In This Issue
A Perfect Start
$161,000 Regatta Watch
Introducing Harken Power3 Ratchet Blocks
2018 Onion Patch Notice of Series Posted
Cowes Classics Week 2018 opens for entries
2019 Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race
Saint Lucia Welcomes the Return of World ARC Circumnavigators
Industry News
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: John Perry Barlow
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
A Perfect Start
The ninth edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Barth Richard Mille started with a splash today, welcoming 53 teams in the regatta's seven classes.
The entire fleet enjoyed the first day's racing in perfect easterly trade winds between 15 - 20 knots and big swell on the coastal courses - between 28 and 29 nautical miles - with a start and finish right outside of Gustavia port.
For the much-anticipated Maxi 1 Class, George Sakellaris' Maxi 72 Proteus struck first, and is off to defend his overall win at last year's event. However, if today's racing is any indication, that will not be an easy task as Proteus and Sorcha, the TP52 skippered by Peter Harrison, Richard Mille's CEO (of Europe, Middle East and Africa), match raced their way around the course.
Two Maxi entries were last-minute scratches. Yves Montanari's La Bete broke their bowsprit on the delivery from Antigua, and Althane (Maxi 2) withdrew because of transom damage when it struck the dock when returning from sailing over the weekend.
CSA 1
Puerto Rico's Lazy Dog, a Melges 32 skippered by Sergio Sagramoso, a frequent Les Voiles class winner, returned to their place on top of the leaderboard over first time participant Albator, the NMD43 skippered by Philippe Frantz.
Currently suffering at the hand of ratings is TP52 Conviction skippered by Steve Travis, relegated to seventh at the end of today.
Multihulls
The 2018 edition boasts a record number of entries for the Multihull Class, and today's conditions perfectly suited them. Just like in CSA 1, the ratings game created some surprises.
In CSA Multihull, the Multi50 French Tech Caraibos led by Gilles Lamire (winner of The Transat Bakerly 2016) finished well ahead in real time but after correction sits in fifth place.
In first place is Christian Guyader, the skipper of Guyader Gastronomie, who will race the boat in November on the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe. "We had a very bad start, probably one of the worst we've ever had," he said. "Up close, we suffered a little, but we clung to our goal to finish in real time with the big boats. It was great; especially as we made a few speed spikes at more than 20 knots."
Racing begins at 10 am tomorrow, with similar conditions as today expected.
$161,000 Regatta Watch
In the lovely Caribbean Sea off the island of St. Barth, the ninth annual edition of the Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille sailing competition is now underway, and to mark the start, Swiss watch brand Richard Mille releases one of the most expensive (non-gemstone-adorned) regatta watches to date: the RM 60-01 Les Voiles de St. Barth 2018 Limited edition Automatic Flyback Chronograph Regatta.
The bright yellow watch is being built in a limited edition of just 50 pieces -- dedicated to the races. Housing the RMAC2 automatic caliber, which is crafted in grade 5 titanium, the 50mm watch is a powerhouse. It offers flyback chronograph functions for timing multiple events, annual calendar with oversize date, running seconds and coordinated universal time (UTC) function. However, like all Richard Mille watches, there is so much more packed into this wrist device.
The bi-directional rotating outer bezel, along with the inner rings and dial, offers everything from indication of the four cardinal points and a graduated degree- and 24-hour scale. These functions enable the wearer to make some navigational calculations and determine current location. For a detailed look at how the watch works and for more of its technical features, visit http://ATimelyPerspective.com. -- Roberta Naas in Forbes.com
Introducing Harken Power3™ Ratchet Blocks
3 sheave options to synch your rigging and sailing style with the day's weather conditions
Is it blowing dogs off chains out there? Is it moderate with big puffs? Or is it light and variable? Harken's new Power3™ sheaves provide three ratchet block geometries and holding power options to optimize performance all across the wind range.
Harken ratchets with standard black sheaves offer 10:1 holding power (hold 10 units of load with 1 unit of effort) and remain the best all-purpose blend of holding power and responsive easing. The new titanium-colored sheaves offer 15:1 holding power. And the new silver sheaves provide massive 20:1 holding power. More ratchet choices allow sailors to fine-tune their set ups in tandem with the level of purchase to give themselves the ideal level of power, responsiveness, and grip.
You can get the sheaves in switchable, shackled Ratchamatic and T2™ soft-attach Ratchamatic® blocks. Power3 ratchets are sold individually. But if you're already sailing with the black sheave, switchable ratchet option on your boat, a two-pack of 15:1 and 20:1 holding power switchable ratchets is available so you can be ready for anything.
2018 Onion Patch Notice of Series Posted
Two regattas connected by the 635-mile Bermuda Race will once again spotlight the best boats and teams across inshore and offshore disciplines.
The official notice has been posted with the rules and conditions for the 2018 Onion Patch Series and the Onion Patch Navigators Series. These two series for individual boats and teams run in parallel for boats entered in the 164th New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta, the Newport Bermuda Race, and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Anniversary Regatta, commencing June 9th and ending June 22nd.
Onion Patch Series competitors are drawn from among boats that sail in an IRC class at the Annual Regatta and also compete within the St. David's Lighthouse or Gibbs Hill Lighthouse divisions in the Newport Bermuda Race.
Onion Patch Navigator series competitors are drawn from among boats that sail in the Navigators Division at the Annual and Anniversary regattas, and from either the St. David's Lighthouse or Finisterre divisions of the Newport Bermuda Race.
All entries will contend for individual boat honors, which include the Henry B. du Pont Trophy (Onion Patch Series) and Richard Kempe Memorial Trophy (Onion Patch Navigators Series). In each series, any three boats from the same country, yacht club or other sailing organization may also join together to be scored as a team and compete for team honors.
See the Onion Patch registration page for race documents and entry information.
Cowes Classics Week 2018 opens for entries
Preparation for the 11th Cowes Classics Week is officially underway. With the launch this week of the new 2018 website, competitors can now find information and enter the event. Racing takes place from 23rd to 27th July.
Cowes Classics Week has grown strongly since its inaugural regatta and has in recent years been welcoming just shy of 200 yachts, all of whom meet the qualification of being built to designs drawn up before 1978 or in the spirit of tradition.
For the classes, which include classic cruisers, XODs, Darings, Dragons, Solent Sunbeams, Swallows, metre yachts, Old Gaffers and other classic keelboat designs, the week will once again provide thrilling Solent race courses and evening entertainment.
The afternoon teas, sponsored by Winkworth, for which the organising club, the Royal London Yacht Club is famous, will be available once again. The Royal Victoria YC, Cowes Corinthian YC and the Island Sailing Club are all opening their doors for social events while the RORC and the Royal Thames YC are helping on the water.
For the first time competitors will also be able to exclusively visit the Classic Boat Museum at its new West Cowes location for a post-racing reception and supper. While there they can inspect some of the most iconic boats ever produced.
Regatta Chairman, David Gower, comments "Competitors tell us that they particularly enjoy the first class race organisation and social events based at the Cowes yacht clubs. We are very much looking forward to welcoming both new and returning competitors for a week of Corinthian racing at the spiritual home of British yachting."
www.cowesclassicsweek.org for the Notice of Race, planned events and entry form.
Cowes Classics Week will be held on 23 - 27 July 2018.
2019 Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race
The Montego Bay Yacht Club is pleased to release 2019 Notice of Race and announce that registration is now open. The race will start in Miami on January 27, 2019. The Notice of Race is now available and registration is open and can be made via Yacht Scoring.
The Pineapple Cup is once again open to multihulls and monohulls over 30 feet and will be scored under IRC and PHRF. In order to increase the overall enjoyment and reward of competing in this classic tropical ocean race, we have made several enhancements for the 2019 edition.
The biggest change is the introduction of a staggered start. The majority of the fleet will depart Miami on Sunday the 27th of January. This start will be followed by the fastest boats on Monday the 28th of January. This will allow for a concentration of finishers that will allow all to be able to enjoy the renowned welcome festivities at the Montego Bay Yacht Club.
The Pineapple Cup will also be included in the SORC Islands in the Streams Series. Boats entered in Pineapple Cup will be able to use their Pineapple Cup score towards the overall SORC Islands in the Streams Series score. The series includes five races and provides an overall season championship for the Florida winter sailing season. Information on the series can be found at: www.sorcsailing.org
Saint Lucia Welcomes the Return of World ARC Circumnavigators
Saturday, 7th April saw the conclusion of World ARC 2017-18 back where it all began in Saint Lucia with jubilant crews celebrating the achievement of sailing around the world. The day was bitter-sweet for the rally crews who have become 'like family', sailing in company to beautiful, fascinating and welcoming places as part of the ultimate 'bucket-list' experience. With memories to last a lifetime, this diverse group of circumnavigators are right to be proud of sailing the world's oceans and completing the dream together.
The Parade of Sail and a special end of rally dinner provided a fitting finish to the adventure. excitement swept through the docks of Capella Marina in Marigot Bay as each crew prepared for the ceremonial last leg to cross the line in Rodney Bay. It would be a special moment for all fourteen yachts to complete a circumnavigation from Saint Lucia to Saint Lucia, eleven of whom had started in January 2017, whilst three had left a year earlier and took a break on reaching Australia before re-joining.
The final dinner of World ARC 2017-18 was held at the Royal by Rex Hotel in Rodney Bay, where the participants were greeted with steel pan music and rum punch, before sitting down for a delicious dinner, interspersed with welcome speeches from Dominic Fedee, Minister of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, and Andrew Bishop, Managing Director of World Cruising Club. The grand finale was an entertaining recount of happenings over the past six months of the second half of the rally, and a short story about each boat before they came forward to receive their World ARC plaque, certificates for circumnavigators, and an evocative commemorative photo book full of memories from their adventure.
"The end of the rally is a happy and sad moment," said Ken Swan from Hylas 51 Aurora. He sailed the full circumnavigation with wife eileen over the course of 16 months, joined by friends and family along the way. "We will be sad to see folks go their separate ways, but happy of the achievement of the circumnavigation. It's been a dream since I have been 12, and now it's checked off my bucket list!"
Industry News
Sailors in the UK are enjoying spring racing and looking forward to the summer season, including the varied selection of International Rating Certificate (IRC) Championships which will again be supported by hardware experts Spinlock, now in their 6th season as sponsor of IRC.
As well as enjoying the great racing and social programmes, competitors will be competing for IRC Champion status and the exciting Spinlock special prize package. James Hall, Spinlock Sales and Marketing Manager, is enthusiastic about the IRC Championships:
Regional IRC Championships are held all around the British coast from Scotland to the Channel Islands, as well as a specific event for Double Handed crews, providing a large variety of venues, racing conditions and social events to be enjoyed both on and off the water. Some events will incorporate other classes racing in IRC, for instance the HP30 class will hold its National Championship at Poole Regatta; Scottish Series is a major event in the RC35 annual class championship, and along with the Welsh National IRC Championship is also part of the Celtic Cup incorporating events in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The 2018 GBR IRC Championships programme is as follows:
- Solent - 4 events (May-Sept)
- Scottish - Scottish Series (May)
- Southern - Poole Regatta (May)
- Sussex - Sussex Regatta (June)
- South West - Falmouth Race Week (June)
- east Coast - Ramsgate Week (July)
- Welsh National - Cardigan Bay (August)
- Double Handed - Cowes (September)
- Channel Islands - Jersey (September)
- Autumn - Hamble (October)
- Inland - Windermere (November-March)
Cowes-based Spinlock is an independent company widely acknowledged as the world expert in ropeholding. The innovative company also designs and manufactures personal protection equipment such as harnesses and the award winning Deckvest Lifejacket. All Spinlock IRC members worldwide, holding a current IRC certificate, benefit from a 25% discount off all Spinlock products.
Full details of the GBR Championships are on www.rorcrating.com/irc-rating-gbr/irc-regional-champs
----------------------------------------------
Chicago Yacht Club is pleased to announce that Wintrust has signed a five-year extension to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Club's Annual Race to Mackinac, and the Club's Chicago Regatta that raises funds to benefit children in Chicagoland. The extension runs through 2023.
The Race to Mackinac brings together over 300 boats and 3,000 sailors from around the world to compete in the 333-mile Race to Mackinac, now in its 110th year. This year's Race will have starts on Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21. Wintrust has been the Presenting Sponsor over the past four years and plays a key role in many of the Race's major events including the kick-off Warning Gun Party in Chicago and the Sailor's Celebration on Mackinac Island.
Wintrust also became the Presenting Sponsor of the Club's Chicago Regatta this past year. This event will take place on September 8th and raise funds for Comer's Children's Hospital, SOS Children's Villages Illinois, and the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation program to expand sailing opportunities for children throughout Chicago communities. The five-year sponsorship extension includes the Chicago Regatta plus two other Cruises hosted annually by the Club and co-sponsored by Wintrust over the past four years, that benefit nearly 200 persons in the Chicagoland area with special needs and visual impairment.
----------------------------------------------
Beneteau is pleased to announce the appointment of Luc Jossel, who has joined the Sailing Yacht Product Marketing department.
Luc Jossel joined the Gianguido Girotti team, on 26 March, as Performance Sailing Yacht Product Manager. Luc Jossel is 45 years old and has 20 years of experience in the nautical industry. Before joining Beneteau, Luc was a pillar of North Sails, in Vannes. In just 15 years, this sailmaker became a centre of excellence in the production of racing sails.
Before this, he started his career with the gear suppliers Spinlock, in England. In the year 2000, he joined North Sails and soon became the sails advisor for the Tour de France a la Voile and the Figaro Beneteau 2 class. He worked alongside champions such as Armel Le Cleac'h, Gildas Morvan and Nicolas Troussel and was instrumental in their success in these races. Then, more recently, he improved his skills in communication, as a european Marketing Manager for two years.
Featured Brokerage
1970 Nicholson 55 Custom - EAGER. 450000 GBP. Located in Lymington, UK.
#1 of this extraordinary class, she was built as LUTINE. The Nicholson 55 epitomises the best of British yacht building in the 1970s and these yachts are still having extraordinary sailing adventures today. Between 2008 and 2010, EAGER was totally rebuilt at Rutherfords in the USA, little of the original yacht remains. New interior, deck, carbon spar which is higher aspect than the original, new machinery, wiring, systems and electronics. Since this rebuild, the investment has continued and she is now offered in gleaming good shape with a current survey with recommendations completed by Berthon. Every so often, we are trusted with the sale of a very special yacht - EAGER is one such yacht.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk
-----------------------------------------
2006 Spirit 54 - 007 Yacht - SOUFRIERE. 630000 EUR. Located in Howth, Ireland.
Spectacular looking Spirit 54. Epic regatta yacht and also famous as the `Bond Boat' in Casino Royale. Gleams.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
ben.cooper@berthon.co.uk
-----------------------------------------
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)
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds. -- John Perry Barlow
Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html