COMPETITION GETS SERIOUS AS COMPETITORS STRIVE TO STAKE A CLAIM TO THE NEW VIRTUAL ENDEAVOUR TROPHY Last Monday marked the start of the Semi-Finals phase of the “RYA Volvo Dinghy Show SailX championship”, where the all-important points really start to count, as racers seek a place in the Live Final and the chance of winning the new “Virtual Endeavour Trophy”. The Semi-Finals run until 27 February during which time any points you score are worth three times more than they were in the Quarter- Finals phase. Even if you haven’t taken part so far there is still time to sign up and clinch those all important points which could see you stake a claim to a place in the Live Final to be held at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show over the weekend of 3-4 March at Alexandra Palace, London. Each day five regattas take place (at 04.00, 10.00, 17.00, 19.00 and 21.30 GMT) and you only need to complete three regattas over the entire two-week period of the Semi-Finals phase, so, in theory, you could even register and qualify for the Finals just by competing of the last day! But remember racing is very competitive so it’s best to get started as soon as possible. If you want to see what it’s all about then check this video out www.youtube.com/user/SailXRacing or get sailing right away by visiting http://www.sailx.com/SailX3dEXPRESS.php. The individual winner of the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show SailX Championship 2012 will not only receive a selection of great prizes (full list to be announced at the end of this week) but they will also be the first ever recipient of the Virtual Endeavour Trophy, which has been especially commissioned for the championship by the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham-on-Crouch. Edwin Buckley, custodian of the Endeavour Trophy, explains why they got involved: "When SailX was presented to us we immediately thought it was a very interesting concept that a game could be both enjoyable and also valuable as a teaching and training tool. Very quickly we saw that the game was valuable to competitive sailors at all levels - even at the highest level - we were delighted to endorse it and to create the Virtual Endeavour Trophy together with SailX. “Of course it was a bit of a leap into the unknown for all of us - none of us really know how successful this competition was going to be but now with over 410 individuals entered and entries still open for a further two weeks we are delighted with the competitions success so far and very much looking forward to the live finals on the Volvo Main Stage. “We look forward to presenting the individual winner of the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show SailX Championships with their trophy - which is being fabricated as we speak and will be a replica of the Endeavour Trophy half-model engraved onto an approx. A4 sized stainless steel plaque. This replica of the Endeavour Trophy will be given to the winner to take away with them." The Endeavour Trophy was last at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show back in 2008 so it's great to be bringing it back and featuring it on the Volvo Main Stage in 2012.” Amando Estela, creator of SailX commented: "It’s an absolute coup for SailX to have the endorsement of the Endeavour Trophy. Even our non-UK users know this trophy and the fact that it is recognised by the RYA as the pinnacle of the year's dinghy sailing achievements and which results in the annual crowning of the UKs "Champion of Champions". The list of winners over the past 50 years speaks for itself - Laurie Smith, Geoff Carveth, Nick Craig, Phil Crebbin, Richard Estaugh, Chips Howarth, Jim Hunt, Ian Southworth, Mike Holmes, Stuart Bithell - the list goes on! It’s an honour to play a part of the creation of the "Virtual Endeavour" perpetual trophy and we look forward to watching the finals at the Show when we will see whose name will be the first name carved on her and we look forward to many Virtual Endeavour Trophies in the years to come.” In addition, Nick Craig, 5-time winner of the Endeavour Trophy (2011, 2008, 2006, 2005 and 2004) had this to say “For me, the Endeavour Trophy is the best run event with the best racing I do all year, qualification permitting! The high standard & closeness of racing always makes it a great weekend no matter what the wind does. I will be taking part in the online version so I fully expect to suffer some major defeats to those of you who are more clued up about online games than me!” Find out more about the Endeavour Trophy at royalcorinthian.co.uk/endeavour-championship/scale-model/ And Finally – the latest statistics for the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show SailX Championship are as follows: • 480 individuals entered • 59 Classes entered • 150 Regattas complete (that’s 750 races) • 4,500 individual boat finishes (that’s 1,100 hours of racing!) Class ranking at end of Quarter-Finals (these are the top ten classes that would make it through to the Finals based on today’s results ...) 1. Laser 2. 49er 3. J24 4. Laser Radial 5. 29er 6. 18ft Skiff 7. Fireball 8. 420 9. Laser II 10. Mirror To find out more and to register for the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show SailX Championship visit www.sailx.com/ryavolvodinghyshow -Ends- .