Yesterdays Scuttlebutt reported on two events in Melbourne, one a Fun day for kids of all ages sponsored by Disney who are funding Paul Cayards Pirates of the Caribbean in the Volvo Ocean race around the world. And this coming weekend, a rematch between Dennis Connor and John Bertrand who skippered the US and Australian boats in the 1983 Americas Cup race. Remember it's summer down under so it will be great weather for the spectators.

500 KIDS KIDNAPPED BY PIRATES The villains from Paul Cayard‚s Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean put on a show, hosted by sponsor Pescanova, on Melbourne‚s Central Pier that instilled in the kids the allure and the fascination of the Volvo Ocean Race around the world. The children, from State schools around the city, turned out in Pescanova-branded yellow foul weather oilskins, like little lighthouse keepers with ears keenly tuned for tales of the sea.

Black Pearl‚s participation in the race is a partnership between the Walt Disney Company and Volvo Ocean Race, supporting the July release of the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man‚s Chest. At each of the ports of call in the race, the Pirates of the Caribbean with Pescanova is hosting a major children‚s event. The Melbourne show today was uniquely Australian, with stories of shearers, bushrangers and the local fauna. Central Pier was transformed from a concrete block into a Pirate City by means of spectacular décor ˆ a red carpet walkway lined with barrels and old sea chests bursting with treasure, muskets and sails. ˆ www.volvooceanrace.org

OLD RIVALS One of the world sport's most celebrated rivalries will be reignited this weekend when Australian yachtsman John Bertrand goes head-to-head against America's Cup arch-rival Dennis Conner for the first time since 1983. Bertrand and the vanquished Conner have competed in events involving other contestants since their epic encounter 23 years ago, but never in a match race simulating the America's Cup. Conner will arrive in Melbourne on Friday before sailing off against Bertrand in a three-match series hosted by the Sandringham Yacht Club, all part of a southern sojourn for a fleet of yachts circumnavigating the globe in the Volvo Ocean Race.

The two men will face off in Volvo 60 yachts, the ones that were used in the round-the-world race four years ago. Each boat will have a crew of eight, and the matching of yacht and skipper will be determined by the toss of a coin. The course will be much shorter than at the America's Cup encounters, with each race expected to take about 20 minutes. -- Richard Gluyas, The Australian, full story: http://tinyurl.com/c8ylt