Scuttlebutt Europe #4107

In This Issue
Battles begin to unfold at Marseille World Cup Final
Earendil Captures Leg 1 And 2 In 2018 Atlantic Cup
Harken Introduces Top-Down Furling's More Muscular Big Brother, Reflex Unit 3.
Itchenor Keelboat Points Week Supported by Strutt & Parker
Sails In The Sunset For The Future Of Cork Harbour?
Critical Mass
Industry News
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: Clevecclesians

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

Battles begin to unfold at Marseille World Cup Final
Sailing's World Cup Series came alive on Wednesday as the medal hopefuls battled it out at the front of their respective fleets in a steady breeze and under blue Marseillaise skies.

Day one of the competition saw the competitors keep their cards close to their chest as they looked to lay down some markers. The second day saw the emergence of some medal contenders pushing ahead at the front of their respective fleets.

Racing commenced at 12:00 local time, with a steady 7-11 knot southerly breeze dancing across the four racing areas to test the 212 competitors from 34 nations racing across eight Olympic events.

Racing is scheduled to commence at 12:00 local time on Thursday 7 June. Medal Races on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June will be streamed live on World Sailing's YouTube Channel and will bring the event to a close.

Podium positions after two days of racing

470 Men
1. Balazs Gyapjas / Zsombor Gyapjas, HUN, 7 points
2. Jordi Xammar Hernandez / Nicolas Rodríguez García-Paz, ESP, 8
3. Mathew Belcher / William Ryan, AUS, 14

470 Women
1. Hannah Mills / Eilidh McIntyre, GBR, 7
2. Silvia Mas Depares / Patricia Cantero Reina, ESP, 8
3. Ai Kondo Yoshida / Miho Yoshioka, JPN, 13

Finn
1. Jorge Zarif, BRA, 9
2. Josh Junior, NZL, 9
3. Jonathan Lobert, FRA, 11

Laser
1. Nick Thompson, GBR, 9
2. Lorenzo Brando Chiavarini, GBR, 11
3. Stefano Peschiera, PER, 15

Laser radial
1. Emma Plasschaert, BEL, 8
2. Maria Erdl, HUN, 9
3. Alison Young, GBR, 17

Nacra 17
1. Ruggero Tita / Caterina Marianna Banti, 16
2. John Gimson / Anna Burnet, GBR, 16
3. Ben Saxton / Nicola Boniface, GBR, 17

RS:X Men
1. Pierre Le Coq, FRA, 13
2. Pawel Tarnowski, POL, 19
3. Thomas Goyard, FRA, 20

RS:X Women
1. Lilian De Gues, NED, 16
2. Stefania Elfutina, RUS, 22
3. Hei Man H V Chan, HKG, 22

Full results: sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php

Earendil Captures Leg 1 and 2 In 2018 Atlantic Cup
With a fleet of 11 Class40s competing in the Atlantic Cup, the French team #145 Eärendil skippered by Catherine Pourre and Pietro Luciani, have won both the first and second legs of the 2018 Atlantic Cup.

In the first leg from Charleston to New York, the team crossed the Angola Cables finish line first with an elapsed time of 77h 02m 46s, to complete the 648 nautical mile leg. Catherine and Pietro sailed #145 Eärendil to victory just 1 hour 31 minutes and 27 seconds ahead of #127 Amhas (78h 34m 13s). A full day later it was the turn of the remaining competitors to cross the Angola Cables finish line. The Swedish flagged Class40 #95 skippered by Mikael Ryking and Karl Jungstedt secured a provisional third place in the early hours of Wednesday May 30th. Their Pogo40s2 crossed the finish line at 02h49h12 with an elapsed time of 86h49m12s to complete the 648 nautical mile first offshore leg. #95 Talanta was closely followed by #37 First Light sailed by former Olympic campaigner Fred Strammer and Sam Fitzgerald. The duo competing in their first Class40 race are also the youngest team in the fleet.

In the second leg from New York to Portland, Eärendil once again crossed the finish line first, which puts them on top of the leaderboard heading into the third and final leg a crewed inshore series to be sailed this June 9th and 10th in Casco Bay, Maine.

atlanticcup.org

Harken Introduces Top-Down Furling's More Muscular Big Brother, Reflex Unit 3.
In 2016 Harken introduced Reflex™ furling. It was the first system that fully-realized the potential of top-down furling for free-flying sails—reliably delivering tight, top-to-bottom furls.

"If 'top down' furling was as easy as traditional headsail furling, you'd see them on more boats. It's a real design challenge. For a free-flying sail to furl evenly and completely, when you pull the furling line on deck, that head swivel at the top of the rig, needs to starts turning now! Everything in the Reflex system is designed to achieve "NOW!" - Peter Harken

Key to starting the head swivel 'reflexively' is the unique Reflex cable. It's a flexible driveshaft that a uses stainless mesh cage surrounding a rope core, to transfer torque up the rig without twisting. Our testing shows this cable transfers torque almost twice as well as the next best torsion cable on the market.

Harken first introduced Reflex Units 1 for 1/2-Ton halyard loads and 2 for 2 1/2-Ton halyard loads. Now meet Unit 3. It's all Reflex, all pumped up, with a more powerful drive unit and Dyneema-cored Reflex cable for 4 ½-ton halyard loads for boats 14-18 m (46 - 60 feet). See Reflex in action here.

harken.com

Itchenor Keelboat Points Week Supported by Strutt & Parker
A tradition that goes back many decades, Itchenor Sailing Club's annual Points Week is a celebration of classic keelboat racing at its best. Taking place from 11-15 June, the regatta invites keelboat sailors from Swallow, XOD and Sunbeam fleets to take part in a week of racing around Chichester Harbour.

One of Itchenor's flagship events, Keelboat Points Week is a five-day series of harbour races with longer than usual courses, making the best use of Chichester Harbour at high tide. The Club will also host a number of events through the week to enable participants to meet and mingle with likeminded sailors from other classes. Around 50 classic keelboats took part in last year's event for a week of competitive racing. It was attended by sailors ranging from those in their early 20s to the winner in the Sunbeam fleet aged 85, demonstrating the appeal of this form of racing for all ages. With this year marking the 95th anniversary of the Solent Sunbeam, the Club is anticipating an even larger attendance for this year's event.

Itchenor Sailing Club is known for its first class, one design racing and is home to the largest fleet of Swallows, XODs and Sunbeams in the UK. Itchenor's keelboat sailors have enjoyed national success over the years, including consecutive wins at Cowes for the last seven years.

Leading local property experts and waterside homes specialist, Strutt & Parker, sponsors this year's event

www.itchenorsc.co.uk

Sails In The Sunset For The Future Of Cork Harbour?
In a 24-hour period last week there was an encouraging sailing advance uniting the three Cork Harbour clubs, but also a warning from the highest political level in Government that the planned maritime developments in the harbour, welcomed by the community, coming close to €200m in investment, were being put at risk.

The sharp contrast between 24 yachts turning out for the first inter-club evening league racing in the harbour, providing a beautiful spectacle of white sails in the evening sunshine and community shock that a hazardous, toxic waste incinerator is to be inserted into this panorama could not be more dramatic.

Harbour residents have had to accept decades of industrialisation dominance, but I had felt that a new era of mutual co-operation was arriving. The State put over a €100m into the National Maritime College and marine research, green-energy projects, heritage potential, tourism, Spike Island development as one of Europe's top attractions - €70m. to remediate the environmental toxic horror left behind on Haulbowline Island by Irish Steel ... a new park is talked about there, as well as other maritime developments on the island.

Then came what widespread political and public reaction has described as a "kick in the teeth" to the community.

The location for the incinerator is at the end of a peninsula ... There is only one road access across a bridge onto and from Haulbowline Island, where the Naval Service is based. This road is adjacent to the incinerato ... The Department of Defence warned that the incinerator had potential to affect Naval operations and this was not acceptable ...This it described as a matter of strategic national importance.

When I sought answers, during the planning inquiry, from the Minister for Defence and former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, to whether it was acceptable that national defence policy should be affected in any way by any industry or commercial interest…the answer was that operations would be reviewed in the context of the planning decision.

Tom MacSweeney in Afloat
afloat.ie/blogs/tom-macsweeney

His Podcast

Critical Mass
The growing - fortunate - band of big cat owners are really getting it together. Witness the 'sporty' and successful racing debut this winter in the Caribbean of the first few super cool all-carbon HH66 cats built by Hudson Yacht Group

The entry of Hudson Yacht Group's HH66s into this winter's Caribbean racing circuit illustrates interesting aspects of their design: despite significant differences in interior layout, accommodation, deck plan, rig plan and even sail sizes and inventory, this Morelli & Melvindesigned luxury cat can still deliver both speed and comfort. This is testament to the design's flexibility to accommodate unique features, plus the ability of Hudson Yacht Group to imagine, design and build to the tastes of each owner and meet their vision of luxury highspeed offshore sailing.

One of the premier events in the Caribbean season is the annual Les Voiles de St Barth Regatta, which attracts some of the most luxurious performance monohulls and multihulls to enjoy a nicely balanced week of sailing and sunning: the perfect milieu for the HH66. Winds are typically a mix of fresh 20kt+ trade winds and near-drifting, and seas vary from oceanic breakers to flat as a mill pond. So versatility in performance is important.

Equally important this season was the dedication shown by the three HH66 owners and all other participants at Les Voiles. After the devastating storms that hit the region in September 2017 the rebuilding efforts at St Barths and all the northern islands were very much boosted by the yachtsmen's loyalty - and their business.

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

Industry News
This year marks the 50th edition of TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show and, aside from the usual stunning line up of the world's most beautiful and innovative craft, the event will concentrate on environmental issues.

During the 10 days, there will be plenty plenty to see and experience, including watersports and boating activities such as an indulgent cruise onboard a top-of-the-range luxury motor yacht and an exhilarating sail aboard a 72ft round the world Ocean Race Yacht as part of a 12 strong team; climbing on board some of the world's most stunning boats or simply taking in the Solent views whilst enjoying a drink at one of the many onsite bars.

This year the Southampton Boat Show will be host to leading scientific and wildlife experts highlighting the environmental challenges facing the boating world in 2018. This will include on and off the water attractions from the National Oceanography Centre, the UK's leading centre of excellence for oceanographic studies. Alongside its pledge to cut onsite plastics at the Show, it will showcase the technical innovations set to ensure that the future of the marine industry and the environment remains bright.

Early Bird tickets are now on sale, with two children under the age of 15 going free with each adult. For more information: www.southamptonboatshow.com

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Just one month after Bavaria Yachtbau filed for voluntary administration in a German court, the country's largest serial boatyard today reported that production is running smoothly at its main plant in Giebelstadt and that boat deliveries have resumed.

"More than 30 yachts have left the yard in the past two weeks and have been handed over to customers," says the company in a press release. "All 600 employees are on duty."

With this the shipyard is setting an important signal of confidence to the dealerships and customers who have ordered a boat and are awaiting delivery.

Regarding the commonly feared withdrawal of suppliers, external press agency Schellenberg & Kirchberg PR has given a 'thumbs-up', at least for the three-month interim phase. "Agreements were set with all major suppliers on further deliveries with short payment terms."

The next step now is to find a new investor for the company, which was sold by the founders in 2007 to a group of investors for an estimated €1.2bn shortly before the start of the economic crisis. According to press spokesman Cord Schellenberg, the objective for Bavaria Yachtbau is to be able to present an investor in July 2018.

plus.ibinews.com

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The former chief financial officer of Brooklin Boat Yard - located in Brooklin, Maine - will serve seven years and seven months in a US federal prison for pilfering US$815,000 from the 58-year-old full-service yard specialising in wooden boat design, construction, repair and maintenance.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Steven Nygren was also sentenced to five years of supervised release with an order to pay more than full restitution.

At sentencing, US District Judge John Woodstock admonished the defendant, saying: "If Brooklin Boat Yard went down, the community would just about die."

Nygren pleaded guilty in June of last year to charges of bank fraud, credit card fraud and tax evasion after stealing from the company's half-million dollar line of credit with Camden National Bank. He spent about half the money on a lease-to-own agreement for an historic local business.

The embezzlement occurred in 2014 and 2015. Nygren was arrested in September of 2015.

plus.ibinews.com

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UK-based yacht transporter Peters & May has formed a partnership with Europe's leading yacht insurance broker, Pantaenius, to strengthen its global service offerings for yacht owners, brokers and yacht management companies worldwide.

The new partnership focuses on the provision of bespoke solutions, both in terms of yacht transportation and the associated insurance packages often required.

David Holley, CEO at Peters & May, says: "It's with great excitement that we announce our recent collaboration with Pantaenius as our 'Marine Insurance Broker of Choice'. Our customers can now not only benefit from bespoke logistics solutions, but also from competitive, tailored insurance cover to meet their transportation needs."

Peters & May ships over 4,000 yachts annually. The company has 12 strategically placed offices worldwide covering Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia, and boasts around 45 years' experience in commercial, racing, superyacht and leisure boat transportation.

The Pantaenius Group has been providing risk management solutions since 1899. The family-run company is one of Europe's leading yacht insurance specialists with additional offices in the US and Australia.

plus.ibinews.com

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Cowes Week Ltd, organiser of the prestigious sailing regatta and highlight of the British Sporting Summer, is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership as Land Rover UK joins the event as Official Vehicle Sponsor for 2018.

Land Rover UK will celebrate its partnership with Lendy Cowes Week 2018 with a series of coaching sessions with Sarah Ayton, double Olympic Sailing Gold Medallist, to bring on-the-water sailing experiences to youngsters to inspire the next generation of sailors. Land Rover UK will also provide opportunities for visitors to experience the off-road capabilities of its latest vehicles at the Land Rover Experience, situated in Cowes Yacht Haven.

Lendy Cowes Week 2018 takes place from the 4-11 August.

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A team of researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and the Senseable City Lab in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, in collaboration with Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, have developed and tested prototypes of driverless boats which can be rapidly produced using low-cost 3D printing.

The boat's rectangular shape, as opposed to the traditional kayak or catamaran shapes, allows the vessel to move sideways and attach itself to other boats when assembling temporary structures. The key there is placement of the thrusters. Rather than a traditional design with thruster at each of the boat's four corners, four thrusters are placed in the middle of each side of the boat, making them more agile and efficient, researchers report.

The next steps in the process include multi-boat coordination, urban navigation and developing adaptive controls to allow for changing mass and drag of the boats when transporting goods and people.

"Twenty percent of the Netherlands is water, and robots can be an efficient mode of transportation and logistics," says Javier Alonso-Mora of the Cognitive Robotics Department at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, who was not involved in the research.

"Having swarms of robots in the canals of Amsterdam is a great idea." **

plus.ibinews.com

** Editor: watch for that phrase in the 2019 Scuttlebutt Europe April Fools Issue. They really said that.

Featured Brokerage
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