, 2007 (AFP) - Spain's Desafio Espanol are to blame for the America's Cup crisis triggered by the new set of rules laid down by champions Alinghi, Polish skipper Karol Jablonski claims.

Jablonski made the attack on his old team in an interview here Saturday, arguing that Desafio, as the official 'Challenger of Record', should never have accepted the controversial protocol proposed by Alinghi.

MADRID, Oct 17, 2007 (AFP) - US syndicate Oracle is poised to make a 'constructive proposal' aimed at ending the damaging legal dispute with champions Alinghi which is threatening the 2009 America's Cup in Spain.

'We are giving urgent consideration to what it takes to resolve this,' a spokeswoman for Oracle and Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) of San Francisco which represents the US syndicate told AFP, on Wednesday.

'We hope to soon have a constructive proposal that we will then look forward to discussing with the challengers and defender,' she said.

MADRID, Oct 12, 2007 (AFP) - Top American yachtsman Paul Cayard was on Friday named as sporting director of Spain's Desafio Espanol team for the next America's Cup.

Cayard, 48, a veteran of six Cups, was an advisor to Desafio for last year's event in Valencia in which the Spaniards made the semi-final of the Louis-Vuitton Cup, the winner of which determines who challenges for the America's Cup.

Desafio Espanol is one of five officially registered challengers who hope to take on Swiss defending champion Alinghi in Valencia in 2009.

MADRID, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - There were encouraging signs at a meeting of challengers for the 33rd America's Cup aimed at ending a legal dispute that is threatening the event but much work remains to be done, sources close to the talks said on Thursday.

The conflict pits Switzerland's Alinghi against US syndicate Oracle who argue that the new rules for the yachting race are unfairly weighed in the defender's favour.

MADRID, Oct 10, 2007 (AFP) - Official and potential challengers for the 33rd America's Cup will meet Wednesday in Valencia to try to iron out a legal dispute that is threatening the next edition of the event set for 2009.

It will be an 'informal meeting' aimed at ending a conflict over the new rules for the yachting race that has pit defending champion Alinghi against US syndicate Oracle, a source close to the talks told AFP.

MADRID, Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - Oracle skipper Russell Coutts has urged defending America's Cup champions Alinghi to negotiate a solution to a legal dispute that is threatening the next edition in Spain in 2009.

Oracle took legal action in the United States against Alinghi in July over new rules adopted by Alinghi for the 33rd America's Cup which they say are unfairly weighed in the defender's favour such as the right to bar teams from the race.

MADRID, Oct 3, 2007 (AFP) - The next America's Cup, scheduled to be held in Spain in 2009, may be postponed due to legal wrangling over competition rules, the organisers said Wednesday.

'As a consequence of the uncertainty and the delays arising from the Golden Gate Yacht Club law suit in New York, AC Management is concerned that the feasibility of organising the next America's Cup in Valencia in 2009 has been effectively compromised,' ACM said in a statement.

MADRID, Oct 3, 2007 (AFP) - The next America's Cup, scheduled to be held in Spain in 2009, may be postponed due to legal wrangling over competition rules, the organisers said Wednesday.

'As a consequence of the uncertainty and the delays arising from the Golden Gate Yacht Club law suit in New York, AC Management is concerned that the feasibility of organising the next America's Cup in Valencia in 2009 has been effectively compromised,' ACM said in a statement.

MADRID, Oct 1, 2007 (AFP) - New Zealand's Simon Daubney, a crew member of America's Cup winners Alinghi, has tested positive for substances linked to cocaine during this year's competition in Spain, organizers said Monday.

Alinghi announced on Thursday that Daubney had resigned after he tested positive for a banned substance, confirming a report in Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport that one of its team members had returned a positive test.

MADRID, Sept 25, 2007 (AFP) - French syndicate K-Challenge is preparing its 2009 America's Cup campaign and hopes to have found a major sponsor by the end of next month to help finance a minimum budget of 30 million euros.

Stephane Kandler, who heads the syndicate, said he was in talks with potential sponsors in France and abroad, as well as private investors, to try and quickly find a main sponsor who will provide half of the budget.

'The team is ready,' Kandler told AFP. 'Now we need sponsors.'

MADRID, Sept 22, 2007 (AFP) - US syndicate BMW Oracle has dismissed amendments to the controversial new protocol of the next America's Cup in 2009 in Spain by defending champions Alinghi as 'cosmetic'.

'We welcome some of the points but the changes are largely cosmetic and the central issues are not being addressed,' a spokeswoman for Oracle told AFP.

Oracle and other challengers have since July contested the new rules put forward by Alinghi, arguing they favour the defending champions.

MONACO, Sept 21, 2007 (AFP) - Always more beautiful, always more expensive and always longer, yachts on display at this week's Monaco Yacht Show (MYS), the biggest mega-yacht show in Europe, are a perfect illustration of the increasingly lavish demands of billionaires.

'Compared to the aviation or automobile industry, we are for the moment, a micro market,' said Luc Pettavino, the show's organiser. 'But the sector is developing exponentially.'

And at present, demand for these ocean-going palaces is greater than supply.

MADRID, Sept 20, 2007 (AFP) - Defending champions Alinghi said Thursday they had amended the newly-proposed rules for the next America's Cup in 2009 in Valencia, Spain, to take into account of criticism made by the challengers.

Alinghi and their Swiss yacht club Societe Nautique de Geneve said in a statement that the 'majority' of BMW Oracle's concerns had been addressed and they renewed their appeal for the team to drop their legal challenge which threatens to derail the event.

STARNBERG, Germany, Sept 19, 2007 (AFP) - German yachtsman Jochen Schumann, a triple Olympic champion and double America's Cup winner, has been appointed sporting director of the United Internet Team Germany challenge for the world's oldest sports trophy.

Team Germany is one of four challengers already registered to compete in the 33rd edition of the America's Cup which will take place in Valencia, Spain in 2009.

BERLIN, Sept 15, 2007 (AFP) - German yachtsman Jochen Schuemann, a triple Olympic champion and part of the winning Alinghi teams in 2003 and 2007, is set to join Germany's America's Cup team United Internet TEAM Germany.

According to German radio station NDR, Schuemann's arrival should be formally announced in a press conference on Wednesday and Schuemann will be responsible for recruiting TEAM Germany's crew.

The German team have already recruited Poland's Karol Jablonski, the former cox of Spanish team Desafio Espanol.

CANNES, France, Sept 15, 2007 (AFP) - Tucked away amid a mass of gleaming European and American vessels at a boatshow on the French Riviera stands a lone but significant new arrival -- a powerboat made in distant Dongguan in China.

For its makers, and for a delegation of Chinese manufacturers visiting the annual 'Festival de la Plaisance' pleasure boating jamboree in the chic southern resort of Cannes, this is just the beginning.

NEW YORK, Sept 10, 2007 (AFP) - The New York State Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear arguments on October 22 in the America's Cup yacht-racing row if champions Alinghi and US challenger Oracle can't resolve their rules dispute.

At Monday's hearing, the court also urged the warring parties to continue to try to settle their differences out of court.

'We are very pleased with this decision, as we are keen to see this issue properly resolved with a minimum of further delay,' said Tom Ehman, head of external affairs for the Golden Gate Yacht Club's team BMW Oracle.

MADRID, Sept 10, 2007 (AFP) - The Spanish challenger for the 2009 America's Cup will match this year's budget of 60 million euros (82 million dollars) with 12 million for the design of a bigger boat, the Desafio Espanol syndicate announced on Monday.

The 12 million euros will be used for design of a 90 foot (30 metre) yacht, larger and faster than the current America class, and wanted by Swiss cup holder Alinghi for the 33rd edition of the race, said Desafio boss, Agustin Zulueta.

MADRID, Sept 7, 2007 (AFP) - Reigning champions Alinghi and American challenger Oracle are having discussions in attempts to resolve their judicial wrangle over competition rules for the next America's Cup in 2009.

An Oracle spokesman told AFP: 'We are talking with them (Alinghi). There have been some discussions.' However a New York court is expected to make an initial ruling on the case on Monday.

GENEVA, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) - Defending champions Alinghi said Wednesday that they would forge ahead with plans for the next America's Cup by meeting the official challengers from next week to draw up new boat rules.

Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth and legal counsel Hamish Ross were adamant that a legal challenge to the defender's plans by team BMW Oracle would not derail preparations for the 33rd America's Cup in Valencia in 2009.

MOSCOW, Sept 3, 2007 (AFP) - A British yachtsman who is attempting the first solo voyage through the Arctic sea passage across northern Russia is examining his options due to heavier-than-expected ice blocking his route, an aide said on Monday.

Adrian Flanagan is discussing with Russian authorities the possibility of using a nuclear-powered ice-breaker to lift his boat out of the water and carry it round the most ice-bound stretch of Russia's Northern Sea Route, his manager Louise Flanagan told AFP.

MOSCOW, Sept 3, 2007 (AFP) - A British yachtsman attempting the first solo Arctic sea passage across northern Russia is examining his options after heavier-than-expected ice blocked his route, his manager said Monday.

Adrian Flanagan is discussing with Russian authorities the possibility of using a nuclear-powered ice-breaker to lift his boat out of the water and carry it round the most ice-bound stretch of Russia's Northern Sea Route.

MADRID, Aug 24, 2007 (AFP) - Defending champions Alinghi said on Friday they are confident they are in the right over the legal row which could scupper the America's Cup in Valencia in 2009.

A day after a New York court called on the Geneva Nautical Society (SNG) representing the holders to respond swiftly to questions on new proposed rules and lift the legal cloud hanging over yachting's most prestigious event Alinghi said they had nothing to fear.

MADRID, Aug 23, 2007 (AFP) - A New York court Thursday called on the Geneva Nautical Society (SNG) to respond swiftly to questions on new proposed America's Cup rules amid a legal wrangle which threatens the next edition, but the Swiss promptly accused their rivals of destabilising the tournament.

A legal cloud hangs over the world's most prestigious yachting event in Valencia, Spain in 2009, after the Swiss, representing champions Alinghi, unveiled a new race protocol which some challengers say will benefit the holders.

MADRID, Aug 6, 2007 (AFP) - America's Cup champions Alinghi said Monday they would not go back on hotly contested rule changes which the Swiss syndicate plan to introduce for the next event scheduled for 2009 in Valencia, Spain.

'We have no intention of going back (on decisions that have been taken),' Michel Hodara, the chief operating officer of America's Cup Management (ACM), set up by Alinghi to organize the yacht race, told AFP.

MADRID, Aug 5, 2007 (AFP) - US syndicate BMW Oracle's new Kiwi skipper Russell Coutts on Sunday called on America's Cup champions Alinghi to row back on rule changes the Swiss syndicate plans to introduce for the next event, scheduled for 2009 in Valencia.

'The solution is very simple: go back to a protocol that made the last edition so successful,' said Coutts, regarded as one of the greatest America's Cup skippers, having won the trophy three times in 1995, 2000 and then with Alinghi in 2003.

MILAN, Aug 3, 2007 (AFP) - The Italian challenger Luna Rossa will not enter the 2009 America's Cup race in Valencia, captain Patrizio Bertelli of the fashion group Prada said Friday.

'We've had 10 very intense years,' Bertelli said in a statement.

'It was an unforgettable experience, but we decided that after three challenges, a cycle is over.'

Luna Rossa were knocked out of this year's qualifying competition, the Louis Vuitton Cup, in Valencia 5-0 by Emirates Team New Zealand, with the Kiwis going on to lose the final 5-2 against defender Alinghi.

MADRID, Aug 3, 2007 (AFP) - US syndicate BMW Oracle is making plans to challenge America's Cup defenders Alinghi as early as 2008, subject to a bitter legal row which could hold up the scheduled 2009 competition in Valencia, Spain.

Well-informed sources told AFP on Friday that Oracle, owned by software billionaire Larry Ellison, had already been in touch with french boat designers to built a 90-foot catamaran boat for use in a 2008 challenge.

SYDNEY, Aug 2, 2007 (AFP) - The Australian navy rescued a solo British sailor Thursday after his yacht ran aground on a reef north of Lord Howe Island off Australia's east coast, officials said.

The navy responded to a request for help from the Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra as heavy seas threatened to break up the yacht, the defence department said in a statement.

Two helicopters supported by the frigate HMAS Ballarat were dispatched and the 55-year-old sailor was winched to safety.

MADRID, Spain, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Several syndicates hoping to join five confirmed starters in the 33rd edition of the America's Cup yachting showpiece in Valencia in 2009 have called for more information on proposed new rules from defending Swiss champions Alinghi, it emerged Thursday.

US team BMW Oracle has already launched a legal challenge in New York against a new proposed protocol which the Americans fear would benefit the holders and other teams also have concerns.

MADRID, Spain, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Four syndicates hoping to compete in the 33rd edition of the America's Cup yachting showpiece in Valencia in 2009 have called for more information on proposed new rules from defending Swiss champions Alinghi, it emerged Thursday.

US team BMW Oracle has already launched a legal challenge in New York against a new proposed protocol which the Americans fear would benefit the holders and other teams also have concerns.

BEIJING, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - US and European yachting competitors may have to endure long spells without wind in their sails during next year's Olympic regatta in the Yellow Sea, organisers said Thursday.

'On China's sea at that time of year, compared with Europe and the United States, the wind is not strong,' said Zang Aimin, a top yachting official with the Olympic organising committee.

VALENCIA, Spain, July 25, 2007 (AFP) - The Spanish city of Valencia, which hosted the 32nd edition of the America's Cup that just wrapped up, will stage the next edition of the yachting race in 2009, organizers said on Wednesday.

The announcement was made in Valencia on Spain's eastern seaboard by Alinghi yachting boss, Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, whose syndicate just won the 2007 race and the right to decide the location of the next tournament.