In This Issue
Vive la France!
Morticia (AUS) receives hero's welcome in Antigua
Maserati Multi 70 The Arrival In London Is Scheduled For Friday Morning
Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series starts on 18 March
PSP Logistics Celebrates First Clipper Race Victory In Sanya
European Match Race Tour 2018 Sibenik
Challenging Start for Youth Olympics' Qualifiers as Dakhla's Reliable Breezes Refuse to Build
When the going gets tough, the turf boat gets going
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Dean Barker at the helm for New York Yacht Club in major monohull regattas
Letters to the Editor
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word
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
Vive la France!
French skipper Catherine Pourre, racing Earendil has won the Class40 division for the RORC Caribbean 600, setting a new record for the 600-mile race around 11 Caribbean islands. Philippe Frantz French NM43 Albator has finished the race and is the provisional winner of IRC One.
Catherine Pourre's French Class40 Earendil sets a new Class40 race record in the RORC Caribbean 600 © RORC/Tim Wright/Photoaction.com
Earendil took line honours for the eight-strong Class40 Division in an elapsed time of 2 days 13 hours and 15 seconds, breaking the previous record set by Gonzalo Botin's Spanish Tales II in 2016 by over three hours. Earendil, with a French, Spanish and Italian crew won the Class40 division for this year's race by just under three hours. Louis Burton's BHB was second in class and Arnt Bruhns racing his German Class40 Iskareen was third.
In IRC One, Philippe Frantz's French NM43 Albator is the winner, and whilst four yachts are still racing, none can better Albator's corrected time under IRC. The all-French team finished the race accompanied by a huge range squall as they moored up in Falmouth Harbour.
Morticia (AUS) receives hero's welcome in Antigua
Shaun Carroll's Australian modified Sea Cart 30 Morticia is the smallest yacht to finish the tough 2018 RORC Caribbean 600. The team of four Aussies from North Queensland and New South Wales came a long way to Antigua, with one intention - to finish the race. Last year, gear failure stopped them from competing. Looking at this year's forecast, you would not have given Morticia any chance of getting around the 600 mile course. After detailed scrutineering by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the Morticia team, their safety equipment and their tiny trimaran was deemed to be safe to take part in the race.
After three days and nights at sea, blasting around 11 Caribbean islands, Morticia crossed the finish line to a hero's welcome in Antigua. Morticia had taken everything the weather could throw at them; huge rain squalls, big confused seas and strong trade winds. Living off chocolate bars and biscuits and getting soaking wet with virtually no sleep, it was a tough ordeal.
Morticia's skipper Dale Mitchell spoke about their awe-inspiring achievement:
"We had some pretty heavy conditions for a boat like this, with some gnarly squalls. We just had to back off and take it easy. This race was just about making it to the finish line. We got very wet, very hungry and we haven't had much sleep. It is definitely one of the toughest races we have done. All the boys put in a massive team effort; looking after the boat, trusting what we have done, and what the designers have done for us. This is a fantastic race but you have to come prepared, and expect to have a very good time in Antigua with some good hospitality after a great sail on the ocean. It is one to put in the book."
Tracker: caribbean600.rorc.org/Race-Information/Tracking/
Maserati Multi 70 The Arrival In London Is Scheduled For Friday Morning
Maserati Multi 70 entered the English Channel before dawn. After a very fast night thanks to the wind which veered to the East and allowed the crew to conclude the crossing of the Bay of Biscay on the direct route to the tip of Brittany, at 6.34 UTC ranking, the Italian trimaran was located a few miles north of the island of Ushant. Of the remaining 344 miles to the finish line, 300 are the distance between Ushant and the Strait of Dover: all the Channel to sail upwind with important tidal currents and a very dense maritime traffic. These are the last 300 miles before turning left and start the last part of the route, climbing the estuary and the river Thames up to London.
Giovanni Soldini comments: "Here we have a wind that blows from the east and forces us to go up the Channel tacking upwind with a freezing cold. We expect the wind to increase up to 22/25 knots in the evening. We will pass Calais next night at around 4 in the morning. Navigation is very tough in the Channel, there is a lot of traffic and rules that we have to respect. Everything is all right on board, morale is high".
After almost 35 days of navigation, at the 9.34 UTC rankings, the advantage of Maserati Multi 70 on the record holder is roadmap is 1.564 miles. There are 302 miles left (of the initial 13.000 nm) to the finish line in London. The arrival is currently scheduled for the morning of 23 February.
Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series starts on 18 March
Come and join us at the premier early season event. Easy online entry.
Great racing and prizes including 50 trophies - 100 bottles of champagne - valuable goodies from Helly Hansen and Crewsaver.
The Spring Series is on six Sundays: 18 March to 29 April (excluding Easter).
There are 4 IRC classes + J/109, J/88 in Black group. White Group comprises Sportsboats (J/70 - SB20 - J/80 - Mixed). Other one design classes or extracted results are possible on request.
Crewsaver Spring Championship starts on 21 April
The Spring Championship is on the last two weekends of the Spring Series: Saturdays & Sundays 21-22 + 28-29 April. Up to 14 races over the four days.
Black group has 4 IRC classes + J/109, with the Performance 40 class racing within IRC 1. White Group is for J/70 - SB20 - J/80 Mixed Sportsboats -Quarter Ton Class.
Warsash Sailing Club - The first place to race in 2018.
www.warsashspringseries.org.uk
admin@warsashspringseries.org.uk
Warsash Sailing Club, Shore House, Shore Road, Warsash SO31 9FS. 01489 583575
PSP Logistics Celebrates First Clipper Race Victory In Sanya
PSP Logistics, Skippered by British sailor Matt Mitchell, has marked the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race's first visit to Sanya in China by claiming a maiden win and fourth podium of the 2017-18 edition of the race.
After spending the past 23 days racing 4,300 nautical miles from the Whitsundays in Australia to Sanya, PSP Logistics crossed the finish line off the Sanya Serenity Coast Marina ion Thursday 22 February at 20:41:20 local time (12:41:20 UTC).
PSP Logistics overtook Qingdao for the lead in the final four days of the race. But light winds saw the fleet compress, with all of the teams expected to finish within 24 hours of each other.
This is the first win and fourth podium of the Clipper 2017-18 Race for PSP Logistics. The team was second across the line in the opening race from Liverpool, UK, to Punta del Este, Uruguay, and third in Fremantle and second in the Whitsundays in Australia.
With the Race 7 victory, PSP Logistics picks up twelve points, which will see the team move up in the overall standings although its position will depend on how the remaining teams place.
Race 8, which will see the teams head approximately 1,700 nautical miles to Qingdao starts on 4 March. From there, teams will head across the mighty Pacific Ocean to Seattle, before racing to Panama, New York, Derry-Londonderry, and Liverpool, where the Clipper 2017-18 Race will finish on July 28, 2018.
European Match Race Tour 2018 Sibenik
Current World number 19, the Slovenian Dejan Presen won the first event of this year's European Match Race Tour held in Croatia's Sibenik with an impressive performance while compatriot Jure Jerkovic finished second ahead of local match race star Teo Piasevoli.
The traditional opening event of the European Match Race Tour is organized by the Wave Sailing Centre at Sibenik, nestled in one of Croatia's most beautiful bays which provides a spectacular sailing arena, open to the public to watch the races close from the city's promenade. The Slovenian skipper showed his outstanding performance right from the beginning as there was never doubt on his superiority in the light and medium winds of Dalmatia.
The European Match Race Tour will continue with event #2 from 16. 18 March in Montenegro's Tivat, a perfect opportunity to explore the waters of the Grand Final 2018, before heading to Austria's Lake Neusiedl just 40 km from Vienna in April. -- Helmut Czasny-Bonomo
Final results
1. Dejan Presen, SLO
2. Jure Jerkovic, SLO
3. Teo Piasevoli, CRO
4. Marko Smolic, CRO
5. Emil Kjaer, DEN
6. Igor Cupic, CRO
7. Filip Miroic, CRO
8. Jan Winkler, GER
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 - Swinojuscie, 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
Challenging Start for Youth Olympics' Qualifiers as Dakhla's Reliable Breezes Refuse to Build
Dakhla, Morocco-Young kiteboard riders from Europe and Africa hoping to open their account to claim a spot at the forthcoming Youth Olympic Games (YOG) suffered a day of frustration when the breeze failed to build sufficiently to allow racing. On the first of five days of competition on Morocco's Dakhla lagoon -a favored kiteboarding spot because of its consistently steady winds- the light, shifty breezes toyed with race officials who continually altered the slalom course in the hope it would steady and fill in.
But in the end, the direction was neither consistent enough, nor strong enough to allow racing. The Twin-Tip: Racing (TT:R) format specially developed for the Youth Olympics in Argentina in October restricts racers to inflatable tube kites and traditional twin-tips to encourage participation. Four places for the Games in Buenos Aires are up for grabs at the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) qualification event in Dakhla. The winners of the boys and girls divisions from Europe and Africa will each automatically earn an Olympics spot.
One boutique brand that has pushed the TT:R slalom envelope is Upeksha. Its carbon fibreGawa board has been specially designed for the downwind format, to the delight of some and the dismay of others. Four of the 11-strong Italian team, which is backed by the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV), have opted to deploy the Upeksha board in the hope it will give them an edge.
Italian team coach, Simone Vannucci, has no qualms about his team members seeking any advantage they can. "Upeksha was the only brand to put in some extra effort," said Vannucci. "No one else was asking the question about pushing TT:R. All the youngsters racing here are serious, and once you go up a level you naturally look for any advantage."
Polish team coach, TomekJaniak, sees the appearance of the Upeksha board differently; at odds with the spirit of the TT:R format, if still within the rules. "When I saw the UpekshaGawa my reaction was, it's the 'arms race' again. The idea of the TT:R was to be as close as possible to ordinary kiteboarders to encourage youngsters to participate."
When the going gets tough, the turf boat gets going
The design of Sally O’Keeffe was neatly judged to provide the maximum on-board space Photo by W M Nixon. Click on image to enlarge.
Though it may not look it on a map which emphasises the extensive low water limits, at high water the Loop Head Peninsula in southwest County Clare is almost an island writes W M Nixon.
Only a couple of small roads lead into it from the main road between Kilrush and Kilkee, and once you're into the Loop, you're in a different country, a distinctive place with its own strong sense of identity.
It was here in Querrin that a voluntary group got together some years ago to build a boat to commemorate the small Shannon sailing hookers which were once the Loop Head Peninsula's most important transport link for goods coming down the long estuary from Limerick.
This local community group only had some ancient photos and sketches - and some vague old memories - to go by. But, guided by shipwright Steve Morris of Kilrush, they had naval architect Myles Stapleton of Malahide to bring his considerable talents to the task, and he created a wonderfully characterful 25-footer which looks good from any angle, sails well too, and can carry significant numbers to avail of Seol Sionna's enthusiasm for spreading seagoing awareness. They've fresh plans afoot for 2018, and have sent us this cheerful message:
"Sally O'Keeffe, the traditional wooden sail training vessel based on the Shannon Estuary, is currently gearing up for her seventh season on the ocean, and is putting a shout out to any and all who would wish to sail on her. The 25-foot gaff rigged cutter was built by community group "Seol Sionna" under the guidance and tuition of local professional shipwright Steve Morris from plans drawn up by naval architect Myles Stapleton. Launched in Querrin in 2012 just 200 metres from where she was built, this craft has become one of the busiest and most capable sailing vessels on the Estuary.
WM Nixon's piece in Afloat: afloat.ie/port-news/shannon-estuary
Seahorse March 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
World news
Incredible incredible incredible, Patrice Carpentier welcomes ashore Francois Gabart, a compact challenge in Kiwi, Nico shakes off the rust, that Sydney Hobart howler and getting the Caribbean back to business. Blue Robinson, Dobbs Davis, Ivor Wilkins
Paul Cayard - Inexpensive?
A cheaper America’s Cup... don’t kid yourself
IRC - An end to rule bandits
Convergence should mean just that. James Dadd
Seahorse build table - New for old(er)
The re-emergence of an old friend...
Sailor of the Month
Inspirational is probably the best (only) word
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Dean Barker at the helm for New York Yacht Club in major monohull regattas
Dean Barker has strengthened his links to the New York Yacht Club's America's Cup challenge with confirmation he will be at the helm of their Congressional Cup bid and TP52 Super Series campaigns this year.
Barker will be at the wheel with NYYC challenge executive director of sailing Terry Hutchinson calling tactics alongside him.
The TP52 Super Series, the world's premier monohull racing environment, confirmed Barker's involvement with Quantum Racing, declaring: "Welcome back Deano."
Quantum Racing make up one half of the New York challenge along with the successful Bella Mente monohull team.
They are looking to continue their success in the Super Series as the basis of their lead-in work to their return to the America's Cup scene in the 36th edition set to be sailed in Auckland in 2021.
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 Talbot Wilson Re: Sailing Events in the Olympics
Interesting idea for another set of Olympics...
This would give sailing more exposure.
Maybe stage one in the Northern Hemisphere's Summer and the other in the Southern Hemisphere's Summer of the same year.
Olympic Aquatic Games
Olympic Summer Games
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The Last Word
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