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Brought to you by Boats.com Europe, 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 How To Follow The Start Of The Vendee Globe In Les Sables d'Olonne Follow the signs to the Vendee Globe village where there will be live coverage of the docking out of the skippers (note that the pontoons will no longer be accessible to the public from Thursday, November 8, 20 hours). At 9:30 am, after the parade of legendary boats which starts at 0845hrs. Live and Direct TV Thanks to a unique (13 cameras on land, air and sea, 5 live aboard IMOCA 60's), the Vendee Globe start will be broadcast live on TF1, France 3, Planete Thalassa +, BFM, Infosport +, iTV, LCI, Sport +, L'Equipe TV and TV Vendee. Other channels will broadcast," including France 3 Region (Upper and Lower Normandy, Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Poitou-Charentes). Internationally, six channels also broadcast live the start of the race: France 24, SkyItalia, nsport Leman Bleu Poland and Switzerland, BBC and ITV. Internet / applications for iPhone and Android tablets / official social networks The first minutes of the race will be filmed and broadcast live on www.vendeeglobe.org and www.dailymotion.com / VendeeGlobeTV with commentary from Pierre-Louis Castelli and Alain Gautier (French) and Clare MacNaughton and Alec Wilkinson (English). On November 10, tracking and ranking of the website will be updated at 14h, 15h and 16h. From November 11 From Sunday, November 11, Race HQ (equipped with a TV studio and open to the public) moves to Paris, in front of the Montparnasse Tower, until the end of January. * Last Monday, Javier Sanso, the skipper of the ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered, was the skipper chosen by the Musee de Sables museum to make his handprint there and become part of the history of the Vendee Globe. This tradition goes back to the very first Vendee Globe when the Imoca skippers made their hand- or footprints. The Musee de Sables' initiative comes as a tribute to all the skippers who have taken on the great challenge that is the Vendee Globe. The ceremony came to a close when, after leaving his handprint, the skipper of the ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered, wrote a touching dedication in the museum's Golden Book: "The best things in my life have always happened among the sands. Sand says many things about a person's life". * According to the Vendee Globe organizers, more than half a million people have walked up and down Les Sables d'Olonne pontoon in these last two weeks. With family, friends, co-workers or even classroom mates, everyone is moving quietly alongside the boats in the hope of seeing these single-handed sailors about to set off on a round-the-world. Once again, this flood of people demonstrates the fascination people ashore have for this maritime challenge. Kito de Pavant, who will be setting off at the helm of Groupe Bel for the second time, likes this close contact with the public. The skipper puts his heart into the photos, autographs, and boat visiting sessions. At 13:02 on Saturday, he will leave the huge crowds in the wake of his beautiful red boat and will plunge into the adventure. "On the pontoon, you can feel that the public wonders 'what are they looking for over there?'. When you embark on a project as intense as the Vendee Globe, you don't necessarily know why. What we are sure about is that we really want to do it, with the conviction that we are ready to overcome the difficulties awaiting us." Confidence comes from wariness: "I have been sailing the oceans for more than 30 years and I know that there will always be things that go wrong. Together with my team, we have overcome difficult technical problems. We never lost confidence, but we learned how to be wary of anything that made us stronger. Experience of the boat brings confidence and experience of the sea brings wariness." The dream of the realistic: "You need to be optimistic. If you are not, you don't cast off. You also need to be realistic. We will be heading towards the most isolated places on earth and our dream requires many precautions. To sail the seas, you need to have your feet on ground." Fastest Propeller Around The World? Gori propeller wishes all skippers in Vendee Globe a fast and safe but exciting race around the world. Find out more and calculate your propeller online on www.gori-propeller.dk Follow Gori propeller on www.facebook.com/Goripropeller Wildcards Join World Class Line Up For Malaysia Showdown The 2012 finale event will consist of one of the strongest fields ever, featuring three previous ISAF Match Racing World Champions, including Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing, who became the youngest ever Tour Champion in 2009. Fellow wildcard Taylor Canfield (USVI) US One was invited to compete at the event following his two impressive Tour outings earlier this year, taking victory at the recent Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda. The pair complete eleven of the twelve participants at the biggest Tour event of the year, which is expected to attract over 100,000 spectators to the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia between 3rd - 8th December. Minoprio's presence at the Monsoon Cup after returning from a Volvo Ocean Race campaign with CAMPER Team New Zealand will certainly have been noted by the current Tour-leading pair, Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team and Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar. The Kiwi beat both of the skippers to victory in Malaysia during his Championship winning season. Canfield has become 'one-to-watch' amongst the pool of young match racing talent, eager to compete on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. He can also point to recent successes of his own, having recorded a Tour victory already this season at the Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda last month. Monsoon Cup - Competing Teams: 18ft Skiffs First Championship Of The 2012-2013 Season After four weeks of windward-return racing in the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge series, 19 skiffs will be back on the traditional harbor courses east of the bridge. The Gotta Love It 7 team of Seve Jarvin, Scott Babbage and Peter Harris are favoured to win Sunday's race following their strong performance last week. The '7' team conceded starts to the other 18 teams yet still won Race 4 of the AEG 3-Buoys Challenge in a 15-knot North-East breeze. Biggest challenge is expected to come from the defending champion Michael Coxon in Thurlow Fisher Lawyers, which has been consistent again this season to lead the Challenge series. There are several new teams competing this season, and many teams are still busy tuning new rigs. Sunday's race should give those teams an indication of how their competitiveness has progressed so far. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League Musto In The Vendee Globe Arguably, the toughest test of human endurance in the sport of sailing - where the right protective clothing proves a critical part to the sailors' performance and well-being. Musto wishes the best of luck to all Team Musto skippers in the race; Jeremie Beyou, Armel Le Cleac'h, Vincent Riou, Mike Golding and the only female entrant, Samantha Davies. Visit Musto in the Vendee village in the Archipel area. Like us on Facebook for the latest news from the world's leading sailing and country sports clothing brand www.facebook.com/mustoclothing Record Entry For The Muscat Regatta The build up to the regatta starts with 21st Dubai to Muscat Race, organised by the United Arab Emirates Sailing and Rowing Federation. This historic 360nm race has now achieved recognition by the UK's prestigious Royal Ocean Racing Club and therefore ranks alongside all other RORC recognised offshore races. An international fleet of Rally Class, performance cruisers and racing yachts will be taking part. The Muscat Regatta: 22-23 November 2012 The fourth edition of The Muscat Regatta has the same format, two days of inshore dinghy and keelboat racing. This year's entry list is expected to be double the size of last year with more than 100 dinghies and keelboats expected to take part. Classes include: Optimists, Q'BA's, Lasers, Hobie Cats and Weta Class Trimarans. Bank of Beirut Chairman's Cup: Starts 24th November 2012 A record entry is expected for the Muscat to Khasab Race, which offers one of the richest cash prizes for a yacht race of its kind, anywhere in the world. The Bank of Beirut has repeated their generous prize fund of US$50,000 for the 240-mile offshore race to Khasab. A final lavish prize giving, set in the remote mountain region of Musandam, will bring the event to a memorable conclusion. -- Louay Habib New Naming Rights Sponsor For NZ's Only ISAF Grade One Regatta Oceanbridge, a New Zealand owned and operated international shipping and freight specialist, has come on board as the naming rights sponsor for this annual regatta which will next be held from 2-5 February 2013. Last year, the regatta attracted over 230 competitors from 16 countries and many of those attended the event in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. Oceanbridge has offices in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch, and provides a complete shipping and freight package to many New Zealand importers and exporters by land, sea or air including customs and trucking. "Yachting New Zealand and Oceanbridge have a long standing relationship; not only in terms of logistical support for our high performance and youth sailors, but through contribution to major sailing events in NZ such as Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta". Dave Abercrombie, YNZ's Chief Executive explained. Oceanbridge Sail Auckland will be held from 2-5 February 2013 at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club. Registration is now open online the new regatta website. Hot Liquid Duo Found Not Guilty Liquid Vortex, a Beneteau First 40.7, was rescued by the RNLI in the early hours of January 3 off Dungeness Point on passage from Southampton to the London Boat Show. Skipper Charlie Sturrock, 51, was found not guilty of a charge relating to the planning of the voyage. However, the jury was hung on the charge against Mr Sturrock of failing to identify and assess risks to the vessel and crew. Jason Manning, the managing director of Hot Liquid sailing school, was found not guilty of failing to check weather forecasts. On Friday the judge ordered the jury to find the duo not guilty of four charges. Judge Peter Ralls decided there was not enough evidence to convict Mr Sturrock of sailing at night without proper equipment, Mr Manning for failing to contact HM Coastguard or either man for failing to comply with standard operating procedures. Since the rescue, Hot Liquid has since been suspended by the RYA from providing practical courses in the UK and Mr Sturrock had his Yachtmaster revoked by an RYA/MCA panel. The MCA brought the charges against the two men, arguing that Mr Sturrock's 'acts or omissions caused or were likely to cause loss, destruction, death or injury', while Mr Manning, 36, had failed to 'discharge a duty'. Costs were awarded against the MCA, which has 14 days to ask for a retrial on the undecided charge. Eileen Ramsay - The Queen Of Yachting Photography But Eileen established herself as one of the greatest yachting photographers of her time, taking famous portraits of sailing icons like Francis Chichester and Eric Tabarly, Olympians, including Rodney Pattisson and Keith Musto, and historic pictures from the first Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic (OSTAR) Races. Her unique archive records the explosive growth in dinghy and offshore sailing during post-war years, and includes pictures of the first Enterprises, Mirrors, Ospreys, Optimists and the first America's Cup 12 metres Sceptre and Evaine. Eileen, now into her 90s can remember just about every photograph she has taken and relate an anecdote or story about each one. Many of these memories are also recorded in the book. Eileen Ramsay - the Queen of Yachting Photography, is a spectacular celebration of a pioneering photographer and a fascinating time in yachting history. 160 pages, 123 classic pictures. £25 + postage & packing southatlanticpublishing.com/er_intro.htm Six Big Events In The GJW Direct Sailjuice Winter Series 2012/13 The GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series kicks off with the Draycote Dash on the weekend of 24/25 November 2012. Never heard of this Series before? For the past three years it has been known as the SailJuice Global Warm-Up, incorporating some of the UK's best-known dinghy handicap classic events. Now, with the support of new title sponsor - GJW Direct Insurance - we've changed the name of the Series, but the principal goals remain the same: to get sailors from many different classes out racing during the winter, and to find out who's the best handicap racer in the country. In last year's Series, the events attracted more than 600 boats from 92 different classes, emphasising the importance of handicap racing in the UK. Four Out Of Six The Brass Monkey at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club makes its debut in the Series, the first event we've had in the North of England. For the South, there's the Bloody Mary, and then four dotted around the middle of the country - the Draycote Dash, the Grafham Grand Prix, the Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy and the John Merricks Tiger Trophy. This season you must count your best four results from these six events, although your score from the Tiger Trophy is non-discardable. Why? Because it's the final event in the Series and we want to see a head-to-head showdown between the leading contenders for the Series. You can still put a full series together without attending the Tiger Trophy, but your chances of winning will be massively reduced. On the other hand, for those mad/brave enough to take on the whole Series, you have the chance to improve on your worst score by competing in all six events. Events - Draycote Dash, Draycote Water Sailing Club - Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th November 2012 Two reasons to enter sooner than later: - Early entrants get put into a prize draw. The first draw takes place before the Draycote Dash, with other 'early entry' prize draws being held before Christmas. The earlier you enter, the more chances you give yourself. Prizes include Gul winter gear to keep you warm and SailJuice.com subscriptions. - Some of last season's events were oversubscribed well in advance of the day. Enter online and enter early to guarantee your spot. Enter the Series here: www.SailJuiceSeries.com The 5th Budget Marine Match Racing Cup
The organization will invite 8 teams of top match racers from around the world to compete in St.Maarten waters. The first two years of this event, Peter Holmberg of US Virgin Islands gave a great demonstration of truly professional match racing in heavy breeze and won the first prize both times. Last year Colin Rathbun took home the first prize after some high quality match racing against big names like Bouwe Bekking and Olympic sailors from the USA which came in second and third place. This event will give top racers a chance to collect some of the US$8,000 in prize money. Anyone who is an accomplished match racer, male or female and who would like to enjoy match and fleet racing, win a pile of dollars and enjoy some of the finest regatta parties in the Caribbean should contact the regatta office at regatta@heinekenregatta.com and submit their sailing CV and Sailing ID for consideration. The cost of participation is low, but in order to avoid no shows a deposit of US$500 is required to confirm the slot. The teams need to consist of three persons per team including the helmsman. The event will take place in the Simpson Bay lagoon. The final date to send in your information is January 7th 2013; applications will not be accepted after this date. The event precedes the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta which has for many years had the largest number of entries in Caribbean Regattas. The main event is preceded by a warm up regatta for Spinnaker boats called the Gill Commodore's Cup. A timetable will be arranged so participants in the match racing have ample time to train on the fleet racing boats should they be sailing in the main event. Google Takes Street View Underwater at Great Barrier Reef "With these vibrant and stunning photos you don't have to be a scuba diver -- or even know how to swim -- to explore and experience six of the ocean's most incredible living coral reefs," Brian McClendon, VP of Google Maps and Earth, said in a blog post announcing the feature. "Now, anyone can become the next virtual Jacques Cousteau and dive with sea turtles, fish and manta rays in Australia, the Philippines, and Hawaii." The experience was made possible by the Catlin Seaview Survey, a partnership between the global insurance company Catlin Group Limited and nonprofit Underwater Earth. -- Steven Musil in CNET News: See Google Maps information: Featured Brokerage A cleverly designed and built cruiser, the Delphia 31 offers a lifting keel, moderate topsides giving excellent headroom below, clear decks with a fully battened mainsail system and a furling jib. This model has the option of a mast lowering A-frame system integrated, easy to operate single handed to lower the rig, in addition to the swing keel making this an ideal yacht for canal and river sailing. She has a large, wrap around sprayhood for cockpit comfort, a folding steering wheel giving good access in the cockpit when not sailing. She is easy to sail short handed and has excellent comfort and sailing capabilities for the family. Brokerage through S.D.Marine Ltd.: www.yachtworld.com/sdmarine/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com The Last Word |
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Scuttlebutt Europe #2714 - 9 November
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