Issue #3985 - 12 December
In This Issue
Rush Hour | WIM Series Finale in France | Still time to sign up for the Island Water World Grenada Sailing Week 2018 | SOLAS Big Boat Challenge | Decision that may shake Annapolis' image as 'sailing capital' coming soon | New Era for Canada's Cup | Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar | Industry News | Letters to the Editor | Featured Brokerage
Brought to you by Seahorse magazine, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com
Rush Hour
On the 17th day of the RORC Transatlantic Race five teams completed the 3,000 nautical mile race within a 10 hour period and 11 yachts are still at sea. Monday's finishers included four young German teams and Gerald Bibot's Belgian catamaran Zed 6. Mathias Mueller von Blumencron's Red was the winner of the Class40 Division for the RORC Transatlantic Race.
Red completed the race in an elapsed time of 15 days 17 hours 25 mins 25 secs to take a hard-earned victory from Berthold and Tobias Brinkmann's MarieJo, which was just under nine hours behind. The Class40 lead had changed hands at least three times during the race, but it was Red with a young but very experienced crew that has been together for many years and raced thousands of miles, that took the Class win.
German J/V53 Bank von Bremen finished the race in an elapsed time of 15 days 21 hours 29 mins 57 secs. The offshore training boat is owned by Segelkameradschaft Das Wappen von Bremen and skippered by 29-year old Alexander Beilken with a crew with an average age of 31. The Bremen-based yacht will be taking part in the whole of the Atlantic Anniversary Regatta as friends of the Hamburg-based NRV, celebrating their 150th anniversary, but there is fierce but friendly competition between Bremen-based yachts and those from Hamburg.
German JV52 Haspa Hamburg, owned by another youth sailing initiative, Hamburgischer Verein Seefahrt, finished the race in an elapsed time of 16 days 03 hours 20 mins 50 secs. The crew are nearly all in their 20s and skipper Max Gaertner and nearly the entire crew went for a swim in the marina on arrival. For the last part of the race Haspa Hamburg was locked into a personal duel with Gerald Bibot's Belgian catamaran Zed 6.
Follow the remainder of the fleet still racing:
rorctransatlantic.rorc.org
WIM Series Finale in France
Nine teams from five countries are set to begin racing at the 2017 Women's International Match Racing Series (WIM Series) final event - the International Bedanne's Cup.
After Hurricanes Irma and Marie ripped through the Caribbean in September and left St. Thomas severely damaged, the WIM Series scrambled to find a replacement final event to take the place of the Carlos Aguilar Match Race. The Ligue de Voile de Normandy (LVN) stepped up to help out by organizing the International Bedanne's Cup with very short notice.
The International Bedanne's Cup with a prize pool of 10,000 Euros is organized by the Ligue de Voile de Normandie with the technical support of the Club Nautique de Saint Aubin - Elbeuf (CVSAE) and sailed at the Base de Loisirs de Bedanne in Tourville-la-Riviere, France.
The event will be sailed in CVSAE's fleet of equally matched and colourful Beneteau First Class 7.5 boats.
Skippers in the International Bedanne's Cup, the final event of the 2017 WIM Series, in Tourville-la-Riviere, France, France (name, nationality, team name, world ranking November 15 2017):
Pauline Courtois, FRA, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, 5
Marinella Laaksonen, FIN, L2 Match Racing Team, 6
Linnea Floser, SWE, Peregrine Racing, 13
Sanna Mattsson, SWE, Swedish Women's Match Racing Team, 20
Ekaterina Kochkina, RUS, ProKateam Sailing Team, 28
Margot Vennin, FRA, Team CVSAE, 43
Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA, French Women's Match Racing Sailing Team, 51
Margot Riou, FRA, APCC Women's Sailing Team, 56
Allie Blecher, USA, Team BAAM, unranked
2017 WIM Series Standings after three events (Skipper, team, nationality, WIM Series points):
1. Renee Groeneveld, Dutch Match Racing Team, NED, 61
2. Trine Palludan, Team Kattnakken, DEN, 60
3. Anna Ostling, Team Anna, SWE, 58
4. Pauline Courtois, Match in Pink by Normandy Elite Team, FRA, 52
5. Lucy Macgregor, Team Mac, GBR, 48
6. Caroline Sylvan, New Sweden Match Racing Team, SWE, 42
7. Marinella Laaksonen, L2 Match Racing Team, FIN, 38
8. Alexa Bezel, Swiss Women Match Racing Team, SUI, 21
9. Johanna Bergqvist, Team Bergqvist Match Racing, SWE, 20
10. Mikaela Fors, Pen & Hammer Sailing Team, FIN, 14
11. Linnea Floser, Peregrine Racing, SWE, 14
12. Antonia Degerlund, Team SkOna Vibbisar, FIN, 11
13. Sarah Parker, Team Parker, AUS, 10
14. Clare Costanzo, Team Costanzo, AUS, 8
15. Octavia Owen, Athena Racing, GBR, 7
16. Margot Riou, APCC Women's Sailing Team , FRA, 7
17. Martina Karlemo, Team Karlemo, FIN, 6
18. Eunjin Kim, Team Ladies, KOR, 5
19. Sanna Hager, Stockholm Match Racing Team, SWE, 4
20. Ekaterina Kochkina, Team SailWay, RUS, 3
The International Bedanne's Cup in Tourville-la-Riviere, France, will kick off the round-robin racing on Tuesday the 12th of December, and continue through Saturday the 16th with final races, prize giving and closing ceremony.
Still time to sign up for the Island Water World Grenada Sailing Week 2018
A strong fleet of national and international yachts are bracing themselves for the start of the 6th annual Island Water World Grenada Sailing Week. Running from 29 January - 3 February 2018 this year's sailing week promises to be an exciting event with over 35 participants ready to tackle the challenges of Grenada's stunning south and west coasts.
Competition looks fierce between all the classes, but no more so than in the J24 class, with boats hailing from St Lucia, Barbados and Trinidad, as well as Grenada's very own Robbie Yearwood on the well-campaigned Die Hard. Robbie says "We compete in all the Southern Caribbean J24 regattas every year, and we always look forward to the sailing challenges offered up by the Grenada Sailing Week. The strong shifty winds in the flat waters of Grand Anse make for exciting tactical racing and then for pure exhilaration, the windier south coast with big sea surfing conditions and strong currents. It's our favorite regatta!"
Set on one of the most scenic islands in the Caribbean the regatta not only guarantees plenty of fun, but some serious racing in a variety of conditions. There is still time to sign up: www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=4444
Visit our website: www.grenadasailingweek.com. Sign up for our newsletter online; Email us: info@grenadasailingweek.com; Find us on Facebook: GrenadaSailingWeek, or Twitter @grenadasailweek
SOLAS Big Boat Challenge
When it comes time for the biggest racing yachts in Australia to flex their collective muscle on the world's most beautiful harbour, it's hard to escape the fact that the serious countdown to the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race has begun.
The CYCA's SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, one of Sydney's most spectacular sporting and harbour fixtures, has for 24 consecutive years marked the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart lead-up events.
In 2017, the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge has a new course format on Sydney Harbour, which should result in closer and more intense racing between the competing yachts, whilst providing additional quality spectator areas from shore and water alike.
Wild Oats XI has all but made this event their own in their final hit out before the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, dominating the Line Honour's having been undefeated since 2010.
The last yacht to defeat Wild Oats XI in this event, 2009 Winner Alfa Romeo, returns in 2017 as Peter Harburg's new Black Jack and will be aiming to keep the pressure on Wild Oats XI this close to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.
Joining the supermaxi's in 2017, Wild Oats X and Beau Geste will be hot on their bigger cousins tail and looking for the win on IRC handicap.
Since 2006 the CYCA has dedicated the event to raise awareness and funds for its SOLAS Trusts, which were established following the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race when six lives were lost.
The 2017 SOLAS Big Boat Challenge will start off Point Piper at 12.30pm on Tuesday 12 December and will take the impressive invitational fleet around Sydney Harbour, with the finish off the Sydney Opera House.
* Today is the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge, and there is definitely that Rolex Sydney Hobart feeling in the air. Only four boats today, which is a little down on numbers, but we will continue to see the match up between Wild Oats XI and Black Jack Yachting, who took one line honours race win each on the weekend at the CYCA Trophy Series.
Follow the race live on Facebook with Sailor Girl: www.facebook.com/sailorgirlHQ/
Event site: www.cyca.com.au/racing/solas-big-boat-challenge/
Decision that may shake Annapolis' image as 'sailing capital' coming soon
Newport now has thrown down a gauntlet that threatens Annapolis' sailing capital title. Newport's mayor, Harry Winthrop, has invited the National Sailing Hall of Fame, now in temporary quarters on Annapolis' harbor, to move to Newport and settle into the city-owned Armory building, a handsome, turreted stone structure on the city's beautiful harbor.
The mayor is offering to sell or lease the building to the NSHOF, which has been struggling for 13 years to raise money to build a new Hall of Fame and museum at its postage-stamp-sized site on Annapolis' City Dock. The NSHOF has raised some $4.5 million in cash and pledges, but needs $9.5 million to meet its commitment to the Maryland state government and obtain a long-term lease on the land, which it currently occupies on a $1-a-year interim lease.
Gary Jobson - the renowned sailor, Annapolis resident and president of the NSHOF's 27-member board - admits the organization's leaders are tempted by the Newport offer, although they need more details.
"We in Annapolis claim we are the U.S. sailing capital," he said last week, "but in reality the big yachts and the big donors don't come here. They go to Newport."
Jobson said his board is confronted with three options: continue their fundraising efforts in Annapolis, move to Newport or convert the Hall of Fame into a virtual, online operation. The board members are deeply divided, with some support for each of the options, but Jobson is determined to bring the matter to a head and make a decision at the board's next meeting on Jan. 8. -- Terence Smith
New Era for Canada's Cup
The Canada's Cup, the Great Lakes premier match racing trophy, has been contested 24 times between USA and Canada since the first event in 1896. USA holds the edge, 13 to 11, with teams competing in a wide range of classes over that span.
To celebrate the history, tradition and competitiveness of the Canada's Cup, the Canada's Cup Committee - chaired by Allan Megarry and Past Commodore Jamie Keating, and the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) - has developed a new vision for the event beginning in 2020: a bi-annual event with three cycles to 2024 with all events being hosted at the RCYC.
Yacht clubs from the Great Lakes will be invited to an American and Canadian Defender/Challenger elimination series with one Defender and one Challenger competing for the Canada's Cup in September 2020, 2022 and 2024. The intent is to provide all Great Lakes' yacht Clubs the opportunity to participate in what is considered the premier event in Canadian big boat sailing.
The Canada's Cup Committee has selected the NYYC Melges IC37 as the platform for this vision. Building on the success of the NYYC Invitational Cups from 2009 to 2017, New York Yacht Club (NYYC) initiated the selection of a replacement for the Swan 42 in 2016. Their selection committee settled on the Mills designed IC37, whose Class Association was developed with partner Melges.
www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2017/11/30/new-era-canadas-cup/
Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar
In support of Sail Aid UK
As winter descends on the northern hemisphere (snow in New Orleans!!!) this lovely drink has enough spice and spark from the pepper and vodka to warm the soul. Vitamin C from the grapefruit juice is sufficient "but it's really healthy" cover...
It's called The Dalmatian:
For the Black Pepper Syrup (makes about 1 1/2 cups)
1⁄4 cup crushed black peppercorns
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
For the Cocktail
1 1⁄2 oz. black pepper simple syrup
1 1⁄2 oz. Wight Vodka
3 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
Make the black pepper syrup: Place sugar, water and peppercorns in a small pot and bring to a boil, stirring once or twice. Once sugar is dissolved take off the heat and let cool. Leave the peppercorns in the syrup to lend it a stronger flavor; strain them out when it is spiced to taste. Chill.
Make the cocktail: Combine the simple syrup, vodka, and grapefruit juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for about a minute; strain into an ice-filled glass.
Just a few days left to tell us a tale of YOUR favourite yachtie bar. Nominations close midnight Friday...
scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars
Industry News
Paris boat show: SEAir win 2017 Innovation Awards for foiling RIB
Richard Forest, founder of Lorient-based SEAir was awarded the coveted 2017 Innovation Award at the Nautic Paris Boat Show before a large crowd of journalists and public on Friday evening.
The award was presented to SEAir in recognition of two years of hard work spent finding solutions for both power and sail boats to be able to fly on foils. By enabling the first rigid inflatable boat to foil, SEAir is paving the way for a revolution in the world of motor boating. Both the public and professional recognition has been astounding. Comfort combined with speed and almost perfect gliding sensations are great assets for motor boating.
The Innovation Prize was awarded for the Zodiac Pro @ 550, the first RIB in the world to be equipped with foils.
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NORAUTO is back with Franck Cammas on the GC32 Racing Tour in 2018
Franck Cammas and his team raised the bar for NORAUTO by winning the 2016 season and now Europe's leading car maintenance company shows its commitment to the team once more. The European circuit gave employees across the various dealerships the opportunity to come and enjoy the incredible spectacle of these flying catamaran racing at the highest level.
Franck Cammas is one of the most successful competitors in the world and he knows that to keep sailing against the best is essential. It is with this goal in mind that NORAUTO is right behind him on the GC32 Racing Tour 2018.
The GC32 Racing Tour 2018 once again offers a particularly attractive programme for these boats and the teams involved. After an opening race at the end of May on the majestic Lake Garda, a paradise for foiling boats, the fleet will meet on the crystal-clear waters of Sardinia in June, before pitting against each other for the famous Copa del Rey MAPFRE in Palma de Mallorca at the beginning of August. Two other events, including one in France, will be announced in the coming weeks, with an equally great competition programme and access for fans wishing to watch the racing.
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Beneteau has announced the appointment of Jean-Francois Lair as director of sales Americas. In his role, Lair will be responsible for the Beneteau business in Canada and the Americas. He will be based in Annapolis, Maryland.
Lair has many years' experience within the company and brings knowledge of different cultures and markets. After spending 10 years with Sunsail, he has run export sales for more than a decade at Beneteau.
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Boatbuilding is due to start at Fairline's new Hythe base in 2018
Fairline Yachts' has signed to take on its new facility at Hythe, with boatbuilding due to start in the late summer of 2018.
The five-acre site - formerly Green Marine - will enable Fairline to build larger yachts, which has not been possible at the boatbuilder's existing Oundle, Northamptonshire, base.
"As the global yachting market evolves, clients from across the world are increasingly demanding larger yachts than we've been able to create," explained Fairline Yachts MD Russell Currie. "Our new site, to be named Fairline Marine Park, will boast state-of-the-art facilities, giving us room to expand and create bigger boats, whilst making the most of the existing boat building skills in the location."
It is expected the new facility will initially create up to 200 jobs in the Southampton area.
This base will continue to operate and build boats up to 60ft with testing, commissioning and customer handover taking place at Hythe.
The new facility has large vessel deep water berths and more than 200,000sq ft (18,000sq m) of undercover manufacturing space.
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Global TV sports producer and distributor, Sunset+Vine has been appointed by World Sailing as its host broadcast and distribution partner for the Aarhus 2018 Hempel Sailing World Championships.
Under the terms of the contract, Sunset+Vine will produce and distribute eight days of live Internet coverage of the qualification series [2-8 August] plus four days of live television coverage of each of the 10 Medal Races [9-12 August]. In addition, Sunset+Vine will produce, and internationally distribute, four medal race day highlights programmes to television and digital broadcasters worldwide. Further, Sunset+Vine's Media Partnerships division will create and distribute all news, digital and broadcast coverage from the championships.
The Aarhus 2018 Hempel Sailing World Championships will be the largest world championships in history. It will feature all ten Olympic sailing classes plus Kiteboarding. Some 1500 participants from over 100 nations will compete in 1100 sailboats over two weeks in a bid to win World Championship medals and, for many, to seek qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
www.sailing.org/news/85538.php#.WiYGkiPR_ok
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 Jock Wishart:
Well back to one hull and foils as I predicted back in September but for me just looks like "more of the same", only in one hull, rather than two:-though at least we might have the luxury of Genoa trimmers plying their trade!
I have every sympathy for some of the remarks made recently on the new class which with its present format and thinking does not go far enough in exhibiting the skills inherent in sailing which would give the extra spice and interest for good television and also thoroughly test a crew.
I thought this was why we moved back into monohulls!
As I suggested back in September ban the use of foils flying in the "prestart" and "downwind" and slow the boats down for these periods.That should bring back some proper matchracing, use of spinnakers and display and test crew skills without taking away from boats on foils up wind
Hey Formula 1 can grasp this so why not us, Do we really want to be beating all the time! Might make for a different hull shape though! A bit of lateral thinking needed here.!!!!
Featured Brokerage
1993 Swan 68-004 Explotadot. 1,300,000 Located in Barcelona, Spain.
Swan 68-004 Explotadot was originally launched in 1993 as ‘Solleone’ for the chairman of Nautor’s Swan. She was the first Swan 68 to feature four guest cabins with a galley forward arrangement, allowing greater separation from guests and crew.
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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2993 Swan 70-003 Blue Pearl. 1,500,000 EUR. Located in La Spezia, Italy.
Blue Pearl is the third Swan 70 and was delivered in 2003. Until 2006, the boat was stored ashore and unused while her original owners built a larger Swan yacht. Sold to her current owner in mid 2006, she was set up for a mutli-purpose program of competitive racing and comfortable cruising.
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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1998 Elliot 1850 Schooner - ZINDABAR. 545,000 GBP. Located in Bay of Islands, NZ.
Greg Elliot is a legend in the Southern Hemisphere where his fast, lean and utilitarian yachts are perfect for making fast passages through the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean. They are superb seaboats and there design and execution is simple and robust. ZINDABAR is a good example of his craft and has been substantially updated in this ownership. A big refit in 2009 has been followed by a number of smaller upgrades to ensure that she remains ocean ready.
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/
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