Alamitos Bay Yacht Club

In This Issue
Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week: Mixed Fortunes on Opening Day | Optimist World Championship: USA Wins Team Racing Title | 470 World Championship Titles To Poland And Australia | Contender World Championship 2017 - Day One | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Graham Bailey is Dragon Edinburgh Cup Champion | Defender Proves Age is Just a Number With Queen's Cup Victory | Sign up to Bart's Bash 2017...the biggest sailing event in the world | Mischa Heemskerk and Stephan Dekker F18 World Champs | Featured Brokerage

Brought to you by Seahorse magazine, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week: Mixed Fortunes on Opening Day
Bojar ghosts along in the Solent. Photo by Rick Tomlinson, rick-tomlinson.com. Click on image to enlarge.

The opening Winkworth Race Day of the 10th Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week witnessed a huge mixture of fortunes in Monday's light airs which saw winds constantly shifting, presenting a mixture of fortunes across the competing fleets.

Andrew Pearson's wooden 10 metre yacht Bojar, which is 80 years old this year, was today's winner of 'Classic Yacht Red 1' class which sailed a mid-Solent course, starting out, as did the other three Classic Cruiser classes, on the east going tide from the Royal London Yacht Club's shore line off the Parade at Cowes.

Wins in the other cruiser classes went to SCOD Adelie in the 'Green' class, Nordic Folkboat The Otter, in the Folkboat class, Contessa 26 Jiminy Cricket in the 'Blue' class and Sunmaid V in the 'Red II' class.

The day did not turn out quite as planned for the much anticipated celebration of the Flying Fifteens' 70th anniversary race. The Uffa Fox designed keelboat, which first appeared in 1947, was the first off the start line this morning, but as Race Officer Derek Hodd explained "The wind that was forecast didn't arrive until later in the day moving between easterly and northerly, finally settling back into the east." Although the wind did kick in eventually it was too late for the 28-strong Flying Fifteen class, which suffered from the morning's light winds - even a delay caused by a general recall of their first start did nothing to improve their chances of a better breeze.

Decreasing wind left the fleet struggling on the long downwind leg against the tide. One by one decisions were made to retire, with the last to give in being Campbell Alexander's Durban Flyer. The day still needed to be celebrated so the anniversary trophy, the Queen Victoria Jubilee Cup, was awarded, with unanimous approval, to Durban Flyer's South African crew. Like all the other classes the Flying Fifteens have four more days of racing to look forward to so a chance to put in some results.

Full results: cowesclassicsweek.org

Optimist World Championship: USA Wins Team Racing Title
Photo by Matias Capizzano. Click on image for photo gallery.

Pattaya, Thailand - Team USA beat Team China in a dramatic, hard-won, winner-takes-all 'Sail Off' in the team racing portion of the Optimist World Championship 2017, retaining its hold on the IODA Challenge Cup team racing trophy for the second year in a row..

In high winds of 13-18 knots, huge swell, and choppy seas, the Americans set off in the morning alongside 15 other teams, each determined to do their best on the final day of the team racing championship.

The day opened with a series of flights which ensured each of the top 16 teams had a chance to race twice before being eliminated if they lost twice. Team USA skillfully bested Ireland, Germany, Thailand, and Singapore in turn to earn the first assured place in the final Sail Off.

In contrast, the Chinese had to duel with six teams to secure their spot in the finals. Ironically, in their second race, they were beaten by the Malaysians, but, in the showdown for the second seat in the Sail Off, they found themselves up against Team Malaysia again, this time besting them and sending them to shore with bronze.

The final Sail Off was a best-of-three race series, the first race won by Team USA, the second by Team China. This made the third race a 'must win'. As the race committee, described it, the deciding race was a "great race", the winner unclear until the very end.

On Tuesday, the individual world championships series continues with fleets split into four based on their rankings after six earlier this week. The Americans can expect to do battle with the Chinese again in the coming days. Four members of Team USA and three of Team China are in the gold fleet.

2017worlds.optiworld.org/en/default/races/race

470 World Championship Titles To Poland And Australia
Thessaloniki, Greece: The conclusion to the preceding five days of racing came down to the medal races at the 2017 470 World Championship in Thessaloniki, Greece.

In the 470 Women, any one of the top four going into the medal race had a punt at a medal, with the series leaders Agnieszka Skrzypulec/Irmina Mrozek Gliszczynska already guaranteed gold or silver. The three boats behind would tussle for silver and bronze.

In the 470 Men the podium chancers were a bit more clear cut. Series leaders, Anton Dahlberg/Fredrik Bergstrom were guaranteed either gold or silver in a who dares wins first to the finish face off with Australians Mathew Belcher/Will Ryan. The battle for bronze was between David Bargehr/Lukas Mahr and Deniz Cinar/Ates Cinar.

The 470 Women got off first at 1415 hours for their short, sharp twenty-five minute windward / leeward race, followed by the 470 Men.

470 Women

Gold to Poland in a stunning delivery of performance from Agnieszka Skrzypulec/Irmina Mrozek Gliszczynska. The pair finished the medal race in 7th place to take their first ever World Championship medal with a 6 point margin.

For Polish sailing, their gold medal is a huge triumph for Olympic dinghy sailing, and a feat last achieved by the renowned Mateusz Kusznierewicz in 2000 at the Finn Worlds, four years after he won the nation's first Olympic Gold.

470 Women - Top Ten Overall
1. Agnieszka Skrzypulec / Irmina Mrozek Gliszczynska, POL, 42 points
2. Hannah Mills / Eilidh Mcintyre, GBR, 48
3. Tina Mrak / Veronika Macarol, SLO, 66
4. Afrodite Zegers / Anneloes Van Veen, NED, 75
5. Barbara Cornudella / Sara Lopez, ESP, 78
6. Silvia Mas Depares / Patricia Cantero Reina, ESP, 80
7. Shasha Chen / Xufeng Huang, CHN, 92
8. Amy Seabright / Anna Carpenter, GBR, 95
9. Linda Fahrni / Maja Siegenthaler, SUI, 97
10. Maria Bozi / Rafailina Klonaridou, GRE, 107

470 Men

An epic medal fight in the 470 Men meant teams had no choice but to hunt each other out. Australia's Mat Belcher/Will Ryan crossed the finish in first place and wrapped up gold, the 7th World Championship victory for Belcher, and fourth with Ryan. The team is invincible.

470 Men - Top Ten Overall
1. Mathew Belcher / Will Ryan, AUS, 38 points
2. Anton Dahlberg / Fredrik Bergstrom, SWE, 47
3. David Bargehr / Lukas Mahr, AUT, 78
4. Hippolyte Machetti / Sidoine Dantes, FRA, 85
5. Deniz Cinar / Ates Cinar, TUR, 90
6. Giacomo Ferrari / Giulio Calabro, ITA, 94
7. Stuart Mcnay / David Hughes, USA, 96
8. Zangjun Xu / Chao Wang, CHN, 99
4. Paul Snow-Hansen / Daniel Willcox, NZL, 101
10. Panagiotis Mantis / Pavlos Kagialis, GRE, 102

2017worlds.470.org

Contender World Championship 2017 - Day One
107 Contender dinghies were ready for racing on day 1 for the Contender World Championship in Sonderborg in the southern part of Denmark.

The wind was westerly 11-16 knots quit shifty. First race of the regatta started after one general recall. Race One was won by UK's, Simon Mussell, with Mark Bulka second and Jason Beebe third both from Australia. The local Jesper Nielsen from Aabenraa/Dyvig finished fourth in the 1. Race.

Second race and the wind was similar. Mark Bulka rounded the 1st mark and hold that position all the way round and finished with decisive lead. Race winner in race 1, Mussell, capsized just after the windward mark and finished the race 8th. Jason Beebe finished second with Voker Niediek from Germany picking up third. The local sailor, Jesper Nielsen, was 8th at the 1st mark and finished to overtake four boats and finished 4th.

Top 3 Overall
1. Mark Bulka - Australia
2. Jason Beebe - Australia
3. Jesper Nielsen - Denmark

Full Results

Seahorse July 2017
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Stunner
Designer Adolfo Carrau from Botín Partners and project manager Micky Costa take this opportunity to present to you... The Cannonball

Too much to digest!
There's been a lot going on at Volvo Towers in Alicante. James Boyd catches up with round the world race supremo Mark Turner

The flying mermaid
When will this foolish madness end? Jocelyn Bleriot takes a close look at the most crazy Ultim yet... with Guillaume Verdier, Sebastien Josse and Cyril Dardashti

Sobering
The pre-race period in Bermuda was far from easy for Land Rover BAR. Andy Claughton

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Graham Bailey is Dragon Edinburgh Cup Champion
Cowes, UK: The Dragon Edinburgh Cup 2017 sponsored by Oliver Morgan Architects and Stoneham Construction Ltd came to a stylish conclusion in Cowes with a deciding final race.

Going into the day, four boats were in contention to claim the prestigious Edinburgh Cup, which was first raced for off Cowes from the Island Sailing Club sixty-nine years ago. This year 38 teams from six nations challenged for the right to engrave their names onto the trophy and with a single race to go Graham Bailey sailing GBR782 Aimee with Julia Bailey, Will Heritage and Will Bedford, Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen sailing GBR813 Danish Blue with Hamish McKay and Paul Blowers, Andy Beadsworth sailing TUR1212 Provezza Dragon with Simon Fry and Ali Tezdiker, and Martin Payne sailing GBR585 Full Speed with Chris Britten and Gillian Hamilton were separated by only four points and all able to win.

Yet again the wind was incredibly shifty and ranging anywhere between 6 and 16 knots.

To win Beadsworth now needed to get three boats between himself and Bailey. Beadsworth tried every trick in the book but Bailey is not renowned as one of the calmest men in yachting for nothing, he kept his head and simply never gave Beadsworth the chance to get away. In 2018 the Dragon Edinburgh Cup will be held in Torquay from 30 June to 7 July. -- Fiona Brown

Final top five:
1. Aimee, Graham Bailey, Julia Bailey, Will Heritage, Will Bedford, GBR
2. Provezza Dragon, Andy Beadsworth Simon Fry, Ali Tezdiker, TUR
3. Badger, Tom Vernon, Oliver Spensley-Corfield, Adam Bowers, GBR
4. Danish Blue, Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen Hamish McKay, Paul Blowers, GBR
5. Jaguar, Martin Byrne, Connor Byrne, Pedro Andrade, IRL

Full results

edinburghcup.org

Defender Proves Age is Just a Number With Queen's Cup Victory
Newport, Rhode Island, USA: Three and a half decades ago, the 12 Metre Defender left Newport under less than ideal circumstances, having failed in its campaign to represent the New York Yacht Club in the 1983 America's Cup.

This summer, her return to competition has been an unqualified success. Earlier today, Dennis William's skippered the restored 12 Metre to a win in the Queen's Cup, knocking off a fleet of a dozen newer and more nimble raceboats to claim one of the New York Yacht Club's most prestigious trophies.

The Queen's Cup, which was first raced in 1953, is an anachronism. It's just one race, rather than a series, and much longer than the traditionally hour-long windward-leeward races that are ubiquitous in modern big-boat racing. The 2017 Queen's Cup course covered 6 legs and 16.2 miles, as the crow flies. The fastest boat took two hours and 11 minutes to complete the course; the slowest nearly three hours. There's also the unique starting procedure, which allows each boat to pick it's starting time within a two-minute window.

The 12 Metre class is seeing a resurgence of interest in advance of the class's 2019 World Championship in Newport. -- Stuart Streuli

IRC 1. Defender, 12 Metre, Dennis Williams, Newport, RI, USA
2. Temptation-Oakcliff , Ker 50, Arthur Santry, Oyster Bay, NY, USA
3. SPOOKIE, TP52, Steve & Heidi Benjamin, South Norwalk, CT, USA
4. Gladiator, TP52, Bernard Langley, Retford, Nottinghamshire, GBR
5. AFTER MIDNIGHT, CTM41, Paul Jeka, Atlantic Highlands, NJ, USA
6. Regina 2.0, Club Swan 42, Jacob Wallenberg, Stockholm, SWE
7. Entropy, Tripp 41, Patricia Young, Jamestown, RI, USA
8. Zaraffa, Reichel/Pugh Custom, Huntington Sheldon, Shelburne, VT, USA
9. Blazer (IRC), Swan 42, Christopher Culver, Newport, RI, USA
10. Cuordileone, Club Swan 50, Douglas Newhouse, Newport, RI, USA
Challenge 12, 12 metre, Jack LeFort, Jamestown, RI, USA , RET
Gold Digger, J 44, James D. Bishop, New York, NY, USA DNC
Stark Raving Mad VIII, C&C 30 OD, Jim Madden, Newport Beach, CA, DNF

nyyc.org

Sign up to Bart's Bash 2017...the biggest sailing event in the world
The campaign launches today!

The Andrew Simpson Foundation, the UK-based Sailing Charity with a global reach, sits at the epicentre of the unique annual sailing event, the biggest sailing event in the world, Bart's Bash, which this year takes place over the weekend of 16-17 September.

This is the 4th Bart's Bash and the event management team is delighted to announce the launch of the 2017 SIGN-UP campaign marked by a Call to Action video created by their supporter Sunset+Vine.

The Bart's Bash team is already busy fine-tuning plans to promote Bart's Bash at Lendy Cowes Week where on Monday 31st July, the Official Charity Day, they will be running the 'Cowes Bash', a race for all competitors. At registration they can get decals and buy their 'Simpson Sunnies' and everyone is encouraged to grab a pair and wear them on Charity Day! All the race results from the first race of the day will be pooled in the same way as for Bart's Bash to identify an overall winner for the day.

Following on after racing, everyone is invited to join in at The Big Bash, a huge party in Cowes Yacht Haven starting at 7pm and designed entirely around putting the FUN into FUNdraising with Olympic medallist and DJ Mark Covell on stage as Master of Ceremonies!

The Bart's Bash website bartsbash.com includes the video, the whys and the wherefores behind this extraordinary event, how and where to sign up, useful resources about how to fundraise and also information about how your donations and the monies raised is spent.

www.bartsbash.com
twitter.com/Bartsbash
www.facebook.com/bartsbash
www.instagram.com/barts_bash_

Mischa Heemskerk and Stephan Dekker F18 World Champs
He did it! After several attempts the last few years Mischa Heemskerk (NED) together with his crew Stephan Dekker (NED) win the Formula 18 Worlds. With an impressive serie of results since they entered the Gold Fleet last Thursday they kept Demesmaeker/Tas (BEL) behind.

Third on the podium this year are Van Dijk/De Waard with equal points as number two, just keeping both teams Booth father/son (ESP) and Paschalidis/Trigkonis (GRE) by 2 points from the podium. It's also the FIRST time in history a Belgium team has been on the podium of a F18 Worlds.

Today races were postponed till 12:00. Then a gentle 6-8 knots of breeze filled in and races were started, nervous sailors forcing Race Committee to use Black Flag. After a second general recall 15 boats got a Black Flag Disqualification (BFD), and the third attempt was the right one, all boats being clear, and the fight for the trophy truly beginning. Heemskerk/Dekker had a good start and were 1st at the top mark, followed by Sach/Sach (GER) and Northrop/Barker (GBR). After the first round at the gate Heemskerk/Dekker were leading followed by Van Dijk/De Waard (NED), Sach/Sach and Northrop/Barker. With a huge gap Heemskerk/Dekker finished first.

The second race of the day was held in superb conditions with average 10 knots of breeze. Again Master and Commander Heemskerk/Dekker had a good start and, not surprising anymore, another win.

Overall top three results Formula 18 Worlds - 14 races sailed, two discards, fleet of 62 boats
1. Mischa Heemskerk / Stephan Dekker, NED
2. Patrick Demesmaeker / Gilles Tas, BEL
3. Van Dijk / De Waard, NED

www.f18worlds2017.dk

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The Last Word
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. -- Niccolo Machiavelli

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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In This Issue
Announcement On The 36th America's Cup | Team SFS Go Double Double but Tresors de Tahiti Lead Tour to Spain | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Biggest Copa del Rey MAPRE in History | Second Spanish challenger announced for Extreme Sailing Series Barcelona | Vestas 11th Hour Racing unveil mixed crew | 1967 - 2017 Tornado Sailing | Rhode Island event set to honor Ted Hood | New Finn sailing academy launched on Sydney Harbour | Letters to the Editor | Featured Brokerage

Announcement On The 36th America's Cup
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Circolo della Vela Sicilia as the Challenger of Record, together with their respective representative teams Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Challenge, are pleased to announce that the Protocol establishing the parameters for the 36th America's Cup will be released in September 2017.

The proposed dates for the event will be further detailed in the Protocol but the Defender and the Challenger of Record are considering the possibility of the 36th America's Cup Match and the preceding Challenger Selection Series being conducted in Auckland in early 2021 during the New Zealand summer.

In recognition of the fundamental condition of the Deed of Gift that the Cup be preserved as a perpetual Challenge Cup for friendly competition between foreign countries, the Protocol will contain a "constructed in country" requirement for competing yachts and a nationality requirement for competing crew members.

emirates-team-new-zealand.americascup.com

Team SFS Go Double Double but Tresors de Tahiti Lead Tour to Spain
Team SFS completed their second double of the 40th Tour de France à la Voile when Sofian Bouvet and crew added the Act 5 Nautical Stadium win off the sunny beaches of Les Sables d'Olonne to Monday's Coastal Race win. But a last gasp gain in the light winds Super Final by Tresors de Tahiti means the blue spinnaker of the Tour leader stays with Teva Plichart's team but only by two points.

Both Team SFS, debutants this year, and Tresors de Tahiti head to the Mediterranean, to Roses in the Province of Girona on Spain's Costa Brava where racing starts Friday separated by a tiny margin after five of the nine Acts of this Tour have been sailed.

After Team SFS were docked nine points at the end of Act 4 Arzon for shipping an out of class anchor which was measured to be too light by two kilos, Sofian Bouvet's team have delivered the perfect riposte, heading for the waters they know best.

The leaderboard for 2017's 40th edition contrasts nicely with last year's when Lorina Limonade-Golfe du Morbihan had won three of the first four Acts and lead from their native Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean with a whopping 26pts margin. After starting poorly in Dunkirk, the champions lie eighth, overshadowed so far by the 'Mojito Kids' their younger, amateur counterparts on the Lorina Mojito-Golfe du Morbihan programme who lie sixth.

This time the Tour leaders Tresors de Tahiti have so far won only one discipline the Stadium Super Final in Arzon-Port du Crouesty, south Brittany, which they bolted to a good second in the coastal race there. But in Fecamp, Normandy they went 9-9.

Team Oman Sail head to the Med on target for their goal this edition, seeking to finish on the podium. Stevie Morrison, Thierry Douillard and the crew finished in fifth today's Super Final, losing a place in the dying breaths of the race, but remain pleasingly consistent.

Hugo Rocha and the New Territories team head to Roses in their native Spain lying in 14th place in the 29 boat line up. After losing their mast overboard when a pin failed the British crew on Team Maverick SSR lie 24th overall.

Overall top three:
1. Tresors de Tahiti - 468 pts
2. Team SFS - 466 pts
3. Team Oman Sail - 451 pts

Youth rankings:
1. Team Lorina Mojito - Golfe du Morbihan - 432 pts
2. Toulon Provence Mediterranee - 346 pts
3. Helvetia Blue by Normandy Elite Team - 337 pts

Amateur rankings:
1. Homkia - Les Sables d'Olonne Agglomeration - 377 pts
2. Team Installux Aluminium - 365 pts
3. Dunkerque Voile - 328 pts

www.tourvoile.fr/en/

Seahorse July 2017
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Not so simple
Who better than a cycling nut to send to unravel Emirates Team New Zealand's 'power cell'? Richard Aspland

Unprecedented
Technology among the resurgent J-Class is only heading in one direction with rig technology at the forefront of development

Faster and faster
The new 65-footer from Mylius is just the latest example of a type of boat that would once have been considered inconceivable

Second life
Dodge Morgan's famous round-the-world yacht American Promise is back out there crossing the oceans where she belongs

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Biggest Copa del Rey MAPRE in History
The number of pre-registered entries for the 36th Copa del Rey MAPFRE already exceeds the all-time high of the regatta, established in 2015 with 136 competitors. The organization of the Real Club Náutico de Palma expects to reach 140 teams of 24 different nationalities.

With just over two weeks until the start of the 36th edition, the number of pre-registered entries reaches 138 teams of 24 different nationalities. The RCNP docks will host teams from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, France, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Monaco, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and USA.

The Organizing Committee is confident that the number of participants will reach the 140 established as the limit.

The 36th Copa del Rey MAPFRE will take place from July 29th to August 5th

www.regatacopadelrey.com

Second Spanish challenger announced for Extreme Sailing Series Barcelona
Spanish-flagged wildcard Team Extreme has been confirmed as the eighth entry for the fourth stage of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series, as the regatta makes its debut in Barcelona from 20 - 23 July.

The second wildcard to be announced, following the entry of FNOB Impulse, will be headed up by Olympian and Extreme Sailing Series veteran Mitch Booth; co-creator of the Extreme 40, the original catamaran used in the Series.

"It will be a pleasure to come back to the Extreme Sailing Series in Barcelona, so close to my home," said Booth, who lives in Catalonia and has competed numerous times in the Stadium Racing Series, the last being in 2015 as co-skipper of Team Turx.

"Especially as it is the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Olympics, where I competed in the Tornado class and won a bronze medal," added Booth, who has dual nationality and has represented both Australia and the Netherlands in four Olympic campaigns, also taking silver in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in Savannah.

"I am really looking forward to racing in some of the finest conditions in the Mediterranean against some of the best-known faces of the Extreme Sailing Series, including some of the greatest sailors in the world."

Team Extreme (ESP) crew line-up for Act 4, Barcelona
Skipper/helm: Mitch Booth (AUS)
Tactician/trimmer: Alberto Torne (ESP)
Mainsail trimmer: Jordi Sánchez (ESP)
Foil trimmer: Jordi Booth (ESP)
Trimmer: Tom Buggy (GBR)
Reserve: Freddie White (GBR)
Reserve: Ruben Booth (ESP)
Reserve: Joan Costa (ESP)

extremesailingseries.com

Vestas 11th Hour Racing unveil mixed crew
With exactly 100 days to go before the Volvo Ocean Race fleet departs Alicante to tackle 45,000 nautical miles around the world, Vestas 11th Hour Racing have unveiled their crew for the 2017-18 edition - and have built a mixed, ten-strong team featuring six nationalities and six previous Race wins.

The line-up features a wealth of experience, including Simon Fisher (GBR), who returns for his fifth Volvo Ocean Race appearance after lifting the trophy as the winning navigator with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing last time out.

He is joined by two-time winner Phil Harmer (AUS), who is hunting a Volvo Ocean Race hat-trick following successive victories in the last two editions, five-time sailor Damian Foxall (IRL), who scored a win in 2008-09 onboard Ericsson 4, and Race veteran Tony Mutter (NZL), who returns for a sixth lap of the planet, having gotten his hands on the trophy twice in the past.

Denmark's Olympic medallist Jena Mai Hansen joins Britain's Hannah Diamond as one of two female sailors on board following successful trials during recent transatlantic trips from Lisbon, Portugal to Newport, USA.

Between them, the crew have competed in the Volvo Ocean Race over 20 times

The team are currently preparing to travel to Gosport, UK, for pre-race activation and Leg Zero commitments, lining up against the other teams for the first time in the Round-the-Island race during Cowes week, followed by the Rolex Fastnet Race, and finishing up in Lisbon after sailing via St. Malo in mid-August.

Full Vestas 11th Hour Racing crew line up:
Nick Dana; USA; Boat Captain
Hannah Diamond; UK; Crew
Charlie Enright; USA; Skipper
Simon Fisher; UK; Navigator
Jena Mai Hansen; DK; Crew
Phil Harmer; AUS; Crew
Tom Johnson; AUS; Crew
Damian Foxall; IRL; Crew
Tony Mutter; NZL; Crew
Mark Towill; USA; Team Director

www.volvooceanrace.com

1967 - 2017 Tornado Sailing
Celebrating our 50th anniversary.

*|YOUTUBE:[$vid=Aq1PUxTVJbA, $max_width=500, $title=N, $border=N, $trim_border=N, $ratings=N, $views=N]|*

Rhode Island event set to honor Ted Hood
Ted Hood made sails, designed yachts, won the America's Cup and helped turn a parcel of land in Portsmouth, R.I., into a marine business hub. This coming weekend the Designer Series will be a three-day event that celebrates all of Hood's contributions to the boating world.

"This event will be a first," Ted Hood Jr. of Newport, R.I., said in a statement. He worked with his father from his teen years until the family business was sold in 2000. "It will be all encompassing, with all the varieties of Hood designs - from his earliest to his latest. We hope to showcase that diversity since my father was not just one brand."

The Designer Series will take place at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, R.I., from Friday through Sunday. The fleet will range from a 21-foot sloop with a lifting keel to the 116-foot Whisper, which was built in the Netherlands and was one of the last boats created by the Ted Hood Design Group. There also will be many Little Harbors and Bristols, two lines for which Hood is known.

The original Robin, a 40-foot sloop that launched Hood's career in 1959, will be on hand. Hood skippered the boat to many regattas during its first summer. He designed about 30 boats named Robin during his career, as well as the 12-meter Nefertiti that almost won the 1962 America's Cup. Hood won the 1974 America's Cup as the helmsman of Courageous.

On-water events for the fleet will be held Saturday, including sailboat racing and a log competition for powerboats. Tickets will be on sale for an "open-boat" party Friday evening so attendees can view and board the fleet.

On Saturday night there will be a clambake that is open to the public. Sunday will feature a boat parade along Bristol's harbor front.

www.tradeonlytoday.com

New Finn sailing academy launched on Sydney Harbour
A new Finn sailing academy is soon to be launched on Sydney Harbour by NB Sailsports and operated by long time Finn sailor Rob McMillan, with help from former Finn World Champion, Ed Wright.

NB Sailsports is currently seeking expressions of interest from Finn sailors who would like to join the academy in October 2017. The objective of the EOI is to help plan, provide and meet the expectations of sailors, coaches and teams that may be considering visiting the academy in the coming Australian summer.

NB, and its coaching team of Ed Wright, Rob McMillan and Rob Brewer, is initially offering a programme of training, racing and regattas on Sydney Harbour and in Melbourne between 16 October and 22 December. An additional training block may also be scheduled after Christmas for those who do not intend to travel to the World Cup in Miami.

Rob McMillan has been a successful Finn sailor since the late 1980s, first in the UK with several Olympic campaigns, and then in Australia. Ed Wright is a former World and European Champion, and has hit top form again recently with a second place finish at the 2017 European Championship.

NB Sailsports is now seeking Expressions of Interest and has made a questionnaire available to interested sailors

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* From Tim Brooke:

We recently have received a 500 Euro fine for having red diesel in Oostende, Belgium.

We had just the day previously competed in the EAORA Graham Wallis Trophy Race (6th July 2017) from Harwich to Oostende and were enjoying a lay day in Oostende before racing back to the UK on the following day.

At approximately 1500 local time I received a message from a member of the crew still on the boat that my presence was required. I promptly left the terrace of the Royal North Sea Yacht Club to return to the boat. On my arrival I found 2 uniformed and armed customs officers and 2 other officials who I later learned from the custom officers were 'Officials from Brussels'. The Customs Officers proceeded to inform me that they needed to check my tank, I told them I had Red Diesel and had a receipt for it but that didn't seem to make any significant impact. they then proceeded to pump a test amount out the tank and showed me that (low and behold) it was red diesel.

Then followed a lot of form filling and checking of papers (Ships Register, Insurance, Radio Licence and crew passports and ID) before producing a card terminal.

I believe that a couple of other yachts participating in the event also had their papers checked.

The Customs officers where friendly and courteous, but where very insistent that Red Diesel was illegal for pleasure craft and white diesel is easy to obtain in the UK.

The whole incident has obviously left a bitter taste and we won't be returning to Belgium any time soon, and whilst I can't speak for the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association there was a general feeling that they wouldn't be returning to Belgium until this issue was resolved, with 3 races a year to Belgium with one scheduled in September to Oostende this could potentially be quite a significant impact to the competitors and organisers.

As these events have been running since my grandfathers time it would be a shame for them to changed due to this difference in laws.

Featured Brokerage
1997 Farr 30 One Design 'Barking Mad'. 130,000.00 USD Located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Barking Mad is a world championship level Farr 30 that has been full-time professionally maintained to the highest degree with no expense spared to keep it in better-than-new condition.

Excellent choice for ORC Racing - sister Farr 30’s were 2nd and 3rd overall in Class C at the 2017 ORC World Championship in Trieste, Italy

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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Tink Chambers
Stagg Yachts
tink@staggyachts.com
+1.410.268.1001

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2017 Libertist 850 PRICE Located in

Libertist is freedom, speed, and sheer joy of sailing. It is of the best quality and innovative materials. Very light, equipped with minifoils, rotating carbon mast, and ample electronics. The trimaran has been created for demanding sailors who love their sport.

An 8.50 m trimaran designed by Erik Lerouge. Very light, equipped with permanent minifoils, a rotating carbon mast and ample electronics. A real cruiser-racer made of high quality materials in a renowned Polish shipyard. It guarantees great sailing satisfaction at a very competitive price.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
hello@libertist.eu
+33 (0)2 51 51 46 45

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K36 - Samurai

Samurai is the image of this boat. A Samurai traditionally has been a person who serves a well respected leader and has “Busido” spirit meaning they have the drive to fight with every effort and dedication to the best of their ability and skill.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
+81 (0) 46 884 4141
+81 (0) 46 884 4142
info@actechnology.co.jp

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
People later thought 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' was LSD. I swear-- we didn't notice that when it first came out. -- Paul McCartney

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In This Issue
Harry Price maintains lead in Governor's Cup match racing | Contender World Championship | Three Days in Sibenik Will Decide the 2017 Melges 32 European Championship | Harken Tech Team on Duty at 2017 Copa del Rey, MAPFRE Regatta | Fight to be first home | Impetuous Claims Swan 42 U.S. National Championship | What's in the August Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Australian team joins GC32 Racing Tour | Newport Trophy Regatta to Host Ten Historic 12 Metres | Youth Olympic Games qualification window opens | Featured Brokerage

Harry Price maintains lead in Governor's Cup match racing
Newport Beach, California, USA: Australia's Harry Price, 2015 Governor's Cup International Youth Match Race Champion, took significant strides towards joining seven other sailors as two-time winners of the oldest youth match racing regatta in the world at Balboa Yacht Club, Newport Beach, California.

His perfect 13-0 record leads the fleet of 12 entries from Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States, putting him two points ahead of local favorite, BYC's Christophe Killian, as the second day of the competition was completed.

Spectators were looking forward today to the last match of the first round robin (in which every boat sails against each other boat) as it featured Price against Killian. The two had not sailed against each other since last year's Governor's Cup, when they raced against each other in the petit finals for third place in the 2016 Cup. Killian got the better of Price last year, and today's race between the two was also close. Again today Price prevailed, preserving his perfect record in the first round robin.

However, with nine races to go in the second round robin, no one's place in the all-important semi- finals is secure, with the possible exception of Price. Two veteran GovCup sailors are two points behind Killian's 11-2 record - New Zealand's Leonard Takahashi and prior Governor's Cup semi- finalist Chris Weis from Del Rey YC Marina del Rey, California both on 9-4.

Balboa Yacht Club has been hosting the Governor's Cup since 1967 when then California Governor Ronald Reagan donated the trophy emblematic of this prestigious and longest running international youth match racing championship. Raced off Newport Beach in the Pacific Ocean July 17-22, 2017, this year's 51st edition is sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank, and features 12 teams of the worlds top youth match racers, representing AUS, GBR, NZL and USA.

www.govcupracing.com

Contender World Championship 2017 - Day Three - Plenty of racing and then a "Jagerbomb Train"
The Danish wind arrived and the clouds parted to give the 107 Contender sailors perfect conditions to complete three races at the 2017 Contender Worlds.

Jesper Nielsen (DEN 2352) took the first race closely followed by Jason Beebe (AUS 2482) and fellow Dane, Jacob Kristensen.

Beebe then took control of the other two races picking up first place in both taking the overall lead from Mark Bulka, reigning World Champion.

Søderborg Yacht Club gave their thirsty guests a demonstration of the classic "Jagerbomb train trick" along with a generous BBQ to soak up their beverages.

Top Five Standings:

Jason Beebe AUS, 6 points
Mark Bulka AUS, 7
Jesper Nielsen DEN, 16
Simon Mussell GBR, 21
Ben Holden GBR, 23

Full Results

Three Days in Sibenik Will Decide the 2017 Melges 32 European Championship
Sibenik, Croatia: Starting on Thursday, July 20 and running through Saturday, July 22, the next Melges 32 European Champion will be decided over what is currently forecasted to be three, very hot days.

Just last week the Melges 20 European Championship completed, and Sibenik proved to be a spectacular race track in both windy and light air conditions. The flat water sea state allows teams to experience more horsepower, demanding extremely accurate and in most situations, cunning tactical decisions. It's the perfect set-up for top Melges 32 teams serious about winning the highly-coveted European title and trophy.

Sixteen teams from seven nations are in attendance representing Czech Republic, Germany, Italy (highest number of participants), Monaco, Russia, Sweden and Turkey.

Thus far, three Melges 32 World League events have taken place - Portovenere and Scarlino were won by Matteo Balestrero on GIOGI, and Riva Del Garda went to Edoardo Lupi/Massimo Pessina on TORPYONE. The 2017 European Championship will be the fourth, an incredible lead-up to the season's grand finale - the World Championship in Cala Galera, Italy on August 22-26.

Racing commences on Thursday, July 20 with a first warning of 13.30.

Official Yachtscoring Event Website

Harken Tech Team on Duty at 2017 Copa del Rey, MAPFRE Regatta
The Harken Tech Team will keep the fleets race-ready and flying during the 2017 edition of the Copa del Rey, MAPFRE regatta, Mallorca, Spain. Service will be available onsite from Monday July 31 through Saturday morning, August 5, with emergency spare parts on-hand to keep your gear primed and rolling. A Harken contact number will be posted at the race office.

harken.com

Fight to be first home
While the Judel-Vrolijk 115 Nikata will be the largest yacht competing among the 350 or so yachts starting the Rolex Fastnet Race on Sunday 6 August, the battle for line honours glory looks set to be between two titans of the grand prix racing world.

Finnish Whitbread Round the World Race legend Ludde Ingvall returns having previously put in one of the most exceptional performances in the 92 year history of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's flagship event.

Firstly in 1985, the same year Simon le Bon's Drum famously capsized, Ingvall raced on the Whitbread maxi Atlantic Privateer when it won her class. But the race which has gone down in history was a decade later, when he skippered Nicorette, the former 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race maxi Charles Jourdan but much modified, to line honours, finishing a massive 24 hours ahead of the next boat. But significantly that year Nicorette not only claimed line honours but victory on handicap as well.

That race, 22 years ago, was the last occasion someone won the Rolex Fastnet Race line honours and handicap 'double'.

This time Sydney-based Ingvall is back with another weapon, and again one which is heavily modified. CQS was originally built in 2004 as the 90ft canting keel Simonis Voogd-design Nicorette aboard which Ingvall claimed line honours in that year's Rolex Sydney Hobart. During 2016, this boat underwent major surgery extending her to 100ft by fitting a new bow. Small wings were added at deck level to widen her shroud base to accept a larger, more powerful rig and she was also fitted with retracting lateral Dynamic Stability Systems foils to provide lift to leeward.

Since competing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart race, CQS has arrived in Europe and, weekend before last, set a new course record in Sweden's AF Offshore Race (Round Gotland), breaking the existing record which Ingvall had established on his previous Nicorette.

CQS will face stiff competition from American George David's Juan Kouyoumdjian-designed Rambler 88. She may have a shorter waterline but in her long career racing Jim Clark's 100ft Comanche, this has seemed to have made little difference: In the 2015 Rolex Fastnet Race, Rambler 88 crossed the finish line just four and a half minutes behind Comanche.

According to tactician Brad Butterworth, their fight with CQS is likely to come down to the weather. "If there is any breeze it will make a big difference as to who wins across the line. If there are any powered up situations then Rambler will do pretty well, but if it is light airs running or even upwind, it will be a struggle. The modern maxis like Comanche and Rambler have huge wetted surface so when they are not heeled you are carrying a lot of viscous drag around with you."

The Rolex Fastnet Race starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes at 1100 on Sunday 6th August.

www.fastnet.rorc.org

Impetuous Claims Swan 42 U.S. National Championship
Newport, Rhode Island, USA: If everything had gone to plan, Paul Zabetakis and his Impetuous team would be celebrating their first Swan 42 National Championship and the opportunity to represent the host club in the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup in September. While the former is something Zabetakis has chased for more than a decade, not earning the latter gives his win in the 11th Swan 42 National Championship a bittersweet quality.

As it has been every year since the class was founded in 2007, the Swan 42 National Championships was hosted by the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court. Also run at the same time were the IRC East Coast Championships and the inaugural New York Yacht Club Multihull Regatta.

In 2015, Zabetakis' Impetuous team finished second in the fourth Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. The past two seasons have been focused on moving to the top step of the podium. But just days before the start of the National Championship, which also served as the second half of the qualification series for the Club's berth in the Invitational Cup, a family medical issue cropped up forcing Zabetakis to miss the first three days of the event. Tactician Bob Slattery served as the team's helmsman in his absence. But since Slattery isn't a member of the New York Yacht Club, Zabetakis was forced to withdraw his team from the Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup selection series.

In a full range of conditions and in atypically inclement weather, the Impetuous team shown brightly, winning four of seven races and never finishing worse than fourth in a tightly-knit 10-boat fleet.

William Edward's crew from the Royal Thames Yacht Club finished second, with the Southern Yacht Club team led by helmsman Marcus Egan in third. Both of those teams will be competing at the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup in September.

Swan 42 (One Design - 10 Boats)
1. Impetuous, Paul Zabetakis , Stuart, FL, USA - 1 -2 -1 -1 -4 -1 -3 ; 13
2. Mutiny, William Edwards , Wimbledon, London, GBR - 6 -1 -3 -7 -3 -3 -2 ; 25
3. Southern, Southern Yacht Club , Mandeville, LA, USA - 4 -8 -5 -2 -5 -2 -1 ; 27

swan42.org

Seahorse August 2017
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Update
Pistol Pete, upset Norwegians, tradition still rules (the Cup) - but not the (Cup) answers you might expect from one successful America's Cup sailor. Terry Hutchinson, Ivor Wilkins, Ray Davies, Jack Griffin And Corinne Rolland-Mckenzie

In praise of flexibility
Is there now the critical mass needed to get a bit more ambitious with some new formats for international offshore events? Rob Weiland

Smashed it!
Well, that was a week and a half. Pete Burling, Ivor Wilkins, Grant Dalton

Rod Davies
Team New Zealand's match racing coach (natch) asks if you like living off the smell of an oily rag?

Seahorse build table - More splash less cash?
Fast and (more) affordable. Ben Rogerson

Sailor of the Month
No-compromise dedication to the task at hand

Special rates for Scuttlebutt Europe subscribers:
Seahorse Print or Digital Subscription Use Discount Promo Code SB2

1yr Print Sub: €77 - £48 - $71 / Rest of the World: £65 www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/

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Discounts shown are valid on a one year subscription to Seahorse magazine.

Australian team joins GC32 Racing Tour
Round three of the 2017 GC32 Racing Tour is now just three weeks away when, for a second consecutive year, the one design foiling catamarans take to the Bay of Palma as an invited class at the 36th Copa del Rey MAPFRE.

Last year, thanks to organisers Real Club Nautico de Palma, the GC32 Racing Tour boats became not just the first multihulls ever to compete at the Mediterranean's premier multi-class regatta, but the first new generation flying boats to do so.

For Copa del Rey MAPFRE, the GC32 Racing Tour will be at full strength with ten boats competing. Among them will be the latest team to sign up for the circuit that offers the 'best foiling experience' to its participants.

Simon Delzoppo's .film Racing is an exciting campaign: It is the first Australian team to join the GC32 Racing Tour, adding to the circuit's international roster, with teams from afar afield as the USA, Japan and Argentina. Delzoppo is planning to compete on the GC32 Racing Tour for 2017's three remaining events before rolling into a full campaign next season.

Once a co-owner of Ludde Ingvall's 2004 Rolex Sydney to Hobart line honours winning maxi, Nicorette, his greatest love is catamarans, especially racing cats such as the Nacra 5.0, 5.5 and 5.8, in which he won a US Nacra Nationals in 1989. After a break to focus on his successful internet domain name businesses, he resumed sailing on an F18 catamaran.

www.gc32racingtour.com

Newport Trophy Regatta to Host Ten Historic 12 Metres
Newport, Rhode Island, USA: As the second "Americas fleet" event in the ROAD TO THE WORLDS Waypoint Series, the Newport Trophy Regatta will take place July 20-23 in Newport, R.I. Hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club, the event is for 12 Metre yachts, which are collecting points in a global series leading up to the next 12 Metre World Championship, scheduled for Newport in July of 2019. With ten teams competing, the scene will be reminiscent of the America's Cup days of old here in Newport, where from 1958 to 1983, 12 Metres were the weapon of choice in the contest for the Auld Mug.

The skipper's Meeting is Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Ida Lewis Yacht Club, and first warning signals are at 11 a.m on Friday through Sunday of racing. Eight races are scheduled.

Yachts will be divided in to Grand Prix, Modern and Traditional classes and will sail on Rhode Island Sound or Narragansett Bay. Sailing are New Zealand (KZ-3) and Laura (KZ-5) in Grand Prix, Freedom (US-30), Defender (US-33), Challenge 12 (KA-10), Intrepid (US-22) and Courageous (US-26) in Modern; and Columbia (US-16), Weatherly (US-17) and American Eagle (US-21) in Traditional.

Waypoint Series standings have been tallied based on previous events held in Newport (the Metrefest Newport Regatta held in June), Germany and Denmark.

www.12mrclass.com/waypoints

Youth Olympic Games qualification window opens
The qualification window for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) has opened after the Techno 293 Plus World Championships kicked off in Brittany, France this weekend.

More than 160 sailors from 31 countries have registered for the Techno 293 Plus Worlds as they bid to book their nations spot on the Men's and Women's Windsurfer start line at the 2018 YOG.

Follow the latest news from Brittany here - worlds2017.plus.techno293.org

The Buenos Aires 2018 YOG will feature exactly 100 sailors aged 15-18 sailing across five events from 1-13 October 2018.

The Men's and Women's Windsurfer, remains on the YOG programme after memorable competitions at the Singapore 2010 and Nanjing 2014 editions. However, for Buenos Aires the Techno 293 Plus is being used in place of the standard Techno 293. The Techno 293 Plus has a bigger rig that allows for the wider age range of sailors in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires will see the introduction of innovation within the sport with Men's and Women's Kiteboarding, IKA Twin Tip Racing and a Mixed Multihull, the Nacra 15, added to the programme of events to provide thrills and spills at YOG itself and qualification events.

At Buenos Aires 2018, the Windsurfer fleets will sail slalom and fleet racing courses whilst the Kiteboarding fleets will race on short track boarder cross with obstacles on the racing area. The Nacra 15 sailors will qualify for Buenos Aires 2018 on the standard boat however, a unique Flying Nacra 15 will be introduced for the YOG itself. The Nacra 15s will sail fleet racing courses close to the shore.

In total, there will be places for 88 sailors through the qualification system with the host country automatically qualifying six athletes, one in each boat. Six further Universality Places will be made available to eligible National Olympic Committees. -- Daniel Smith, World Sailing

sailing.org

Featured Brokerage
2011 Reichel Pugh 42. 389000 EUR. Located in New Zealand.

A custom built machine with a real focus on Offshore sailing.. Very high-tech specification throughout, in particular her lifting propeller system and deflector controlled running backstay systems. She is a serious contender whether it be IRC/ORC/PHRF..... she covers them all well.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Port Hamble
sampearson@ancasta.com

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2016 Ker 40+ - Magnum 4. 550000 GBP. Located in Hamble, UK

A completely unique opportunity that will NOT last long! MAGNUM 4 The 2016 Ker 40+ is now available. This BRAND NEW BOAT is on the market and offering a HUGE saving for its next owner.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats
Central Listing
sampearson@ancasta.com
+442380 016582
+64 2277733717

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2001 Finot Open 40. 150000 USD. Located in Grenada.

Formerly known as SPIRIT OF YUKOH and BARONESSA V, the Finot Open 40 ANASAZI GIRL is beautifully built, finished and equipped to the highest standard. Launched in 2001, she remains professionally maintained.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
info@bernard-gallay.com

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The Last Word
Any pizza can be a personal one if you cry while you eat it. -- Aparna Nancherla‏

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Torpyone On Top At 2017 Melges 32 European Championship
Photo by Max Ranchi, www.maxranchi.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Sibenik, Croatia: Two races were held on opening day of the 2017 Melges 32 European Championship, event number four on the Melges 32 World League schedule.

The first race of the day went to Andrea Ferrari at the helm of Spirit Of Nerina. He held off the likes of overnight leaders Edoardo Lupi and Massimo Pessina aboard Torpyone who came second, followed by Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio on G-Spot in third.

Lupi/Pessina kept consistent to take second giving them the early, overall European Championship lead. Richard Goransson's INGA came third, then Edoardo Pavesio on Fra Martina in fourth. Top Corinthian Martin Reintjes' Caipirinha rounded out the top five. In the Corinthian category, Reintjes leads the charge over Kilian Holzapfel on Homanit Junior and Francesco Graziani's Vitamina.

Racing continues on Friday, July 21 with a first warning of 12.30.

Top Five Results (Preliminary - After Two Races)
1. Edoardo Lupi-Massimo Pessina/Lorenzo Bressani, Torpyone; 2-2 = 4 points
2. Richard Goransson, Vasco Vascotto, Inga; 4-3 = 7
3. Andrea Ferrari/Pietro Piero Sibello, Spirit Of Nerina; 1-9 = 10
4. Edoardo Pavesio/Manuel Weiller Vidal, Fra Martina; 7-4 = 11
5. Ahmet Eker/Mike Buckley, Eker; 5-6 = 11

yachtscoring.com

Tornado Europeans
Centro Vela Dervio, Lake Como, Italy: The first day of the championship started with a skipper's meeting at 11.00.

Ideal sailing conditions with south- southeast wind around 10 knots made the 1st start exciting. The boats were widely spread apart on the starting line with most of the fleet choosing the right side of the race course.

The first mark rounding found GER 44 in first followed by GER 2 in second place. Last year defenders, GRE 11 attacked from behind gaining distance from leg to leg and managed to finish 1st leaving SUI 228, SUI 1 and GER 44 in 2nd, 3rd and 4th place respectively while the wind dropped gradually.

Postponement got on and sailors waited on the lake making it easier for AUT 3 to repair the damage they had and return to the race area for the second race of the day that eventually started after 3 hours waiting.

The wind build up to 8 knots and the 2nd race started. This first upwind made the fleet separate but the right side seem to be quicker.

SUI 1 rounded first Mark No1 for the second lap and extended their lead to the finish line.

Top five:
1. Marcel Steiner / Joerg Steiner, SUI, 4 points
2. Ingo Gebhart / Benedikt Wachsmann, GER, 6
3. Nikolaos Mavros / Alexandros Tagaropoulos, GRE, 10
4. Martin Rusterholz / Michael Gloor, SUI, 10
5. Andrea Ciavatta / Mirco Mazzini, ITA, 10

Full results after two races

tornado-class.org

Musto Launches Official 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race Collection And Reveals Market Leading Innovation In Sustainability
Musto's unveiling of the new Official Volvo Ocean Race Merchandise Collection marks a major milestone for the business, as the brand continues to make major innovations to drive greater sustainability in its global business operations.

After thorough investigation, it was found that this 'pre-consumer waste' plastic such as punch out holes and trimmings from measuring out plastic carrier bags, could be used as part of garment bags for delivery. This now means all Musto garment bags are 100% recyclable and are made from 30% recycled material.

The manufacturing team also discovered that by adding a single fold to the garment delivery bags, the size could be reduced by 40% without any impact on product quality. These two initiatives will reduce the weight of plastic used in the manufacture, packaging and delivery of Musto goods by 70%.

Musto has committed to rolling out these innovations for packaging on all product ranges in 2018. This will save 11 tons of plastic a year, the equivalent of over 61,000 plastic bottles.

Petra Carran, Head of Marketing at Musto comments, "We are excited to partner with the Volvo Ocean Race in producing the most innovative and sustainable collection to date and hope our range will help raise awareness of ocean health."

Mark Turner, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race commented, "Volvo Ocean Race has always been the ultimate test of a team in professional sport and partnering with Musto to make these changes reflects our commitment to sustainability, particularly, plastic pollution and out programme to help 'Turn the Tide on Plastic'."

www.musto.com

RORC Channel Race
Start: 22 July, 2017 10:00 (11:00 UTC)
Course: Cowes - Round Marks - Solent Finish
Distance: 100-140nm

The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Season's Points Championship continues this weekend with the Channel Race. The 10th race of the series, and the last RORC offshore race before the 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race. For those teams vying for class honours for the championship, starting the Rolex Fastnet Race in pole position, is highly desirable, and with most of the RORC season now completed, favourites are emerging for the 2017 RORC Season's Points Championship, the world's largest participation offshore racing series.

Over 100 yachts have entered the Channel Race, which features a flexi-course starting and finishing in The Solent, lasting approximately 24 hours. The entry list features the world's fastest ocean-going yachts, a vast variety of cruiser/racers, Two Handed teams, and well-maintained yachts from previous decades. Racing under the IRC Rating system, the fleet is divided into five IRC Classes.

In IRC Zero, George David's American Canting Keel Maxi, Rambler 88, will be looking to build on their overall win in the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race. A solid result for the Channel Race will put the American Maxi on top of the class leaderboard for the season, but there is tough competition. Piet Vroon's Dutch Ker 51, Tonnerre 4 is a proven winner, as is Quentin Stewart's British Infiniti 46 Maverick. The Volvo 70 Monster Project has set numerous records in the Caribbean, and is skippered by Polish Olympic Gold Medallist, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, and given the right conditions, Stephen Durkin's British Farr 52 Bob, should not be under-estimated.

The first warning signal will be at 09:50 BST from the Royal Yacht Squadron Line. The best vantage points will be along Cowes Green and Egypt Esplanade on the Isle of Wight. Watch the race online with the fleet tracker. YB AIS tracking will again be used so you can see each boat's position along the course. View by class or select your favourites to follow friends and family, check out their boat speed and weather conditions in real time. yb.tl/channel2017

www.rorc.org

The Gertrude Cup
Click on image to enlarge.

Organised by the Royal Thames Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Cowes Etchells Fleet. Etchells teams from yacht clubs from around the World have been invited to Cowes, to compete for the Royal Thames Yacht Club's Gertrude Cup on 22-26 July The invitational event for the Etchells Class has attracted teams representing yacht clubs from Australia, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Malta, Nigeria, and the United States of America. The invitational regatta features five days of exciting racing, and a vibrant social programme. The regatta has great emphasis on introducing young talented sailors into the Cowes Etchells Fleet.

A fleet of equally matched Etchells is provided, each crew may sail a different hull each day to ensure fairness. Fully rigged, with new matching sails and prepared, ready to race, by the Cowes Etchells Fleet. The helm must be a member of the invited club, but there are no other crew restrictions other than a weight limit. The intention is to run thirteen races with up to four races per day.

As an invitational regatta, the organisers of The Gertrude Cup, encourage young talented youth sailors to experience the Etchells Class. The Royal Thames Yacht Club Youth Academy, skippered by Tim Gratton, won The Gertrude Cup last year and will be defending the trophy. Ted Blowers, son of current Etchells World Champion Paul Blowers, will skipper a team from the Gurnard Sailing Club. Conor Needham will skipper a USA Youth Team, and the Greig City Academy will field a young team from the school in North London.

Daily results from The Gertrude Cup on Yachtscoring.com

One Ton Cup
Click on image to download the One Ton Cup poster.

This September, the FAST40+ Class will compete for the prestigious One Ton Cup for the second time. Created by the Cercle de la Voile de Paris (CVP - Paris Yacht Club) in 1899, the One Ton Cup is steeped in history and reputation in the world of yacht racing. Winners of the Cup include many legends in the sport of sailing; Syd Fischer, Harold Cudmore, Henrik Soderlund, King Harald V of Norway, Paul Cayard, Francesco de Angelis, and Russell Coutts.

The FAST40+ Class first raced for the One Ton Cup last year, which was won by Peter Morton's Girls on Film. The second edition for the FAST40+ Class, will be hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, and will once again be presented by Hamble Yacht Services.

14 FAST40+ teams are expected to compete, nine races are scheduled, with a variety of courses including; windward-leeward, round the cans and, weather permitting, a round the Isle of Wight Race.

www.fast40class.com

The lucky number is 5 for the Farr280 fleet, at Lendy Cowes Week
Click on image to enlarge.

With a week to go before the start of Lendy Cowes Week, four Farr280s are entered, with one boat still available for the lucky crew that is hunting for a fast ride at this exciting regatta. So far Adriatica, FOMO, 4sale and Pandemonium are entered and So Steamy is lying ready to race in shed, nearby on the Isle of Wight.

"There is still time for us to put So Steamy together'" comments Joe Hall (of Farr Yacht Sales). "We have worked hard to get these boats up to Cowes for the Regatta and it would be a shame not to see five boats on the start line. So Steamy is available to charter and she is a cracking boat and arguably the most eye-catching, with her grey hull and lime green kites. All that is needed is a crew who want some fast racing against some very credible race teams from around Europe."

Piero Paniccia's team from Italy are serial Farr owners (with both a 280 and a Farr400 Turbo in their stable). Hans Genthe's team has the current speed record for a Farr280 at 28 knots, achieved during the Helgoland Cuxhaven race and his team are back for a second year to improve on their performance. Pandemonium is in her third year of racing and making significant gains on the water and the Farr280 newbies are the Locke family who have taken on FOMO for the week, but come with stacks of performance boat experience.

With the Fastnet Race starting immediately after Cowes Week; perhaps chartering Farr280 So Steamy for the week is a great option for one of the bigger boats wanting to enjoy some performance racing, whilst avoiding the drama of switching from inshore to offshore mode?

To find out more about chartering So Steamy or during the regatta to see the boats come down to Shepards Marina after racing - please contact joe@farryachtsales.com or call +447774 138777

Tight racing for vintage classes
The Victory class sailed across the Solent today from their very own Portsmouth-based Victory Class Sailing Club which was established in 1934, the same year that the first yachts were built, to make a first ever one-day guest appearance at the Haines Boatyard Race Day of the 2017 Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week (CSDCCW).

Designed by Alfred Westmacott, six Victories enjoyed three windward leeward courses with wins going one each to three boats Ziva, Zarena and Zelia but top slot on points went to Mark Dennington's Ziva. The Victory class continues to thrive, with new GRP boats being built in the last few years. Zoe Whittaker of Zelia reported "The class came over to CSDCCW for the first time to see what it was all about. Racing was very close and we had to play a lot of shifts upwind into the south close to the island shore." Zelia helm Geoff Dixon added "The Victories are a very tight class, with only seconds of separation." The Victory is similar in looks to the X One Design, which has a fleet at the regatta, and like the XOD, is designed for the conditions in the Solent.

On the same circuit, close to the Island shore the Bembridge One Designs, another Solent class, also raced tight courses. All the owners in the class periodically vote to collectively make major upgrades to keep their boats identical. The BODs were built between 1933 and 1935, and have since been restored and then re-decked in 1989.

The Classic cruisers sailed one race today on a course which largely followed the windward leeward format but over a larger stretch of the Solent. A beat westwards toward Newtown on the Island shore was followed by runs back along the middle of the Solent. The fleet split to the north and south but there was still some tight racing especially amongst the Folkboats, Twisters, SCODs and Contessa 26s.

Racing continues tomorrow until Friday for all classes including Darings, XODs, 8 metres, Swallows, Solent Sunbeams and Vintage Dragons.

cowesclassicsweek.org

Joan Vila returns to the Volvo Ocean Race with MAPFRE
Barcelona-born sailor Joan Vila, considered one of the best navigators in the world, returns to offshore sailing with MAPFRE. The Spanish team, skippered by Olympic Champion Xabi Fernandez, announced today that Vila will join the crew as navigator.

Recently returned from the 35th America's Cup held in Bermuda, the civil engineer will add yet another notch to his already extensive sailing career, which includes three victories in one of the most important sailing competitions in the world, as well as Olympic Games and Volvo Ocean Race participations.

He hasn't competed with a Spanish team since 2003 when he took part in the Admiral's Cup.

First Spaniard to win the Volvo Ocean Race. 2002
Four participations in the Volvo Ocean Race:
1989-90: Fortuna Extra Lights
1993-94: Galicia-Pescanova
1997-98: Chessie Racing
2001-02: Illbruck Challenge

MAPFRE crew confirmed to date
1. Xabi Fernandez, ESP, skipper
2. Joan Vila, ESP, navigator
3. Pablo Arrarte, ESP, watch captain
4. Rob Greenhalgh, GBR, watch captain
5. Ñeti Cuervas-Mons, ESP, bowman & boat captain
6. Willy Altadill*, ESP, trimmer/bowman
7. Blair Tuke*, NZL, trimmer/helmsman
* Under 30 crewmembers

www.desafiomapfre.com

Featured Brokerage
2010 JND 35. 120000 GBP. Located in Cowes, England.

A bandit IRC or ORC racer. Turn key project and ready to bring in the bread right from the very off.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Port Hamble
sampearson@ancasta.com
+442380 016582

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2014 JPK 1080 - Sunrise. 230000 EUR. Located in Port Hamble.

The results really do say it all with this unrivalled French design from JPK. Two years of great success under the belt and no signs of stopping just yet. "Sunrise" is currently the only 10.80 on the market today and is a turn key boat for Commodores Cup 2016 and beyond. OPEN TO OFFERS.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Port Hamble
sampearson@ancasta.com
+442380 016582

-----------------------------------------

2015 Farr 280 OD "FOMO". 136,000 USD. Located in Cowes, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.

The Farr 280 One Design is a new production racing sailboat by Farr Yacht Design that delivers the excitement of grand prix racing to the under-30’ one design arena.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Harmen Rockler
Farr Yacht Sales
harmen@farryachtsales.com
+1 410 267 6550

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
The human race will begin solving its problems on the day that it ceases taking itself so seriously. -- Malaclypse the Younger

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

Christophe Killian Wins 51st Governor's Cup
Governor's Cup Winners. Click on image to enlarge.

Newport Beach, CA, USA: Christophe Killian, 20, of host Balboa Yacht Club, Newport Beach, California, won the 51st Governor's Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship with a 3- 1 victory over New Zealand's Leonard Takahashi before a record number of spectator boats watching the action. Killian and his crew Harrison Vandervort, won five of their last seven races in the semi-finals and finals, with a 3-0 win over Christopher Weis of Del Rey Yacht Club, Marina del Rey, California.

Australia's Harry Price, winner of the double round robin portion of the event - where every team sails against every other team twice - chose his opponent from among the semi-finalists as is the practice in modern match racing events. Many observers predicted that he would choose the youngest sailor in the group, Takahashi, and he did so. But, like many such choices, sometimes they go terribly wrong; in this case, Price may regret that decision as Takahashi beat Price 3-1 in their semi-final.

Price, as the 6th ranked sailor in the World Sailing Open Match Racing rankings, was a favorite coming into the event but a few uncharacteristic mistakes resulted in his loss to the young Kiwi to set up what turned out to be an exciting Killian-Takahashi final.

Price and Weis sailed the petit final to determine third place. Price's difficulties continued in a 3-1 loss to Weis.

www.govcupracing.com

Barcelona glory for Oman Air
Oman Air scored their first Act win of 2017 as SAP Extreme Sailing Team rise to the top of the overall Extreme Sailing Series scoreboard following a nail-biting finale to Act 4 in Barcelona. Just ten points separated Extreme Sailing Series heavyweights Oman Air, Red Bull Sailing Team, SAP Extreme Sailing Team and Alinghi going into the final double-points scoring race, leaving victory anything but certain.

However Phil Robertson's Omani-flagged team sealed fourth-round victory in style, sailing a flawless race to cross the line with a mammoth lead of more than two minutes over closest rivals SAP Extreme Sailing Team.

The crowds lining the shore could hear the cheers coming from Oman Air's GC32 as the team, last year's runners up, celebrated topping the podium for the first time this season following a trio of thirds in the previous Acts.

Three wins in six races saw Austria's Red Bull Sailing Team claim the second podium spot, finishing just six points behind Oman Air, while second in the final race was enough to secure third for the Danish crew of SAP Extreme Sailing Team.

Alinghi's hopes of a podium finish were quashed when they finished seventh in the final race, forcing the Swiss syndicate to settle for fourth place.

The battle for the Extreme Sailing Series top spot will recommence in Hamburg, Germany, from August 10 to 13, before the global Stadium Racing tour heads to Cardiff, UK, from August 25 to 28.

Barcelona standings after Day 4, 22 races

1. Oman Air (OMA) Phil Robertson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Ed Smyth, Nasser Al Mashari, 233 points
2. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans Peter Steinacher, Stewart Dodson, Adam Piggott, Will Tiller, 227
3. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Rasmus Kostner, Adam Minoprio, Mads Emil Stephensen, Pierluigi de Felice, Richard Mason, 221
4. Alinghi (SUI) Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Timothe Lapauw, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey, 214
5. NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) Chris Steele, Graeme Sutherland, Harry Hull, Mike Bullot, Josh Salthouse, 191
6. Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) Rob Bunce, Chris Taylor, Oli Greber, Will Alloway, Adam Kay, 190
7. FNOB Impulse (ESP) Jordi Xammar, Joan Cardona, Luis Bugallo, Kevin Cabrera, Florian Trittel, 159
8. Team Extreme (ESP) Mitch Booth, Alberto Torne, Jordi Sánchez, Jordi Booth, Tom Buggy, 129

extremesailingseries.com

Racing Starts Wednesday In Dr Irena Eris ORC European Championship
Marina at Motlawa river in old town of Gdansk, Poland. Photo by Patryk Kosmider - Fotolia. Click on image to enlarge.

Gdansk, Poland: After two days of measurement, registration and practice racing Monday and Tuesday, 92 teams from 11 countries throughout Europe will start racing on Wednesday, 26 July for four days of offshore and inshore competition at the Dr Irena Eris ORC European Championship held here in Gdansk. The format is scheduled to include a 10-12 hour Offshore race on Wednesday, followed by Inshore windward/leeward racing on Thursday through Saturday, with final Awards scheduled for Saturday evening.

In Class A there is a healthy mix of a dozen Racers and Cruiser/Racers, with the latter category led by Tea Ekengren-Sauren's Swan 45 Blue Nights from Finland, who has just won the Granaria Polish ORC National Championship. Yet they will likely be challenged by another Swan 45, Erik Berth's Tarok 7, who was the Silver medalist in last year's ORC World Championship in Copenhagen. Among the Racers in this class will be Filip Engelbert's Ker40+ Elvis from Sweden and Rolf Relander's Cookson 50 Furiosa, a sistership to the newly-crowned 2017 ORC World Champion, Mascalzone Latino.

In Class B there is a larger crowd of 29 entries in Class B, ranging from proven champions in the Baltic region, like 2015 ORC Class B European Champion Jaak Jogi on his X-41 Forte from Estonia, to brand new designs, like Bjorn Erik Bjornsen's Aquatich 40 Aquatich from Norway. But watch out also for Thomas Dehler on his Dehler 38c Sporthotel from Germany, since they just won the Granaria Polish National Championship this past weekend.

Class C is the largest class at the event, with 42 entries, the largest ever for an ORC European Championship. Within this group there are also some proven champions - such as the reigning Class C European Champion Aivar Tuulberg on his Arcona 340 Katariina II from Estonia and new winner of the Granaria Polish National Championship as well, Patrik Forsgren's modified First 36.7 Pro4U, the 2015 Class C Champion from Sweden, and Sandro Montefusco from Italy leading an Estonian team on the NM 38 Sugar, the European Class C Champion in 2013.

Racing will be held in the Gulf of Danzig just north and east of the port, and the shoreside venue will be in the historic heart of the Port of Gdansk, a scenic backdrop for a city which has had a seafaring heritage for over 1000 years.

orceuropeans2017.com

Seahorse August 2017
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Built (fast) to last
For many years Alex Thomson has bucked the wider trend with his choice of sailmaker for Hugo Boss. Richard Bouzaid, David Duff and Mike Sanderson have been there with the British skipper every step of the way

Newbie
Designing the closest thing yet to a purpose-built ORC race yacht involved some overdue analysis of IRC/ORC performance vs rating comparatives. Tom Humphreys And Dobbs Davis

Smarter in the lab and smarter on the water
Was everyone looking in the wrong place? Andy Claughton

Watch your back
This time it's the rise of the transistors...

Reboot
The ClubSwan 50 success story is spreading

The last straw...
But inch by inch we'll get there

Timeless (and fast)
'Wide-ranging success' is a suitable moniker

Special rates for Scuttlebutt Europe subscribers:
Seahorse Print or Digital Subscription Use Discount Promo Code SB2

1yr Print Sub: €77 - £48 - $71 / Rest of the World: £65 www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/

1yr Digital Sub for £30: www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/digital

Discounts shown are valid on a one year subscription to Seahorse magazine.

Paul Goodison shows his speed in Italian Moth Series
Fraglia Vela, Lake Garda, Italy: For day 2 of the Italian Moth Series, the precursor to the McDougall + McConaghy Moth Worlds, Lake Garda delivered with fantastic Moth sailing conditions with spectators enjoying a grand stand view of the action from the Fraglia Vela Malcesine club foreshore. The Yellow fleet was sent out for a 1300hrs start in warm afternoon sunshine and flat water. The breeze continued to swing between 200 - 240 degrees, delaying the start for about an hour.

When it did settle on 205 degrees it was blowing around 12 - 15 knots straight up the lake with patches of light wind on each shoreline.

By the time race 5 was started the breeze had increased to 16 - 18 knots in streaks in the middle of the course.

As the final race of the day started for the red fleet the early evening breeze started to fade and soften back to 10 knots. Again it was the usual suspects, Rob Greenhalgh (GBR) leading Nathan Outteridge (AUS) with Western Australian Steven Thomas having his time in the sun. Australians Scott Babbage Tom Slingsby was up there with the leaders. This was the way things stayed until the finish.

Once the two fleet results had been combined it was dominance by the two British sailors with Paul Goodison counting 5 bullets and dropping a 2nd to win the Italian Series with 5 points.

Only two points behind Rob Greenhalgh takes second and Nathan Outteridge third with 13 points. Josh Mcknight sailed a consistent series for 4th and Tom Slingsby a solid 5th.

Italian sailors finished the second day of the series strongly, Carlo de Paoli Ambrosi counted single digit results to finish 9th overall, Francesco Bianchi in 11th and Francesco Bruni in 14th.

The Moth fleet now has a lay-day for registration and measurement formalities in advance of day 1 of the McDougall + McConaghy Moth Worlds on Tuesday 25 July.

There is, however the small matter of the Veneri Bangin the Corners Cup which is an invitational knockout series which has become a feature of past Moth Worlds. Previous winners are Pete Burling, Josh Mcknight and Iain Jensen. Weather permitting this will take place from 1400hrs.

Results: myregata.it/en/2017/2/italian-moth-series

Phuket Raceweek
Phuket, Thailand: Today brought to a close one of the best Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek's in recent history with a full complement of races across all seven classes and some exceptionally close racing. Forecasts all predicted extremely light airs this week but when Day 1 came around, the winds arrived and put in a good showing throughout the four days to deliver some challenging, tactical and exciting racing for all.

Ray Roberts' TP52 Team Hollywood (AUS) used their superior boat length to best effect and put in an excellent performance, winning seven from eight races and dominating IRC I.

Amongst the 40-footers places changed throughout the regatta with four different boats making it onto the podium. A last race third place finish, the best of their series, for the Chinese crew on Ramrod was a good ending to what has been a trying series for them while East Marine Emagine (AUS) fought off the rest to secure second overall. Loco's (SIN) late charge saw them better Rerefine (AUS) to finish third overall.

In IRC II the racing has been exceptionally close - both on-the-water and on corrected time. While Phoenix (JPN) claimed what appeared to be an easy win with six wins from eight races on the pointscore, the devil is in the details with just seconds the winning margin on more than one occasion.

Sailescapes Farrgo Ladies (AUS) crewed by an all-female team overpowered the rest of the class to claim second overall and the bragging rights over fellow Farr 1104, Krabi Boat Lagoon Piccolo (GBR), who finished in third.

Four multihull classes consisting of 24 multihulls is the largest multihull turnout of any Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek in history, and in Multihull Racing Asia Catamarans Hurricane (AUS) were true to form, winning the final race of the series and defending their title with a five point cushion.

www.phuketraceweek.com

Il Mostro Breaks Monohull Record for Cove Island Course
Detroit, Michigan, USA: Peter Thornton's Volvo 70 Il Mostro broke its own race course record today in the 93rd Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race. The newly established elapsed time record for the 254-nautical mile Cove Island Course is 21:45:12. Il Mostro's previous record, set in 2015, was 23:39:54. Il Mostro missed breaking the course's multihull record (held by Rick Warner's Arete) by a mere 15 seconds.

Il Mostro was the first to finish of 207 boats in the race that started on Saturday from Port Huron; 124 of the boats (including 7 multihulls) sailed the Cove Island Course) and 82 of those sailing the shorter 204 nm Shore Course. The team crossed the finish line at 11:25:12 this morning.

Thornton described how at one point in the race, about 20 miles from Cove Island, his team was clipping along, approximately 30 miles in front of all other teams. "Then we sailed into a hole for two hours and Wizard was the only one who stayed with us; the rest of the fleet saw us stalled and went to the Michigan shore." After Il Mostro got going again, a storm harboring gusts of "mostly 25 knots, up to 30" carried the boat at an average of 21 knots up the straights to Mackinac Island.

Wizard, David and Peter Askew's Reichel/Pugh 74, crossed the finish line at 12:19:13. In the standings, they correct out ahead of Il Mostro.

Most of the fleet is yet to finish.

www.bycmack.com

* From Guy Bloomfield:

You left a luminary off your list of One Ton Cup Winners. Chris Bouzaid introduced the world to New Zealand keel boat sailing. He was the forerunner of a wave of outstanding performance exemplified by our recent achievement in Bermuda.

Featured Brokerage
Extreme 40. 65000 each GBP.

2 EXTREME 40s For Sale
Between the 2 boats have an amazing race track record!
Both boats had a major refit at the start of 2015 .

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Peter Greenhalgh
Tel: (+44) 07515 635669
Skype: peterngreenhalgh
Email: peterngreenhalgh@googlemail.com

-----------------------------------------

Spectacular Converted Tugboat. 1,799,000 USD. Located in Sausalito, CA.

If you want a unique base in the San Francisco Bay, or you have secret gearhead dreams, consider Owatonna. She is a 107' U.S. Army tugboat, built like a fortress, with converted living quarters to the equivalent of a 4-bedroom home. She is in a premium downtown slip in Richardson Bay (a lobe of San Francisco Bay). If you were to sail into Richardson Bay from San Francisco Bay, Owatonna is the first end-tie you'd see. (For a full presentation, go to bit.ly/SFBayTug.)

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Jennifer Flower via the listing URL

-----------------------------------------

Reichel-Pugh 65 "TREBUCHET". 745,000 USD. Located in Rhode Island.

First built as MONEY PENNY, then she was renamed VANQUISH, then BADPAK and now TREBUCHET.

Built impeccably by McConaghy ( Sydney) she first started life out as an STC 65 and was very successful at the 2008 maxi worlds beating her sister ships handily. Then she became VANQUISH and her success continued from the east coast of the states to right across the pond with results both in the transatlantic race that Summer as well as the Fastnet ( 3rd overall) From there she moved to California with much success in both races to Mexico and to Hawaii. In 2015, her LOA was extended to 69 feet ( similar to her bigger sister WIZARD) and the results on the race course have continued with her last major race, a 1st to finish and 1st overall in the 2016 Miami to Havana Cuba race.

She is currently stored out of the water and her owner ( a non profit foundation) is currently open to all offers

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
William Jenkins
Thoroughbred Yacht Sales
410 267 9419
410 353 7862

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on earth. -- MarkTwain (probably...)

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

Melges 32 European Championship
Photo by Max Ranchi, www.maxranchi.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Sibenik, Croatia: Congratulations to Edoardo Lupi and Massimo Pessina, along side of tactician Lorenzo Bressani and crew members Alberto Bolzan, Javier De La Plaza, Jas Farneti, Matteo Mason and Carlo Zermini - they are the new Melges 32 European Champions!

The success for Lupi/Pessina is one that is long overdue. This championship gives them their best ever result in the Melges 32 Class.

It was a high voltage day on the water with the wind continuously oscillating out of the south-southwest at around 18-20 knots. Three more races were held with the first race of the day, Race Four going to Andrea Ferrari aboard SPIRIT OF NERINA, which momentarily removed Lupi/Pessina from the top slot. This forced Lupi/Pessina to regroup and react, putting the pressure on high for the last two races.

In one month's time, the Melges 32 World League returns tof Cala Galera, Italy on August 22-27 for the Melges 32 World Championship.

A very special thanks to all the participating teams, and most especially to all of our Croatian friends and D-Marin for their perfect support.

Top Five Results (Final - After Six Races, One Discard)
1. Edoardo Lupi-Massimo Pessina/Lorenzo Bressani, Torpyone, 13
2. Giangiacomo Serena Di Lapigio/Branko Brcin, G-Spot, 17
3. Richard Goransson, Vasco Vascotto, Inga, 17
4. Andrea Lacorte/Gabriele Benussi, Vitamina Amerikana, 24
5. Andrea Ferrari/Pietro Piero Sibello, Spirit Of Nerina, 25

Full results

Rambler 88 wins the RORC Channel Race
George David's American Canting Keel Maxi, Rambler 88 has won the 2017 RORC Channel Race, making it two wins in a row, having also won the RORC Cowes Dinard St Malo Race.

Rambler 88 took Line Honours in the 160 nautical mile race, and after IRC time correction, was the overall winner out of 109 entries. Piet Vroon's Dutch Ker 51 Tonnerre 4, was second, and Pascal Loison's French JPK 10.10 Night and Day, was third racing Two Handed.

In IRC One, Mark Emerson's British A13 Phosphorus II, was the class winner after a close battle with Jean Pierre Dreau's French Grand Soleil 50 Lady First2, and James Neville's British HH42 INO XXX. After over 28 hours on the race course, and after IRC time correction, Phosphorus II was just over a minute ahead of Lady First², and less than four minutes ahead of INO XXX.

In IRC Two, Ross Applebey's Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster, scored an impressive victory against top opposition. Fournier & Migraine's French J/133 Pintia was second, and Nick and Suzi Jones' Beneteau First 44.7 Lisa, sailed by RORC Commodore Michael Boyd, was third. Pintia crossed the line five seconds behind of Lisa, but after IRC time correction, Pintia was second for the race.

In IRC Three, Delamare & Mordret's French JPK 10.80 Dream Pearls, crossed the line just under four minutes ahead of Ian Hoddle's Two Handed team, racing British Sun Fast 3600 Game On. Richard Elliott's British A35 Eaujet, was third. Pascal Loison's JPK 10.10 Night and Day, was the winner of IRC Four. After IRC time correction, the 2013 Rolex Fastnet Champion, was over an hour ahead of Noel Racine's JPK 10.10 Foggy Dew. Jonathan Rolls' Swan 38 Xara was third.

In the Class40 Division, Peter Harding's Phor-ty was narrowly beat Benoit Charon's Normandie by just over 17 minutes following over 25 hours of duelling with each other. -- Louay Habib

www.rorc.org

Neutral Helm. Reduced Heel. Balanced Sail Plan. In a Box.
Olaf Harken: "On service calls, travelers are far and away the worst-functioning equipment we see. People think replacing them is just too much hassle. But travelers are too important for crew safety and boat performance to ignore. These kits are our way to make improving them much easier."

Introducing Harken Replacement Traveler Kits. You'll find 5 versions with components matched for perfect performance, selected for boats from 18-45'. Select a box and the right length of replacement track, and get going. There's more: The kits offer customers the option to select Harken variable hole spacing track. Choose it and the upgrade may be accomplished without drilling a single new hole.

Restore your boat's original traveler function (or exceed it) with Harken Replacement Traveler Kits.

harken.com

Watch The Harken Tech Team Replacement Traveler Kit video

Auckland favourite to host next America's Cup
Auckland has firmed as favourite to host the next America's Cup after holder Team New Zealand canvassed the prospect of holding the regatta there in 2021.

"(We) are considering the possibility of the 36th America's Cup match and the preceding challenger selection series being conducted in Auckland in early 2021 during the New Zealand summer," it said in a statement this week.

The statement, issued jointly with the official challenger Luna Rossa of Italy, also suggested there would be tighter rules about where the yachts are built and who crews them.

"The protocol will contain a 'constructed in country' requirement for competing yachts and a nationality requirement for competing crew members," it said.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Kiwi Entry in Volvo Ocean Race?
There could yet be a New Zealand-flagged boat in the upcoming edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The Herald has learned America's Cup hero Craig Monk is attempting to put together a Kiwi campaign for the round the world yacht race, which gets under way in Alicante, Spain in late October.

There is just one boat left unassigned in the one-design VOR65 fleet, and it is understood the consortium led by Monk has paid the deposit for the boat, but a final decision will hinge on securing private investment over the next week.

Given the race gets under way on October 22, and the first qualifying race is just a month away, the Kiwi-led campaign is being put together very late in the piece. But there is a strong will from both Volvo Ocean Race bosses and officials here charged with organising the Auckland stopover in March 2018, to have a Kiwi entry.

Grant Calder, managing director of the Auckland stopover, said past editions of the event have shown having a New Zealand boat in the race has a significant impact on visitor numbers.

"If we can go back to the 2011-12 event, having a New Zealand boat in the race resulted in a 20 per cent increased footfall compared to the 2014-15 event, when there wasn't a Kiwi team," said Calder.

"I know a big driver for the Volvo Ocean Race moving forward is having the host cities represented in the race."

Volvo Ocean Race bosses also see an opportunity to capitalise on the groundswell of enthusiasm for sailing in New Zealand following Team NZ's America's Cup win. -- Dana Johannsen

www.nzherald.co.nz

Sounds familiar
The immediate success of the ClubSwan 50 was the missing ingredient needed for Nautor's Swan to step into the void left by the great team events like the Admiral's Cup, Sardinia Cup and Hawaii's Kenwood Cup

The concept of national identity remains one of the strongest drivers in modern sport - with the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games the most powerful and best known example. It's what makes events like the Football World Cup so special. And it's the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race teams with the strongest national element that continue to attract the most passionate supporters.

As its name implies, national identity will play a strong part in the appeal of the Nations Trophy, a new regatta being launched this October by Nautor's Swan, with the inaugural event set to take place in Palma de Mallorca. Enrico Chieffi, vice-president of Nautor Group, explains where the idea came from.

'It has been a long time since the last nation-based regatta of this kind. We took our inspiration from old classics like the Admiral's Cup and the Sardinia Cup, but modified the concept for today's competitive environment. Also this is a onedesign regatta, so it is very clear on the water who has done well, even before you see the results.' Full article in the August issue of Seahorse:

www.seahorsemagazine.com

Allan and PA Consulting RS Feva World Championships
Medemblik, Netherlands: After a 4 hour postponement the fleet made it out to the race course for what proved to be a very long and frustrating afternoon. Both Yellow and Blue fleets had 2 races abandoned due to the wind shifting while red fleet didn't get a start in. Finally the wind picked up to a very steady and consistent breeze and all fleets managed just 1 race. This finished the qualifying series and now the fleet splits into Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets

1. Eli Liefting, Rose Dickson, NZL, 5 points
2. William Pank, Finlay Campbell, GBR, 6
3. Tom Storey, Ollie Kent, GBR, 7
4. Henry Jameson, Rupert Jameson, GBR, 7
5. Jamie Rastrick, Madeleine Bristow, GBR, 7
6. Ben Hutton-Penman, Lucy Hewitson, GBR, 10
7. Dylan McPherson, Dylan Collingbourne, GBR, 11
8. Matthew Taylor, William Carron, GBR, 11
9. Bo van Wendel de Joode, Olivier Elderenbosch, NED, 12
10. Filippo Cestari, Davide Carbonelli, ITA, 14

www.rsfeva.org

World Sailling Show
This month the World Sailing Show finds out why the Kiwis were so much faster than Oracle Team USA. Plus, new technology that gets you on board for the racing.

A gutsy way to set a Transatlantic record, 2,500 miles across an ocean aboard a 6m long, open decked racing cat.

We also report from the Para World Sailing Championships in Germany and see how the Round the Isle of Wight record was broken.

Other Features:
- Crossing the Atlantic the hard (mad) way
- Team New Zealand's secrets revealed
- Peter Burling profile – Sailing's new rock star
- How to get aboard a Cup boat during racing
- Para World Sailing Championships
- How the Round the Isle of Wight record was broken

Vintage boats and young winners
1922 Seaview Mermaid Cynthia on show on her mooring before being awarded the Concours d'Elegance. Photo by Rick Tomlinson. Click on image to enlarge.

The winner of the 10th Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week put his success down to a bit of practice and a tightly competitive fleet which keeps him on his toes year round. Mike Wigmore and his crew who brought his Swallow Gwaihir across the Solent from Itchenor, explained "It's great coming to the Classics. We love the combination of windward leeward sailing and round the cans courses. I can truly say we've never had a better regatta."

Mike made his comments despite Charles Stanley Direct Cowes Classics Week (CSDCCW) wrapping up Friday with three days of racing out of a potential five when a second day of racing had to be cancelled due to wind in the Solent pushing toward 30 knots.

Luckily enough races had been completed to fulfil the series across all the classes. Winner of the largest class, the X One Designs, was 19-year old Max Crowe.

Another well-earned victory went to Andrew Milliband in Flying Fifteen Fifty Fifty. This year is the 70th anniversary of the fleet and the occasion attracted sixteen of the boats including one crew from South Africa sailing Durban Flyer.

The CSDCCW was the ultimate goal for Cynthia one lovingly restored and gleaming Seaview Mermaid, a Westmacott design built in 1922. Cynthia just managed to make the start line this week after an eight year project by her owners. Their efforts were recognised when they collected the regatta's Classic Boat Magazine Concours d'Elegance.

Named nearly 100 years ago after her first owner Cynthia Methuen of the publishing company family, Cynthia was brought to the event by owners Mike Randall, John Turner and Jamie Nimmo. Not quite measuring as a Seaview Mermaid Cynthia raced in the 'Classic Dayboats' class alongside Swallows, a Dragon and a Tempest. The opening race was her very first outing and although Cynthia was not up with the prizes she completed all five races of the series. "Everything went very well," said co-owner Mike Randall. "We had thought through the project in a lot of detail." Co-owner Bob Somers said "We were still screwing fittings onto the deck three days before the event."

Next year's Cowes Classics Week will be held from 23-27 July 2018.

cowesclassicsweek.org

Bermuda could bid for Volvo Ocean Race
There is growing speculation that Bermuda could submit a bid to host the Volvo Ocean Race. The tender process for host cities for the 2019-20, 2021-22 and 2023-24 editions is now open and it is believed that Bermuda has shown an interest in hosting a leg of the prestigious race. Bermuda punched above its weight in successfully bidding and staging the 35th America's Cup, with Oracle Team USA becoming the first team to defend the "Auld Mug" in foreign waters by choice.

The potential bid to host the Volvo Ocean Race comes in the wake of an ambitious Bermuda Tourism Authority-driven proposal to have a Bermuda team compete in the event which ultimately fell through the cracks.

Kevin Dallas, the BTA chief executive, said: "It has long been the position of the Bermuda Tourism Authority that successful delivery of the 35th America's Cup would have legacy benefits in proving Bermuda as a desirable partner for delivering a mid-sized global event.

"Indeed, the ITU World Triathlon Series was won partially on the back of our America's Cup World Series event delivery.

"Bermuda is now in the enviable position of being approached by multiple parties in the wake of AC35. It would be premature to say which should and will be taken forward." -- Colin Thompson

mobile.royalgazette.com

Dean Barker's 'Mixed Emotions' on watching Team New Zealand lift America's Cup
Writing on the Softbank Team Japan website, Barker said he has no regrets about leaving Team New Zealand and says it will be amazing to have the event back in New Zealand.

"Reflecting back on the racing, particularly the racing between Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle Team USA, I cannot help but be impressed with the domination that ETNZ showed. They were truly a class above the rest, and the radically different design and innovation that the team had taken ended up far superior to the solutions the other teams had found."

"Having been a part of Team New Zealand for a large part of my career, it is with mixed emotions that I watch the team take the America's Cup back to New Zealand.

"It will be amazing to have the Americas Cup back on New Zealand waters, and it will be a great boost to the New Zealand marine industry as a whole. Though it is tough to not be a part of the successful campaign, I still have many friends on the team whom I am proud to see win the prize they've fought so hard for - my sincere congratulations on a job well done," Barker wrote. "The past two years establishing and leading SoftBank Team Japan have been some of the most rewarding of my career and an immense feeling of pride overshadows the results. Having had the opportunity to put together a new team from scratch, to learn the challenges faced with running a team, and to understand how to balance the sailing duties with the management of a team has been an extremely rewarding process. I have no regrets."

Barker said Softbank Team Japan will wait on the plans for the next America's Cup to be announced before they decide to make another challenge for the Auld Mug.

"It will be very interesting to see how the new protocol is shaped by it's new trustees and I very much hope that we will get the opportunity to build on the foundation that we created here in Bermuda in whatever form that may be."

www.nzherald.co.nz

Featured Brokerage
2010 Davidson Custom 70. 850000 EUR. Located in East Coast, Italy

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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2017 Ker 33 - New Build. 189,000 USD. Located in China.

The first dual-purpose cruiser/racer from the McConaghy/Ker partnership. Huge promise whilst on the race track as usual, but some proper interior comfort.

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Sam Pearson - Ancasta Port Hamble
sampearson@ancasta.com

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2013 Botin 65 - Caro. POA. Located in La Ciotat, France.

Stunning cruiser / racer from the board of Botin. Extremely fast and comfortable, with a chic interior and very competitive inshore and offshore.

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+44 (0) 1590 679222
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See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong. -- Richard Feynman

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

In This Issue
Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week | Mother nature disrupts play at Moth Worlds | Marlow Ropes and Clipper Round the World Yacht Race | Signal 8 joins FAST40+ Class for Lendy Cowes Week | Solo sailor Lisa Blair due in Albany after historic Antarctic circumnavigation | Musto At Lendy Cowes Week | Industry News | Featured Brokerage

Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week
Photo by Max Ranchi. Click on image for photo gallery.

Two second places on the Bay of Palma today for Niklas Zennstrom's Ran Racing allows the team - that won the last regatta in Sardinia - to extend five points clear at the top of the leaderboard for the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week.

In a moderate SSE'ly breeze that built to 16kts during the afternoon there were two different race winners, but Zennstrom's team retained a solid consistency. Provezza won the first race starting smartly off the left, pin end of the start line and using the left. Azzurra atoned for a costly penalty turn at the first mark by following up with a victory in the second contest, taking them up to second overall.

In both windward-leewards today, the early race leaders were able to break away and build their margin. In second position through both races, Ran Racing were variously in attack and defence modes throughout the day, but tactician Ado Stead and strategist Beashel modulated their game, looking comfortable in Race 2, although Ran were sucked backwards to defend against the pack's advances in Race 3.

Azzurra lie second overall on the regatta standings, but tactician Vasco Vascotto emphasised: "It is always about the overall, we have said that from the start of the season. And from that point of view, today was a good day, putting points on Quantum Racing and Platoon. And so as well in the first race I was happier with the way that we fought back from the back to take three points on Platoon."

Standings after three races.
1. Ran Racing (Niklas Zennstrom, SWE), (1,2,2) 5 pts
2. Azzurra (Family Roemmers, ITA/ARG), (3,6,1) 10 pts
3. Provezza (Ergin Imre, TUR) (6,1,7) 14 pts
4. Quantum Racing (Doug DeVos, USA), (4,4,6) 14 pts
5. Platoon (Harm Muller-Spreer, GER), (5,9,3) 14 pts
6. Bronenosec (Vladimir Liubomirov, RUS), (7,5,5) 17 pts
7. Alegre (Andrés Soriano GBR/USA) (2,8,9) 19 pts
8. Sled (Takashi Okura, USA), (8,3,8) 19 pts
9. Gladiator (Tony Langley, GBR) (9,7,4) 20 pts

52superseries.com

Mother nature disrupts play at Moth Worlds
Even at one of the most glamorous of sailing venues sometimes mother nature intervenes. A series of summer thunderstorms caused havoc with the regular breezes on Lake Garda putting an end to any chance of racing on day one of the McDougall + McConaghy Moth Worlds.

Early on Tuesday morning for race day one, the weather was looking good. The morning Pelèr was blasting down the lake from the North with white water and clear skies. But as the first two groups of the fleet of 220 boats prepared to launch, some black clouds streamed in over the mountains threatening some wild summer thunder storm activity. The two race areas were experiencing big shifts in the breeze and anything between 2 knots and 15 knots.

The Yellow fleet did get into a start sequence but a big shift minutes before the start put and end to any chance of racing. Then a huge black thunder cloud loomed over the horizon from Riva del Garda shutting down the breeze and sending some impressive lightning displays over the lake.

Race Management had no choice but to ere on the side of caution and send the fleet home for safety reasons. Once the storms had cleared the skies cleared, the sun came out for a glorious evening but alas the breeze had shut down for the day.

The revised schedule for the Qualifying Series on Wednesday 26 July is for an early start for two groups (Red and Yellow) of 8.25am (local time). Blue and Green groups will not start before 10.00hrs (local time).

www.mothworlds.org/malcesine

Marlow Ropes and Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
Marlow Ropes and Clipper Round the World Yacht Race share a long-standing 16 year relationship. This will be the 8th consecutive edition of the biennial race that the two leading brands in British sailing will join forces. As Official Supplier, the matched fleet of Clipper 70s have been rigged with D2 Racing which provides industry leading high strength and low stretch for safety and performance while racing in demanding conditions.

This year we are delighted to have our own Marlow ambassador on board, selected from the 110 international Round the World crew members, to report on their journey as they complete each of the 8 legs and circumnavigate the world. This will be a fascinating view of life on board and we wish the crew the very best of luck as they set sail from Liverpool on the 20th August.

Keep updated at www.marlowropes.com with our dedicated Clipper Race News hub and if you're visiting one of the many stopovers worldwide why not try our Round the World Knot Challenge display.

www.marlowropes.com

Signal 8 joins FAST40+ Class for Lendy Cowes Week
Signal 8. Photo by Guy Nowell. Click on image to enlarge.

Thirteen examples of the FAST40+ Class will make up the largest Grand Prix class, racing at Lendy Cowes Week. From the 29th July to 4th August, the FAST40+ Class will be the first start of every day at Britain's most famous regatta.

Racing a mixture of tight Solent courses, and longer coastal races, Lendy Cowes Week marks the third scoring regatta of the 2017 FAST40+ Race Circuit. Sir Keith Mills' British Ker40+ Invictus, currently leads the season's championship. Stewart Whitehead's British Carkeek Mk3 Rebellion, is second, just a point ahead of the young German team, racing the Felci designed Silva Neo.

The latest edition to the FAST40+ Class is the Ker designed Signal 8, owned by Jamie McWilliam, Matt Hanning, and Patrick Pender, who are all members of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The trio, and Signal 8, are no strangers to racing in European waters, having competed in the boat at Cowes Week and Cork Week in 2012. Signal 8 was shipped to the UK earlier this year and is undergoing final modifications by John Corby in Cowes, as directed by Ker Yacht Design.

"We had a great time in Cowes & Cork with the other Ker 40s, and then went back to race at home in Hong Kong and around Asia." commented Jamie McWilliam. "But then a few of our situations changed, so when we saw the fantastic FAST40+ Class racing at Cowes last summer, and heard about the rest of the season from Tom (Jamie's brother) who's been on Rebellion, we thought maybe that was where we should go next, and that 'FAST, and damn the rating' was the way we needed to upgrade the boat, in order to maximise fun.

So to get started, with Matt Curthoys running the project to Jason Ker's designs and McConaghy's build, we changed the keel to a lighter deeper one last summer, and extended the bowsprit to allow bigger kites. We also increased the mainsail girths about as far as we could practically go. That made the boat quite a bit quicker, but we never really got enough wind in Hong Kong to really light her up.

We pulled the trigger on the final mods we had already discussed with Jason Ker: a transom scoop and a rocker reduction. Richard Bouzaid at Doyle Sails NZ have made us some big new jibs to go with the other big gear they'd made, so we're basically as powered up as we can get.

www.facebook.com/FAST40UK/

Solo sailor Lisa Blair due in Albany after historic Antarctic circumnavigation
Queenslander Lisa Blair, who is set to make history as the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica when she arrives back on the Australian mainland today, says she is "very, very proud" of her achievements.

Blair, 32, set off from Albany in Western Australia in January in an attempt to break Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov's 2008 record for the fastest solo, unassisted and non-stop circumnavigation of Antarctica.

However, she was forced to abandon her goal when her yacht's mast snapped in rough seas near South Africa in April.

She spent two months in Cape Town repairing her boat, Climate Action Now, before resuming her journey last month.

Blair completed a full circle around Antarctica on July 21 and is expected to sail back into Princess Royal Harbour on Albany in WA's south coast this afternoon.

A strong wind warning is current for the Albany coast and has delayed Blair's expected arrival by a few hours.

Large crowds are expected to fill vantage points around the harbour to witness her return.

A representative from the World Sailing Speed Record Council will also be on hand to officiate the journey.

Perth yachtsman Jon Sanders was the first recorded person to circumnavigate Antarctica, completing two laps of the continent over 419 days in the early 1980s.

www.abc.net.au/news/

Musto At Lendy Cowes Week
In excess of 100,000 spectators come to watch the sailing, enjoy the parties and live entertainment, and to experience the unique atmosphere. Make sure you don't miss a second by checking out Musto's hand-picked selection of events, competitions and installations.

THE MUSTO CUSTOMER CARE CENTRE
Damaged Musto technical sailing kit can be serviced in the brand's Customer Care Centre in Cowes Yacht Haven. If the team cannot mend your kit on-site then you'll be offered a 25% discount on any Musto purchase over £250 to replace or upgrade the item.

WEDNESDAY 2nd:
Musto Lendy Cowes Week Party: Visit the world-renowned Pier View Pub in the centre of town at 19:00. Get here at this time for free entry, free rum (courtesy of Westerhall Rum - an official Lendy Cowes week sponsor), live entertainment, a chance to meet the brand's ambassadors and more.

THURSDAY 3rd:
Triple Crown Around the Island Race: For the first time, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet will be using the Triple Crown Around the Island Race as the first part of the race's mandatory Leg 0.

FRIDAY 4th:
Don't miss Musto's Pimp My Ride competition winners training with a brand ambassador out on the Solent. And if you entered the second competition, see if it's your name that's announced as a winner straight after.

SATURDAY 5th:
The prize winners from Musto's competition will get the opportunity to tour the Vestas 11th Hour Racing VO65 as they prepare for the Rolex Fastnet Race. Enter here.

SUNDAY 6th:
The Volvo Ocean Race boats will take part in the Rolex Fastnet as a prelude to the Volvo Ocean Race 17/18. This will provide fans with an early form guide, as the teams tackle one of the most revered and feared tests in sailing. Show your support for this incredible race by picking up a piece of Musto Rolex Fastnet Race merchandise. Available from the Official Musto Merchandise Store in the Yacht Haven.

www.musto.com

Industry News
Groupe Beneteau reported consolidated revenues of €853m for the first nine months of fiscal year 2016-17, with a strong level of business in both its Boat and Housing Divisions.

The company said results in the third quarter were driven by strong boat sales worth €343.4m for the period ended May 31, 2017 - a 20% gain year-over-year, and totalling nearly €700m for the nine months year-to-date, also an increase of 20% compared to the same period last year.

Beneteau pointed to positive sales trends in the European and American markets as the main source of gains for the boat business, boosted further by a high volume of orders from charter firms, contributing more than 3 points of growth. The French builder noted South America, Asia and the Rest of the World were also making very positive contributions to growth.

Catamarans are another part of the company's positive story, responsible for strong progress in the sailing segment which generated 46% of sales for the Boat Division through the first nine months of the year.

Notably, Beneteau announced in June that it was extending is partnership with the fractional sailing business SailTime for five years. SailTime − which has enjoyed growth of 161% since 2012 through 28 bases in the United States and six in Australia − offers Beneteau sail and power boats for both its membership and yacht ownership programs.

plus.ibinews.com

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High-performance yacht mast manufacturer Hall Spars recently opened a new service facility in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The move follows the 37-year old company's integration into the North Technology Group (NTG).

Strategically located in the heart of US east coast sailing, the Hall Spars service base in Rhode Island is perfectly positioned to meet the needs of existing Hall Spars clients worldwide - whose mast design records are safely held on file - as well as new customers looking for a one-stop service facility.

The Hall Spars service center opened its doors for business on May 1st and is already 100 per cent operational and will support not only the Hall US customer base but also clients from the other company entities, Hall BV in Holland and Hall New Zealand.

Leading the new facility is David Moffet, a well-known Project Manager with over 16 years of experience at Hall Spars who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and a familiar face to customers.

Together with David, Nick Turcotte brings with him 10 years of experience as a Design Engineer and Project Manager with ECsix carbon rigging and Future Fibres. Both have a wealth of knowledge covering everything from grand prix racers and super yachts to the many one designs and cruisers who trust the Hall Spars masts.

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Matthew Sheahan is the new Lendy Cowes Week Radio reporter for 2017

Sunset+Vine's Head of Performance Sailing and the producer of the World Sailing Show will join Cowes Radio's long term anchor man Simon Vigar to report live on the action afloat from the famous blue RIB throughout Lendy Cowes Week.

Matt takes over from Dick Johnson, the former voice of Cowes Week, who retired last year after a 31 year stint at the helm.

"It was Dick who gave me my first job in journalism at Yachting World 25 years ago, so I know better than most that these are big boots to fill," said Matt.

Adding to a growing list of sailing clients which includes World Sailing, Volvo Ocean Race and, of course, hot foot from covering the America's Cup for BT Sport and the BBC, Sunset+Vine are once again, the host broadcasters for Lendy Cowes Week. While reporting live on the racing, Matt will also be working with a team delivering news and digital output from the regatta throughout the week.

The coverage will be tailored to suit a variety of platforms from national news to social media and the big screens around Cowes to bring this unique event to the biggest possible audience. Lendy Cowes Week Radio 87.7fm

www.cowesradio.co.uk

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Volvo Penta has signed an agreement to become the major owner of premium outboard motor manufacturer, Seven Marine, enabling the Swedish company to extend its scope of world-leading integrated propulsion systems.

The deal will broaden Volvo Penta's technology platform, offering a modular, cutting-edge solution, regardless of the energy source, to deliver the desired power in the water. Seven Marine will be able to further develop its existing innovative outboard technology to satisfy a wider range of needs for its premium and exclusive customer base. This acquisition will strengthen their combined footprint in the marine market.

Seven Marine, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA, was founded in 2010 by a team with many years' specialist experience in marine technology.

With a proven track record in delivering high performance gasoline outboards for the high-end leisure market, Seven Marine produces the most powerful outboard models in the world, running at 557 and 627 hp.

plus.ibinews.com

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Kelvin Hughes has been acquired by radar and IFF systems supplier HENSOLDT (formerly Airbus Defence Electronics) following an agreement by owners ECI Partners to sell its investment in the company. Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory clearances.

HENSOLDT comprises the security and defence electronics activities of the Airbus Group, which were spun off in 2017 and have now entered the market as a new sensor house under the brand name of HENSOLDT.

The company's flagship product is the TRS series radar system.

Core radar sensor, security and navigation products provided by Kelvin Hughes include the SharpEye advanced solid-state Doppler radar sensor.

www.boatingbusiness.com

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The RYA is delighted to announce that once again the RYA Dinghy Show, will be heading to the iconic Alexandra Palace, London for the only show in the world dedicated to all things 'dinghy'.

Taking place over the weekend of 03-04 March 2018 the show promises to be one not to be missed, with lots of new features alongside show favourites.

As well as all the new activities in store for 2018, visitors will also be able to enjoy show favourites such as live talks, interactive activities; sailing simulator and trapeze rig, as well as show favourite, the Treasure Hunt.

Tickets to the 2018 RYA Dinghy Show go on sale in October 2017. Look out for special RYA member and club offers.

www.dinghyshow.org.uk

Featured Brokerage
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info@bernard-gallay.com

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2002 Farr 52 FURTIF2. 180000 EUR. Located in Toulon, South of France.

She was built in 2002, refitted in 2008 in New Zeeland by the current owner and brought to France in 2012. She has been optimized for the IRC racing. 2016 Rating : TCC = 1.288. Well maintained and ready to go.

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info@bernard-gallay.com

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2012 SEATEC Multi 50. 110000 EUR. Located in La Rochelle, France.

TRIBULATIONS was designed by Nigel Irens and built with the same mould as Fujicolor (Mike Birch) and Fleury Michon IX (Philippe Poupon). Named Laiterie du Mont Saint Michel in 1987 and skippered by Olivier Moussy, she was then taken over by Olivier Kersauzon as the Esso Super Plus.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
When information is cheap, attention becomes expensive. -- James Gleick

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

Your humble narrator missed an issue last night. A rare event, this one due to a veterinary emergency for one of my dogs. He's OK. Long night. TJ is a rescue dog; I encourage those without a pet (or who want to add to their flock) to get a rescue dog or cat. You'll soon discover the quandary of "who rescued who?"

Provezza Eye the Puerto Portals Prize
Puerto Portals, Spain: Ergin Imre's Provezza team have been tantalisingly close to winning a regatta twice this season but have not yet managed to close the deal. They go into the final day of the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week Friday with a lead of three points.

They may lead by three points over second placed Platoon but in fact the fifth regatta title of the season is wide open. Just seven points separates Provezza from sixth placed Slead. Two races are expected to form Friday's finale with Azzurra one point behind Platoon, and Quantum Racing five points off the lead.

Current 52 SUPER SERIES champions, Quantum Racing finally got the start they wanted off the line in the third race and were able to lead to the finish from Azzurra, while Harm Muller-Spreer's Platoon completed a typically solid day in third, 4,4,3 for the day.

While Quantum Racing suffered with a couple of bad calls over the day and compounded their pain when they had to circle round after being squeezed out from the windward mark layline, rounding ninth, so too Azzurra had their own problems. Penalised for a pre-start incident leading into Race 1, they had to fight back hard to gain a third.

Results after 8 races
1. Provezza, Ergin Imre, TUR, 30 points
2. Platoon, Harm Muller-Spreer, GER, 33
3. Azzurra, Roemmers Family, ITA/ARG, 34
4. Quantum Racing, Doug DeVos, USA, 35
5. Ran Racing, Niklas Zennstrom, SWE, 36
6. Sled, Takashi Okura, USA, 37
7. Bronenosec, Vladimir Liubomirov, RUS, 43
8. Gladiator, Tony Langley, GBR, 52
9. Alegre, Andres Soriano GBR/USA, 60

Full results

www.52SUPERSERIES.com/LIVE or via the app.

Tornado European Championship
Centro Vela Dervio, Lake Como? The Hellenic Police team of Nikolaos Mavros and Alexandros Tagaropoulos, GRE 11 had their goal set on becoming European Tornado Open champions for the second time in a row and they did it!

After finishing 1st in 6 out of 8 races no one can challenge their sovereignty throughout the event.

Second place overall goes to Marcel and Joerg Steiner. The two brothers scored only top 5 results proving they are so well trained, especially in these conditions.

Third place goes to Martin Rusterholz and Michael Gloor, the winners of the Swiss nationals.

A new entrance in our class won the impressions and respect from everybody. The youth team of Yoann Trecul and Thomas Ferrand from France had an amazing performance despite some bad times in three of the races. The crew jumped to the Tornado after some F18 titles and they seem very strong, smart and promising contenders for next year's events.

Sails are set to Thessaloniki, Greece for the World championship starting on the 28th of August.

Final top five
1. Nikolaos Mavros / Alexandros Tagaropoulos, GRE, 9 points
2. Marcel Steiner / Joerg Steiner, SUI, 18
3. Martin Rusterholz / Michael Gloor, SUI, 27
4. Wolfgang Klampfer Paul Klampfer, AUT, 40
5. Jean Marc Cuanillon / Leon Cuanillon, SUI, 46

Full results

Watch your back
At right: Colley leaves the helm to the autopilot on his much -travelled Jeanneau 3200 while he accesses his Zeus3 system via the water resistant touchscreen to manage everything from basic navigation to laylines and wind shift trends to monitoring approaching traffic on the integral AIS

It's not just in the Vendee Globe that today's self-learning autopilots are challenging the helming abilities of the human being on the handlebars...

Aside from being the boss of UK Jeanneau importer Sea Ventures, Nigel Colley is also an active shorthanded racing sailor on his Sun Fast 3200 R2 Fastrak XI and director of racing at the Solo Offshore Racing Club. This growing breed of shorthanded racers are highly reliant on the accuracy of the systems onboard and the ability of those systems to drive the autopilot with maximum efficiency.

Fastrak has twin rudders and a single pilot ram is connected to the rudder link bar along with a rudder reference unit. This is the same set-up that went around the world on several boats (including Hugo Boss) in the recent Vendee Globe, albeit the much more powerful Imoca 60s have an additional ram hooked up as a reserve.

Full article in the August issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

McDougall + McConaghy Moth Words
The early morning Peler from the North provided contrasting fortunes for the fleet of 220 Moths racing day 3 of the McDougall + McConaghy Moth Worlds 2017 hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine. After a lunchtime break to repair boats and refuel with more pasta, all fleets were sent back out for a much more sedate afternoon of racing, but again the Garda wind gods had other ideas. By 1600hrs the weak afternoon breeze shut down for the day determining the all important Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets for the Final series.

The Green and Blue fleets were sent out early for a 0830 hrs start but a number of competitors stayed ashore to make a late judgement as to whether to sit out the first race of the day. The Blue fleet was sailing the Southernmost course off the picturesque medieval city of Malcesine. However, just the downwind dash to the race course proved too much for many.

The Peler was honking a good 20 - 25 knots with some steep waves. After about an hour the PRO got racing started but only about 16 boats got off on time. Some others joined shortly after to complete one lap and get a score on the board. For the second race of the day, race 4 of the event, the breeze did soften into the teens but the conditions were still gnarly and difficult for the club level sailors.

Paul Goodison (GBR) took up from where he left off yesterday adding another two wins to keep a perfect scoreline. He was pushed hard but never really threatened by another Olympic medallist from GBR, Simon Hiscocks, who finished with two excellent seconds.

www.mothworlds.org/malcesine/

ORC European Championship
Gdansk, Poland: The rain that drenched everyone yesterday in the opening act of the Dr Irena Eris ORC European Championship Gdansk 2017 continued again today, and with just enough wind to yield two completed North Sails inshore races to add to the event's scoreboards.

Among the 13 teams from 5 nations in Class A, two teams are rising to the top of the standings after two races today. Tea Ekengren-Suaren's Swan 45 Blue Nights from Finland did well today, scoring 2nd by only 35 seconds after 1.25 hours of racing in the first 7.05-mile two-lap windward-leeward race, and winning the 6.7-mile course of the same type in the second race today by nearly a minute over yesterday's race winner, Erik Berth's sistership Tarok VII from Denmark. Blue Nights is thus now in the lead with 5 points over Tarok VII on 6 points, with Axel Seehafer's Soto 40 Sportsfreund in third on 12 points.

In the 29 boats in Class B from 10 nations, the top five finishers in both races were all of the same boat type: X-41. This is not surprising, this class having had highly competitive one-design racing among themselves over the past several years in and around the Baltic region.

Martin Eslander's Xini Freedom from Finland is doing the best of the X-41's on scores of 5-2-1, ahead of Priit Tammenmagi's Premium skippered by Mati Sepp from Estonia by 6 points, with only 3 points separating the next five places in the standings. This could very well be the class to watch to produce the closest and most contentious results.

And on strong scores of 1-1-3 in a fleet of 40 boats from 9 nations, Class C is currently in control of the Pro4U team from Sweden, who won this class at the last ORC European Championship held in the Baltic region in Parnu, Estonia in 2015.

Racing will resume Friday with another two inshore races planned to start at 11:30 AM, with Windward/Leeward courses set in two course areas nearby in the Gulf of Gdnask. Live trackers will be used once again, with access made through portals on the event website.

orceuropeans2017.com

Etchells Gertrude Cup
James Badenach's team representing the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, has won the fourth edition of the Gertrude Cup, after holding off a strong challenge from the USA Youth Team, led by Connor Needham. Bruce Huber's team, representing the Royal Yacht Squadron, recovered from a show-stopping collision on the second day, to claim third. Two youth teams tied on points for fourth, with the Grieg City Academy YC , led by Montel Fagan-Jordan, winning on countback, from the Royal London Yacht Club Youth Team, led by Ted Blowers.

Two races were held on the final day of the Gertrude Cup, taking the series tally to thirteen. Pewter skies with rain and sea fog, reduced visibility and air temperature, but did not dent the enthusiasm of the eleven international teams. A southwesterly gradient breeze built during the day, peaking at 20 knots, with the wind oscillating 20 degrees, producing a shifty race course in the Central Solent. Once again, the Royal Thames Race Management Team, led by PRO Phil Lawerence, produced windward leeward courses with slide rule precision, taking into account a strong tidal flow. Two teams shared top performance of the day. Bill Steele's team representing the Royal Perth Yacht Club, and Rob Tyrwhitt-Drake's team, representing the Royal Ocean Racing Club, both scored podium results.

Final Results: https://www.yachtscoring.com

etchellsukfleet.co.uk

www.facebook.com/rtycgertrude/

Garmin Returns As Team Partner In Clipper
Garmin, the Global GPS Navigation and Wearable Technology company, is returning for a third consecutive campaign as a Team Partner in the Clipper 2017-18 Race, which starts in Liverpool on Sunday 20 August, 2017.

The Garmin team will be led by Gaetan Thomas, 29 from Brussels, who is making race history as the first Belgian Skipper to complete in the twenty-year history of the event.

Garmin made its debut as a Team Partner in the Clipper 2013-14 Race, and finished an impressive fourth in the previous 2015-16 edition.

A global brand, Garmin will use the global circuit of the Clipper Race, which visits six continents across eleven months, to connect with customers and communicate stories and content all over the world.

The Clipper 2017-18 Race will start in Liverpool on Sunday 20 August 2017 and return almost a year later on Saturday 28 July 2018, after following a global route which includes stopovers in Punta del Este, Cape Town, Fremantle, Sydney, Hobart, the Whitsundays, Sanya, Qingdao, Seattle, Panama, New York, and Derry Londonderry.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

MAPFRE Signs Echegoyan and Ciszek
MAPFRE have completed their squad for 2017-18 by naming two female sailors - Spanish Olympic gold medallist Tamara Echegoyen and Volvo Ocean Race star Sophie Ciszek. The addition of Echegoyen is notable for two reasons - she is the first Spanish woman ever to compete in the race, and she takes MAPFRE's Olympic medal count to five.

Sophie, who raced onboard Team SCA in 2014-15, joins up with Xabi Fernandez's crew to compete in her second consecutive edition - and will be keen to build on an impressive debut in which she won the prestigious Hans Horrevoets Rookie Award.

It's been a long road to the start line for Sophie, who has been desperate to get back in the race for a second time.

For Xabi, the signing of the two females represents a landmark moment in the assembly of his squad.

"Tamara has been working hard since March, when the crew first started to sail. With all that I have talked about, both with Pablo [Arrarte] and Neal [McDonald], they agree that as we expected, she has an important learning curve and is gradually gaining confidence and contributing more to the team."

He continued: "Sophie is someone who has already sailed on this type of boat, so perhaps it's been a little easier to adapt, although it is also an environment totally different from the previous one. On Team SCA, they had more people on board and so more hands for each job and now she is trying to adapt to sailing with us, which is a bit different."

In less than a week, the 2017-18 fleet will line up alongside each other for the first time this edition as they assemble in Gosport, UK for Leg Zero.

The team departed yesterday and the new recruits join recent edition Blair Tuke and the rest of the all-star crew which is eyeing a first Race win in Spain's history.

The 2017-18 edition will see the teams cover 45,000 nautical miles in a race that features a total of 12 Host Cities and will finish in The Hague, Netherlands at the end of June.

volvooceanrace.com

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The Last Word
We're all just walking each other home. -- Ram Dass

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

In This Issue
Three New ORC Champions Crowned | Paul Goodison wins 2017 Moth Worlds title | FAST40+ Fracas | New Horizons - McConaghy Boats | Turkish Delight on the Bay of Palma | Fondation FDJ - Des Pieds et Des Mains claims Tour Voile championship | Podium challenge for Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan in Transgascogne | Wild Oats XI claims line honours in the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast race | Featured Brokerage

Three New ORC Champions Crowned
Gdansk, Poland: Near-perfect conditions yesterday provided a fantastic ending to four days of competition at the Dr Irena Eris ORC European Championship Gdansk 2017. Two hard-fought final races determined the new 2017 European ORC champions in each of three classes, and while ultimately the winners were yesterday's series leaders in each, they had to fight to the end to keep themselves at the top of their respective podiums.

No where was this seen more keenly than in Class B, where in all the inshore races the X-41's battled with each other with the skills honed over years of racing these boats as one designs throughout the Baltic region.

In the final race, Martin Eslander's X-41 Xini Freedom from Finland and Priit Tammemagi's Premium skippered by Mati Sepp, from Estonia, were both over early; the Race Committee sounded a horn and raised the X flag...yet neither came back to re-start. Premium was fast, 3 minutes ahead of Xini on the 5.4-mile course, and looked as though she would win the race and the ORC European Class B title crown. Yet with both were scored OCS, causing this race to be discarded instead of their worst scores from the offshore race, and thus put Xini in the lead by one point instead.

In Class A the scenarios were not nearly as complex given the smaller number of boats in the class. Tea Ekengren-Suaren's Swan 45 Blue Nights from Finland did what they needed to do to stay on top. By winning the first 6.3-mile race, their 2-2-1-2-1 scoreline was almost unassailable in the last race: they just had to make sure their closest rivals from Denmark - Erik Berth's Swan 45 Tarok VII - did not win this race to put them tied in points and win the tie-break. While doing this, Alex Seehaufer's Soto 40 Sportfreund had a great 3-1 day to move up to take the Bronze medal slot. For Blue Nights and Sportfreund this was their first podium finishes in a major ORC championship.

Class C was much like Class A, where a dominant team had to just continue doing what got them to the top and not make mistakes. Patrik Forsgren's modified First 36.7 Pro4U from Sweden did just that by scoring their second win of the series in today's first race, then staying clean and close to their closest competition in a shifty and contentious second race that featured two general recalls and a Black Flag. The racing was so close in fact that Pro4U had to share 3rd and 4th place points with a boat well behind them, Juss Ojala's First 34.7 Jazz from Estonia, but it made no difference: they finished well-clear of the runner-up and last year's Class C champion, Aivar Tuulberg's Arcona 340 Katariina II.

Winners in the Corinthian Division of all-amateur crews were Tarok VII in Class A, Peter Buhl's Swan 42 Sirena from Denmark in Class B, and Pro4U in Class C.

Full results: orceuropeans2017.com

Paul Goodison wins 2017 Moth Worlds title
Paul Goodison (GBR) smashes it on the final day of racing at the 2017 McDougall + McConaghy Moth Worlds at Lake Garda against the hottest fleet of Moths ever assembled. Goody (to his friends), is the first foiling Moth sailor to win back to back world titles and the result is that much more special considering the high calibre of competition from the most recent top Americas Cup skippers and sailors with more Olympic medals around their necks than any other regatta with exception of the Olympic Games itself.

Going into the final day of racing Goodison begun the day with a 13 point cushion over Pete Burling (NZL) with Iain 'Goobs' Jensen with an outside chance of catching Burling.

The weather gods turned it on again for the final day of racing when a light 'Ora' started to build from the South around lunchtime and any fluffy little clouds dispersed to leave another fine sunny afternoon for racing.

The Youth category went down to the wire on the final day with a fine battle between the two Italian twins Gian Marie and Stefano Ferrighi. With an 8th in the final race on Saturday and a 9th today (Sunday), Stefano stole the title from his brother by 3 places. Stefano finished 23rd overall an excellent performance in a fleet of champions.

The Master's category swung between Jason Belben (GBR) and Rob Gough (AUS) and a similar tussle played out. Rob Gough won this one finishing 25th overall to Jason Belben's 28th.

First in the female category went to Irish Olympian Annalise Murphy who finished 51 in the Gold group.

The Silver group was won by John Clifton (GBR) and the Bronze group won by Maximilian Mage of Germany.

Final top five:
1. Paul Goodison, GBR, 20 points
2. Peter Burling, NZL, 40
3. Iain Jensen, AUS, 41
4. Tom Slingsby, AUS, 43
5. Scott Babbage, AUS, 65

Full results: www.mothworlds.org/malcesine/results/

www.mothworlds.org/malcesine

FAST40+ Fracas
An incident packed second day at Lendy Cowes Week included Girls of Film hitting a rock on approach to a mark, a collision between Invictus and Rebellion at the same mark, plus 42 South snapping their rig, and a navigational error costing a round of drinks at the bar.

Sir Keith Mills' British Ker40+ Invictus took line honours, and corrected out to win the race. However, after racing, Peter Morton's British CF40+ Girls on Film, was given redress, and awarded joint first place for the race. The two teams will share the Royal Thames Yacht Club's 1840 Challenge Cup.

Bas de Voogd's Dutch Carkeek MkIII Hitchhiker was second, and leads the class for Lendy Cowes Week. Johnny Vincent's British Ker40+ Pace stayed out of trouble to finish third. Tony Dickin's Farr designed Jubilee was fourth, just four seconds ahead of the German Felci designed Silva Neo.

After the first beat, Peter Morton's CF40+ Girls on Film, was leading by two minutes, approaching Baxters, located near Gurnard Head. "We had dropped our spinnaker and we were about to round the mark when we hit a rock." explained Peter Morton. "We were hard on and had to be towed off some time later. At the time, we were frantically waving at the boats behind to alert them, and we saw Invictus and Rebellion coming in really fast."

In the fracas, Invictus and Rebellion had a minor coming-together. "It was a just a kiss really." suggested Stewart Whitehead, owner Driver of Rebellion. We had our A2 up, and I think Invictus had their Masthead Zero, so we were coming in at different angles. When we both took evasive action, we touched. To cap the day off, Campbell Field took us to the wrong mark in the confusion, which cost us a bit of time. He was a bit sheepish about it, and bought a big round when we got in, but we are still all good friends on board."

Racing for the FAST40+ Class continues Monday 31 July, for the Royal London Yacht Club Bloodhound Challenge Trophy.

https://www.facebook.com/FAST40UK/

New Horizons
After 50 years' building everything from foiling Moths to the supermaxis McConaghy Boats are entering new markets with a ground-breaking supercat plus a mini-Canonball to take on the growing Fast40+ class

McConaghy Boats are celebrating a half-century in performance boatbuilding this year with an impressive pedigree of raceboat excellence that, in the hands of the world's best sailors, has now won pretty much every major contest in the sport. This ranges from Aussie 18s in Sydney Harbour to custom offshore IOR, IMS and IRC designs, ACC America's Cup boats, first-to-finish maxis, supermaxis... the list goes on and on. Oh yes, did we mention the Andrew McDougall Mach 2 foiler Moths which continue to pour out of the door of the company's Chinese facility?

Yet, rather than rest on these laurels of always being on the cutting edge of composite fabrications, McConaghy have recently further notched up the pace to adopt some recent innovations that will have this firm well poised to enter the next half-century with greater efficiencies and versatilities in production of a new range of boat types wider than ever before.

Full article in the August issue of Seahorse:
www.seahorsemagazine.com

Turkish Delight on the Bay of Palma
They have led four of this season's five regattas and twice been within touching distance of overall victory on the last day, but today when they crossed the finish line of the what proved to be the last race of Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week Ergin Imre's Provezza team finally closed the deal and won their first ever regatta title in their five years on the 52 SUPER SERIES.

Popular Turkish owner Imre has owned nine different Provezza race boats in more than 30 years of campaigning, dating back to IOR Admiral's Cuppers and Two Tonners. But his win today on the Bay of Palma is made all the more special as they have been so close on two occasions this season. They led into the final day in Key West in January but botched the start of the first race and dropped from contention. And last month they fleetingly led the final run of the last race which would have given them the title in Porto Cervo until a clip opened and they could not trim their kite on, ceding the title to Ran Racing.

Final Standings
1. Provezza, Ergin Imre, TUR, 34 points
2. Quantum Racing, Doug DeVos, USA, 36
3. Azzurra, Roemmers Family, ITA/ARG, 36
4. Platoon, Harm Muller-Spreer, GER, 38
5. Ran Racing, Niklas Zennstrom, SWE, 42
6. Sled, Takashi Okura, USA, 45
7. Bronenosec, Vladimir Liubomirov, RUS, 46
8. Gladiator, Tony Langley, GBR, 61
9. Alegre, Andy Soriano GBR/USA, 67

52superseries.com

Fondation FDJ - Des Pieds et Des Mains claims Tour Voile championship
While Team SFS triumphed in spectacular style in today's Coastal Raid, a third place finish in Nice was more than sufficient to assure Fondation FDJ - Des Pieds et Des Mains overall victory in the 40th edition of the Tour de France a la Voile. Eighteen points clear of Team SFS in second, the crew led by Damien Seguin and Damien Iehl with Benjamin Amiot and François Morvan can no longer be caught, and will add their name to the illustrious list of teams who have raised the Tour's Cup since 1978.

Solid, consistent and never far from the top of the classification ever since the event got underway in Dunkirk on 7th July, the crew of Fondation FDJ - Des Pieds et Des Mains placed outside the top 10 just once over 16 race days (an eleventh position in Act 4 in Arzon). And they displayed their usual cool, calm and collected character today when the time came to seal the deal. Paralympic sailor and co-skipper Damien Seguin has sailed in the Tour for the past three years and - in addition to his two Paralympic golds in the 2.4mR - has once again achieved his goal of proving that physical disability does not preclude top performances.

Top three overall rankings:
1. Fondation FDJ - Des Pieds et Des Mains - 837 points
2. Tresors de Tahiti - 808
3. Beijaflore Sailing - 806

Top three youth rankings:
1. Team Lorina Mojito - Golfe du Morbihan - 773
2. Ville de Genève - CER 2 - 608
3. Team Natixis - YC Saint Lunaire - 595

Top three amateau rankings:
1. Homkia - Les Sables d'Olonne Agglomeration - 674
2. Team Installux Aluminium - 662
3. Dunkerque Voile - 631

www.tourvoile.fr/en/

Podium challenge for Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan in Transgascogne
Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan has his sights set firmly on a podium finish in the last race of the Mini Class Series before the big season finale - a 4,000-mile epic across the Atlantic alone on his 21ft racing yacht.

The 30-year-old from Kells, County Meath, goes into the 600-mile Transgascogne Race, beginning today, as one of the favourites for victory having notched up a string of impressive results so far this season.

Three podium finishes in five races has rocketed Dolan into fourth place overall in the season standings with only the Transgascogne Race, from Les Sables d'Olonne in France to Aviles in northern Spain, to go before the Mini Transat in October.

Dolan, who is now based in the Breton port of Concarneau, will go head to head with around 25 other sailors in the Transgascogne.

The race is split into two legs. The first, at 345 miles, takes the fleet from Les Sables d'Olonne around the small island of Belle Ile then south through the Bay of Biscay to Aviles in Spain's Asturias region. The second is a 245-mile direct sprint from Aviles back to Les Sables. Although much shorter than the Transat, the Transgascogne has historically been seen as an indicator of how the season finale could finish.

Dolan's progress in the race can be tracked here:
transgascogne.geovoile.com/2017/tracker/

www.transgascogne650.com

Wild Oats XI claims line honours in the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast race
In the closest finish in more than 15 years, the Oatley family's record-breaking supermaxi, Wild Oats XI, has claimed line honours for the sixth time in the 384 nautical mile Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Race.

The 30-metre long, silver-hulled racer knifed its way across the finish line off Main Beach soon after sunrise; and only 3m 31s behind was the similar sized Black Jack, owned by Peter Harburg, out of Brisbane.

These two yachts started life as near-identical Reichel-Pugh designs in 2005. Harburg purchased Black Jack from a European owner earlier this year, shipped it to Sydney and had it modified just in time for this race.

Light to medium headwinds made what was the 32nd staging of the coastal classic a physical and mental test of endurance for both crews. Sleep was a rare and brief experience over the entire distance, and sail changes were made constantly to suit the prevailing conditions.

Richards heaped praise on his crew and also recognised the outstanding effort made by the Black Jack team, especially considering this was their maiden race with the yacht. However, the result was particularly encouraging for Wild Oats XI.

"From the day she was launched Black Jack was always faster than Wild Oats XI when sailing upwind in those conditions," Richards said. "So we were more than pleased to be able to go toe-to-toe with them in this race, especially when you consider that we've done extensive modification to our yacht to make it faster downwind."

This was Wild Oats XI's sixth line honours victory in the Gold Coast race; however the light headwinds that prevailed led to it crossing the finishing line more than 20 hours outside the course record time she set in 2012. -- Rob Mundle

goldcoast.cyca.com.au

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The Last Word
You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over. -- Richard Branson

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

In This Issue
Germany's Momo and Earlybird Open Best at 36 Copa del Rey MAPFRE | Day Three at Lendy Cowes Week | Neutral Helm. Reduced Heel. Balanced Sail Plan. In a Box. | Nicholas O'Leary launches Vendee Globe 2020 campaign | Peter Burling: 'Step backwards' if Team NZ move away from foiling catamarans | Andrew Simpson Foundation : The Sailing Charity | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Shannon One Design Sailing Dinghy 'Kiwi' Celebrates Her 95th Year | Featured Brokerage

Germany's Momo and Earlybird Open Best at 36 Copa del Rey MAPFRE
On the first day of the 36 Copa del Rey MAPFRE on the Bay of Palma tacticians and strategists in the big boat classes racing on the outermost course area had their work cut out. Rather than the super consistent, solid sea breeze that the Balearic race track is known for, there was a regular difference between the windward and leeward extremes of the course area which tested and teased some of the best afterguards in the world.

But it is German flagged teams which are the only two crews to have started with a perfect pair of wins. In the Maxi72 class Dieter Schon's Momo, which has German ace Markus Wieser backed up by Kiwi strategist Murray Jones who clocked up his sixth America's Cup win last month as part of the winning performance coaching group along with Ray Davies and Rod Davis.

And in the ClubSwan 50 fleet Hendrik Brandis' Earlybird, which has German four times Olympic medallist Jochen Schumann as tactician, also started with two wins.

With ten TP52s racing in Mallorca Sotheby's IRC Class 1 it is Jean Jacques Chaubard's Team Vision Future which leads by one single point.

The second day of competition Tuesday sees windward-leeward racing scheduled for all classes. The GC32 foiling catamarans will warm up with an official non-scoring training regatta prior to racing starting on Wednesday.

Top results after day one:

BMW ORC 1 (35 boats)
1. Aifos (ESP), S.M. King Felipe VI, 2+3=5
2. Zappy's (FRA), Christophe Wargny, 4+6=10
3. Adrian Hoteles Macaronesia (NED), Daniel Adrian Rueda, 1+10=11

BMW ORC 2 (21 boats)
1. Maverta (ESP), Jose Ballester, 3+2=5
2. L'immens - Laplaza Assesors (GBR), Carlos Rodriguez, 2+4=6
3. Sum Innovation (ESP), Pedro Campos, 8+1=9

BMW ORC 3
1. Grupo Ceres (ESP), Daniel Cuevas, 4+1=5
2. Just the Job (GBR), Scott Beattie, 1+4=5
3. Lanzarote Sailing Paradise (ESP), Alejandro Morales, 3+3=6

Maxi 72
1. Momo (IVB), Dieter Schon, 1+1=2
2. Cannonball (ITA), Dario Ferrari, 3+2=5
3. Proteus (USA), George Sakellaris, 2+3=5

Club Swan 50
1. Earlybird (GER), Hendrik Brandis, 1+1=2
2. Ulika (ITA), Andrea Masi, 2+4=6
3. Skorpios (RUS), Andrey Konogorov, 3+3=6

MRW Swan 45
1. Ange Transparent 2 (ITA), Valter Pizzoli, 1+3=4
2. K-Forze (USA), Jan de Kraker, 3+2=5
3. Negra (ECU), Rizzo, 6+1=7

Swan 42
1. Nadir (ESP), Pedro Vaquer Comas, 2+1=3
2. Pez de Abril (ESP), Jose Maria Meseguer, 1+2=3
3. Voloria IV - Regina 2.0 (SWE), Jacob Wallenberg, 3+6=9

Mallorca Sotheby's IRC
1. Team Vision Future (SUI), Mergui Mikael, 1+4=5
2. Alizee (FRA), Laurent Camprubi, 3+3=6
3. Phoenix (USA), Hasso Plattner, 5+2=7

Herbalife J80
1. Les Roches Jeunesse Marbella Team (ESP), Eric Brezellec, 2+1=3
2. Bribon Movistar (ESP), Marc de Antonio, 1+3=4
3. VSA Comunicacion (ESP), Jose Maria Van Der Ploeg, 3+3=6

Full results

www.regatacopadelrey.com

Day Three at Lendy Cowes Week
Day three of Lendy Cowes Week delivered yet more racing in blazing sun and a perfect south westerly breeze of 12-16 knots that gradually built to a peak of 20 knots by the end of the afternoon. It was a day of intensely close racing for many competitors, with numerous podium places decided by only a handful of seconds after more than three hours of racing.

Most of the early starts for the Black Group yachts starting on the Bramble line favoured the southern end of the line, but a wind shift under a line of cloud just before the start of the Quarter Ton class switched the bias towards the committee boat end.

This left Ed White's immaculately restored Joker more or less alone at the pin, while Louise Morton's Bullit avoided the pack, starting mid-line. Tony Hayward's Blackfun won his first race of the series, finishing almost four minutes ahead of Sam Laidlaw's Aguila. Bullit crossed the line 67 seconds after Aguila to take third place both on the water and on corrected time.

This class has a reputation for extremely close racing and this year is no exception. While Aguilla now leads the class overall with only six points, Bullit and Blackfun are on 9 and 10 points respectively and the next four boats are separated by only one point.

The right hand wind shift was still evident for the Contessa 32 start 10 minutes after the Quarter Tonners. Nevertheless, yesterday's winner, Eldred Himsworth's Drumbeat, started at the southern end, while most of the remainder of the fleet opted for the northern end, with Donna and Martin Rouse-Collen's Andaxi and Mark Tyndall's Persephone both making good starts there.

With Drumbeat retiring from today's race, the way was clear for Andaxi to take her first win of the series, 27 seconds ahead of Ray Rouse's Blanco. Ed Bell's Mary Rose Tudor took third, just over a minute later.

This year IRC Class 6 is a large fleet with boats ranging from older 38 footers such as Jonathan Rolls' Swan 38 Xara and David Kirkley's Nicholson 39 Conteza, through Impalas to Edmund Gatehouse's J/24 Jupiter and Kevin Downer's diminutive Jeanneau Fun 23 Ziggy.

Full results for all classes: www.lendycowesweek.co.uk

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Nicholas O'Leary launches Vendee Globe 2020 campaign
Royal Cork Yacht Club's Nicholas O'Leary has launched a Vendee Globe 2020 campaign and as part of the build-up the Crosshaven sailor will compete in next week's Rolex Fastnet Race as co-skipper with British round-the-world skipper Alex Thomson.

O'Leary (31), an emerging offshore sailing talent, has been training with the Thomson Racing team this summer and assisted in preparations ahead of the Vendee Globe in 2016 where, O'Leary, younger brother of double-Olympian, Peter, completed over 1500 nautical miles on board Thomson's Hugo Boss.

Thomson, from Bangor in North Wales, finished second overall last March in the French-based race, recording the second fastest time on record - 74 days 19 hours - just 16 hours behind winner Armel Le Cleac'h.

O'Leary won the UK's largest yacht race last month when he helmed the JPK 10.80 'Yes!' to an overall win in the Round The Island Race at Cowes.

"Being chosen to co-skipper the boat with Alex is a huge honour and it allows me to start the preparation for my own Vendee Globe campaign in 2020," said O'Leary.

There's no doubt O'Leary is a headline Irish act in the race on Sunday week but he is by no means the only one. He's not even the only Irish Vendee Globe campaign.

There's a potent line-up of Irish performers for the record breaking Fastnet Race entry - the world's largest offshore race. The 605-nautical mile race card was full in under five minutes, creating another record. Up to 400 boats will be on the Royal Yacht Squadron start line in Cowes on Sunday, 6th August.

Among the 12 Irish entries, from 28 participating countries, is a former Middle Sea Race class winner and some top ISORA performers. There's also two sailing school entries from Dun Laoghaire and two West Coast entries, one from Foynes Yacht Club on the Shannon Estuary and another from Westport in County Mayo.

www.irishtimes.com

fastnet.rorc.org

Peter Burling: 'Step backwards' if Team NZ move away from foiling catamarans
America's Cup winning helsman Peter Burling hopes Team New Zealand persist with foiling catamarans for the next America's Cup.

The new holders will unveil their protocols for the Cup in September where the venue, design type and nationality clause will be finalised.

There has been talk the Cup could return to more traditional monohulls, but Burling wants to race in something fast.

Burling has told Radio Sport that he's confident Team New Zealand will come up with a class for America's Cup 36 that will advance the event.

"I'm happy as long as it goes fast. It would be a bit of a shame to take a step backwards in terms of the speeds the boats can generate. I'm pretty sure we can come up with a rule that can keep pushing that forward," Burling said.

Burling is also a fan of a bigger nationality clause.

"This time we had a very small nationality clause but definitely for me it seems like something that has got to be as part of the America's Cup. It is a friendly competition between nations and the Deed of Gift is a big part of it. I'm in favour of the nationality clause but I'm not too sure how harsh it's going to be yet, as to what percentage it breaks out at, but it's all part of the fun and games over the next little while."

www.nzherald.co.nz

Andrew Simpson Foundation : The Sailing Charity
Today the Lendy Cowes Week spotlight shone brightly on the Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF) with the day being officially designated Charity Day and with Founding Trustee and America's Cup sailor Iain Percy OBE in Cowes to fly the FUNdraising flag.

Iain Percy was honoured to be invited by Lendy Cowes Week and the Royal Yacht Squadron to fire the start gun for Cowes Bash and the first race of the day. As a reminder of why the Foundation was formed and in a nod to the global fundraiser 'Bart's Bash', results from all fleets were pooled to find an overall winner for the day. Congratulations go to the winner of Cowes Bash, just confirmed as Sam Cox on Nifty, a King 40, who picks up a free entry into next year's Lendy Cowes Week plus a range of Chatham Shoes for the crew and some Musto kit.

In between a host of media interviews and photo calls Iain enjoyed meeting young sailors signed up to one of the ASF's primary initiatives running this week, Discover Sailing supported by Lendy, a series of daily one hour taster sessions to introduce 8-14 year olds to the delights and challenges of sailing. The ASF Discover Sailing Programme ensures there are no financial barriers to entry into the sport. To date the Andrew Simpson Foundation has introduced 5,600 young people to sailing.

Iain took on his brother Richard who is the CEO of the Foundation and ASF supporter Sir Keith Mills, in the Sunsail Gutterboat Racing Challenge. Iain also raced Olympic Silver medallist and the 'Face of the Foundation' at the regatta, Mark Covell, who went on to host the Foundation's 'Big Bash' party on the main stage in Cowes Yacht Haven; a great big wonderful party with fabulous prizes, on-stage entertainment, putting the FUN into FUNdraising! Remember to text your donations to BART17 £5 to 70070.

www.facebook.com/andrewsimpsonfoundation twitter.com/AndrewSimpsonFo www.instagram.com/andrewsimpsonfoundation www.andrewsimpson.org

Seahorse August 2017
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

World news
The shorthanded boom continues, AIS safety, the mighty Macif, Conrad Colman's (incredibly) close shave, bumps on the way to Tokyo 2020 and Key West lament. Patrice Carpentier, Ivorwilkins, Rob Kothe, Dobbs Davis

Too soon?
James Boyd is excited by changes for the next Volvo race but highlights some of the less obvious technical hurdles that will need to be addressed

(Fast) horses for courses
A small degree of compromise can pay dividends

New horizons
And a (very sexy) 50th birthday celebration

Breathe easier
Preserving the gap... and with it the warmth

Special rates for Scuttlebutt Europe subscribers:
Seahorse Print or Digital Subscription Use Discount Promo Code SB2

1yr Print Sub: €77 - £48 - $71 / Rest of the World: £65 www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/

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Shannon One Design Sailing Dinghy 'Kiwi' Celebrates Her 95th Year
The Shannon one-design class, designed by Francis Charles Morgan-Giles (1883-1964) built their preview boat in 1921 (which no longer survives), and trials were offered to sailors on the Shannon River, in order to promote the idea of a one-design for the Shannon. Everybody who sailed the new boat were impressed, and during the winter and spring of 1922, nine boats were built to the new design, seven of which were built by Walter Levinge of Creaghduff, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Numbering started at No. 32, so these new boats were Nos. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 40.

In 2017, the surviving boats, Nos. 32, 33, 37 and 40, celebrated their 95th birthday, so, it was decided to have a pre-regatta, in preparation for a bumper centenary regatta in 2022. It was the owners of No. 37, 'Kiwi', Peter and Owen Delany and their siblings, who put together the idea of the pre-centenary regatta to be held at Lough Ree Yacht Club (Est. 1770) over the weekend of 29-30 July. A notice was circulated to the owners of the other 95 year olds, and to all the newer Shannon one-design owners (most recent boat in No. 179), and 15 boats turned up to race and to party.

On Saturday, the wind was 12-25 knots which resulted in one compulsory reef. Race one went to the opportunistic Alan and DJ Algeo in No. 138. Then, after lunch, race two was won by Andrew Mannion in No. 97, who also managed to win race three. This was followed by a Pimms party, and dinner for eighty celebrants in the Lough Ree clubhouse.

On Sunday, the rain belted down, but the wind was lighter, so the reef was no longer mandatory. Racing north of the Yellow Islands, saw Miss Georgina Corbett in No. 108 win race four, and race five was won by veteran sailor Frank Browne in No. 86. The final race after lunch was held in the flukey waters close to the clubhouse, and was won by Harmon Murtagh Snr and Jnr. as popular winners.

However, there were no discards in the six race series, which resulted in Miss. Corbett being declared the overall winner by one point from Dr. Mark McCormack on No. 50 which was built in 1925.

afloat.ie/sail/historic-boats

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The Last Word
People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. -- Isaac Asimov

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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In This Issue
29er World Championship Day 2: Patience, Sunshine. | 49erFX, 49er, Nacra 17 European Championships | Timeless (and fast): The Swan 60 | Favourites Flex Their Muscles In St Petersburg | Day Four at Lendy's Cowes Week | Annabel Vose Scoops ELEMIS Ladies Day Trophy at Lendy Cowes Week | Team AkzoNobel sign up Martine Grael for the Volvo Ocean Race | What to look out for on Leg Zero | Featured Brokerage

29er World Championship Day 2: Patience, Sunshine.
Long Beach, CA: Fluky winds that refused to settle teased sailors and organizers alike, on Day Two of the Zhik 29er World Championship Regatta, hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.

For nearly two hours, the Alpha Course Race Committee boat - called Patience - and mark set boat - Sunshine - hailed each other incessantly; testing (and hoping for) steady enough wind direction and velocity to start a race. "Patience, Sunshine," reverberated across the course over VHF, sounding more like words of encouragement than a radio call. And they were, marks and lines were moved, and moved again, as races were postponed, started, postponed, recalled, and abandoned.

As winds ultimately crystalized and built - up to 10 knots at times - Bravo Course squeezed out three races, while Alpha Course completed two.

Argentina's team of Santiago Duncan Loias/Elias Dalli climbed a notch to the head of the leaderboard; followed by Benji Daniel/Alex Burger of South Africa; and Neil Marcellini/Ian Brill, USA. New Zealand's Seb Lardies/Scott McKenzie dipped to fourth place, due to a 27th place finish in Race Four; but are still just 20 points out of first place.

While Alpha Course waited patiently for wind, the team of Tania Bonilla/Nuria Miro were flourishing on Bravo Course's lighter air. The two-time Spanish Nationals winners struggled a bit in Monday's heavier winds. "Yesterday there were crazy waves. We're really good with light winds, so today was better," said Bonilla. The team placed first in today's first race and eighth in the third race, but were black flag disqualified in the second race of the day.

These university students, with Olympic dreams, are fighting to be the crowned the best woman's team at the 29er Worlds

Unseasonable weather conditions are expected to last through tomorrow. Attributed to a series of tropical depressions rolling across the Pacific, the increased moisture in the air has produced unusually cloudy skies, which slowed the onshore effect of the sea breeze, and threatened thunderstorms and rain.

Top five:
1. Santiago Duncan Loiaz / Elias Dalli, ARG, 19
2. Benji Daniel / Alex Burger, RSA, 23
3. Neil Marcellini / Ian Brill, USA, 36
4. Seb Lardies / Scott McKenzie, NZL, 39
5. Lachie Brewer / Max Paul, AUS, 41

www.29erworlds.org

49erFX, 49er, Nacra 17 European Championships
High pressure over the North Sea meant entirely new challenges for the 49erFX, 49er, and Nacra 17 fleets as the European Championship entered its third day today. A short postponement to let the wind fill in gave way to a full day of racing, with the 49erFX and Nacra 17's getting three races in while the 49ers finished their Qualifying series with two light air contests.

With the top 20 in the 49er and 49erFX fleets advancing to the Gold Fleet after today's action, one mistake could change the entire face of their regatta - as US Sailing Team representatives Steph Roble and Maggie Shea found out after getting caught on the top mark in the first race of the day - for over a minute.

While the skiff fleets move into gold/silver/bronze format tomorrow, the smaller Nacra 17 fleet continues with the more standard regatta format after another 3-race day. The light conditions meant the entire fleet could deploy a secret weapon that no team wanted to reveal too soon: Upwind spinnaker sailing.

Top five, 49er:

1. Dylan Fletcher-Scott / Stuart Bithell, GBR, 25.0
2. James Peters / Fynn Sterritt, GBR, 31.0
3. David Gilmour / Joel Turner, AUS, 31.0
4. Benjamin Bildstein / David Hussl, AUT, 34.0
5. Dominik Buksak / Szymon Wierzbicki, POL, 36.0

Top five, 49erFX:

1. Annemiek Bekkering / Cecile Janmaat, NED, 22.0
2. Jena Mai Hansen / Katja Salskov-Iversen, DEN, 29.0
3. Tina Lutz / Susann Beucke, GER, 33.0
4. Charlotte Dobson / Saskia Tidey, GBR, 34.0
5. Ragna Agerup / Maia Agerup, NOR, 38.0

Top five, NACRA 17:

1. John Gimson / Anna Burnet, GBR, 11.0
2. Ruggero Tita / Caterina Banti, ITA, 14.0
3. Fernando Echavarri Erasun / Tara Pacheco Van Rijnsoever, ESP, 18.0
4. Allan Norregaard / Anette Viborg, DEN, 25.0
5. Ben Saxton / Katie Dabson, GBR, 27.0

https://www.sapsailing.com

Timeless (and fast): The Swan 60
The Swan 60 has proved to be one of today's more discrete yet highly successful dual-purpose yachts

There are few marine brands that simultaneously conjure up style, quality, comfort and performance like Nautor Swan. For over half a century Swan have in every sense been delivering value to their owners, whether it's racing, cruising or, most commonly, a combination of both, in ways that have made the dozens of designs built by this Finnish company symbolic of a timeless style of yachting.

Many of the world's best naval architects have contributed experience and expertise to Swan yachts, as they each work to capture a unique balance of style, grace and functionality rarely found in other production builders. Meanwhile, uncompromising attention to detail in build quality allows the yachts to be actively enjoyed for decades rather than years.

Another value to Swan ownership is a professionally managed schedule of racing and cruising events tailored to cater to the high standards expected from Swan customers. Located in some of the most beautiful sailing venues in the world, Swan regattas are rarely less than memorable events!

Full article in the August issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

Favourites Flex Their Muscles In St Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Russia: A full first day of racing in glorious sunshine and solid westerlies at the WMRT Match Cup Russia in St Petersburg saw the big beasts making some early shows of strength as they sought the best seeding for the knockout battles to come. Phil Robertson (CHINAone Ningbo), Ian Williams (GAC Pindar) and Yann Guichard (Spindrift Racing) all topped their groups, but they did not have it all their own way.

If the draw produced a group of death, it was Group 1, where current Match Racing World Champion and this year's clear leader, Robertson, discovered from the first race that it was not going to be all plain sailing. One of Perth's many emerging talents, Matt Jerwood (Redline Racing), made an early impression by winning the first race after a three-horse race with Robertson and Pieter-Jan Postma (Sailing Team NL).

Jerwood, currently fifth overall on the WMRT leaderboard thanks to finishing second at WMRT Match Cup Australia in March, where he lost 3-0 to Robertson, finished the day second in the pool after fluffing the start in race two and watching Robertson, score two bullets. But Jerwood roared off the start in the last race to make sure no one will fancy facing him when the knockout rounds start. He also did enough to perhaps elicit a small shot across the bows from Robertson.

In the first race in Group 2, GAC Pindar had a penalty re-start, went around the bottom mark in fourth but still managed to ease past in to second. "It's a very short course, the races were not much more than 10 minutes, so there's not much time to pull back if you have a bad start," Ian Williams, the six-times Match Racing World Champion, said.

Qualifying Results

Group 1
1. Phil Robertson (NZL), CHINAone Ningbo - 7 points
2. Matt Jerwood (AUS), Redline Racing - 9
3. Pieter-Jan Postma (NED), Sailing Team NL - 11
4. Viktor Serezhkin (RUS), Gazprom Team Russia - 17
5. Nico Delle Karth (AUT) - Chilli Racing - 18
6. Evgeny Elfimov (RUS) - M1 Cloud - 22

Group 2
1. Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar - 6
2. Nicklas Dackhammar (SWE), ESSIQ Racing Team - 10
3. Jonas Warrer, (DEN) Aarhus Innovator - 12
4. Markus Edegran (USA), E11EVEN Racing - 14
5. Sally Barkow (USA), Magenta 32 - 18
6. Evgeny Neugodnikov (RUS), Team Tavatuy - 24

Group 3
1. Yann Guichard (FRA), Spindrift Racing - 5
2. Steve Thomas (AUS), RPM Racing - 11
3. Sam Gilmour (AUS), Neptune Racing - 12
4. Mans Holmberg (SWE), Gothenburg Racing - 13
5. Kim Kling (SWE), Caprice Match Racing Team - 20
6. Lukasz Wosinski (POL), Delphia Sailing Team - 23

wmrt.com

Day Four at Lendy's Cowes Week
Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com A ridge of high pressure over the English Channel brought more bright and sunny weather, with a classic south-westerly breeze, to day four of Lendy Cowes Week. Today's first start was for the big yachts in the Sevenstar Triple Crown fleet that are competing some of event's biggest trophies, including the historic gold Queen's Cup.

The towering rig of Ludde Ingvall and Sir Michael Hintze's 100ft maxi CQS, starting on the outer section of the Royal Yacht Squadron line, dwarfed those of the surrounding yachts. She tacked for the line 40 seconds before HRH The Princess Royal fired the starting cannon and quickly blasted away to a big lead on the water in the western Solent.

Today marked the end of the eight race mini series the SB20 and J/70 classes have enjoyed over the first four days of the regatta. John Pollard's Xcellent won the SB20 Grand Slam, counting only podium results, with Elliot Noye's Porco Rosso second and Michael Cooper's Export Roo third.

Subject to protest, Paul Childs' F'in Magic 2 is winner of the J/70 series, on 16 points. Ali Hall's Sceptre was second on 24 points, just ahead of Jack Davies' Yeti, on 24.5 points. Both classes will continue to compete, with one race per day, for the rest of the regatta.

Tomorrow's race for the big yachts in the Sevenstar Triple Crown fleet will include all seven of the entries in the 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race. Dubbed as 'Leg Zero' of the round the world race, this will be the first time they will have raced against each other. They will also be joined by the 100ft supermaxi CQS and by the Volvo 60 Team Jolokia.

Tomorrow a 50-mile race around the Isle of Wight is scheduled, with the course most likely to be clockwise. They will start at 0950, followed five mines later by the IRC Class 0 yachts. -- Rupert Holmes

Full results of all classes: www.lendycowesweek.co.uk

Annabel Vose Scoops ELEMIS Ladies Day Trophy at Lendy Cowes Week
Annabel Vose, has been announced as the winner of the ELEMIS Ladies Day Trophy at Lendy Cowes Week. The trophy recognises the outstanding contribution, commitment, or achievement of women in sailing.

The annual Ladies Day returned to Lendy Cowes Week on Tuesday 1st August with a number of celebrations culminating in the presentation of the Ladies Day Trophy to Annabel Vose at an exclusive evening reception held at Northwood House.

The trophy was introduced for the first time in 2006 to champion the role of women in sailing and the sheer number of female competitors racing at Lendy Cowes Week. There are some 8,000 competitors taking part in the regatta this year and around a third of them are female.

Selected as part of Sir Ben Ainslie's Land Rover BAR Academy team, Annabel competed in the 2017 Red Bull Youth America's Cup in Bermuda.

www.lendycowesweek.co.uk

Team AkzoNobel sign up Martine Grael for the Volvo Ocean Race
Team AkzoNobel have added Martine Grael, the Brazilian sailing gold medallist from the 2016 Olympics in Rio, to their crew for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18.

The 26-year-old is the daughter of race legend Torben Grael - Brazil's most successful Olympic sailor of all-time, with five medals - and she will be joining an AkzoNobel squad that features three members of her father's all-conquering Ericsson 4 team in 2008-09: British navigator Jules Salter, and watch leaders Brad Jackson from New Zealand and the Brazilian Joca Signorini.

Together with Kahena Kunze, Grael clinched gold in the 49er FX class in Rio. She is the first Brazilian woman ever to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race.

Team AkzoNobel is led by Simeon Tienpont and the Dutchman is delighted to add another huge sailing talent to his strong multinational crew.

Grael will take part in Leg Zero - a mandatory series of four preliminary races for the seven competing Volvo Ocean Race teams prior to the race start on October 22 in Alicante, Spain. Leg Zero begins on August 2 with a sprint around England's Isle of Wight, followed by the Rolex Fastnet Race on August 6-9 followed by a further two stages from Plymouth to St Malo and St Malo to Lisbon.

The Volvo Ocean Race begins on 22 October from Alicante, Spain and will visit a total of 12 Host Cities around the world.

volvooceanrace.org

What to look out for on Leg Zero
Leg Zero not only takes care of the official qualifying for the Volvo Ocean Race - it's also the first chance to see the teams in a competitive shakedown against each other.

Don't go looking for the logic, but Leg Zero is actually made up of four separate races. The seven teams taking part - team AkzoNobel, Dongfeng Race Team, MAPFRE, Vestas 11th Hour Racing, Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, Turn the Tide on Plastic and Team Brunel - will face the following schedule:

2 August: a 50-nautical mile sprint around the Isle of Wight

6 August start: the Rolex Fastnet Race, a 608 nm coastal race that has historically served up a hearty dose of danger - and a lot of stressed navigators.

Then comes another big challenge, with two Volvo Ocean Race-only legs:

10 August start: Plymouth, England to St Malo in France (125 nm)

13 August start: St Malo to Lisbon, Portugal (770 nm)

There are no other boats to act as a distraction on these last two legs, just the world's strictest offshore One Design fleet and the clock ticking down to the start of the Volvo Ocean Race from Alicante, Spain on 22 October 2017.

Around the Island Race
A 50-mile coastal race in early August for some of the best sailors in the world who are preparing to tackle the world's longest racetrack in sport? Okay, let's be honest - we're not going to learn a lot here. There's nothing much at stake and in terms of racing, it's tempting to say there's nothing to see here... But then again, sandbanks, rocks and tides will make these 50 miles pretty challenging - and would you want to finish last out of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet?

volvooceanrace.org

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The Last Word
I choose to believe in an afterlife only because it is too horrible to believe that such a cool stud as myself could be allowed to disappear from the universe. -- J. R. 'Bob' Dobbs

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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World records smashed in the Sevenstar Triple Crown series at Lendy Cowes Week
Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Two world speed sailing records fell today in the Sevenstar Triple Crown series at Lendy Cowes Week, subject to ratification by the World Speed Sailing Record Council.

The Spanish Volvo Ocean 65 Mapfre completed the 50 mile course around the Isle of Wight in 3 hours, 13 minutes and 11 seconds, setting a new outright Around Isle of Wight world record by a monohull yacht.

Her time was 6 minutes 58 seconds ahead of that set by Mike Slades' 100ft ICAP Leopard in 2013. Unlike the Volvo Ocean 65s, ICAP Leopard has powered winches. Mapfre therefore also beat the previous world record for a monohull without power assistance by an impressive margin of more than 36 minutes.

Propelled by winds gusting to 40 knots on the south side of the Isle of Wight, the next four boats in the race - Team Brunel, Team Akzonobel and Dongfeng Race Team - also beat the previous record times.

"We had a good start, were able to control the fleet a bit, and then we were always in the lead," said Mapfre skipper Xabi Fernandez. "It was a very close race with the other boats, there were some very fast moments, and it was great fun."

"We were delighted with this first opportunity for the fleet to compete together and show their speed at Lendy Cowes Week's Sevenstar Triple Crown." added VOR race director Phil Lawrence.

"It was fantastic to see such a long-standing record being broken," says Wouter Verbraak, head of Racing Yacht Logistics at Sevenstar Yacht Transport. "We're now looking forward to seeing other record breaking yachts and their crews raising the bar still further at the next Sevenstar Triple Crown."

Volvo Fleet results:

Race Results:
1. MAPFRE: 3 hours 13 minutes 11 seconds
2. Team Brunel: 3 hours 14 minutes 55 seconds
3. team AkzoNobel: 3 hours 15 minutes 16 seconds
4. Dongfeng Race Team: 3 hours 18 minutes 26 seconds
5. Turn the Tide on Plastic: 3 hours 24 minutes 16 seconds
6. Vestas 11th Hour Racing: 3 hours 25 minutes 10 seconds
7. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag: 3 hours 29 minutes 53 seconds

www.lendycowesweek.co.uk

* Gust of 35 knots and big seas challenged Ludde Ingvall and his CQS crew in their race around the Isle of Wight today, as the opportunity to break the record for the course seemed so achievable, but then slipped from their grasp.

Under a steel grey sky, CQS blasted off from the Royal Yacht Squadron starting line at 09:45 this morning on an anti-clockwise circumnavigation of the island, a 50 nautical mile dash.

Taking slightly less than an hour to reach the famous landmark of the Needles at the western end of the island, a record time look eminently possible, with calculations predicting a time of up to 15 minutes less than the existing record of 3 hours, 20 minutes and 9 seconds.

Once around this jagged corner of the island conditions worsened considerably, "there was a lot more breeze than we had expected," explained Ludde, "and we ended up in the Needles washing machine, where the tide meets big waves and it's shallow, and it got incredibly bumpy for us."

He believes that while in these tumultuous seas some damage occurred as soon after, one of their jibs started to unfurl, and flogged itself to shreds. The team then had to slow the boat while they retrieved the sail and the chances of a record blew away with the tattered sail.

They eventually finish the race 27 minutes outside the record, "but at least we got around, which is good, but the crew have a fair bit of work to fix things for the Rolex Fastnet race."

www.bigboatracing.com

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GC32 Racing Tour at Copa del Rey MAPFRE
Highly variable, tricky conditions made for a tough day for race officials and crews alike as competition at the GC32 Racing Tour got underway at 36 Copa del Rey MAPFRE.

Proceedings on the Bay of Palma kicked off with two rounds of the ANONIMO Speed Challenge. As usual this involved the GC32s individually sending it towards the reaching mark before gybing and reaching back. In both rounds of the 0.72 mile course it was France's Erik Maris and his crew on Zoulou that put in the best performance, their 21.78 knot average in the second round proving the best of the day.

Thoughout the day conditions were highly variable, shifting around 180-240°, building to 12-14 knots only to drop down to 5-6 knots before building again. It was tough for the crews and race officials, who had to move the course on three occasions before racing could get underway.

Thanks to this, only two races were held before the wind disappeared for the afternoon. Racing continues tomorrow with a first start scheduled for 1300 CET.

Overall results after two races:
1. Realteam, SUI, Jerome Clerc, 5 points
2. Team ENGIE, FRA, Sebastien Rogues, 5
3. Mamma Aiuto!, JPN, Naofumi Kamei*, 5
4. .film Racing, AUS, Simon Delzoppo*, 10
5. Malizia - Yacht Club de Monaco, MON, Pierre Casiraghi*, 10
6. ARMIN STROM Sailing Team, SUI, Flavio Marazzi, 14
7. Zoulou, FRA, Erik Maris*, 14
8. Codigo Rojo Racing, ARG, Federico Ferioli*, 15
9. Team Argo, USA, Jason Carroll* 16
10. Movistar, 16

* = owner-driver

www.gc32racingtour.com

*|YOUTUBE:[$vid=1f_2hmq0wk4, $max_width=500, $title=N, $border=N, $trim_border=N, $ratings=N, $views=N]|*

WMRT Match Cup Russia
Pieter-Jan Postma, possibly the most laidback speed demon in the world, proved two things at the WMRT Match Cup Russia at St. Petersburg Yacht Club today; firstly, that even in his debut year on the World Match Racing Tour he is a greater force to be reckoned with each event, and secondly that Phil Robertson's conveyor belt of victories should not be taken for granted.

Robertson (CHINAone Ningbo), the current Match Racing World Champion, has been punching top spots like a machine and is this year's clear leader. He was ahead in Group 1 after the first qualifying session but found today's second session more complicated, as he finished third in the group.

Postma finished Group 1 level on points with Perth's Matt Jerwood (Redline Racing), but went top by virtue of count back winning the last race. Jerwood went into the last race leading the group after winning the second and third races, but could only finish fourth in the last. The strength of this group of death was underlined by the role that Russian Victor Serezhkin (Gazprom Team Russia) played on day two, picking up two second places, the second of which came crucially in the second race.

The Sail-Off tomorrow morning between the bottom teams from each of the three Qualifying groups will eliminate two teams and decide the final make up of the remaining 16. The first Sail-Off will be an all-Russian affair between Evgeny Elfimov (M1 Cloud) and Evgeny Neugodnikov (Team Tavatuy), the winner of that will face Polish skipper, Lukasz Wosinski (Delphia Sailing Team). The winner of the that will face Frenchman Guichard.

Qualifying Results

Group 1
1. Pieter-Jan Postma (NED), Sailing Team NL - 18 points
2. Matt Jerwood (AUS), Redline Racing - 18
3. Phil Robertson (NZL), CHINAone Ningbo - 19
4. Viktor Serezhkin (RUS), Gazprom Team Russia - 29
5. Nico Delle Karth (AUT), Chilli Racing - 38
6. Evgeny Elfimov (RUS), M1 Cloud - 46

Group 2
1. Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar - 19
2. Nicklas Dackhammar (SWE), ESSIQ Racing Team - 22
3. Markus Edegran (USA), E11EVEN Racing - 26
4. Jonas Warrer (DEN), Aarhus Innovator - 27
5. Sally Barkow (USA), Magenta 32 - 30
6. Evgeny Neugodnikov (RUS), Team Tavatuy - 46

Group 3
1. Yann Guichard (FRA), Spindrift Racing - 13
2. Mans Holmberg (SWE), Gothenburg Racing - 21
3. Sam Gilmour (AUS), Neptune Racing - 23
4. Steve Thomas (AUS), RPM Racing - 26
5. Kim Kling (SWE), Caprice Match Racing Team - 41
6. Lukasz Wosinski (POL), Delphia Sailing Team - 44

wmrt.com

Kialoa II's revival at 47th Rolex Fastnet Race
Click on image to enlarge.

It's been 46 years since the 73-footer Kialoa II took line honours in the 1971 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and when the boat lines up for the Rolex Fastnet Race off Cowes in the UK this Sunday, its racing revival will be complete.

Brothers Patrick (AUS) and Keith Broughton (UK) purchased the aluminium warhorse, the second in Jim Kilroy's series of maxi racing yachts called Kialoa, in 2016 with the view to compete in the classic ocean races, as Kialoa II did under Kilroy.

They will mark the boat's racing comeback as one of a record 350 entries in the biennial Royal Ocean Racing Club's Rolex Fastnet Race starting Sunday August 6, 2017. The last time Kialoa II completed the Fastnet Race was in 1969 when she finished runner-up over the line.

A combined Australian and UK Kialoa II crew of 18, including key members of what was once Australia's most successful maxi yacht team on George Snow's Brindabella - names like Bob Fraser, Lindsay May and Tony Hearder among the stalwarts - are preparing for the start of the world's biggest offshore race in a few days' time.

Broughton said in the short time of their ownership Kialoa II has shown an amazing capacity to stir fond memories. "We have been approached by some of Mr Kilroy's crew with anecdotes and hints as to how they used to sail her. His daughter Trice has been helpful with information and contacts and former members of the US Coastguard have been in touch and provided help in a number of areas. 'I remember seeing her in 19xx' is a regular conversation starter."

First up the Rolex Fastnet Race then following a lengthy delivery sail the 45 tonne boat will arrive in Sydney in November to tackle another major bluewater event, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on December 26.

Unlike '71, when Kialoa II's waterline length and speed made the Sparkman & Stephens yawl the hot favourite and ultimate Sydney Hobart line honours victor, the boat will stand up on Boxing Day against a fleet of modern 100ft supermaxis and other carbon fibre lightweights plus boats of various vintages, like Matt Brook's 86 year-old S&S 52 Dorade, for the all-important handicap silverware.

Kialoa II's Rolex Fastnet Race crew list:
Paddy Broughton
Andrew (Cutts) Cutler
Jo Manser
Keith Broughton
Bob Fraser
Lindsay May
Dave Sawdon
Matt Reed
Grant (Grunter) Chessells
Matt (Souts) Souter
George Jackson
Rob Small
Ian Goldsworthy
Sam Shrives
Jamie Hastie
Tom Gresty
Jason Toyne
Tony (Steel) Hearder

www.facebook.com

fastnet.rorc.org

Momo's Winning Run Broken, Skorpios Maiden ClubSwan 50 Win
A broken spinnaker halyard on the first run of the first race today may have cost Dieter Schön's Momo team their perfect scoreline, but as they then bounced back to win their fourth race from five starts, the German flagged team pass the midpoint of the 36 Copa del Rey MAPFRE today holding a lead of five points.

Behind Momo the battle for second place in the Maxi 72 fleet is very close. After five races there are just two points between second placed Cannonball, the Botin design of Italian owner-driver Dario Ferrari and fourth placed Bella Mente of Hap Fauth.

In the ClubSwan 50 Class there was a first win ever for Skorpios, all the more remarkable considering that the Russian helmswoman is still very much a newcomer to sailing who has done less than 40 hours of helming. Coached by tactician Ekaterina Skudina, three times Olympian and European champion in the Yngling, the team have two Swan 50s on the Greek island of Skorpios, the team have local Palma ace Nacho Postigo as navigator. They won the first race and finished sixth in the second race to lie just one point behind Leonardo Ferragamo's Cuordileone which is second. Hendrik Brandis' Earlybird leads by ten points, winning three races so far including the second contest today.

Christian Plump's Elena Nova leads the MRW Swan 45 class after a 1,2 today but they are just one point clear of a team from Ecuador who are racing their first ever Copa del Rey MAPFRE on the chartered Negra with Azzurra's Argentinian coach Guillermo Baquerizas.

In the Mallorca Sotheby's IRC class, Andy Soriano's crack team on Alegre are increasing the pressure on fleet leaders Team Vision Future. Soriano's crew went 1,3 today and are now only one point behind the French crew of Jean Jacques Chaubard which won the second race today but faltered with a seventh in the first race.

In the BMW ORC 1 class the Spanish Navy's Aifos still lead overall with the King Felipe VI skippering the Corel 45 to a fourth, leading the class by ten points. The King has yet to win the Copa del Rey MAPFRE which was won five times by his father Juan Carlos. The Rodman 42 Maverta won twice today and leads the BMW ORC 2 class, BMW ORC 3 did not get a race today and in Herbalife J80 class there is a tie at the top of the leaderboard now between Les Roches team and Bribon Movistar.

All of the class leaders were awarded the Enlace Red Eléctrica trophy for leading their fleet through the midpoint of the six day regatta. The fleets return to windward-leeward racing Thursday.

Full results: www.regatacopadelrey.com

* From David Evans:

It seems the Political "noise" everyone has been making on the Red Diesel issue is having a result! With the Belgian Minister of Finance confirming that they will suspend enforcement until the EU reaches a common position on this matter.

There is a EU meeting on 18 Sept and the EU is intending to have a uniform EU position/approach to the issue after that meeting.

From the position of an average UK yachtsman, I do not benefit from Red Diesel, as I pay full duty on it, the only beneficiaries are UK fishermen, so it would make sense for all Red Diesel pumps in all UK coastal marinas to be converted to White Diesel and for UK fisherman to reclaim the Duty from the UK Government. If the UK Government wished inland waterways could continue as at present.

See www.rya.org.uk

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The Last Word
A story in your head isn't a story. It's just a daydream until you actually write it down. So write it down. -- Andy Weir

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

In This Issue
Rolex Fastnet Race: The Doublehanders | Youth Match Racing World Championship | A new breed of carbon racer the Ben Rogerson Yacht Design's BR31 | Dogs off Chains at Lendy's Cowes Week | ... But in Palma... Lighter Than Usual | Twenty Five Years On, 36 Copa del Rey MAPFRE Honours its 1992 Olympic Heroes | Timeless (and fast) The Swan 60 | 49er/49erFX/Nacra17 European Championship | Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag name crew for Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 | Featured Brokerage

Rolex Fastnet Race: The Doublehanders
Thanks to our modern day lifestyles, a frequent problem facing race boats owners is finding willing and available crew. One solution is to sail with less people, an ultimate expression of this being two handed racing. Therefore it is no surprise that the IRC Two Handed class in this Sunday's Rolex Fastnet Race has swelled, with 60 boats entered (plus nine IMOCA 60s). This was also helped by the outcome of the 2013 race, famously won for the first time ever by a two handed crew - Pascal and Alexis Loison on the JPK 10.10, Night and Day.

So far in the 2017 RORC Season's Championship, leadership of IRC Two Handed has been a fight between two Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600s: Rob Craigie and Deb Fish on Bellino and Ian Hoddle and Ollie Wyatt on Game On. Bellino won the Cervantes Trophy, Myth of Malham and Morgan Cup; Game On the De Guingand Bowl and the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race. Also in the mix were Ed Fishwick and Figaro sailor Nick Cherry on their new 3600, Redshift Reloaded. However come the Channel Race, the first occasion the Loisins raced this year, they blitzed it, winning by an hour on corrected from Game On and Bellino.

Bellino's Rob Craigie, who currently leads IRC Two Handed overall, has been racing shorthanded since the 1990, both doublehanded and solo - he was class winner and second home in the 2009 OSTAR transatlantic race from Plymouth to Newport. His co-skipper, Deb Fish was also a solo sailor who campaigned a Sun Fast 3200.

But the real grand masters of doublehanding are the IMOCA 60 sailors. And of them king is Jean-Pierre Dick, who has won two Barcelona World Races, two handed non-stop around the world and three Transat Jacques Vabres, two handed west across the Atlantic. Previous co-skippers included Damian Foxall, Loick Peyron and Jeremie Beyou. This time he is racing his foil-assisted StMichel-Virbac with three time Solitaire du Figaro winner, Yann Elies.

JP Dick: "I have better knowledge of the boat while Yann is bringing his new view and has a lot more experience of the Channel from his Figaro racing. But we also need to enjoy it and not argue too much! Fortunately we are both 'senior' sailors now and we have similar thinking."

As to their sleep - Dick says that they will have a rough watch system, while keeping it flexible, according to the conditions and the workload.

He is also looking forward to seeing how his VPLP-Verdier IMOCA 60 behaves now she is out of 'Vendee mode', substantially lightened and with better optimised ballast and keel weight.

Click for the wind predictions for the Rolex Fastnet Race from Squid and Mike Broughton.

The 47th running of the legendary 605-nm Rolex Fastnet Race starts from RYS, Cowes on Sunday 6th August. First start sequence: 1100.

fastnet.rorc.org

Youth Match Racing World Championship
Balboa Yacht Club, Newport Beach, California: Two southern hemisphere skippers, George Anyon (NZL) and Harry Price (AUS), who is the #6 ranked match racer in the world, maintained their perfect records going 2-0 on the day and are now 7-0 for the regatta.

Italy's Ettore Botticini was the only skipper to lose ground on the leaderboard today, day two of the Youth Match Racing World Championship.

But with 5 wins on Tuesday, Botticini still remains in third place after seven flights in the "round robin" stage of the championship hosted by Balboa Yacht Club.

While Price and Anyon are leading the pack and are clear favorites for semifinal slots, there are a number of competitors who could join them in that all-important stage of the championship.

Botticini is one point ahead of two American teams led by Greiner Hobbs (Tampa, FL) and local favorite, Charlie Welsh (Newport Beach, CA) who both have four points, as does Matt Whitfield from Great Britain.

Whitfield provided the most exciting moment of the day with a penalty turn at the finish line in his match with Botticini.

Whitfield had built a ten boat-length lead over the Italian skipper, and elected to take the penalty by doing a painfully slow circle around the "pin" end of the finish line as Botticini quickly closed in thanks to some breeze from behind.

As Whitfield completed his penalty turn, Botticini tried to squeeze between Whitfield and the pin, incurring two penalties in the process. Race over, win to Whitfield.

sailing.org

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- Lightweight carbon fibre construction
- Fast competitive IRC & ORC racing
- Performance options available
- Estimated IRC Tcc: 1.14

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Dogs off Chains at Lendy's Cowes Week
Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Today delivered big winds to the largest yachts at Lendy Cowes Week, which have been competing in the Sevenstar Triple Crown series over the past three days.

A sharp shower, with gusts close to 35 knots, blasted across the start area as the warning signal for the Sevenstar Maxi Racer and Ocean Racer competitors was fired. A minute before the first start Ludde Ingvall and Sir Michael Hintze's 100ft super maxi CQS bore away in a flurry of spray to head for the line, before blasting downwind towards the more sheltered waters of the eastern Solent.

A measure of the conditions was that only seven of the 16 IRC Class 0 entries came out to play. Igor Yakunin's Ker 46 Lady Mariposa R led the fleet into the line, but it was not long before Tony Langley's TP52 Gladiator overtook, both boats surfing fast on top of the waves in the tidal race off Prince Consort, even though neither hoisted spinnakers until well east of the town. With their kites set the leaders flew downwind at speeds of more than 25 knots, reaching their first leeward mark off Portsmouth little more than 30 minutes after the start.

Gladiator took line honours at the end of their 24-mile race, with a sizeable margin on her competitors. Lady Mariposa R was next to approach the finish line, slamming heavily in the steep chop, with the hull forward of the mast leaping out of the wave crests and the whole mainsail flogging in the stronger gusts.

However, less than 200 metres before the finish line she tacked and dropped the headsail, much to the surprise of both the crowds assembled on shore and race officials at the Royal Yacht Squadron. A structural failure had let the jib tack fly free, so that sail was replaced with a tiny staysail and Lady Mariposa R tacked again to finish the race.

Next home, 10 minutes later, was Christian Zugel's MAT1180 Tschuss, followed 90 seconds later by Claudio Pasquali's Mylius 15e25 Ars Una, both of them crossing the line as the gusts spiked to 40 knots.

The breakage on Lady Mariposa meant Yakunin's team failed to beat Langley on corrected time, or to save their time against Christian Zugel's MAT1180 Tschuss and so took third on corrected time. However, a second place in the first race of the series, plus a win in the second race, from which Gladiator was forced to retire, was enough to secure the overall Sevenstar Triple Crown win.

Today's conditions were too severe for the other classes at Lendy Cowes Week to race, but Friday promises a return to perfect conditions, with south westerly winds of around 15 knots and plenty of sun. -- Rupert Holmes

www.lendycowesweek.co.uk

... But in Palma... Lighter Than Usual
Light airs continue to prevail at 36 Copa del Rey MAPFRE on the Bay of Palma where only one race was sailed for many of the monohull classes. Four divisions now have new leaders including Mallorca Sotheby's IRC Class 1 where Andy Soriano's TP52 Alegre stepped two points clear of a 16 strong division which contains ten TP52s of differing design ages.

Soriano is keen to complete his third win in three different boats and classes at the Copa del Rey after triumphing in the Soto 40 class in 2012 and the Mini Maxi in 2013. Today they finished second behind the Marseille crew on Alizee who became the third different TP52 crew to win a race after six starts. The crew from the south of France which sails the former Paprec Recyclage have a young core team which are enjoying the benefits of Alizee's initiative to bring on more young, local ex Olympic classes sailors or match racers.

After their third place today behind Bella Mente and Proteus, Maxi 72 leaders Momo still hold their five points advance but the tussle behind them becomes ever closer. Now just one point separates second overall Bella Mente from Cannonball which dropped to fourth on the leaderboard because of their fourth in today's race. A good start and better speed in the lighter airs today contributed to Bella Mente's win, passing Proteus on the second beat of the one race sailed.

The new Club Swan 50 class had a new winner today in Andrea Masi's Italian team on Ulika. They another crew who have made the jump from being a top team in the Swan 45, adding the tactical talents of Portugal's three times Olympian Diogo Cayolla who most recently won the ORC World Championship on Airis.

H.M. King Felipe VI still leads BMW ORC 1 with a substantial 17pts margin now after their fourth palce in the lighter airs today. The Spanish Navy's Farr 45 may have a big lead but poised in sixth are the Swan 45 Rats on Fire of Rafael Carbonell which has J/80 world champion Rayco Tabares on tactics. Their scoreline is ballasted by a weighty 36pts BFD which they will discard if or when racing takes place Friday which will tighten up the pursuit of Aifos.

There is no net change at the top of BMW ORC 2 or ORC 3, the Rodman 42 Maverta still leading as does Grupo Ceres in ORC 3, so also the Swan 42 leader is still Pez De Abril.

In the GC32 four races were sailed after a long delay, Jason Carroll's Argo winning three times. Pierre Casiraghi's team won the fourth race but Naofumi Kamei's Mamma Autio leads overall by ten clear points.

Full results

Twenty Five Years On, 36 Copa del Rey MAPFRE Honours its 1992 Olympic Heroes
Twenty five years on exactly from the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, nine Spanish sailors who competed at the games and are being honoured at the 36 Copa del Rey MAPFRE this morning. Four of them won gold medals, Domingo Manrique in the Flying Dutchman crewed for Luis Doreste.

Palma's Jordi Calafat took gold as helm in the 470 men. Jose Maria Van der Ploeg sailed to gold in the Finn and (English born!) Theresa Zabell won 470 women's gold with Patricia Guerra. Natalia Vía-Dufresne won silver in the Europe. SM el Rey Felipe VI sailed in the Soling with Fernando Leon. Asier Fernandez raced the Mistral and Jaime Piris was in the Star with Fernando Rita Larrucea.

All were honoured at a reception at the RCNP this morning.

www.regatacopadelrey.com

Timeless (and fast): The Swan 60
The Swan 60 has proved to be one of today's more discrete yet highly successful dual-purpose yachts

Full article in the August issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

49er/49erFX/Nacra17 European Championship
Kiel, Germany: With the all-important Medal Race cutoff kicking in today for all three fleets at the 49er/49erFX/Nacra17 European Championship in Kiel, Germany, all pressure was on the 'bubble' teams to perform at their best. Some rose to the challenge, some quietly snuck in to the last spot, and many were left disappointed after a brutally hard day on the water that included a huge squall and winds from 6-18 knots.

Australia's David Gilmour and Joel Turner are lying second overall going into the final day of racing at the 49er Europeans in Kiel, Germany. Despite three tough races for the Aussies overnight, they are only one point off the first-placed team from Great Britain, Dylan Fletcher-Scott and Stuart Bithell.

Top five, 49er
1. Dylan Fletcher-Scott / Stuart Bithell, GBR, 42.5 points
2. David Gilmour / Joel Turner, AUS, 43.5
3. James Peters / Fynn Sterritt, GBR, 49.5
4. Jacopo Plazzi / Andrea Tesei, ITA, 52
5. Dominik Buksak / Szymon Wierzbicki, POL, 53

Top five, 49erFX
1. Victoria Jurczok / Anika Lorenz, GER, 42.5
2. Charlotte Dobson / Saskia Tidey, GBR, 45
3. Tina Lutz / Susann Beucke, GER, 48.5
4. Chika Hatae / Hiroka Itakura, JPN, 54.5
5. Annemiek Bekkering / Cecile Janmaat, NED, 55

Top five, NACRA
1. Ruggero Tita / Caterina Banti, ITA, 41
2. Lin Ea Cenholt Christiansen / Christian Peter Lubeck, DEN, 51
3. Ben Saxton / Katie Dabson, GBR, 53
4. Fernando Echavarri Erasun / Tara Pacheco Van Rijnsoever, ESP, 55
5. John Gimson / Anna Burnet, GBR, 63

49er.org/event/2017-european-championship/
nacra17.org/events/2017-european-championship/

Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag name crew for Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18
Hong Kong's first ever Volvo Ocean Race entry Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag have named their full crew for the upcoming edition - featuring a mix of rookies and veterans, including a winner from 2014-15 and a history-making navigator back for his sixth edition.

Australian Luke Parkinson, who won the trophy as a rookie onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing last edition, will race as part of skipper David Witt's crew - and he is joined by navigator Steve Hayles, who returns to the event after almost a decade.

Hayles made his debut as a 20-year-old onboard Reebok/Dolphin & Youth in 1993-94 - and still holds the title as the youngest ever navigator to compete in the history of the event.

He went on to make it five consecutive races over 15 years, onboard Silk Cut in 1997-98, Tyco in 2001-02, Ericsson in 2005-06 and Green Dragon in 2008-09.

Also named in Witt's squad are New Zealand's Mark Fullerton, who raced with Brunel in the 2005-06 edition, Briton John Fisher, Hong Kong local Tiger Mok and Australian trio David Mann, Alex Gough and Ben Piggott.

The team, which is backed by Seng Huang Lee and Sun Hung Kai & Co., the Hong Kong-based owner of super-maxi yacht Scallywag, aims to promote competitive sailing in Asia and build a long-lasting youth sailing legacy in the region.

volvooceanrace.com

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The Last Word
I wanted a bookstore because the book business is the business of life. -- George Whitman

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

Classic upwind start for record breaking Rolex Fastnet Race
The Solent laid on 'classic' conditions for the start of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's 47th Rolex Fastnet Race. In brilliant sunshine and with brisk westerly winds gusting up to 20 knots, the giant fleet tacked up the western Solent before compressing through the usual bottleneck at Hurst Narrows. A record-sized fleet of 368 boats started the race, 12 more than two years ago, confirming the Rolex Fastnet Race's position as the world's largest offshore yacht race.

The first start got underway at 11:00 BST for the nine multihulls and within minutes, the blue three-hulled streak that is Concise 10 had pulled out a lead, frequently heeling to an alarming degree, just one hull immersed.

By the time IRC One was starting at 12:20 Tony Lawson's MOD 70, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, was already off Poole. Crewman Paul Larsen, who five years ago became the world's fastest sailor setting a world record of 65.45 knots, reported Concise 10 was sailing under reefed mainsail and staysail. "We're making 20 knots tacking past Poole and just dropping into the watch system. Glamour start conditions in the Solent. I can just see the next boats clearing Hurst Castle." However Larsen warned that unless the wind freed up, there was little chance for them to break the multihull race record. By 1500 Concise 10 was already level with Portland Bill.

The multihulls were followed away from Cowes by two other 'non-IRC' classes - the nine doublehanded IMOCA 60s and twenty seven Class40s. Given the upwind conditions, the older, conventionally foiled IMOCA 60s were prevailing. At 1630 Paul Meilhat and Jules Verne Trophy record holder crewman Gwenole Gahinet aboard SMA, the 2012-3 Vendee Globe (and the 2013 Rolex Fastnet Race) winner as MACIF, were leading the 60s past Portland Bill. The first 'foil-assisted' IMOCA 60 was favourite Alex Thomson and Nicholas O'Leary on Hugo Boss in third place, taking a northerly route, close to the land.

The last to start were the largest in the IRC fleet, IRC Zero, including the line honours contenders George David's Rambler 88 and Ludde Ingvall's 100ft CQS. By 1520 Rambler 88 was off and close into St Alban's Head, leading IRC Zero on the water just ahead of the biggest boat in the fleet, the 115ft Nikata.

www.rolexfastnetrace.com

Tracking

Leg Zero Part Two
Dongfeng Race Team stormed down the western Solent to lead the fleet of Volvo Ocean 65s in the Rolex Fastnet Race - part two of the Leg Zero qualifying series for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18.

With 2.5 knots of outgoing tide against 18-21 knots of south westerly wind, the Chinese team, skippered by Charles Caudrelier, secured their lead by expertly covering the rest of the tightly bunched fleet.

The two red boats, MAPFRE and Dongfeng Racing won the start but the Spanish team were held up by bad wind coming off Nikata, the biggest boat in the race at 115 feet. In fact, all the Volvo Ocean Race sailors were challenged by having to sail around the record 390-boat fleet in this 605-nautical mile offshore classic.

Sailing in a mixed boat fleet will not be a challenge after this section of Leg Zero. Following the Fastnet, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet will complete two more legs - Plymouth to Saint-Malo and Saint-Malo to Lisbon - without any other boats as a distraction, or hindrance.

The opening leg of Leg Zero was a 50nm sprint around the Isle of Wight, won in record-breaking fashion by MAPFRE.

That makes the Fastnet the first offshore test for the teams that will take the start line of the Volvo Ocean Race on 22 October in Alicante.

The boats are due at the Fastnet Rock at around 0600 UTC on Tuesday, whereupon they will sail downwind in conditions building from 15-20 knots before a reach to the finish in Plymouth late on Tuesday night.

The fleet will re-start from Plymouth on the leg to Saint-Malo on Thursday.

volvooceanrace.com

A new breed of carbon racer
For racing sailors seeking action packed, high level, fast performance, Grand Prix 40 footer style racing at a fraction of the cost, the BR31 offers similar features and feel.

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- High quality construction and British build
- Lightweight carbon fibre construction
- Fast competitive IRC & ORC racing
- Performance options available
- Estimated IRC Tcc: 1.14

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Clipper Race and Volvo Ocean Race Fleets Take Over Portsmouth Harbour
And right in the middle of the fleets' docks... a bit of guerilla marketing by Suhaili. Click to see the larger shot of the fleets.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and the Volvo Ocean Race, found themselves as neighbours for the first time this week berthed in Gosport, UK at exciting milestones in their event countdowns.

The Clipper Race, the only event on the planet which trains non-professionals to become ocean racers, is preparing to leave for Liverpool for the 2017-18 race start; whilst the professional Volvo Ocean Race teams are competing in Leg Zero which includes the Rolex Fastnet Race starting this Sunday (6 August), effectively a qualifying leg for the 2017-18 edition that starts from Alicante, Spain on 22 October, 2017.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world in 1968-69, and a veteran of the Whitbread Round The World Race (now known as the Volvo Ocean Race), who established the Clipper Race over twenty years ago, commented: "There's been a great buzz around the marina all week and I think as much as the Clipper Race crew are feeling rather excited to be so close to their professional counterparts, I have also been impressed by the respect shown by the Volvo Ocean Race sailors towards our crew.

"Oceans do not distinguish between professional or non-professional sailors. The many challenges of racing around world are huge and the determination and endurance required to succeed is to be admired. Full respect to anybody, whether in the Clipper Race or Volvo Ocean Race, who takes on this unique challenge."

The Clipper 2017-18 Race starts August 20 from Liverpool's Albert Dock and will return eleven months later on July 28, 2018 after racing 40,000 nautical miles in 13 races across six continents. A total 712 crew members will compete on board twelve teams, representing 41 different nationalities.

The Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 edition starts 22 October 2017 from Alicante, Spain and will take the teams 45,000 nautical miles around the world - across four oceans, touching six continents and 12 Host Cities, and finishing at the end of June 2018 in The Hague.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

CQS wins the Queen's Cup
Cowes, Isle of Wight, England: Ludde Ingvall's CQS picked up the prestigious Queen's Cup at the end of the Triple Crown series in Lendy Cowes Week. The 120 year old gold trophy was presented by the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, for the maxi racer class in the event.

The heavy weather series has proven to be a great warm up event for the Rolex Fastnet race, which starts on Sunday 6th August off Cowes.

Ludde Ingvall is a previous line honours winner of the Rolex Fastnet race, but hasn't contested the ocean racing classic for a few years, and will face stiff opposition from some of the other maxis and super maxis.

Sir Michael Hintze, the chief executive of CQS, who was onboard the boat for Wednesday's challenging race around the Isle of Wight, will also be on the crew for the Rolex Fastnet race.

The CQS team had a final shake down sail on the Solent on Saturday in their preparations for the Rolex Fastnet race.

Australian skipper Ludde Ingvall has selected his crew to sail CQS in the Rolex Fastnet.

The team on CQS will be 22 strong, and deep in ocean racing experience.

Leading the helming team will be New Zealand legend Chris Dickson, the winner of many world championships, and skipper of America's Cup challenges and round the world races.

Alongside him is watch-leeder Rodney Keenan, who designed the rig and sails for the boat, and has extensive round the world sailing experience. Also very long on offshore experience is Sweden's Ola Astradsson, who has sailed many thousands of miles with Ludde.

Half the multi national crew are New Zealanders, with British adding four more to the total. There are three Americans, including the only female, Genny Tulloch, two Australians a Swede and an Irishman.

https://www.bigboatracing.com

Round up Report at Lendy Cowes Week
Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Giovanni Belgrano's 38ft Laurent Giles Whooper, which was confirmed yesterday as overall winner among the Black Group yachts, has also been announced as overall Lendy Cowes Week winner.

The overall winner among the White Group dayboats is 14 year old Freddie Peters, who also won the RS Elite class, the Newcomers' trophy and Young Skippers Trophy. The RS Elite is renowned for close racing, but Peters' Riff Raff dominated the leader board, winning all but one race. Ossie Stewart's More T Vicar took second overall and Colin Smith's Shaken Not Stirred third.

The final day of Lendy Cowes Week dawned bright and sunny, with a west north westerly breeze of 7-10 knots. All starts today took place from the Royal Yacht Squadron's inner line, with an accelerated starting sequence for the reduced number of entries in Black Group, which finished their points series yesterday.

The last start of the week was for the XOD class. John Tremlett's Lass, went into the last race for the XODs as overall leader 14 points ahead of Simon Russell's Swallow, counting four first places and a second. However, Tremlett's discarded 18th place from his result on the opening day left his overall lead in this big fleet vulnerable to a less than perfect result in the final race. -- Rupert Holmes

Full results of all classes

www.lendycowesweek.co.uk

Too soon?
James Boyd has been digesting the context to the sweeping changes that are now confirmed for the next Volvo Ocean Race 2019

With the announcement of its as yet unchristened new, foil-assisted monohulls for the 2019-20 crewed lap of the planet, and beyond, the Volvo Ocean Race continues its longstanding tradition of letting the Imoca class do much of its full-scale R&D. But has it all happened too fast this time?

Water ballast was first introduced in the Whitbread 60s for the 1993-94 race having been used on the Imoca 60s' forebears, the Open 60s, from the early 1980s. VO70s made their Volvo race debut in 2005 with canting keels, some 12 years after Isabelle Autissier's Ecureuil Poitou Charentes 2 became the first Open 60 to use one (and several more years after Michel Desjoyeaux - inevitably - had introduced the canting keel to the Mini 6.50 fleet).

In comparison the latest change has been much swifter, the first foil-assisted Imoca 60s launched barely two years ago with the first foil-borne Volvo boats following just four years later.

What must be of some concern is that, compared to water ballast and canting keels, foiling technology is way more complex and tricky to engineer in an offshore environment. For example, of the five newgeneration semi-foiling Imoca 60s on their first major outing in the 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre, only Banque Populaire finished (with structural damage), while others suffered severe failures, the worst being Hugo Boss which was nearly written off.

Full article in the August issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

Glandore Classic Regatta sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald celebrates 25 years
Water Wags. Click on image for photo gallery.

Making a return to the Glandore Classic was the fleet of Water Wags, brought from Dublin by Regatta veteran, Hal Sisk. The Water Wag is the oldest one-design dinghy in existence, having been devised in 1886 and formalised as a one-design class in 1887. The Water Wag inspired similar one-design fleets around Ireland and subsequently around the world. The Water Wags thrilled the crowd with their synchronised sailing performance led by Water Wag Club Captain, Hal Sisk.

Starting off the week was the traditional 'Parade of Sail' led by the Baltimore RNLI.

Following closely behind was Michael O'Donnell's Big Momma which also served as the committee boat for the week. Other boats included Brian Smullen's beautiful 17m planked McGruer's ketch Cuilaun; Patrick Dorgan's Elsie, one of the oldest boats in the event, designed by William Fife and built in 1896; visiting yachtsman Thomas Drewes' 7.3m work boat Jane Paul; Dr. Michael Brown's MacDuach, which is the oldest of the Galway Hookers built during the 1970s revival of the class and an assortment of other classics as well as Dragons, Squibs and Ettes.

Racing was divided into two fleets. The Bay Fleet comprised of larger offshore boats and the Harbour Fleet was made up of one-designs. The racing was hotly contested with some classes being decided by just one point.

Full article

Full results and programme: glandoreyc.com/2017-classic-regatta/

O'Pen Bic Worlds
As the curtain falls on the O'Pen Bic 2017 World Championship in Lake Garda, Italy, our New Zealand sailors celebrate with World Titles in both the Under 17 and Under 13 age groups and a strong showing from the entire New Zealand contingent.

In the under 17 division Sean Herbert topped a fiercely competitive fleet of 132 sailors from around the world. Sean put in a dominant performance throughout the regatta going into the final day 20 pts ahead. Sean's World title represents his second after winning the u13 division back in 2012. Sean is also the current National Starling Champion and certainly a name to watch on the NZ and world sailing stage in the future!

Another notable name to watch out for is 11 yr old, Mattias Coutts. Mattias, son of Kiwi yachting legend and CEO of the 2017 America's Cup Sir Russell Coutts, had to fight hard to protect a narrow lead over the 55 boat fleet going into the final day. The young champion held his nerve and closed the regatta out in style with victories in both of the final two races. Mattias was competing in his first championship event.

The O'pen Bic is a relatively new class of sailing boat, which has been cutting out a place for itself in both sailing clubs and sailing events all over the world. The class is going from strength to strength here in New Zealand and gained official class status in NZ earlier this year. The 2017/18 season calendar already boasts 14 nationwide events.

www.openbic.org.nz

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The Last Word
You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. -- John Bunyan

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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Heavy traffic off Cornwall as Concise rounds the Rock
Photo by Carlo Borlenghi, carloborlenghi.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

At 15:49:37 BST Tony Lawson's MOD70 trimaran Concise 10 became the first boat to round the Fastnet rock off southwest Ireland. At the time the next boat in the race, George David's Rambler 88 was 111 miles astern. However thanks to their upwind passage their time of 28 hours 49 minutes was well outside of record to the Rock of 22 hours and 21 minutes, set in 2011 by the Loick Peyron-skippered 40m Banque Populaire Maxi trimaran.

The monohull leaders have been making their way up the east side of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) exclusion zone to the west of Land's End and north into the Celtic Sea. In this battle, George David's Rambler 88 has pulled out a 33 miles lead on the water over Ludde Ingvall's 100ft CQS. Behind them, a three-way battle is going on for the lead between the VO65s competing on the Volvo Ocean Race's Leg Zero. At 1600, Team Akzonobel was a mile ahead of Dongfeng Race Team, and Sung Hung Kai Scallyway. However they were still astern of the doublehanded IMOCA 60 - Paul Meilhat and Gwenole Gahinet on SMA. SMA was followed by two of the older IMOCA 60s, Vivo A Beira, sailed by former Solitaire du Figaro winner Yoann Richomme and Pierre Lacaze and Generali, sailed by Isabelle Joschke and Pierre Brasseur, both ahead of the latest generation foil-assisted IMOCA 60s which have not been enjoying the upwind conditions.

To date only two boats, both IMOCA 60s, have opted to go to the west of the Land's End TSS - Jean-Pierre Dick and Yann Eliès on StMichel-Virbac and Boris Herrmann and Pierre Casiraghi on Malizia.

Throughout the day the lead in IRC Zero has been changing to smaller boats as those ahead were trapped by the front. At 1600 it was the turn of the Ker 46 Lady Mariposa to take the lead from Bretagne Telecom and before that the Cookson 50 Privateer.

While Rambler 88 was a country mile ahead on the water in IRC Z, Vittorio Miscarini's Mylius 15e25 Ars Una had also pulled out a significant eight mile lead on the water in IRC One ahead of James Neville's Ino XXX, the Italian boat just off Land's End. However it was the lowest rated boat in IRC One, Jean Claude Nicoleau and Nicolas Loday's Grand Soleil 43 Codiam, lying to the west of the Lizard, that had pulled out a significant lead of almost four hours on corrected time.

The biggest competition though is in the Class40 where this afternoon Anglo-French couple Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron aboard Campagne de France have taken over first place from Phil Sharp on Imerys, with Maxime Sorel's V&B also strongly in contention as the boats head up the east side of the Land's End TSS.

Track the fleet in the Rolex Fastnet Race

www.rolexfastnetrace.com

Roberts and CHINAone Ningbo Team win Match Cup Russia
St. Petersburg, Russia: After a week of ups and downs, a couple of bad hooks and a few close shaves, it was business as usual for the super smooth Phil Robertson and his CHINAone Ningbo team as they beat Sam Gilmour's Neptune Racing team 3-0 in the final of WMRT Match Cup Russia in St. Petersburg on Sunday.

It was his third consecutive 3-0 Match Cup final win, but victory this week was harder won than the others. Robertson was relegated to third in his group in the Qualifying Stage fleet races on Tuesday and Wednesday and had to come back from 2-0 to Steve Thomas in the SUPER 16, looking more vulnerable in the bigger conditions. He was pushed to the wire by Pieter-Jan Postma, uncharacteristically giving up a 2-0 lead to be pulled back to 2-2 before closing out.

In the Semi Finals on Sunday morning against Ian Williams (GAC Pindar), Britain's six-time Match Racing World Champion, Robertson looked distinctly human. He lost the second race to make it 1-1 after being penalised at the start then, already well behind, lost a man overboard and hooked a buoy at the bottom mark for a couple of minutes.

And there was controversy over a penalty decision on the first downwind as they went bow-to-bow in the third race. But Robertson won a gusty fourth to make it 3-1.

All four seasons graced Finals Day, including a 30-knot squall whipping in from the Baltic Sea across the Gulf of Finland and up the Neva River into the spectacular race area in front of the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Final results:

1. Phil Robertson / China One Ningbo
2. Sam Gilmour / Neptune Racing
3. Ian Williams / GAC Pindar
4. Matt Jerwood / Redline Racing
5. Pieter-Jan Postma / Sailing Team NL
6. Måns Holmberg / Gothenburg Racing
7. Yann Guichard / Spindrift Racing
8. Jonas Warrer / Aarhus Innovator
9. Steve Thomas / RPM Racing
10. Victor Serezhkin / Gazprom Team Russia
11. Kim Kling / Caprice Match Racing Team
12. Nicklas Dackhammar / ESSIQ Racing Team
13. Markus Edegran / E11even Racing
14. Sally Barkow / Team Magenta 32
15. Nico Delle Karth / Chilli Racing
16. Lukasz Wosinski / Delphia Sailing Team
17. Evgeny Neugodnikov / Team Tavatuy
18. Evgeny Elfimov / M1 Cloud

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Rallies, Rescues And Rewards: Zhik 29er Worlds
Long Beach, California, USA: It was last ditch efforts and comebacks on the race course this final day of racing at the 2017 Zhik 29er World Championship regatta at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.

For a pair of Aussie ladies, a bullet in the second race of the day said 'Don't count us out yet.' For the team of Benji Daniel and Alex Burger, RSA, it was a comeback race that sealed the deal. And for a young man from Ireland, it was the prognosis of a full comeback after a near tragedy on the racecourse.

Daniel and Burger were crowned the 29er World Champions today - after an uncharacteristic bottom-half-of-the-fleet finish in the day's second race, threatened their success.

Australia's Annabelle Davies, 18, and Madison Woodward, 17, were tied for 18th place going into the last day, clinging to hopes of winning the top female team award; with Tania Bonilla and Nuria Miro, ESP, just three points behind.

But their first race today was "a shocker" Davies said. "Everyone's finding its hard to be consistent," in the big fleets and variable breeze. After finishing 26th, their coach approached with a pep talk. "He said, 'Just don't worry about it - tough it out. Every race is a new race.'"

It was apparently just what the doctor ordered. At the next start, the Aussie gals sprinted off the line, trading leads with Bonilla and Miro, with Catherine Lindsay and Jana Laurendeau, USA, just astern - all the way around the course.

It was 'ladies day' as the gals' teams finished in places 1-2-3, proving "sometimes it pushes you to want to do your best," having tough competition, according to Woodward. "You learn a lot."

Second place in the all-female division, sisters Freja and Astrid Frykman had a stellar day of 5-8-5, and tied for 23rd, in Gold fleet. Spaniards Bonilla and Miro were awarded third place girls team.

Final top five:

1. Benji Daniel / Alex Burger, RSA, 23 points
2. Benjamin Jaffrezic / Leo Chauvel, FRA, 56
3. Theo Revil / Gautier Guevel, FRA, 58
4. Santiago Duncan Loiaz / Elias Dalli Rosario, ARG, 60
5. Seb Lardies / Scott McKenzie, NZL, 106

Full results

www.29erworlds.org

San Diego Yacht Club Repeats at Morgan Cup Champions
Newport, Rhode Island, USA: For the third time in four years, the Morgan Cup, the toughest trophy in keelboat team racing, has been won by a team from the West Coast. San Diego Yacht Club repeated as the champion today, defeating New York Yacht Club 3-1 in the final series sailed under blue skies and in a shifty and puffy northwesterly breeze.

From 2003, when the Morgan Cup Team Race was first run, through 2013, only the host New York Yacht Club and Long Island's Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club were able to lay claim to the trophy. Southern California's Newport Harbor Yacht Club broke that stranglehold in 2014 and San Diego Yacht Club now appears poised to start its own run. -- Stuart Streuli

Final Results (with Round Robin Win Totals)
1. San Diego Yacht Club, 13 points
2. New York Yacht Club, 12
3. St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco, 11
4. Yale Corinthian Yacht Club, New Haven, Conn., 9
5. Eastern Yacht Club, Marblehead, Mass., 10
6. Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Newport Beach, Calif., 9
7. Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Centre Island, N.Y., 8
8. Royal Thames Yacht Club, London, U.K., 9
9. Corinthian Yacht Club, Marblehead, Mass., 7
10. College of Charleston, Charleson, S.C., 2

Team Racing at the New York Yacht Club
Morgan Cup, Aug. 4 to 6, 2017
Hinman Masters, Aug 18 to 20, 2017
NYYC Grandmasters, Aug 25 to 27, 2017

nyyc.org

Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
Last month's winner:

Sean Regan (NZL)
An unprecedented vote for the man who led the rebuild of the America's Cup challenger after her capsize (plenty of votes too for Transat winner Andrea Mura). 'Sean Regan (Dad) worked for days on end without breaks in order to run ETNZ's shore operations. He has put all his blood sweat and tears into Emirates Team New Zealand and it paid off. The team simply wouldn't be able to get by if it wasn't for all of the work, leadership, pride, time, support and many more things Dad gives to the team' - Hailey Regan.

This month's nominees:

Richard Meacham (NZL)
'He was instrumental in getting the ETNZ team together early in the AC35 campaign and all the way through to the final race of the AC. He made sure the boat was on the water every day without fail. He never let anyone have an easy day's sailing and was always pushing for the extra 1%. We all hated him, like really hated him, but ultimately he was the backbone of the team and all the rest of us were just mere ribs' - a friend writes

Paul Goodison (GBR)
The final order at the 2017 Moth Worlds on Lake Garda: Goody 1st then Pete Burling, Iain Jensen, Tom Slingsby, Scott Babbage, Nathan Outteridge, Rob Greenhalgh and Jono McKnight. An extraordinary front row - but Goodison ended the series with half the points of his America's Cup-winning rival. Then come November the former Artemis crewmember will be celebrating his 40th birthday. There's hope for us yet.

Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Henri Lloyd, Harken McLube & Dubarry. Who needs silverware, our prizes are usable!

Cast your vote, submit comments, even suggest a candidate for next month at seahorsemagazine.com/sailor-of-the-month/vote-for-sailor-of-the-month

To subscribe to Seahorse Digital £30 for one year with discount promo code SB2 click www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/digital

A Fitting Finale
The record breaking, maximum capacity 36 Copa del Rey finished with a final flourish as the Bay of Palma uncorked a concluding race in the typical Embat sea breeze.

Dieter Schon's Momo crew celebrated winning the Maxi 72 on the RCNP's race dock with beer and a bumper pile of pizzas. It is the German owner's first Copa del Rey triumph as Momo becomes the third different Maxi72 to win a fleet regatta this season after Cannonball won SailRacing Palma Vela in May and Proteus triumphed at the Corfu Challenge, but all eyes will be on this white hot fleet at the Maxi Worlds in Porto Cervo next month.

Naofumi Kamei's Mamma Aiuto! won the GC32 class, the first time the Japanese team has won an event on the GC32 Racing Tour since joining the flying catamaran circuit last year. In flat water and winds of up to 15 knots Mamma Aiuto! came out on top with a race to spare. Their success today followed victory at Copa del Rey MAPFRE 2015 aboard a TP52.

Jason Carroll's Argo was let down by an OCS today but managed to retain second place overall, while the Jêrome Clerc-skippered Realteam, winner of today's second race, ended up tied up on points, but winning third place on tie break against Pierre Casiraghi's Malizia - Yacht Club de Monaco. In 14 races sailed over the last four days eight of the ten GC32 flying catamaran won races, showing the closeness of the competition in this circuit which now moves on to Calvi (Corsica) and Marseille (France.)

Brandis' German flagged Earlybird won here last year in the MRW Swan 45 but had already clinched the inaugural ClubSwan 50 title with a day to spare at the end of the new one design class's Copa del Rey debut with six boats.

Rafael Carbonell's Swan 45 Rats on Fire finally prevailed in BMW ORC 1, the 35 strong biggest class in the regatta. It is the fifth class win for Rats on Fire which has recently crowned J80 world champion Rayco Tabares as tactician.

In the Swan 42 class Jose Maria Meseguer's Pez de Abril won while the Herbalife J80 class victory goes to Bribon Movistar. The only team to count a perfect scoreline is BMW ORC 3 winners Grupo Ceres, Javier Banderas Dufour 34 which won eight of their nine races.

Grupo Ceres and Bribon Movistar won the Trofeo Especial MAPFRE prizes for the best performances in the handicap and One Design classes respectively.

Top three final results:

BMW ORC 1
1. Rats on Fire (ESP), Rayco Tabares, 40
2. Porron IX (ESP), Axel Rodger, 42
3. Maserati (ESP), Fernando Leon, 42

BMW ORC 2
1. Sum Innovation (ESP), Pedro Campos, 18
2. Maverta (ESP), Jose Ballester, 21.5
3. Kundaka - Elite Sails (ESP), Jose Coello, 33

BMW ORC 3
1. Grupo Ceres (ESP), Daniel Cuevas, 8
2. Just the Job (GBR), Scott Beattie, 19
3. Lanzarote Sailing Paradise (ESP), 29

GC32
1. Mamma Aiuto! (JPN), Naofumi Kamei, 46
2. Team Argo (USA), Jason Carroll, 57
3. Realteam (SUI), Jerome Clerc, 61

Maxi 72
1. Momo (IVB), Dieter Schon, 16
2. Cannonball (ITA), Dario Ferrari, 20
3. Proteus (USA), George Sakellaris, 21

Club Swan 50
1. Earlybird (GER), Hendrik Brandis, 16
2. Cuordileone (ITA), Leonardo Ferragamo, 29
3. Ulika (ITA), Andrea Masi, 31

MRW Swan 45
1. Elena Nova (GER), Christian Plump, 27
2. Negra (ECU), Francisco Rizzo, 28
3. K-Force (USA), 36

Swan 42
1. Pez de Abril (ESP), Jose Maria Meseguer, 20
2. Nadir (ESP), Pedro Vaquer Comas, 26
3. Red Electrica de Espana (ESP), Alberto Viejo Puga, 27

Mallorca Sotheby´s IRC
1. Alegre (GBR), Andres Soriano, 22
2. Team Vision Future (SUI), Mergui Mikael, 27
3. Paprec Recyclage (FRA), Stephane Neve, 36

Herbalife J80
1. Bribon Movistar (ESP), Marc de Antonio, 20
2. Les Roches Jeunesse Marbella Team (ESP), Eric Brezellec, 35
3. Ono M&G Tressis (ESP), Javier Padron, 39

www.regatacopadelrey.com

Annalise Murphy in crew trials for Volvo Ocean Race
With the next Olympic Games in Japan still three years away, Ireland's Annalise Murphy is being trialled as a crew-member in the forthcoming Volvo Ocean Race around the world that starts from Alicante in October.

The 27-year-old Rio 2016 Silver medallist has been sailing with British veteran yachtswoman Dee Caffari's 'Turn the Tide On Plastic' team that is expected to be announced later this month following completion of crew trials.

After a medical review of a knee injury this week, Murphy will not race in the 605-mile Rolex Fastnet Race.

The knee injury occurred in the final race of last week's International Moth World Championships on Lake Garda where Murphy finished top woman and 51st overall in the 240-boat fleet that comprises dozens of top international sailors.

Assuming Murphy successfully emerges from the trials, the round the world race ends at the end of June next year when she would then be released to concentrate on preparations for Tokyo 2020.

www.irishtimes.com

For The Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record:

Record Transatlantic. Singlehanded
Yacht: IDEC. 120 ft Trimaran
Name: Francis Joyon. FRA
Dates:.6th July to the 12th July 2017
Start time: 23; 30; 07 UTC on 06/07/17
Finish time: 01; 37; 02 UTC on 12/07/17
Elapsed time: 5 days 2 hours 6 minutes and 55 seconds
Distance: 2880 NM
Average speed: 23.58 kts

Comments:. Previous record: IDEC. Francis Joyon. FRA. June 13. 5d 2h 56m 10s.

John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council

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The Last Word
Horror is the natural reaction to the last 5,000 years of history. -- Robert Anton Wilson

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Concise is first boat home
Photo by Carlo Borlenghi, carloborlenghi.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Unchallenged, Concise 10 blazed into Plymouth Tuesday morning, first boat home in the 47th Rolex Fastnet Race. Tony Lawson's MOD70 trimaran crossed the finish line off Plymouth breakwater at 05:55:00 BST with a race time of 42 hours and 55 minutes. This time didn't come close to the overall multihull record for the Rolex Fastnet Race but it was still respectable considering they sailed upwind all the way to the Fastnet Rock.

Skipper Ned Collier Wakefield said he had enjoyed the start, leaving the Solent amid the giant spectator fleet and the journey back from the Fastnet Rock: "Last night we gybed south and just sat there doing 30+ knots in flat water and brought that pressure all the way in. The moon was out so you could see what was going on." As to their exceptional performance to the Rock he added that the MOD70 was sailing upwind, typically making 21 knots at 50 degrees. "The MOD70 is an amazing machine. Every time we go out we still come back smiling."

Among Concise 10's crew were Paul Larsen, the world's fastest sailor (who sailed Vestas Sailrocket 2 at 65.45 knots average over 500m in 2012) and towering Rio 2016 Finn gold medallist and Land Rover BAR crew Giles Scott, sailing his first offshore race. "It was really good," said Scott. "Upwind, it felt like a long way out to the Fastnet, although I know a lot of the fleet have still got to go through all of that. On the turn round, when we started ripping downwind, Land's End didn't feel that far away at all. The fastest speed I saw was 36 knots."

Rambler 88 claims monohull line honours American George David's Rambler 88 arrived in Plymouth to claim monohull line honours. The silver maxi crossed the finish line off Plymouth breakwater at 22:14:21 BST in a time of 2 days 9 hours 34 minutes and 21 seconds. This was more than six hours faster than they had managed in 2015 when they ghosted in just four minutes astern of Jim Clark's 100ft maxi, Comanche. But it was considerably outside of the monohull race record of 1 day 18 hours and 39 minutes, set in 2011 by the Ian Walker-skippered VO70, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

For a lengthy period this morning Rambler 88 appeared set to achieve 'the double' ie win both line honours and overall on handicap. However she has since been displaced from the top spot overall under IRC by the 115ft giant, Nikata and Ron O'Hanley's Cookson 50 Privateer.

In 2011, the Rolex Fastnet Race nearly claimed David's life when the keel broke off his 100ft maxi, causing the boat to capsize shortly after rounding the Fastnet rock. David and four others were washed away from their boat and it was only thanks to a near miraculous set of circumstances that they were rescued shortly before dusk. Passing the same area this time David said they had touched base with the Irish rescue services who had saved them six years ago.

"We called the Valentia MSRC, the search and rescue unit for Ireland and had a talk to them on the radio and the Baltimore RNLI. They knew we were there by looking on the tracker. We know those people very well having met them in the dire-est of circumstances. They are wonderful people and it was nice to connect with them."

As usual Rambler 88 was bristling with America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race winners, including many former Team New Zealand and Alinghi crew. A new recruit this time was former Emirates Team New Zealand helmsman Dean Barker, who sailed as watch leader. Although best known for his inshore racing, this is Barker's third Rolex Fastnet Race having previously competed on a Mumm 36 and aboard Hasso Plattner's maxi Morning Glory in 2001.

The next arrival due is Ludde Ingvall's maxi CQS.

Track the fleet in the Rolex Fastnet Race: cf.yb.tl/fastnet2017

Rambler 88 claims monohull line honours
American George David's Rambler 88 arrived in Plymouth to claim monohull line honours. The silver maxi crossed the finish line off Plymouth breakwater at 22:14:21 BST in a time of 2 days 9 hours 34 minutes and 21 seconds. This was more than six hours faster than they had managed in 2015 when they ghosted in just four minutes astern of Jim Clark's 100ft maxi, Comanche. But it was considerably outside of the monohull race record of 1 day 18 hours and 39 minutes, set in 2011 by the Ian Walker-skippered VO70, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

The next arrival due is Ludde Ingvall's maxi CQS.

Track the fleet in the Rolex Fastnet Race: cf.yb.tl/fastnet2017

Rock-bound flotilla
The hottest contest in this group is between the seven one design Volvo Open 65s. They finally reached the Fastnet Rock at around breakfast time this morning with the Chinese entry Dongfeng Race Team in first place, making the turn south at 0758, followed by Team Akzonobel, MAPFRE, Sun Hung Kai Scallywag, Team Brunel, Vestas 11th Hour Racing and with the Dee Caffari-skippered Turn the Tide on Plastic bringing up the rear almost an hour later.

As to the conditions they were experiencing on the return journey back across the Celtic Sea, Dong Feng skipper Charles Caudrelier, who won the Volvo Ocean Race in 2011-12 with Groupama, said: "It is very, very complicated. Everyone has gone into the corner and the wind is very, very shifty. MAPFRE was far behind us and they caught a big shift and they seem to be ahead now. There are shifts of 20-40° and the same with the wind speed. For a long time, we had 10 knots and the others had 15. Now we all have the same wind, around 16-17 knots. You would make a good choice and gain a lot, but then for one hour we had five knots less."

At the time Caudrelier was estimating their arrival at the finish being around 0200 Wednesday.

Tonight the bulk of the Rolex Fastnet Race will be progressing across the Celtic Sea to the Fastnet Rock. In IRC One, the Mylius 15e25 Ars Una of Italian Vittorio Biscarini late this afternoon was approaching the Fastnet Rock, having recovered the lead from the French crew on Codiam.

In IRC Two, Gilles Fournier and Corinne Migraine's J/133 Pintia still had just over 50 miles to sail to reach the Fastnet rock but had extended her lead on corrected time in her class, having pulled more than 5.5 hours ahead of second-placed, British favourites Nick and Suzi Jones' First 44.7 Lisa, skippered by RORC Commodore, Michael Boyd.

Leaders in IRC Three, both on the water and on corrected time, were half way to the Fastnet late this afternoon with Arnaud Delamare and Eric Mordret's JPK 10.80 Dream Pearls easing ahead of the doublehanded crews - Ian Hoddle and Oliver Wyatt on the Sun Fast 3600, Game On, and Ed Fishwick and Nick Cherry on Redshift Reloaded. All three boats were jockeying for the lead on the water with Dream Pearls closest to the rhumb line to the Fastnet Rock.

Meanwhile in IRC Four, the JPK 10.10s have been suffering, allowing the upwind weapon that is Paul Kavanagh's Swan 44 Pomeroy Swan to take the lead ahead of Chris Choules' Sigma 38, With Alacrity.

www.rolexfastnetrace.com

This high-end, affordable, semi-custom racer, from Ben Rogerson Yacht Design has been optimized so you can compete under ORC or DLR, and as a highly competitive HP30 Class contender.

- High quality construction and British build
- Lightweight carbon fibre construction
- Fast competitive IRC & ORC racing
- Performance options available
- Estimated IRC Tcc: 1.14

www.bryd.uk/yacht-designs/br31

Maidollis and Taki 4 Are the New Melges 24 World Champions
Helsinki, Finland: The 20th edition of the Melges 24 World Championship came to an end in Helsinki, with a series of eleven races that challenged the crews with weather conditions that ranged from light wind to heavy breeze and seas.

After the success obtained in the Worlds of Torbole in 2012, exactly five years ago on August 4th, the couple helmsman-tactician Fracassoli-Fonda contributed to the success of Italian entry Maidollis by Gianluca Perego with also Giovanni Ferrari, also a part of the 2012 winner team, and Stefano Lagi onboard.

The Italian crew has been able to sail very consistent races, with placements that only once went below the 10th position: they closed the series with a total of 35 points and a margin of 23 points over the second placed. In day two of racing they also achieved a record for the Melges 24 Worlds, by winning all the races that were sailed in that day. Vice-World Champion is American Monsoon by Mike Buckley with Bruce Ayres in helm and Mark Ivey as a coach, which has all through the series battled to maintain a podium placement: the two bullets scored in the series helped Monsoon's holding tight to the silver medal.

The boat with Niccolo Bertola is Melges 24 Corinthian World Champion for the second year in a row. His crew: Giacomo Fossati, Marco Zammarchi, Matteo De Chiara and Giovanni Bannetta and Niccolo Bianchi as the coach.

After a brief summer rest, the fleet will lead to Medemblik, the Netherlands for the penultimate event of Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2017, that is going to conclude in October in Luino, Italy.

Full results of the open division

The results of the Corinthian division

A Slow Start to Racing in Lysekil - but the sailors praise the new boats
The second stop of the 2017 WIM Series saw a dramatically different day from the blustery practice day yesterday. Very light and shifty winds led to postponements, long waiting and fewer matches than scheduled as Lysekil Women's Match kicked off Tuesday with the first day of racing. Thanks to the new Fareast 28R boats, the sailors still came ashore with big smiles: "Super fun boats with a fast and sporty feeling, really something new and challenging" says Swede Caroline Sylvan of the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club, who won one of her matches and lost the other.

The weight of the new Chinese boats in Lysekil Women's Match is about a third of the previously raced DS 37s, and they are sailed with a crew of five instead of six as in the Danish precursor. Accordingly, they are quicker in the turns and with faster acceleration, characteristics that in combination with asymmetric instead of symmetric spinnaker is leading to a completely different tactical game on the race course.

"The large asymmetric spinnaker will easily make us broach when luffing the opponent too quickly, so we will have to be a little more careful. But that wasn't actually a problem today" says Trine Palludan.

The Wednesday weather forecast looks more promising.

Standings in Lysekil Women's Match after the first day of the round-robin (skipper, team, nationality, wins - losses):

1. Trine Palludan, Team Kattnakken, DEN, 2-0
2. Alexa Bezel, ChicaCER Women Match Racing Team, SUI, 1-0
3. Renee Groeneveld, Dutch Match Racing Team, NED, 2-1
3. Johanna Bergqvist, Team Bergqvist Match Racing, SWE, 2-1
5. Anna ostling, Team Anna, SWE, 1-1
5. Caroline Sylvan, New Sweden Match Racing Team, SWE, 1-1
5. Pauline Courtois, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, FRA, 1-1
8. Antonia Degerlund, Team Skona Vibbisar, FIN, 0-1
8. Linnea Floser, Peregrine Racing, SWE, 0-1
8. Octavia Owen, Athena Racing, GBR, 0-1
11. Marinella Laaksonen, L2 Match Racing Team, FIN, 0-2

lysekilwomensmatch.se/en/

wimseries.com

A Real Fixer-Upper: 144-Year-Old Bay Lighthouse for Sale
The lighthouse on 22 August 1885. Click on image to enlarge.

Baltimore, Maryland, USA: If you're looking for a cozy home with great views and major privacy from neighbors, look no further.

A 144-year-old lighthouse, two miles off of North Point State Park, is up for sale to the highest bidder. But the place needs some work.

Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Light Station is a cylindrical structure that was built in 1873. It is one of the lights that mark the Craighill channel, from the Bay to the mouth of Patapsco River.

The keeper quarters inside are 1.5 stories, with a deck that stretches all the way around. The cast iron lantern room sits on top of the lighthouse, about 25 feet above the water's surface. A keeper and an assistant lived there until 1964, when the light became automated.

The federal government decided to sell it after a nonprofit group's plans to restore it didn't work out.

The unique waterfront home is listed on the U.S. General Services Administration website for a price tag of $15,000. That doesn't include, of course, the boat that would be required to commute home.

chesapeakebaymagazine.com

Bid: gsaauctions.gov/g

Seahorse August 2017
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Design - Higher (and wider)
The 39ben is not a (wrong) birthday for the Land Rover BAR skipper but it does mark a radical step for another famous yacht racing name. Alex Vrolijk and Jochen Rieker

Historic context
Volvo - and Whitbread - race veterans Brad Jackson (who is going again) and Paul Standbridge (who is definitely not going again) look at race editions old and (very) new

Wow!
It was one hell of an America's Cup match to be commentating on for TV. Ken Read

Confessions of a Cup addict
Or to put it another way, the ability to change your mind gracefully... Ian Walker

Sounds familiar?
Overdue - a new challenge between nations

Special rates for Scuttlebutt Europe subscribers:
Seahorse Print or Digital Subscription Use Discount Promo Code SB2

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Industry News
Ocean Safety develops world's first SOLAS Ocean Ultralite liferaft for Volvo fleet

As seven of the eight yachts competing in the forthcoming Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) battle it out in this week's RORC Rolex Fastnet Race, they have been carrying a lot less weight on the transom than ever before, thanks to an unparalleled innovation from Ocean Safety.

The new Ocean Ultralite SOLAS compact liferaft is a totally new concept derived from Ocean Safety's original space-saving Ocean Ultralite liferaft. It uses carbon composite technology to achieve a significant 23% weight saving, a vital boost in the search for speed.

Alistair Hackett of Ocean Safety explains "Weight saving in ocean racing is the holy grail. We seized an opportunity to work with the VOR team to find a solution that would reduce the weight of the 12 person liferafts to enhance performance, while conforming to international SOLAS standards. The key areas of development were the inflation system, pack contents and the construction of the canister. Despite the weight reduction, the liferaft containers are still incredibly robust to withstand the harsh environments that they will endure on the open ocean."

Ultralite is not just for Volvo - it is likely to be sought after by large ocean going and grand prix maxi racing yachts around the world.

oceansafety.com

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Ronstan announced as official hardware supplier for 2017 SAP 5O5 Worlds.

FSE Robline will serve as official cordage provider for September regatta

Organizers are pleased to announce that Ronstan will serve as official sailing hardware supplier for the 2017 SAP 5O5 World Championship, being held Sept. 20-29 off Annapolis. Ronstan is the United States distributor of FSE Robline, which has agreed to become official cordage provider for the regatta.

Ronstan and FSE Robline will be on-site throughout the 2017 SAP 5O5 World Championship, with goods on display, discounts on select products and items to give away.

Ronstan is a sponsor of Mike Martin and Adam Lowery, the reigning International 5O5 class world champions. Martin and Lowery are among many top teams competing in the 2017 SAP 5O5 World Championship, which will be held on the Chesapeake Bay. At press time, the prestigious regatta had attracted 88 entries representing 12 different countries.

ronstan.com
int505.org

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Vendee2020Vision, the initiative to aid up-and-coming British talent to compete in the next Vendee Globe, is pleased to welcome UKCloud onboard as a partner to the project.

UKCloud provides assured public cloud services for the exclusive use of UK public sector organisations. The company, which was recently lauded the fastest-growing private company in the UK in The Sunday Times Tech Track 100, will be joining the team for the remainder of the 2017 sailing season including Cowes Week, the Fastnet Race and other UK based events.

Vendee2020Vision's existing partner Artemis Investment Management LLP has been at the forefront of British offshore sailing for the last decade, "It is fantastic to welcome a new partner to Vendee2020Vision, our long term investment to develop a British skipper capable of winning the Vendee Globe continues and it is great to welcome such an innovative British company to the project".

www.whitecapltd.com

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Pewaukee, WI-Harken announced today the appointment of Mark Wiss as Director of Global Grand-Prix and Custom Yacht Sales. Previously, Mark successfully managed sales of Harken Grand-Prix products for 16 years. Adding custom yacht sales to his responsibilities provides a great opportunity to build internal synergy in teamwork and collaboration for Harken, while assuring continuity for our customers and industry partners.

Mark's extensive background in the sailing industry began early-on as a sailmaker and boat captain. His career at Harken includes positions as Director of Global Sales and Marketing, Grand Prix Racing Sales & Service Manager, and America's Cup Sales & Service Manager.

Harken also announced its appointment of Shanghai Far East FRP Boat Company as its newest authorized distributor in China. Shanghai Far East joins Sunrise Marineware Limited, an authorized Harken distributor since 2011, in working to equip boats of all types and sizes with high-quality Harken deck hardware and winches.

Shanghai Far East Chairman Mrs. Demolar Du and Alan Lan, Managing Director of Sunrise Marineware have been pioneers in promoting sailing in China, and are responsible for much of the sport's rapid growth in the region. Shanghai Far East's focus on China's retail markets will allow Harken to develop ever stronger relationships with this sector and to respond to customers quickly with the highest level of technical and customer service.

harken.com

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The Last Word
Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened. -- Anatole France

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

CQS Second; Dongfeng first VO65; IMOCA Triumph for SMA
The Volvo Ocean 65 Dongfeng, skippered by Charles Caudrelier of France clinched a hard-fought class win in the 47th biennial Rolex Fastnet Race with just a 54 second lead on VO65 MAPFRE

Some of the world's most high profile ocean racing yachts arrived in Plymouth in the early hours of this morning at the end of the Rolex Fastnet Race.

Following Rambler, Ludde Ingvall's 100ft maxi CQS and Nikata, (at 115ft LOA, the longest yacht in the race), came the fleet of seven identical VO65s competing on Leg Zero of the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race. However, in an exceptional performance, arriving before all of these fully crewed heavyweights was a nimble French two handed IMOCA 60.

Paul Meilhat and Gwenole Gahinet on the SMA crossed the Plymouth finish line at 03:24:02 UTC this morning, after an exceptional Rolex Fastnet Race. Their boat, formerly the 2012-3 Vendee Globe winner MACIF, was the last of the 'conventional' IMOCA 60s fitted with daggerboard before the new semi-foiling breed was introduced for the 2016-7 solo non-stop round the world race.

As expected, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet sailed as close a race as any leg of the event proper. During the race at least four of the seven boats led at various times and there were numerous lead changes as the boats weaved their way in along the shore or out to sea, playing shifts as sailors would on an inshore race. As expected, the two boats hogging the limelight were the Charles Caudrelier-skippered Dongfeng Race Team and MAPFRE, led by two time Olympic 49er gold medallist and multiple round the world sailor Xabi Fernandes. The new Team Akzonobel came close to leading the VO65s around the Fastnet Rock, but were overtaken by Dongfeng Race Team.

"The one design aspect makes the racing very, very close," observed Caudrelier. "Also the teams are very strong and on each you have a very good navigator, so even if the race was very complicated everyone did a nice job. We were ahead at the beginning, but we lost the lead many times and we came back. It also was very difficult, especially over the last day with the clouds - I have never seen such big shifts as that. We dropped back to last, came back to first, etc. It was a very difficult day."

Track the fleet in the Rolex Fastnet Race: cf.yb.tl/fastnet2017
www.rolexfastnetrace.com

V and B prevails in the Class 40s
Aside from the Volvo Ocean Race seven, another tight competition in the Rolex Fastnet Race has been between the twenty six Class40s racing.

These boats are designed to a box rule created in France in the early 2000s. With more than 150 examples launched in the last 13 years, it is also highly international with boats competing from crews as far afield as Oman, South Africa and Japan, ranging from professionals (both old timers and budding youngsters) to enthusiastic amateurs.

The Class40 leaders arrived in Plymouth this afternoon, with victory finally going to V and B skippered by Frenchman Maxime Sorel. He arrived at 14:32 after 3 days 3 hours and 22 minutes.

According to Sorel they had been swapping the lead with Imerys, skippered by Jersey's Phil Sharp down the Channel but, "after Wolf Rock it became difficult for us - we had no wind on two occasions and then we lost second place." By giving the Bishop Rock TSS a wider berth than the front runners, V and B was able to pull into the lead, which she held to the finish.

Racing on board V and B was Sam Manuard, the boat's designer, also an accomplished sailor and possibly another reason for their victory. The latest v3 incarnation of Manuard's Mach 40 is a powerful reaching machine and they proved untouchable between Bishop Rock and the finish.

Arriving on the heels of V and B was a fight between two of the more comfy racer cruiser catamarans, the TS42 Guyader Gastonomie of Christian Guyader, narrowly beaten on the water by the larger HH66 R-six of Pole Robert Szustkowski. On board the former was 2015 outright Rolex Fastnet Race winner Gery Trentesaux. He was pleased they had arrived within five minutes of their substantially bigger rival and ahead of all but one Class40, despite the predominantly upwind race.

www.class40.com/en/index/

IRC Fleets
The boats in IRC One are due to arrive Thursday with Jean Claude Nicoleau and Nicolas Loday's Grand Soleil 43 Codiam and the Mylius 15e25 Ars Una skippered by Vittorio Biscarini both vying for victory.

Runaway leader in IRC Two remains Gilles Fournier and Corinne Migraine's J/133 Pintia with Nick and Suzi Jones' First 44.7 Lisa, skippered by RORC Commodore Michael Boyd currently in second and another seasoned campaigner, Ross Applebey's Scarlet Oyster in third.

IRC Three and Four are again being dominated by the French-built JPKs. In the former is a very tight battle between the JPK 10.80s, Marc Alperovitch's Timeline and Stephen Hopson's Blue Note, while in the latter it is between two JPK 10.10s the Loisin father and son's 2013 winner, Night and Day and Noel Racine's Foggy Dew.

rolexfastnetrace.com

Pierre Casiraghi and Boris Herrmann take 3rd on their 1st Fastnet
For their first outing in the Rolex Fastnet Race, Pierre Casiraghi and Boris Herrmann clinched a well-deserved 3rd in the IMOCA 60' category on Malizia II, covering the 608nm course from Cowes to Plymouth via Fastnet lighthouse in 2 days 17 hours 55 minutes 11 seconds.

It's also a first for a boat flying the Yacht Club de Monaco colours, and an excellent result given that three of the nine IMOCA 60s competing were on the podium of the last Vendee Globe. Early on, the Monegasque duo opted to go up the west side of the Traffic Separation Scheme off Land's End, north to the Celtic Sea. It was a bold decision that saw them catch the group led by group winner SMA, caught out by a lull in the wind.

Neck and neck with the top three on the long downwind leg to Plymouth, Malizia II played their cards right, taking full advantage of a 15-knot north-westerly to slip leeward of Generali and Initiatives Cœur and take 3rd.

"We never dreamed of such a result, especially as we only had two days training together beforehand. But we sailed intuitively and never stopped attacking – we didn't sleep for the last 24 hours!"

There's no let-up for Team Malizia as Boris Herrmann, again on the IMOCA 60', heads to Sicily for the 13th Palermo-Montecarlo on 21st August. Organised by the Circolo della Vela Sicilia, Yacht Club de Monaco and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, this 500nm race counts as the fourth and final stage of the Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge.

www.yacht-club-monaco.mc

This high-end, affordable, semi-custom racer, from Ben Rogerson Yacht Design has been optimized so you can compete under ORC or DLR, and as a highly competitive HP30 Class contender.

- High quality construction and British build
- Lightweight carbon fibre construction
- Fast competitive IRC & ORC racing
- Performance options available
- Estimated IRC Tcc: 1.14

www.bryd.uk/yacht-designs/br31

Chicago To Host World Match Racing Tour American Stopover
The fifth championship level stop on the 2017 World Match Racing Tour will take place September 26th-October 1st on the Chicago lakeshore in front of Navy Pier. Chicago Match Race Center and Chicago Yacht Club return as co-hosts for the 2017 season stopover after organizing successful Tour events in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Chicago's hosting of the Louis Vuitton Americas Cup World Series in 2016, thrilled Midwest sports fans with the excitement of high-performance catamaran racing for the first time with Lake Michigan proving to be a world-class venue for sailboat racing. With a turnkey infrastructure in place and a skyline that is second to none, hosting the World Match Racing Tour event this fall will bring back stadium racing to the America's Cup racecourse.

The World Match Racing tour has been a forum for the next generation of America's Cup champions to learn and refine their craft including the 35th America's Cup Champion Peter Burling who won some of his first multi-hull match races in a WMRT qualifying event earlier this year.

The racecourse will be located just off the end of Navy Pier with the city landmark offering unrivalled viewing opportunities for spectators. In addition to the WMRT Tour Card holders, qualifiers from Coconut Grove Cup and Croatia Match Cup will be invited to the event as well as Wild Card positions which will be announced in the coming weeks. As ever the action will be covered in full on wmrt.com

North Sails Clients Claim 16 Divisions At Cowes Week
This year with 34 classes spanning PHRF to offshore racers, Cowes showed her true colors, and her thousands of competitors made history on the race course. North Sails clients dominated podium positions in both IRC and One Design racing, including the Class 40+, IRC0 - IRC4, Dragons, Etchells and more, overall winning 16 divisions in total.

History was made by Spanish Volvo Ocean Race team MAPFRE, when they completed the 50 mile course around the Isle of Wight in 3 hours, 13 minutes and 11 seconds, setting a new outright Around Isle of Wight world record by a monohull yacht.

Full Story

Hamble Classics meets Antigua Classics
Thalia. Photo by Jonty Sherwill. Click on image to enlarge.

The Hamble Classics will be welcoming a special guest to this year's regatta over the weekend of September 16-17th. That guest is Jane Coombs, who, together with her late husband Kenny Coombs, created the Antigua Classics Regatta, an event that has been going for 30 years and become a benchmark for other classic regattas around the globe.

At the Hamble Classics Jane will be sailing aboard David Aisher's 1888 gaff cutter 'Thalia', a yacht she knows well having awarded her with the Concours d'Elegance prize at the Antigua Classics in 2008. David Aisher bought the yacht in 2010, and returned her to the Solent for an extensive refit and re-rigging at the Elephant Boatyard on the River Hamble.

In response to David's invitation Jane commented : "Thalia was my favourite Concours winner of all time. The judges and I were enthralled with her beauty and story. I will look forward to sailing with you".

All types of classic yachts of pre-1971 design are invited to enter this year's Hamble Classics, plus invited production yachts including Folkboats, SCOD, Twister, Contessa 26 and 32, Rustler 31, She 31, Nicholson 32, 35 & 36, Cal 40, S&S Swans and Spirit Yachts. Owners of other classic style GRP yachts are requested to make contact with the sailing office. Full details of the social programme, the Notice of Race and online entry can be found at: www.royal-southern.co.uk/Afloat/2017/Hamble-Classics

The current live list of entries is available to view at: yachtscoring.com

Kinsale set for Half Ton Classic showdown
With a 21-strong record entry, three new boats, a formidable defending title-holder and a two-times runner-up all in the mix, next month's Euro Car Parks Half Ton Classics Cup has all the ingredients for a memorable championship (Sunday 13th to Friday 18th August 2017, Kinsale YC, Ireland).

New owner Phil Plumtree will carry on Swuzzlebubble's pedigree and will be aiming to make 2017 her third title win since successfully launching in 2014 under Peter Morton. Greg Peck followed this with victory again in 2016 so on paper appears to present a huge challenge and a good reason to be the bookies favourite.

But three new boats represent unknown challenges and include Checkmate XVIII owned by Nigel Biggs, Paul Wayte's brand new un-raced Headhunter and Kinsale's own George Radley whose new Half Tonner Cortegada should have the edge for local knowledge.

However, a handful of other contenders could yet upset the form guide.

Trastada from Scotland also has a strong track-record as does General Tapioca from Belgium that has several titles under her belt. The Kinsale championship represents unfinished business for Paul Pullen's gorgeous Falmouth entry Miss Whiplash who has been runner-up for the last two years and he will be on a mission to take the Cup in 2017. There are also six Irish boats participating, all of whom have had success but Dave Cullen's recent victories on Checkmate XV at Dun Laoghaire Week and the Sovereigns Cup places him best of the home fleet.

Amongst the six nations taking part, Finland will be represented by Superhero that is campaigned by long-standing Finnish Sailors Toni Stoscheck and Janne Tukolas.

halftonclassicscup.com

Clipper Fleet Heads to Liverpool
Today the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race fleet began its delivery to Liverpool, ahead of Race Start on Sunday 20 August.

Locals turned out on both sides of Portsmouth Harbour to bid the Clipper Race fleet, Skippers, and crew farewell, as they began the almost 500 nautical mile delivery to Albert Dock in the vibrant heart of Liverpool's world-famous UNESCO waterfront.

The twelve matched Clipper 70 ocean racing yachts are due to arrive in Liverpool on Monday 14 August, and after a white sail parade of the fleet on the Mersey, the teams will be treated to an Official Civic Welcome ceremony.

The arrival will also coincide with the official opening of the Clipper Race Village. The six days of entertainment and activities will include open boat tours, crew presentations, and displays and exhibitions from Official Clipper Race Partners and Suppliers.

Race Start on Sunday 20 August will begin with a Departure ceremony at 0915 in Albert Dock, and after a spectacular parade of sail on the River Mersey, the start gun at 1230 will mark the start of the eleven month, 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation.

The first of eight legs that make up the Clipper Race, the Atlantic Trade Winds Leg, will see the twelve teams race from Liverpool to Punta del Este, Uruguay. At around 6,400 nautical miles, this will be the longest opening leg in the 21 year history of the Clipper Race.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Extreme Sailing Series Hamburg
The Extreme Sailing Series returns to Hamburg for the third successive year, from 10 - 13 August, for the fifth Act of the 2017 season which will be presented by the Series' Exclusive Automotive Partner, Land Rover.

The iconic British 4x4 manufacturer has been a partner of the Series since 2013, with the Extreme Sailing Series providing a natural platform to showcase the Land Rover brand through its unique sponsorship opportunities, both in the public Race Village and the VIP Extreme Club.

Land Rover's commitment to the Series extends to its sponsorship of two of the Series' full-season entries, Land Rover BAR Academy and Red Bull Sailing Team.

Act 5, Hamburg, presented by Land Rover, starts on 10 August with a day dedicated to media. The free-entry Race Village, which is located at the Hamburg HafenCity Cruise Centre (Chicagokai), will be open to the public from 11 - 13 August, providing front row seats for GC32 Stadium Racing along with plenty of on-shore entertainment.

* Stevie Morrison returns to Extreme Sailing Series for Hamburg showdown

A second British-flagged squad has entered Act 5, as the Extreme Sailing Series returns to Hamburg's River Elbe from tomorrow, presented by Land Rover. The wildcard entry, Team Extreme, will be skippered by British Olympian Stevie Morrison.

The star of the show among Morrison's international crew is local German hot-shot Linov Scheel, a 20-year-old 49er campaigner from Kiel, who will make his debut in the Extreme Sailing Series as bowman.

British sailor Tom Buggy brings valuable experience to the table as headsail trimmer, having competed in the Series as part of many wildcard crews, including in the previous Act in Barcelona.

Morrison draws on some fellow Olympic veterans to complete the crew, in the form of Portuguese duo Frederico Melo and Luís Brito, who both sailed last season on board Visit Madeira.

Racing kicks off at 13:30 UTC+2 Thursday and fans can follow the action online via the live blog for the first two days. Racing will be streamed live on the official Facebook and YouTube channels from 13:30 - 17:00 UTC+2 on 12 and 13 August.

extremesailingseries.com

Featured Brokerage
2005 TP52 - ORLANDA. 199,950 EUR. Located in East Coast, Italy.

Original spec TP52 that has had a 2013 refit, including new paint, and has been little used since. Full offshore interior with heads and galley.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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2007 X-46 - VITAMINA X. 190000 EUR. Located in West Coast, Italy.

3-cabin version of this popular X-46 performance cruiser. With super cool carbon rig, she has been well looked after and is well equipped for coastal cruising. She has spent her life in the Med being well cherished.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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2008 Corby 36 - Stratisfear. 95000 EUR. Located in Pwhelli, Wales.

The pocket rocket "Stratisfear" is now available for the 2017 season and as ever with these Corby designs, they come with IRC potential in abundance.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Port Hamble
sampearson@ancasta.com
+442380 016582

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
When a man does not admit that he is an animal, he is less than an animal. Not more but less. -- Michael McClure

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

To the wire in IRC Three
IRC Three went to wire this afternoon in the Rolex Fastnet Race between two French JPK 10.80s. Coming into the finish, Timeline of past class winner Marc Alperovitch seem to be the victor, but when Arnaud Delamare and Eric Mordret's lower rated Dream Pearls arrived 33 minutes later, her time corrected to 1 minute 11 seconds ahead of her compatriots.

As Dream Pearls team manager, Christian Maby, described it: "We were not sure we were in a position to win until the finish line - so it was very exciting. We knew it was going to be close so we had to really push. Over the last 24 hours everybody was on deck, there was no sleep, just trimming sails. We made 10 or 15 sail changes, we did everything we could, so we didn't have any regrets!"

Dream Pearls has been one of the leading contenders in the RORC Seasons Points Championship this year, winning the De Guingand Bowl in May, but the Rolex Fastnet Race has been the pinnacle of the team's year.

Their victory came despite not sailing well for the upwind first half of the race. They regretted following their routing up the west side of the TSS at Land End's and by the time they reached the Fastnet Rock they were 25 minutes behind their opposition. However, by staying south en route to the Bishop Rock traffic separation scheme, they halved their deficit on Timeline. This was enough to leave them neck and neck for the IRC Three lead for the remaining miles back past the Lizard to the Plymouth finish line.

One of the most historic also finished today in Jim Kilroy's Kialoa II, the 72ft S&S design that the famous American businessman campaigned to victory in the 1965 Transpac and the 1971 Sydney Hobart. The boat is now owned by brothers Patrick and Keith Broughton, who originally herald from Plymouth. However Patrick now lives in Sydney where he usually campaigns this classic racer. Having competed in the Rolex Sydney Hobart they sailed the boat from Sydney to take part in the Rolex Fastnet Race.

This evening still two thirds of the IRC fleet remains at sea with the IRC Four podium set to be determined overnight. -- James Boyd Track the fleet in the Rolex Fastnet Race: cf.yb.tl/fastnet2017

www.rolexfastnetrace.com

Saint-Malo: here we come
The fleet of Volvo Ocean 65s left Plymouth on Thursday for the third race of the Leg Zero qualifying series - weaving their way through waves of tired/euphoric sailors from the smaller boats still on their way to the finish line in the Fastnet.

The latest challenge for the Volvo Ocean Race teams is a short sprint from Plymouth to St Malo, via a buoy next to the Needles, and everything points to another tight finish.

For the first leg along the English coast back towards the Isle of Wight, the fleet will be sailing downwind in 10-15 knots before reaching across the English Channel where they'll arrive off the Normandy coastline in the early morning.

The fleet will sail through a famous tidal acceleration zone called the Alderney Race that will accelerate the boats by up to 8 knots, so look out for record speeds in light winds. The Volvo Ocean Race might be an ocean race, but by Friday morning they'll be sailing down a river!

Leg zero tracker: Plymouth to St. Malo: yb.tl/vor_legzero2017b#

volvooceanrace.com

Peter Burling Joins Team Brunel
New Zealand sailing hero Peter Burling, who won the 35th America's Cup for New Zealand in a hotly contested final against the USA team in Bermuda in June this year, is stepping up to take on the Volvo Ocean Race.

With two Olympic medals in hand already (gold in Rio 2016 and silver in London 2012), the America's Cup win elevated Burling to a national sporting hero.

Now Burling, aged 26, will race in the toughest test of a team in professional sport, the Volvo Ocean Race. This will be a totally different challenge for Burling - a daunting switch from competing in America's Cup races that last just 20 minutes to racing 24/7, weeks on end, across the oceans. In total, the Volvo Ocean Race covers 45,000 nautical miles, which is just over 83,000 kms, around the world, in a competition lasting eight months.

Burling is joining Team Brunel, skippered by Dutch sailing legend, Bouwe Bekking who is looking for a victory that has eluded him so far in seven previous participations in the race.

In a twist of fate, his Olympic partner and America's Cup crewmate Blair Tuke is racing on another Volvo Ocean Race entry, the Spanish team MAPFRE, making them competitors as opposed to team mates this time.

Burling steps on board Team Brunel for the first time today (Thursday) as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet race from Plymouth (UK) to Saint-Malo (France) in Leg Zero, a qualifier for the race itself.

volvooceanrace.com

Harken Celebrates 50 Years of Making Waves
Since our beginning in 1967, Harken has offered some of the highest performing sailboat hardware on the planet. The two founding brothers - Peter and Olaf Harken - began the company with innovative ball bearings blocks and racing dinghies.

Today, 50 years later, we've grown our business into a diversified sailing equipment company. Without the support of the sailing community, we wouldn't be where we are today - from all of us at Harken, thank you.

In celebration of these 50 wonderful years, in typical fashion, we're throwing a party for Harken family and employees.

As Harken celebrates 50 years, we will continue to strive to be where we must - At The Front - for the next 50 and beyond.

harken.com

RC44 Marstrand World Championship
Vladimir Prosikhin has steered Team Nika into the lead of the RC44 Marstrand World Championship after a solid opening day in Sweden. The Russian crew notched up scores of 2,6,1 in the nine-boat fleet to hold a two-point advantage over defending World Champion, Team Ceeref from Slovenia.

After the rain of yesterday, today was a welcome change as Marstrand delivered stunning conditions - blue skies and breezes of 10 to 12 knots.

Igor Lah steered Ceeref to an easy win in race 1. After finishing last in the first heat, Artemis Racing bounced back with a victory for Torbjorn Tornqvist and the Swedes in race two. Nika seized the early advantage in the last race of the day, sailing away to a comfortable victory and the overall lead of the series.

For full results visit: www.rc44.com/results

For The Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record:

Record: Transatlantic. Singlehanded
Yacht: Sodebo4. 31m Trimaran
Name: Thomas Coville. FRA
Dates:.11th to the 15th July 2017
Start time: 06;18;37 UTC on 11/07/17
Finish time: 17;29;01 on 15/07/17
Elapsed time: 4 days 11 hours 10 minutes and 24 seconds
Distance: 2880 NM
Average speed: 26.87 kts

Comments:. Current record: IDEC. Francis Joyon. FRA. Jul 17 5d 2h 6m 53s.

John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council

Four Teams Punch Tickets for Quarters in Lysekil
In bright sunshine and shifty westerly winds, the round-robin stage of the Lysekil Women's Match concluded Thursday afternoon. Trine Palludan of the Royal Danish Yacht Club took nine matches to win it: "Now we appreciate getting a little rest before the quarters" says Palludan, who, thanks to her top spot, can choose her quarter-final opponent.

Alexa Bezel, SUI, was the only skipper to beat Palludan in the round-robin, by taking the start and leading all the way to the finish of their match. The Danes came up close at the bottom mark, but touched the Swiss boat with their gennaker to get penalized.

Palludan, Courtois, Groeneveld and Sylvan are now qualified straight into the quarter-finals, while the remaining seven crews have to continue fighting for the other four spots, in a repechage round-robin.

Event organizers Sailnet and Lysekils Yacht Club Gullmar will conclude the Repechage Round Robin stage of Lysekil Women's Match, the 2nd event on the 2017 WIM Series, Friday morning. Quarter-finals are to be raced Friday afternoon, with semis and final to follow Saturday.

Round-robin results in Lysekil Women's Match (skipper, team, nationality, wins - losses):
1. Trine Palludan, Team Kattnakken, DEN, 9-1
2. Pauline Courtois, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, FRA, 8-2
3. Renee Groeneveld, Dutch Match Racing Team, NED, 7-3
4. Caroline Sylvan, New Sweden Match Racing Team, SWE, 7-3

5. Alexa Bezel, ChicaCER Women Match Racing Team, SUI, 6-4
6. Anna Ostling, Team Anna, SWE, 6-4
7. Johanna Bergqvist, Team Bergqvist Match Racing, SWE, 4-6
8. Marinella Laaksonen, L2 Match Racing Team, FIN, 4-6
9. Linnea Floser, Peregrine Racing, SWE, 2-8
10. Octavia Owen, Athena Racing, GBR, 1-9
11. Antonia Degerlund, Team Skona Vibbisar, FIN, 1-9

www.lysekilwomensmatch.se

wimseries.com

Reboot
The St Petersburg Yacht Club will be running another edition of their successful Nord Stream Race later this summer... with a new twist

A new and exciting concept will be used for this year's Nord Stream (NSR) race, that brings new boats, new teams and a new culture of sailors to this pan-Baltic event. Following years of past success racing Swan 60s in the Nord Stream, organisers from the St Petersburg YC and Konzeptwerft Holding GmbH, with support from Gazprom, are again offering this year's edition of this 1,000-mile race from Kiel, Germany, to St Petersburg, Russia, in four stages, but this time with new features to take the event forward into the next few editions.

First, the platform will change from the Swan 60s used in recent years to new, identically-matched ClubSwan 50s that are being provided for the event. This year's race will see five boats and teams, but the plan is to expand significantly in the future as more of these new boats become available.

Olympic gold medallist, Jochen Schumann, is the new ClubSwan 50 class president, and is enthusiastic about this new choice of boat type. Schumann says the boats will be presented in strict one-design trim, with all features - spars, appendages, rigging and even sails - to be kept identical to ensure close, fair racing.

Full article in the August issue of Seahorse:
www.seahorsemagazine.com/

Launchings
Click on images to enlarge

As offshore sailors gather momentum for a new Olympic offshore discipline, the world's largest yacht manufacturer has unveiled the first images of a radical new one-design Figaro 3 with foils.

In the new Figaro 3, Groupe Beneteau is producing the first series-built production monohull with foils leaving no doubt that foiling is making it into mainstream sailing

The foils will make the new boat up to 15 per cent faster than its predecessor and are designed to replace the traditional weighty ballast tanks used on past Figaro models.

Described as 'asymmetric tip foils' they work by creating side force to supplement the keel and reduce leeway while causing minimal drag. An important factor is also that they are able to retract within the boat's maximum beam.

afloat.ie/sail/

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Perini Navi lauches 60m S/Y Seven

On Saturday, 5 August Perini Navi, world leader in the design and build of superyachts, launched the S/Y Seven. The 60m aluminium ketch is the 62nd Perini Navi yacht to be built and the third in the successful 60m series which includes S/Y Seahawk and S/Y Perseus3.

The launch and christening ceremony took place at Perini Navi's headquarters in Viareggio in the presence of the owners, together with their family and guests, as well as Perini Navi's shareholders, employees and valued suppliers.

S/Y Seven is a collaboration between the Perini Navi design team and naval architect Ron Holland. World-renowned Italian architects, Dante O. Benini & Partners, designed the stunning interiors of this 60m yacht.

S/Y Seven will have her international debut at the Monaco Yacht Show from 27-30 September.

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Savona, Italy: Tango, the fourth unit of the highly competitive Wallycento fleet, was successfully launched at Persico Marine facility in the Ligurian west coast. The stepping operation was completed after the yacht touched the water; Tango gets ready for the sea-trial before the delivery to her passionate owner, scheduled at the end of August.

Along with Wally's over 20 years know-how, the new Wallycento boasts Mark Mills' naval architecture, Pinifarina interior design and Persico Marine construction technology.

Tango introduces a new naval architect in the Wally projects, Mark Mills of Mills Design, with whom the Monegasque yachting disruptor shares the same vision of innovations that can be applied to this type of yachts.

Tango will be premiered at the Yacht Club de Monaco, on the 26 September and in the morning of the Monaco Yacht Show opening day (27 September), while she makes her racing debut at the Les Voiles de Saint Tropez, where she faces the high competition of the other three Wallycentos.

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The largest carbon fiber sloop in the world was launched back in May and since then she has been prepared for testing. Now she is currently engaged in her sea trialing regime. "Pink Gin VI" has been seen comfortably sailing with her complement of sails in Finnish waters. This 54-meter yacht is expected to be finished testing soon to be handed over to her very experienced owner by Mid-Summer.

As a reminder, Pink Gin VI has a design and Naval Architecture by Judel/Vrolijk & Co. The interior is the work of Design Unlimited. Special features include two fold-out balconies in the forward portion of the hull towards the bow. This is where the master suite is located and will allow the owner to have direct access to the water from his bedroom! She has an astonishing light weight of only 235 tonnes; bare in mind this is a 54-meter yacht! Of course this was attainable via her carbon sandwich construction.

www.yachtforums.com

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Doug Zurn 52 Sailboat Concept

This Doug Zurn 52 foot concept is designed as an offshore capable fast cruiser for a couple, couple with guests, or small family. The perfectly proportioned sweeping sheer is a Zurn trademark and provides for excellent, dry performance through waves. Her large main and small jib will make singlehanded sailing easy and with the optional self-tacking jib make beating upwind into a 15-knot breeze through a narrow bay a simple, fun exercise with each tack requiring only the turn of the wheel.

The retractable sprit shown here allows for incredible off-wind speed with a large asymmetrical spinnaker flying from the extended pole. The dual helm layout and low coachroof provide exceptional driver visibility from either the weather or leeward helm stations. Additionally passage aft to the opening transom is unencumbered by a central helm location and the very large wheel it would necessitate. All sheets are lead to the helm stations adding to the 52's shorthanded sailing prowess.

zurnyachts.com

Featured Brokerage
Extreme 40. 65000 each GBP.

2 EXTREME 40s For Sale
Between the 2 boats have an amazing race track record!
Both boats had a major refit at the start of 2015 .

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Peter Greenhalgh
Tel: (+44) 07515 635669
Skype: peterngreenhalgh
Email: peterngreenhalgh@googlemail.com

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Spectacular Converted Tugboat. 1,799,000 USD. Located in Sausalito, CA.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Jennifer Flower via the listing URL

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Reichel-Pugh 65 "TREBUCHET". 745,000 USD. Located in Rhode Island.

First built as MONEY PENNY, then she was renamed VANQUISH, then BADPAK and now TREBUCHET.

She is currently stored out of the water and her owner ( a non profit foundation) is currently open to all offers

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
William Jenkins
Thoroughbred Yacht Sales
410 267 9419
410 353 7862

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
Artists paint virtual doorways. Viewers stand in front and choose whether to enter the visual narrative. -- Ken Campbell

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

In This Issue
France claims Fastnet Challenge Cup for third consecutive time | The Dutch Women's Match Racing Team Wins in Lysekil | (Fast) horses for courses - Future Fibres | MAPFRE continue Leg Zero dominance | Day 4 RC44 Marstrand World Championship | Annie Lush announced as new member Team Brunel | Smooth sailing at Hanko | Dennis Conner: 'The end of the Russell Coutts era' | Featured Brokerage

France claims Fastnet Challenge Cup for third consecutive time
RORC Commodore, Michael Boyd presents the Fastnet Challenge Cup to the overall winner, Didier Gaudoux's JND39, Lann Ael 2. ELWJ Photography/RORC. Click on image to enlarge.

For a third time running the Rolex Fastnet Race has been a story of French domination, Le Tricolor flying on this occasion from the top spot in IRC 1, 2, 3 and 4, the Class40 and IMOCA 60, the Two Handed and IRC Overall. Even the Chinese boat, Dongfeng Race Team, that won Volvo 65 competition had a largely French crew.

This left IRC Zero to American Ron O'Hanley's Cookson 50 Privateer, while, surprisingly, the only British class victory went to Tony Lawson's MOD 70 trimaran Concise 10, in the usually French-strong Multihull class.

Early on, the overall prize looked set to be a big boat affair with both the JV 115 Nikata and George David's maxi Rambler 88 leading until the run back from the Fastnet Rock favoured the medium-sized boats.

Ron O'Hanley's Privateer came close to making it a second Cookson 50 victory, a decade on from the overall win of Irishman Ger O'Rourke's Chieftain.

However by Wednesday it became apparent that there was a new contender for the 2017 Fastnet Challenge Cup - the overall prize under IRC.

Didier Gaudoux's JND39, Lann Ael 2, struggled last year when she competed in the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup, however then she was only six months old. Since then the team, based out of La Crouesty in southern Brittany has tweaked the boat considerably with the assistance of sailmaker and former Mini and Figaro sailor Fred Duthil.

The JND 39 is a heavily-chined design from Bernard Nivelt and ate up the miles on the run towards Bishop Rock.

Paris-based Gaudoux was sailing with his son Thomas and daughter Coralie, navigator Fred Duthil, plus Nicolas Deberque, Nicolas Dore, Alois Kerduel, Pierre Louiset, Paulin Nicol and Christian Ponthieu.

As to the Rolex Fastnet Race, this is Gaudoux's fourth. -- James Boyd

Provisional Results:

IRC Z:
1. Privateer - Cookson 50, Ron O'Hanley (USA)
2. Lady Mariposa - Ker 46, Daniel Hardy (GBR)
3. Bretagne Telecom - Mach 45, Nicolas Groleau (FRA)

IRC 1:
1. Lann Ael 2 - JND 39, Didier Gaudoux (FRA)
2. Pata Negra - Lombard 46, Hermann de Graaf (NED)
3. Ino XXX - HH42, James Neville (GBR)

IRC 2:
1. Pintia - J/133, Gilles Fournier / Corinne Migraine (FRA)
2. Lisa - First 44.7, Michael Boyd (IRE)
3. Elke - First 40, Frans and Carla Rodenburg (NED)

IRC 3:
1. Dream Pearls - JPK 10.80, Arnaud Delamare and Eric Mordret (FRA)
2. Timeline - JPK 10.80, Marc Alperovitch (FRA)
3. Bellino - Sun Fast 3600, Rob Craigie (GBR)

IRC 4:
1. Night and Day - JPK 10.10, Pascal & Alexis Loison (FRA)
2. Foggy Dew - JPK 10.10, Noel Racine (FRA)
3. Cocody - JPK 10.10, Richard Fromentin (FRA)

IRC Two-Handed:
1. Night and Day - JPK 10.10, Pascal Loison (FRA)
2. Ajeto! - J/122e, Robin Verhoef and John van der Starre (NED)
3. Bellino - Sun Fast 3600, Rob Craigie and Deb Fish (GBR)

VO65:
1. Dongfeng Race Team (CHN) - Charles Caudrelier
2. MAPFRE (ESP) - Xabi Fernandez
3. Team Brunel (NED) - Bouwe Bekking

IMOCA 60:
1. SMA - Paul Meilhat/Gwenole Gahinet (FRA)
2. StMichel-Virbac - Jean-Pierre Dick/ /Yann Elies (FRA)
3. Malizia - Yacht Club de Monaco - Boris Herrmann/Pierre Casiraghi (MON)

Class40:
1. V and B - Maxime Sorel (FRA)
2. Imerys - Phil Sharp (GBR)
3. Campagne de France - Halvard Mabire (FRA) and Miranda Merron (GBR)

MOCRA Multihulls:
1. Concise 10 - MOD 70 trimaran, Tony Lawson (GBR)
2. R-six - HH66 catamaran, Robert Szustkowski (POL)
3. Hissy Fit - Dazcat 1495, Simon Baker (GBR)

www.rolexfastnetrace.com

The Dutch Women's Match Racing Team Wins in Lysekil
Dutch Olympian Renee Groeneveld and her crew won Lysekil Women's Match, the 2nd stop on the 2017 WIM Series, by beating Pauline Courtois, FRA, 3 - 1 in Saturday's final.

Defending Champion and local hope Anna Ostling of the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club, took the bronze after a 2 - 0 score against Trine Palludan, DEN, in the petite final.

After the semi finals it was evident that home sailor Anna Ostling wouldn't defend her Lysekil title from last year. Instead she had to reload to avoid becoming fourth

The World Championship silver medal at the beginning of the summer, and the triumph here in Lysekil, takes Groeneveld & Co to the top of the WIM Series leader board. Trine Palludan is on third, on the same point as Ostling, while Courtois holds fourth place. Thanks to her 5th place in Lysekil, Swede Caroline Sylvan advances to the same place on WIM Series. Events in Korea in October and US Virgin Islands in December still remain.

Results in the Final of Lysekil Women's Match:
Pauline Courtois, FRA - Renee Groeneveld, NED, 1 - 3

Results in the Petit-Fnal of Lysekil Women's Match:
Anna Ostling, SWE - Trine Palludan, DEN, 2 - 0

Results in the Semi-Finals of Lysekil Women's Match:
Trine Palludan, DEN - Pauline Courtois, FRA 1 - 3
Anna Ostling, SWE - Renee Groeneveld, NED 1 - 3

2017 WIM Series Standings after two events (Skipper, team, nationality, WIM Series points):

1. Renee Groeneveld, Dutch Match Racing Team, NED, 47
2. Anna Ostling, Team Anna, SWE, 38
3. Trine Palludan, Team Experience, DEN, 38
4. Pauline Courtois, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, FRA, 34
5. Caroline Sylvan, New Sweden Match Racing Team, SWE, 26
6. Marinella Laaksonen, L2 Match Racing Team, FIN, 26
7. Lucy Macgregor, Team Mac, GBR, 25
8. Johanna Bergqvist, Team Bergqvist Match Racing, SWE, 20
9. Alexa Bezel, ChicaCER Women Match Racing Team, SUI, 14
10. Mikaela Fors, Pen & Hammer Sailing Team, FIN, 14
11. Antonia Degerlund, Team Skona Vibbisar, FIN, 11
12. Linnea Floser, Peregrine Racing, SWE, 8
13. Octavia Owen, Athena Racing, GBR, 7
14. Margot Riou, APCC Women's Sailing Team , FRA, 7
15. Martina Karlemo, Team Karlemo, FIN, 6
16. Sanna Hager, Stockholm Match Racing Team, SWE, 4
17. Ekaterina Kochkina, Team SailWay, RUS, 3

wimseries.com

(Fast) horses for courses
Even aloft it's not only about weight and windage...

Carbon fibre standing rigging is fast becoming commonplace, not just with grand prix-level designs, but also among the world's ocean record-breakers and increasingly superyachts as well. Advantages in strength, light weight and increased performance are merging now with improved longevity and reliability and therefore longterm costs.

As a manufacturer of both solid and bundled carbon rigging, Future Fibres are always diligent in making sure that customers are best informed on the correct choice to match their particular balance of performance and reliability. Future Fibres' ECsix continues to offer the best-proven and most durable composite shroud solution. With use across an enormous variety of platforms, widespread acceptance of ECsix has made it today's de facto choice in carbon rigging. Over 10 years there has not been a single ECsix failure due to age, wear or sailing conditions

Full article in the August issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

MAPFRE continue Leg Zero dominance
MAPFRE maintained their near-faultless performance in Volvo Ocean Race qualifying - and gave themselves the best possible chance of completing overall victory in the Leg Zero series - as they led the fleet over the finish line on a short opening stage of the final race out of Saint-Malo.

Extended periods of extremely light weather meant that the Saint-Malo to Lisbon leg had to be split into two parts.

As expected, the Volvo Ocean 65s stayed tightly bunched on the first of those, a drag race towards Le Grand Lejon. Vestas 11th Hour Racing were neck-and-neck with MAPFRE for the lead, with the Spanish side just pipping them to the line.

Dongfeng Race Team grabbed third ahead of Turn the Tide on Plastic and team AkzoNobel. Preliminary unofficial results gave Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag and Team Brunel the same time, with less than a mile between the first and last teams in the seven-boat fleet.

Now that the teams have completed their 'Sunday drive' - a 25nm sprint in just 10 knots - they can prepare for the restart which will begin from Chaussé de Sein at 0900 UTC on Monday. It will be a staggered start based on the finishing deltas from Sunday.

The fleet will start with light south easterlies that will quickly die and then come back from the west.

Overall standings after 3 of 4 completed races in Leg Zero:
1. MAPFRE, 23 points
2. Team Brunel, 20
3. Dongfeng Race Team, 19
4. team AkzoNobel, 15
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, 12
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 9
7. Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, 7

While an overall winner will be declared, no points will be carried forward to the Volvo Ocean Race itself, which starts on 22 October from Alicante.

volvooceanrace.com

Day 4 RC44 Marstrand World Championship
Team Nika have won the RC44 Marstrand World Championship after a dominant performance across the four days of competition. The final day delivered the strongest wind of the week, with the north-westerly breeze blowing at 15 knots and with a big, lumpy seaway. Vladimir Prosikhin may not have won any races today but he steered Nika to a comfortable victory overall, earning back the trophy he last raised in 2015.

The final race was a close battle for second and third. Team Ceeref, the 2016 World Champion, crossed in second place behind Artemis Racing. This was sufficient to secure second overall for Igor Lah from Slovenia. Behind him, Bronenosec's photo-finish ahead of Peninsula Petroleum was sufficient to put two Russian teams on equal points. On tie-break, Bronenosec beat Katusha for third place overall.

For full results visit: www.rc44.com/results

Annie Lush announced as new member Team Brunel
Annie Lush is joining Team Brunel in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18. The British sailor is back and ready for her second Volvo Ocean Race.

The last edition Lush was part of Team SCA, which ended up in sixth position overall. For the ambitious Lush it was her entry in to the Volvo Ocean Race.

For Team Brunel's skipper Bouwe Bekking the selection of the 37 years old Lush is one without doubts.

Bekking: "I think all the sailors know how complete she is. Annie has twelve year of Olympic Sailing experience and she did the Volvo Ocean Race before. She is a fantastic addition to our team. The way she just established herself with the guys and the way the guys has embraced her is marvellous. We're all really happy that she is part of Team Brunel right now."

Bekking was known for his resistance to women aboard his boat in the previous edition. What made him change his mind?

Bekking: "Yes my mind has changed. The rules are written now in such a way that we can have two extra females on board. That means four extra hands. In the previous race you could sail with eight guys. In this edition you can only sail with seven but if you can bring two extra pair of hands on board that's a no brainer. We can all see how hard it's to sail these boats. Imagine with only seven sailors. We just use the rule to the maximum for our own benefits and I have learned there is no difference to be a male or female, we are all team members on the same l

Annie Lush is the eight selected sailor. With just 70 days left till the start in Alicante these are the announced sailors for Team Brunel:

Bouwe Bekking (NED)
Carlo Huisman (NED)
Kyle Langford (AUS)
Juanpa Marcos (ARG)
Alberto Bolzan (ITA)
Maciel Cicchetti (ARG)
Peter Burling (NZL)
Annie Lush (GBR)

teambrunel.com

volvooceanrace.com

Smooth sailing at Hanko
The winner of the 8mR Regate Annuelle en Mer. Photo by James Robinson Taylor. Click on image for photo gallery.

The sailors had to wait for two hours before sailing could start, but when the sea breeze turned up, the conditions were excellent.

A large number of spectator boats followed todays racing for the 8mR Regate Annuelle en Mer. Thankfully they managed to stay clear of the sailboats, much thanks to the RIBs actively patroling the course. The wind condition were a stable 12-14 knots southwesterly giving fair conditions for all.

With close to 30 boats on the starting line, the start of these majestic 8 metre yachts is a very spectacular and impressive sight.

8mR Regate Annuelle en Mer was finished today after a total of three races. The winner, the newest boat in the class, "Miss U" delivered only four years ago, and sailed by Avia Willment and with a very visible affection to James Bond, the sail number 007 and with "The Girl with the Golden Gun" printed on the sail as well as on the boat. The boat had to fight unexpectedly hard against her older sisters, built before 1960, "Pandora" "Wanda" and "Banaglore". -- Mikkel Thommessen

Results 8mR Regate Annuelle en mer
1. Miss U, Avia Willment, GBR 1, 2, 1 - 4 points
2. Pandora, Werner Deuring, AUT 3, 1, 3 - 7
3. Wanda, Lars Ingeberg, NOR 2, 3, 5 - 10
4. Bangalore, Terry MacLaughlin CAN 6, 9, 2 - 17
5. If, Tom B. K. Knutsen, NOR 4, 10, 4 -18
6. Luna, Harri Rochier FIN 9, 5, 8 - 22

When the 8 Metre World Cup starts Monday, the racing may be followed live at 8mworlds2017.sapsailing.com

Dennis Conner: 'The end of the Russell Coutts era'
America's Cup legend Dennis Conner predicts we've seen the end of Russell Coutts' involvement in the event.

In his latest podcast, Conner, a four-time winner of the Auld Mug, wrapped up the recent event Bermuda and shared his views on what the 2021 regatta, shaped by new defender Team New Zealand, would look like.

Conner believes the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda signalled "the end of the Coutts era", which would likely spell the end of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison's Cup dalliances for now.

"Coutts looked like he'd had enough of the Cup to me," Conner said of the Kiwi sailing great's demeanour in Bermuda.

Conner predicted such a move would impact on Ellison, who had employed Coutts as his right-hand man in yachting.

"I think we will see Larry retiring and moving on to other things that Larry does."

The downfall of Oracle Team USA places a question mark over the continuing involvement of Team Japan and France. But Conner believes Team New Zealand will attract other teams back in the game, including another possible billionaire-backed US challenge.

www.nzherald.co.nz

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Email: peterngreenhalgh@googlemail.com

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2004 Marten 49 - "Vineta" 385,000 EUR. Located in Hong Kong

"Vineta" is the most competitively priced boat on the market and incorporates an upgraded 3-spreader mast configuration from Southern Spars, which makes her a real bandit on the rating game, as well as unrivalled performance cruiser.

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sampearson@ancasta.com
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RP 78 maxi "Capricorno". Located in La Spezia, Italy.

Reichel-Pugh design, McConaghy carbon construction, Sydney Hobart and Cape Town-Rio winner as Morning Glory.

Reinvented as the ultimate cruiser racer by the team at Nauta Yachts with new deck, interiors and rig.

After winning the ARC, she sailed and explored remote areas around the world such as Patagonia, Cape Horn, Polynesia and Eastern Australia.

Now back in the Med, she is in pristine condition with brand new carbon rigging, engine, genset, electronics, water maker and A/C system.

Ready to go for the next blue water cruise or maxi regatta.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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Nauta Yachts
+39 335 53 487 27
francescovitale@nautayachts.com

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
My heritage is killing Nazis. -- Your humble narrator, and everyone else whose parents and/or grandparents fought on the Allied side in WWII.

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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Half Ton Classics Cup
Photo by David Branigan, www.oceansport.ie. Click on image for photo gallery.

Kinsale, Ireland: Consistent sailing by Nigel Biggs on his newly-refurbished Checkmate XVIII put the British team at the top of the leaderboard of the Euro Car Parks Half Ton Classics Cup at Kinsale after a rain-soaked opening day. However, just two points separate first to fourth places and the regatta is set to be a cliff-hanger.

Although Phil Plumtree's two-times past champion Swuzzlebubble had impressive leads on the water, IRC handicapping greatly levelled the playing-field and the iconic Kiwi yacht by designer Bruce Farr could only muster a win in the opening race before scoring second and eighth places for the rest of the day and lies third overall.

In contrast, Biggs had two fourth places and a second while Paul Pullen's Miss Whiplash had a 3-3-4 day and only missed being overnight leader on the tie-break with Checkmate XVIII.

Of the host nation, a win in the third race for Howth Yacht Club's Michael and Ritchie Evans on The Big Picture neatly transformed their day after earlier sixth and fifth places. Fourth overall puts them two points ahead of their clubmate David Cullen on Checkmate XV who also had a race win to counter and eighth and a fifth during the day.

The prospect of clear skies and breeze for Day 2 will see another three windward-leeward races in place of the planned coastal race as near gale conditions forecast for Wednesday may disrupt the event programme.

Top six overall standings after Day 1 - three races (21 entries)

1. Checkmate XVIII Nigel Biggs (UK)
2. Miss Whiplash Paul Pullen (UK)
3. Swuzzlebubble Phil Plumtree (UK)
4. The Big Picture Michael & Richard Evans (Ireland)
5. Checkmate XV Dave Cullen (Ireland)
6. Headhunter Paul Wayte (UK)

Full results available results.kyc.ie/2017/halfton17os.html

Raul Rios, Mac Agnese win Snipe Worlds
La Coruma, Spain: Raul Rios and Mac Agnese (PUR) closed out the final day at the Snipe World Championship to claim the 2017 title. After gaining the lead yesterday, they posted a 12-6 today to secure the victory. For Rios, winner of the past three US Nationals, this is his first Snipe World title. Racing for the 85 teams from 16 countries was held August 7 to 11.

www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2017/08/11/raul-rios-mac-agnese-win-snipe-worlds/

Top five Gold Fleet:
1. Raul Rios/Mac Agnese, PUR, 36 points
2. Gustavo del Castillo Palop/Rafael del Castillo Palo, ESP, 41
3. Rayco Tabares Alvarez/Gonzalo Morales Quintana, ESP, 42
4. Alfredo Gonzalez/Cristian Sanchez Barreto, ESP, 52
5. Mario Tinoco/Alexandre Muto, BRA, 56

Full results Gold Fleet

Full results Silver Fleet

snipeworlds.org

Land Rover BAR , Welcomed home to Portsmouth
Sevenstar Racing Yacht Logistics Bring the Team Home. In a combined effort of complex, time-sensitive logistics, Sevenstar Racing Yacht Logistics have safely delivered home the team's most precious cargo - after a fantastic challenge by the team at Land Rover BAR contesting the 35th America's Cup in Bermuda earlier this year.

Sevenstar Yacht Transport are once again delighted to assist with the direct charter shipping for the return of Land Rover BAR's temporary team base, 35th America's Cup race boat, test boat, all the support boats and containers and of course the team crew personal effects.

Sarah Rickarby, Sevenstar Racing Yacht Logistics says "it has been our pleasure to work with the team at Land Rover BAR to safely deliver all their cargo to Bermuda and to also make sure it has come home safely to Portsmouth. Over the 3 outbound charter shipments and the return charter ship we have safely transported over 4000m3 of cargo for the team."

Sevenstar Racing Yacht Logistics
Meridians House, 7 Ocean Way
SO14 3TJ Southampton
Contact: Sarah Rickerby/Wouter Verbraak
Phone: +44 2380821030
www.sevenstar-yacht-transport.com

Leg Zero = Light wind as calms continue
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet restarted on Monday morning from the south coast of Brittany in the same order they finished yesterday, so it was no surprise to see MAPFRE and Vestas 11th Hour Racing take an early lead.

The fleet began the day in 10kts of wind but quickly fell into a light wind zone and have been struggling to make progress all day. The forecast is for more wind to increase - but from the west.

It means the navigators have to strike a delicate balance of making miles down the track while positioning themselves to the west of the fleet in order to catch the new wind first, without falling into the calms along the way.

Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag have pushed west early and are becalmed, losing miles to the rest of the fleet who have stayed in better wind for the moment. The new team is still discovering the nuances of their Volvo Ocean 65, and how different it is from their team's other boat, a much more powerful 100-foot supermaxi.

Respite comes with the new westerlies, expected to build to 10 knots at 2100 UTC - and that will turn to north-westerlies/northerlies that will allow the fleet to gybe in steady wind to Cape Finisterre and then down the Portuguese coast to the finish in Lisbon on Wednesday.

www.volvooceanrace.com

Onboard Tour of Volvo 65 Yacht
Team Brunel's Tom Napper gives Yachting World magazine a guided tour of the Volvo 65 round the world yacht on deck and down below.

Oman Air moves top of overall 2017 Extreme Sailing Series leaderboard
Oman Air took its second Act victory in a row in a thrilling Hamburg finale, despite last minute pressure from SAP Extreme Sailing Team. The triumph sees the Omani syndicate move into pole position in the overall rankings.

Red Bull Sailing Team rounds off the podium while early season leader Alinghi posted its worst result since 2012, following an action-packed, crowd-pleasing day on the River Elbe for Extreme Sailing Series Act 5, Hamburg, presented by Land Rover.

The battle for glory between SAP Extreme Sailing Team and Oman Air went down to the wire, however even a win in the final double-points race wasn't enough for the Danes, who needed to put at least two boats between them and their rival to finish ahead.

Red Bull Sailing Team finishes third and was awarded the Zhik Speed Machine Trophy, with insights from SAP, for the second Act running, for reaching the top speed of the regatta at 23.9 knots. The team remains fourth overall.

At some point during the Act, each of the top six finishers have had a turn on the podium, with the constantly shifting scoreboard demonstrating just how tricky the racing has been for the international fleet of world-class sailors.

The biggest upset of the Act sees Alinghi finish sixth and drop to third on the season scoreboard, a devastating blow for the 2016 champion, who led the 2017 rankings for the first three Acts.

The international fleet of GC32s will reconvene in Cardiff in less than two weeks for the sixth Act of the eight-Act season, headlining the Cardiff Harbour Festival. The UK stage will also see the champion of the 2017 Flying Phantom Series decided.

Final results, Hamburg:

1. Oman Air (OMA) Phil Robertson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Ed Smyth, Nasser Al Mashari, 177 points
2. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Rasmus Kostner, Adam Minoprio, Mads Emil Stephensen, Pierluigi de Felice, Richard Mason, 174
3. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans Peter Steinacher, Stewart Dodson, Adam Piggott, Will Tiller, 158
4. NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) Chris Steele, Josh Junior, Harry Hull, Shane Diviney, Josh Salthouse, 149
5. Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) Rob Bunce, Chris Taylor, Oli Greber, Sam Batten, Matt Brushwood, 149
6. Alinghi (SUI) Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Timothe Lapauw, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey, 147
7. Team Extreme (GBR) Stevie Morrison, Luís Brito, Frederico Melo, Tom Buggy, Linov Scheel, 117

extremesailingseries.com

Breath Easier
Racing hard offshore with a degree of comfort while also keeping out of the water was never an easy task

It’s not until things go badly wrong that you really get to find out what you’re made of. And in a spot it’s also when you need your clothing to work flawlessly to give you the best chance when battling adversity. Aiming to become the first female to circumnavigate Antarctica singlehanded was always going to be a mission for Lisa Blair, but then, when her mast crashed down after 71 days at sea, life suddenly became a whole lot tougher for the plucky Australian.

Blair was grabbing some sleep below decks when she heard strange noises outside as her Open 50, Climate Action Now, battled on autopilot through 40kt northwesterlies in the Indian Ocean. ‘I grabbed my lifejacket and was clipping on as I stormed towards the companionway hatch to get on deck in a real hurry. Just as I was almost there I heard the worst sound imaginable... the noise of metal screaming loudly as it rips apart.

Full article in the August issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

Olympic dream tossed aside to save mate's life
One moment, teen sailor Simon Hoffman was taking a key step towards his Olympic dream by competing in the 29ers World Championship off Los Angeles.

The next, he was in the midst of a life-and-death struggle more akin to a Hollywood blockbuster, under the hull of an upturned boat.

Approaching the first leg of the final race off Los Angeles's Long Beach last Saturday, he heard frantic screaming from a capsized boat 40m away.

The championship had been a key stepping stone in his dream to become an Olympian, but Hoffman now believes his higher purpose was to abandon the race, and instead save a life.

"Help! He needs help now!" a female voice cried out.

Hoffman's close mate, 17-year-old Irish youth champion and fellow competitor Johnny Durcan, was wrapped in ropes and submerged under his race yacht.

Hoffman and Spaniard Santiago Alegre, who also abandoned the race, worked desperately to release Durcan to get him to the surface. Asked how long Durcan was trapped underwater, Hoffman replied: "It could have been three minutes. Eventually, we managed to pull him out between the mast and the jib while ripping the ropes off from around him."

"He was unconscious and his eyes were open," Hoffman said. "Normally eyes are blue or brown, but the middle of his eyes were white. There was no life in them. We feared he was dead - and there was water gushing from his mouth."

By a quirk of fate, Hoffman had received intensive first-aid training three months before, as part of his bid to become a fully fledged sailing coach. Instinct and training kicked in. He took charge of the situation.

At one point, Hoffman turned to Alegre, and there was a silent acknowledgment that Durcan was most likely dead - but they did not give up. Finally, after five minutes on the boat, they received a sign.

"It was a slow blink on his right eye," Hoffman said. "It was a big difference from what we'd had for the last eight minutes."

Thirty seconds later, another sign: "He breathed through his nose once."

Soon after, Durcan's recovery gathered pace. He shakily sat upright. The US coastguard then backed up its boat to whisk Durcan to hospital.

Australian Sailing president Matt Allen said yesterday: "Simon's efforts show great bravery. We will do everything we can to ensure he is recognised. Everybody is so proud."

Durcan and Hoffman, both safely back home, now have a lifelong bond.

www.theaustralian.com.au

Nacra 17's foil on the bleeding edge
High performance design and development under pressure is what we expect at America's Cup level but that does not easily translate into Olympic Nacra 17 one design foiling multihull production, with the manufacturer using a host of cutting edge, (many would say bleeding edge )subcomponent suppliers and that is a lesson that World Sailing is learning right now.

We watched as Emirates Team New Zealand and the lesser lights used large teams of shipwrights to rebuild their foiling cats, well nigh experimental,night after night, but it's one thing to surgically modify a single racing machine in the wee hours, it's quite another to do the same thing when there is an Olympic one design class fleet anxiously competing ahead of Tokyo 2020, expecting to be able to train uninterrupted across the quadrennium in a settled design.

Drama at the Aarhus World Championship Test event in Denmark yesterday when the Olympic double handed multihull Nacra 17 class stopped sailing with the boats being 'recalled'.

The alarming message from World Sailing; 'The Nacra 17 medal races scheduled for Saturday 12 August are cancelled. World Sailing received a notification from Nacra Sailing on Friday 11 August stating that are recalling all foiling configuration Nacra 17s (including retrofitted versions) to replace the bearings for the dagger boards. Nacra Sailing has urged all owners not to sail these boats until the replacement bearings are fitted."

There were Instant visions of 45 foiling Nacra 17's on trailers lined up outside the Nacra Scheveningen office just north of The Hague in the Netherlands, with multihull crews fighting to get their boats back, now just a month before the World Championships off the French Mediterranean coast at The Grand Motte, which if the current problem is not resolved could even be cancelled.

It's not as bad as that fortunately but the fact is the design and manufacturing woes of the Nacra 17 class continues. -- Rob Kothe

Full article: scuttlebutteurope.com

Sir Thomas Lipton's America's Cup Launch Restored
Click on image to enlarge.

An historic motorboat that used to ferry around the rich and famous has been lovingly restored to its former glory and is now worth £2million.

The Gelyce, which sailed the America's Cup around in the 1930s, is now valued at the staggering figure following extensive restoration - two years after it was snapped up for around £20,000.

The elegant 50ft vessel, built in 1930 by Camper & Nicholsons, the oldest leisure marine company in the world, was given to legendary yachtsman Sir Thomas Lipton to be the tender for his J Class racing yacht Shamrock V.

Sir Thomas - a merchant who established the renowned Lipton tea brand - and his yacht challenged five times for America's Cup glory and enjoyed the company of sailing enthusiasts King Edward VII and King George V.

Both Gelyce and Shamrock V were then subsequently taken on by Sir Thomas Sopwith, for whom Camper & Nicholsons also built the America's Cup challenger Endeavour.

Gelyce was once again used as her tender to transport guests to the bigger boat, and ferry about spectators.

But the outbreak of war meant her life as a tender was relatively shortlived, and she was then used as a vessel in the barrage balloon effort to fend off low flying aircraft over the Solent in World War Two.

In 2015, she was purchased by engineer Wint Taylor, a wooden boat restoration enthusiast from West London.

Mr Taylor, 70, paid around £20,000 and has spent a further six figure sum on the restoration once it was dragged by tug to be worked on by Classic Restoration Services in Windsor, Berks.

The two J-Class yachts which Gelyce served for have also been lovingly restored at a cost of £20million each - and it's hoped they can now be reunited in competition.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Sea Jousting
Click on image to enlarge.

Sea jousting was a popular sport in the ancient world. The Egyptians created sculptures of brave jousters, and Romans picked up the past time too, filling their coliseums with water to conduct naumachia, or the reenactment of naval battles.

Today, the ancient maritime pastime continues in France. The epicenter is Sète, a town in the Languedoc, in the South, that held the first modern tournament back in 1666, and now has jousting schools that teach the art of la joute nautique.

The best time to see the sea jousting is now. Every August, as part of the annual festival Saint-Louis (16th-22nd), more than seventy competitions fill the canals, which swarm with boats and jousters taking aim at each other from their perches.

The south of France is accessible via major airports in Marseilles or Montpelier, but an affordable hub to make your approach is Barcelona. Drive across the Spanish border, through the foothills of the Pyrenees and pitstop at the old Roman amphitheater in Nimes see the bullfights or other local towns, now flooded for their annual festivals and fairs.

Sète is only a few hours drive, but make sure to book ahead. The jousts are the busiest time of the year, so make sure to book in advance and attend the modern naumachia prepared.

Featured Brokerage
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See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

-----------------------------------------

2017 Ker 33 - New Build. 189,000 USD. Located in China.

The first dual-purpose cruiser/racer from the McConaghy/Ker partnership. Huge promise whilst on the race track as usual, but some proper interior comfort.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Port Hamble
sampearson@ancasta.com

-----------------------------------------

2013 Botin 65 - Caro. POA. Located in La Ciotat, France.

Stunning cruiser / racer from the board of Botin. Extremely fast and comfortable, with a chic interior and very competitive inshore and offshore.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -- Edmund Burke

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Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

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