Portugal’s lesser-known demarcated wine regions

Alentejo:

Until recently the Alentejo was much better known for cereals, grain and sunflowers than for wine. It has been discovered that the climate and soil are particularly suited to viticulture. Results have proved most encouraging, so time and money is now being invested in growing vines and making wine.

The best quality wine comes from the eastern part of the area near the Spanish border, particularly Borba and Reguengos de Monsaraz.

Algarve:

Algarve is perhaps better known for tourism than wine production.

Those who still cultivate a few vines take their grapes to one of five co-operatives dotted along the coast to be made into wine. The best known are Lagoa and Portinao.

Being in the south and bordering the Mediterranean, the summer days are long and hot, resulting in grapes with a high sugar content. The wine tends to be high in alcohol — 13 percent — and low in acidity.

The red wines are a light ruby color and excellent with food, while the dry whites make an ideal aperitif. In 1978 the Algarve was officially recognized as “Regiao Demarcada.”

Bairrada:

The vineyards of Bairrada just to the south of Oporto have suffered a somewhat checkered history.

No sooner had the vineyards been established again than they were attacked by odium and phylloxera.

As many of them were not replanted until the late 1920s, Bairrada was not included in the original 1908 demarcation. Since then, tremendous strides have been made; and the high quality of the wine was reorganized in 1978 when the region was promoted to the “regioes demarcadas.”

In an average year 80 percent of production is red and the remainder white and sparkling wine. All red Bairrada must spend at least 18 months in cask and six months in bottle before being sold. Bairrada wines are marketed in claret-shaped bottles.

Bucelas:

Bucelas is a tiny village tucked away amongst the hills some 15 miles north of Lisbon. Vines grow on the slopes leading down to the river Trancao. The loam soil is particularly suited to the Arinto grape, which yields a highly distinctive dry white wine.

Most grapes are still fermented in open wooden vats. When fermentation has finished the wine is transferred to enormous casks of Brazilian oak and left to quietly mature in huge stone-built adegas.

Colares:

Colares is perched on the most western point of Portugal, under the towering heights of Sintra.

Sadly, many of the labor-intensive vineyards are becoming overgrown as the villagers go to seek a more prosperous life in the cities of Portugal and Europe.

The indigenous Ramisco vine has survived the ravages of phylloxera due to the sandy nature of the soil, which in some parts reaches 25 feet in depth.

Windbreaks of interwoven cane and willow have to be built to protect the vines from the winds and salt of the Atlantic, which can tear the shoots and blight the leaves.

All Colares wines must be made by the Adega Regional. The largest firms will then mature the ready-made wines in their own cellars.

Red Colares averages 11 to 12 percent alcohol, is astringent when young, full of fruit and rich in tannin, the main reason for its longer life. With age they acquire a silky, velvety taste.

Dao:

Geographically the Dao region lies south of the Douro and west of Serra da Estrela that forms a natural boundary with Spain. The region takes its name from the River Dao, which flows through it. About 80 percent of Dao production is red wine.

Being inland and mountainous, the climate is quite extreme. The winters are very cold, so that the vines do not begin to develop until late spring. In summer, the sun can be so fierce that the grapes are scorched.

Vintage time is usually the end of September. Dao wines are blended from a number of grape varieties, depending on the slight differences in soil and climate from one part of the region to another.

The red grape skins are left with the must for the duration of the fermentation; as a result the wines have an intense color and high tannin that is balanced by an exceptionally high glycerin content.

The color of the whites deepens with cask maturation. Many producers are beginning to develop new production methods to create lighter wines with characteristics more suited to the export markets.

Estremadura:

Just to the northwest of Lisbon and bordering the Atlantic Ocean lie the gently rolling hills of the Estremadura. Vines thrive in the mild climate and clay-limestone soil. Prolific quantities of grapes are produced, making the Estremadura Portugal’s largest wine-producing region in terms of quantity.

The best wines are made on those slopes with a south and west exposure, particularly around Torres Vedras. Most of the wine is made by cooperatives with modern vinification equipment.

Lafoes:

This small area is sandwiched between the Vinho Verde and Dao regions. Production is predominantly red (9,000 cases, compared with 1,000 cases of white).

The wines are light and fruity with higher than average acidity.

Madeira:

Madeira wines are named after the grape variety from which they are made: Sercial, Verdehlo, Boal, and Malmsey.

Sercial and Verdehlo styles are fermented completely dry, while grape spirit is added to Boal and Malmsey to arrest fermentation, so that these wines contain a certain amount of residual sugar.

Most Madeira wines are blended wines and are cooked for a long time with a process called “estufa.” They are matured in casks that form a solera system until they are bottled. Alcoholic strength is between 17 to 19 percent.

Pinhel:

Pinhel is hidden amongst the northern hills near the Spanish frontier. Pinhel is also a small area most famous for its full dry white wines.

Ribatejo:

The valley of the Tagus is an unlikely place to find vineyards. Normally, the vine flourishes in very poor soil, but the rich alluvial flood plains of the Tagus seem to be the exception. Around 8 million cases of full earthy whites and around 700,000 cases of red are produced in the area.

The reds have an intense deep color, are high in alcohol with a rich black currant-like taste and full lasting finish.

Some of Portugal’s best “garrafeira” wines are made in Ribatejo.

Setubal:

The vine holds a predominant position in the peninsula of Setubal thanks to the very exceptional soil and climatic conditions. Its best known wine is the Moscatel de Setubal but the light wine of the Setubal area is really excellent. These are wines with an alcohol content below 12 percent, full-bodied, which benefit from cask maturation.

As sterling struggles, Britons are selling their places abroad to buy cheaply at home in the UK

The Algarve is also seeing high numbers of British homeowners willing to take a hit on their asking price if they are bringing their euro profits home.

Caroline and Neil Irish, below, are releasing funds by selling their Algarve holiday home

' One British owner has reduced the price of his five- bedroom villa on Gramacho Golf Resort, near Lagos on the Algarve, from €715,000 ( £674,528) to €550,000 (£518,876),' says James Harrison, sales director of golf resort developer Pestana.

' He bought the house eight years ago for €200,000, so he'll still make a good profit and there is now a lot of interest in the property.

' These aren't distressed sales, but some owners are closer to the edge financially than they wanted to be. People need to decide what's best for them in this uncertain market and that often means dropping the price substantially,' Harrison adds.

Caroline Irish, 46, a housewife, and husband Neil, 45, the manager of healthcare company, are willing to a 20 per cent discount on their bedroom flat in Vale da Pinta in Carvoeiro, which is on the for €383,000 ( £361,320 at the exchange rate).

' We are prepared to take a price drop of the way the euro is going because prices of new apartments lower now than we paid two years says Caroline, who lives in Sandbanks in Dorset.

' We bought the flat new, gave it a fresh interior and have spent wonderful holidays there.

' We were hoping to downsize in the UK and spend more time in Portugal, but our UK penthouse, which is on the market for £795,000, hasn't sold, so we are selling the Portuguese property to release funds,' she says, adding that the adverse effect of the exchange rate is that repayments on their Portuguese mortgage have soared.

Lost in Portugal, Bonnie's old villa

Holidaymakers who frequent the resort of Santa Eulalia near Albufeira on the Portuguese Algarve are in for a shock they return in the summer.

Gravelly- voiced singer Bonnie 57, and her property developer husband Robert Sullivan, have knocked down their five-bedroom villa overlooking the to make way for a cutting glass-fronted house.

' We're building on four-and-a-half that meander down to a cove. The land alone is worth 2million,' says Bonnie, who is for hits such as Lost France and Total Eclipse Of Heart.

' The house will cover 10,000sq ft - than our previous home - we've had a water feature to run through the dropping down to a tropical pool landscaped with exotic and trees.

'Robert and I will have the whole of the top storey, below will be three guest suites with balconies and there will be underground parking for everyone.'

Bonnie and Robert, reportedly worth £44million, have an impressive property portfolio that includes three houses and an apartment by the marina in Swansea in Bonnie's native Wales, and 360 acres of land in Berkshire with stabling for 60 horses.

The couple also have a fabulous 1850s house near to Catherine Zeta-Jones's parents in Mumbles, Swansea Bay.

'We're hoping the new build will be worth up to £8million once the market is buoyant again,' says Bonnie, who is currently on tour.

From a Portuguese marsh, salt, the traditional way

OLHÃO, Portugal: In the early 1990s, João Navalho, a microbiologist fresh out of graduate school, came to the salt marshes in the Algarve region with a handful of young partners to grow and harvest microalgae. Their dream was to market the algae's beta carotene as natural orange dye for the fast-growing organic food market.

The business foundered; the 37 acres of marshes, known as salinas, became a garbage dump for residents in this pocket of southwestern Portugal who did not know what else to do with their outmoded kitchen appliances. After years of frustrated effort, the partners suddenly changed course.

"We looked around and said, we're stupid!" Navalho recalled. "We have a lot of land here. What we should do with the salinas is produce salt!"

They asked the longtime locals for someone who might remember how to harvest salt the old way: by hand, as it was done here before industrialization made it cheap and plentiful, and small salt works fell into desuetude.

Like everything else in this undertaking, the answer was staring them in the face. Living on the edge of the marshes was Maximino António Guerreiro, a sunburned retired salt worker with a grizzled beard and missing teeth, who started harvesting here with his father more than four decades ago.

In 1997, the salt project began. Guerreiro cleaned out and rebuilt the long-abandoned patchwork of rectangular, clay-lined salt beds. With young workers from Eastern Europe, he opened sluices from the sea and set up a system of dams to control the water flow. He shared the secrets of salt: how to measure evaporation levels and determine the correct salt density and water temperature, when to add water and when to rake and skim.

"I had to quit school when I was 14 to help my father make salt every day, and then the work disappeared," said Guerreiro, 56. "Now we're back — making the most beautiful white salt in the world."

The financing was difficult, Navalho said. "When we told the banks we wanted to make salt, they said that everyone had gone out of the business," he said. "So we promised if we didn't pay back they could take our necks."

Two years later, Necton, the salt company Navalho created here, produced its first salt crop. Now it is one of the region's new salt pioneers, struggling to revive what was once a flourishing trade in this part of Portugal. They are trying to convince consumers of the health and taste benefits of handmade, non-industrial salt and to compete in an increasingly sophisticated global salt market.

"Life begins in the ocean," Navalho said. "What we are selling is ocean saltwater without the water. Call it sea dust."

To many people, salt is salt. But to those for whom it is a gourmet condiment, few varieties compare to the crème de la crème of salt known as fleur de sel, harvested by gently skimming the white, lacy film from the surface of salty beds when weather conditions in summer allow.

Necton produces both traditional hand-harvested salt as well as a gourmet version, known here as flor de sal.

The history of Portugal and salt is long and romantic. The first known document related to Portuguese salt works dates from the 10th century, when a countess donated salt marshes to a monastery that she founded. A century later, the Algarve region was shipping salt across Europe; in the 15th and 16th centuries, salt helped make Portugal a global power. In one of his best-known works, the 20th century poet Fernando Pessoa, wrote, "Oh salty sea, so much of your salt is tears of Portugal."

But Navalho confesses that his team learned many of its techniques from Guérande, the Brittany-based cooperative that restored traditional salt-making to France in the 1970s and whose brand dominates the hand-harvested salt business. France produces about 80 percent of Europe's hand-harvested salt and fleur de sel.

Unlike French salt, which has a grayish hue, the Portuguese is a pure, shiny white. In France, rain churns up charcoal-gray mud from the bottom of the salt pans and leaves behind a grey residue, while Portuguese summers tend to be sunny and dry.

These days, European designer salt must compete with exotic salts from around the world, including Himalayan pink salt harvested at altitudes over 10,000 feet, a South Korean salt that is roasted in bamboo, and Hawaiian red Alaea, which gets its color from red clay.

There have also been reports of counterfeit hand-harvested salt. Nico Boer, the German co-manager of the Marisol salt works in nearby Tavira, said one Portuguese salt producer sold more than a dozen tons of industrial salt to the French several years ago, passing it off as hand-harvested.

"It's a tough business," he said.

The operations at Marisol and Necton are set on protected national land. At Necton, salt mountains sit in the open air, protected by black tarps. Women wearing hairnets and rubber gloves sift through the shiny salt as it flows along an assembly line, picking out bits of insects' wings, brine shrimp and wood chips.

But Necton has bigger plans. Navalho has begun to cultivate an exotic salad vegetable called salicorne, which is in fact a small weed with fleshy, tart, dark-green branches. He hopes to build a bird sanctuary for the flamingos, egrets, plovers and other wild birds here. He is trying to draw summer visitors for tours of both the salts works and the little algae-growing he still does.

And Navalho, who was born in Mozambique, wants to expand operations to the eastern coast of Africa, to restore some of the abandoned salt fields built by the Portuguese 300 years ago.

First, however, he has to persuade customers to think about salt differently.

"People might like to drive a Ferrari, but they can't afford it," he said. "But they can afford the best salt in the world. I want people to stop asking, 'How much does it cost?' and start asking, 'Where can I buy it?' "

Bowls: Algarve invite for Hickey

SIDDAL bowler Graham Hickey has been given the perfect tonic for a troublesome knee problem - the offer of a free trip to Portugal in March to launch crown green bowls on the Algarve.

Twice Yorkshire Merit winner Hickey is one of 16 top players who have been invited to take part in a five-day tournament to celebrate the opening of the Amendoeira Bowls Club near historic Silves, a 35 minute drive from Faro airport.

Elland-raised Graeme Wilson, Brian Duncan, Noel Burrows, Gary Ellis and Lee Lawton are among others who have been given the chance to compete for £5,000 in crown and flat green competitions running from Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20.

Window cleaner Hickey is determined to have some spring sunshine after having to cope with an increasingly painful right knee during the last year.

Hickey, who won back to back county titles at the Low Moor Harold club in Bradford in 2005 and 2006, spent Christmas in hospital.

He went in to have the back of his knee cap scraped but the surgeon had to remove a cartilage, shave two bones and attend to a twisted ligament.

Although Hickey is now back at work the problem hasn't fully cleared up and a scan next Wednesday will determine if further treatment is required.

But Hickey is determined to make it to Portugal before the domestic season gets into full swing, having paid £300 for flights for his wife Jill and son Finley to join him on the trip.
Jimmy Parker, the bowls manager at the famous Waterloo club in Blackpool, is doing much of the organising and Hickey added: "I am flattered that Jimmy rates me among the top 16 bowlers in the country.

"The prize money is very good so I will be doing my best to win some."
The Amendoeira club, which is based at a luxury golf resort, has two grass greens - a 40-metres square flat green and a 37 metre square crown green which is believed to be the first top quality one outside the UK.

There will be competitions on both greens with the top players from England taking on Portugeuse players and guests. The crown green competition is a singles event with players split into groups of four and playing one game of 15 up against a different player in the group on each of the first three days.

The top players in each group will compete for a £1,000 winner's cheque on Friday's finals day and the other bowlers will take part in a consolation trophy competition on Thursday.
Hickey also plans to take part in the flat green competition, which is a pairs event over five days, and hopes to team up with his regular indoor partner Wilson.

WSBK Testing

Team Suzuki Alstare's Max Neukirchner blasted the new 2009-model Suzuki GSX-R1000K9 to the second fastest time under heavy weather conditions at the first official World Superbike test at Portimao in Portugal.

Neukirchner lapped the 4.5 kilometre Autodromo Internacional Algarve circuit - which also tested the new Superpole procedure where three separate sessions are used to determine the grid positions - just a tenth-of-a-second behind fastest rider Shane Byrne (Ducati).

Yukio Kagayama kept the Suzuki Alstare flag flying by posting the seventh quickest lap of the new procedure to end up on what would have been the second row of the grid.

Max Neukirchner (best lap - 1:43.965 in 'Superpole', 1:43.674 overall in tests):

"Over the three days we've tried a lot of different things to do with chassis, traction control, wheelie control and engine and have learnt a lot about the new bike. For me, like all of us, the biggest problem has been the rain and the fact that we have not been able to do as many laps in the dry as we would have liked, but our understanding of the bike is a lot better. The lap times are very close, so this year's championship is going to be really hard and it's going to be important to be consistent. I think the 2009 bike handles better and I have a better feeling for it in the corners, but it's not really easier to ride yet because we are going much faster! Overall I am happy because our knowledge is improving and I think we are in pretty good shape for the year ahead."

Yukio Kagayama (best lap - 1:44.586 in 'Superpole', 1:44.425 overall in tests):

"Generally I feel that the conditions have been difficult and I wanted more dry track time. The conditions changed many times and each time we made a change to the bike, the conditions would alter and we would have to change the bike again! The track's grip level in the wet was not so bad, but this year I can push a bit harder in the wet because the 2009 bike is less hard work in the rain. This bike has good potential and all we need is more time to understand it better and then we will improve a lot. I am not happy about my lap times and the weather, but I am happy because of all the good work we've done and the progress we are making."

Algarve home to first ‘Slow Cities’ movement

The first national ‘Slow Cities’ movement is to be created in March in the Algarve, a pioneering region with regards to adhering to the network. ‘Slow Cities’ aims to preserve the traditions of localities that make up its network, as well as promoting a tranquil lifestyle and superior quality of life.

In the Algarve the cities of Tavira, São Brás de Alpotel, Silves and Lagos are to join the movement, which has a snail as its logo and was created in Italy in 1999.

It has since spread throughout Europe, being adopted by countries including Spain, the UK, France, and Norway, as well as other countries around the world.

‘Slow Cities’ support traditional values that incorporate not only heritage but also gastronomy. The gastronomic side of the movement is called ‘Slow Food’ and promotes the opposite of the ‘Fast Food’ concept.

Ana Albuquerque, who is responsible for introducing the ‘Slow Cities’ movement to Portugal, said “We are not in any way against evolution but we want to fight globalization in its worst sense as it leads to a uniform society and, subsequently, mediocrity”.

To become part of the network communities must have at least 50,000 inhabitants, though there can be exceptions, depending on the dimensions of the country in question.

The selection is based on historical components, environmental aspects and quality of life offered by the localities. Sanctions can be applied or the ‘Slow City’ title removed if a locality should cease to comply with these standards.

Even though the ‘Slow Cities’ emblem could attract more tourists, its main purpose is to guarantee a certain quality of life for residents.

After enlisting four Algarvean cities, Ana Albuquerque is now looking to expand the ‘Slow Cities’ concept throughout the rest of Portugal.

Foreigners give Algarve high birth rate

Immigration is one of the main reasons for the Algarve having one of the highest birth rates in the country in 2008, according to the Regional Health Board (ARS). “A total of 4,804 babies were born in the Algarve region (in 2008), of which 1,139 are children of foreign mothers, figures that exceed those reached in 2007 and place the Algarve as one of the Portuguese regions with the highest birth rates” according to a statement from the Regional Health Board.

Immigration is considered a great contributor to rejuvenating the region’s population and helps the socio/economic development of the Algarve.

Brazilian mothers had most births in the Algarve last year (365 babies), followed by Ukrainian (150) and Romanian mothers (130). One hundred Moldavian and 67 British babies were also born in the Algarve. Other nationalities which comprise the 1,139 foreign babies born in the Algarve are from Angola, Guinea, Cape Verde, France and Bulgaria.

A week in the Algarve

For all the rain and the extraordinary cold conditions that afflicted the first two and a half days of Formula One testing at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, the track has made a very positive impression.

Although McLaren and Ferrari both ran here before Christmas, when their track time was blighted by the coldest December conditions experienced in Portugal since 1931, few will have had the chance to take a look in person at the state-of-the-art track.

Not that those who arrived early on Monday morning had much chance to take in the new facility as they hurried to the launch photo calls for the Williams FW31 and Renault R29. The excitement of seeing two new cars break cover in quick succession was a little lost in the 8am gloom, but that subdued feeling quickly faded when the cars, including the new Toyota TF109 and McLaren MP4-24, hit the track when the pit-lane opened at 9am. Finally, F1 2009 had started. All we had to do was wait, and wait, and wait for the track to dry out to get a real impression the new-look machinery in action.

In the meantime, there was the chance to take a good look at the new circuit. The pit and paddock area is nothing special in its generic functionality and, despite the baffling presence of a swimming pool outside the media centre, there's not a great deal to catch the eye here. But out on track it's a different story.

This was little more than an empty slab of land when construction started in February 2008, but as an example of the much-maligned oeuvre of Hermann Tilke-designed modern circuits, it's a very good one. The cars always seem either to be going uphill or downhill because the natural topography has been used to great effect. There are also plenty of good places to watch, with many prime spots offering clear sight of several pieces of track. That means there is always something to look at, except if a massive hailstorm peppers the track and sends Pedro de la Rosa and Sebastien Buemi scurrying back to the pits, and anyone unfortunate enough to be watching trackside into hiding.

The track has attracted the most attention for its F1 test activities, but it has also put together a programme of race events which includes A1GP, the Le Mans Series, GP2, FIA GT and World Superbikes, so it has plenty going on for its first full year of use.

There are inevitably question marks over what effect the outright ban of in-season testing will have on the circuit's business plan - although its 'if you build it, they will come' philosophy has worked, teams won't be allowed to run here at all once the season starts. Not that there is cause for concern with over 300 days of track activity long since booked for 2009, it is the definition of a thriving race track.

Of course, there is one way to get F1 cars during the season - hold a grand prix. That's not something that the track is publicly chasing, but if you've got a great track, to F1 standard, who wouldn't be tempted to try and raise the money to do it? New European grands prix are pretty rare, not to mention pricey, and you have to look back over a decade to 1996 to see Jacques Villeneuve winning the most recent Portuguese F1 race. But an Algarve Grand Prix could be a cracking event.

There are plenty of overtaking opportunities, loads of places where drivers can make mistakes or misjudge their braking points and the track is pretty accessible for the crowd with a two-mile approach road off the A22 motorway pretty much to itself. You can imagine that with a little sunshine falling on the hills that line the circuit it would be one of the more picturesque venues on the calendar.

Not that you'd know it from the way it all started, with Williams and then Renault holding pit-lane photo calls while the sun was still low in the sky. The Williams made the better impression. Decked out in dark blue testing colours, it's the most clean-cut of the new blocky generation of F1 cars. It looked good, and there are high hopes for Williams this year. But in the equally low-key launch press conference on Monday, technical director Sam Michael was very much on the cautious side of optimistic.

It was a similar story with Renault, as Alonso's proclamations of fighting for the title almost had the air of threat about them than genuine fighting talk, based on a certainty that their car was definitely a leading contender. Toyota bucked that trend, with some strong comments on Tuesday hinting that a 'weak' season could spell bad news for the Japanese manufacturer.

But the fact is, no-one wants to make predictions because they can't. With new tyres, KERS, skinny aerodynamic regulations and adjustable front wing flaps to worry about, this is genuinely a season in which no-one, least of all the teams, can really be certain about where they stand until they get to Melbourne at the end of March.

Hamilton pleased with first taste of new McLaren

Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton gave his new McLaren the seal of approval on Wednesday after getting back behind the wheel for the first time since he won the title last November.

However the 24-year-old Briton, who completed 81 laps in the MP4-24 at the Algarve circuit in southern Portugal, warned that his team had their work cut out ahead of the season-opener on March 29.

"It was good to be back working with the team, it felt like I'd hardly been away because it was easy to slip back into the routine," he said. "It's amazing to think that, while I've been to Woking throughout the winter, I haven't properly driven a Formula One car since the Brazilian Grand Prix two months ago, but everything very quickly felt normal today."

Hamilton suffered an early setback before lunch when the car halted out on the damp track and had to be brought back on a truck. The team said the car had experienced a "precautionary engine systems shutdown" which was rectified without having to change the engine.

Hamilton returned to the track in the afternoon and set the second fastest time of the 2009 specification cars. "This first test was all about just getting used to the new car and the new regulations and about giving my feedback to the engineers," he said. "It wasn't about setting a fast time. "The car feels good, we've made lots of progress over the winter and I'm looking forward to developing the car ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

"It's going to be an extremely busy winter. I've only been in the car for one day and our usual job list for the weeks ahead is already enormous," he added.

ALONSO TESTS
Hamilton's former team mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso did 86 laps in the new Renault but was slowest of the five drivers."There are so many things to learn in a short time and we need to maximise our time on track, so to do so many laps today was a good effort," said Alonso.

Germany's Nico Rosberg, in a Williams, was the quickest of those in the new cars behind 20-year-old Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi in the 2008 Toro Rosso.

Williams technical director Sam Michael said the Toyota-powered FW31 had enjoyed good reliability, completing more than 670 km on its third day on the track.

Timo Glock's first outing in the new Toyota TF109 suffered a setback when an oil pipe became disconnected and set the car on fire.

"My first impression of the new car is good," said the German. "I am happy with it. In the morning, on a wet track, I felt pretty comfortable and it was easy to drive."
Poland's Robert Kubica had an untroubled day testing the new BMW-Sauber in Valencia, eastern Spain, while Brazilian Felipe Massa completed 104 laps for champions Ferrari at the Mugello circuit in Italy.

10 best exotic places to take an extended holiday

1. Algarve, Portugal

The Algarve on the south coast of Portugal is and has been one of the top exotic extended holiday spots for many United Kingdom and European residents for years. Many Canadian tour operators offer packages. The region offers temperate and mild warm weather, large resort areas surrounded by small villages and four championship golf courses. Besides its 150 beaches, be sure to visit some of the "Pueblos Blancos" or traditional villages such as Monchique, for great views and authentic Portuguese arts and crafts.

2. Southern Spain: Costa del Sol

There's nothing like the Mediterranean beaches of the Spanish Coast to call on all sunbathers, the stylish rich and famous, and party people. In Costa del Sol, you'll find exotic beaches, golf, luxury resorts and Puerto Banus, one of TripAtlas.com's Top 10 Portside Cities of the Western Mediterranean, the most luxurious marina in the world. Honourable mention on the coast also includes Costa Blanca and Costa de Almeria.

3. Morocco

From the magical streets and markets of Marrakech to the little-known beaches of Essaouira, Morocco is no longer a haven just for indulgent artists and poets. As one of the best expressions of North Africa, there's something about Morocco that exudes an alluring and exotic culture that takes an extended holiday or long stay to really appreciate. Visit Morocco before it expands into a resort-overloaded destination.

4. Goa, India

Goa is a hot holiday spot for Indian and South Asian vacationers and is best known for its beaches, festivals and ancient temples. It was once a Portuguese colony and thus offers an eclectic mix of both east and west. Calangute and Candolim are the most popular beach towns, but Goa's capital Panaji (also Panjim) is worth a visit, as is Ponda, a sacred site of Goan temples.

5. Florida

While Florida may not be the most exotic destination on the list, Florida is home to hundreds of thousands Canadian snowbirds each year. Stay in the Florida Panhandle area, which is less crowded, or the attraction-filled Orlando. Perfect your "Captiva Crouch" on Captiva Island or your golf game at the hundreds of golf courses throughout the Sunshine State. Many condo rentals, airlines and tour operators offer great deals.

6. Canary Islands, Grand Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura

Off the northwest coast of Africa between Morocco and Western Sahara, the Canary Islands are a set of volcanic islands that are the perfect hideout for Europeans and other visitors looking to stay away from snow and chilly winds. Destinations include the bigger islands of Grand Canaria and Tenerife, while Fuerteventura is known for its windsurfing and La Gomera is best for its rainforest and walking trails.

7. Bali, Indonesia

Stay for a month in Bali to get the best of enchanting Indonesian culture, cuisine, and beautiful beaches. Popular spots in Bali include Benoa Beach, Legian and Sanur Beach. This region is known for water sports enthusiasts including honeymooners, scuba divers and surfers.

8. Phuket and Pattaya, Thailand

White shores and the most stunning aqua blue waters you'll ever see, Thailand and other coast-side spots in Southeast Asia such as Penang, Malaysia, are popular holiday destinations. They bring together cultural heritage, mountain views, elephant camps, ancient temples and palaces, stunning beaches, water sports, resorts, restaurants and nightclubs -- all in one place. Popular Phuket destinations include Karon, Patong and Kata Beaches. Hotels, resorts, B&Bs, or half/full board accommodation are all available.

9. Mazatlan, Mexico

For fresh seafood and for sports fishing fans, Mazatlan offers exactly what you need for your extended holiday getaway. While it's a great resort area with warm beaches that you could laze on for weeks, Mazatlan also gives its visitors a taste of Mexico from the past as well as today. It's such a nice place, many Canadians, Americans and Europeans now move to Mazatlan to retire.

10. St. Martin, Caribbean

Among the many paradisiacal islands in the Caribbean, TripAtlas picked St. Martin because of its great mix of relaxation, culture and a refined sense of exotic French and European flavours. An extended holiday on St. Martin also allows time for you to explore the Dutch side as well, or island hop to and from other nearby islands such as Anguilla, St. Barts and Saba.

Lock up your golf clubs! Here's bad boy Craig Bellamy's Top 10 bust-ups

Craig Bellamy is destined for Manchester City after West Ham accepted a bid for the bad boy striker. Having previously worked with him both at Blackburn and also the Welsh national side, you'd think Mark Hughes would know what he’s letting himself in for.

But with this sort of track record, would you want Bellamy at YOUR club? Let us know by joining the debate on our Premier League Fan blog

1) In 2002 the striker was cautioned for common assault after an incident outside a Newcastle nightclub in which he was alleged to have attacked a woman.

2) Bellamy appeared before a judge again in 2006 after being accused of assaulting two women in a Cardiff nightclub. The then Liverpool player was cleared following a five-day trial at Cardiff Magistrates Court.

3) During his time at Newcastle, the petulant Welshman had a bust up with Toon assistant coach John Carver at Newcastle Airport. Bellamy threw ‘quite a heavy chair’ at Carver during the fracas.

4) Bellamy had a ding dong with Magpies boss Graeme Souness in 2005 after Souness reportedly asked him to play out of position in right midfield. It’s believed that the striker refused to play out of position and said he’d fake an injury if asked to. He was subsequently dropped, then let rip at Souness, calling him a liar. An £80,000 fine followed for Bellamy's troubles...

5) After leaving Newcastle for Celtic, Bellamy had a pop at his old club via text message. Following Newcastle 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Man United in the 2005 FA Cup semi-final, the striker sent a string of messages to Alan Shearer calling him an old man and questioning his ability. “Your legs are gone. You're too old. You're too slow,” one of the texts was reported to have read.

6) Arguably his finest hour – on or off the pitch – took place during a Liverpool training camp in the Algarve in 2007. Bellamy saw red when, during a team karaoke night, full-back John Arne Riise refused to get up and sing. The pair exchanged abuse and had to be separated by team-mates, but Bellamy wasn't finished. After the gathering had dispersed, he armed himself with a golf club, tracked down the Norwegian and allegedly took a swing at him. Bellamy later commemorated the fracas in the goal celebration (above).

7) Bellamy’s most recent managerial bust-up was with former West Ham boss Alan Curbishley. The pair got into a war of words following the Hammer’s opening day defeat to Manchester City last season - Bellamy's first game for the club...

8) It’s not just managers and Alan Shearer that the Welshman has had beef with, however. Possibly borne out of his days as a Norwich player, Bellamy has also taken a pop at Ipswich fans. During West Ham's pre-season clash with The Tractor Boys Bellamy was accused of abusing fans after being substituted. It was alleged that he swore at supporters and made reference to Ipswich prostitutes.

9) According to reports, he ended his West Ham career with - yes - another bust-up. After being told by bosses at the end of the week that they wouldn't sell him to his favoured destination, Spurs, Bellamy allegedly stormed out of the training ground, seemingly never to return.

10) Bellamy's aggressive attitude arguably derives from his fierce patriotism. The striker studies Welsh history and has a huge tattoo of Owain Glyndwr, the Welsh freedom fighter who led a revolt against England in 1400. Perhaps Mark Hughes will be off the hook after all...

CERVELO TEST TEAM LAUNCH PHOTOS

The new men and women's Cervelo Test Team held its official launch party in Portugal on Sunday (January 18).

Among the riders present at the launch were 2008 Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre and Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd, alongside the strong British contingent in the squad: Roger Hammond, Jeremy Hunt, Dan Fleeman, Daniel Lloyd and Emma Pooley.

Cervelo founder Phil White summed up why the bike company has taken the leap from being an equipment sponsor to owning and running a team: "We did it because we feel that professional cycling is of extreme importance to the bike industry."

"Rather than just criticise on the sidelines as a sponsor, we decided we should put our money where our mouth is and be proactive. We think it is time the industry doesn't just fund teams they have no control over, but that it also takes an active role and responsibility for how these teams are run, and how they promote bikes and cycling in general."

Aside from the official presentation to the media, the squad was also in the Algarve to get in some training miles.


Men's Cervelo Test Team


Women's Cervelo Test Team


Out on the road in the Algarve


2008 Tour winner Carlos Sastre


Thor Hushovd


Roger Hammond


Jeremy Hunt


Olympic time trial silver medallist Emma Pooley


Dan Lloyd


Dan Fleeman

Portugal delight for Agar

HULL FC coach Richard Agar says he has been delighted with the attitude and performance of his players during an intense week of training in Portugal.

As the squad's warm-weather training camp nears its conclusion, Agar revelled in the stark contrast to last year's ill-fated week on their travels.

Hull will return home from Brown's Hotel complex in Portugal's Algarve on Thursday afternoon.

This time last year, FC had only a handful of players fit enough to train, with most spending more time in the rehab room than out on the field.

But, as the team prepared for their penultimate day of full training today, Agar boasted 21 fit first-team players.

"All the staff here couldn't be happier with how the week has gone and the attitude and output from the players has been first rate" Agar told the Mail.

"It is great to be able to come back here this year with almost an entirely fit squad and to be able to get the work done which we feel we need to do.

"It has been a really productive week both on the field and off the field and I think everyone is enjoying it."

Of the 23 first team players away at camp only Motu Tony and Danny Washbrook have been on the sidelines, with the two working hard to continue their rehabilitation from injury.

With Gareth Raynor and Dominic Maloney left at home injured, and Michael Crocker not arriving in time, Agar also took the opportunity to take three of his young reserves on camp.

"Because we had some space we brought James Green, Liam Cunningham and Danny Nicklas along with us for the experience" said Agar.

"The young guys have made a massive contribution this week and have injected something extra. It will be a big benefit to them being here."

Pressure is off Hamilton - Alonso

Fernando Alonso feels the pressure is off Lewis Hamilton this year, but has warned the Briton he potentially faces a tough task to retain his Formula One crown.

Double world champion Alonso was on hand at the Algarve Motor Park on Monday to unwrap Renault's car for the 2009 season, although he will only get behind the wheel for the first time on Wednesday.

"I think there's less pressure on Lewis this year," said Alonso, who won back-to-back titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006. "When you win a championship you are a Formula One world champion forever, and it means you can enjoy your racing."

Alonso, who won more points in the final six races of last season than any other driver, is incredibly upbeat about his prospects of a third world title.

That might not bode well for old adversary Hamilton, but the 27-year-old is convinced the McLaren driver will feel more at ease after winning his maiden championship.

"If you make a mistake in one race you are experienced enough to know the championship is long and you have time to recover," he added. "But when you are waiting for that first championship there is more stress because you don't want to waste any opportunity. But once you have that first title, then there is less pressure."

However, the wide-ranging regulation changes, notably relating to aerodynamics, the much-derided introduction of the kinetic energy recovery system and the return of slick tyres, means teams began the design of this year's car with a blank sheet of paper.

Alonso feels that could count against Hamilton and McLaren if they are not up to speed from the opening race in Australia, especially given the ban on in-season testing.

"Maybe it will be more difficult because all the cars will be mixed after starting from zero," added Alonso.

"If you use the same regulations for two or three years, it is normally difficult for the cars that win championships to lose their advantage. That advantage is maintained for years, so maybe it is easier to win back-to-back championships when the regulations stay the same."

Motor racing-Williams play down expectations on new car debut

Former champions Williams gave their new FW31 Formula One car its track debut on Monday while keeping the lid firmly on expectations for the season ahead.

"We don't go in there feeling confident about anything," technical director Sam Michael told Reuters at the new Algarve Motor Park circuit when asked whether he was more upbeat than in previous years.

"The Williams way is to be pessimistic and make sure we cover all our bases. Under-expect and over-deliver is the best way."

Williams, winners of 113 grands prix and nine constructors' championships, last tasted victory at the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix after finishing 2003 as overall runners-up in the standings.

The Toyota-powered team slumped to eighth last season, the position they occupied in 2006 before climbing to fourth in 2007 when McLaren were stripped of all their points for a spying controversy.

Michael said Williams had taken a self-imposed penalty last season by deciding to switch the focus to the 2009 car at an early stage due to the significant rule changes being introduced.

The aim was to get a head start on their rivals and reap the rewards at a time when all teams, despite very different budgets, had to go back to the drawing board.

"Our target is always to get back to the front. We've been a winning team before and we want to get back there again," said the Australian.

"How far we go is all relative. If all the teams have done the same job as us, plus a bit more, we will stay where we are."

RELATIVE GAME

"Formula One is a relative game, but our aspirations are to make sure we're respectable in the current climate," added Michael, whose team have retained their line-up of Germany's Nico Rosberg and Japan's Kazuki Nakajima.

"We're a privately-owned team and we've got to make sure we do things efficiently and try and gain on other people using efficiencies that they can't achieve. That's what we try and do all the time.

"So in terms of where our target finishing position is, we don't sit there and have that as a target. We just try and do the best job we can."

German test driver Nico Hulkenberg was entrusted with the first laps in the new car on a rainy morning, completing 17 before aquaplaning on the wet track and spinning off.

The dark blue car, covered with a tarpaulin, returned to the pits on the back of a truck but Michael said the damage was nothing to worry about.

This season sees the introduction of the new KERS system, which provides the cars with a burst of extra power by recovering energy generated under braking.

However, the system is not mandatory and some teams have said already that they could start the season without it.

Michael said Williams had developed two versions, one with a flywheel and the other with a battery, and would be testing both for speed and reliability before making a decision whether to use either.

"We are still backing both routes," said Michael. "The jury is still out on whether we start with it or not, not so much from a performance point of view, but more about reliability.

"It's about making sure we get all the reliability work done. That's the big challenge."

Drain Doctor Plumbing to franchise across Europe

Drain Doctor Plumbing, a UK based emergency drainage and plumbing franchise, has appointed a new operations manager to aid its European expansion. Francisco JosÉ Ferreira São Vicente has been appointed as operations manager for Portugal to help mirror Drain Doctor's UK success. He will establish the Drain Doctor franchise business model in Portugal to provide guaranteed service 24 hours per day 365 days per year with a fixed price 'menu' and no call-out or out-of-hours charges.

Drain Doctor is a franchise operation with 104 owner operator businesses operating around the UK. Francisco will help Drain Doctor establish a company-owned business in the Algarve region covering Loulé, Faro, Silves, Vilamoura, Portimão, and Lagos. He will manage the Drain Doctor Algarve operation to ensure that the concept is properly established. Francisco will then establish owner-operator franchises in the rest of the country.

Francisco was chosen to be operations manager in Portugal because the Drain Doctor board felt that he had the best attitude and qualifications to build the Drain Doctor brand in Europe.

Jan Mitman, Drain Doctor Director, said: "We are delighted that Francisco is joining Drain Doctor to assist us with the launch of the business in Portugal. He will receive all the support we can give him.

"Once the structure is in place Francisco will employ a group of technicians to cover all aspects of Drain Doctor's service to deal with plumbing, drainage, relining and CCTV. He will initially cover the whole of the Algarve region. When the operation is as successful as we are sure it is going to be he will start franchising the system in the rest of Portugal."

Francisco, who was working in the real estate industry, commented: "The current economic downturn forced me to rethink my options. I saw the advertisement for operations manager in Expresso and decided to apply. The Drain Doctor business model offers a recession proof business.

"The plumbing and drainage systems in Portugal are very similar to those in the UK, but we do not have CCTV and no dig drainage technology in Portugal so this will give us a great competitive advantage. For example, drain lining will allow us to complete repairs without having to dig up our customers' drains."

Renault unveil the R29

Renault have unveiled the R29, with a slightly changed livery, at the Algarve circuit on Monday.

The Anglo/French squad opted for a low-key launch at the track where the team will be testing.

Drivers Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jnr were both in attendance, along with team boss Flavio Briatore as the R29 made its debut.

The new car, like those displayed before it, is designed in accordance to the new 2009 regulations. This means the wing at the front is low and wide while the rear is short and high.

The car also features a slight change to last year's livery as Renault have signed French oil company Total to their sponsorship mix.

Shame it was such a bad day with the weather, but expecting to clear and fine on wednesday.

IT’S time for Perth and Kinross club golfers to tee-up entries for the 2009 PA Sunshine Challenge and plot their way to a sun-kissed golfing break on the Algarve for a tenner.

To take advantage of the cut-price deal, entries have to be in by the end of January.

In recent years, winners of the popular matchplay competition organised in tandem with golf break specialists Bill Goff, have flown the flag in Portugal for clubs including Glenisla, Blair Atholl and Auchterarder.

Past champions have already booked their places for the 2009 matchplay challenge, underlining the enjoyment factor which goes hand in hand with the Algarve competition against other regional newspaper and golfing magazine winners.

The ultimate prize awaiting the UK champion is a Bill Goff break for two at the five star Le Meridien Penina resort in the Algarve.

Last year, Perth paramedic Gregor Roach lapped-up the sunshine break and he said: “I’m definitely in for it again. It was a fantastic holiday.

“Everyone got on well and the courses we played were great.”

The five-handicap Glenisla player, who hails from Wolfhill, was runner-up to a past champion, Vic Trojan, in a hard-fought final played over the magnificent King’s Course at Gleneagles.

But a double booking prevented the 18th hole winner making the autumn trip.

“It was unfortunate for Vic but it certainly worked out to my advantage.

“I had some very enjoyable games along the way to the final. This time I’ll be out to go one better and win the PA’s Sunshine Challenge tournament,” pledged Gregor.

He pointed out that fellow Algarve finalists drawn from across the UK had a range of handicaps.

In recent years, the PA champion has been representing county clubs.

Last time round, Craigie Hill duo Brian Martin and Ronnie Calderwood both lost out at the semi-final stage played at Gleneagles.

The Bill Goff backed UK event dates back to 1991 and entry is just £10.

This year, each entrant will go into a free prize draw to win one of their golfing holidays.

Meanwhile, our Perth and Kinross winner will fly out to the Algarve for a week on November 1.

The £650 holiday will be centred on the Tivoli Almansor four star hotel in the resort of Carvoeiro.

The courses featured this year will be Vale de Pinta, Palmares, Alamos and Morgado.

Entries are being taken now at the website www.sunshinechallenge.co.uk and further details are also available on 0800 915 1804.

Photographs from last year’s Algarve finals are also on line.

Multi-million euro investment in Algarve’s ports

Approximately thirty million euros are to be invested by the Port and Maritime Transport Institute (IPTM) in fishing ports throughout the Algarve, by 2012.

The biggest investment, €10 million, is to be invested in Tavira’s docks.

According to daily newspaper Correio da Manha, €14.8 million will be put towards improving nautical infrastructures in eight of the region’s ports.

Another significant contribution will be invested in Olhão’s future fishing port, which will be complete in 2012 and will receive a €9.5 million boost.

In Portimão’s port a channel leading from the river to a maintenance bay and dry dock will be drained, representing a €1.3 million investment.

Algarve Tourism Board invests €100,000

The Algarve Tourism Board has invested around €100,000 in a promotional campaign which seeks to make the Portuguese population aware of the ‘Algarve invites’ project, to be held not Lisbon’s Tourism Fair.

The campaign will be spread over several marketing outlets, such as radio, press, bill boards, advertising on buses and ATM’s (Multibancos). Having started on the 8th January, the promotional campaign will be held until the 25th of the same month, the day the fair ends.

The radio advertisements will last 20 seconds and will be aired on 147 stations and 200 buses will be carrying the ‘Algarve invites’ advertisement. As many as 325 ATM’s will also be advertising the initiative.

The event will take place at Lisbon’s Tourism Fair between 23rd and 25th January, between 18h00 and 20h00 on the Friday, from 10h00 to 23h00 on the Saturday and from 10h00 to 20h00 on the Sunday.

Hamilton feeling relaxed

Lewis Hamilton insists the tag of world champion has allowed him to relax heading into the new Formula One season.

Hamilton will take to the wheel of McLaren's new challenger - the MP4-24 - for the first time on Wednesday at the Algarve Motor Park. That will be 81 days after he was crowned F1 king, taking the title in dramatic circumstances on the final lap of the last race in Brazil.

"I don't think there is any added pressure just because I'm now world champion," insisted Hamilton. "In fact, I feel more relaxed going into the season simply because I'm coming off a great season."

He added: "It is like when you go from race to race in that when you win one race, at the next you've extra confidence.

"I feel I have reset my goals, and reset my targets back to when I started in Formula One in that I want to be world champion.

"I don't sit here saying 'I am world champion'. I sit here saying 'I want to be world champion'."

Hamilton also paid tribute to Ron Dennis, who on Friday confirmed he will step down as team principal of McLaren from March 1.

Dennis was the man who gave Hamilton his opportunity in the sport, and has nurtured him since the age of 13.

"Ron is a huge part of the team," remarked Hamilton. "He has racing in his blood, so he will never leave. He will always play a part, and I will always remain close to him.

"I've known him since I was 10. We have a great relationship, and he has made a huge impact on my life - and he still does today - and we are great friends."

Algarve best recyclers

The Algarve is the region of Portugal which contributes most when it comes to recycling, with around 18,000 tonnes of glass, paper, plastic and card sent for recycling each year.

The administrator of Algar, the company which takes care of solid residues in the Algarve, says the Algarve is the region which contributes most ‘per capita’ in continental Portugal, however it is in Madeira where people are most environmentally conscious.

Hélio Barros revealed these facts during a ceremony that was held to celebrate the delivery of a Quality and Environment Management Integrated System certificate the company had applied for in 2007. Over 9,000 hours of training, involving 232 employees, were needed for the certificate, allowing Algar to achieve one of their strategic goals.

Algar currently possesses two rubbish tips, in the Eastern and Western Algarve, eight transfer stations, two sorting units, thirteen eco-centres and two bio-gas production units.

In 2009, the company is focusing on transforming gases to produce electric energy and is going to build a Used Cooking Oil Transformation Plant, for the purpose of reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. A three million euro investment is also planned for two automatic sorting plants, to ease the pressure on the current sorting units which are close to their full capacity.

McClaren testing Lewis Hamilton's car next week

The car Lewis Hamilton will drive as he defends his Formula One world title will be unveiled on Friday.

McLaren are scheduled to launch the new Mercedes-powered MP4-24 at their base in Surrey at 1045 GMT.

It is the third 2009 car to be unveiled after Ferrari and Toyota's new models broke cover earlier this week.

All have been designed to conform to the biggest set of F1 rule changes in 25 years, which are aimed at improving racing and making overtaking easier.

Hamilton will attend a news conference at the state-of-the-art McLaren Technology Centre in Woking along with Finnish team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, test drivers Pedro de la Rosa of Spain and Englishman Gary Paffett and team bosses Ron Dennis, Martin Whitmarsh and Norbert Haug of Mercedes-Benz.

Hamilton, 24, won last year's title by a single point from Brazilian Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, who has already had a day testing his team's new car.

McLaren will join Ferrari, Renault, Williams and Toyota - whose car was unveiled on Thursday - at the new Algarve circuit in Portugal next week.


It is the first of a series of critical tests before the start of the new season in Melbourne, Australia on 29 March.

Renault, fourth last year, and Williams both launch their cars at that test on Monday, while BMW Sauber - third overall in 2008 - have chosen the Valencia track in Spain for the first public appearance of their new model.

The Algarve test will be the first time Hamilton has driven an F1 car at speed since clinching the title and becoming F1's youngest ever champion in Brazil last November.

He has done a handful of publicity appearances and other engagements since then but has spent much of his time having a break from F1 with his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, singer with pop group the Pussycat Dolls.

Following the unveiling of the Ferrari in Italy on Monday, much attention will be paid to how the McLaren compares.

New rules have forced modifications which lower and widen the front wing, and demand a tall, narrow rear wing.

Slick, untreaded tyres will also be reintroduced after 11 years on grooved tyres, and teams have the option of employing a kinetic energy recovery system (Kers).

The Kers system stores energy that would otherwise be wasted as heat during braking, then reapplies it during acceleration to provide a boost in power, controlled from the cockpit by the driver.

Ferrari Sez Changes Coming To New F60 Formula 1 Car

Following the "difficult" track debut of the F60 on Monday, Ferrari decamped to the engineering transporters on Tuesday to analyse the birth of its new 2009 single seater.

"After such serious rule changes, the shakedown is always a very difficult affair," Brazilian Felipe Massa, at the wheel of the Mugello debut, said.

"In the next tests there will be changes (to the car)," he revealed.

On Monday, the car - also hosting the circuit debut of a Ferrari KERS system - completed only about 100 kilometres.

Even the Italian marque's president Luca di Montezemolo was present for the roll-out debrief. According to reports, the most troublesome areas of the F60 was KERS, and also the new front wing.

It is also suggested that the F60 features a radical solution to the new aerodynamic restrictions for 2009 in the area of the underbody.

Ferrari's aero-detailing of the side mirror mountings is also distinctive, and a subtly different colour of red paint has been used because it is slightly lighter than last year's tint.

Following the Tuesday debrief, Ferrari chiefs arranged to depart Mugello and prepare for the car's proper test debut, alongside other teams next week at the Portimao circuit in Portugal's Algarve region.

"The season is going to be completely unique," team boss Stefano Domenicali said earlier this week. "We have had to make a great many changes in a very short time, but I hope that from the outset we are competitive."

Technical director Aldo Costa added: "The car is not an evolution of the F2008. Quite the opposite: we began with a clean sheet of paper and built a completely new car."

HIP Algarve Channel Recognized As One of the Top 100 Websites by The UK's Guardian Newspaper

The HIP Algarve channel is the brain child of a video production company based in Southern Europe. The company has been developing the website to attract interested travelers to this beautiful region and provide them with quality, informative video's in an organized manner. They are not a You Tube rehash website, they don't rely on others to provide them content, they do it themselves and the results are well ... SUPERIOR !

Start your Algarve tour with main topics such as beaches, towns, history, culture and nature and golf . Looking to find the information regionally? The site is sorted into eleven main regions with all relative topics found within them. For easy navigation and to visualize localities the site uses Google maps to display all it's information. Just click on the icon and view the video, it's that easy !

The site can't be beat for visual and practical information for the Algarve or in fact for any travel destination. They have the entire tourist experience covered. Book your hotel room or private villa in the places to stay section. Want a suggestion on a place to dine? check out the dining and nightlife section. The crew is busy finding the most unique, unusual and intriguing spots throughout the Algarve. The vision is to continue to develop regular new video content to keep visitors interested in returning again and again. Once the primary tourist information videos are all uploaded the focus will be on current news, municipal festivals and sporting events to keep it fresh. Check out the news and events section for more on these topics. There is even going to be cooking shows about regional dishes and specialties.
There will chefs preparing delectable signature dishes and informative restaurant reviews. The HIP Algarve Channel wants to keep viewers into the loop, so they are developing a forum for travelers to discuss topics amongst themselves and allow user videos to be uploaded - they do however have to be screened for quality and relevance prior to posting. HIP Algarve is always happy to receive feedback and suggestions, so drop them a line.

The site is exciting and innovative - be sure to stop by and take a visit - full launch is expected April 2009 !

Agar: It's a vital time

HULL FC today set off for Portugal with coach Richard Agar proclaiming their warm-weather training camp will be their most important week of the season.

Hull have flown to Brown's hotel complex in Portugal's Algarve for a week of intensive training.

And with FC's first friendly encounter against Leeds just eight days away - and a Super League opener against Wigan in only four weeks time - the team's preparations are about to be dramatically stepped up.

Agar says he is eager to put his men through their paces in what he believes will be their key week in their pre-season preparations.

"It's a very, very important week and is a vital and integral part of our pre-season planning" Agar told the Mail.

"We meticulously laid a plan down in the off-season as to what would be the best way forward for the group and how we would approach pre-season.

"In that aspect it is a case of so far so good and we are very happy with where the guys are at.

Ferrari unveils its new Formula One car

After winning the constructors' championship, but failing to win the driver's championship in 2008, Ferrari want to be certain that its F60 is ready for the Australian Grand Prix.

The F60 was unveiled on Ferrari's website on Monday, and Massa, the runner-up in the driver's championship, described the 55th Italian Scuderia Ferrari as "cute".

After his test drive on Tuesday he said it "went well", and reported no problems with the new F60 which he later described as "beautiful". He was reflective when asked about losing to Hamilton last season on the last lap of the final grand prix at his home circuit in Brazil, and said, "the worst days help you learn."

The team's spokesperson Luca Colajanni said they were looking forward to the new season. "It's always a new challenge when you bring a new car on the track," he said.

"New challenge ... difficult, because this year we will only have 20 days of testing available," Colajanni said as he spoke to RFI on the drive back from Mugello.

Formula one teams have new regulations to comply with this year and Ferrari's car features different wings, suspension and a special kinetic energy system. KERS, or, kinetic energy recovery system, is a regenerative braking mechanism that stores energy for future use and the sport's ruling body, the FIA, are hoping to promote green technology in 2009.

Ferrari has developed their KERS system with Magneti Marelli, and Massa has been positive about the system so far. "The KERS works. We started off carefully, picking things up as we went along and everything worked."

The team continue testing in the new Algarve circuit in Portugal next week and the new season starts in Melbourne on 29th March.

Madeleine father back in Algarve

Madeleine McCann's father has returned to Portugal for the first time since he and his wife were named formal suspects in connection with their daughter's disappearance.

Gerry McCann flew to Faro airport in the Algarve yesterday to meet with British officials before travelling to Lisbon where he is due to meet family lawyers.

Mr McCann and his wife Kate, from Rothley, Leicestershire, were named as official suspects – arguidos – in connection with Madeleine's disappearance in September 2007; four months after the three-year-old went missing.

Last July the arguido status for the couple, as well as for British expat Robert Murat, was lifted as the Portuguese investigation into Madeleine's disappearance was dropped.

Mr and Mrs McCann have vowed not to give up on the search for their daughter, who went missing from her parents' villa in Praia da Luz on May 3rd 2007.

"We think there is still a very good chance Maddie could be found alive, and that's why we want the search to continue," Mr McCann said of his trip to Portugal.

"The purpose of this visit was to look at what can still be done in the search.

"We want to be looking forward because we want to find our daughter."

New Toyota to debut in ‘blockbuster movie’

Toyota’s 2009 car will be unveiled on Thursday, but not in the usual fashion. Instead of the traditional media-only event, fans will be able to witness the world premiere of the TF109 online, in a special, big-screen movie trailer.

In addition to the trailer, the purpose built website will also feature a virtual tour around the TF109, video comments from team members and a chance to communicate directly with drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock.

"Formula One enjoys the loyal and enthusiastic support of millions of people throughout the world and we cannot forget that these fans are the lifeblood of our sport,” said Toyota Racing President John Howett.

“This year we feel it is important to allow fans to share the excitement of a new car premiere, especially when the new rules for 2009 have created such a sense of anticipation.”

The move online also reflects the current economic times and Toyota’s desire to embrace the need to be cost conscious while being increasingly open to Formula One racing's legions of fans.

"This is a significant time for our sport and I firmly believe they will see a strong and vibrant Formula One emerge this season, starting with the premiere of the TF109 on www.tf109-premiere.com," added Howett.

The TF109 premiere will go live at 1100 hours GMT on Thursday, January 15. The car is scheduled to make its track debut at Portugal’s Algarve Motor Park the following Tuesday.