Alamitos Bay Yacht Club

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

New leader as MAPFRE jumps in front
It's nip and tuck at the front as MAPFRE eke out a narrow advantage over Dongfeng, while those at the back of the fleet are trying to avoid being swallowed up by a high pressure system...

Spanish crew MAPFRE broke the Leg 3 deadlock on Wednesday after 10 days at sea, snatching the lead from Dongfeng Race Team with just 1,500 nautical miles left to Melbourne. Xabi Fernandez's team overhauled long-time leg leaders Dongfeng shortly before 2200 UTC on Tuesday after navigator Juan Vila made the call to hug the Antarctic Ice Exclusion Zone (AIEZ).

Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng briefly regained the top spot when their choice of line around 35 miles to the north of the AIEZ put them closer to the finish, but a better angle on the west-south-westerly breeze resulted in quicker speeds for the Spaniards.

MAPFRE moved in front once more just after 0100 UTC and have since pulled out a 10-mile advantage over Dongfeng.

Although the leg is far from over, it is a significant moment for the two duelling teams, both of whom were tipped as pre-race favourites and who finished first and second respectively in Leg 2 from Lisbon to Cape Town.

At 1300 UTC speeds onboard the back three had dropped to between 10 and 14 knots and the wind was as low as seven knots - an ominous sign.

"We have a high pressure chasing us down and a barrier we must stay north of," said Dee Caffari, skipper on sixth-placed Turn the Tide on Plastic. "All the pressure is to the south where we are not allowed to go. As a result we risk being swallowed up and arriving much later to Melbourne than those ahead who will squeeze through. Damn it!"

The biggest impact will be on AkzoNobel, who could find themselves crossing the finish line as much as three days after the frontrunners.

An arrival that late will heap unwanted pressure on Simeon Tienpont's men to turn the boat round in time for the start of Leg 4 to Hong Kong on January 2.

"Melbourne is a pitstop (in terms of working on the boat) so the rules say we can't replace spares or have more than two shore crew working on the boat," AkzoNobel boat captain Nicolai Sehested said. "We have a diverse team with lots of skills though and I'm sure we can have the boat race ready pretty quickly once we get to Melbourne."

Leg 3 - Position Report - Wednesday 20 December (Day 11) - 13:00 UTC
1. MAPFRE -- distance to finish - 1,679.2 nautical miles
2. Donfeng Race Team +10.9 nautical miles
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing +108.6
4. Team Brunel +139.0
5. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag +304.4
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic +400.2
7. team AkzoNobel +469.1

volvooceanrace.com

* Wednesday December 20th British sailor Annie Lush was able to be back on deck for a few hours. The British sailor of Team Brunel had been lying in her bunk for more than 72 hours after she injured her back last weekend. At the moment Lush isn't able to join the watch system yet.

Skipper Bekking: "Annie was back on deck for two hours, just sitting, but at least some fresh air and not feeling constraint laying in her bunk, a big mental boost for her."

"The last few days the whole team cooperate together to look after her the best way we could. We will keep doing that the next few days till we are in Melbourne."

Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar
In support of SailAidUK

Three days of voting and we're just under 1000 votes cast. Heading up the "Elsewhere" category with a narrow lead is The Clarke Cooke House in Newport Rhode Island USA. Close behind is the Pensacola YC Grill Room Bar.

In the Caribbean category, the St. Thomas Yacht Club leads the field, with strong second and third place showings from The Soggy Dollar and Foxy's.

Voting is open until December 29, send your crew, friends and family to scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars

Try this vintage Vodka drink while you're making your choice:

Pear Haymaker
Vodka, ginger beer, and muddled pear make for a tart and refreshing cocktail perfect for sipping on a cold evening.

For the Ginger Syrup
1⁄4 cup sliced, peeled ginger
1 cup sugar

For the Cocktail
4 oz. Wight Vodka
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 pear, chopped, peeled, and cored (Anjou, Moonglow, Bosc, or any finely textured and fragrant pears are best)
Ginger ale, to top

Instructions
Make the ginger syrup: Combine sliced ginger, sugar, and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Strain out ginger solids and discard, reserving syrup in an airtight container.

Divide chopped pear between two 12 oz. tall glasses; muddle in each glass with a wooden muddler. Pour 2 oz. vodka over the pears in each glass, and fill with ice. Add 1/2 oz. ginger syrup and 1/2 oz. lemon juice to each glass, stir to combine, and finish with ginger ale to top.

This recipe makes two. Best to share, but OK by me if you down them both...

Vote!

scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars

More teams than bases a possibility for 2021 America's Cup
Plans for the America's Cup to be hosted on Auckland's waterfront may be unable to accommodate all parties interested in competing in the 2021 regatta.

The Auckland Council and the Government are working through the logistics of hosting the event, with discussion around the infrastructure required in the city's downtown waterfront to do so.

Plans were revealed this month allowing room for eight bases - one for Team New Zealand and seven for challengers - at the proposed $140 million Wynyard Basin site. However, Team New Zealand chief executive Grant Dalton told Newsroom as many as 10 challengers were interested in taking part.

While the 10 were interested, Dalton said he didn't expect all of them to front up.

"We can only create eight bases, including one for ourselves. You could say it's a nice problem to have if there are more teams, but I actually don't know where they'd go," Dalton told Newsroom.

"Seven challengers still pose quite a logistical issue for the city. Not only with the bases and the building of the infrastructure, but with accommodation. If there are around 100 people in each team, plus families - that's 250 in a team. I think if we had seven, that would be just fine.

www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/

Rolex Sydney - Hobart Race Preview
Alby Pratt, Sales Manager of North Sails Australia, previews this offshore classic

The SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Sydney Harbour is always a spectacular preview to the Rolex Sydney - Hobart Yacht Race (RSHYR) . Are you surprised that Black Jack took the win over Wild Oats?

It looks like Black Jack is a stronger boat upwind in lighter air and Wild Oats is stronger upwind in heavier air, probably due to the modifications that Wild Oats has done. The same applies downwind. Once upon a time, Wild Oats was a very strong light-air boat but she seems to have given some of that away. Mark Bradford and Vaughan Prentice from North Sails Brisbane both sail on Black Jack so they were obviously really happy to have won, but the SOLAS results shows a slight shift in focus for Wild Oats to optimize for the full range of conditions that they will see in the Sydney - Hobart.

The RSHYR is one of the pinnacle offshore races in the world and one of the biggest sports events in Australia - what do you think makes this event so special and why should it be on every offshore sailor's bucket list?

There is a lot of history behind the race. This is the 73rd year; long enough to become a stalwart of offshore races. It is always a tough race-you know that you will get a range of conditions while you are out there. You are also pretty much guaranteed to be going upwind in heavy air at some point during the race; 30 knots plus for a period of time. And the smaller boats will likely see two weather transitions during the race so they will have to deal with two frontal systems, which makes it that much harder. When you do complete it, to have come through all that and arrive in Hobart the feeling of achievement is so much sweeter!

Full interview: northsails.com/sailing/

On Course for a Record Entry
The 2018 RORC Caribbean 600 will start on Monday 19th February and teams from all over the world will be competing, lured by the thrilling conditions to race 600 miles around 11 Caribbean islands. Two months prior to the start, 53 entries have already been received and the race starting from Antigua is on course to eclipse the record entry of 80 boats last year.

George David's American Maxi Rambler 88 will be hot favourite for line honours and George Sakellaris' American Maxi 72 Proteus will be attempting an unprecedented third overall win under IRC. For the 10th anniversary of the race over a quarter of the early entries are yachts around 50 feet (15.24m), which should produce a phenomenal battle and potentially the winner of the coveted RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy.

Jens Kellinghusen's German Ker 56 Varuna has confirmed participation; the new canting keel carbon flyer boat had to retire from the RORC Transatlantic Race, but intends to sail to Antigua to make the start of the race.

Eric de Turckheim's Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine was the overall winner of the RORC Transatlantic Race and can be counted as one of the favourites for the RORC Caribbean 600. Last year in a former boat, de Turckheim's team was third overall and winner of IRC One.

Adrian Lee's Irish Cookson 50 Lee Overlay Partners and Ron O'Hanley's American Privateer have both won the race overall and will be back for the 10th edition. They form the experienced pair of canting keel yachts in this size range, but will have two more formidable opponents from Germany; Tilmar Hansen's Elliott 52 Outsider and Jens Kellinghusen's Ker 56 Varuna.

Debutants to the race in the 50-foot range include three-time Giraglia Rolex Cup winner Franck Noël, racing Swiss TP52 Near Miss with French Jules Verne and match racer, Benoit Briand on the team. Two young German teams competing for the first time are JV53 Bank von Bremen, owned by the SKWB and skippered by Jan-Paul Gundlach and HVS-owned JV52 Haspa Hamburg skippered by Torben Muehlbach.

www.caribbean600.rorc.org

Custom fit
The current Volvo race crews benefit from a new lifejacket harness created for the event... but now ready for you!

In June 2016 Spinlock kicked off with a development map for the design and production of a new lifejacket harness for the Volvo Ocean Race crews. The company has been supplying personal safety equipment used by the Volvo teams since 2005, but for 2017-18 race organisers approached Spinlock and asked them to develop the next-generation lifejacket for their sailors.

Here was an opportunity to develop a lifejacket harness for this specific race involving a specific type of sailing, rather than teams using an off-the-shelf product. The brief was to develop the latest and best in personal on-deck safety for the sailors.

With delivery required for May 2017, and a lengthy ISO approval to consider, the project was always going to be challenging. However, Spinlock's work with the Land Rover BAR team during the previous 24 months, developing a bespoke lifejacket for their America's Cup campaign, meant they were well set up and running. Plus the Volvo Race was keen to assist and assembled a group of specialists led by Brunel crew Abby Ehler to help steer the design team in quickly grasping what crews wanted from a new system.

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

Inaugural J80 Champs Set for Howth Yacht Club's Sportsboat Cup
100 Boats To Gather for One Design Event

15 boats are expected to enter the inaugural J80 National Championships when it features as part of the line-up of Howth Yacht Club's Sportsboat Cup next May.

The event will run over three days at the end of May, Friday the 25th thru Sunday the 27th. Download the Notice of Race document below.

Eight classes are invited to race with two classes choosing this regatta for their headline events for the 2018 season; as well as the Irish J80 Nationals the event will serve as the 1720 Europeans for a second time.

The resurgence of the Irish J24 fleet means they are expecting their best turnout in Howth since the the Worlds were here in 2013.

The Half and Quarter Tonners will be combining their resources to reach the critical mass for racing boats of their time and ilk without having to contend with some heavy cruisers as is their usual expectation under IRC.

SB20's are no stranger to Howth so with their fleet growing and becoming more active due to the Europeans being in Dun Laoghaire at the end of the summer expect to see crews use this opportunity to get plenty of race practice under their belt.

'With the demise of the Royal Alfred Yacht Club Baily Bowl One Design event in Dun Laoghaire, it is hoped that there will be strong showing from the North on their bank holiday weekend and they will travel south again with their RS Elites to a new venue in Howth, says event organiser Ross McDonald.

Another class new to HYC will be the Flying Fifteens who's sizeable Dublin Bay Fleet won't have far to come to get involved at what HYC is promoting as 'Ireland's Premier Sportsboat Regatta'.

While not a new venue, it has been a long time since an International Dragon graced the north-side waters between Ireland's Eye and Lambay Island for some competitive racing, it will be the right weekend for them to rediscover what the racecourse and hospitality have to offer after a long absence.

To cater for up to eight classes racing and aiming to get in the full compliment of nine races planning is well underway for multiple race courses. The race management teams have excellently run all the windward-leward race, losing only one race over the previous events in challenging conditions. 'We are due for some good breeze this year to get the heart rate up with some downwind blasts', McDonald says.

There could be up to 100 boats racing and that will lead itself to plenty of action and a bustling atmosphere ashore. It is a great support that the two previous overall event winners - Flor O'Driscoll with Hard on Port, 2014 and Tom Durcan & Clive O'Shea with T-Bone, 2016 will be bringing their crews to compete again in 2018 hoping to regain and hold on to their title for another two years.

afloat.ie/sail/

Event entry: hyc.ie/events/207-sportsboat-cup/entries/new

Seasickness prevention and cure: the good, the bad and the dreadful
If there's one thing guaranteed to suck the fun out a day boating, it's an attack of the dreaded seasickness. Whether you're a salty old sea dog or wet behind the ears, motion sickness can still strike

So, what can be done to prevent it?

Medicines include:

- Prochlorperazine maleate
- Buccastem
- Hyoscine patches
- Scopoderm seasickness patches
- Sturgeron
- Biodramina seasickness tablets

Natural remedies include:

- Ginger Root
- Acupressure wristbands
- Driving the boat or having any job to concentrate on
- Lying down flat or staring at the horizon
- Crisps.

Yes really. There's no rational explanation why eating a fatty, salty snack would help but anecdotally we hear that they can do wonders. Readers of YBW.com have singled out pickled onion Monster Munch and ready-salted crisps for special mention. If this works for you, then we can't see a reason not to do it.

Details in Georgina Terry's article in Yachting & Boating World:

www.ybw.com

Featured Brokerage
1973 Maxi Racer 20m One Off - PHANTOM. 325000 EUR. Located in West Coast, Italy.

An absolute gem of a yacht. Built originally for the founder of Wally Yachts, she offers sublime sailing performance and beautiful lines. Maxi Racer 20m One Off that’s been constantly updated and absolutely ready for the next owner.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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

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1997 Volvo 60 (modified) - Bou Dragon. 230000 EUR. Located in The Hague, Netherlands.

Launched originally as "Silk Cut", she quickly established herself as the fastest ocean racer on the water and held the 24hr record for a number of years. In more recent times, she was known as “SEB" and now "Bou Dragon", where she has been meticulously maintained and modernised by her current owner.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Auckland
sampearson@ancasta.com
+44 2380 016582
+64 277733717

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2008 R/P 63. 650000 USD. Located in California

ASZHOU is seriously for sale.
New North sails in 2017, and in stunning condition
Call for her details

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
William Jenkins
410 267 9419
410 353 7862

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

The Last Word
There is greater comfort in the substance of silence than in the answer to a question. -- Thomas Merton

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
A nice run to Hobart | Freyja, a 1945 timber yacht, ready to set sail in Sydney Hobart | Wild Oats Crew: 301 Starts | Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar | Pushing to the limit on the race to Melbourne | Land Rover BAR share 35th America's Cup Bermuda Sustainability Report | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Jon Sanders Completes a Record 10th Circumnavigation | Titanic's Shoe Ghosts | Samantha Davies and Tanguy de Lamotte, on course for Barcelona | Featured Brokerage | Back On Wednesday The 27th

A nice run to Hobart
The Bureau of Meteorology has given the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet an early Christmas present - speaking at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia this morning, Bureau of Meteorology's Manager, Weather Services NSW, Jane Golding, delivered a forecast that points to a fast, mostly broad reaching and running race.

"The race will start in a moderate east/south-easterly breeze around 10 knots," Golding expects, "and the winds will shift around to the north-east during the afternoon., to around 15 knots off Batemans Bay."

All four models the Bureau use point to the nor'-easter building overnight and the next day to around 20 to 25 knots in Bass Strait and down the Tasmanian coast, and those favourable winds will hold into the 28th as well.

The models are split about a weak southerly front that will develop on the southern Tasmanian coast on the 28th, but Golding describes the change as fickle, and it may not even reach the fleet before it is pushed out to sea by a big High in the Tasman.

It is a wonderful forecast for the Line Honours favourite, LDV Comanche, this month purchased by Australian Jim Cooney. In these conditions, the wide, powerful 100 footer should expect to pull away from her narrower rivals Wild Oat's XI, Black Jack, and InfoTrack, which, as Perpetual Loyal, broke the race record in somewhat more robust but similar weather last year.

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

Freyja, a 1945 timber yacht, ready to set sail in Sydney Hobart
Andrew Miller has sailed the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 15 times, but his 2017 attempt at the iconic race looks set to be his slowest.

Not because of bad weather or unexpected complications, but simply because he will be skippering one of the oldest vessels in the fleet - the graceful 1945 timber ketch Freyja.

While the super-maxis are likely to scoot quickly down the Australian coast, Freyja will be persevering at the back of the fleet.

"[I approach the race] with patience," Mr Miller said.

"It's not going to be the fastest trip in the world, that's for sure; in fact, it'll probably be the slowest boat I've ever been to Hobart on."

Freyja's history dates back more than 70 years to the United States and after researching her history, Mr Lees said she was launched in Alameda, in California in 1945.

Freyja arrived in Australia in 1979 - the same year her 2017 skipper Andrew Miller competed in his first Sydney to Hobart race.

The yacht had to be taken apart plank-by-plank in a restoration job that took about six months.

Freyja's crew is hopeful she will be competitive in the cruising division of the race.

Mr Miller estimates that in good conditions, travelling at five knots, Freyja should arrive in Hobart on the afternoon of December 31, five days after leaving Sydney.

www.abc.net.au/news/

Wild Oats Crew: 301 Starts
When the knife-like bow of the supermaxi, Wild Oats XI, carves across the start line in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day the 20-man crew will have an astonishing 301 starts in the classic to their credit.

On top of that, three of them - skipper Mark Richards, Steve "Mothy" Jarvin, and kiwi Robbie Naismith - will have been aboard for every one of the yacht's 13 starts since being launched in 2005.

In total, the number of nautical miles covered by the entire crew in Hobart races is the equivalent of Wild Oats XI having sailed more than eight times around the world - or more than three-quarters of the way to the moon. Steve Jarvin lays claim to the most race starts with 28, followed by Iain Murray with 23.

Wild Oats XI, owned by the Oatley family, was scheduled to be out of the water for much of today day for a final hull polish. At the same time technicians were finishing repairs to the yacht's instrumentation which was damaged when lightning stuck the top of the mast early last Sunday.

On the crew front, skipper Mark Richards said today it was unlikely that the yacht's regular Hobart race navigator, Juan Vila, would be aboard for the Hobart race. Vila is currently navigator aboard Mapfre, which is leading the fleet towards Melbourne in the Volvo round-the-world race.

Richards said current indications are that Mapfre would not reach the finish in time for Vila to jump ship and get to Sydney before the Hobart race start.

"It's a scenario we had always planned for," Richards said, adding that prominent Australian navigator and offshore sailor, Ian "Fresh" Burns, would be aboard for the Hobart race.

Meanwhile, Wild Oats XI's "little sister", the 20-metre long Wild Oats X, has undergone some minor modifications this week in preparation for the Hobart race.

Skipper, Troy Tindill, said it was hoped that the changes would increase the yacht's chances for winning the race on corrected time. He said that the most significant change was strengthening the bowsprit so a more powerful headsail could be carried in light conditions. -- Rob Mundle

Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar
In support of SailAidUK

Just a week of voting left for this, our ninth annual contest. A dozen finalists going for two awards this time: Best Caribbean and Best Elsewhere. Caribbean entries include those that haven't yet returned from hurricane devastation. Here's hoping they all do, as soon as possible.

This world can certainly use a few more drinks on the beach...

For those who are in colder climes this time of year, another great Vodka drink to warm the soul...

The Frosted Blitz

2 oz. Wight Vodka
3/4 oz. triple sec
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/4 oz. cream
1/2 oz. agave nectar
2 dash of Angostura bitters

Combine all ingredients except cream in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass. Add cream and stir with a cinnamon stick. A dollop of whipped cream and ground cinnamon to taste.

Two things left on your list:

1. Go to sailaiduk.com and give to help the Caribbean marine industry rebound.
2. Vote for your favourite yachting bar (pick two, one from each category)... Voting closes at midnight UTC on December 29th.

scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars

Pushing to the limit on the race to Melbourne
It's been a physical battle and a mental challenge as the crews fight off exhaustion on a final push to the south...

MAPFRE extended their lead over rivals Dongfeng Race Team on Thursday as Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race entered its closing stages.

While the finish line isn't quite in sight, the most physical element of the battle is in the rear-view mirror for the leaders.

Determined to notch up another victory after winning Leg 2 from Lisbon to Cape Town, MAPFRE skipper Xabi Fernandez has been pushing his crew to the absolute limit as they close in on Melbourne.

In an effort to stay in front of Dongfeng after snatching the Leg 3 lead from them on Wednesday, MAPFRE gybed 16 times in less than 12 hours overnight as they skirted the Antarctic Ice Exclusion Zone (AIEZ).

It was twice as many as Dongfeng opted for, with each gybe requiring an incredible physical effort from each crewmember, not to mention the slowing of the boat through the gybing process.

Yet the hard work paid off - and at 1300 UTC MAPFRE had more than doubled their lead of yesterday to 30 nautical miles, with less than 1,300 miles of the leg remaining.

The current ETAs see MAPFRE and Dongfeng arriving on December 24 (UTC); Vestas, Brunel, Scallywag and Turn the Tide on Christmas Day; and AkzoNobel on December 27.

Leg 3 - Position Report - Thursday 21 December (Day 12) - 13:00 UTC

1. MAPFRE -- distance to finish - 1,285.2 nautical miles
2. Donfeng Race Team +30.2 nautical miles
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing +122.8
4. Team Brunel +158.7
5. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag +335.8
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic +401.1
7. team AkzoNobel +575.8

volvooceanrace.com

Land Rover BAR share 35th America's Cup Bermuda Sustainability Report
Six months after returning to the UK from Bermuda - where the team were based for the 35th America's Cup - Land Rover BAR are now sharing their learnings and achievements in the Bermuda Sustainability Report; namely that large sporting events present a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and a positive impact in the communities where they are hosted.

The report covers the activities undertaken in preparation for and during the team's relocation to the island at the end of 2016, through to their return home to Portsmouth in July 2017, and has been created in collaboration with the team's Exclusive Sustainability Partner, 11th Hour Racing.

Land Rover BAR was publicly launched in June 2014, with the goal to win the America's Cup alongside becoming one of the most sustainable sports teams in the world. In these three years the team have scored many firsts, one of which was to become the first professional sports team in the UK to construct and operate from a BREEAM excellent standard building.

Read the Report

Seahorse January 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

World news
The TJV-TGV Express, Yves Le Blevec and Actual appear to be heading the wrong way, the Chinese-Kiwi connection gets stronger, Tom Slingsby finds a way to ease his Cup pain and more about that offshore Olympic gold. Ivor Wilkins, Patrice Carpentier, Thomas Coville, Sam Davies and Dobbs Davis

New kids - very new boats
What is it with Argentina and yacht designers... enter two more disrupters

Treat yourself
It's no longer a state secret but it's still a hell of a way to spend a week in April

Now it's foot to the floor
A ludicrously tempting event just hit a whole new level of performance

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.

Jon Sanders Completes a Record 10th Circumnavigation
Fremantle, NSW, AUS: Ocean Cruising Club Honorary Member Jon Sanders AO OBE CitWA left Rottnest Island on the last leg of his mostly single-handed circumnavigation last week. The passage was approximately 500nm. He arrived in Carnarvon, WA aboard s/v Perie Banou II, an S&S 39, on Wednesday the 20th of December, 14 months after departing Fremantle. Once again Jon has accomplished the extraordinary, fuelled by his mantra, "Why be ordinary when I can be original?" The 78-year old, who underwent open heart surgery in 2015, achieved yet another historical milestone in an extraordinary sailing career.

A native of Fremantle and schooled in Perth, Jon began his sailing career at a young age. He started breaking records and became the darling of the Australian Press when he completed a solo triple non-stop circumnavigation in 1988 aboard s/v Parry Endeavour, a 71,000 NM journey that took 658 days to complete. He won the hearts of Australians the world over and Parry Endeavour now takes pride of place next to the 1983 America's Cup winner Australia II in the Fremantle Maritime Museum.

Jon's website has the following achievements reported among many more:

1970 First solo circumnavigation trip east to west mostly sailing through tropics.
1981-2 Double nonstop solo circumnavigation west to east via Southern Ocean.
1988 March 13th returned from 658 days 21 hours and 18 minutes at sea, completing three non-stop solo circumnavigations. Guinness Book of Records as longest distance ever sailed continuously by any vessel (71,023 nautical miles).

www.jonsanders.com.au

Titanic's Shoe Ghosts
More than 100 years after RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, all that remains of the more than 1,500 people who perished is their shoes and other personal belongings. This video explains why.

www.soundingsonline.com/news/shoe-ghosts

Samantha Davies and Tanguy de Lamotte, on course for Barcelona
The British sailor has confirmed her pre-registration for the Barcelona World Race 2018/19 teaming up with French yachtsman Tanguy de Lamotte. The exceptional duo join the list of 15 teams who have also announced entries for the double-handed round the world regatta in 2018/19.

Samantha Davies (Portsmouth, 1974) is one of the world's most experienced yachtswomen who is well-liked and well-known for her tenacity and competitive edge. Samantha Davies surprised and delighted transoceanic sailing fans in 2008 with a fantastic fourth place finish in the Vendee Globe with Roxy, a boat which was built two generations behind the latest models racing in the round the world solo challenge. The British sailor returned for the next edition of sailing's 'Everest' but was unfortunately forced to abandon the race when her yacht was dismasted.

The pair know each other well having already joined forces for the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 and 2017. Tanguy is a naval architect and began racing the oceans when he built his own Mini Class boat for the Mini-Transat 2005. He then moved into the Class40s, also building a boat for himself. He soon became an expert in the 40 footers and won the World Championship in 2008, the Solidaire du Chocolat 2009 and the Fastnet Race in 2007 and 2010. He joined the IMOCA class in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2013, later taking on the Vendee Globe 2013, finishing in a respectable 10th place. In the latest edition of the round the world solo challenge he was unfortunately forced to withdraw with rigging damage.

www.barcelonaworldrace.org

Featured Brokerage
2001 CNB 93 - SAVARONA. 2,450,000 USD. Located in Palma de Mallorca.

Great looking sailing yacht which is available fresh from a nautical makeover of epic proportions including decks, paint, interior and all systems.Gleaming.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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2011 Comar 100 RS - SHADOW. 4250000 EUR. Located in Cyprus.

Epic sailing yacht with metallic livery and totally sparkling sailing. Below decks she is light, airy and comfortable for her guests and crew.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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2014 Jeanneau Sun Fast 3200. 99000 EUR. Located in Lelystad.

Very well maintained and fast Jeanneau Sun Fast 3200 ready to go. She is treated with hard antifouling (black). Every year she is taken outside on the hard. Every two year she is put on the hard for 4 months. The other year they sail winterseries.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Bach Yachting

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

Back On Wednesday The 27th
Your humble narrator will be celebrating the season with family and friends and working once again on the "perfect egg nog" that has eluded him for more than half a century. Off for a few days, back on Wednesday.

May your days be merry and bright.

The Last Word
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight-
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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

Rolex Sydney Hobart Start
Grey skies could not diminish Sydney's enthusiasm for the start of its seminal ocean race. Crowds flocked to the foreshore and the Heads, while an assortment of vessels filled the harbour as the 102-boat Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet set off on the great adventure south. Peter Harburg's 100-foot Black Jack led the length of the harbour and out into the open sea, hotly pursued by LDV Comanche and Wild Oats XI.

Starting at 13.00 local time in 5-7 knots of easterly breeze it was a slow glide out of the harbour rather than the furious pace of recent years. Once out into the Tasman Sea the wind built slightly to 8-10 knots and backed a little to the north opening the angle and allowing yachts to hoist reaching headsails.

The sedate start caught fire as the leading yachts approached the ocean turning mark. Wild Oats XI, on port, appeared to tack on top of LDV Comanche, on starboard, in a move more reminiscent of an inshore regatta rather than a 628nm bluewater race. The message was clear. No quarter will be given in the clash of the titans engaged in the dash to be first to finish. Comanche protested the manoeuvre of Wild Oats XI; the outcome will not be known until after the finish.

The forecast is for the winds to build steadily as the afternoon draws on and turn further to the north east. An increase in the wind speed will be a relief to the crews who had to endure a sloppy, uncomfortable sea state as they began their march to Hobart.

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

'Way too close!'
Jimmy Spithill screams at Sydney-Hobart rival as multi-million dollar boats come within inches of collision

A near collision between two of the race favorites marked a dramatic start to the 73rd edition of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race today.

Supermaxis LDV Comanche and Wild Oats XI nearly collided after a tack from the eight-time line honors winner Wild Oats X1 15 minutes into the race start brought it within just a few meters of LDV Comanche, which appeared to fly a protest flag.

In an easterly breeze of around eight knots, another supermaxi Black Jack led LDV Comanche by one second around the first turning mark and was first out of the Sydney heads. Wild Oats XI turned in third, a minute behind the first two, with Wild Oats X fourth ahead of InfoTrack.

The 630-nautical mile race from Sydney Harbour will see 102 yachts, including 27 international entries, make their way down the New South Wales state south coast and across often treacherous Bass Strait on their way to the island state of Tasmania.

The fleet will be pushed along by favorable 15 to 25 knot north-to-north easterlies into Wednesday, putting the race record of 1 day, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds set last year by InfoTrack (racing as Perpetual Loyal) at risk.

View the video of the near colllsion: www.tvnz.co.nz

Record on the cards, but ...
In the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the two leading supermaxis LDV Comanche and Wild Oats XI are heading to a race record finish in the Derwent tonight.

They are each sailing down the Tasmanian east coast at 20-30 knots before a strong north-easterly wind, LDV Comanche 11 miles ahead of the eight-time winner.

The computer prediction shows a finish for both after 7pm tonight, though that could extend to the later evening once they turn at Tasman Island and tackle Storm Bay and the river. The good news is that the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a continuing north-easterly in the river tonight, which, while not from a favourable direction, at least represents continuing wind.

To break Perpetual Loyal's 2016 race record of one day, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds, the first boat must be in before 0231 tomorrow.

Should LDV Comanche maintain her lead, it could render irrelevant her protest against Wild Oats XI for a tacking incident between the two shortly after the race start in Sydney. Oats had the opportunity to complete a 720-degree penalty but chose not to, indicating she feels she did nothing wrong.

Therefore, with a penalty of a minimum five minutes at stake, if Wild Oats XI crosses first, the line honours result could depend on the outcome of an international jury hearing in Hobart of the Comanche protest.

Wild Oats XI had managed to close the gap during the morning despite ripping the top out of the headsail most suited to the conditions. Skipper Mark Richards reported that the yacht had sailed "bare-headed" - mainsail only - for some time while the remnants of the damaged sail were recovered and a new sail set.

Corrected time honours are between the next wave in the fleet, with Matt Allen's new TP52 Ichi Ban ahead of last year's winner, the Volvo 70 Giacomo, now sailing as Wizard under its new American owners, Peter and David Askew.

The fleet stands at 101, with one retirement, the German TP52 Rockall, which suffered a broken rudder south of Eden this morning, The NSW Water Police boat Falcon was due to rendezvous with Rockall late this morning and is likely to take her in tow and head back to Eden, a slow passage that could take about five hours or more. -- Bruce Montgomery

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

Marlow Ropes End Of The Year Review
Rigging transantarctic polar explorers, supplying rope for aerospace exploration and being the official rope supplier for a portfolio of leading sailors, clubs and competitions are just some of the news stories from Marlow Ropes this year. In their new End of Year Review you can find out about all of Marlow's Leisure Marine and sailing projects and partnerships from the work they did this year with Landrover BAR, the Clipper Race and the US & GB Sailing Teams to working with young entrepreneurs and supporting youth sailors. For those interested to know about the extensive markets that Marlow operates in, catch up on news about the work they do in the event and film rigging industry, rope access and industrial sectors.

2017 has been a huge year for Marlow Ropes and 2018 is set to be even better, as MD Jon Mitchell comments on here:

"2017 saw an expansion in our workforce (both in our UK head office and US offices) and machine capacity to help us satisfy growing demand. Much effort has gone into reducing waste and increasing recycling over the course of the year, again a continuing theme for 2018.

Our sales and marketing teams have been busy attending 20 exhibitions in 2017, from local UK shows, to international exhibitions in Europe, The Middle East and the USA. We've also seen a dramatic increase in our on-line marketing presence and subsequent engagement with our customers. Next year we hope to build on the success of 2017 and to that end further office and factory expansion plans are already on the drawing board.

It just leaves me to thank all our customers for their business and loyalty, but perhaps most importantly all of the hard working and dedicated employees in Hailsham, UK and Plymouth, USA, without whom none of what you read in the subsequent pages would be possible. Thank you and here's to a successful 2018."

To view the interactive 2017 End of Year Review 'The Core' click here: user-bov5GFj.cld.bz/Marlow-Ropes-The-Core-Yearbook-2017

MAPFRE first into Melbourne
The Spanish Volvo Ocean Race team MAPFRE won Leg 3 from Cape Town, South Africa to Melbourne, Australia, a 6,500 nautical mile dive into the fierce challenges posed by the Southern Ocean.

For the second consecutive leg, MAPFRE needed to come from behind to earn the victory. And for the second time in a row, it was Dongfeng Race Team they passed mid-stage, to snatch the win.

"We had to fight very hard for this victory," skipper Xabi Fernández said moments after crossing the finish line. "There's so much of the race to go. But for now it's looking good and we're very happy of course."

The Southern Ocean pushed the teams to the limit. Extreme cold, storm force winds for days on end and towering seas posed massive seamanship challenges, let alone allowing for racing and tactics.

But of all the teams on Leg 3, MAPFRE had the highest work rate in terms of manoeuvres, which allowed them to stay in more favourable conditions for longer than their opposition. It was a powerful statement by a very strong crew.

Leg 3 - Provisional Results - at Tuesday 26 December (Leg 3, Day 16) at 0700 UTC:
1. MAPFRE -- FINISHED -- 16:07.21 UTC, December 24 - 14 days, 04h:07m:21s
2. Dongfeng Race Team -- FINISHED - 20:10:16 UTC, December 24 - 14 days, 08h:10m:16s
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing -- FINISHED - 21:52:11 UTC, December 24 - 14 days, 09h:52m:11s
4. Team Brunel -- FINISHED - 23:36:27 UTC, December 24 - 14 days, 11h:36m:27s
5. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag -- FINISHED - 01:06:31 UTC, December 26 - 15 days, 13h:06m:31s
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic-- FINISHED - 03:52:50 UTC, December 26 - 15 days, 15h:52m:50s 7. team AkzoNobel -- RACING

Volvo Ocean Race - Current Leaderboard
1. MAPFRE -- FINISHED -- 29 points (after Leg 3)
2. Dongfeng Race Team -- FINISHED -- 23 points (after Leg 3)
3. Vestas 11th Hour Racing -- FINISHED -- 23 points (after Leg 3)
4. Team Brunel -- FINISHED -- 14 points (after Leg 3)
5. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag -- FINISHED -- 11 points (after Leg 3)
6. team AkzoNobel -- RACING -- 7 points (after Leg 2)
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic -- FINISHED -- 6 points (after Leg 3)

volvooceanrace.com

Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar
In support of SailAidUK

A horserace for "Best Elsewhere" bar...

A new leader (just barely) has emerged in the voting with the Pensacola Yacht Club edging the Clarke Cooke House by about 100 votes as the totals approach 2000 votes.

A reminder of why Pensacola is so beloved by sailors... aside from "the friendliest bartenders, great food, daily specials, spacious deck, spectacular view of the PYC marina at the mouth of Bayou Chico with a beach on Pensacola Bay"... the infamous Frozen Bushwackers. A sneaky drink and desert all on one big glass.

4 ounces cream of coconut
2 ounces coffee liqueur (tia maria,kahlua)
1 ounce rum (black)
1 ounce Creme de Cacao
4 ounces half-and-half
4 ounces vanilla ice cream
plus a dash secret ingredients and a cherry on top.

Bushwackers come in pitchers delivered to boats finishing the Gulfport-Pensacola Race. Crews then sleep on the lawn under the oaks.

Voting continues until midnight UTC Friday December 29th. Winners notified on New Years Eve.

Give to help the Caribbean marine industry: sailaiduk.com

VOTE! scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars

The Hermione, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean
Following on from her epic journey to the Americas in 2016, the Hermione is now preparing to set a course for the Mediterranean. On 30 January 2018, the Frigate of Liberty will cast off from her port of registry in Rochefort for a 4.5-month voyage with some 350 young 'topmen' aboard, around a hundred of whom have been rallied together by the International Organisation of La Francophonie, partner to the Hermione-La Fayette Association.

The programme was unveiled at the Paris Boat Show: La Rochelle (1 to 20 February), Tangiers (9 to 13 March), Barcelona (24 March), Sete (27 March to 2 April), Toulon (5 to 9 April), La Ciotat (10 April), Marseille (12 to 16 April), Port-Vendres (20 to 22 April), Bastia (27 to 29 April), Portimao (9 to 10 May), Pasaia (18 to 20 May) and Bordeaux (10 to 13 June).

www.hermione.com

Glamour!
Persico Marine and Umberto Felci (both Italian of course) have been adding some turbo to the luxury performance market

'If you can dream it, you can do it,' said Enzo Ferrari. His 125 S, the first car ever to sport the prancing horse, was unleashed from its Maranello stable 70 years ago and soon recorded Ferrari's first grand prix win. Enzo had never shown any interest in building anything except racing cars, but he dreamed it, and in 1950 he did it, with the 166 Inter, Ferrari's debut grand tourer. That worked out pretty well.

Comparisons between Ferrari and Persico are obvious: passion, craft, innovation, excellence and a track record of success. They also share vision, the ability to identify a gap in the market and to own it. In the (very) grand touring market the Italian yacht builder is redefining performance superyachting through its collaboration with Wally Yachts, but, as CEO Marcello Persico wryly noted, 'Not many people are looking for maxis and superyachts.'

In the custom build of a 65-footer Marcello believes he has spotted a new gap in the performance cruising market. He plans to own it with the Felci65.

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

Industry News
Navionics and a group of other marine industry and tourism organizations said they plan to remap marine and inland waterways impacted earlier this year by Huricane Irma. The September hurricane has altered shorelines and bottom contours in South Florida.

Navionics and a group of companies that include Sea Tow, Power Pole, West Marine, Yamaha and others, have announced a month-long event in which Florida boaters will record sonar logs and upload the data to Navionics so that the company can re-map any impacted waters.

Navionics says the depth data will be processed and made available as an updated SonarChart 1 ft HD bathymetry map. It will also share debris locations with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which will have them physically removed. Navionics Nautical Chart will also be updated to include coastline corrections, Notices to Mariners, and the integration of future NOAA Chart editions when issued. The company will also publish any updates on its website while make them easy to download for plotter information.

www.navionics.com/RemapSouthFlorida

plus.ibinews.com

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Industry veteran and former America's Cup and Olympic sailor Jerry Richards, has been appointed as Vice President of Henri Lloyd North America. Jerry has worked in the marine industry most of his life and in North America for over twenty years having transitioned from the UK in 1993.

He brings an unequaled amount of technical apparel experience as Henri Lloyd moves forward in the next phase of their North America development. Henri Lloyd North America has been based in Atlanta GA. for over twenty years and lead by Tom Healey and his team in Alpharetta.

Paul Strzelecki, Chairman of Henri Lloyd says
"Jerry and I have known each other for the last 30 years having met while he wore our clothing sailing on the British Olympic and America's Cup teams during the 80's. He brings a breadth of experience from across the Marine industry. All of us are excited about this next leg of our journey in North America. He will manage our existing team in Atlanta along with John Faus who joined us in the summer as a manufacturer's rep for the North East".

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The Moorings and Sunsail have announced that after months of work, its charter operations in Road Town, Tortola, have reopened. Owned by a joint parent company, the two firms now have a fleet of more than 100 yachts available for charter. The company said more than 130 new boats, representing an investment of US$66.5m, will reach the bases in early 2018.

"The road to recovery has not been easy, but we simply couldn't be more thrilled about reopening our base in the British Virgin Islands, and in such a timely manner," said Josie Tucci, vice president of sales and marketing. "The humanitarian response from customers, partners, and employees following September's hurricanes was overwhelming, and the tenacity of the local communities has been nothing short of inspiring. We believe it is this heartfelt combination of commitment and resilience that has helped us come back so quickly."

The two companies recently established the Caribbean Comeback fundraiser. All monetary contributions will go toward its employees in the British Virgin Islands, St Martin and Puerto Rico employees. The efforts will include delivering much-needed generators, gas stoves, and building materials.

plus.ibinews.com

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Is bureaucracy in the Mediterranean hampering the enjoyment of yacht ownership?

During a recent interview with SuperyachtNews, the experienced owners of a busy 30m+ charter motoryacht raised certain issues pertaining to operating a commercial yacht in the Mediterranean. These owners, let's call them Mr and Mrs X, voiced frustration with the increasing difficulty they have with planning their yacht's summer season due to varying levels of bureaucracy throughout the region.

"Most of the conversation we have about the boat focuses on where we can go cruising next year without a lot of red tape and officialdom breathing down our necks," explains Mrs X. "It is very frustrating for us that this continues to dominate any planning we do and dictates any decisions we make with regards to itineraries."

"We are a conspicuously compliant boat, and we want to be that way, so we have to be very alert to different nations changing their minds about how they treat yachts," adds Mr X. "Each spring we have to sit down and look at what the Mediterranean regulatory map looks like for the season. While it is interesting to find out where you can go and under what circumstances you can go there, it's a very inharmonious situation and we would like to have a bit more freedom."

The south of France is one yachting region in the Med to have recently fallen victim to changes in regulations, in this case regarding bunkering and social security, and its these types of developments and changes that these owners take note of. "Lots of governments are changing their minds on a repeated basis, and some probably with good intentions but often with poor outcomes," continues Mr X. "France, for example, is seeing far fewer boats this year and I don't think that is quite what the government had in mind."

www.superyachtnews.com

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Yanmar has acquired sailboat propeller manufacturer Flexofold to expand and strengthens its position in the recreational marine industry.

Flexofold will retain its brand and continue to operate from Denmark, while Jack Skrydstrup, founder of the company, will remain as special adviser focusing on R&D and product development.

Flexofold was established in 1992 by Mr Skrydstrup, who started developing low drag folding propellers after many years of experience in hydrodynamics.

www.boatingbusiness.com

Letters To The Editor - editor@scuttlebutteurope.com
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.

* From Eddie Mays:

I have just realised that the London Boat Show is only on for FIVE DAYS.

How long has this been going on? When did this happen? Do the organisers know that the World is going to end on January 15th?

How the mighty have fallen!

Featured Brokerage
2005 Swan 100-201 Aquarius Alfa. 5,150,000 EUR. Located in Athens, Greece.

Aquarius Alfa was built for a passionate yacht owner who implanted his extensive knowledge gained during the construction of several previous yachts to help Nautor achieve the perfect blue-water performance cruiser.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

2011 Comar 100 RS - SHADOW. 4,250,000 EUR. Located in Cyprus.

Epic sailing yacht with metallic livery and totally sparkling sailing. Below decks she is light, airy and comfortable for her guests and crew.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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

Swan 100-103 Hoppetosse. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Hoppetosse is a superyacht and masterpiece built by Nautor’s Swan and launched in 2006. She combines the performance of a racing yacht with world-class comfort and opulence. The Swan 100 FD's deck lines give the yacht a very impressive sleek and racing oriented look.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

The Last Word
I said to a bartender, 'Make me a zombie.' He said 'God beat me to it.' -- Rodney Dangerfield

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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

Wild Oats XI first across the line in battle on Derwent
Mark Richards has steered the Oatley family's Wild Oats XI to her ninth Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours victory after a protracted battle with Jim Cooney's LDV Comanche on Tasmania's River Derwent this evening, reclaiming the race record Anthony Bell's Perpetual LOYAL took from her last year.

Wild Oats XI smashed last year's record of one day 13hrs 31mins 20secs by after crossing the Castray Esplanade finish line at 21:48:50 this evening, in the new time of one day 8hrs 48mins 50secs, taking 4hrs 42mins 30secs of Perpetual LOYAL's time.

This is a record ninth line honours for Wild Oats and a third record - nobody in the history of the race has achieved this honour before.

But will she hold on to line honours? LDV Comanche is flying the protest flag she raised after an incident after the start and then advised in the first sked she would be protesting Wild Oats XI. LDV Comanche must file her protest within six hours of finishing.

But in the meantime, Richards and his 20 crew members were celebrating their victory to huge cheers at the dock in Hobart tonight, spraying Champagne Mumm over each other as the huge crowd waited for LDV Comanche to also finish.

The J.H. Illingworth Trophy looked set to be in the hands of Jim Cooney, who recently purchased the 2015 boat dubbed the 'aircraft carrier' due to her girth. Boat and crew revelled in the strong north-easterly wind, but in the end, Wild Oats XI held her ground and showed her superiority in the extremely light breeze both boats found on rounding Tasman Island that at times stopped both yachts in their tracks. -- Di Pearson

rolexsydneyhobart.com

Clipper Race - Rolex Sydney Hobart ETAs
Just 16 nautical miles separate the top half of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race fleet, as the eleven teams begin their final 24 hours of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Australian Skipper of Sanya Serenity Coast and veteran of eleven Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races, Wendy Tuck, has some work to do, with the reigning Clipper 70 Class champion dropping out of the lead overnight.

Wendy, who was the first female Skipper across the line in Hobart in 2015, and her Sanya Serenity Coast team are currently estimated to finish sixth, arriving between midday and 1600 on Friday 29 December (0100 - 0500 UTC).

PSP Logistics, whose Skipper Matt Mitchell is competing in his second Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, is currently in line to take out the Clipper 70 Class win, after gybing away from the rest of the pack. Whilst the move initially saw the team drop from first to eleventh position, it has certainly paid off, with the team currently estimated to arrive first between 0900 and 1300 Friday 29 December (2200 - 0200 UTC).

Visit Seattle's Nikki Henderson, who is both the youngest Skipper in both the Clipper Race and Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, is currently battling Qingdao, GREAT Britain, and Unicef for a spot on the podium, and is estimated to arrive between 1100 and 1500 Friday 29 December (0000 - 0400 UTC).

More than 200 crew from all walks of life and representing 26 different nationalities are taking part in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, which doubles as Race 5 of the Clipper 2017-18 Race.

The Clipper Race fleet will be berthed at the King's Pier Marina. After ringing in 2018 in Hobart, the teams will then turn their attention to the final stage of the All-Australian Leg 4, from Hobart to Airlie Beach, where the crew will be welcomed by the Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival, which will run from 13 to 29 of January.

clipperroundtheworld.com

Where Sailing Comes First but the Rum is a Close Second?
Big warm seas, consistent trade winds, challenging round the buoys racing and the best shoreside parties in the Caribbean sum up the phenomenon that is Antigua Sailing Week. Preceded by an optional race, the Peters & May Round Antigua Race featuring 52 nm of perfect pre-ASW tune up for new teams, followed by five days of racing off Antigua's south coast and interrupted by a beach day, this is a regatta not to miss.

Classes include Big Boat, Racing, Sport Boat, Cruising, Multihull, Bareboat and Club Class. Daily prize givings at Antigua Yacht Club are legendary as is the final awards party hosted in historic UNESCO-accredited Nelson's Dockyard.

Bragging rights, the best silverware and a photo op with the Queen's representative, the Governor General mean you get the best of all worlds - professionally run race management, incredible history and Caribbean beaches, parties and English Harbour Rum.

Mix that with a Fever-Tree ginger beer and you have the Perfect Storm.

www.sailingweek.com

HP30 Class
Class numbers have grown substantially in the last five weeks, since RORC Rating agreed to support the class; generously helping to re-establish the class limits.

In recent weeks the fleet size has increased from a committed five boats, to eight solid entries for the whole season. With six more coming from overseas to participate in the bigger events of the series, including, the Round the Island Race and Lendy Cowes Week, the fleet size is expected to be in the mid-teens, by summer.

The class has now been offered class starts for the International Paints Poole Regatta 2018, Round the Island Race and Lendy Cowes Week, where the boats will enjoy a four day mini-series regatta at the beginning of the week as well as the more traditional courses for the balance of the competition.

In addition to these events, the HP30 Class is continuing to discuss Class starts and extracted results at the other events listed.

The consensus is that the Points Series competition must be easy to enter, with teams having to participate in no fewer than five events to qualify. The final score for the season will be determined from each team's best four scores from the events listed below:

- Royal Southern May Regatta
- Vice Admiral's Cup
- International Paints Poole Regatta 2018 & HP30 Nationals
- Royal Southern June Regatta
- Round the Island Race
- Royal Southern July Regatta
- Lendy Cowes Week
- Dartmouth Regatta
- Royal Southern September Regatta
- HP30 Points Series Finale

London Boat Show 10th : 14th January
The HP30 Class will be represented at London Boat Show, on the boardwalk at the heart of the show. HP30 Class Manager Joe Hall will be on stand LD090B ready to answer any questions and talk through the various options available to owners and teams wanting to get involved.

hp30class.com

World Sailing Show
The World Sailing Show gets aboard Phil Sharp and Pablo Santurde' s Class 40 Imerys for a full-on, double handed 4,000 mile sleigh ride south to see how the pair took the coveted overall season title.

Also heading south, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet descended on Cape Town. With 7,000 miles under their belts, stomachs were starting to churn among the crew at the thought of the next 6,500 across the notorious Southern Ocean - they tell the World Sailing Show why. What will make the new America's Cup boat be so quick? Cup guru Grant Simmer explains in an exclusive interview.

We take a look at two major new world records set at very different ends of the scale. We also find out how to compete in a world championships without getting your feet wet. Plus, were back in China, this time for the Youth World Championships.

- Volvo Ocean Race Leg 2 & 3
- How & why the new America's Cup boat will work
- Aboard Imerys - How the Class 40 season title was won
- eSailing World Championships
- Gabart smashes solo world record
- Youth Worlds Sanya, China

Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar
In support of SailAid UK

A close race for the Best Caribbean Bar with four bars within 50 votes of each other.. St. Thomas Yacht Club, Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke, Willy T's on Norman Island BVI and The Soggy Dollar also on Jost Van Dyke.

Jost Van Dyke is a short hop from St. Johns (your humble narrator did it on a Mistral Superlight sailboard MANY years ago... ) and years ago, the bar got its name from the soaked currency pulled from pockets... as patrons had to anchor and swim ashore. The "Painkiller" drink was born at the Soggy Dollar.

They took a hell of a hit from hurricanens this past fall.

While declaring "the bar isn't going anywhere," the bar's owners have set up a fund to rebuild not just the bar but the other businesses and beaches on JVD. From a statement sent out October 18:

"We are currently in the demolition & stabilization phase here at Soggy Dollar Bar after the devastating visits from Hurricane Irma & Maria, but we assure you that the bar isn't going anywhere! The destruction and tragedy wrecked upon the Virgin Islands are shocking, yet the spirit of the islands will never quit and its a miracle to witness. Our little island of Jost Van Dyke is true to this spirit. Its tiny community is strong and determined - even in the face of this devastation. 'And though she be but little, she is fierce.'- Shakespeare"

Information on where to send funds to the Soggy Dollar - Virgin Islands Community Fund:

www.pubclub.com

To vote for your favorite bars (one from the Caribbean, one from Elsewhere...)

Go to scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars

* A note to the techies and mobile readers headed to that URL to vote.... A faster experience in store for those who prefer to read Eurobutt on the web: If you're using Chrome as the browser on your mobile device, you'll get a prompt to "Add to Screen". That will add an icon, which fires up our Progressive Web App. Faster than normal mobile web and the ability to read pages "offline" without a connection... a bit of whizbang code written by Google and enabled by your humble narrator. Who can do this for YOUR website, chat me up at editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

AkzoNobel completes tortuous third leg of Volvo Ocean Race
Team AkzoNobel has arrived in Melbourne, Australia at the end of the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race around the world - a punishing 12,000 nautical-mile passage through the wilds of the Southern Ocean from Cape Town, South Africa.

The international crew of seven men and two women led by Netherlands yachtsman Simeon Tienpont finished the leg in seventh place, well behind the rest of the fleet, after badly damaging the mast and mainsail of their Volvo Ocean 65 racing yacht in strong winds and big seas four days after leaving Cape Town.

The damage occurred when the boat capsized during a gybe in 45 knots of wind and mountainous waves on December 14 deep in the Southern Ocean close to the Volvo Ocean Race's Antarctic Ice Exclusion Zone.

The impact of the wipe-out wrenched large sections of the mainsail track off the back face of the mast, broke several of the horizontal carbon battens that help give the sail its aerodynamic shape in the wind, as well as puncturing the mainsail itself in several places.

Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18, a complex 11,000-kilometer northerly passage from Melbourne to Hong Kong, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday January 2 - meaning the weary team AkzoNobel sailors will have just four days recovery time ashore before they are back in competitive action once again.

Team AkzoNobel crew list for Leg 3:
Simeon Tienpont (NED) - skipper
Brad Farrand (NZL)
Justin Ferris (NZL)
Martine Grael (BRA)
Emily Nagel (GBR/BER)
Chris Nicholson (AUS)
Alex Pella (ESP)
Jules Salter (GBR)
Nicolai Sehested (DEN)

Omega 24h speed record in Leg 3 Volvo Ocean Race for Team Brunel
Team Brunel took the Omega 24 hour speed record for Leg 3 on Sunday December 25th. Team Brunel took the 24 hour record for this Southern Ocean stage with a distance of 538.1 nautical miles. A distance good for an average speed of 22.4 knots.

Bouwe Bekking: "We are getting closer to the podium. In the last days of the past leg even literally. It's nice that we take such a record, but the process is way more important. As long as every next day is better than the day before, things are going well. The learning curve of both the (young) individual sailors and the team as a whole is high at the moment. "

Huisman: "I think the Omega 24 hours record shows that we have done everything to really push the boat and ourselves. Especially in the second part of the stage when it was a little bit less windy. In the end we came close to the leading pack but it was not enough, not yet. "

www.teambrunel.com
www.volvooceanrace.com

Crew Changes for Leg 4
Dongfeng Race Team has called up Justine Mettraux for Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Melbourne to Hong Kong.

The Swiss sailor, who competed in 2014-15 as part of the all-female Team SCA, will join the Chinese entry as they sit second overall in the 2017-18 edition.

She will replace French Olympian and four-time Nacra 17 world champion Marie Riou, who is taking a break from Charles Caudrelier's crew as part of a planned rotation after a brutal and relentless Southern Ocean leg, and will return for Leg 5 from Hong Kong to Auckland.

www.volvooceanrace.com

The British sailor Annie Lush, who faced an injury last week in Leg 3, will not be part of the Team Brunel crew leaving Melbourne and heading to Hong Kong on January 2, 2018 for Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Lush needs to focus on her recovery first. Lush is replaced by American Sally Barkow, teammate of Lush and Ehler in the previous Volvo Ocean Race on board Team SCA.

Lush was examined at the hospital on the 25th of December after arriving in Melbourne. The research had shown that she has broken two bones in her foot and one in her back. An operation is not necessary, rest is sufficient.

www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

A Unique Race for All
The 2018 Antigua Bermuda Race will start on May 9, 2018, organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week. The 935 mile offshore race is supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Goslings Rum. Yachts of 40ft and over will be racing under the IRC, ORCsy, PCS and the CSA Racing Rules, with the latter amended to permit boats to use their engines, subject to a time penalty.

Early entries for the second edition of the Antigua Bermuda Race promise a variety of yachts, including hi-tech ocean racers, luxury bluewater yachts and performance cruisers. In addition, Gosling Rum continues their support, ensuring a superb party in Nelson's Dockyard Antigua prior to the start, and a memorable Prize Giving at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. It is expected that many of the 25+ Atlantic Anniversary Regatta participants will join the race in anticipation of their July race from Bermuda to Hamburg.

Fresh from their success as overall winners of the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race, the first leg of the Atlantic Anniversary Regatta, Eric de Turckheim's Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine has confirmed their entry and will be a strong contender for the IRC Racing Division.

Oyster Yachts Chief Executive Officer, David Tydeman has confirmed that there will be an Oyster Class for the Antigua Bermuda Race.

Jeremi Jablonski's American Hanse 43 Avanti was runner-up in both IRC and the CSA Classes last year and returns full of enthusiasm for the Antigua Bermuda Race: "First of all you have the safety of travelling in a large organised group, and the friendly competition brings more excitement to our passage making," commented Jablonski. "The camaraderie before, during and after the race makes it a very unique event, as you can meet racing and cruising sailors alike."

antiguabermuda.com

Featured Brokerage
2001 CNB 93 - SAVARONA. 2450000 USD. Located in Palma de Mallorca.

Great looking sailing yacht which is available fresh from a nautical makeover of epic proportions including decks, paint, interior and all systems. Gleaming.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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

2004 90' McConaghy Custom Racer. 745,000 USD. Located in Annapolis, MD United States.

RAGAMUFFIN 90 is now on the market and our latest central listing. Built as GENUINE RISK in 2004.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Please contact William Jenkins at 410-267-9419

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

2002 IRC Maxi - LA BETE. 600,000 EUR. Located in Toulon, France.

La Bete has undergone a winter refit in 2016 / 2017 of full servicing and checking, conversion of the primary winches to hydraulic and many more upgrades, this IRC Maxi (LA BETE) offers superb value for money in a competitive package ready for the Maxi Worlds and regattas all over the globe.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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

The Last Word
Malaria is a disease that kills one to three million people a year. 300 to 500 million cases are reported. It's estimated that Africa loses about 13 billion dollars a year to the disease. Five dollars can save a life. We can send people to the moon; we can see if there's life on Mars - why can't we get five-dollar nets to 500 million people? -- Jacqueline Novogratz

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
Ichi Ban is No. 1 - Matt Allen wins Rolex Sydney Hobart | LDV Comanche awarded line honours after protest | Pierre Casiraghi winner at YCM Awards - Trophee Credit Suisse 2017 | Dongfeng Race Team appoint Franck Cammas for Leg 4 | Team Brunel Brings In Experienced and Talented New Powers | Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar Competition | New kids - very new boats | Tinsley's Laser shines at the Brass Monkey | Spinlock IRC Welsh Championships | Everett Pearson | Featured Brokerage

Ichi Ban is No. 1 - Matt Allen wins Rolex Sydney Hobart
Matt Allen's new TP52 Ichi Ban has been declared the overall winner of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2017 - and Allen, the president of Australian Sailing, can hardly believe it.

"It hasn't sunk in yet. It's been 34 years since we won on Challenge II with Lou Abrahams," said Allen, who was Abrahams' boat captain. "In 1992 I finished second with Morning Mist (Alf Neate) - but this is special, because it's my boat," he said after beating Bob Steel's Quest to the punch by just over 20 minutes, and Tony Kirby's Patrice by an hour.

Among the pre-race favourites, the Sydney yachtsman has personally won a multitude of yachting trophies with his variety of Ichi Bans (translates to No 1 in Japanese), but not the Tattersall Cup, although he has come close a couple of times. Last year after featuring in the top two throughout the race, the fickle Derwent decided otherwise, taking its toll on a few boats.

His last Ichi Ban (originally known as Shogun V and sailing this race as Envy Scooters Beach Ball 52) finished fifth last year and his Jones 70 was fifth in 2007.

Ichi Ban has also finished second overall in the ORCi category, where Quest reversed the trend by winning. Third was the Italian Cookson 50, Mascalzone Latino owned by Vincenzo Onorato, but skippered by Matteo Savelli in his absence.

This afternoon Matt Allen and his crew of Gordon Maguire, navigator Will Oxley, Anthony Merrington, Tim Sellars, Stephen Thomas, James Corrie, Sean O'Rourke, Wade Morgan, Harry Bethwaite, William Sykes, Charles Kosecki, Jeremy Rae, Davin Conigrave and Craig Garnett will celebrate "with some nice wine - the boys will have beer and wine and I dare say Customs House and lunch at Shipwrights Arms is on the cards." -- Di Pearson

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

LDV Comanche awarded line honours after protest
LDV Comanche has been awarded Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours after its protest against Wild Oats XI was heard by the international jury late this afternoon.

International Jury Chairman, John Rountree said: "Wild Oats XI on port had to keep clear of LDV Comanche under Rule 10. Wild Oats XI failed to keep clear while tacking - Rule 13. LDV Comanche luffed to avoid a collision - Rule 14. Wild Oats XI did not comply with Sailing Instruction (S.I.) 20.1a to do a two-turn penalty for breaking the rule of part 2 occurring prior to clearing mark Zulu. The decision is in lieu of disqualification, penalised a time penalty of one hour to be added to her elapsed time in accordance with Sailing Instruction 20.1b and SI 22.1."

Like Wild Oats XI, LDV Comanche finished inside last year's record time, so the new record is one day 9 hours 15 minutes 24 seconds. She finished 26 minutes behind Wild Oats XI, but the latter's one hour penalty means Comanche takes line honours by 34 minutes from Wild Oats XI.

After the hearing, Jim Cooney said: "I think it's entirely fair and reasonable that the jury acted as they did. When you're dealing with boats of this size and this calibre, we are at the elite level of our sport, and the boats have to be conducted responsibly in fair respect of the conditions and the impact that your manouvres might have.

"I felt very strongly that wasn't the case," Cooney said. "The rules are there to protect the people and the boats and if we can't rely on that it's a difficulty in the sport."

Cooney said the way they won the race has not taken any gloss off the sport. "The race is about how you conduct yourself and how your crew performs and how the boat performs. We feel we sail to the best of our abilities and (to win) justified our boat's performance and the crew's preparation."

Wild Oats XI's skipper, Mark Richards and Sandy Oatley representing the Oatley family, were gracious in defeat.

Richards said, "Obviously we're very disappointed, but the international jury had a job to do. They saw the incident the way they saw it, we saw it a little bit differently, but the result is the result and we have to respect the decision of the jury."

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

Pierre Casiraghi winner at YCM Awards - Trophee Credit Suisse 2017
The YCM Awards - Trophee Credit Suisse crowned a busy year that saw Yacht Club de Monaco sailors competing all over the world, and was attended by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.

The Club's 2,000 members voted Pierre Casiraghi YCM Sailor of the Year. After two years on the GC32 circuit, the Club's Vice-President started offshore racing on Malizia II, an IMOCA 60' which joined the fleet in June 2017. It proved a highly successful year, including 3rd place in the Rolex Fastnet Race.

The Club's Vice-President was competing for votes with other YCM owners/helmsmen who graced podiums in 2017: Lord Laidlaw, Vladimir Prosikhin, Vincenzo Onorato (title holder), Orel Kalomeni, Kostia Belkin and Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio.

In the Youth Awards, the Optimist category was won by Logan Viciana, who leads the 23-strong Monegasque team that qualified for the World Championships in Thailand. Jeremy Moutout triumphed again in the Lasers, after a successful first year in the Laser Standard where he won the Mediterranean Championship.

Looking ahead, the Club is organising two new international events: Monaco Swan One Design (27-31 March) which opens the Nations Trophy Mediterranean League 2018 for ClubSwan 42, Swan 45 and ClubSwan 50 classes, and Monaco Globe Series (1-8 June), a 1,400nm offshore race for IMOCA 60s and qualifier event for the Vendee Globe.

From Monaco, teams head down Corsica's west coast to Sicily via the Strait of Bonifacio, then back to Monaco via the Balearics.

But first, the 9th Monaco Optimist Team Race (11-14 January) and Act IV of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series (19-21 January).

www.yacht-club-monaco.mc/en/home-en/

Dongfeng Race Team appoint Franck Cammas for Leg 4
Following an injury to Dongfeng Race Team navigator Pascal Bidegorry, the Chinese-flagged entry in the Volvo Ocean Race has called up Franck Cammas, one of the stars of French sailing.

The skipper of the recent French America's Cup campaign - Groupama Team France - and a former Volvo Ocean Race winner as skipper of Groupama 4 in the 2011-12 edition - Cammas is standing in at the last minute as replacement for Bidegorry who sustained a rib injury on Leg 3.

Cammas, aged 45 from Lorient in Brittany, will sail as navigator on board Dongfeng alongside skipper Charles Caudrelier, one of his closest friends in professional sailing and a former crew member on Groupama in the 2011-12 campaign.

Cammas scrambled at 12 hours notice to get to Melbourne from his home in France and will arrive tomorrow afternoon local time as Dongfeng Race Team prepares for the start of Leg 4 from Melbourne to Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Neil Maclean-Martin the Dongfeng Race Team human performance manager, said Bidegorry's injury will take time to heal. "Pascal sustained an injury to the joint between one of his ribs and the sternum when a wave hit the cockpit and he fell against the supporting bar of the wheel," he said.

"As with all rib injuries, this is painful and restricting. Frustratingly there are only a few things we can do for treatment to support the natural healing process."

The full Dongfeng Race Team crew for Leg 4 from Melbourne to Hong Kong is as follows:

Charles Caudrelier (FRA) - skipper
Franck Cammas (FRA) - navigator
Daryl Wislang (NZL) - watch captain
Jeremie Beyou (FRA) - watch captain
Carolijn Brouwer (NL) - trimmer
Justine Mettraux (SUI) - trimmer
Kevin Escoffier (FRA) - bowman
Chen Jinhao 'Horace' (CHN) - bowman
Jack Bouttell (AUS/GBR) - bowman

volvooceanrace.com

Team Brunel Brings In Experienced and Talented New Powers
Jens Dolmer (DEN), Sally Barkow (USA), Sam Newton (AUS) and Rome Kirby (USA) join Team Brunel in the Volvo Ocean Race for Leg 4 from Melbourne to Hong Kong. The foursome will take the positions of Louis Balcaen, Annie Lush, Alberto Bolzan and Peter Burling. The fleet will leave Melbourne on Tuesday January 2nd.

Bouwe Bekking, the most experienced skipper of the fleet, explains: "It was always the plan that Burling and Balcaen went home after this leg. Burling has sailed everything from the start and also has some America's Cup obligations in the coming weeks."

"That we had to replace Annie after her injury is obvious. We felt we need to give Alberto some extra recovery time after this heavy Southern Ocean. This is sport at it's highest level and you have to be 100% fit. Better to take rest now and return later in the race."

"We are really happy with Sally Barkow stepping in for Annie. I know Sally a bit from the previous edition when she was on board Team SCA with Abby and Annie. Both of them are more than confident that she will fit in our Team Brunel."

Crewlist Team Brunel Leg 4
1. Bouwe Bekking - NED - skipper
2. Andrew Cape - AUS - navigator
3. Carlo Huisman - NED
4. Jens Dolmer - DEN
5. Kyle Langford - AUS
6. Sam Newton - AUS
7. Rome Kirby - USA
8. Sally Barkow - USA
9. Abby Ehler - GBR
10. Yan Riou - FRA - OBR

volvooceanrace.com

Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar Competition
In support of SailAid UK

ONE DAY LEFT TO VOTE. Voting closes at midnight UTC Friday. The winners will be called on New Year's Eve and announced here in our next issue for Tuesday January 2nd.

While you cast your last votes, we recommend this lovely concoction... the Christmas Mule.

A holiday twist on the classic Moscow Mule. No need for pewter mugs for this one... the colors deserve a clear view.

For the Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
8 ounces frozen cranberries (2 cups)
1 tablespoon finely grated lime zest

For the cocktail
2 ounces Wight Vodka, chilled
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice, plus 3 thinly sliced lime rounds, for garnish
4 ounces ginger beer (1/2 cup), chilled *

* I recommend Barretts, as I've had so much of it in Bermuda where it combines with Goslings Black Seal Rum for their National Drink the Dark n Stormy. But to paraphrase Will Rogers... I never met a ginger beer I didn't like.

Make the Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup:

Stir together sugar, cranberries, lime zest, and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high, stirring constantly, until cranberries just start to burst, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat; let cool completely.
Refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.

Make the cocktail:

Fill a 12-ounce glass with ice cubes. Stir in vodka, lime juice, ginger beer, and 3 tablespoons cranberries and syrup from Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup. Garnish with lime rounds.

Sip, gulp, and vote!

scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars

New kids - very new boats
Wilson Marquinez are following the tradition of free-thinking Argentine designers ready to break the old moulds wherever they see opportunity

Argentina's track record for producing some of the world's foremost (and most disruptive) yacht designers is underscored by the latest offering from the young Wilson Marquinez Design House: the MW680F.

At 6.80m this small, very light yet stable design bridges a gap in high-performance sportboats between the fastest class keelboat and a true foiling sportboat. With a crew of three, the 680F is low freeboard but decked over in the bow to shed water, has racks rather than trapezes for easier manoeuvres, a lifting 1.6m bulb keel, and 40m2 of sail to propel only 300kg in boat weight plus another 250kg in crew.

Getting around in this 'wet mode' the boat will be fast, but when fitted with adjustable V-foils it takes off like a rocket with boat speed projected to match wind speed over about 10kt of true wind. The rake of the T-rudder needed for foiling is pre-set for the wind conditions with the main foil being controlled to maintain longitudinal stability over the foiling range. Launched as a one-design, the MW680F features a single jib, one main and one asymmetric spinnaker that is shaped more like a Code 0.

Full story in the January issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

Tinsley's Laser shines at the Brass Monkey
Graham Tinsley from the host club sailed consistently to take the win at the YDSC Brass Monkey, which forms part of the GJW Direct Sailjuice Winter Series. Entries were oversubscribed weeks before the event although some of those from the Midlands struggled to make the journey due to heavy snowfall in their area.

Arriving on the day sailors were greeted to a bleak northerly gusting up to 25 knots and temperature hovering around 0 degrees, but luck was with the PRO Phil Whitehead (who had to chip ice off the course board during the briefing) as the breeze swung to a preferable north-westerly at 15 knots and the mercury rose to a balmy 1 degree.

Fleets were split into three starts with the "slow" boats off first. At the first windward buoy it looked like Graham Tinsley would lead but he took turns for an infringement leaving the OK of Tony Woods to lead the fleet. On the downwind one energetic Laser sailor decided it was getting too warm so went for a quick swim in the icy water. In the "middle" fleet more singlehanders were hitting the front, this time the Blaze of Charlie Chandler and Finn of Hector Simpson who had a fantastic battle all day.

It was no surprise to see the colourful kite of 49er Matty and James Lyons hoisted first of the "fast" boats as they flew through the fleet, but after a slow start it was the Musto Skiff of Jono Shelley who sailed well enough to take the win followed by Graham Tinsley, Chris Pickles/Matt Sharman (RS400), Hector Simpson, and the Laser Radial of Oliver Blackburn.

Next up in the series is he Grafham Grand Prix on 30 December

www.sailjuiceseries.com

Spinlock IRC Welsh Championships
The date for the '2018 Spinlock IRC Welsh National Championship' is 17th to 19th August (Friday to Sunday) - a long weekend packed full of great racing and fun ashore

We will be providing racing in the world-renowned sailing waters of Cardigan Bay with the majestic backdrop of the mountains of Snowdonia and the rugged coastline of the Llyn Peninsula.

The Championship will feature three separate race courses; IRC Fleets, Sports-Boat Class and Cruiser Class - Something for everyone.

Notice of Race is published and available

Entry Form - The easy to use on-line entry form is now open and ready for you to enter. We do not require your IRC certificate at this time - so just your details and general information about your boat - sail number and that sort of stuff! Start here

Prize Draw - All entries made before 31st December will be included in the Prize-Draw.

www.ircwelshchamps.com

Everett Pearson
Here's a life to really celebrate! Neither I, nor J/Boats, nor sailing in America would be where we are without him. Everett Pearson may be the grandfather of production auxiliary fiberglass boatbuilding, selling 17 Pearson Tritons at the 1959 New York Boat Show. But, he was Rod's and my 3rd brother that made J/Boats happen. Rod had a design, I had $20,000 and a marketing plan.

But, it was Everett investing in the tooling and start up costs at two plants in Fall River MA and Warren RI, starting from scratch in 1977 to be building 36-J/24's per week by May '78. Everett was "all into" what he believed, racing the boats he built, continually looking for new ways to build them. J/80 was one of the first built with the "SCRIMP" process.

A "can-do" inspirational leader and team player. To appreciate the impact Everett had on sailing in America, consider this: Of 26 boats in the American Sailboat Hall of Fame, Everett built 5 them. The Triton, Ensign, J/24, J/35, and Freedom 40. Doubtful anyone will ever match that. Bon Voyage, my friend. Thanks for the ride! Save me a place on your crew up there. -- Bob Johnstone

www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

Featured Brokerage
Swan 90-708 Alix. 5,300,000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Another successful collaboration between German Frers and Nautor, the Swan 90S 'Alix' is the quintessential performance cruiser combining elegant and powerful lines with Finnish quality to achieve an aggressive beauty. The anthracite grey colour scheme and customized four-cabin interior with Wengé and tinted oak give Alix a modern edge while maintaining the classic and timeless appeal of a Swan yacht.

Alix has been maintained to the highest level and benefits from two substantial maintenance periods in 2014 and 2015. The new engine, carbon standing rigging and complete paint job have kept her looking and working like new.

The yacht is MCA LY2 coded for commercial use and was inspected by MCA in September 2017.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
http://nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

2000 Swan 80-003 Conquistador. 1,850,000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

CONQUISTADOR’s condition can quite simply be summed up in one word – stunning. She has been continually maintained and cherished her throughout her life by professional crew for very discerning owners. She has also had the benefit of numerous upgrades during construction and post building.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
http://nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

1996 Eric Goetz Maxi 80. 320000 EUR. Located in Kiel Germany.

One of the original Iconic Maxi yachts is now available.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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

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

Back on Tuesday January 2nd
Another Monday holiday will see our return on Tuesday January 2nd. A Happy New Year to all and to all a good night!

The Last Word
And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been. -- Rainer Maria Rilke

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
Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar Competition | Tony Ellis makes it 50 Sydney Hobarts | Dorade Takes Second in its Divisions at Rolex Sydney Hobart | Treat Yourself - Charleston Raceweek | Clipper Race's Hotelplanner.com Ends 2017 On A High | Leg 4 to Hong Kong: "Technical, tricky, full of opportunity" | Seahorse Sailor Of The Month | Entry Period Open for 36th America's Cup | Gale-force Grafham brings a White/Sweet Christmas for the Nacra F18 | Big year beckons for Irish SB20 sportsboats | Featured Brokerage

Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar Competition
And the winners are...

Best Caribbean Bar: St. Thomas Yacht Club

Best "Elswhere" Bar: Pensacola Yacht Club

Full report in the Wednesday January 3 isse.

scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars

Tony Ellis makes it 50 Sydney Hobarts
When David Gotze/Michael Cranitch's Triton docked in Hobart on finishing the 2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart, Tony 'Ace' or 'Grumpy' Ellis became only the second person to sail 50 of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's race - only Tony Cable had gone then before him.

And yesterday, Ellis came face to face with Bill Ratcliff, who at 81 had just ticked off his 49th -and hopes to be standing in Ellis' and Cable's shoes next year.

Ellis is taking it in his stride - he doesn't get all the fuss. He has been sailing at an international level for far too long - America's, Admiral's and Clipper Cups. He's done it all, including the 50 Hobarts.

The Sydneysider explains the memorable part of the 2017 race. "A fantastic owner who was prepared to put it all on the line, upgrading the boat and putting on new sails. Jacko (old mate Jack Goluzd) Gotzey (Gotze) and myself were very hard on putting together a very, very good crew. It was one of the happiest and most go-fast orientated crews I've been lucky enough to sail with.

"From our point of view on Triton, we didn't want a sleigh ride, but you have to go with what you're given. We've got a boat that is a good all-rounder, great upwind and good in up to 18-20 knots downwind.

"With the TP52s and so on, skiffs on steroids, we don't have any answers for them in a sleigh ride and it's very obvious, although we had a great race down the river with Koa. We'd run out of breeze, she'd run out of breeze. The front was coming down and she'd hit it like a twin turbo racing car when a gust hit. But upwind, now Triton has been reconfigured by Andy Dovell, we had it. It's a really good boat."

www.sail-world.com/news/200698

Dorade Takes Second in its Divisions at Rolex Sydney Hobart
Hobart, Australia: The 86-year-old Sparkman & Stephens classic yacht Dorade finished second place in two divisions (IRC Division 4/ORCi Div 4), in the formidable Rolex Sydney Hobart Race last week.

It was the pinnacle event in the team's ambitious six-race "Dorade Down Under" series, which kicked off this past August in Australia.

"We are very proud of the boat and the crew for their performance in this race, encouraging us for the next round of challenges, which will include more of the world's great ocean races," said Dorade Co-Owner Pam Rorke Levy, adding that the yacht, originally launched in 1929, was the oldest boat in the fleet. "This race opens a new chapter for Dorade and the role we play as her custodians. Now we're not just repeating history but making history by taking on new challenges with an iconic and beloved boat."

Dorade finished the race with an elapsed time of three days, six hours and 38 minutes. The team raced with eight crew onboard, including Sydney Hobart veteran Adrienne Cahalan as navigator.

Designed in 1929 by 21-year-old Olin Stephens and built under his younger brother Rod Stephens' supervision, Dorade's revolutionary design - a deep keel with external ballast, an achingly narrow beam of just 10'3", and a generous sail plan - took the yachting world by storm, quickly establishing the Stephens brothers as two of the sport's most gifted innovators. In 1931 the brothers raced Dorade in the Transatlantic Race from Newport, Rhode Island to Plymouth, England, competing against much larger boats owned by some of the world's wealthiest sportsmen and crewed by veteran sailors. With an upset victory that made headlines around the world, Dorade was the first boat to finish by a margin of more than two days. In the decade that followed, she continued topping the charts in some of the world's most renowned offshore events, including overall victories in the Fastnet in both 1931 and 1933 and the TransPacific Race in 1936.

Dorade.org

Treat Yourself - Charleston Raceweek
In my mind, I'm going to Carolina

t started as a little local event, run out of a dusty parking lot, with a handful of friends deciding that it was time for Charleston to have its own sailboat race. Twenty-three years later Sperry Charleston Race Week has transformed itself into the biggest multi-class event in the USA and one of the biggest gatherings of sportboats anywhere on the globe.

The consistent spring seabreeze and warm weather make it easier to attract sailors, but it takes a lot more than that to go from a 100-boat regatta to a 250+ boat behemoth in a few short years; so what is the one most important thing that organisers have done to keep the Charleston train chugging forward?

'We have made "innovation" one of our buzzwords over the years,' explains event chairman Randy Draftz. 'While other regattas can get stuck in their ways, our organising committee, area yachts clubs, sponsors and even local government officials spend a lot of time trying to stay ahead of the curve.'

For the past decade in the USA that curve has seen some important trends; perhaps the sportboat explosion has driven Charleston's growth the most. 'Long before sportboats were really "a thing" in the USA, the Melges 24 was already Charleston's biggest class, sometimes making up half our fleet,' Draftz says. 'We might just have the best harbour on the planet for fast inshore racers and our shoreside attitude is inclusive and fun-driven, so it was a natural fit when the Vipers, J/70s, VX-Ones and all the other sporties decided to come and play.'

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

Charleston Race Week: charlestonraceweek.com

Randy Draftz regatta Management: regattamanagement.org

Clipper Race's Hotelplanner.com Ends 2017 On A High
HotelPlanner.com has scooped the pool at the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Prize Giving, with the Clipper Race team awarded not only the plaque for winning the Clipper 70 Class, but also the Rani Trophy for Most Meritorious Performance.

HotelPlanner.com won the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Clipper 70 Class after being granted a 120 minute redress for going to the assistance of a fellow competitor shortly after race start on Boxing Day.

The Commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, John Markos, made special mention of the HotelPlanner.com team, commending them for retrieving the man out of the water in 15 minutes.

Round the world crew member on board HotelPlanner.com, Graham Hill, says: "Conall has drilled us on MOBs and we understand what we have to do. Everything came together as it should have done. We knew our places, we knew our jobs, and we just put it into practise.

"Then the actual race itself was fantastic because we had to pull all the stops out."

The Clipper Race teams will enjoy the wonderful hospitality of Hobart for a few more days before getting back down to business to prepare for the third and final race of the All-Australian Leg 4. The fleet will depart Hobart at 1100, local time, on Friday 5 January to race up the east coast of Australia to Airlie Beach, where the crew will be welcomed by the inaugural Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival. For more information about the event, which runs from 13 to 29 of January, see the Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival website:

www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au/clipper-race

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Leg 4 to Hong Kong: "Technical, tricky, full of opportunity"
For the first time in history, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is racing to Hong Kong. Leg 4 gets underway on Tuesday afternoon in Melbourne.

Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race from Melbourne, Australia to Hong Kong, is a 6,000 nautical mile race north, up the east coast of Australia, with the navigational challenge of dodging islands as well as another doldrums crossing, before arriving in Hong Kong for the first time in the history of the race.

Leg 4 is scheduled to start at 2pm local time in Melbourne on Tuesday January 2 (0300 UTC).

Watch it on the website: Head to www.volvooceanrace.com at 2225 UTC (Jan 1)/09:25am local time on Jan 2 for interviews from the sailor's terrace and the dock-out parade and 0245 UTC/1:45pm local for the racing, to catch a live stream of the action.

Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
Last month's winner:

Francois Gabart (FRA)
'Do we even need to say why?' - Simon Jackson; 'François est fabuleux' - Michelle Fourgereau; 'From Minis to Monsters, always François inspires us and succeeds at every turn' - Lincoln Rowley; 'My little friend Gabart is an incredible sailor, the Vendee Globe, the TJV, the Transat Bakerly, the Rhum and I am sure any second a new round-the-world singlehanded record' - Yoann Richomme; 'He wins at everything he touches' - Erik de Jong; 'François est le roi' - Laure Galley; 'And he is a really nice guy!' - Chris Rydzkowski.

This month's nominees:

Joerg Riechers (GER)
The popular German slipped into 2nd place in the Mini Transat when it mattered, just a day out from the finish. No one was going to catch winner Ian Lipinski; 'best of the rest' was all that was realistically on offer, but after years of under-funded Class40 and Imoca campaigns Riekers had at last landed in a fleet where he can demonstrate his talent. With a little good fortune maybe he can even leverage this result into something bigger (again)

Judy Petz (BVI)
One of the many regatta managers playing a big part in the Caribbean recovery, BVI resident Petz has barely stood still since Hurricane Irma struck, working with communities and encouraging regattas fighting to ensure those sailors' dollars reach devastated families this winter… at the same time continuing her longstanding efforts with Sailors for the Sea to try to help this ravaged area to remain as clean as possible in the most challenging circumstances

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

View past winners of Sailor of the Month

Entry Period Open for 36th America's Cup
As of the 1st of January 2018, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) began accepting challenge entries for the 36th America's Cup to be held in early 2021. Entries will be submitted per the terms of the America's Cup Deed of Gift and the Protocol, with additional instructions issued December 17, 2017.

As the RNZYS is closed for business between the 25th of December 2017 and the 15th of January 2018, any yacht clubs submitting an entry between the 1st and the 15th of January 2018 will have their entry examined the week commencing the 15th of January 2018 in the order of their receipt.

After completing the entry, RNZYS shall then advise on the acceptance or refusal of the entry and shall also make a public announcement of acceptance after first consulting with the challenging yacht club and the Challenger of Record on the timing of that announcement.

The entry period will close 30th June 2018 though late entries are accepted up until 31st December 2018 (with an additional late entry fee).

www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

Gale-force Grafham brings a White/Sweet Christmas for the Nacra F18
David White and Jon Sweet's Nacra F18 wins the fast division for the second year running, while Stuart Jones lapped up the 25 knot conditions at Grafham in his Contender...

After three light-air events so far in the GJW Direct Sailjuice Winter Series, the Grafham Grand Prix delivered some big breeze action on stormy Saturday, 30 December. An exciting day was in store, with 20-25 knots and gusts up to 30 knots. Of the 169 entries, only 73 took to the water for the three-race contest on Grafham Water.

The conditions in race 1 took their toll on the fast fleet with many retirements. The wind dropped for race 2 and then picked up again towards the end of race 3. Those who competed enjoyed some thrilling sailing. The fast fleet was won for the second year running by David White and Jon Sweet from the host club in a Nacra F18, with scores of 2,1,1. The first race went to Michael Sims and Rich Nurse from Carsington who raced to second overall in a 505 ahead of other two other Five-Oh crews, Tom Gillard/Harry Briddon from Sheffield Viking and Neil Rabbitts/ Mike Priddle from Burton.

Stuart Jones from Datchet Water dominated the Medium handicap fleet with three bullets in his Contender. It was a tie for second place which went on countback to Dave Hall/ Paul Constable in Fireball ahead of the Flying Fifteen sailed by two Simons, Kneller and Dabson. In fourth place was Ben McGrane and James Stewart in a Merlin Rocket.

Fergus Barnham and Andy Hunter didn't compete in the first heat of the Slow handicap but made amends in the next two to count a 2,1 and raced their Snettisham GP14 to victory. Tied for second were the Laser Standard and Laser Radial of Alistair Goodwin and Joe Scurrah respectively, but it was Goodwin's win in race 2 that gave him second overall.

Next weekend is the King George Gallop, the replacement race for this year's Bloody Mary after the Queen Mary event was cancelled. Of the 100-boat entry limit, 65 spots have already been taken including an entry by former Fireball World Champions DJ Edwards and Vyv Townend. Get your entry in soon before King George fills up. -- Andy Rice

www.sailjuiceseries.com

Big year beckons for Irish SB20 sportsboats
In a big year ahead for Irish SB20 sportsboats interests, the European Championships will be staged on Dublin Bay.

But the first international competition of the new year is in Tasmania just after Christmas where Dun Laoghaire's Corinthian World champion, Michael O'Connor, will defend his title. Royal St George's O'Connor, who finished sixth overall at the Cowes Worlds just last September, is one of three Irish boats en route to the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania for the Derwent River regatta.

A three-boat Irish team are heading for Hobart with Howth's Cillian Dickson and Ger Dempsey of Dún Laoghaire also competing.

It marks an exciting start to the year for the three-man keelboat with a packed domestic calendar of seven fixtures starting in April in Greystones, County Wicklow and also taking in a new venue at Strangford Lough for the Northern Championships in May.

Club racing for the national fleet of 50 boats has developed beyond the capital with six boats now based in County Tipperary on Lough Derg too.

The Irish Championships will be hosted by the National Yacht Club (NYC) on June 29th with the SB20s, one of the biggest one design fleets in the country, returning to Royal Cork (RCYC) for the Southern Championships on July 14th, the weekend before Cork Week.

It all builds towards the season highlight of the European Championships from August 28th at the Royal Irish Yacht Club. The last time Ireland hosted a major SB20 championship was a decade ago, again in Dublin, when the new design, then known as the Laser SB3, held its inaugural worlds on the Bay in 2008. -- David O'Brien

www.irishtimes.com

Featured Brokerage
Donovan 26 OD. $77,474 CIF. Annapolis MD, USA USD.

The Donovan 26 OD is an evolution of the successful GP26 built by Wrace Boats

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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2005 Nautor Swan 62 - GLISSE. 995,000 USD. Located in West Palm Beach, FL - USA

Extremely practical modern-generation cruising Swan from German Frers. Twin wheels, easily-handled rig and a fantastic interior layout combine to offer effortless and powerful ocean cruising. GLISSE is now in Palm Harbor Marina in West Palm Beach for the winter. Great location, easy access in and out to see the yacht.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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2010 Swan 60-903 'Vertical Smile'. 2,200,000 EUR. Located in Italy.

Vertical Smile is the third Swan 60 to be delivered and was launched in 2010. Currently lying in the Nautor's Swan Service Center in Scarlino, Italy. She is available to visit by appointment.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

The Last Word
Christmas to a child is the first terrible proof that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive. -- Stephen Frye

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
The Pensacola Yacht Club, and St. Thomas Yacht Club named the World's Favourite Yachting Bars | Vestas 11th Hour Racing leads fleet away from Melbourne | Team AkzoNobel returns to full competitive trim for Volvo Ocean Race Leg 4 | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Just call him Sir Bruce | ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff World Championship | For the Record | Industry News | Featured Brokerage

The Pensacola Yacht Club, and St. Thomas Yacht Club named the World's Favourite Yachting Bars
At right: Pensacola YC. Below: St Thomas staff. Click on images to enlarge.

London, England: The 2017 World's Favourite Yachting Bar competition was indeed special this year, with two categories - the Caribbean group was set up to honour the bars that were hard hit by the hurricanes Irma, Maria and Jose, and the 'Best Elsewhere' bars.

The crews at Wight Vodka and Scuttlebutt Europe, are proud to announce that The Pensacola Yacht Club Grill Room Bar and the St. Thomas Yacht Club were both crowned the World's Favourite Yachting Bar!

Talbot Wilson from the Pensacola YC commented: "We are so excited to join the honour role of Wight vodka Best Yachting Bars. Since our founding in 1908, Pensacola YC has been known for our hospitality and our frozen Bushwacker is a special treat. In addition to having the best yachting bar, we have many local, coastal events, international offshore races and national and international one design events." The Announcement was made at the club's NYE party and the bar manager and bartender got well deserved standing ovations!

Margo Lynch and Carol Bareuther at the St. Thomas Yacht Club were so happy to hear the news they won the Caribbean Best Bar Award. "This recognition is especially dear to us considering the devastation we experienced from the two Cat 5 hurricanes in September. The day after voting ended for this competition, the St. Thomas Yacht Club regained regular power for the first time since September 6! Lack of power didn't stop us from sailing. Our juniors especially where right back at practice just weeks after the storm. We are especially pleased to help benefit Sail Aid UK as part of this competition as many of our decades long friends and fellow sailors live in neighboring islands such as the British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten, which were hard hit by hurricanes Irma and Maria and are benefited by this fund.'

Dan Hiza, co-owner of 50° North, the company behind Wight Vodka, said "The Best Yachting Bar completion is always the highlight of the year for us, and this year we decided to support SailAid UK their efforts to raise funds to help rebuild the sailing communities in the Caribbean. As always, competition was heated, with votes coming from all over the world. The shortlisted Caribbean bars that went to vote, were the ever-popular and loved Foxy's, Soggy Dollar Bar, St. Maarten YC, Willy T's and Windward Mark at the Bitter End YC. Best Elsewhere, Clarke Cooke House in Newport, USA, The King and Queen, in UK, Peter's Cafe Sport, Royal Bermuda YC, and Salty Mike's in Charleston, USA were in the running against the Pensacola YC."

Dan continued "We look forward to meeting the amazing crews at all these bars over time and wish the St. Thomas YC and the Pensacola YC Grill Room Bar warm congratulations! Keep those vodka drinks flowing!"

Previous Winners:
2009 - Peter Cafe Sport in the Azores
2010 - Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke in the BVI
2011 - IYAC in Newport, USA
2012 - Sint Maarten Yacht Club
2013 - One Bar Playa Blanca in Lanzarote, Spain
2014 - King & Queen Pub in Hamble, UK
2015 - Plas Heli in Wales, UK and Pier View in Cowes, UK
2016 - Pewaukee Yacht Club in Pewaukee, USA

scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars

Vestas 11th Hour Racing leads fleet away from Melbourne
Overall Volvo Ocean Race leader MAPFRE was at the head of the fleet off the starting line as the boats raced up Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay immediately after the start for Leg 4 to Hong Kong.

But it was a very close run affair, and four hours after the start, as the fleet battled a heavy sea state to clear the narrow entrance to the Bay, it was Vestas 11th Hour Racing leading the charge, with the Spanish boat close behind in second place and Team Brunel a tight third.

Leg 4 is a 6,000 nautical mile race up the east coast of Australia, into the Coral Sea and up north to Hong Kong, marking the first time the Volvo Ocean Race has visited the historic port.

Shortly after the leg start, the wind increased from 10 to near 20 knots with MAPFRE leading Vestas 11th Hour Racing, Team Brunel, Turn the Tide on Plastic and Dongfeng Race Team out towards the right hand side.

Meanwhile, team AkzoNobel and SHK/Scallywag split hard from the others towards the left. Early indications showed a slight advantage to MAPFRE with skipper Xabi Fernández initially in a favourable position after tacking back towards the turning mark near Mornington.

But Scallywag, perhaps benefitting from the local knowledge of Australian skipper David Witt and new crew member Grant Wharington, and Vestas 11th Hour Racing had soon joined the battle for the lead.

The Scallywags fell back at the turning mark however, leaving Vestas 11 Hour Racing, MAPFRE and Team Brunel neck and neck at the front. Dongfeng, recovering well after completing a penalty turn on the start line, were in fourth place.

For Vestas 11th Hour Racing it makes for an ideal start for new skipper Mark Towill, who has stepped into the role as a replacement on Leg 4 for Charlie Enright, who returned home to tend to a family medical emergency. For Towill and crew, the winners of Leg 1, this is an opportunity to put some pressure on race leader MAPFRE.

Positions at 1800 UTC January 3:

1. Team AkzoNobel, 5213.1 nm to leg finish
2. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, 2.4 nm to leader
3. MAPFRE, 2.7
4. Dongfeng Race Team, 5.1
5. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, 5.2
6. Team Brunel, 8.8
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 9.2

volvooceanrace.com

Team AkzoNobel returns to full competitive trim for Volvo Ocean Race Leg 4
Team AkzoNobel will start the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race around the world in full competitive trim after successfully repairing damage to the team's mast and mainsail during a scheduled pit stop in Melbourne, Australia.

The damage happened in stormy conditions in the Southern Ocean on the fourth day of the race's third leg from Cape Town. Team AkzoNobel's crew of seven men and two women were able to effect temporary repairs but lost touch with the main fleet and arrived in Melbourne in seventh place.

The team's late arrival meant time was tight to carry out a full repair to the mast which had to be un-stepped from the boat at a local shipyard by staff from the Volvo Ocean Race's Boatyard shared services team and worked on around the clock by technicians from fleet mast manufacturer Southern Spars.

Happily, the repair work has gone smoothly and the team expect to be able to re-step the mast over the weekend followed by a test sail ahead of the Leg 4 start on Tuesday, January 2.

Team AkzoNobel has announced three scheduled crew changes for the 11,000-kilometer fourth stage from Melbourne to Hong Kong.

Luke Molloy (AUS) and Peter van Niekerk (NED) return to the crew after being rested for Leg 3, while French Figaro solo sailor Cecile Laguette joins the team AkzoNobel crew for the first time.

Justin Ferris (NZL), Alex Pella (ESP) and Emily Nagel (BER/GBR) will all be rested for Leg 4.

Newcomer Laguette (31) was a reserve crewmember for the all-women Team SCA entry in the 2014-15 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race when she also worked as a technician at the Volvo Ocean Race Boatyard.

Since then Laguette - who holds a Bachelor of Engineering, Naval Architecture from England's Southampton University and a Master of Engineering degree in Composite Materials from New Zealand's University of Auckland - has twice skippered her own solo campaign in France's highly competitive Solitaire du Figaro regatta circuit.

Team AkzoNobel crew list for Leg 4:
Simeon Tienpont (NED) - skipper
Brad Farrand (NZL)
Martine Grael (BRA)
Cecile Laguette (FRA)
Luke Molloy (AUS)
Chris Nicholson (AUS)
Jules Salter (GBR)
Nicolai Sehested (DEN)
Peter van Niekerk (NED)

Seahorse January 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Paul Cayard - Turning the ship around
Go USA! The all-important 'first' Olympic medal. Plus Project Pipeline is paying dividends...

IRC - One size does not fit all
A mainstream view from a grand prix expert. James Dadd

Design - Opening some very big doors
From the outside the boat just looks beautiful, but Gurit senior engineer Simon Everest looks at the challenges that were hidden away out of view

RORC - A (very) tough act to follow
Eddie Warden-Owen

Seahorse build table - And it's now on to Mark V!
Shaun Carkeek

Sailor of the Month
Two of the biggest guys in the sport... mes amis!

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.

Just call him Sir Bruce
Ottawa, Canada: Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, today announced 125 new appointments to the Order of Canada. Recipients will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.Among the honorees was Bruce Kirby, C.M. Of Ottawa, Ontario and Rowayton, Connecticut. The announcement read "For his contributions to the world of sailing, notably for his internationally acclaimed sailboat designs."

Created in 1967, the Order of Canada, is the country's highest civilian honor,and recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and have taken to heart the motto of the Order: DESIDERANTES MELIOREM PATRIAM ("They desire a better country"). Appointments are made by the governor general on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.

ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff World Championship
The Australian MUSTO Skiff Association is pleased to announce the Victorian State Government have agreed to support the ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff World Championship at Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron. The sporting grant has been made available through the Significant Sporting Events in Victoria.

The event will be contested by some of Australia's best dinghy sailors, competing against sailors from nations including Great Britain, Germany, Holland, Switzerland and New Zealand.

Logistically, there is quite a challenge to get boats from around the World to one location and the Musto Skiff class are very grateful to Peters & May for their support. Steve Franklyn said "Peters & May Racing have over 30 years' experience within the industry, and understand that a first class service is key. Trusted by individuals, teams, crew and event personnel in the global racing circuit, the team are dedicated to working with clients every step of the way to get yachts of all classes to events safely and on time."

The class was established in Australia in 2007.

The MUSTO Skiff World Championship is held annually, and has visited many prestigious sailing centres in Mainland Europe, Great Britain and Australia.

Every 4 years the MUSTO Skiff World Championship is held in Australia, attracting competitors from around the World to compete.

www.bys.asn.au

For the Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record:

Record: Singlehanded Around the World
Yacht: "MACIF" 30 metre Trimaran
Name: Francois Gabart. FRA
Dates:. 4th November to the 17th December 2017.
Start time: 09;05;00 on 04/11/17
Finish time: 01;45;35 on 17/12/17
Elapsed time: 42 days 16 hours 40 minutes and 35 seconds.
Distance: 21600 NM
Average speed: 21.08 kts

Comments: Previous record: Sodebo4. Thomas Coville FRA. Dec 16. 49d 3h 4m 28s

John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council

sailspeedrecords.com

Industry News
The London Boat Show takes place at the ExCel in London from Wednesday, 10 January 2018 until Sunday, 14 January 2018.

The Show will also host two other shows within the event: Bespoke London and the Boating and Watersports Holiday Show.

With YBW's exclusive code, you can buy 2 for1 tickets to the show which allows two tickets from £15 to use any one day between 10 - 14 January 2018. (Normal price £20 per person for advance Preview Day tickets and £15 per person for advance Standard Day tickets.).

To take advantage of this great offer, simply click here and enter code EPTOG8GMKP.

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One of the main partnerships for The Danish Sailing Team has just been announced. For the next four years Zhik will provide sailing apparel and technical equipment for the Danish international sailors. As part of the agreement, the Danish sailors will be directly involved with Zhik's R&D team, giving feedback and ideas regarding fabrics and technical details to meet the ever changing requirements of Olympic level sailing.

Zhik has been partner of The Danish Sailing Team since 2013, though at a smaller scale supplying technical equipment. The new agreement includes the whole range of apparel and becomes one of Zhik's main dinghy sailing sponsorships, alongside current agreements with prominent sailing nations of Australia and New Zealand.

Zhik are also official partners with World Sailing, the Extreme Sailing Series, plus the Dongfeng Race Team and team AkzoNobel which are currently racing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/18.

www.zhik.com

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Seldén Mast has unveiled its latest investment - a 41m enclosed paint booth which could possibly be the longest in the UK.

The Olympian 1000 Series from British company Todd Engineering represents a £200,000 investment by Seldén Mast to increase its efficiency and capacity when painting yacht and keelboat masts.

The new paint booth is 20m longer than any other booth that Todd engineering has built.

It is split into four individual booths of different lengths linked by a series of three leaf concertina doors allowing a mast of up to 100ft to be painted or smaller masts in different configurations to be painted at the same time.

To complete the mast painting process the booth has a cook cycle using recycled air, heating the booth to the correct temperature for the paint, up to a maximum of 86°C, increasing efficiency and reducing lead times.

www.boatingbusiness.com

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Ocean Safety to demonstrate safety equipment at February Open Day

Ocean Safety will be inviting yacht owners to familiarise themselves with their essential onboard safety equipment when the company opens its doors to customers at its Southampton depot on 3rd and 4th February 2018.

Ocean Safety Glasgow and Plymouth will run a similar event on Saturday 3rd February.

Hopefully you've never had to launch your liferaft or seen your lifejackets inflated, or even let off a fire extinguisher or flare. We all hope for drama-free boating, but it's worth being prepared, ready for coming spring.

You are invited to bring along your liferafts, lifejackets, and other serviceable onboard safety equipment to be checked by Ocean Safety's expert team. Everyone is welcome to turn up to watch general demonstrations which will be held throughout the day but if you want to see your own liferaft inflated or equipment opened and checked, you will need to make an appointment. This equipment can then be left for servicing and can be collected at a later date. During the day there will be plenty to see and do and the experts will be on hand to answer questions

Visitors to the Southampton Open Day will also see and take part in flare demonstrations and personal AIS recovery systems demonstrations. A full programme is now available on Ocean Safety's website.

Visitors will need to book a time slot for their liferaft inspection and demonstration by calling Emily at Ocean Safety on 02380 720800 or emailing ebatchelor@3sisafety.com. The open day runs from 10am- 4pm. For details of how to get there visit www.oceansafety.com

Featured Brokerage
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At just under 60ft the flagship of this successful and well-established multihull supplier also offers a step-up in performance with naval architecture by VPLP

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Outremer Yachting
+33.467 560 263
Contact@Catamaran-Outremer.com

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Club Swan 50-003 'Cuordileone. 1,100,000 EUR.

ClubSwan50: A yacht that is a small revolution in performance and pure sailing pleasure.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Lorenzo Bortolotti
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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1998 Swan 48-123 'E2'. 395,000 EUR. Located in Valdivia, Chile.

Swan 48-123 E2 is a beautifully presented yacht and currently moored in Chile. Sold to her current owner in 2014, she underwent a refit and maintenance period in Italy before starting her voyage to South America.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Lorenzo Bortolotti
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

The Last Word
Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion. -- Jack Kerouac

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
East or west | Age and Treachery vs Youth and Skill - 5 Laps tells the story | Young Sailors: Learn to Fly at Foiling Week/Harken Kidz Trials-Sydney | Gold medals to Spain and Australia at 420 Worlds | 2018 RC44 Championship schedule announced | Jimmy Buffett Named Les Voiles de Saint-Barth Ambassador | Now it's foot to the floor! | International Paint Poole Regatta 2018 | Six Bells. Dennis Skillicorn | Featured Brokerage

East or west
As the fleet passes Sydney on Leg 4, there's an east/west split – but which side will pay?

Less than 48 hours into Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race, tactics are already starting to show among the seven-strong fleet as it does battle along Australia's eastern coast.

A west to east split of 80 miles has developed as the teams draw level with Sydney, with Leg 3 runners up Dongfeng Race Team nudging ahead by a whisker at this early stage.

Speeds across the fleet were sitting at around 20 knots at the 1300 UTC position report, continuing the fast and wet sailing of the opening day of the 6,000-mile leg from Melbourne to Hong Kong.

Vestas 11thHour Racing and overall race leaders MAPFRE were today carving out a route just 20 miles off the coast, while Turn the Tide on Plastic, the most easterly team, were a further 70 miles out to sea.

The early pace is set to continue over the coming days as the fleet charges north, powered by favourable breeze resulting from a high pressure system over central Australia and a depression forming over New Zealand.

With such good conditions to look forward to the fleet could reach the Solomon Islands, east of Papua New Guinea, and the notorious Doldrums within a couple of days.

Positions at 1800 UTC January 3:

1. Dongfeng Race Team, 5015.43 nm to leg finish
2. Team AkzoNobel, 2.76 nm to leader
3. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 9.48
4. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, 11.17
5. MAPFRE, 11.66
6. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, 16.42
7. Team Brunel, 16.73

volvooceanrace.com

Age and Treachery vs Youth and Skill - 5 Laps tells the story
Click on image for photo gallery.

Day 2 of the Peroni 16 and 13 foot Australian Championships was a different game to the initial opener. The fleet was greeted with an immediate dilemma as the breeze teetered between a big or small rig. Crews lamented ... their final decision will the wind kick or die?

In the end 75% of the fleet bet on the conditions to build and opted for their small rigs. Ironically it was the more senior competitors who selected their big rigs; as my lanky sheethand once said on many occasion "Big Race - Big Sail". However which selection would prove to be the right one?

Today's start had choppy conditions with an increasing swell from yesterday with a good 15 knot ESE breeze; it was border line who made the right decision on rigs.

In the 13 fleet it was Bartley Construction closely followed by Zac Barnabas in "The Kitchen Maker", the Grandson of Trevor, the multi winner of yesteryear 16's and 18's titles; proving it is still in the gene pool.

From then on it was the battle of the big rigs v little rigs as conditions changed each lap. Many crews spent some time on the 'righting lever - aka centerboard' as they pushed their machines to maximum speed and beyond.

Ultimately after a mammoth 5 laps Age & Treachery outdid Youth & Skill with Brydens coming home just 1 min ahead of the fast finishing Manly Surf N Slide. With the Belmont 'Ghost' TJS who came from nowhere to grab 3rd just 4 seconds in arrears.

As a special mention is "Newcastle Psychiatry" skippered by 15 year old Bethany Sherry who smiled at the camera whenever we went past; I spent a few minutes heading back to the club with her Mother and younger sister who were as proud as punch. This is the future of our class - GO GIRL.

Regatta Website: www.middleharbourskiffnationals.com.au
16ft Skiff Class Website: www.16footers.com.au
Club Website: www.middleharbourskiffs.com.au
Club Facebook: www.facebook.com/MiddleHarbourSkiffies/

Young Sailors: Learn to Fly at Foiling Week/Harken Kidz Trials-Sydney
Chosen by Harken and Foiling Week, eight young sailors will be taught the basic skills and techniques on how to fly these wings on the water during the first-ever Foiling Week, Sydney, January 11 - 12.

The clinic will be held in one-design Waszps, class-legal as Moths, but designed to be easier to launch so kids get up and enjoy the rush of foiling quickly.

World class foilers will teach kids everything to initiate and sustain foiling, from rigging, launching, and balance to ride-height control. Advanced foiling techniques such as power gybes and foiling tacks will be demonstrated (and perhaps even tried)!

A second Harken Kidz Trials with room for 8 more sailors will be held at Foiling Week Miami, February 16 - 17.

Apply now: harkenblockheads.com/feed/foiling/

Gold medals to Spain and Australia at 420 Worlds
Spain reigned supreme as the 2017 420 World Championships drew to a close today, 3 January 2018, in Fremantle, Australia, having secured gold, silver and bronze in the 420 Open Fleet and gold in the U17 fleet.

The Francis Mouvet Trophy for the top performing nation was presented to Spain for their remarkable domination at the 2017 420 World Championship.

420 Open - Final Top 10
1. Enrique Lujan/Pablo Lujan, Esp, 41 points
2. Albert Torres/Francisco Mulet, Esp, 48
3. Carlos Balaguer/Antoni Massanet, Esp, 50
4. Enzo Balanger/Gaultier Tallieu, Fra, 61
5. Thomas Andre/Justin Baradat, Fra, 62
6. Andrea Spagnolli/Kevin Rio, Ita, 63
7. Edoardo Ferraro/Francesco Orlando, Ita, 64
8. Chris Charlwood/Josh Dawson, Aus, 68
9. Eduard Ferrer/Carlos De Maqua, Esp, 70
10. Elias Aretz/Pablo García, Esp, 74

420 Ladies - Final Top 10
1. Nia Jerwood/Monique De Vries, Aus, 25
2. Laura Harding/Eleanor Grimshaw, Aus, 25
3. Arianna Passamonti/Giulia Fava, Ita, 69
4. Sophie Mcintosh/Orla Mulholland-Patterson, Aus, 71
5. Isabel Davies/Gemma Keers, Gbr, 73
6. Sophie Jackson/Laura Thomson, Aus, 78
7. María Caba/Pilar Caba, Esp, 87
8. Solene Mariani/Maude Schmid, Sui, 93
9. Clara Olive/Solenza Mariani, Fra, 95
10. Olívia Belda/Elisa Von Fritsch, Bra, 100

420 U17 - Final Top 10
1. Martín Wizner/Pedro Ameneiro, Esp, 47
2. Tommaso Cilli/Bruno Mantero, Ita, 50
3. Demetrio Sposato/Gabriele Centrone, Ita, 51
4. Pol Marsans/Alex Marsans, Esp, 60
5. Jack Lewis/Charlie Bacon, Gbr, 65
6. Florian Buscher/Maximilian Buscher, Ger, 69
7. Tommaso Salvetta/Giovanni Sandrini, Ita, 69
8. Ariadni-Paraskevi Spanaki/Myrto Papadopoulou, Gre, 83
9. Rhys Lewis/Drew Wright, Gbr, 105
10. Konstantinos Vardalis/Panagiotis Giorgos Matsades, Gre, 112

sailing.org

2018 RC44 Championship schedule announced
For their twelfth season, the RC44s will visit the four corners of Europe in 2018, including a return to Portoroz in Slovenia for the first time in nine years.

With Igor Lah's Team CEEREF claiming the RC44 Championship for a second consecutive year in 2017, it was appropriate that for the new season the circuit for the high performance Russell Coutts-inspired one design monohulls should include the winner's home port.

Another crew looking forward to being back in Portoroz is Team Nika as this was the place where owner Vladimir Prosikhin's love affair with the RC44 started back in 2009. Since then his team, including local Slovenian sailors Tomaz Copi, Mitja Margon and Iztok Knafelc, has gone from strength to strength having twice been crowned World Champions and claiming the RC44 Tour title in 2015.

For 2018 the World Championship will be held at the fourth event of the season, in Cascais over 26th to 30th September. Located on the mouth of the River Tagus leading up to Lisbon, Cascais is open to the Atlantic and comes with all the potential for big winds and large oceanic swell. It is for this reason, combined with excellent hospitality provided by the Clube Naval de Cascais, that the Portugese stopover is another regular on the RC44 circuit, having featured every year since 2012. It last hosted the World Championship in 2015, which was won by Team Nika.

RC44 Championship Tour 2018 events schedule
28 February-4 March - RC44 Calero Marinas Cup 2018 - Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
9 - 13 May - RC44 Portoroz Cup - Portoroz, Slovenia
27 June - 1 July - RC44 Marstrand Cup - Marstrand, Sweden
26 - 30 September - RC44 Cascais World Championship - Cascais, Portugal
14 - 18 November - RC44 Valletta Cup - Valletta, Malta

www.rc44.com

Jimmy Buffett Named Les Voiles de Saint-Barth Ambassador
The ninth edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Barth is around the corner and organizers are pulling out all the stops to guarantee sailors another epic year both on and off the water, despite the passage of Hurricane Irma this past September. Scheduled for April 8-14, 2018, and hosted out of Gustavia in St. Barthelemy, the Caribbean favorite welcomes back legendary musician and sailor Jimmy Buffett as the regatta's official U.S. ambassador.

"We all love our special island and we're moving on from the wrath that Irma brought, and nothing signifies the recovery to me more than the return of Les Voiles de Saint-Barth," said Buffett who owns a villa on Saint-Barth and last held this honorary position back in 2011. "All the boats and teams return this year to support the rebuilding of our island and have a little fun as well."

With four months to go, the entry list already boasts a number of top maxi, monohull and performance multihull teams representing eight countries, including the Canadian team Touch2Play, which raced in the event for the first time last year.

Organizers are encouraging participants to utilize the event's free concierge service for assistance with everything from travel and on-site logistics to charter options and beyond.

"The trauma brought on by Hurricane Irma has been real on many levels, and we know that the ninth edition will certainly be different due to the circumstances, but the solidarity is very strong in Saint-Barth and we are recovering quickly," said Les Voiles de Saint-Barth Race Event Director François Tolede."By April we'll be ready to launch and ask that competitors contact us for assistance and any questions they may have."

For free concierge service, contact info@lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com

lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com

Now it's foot to the floor!
EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour just added a 'very' serious new competitive element to the most accessible winter racing anywhere.

Whoa!

After seven years of growing recognition EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour just took a huge step up. Organiser Oman Sail has announced an all-new look for the region's leading racing event, with a switch to the high-performance Diam 24 multihull, and a new course that will explore the length of Oman's striking coastline.

Add in Oman Sail's newly extended offers of turnkey entry packages - ashore and afloat - and it's an event that's clearly going up a gear. Racing starts on 3 February and concludes on the 17th.

A Gulf fixture since 2011, EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour needs little introduction, offering top proam racing with a mix of in-port and coastal courses. The reboot will offer more of the same magic winter mix with the addition of challenging coastal raids and eight new venues.

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

International Paint Poole Regatta 2018
It is now confirmed that the International Paint Poole Regatta 2018 will be hosting a record number of championships. Five National Championships and two Southern Area Championships have been confirmed for the regatta so far. As the weeks go by, the 2018 regatta is shaping up to be the biggest and best since its re-launch in 2000 and the regatta committee are still working tirelessly to add exciting new features.

The classes holding their National Championship at Poole are the J24, HP30, MOCRA, VPRS and 2.4mR. The 2.4mR class will also be holding their Tidal Championship at Poole Regatta.

With no IRC National Championship in 2018 and the European Championship being held in Cowes limited to boats rating over 0.995, the IRC Southern Area Championship being run as part of the regatta takes on a far greater significance this year. With at least three IRC classes planned, crews are expected to use the event either as their premier championship in 2018 or as a warm-up for the Europeans taking place in June. The Shrimper class will also be holding their Southern Championship during the weekend.

To find out more about the International Paint Poole Regatta and how to participate visit www.pooleregatta.co.uk, or like the Facebook page @pooleregatta to keep up to date with all upcoming developments.

Six Bells. Dennis Skillicorn
Click on image to enlarge.

Broadcaster Dennis Skillicorn was the first journalist to be embedded on a round the world race yacht, bringing alive the trials, triumphs and tribulations of watch routines and rushing downwind through plumes of spray. He joined the crew of Creighton's Naturally in the 1985/6 Whitbread round the World Race and later aboard the British Steel Challenge yacht Commercial Union Assurance.

Creighton's Naturally was one of the last to finish, but with Dennis reporting live from the Needles all the way to the finish line in Southampton Water, the yacht received the biggest welcome home. After that, the potential for embedding a journalist within the crew was fully appreciated and led to the video feeds that now reach our computers every day from the current Volvo Ocean Race yachts.

Ali McKichan, a crewmember on Commercial Union Assurance during the 1992/3 British Steel Challenge, recalls the warm, kind-hearted side of Dennis Skillicorn's character. "He always had an amusing story to get us through the long night watches. I particularly loved it when it was his role to wake the ongoing watch. Unlike others, Dennis would say softly. "Good morning Ma'am. The sun is shining, the wind is fair and I have a wonderful cooked breakfast ready for you in the saloon" - all delivered in that beautiful lilting voice of his. We all knew none of it was true, but it definitely made it easier getting out of our bunks!"

Born in 1932, Dennis grew up the Northwest shipbuilding town of Burrow-in-Furness and began an apprenticeship there until called up to do his National Service in the Royal Navy. Much of his time was spent working in Portsmouth Dockyard and he stayed rooted in the South of England for the rest of his life.

It was through the Navy that he first got his taste for travel.

When the BBC tried to introduce a retirement policy at the age of 75, Dennis joined a group of fellow pensioners to form 'The Zimmers' to voice the feelings of isolation and imprisonment suffered by the elderly. They recorded a cover version of The Who's 'My Generation' at the famous Abby Road studios in London and the record climbed to No 26 in the UK Singles Chart in May 2007 Go to: youtube.com/watch?v=zqfFrCUrEbY

His last interview, conducted at the age of 80, was with the Duke of Edinburgh. The two got on so well that Dennis ended up helping Prince Philip mend ornaments while they chatted.

Dennis Skillicorn's extensive library of radio interviews and broadcasts has been saved for posterity and will be archived at the Wessex Film and Sound Archive based in Winchester. www3.hants.gov.uk/wfsa.htm

Dennis is survived by his two children Jane and Roger and two grandchildren. He died peacefully on December 21st surrounded by family and close friends. His funeral will take place at Romsey Crematorium at 16:00 on Wednesday 10th January. -- Barry Pickthall - Chairman of the Yachting Journalists' Association

The full obituary at scuttlebutteurope.com

Featured Brokerage
2002 Swan 70-005 Flying Dragon. 1,400,000 EUR. Located in Genoa, Italy.

This Swan 70 combines the exhilaration of performance sailing with the comfort and security of a blue water cruiser. Under her former name 'Fastnet', she won the Swan Cup in 2002 proving to be unstoppable on the race course.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Giorgio Passarella
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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1993 Nautor Swan 68 - SEA EAGLE OF SHIAN III. 575,000 GBP Located in Scotland, UK.

Handsome German Frers Swan 68 which is perfect for both a cruising and regatta role. She is a capable and fast bluewater cruising yacht with a great layout for owners, 6 guests and crew. She has had some great updates through life including paint, decks, and rod in 2008, new electronics, communications and entertainment in 2011 and she is constantly updated. Now laid up under cover, she is awaiting her next yachting family to awake her from her slumbers.

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 Oyster 655 - ROULETTE. 1175000 GBP. Located in Lymington, UK.

Performance Oyster from the board of Humphreys with carbon rig and sailors' set up. Stunning maple innards and has the kerfuffle for blue water.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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

The Last Word
The fewer the facts, the stronger the opinion. -- Arnold H. Glasow

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
Zhik Hong Kong 29er World Championship | Paying dividends | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Clipper Round The World Yacht Race Departs For Final Stage Of All-Australian Leg | SB20 Pre-Worlds on the River Derwent, Hobart | Marine Interests Rewarded In New Year Honours | Gabart: 'We can still raise the level of the game and go much faster' | Mobile is EVERYTHING | Cruising Club of America's Safety for Cruising Couples Seminars | Neil Mallard | Featured Brokerage

Zhik Hong Kong 29er World Championship
The Zhik Hong Kong 29er World Championship got underway two nights ago with the Opening Ceremony at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's main Clubhouse on Kellett Island. A traditional lion dance enthralled the 58 teams from 11 countries including Australia, Canada, France, Great Britain, US Virgin Islands, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Slovenia, USA and Hong Kong.

Racing was cancelled on Day 1 due to the breeze that was consistently above the threshold of the 29er Class wind limit with gusts up to 41kts. The cliché of "It's never like this" seemed to be the most common phrase heard among Hong Kong's local sailors and with 30 to 40kts reported overnight at Waglan Island, there looked like there could be further postponements for today, Day 2.

Today however, sailors were only held on shore for a short time whilst the breeze weakened slightly before making their way to the race course located off Stanley. The breeze across the race track varied from 15kts at the sheltered top mark in Stanley Bay to 22kts (with gusts close to the 25kt wind limit) at the start area located closer to the channel, resulting in some epic capsizes as the fleet rounded the gate marks.

Four qualifying races were held today for both the Yellow and Green Flights, there was some very close racing among the top boats. Going into day 3 of the qualify series in first is FRA2 Benjamin Jaffrezic and Leo Chauvel with 8 points followed AUS6 Lachie Brewer and Max Paul on 10 points and NZL12 Francesco Kayrouz and Jackson Keon on 11 points.

The final day of the qualifying series will take place tomorrow with each fleet sailing four races before they are split into Gold and Silver fleets.

2018.29erworlds.org

Paying dividends
Dongfeng Race Team and team AkzoNobel claimed the first bragging rights of Leg 4 three days into the sprint to Hong Kong as their bid to punch further offshore paid dividends.

Both teams, plus Turn the Tide on Plastic, opted to head out to sea on Wednesday in search of a boost from a northerly current, leaving the remaining four crews hugging the Australian coastline.

Twenty-four hours on and Dongfeng and AkzoNobel have built up a healthy 34 nautical mile buffer at the head of the fleet, while Dee Caffari's Turn the Tide on Plastic occupy the third spot.

While boat speeds were still up around the 20-knot mark today, the forecast suggests the wind will become lighter in the coming days - bad news for the leaders but a chance to catch up for the chasing pack.

The key for those inshore will be the moment at which they gybe back onto port and reposition themselves better in the west to pick up better breeze.

Positions at 1300 UTC January 4:

1. Dongfeng Race Team, 4620.94 nm to leg finish
2. Team AkzoNobel, 2.17 nm to leader
3. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 34.21
4. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, 37.07
5. MAPFRE, 37.32
6. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, 56.79
7. Team Brunel, 67.58

volvooceanrace.com

Seahorse January 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Paul Cayard - Turning the ship around
Go USA! The all-important 'first' Olympic medal. Plus Project Pipeline is paying dividends...

IRC - One size does not fit all
A mainstream view from a grand prix expert. James Dadd

Design - Opening some very big doors
From the outside the boat just looks beautiful, but Gurit senior engineer Simon Everest looks at the challenges that were hidden away out of view

RORC - A (very) tough act to follow
Eddie Warden-Owen

Seahorse build table - And it's now on to Mark V!
Shaun Carkeek

Sailor of the Month
Two of the biggest guys in the sport... mes amis!

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.

Clipper Round The World Yacht Race Departs For Final Stage Of All-Australian Leg
The final stage of the All-Australian Leg in the Clipper 2017-18 Race, officially known as Race 6: The Wondrous Whitsundays Race, got underway today from Hobart, Tasmania, as the eleven Clipper 70s prepare to race over 1,600 nautical miles up the East Coast of Australia to Airlie Beach, in the Whitsundays.

Following a colourful Parade of Sail in light south-easterly conditions, the race officially got underway at 0000 UTC (1100 local time) on Friday 5 January.

Overall race leaders Sanya Serenity Coast, Skippered by Australian Wendy Tuck, was the first across the line, followed closely by Visit Seattle and Dare To Lead, continued to lead the fleet up the River Derwent.

The fleet is expected to face a predominantly upwind race with crews needing to negotiate the dominating Eastern Australian Current (EAC). Speeds in the core of the EAC, an oceanic current which moves warm water from the tropical Coral Sea, are some of the strongest in the South Pacific and each team will need to agree on the best race tactic; staying closer to the current, where speeds are stronger, or heading further offshore where the effects of the current are weaker, but will add extra miles to the sprint.

Teams are expected to arrive into Airlie Beach, the Whitsundays, between 13-15 January 2018, where the fleet will be berthed at Abell Point Marina and the region is expected to come alive for the inaugural Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival.

Following a scenic stopover, the teams will depart once again on 29 January for the Chinese Host Ports of Sanya, the home port of the overall race leaders, and Qingdao, which completes Leg 5: The Asia-Pacific Leg.

Overall Clipper 2017-18 Race Standings

1. Sanya Serenity Coast, 56 points 2. Qingdao, 54*
3. Dare To Lead, 49*
4. Visit Seattle, 48
5. Great Britain, 44*
6. PSP Logistics, 40
7. Garmin, 35
8. Hotelplanner.Com, 31
9. Unicef, 28
10. Liverpool 2018, 24
11. Nasdaq, 22
(* Already Played Joker Card)

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

SB20 Pre-Worlds on the River Derwent, Hobart
Photo by Jane Austin. Click on image to enlarge.

Day two of the SB0 pre-Worlds regatta has provided competitors with two exhilarating races on Hobart's River Derwent today.

A north-west to west-nor'westerly breeze averaging 16-18 knots, with sharp gusts as high as 30 knots, has seen spectacular downwind sailing.

Positions changed as boats picked up the gusts and went surfing past others. Downwind gybing techniques were the key to gaining or retaining fleet positions

The strong wind has caused many retirements from the 33 boat pre-Worlds fleet, among them the French boat EOLIFT Racing which broke a spreader. EOLIFT Racing had been third in overall standings after day one.

Others retired to save damage in the gusty conditions with the 2018 SB20 Worlds only three days away. Hypertronics (Steve Catchpool) retired after a collision at the windward mark in race one with Big Ted (Alice Grubb) taking a penalty turn.

The Victorian Ikon20 (Kirwan Robb) broke its rudder in race four while at least two female crews retired from the last race.

Racing today began after a general recall for race three of the series, race one of the day, and produced two different race winners.

Results are provisional as there are potential protests following a number of collisions in the brisk breezes.

British boat Marvel (Richard Powell) followed his race two second place (he did not start in race one) with a win in race three. A close second was French sailor Robin Follin sailing Give Me 5 - French Youth team, third place going to Australian champion Aeolus (Brett Cooper).

In race four, Hobart's Michael Cooper sailed Export Roo to victory from another French boat, Le Grand Reservoir/Maze & A (Achille Nebout) and Victorian boat Flirtatious/Ambition Sailing Team (Chris Dare, AUS).

After four races of the SB20 pre-Worlds Give Me 5 (Robin Follin, Fra) is still provisional overall leader on 8 points (1-1-2-4) with Export Roo (Michael Cooper, AUS) moving up to second with 24 points (12-4-7-1).

Australian SB20 champion Aeolus (Brett Cooper, AUS) is now third on 25 points (11-6-3-5) with defending World champion sportsboatworld.com (Jerry Hill, GBR) fourth on 28 points (5-3-8-12). -- Peter Campbell

Marine Interests Rewarded In New Year Honours
Congratulations to marine industry personalities who have been rewarded for their efforts to the sport and industry in the New Year Honours.

OBE:
- Thomas Burgess from West Yorkshire - For services to charity, the RNLI and Business.
- William Ward from West Sussex - Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. For services to the Economy and the GREAT Campaign.
- Linda Willson from London- Lately Head, Maritime Commerce and Infrastructure, Department for Transport. For services to Transport.
- Richard Wilson from Hampshire - Chairman and Chief Executive, Maritime and Coastguard Agency. For services to Transport.

MBE:
- William Hopkin from Port Talbot - For services to the community, particularly Children and Maritime Safety, in South Wales.
- David JENKINS from Ceredigion - For services to Maritime Safety
- Christopher LEWIS from Essex - Lifeguard, RNLI. For services to Maritime Safety.
- Captain Martin Highmore PHIPPS from Hampshire - Harbour Master. For services to UK Exports
- David STEENVOORDEN from Yorkshire - Superintendent Coxswain, Humber Lifeboat Station, RNLI. For services to Maritime Safety
- Derek WEAVER from Hampshire - Curator, Marine Engineering Museum, HMS Sultan. For voluntary service to Naval Heritage.

BEM:
- Richard MARRIOTT from Yorkshire - Fundraiser, RNLI. For charitable services.
- The Reverend Deacon Roger STONE from Antrim - Apostleship of the Sea Port Chaplain. For services to Seafarers.
- Paul WATSON from Hampshire - Vice Chairman, Lee-on-Solent Branch, Royal Naval Association. For voluntary service to Veterans.

Order of Canada
- Overseas, Bruce Kirby, designer of the Laser dinghy, has been appointed to the Order of Canada, the country's highest award for his contributions to the world of sailing, notably for his internationally acclaimed sailboat designs.

www.yja.co.uk

Gabart: 'We can still raise the level of the game and go much faster'
After setting a new solo round the world record, François Gabart has said he believes the feat can be done even quicker.

The French offshore racer smashed the record on Sunday (17 December), completing his voyage in 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds.

This broke the record set by Thomas Coville on 25 December 2016 (49 days, 3 hours, 4 minutes and 28 seconds) by 6 days, 10 hours, 23 minutes and 53 seconds.

Gabart's MACIF trimaran covered a true distance of 27,859.7 miles, with a true average over the course of 27.2 knots.

Speaking after crossing the finish line, the 34-year-old skipper said he needed three things to succeed: a good boat, good sailing and a little success.

'I had to keep up the pace and I'm really proud of my circumnavigation. I didn't make too many mistakes. At the same time, I believe that we can still raise the level of the game and go much faster,' said Gabart.

'And that's really inspiring. I am reserving this challenge for another time. There's plenty more to do and to imagine, to sail fast on these boats,' he added.

www.yachtingmonthly.com

Mobile is EVERYTHING
It's not enough to have a website that "works" on phones and small tablets. It has to work FAST. Google believes that after five seconds you've lost a third of your readers. After 10... crickets. Almost no one there.

To solve that, Google engineers built two new technologies: Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) and Progressive Web App (PWA). AMP gets cached and served BY google. Your page loads in 1-2 seconds. And gets some prime real estate in google search. A superb entrance into your site.

PWA turns your website into an app. One that you can add to screen and acts like a "native" app.... without having to go through App stores. It solves the second / third / subsequent page load time issues. And works "offline".

We connect AMP and PWA.

Read our case study: sailingsource.com/case-study

If your website is built in either WordPress or Joomla, contact us for a quote and get onto the next revolution on the web.

webmaster@sailingsource.com

Cruising Club of America's Safety for Cruising Couples Seminars
Among the 1300-strong membership of the all-volunteer Cruising Club of America (CCA), the number one resolution is to help those like-minded boaters make 2018 their safest year on the water. As an organization, the CCA has renewed its efforts to share their collective experiential knowledge with a particular focus on safety preparations for cruisers of sail and power vessels.

In a 2017 survey of nearly 1500 offshore sailors, respondents indicated that safety and seamanship training was the top priority of sailors planning a passage.

To build the confidence of the less-experienced member of the duo in the event of an unexpected test of their skills, the CCA developed the Safety for Cruising Couples Seminar which can be customized by hosting clubs using materials from the CCA.

Geared to cruising couples and short-handed sailors who are increasingly active on coastal or local waters, whether aboard sail or power boats, the typically day-long seminar is generally structured with a morning classroom session covering the fundamentals of VHF radios, the basics of navigation, engine operation, medical situations, safety equipment and man overboard recovery. An afternoon session can take those topics a step further with on-the-water hands-on training, including chart plotter fundamentals and a demonstration of how to use a life sling in a man overboard situation.

To date, seven Safety for Cruising Couples Seminars have been scheduled by sponsoring clubs for 2018: Royal Canadian Cruising Sailor's Squadron at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Toronto, CAN (February 25); Annapolis Yacht Club, Annapolis, Md. (April 21); Stamford Yacht Club, Stamford, Conn. (May 20); Camden Yacht Club, Camden, Maine (May 27); The Oakville Club, Oakville, CAN (June 2); Sail Newport, Newport, R.I. (early June); and Ram Island Yacht Club, Noank, Conn. (July 7).

Whether you wish to attend, or host, a seminar, obtain a copy of the workbook or updated materials, or have general questions, please email: scc@cruisingclub.org

The most current schedule of seminars may be found here: sas.cruisingclub.org/scc/courselist

Neil Mallard
Neil interviewing Jackie Stewart

Neil Mallard died three days short of his 87th Birthday. A career in journalism began with the Wembley News in 1946 and was interrupted by National Service two years later. Demobbed, he went to the Paddington Mercury, and from there to the Press Office in Wembley Stadium. At this time he moved frequently but always with personal promotion in mind. Fleet Street was an obvious aim. It came with a move to the Sports Desk of the News Chronicle.

Neil and I kept in contact for years after as his career continued to blossom in sports in which I was directly, or indirectly connected. He was into sailing with events ranging from the Whitbread Round the World Race - his Chilean contacts resulting in film of boat rounding Cape Horn - and that in the 1973/4 race - to the Admiral's Cup (and with it the 1979 Fastnet disaster) and the America's Cup, where, in 2013, we met with Stan Honey who explained clearly what the graphics he had devised could do for the television coverage of the Cup. Neil listened carefully and relayed the opportunities to television stations all over the world - the coverage was sensational. He was at it again in Bermuda last year.

His first involvement with coverage of the Olympic Games was at Wembley in 1948 and he never missed another together with the spin-offs like the Commonwealth Games, or the Paralympic Games, whose television coverage he pioneered when there was no international interest. That may sound strange today, but Neil had a deliberate campaigning spirit throughout his 73 years in the business.

When Neil said: "Leave it to me." he meant it and one could do just that knowing that an answer would be forthcoming very shortly.

Neil Mallard is survived by his wife Ros and three sons, Tim, Duncan and Giles who all followed their Father into broadcasting. -- Bob Fisher

Bob's full obituary at Yachting Journalists Association: www.yja.co.uk

Featured Brokerage
Swan 53 Music. 1,150,000 EUR.

The Swan 53 has performance cruising at her core, providing the perfect solution for owners looking for a mid-range yacht that truly reflects Nautor’s philosophy of quality, style and seaworthiness. Equally at home on the high seas covering long distances, or island cruising in shallow waters, the Swan 53 performs beautifully whatever the occasion.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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TP 52 Constellation. 199,000 USD. Located in Annapolis, MD United States.

CONSTELLATION is a well known TP 52 that was formally called RIO Very little use the last year, she was 4th overall in the 2014 Newport to Bermuda Race. She is in good condition and is ready for more fun racing under IRC or ORC as many of her sister ships have proven time and time again

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
William Jenkins 410 267 9419 or 410 353 7862 ( cell)

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2000 Farr 52 One Design. 179000 EUR. Located in Greece.

Absolutely ready to go! She was built in 2000 by Carroll Marine in the USA and very well maintained. Current owner is second owner. She is perfect for serious handicap offshore or inshore racing in both ORCi & IRC.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
info@bachyachting.nl

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The Last Word
You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say. -- Martin Luther

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In This Issue
29er Zhik World Championship being blown away! | Leading four within six miles approaching Solomon Islands | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff AUS National Championship | Entry opens for IRC European Championship and Commodores' Cup + all RORC races on 8th January 2018 | Miami Star Winter Series - Levin Memorial | SB20 World Championship | Quantum J/70 Winter Series | For the Record | Letters to the Editor | Featured Brokerage

29er Zhik World Championship being blown away!
It was another seriously brisk day for the second day of the final series of the 2018 Zhik 29er World Championship. Racing was cancelled yesterday with the breeze far above the 29er wind limit and the Race Officer even reporting one gust punching up to 50kts!

With the 58 teams from 11 countries now separated into Gold and Silver Fleets, nine countries are vying for the Zhik 29er World Championship from New Zealand, France, Australia, Slovenia, Russia, Canada, USA, Great Britain and Hong Kong.

Going into the final day of racing, New Zealand's Francesco Kayrouz and Jackson Keon (NZL12) are leading followed by, Hong Kong's Calum Gregor and Jon Crawford (HKG2532) and France's Benjamin Jaffrezic and Leo Chauvel (FRA2) in third with five points separating them.

The first mixed team is Hong Kong's Karrie Clark and Akira Sakai (HKG22) who are currently in 19th position. Having already cemented the top female position in the 2018 Zhik 29er World Championship are New Zealand's Crystal Sun and Olivia Hobbs (NZL2394) in 26th position.

The silver fleet was not at its full strength today with some of lesser experienced teams electing to stay onshore. On the water, Australia is dominating the fleet taking the first three positions. First in the fleet are female team Annabelle Davies and Madison Woodward (AUS18) followed by William Wallis and Brendan Crisp (AUS2447) and John-Mark Paul and George Richardson (AUS2131) with 3 points separating them.

2018.29erworlds.org

Leading four within six miles approaching Solomon Islands
Four boats are within just six miles as the leaders approach the Solomon Islands, the easternmost point of which is a mark of the race course for Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Dongfeng continues to lead over team AkzoNobel, MAPFRE, and Vestas 11th Hour Racing, who are all within just six miles of each other as of 1300 UTC on Sunday.

In fact, the entire fleet has compressed significantly over the past 24 hours as the leaders raced into less stable conditions, allowing the backmarkers to close the gap.

Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, for example, who trailed by 90 miles at 1300 UTC on Saturday, had halved that deficit by Sunday afternoon. Now only 45 miles separates first from last, and the unstable weather is expected to continue.

The weather is very unpredictable. In the squalls, winds can be up to 25 knots. In the lulls, there can be as little as 5 knots.

The routing software suggests the boats will 'round' the island of San Cristobal closely, leaving it close to port, before continuing north through the lightest winds of the doldrums. The next 48 hours will be very challenging.

Positions at 1300 UTC January 7:

1. Dongfeng Race Team, 3584.94 nm to leg finish
2. Team AkzoNobel, 1.56 nm to leader
3. MAPFRE, 2.83
4. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, 6.35
5. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 15.14
6. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, 31.95
7. Team Brunel, 44.88

volvooceanrace.com

Seahorse January 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

The race that launched 1,000 careers
Frederic Augendre takes the Figaro 3 prototype out for some testing of his own

Planes, trains and automobiles
Decision Composites outside Lausanne have been responsible for some of the fastest and most 'edgy' raceboats of the modern era. And plenty else besides. Founder Bertrand Cardis reflects on an interesting 30 years...

Do good
Chris Bedford, Simon Fisher and Mark Towill balance challenging for a round-the-world race win with achieving some other more publicly spirited objectives

Cup heritage - Part III
From a disappointing Big Boat to an elegant if rather large 'C-Class' to a technical run through of the IACC America's Cup era. Eric Hall

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.

ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff AUS National Championship
Arthur Brett steered Uncle Bob just ahead of Jamie Hilton's Tyson at the finish of the final race to win the ACO Musto Skiff Australian Championship by a hair's breadth. The two contenders probably didn't even know they were in a fight for the title, but Brett found a gust from heaven on the final run of snakes and ladders, and it was enough to carry the Australian past the Scotsman who had fallen out of the best of the breeze. Brett surged across the line just a boatlength ahead of his rival, narrowly averting the embarrassment of a Pom winning the Aussie Nationals.

Perhaps neither of the front two would have won had Brett Morris managed to hold on to a decent score in the concluding race. Yesterday in the one light race of the day, Morris surprised himself to drift across the line in first place. Today the Port Melbourne competitor proved that Saturday's performance was no fluke as he motored up the first beat of the first race in 10 to 12 knots of shifty breeze to take a significant lead at the first mark.

This evening Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron is putting on a slap-up feed for the international competitors who can let their hair down knowing there's a day off before the big battle begins on Tuesday 9 January, day one of the ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff World Championship.

Top five results, AUS Championship
1. Arthur Brett, AUS, 19 points
2. Jamie Hilton, GBR, 20
3. Paul Newman, AUS, 22
4. Brett Morris, AUS, 26
5. Tim HIll, AUS, 29

Full results

www.mustoskiff.com

Entry opens for IRC European Championship and Commodores' Cup + all RORC races on 8th January 2018
At midday on Monday 8th January 2018 entry will open for all Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) races, including the Season's Points Championship comprised of 14 races, as well as the highlight of the UK Solent season - the IRC Europeans and Commodores' Cup.

Competitors entering the IRC Europeans (8-16th June) are invited to form a team of three boats with members of their own yacht club or with boats from their region. Alternatively, contact the RORC Race Team who will provide a list of boats entered, but not yet part of a team.

The biggest contest in the 2018 RORC programme is the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race on Sunday 12th August. At 1,805 nautical miles, it is three times longer than a Fastnet Race and attracts experienced offshore sailors looking for a serious challenge. Starting and finishing in Cowes, it is on a four-year cycle due to the toughness of the race. Circumnavigating all the islands of the UK, including the most northerly point Muckle Flugga, it negotiates headlands with tidal challenges all around the UK and faces the notorious British weather.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club's UK domestic season fires up with the Easter Challenge (30th March to 1st April) and offers crews the chance to work on pre-season training and fine-tuning. With the relaxation of RRS41, the highlight of the event is the availability of a selection of experienced coaches on the water to assist with getting back up to speed.

For more information go to: www.rorc.org or contact the RORC Race Team on: +44 (0)1983 295144, Email: racing@rorc.org

Miami Star Winter Series - Levin Memorial
Two races were held today on Biscayne Bay for the Star Class racing for the Bob Levin memorial trophy.

The breeze was on at 16 knots from the East which got the temperature up into the 60's. It was a shifty again with the wind coming over the key onto the track.

Magnus and I went into the day one point behind Jack Jennings and Frithjof Kleen. But today was to be our day. In race one, we started at the pin and never looked back. Jennings and Kleen were in 5th at the first mark but their speed brought them up to second but the final run. Diaz/Prada were also sailing well and finished third.

So going into the fina race it was "who beats who" to take the Levin Trophy for 2018. Magnus and I had a conservative start under Diaz/Prada. Jennings and Kleen were slightly ahead as we all taked onto port. Our speed was superior and we slipped out front and to leeward of the pack. We then got a header. The whole fleet flipped over onto starboard and Magnus and I wete on top of the fleet. And that's where we stayed.

Jennings/Kleen finished second with Diaz/Prada in third. And that was the order for the regatta. My hat is off to my crew! Magnus is 64 years young. 5 races in 16 knots in two days is hard on anyone, but Magnus is ageless. A gold medalist in 2000 the man is a true athlete, mentally and physically. Here to you Magnus!!

The next event will be the Masters regatta February 3, 4. followed by the Walker and Midwinters the following weekend. -- Paul Cayard

For complete results go to www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=4455

SB20 World Championship
Hobart, Tasmania: Hobart yachtsman Michael Cooper today made an impressive start to winning the SB20 World championship on the River Derwent that he so narrowly missed at Cowes, England, last August.

Steering Export Roo, with same crew of David Chapman and Gerry Mitchell, Cooper scored two third places and a win on day one of the 2018 World Championship on his home waters.

This has given Export Roo a commanding early lead in the four-day, 12-race regatta for these high performance, one-design sportsboat, crewed by three or four sailors, men, women and teenagers, with skippers ages ranging from 13 to 60 years plus.

The Hobart businessman lost the 2017 Worlds on The Solent at Cowes to noted British yachtsman Jerry Hill by two points, with Hill using his own local knowledge in the final race.

Cooper has avowed revenge and is not only leading the 2018 Worlds but is also 24 places ahead of Hill, who today placed 4-38-28 in sportsboatworld.com -- Peter Campbell

Leading ten boats after three races on day one:
1. Export Roo (Michael Cooper, AUS) 7 points (3-3-1)
2. Le Grand Reservoir/Mazet & A (Achill Nebout, FRA) 20 points 2-11-7)
3. Xcellent (John Pollard, GBR) 24 points (6-12-6)
4. Honey Badger (Paul Burnell, AUS) 34 points (19-1-14)
5. Binn Edair (Cillian Dickson, IRE) 35 points (8-23-4)
6. EOLIFT Racing (Hugo Feydit, FRA) 35 point (13-17-5)
7. 2Unlimited (Greg Prescott, AUS) 47 points (25-17-15)
8. Team Musto (George Peacock, AUS) 48 points (32-4-12)
9. Flirtatious/Ambition Racing (Chris Dare, AUS) 49 points (29-18-2)
10. Marvel (Richard Powell, GBR) 50 point z(10-32-8)

sb20worlds2018.com

* French youth sailor and former world champion Robin Follin has emerged as hot favourite for the SB20 World championship on Hobart's River Derwent, starting on Sunday.

Helming Give Me 5 - French Youth Team, Follin (FRA) this afternoon won his third out of six races in the SB20 pre-Worlds regatta, taking out the last race with French flair.

In 2015 Follin became the first and only youth sailor to win an SB20 World title, at Trentino in Italy, and still qualifies for the youth division at the age of 25.

Follin and his crew also won the Youth and Corinthian trophies for the Pre-Worlds. The Masters went to Jerry Hill (GBR) the current world champion.

Joel Ronning's Catapult Wins Second Weekend of 2017-2018 Quantum J/70 Winter Series
Tampa, Florida: Fifty-three J/70 teams traveled to Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida for the middle weekend of the 2017-2018 Quantum J/70 Winter Series. Chilly but sunny conditions ranged from 8-10 knot breezes on Saturday to 16+ knots on Sunday, as three races were completed each day. Joel Ronning's Catapult topped the fleet with 9 net points, dropping a fifth in Saturday's last contest and otherwise keeping all top three finishes. Bennet Greenwald's Perseverance took second place with 20 points. Brian Keane's Savasana, who won the first weekend of the Series in December, was just one notch back in third. The 22-boat Corinthian division was topped by Bob Willis' Rip Rullah.

Each Friday of the Series, SAIL22 and North U are combining forces for the Porch Series to offer practice races and coaching. Racing concludes at Davis Island Yacht Club on February 9-11.

Complete results may be found at yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=4360

For the Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record:

Record: Singlehanded 24 Hour Record
Yacht: "MACIF" 30 metre Trimaran
Name: Francois Gabart. FRA
Dates:. 13th to the 14th November 2017.
Start time: 21;00 on 13/11/17
Start position: 33°17.42S : 13°49.68W
Finish time: 21.00 on 14/11/17
Finish position: 43°31.49 : 01°14.91W
Elapsed time: 24 hours.
Distance: 850.68
Average speed: 35.45 kts

Comment: Previous record: MACIF. Francois Gabart. FRA. July 16.m 784 NM

John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council

sailspeedrecords.com

* From Euan Ross:

Rummaging through the new Seahorse, while waiting for my copy of 'Fire and Fury' to fall through the letterbox, I found little new on the controversial AC75. Well, nothing except the focus-group generated tag of 'DeLorean' that we are now all expected to use when discussing the foiling configuration of the beast. The theme is 'Back to the Future' apparently...

I am still optimistic about the entertainment value of TNZ's leggy monster, but for those of us once involved in good governance, and indeed anyone with a basic knowledge of automobile engineering, the surpassingly naive DeLorean brand association is not exactly encouraging.

- £77m of taxpayers' cash was sunk into DeLorean, including nearly £9 million siphoned off directly through fraud.
- Parliament branded the project: "one of the gravest cases of the misuse of public resources to come before us in many years".
- The management were said to have conducted "a shambles, a fantasy and an orchestrated pantomime".
- Towards the end of the debacle, DeLorean himself, was described as, "in a disturbed state, and possibly not wholly rational".

On the technical front, the 'futuristic' vehicle was 'all show and no go'.

- It was slower than the little Fiat Berlinetta I had back then.
- New and untested technologies were found to be wholly unsuitable and had to be dumped.
- Engineering problems and budget overruns delayed production for three years.
- Early models ran out of juice and ground to a halt by the roadside. The electrical system was so weak that even the horn was inaudible.

The entire car had to be re-engineered from the ground up by legendary Brit Colin Chapman.

On the upside, John DeLorean's imaginative plan to balance the books with a little drug dealing was relatively successful. His lawyers cited 'entrapment' and kept him out of prison to file for bankruptcy and flog his assets off to a certain Donald J. Trump.

Roll on 31st March!

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ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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1996 Eric Goetz Maxi 80. 320,000 EUR. Located in Kiel, Germany

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The Last Word
Poets don't finish poems, they abandon them. -- Gregory Corso

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
New Zealand takes top places for Zhik 29er Worlds | Jules Verne Trophy - Code Green, Departure Imminent For Spindrift | Marlow Ropes Announces BST Award Winners January 2018 | Ted Albert Trophy - Warm up event for the Prince Philip Cup | Santiago Lange and Grant Loretz return to Azzura TP52 campaign | St. Thomas International Regatta, | Industry News | Featured Brokerage

New Zealand takes top places for Zhik 29er Worlds
New Zealand's Francesco Kayrouz and Jackson Keon (NZL12) took the title of the 2018 Zhik 29er World Champions today with top 4 results in all races and a 9 point cushion separating them from their closest competition. New Zealand got the edge in the last two races today with an early gybe allowing them to take advantage of a big right-hand shift.

Today racers were met with no breeze and a heavy fog as they descended on the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Middle Island Clubhouse. Racers were initially held onshore with Race Officer Charlie Manzoni commented "We couldn't launch you into nowhere with no wind and no visibility."

However, by around 1130hrs, a cold northerly had started to fill in and steadily built, compressing the fog into a more wet but transparent light drizzle. The gold fleet was sent to their race course in Stanley Bay where four races were sailed. The breeze for the beginning of the first two races race was at the top of the 29er wind limit however changing gears was critical as the breeze tapered off in the second lap of both the first two races. The breeze moderated for the remaining two races of the day and crossing the line first in the final race of the championship was the first Hong Kong team and winners of the 2017 Hong Kong Open Calum Gregor and Jon Crawford (HKG2532) who took 6th overall with 26 points. The results from the Silver fleet remain the same from yesterday as the race committee decided to hold them onshore due to the breeze being in the upper class limit.

Final top ten, Gold Fleet:
1. Francesco Kayrouz / Jackson Keon, NZL, 11.0 points
2. Lachie Brewer / Max Paul, AUS, 20.0
3. Benjamin Jaffrezic / Leo Chauvel, FRA, 25.0
4. Theo Revil / Gautier Guevel, FRA, 25.0
5. Sebastian Lardies / Scott Mckenzie, NZL, 26.0
6. Calum Gregor / Jon Crawford, HKG, 26.0
7. David Eastwood / Samuel Merson, USA, 35.0
8. Rok Verderber / Klemen Semelbauer, SLO, 40.0
9. Lewis Anderson / Pat Morgan, NZL, 41.0
10. Vasilii Andreev / Leonid Pushev, RUS, 46.0

Full results: www.rhkyc.org.hk

Jules Verne Trophy - Code Green, Departure Imminent For Spindrift
After a long stand-by, in the main due to a very active North Atlantic, Spindrift racing is planning to start their Jules Verne Trophy attempt late tonight (Monday). The crew has all now arrived in Brest to make the final preparations ahead of leaving for the start line late this afternoon. This more favourable weather window comes after a series of depressions and extreme conditions similar to those seen with Carmen and Eleanor in Western Europe at the start of this year.

While the North Atlantic still remains complicated, a more favourable weather window is emerging with the arrival of a succession of fronts off the Azores: after an upwind start, a wind shift in the Northwest will allow the team to quickly join the trade winds at the Canaries.

"We have not had an opening since the start of our stand-by mid-November! This is the first opportunity that is emerging but we will start by joining the front to the West that will then allow us to go downwind from Northwest to the Canaries. With the exception of this start, the route looks pretty classic towards rounding the Azores." says the skipper of Spindrift 2, Yann Guichard.

It is anticipated that the team will cross the equator in a little over five days, slightly longer than the time achieved by Spindrift 2 during its first attempt in November 2015 (4d 21h 29 '), but it should set a good benchmark against the current crewed record (IDEC Sport 2017: 5d 18h 59 '). The aim is to enter the Indian Ocean with a small margin compared to the current Jules Verne Trophy, but also to pull together a favorable meteorological configuration in the Southern Ocean.

Jules Verne Trophy Crew:
Yann Guichard (skipper)
Erwan Israel (navigator)
Jacques Guichard (watch captain / helm / trimmer)
Christophe Espagnon (watch captain / helm / bow)
Xavier Revil (watch captain / helm / trimmer)
François Morvan (helm / trimmer)
Antoine Carraz (helm / trimmer)
Thierry Chabagny (helm / bow)
Ewen Le Clech (helm / trimmer)
Sam Goodchild (helm / bow)
Thomas Le Breton (helm / trimmer)
Erwan Le Roux (helm / trimmer)
Router: Jean-Yves Bernot

www.spindrift-racing.com/jules-verne

Marlow Ropes Announces BST Award Winners January 2018
At the start of an exciting year for both the British Sailing Team and Marlow Ropes, the leading rope manufacturer is pleased to announce that the first 2018 winners of the Marlow Ropes P3 Quarterly Award are 49er sailors Morgan Peach and Rhos Hawes.

Marlow Ropes works closely with the British Sailing Team as official supplier and is committed to helping develop new talent coming through by distributing this Award every quarter. For this quarter, Marlow asked the sailors to apply by submitting a film to demonstrate two of the BST's core values of collaboration and honesty that they measure themselves against when competing. Morgan and Rhos demonstrated a mature, realistic and honest approach whilst conveying true grit and determination and we are delighted to announce them as our Award winners.

Both Morgan and Rhos have progressed through the RYA squads from Fevas and Cadets to 29ers then 49ers. Both have medalled at the Youth Nationals and Morgan has progressed to compete in the ISAF Youth Worlds and Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final.

After joining forces in 2016 and joining the British Sailing Team's Podium Potential Pathway group, the pair made strong progress in 2017 finishing second at both the 49er Nationals and the 49er Junior European Championships.

Rhos Hawes, 49er commented:
"It is a huge honour to win the Marlow Rope Award and, given our progression into full time sailing this summer, it is definitely a factor that will transform our Olympic Campaign."

Marlow Ropes is proud to be the official supplier to the British Sailing Team, find out more about the work they are involved in at marlowropes.com

Ted Albert Trophy - Warm up event for the Prince Philip Cup
Metung Yacht Club is located in the picturesque Gippsland Lakes on the South East coast of Victoria and is the venue for the Prince Philip Cup, the 2018 Australian Dragon National Championship. The event is set to be a great regatta with 25 boats entered.

A heat wave served up 40 degrees of heat to melt competitors on Saturday as they rigged and launched ready for sailing. Very, very hot conditions but with the promise of a cooler change the next day. Sunday saw several Dragons out testing the course in much more pleasant conditions. Of the 25 entries there are 5 from Royal Freshwater Bay YC in Perth, Western Australia, 3 from Sydney, a few from Royal Brighton YC in Victoria, 1 from Norway!, sailing in a chartered boat and the rest of the fleet are local sailors.

The Prince Philip Cup starts in earnest with 2 heats on Tuesday afternoon.

Ted Albert Trophy Results, Top Three:
1. Penny Farthing - Rob Campbell, Tim Cummings, Trish Ford, GBR
2. Whimsical - Gordon Ingate, David Giles, Amy Walsh, AUS
3. Magic - Matt Whitnall, Clive Jones, Phil Blinn, AUS

For full results visit: www.metungyachtclub.com.au

Santiago Lange and Grant Loretz return to Azzura TP52 campaign
While the latest version of Azzurra is under construction in Valencia to defend this team's title as 52 Super Series champions, Azzurra's skipper Guillermo Parada has announced the arrival, or rather the return, of two new team members: Santiago Lange and Grant Loretz.

After two bronze medals won in the Tornado catamaran class at the Athens and Beijing Olympics, the Argentinian Santiago Lange finally won a gold medal at 54 years old, during the 2016 Rio Games where he sailed with Cecilia Carranza aboard a Nacra 17 catamaran. Their coach was Mariano "Cole" Parada, strategist and trimmer aboard Azzurra.

Santiago Lange's feat has become a part of Olympic and not just sailing history because his victory came after a bout with cancer in 2015 that cost him his left lung. Following this victory in 2016 Lange won the World Sailing Sailor of the Year award. During his acceptance speech he called his crew Cecilia Carranza to the stage to highlight that the win was the result of teamwork. Aboard Azzurra Santiago will be sailing with a group that he knows from the past having been tactician aboard Matador in 2010.

Grant Loretz, a key member of Team New Zealand up to 2013, will also be a welcomed returner to Azzurra having raced with the team from 2014 to 2016. Loretz will be trimmer again in the upcoming season.

The latest version of Azzurra, the fourth TP52 version of this famous yacht, will debut during PalmaVela in the first week of May. The 2018 edition of the 52 Super Series circuit will kick off on May 23 in Sibenik, Croatia.

www.azzurra.it/en/azzurra.html

Visit Wight Vodka's Favorite Yachting Bar in the Caribbean @ 45th St. Thomas International Regatta, March 23-25, 2018
Have a drink at the 2017 Wight Vodka's Favorite Yachting Bar in the Caribbean, when you race at the St. Thomas International Regatta, March 23 to 25. On January 3, 50° North, creators of Wight Vodka and Scuttlebutt Europe announced that the STIR-host St. Thomas Yacht Club won its annual contest in a special Caribbean category to honor bars that were hard hit by the hurricanes last fall.

Register Now! STIR 2018 offers classes for CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association-handicap rule) Racing, Cruising and Bareboats; Large Multihulls; Beach Cats and One-Design over 20-foot LOA. Over 20 entries are expected for the one-design IC 24's, which may be the largest one-design fleet of any Caribbean regatta!

Charter! A number of IC24s are available for charter from the St. Thomas Sailing Center (stsc.styc.club), which is based at the St. Thomas Yacht Club. The STIR charter package fee is $2100 with decent sails and $2800 with new sails, and includes a ready-to-race IC24 for the three-day STIR, a practice day the Thursday before and a 30-day Bluewater Membership in the St. Thomas Yacht Club. For more charter opportunities, visit: stthomasinternationalregatta.com/regatta/charter-companies

Need help with finding on-island accommodations? Contact Adam: stychousing@gmail.com

Save Money! In keeping with STIR's simpler old-time theme, even the entry fees have been rolled back to $150 before January 31, 2018. Updated NOR: yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=4422. For more information, contact regatta director, Bill Canfield, at stycisv@gmail.com

stthomasinternationalregatta.com

Industry News
As the London Boat Show opens this week (10-14 January) the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) warned that two of the biggest exhibitors have been building yachts for the luxury market with illegitimate teak from Myanmar.

EIA research reveals that Burmese teak entering the supply chains of the UK's two largest yacht builders, Sunseeker International and Princess Yachts International, was traded in breach of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR).

The EUTR has been in force since 2013 to combat illegal logging and the associated trade in stolen timber.

UK authorities have confirmed that NHG Timber has been found in breach of the EUTR for the trading of Burmese teak, a decision meaning that all firms known to be placing Burmese teak on the UK market have now been found in breach. -- Paul Newman, Press and Communications Officer, EIA. eia-international.org

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Princess and Sunseeker respond to EIA

"Sunseeker International has been aware of a press statement issued the charity EIA which suggests Sunseeker is using teak in its boat production which is known to be in breach of the EUTR," reads the Sunseeker press statement. "Sunseeker International is not aware of any breach of the EUTR nor is it regulated by them. Sunseeker has not received a notice from any recognised enforcement authority of a breach of the EUTR within the company's direct or indirect supply chain, relating to the procurement of teak of any other products. Sunseeker is a socially responsible manufacturer and committed to ethical business practice. We regularly undertake supply audits of our teak supply chain to ensure it is responsibly sourced and would never knowingly use teak which is not". Sunseeker further explains that it will be investigating the procurement of its teak through the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy in due course to obtain the facts.

Princess Yachts explains that, "We are extremely careful in sourcing raw materials for our products and take all reasonable steps to ensure that these are provided to us by reputable licensed suppliers, in accordance with all relevant international laws, including those of the United Kingdom and the European Union. To that end, we only purchase materials from those specific companies who have been approved and are committed to, and comply with, the relevant and applicable regulations. In light of the claims by the Environmental Investigation Agency, we are working with British Marine to gain further understanding of the alleged supply chain issues that have been highlighted, as these were entirely unknown to us at the time of publication and have not been independently confirmed as accurate." -- Rory Jackson, SuperyachtNews.com

www.marineindustrynews.co.uk

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Germany's three-time Paralympic medallist, Jens Kroker, has been elected to World Sailing's Athletes' Commission, becoming the first Para World Sailing representative in the commission.

Since its inception, World Sailing's Athletes' Commission was open only to sailors who had competed at an Olympic Sailing Competition.

At the 2017 Annual Conference, World Sailing's Council approved the inclusion of a Para World Sailing representative into the Athletes' Commission as many issues considered by the Commission affect Olympians and Paralympians.

Sailors who competed at the 2017 World Championships were able to vote for a representative who competed at the worlds.

Kroker was voted in by his peers ahead of Neil Patterson (AUS), Tomas Saez Raffaeli (BRA) and Shinya Yamamoto (JPN).The German joins the following members of the Athletes' Commission:

Yann Rocherieux (FRA) - Chair
Sofia Bekatorou (GRE) - Vice-Chair
Jo Aleh (NZL)
Maayan Davidovich (ISR)
Juan Ignacio Maegli (GUA)
Vasilij Zbogar (SLO)
Sarah Gosling (GBR)
Lijia Xu (CHN)

sailing.org

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Nautor's Swan of Finland has expanded its presence in the German and Austrian markets with the appointment of Thorsten Flack as area sales director and Britta Bunkenburg as market development director.

The Hamburg-based brother and sister team will be responsible for sales and regional marketing of Nautor's three lines - Swan Yachts, ClubSwan Yachts and Maxi Swans - and will report to Northern European director Barry Ashmore.

They join the company after seven years in senior commercial roles at Oyster Yachts before joining custom superyacht yard Royal Huisman.

Nautor's Swan closed 2017 with the sale of the second Swan 65 and hulls 3 and 4 of the new Swan 78 in December alone. 2018 is therefore set to be a very busy year with the new high-performance racing ClubSwan 125 build well underway, two Swan 78s planned for launch in the spring, and the latest Swan 54s and ClubSwan 50 to be completed.

plus.ibinews.com

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beiderbeck designs, based in the Vegesack district of Bremen, is continuing to develop the international direction of its business by opening a second office in Antibes, France. Eight years after it was first founded, the prestigious creative studio has become one of the leading European design offices for megayachts. Having completed 162 projects around the world - from futuristic tenders through to many new-builds and conversions in the >100m-yacht class - expansion to foreign shores had become long overdue.

Owners Tim Ulrich and Immo Ludeling explain the design office's move to the Mediterranean as a logical development: "A glance at our calendar and our list of clients gave us a clear indication of where demand for our services exists and where we are expected to be". Alongside the Vegesack district of Bremen - Germany's Superyacht Valley - the choice of Antibes on the Cote d'Azur was both an inevitable and self-evident one. This city, where owners and guests from around the world come to enjoy the mild Mediterranean climate and sophisticated southern French way of life, stands out as the logistical mecca for water sports on the Bay of Angels. Many well-known players, from brokers through to chandlers, are located directly in Port Vauban, one of Europe's largest yachting harbours located across the water from Nice and close to the town of Cannes.

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Beneteau has announced the appointment of Denis Ricard as director of export sales. In his new role, Ricard will be responsible for the Beneteau business in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and African English-speaking countries.

Ricard has many years' experience in the marine industry. He brings knowledge of different cultures and markets, he has lead several teams and developed different markets in Europe and Asia.

After spending more than 15 years at Yamaha, Ricard has run sales for nearly a decade at Zodiac, before integrating the consulting business.

"I am extremely happy to have Denis in our team," says Luca Brancaleon, general manager of Beneteau. "His experience, knowledge of the markets, motivation and method will be great contribution to our sales team."

plus.ibinews.com

Featured Brokerage
Donovan 26 OD. $77,474 CIF. Annapolis MD, USA USD.

The Donovan 26 OD is an evolution of the successful GP26 built by Wrace Boats

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Tink Chambers
Stagg Yachts
tink@staggyachts.com
+1.410.268.1001

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2005 Nautor Swan 62 - GLISSE. 995,000 USD. Located in West Palm Beach, FL - USA

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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2010 Swan 60-903 'Vertical Smile'. 2,200,000 EUR. Located in Italy.

Vertical Smile is the third Swan 60 to be delivered and was launched in 2010. Currently lying in the Nautor's Swan Service Center in Scarlino, Italy. She is available to visit by appointment.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

The Last Word
If you get the message, hang up the phone. For psychedelic drugs are simply instruments, like microscopes, telescopes, and telephones. The biologist does not sit with eye permanently glued to the microscope, he goes away and works on what he has seen. -- Alan Watts

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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

Yachtsman and Young Sailor of the Year Awards
British round the world sailor Alex Thomson has been named the 2017 Yachtsman of the Year winner for his remarkable performance in last year's Vendee Globe solo round the world race. Joining an elite group of yachtsman that includes Sir Francis Chichester, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Dame Ellen MacArthur and Sir Ben Ainslie, the 43-year-old Welshman from Hampshire, not only set the fastest times from the start at Les Sables d'Olonne, France to the Equator (9 days 7hrs 2mins) and the Cape of Good Hope (17 days 22hrs 58 mins) but a 24 hour solo monohull record of 537 nautical miles - an average of 22.4 knots.

Thomson's tenacity shone through on Day 13 of the race in overcoming a near-terminal setback when his Open 60 yacht Hugo Boss hit an unidentified object, snapping off the yacht's starboard foil. The damage severely hampered his progress over the rest of the 27,000 mile course, but despite this and continued problems with his autopilot, Thomson still finished the race with the second fastest time on record - 74 days 19 h 35 min 15 sec - just 16 hours behind French winner Armel Le Cleac'h, setting a new British record for an East/west solo circumnavigation.

The 2017 YJA Young Sailor of the Year Award goes to 17-year-old Montel Fagan-Jordan from Tottenham, London in recognition of his leadership in first raising the money to restore the 1980s classic American Admiral's Cup yacht Scaramouche, then leading a crew of fellow students from the Greig Academy in Tottenham to compete in last year's 605 mile Fastnet Race.

Nominated by his school teacher, Jon Holt says of Montel: "This was unique yachting project in which a multi-cultural crew spent three years undertaking more than 50 fund-raising talks to buy and restore the famous German Frers designed yacht. Montel is able to helm almost any yacht. Not only was he the driving force behind Scaramouche - raising most of the money himself, but then developed as the helmsman, after receiving tuition from David Beford and Lawrie Smith. In 2017 he entered the Etchells 22 class Gertrude Cup and finished 4th overall before steering the Lloyds X55 class yacht Lutine during Cowes Week. He steered Scaramouche for most of the Fastnet Race

Given that Scaramaouche is an old yacht, which rolls madly, his ability to hold a course for four hours in the dark, surfing down wind without broaching was amazing. Scaramouche may have finished 142 out of 368, but as a school team in an old yacht, they more than proved their point."

yja.co.uk

ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff World Championship
Winds gusting up to 30 knots meant no racing for day one of the ACO Musto Skiff World Championship in Blairgowrie, Australia. At least, not grown-up racing.

The fleet of international sailors was suited and booted and just beginning to hoist mainsails when the postponement flag went up. Local competitor Richie Robertson is famed for his big breeze prowess but even he felt it was the right decision to hold off on launching into the white horses. "It's full on out there, we've got lots of days ahead of us to get this championship done, so it's the right call."

Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron is a beautiful place for whiling away the day, but of course there was some disappointment when racing was finally cancelled at 5pm. Instead there was a Le Mans race in club Optimists, with 10 Musto Skiff competitors pitted against each other in kids' boats. Some of the leading lights in the Skiff were surprisingly out of their depth in the lightweight Oppie, with some of the 90kg-plus competitors almost sinking their plastic bath tubs. It was Australian competitor Matthias Houvenagel who came out in front, ran ashore, beached his boat, sculled his schooner of beer, and lapped up the cheers and applause from the crowd on the clubhouse balcony.

The forecast for Wednesday is for strong winds, but about 5 knots lower than Tuesday, which should bring the breeze into range for the Musto Skiff. -- Andy Rice

www.facebook.com/mustoskiff

MPX Sets The Standard. You Set The Pace.
New for 2018, Musto have reinvented an icon. First created in 1995 after the development of the pioneering HPX the previous year, MPX first incorporated GORE-TEX® fabric in 1998. The range broke new ground on the way to becoming popular in the yachting world amongst racing and cruising sailors alike. MPX now takes another significant step in its journey as it is refined further to meet the demands of the modern-day sailor.

Categorised into Offshore, Race and Coastal, the collection offers comprehensive and reliable protection across the spectrum, with specific details designed to benefit each type of sailor.

www.musto.com

Hard, hot, and slow work in the Doldrums
As Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race neared its halfway point on Tuesday, any memories of the freezing cold Southern Ocean had long been banished.

With every mile that the fleet climbs further north through the South Pacific, so the temperature of both the air and water rise too.

Gone are the days of wearing countless layers of weather-proof clothing in a desperate attempt to stay warm and dry.

Instead, seven days into the 6,000 mile leg from Melbourne to Hong Kong, the Volvo Ocean Race sailors are battling extreme heat as they close in on the Equator.

The lack of breeze in the Doldrums only compounds the problem, slowing their progress through one of the most notorious climate zones for sailors.

Usually lighter airs give sailors a chance to rest ahead of the next big blow but there's no respite from the heat - it's hotter down below than it is on deck.

"It's probably a really nice, comfortable 50 degrees celsius downstairs and about 47.8 degrees up on deck," said Vestas 11th Hour Racing's Phil Harmer with a wry smile. "The sea temperature is 32 degrees - it's just a pleasure. Even the off-watch guys don't want to be down below."

Although Hong Kong lies some 3,000 miles to the north west of the fleet, the short-term goal is to get north as quickly as possible to reach the trade winds.

Once into this stable breeze the teams will be able to swing their bows left, open up the throttles and start knocking off the miles to the Leg 4 finish. But this respite is still some 36 hours away.

Positions at 1300 UTC January 9:
1. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 3294.84 nm to leg finish
2. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, 4.24 nm to leader
3. Team Brunel, 5.98
4. Team AkzoNobel, 6.93
5. Dongfeng Race Team,10.13
6. MAPFRE, 10.14
7. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, 30.10

volvooceanrace.com

Allen Endurance Series
UK performance sailing hardware manufacturer Allen Brothers has announced the creation of a new sailing series designed to test crews and equipment in extreme contests of skill and endurance. The new Series combines established events into a format which Allen Brothers believes will increase participation and competition, enhancing the endurance element of small boat racing in the UK.

The Allen Endurance Series combines the East Coast Piers Race, the Round Sheppey Race and the Solent Towers Race into a series with overall winner(s), who will receive an Allen Voucher worth £100 (retail including VAT). The overall Series prize fund will comprise:

- First Prize Allen voucher worth £500 (retail including VAT)
- Second Prize Allen voucher worth £200 (retail including VAT)
- Third Prize Allen voucher worth £100 (retail including VAT)

By the nature of Endurance racing, the new series is most likely to include Skiffs, Foilers and Fast Catamarans. The ECPR, for example, is only open to dinghies with a high performance rating. Most boats will be trapezing classes. Once again, the Series is intended to appeal to sailors looking for recognition for "extreme" sensations. You can register interest on-line for the series with SailRacer and combine entries for the qualifying events to save money.

sailracer.org

Etchells 2018 Australian Championships
Tension is high as the Etchells fleet cranes in to moor up on the pontoons in Fremantle ahead of an incredibly competitive Etchells Australian Championship. The reason why this event is so significant is the fact that the Etchells fleet will be coming to Australia on a regular basis over the next couple of years. Later this year in October, the Etchells World Championship takes place in Brisbane, Queensland and two years later in November, 2020 the Etchells Worlds will be held on the infamous waters of Fremantle, the very same waters that this regatta will be sailed.

The 2018 Etchells Australian Championship is hosted by Royal Perth YC in conjunction with Royal Freshwater Bay YC and the International Etchells Class Association Swan River Fleet from Tuesday 9 - Friday 12 January.

The significance of the regatta is the reason it has attracted over 30 entries with the majority (21) boats represented by the two WA host clubs however competitors have made the long journey from Sydney, NSW, Melbourne, Victoria and Brisbane, Queensland, (around 3 days across the country by road)!

Another reason competitors are attracted to race in the ocean off Fremantle is the weather conditions. Guaranteed blue skies, warm summer temperatures (Avg 30 degrees this week), and strong winds. The advance forecast for the week is for some moderate to strong early morning breeze, building to some strong afternoon blasts with the infamous 'Fremantle Doctor' sea breeze, making regular appearances. The waves can also get quite boisterous providing some great downwind surfing. -- Jonny Fullerton on behalf of Swan River Etchells Fleet

www.etchellsswanriver.org.au

Tether Clip Update
As promised, here's an update of what we know about the recent failure of a safety tether during the Clipper Round the World Race. This is latest in several accidents in which the use, misuse, or failure of tethers have been linked to fatalities.

Ten days after our first report on the tether failure, the race founder and noted offshore sailor Robin Knox Johnston has revealed more details about the accident, and is cautioning Clipper sailors regarding the proper use of certain tether clips. Although we are not in full agreement with all that has been reported, we are glad to see the race organizers are recognizing the importance of sharing this information with the sailing public. This month, the Marine Accident Investigation Board issued a Safety Bulletin on the topic. Certainly, when the full Marine Accident Investigation Board report (likely to to take months) is released we will have more answers to the many questions that still remain.

One of the videos posted on Facebook demonstrates the risk using a Wichard original double-action locking clip, which as we understand was NOT the clip being used by Simon Speirs at the time of his fatal accident. Based on what we've been told, the snap-hook was a Spinlock Deckware Race Safety Clip (# DWSTRCLIP), a double-action, locking snap-hook used in Spinlock Deckware Safety Tethers (# DWSTR). Introduced in 2009, the Deckware snap-hook is based on the Gibb safety snap-hook-a design that has been used in a variety of sailing tethers for more than three decades. In past tests, Practical Sailor has noted it is one of the easiest locking snap hooks for people with weak hands to operate. The chief difference between the Deckware clip and the original Gibb version is that Deckware clip is lighter and has a black plastic locking latch, while the locking latch in the original Gibb snap-hook is made of stainless steel.

We've completed a fairly comprehensive round of testing on various tether snap-hooks. Although some of our findings conflict with public statements regarding the accident ("it could have happened to any tether," for example), we are generally on the same page regarding the need for a closer look at safety tether snap-hooks. For some background on the accident and several links to related Practical Sailor tests, please read my first post on this topic as well: www.practical-sailor.com/blog/Check-Your-Safety-Tethers-12344-1.html

Full report from Drew Frye and Darrell Nicholson in Practical Sailor: www.practical-sailor.com/blog/Tether-Clip-Update-12345-1.html

Herreshoff Lecture Series: Pedigree, Provenance, and Program
Searching for the Elusive History of the Restorable Wreck as Launch Day Looms

In the yacht restoration business it is an understatement to say there can be a great deal of interest in the pedigree of the boat to be restored. Though the vessel may arrive looking more like a pancake than a runabout a glance at the engine or the paint behind the speedometer can set the Chris Craft aficionado into throws of ecstasy. The name Garwood can drive the recreation of a splendid mahogany speedboat from a mere pile of sticks. The loyalty of the Lawley fans can be limitless. L. Francis? - fanatical. And then there are the Herreshoffs of Bristol whose admirers seem never satisfied with "a" boat built by Herreshoff but "which" boat. If the "which" becomes "that" through the presence of a small brass plate the floodgates open to the entire provenance of the vessel with model, drawings, dates, build time, cost, and owners; the rich fabric that makes up the vessel's story. However, as with the morning commute, there can be some murky times before getting underway if that key is missing and, with time or the boss, delay can be costly.

Warren Barker, Senior Instructor of Boatbuilding and Restoration at IYRS, remarked to a friend at Williams College that after graduation he was going home to build a boat with his father. Little did he know that over thirty-five years later he would still be building boats. During that interval he took his degree from college and further training in furniture design and construction to Maine to enter the revitalized wooden boatbuilding field, to Rhode Island to build cold molded and composite boats for sail and power, and to Massachusetts to build custom boats with his own name on the letterhead. Having taught at IYRS for well over a decade, he has realized what he saw as an opportunity to build or rebuild a myriad of boats by a multitude of designers while instilling in a new generation the passion and enthusiasm for the trade and its teachers that have carried him throughout his career.

Reception begins at 6 PM. Lecture at 7 PM. Register online: form.jotformpro.com/HerreshoffMarineMuseum/LectureTickets

Featured Brokerage
2007 Swan 78 Custom Valkyrie. 1,850,000 EUR. Located in Genoa, Italy.

Delivered in 2007, Valkyrie is a 78 ft custom yacht built by Nautor’s Swan. VALKYRIE fills the role of Bill Tripp’s concept of a Café Racer, a fast, sleek and comfortable yacht.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
http://nautorswanbrokerage.com

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2016 Modified Ker 40+ - "PACE". 550,000 GBP. Located in Cowes, UK.

"PACE", the highly upgraded and modified Ker 40+ is now available. Featuring the latest and greatest technology, as developed for the FAST 40 class rules, she is a step above her rivals in the pursuit of those performance gains. FAST 40 Class National champion in 2017. Wants for nothing....

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ancasta Race Boats
Sam Pearson
+44 2380 016582
+64 277733717
sampearson@ancasta.com

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1998 Swan 48-123 'E2'. 395,000 EUR. Located in Valdivia, Chile.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Lorenzo Bortolotti
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

The Last Word
Printers ink is the greater explosive. -- Lawrence Ferlinghetti

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
Clipper Race 6 Day 5: Southerly Buster Marks Ocean Sprint Start | Flappy sails and glassy seas | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Golden Globe Race competitor Susie Goodall introduces 'DHL Starlight' at London Boat Show | Irish Etchells Classic Short-Listed for International Award | ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff World Championship 2018 Day 2 | Industry News | Featured Brokerage

Clipper Race 6 Day 5: Southerly Buster Marks Ocean Sprint Start
After the Clipper Race fleet split into two packs, it has converged again over the last 24 hours as teams tackled stormy conditions, known locally as Southerly Busters, ahead of the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint.

During the fifth day of racing, it is Visit Seattle that takes the lead as it ploughs through the miles during the Ocean Sprint. Although this could change when yesterday's leader Sanya Serenity Coast returns to the Clipper Race Viewer from being in Stealth Mode at 12:00 UTC today. Only time will tell where the team places but it is likely, however, that racing remains close between the two teams with Sanya Serenity Coast Skipper Wendy Tuck reporting: "We are now sailing along nicely and although we are in Stealth Mode a few other boats can see us and I can't turn off our AIS as we are in a busy shipping area."

In second place, Liverpool 2018 is fully focused on completing the Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint with Qingdao, which entered Stealth Mode at 06:00UTC, freezing its position on the Clipper Race Viewer until tomorrow morning.

With two teams in Stealth Mode, Garmin, which has played its Joker, sits in third place today and has also begun its Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint. However, Skipper Gaetan Thomas suggests it may not be the fastest result for Garmin: "The Elliot Brown Ocean Sprint will start very soon for us, looks like the end will serve up some windholes!"

The Elliott Brown Ocean Sprint results will only be confirmed once the final team has completed the sprint but with teams in Stealth Mode, and positions very much up for grabs, there is likely to be some interesting changes to the leaderboard before teams cross the finish line in Airlie Beach. PSP Logistics Skipper Matt Mitchell explains: "We now have at least 24 hours of downwind sailing before the next obstacle gets in our path by way of a high-pressure system stretching right across the race track.

Race 6: The Wondrous Whitsundays Race will finish in Abell Point Marina, Airlie Beach and the fleet is expected to arrive between 13 - 15 January ahead of the inaugural Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com/race/standings

Flappy sails and glassy seas
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet enters its third day of Doldrums-induced torture as light conditions frustrate progress.

On the eighth day of Leg 4, it seemed the Doldrums were making up for missed opportunities earlier in the race by refusing to relinquish their grip on the seven teams currently ensnared in painfully light winds and blistering heat.

For three days now the crews have been solely focused on getting north as quickly as possible so they can lock into the consistent trade winds that will fire them towards Hong Kong - but the race has been slow going.

The wind has been almost non-existent, reducing average speeds over the last 24 hours to as little as three knots, while the air and sea temperatures have risen to uncomfortable levels. The only respite to the flapping sails and glassy seas is when a cloud appears - and then the temporary breeze it brings can be friend or foe.

The excruciating conditions have left the fleet flummoxed.

"It's hot and slow," said Jens Dolmer, boat captain on second-placed Team Brunel. "It's been frustrating - we've done under 100 miles in 24 hours. During the day it's very, very hot with no breeze at all. It saps your energy completely."

Asked to describe the current situation, Dolmer's crewmate Sally Barkow needed just one word. "Torture," she replied.

The fickle nature of the Doldrums has seen most teams make gains and losses. At one point it seemed that those teams more to the east - Vestas 11th Hour Racing, Dongfeng Race Team, team Akzonobel and MAPFRE - had got a jump on Turn the Tide on Plastic, Brunel and Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag to the east.

But by the next position report the westerly boats had pulled back the deficit and drawn level once more.

The real winners in the past 24 hours has been Scallywag, who have managed to reduce a gap of more than 30 miles to around 10.

Despite what the rankings say, the smart money remains on the team that can hit the trade winds lying some 250 miles north first - and jump on the highway to Hong Kong.

volvooceanrace.com

Seahorse January 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

New kids - very new boats
What is it with Argentina and yacht designers... enter two more disrupters

Treat yourself
It's no longer a state secret but it's still a hell of a way to spend a week in April

Now it's foot to the floor
A ludicrously tempting event just hit a whole new level of performance

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.

Golden Globe Race competitor Susie Goodall introduces 'DHL Starlight' at London Boat Show
Susie Goodall has introduced her newly refurbished boat ahead of her participation in the historic Golden Globe Race 2018. 'DHL Starlight' - named in a global competition organized by DHL, the Official Logistics Partner of Susie Goodall Racing - was brought to the ExCeL exhibition center in the UK capital to be officially launched at the London Boat Show.

DHL Express has provided logistics support throughout the refurbishment process, bringing items such as solar panels and watertight doors from around the world to Falmouth, Cornwall. Susie Goodall is one of the youngest skippers, and the only female, to be competing in the Golden Globe Race, which will see thirty sailors embark on a 48,000 km non- stop circumnavigation of the world's oceans without any outside assistance.

www.dpdhl.com/en/media_relations/press_releases.html

Irish Etchells Classic Short-Listed for International Award
Click on image to enlarge.

The vintage Etchells 22 transformed into a classic small cruiser last year by Bill Trafford of Alchemy Marine for a Crosshaven owner has been short-listed for an international award writes W M Nixon.

The superbly-finished Guapa - Spanish for "beautiful" - still sails like an Etchells. But she now looks like a very high quality miniature Swedish Skerries cruiser, with an exquisitely-crafted coachroof which can provide weekend cruising accommodation, although elegant and effortless daysailing is Guapa's true forte.

With her teak-laid decks and appropriately classic-style McWilliam Sails, Guapa has impressed a wide range of people with vintage yacht experience, including America's Cup superstar Dennis Conner's classic yacht specialist Johnny Smullen, who has described her as "an amazing bit of work".

Now Guapa has been short-listed for the latest annual round of awards by the international publication Classic Boat, and she's one of the final three that have reached the run-off in the Spirit of Tradition Under 40ft category.

All details on voting are here

afloat.ie/sail

ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff World Championship 2018 Day 2
They had to wait a day for the wind to settle, but the competitors enjoyed a fantastic day's racing on day two of the ACO Musto Skiff World Championship in Blairgowrie, Australia.

There was a lot to think about on the race course. By late afternoon the tide had turned and was washing boats upwind at a hefty pace, making it easy to overstand the layline to the top mark. No side ever paid the whole time, the gusts were patchy, and the current also played its part in the tactics.

After three races, Newman leads overall with 12 points, while Knight is in second overall, an impressive result for a Pom nursing a bad back. Newman commented: "That's a pretty unusual wind direction for this place and those were pretty untypical conditions. The last race I didn't go as far to the corner as some people and that was probably the thing that helped, but Will [Phillips] was doing the same moves as me and looking strong. He's definitely one to watch this week, and Alex Knight has obviously proved he is too."

Bates and Poston also put in solid scores to sit in third and fourth overall, and the event is shaping up to be a battle between Aussies and Brits, with five of each nation in the top 10 overall.

Top five after three races
1. Jon Newman, Fast Girl, AUS, 12.0 points
2. Alex Knight, Musto Skiff, GBR, 16.0
3. Wayne Bates, Spud Muffin, AUS, 21.0
4. Dave Poston, Ultra Composites , GBR, 23.0
5. William Phillips, Suzanne, AUS, 24.0

Full results

Industry News
Boats Group, the leading global classifieds marketplace and marketing software solutions provider to marine brokers and dealers, announced today that their Chairman, Ian Atkins, will be stepping down from his operational responsibilities with the company effective January 31st. Ian will remain a member of the Boats Group board as an independent director.

Having joined the company in 2000 when it was a San Francisco-based startup, Ian initially developed the company's operations outside North America where he successfully built key relationships and identified specific growth enablers throughout Europe. Appointed vice president and general manager of the global business shortly after its acquisition by Dominion Enterprises, Ian developed and executed business strategies that further positioned YachtWorld as the leading portal and MLS for the yacht brokerage market.

In late 2009, Ian led the consolidation of the leading marine brands - YachtWorld, Boat Trader and boats.com - into a single digital media entity, creating the Dominion Marine Media brand. In the difficult trading conditions that existed at the time, Ian, together with VP of marketing, Courtney Chalmers, developed new sales, marketing and educational programs that focused on helping their industry partners optimize their online marketing strategies.

In 2016, Ian led the company through the successful acquisition by Apax Partners and has since been engaged with the new executive team in planning the strategic direction of the business, as well as concentrating on positioning the Boats Group international business for accelerated growth.

Ian Atkins says, "I must say it is so satisfying to be leaving the business at a time when its prospects have never been stronger and in such safe hands. The new leadership team brings a wealth of technology and e-commerce skills to Boats Group that the marine industry can really benefit from. I've thoroughly enjoyed leading the business over the last 10 years or so and look forward to staying connected and watching it go from strength to strength."

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Navico, the parent company to the Lowrance®, Simrad® and B&G® brands - announced today that it has acquired Yacht Defined Sweden AB ("Yacht Defined"), an international, award-winning, modern and user-friendly technology platform within navigation and digital switching systems.

At the same time, Navico has made an investment into HOC Yachts AB ("HOC Yachts"), a start-up, high-tech custom boat designer that will be used to showcase and validate Navico and Yacht Defined's developments in marine electronics, digital switching, boat integration and connectivity.

Established in 2016, Yacht Defined offers boaters an intuitive user interface for driving, living aboard and owning a boat. Acting as a central technology hub, the platform provides deep-system integration that delivers navigation display data optimization, remote control of onboard systems and entertainment, and vessel-wide over-the-air system updates, to name a few. The Yacht Defined system has been developed to deliver boaters the best possible user experience, making boating as intuitive as driving a car. It's also one of the first systems developed specifically with the boat builder channel in mind, eliminating many of the compromises required when creating products for other sales channels.

www.navico.com

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The UK leisure marine industry achieved its sixth consecutive year of growth in 2017, with total revenues climbing by 3.4% to £3.12bn - their highest level since the 2007/08 financial crisis. The latest industry figures, published today by British Marine, coincide with the launch of the newly revamped London Boat Show, which runs from January 10-14 at the ExCel exhibition centre in London's Docklands.

According to British Marine, the sector directly contributed over £1.3bn to the UK economy between March 2016 and April 2017, while supporting over 33,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the manufacturing and service industries. And while UK productivity remains sluggish compared to its G20 rivals, the marine sector continues to perform above-average in comparison with other UK industries, with an estimated Gross Valued Added output per worker of over £39,000.

Business confidence in the industry has also continued to increase over the last six months, with a net balance of 41% of British Marine members positive about the future.

The UK's boating tourism sector also appears to have been a key beneficiary of Brexit, with over 60% of marine tourism operators reporting increased sales over the summer. Marinas and boatyards were the second most positive sector, with a net balance of 47% of companies reporting revenue growth.

British Marine said a rise in 'staycations' helped explain why the two sectors had fared particularly well over the summer. Since the UK voted to leave the EU in June 2016, the pound has fallen 10% against the dollar and 20% against the euro, making it more expensive for UK-based holidaymakers to take foreign holidays.

plus.ibinews.com

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Harken Launches Power3 Ratchets for Black, Titanium, or Silver Regatta Days

Is the wind steady and strong? Breeze-on with puffs? Or is the air light to medium? 57 mm Power3 ratchet blocks have one-design sailors covered with three holding-power options that best suit the day's wind and wave conditions. More ratchet choices allow sailors to fine-tune their set-ups in tandem with the purchase that provides the ideal level of power, responsiveness, and grip.

"The standard black ratchet has been a wonderful all-purpose choice for years" said Matt Schmidt, lead engineer of the project. "Harken now offers sailors three ratchet choices with 10:1, 15:1, or 20:1 holding power*. This allows skippers to synchronize their rigging selections and sailing style to whatever the weather has in store for them on race day."

Power3 ratchets are available in 57 mm switchable, shackled Ratchamatic, and T2 soft-attach Ratchamatic configurations. All Power3 ratchets may be purchased individually. Switchable ratchets are also available in two-packs of 1.5x and 2x.

harken.com

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North Sails has announced that it will join the prestigious Newport to Bermuda Race as Performance Partner for the 2018 edition. The event is a 635-mile biennial distance race that draws an international fleet and includes a range of yachts from Super Maxis to Corinthian cruisers. The race, that prides itself on accessibility for a wide variety of sailors, is a great test of blue-water seamanship from historic Newport to the beautiful shores of Bermuda.

As Performance Partner, North Sails will be working with participants to help them optimize their offshore sail inventories. North will be hosting three seminars where North Sails experts, and race veterans, will be on hand to answer questions and discuss sail choices and weather routing for the race. The seminars will be held in Annapolis, MD, Portsmouth, RI and Stamford, CT.

Seminar Sign Up

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Land Rover BAR have further strengthened their challenge for the 36th America's Cup with the appointment of Nick Holroyd as Chief Designer. Holroyd is a previous winner of the Cup with Emirates Team New Zealand, and was formerly the Technical Director at Softbank Team Japan for the 35th America's Cup. The appointment follows rapidly after the arrival of multiple America's Cup winner Grant Simmer as the team's new CEO; both will start permanently with the team in Portsmouth later this month.

Originally a University of Auckland graduate in Mechanical Engineering, Holroyd began to specialise in sailboat racing with an MSc in Maritime CFD and Applied Mechanics at the University of Southampton. He followed that with an 18-year stint at Team New Zealand, beginning in 1997 as a foil designer and naval architect for the team that won the 30th America's Cup in Auckland in 2000.

He became Technical Director in 2007 and stayed with the team through to June 2015, in which time Team New Zealand twice won the Louis Vuitton Cup (2007 and 2013) and in that time, he was instrumental in bringing foiling technology into the America's Cup. Next, he joined SoftBank Team Japan in June 2015 where he was also Technical Director for the 35th America's Cup in 2017.

landroverbar.com

Featured Brokerage
2013 Oyster 885 'Karibu'. 5,750,000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Karibu – Made to Measure Launched in 2013, Oyster 885-02 Karibu is now offered for sale exclusively through Oyster Brokerage and can be inspected through the Palma office. She is in exceptional condition. Extensively detailed for an owner intent on both high performance and high level comfort.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Jamie Collins
Oyster Palma
Edificio Moll Vell, Locales 6-7
Calle Muelle Viejo, 6, 07012
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
T: +34 677 429 116
F: +34 971 737 425

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2007 Swan 78 Custom Valkyrie. 1,850,000 EUR. Located in Genoa, Italy.

Delivered in 2007, Valkyrie is a 78 ft custom yacht built by Nautor’s Swan. VALKYRIE fills the role of Bill Tripp’s concept of a Café Racer, a fast, sleek and comfortable yacht.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
http://nautorswanbrokerage.com

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2005 Cookson 50 - "Lee Overlay Partners". 350000 EUR. Located in Antigua.

This Cookson 50 has an enviable race record, as do her sister ships and she is ready to challenge for yet more silverware on the upcoming 2018 circuit. Extensive overhaul in 2016/17, with a new, larger headed North 3Di mainsail and refurbished canting keel system. Turn-key offering.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson
Ancasta Race Boats
+44 2380 016582
+64 277733717
sampearson@ancasta.com

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

The Last Word
When one studies the properties of atoms, one found that the reality is far stranger than anybody would have invented in the form of fiction. Particles really do have the possibility of, in some sense, being in more than one place at one time. -- Alan Guth

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
Towards the Equator | AUS 13' and 16' Skiff Nationals | Antigua Sailing Week - Charter Opportunities & Flight Deals | Monaco Optimist Team Race: A regatta without borders | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Concern over an RNLI 'Drowning Gap' in Wales reaches the London Boat Show | Etchells 2018 Australian Championships | Featured Brokerage

Towards the Equator
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet was buoyed by the arrival of new breeze on Thursday, potentially spelling an end to several days of torment at the hands of the Doldrums.

The seven teams hit the Doldrums - a fickle band of low pressure notorious for its calm wind - on Monday, and since then have been inching north at painfully slow speeds in sweltering tropical heat.

But on the ninth day of racing, with almost exactly 3,000 nautical miles remaining of the 6,000-mile stage from Melbourne to Hong Kong, it had all changed with new wind of up to ten knots filling in.

And with the new conditions came a new leg leader - a few well-timed gybes shot Vestas 11th Hour Racing ahead of their rivals and to the top of the table, if only by the thinnest of margins. "It's been an incredible 24 hours," skipper Mark Towill said. "It's been very hot and really tricky with the clouds. We put ourselves in a good position and we're happy with where we are. It's been an incredible effort by the team. We're looking forward to another exciting night, getting to the trade winds and into more stable breeze."

Leg 4 - Position Report - Thursday 11 January (Day 10) - 13:00 UTC
1. MAPFRE, 3025 nm to leg finish
2. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 12.73 nm to leader
3. Team Brunel, 13.24
4. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, 15.27
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, 25.98
6. Team AkzoNobel, 28.39
7. Dongfeng Race Team, 33.36

volvooceanrace.com

AUS 13' and 16' Skiff Nationals
Photo by Michael Chittenden. Click on image for photo gallery.

The temperature hit 35 plus degrees in the sun and that was agony as the crews waited to get a final start for almost 3 hours. With the breeze literally switching thru 180 degrees of the compass, to their credit the race committee waited just one minute before the official cut off time to lower the AP flag to get the race away.

On que Sydney Harbour delivered with a 15 knot North Easter to see the fleet scream to the top mark.

Where we reported yesterday it was supposed tp be a three horse race for the title; very quickly it became a battle Royale with Sutech buried at the start, and for them it was game over.

It was a classic match race with Manly Surf n Slide taking the lead with Brydens in hot pursuit. It stayed that way to the finish and that was reflected in the overall result. Manly Surf n Slide winners of the championship with the final result split by a mere 3 seconds from Byrdens.

Taking Bronze were the lads from Sutech, but not far behind was TJS and Southern Beaches Rugby and Growthbuilt. The results page lists the rest of the champions in hot pursuit. Whilst in the 13 foot class it was "Mighty-Mite" who took the lead from the beginning and they protected their position to ensure they went home with the silverware; closely followed by Bartley Construction and Big Foot rounding out with the Bronze medal for third overall.

As we have repeatedly reported, the gap in the 13 class was so small in elapsed time; we have the future of the class well in hand.

Full results: www.middleharbourskiffnationals.com.au/results/
Regatta Website: www.middleharbourskiffnationals.com.au

Antigua Sailing Week - Charter Opportunities & Flight Deals
More than 65 teams from all over the world have already committed to the 51st edition of Antigua Sailing Week. Many more are expected and it's not too late to join them. There are still single places and whole yacht charters available. Backed by Dream Yacht Charter and Virgin Atlantic, there are some fantastic New Year deals, and independent charter firms offer a myriad of options to experience the Caribbean's most famous regatta.

Virgin Atlantic is the Official Exclusive UK Airline sponsor of Antigua Sailing Week and operates three flights weekly between Antigua and London Gatwick flying Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

"Virgin Atlantic is pleased to offer preferred rates to family, friends and participants travelling to Antigua from London Gatwick for Antigua Sailing Week 2018," commented Sean Edwards, Virgin Atlantic Regional Business Development Manager - Caribbean.

To take advantage of the offer, email caribcorporates@fly.virgin.com with your preferred travel dates, cabin of your choice and quote promo code 'ASW2018'.

Dream Yacht Charter is the world's largest charter company with over 900 yachts in 45+ destinations worldwide including Antigua Slipway, English Harbour, Antigua.

"Bareboats for Antigua Sailing Week have been booking up fast and availability is now getting tight," commented Dan Lockyer, Dream Yacht Charter General Manager, North America. "We are relocating boats to Antigua from other bases and we do have boats available, but if you are thinking about racing in the Bareboat fleet, it would be advisable to book up very soon so that we can meet the demand." Motherships are also available as race fleet bases or for cruisers who like the idea of being in the middle of the action but not racing.

For more details go to: www.dreamyachtcharter.com

Independent charter companies still have yachts and single berths available.

For more details on opportunities for race charters and crew opportunities at Antigua Sailing Week visit: www.sailingweek.com/race-charters-crew/

The Notice of Race for Antigua Sailing Week 2018 and the Peters & May Round Antigua Race are now available online and can be viewed here: www.sailingweek.com/competitors/race-documents/

To enter ASW 2018 click here: www.sailingweek.com/enter-2018/

Monaco Optimist Team Race: A regatta without borders
2018 is the 'Year of Regattas' at the Yacht Club de Monaco, as the one-design winter training base awaits the arrival of some 250 competitors of all ages in January. The youngest get the ball rolling this weekend, starting Thursday (11th January) with the Monaco Optimist Team Race, a team-match-race format. Then the weekend of 19-21 January it's the turn of the J/70s in the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series, ahead of the big one, the 34th Primo Cup - Trophée Credit Suisse, 9-11 February 2018.

Monaco Optimist Team Race: 16 teams, 16 nations
For the ninth edition, 64 under-14 sailors divided into 16 teams will be competing in the Monaco Optimist Team Race, organised with the support of FxPro, Eventica and Fon. It opens with an International Clinic for four countries (Monaco, Uruguay, Russia and Croatia): two days of intensive training and coaching, supervised by Chris Atkins, one of the world's best-known team race specialists from World Sailing.

An original match race for teams of four Optimists, it encourages team-work and is extremely popular. This year there are teams from north and southern Europe, as well as Eastern Europe with the return of a foursome from the St Petersburg Sailing Academy in Russia and one from ARM Urla Sailing Club in Turkey. Oman Sails is making its first appearance, and a group from the Punta del Este Yacht Club in Uruguay have crossed the Atlantic to compete for the first time.

www.ycm.org

Seahorse February 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

And so the dam breaks
It's taken a while but the Mini fleet has woken up. Joe Lacey and Fred Augendre sit down in Lorient with scowman David Raison

Some journey
Today the company that bears his name covers everything from iceboating to America's Cup racing - and a lot more besides. But that's a very, very long way from where it all began. Peter Harken

To boldly go
That AC75 - Franck Cammas, Grant Simmer and Dean Barker talk to James Boyd

Design - The master of (multihull) intuition
Very tough - Ian Farrier

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.

Concern over an RNLI 'Drowning Gap' in Wales reaches the London Boat Show
A Welsh lifeboat man and his son make a barefoot protest at the London Boat Show 2018

Father and son, Huw (43) and Steffan Williams (9), can be seen today walking half-dressed and barefoot to the RNLI stand at the London Boat Show, at the ExCel exhibition centre, in a symbolic protest against the RNLI taking vital equipment away from their lifeboat station in West Wales.

The pair travelled over two hundred and fifty miles to the capital to raise awareness of the RNLI's plan to remove the only all-weather lifeboat from the county of Ceredigion in 2020, creating what has been dubbed the 'Drowning Gap' by the Ceredigion Lifeboat Campaign.

The 'Drowning Gap' is the sea area in Cardigan Bay which is currently served by an all-weather lifeboat at New Quay. Under the RNLI's current plans, when this boat is withdrawn at the end of its operational life, there will be a gap of over 70 miles of coastline between the nearest all-weather lifeboat stations in Barmouth and Fishguard.

There has been an all-weather lifeboat in New Quay for over one hundred and fifty years but, while the RNLI are rolling out state-of-the-art Shannon class all-weather lifeboats around the coast of the UK and Ireland, New Quay has been chosen as one of the first stations to lose all-weather lifeboat capability in the RNLI's recent Coast Review.

Whilst the RNLI has refused to publish its Coast Review report, it is clear that the decision to downgrade lifesaving provision will result in cost savings running into millions of pounds. However, a report published by the Ceredigion Lifeboat Campaign claims that 25% of rescues carried out by New Quay's all-weather lifeboat could not have been achieved by the inshore lifeboat that the RNLI plan to station in New Quay.

Full story: www.ceredigionlifeboatcampaign.org.uk

Etchells 2018 Australian Championships
Photo by Jonny Fullerton. Click on image for photo gallery.

Fremantle, Western Australia: Magpie sailed by Graham Taylor, James Mayo and Richard Allanson has one hand on the trophy this evening after scoring 2nd and 1st in the two races on the penul-timate day of racing at the 2018 Etchells Australian Championship sailed off Fremantle.

Not so much wind today and a little cooler but the fleet of 32 Etchells left the dockside for 2 windward/leeward races of 1.5nm legs in a short steep swell rolling in towards the harbour.

As the discard comes into play after 5 races, Graeme Taylor's Magpie team has one hand on the trophy with a lead of 10 points with 2 races to go on the final day. Michael Manford and his crew from RFBYC in Perth had to use up his discard (13th) but with a 4th in race 6, holds on to second place overall by a small margin of 2 points. David Turton and his crew of Queenslanders are now tied on points with Jeanne-Claude Strong on 20 points as Martin Hill and his Sydney based crew slips to 5th overall.

Another day of great racing with only one retirement due to a swimming incident shows just how close the racing has become in this fleet. The final day of racing (Friday) is scheduled for a 1035hrs start (local time) and racing will again be streamed live via the facebook site in the link below. -- Jonny Fullerton on behalf of Swan River Etchells Fleet

Results (Top 6 of 32 boats after 6 races)
1. Magpie - Graeme Taylor, James Mayo, Richard Allanson, AUS, 8 points
2. The Croc - Michael Manford, Dean McAullay, Nick Gray, AUS, 18
3. This Thing of Ours - David Turton, Josh Torpy, Klaus Lorenz, AUS, 20
4. Jeanne-Claude Strong, Seve Jarvin, Marcus Burke, Kate Devereux, AUS, 20
5. Lisa Rose - Martin Hill, Mark Langford, Julian Plante, Joachim Aschen-brenner, AUS, 26
6.Ciao - Douglas McGain, Michael O'Brien, Anthony Nossiter, AUS, 29

Full Results & Regatta info: www.etchellsswanriver.org.au
www.facebook.com/swanriveretchells

Launchings
The French CNB yard, part of the Beneteau group, has a long-standing reputation for producing well thought out large yachts at prices that make other boat builders shudder.

The latest model from CNB, part of the Beneteau Groups, is a 66-footer designed by Phillipe Briand to be the largest sailing yacht that can be handled by a family crew, without professional crew. A hydraulic roller-furling boom, developed in an exclusive partnership with Hall Spars, helps to make sail handling easy, without having to resort to a performance sapping in-mast furling mainsail. Code Zero reaching sails and asymmetric spinnakers can be set from the carbon bowsprit to enhance speed under sail in light airs.

The deck layout follows the now standard formula of a guest cockpit forward and crew / helm area aft. The latter has more space than many, which will make working the boat easier, while the forward area has a clear walk through to the main companionway, even with the table in use. Right forward is a large sail locker, while the transom houses a large tender garage with space for a 3.2m RIB.

The first CNB 66 to leave the factory will be revealed to the public at the Dusseldorf boat show in January 2018. It fits into the company's production models between the Bordeaux 60 and the CNB 76 and CNB 94. Seven owners from Europe, Australia and Mexico have already placed orders based only on seeing the plans.

Length overall 20.61m
Beam 5.51m
Draught 2.95m
Upwind sail area 215sq m.
Water capacity 1,000 litres
Fuel capacity 1,300 litres
Air draught 28.76m

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Finnish yard Baltic Yachts has released the first in-build pictures of its forthcoming 112 Custom sailing yacht, which is due to launch in spring 2019. Designed by Malcolm McKeon, this 34.14 metre sloop was designed for an experienced owner who wants to embark on worldwide cruising with the occasional foray onto the racecourse.

Accommodation is for eight guests in four cabins, including a full-beam owner's cabin forward, a VIP and two twin cabins, while the aft crew area allows for a staff of up to five people.

Key features include a telescopic keel that allows the draught to be reduced from 6.15 metres to 3.91 metres and a retractable propulsion system, which will enhance speed and manoeuvrability when powered by her square top mainsail.

Carbon fibre is a key part of the construction process, not just in the lightweight hull but also in creating the Bimini, which will provide all-weather protection for those relaxing in the cockpit. The result is an overall weight of just 84 tonnes

www.boatinternational.com

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ClubSwan 125, the new Juan Kouyoumidjian high performance superyacht, is a demonstration of Nautor Swan's cutting-edge design principles and desire to be the ultimate leaders in performance and quality.

As leaders in innovation themselves, Southern Spars were the obvious choice to apply all of their expertise to this new exciting project. By providing a high modulus rig package with the latest advances in automated carbon fibre placement, the Swan125 can reach maximum performance in its ultimate pursuit- to be the fastest monohull ever conceived.

This is not the first time that both Southern Spars and the Finish Yard have partnered together, as the Southern Spars rig with Future Fibres rigging was also an essential part of the previous JK design, ClubSwan 50. Southern Spars have relished this opportunity to offer a well-developed performance package again.

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The new 42m E-volution, designed together with American yacht designer Jim Pugh is also a progressive step for Perini Navi. The 42m aluminum sloop has elegant lines and the stylish comfort that the Italian yard is renowned for, combined with a powerful sail plan, carbon fibre mast and rigging. A hybrid propulsion system has also been developed for the E-volution, combining both a diesel engine with an electric motor. The E-volution is ideal for long distance cruising and meets the needs of a new generation of owners seeking impeccable design, simple sailing and performance.

Lamberto Tacoli also announced the dates of the seventh edition of the Perini Navi Cup which will take place at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda from 19-22 September 2018. Three days of coastal racing in the stunning emerald waters of the Sardinia, with spectacular social events shoreside, the Perini Navi Cup is the most important event on the calendar for Perini Navi owners and friends.

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Prior to the Monaco Yacht Show, Malcolm Mckeon Yacht Design announced confirmation of a contract for the design of a 78m sloop, the studio's largest design commission to date.

Speaking exclusively to SuperyachtNews, Mckeon reveals that the project, having progressed through several evolutionary stages, has now been costed by a number of shipyards and the client is considering the next step.

Project MM78 is an extreme design and has some unique features for a yacht of its size. Mckeon explains that the client wanted a large sailing yacht that didn't actually feel like a large sailing yacht when on board. This has been achieved by the studio through an ambitious use of glass, with floor-to-ceiling hull windows in the main saloon and master suite and a glass aft bulkhead. Large hull-side platforms further enhance the connection with the water. The 360-degree view from the cockpit has negated the need for a flybridge, which would be a first for a new build of this size.

www.superyachtnews.com/design/

Featured Brokerage
Donovan 26 OD. $77,474 CIF. Annapolis MD, USA USD.

The Donovan 26 OD is an evolution of the successful GP26 built by Wrace Boats

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Tink Chambers
Stagg Yachts
tink@staggyachts.com
+1.410.268.1001

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2005 Nautor Swan 62 - GLISSE. 995,000 USD. Located in West Palm Beach, FL - USA

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk

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2010 Swan 60-903 'Vertical Smile'. 2,200,000 EUR. Located in Italy.

Vertical Smile is the third Swan 60 to be delivered and was launched in 2010. Currently lying in the Nautor's Swan Service Center in Scarlino, Italy. She is available to visit by appointment.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

The Last Word
The stupider it looks, the more important it probably is. -- J. R. 'Bob' Dobbs

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
Man overboard on leg leader Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag | Hollywood Boulevard Sinks, Crew Rescued | "Dasher" The World's First Fully Electric Luxury Motor Yacht from Hinckley Yachts. | ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff World Championship | Single-purpose tightly focused mile-muncher | Etchells Sailor appointed Race Director of Lendy Cowes Week | Monaco Optimist Team Race: A Scandinavian victory | Clipper Race 6 Day 9: Weather Front Predicted To Bring Faster, Flatter Conditions | 18ft Skiffs: NSW Championship, Race 4 | Barcelona World Race 2018/19 Notice of Race is published | Featured Brokerage

Man overboard on leg leader Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag
Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag retain the lead in Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race, despite a dramatic man overboard scenario on Sunday.

Crew member Alex Gough was washed overboard by a wave during a sail change, near midday local time on Sunday afternoon, in winds of 15-20 knots.

The team swung into recovery mode, and Gough was back on board within seven minutes, unharmed. Scallywag resumed racing immediately.

"He went out on the outrigger, I was driving, and we went off a big sea and it picked him up threw him off, like a horse," skipper David Witt said.

"The main thing is, we got him back on board. He's safe. But I think it's shown everyone how hard it is to see the guy in the water. Even on a sunny day, 18 knots of wind... You wouldn't want to be doing this in 20 knots in the dark."

Gough wasn't wearing a harness or a lifejacket. Witt says he should have been tethered, or at minimum have told the helmsman what he was doing, before he went outside the lifelines on the outrigger.

"I was pretty stupid, but luckily the guys were on to it. They turned around bloody quickly," Gough said. "I'm good. I'm fine. It was a bit scary... But off we go again."

The manoeuvre cost the team some miles, but they had a few to spare, and still lead the fleet on the fast charge westward towards Hong Kong, now just over 2,000 nautical miles away.

Dongfeng Race Team and team AkzoNobel continue to take a northerly option in comparison to the rest of the fleet, but to this point, are not seeing significantly different weather conditions.

MAPFRE has worked well to push out some 30 miles ahead of Turn the Tide on Plastic and Team Brunel but remains at least 150 miles directly behind Scallywag and with some work to do to reel in the leaders as the fleet winds and weaves through the islands, islets and atolls of Micronesia.

Positions at 0100 UTC January 15
1. Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag, 1953 nm to leg finish
2. Vestas 11th Hour Racing, 67 nm to leader
3. Team AkzoNobel, 77.5
4. Dongfeng Race Team, 83.5
5. MAPFRE, 163
6. Team Brunel, 200.1
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic, 208.3

volvooceanrace.com

Hollywood Boulevard Sinks, Crew Rescued
Another one bites the dust, as the mighty sunfish claims one more. This time it is Ray Robert's Farr 55, Hollywood Boulevard (built by Cookson's as Living Doll for Michael Hiatt). Returning from Hobart and en route to Sydney, the vessel was 81nm Nor'east of Flinders Island at 1100 hrs on Sunday when the rudder took the brunt of the impact.

The six-person crew were able to send a mayday, as well as activate the EPIRB, and were ultimately winched to safety after abandoning ship. The vessel sank in the high winds and large swells that were present at the time of the incident. This made it even more challenging for the Ambulance Victoria crews sent to retrieve them in two choppers. Interestingly, given the location of the incident way out to sea, both choppers had to refuel at Flinders Island before proceeding to the stricken craft. Three of the crew were taken to the LaTrobe Valley, and the three others were returned to base at Essendon. Roberts greeted them there and praised the efforts of the rescuers in complimenting them on 'a marvellous effort'.

Being carbon, Hollywood Boulevard probably began to make the hole where the rudder bearing even larger as the stock began to bash around, and this makes stopping the ingress of water even more challenging. When the exceptionally pretty, and beautifully presented Farr 53, Georgia, had her rudder bearing fail during a Hobart some years ago, a similar situation befell her, as her rudder dropped down a bit and began to carve a massive hole in the hull. Georgia's crew worked tirelessly to save her, trying to push life jackets into the ever-increasing hole, and also pumping like mad, but ultimately they were forced to let her go to Davy Jones' locker.

www.sail-world.com/news/

"Dasher" The World's First Fully Electric Luxury Motor Yacht from Hinckley Yachts.
The Dasher 28 ft achieves a new standard of excellence, pairing modern styling with hi-tech composite construction. Designed from the outset for fully electric propulsion, the carbon-epoxy composite hull shape provides superior performance and handling. Dasher is powered with twin 80hp electric motors and dual i3 lithium ion batteries. No more volatile fuel tanks and associated hardware making it an ideal tender for Superyachts.

First launched at Newport International Boat Show, September 2017, it has won several prestigious awards including "Best Powerboat under 35ft" and "Best Green Yacht in Show".

For European Sales contact Innes McGowan : imcgowan@hinckleyyachts.com

ACO 9th MUSTO Skiff World Championship
Four races on a windy final day of the ACO Musto Skiff World Championship held the potential for all kinds of place changing, but Jon Newman kept his nerve to win a second world title in this demanding singlehander.

With the breeze gusting up to 25 knots off the Blairgowrie shore, but also shifting through as much as 30 degrees, it was a far from straightforward race course. Blasting out to a corner was rarely the best answer, unless you wanted to minimise manoeuvres. Playing the shifts and gusts was the best way to do it, provided you had the skills to make it work.

In the first race of the afternoon, Will Phillips did what he needed to do if he was to bring the fight to Newman for the world title. He led the race all the way to the finish, only to tip in on the final gybe to the line. By the time he righted the boat he could only manage 11th while fellow Australian Thor Schoenhoff cruised past for the win, and Newman was fifth.

Richie Robertson, who won the first heat a few days ago, has struggled in the light to medium airs that dominated the middle part of the competition, but the 100kg-plus local sailor was back in his element today. He was third in the first heat, then won the next, 10th in the third and second in the last race of the regatta. This dragged up him up into 19th overall.

First Master (over 45) was Wayne Bates in 9th overall and first Grand Master (over 55) was Arthur Brett, three-time Contender World Champion, in 11th overall. First Youth was Hayden Brown (under 25) in 28th.

Final top ten
1. Jon Newman, AUS
2. WIllilam Phillips, AUS
3. Jamie Hilton, GBR
4. George Hand, GBR
5. Thor Schoenhoff, AUS
6. Alex Knight, GBR
7. Dave Poston, GBR
8. Marcus Hamilton, AUS
9. Wayne Bates, AUS
10. Matthias Houvenagel, AUS

Full results

Single-purpose tightly focused mile-muncher
The new J/121 has been created to allow fast, simple sailing for those who want to spend their time tackling classic ocean races (quickly) as well as local beer can races... and not chasing down a large crew

Four decades ago a sleek, flush-deck keel boat appeared in the summer race circuits around New England and turned heads with both its looks and its speed around the racecourses. Fractional-rigged with a large genoa and balanced sailplan, the J/24 was an instant hit; within a few short years fleets were appearing all over the US and elsewhere, with the top names in the sport enhancing the competition among rival sailmakers fighting for their share of a fast-growing new market for sails.

The newest offering from J/Boats, the J/121, is both a logical extension of other performance designs they have built over the years but also a significant departure for the company. The J/120 brought sprit-boat sailing to the 40ft range two decades ago, and more recently the J/122 brought a more modern and IRC-friendly design to the same size range. Both, however, assumed a full crew of 8-10 people would race onboard, with the sailing systems and interior accommodation arranged accordingly.

Full story in the February issue of Seahorse:
www.seahorsemagazine.com

Etchells Sailor appointed Race Director of Lendy Cowes Week
Laurence Mead has been appointed Race Director of Lendy Cowes Week. He is well known in the Etchells Fleet having raced all over the world in the fleet and is a former British President.

His extensive sailing CV goes well beyond Etchells to include the World Match Racing Tour, many ocean races including the Sydney Hobart, numerous RORC Commodore's Cups as skipper of the Hong Kong team, and much racing on a number of other yachts and dinghies. He has an extraordinary memory and can recount nearly every race in some detail.

Lendy Cowes Week is the biggest regatta in the world - it started in 1826. Even if it were half its size it would still be the largest. Last year there were 8,000 competitors, about 100,000 spectators, and 40 starts for each of the 8 days, including an Etchells Class start.

Laurence will be sailing regularly in the Cowes Etchells Fleet outside of Cowes Week. He ran the first Etchells Youth Academy with David Bedford; we have now seen over 360 youths sail in the Fleet, four of whom went on to race with Ben Ainslie Racing. We have also seen the outstanding success of the young Grieg City Academy sailors who trained in our Youth Academy and were the first state school team to complete a Fastnet campaign.

www.lendycowesweek.co.uk

Monaco Optimist Team Race: A Scandinavian victory
The curtain fell on the 9th Monaco Optimist Team Race organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco with support from FxPro, Eventica, Fon and clothing supplier SLAM. For YCM General Secretary, Bernard d'Alessandri, it was an event "that kicked-off the new year in style and gave the youngest an opportunity to show-off their talent as racers."

Sixty-four contestants divided into 16 teams from 16 nations put on a show in the main harbour, Port Hercule, amidst the yachts. An original match race for under-14s, it promotes team-work and hosts the most competitive clubs, with Oman Sails making its first appearance along with a group from the Punta del Este Yacht Club in Uruguay, and national teams from Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium and Norway.

Match races for teams of four Optimists tested the technical, tactical and team spirit qualities to the limit, with 150 races completed in light winds, with no respite during the war of nerves that competitors were engaged in.

Final top three rankings, Monaco Optimist Team Race
1. Helsingfors Segelklubb HSK, (FIN)
2. ARM Urla Sailing Club, (TUR)
3. KSSS - Royal Swedish Yacht Club, (SWE)

www.ycm.org

Clipper Race 6 Day 9: Weather Front Predicted To Bring Faster, Flatter Conditions
Teams have been continuing their upwind slog as they tack up the Queensland coast, and positive thinking finally looks set to pay off as the latest weather forecast predicts a front will shortly pass over which should leave behind Southerly winds.

Clipper Race Meteorologist Simon Rowell has suggested that the first of the teams will be soon be experiencing the front which will pass over the whole fleet within twelve hours. After that, it should be a slightly faster and flatter race as the teams look to close the last 400nm of Race 6: The Wondrous Whitsundays Race.

Liverpool 2018 and Sanya Serenity Coast have been swapping the lead between them following some intense racing in close proximity.

The Wondrous Whitsundays Race has served up some of the most dramatic and mixed weather conditions of the Clipper 2017-18 Race so far. During an impressive electrical storm overnight, Qingdao, in ninth place ahead of Unicef in eighth, was hit by a lightning strike which has affected some of its on board electrical systems and instruments.

All crew are safe and well, the yacht is fully under control and the team is still racing. Qingdao is currently utilising battery powered navigation lights at night and is able to charge the boat batteries via the main engine in neutral, which does not contravene any race rules. It also has GPS functioning normally on the Garmin chart plotter for navigational use, and a handheld GPS as a backup, however it is unlikely that the crew or Skipper will be able to send back any blogs or emails for the remainder of this race.

clipperroundtheworld.com

18ft Skiffs: NSW Championship, Race 4
Southerly winds gusting to more than 40-knots for most of the day forced race officials to postpone Race 4 of the NSW Championship on Sydney Harbour today,

Every effort was made to get a start, but even after delaying the scheduled start time by 90 minutes, officials had no alternative but to postpone the race.

One possibility now is to possibly stage two 'sprint-style' races next Sunday so the full five-race championship can be completed on the scheduled final day. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League

www.18footers.com.au

Barcelona World Race 2018/19 Notice of Race is published
With 365 days to go until the start of the fourth edition of the Barcelona World Race (12th January 2019), Barcelona's round the world regatta has issued the official document containing details of the key rules of the regatta.

This Notice of Race for the Barcelona World Race 2018/19 has been eagerly anticipated. Changes to racing dates, the competition format, which now has two legs and an option to change co-skipper in the second leg, are new features which mean the IMOCA calendar's double-handed round the world event has a brand-new look.

The most significant changes set out in the document are as follows:

1. The deadline for registrations is the 30th September 2018.
2. The start will be given in Barcelona on the 12th January 2019, at 13:00 (GMT+1).
3. The official press conference will take place on the 10th January 2019 at 12:00 (GMT+1).
4. The start in Sydney of the second leg will be on the 9th March 2019.
5. All boats must start the second leg of the regatta no later than 48 hours after the official start of the leg is given.
6. A single technical stopover for repairs or medical assistance is permitted on each leg.
7. Final overall rankings for the Barcelona World Race 2018/19 will be calculated based on the sum of points gained across both legs.

NOR

www.barcelonaworldrace.org

Featured Brokerage
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See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson
Ancasta Race Boats
+44 2380 016582
+64 277733717
sampearson@ancasta.com

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2015 Oyster 825 Maegan. 4,000,000 GBP. Located in Palma.

Maegan is Hull #3 of the incredibly successful 825 built by Oyster in Southampton, UK. Winner of the 2016 International Yacht & Aviation Sailing Yacht Interior Design Award.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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brokerage@oysteryachts.com

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

2005 Oyster 72 Crazy Horse. 1,250,000 EUR Located in Gibraltar

Unique carbon Oyster 72. Designed for fast, comfortable cruising plus occasional racing. Extensive refit in 2015 adding double forecabin, new decks and more. Viewing recommended to understand quality of refit of this intriguing yacht.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
brokerage@oysteryachts.com

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

The Last Word
Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire. -- Arnold H. Glasow

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
Spindrift Dismasts On Way To Starting Jules Verne Trophy Attempt | Gordon Ingate wins Dragon Prince Philip Cup | Scottish Series 2018 open for Entries | A (very) suitable new home | New 2018 ORC Rules and 2018 VPP Now Available | Derwent turns unpredictable for IOR Cup | On Test: Beneteau Figaro III | Ancient Shipwrecks Are a Treasure Trove of Climate Data | White Star Line's S.S. Laurentic Bell Makes Homecoming Voyage to Derry | Featured Brokerage

Spindrift Dismasts On Way To Starting Jules Verne Trophy Attempt
Click on image to enlarge.

As the giant trimaran made its way to the Creac'h lighthouse (Isle of Ouessant) for a second attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy, Spindrift 2 dismasted at about 1615h today (Monday 15 January 2018), south of Pointe Saint-Mathieu in a strong 30 knot westerly breeze and rough seas.

Spindrift 2 was ready for this new attempt around the world with a relatively favourable weather window, after a long two-month stand-by at La Trinite sur Mer and then in Brest, Brittany. With strong winds around Brest, the start from the pontoon was delayed to 1430h. Once Spindrift was into the Iroise, an area of open sea in front of Brest between the Atlantic and the Channel, the sea state was already well formed and the wind blowing at more than 30 knots with strong gusts. As the boat tacked towards the Ouessant Channel, with no warning suddenly Spindrift 2 dismasted. No crew member was injured in the incident.

"Everything happened very fast! In a few seconds, the mast was down. We have been waiting for two months for this new attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy: this window was our last chance. It is a big disappointment for the whole team, both at sea, and on land as we were all ready. We have spent a lot of time optimising the boat, and everything collapses in a few moments," said Yann Guichard

spindrift-racing.com

Gordon Ingate wins Dragon Prince Philip Cup
Gordon Ingate, aged 92, crewed by Amy Walsh and David Giles, won the Dragon class Prince Philip Cup/Australian Championship at the Metung Yacht Club in Victoria.

Ingate took three race wins from seven races to finish four points ahead of Robert Campell in second place and Graeme Aldersea in third place.

This is Ingate's fourth Prince Philip Cup in a yachting career spanning over 75 years.

Ingate has represented Australia at the Admiral's Cup and the Olympic Games, challenged for the America's Cup, and gone close to winning the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with Caprice of Huon in 1972. -- Gerald New in Sailweb www.sailweb.co.uk/Keelboat/

Dragon - Prince Philip Cup/Australian Championship - Final Top Ten (25 entries)

1. Whimsical, G Ingate / A Walsh / D Giles , 14 points
2. Pennyfarthing, R Campbell / T Cummins / T Ford, 18
3. Adios III, G Aldersea / J Aldersea / J Warren, 24
4. Riga, S Anderson / J Moncrieff / S Eyssautier, 28
5. Shapes, G Totterdell / J Fitzhardinge / J Shellabear, 35
6. Linnea, R Hammond / S Anderson / A Phillips, 37
7. Wizzardry, R Chatfield / K Chatfield / P Massee, 38
8. Wild Rose, T Smith / F Haes / M Sill, 43
9. Ghost, M Johnson / J Johnson / L Johnson, 48
10. Merum, J Hatch / K Hatch / H Pearce, 50

Full results

Scottish Series 2018 open for Entries
The 44th Clyde Cruising Club Scottish Series (25-28 May) is now open for entries with the announcement at the London Boatshow. Set in the magnificent backdrop of Tarbert, Loch Fyne this event makes best use of the end of May Bank Holiday to provide four days of great sailing.

Scottish Series is the largest keelboat regatta in Scotland with 120 entrants in 2017, and for 2018 it will again incorporate the IRC Scottish Championships for which there were 43 entrants last year, making it a significant event in the IRC calendar. And, for those with other interests there are the One Design Classes, Clyde Handicap and White Sail Fleets, so there is definitely something for everyone.

Traditionally the One Design Classes are Sigma 33, Hunter 707 and Sonatas, but any class that can get enough entries will also have their own start. An early-bird discount for entry is available until 11 March (Mothers' Day).

www.scottishseries.com

A (very) suitable new home
The new VPLP-designed Gunboat 68 is the first model of the brand to be launched since the company moved into French ownership

Sailing upwind at a true wind angle (TWA) of 50° in light air, then bearing off and accelerating to 15-16kt, still in no more than 12kt of true wind… These are typical performance prediction figures from the designers of the latest Gunboat and the first of its kind to emerge from its new French builders. And reaching in a good 'working breeze', VPLP's Xavier Guilbaud is confident you will often see 25kt with additional potential to be realised under the big rig option. Not bad for a boat as luxurious as this?

The launch of the first Gunboat Tribe 17 years ago marked the invention of a new sailing concept: the long-range high-performance but luxurious, large multihull, a combination only made possible through borrowing the best raceboat technologies and materials.

The original Gunboat catamarans designed by Morrelli and Melvin were light and quite purist in form and with a relatively more minimalistic internal fit-out.

The next-era Gunboats, designed by Nigel Irens and manufactured in China and the USA, were more refined and luxurious, with designer interior and exterior styling and more geared for luxury cruising. The objective with this new French-built Gunboat is to combine the two philosophies and make use of the best qualities of the two earlier generations of boats.

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

New 2018 ORC Rules and 2018 VPP Now Available
The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) is pleased to announce that this year's 2018 ORC Rules and the 2018 Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) used for generating certificates, Speed Guides, Target Speeds and other products is now available to Rating Officers worldwide as well as the public in the ORC's online Sailor Services system.

For Rating Officers, they may now start issuing 2018 certificates according to their policies, even while some areas will continue to use their 2017 ratings for the remainder of their winter or antipodal summer seasons.

For the VPP, improvements in the Aero- and Hydrodynamic formulations based on CFD research conducted by Jason Ker and other designers on the ORC International Technical Committee has caused an increase in upwind rated speeds for most boats and also a slight increase in downwind speed too. In addition, work on improving the induced drag formulations from the rudder and a more realistic treatment of the effect of transverse crew weight position in light air has also increased the accuracy of the new VPP, with the overall rating changes between boats in the fleet kept to within a modest 0.5%.

For the IMS (International Measurement System) there are some clarifications in measurement procedures which should help improve their accuracy, the use of carbon in structures without penalty is now more clearly defined, and some rules have been modified to be more closely aligned with the Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS) of World Sailing.

For the ORC Rating Rules, the limits on use of carbon in construction is now more closely aligned to modern boatbuilding standards, a modification of RRS 49.2 makes hiking easier to control, minimum crew weights are now defined when needed, course lengths have a prescribed accuracy for scoring, and explanations of the formulations used in simple scoring options are now more clearly defined as well.

In the ORC Green Book rules for championship events there are several new guidelines that included suggested and mandatory use of scoring software, race management software and tracking systems in future events, as well as new definitions of the CDL limits for Class A, Class B and Class C based on the new VPP ratings for 2018. These are:

Class A: 16.5 ≥ CDL > 11.6
Class B: 11.6 ≥ CDL > 9.8
Class C: 9.8 ≥ CDL > 8.6

And on ORC International and ORC Club certificates, the Minimum Crew Weight now appears in the Crew Weight box, the "Ocean for PCS" pre-selected course is renamed to "Coastal / Long Distance", and the HHW measurement is now added to the headsail graphic.

Download at www.orc.org

Derwent turns unpredictable for IOR Cup
For the previous two week's Hobart's River Derwent provided near perfect sailing conditions for the SB20 world championship, but last Friday evening and Saturday it turned sour for the ''old-timers'' in the IOR Cup.

Designed and built back in the 1970s to then international IOR rating rule, these former 'half tonners' and 'one tonners' turn out each summer for the Bellerive Yacht Club/Hobart Jaguar IOR Cup.

Of course, none of these boats still have an IOR rating (now obsolete) so corrected time results were calculated using PHS handicaps.

Despite rain squalls that brought vicious wind gusts reaching 42 knots in Friday's twilight race and even patches of drifting conditions on Saturday, competition was as keen and close as it was in the heyday of level rating racing.

The gusty conditions also showed that these boats designed to the IOR rule are still just as difficult to handle downwind, and there were some spectacular broaches.

"It was if the River Derwent finally exhaled after providing beautiful sailing conditions for the past two weeks and the SB20 worlds," commented BYC sailing manager Peter Watson. "She finally let go with the unpredictable weather that the river is famous for." -- Peter Campbell

Results: www.mysailing.com.au

On Test: Beneteau Figaro III
Every element of this new 9.75-meter one-design monohull was conceived by VPLP Design . For the foils, Beneteau worked with Multiplast, a major actor in the production of components and bluewater monohulls like the Vendee Globe IMOCA 60 foiling yachts. Unlike those foils, the Figaro's curve inward toward the hull. Sails were manufactured by North Sails, mast and boom by Sparcraft.

The Figaro III is being built at the Beneteau site in western France. The hull shape is bullet-like, a challenging design, and construction is by infusion. Building an entire prototype required 3000 man-hours. In an unusual move, there will be a second prototype to implement the latest developments and to serve as a yardstick for mass production. The first Figaro III deliveries are expected in in late 2018.

A Play of Forces

Louis Vercauter, sailing instructor and student at the Antwerp Maritime Academy, joined us for sea trials to investigate the benefits of foils on a one-design yacht. While foils typically are used to lift the hull above the water, it quickly became clear that we were not dealing with a flying boat.

The faster we sailed, the more stable was the boat.

Technical Specifications:

Length Over All: 10.85 m
Hull length: 9.75 m
Waterline length: 9.00 m
Beam: 3.47 m
Maximum draft: 2.5 m
Displacement: 2900 kg
Certification: ISO Cat A/World sailing
Mainsail: 39.5 m2
Genoa: 30.5 m2
Naval architect: Marc Van Peteghem - Vincent Lauriot Prevost
Shipyard: www.beneteau.com

emag.nauticexpo.com

Ancient Shipwrecks Are a Treasure Trove of Climate Data
Researchers have found a link between historic Spanish shipwrecks, hurricanes, and the climate.

Their initial research, published last year, takes on added urgency after a devastating hurricane season has sparked conversations about the linkages between powerful storms and climate change.

As a story about scientists and shipwrecks should, it all began over pints of grog: In this case, it was beers following a conference of dendrochronologists, scientists who study tree-rings to mine data about the past. Valerie Trouet, a professor at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona, Grant Harley, now a professor of geography at the University of Idaho, and Marta Domínguez-Delmas, a dendrochronology researcher and archaeologist at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, were sharing their work on Hotel Congress' patio in Tucson, Arizona. As they talked, they realized that each had unique pieces knowledge that together, might answer questions about how climate affects hurricanes.

"Grant had talked about how he had collected tree ring data from trees in Big Pine Key, Florida and how [their rings showed] a hurricane signal," Trouet told Earther. "And Marta described how she dived for shipwrecks. As we talked, we realized there's an interesting link between these things - shipwrecks and tree rings."

That link? Both downed ships and ancient trees could tell the scientists something about the history of hurricanes in the Caribbean - going back over 500 years.

Full story on the research: earther.com/ancient-shipwrecks

White Star Line's S.S. Laurentic Bell Makes Homecoming Voyage to Derry
Click on image to enlarge.

The bell of S.S. Laurentic, one of the most significant artefacts in local maritime history, will make its return to the Derry this week, following purchase at auction by Derry City and Strabane District Council.

The Bell, which was desperately rung by crew as the immense former White Star liner sank in the Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal over a century ago, will go on display at the Guildhall from today, Friday 12 January, before it finds a permanent home as Afloat previously reported in a planned Maritime Museum due to open in 2020 at Ebrington Square.

The display will be accompanied by an exhibition entitled 'Letters from The Laurentic', which chronicles the story of the Laurentic disaster through deeply personal correspondence, through letters, postcards and photographs of the men lost and those, fewer in number, who survived. A short documentary, 'Wine Dark Sea; Letters from The Laurentic', will also feature.

The Laurentic Bell is made from bell alloy and is from the Bridge area of the ship. It was found in 1979 by local diver Ray Cossum and his son Des with Allerton Salvage. It weighs 37kg and is 2ft high by 2ft wide at the base. It is one of only two bells from the ship, the other being the bow bell, which is permanently located in the belfry of the Church of Ireland at Portsalon, after being donated by the leader of the original Royal Navy salvage expedition in 1924.

In addition to being a highly important historic artefact recovered from the wreck, the bell is also significant because of a series of dents on its rim. These dents were created by a sailor on the bridge, who on the orders of the captain, beat the bell with a wrench to sound the alarm to abandon ship.

afloat.ie/sail/historic-boats/

Featured Brokerage
2012 Oyster 82 Raven. 2,925,000 GBP. Located in West Med

Absolutely stunning 82 with black hull and spars. Five cabins finished in exquisite maple joinery with contrasting walnut fiddles and cabin soles. Her push button hydraulic furling rig makes her easy to handle, and she is ready to go sailing.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
brokerage@oysteryachts.com
T: +44 (0)23 8083 1011

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2015 Oyster 825 Maegan. 4,000,000 GBP. Located in Palma.

Maegan is Hull #3 of the incredibly successful 825 built by Oyster in Southampton, UK. Winner of the 2016 International Yacht & Aviation Sailing Yacht Interior Design Award.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
brokerage@oysteryachts.com

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

2011 Oyster 72 Infiniti of Cowes. 1,550,000 GBP. Located in Oyster UK.

Stunning Oyster 72. Beautiful maple joinery and huge specification. This yacht is in superior condition and includes new standing rigging. Recently serviced and inspected throughout. Infiniti is in turnkey condition and ready for handover to a new owner.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
brokerage@oysteryachts.com

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

The Last Word
We all have a dinosaur deep within us just trying to get out. -- Colin Mochrie

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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

Youngest Ever Clipper Race Skipper Claims First Race Win
Visit Seattle, led by 24-year-old British sailor Nikki Henderson, the youngest ever Skipper to lead a team in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race's eleven editions, has held off a strong challenge from three other teams to chalk up a thrilling maiden victory in Race 6: The Wondrous Whitsundays Race.

During one of the most challenging stages so far in the Clipper 2017-18 Race, Visit Seattle crossed the finish line off the coast of Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays, Australia, at 15:05:36 local time (05:05:36UTC), completing the 1,600-nautical mile sprint up the east coast of Australia from Hobart in eleven days.

Arriving into Abell Point Marina where the Clipper Race fleet will be berthed, Skipper Nikki said: "It's such a good feeling. I'm finally a bit more relaxed than the last 48 hours. It's been exhausting!

This is the team's second podium result after finishing second in Race 4, from Fremantle, Western Australia, to Sydney, and it was made to work hard for this victory. This morning saw the team off the coast of Mackay, just 5 nautical miles ahead of the second placed PSP Logistics. Sanya Serenity Coast, skippered by Australian Wendy Tuck, was only another mile astern, with just 7 nautical miles separating Visit Seattle from the fourth placed Liverpool 2018.

In the end, just 25 minutes separated Visit Seattle from second placed PSP Logistics, which takes its third podium result of the Clipper 2017-18 Race.

The Airlie Beach, Whitsundays, stopover marks the changeover port which completes the All-Australian Leg 4, and starts the Asia Pacific Leg 5. Distance wise, this stopover is also the approximate half way stage of the Clipper 2017-18 Race with 20,000nm of the 40,000nm, 13 stage course now completed.

Race 7, which will see the teams head approximately 4,200 nautical miles to Sanya, the first of two Chinese stopovers in this next leg, starts on 29 January. From there, teams will head to Qingdao, China; across the mighty Pacific Ocean to Seattle; Panama; and New York; before heading back across the Atlantic to Derry-Londonderry. The Clipper 2017-18 Race finishes on July 28, 2018.

clipperroundtheworld.com

SHK/Scallywag battle the elements to hold lead
Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag were showing no signs of relinquishing their grip on the Leg 4 lead on Tuesday as they geared up to break the 1,000-miles-to-go barrier.

Hell-bent on arriving in their home port of Hong Kong as heroes, Scallywag have maintained their comfortable lead of 73 miles over closest rivals Vestas 11th Hour Racing as the action reaches fever pitch.

If Dongfeng can overhaul Vestas and finish second behind Scallywag, the significance of boats from Hong Kong and China atop the table at the first ever stopover in Hong Kong would be massive.

"It's a new experience for us but it's a good one," Scallywag skipper Dave Witt said. "We've only got 1,300 miles to go, so we're looking ok. We're in a pretty strong position, and we're going to get further ahead at the moment. The weather pattern suits us but the others are going to fall out of it. I expect us to extend our lead."

Witt revealed the main threat to their impending victory was not from the other crews but from the weather. His crew is currently facing head-on seas of up to four metres, with boat speeds of more than 20 knots.

While Scallywag make the most of continuing breeze, winds at the back of the fleet are set to drop to around 14 knots, further hampering any hopes of catching up with the group in front. The latest ETA predicts Scallywag will arrive early afternoon on Friday, UTC.

volvooceanrace.com

Harken Exhibits at Boot Dusseldorf - January 20 - 28
Come see what's new at Harken at the Peter Frisch GmbH booth, Hall 11 Stand H25-H39.

Showcased will be a high-efficiency ceramic mainsheet system for one-handed trimming on Grand-Prix catamarans, the Small Boat Continuous Line Drive furler that harnesses the power of free-flying sails, the hollow Air® winch with changeable gear sets for Grand-Prix racers, and Element, a line of quality forged-aluminum blocks that are value-priced.

The friendly, knowledgeable staff will be happy to answer all your technical questions and show you around.

Harken AT THE FRONT.

harken.com

Saving the phone bill (and making the world a little smaller)
There are hard ways to move a raceboat around and (relatively) easier ways...

Time and tide wait for no man', so the saying goes, and when it comes to precious time spent campaigning racing yachts then you do what's necessary to run everything as efficiently as possible. That's one of the reasons why a growing number of raceboat owners and their skippers are calling on Sevenstar Yacht Transport to run their logistics for them.

The head of Racing Yacht Logistics at Sevenstar, former top navigator Wouter Verbraak, knows the grand prix racing scene well. 'At Sevenstar we like to say we make the world smaller,' explains the Dutchman. 'By which we mean we help to deliver racing yachts from one place to the next more quickly and with the least hassle.'

Verbraak says there is no job too tough for the company. 'One of the advantages for us is that we have direct access to the specialist vessels owned by our parent company, the Spliethoff Group,' he explains. 'We don't have to negotiate terms for a charter, so this speeds things up and makes discussions a lot more straightforward.'

Full story in the February issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

Change boats key to US Olympic success
Bob Johnstone was the founding chairman of the United States Youth Championship in 1973, an event intended to prepare young sailors for international success. Much has changed since the event's beginning, and he fears the failures of USA at the Olympic level are a result. Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck checks in with Bob for his observations.

What do you consider to be the main problem?

Conducting the premier event for 17-19 year olds (the US Youth Championship) in 420s, Nacra 15s and 29ers instead of the equipment used at the Olympics - 470s, Nacra 17s and 49ers - arrests Olympic development of our top youth sailors.

These detuned youth versions of Olympic classes have a competitive crew weight of about 145 lbs., the average weight of a 14 year old, not 18-19 year olds, e.g. adult Olympic athletes.

The US Youth Championships had been, and can once again become, the most universal, motivating, effective and low cost development program for the US Olympic Team imaginable. Seems a "no-brainer"... and the key is the boats.

Just switch the Youth Champs to all Olympic boats: 470, Nacra 17 and 49er and be amazed.

1) More youth talent will hone skills in non-Olympic years;
2) Parents and Yacht Clubs will buy 100's of Olympic boats to support their Youths' dreams;
3) Dependency on coaches for success is reduced as Youth will be competing against the best adults;
4) A "Mini Olympics" every year will put 100 more fired-up youth athletes on the Olympic path in each of those years while further motivating Laser, Radial and RS:X sailors.

A step was taken at the 2015 US Youth Championships to match the boats with what is used at the Youth Sailing World Championships, and the US event became the qualifier. Was this not enough to prepare US sailors for the next level?

Good in theory, but not in practice. US youth sailors are not any better prepared for the Youth Worlds, and certainly not for an Olympic path, by sailing 420s. It's much more effective to sail a 470 and move down into a 420 for a regatta than the reverse. Because, the higher performance boat teaches you the moves you should be doing to go faster, which a dumbed down 420 doesn't. It doesn't work in reverse.

Full interview in Scuttlebutt: www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

2018 RORC Race entries now open
At midday on Monday 8th January 2018 entries opened for all Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) races, including the Season's Points Championship comprised of 14 races, as well as the highlight of the UK Solent season - the IRC Europeans and Commodores' Cup.

rorc.org

New Boats Debut in STIR Racing Class
Teams from Canada, the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico are all looking forward to racing new boats at the 2018 St Thomas International Regatta (STIR). One of these is Rob Butler's Touch2Play racing team.

"The J88, which we raced last year in STIR, has been replaced with a Reflex 38," says Larry Huibers, manager of Collingwood, Ontario-based Butler's team. "It's a slightly larger platform, which will host our crew in a little more comfort and make transiting to the other events easier. The blend of great tight racing and fun shore side activities makes coming back a priority for us."

New to owner Emanuele Bianchi, of Chicago, Illinois, is the 2015-built Tartan 101, Red Hot Caribe, which Bianchi describes as a 33-foot high performance fractional sloop with a very generous carbon rig powered by top notch North Sails.

"We are a mix of fun, avid sailors, mostly based in the Great Lakes, peppered with East and West Coast, Canadian and European flavor," he says. "Our team is comprised of a group of highly competitive, qualified amateurs with broad experience that includes a mix of ocean, buoy, medium to long distance and one-design sailboat racing. STIR 2018 will be one of the highlights of a season spend enjoying fun island-hopping deliveries as we explore the beauty of the Caribbean."

Back after a year's hiatus is STIR 2016 racing class winners, Puerto Rico's Jonathan Lipuscek and his team aboard a new Dark Star.

"The new Dark Star is a recently purchased McConaghy 38, which is larger and faster than the previous Dark Star, a J/105," explains Rafael 'Rafi' Martinez, who like many of the team's crew have raced in STIR since the early 1990s." Our core crew will remain the same and we are pumped to see what this boat can do in the Caribbean trade winds."

stthomasinternationalregatta.com

Campaign for a new Brittainia
A campaign led by MP Craig Mackinlay to commission a new royal yacht has been backed by around 50 MPs.

A letter sent to ministers urging the government to support the project was co-signed by supporting MPs.

The MPs argue that, as the UK leaves the European Union, now is the time for a new Royal Yacht Britannia as a new symbol of Global Britain, designed and built domestically to showcase the best of UK shipbuilding and industry and as a platform for promoting trade.

Paid for by a new lottery, along with other complementary sources of funding, there will be no call upon departmental budgets to pay for the vessel, he has said.

The previous royal yacht - HMY Britannia - was controversially decommissioned by Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1997 after more than 40 years in service.

A secret naval design for a replacement for Britannia was drawn up by naval staff and approved by representatives of the Royal Family but the Labour Government refused to pay for it.

HMY Britannia, which is now a visitor attraction in Edinburgh, conducted 968 official visits and clocked up more than a million miles at sea.

On her last deployment to the Far East, commercial trade deals of some £2.75bn were signed on board to the benefit of the UK.

The South Thanet MP envisages that both Government ministers and the Royal Family alike could host diplomatic and commercial events on the vessel.

www.kentonline.co.uk

A Ship of Salvation
A sturdy but friendly looking little wooden ship, Gerda III was built in 1928 in Denmark to service lighthouses. She faithfully carried out her mission of shuttling crew and supplies back and forth to a single lighthouse in the Baltic Sea for many years, but in 1943 she was given a job of life-saving importance: help a fleet of other Danish ships rescue nearly 8,000 Danish Jews from Hitler's Final Solution.

It was September 1943 when a German official warned the Danish government that Jews residing in Denmark would be rounded up and then shipped off to German death camps. In October 1943, an underground fleet of a few hundred small vessels was assembled to secretly ferry Danish Jews to Sweden.

According to the Mystic Seaport Museum, 22-year-old Henny Sinding and a crew of four hid 10 to 15 people at a time in Gerda III's cargo hold. They'd pilot the boat as if they were making supply trips to the lighthouse, but would detour at the last minute and head toward nearby Swedish waters. Though she was boarded many times by German officers, her human cargo was never discovered. This video from the Mystic Seaport Museum has more on Gerda III's storied history.

www.soundingsonline.com/video/gerdaiii

Featured Brokerage
2008 Oyster 655 Matawai. 1,650,000 USD. Located in Newport, RI, USA.

Stunning Oyster 655 with state-of-the-art communications equipment, entertainment, electronics and remote GPS monitoring. Perfect gentleman's Bermuda racer.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
brokerage@oysteryachts.com

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2008 Oyster 655 Larette. 1,350,000 GBP. Located in France.

Larette is a luxurious modern sloop with contemporary design. She offers great volume for a 65 foot yacht whilst offering outstanding performance due to her carbon mast and boom, combined with performance sails.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
brokerage@oysteryachts.com

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2010 Oyster 655 Blue Horizon of London. 1,500,000 EUR. Located in West Med.

Young 655, cutter rigged with hydraulic in mast furling. Well equipped with generator, watermaker, dishwasher, washer/dryer. She presents as new, with beautiful teak interior with cream leather upholstery. Sensibly priced.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
brokerage@oysteryachts.com

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

The Last Word
Eventually it may be possible for humans to speak with another species. I have come to this conclusion after careful consideration of evidence gained through my research experiments with dolphins. -- John C. Lilly

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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

Caribbean race season officially open
Barbados Sailing Week incorporating the headline event - the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race - is officially underway writes Sue Pelling.

A skippers' briefing at the Radisson Aquatica Resort, followed by the first of many beach parties at Barbados Cruising Club last night, gave competitors, families and guests a chance to enjoy the local Bajan hospitality to not only mark the start of this popular annual event but also celebrate the start of the Caribbean regatta season.

Barbados Sailing Week 2018, which runs from 16-24 January, is organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, and Mount Gay, all of whom are proud to welcome visitors from all over the world for a week of seriously fun racing and partying.

Howard Palmer (Chairman of the Race Committee) in his opening speech at the Skippers' Briefing made special mention of the recent re-branding of the event - Barbados Sailing Week - and Mount Gay's continued involvement as the headline sponsor for the Round Barbados Race, which is a unique challenge that gives teams a chance to win their skipper's weight in rum if any of the 20 records are broken.

Another change for this year's event is the return of the hugely competitive J/24 class which, by popular demand, has its own intense, two-day/four-race series (19-20 January). Going by previous form, racing for honours in this class will closely fought with results undoubtedly going down to wire.

Today's opening three-day Coastal Series for all-comers (17-19 January), looks set to produce a decent breeze, which should give keen racers a chance to enjoy stunning sailing in the clear turquoise waters off Carlisle Bay in the south-west corner of the Island.

www.barbadossailingweek.com

European Match Race Tour
Following the success of the inaugural edition in 2017, this year's European Match Race Tour will feature seven qualifying events all over Europe followed by the 2018 Grand Final in Montenegro's Tivat.

The European Tour will start on the beautiful waters of Croatia's Sibenik in February before heading the Adriatic coast south to Tivat in Montenegro. Stop number three in April will be at PWA's windsurf world cup venue at Podersdorf at Lake Neusiedl in Austria, followed by the Tour's first visit to Sweden, when Gothenburg will welcome the match race circuit beginning of May. Another stop in Scandinavia at Copenhagen's KDY will keep the teams busy on the Baltic, followed by Poland's Swinojusce, where the northern section of the Tour will finish with another remarkable event. Last year's host of the Grand Final, Ravenna, will provide the last opportunity to qualify for the 2018 Grand Final which will take place in September at Porto Montenegro, Tivat, where the mountains of Montenegro and the scenic landscape will provide a spectacular backdrop for the climax of the European Tour.

There will be no changes to the scoring system of the Tour. Each skippers' best three results from the qualifying events will count and the top eight skippers in the general ranking will qualify for the Grand Final. There will be double points on offer which guarantees excitement till the end. The skipper with the highest points from the three events plus his Grand Final score will be crowned Tour Champion 2018.

The European Match Race Tour 2018
Tour Stop 1 - 16-18 Feb 2018 - Sibenik, CRO
Tour Stop 2 - 16 - 18 March 2018 - Tivat, MNE
Tour Stop 3 - 6-8 April 2018 - Podersdorf, AUT
Tour Stop 4 - 5-6 May 2018 - Gothenburg, SWE
Tour Stop 5 - 26-27 May 2018 - Copenhagen, DEN
Tour Stop 6 - 22-24 June 2018 - Swinojusce, POL
Tour Stop 7 - 31 Aug-2 Sept 2018 - Ravenna, ITA
Grand Final 2018 - 13-16 Sept 2018, Tivat, Porto Montenegro, MNE

europeanmatchracetour.wordpress.com

Future Fibres continues supporting the RC44 Class
The 2018 RC44 Championship Tour schedule has been announced and, in its twelfth edition, this exciting one design class is looking to be one of the most competitive race circuits this year.

Co-designed by five-time America's Cup winner Russell Coutts and naval architect Andrej Justin, the RC44 is a light displacement, high performance one-design racing yacht, with many of the world's most highly skilled elite sailors having previously raced with the Class.

As official rigging suppliers for the entire class, Future Fibres is proud to continue our support of the tour. Finding the balance between performance and cost efficiency is no easy feat but in this creative design, and in using Future Fibres rigging, the RC44 class has achieved just that.

www.rc44.com/sponsors www.futurefibres.com

The Role Of Luck
I've been writing for a while on the impact of cognitive bias in decision making - looking at the systematically flawed judgements that human beings are hard-wired to make. And working as a commentator and strategic analyst for the Volvo Ocean Race is certainly throwing up plenty of meaty examples as seven boats try to deal with the vicissitudes imposed on their round the world odyssey by oceanic weather and currents.

My most recent Strategic Review explained how - as the fleet exited the Doldrums - the Hong Kong entry, Team Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag went from 80 miles behind to 80 miles in front. They did it by watching the leaders sail into a hole, and then swerving around it.

In contrast the overall race leader MAPFRE - skippered by Xabi Fernandez - came off worst of the lead group. Boats sailed away from them on either side leaving them with a 175 nautical mile deficit to the leader. -- Mark Chisnell in his latest blog.

This is definitely one to bookmark:
www.markchisnell.com/markchisnell/

For those who haven't discovered Mark's work yet:

Mark writes suspense and mystery thrillers, technical books on the art and science of racing sailboats, along with non-fiction books and journalism on travel, sport and technology for some of the world's leading magazines and newspapers, including Esquire and the Guardian.

Mark began his writing with travel stories, while hitch-hiking around the world. He got a job sweeping up and making tea with the British America's Cup team in Australia in 1987 to earn the money to get home. He worked his way onto the boat as navigator and has sailed and worked with six more America's Cup teams since then. He's also won three World Championships in sailing, and currently runs the Technical Innovation Group at Land Rover BAR, Sir Ben Ainslie's British America's Cup team.

Top sailors head to Miami for the first test in 2018
Over 540 sailors, from 50 nations, will be competing in Miami, USA, for the second of four regattas in Sailing's 2018 World Cup Series.

From 21-28 January, some of the best sailors, including Olympic medallists and World Champions, will be competing across all ten Olympic events in Miami, giving their best to ensure a solid start to the year.

The first opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is at Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018 this August. World Cup Series rounds in Miami, USA and Hyères, France as well as the final in Marseille, France, at the Paris 2024 Olympic venue, will give a clear indication on who will be gunning for gold at the World Championships and in line to qualify their country for the Tokyo 2020.

Some of the stars sailing in Miami include the Australian Laser Men's sailor, Tom Burton, who won gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and the legendary Santiago Lange and Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG) who clinched an emotional Nacra 17 gold medal in Rio.

Racing at the 2018 World Cup Series Miami will commence on Tuesday 23 January at 11:00 local time.

Live Medal Races on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 January will bring the week to a close before the series heads to Hyères, France in April. -- Aadil Seedat, World Sailing

Live tracking, sailor analytics, live weather data and racing status will be available on the platform here - wcs2018-miami.sapsailing.com

Seahorse February 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

The materials were different
We've looked in some detail at certain technical aspects of the original J-Class. Now Don Street considers the challenges as well as the dangers of getting them around the racecourse

Saving the phone bill
Moving large yachts, especially fragile race yachts, around the globe is never easy… but it's becoming a great deal easier

World Sailing - Closing the gap
Eduardo Sylvestre

RORC - Gathering dust?
Eddie Warden-Owen

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.

From the "cool stuff at BOOT" files...
For those visiting the Dusseldorf Boat Show looking for something exceptional; look no further than the carbon furniture from British company Essence of Strength, which will be on display on the Boote Exclusiv stand in Hall 7a stand number B08.

Suitable for superyachts, homes and apartments the furniture range has been inspired by organic simple structural forms and made possible by the use of ultra-high-tech carbon composite materials.

The EOS Chaise Longue is a celebration of how material engineering is beautiful.

Contrasted with exquisite leather finishing, this limited edition piece is made for those looking to enjoy a piece of functional art that is truly unique, and exceptional.

See the EOS Chaise Longue at Boot Dusseldorf on the Boote Exclusiv Stand, 20th-28th January 2018, Hall 7a, stand 08. Call +44 7973 228848 to meet one of the founders at the show.

www.essenceofstrength.co.uk
contact@essenceofstrength.co.uk

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J Composites will be gracing the international German boat show (20 to 28 January) with a new craft, the J/121. The latter is part of the French brand's One Design Sport range and has been devised for shorthanded sailing for all-round performance and inshore-offshore races. It's a whole new approach for J since it's the first time that a J boat will benefit from ballast tanks. Otherwise, J is showcasing a boat that is true to its image, with all the usual features of the boats designed by the Johnstone family: sleek lines, solidity, reliability and interior comfort for fun, fast sailing.

"It's a big J/111 with a few major developments, including a slightly beamier design than the usual J so as to integrate ballast tanks and two steering wheels. She also benefits from a removable stay mounted on a hook like the Class 40s or Imocas. The concept is already proving to be a hit in Europe with 4 boats sold in the UK, 1 in Germany, 1 in Spain and 1 in Sweden. It's increasingly difficult to put together a crew, so it is an entirely logical move for J to offer a 40-footer geared up to be sailed offshore by two or three sailors," says Didier Le Moal, General Manager of J Composites. J will also be showcasing the J/112E, the J/97 and the J/70 in Dusseldorf. See you on stand 15B21...

On Sunday 21 January, Jeff Johnstone and Didier Le Moal will present the J/121 to the press around a cocktail at 17:30 hours local time.

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Latitude Kinsale will be exhibiting at the Dusseldorf BOOT show which starts this Saturday and runs until January 28th. Here is a preview of what will be on display. There will be a special prices for the pieces on display at the show so if you are interested then contact Bobby Kinsale (bobby@latitudekinsale.com) and we can discuss.

NEW: This year I am introducing exciting new products - Gold leaf Chart, transforming classic nautical charts using precious metals with a touch of class. Using 23 carat gold leaf and a very interesting print process to create a stunning chart of the Isle of Wight . Have a look at the image at right. You can see that the land is gold and is over printed with black ink.

If you are at the show please call by and enjoy the display. Hall 7 Stand 70D.

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Spinlock - the award-winning designers and manufacturers of rope-holding equipment and personal safety products for water users - will be exhibiting exciting new Volvo Ocean Race products at the world-renowned boat show in Dusseldorf, from the 20th - 28th January 2018.

A European debut, Spinlock will be displaying their greatly anticipated Custom Volvo Ocean Race edition Deckvest and Beacon Waist Pack at the event.

Designed with both ease of use and safety in mind, the custom edition of Spinlock's Deckvest is ISO12402 approved and has a buoyancy of 170N. As well as being lightweight and comfortable to wear, the product has a quick release manual harness attachment point that allows users to release connection in an emergency.

Also developed to assist the Volvo Ocean Race crews, the Custom Beacon Waist Pack ensures sailors have easy access to essential, life-saving items at all times. An innovation in managing three pivotal safety items - the Ocean Signal MOB1 AIS device, Ocean Signal PLB1 and ACR strobe - the Beacon Waist Pack has easy-to-find pockets for equipment. It allows devices to be identified, deployed and activated easily in a hurry - even in the dark or with gloved hands. The devices are tethered to the waist belt safety pack and float in neoprene covers. The whole pack floats and can be thrown to a man overboard.

Visitors will find Spinlock in Hall 11, stands H25-H39. They will be hosting a drinks reception on Friday 26th January at 6pm to showcase the latest equipment and clothing used in the Volvo Ocean Race.

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Interested in discussing advertising with Seahorse Magazine at BOOT? Graeme Beeson will be there Saturday 20th until lunchtime Tuesday 23rd ... contact him at graeme@seahorse.co.uk for a meeting!

* From Don Street, re last night's Last Word:

John Lilly for a year or so lived on St Thomas USVI in late 50's early 60s. He frequently sailed on Iolaire on day charters to St Johns.

We got to know him well. He was a good sailor, interesting to talk to about his research with dolphins, good conversationalist, quite good looking and a bit of a skirt chaser.

The gals referred to him as "a porpoise with a purpose"

Featured Brokerage
2013 Oyster 885 'Karibu'. 5,750,000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Jamie Collins
Oyster Palma
Edificio Moll Vell, Locales 6-7
Calle Muelle Viejo, 6, 07012
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
T: +34 677 429 116
F: +34 971 737 425

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2007 Swan 78 Custom Valkyrie. 1,850,000 EUR. Located in Genoa, Italy.

Delivered in 2007, Valkyrie is a 78 ft custom yacht built by Nautor’s Swan. VALKYRIE fills the role of Bill Tripp’s concept of a Café Racer, a fast, sleek and comfortable yacht.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
http://nautorswanbrokerage.com

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2005 Cookson 50 - "Lee Overlay Partners". 350000 EUR. Located in Antigua.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson
Ancasta Race Boats
+44 2380 016582
+64 277733717
sampearson@ancasta.com

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

The Last Word
The illegal we can do right now; the unconstitutional will take a little longer. -- Henry Kissinger

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
A close game for the final 24 hours | Contender Worlds - Jason Beebe wins Pre-Event | Closing the gap | Youth to Keelboat Programme Launches for Antigua Sailing Week | America's Cup - Crucial process gets underway in Auckland | Team NZ nominated for Laureus Team of Year award | America's Cup: AC75 design set to provide huge challenge for sailors, race great says | SuperFoiler Grand Prix | Barbados Sailing Week: Coastal Series winners emerge with one race to go | Restoring a Herreshoff Classic | Featured Brokerage

A close game for the final 24 hours
As Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race brings the fleet to Hong Kong for the first time, the racing is closing up. It's going to be a tense final 24 hours...

Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag's emergence from "Stealth Mode" corresponded with two of their closest rivals 'disappearing' from the tracker.

Scallywag had a jump of just 40 miles on second-placed Vestas 11th Hour Racing when they went into Stealth Mode just before 1700 UTC on Wednesday, cloaking their position from their rivals and from fans for three consecutive six-hourly position reports.

At 1300 UTC they reappeared on the tracker back in the number one spot with only 500 miles left - but just when it seemed the action couldn't get any more tense, podium challengers Vestas 11th Hour Racing and team AkzoNobel deployed Stealth Mode.

Team Brunel, locked in their own battle with MAPFRE and Turn the Tide on Plastic for fifth, also chose to go 'undercover', leaving only four teams on the tracker with 24 hours to go. At 1300 UTC Scallywag were 37 miles ahead of Dongfeng, but both teams - and race fans - were left guessing as to where Vestas 11th Hour Racing and Akzonobel were. If we assume the Vestas team remains ahead of Dongfeng, the race to finish in Hong Kong is getting closer and closer.

The most up-to-date ETAs see the leaders arriving between 1600 to 2000 UTC Friday afternoon, with the back trio due in between 0200 and 0630 UTC on Saturday morning.

volvooceanrace.com

Contender Worlds - Jason Beebe wins Pre-Event
The 2017 Contender World Champion Jason Beebe (5,1,2) topped the all Aussie Nationals podium, finishing five points clear of Jono Neate (20,3,1) with Mark Bulka (19,2,3) in third place.

Britain's James Spikesley (1,47,38) won the first race of the day ahead of Chris Jones of Australia.

In the second race Beebe won ahead of Bulka with Neate in third place.

In the final race it was all down to the leading trio again, with Neate taking the race win, second Beebe and third Bulka.

Ed Presley (17,23,11) was best placed British competitor in 15th place.

Soho Lawyers Contender Australian Championship - Final top five (79 entries)

1. Jason Beebe, AUS, 12 points
2. Jono Neate, AUS, 17
3. Mark Bulka, AUS, 21
4. Scott Cunningham, AUS, 38
5. Jan Scholten, AUS, 43

www.sailweb.co.uk

Full results

The iSail Whitsundays 2018 Contender World Championships is held at the McCrae Yacht Club. The event will run from the 16th January 2018 till 25th January 2018.

www.mccraeyc.com.au

Closing the gap
Eduardo Sylvestre, Brazilian sailing coach, PE teacher and World Sailing regional development co-ordinator for South America writes about transforming lives...

As World Sailing coach working on sailing development and having been involved with the Emerging Nations Program (ENP) for the past three years on two continents, America and Africa, it is easy to see the impact that our programmes are having in transforming the lives of both sailors and coaches.

It is difficult for an individual from a developed country, that has all the equipment on tap, great facilities and sailors who don't have to worry about anything other than going sailing to realise the effort, strength and vigour a coach or sailor from a third world country requires simply to get out on the water.

Each day they deal with problems that might floor better-known athletes. Lack of the basics, like sails, boats, cleats, gloves and so on. Lack of time, equipment and of course the money needed to race and train overseas. Meanwhile, they are often working their way through school to secure the education they know they will need to support their own families... Yet they still maintain a dream of representing their country at big international events.

The World Sailing ENP is promoting a fair game, it is a great opportunity for coaches and sailors who wish to learn what other countries are doing and to improve their own skillset.

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

Youth to Keelboat Programme Launches for Antigua Sailing Week
The Antigua and Barbuda Sailing Association (ABSA) in conjunction with Antigua Sailing Week (ASW) is this week launching a new programme that will allow youths aged 16 - 25 to gain keel boat experience during Antigua Sailing Week 2018.

In 50 years of ASW there have always been a small number of Antiguan youths on board; often from seafaring families or raised within yachting communities. Skip forward to 2017 and interest in sailing, not just as sport or leisure option, but as a career has grown exponentially.

The first youth programme was developed by Antigua Yacht Club in the nineties and then latterly the National Sailing Academy. The Academy has now enabled every secondary school island wide to offer sailing as part of the national curriculum. Both programmes have produced an increasing number of youths with dinghy sailing experience but for many that is where their sail racing ends. The Youth to Keel Boat Programme (Y2K) seeks to bridge the gap and help them make the leap to gaining keelboat experience.

The original idea for the initiative was borne out of a conversation at a Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) Conference held in Antigua between Tim Cross (World Sailing Regional Development Coordinator) and ex-America's Cup sailor Peter Holmberg. Of the programme Tim Cross said, "We were debating how to get more youths into sailing across the region and identified that there needs to be tangible reasons for a young person not only to start sailing, but then remain a life long sailor either recreationally or professionally. This concept is fantastic as it will provide both inspiration and aspirations for the young people involved."

Youths who would like to apply for the programme are asked to visit www.sailingweek.com/y2k and follow instructions. Deadline for submissions is February 9th, 2018.

Skippers who are interested in taking a youth on board can tick the request box during the registration process at yachtscoring.com or email lorna@sailingweek.com

The Notice of Race for Antigua Sailing Week 2018 and the Peters & May Round Antigua Race are now available online and can be viewed here:

www.sailingweek.com/competitors/race-documents/

America's Cup - Crucial process gets underway in Auckland
Panuku Developments lodged the Resource Consent applications for the 2021 America's Cup bases with the Auckland Council last Monday.

The lodgement of the consents is the first real step in the construction of the bases for the 36th America's Cup, scheduled to be held in Auckland.

The lodgment comes two weeks after entries opened on January 1 for the March 2021 regatta. They are only preliminary documents, and the final documents will be lodged at the end of January and then open for a 20-day public submission process.

There is little new regarding concepts for the options. However, the required detail has been inserted, extensive supporting reports added and the development has been progressed from conceptual drawings and graphics to plausible fine line detail.

One new feature is the addition of a Legacy use view of the new Halsey Street Wharf extension is as a waterfront concert venue. The drawing also shows Wynyard Point fully developed with a large public park on half of the available area, after the 50 plus silo tanks have been removed.

The application lodged is for the Auckland Council's stated preference known as Wynyard Basin, selected in a 12-3 vote in mid December. The long and shortlisted options are also included to illustrate a full consideration of all options.

In their commentaries, Emirates Team New Zealand have continued to express their support for the more expensive but centralised option of the Halsey Street Extension, as has the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Ports of Auckland pour cold water on the Captain Cook Wharf option.

Richard Gladwell has the details on SO much....

www.sail-world.com/news/

Team NZ nominated for Laureus Team of Year award
Team New Zealand, skippered by Glenn Ashby, won sailing's greatest prize with a stunning 7-1 victory over defending champions Oracle Team USA in Bermuda last June.

Helmed by 26-year old Olympic gold and silver medallist Peter Burling, the youngest winning helmsman in the history of the America's Cup, New Zealand gained revenge against Team USA, to whom they had suffered a crushing 9-8 defeat in the 2013 America's Cup.

Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton said it was a privilege to be recognised by the judges.

"Emirates Team New Zealand are truly honoured to be nominated for this prestigious award alongside some other remarkable teams," Dalton said.

"We know the effort that went into winning the America's Cup, but what we are equally proud of is the very special group of people that came together in the true essence of the word team. Without the team there would not have been the victory."

All Blacks great Sean Fitzpatrick, who is chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said while Team New Zealand was up against some great teams from other sports, they deserved to be recognised.

www.stuff.co.nz

America's Cup: AC75 design set to provide huge challenge for sailors, race great says
If America's Cup sailors were looking for more of a challenge on the water, the 2021 regatta will give them one, event great Grant Simmer says.

Simmer, who was part of four America's Cup-winning crews including Australia II's victory in 1983, has joined British team Ben Ainslie Racing as cheif executive for the next regatta after two campaigns with Oracle Team USA.

The design for the yachts to be raced in the 2021 event having been public knowledge for about three months, with teams set to race AC75 vessels - 75ft high performance, fully-foiling monohulls.

Speaking to the World Sailing Show, Simmer said the new class of yacht could provide the sailors with one of the biggest challenges in recent Cup history.

"It'll be really challenging for the sailors to sail them. They've just never sailed a boat like that before.

"We've been looking at what boats we should focus on sailing just for our sailors to get used to sailing a boat like the new America's Cup class, and really we haven't found anything."

The AC75 class rule will be published in March, with entries for challengers closing at the end of June.

www.nzherald.co.nz

SuperFoiler Grand Prix
Photo by Andrea Francolini, www.afrancolini.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

From the creators of the 18ft Skiff Grand Prix, who pioneered the onboard experience, putting the viewers in the action. This is a father and son journey, Bill and Jack Macartney, who set out to build a new breed of extreme racer built purely to foil.

Over three years, they met with world leading designers and after 4500 hours of production and four countries contributing innovation came the SuperFoiler.

The inaugural SuperFoiler Grand Prix will see six teams of three world class sailors compete in matched SuperFoilers at five locations around Australia in February and March 2018.

From Scuttlebutt

www.superfoiler.com

Barbados Sailing Week: Coastal Series winners emerge with one race to go
Click on image for photo gallery.

Bridgetown, Barbados: The second and penultimate day of the Coastal Series, traditionally known as the Two Restaurants Race, took place over a 22nm course and offered spectacular sheltered flat water/fast reaching conditions on the leg to and from the northern-most mark at Holetown just off The Beach House restaurant. On the southern part of the course to the Tapas Restaurant mark, the more lively conditions gave competitors a real taste of Caribbean sailing at its best.

Racing was close once again particularly in Non CSA division where Mandy (Hunter 29.5) sailed by Bruce Robinson and team managed to hold off their closest rivals on Bill Tempro's Hunter 36 Sail La Vie. Tempro and team looked good off the start line and sailed well but there was little they could do to match the impressive speed of Team Mandy and had to settle for second place once again. With two wins Robinson and team have clinched the series, which means the race for second place overall will be decided in the concluding Coastal race tomorrow.

Charles Hunte, the current Windsurfer Mount Gay Round the Island Race record holder was on top form again today on his Starboard Phantom Batwing 377 raceboard although he did confess to feeling shattered after enduring a tough three-hour stint on the water.

Andy Budgen racing his Exocet foiling International Moth Nano Project had a good sail but suffered with gear failure, which ultimately led to him not completing the course correctly

Barbados Sailing Week, Organised by Barbados Cruising Club in association with Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, and Mount Gay, Barbados Sailing Week 2018, continues tomorrow with the final of the Coastal Racing Series and the first race of the J/24 two-day series. -- Sue Pelling

www.barbadossailingweek.com

Restoring a Herreshoff Classic
The documentary film NY40 Marilee: Restoring an NG Herreshoff Classic follows the two-year restoration of the Nathanael G. Herreshoff-designed New York 40 sailing yacht. The talent of the artisans at French & Webb in Belfast, Maine; the ingenuity of engineering and design from Herreshoff experts; and the vision of her current custodian were brought together to restore Marilee, which was built in 1926, to perfection.

This was not your typical restoration of a wooden classic. With access to the original Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.'s building plans, documents and images archived at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Hart Nautical Collections and the Herreshoff Marine Museum, this project pushed the envelope in both perfection and ingenuity.

The NY40 class was originally designed in 1916 as a gaff-rigged yacht for the New York Yacht Club. While combing through the plans at MIT, an original Herreshoff drawing of Marilee's Marconi rig was discovered, penned by Capt. Nat himself. This sparked the unique idea of building two separate rigs for Marilee — both a Marconi and gaff.

The film is scheduled for release this month. For more information, visit langleyphoto.com/blog

www.cruisingworld.com/restoring-classic-herreshoff

Featured Brokerage
Outremer 5X - NEW BOAT

At just under 60ft the flagship of this successful and well-established multihull supplier also offers a step-up in performance with naval architecture by VPLP

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Outremer Yachting
+33.467 560 263
Contact@Catamaran-Outremer.com

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Club Swan 50-003 'Cuordileone. 1,100,000 EUR.

ClubSwan50: A yacht that is a small revolution in performance and pure sailing pleasure.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Lorenzo Bortolotti
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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1998 Swan 48-123 'E2'. 395,000 EUR. Located in Valdivia, Chile.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Lorenzo Bortolotti
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com

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

The Last Word
When the speech condemns a free press, you are hearing the words of a tyrant. -- Thomas Jefferson

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
Vestas 11th Hour Racing Collides With Fishing Vessel | Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag record historic win into home port of Hong Kong | Hometown Heroes | Fast40+ Class Announces 2018 Programme | New video highlights Cruising Association Lobster Pots Campaign | Sydney To Hobart Winner Claims Australian Yachting Championship | Two Handed Round Britain and Ireland Race 2018 | For The Record | Industry News | Featured Brokerage

Vestas 11th Hour Racing Collides With Fishing Vessel
Vestas 11th Hour Racing, a British Cayman registered vessel with a multinational team competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18, has collided with a fishing vessel.

The incident occurred approximately 30 miles from the finish of Leg 4, outside of Hong Kong waters. Race Control at Volvo Ocean Race headquarters was informed of the collision by the team moments after it happened at approximately 17:23 UTC on Friday January 19, 2018 (01:23 local time on Saturday morning).

The Vestas 11th Hour Racing team, none of whom were injured in the collision, issued a Mayday distress call on behalf of the other vessel, alerting the Hong Kong Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (HKMRCC) and undertook a search and rescue mission.

HKMRCC informed Race Control that a commercial vessel in the area was able to rescue nine of the crew and that a tenth crew member was taken by helicopter to hospital.

volvooceanrace.com

* Fatality confirmed of fishing vessel crew member

The Volvo Ocean Race is deeply saddened to inform that the collision between Vestas 11th Hour Racing, a team competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18, and a fishing vessel has resulted in a fatality of a crew member of the fishing vessel.

On behalf of the Volvo Ocean Race and Vestas 11th Hour Racing, we offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased.

Volvo Ocean Race and Vestas 11th Hour Racing are now focused on providing immediate support to those affected by this incident.

All involved organisations are co-operating with the authorities and are fully supporting the ongoing investigation.

www.volvooceanrace.com/en/news/

Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag record historic win into home port of Hong Kong
Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag have won Leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race, leading the fleet into their home port of Hong Kong.

It's an historic win for skipper David Witt and his team who had to overcome significant setbacks on the leg before grabbing the lead with a bold tactical call out of the Doldrums last weekend.

It was an extended Doldrums crossing, and Scallywag had moments where they appeared to be in a strong position.

But late in the crossing, after falling behind the fleet again, Witt and navigator Libby Greenhalgh made the decision to cut the corner, and turn to the west earlier than the opposition who kept pressing north in search of stronger winds.

Hometown Heroes
It was a hometown heroes welcome for David Witt and his crew aboard Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag as they rocketed into Hong Kong to take their first leg win of the Volvo Ocean Race. The racing had been intense since the Scallywag team snatched a surprising come-from-behind lead as the hunters hunted them with every bit of grit and determination, but they fended off all challengers by employing a well known inshore tactical strategy; they placed themselves squarely between those chasing and the finish line, and the tactic paid in spades. By winning the leg they became the first ever Hong Kong-flagged team to win a leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Much of the credit for their victory should go to Libby Greenhalgh who came on board as navigator in Melbourne. Libby, along with Annemieke Bes are the two females on board and their contribution has been massive. The leg from Australia to Asia is a minefield that needed to be navigated with a steady hand and steady head. After a bit of a rocky start Greenhalgh and skipper Witt saw their opportunity as the leading boats wallowed in the calms of the doldrums. Taking a calculated gamble they "cut the corner" turning toward Hong Kong before the rest of the fleet. The risk was that they would run out of wind but they skirted a windless zone on either side, remained in a steady breeze, and took a commanding lead. Some will say that they got lucky while others will know the truth; it was their Dubarry Crosshaven boots engineered and crafted to take on the tricky condition of the Pacific Ocean that gave them the winning edge.

dubarry.com

Fast40+ Class Announces 2018 Programme
The 2018 FAST40+ Race Circuit kicks off this Apri. The season has been extended to six scoring events, ending in October, to decide the overall FAST40+ Champion. For the 2018 season the majority of the events will be stand alone regattas including the FAST40+ National Championship, and the prestigious One Ton Cup.

The season opener will be a non-scoring training regatta in the Solent on 21-22 April, with a class coach working alongside team coaches, to improve performance throughout the fleet.

Over a dozen teams are expected to be racing on the FAST40+ Race Circuit, and other IRC events throughout 2018. The next FAST40+ update will focus on team news, with some interesting developments to be revealed.

21-22 April: Training Regatta
27-29 April: Class Round One
26-28 May: Class Round Two
29 June - 01 July: National Championship Round Three
4-7 August: Lendy Cowes Week Round Four
13-16 September: One Ton Cup Round Five
19-21 October: Class Round Six

www.fast40class.com

New video highlights Cruising Association Lobster Pots Campaign
The Cruising Association (CA) has just released a video highlighting the dangers of entanglement with lobster pots as part of its campaign for better marking of static fishing gear.

Introduced by Tom Cunliffe, the video features two experienced yachtsmen describing their frightening encounters: Norman Kean whilst researching updates for Irish pilot books and Steve Williams whilst racing off Anglesey.

The campaign has clearly hit a nerve with the boating public. The CA has received an enormous response from people around the UK and worldwide telling of their experiences with unmarked pots and static fishing gear. More than 6,000 people have signed a petition posted by the CA on the government website calling for consultation with all interested parties on how to address this hazard and make navigation safer for everyone on the water.

The petition is still live and will remain so until the closing date of 12th March.

The CA feels that it is time for everybody with an interest in boating to work together to find a solution, particularly one that is affordable and practical for our fishermen. -- Peta Stuart-Hunt

See the petition at: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200001

Sydney To Hobart Winner Claims Australian Yachting Championship
Matt Allen and his Ichi Ban Team have another trophy to add to their cabinet after claiming Allen's second Australian Yachting Championship early in what is shaping to be a bumper 2018.

Allen, who last won at this regatta in 2003, said it was a great thrill to claim all eight races at the Championship, which concluded at Sandringham Yacht Club on Sunday.

"It's not of often you get eight from eight but, I must say, in the middle race today, we only got it by one second from Secret Men's Business," said Allen, whose yacht claimed handicap honours in the Rolex Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race in December.

"I think the whole week's been a great success, a lot of great sailing, and I think every race has been really good fun on Port Phillip Bay."

Allen, who is also Australian Sailing President, learnt to sail at Sandringham, which he praised for having staged a fine regatta.

Reverie finished the regatta second overall and Khaleesi third.

In Division 3 IRC Philosopher edged out Executive Decision on countback to win the title. "Very happy with the result, very happy with our crew, they're a good young bunch of people from Hobart," said skipper Shaun Tiedemann.

"This has been an absolutely awesome regatta. It's been very very well conducted, unreal Race Officer and support team. Just amazing."

Tiedermann said his team "might have a crack" at the next Championship, which will be held in the Team's home state.

Doesn't Matter rounded out the podium places in third.

The 2018 Australian National Multihull Championship was won by Victorian Fury Road.

The 2019 Australian Yachting Championship will be hosted by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania

Full results: websites.sportstg.com

Two Handed Round Britain and Ireland Race 2018
Entries are growing for the Two Handed Round Britain and Ireland race run by the Royal Western Yacht Club of England. The Race starts in Plymouth Sound on Sunday 3 June 2018. The yachts turn right out of the eastern entrance of the Port of Plymouth and, keeping all land to starboard including Ireland and the out crop of Muckle Flugga at the top of Scotland, set out on their 2000 mile adventure.

One of the joys of the race, apart from the feeling of satisfaction that you have sailed around the island we live on, is meeting up with fellow competitors in the four 48 hr compulsory stop-over ports of Kinsale, Castlebay, Lerwick and Lowestoft.

If you are interested in competing in this challenging race please visit the Royal Western Yacht Club of England website to see the Notice of Race. We look forward to receiving your entry.

The race is a qualifier for the AZAB 2019.

The Royal Western Yacht Club has signed up to be a 'Clean Regatta' Yacht Club.

rwyc.org

For The Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record:

Record: World Women's Windsurf Record.
Venue: Luderitz. NAM.
Name: Zara Davis. GBR
Equipment: Simmer Style Speed Board 40cm; Simmer Style 5.0
Dates: 22nd November 2017.
Course length: 501 metres
Current: Nil
Start time: 12;14;08.86
Finish time: 12;14;29.81
Elapsed time: 20.95 seconds
Speed: 46.49 kts
Corrected for current: N/A.
Comments: Previous record: Karrin Jaggi. SUI. 2015. Luderitz. 46.31 kts

John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council
sailspeedrecords.com

Industry News
HanseYachts says it has received a preliminary injunction by an Italian court against an Italian competitor to stop building a boat that it describes as "imitative". The company said in a statement that the court order forbids the Italian builder to "manufacture, advertise, exhibit, promote, sell or transfer the imitative boat" in Italy.

Hanse did not name the competitor but said it was a copy of its Fjord line. The court has found that the imitative yacht is likely to be perceived as a "Latin version" of the Fjord 42, therefore giving rise to both a likelihood of confusion and a free-riding on HanseYachts' commercial success on part of the Italian shipyard," said the Hanse statement. The decision could be appealed by the Italian company.

"This is an important partial victory," says Dr Jens Gerhardt, CEO of HanseYachts AG. "Usually, certain details have been copied to date, such as the Dehler Uni Door or the signature window lines of the Sealine and Hanse families. We have taken this sportive until now, and see it as a compliment in many ways for our innovative and outstanding quality in design. But the copy of an entire boat is something that we cannot accept."

plus.ibinews.com

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North Sails 3Di NORDAC is already recognized as game changing cruising technology and has claimed yet another coveted prize. The revolutionary polyester sail, designed for small to medium sized cruising boats, was yesterday announced as a winner of SAIL Magazine's renowned Pittman Innovation Awards.

The SAIL judges recognized that 3Di NORDAC offers the wider sailing community the unique 3Di technology developed on the race course: "With its new 3Di NORDAC sails, North has combined the great cost-effectiveness and durability of traditional sails with the 3Di process by building them entirely in polyester, with polyester filaments set in polyester resin in the 3Di structural tape ," said SAIL editor Charles J. Doane. "The result is an affordable all-polyester sail that is lighter, less stretchy, more durable and more mildew-resistant than traditional woven polyester sails - a win-win for cruising sailors everywhere."

Commenting on the award victory, North Sails CEO Dan Neri added, "In 2015 we saw a real opportunity to create product differentiation in the cruising market and we felt confident we had developed something special with 3Di NORDAC. We are pleased by the response from the cruising community."

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The Financial Times has reported that Rolls-Royce is considering selling its commercial marine business. Many Rolls-Royce engines and transmissions are used in the superyacht sector.

The paper reported an inside source who said the sale is likely, though the company will keep its naval marine businesses. Last year, Rolls-Royce's marine division had losses of £27m on sales of £1.1bn. The commercial marine division accounted for around 75% of those sales.

CEO Warren East told the paper that he was looking at "strategic options" for the marine business as part of a larger restructuring for the company. He is considering trimming the company's five business units into three.

plus.ibinews.com

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BAR Technologies is excited to announce the launch of BAR Rigging to focus on offering high performance cutting-edge rigging techniques, materials and practices in the marine industry including grand prix racing campaigns, dinghy classes, cruisers and the super yacht market.

BAR Rigging is led by Chris Noble, a member of Land Rover BAR's shore and operations team during the British Challenger's first America's Cup campaign. BAR Rigging will apply the same design tools, manufacturing processes and product knowledge developed through the team's America's Cup Challenge to deliver a high standard in quality, reliability and performance not yet seen within the textile rigging market.

Martin Whitmarsh, CEO of BAR Technologies on the BAR Rigging services, "We recognised that through all the experience the team has gained, alongside the learnings and developments from the 35th America's Cup, we have something really special to offer out to the wider marine industry.

"With sole retail rights to certain technical developments, this allows us to offer our clients the inside track on the latest technology and innovations, as-well as genuine and affordable performance gains."

www.BARRigging.uk

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Lippert Components, a subsidiary of LCI Industries, plans to acquire the Taylor Made Group. Terms were not disclosed, but a statement said the deal is expected to close in two weeks if terms are agreed upon.

Taylor Made's 2017 sales were around US$150m. It operates 10 facilities, including two in Europe. Its sales break down to 20% aftermarket, 25% industrial and 15% international.

"LCI is one of the leading providers of windows for the RV towable industry, and with the addition of Taylor Made's products, will be a leading supplier of marine and industrial market windshields as well," said Scott Mereness, LCI president, in a statement. "We expect to leverage our purchasing, sales, distribution, and administrative capabilities to improve the profitability of this business, and we expect this acquisition to be immediately accretive to LCI's earnings."

Lippert Components has 52 manufacturing and distribution facilities in the US, Canada and Italy. Taylor Made will be LCI's largest acquisition in the last 22 years. "It is representative of our strategy of quickly assembling a portfolio of companies and products that will help us become a major contributor to marine component designs and solutions," said Mereness.

Most of Taylor Made's executive teams will remain after the acquisition under the leadership of Jason Falk, LCI vice president of operations.

In July, the company acquired the marine seating business of Lexington LLC for US$40m.

plus.ibinews.com/article/vOLRuMcDk4I/2018/01/17/lippert_to_acquire_taylor_made/

Featured Brokerage
Swan 62-106 Acamar. 1,200,000 EUR. Located in Liguria, Italy.

'Acamar' is a highly customized Swan 62. As a cruiser, she has everything needed for a round the world trip and can be easily managed short-handed.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Giorgio Passarella
brokerage@nautorswan.com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
http://nautorswanbrokerage.com

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2015 FB35 - "Young Guns". 300000 USD. Located in Auckland NZ

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson
Ancasta Race Boats
+44 2380 016582
+64 277733717
sampearson@ancasta.com

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2008 Oyster 655 Matawai. 1,650,000 USD. Located in Newport, RI, USA.

Stunning Oyster 655 with state-of-the-art communications equipment, entertainment, electronics and remote GPS monitoring. Perfect gentleman's Bermuda racer.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
brokerage@oysteryachts.com

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The Last Word
Sign seen on stand at the London Boatshow:
"This toilet is a demonstration model only - to see a demonstration please ask a member of stand personnel" -- with hat tip to Don Wood

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