In This Issue
A Light Air Start To The Hague Offshore Sailing Worlds
Italy's Tita/Banti Become First Back-to-Back European Champions in Foiling Nacra 17 Era
Success crowns Solar & Energy Boat Challenge in Monaco
Moth UK Nationals
Bermuda to Hamburg Race: RED Retiring From Race After Hitting An Object (All Crew Safe)
J/80 Worlds: A fifth win for Rayco Tabares and his crew
Noble Allen 2018 International Moth UK Championship
Tour Voile: Lorina Limonade Win on Home Waters
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: Leonardo da Vinci
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 Light Air Start To The Hague Offshore Sailing Worlds
The Hague, Netherlands: The sun continued to shine today at the start of racing in The Hague Offshore Sailing World Championship 2018, with many thousands of beachgoers watching nearly a thousand sailors on their boats in the fleet start the long offshore race portion of the programme. Class A competitors were sent on a 155-mile zig-zag course off the Dutch North Sea coast with a scoring gate planned at 70 miles, while the Class B & C competitors will race a 135-mile long course with a scoring gate set at 60 miles. By having a scoring gate race officials are able to scale two races at once, a clever and efficient way to fulfill the offshore sailing requirement in this championship, since the remainder of the week will feature only windward/leeward courses, with 7 races planned of this type.
Winds for this race have been consistent with the forecast in being a light northerly seasbreeze, light enough to postpone the start from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM as race managers have had to wait to have this breeze become steady enough to set a windward leg before the fleet headed off on their respective courses. With the complex currents and numerous exclusion zones throughout the course areas, navigators will be busy all day and night.
Being the yacht designer of the Italia 9.98, a two-time ORC Class C World Champion design, and a member of the ORC's International Technical Committee meeting here next weekend, Matteo Polli takes a longer analytical look at how the scoring and ratings in both ORC and IRC are affecting results. "Its too early to tell yet any conclusions on how this is working, we are just getting started, so we simply sail as fast and as well as we can. This class will be really tough, so to do well will require focus."
Regardless of the light winds, some teams are thankful they're here at all to compete. Frans Rodenburg's Beneteau First 40 Elke (NED) had problems coming back from the IRC Europeans in Cowes, running aground on a sand bar at enough speed to damage the internal structure of the boat. Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident, but the subframe had to be re-built in the last few weeks, and the boat re-measured having lost 200 kg in weight from her past sailing trim, with a certificate to race issued only days ago.
In the long race at 1800 local time Karl Kwok's Pac 52 Beau Geste (USA) was leading Class A around the track with about 112 miles left to sail, winning in their close match race with Tilmar Hansen's TP 52 Outsider (GER) in hot pursuit.
And in Class B Claes Landmark's Mills-designed Landmark 43 Santa (NOR) has been leading the pack all day, being chased closely by another team from Norway sailing a sistership, Torkjel Valland's White Shadow. At 1800 Santa had 104 miles to go.
And in Class C Gideon Messink's J/112 J/Lance 12 (FRA) was leading the pack with 107 miles to go.
Later tonight as teams cross their respective scoring gates, results for Offshore Race 1 will be posted on the event website at www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/OSW2018#!/results, and if also the long race once it finishes at the same site.
www.offshoresailingworlds.com/news
Italy's Tita/Banti Become First Back-to-Back European Champions in Foiling Nacra 17 Era
With racing starting an hour early to compensate for lost races earlier in the week, sailors hitting the water for the final day of the 2018 49er and Nacra 17 European Championship saw what by now is a rare sight: A consistent 8-11 knot breeze! Race officials across all four courses on Gdansk Bay rushed into action, burning through races and getting scores on the board across all fleets. With so few Gold Fleet races conducted thus far, all three classes would see their championships decided on the final day.
With all three gold fleets getting 3 or 4 races in before noon, the fleets returned to shore in anticipation. They'd soon be notified of their scores, with the top ten teams suiting back up for their final, double-points Medal Race.
Nacra 17 Medal Race 'As Live'
With 2017 European Champs Ruggero Tita and Catarina Banti winning 6 of the 7 Gold Fleet races, the medal race was mostly a formality. Mathematically the Italian pair could still fall out of contention - however unlikely - and indeed Tita and Banti saved their worst race for last. They started late, on port tack, while Rio Silver Medalists Waterhouse/Darmanin (AUS) charged off on foils to the left corner of the race course and a big lead. With barely 5 minutes on each leg of the short Medal Race, Tita/Banti never found the chance to claw back positions, though they didn't need to: Despite a 7th place and 14 points on the board, Tita/Banti became the first repeat European Champions in the foiling Nacra 17.
49er Medal Race 'As Live'
When the gun sounded for the all-important match, the Germans had to hope their competitors made an error - and many of them did. 4th place Steph Roble and Maggie Shea (USA) - both champion match racers - set their sights on 2nd place Sophie Weguelin and Sophie Ainsworth (GBR), sailing them back into the fleet while Jurczok/Lorenz were free to work the strong left side of the beat and streak off into the distance. The Sophies suffered behind the Americans and were unable to break cover, though their 7th place finish - one behind Roble/Shea - was enough to hold onto the final podium position.
49erFX Medal Race 'As Live'
Until the final race, leading Poles Przybytek/Kolodzinski (POL) sailed with amazing consistency. As the only boat in the entire 49er fleet without a double-digit finish going into the final day, they were the clear favorites - until disaster struck. Despite a terrible start and a few ugly tacks, Przybytek/Kolodzinski battled back, making up places as they closed down the first run. In a move of desperation, the Poles tried a little too hard to get inside Germany's Justus Schmidt and Max Boehme, and the Polish boat collided with the Germans, snapping their carbon-fiber bowsprit and earning the Poles a disqualification from the on-water judges. A misjudgement of a few millimeters ended the Polish hopes for the Championship - and sent Przybytek/Kolodzinski back to 6th place!
Spanish skiff stars Diego Botin and Iago Marra finished 3rd at the 2015 Europeans in their home nation of Spain. With 1st and 2nd place held by antipodeans, they found themselves in the strange situation of being "European Champions" without winning a regatta.
Final Results
Nacra 17 Top 5
1. Ruggero Tita, Caterina Banti, ITA, 34
2. Gemma Jones, Jason Saunders, NZL, 47
3. Fernando Echavarri, Tara Pacheco, ESP, 56
4. Lin Cenholt, CP Lubeck, DEN, 64
5. Jason Waterhouse, Lisa Darmanin, AUS, 74
9erFX Top 5
1. Helene Naess, Marie Ronningen, NOR, 59
2. Vicky Jurczok, Anika Lorenz, GER, 81
3. Sophie Weguelin, Sophie Ainsworth, GBR, 81
4. Julia Gross, Hanna Klinga, SWE, 83
5. Stephanie Roble, Margaret Shea, USA, 83
49er Top 5
1. Diego Botín, Iago Marra, ESP, 69
2. Dominik Buksak, Szymon Wirzbicki, POL, 74
3. Dylan Fletcher-Scott, Stuart Bithell, GBR, 75
4. Lukas Przybytek, Pawel Kolodzynski, POL, 82
5. Lucas Rual, Emile Amoros, FRA, 88
Success crowns Solar & Energy Boat Challenge in Monaco
Click on image for photo gallery.
Over a century after the first international powerboat meetings were held in the Principality to test new engine technology and Monaco revives its past with the 5th Solar & Energy Boat Challenge. Held 12-14 July, it was organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco, supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Hydros Foundation and International Powerboating Federation (UIM).
With 200 contestants across 30 teams in 3 classes the event continues to develop with the new Energy Class, where engineering students could choose their clean energy source (bio-fuel, battery, LNG, compressed air, etc.). There to inspire was Simon Bernard, 27, co-founder of Plastic Odyssey, a 25m catamaran powered by plastic waste who presented his project.
In at the start since the first event in 2014, solar power dominated with 23 boats, including 15 Dutch teams. Gerhard van der Schaar on Clafis Victron Energy Solar Boat Team (winner of last 4 editions) retained his title after winning the slalom and Fleet Endurance Race (Solar Class) completing 24 laps in one hour.
The Offshore Class (3 crew including driver) for a 16 nautical-mile race to Ventimiglia in Italy and back was won by British boat Vita Yachts driven by David Gray in 54 minutes 41 seconds. Monegasque Nicolas Milanesio, representing the Energy Class on Monaco & Saint-Tropez, finished 3rd in 2 hours 38 minutes 13 seconds.
Also on the program: Tech Talks every evening live on Open Source for teams to discuss their projects and an International Motorsport & Environment Workshop organised by the UIM to discuss the way forward.
The date is set for the 6th edition: 4-6 July 2019.
Fleet Endurance Race rankings
A Class Challenge Category:
1. Antwerp Maritime Academy - Felix Pruzon - BEL
2. Sunflare Solar Team - Gerlof Werkman - NED
3. HAN Solarboat - Jorrit Lanting - NED
Open Class Category:
1. Clafis Victron Energy Solar Boat Team - Gerhard van der Schaar - NED
2. TU Delft Solar Boat Team - Michiel Giliam - NED
3. Solarboot Team Emden - Tim Schuette - GER
Ranking for Speed Record - Offshore, Solar & Energy Classes
1. Vita Yachts - David Gray - GBR - 48.515 km/h (Offshore Class)
2. Ernesto Riva Innovation - Daniele Riva - ITA - 35.384 km/h (Offshore Class)
3. SolarteamSneek - Kevin van Uem - NED - 26.731 km/h (A Class Challenge)
Ranking for Endurance Race - Monaco-Ventimiglia-Monaco:
1. Vita Yachts - David Gray - GBR - 54 mins 41 secs (Offshore Class)
2. Ernesto Riva Innovation - Daniele Riva - ITA - 1 hour 29 mins 13 secs (Offshore Class)
3. Monaco & Saint-Tropez - Nicolas Milanesio - MON - 2 hours 38 mins 13 secs (Energy Class)
Ranking Slalom Challenge Open Category:
1. Clafis Victron Energy Solar Boat Team - Gerhard van der Schaar - NED - 400pts
2. TU Delft Solar Boat Team - Michiel Giliam - NED - 300pts
3. Solarboot Team Emden - Tim Schuette - GER - 225pts
Ranking Slalom Challenge A Class :
1. Sunflare Solarteam - Gerlof Werkman - NED - 400 Pts
2. ROCvA California - Bart van der Linden - NED - 300 Pts
3. Antwerp Maritime Academy - Felix Pruzon - BEL - 225 Pts
Moth UK Nationals
We thought it would go down to the wire, and that's exactly what happened. The final race decided the title with four sailors still in with a shout of winning the event.
The weather on Saturday was stunning, with early sunshine leading to a good sea breeze. The later high water allowed enough time for four races to be held, leading to the full series of twelve races being completed.
There was drama just before the start when Kyle Stoneham, who has put so much time into organising this event, found a mouse in his wing bar while heading out onto the race course. He of course went back to shore to drop it off on land, but hit the slipway with his centreboard foil, leading to some quick sanding time to get it smooth enough to sail with.
A quick recap of the positions going into the final day; Jason Belben was leading by nine points, but Jim McMillan, Dave Kenefick and Simon Hiscocks were on the charge in the stronger winds.
The man who was closest to Belben going into the final race was Jim McMillan, and his final day charge 1,2,8,3 results giving him enough to win the overall title by four points. Jim was understandably ecstatic to overturn the nine point deficit: "I'm absolutely stoked! This is the first Moth event where I didn't have to count Did Not Starts and Did Not Competes. I came here to have some fun and hopefully finish in the top ten, so to take the win I'm stoked. It's been fantastic for the last two days - perfect Moth sailing conditions with flat water, the sun out and everyone enjoying themselves, non-stop foiling around; it's perfect." -- Mark Jardine
Bermuda to Hamburg Race: RED Retiring From Race After Hitting An Object (All Crew Safe)
Class 40 RED has been on their way for repairs in the Azores, when they hit something in the water.
At 07:07pm UTC, Mathias Müller von Blumencron, Skipper of Class 40 RED, contacted the Race Committee to inform about the incident and report all crew as safe.
Facts as of 08:00pm UTC on July 14, 2018:
- Red hit an object/subject, most likely a whale
- A part of the stern section has been damaged
- The ingress of water could be stopped by sealing the stern compartment
- After an inspection of the damage, the crew decided to continue sailing
- The forecast is showing decreasing breeze and reaching conditions
- The damage will require substantial repairs, which will take a few days in Horta, Azores. RED therefore retires from the race.
AAR Race Officer Stefan Kunstmann comments:
"At present, we believe that both the crew and the boat will be able to handle the situation, however we have increased tracking frequencies to highlight any problems as early as possible. Maritime Rescue Authorities have also been informed about the incident, which will reduce the time for potential support to reach the boat should the need arise."
The Race Committee will monitor the progress closely, and liaise with Rescue Authorities for immediate action should any be necessary.
J/80 Worlds: A fifth win for Rayco Tabares and his crew
The team from the Canaries, "Hotel Princesa Yaiza", helmed by Rayco Tabares, takes victory in the J/80 Worlds, which has been contested in Les Sables d'Olonne on France's Atlantic Coast since Monday. It's the fifth World J/80 Champion title for this top-flight Spanish crew, which built on its victory in the Vendee-region today after kicking off the morning's racing a point down on its direct rival. "Garatu" skippered by Iker Almondoz, which led for a long while, takes second place in the competition, which was brilliantly organised by the SNSablais and the French J/80 Class. The top French team, namely "Armen Habitat" skippered by the Finistère-based sailor Simon Moriceau, made it onto the third step of the podium. "Puente Romano Marbella" helmed by Juan Luis Paez secures fourth place.
The J/80 Worlds 2018 have been an absolute epic in the World Championship history of the series built by the local J Composites yard, thanks to the idyllic sailing conditions enjoyed by the 360 racers, which particularly favoured round the cans racing. Some 14 races were run throughout the week, to the great delight of the numerous spectators and enthusiasts witnessing the close-contact racing. Set a date for 2019 and the next edition of the J/80 Worlds, which will be held in Bilbao.
Final top five:
1 Hotel Pincesa Yaiza, Rayco Tabares, ESP, 65 points
2 Garatu, ESP, Iker Almondoz, ESP 79
3 Armen Habitat, Simon Moriceau, FRA, 86
4 Puente Romano Marbella, Juan Luis Paez, ESP, 98
5 Ibo.es, Javier Chacartegui, ESP, 143
Noble Allen 2018 International Moth UK Championship
We thought it would go down to the wire, and that's exactly what happened. The final race decided the title with four sailors still in with a shout of winning the event.
The weather on Saturday was stunning, with early sunshine leading to a good sea breeze. The later high water allowed enough time for four races to be held, leading to the full series of twelve races being completed.
There was drama just before the start when Kyle Stoneham, who has put so much time into organising this event, found a mouse in his wing bar while heading out onto the race course. He of course went back to shore to drop it off on land, but hit the slipway with his centreboard foil, leading to some quick sanding time to get it smooth enough to sail with.
A quick recap of the positions going into the final day; Jason Belben was leading by nine points, but Jim McMillan, Dave Kenefick and Simon Hiscocks were on the charge in the stronger winds.
The man who was closest to Belben going into the final race was Jim McMillan, and his final day charge 1,2,8,3 results giving him enough to win the overall title by four points. Jim was understandably ecstatic to overturn the nine point deficit: "I'm absolutely stoked! This is the first Moth event where I didn't have to count Did Not Starts and Did Not Competes. I came here to have some fun and hopefully finish in the top ten, so to take the win I'm stoked. It's been fantastic for the last two days - perfect Moth sailing conditions with flat water, the sun out and everyone enjoying themselves, non-stop foiling around; it's perfect." -- Mark Jardine
Overall top five:
1. Jim McMillan, 32 points
2. Jason Belben, 36
3. Simon Hiscocks, 38
4. Dave Kenelick, 38
5. Ross Harvey, 53
Tour Voile: Lorina Limonade Win on Home Waters
On Saturday's capricious coastal race they were overshadowed by title challengers Beijaflore but when the seabreeze finally delivered on South Brittany's beautiful Morbihan Bay it was the local aces on Lorina Limonade-Golfe du Morbihan who read it best and won the Stade Nautique Final on their home waters.
There may have been a long, long wait for the Bay off Baden's Port Blanc to usher in a promised light sea breeze, and the one preliminary qualifying race for either group were an unseemly scrap, but Lorina Limonade-Golfe du Morbihan performed near faultlessly when the pressure was on to take the top Stadium Nautique points bounty.
As the Tour heads for the three final Acts in the Mediterranean, and a requisite travel day Monday, it is Beijaflore - third overall on last year's Tour Voile - which heads to Gruissan, by Narbonne - with the overall lead of just one single, slender point ahead of Lorina Limonade Golfe du Morbihan.
The long period of waiting proved to be in vain for the Oman Sail team #sailingarabia. They were fifth early on in their one hit a very light patch and rolled on to the turning mark. Taking their penalty in the very light conditions meant they failed to finish within the time limit and so were scored DNF. The 25 points #sailingarabia are landed with drops them from third to fifth on the leaderboard.
Overall Rankings
Beijaflore - 429 pts
Lorina Limonade Golfe du Morbihan - 428 pts
Lorina Mojito Golfe du Morbihan - 400 pts
Youth Rankings
Lorina Mojito Golfe du Morbihan - 400 pts
Team Reseau Ixio - 398 pts
Team France Jeune - 379 pts
Amateur Ranking
Dunkerque Voile - 367 pts
Homkia - NIL - Les Sables d'Olonne - 362 pts
Toulon Provence Mediterranee - 288 pts
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The Last Word
Life is pretty simple:
You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works.
You do more of what works. -- Leonardo da Vinci
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