In This Issue
Public voting opens for 2018 Rolex World Sailor of the Year
Eight-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Tom Slingsby to lead Australia SailGP Team
Future Fibres Official Partners to the Yacht Racing Forum
International IRC Congress meets in Ireland
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede first into the Pacific
Harken Exhibits at Hamburg International Boat Show - Oct. 17-21
Melges 24 European Sailing Series
Marie-Francoise XIX clinches 5.5 Metre season finale on Lake Thun
50th Barcolana
China Coast Regatta
Open Letter to World Sailing By Greenpeace
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: Marcus Aurelius
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 [AT] scuttlebutteurope [DOT] com
Public voting opens for 2018 Rolex World Sailor of the Year
World Sailing, the world governing body of the sport, and Rolex, the leading name in prestige watches that includes watches engineered specifically for sailing, are now inviting the public to vote for one male and one female who they think should receive the 2018 Rolex World Sailor of the Year title.
Public voting is open now through to 12:00 UTC on Monday 29 October, one day before the announcement at the World Sailing Awards in Sarasota, Florida, USA.
The 11 nominated sailors personify excellence and represent the best of the best in international sailing over the last 12 months with kiteboarders, offshore racers and Olympic class specialists all shortlisted.
The names vying for the coveted and prestigious 2018 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards are:
Female
Caterina Banti (ITA) - 2018 Nacra 17 World Champion
Carolijn Brouwer (NED) / Marie Riou (FRA) - Volvo Ocean Race winners
Daniela Moroz (USA) - 2018 Formula Kiteboarding World Champion
Wendy Tuck (AUS) - Clipper Round the World Race winning skipper
Male
Charles Caudrelier (FRA) - Volvo Ocean Race winning skipper
Sime and Mihovil Fantela (CRO) - 2018 49er World Champions
Pavlos Kontides (CYP) - 2018 Laser World Champion
Dorian van Rijsselberghe (NED) - 2018 Men's RS:X World Champion
Ruggero Tita (ITA) - 2018 Nacra 17 World Champion
Eight-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Tom Slingsby to lead Australia SailGP Team
Tom Slingsby - Olympic gold medalist, America's Cup winner, eight-time world champion and member of the Order of Australia - was today tabbed to lead the Australia SailGP Team in the global racing league's inaugural season. The full team was unveiled this morning on Sydney Harbour, which last week was announced as the first ever race venue (February 15-16, 2019) for the new racing league.
The Australian team features some of the nation's most decorated sailors, including Olympians, Sydney to Hobart alumni and Australia's most successful Ironman Ky Hurst. SailGP will give Slingsby and the Australian crew the first chance to represent their country in boats of this caliber. The identical wingsailed F50s are the fastest catamarans in the world, capable of reaching speeds exceeding 50 knots (60mph/100kph).
The five members of the Australia SailGP Team are: Slingsby, 34, of Sydney (helmsman); Kyle Langford, 29, of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales (wing trimmer); Jason Waterhouse, 26, of Sydney (flight controller); Hurst, 37, of Gold Coast, Queensland (grinder); and Sam Newton, 32, of Sydney (grinder). In addition, Kinley Fowler, 30, of Perth, Western Australia, will serve as the reserve.
Spearheaded by Larry Ellison and Coutts, SailGP has set out to redefine sailing and will bring intensely competitive, inshore racing to fans in Sydney; San Francisco; New York; Cowes, U.K.; and Marseille, France, as world-class crews compete for the championship trophy and a US$1 million prize. Australia will take on teams from China, France, Great Britain, Japan and the United States.
The SailGP event in Sydney will take place in Sydney Harbour, east of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Shark Island will provide striking spectator viewing, with the event hub at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in the city's north shore. The Friday and Saturday racing will feature vantage points from a variety of locations, both onshore and on the water.
The Australia SailGP Team also announced its founding charity partner the Loyal Foundation, which raises money to fund children's medical equipment for hundreds of hospitals across Australia.
Future Fibres Official Partners to the Yacht Racing Forum
Future Fibres is pleased to announce that it will be exhibiting at the Yacht Racing Forum next week as Official Partners to the event. The Forum is the leading annual conference for the business of sailing and yacht racing, taking place in Lorient on 22-23 October.
Future Fibres is committed to continued innovation, with a determination to progress the sport of sailing. The Yacht Racing Forum is the perfect platform to connect with the greatest minds and athletes in the industry, who all have this same ambition.
At the conference Jonathan Duval, Future Fibres R&D Manager, will be presenting our latest innovations in composite rigging. You can hear his talk at the Design and Technology Symposium on Monday 22nd. At our stand you can also find our salesmen Miles Amin and Erik Bernstrom as well as Head of the Design Team, Nick Christensen.
We look forward to seeing you there!
International IRC Congress meets in Ireland
Representatives of the International Rating Certificate (IRC) met in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, for two days of debate and discussion at the beginning of October. The IRC Technical Committee agreed on a number of developments for 2019 as a result of research throughout the year, while the IRC Policy Steering Group reinforced the good relations between the owners of the Rule, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and l'Union Nationale pour la Course au Large (UNCL).
The annual Congress meeting always proves a good opportunity for delegates to share experiences and ideas between different countries and sailing cultures, and this year was no exception with representatives of IRC from around the world. The 34 Congress delegates came from Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, South East Asia, Turkey and the USA; and from organisations including RORC, UNCL, the Royal Yachting Association, the Irish Sailing Association, the Maxi Yacht Association and the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA).
Reports were received from the international IRC Owners' Associations and Rule Authorities, and from the organisers, competitors and technical committee of the 2018 Hague Offshore Sailing World Championship. In addition delegates enjoyed an excellent presentation by the Irish Sea Offshore Sailing Association describing their history, activities and promotion. The IRC European Championship was confirmed as San Remo, Italy, 23-29 June 2019.
IRC rule changes were approved for improved rig dimension definitions, clarifying the number of spinnakers allowed and several housekeeping items. Software developments agreed by the Technical Committee for IRC 2019 include the treatment of draft, boats over 30.50m in length, cruisers and classics with relatively low sail area, and the rating of the number of spinnakers. Many of these changes will benefit cruiser designs and classic boats which form an important part of the IRC club fleet.
The 2018 Congress was the final meeting with Peter Wykeham-Martin in the Chair and he was thanked for his dedicated support and excellent leadership. The incoming Chairman of IRC Congress is Irishman Michael Boyd, past Commodore of RORC and an active IRC racer. In addition, Vice Commodore Alp Doguoglu, who has represented IRC at World Sailing, stood down as Vice Chairman and is replaced by Carl Sabbe from Belgium.
www.ircrating.org/committees/congress
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede first into the Pacific
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede continues to extend his lead over the 7 remaining Golden Globe Race yachts now stretched across 4,800 miles of the Southern Ocean. This last weekend saw the 73 year old Frenchman follow in the wake of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's yacht Suhaili 50 years ago by cutting inside Stewart Island on the southern tip of New Zealand to navigate through the treacherous Fouveaux Straight at night.
The short cut has gained him a further day advantage over second placed Dutchman Mark Slats (Rustler 36 Ophen Maverick) who is now some 2,000 miles astern, and not expected to reach the BoatShed.com Hobart film gate before Monday 22nd of October
At 16:00 UTC today, Dutch skipper Mark Slats alerted Race HQ that his yacht had just suffered two knock-downs in quick succession and that he had been hit by a toolbox flying across the cabin which may have resulted in him sustaining a cracked rib.
The tough Dutchman was not too concerned about the injury, but more about the sudden change in conditions. He reported that the winds had suddenly picked up to 30-35knots and that a 3 metre southerly swell was hitting Ophen Maverick on the beam. Race HQ is monitoring the situation and will make a safety call to Slats tomorrow.
News from India is that Abhilash Tomy, who underwent major back surgery last Thursday following his rescue in the Southern Ocean, is expected to make a full recovery.
Gregor McGuckin who was dismasted in the same storm also made the news on his return to Ireland today. Recalling his ordeal aboard his yacht Hanley Energy Endurance which suffered three knock-downs in quick succession, he admitted: We were in the worst possible place to be in at the worst possible time" The seas were huge - 15 metres high and the biggest problem I had was keeping the boat facing downwind and not slewing round to be beam-on."
Third placed Estonian Uku Randmaa (Rustler 36 One and All) also caught a good measure of fresh water yesterday but expressed concern that Britain's Susie Goodall sailing her Rustler 36 DHL Starlight has been making up ground on his position. Uku is expected to reach the BoatShed.com Hobart film drop some time between 27-28th October with Goodall a couple of days behind.
Latest positions at 12:00 UTC today 15.10.18
1. Jean- Luc VDH (FRA) Rustler 36 Matmut, 10930 nm to finish
2. Mark Slats (NED) Rustler 36 Ohpen Maverick, 2774 nm to leader
3. Uku Randmaa (EST) Rustler 36 One and All, 3416
4. Susie Goodall GBR) Rustler 36 DHL Starlight, 3710
5. Tapio Lehtinen (FIN) Gaia 36 Asteria, 4100
6. Istvan Kopar (USA)Tradewind 35 Puffin, 4107
7. Mark Sinclair (Aus) Lello 34 Coconut, 6025
8. Igor Zaretskiy (RUS) Endurance 35 Esmeralda, 6130
Chichester Class
1. Loic Lepage (FRA) Nicholson 32 Laaland
Harken Exhibits at Hamburg International Boat Show - Oct. 17-21
Come see what's new from Harken at the booth of distributor Peter Frisch GmbH, located in Hall B5, Stand 701. Nearly the entire Harken line of products will be on display, including the new popularly priced forged-aluminum Element™ blocks, battcar systems that let you raise, lower and reef sails with ease, furlers that allow racers and cruisers to furl and reef headsails safely from the cockpit, and Harken's line of manual, electric and hydraulic winches. The friendly, knowledgeable staff will be happy to answer all of your technical questions and show you around.
Melges 24 European Sailing Series
Luino, Italy: 2018 Melges 24 European Sailing Series comes to its end in Luino Italy with the XV edition of Lino Favini Cup. After six events held in Punta Ala, Portoroz, Torbole, Riva del Garda, Domaso and Luino the overwhelming winner both in overall and Corinthian division is reigning Melges 24 European Champion TAKI 4 while the winner of the final event in Luino is Flavio Favini and his fellow sailors from well awarded BLUE MOON sailing on MAIDOLLIS.
82 teams from 21 nations, including 61 Corinthian teams were participating at six events held throughout the season. The total of 44 single races was sailed and for the scoring 7 discards came into play.
This season six teams were taking part of all six events of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series. Not missing any of the 44 sailed single races, reigning Melges 24 Corinthian European champion, Marco Zammarchi's TAKI 4 ITA778 with Niccolo Bertola in helm and Giacomo Fossati calling the tactics, Giovanni Bannetta, Pietro Seghezza, Gianluca Derubeis and Lorenzo Piccioni aboard through the season, is the overall winner of the 2018 Melges 24 European Sailing Series, replicating also their success of the last year in the Corinthian division.
Overall top 3 of the 2018 Melges 24 European Sailing Series:
1. TAKI 4 ITA778 - club YCI - 187 pts
Niccolo Bertola, Giacomo Fossati, Giovanni Bannetta, Pietro Seghezza, Gianluca Derubeis, Marco Zammarchi, Lorenzo Piccioni
2. MAIDOLLIS ITA854 - YC Cortina / AVAV - 216 pts
Carlo Fracassoli, Flavio Favini, Enrico Fonda, Gianluca Perego, Stefano Lagi, Giovanni Ferrari, Matteo Ramian, Tiziano Nava, Alfio Lavazza, Giovanni Ferrari, Federico Valenti
3. WHITE ROOM GER677- club DTYC - 289 pts
Luis Tarabochia, Michael Tarabochia, Max Stein, Felix Röder, Marco Tarabochia, Sebastian Bühler, Franziska Vosswinkel
Full overall ranking of the series
Corinthian Top 3 of the 2018 Melges 24 European Sailling Series:
1. TAKI 4 ITA778 - club YCI - 187 pts
Niccolo Bertola, Giacomo Fossati, Giovanni Bannetta, Pietro Seghezza, Gianluca Derubeis, Marco Zammarchi, Lorenzo Piccioni
2. WHITE ROOM GER677 - club DTYC - 289 pts
Luis Tarabochia, Michael Tarabochia, Max Stein, Felix Roder, Marco Tarabochia, Sebastian Bühler, Franziska Vosswinkel
3. GILL RACE TEAM GBR694 - club RORC - 300 pts
Geoff Carveth, Miles Quinton, Oliver Wells, Matt Alvarez, Holly Scott, Emily Au, Andrew Blundell, Tim Hancock, William Goldsmith
Full Corinthian ranking of the series
Marie-Francoise XIX clinches 5.5 Metre season finale on Lake Thun
Marie-Francoise XIX, SUI 228 (Jürg Menzi, Dino Fumasoli, Christof Wilke) has won the 2018 Herbstpreis at Thunersee YC after two races were sailed on the final day. Race wins went to third and second finishers, New Moon, BAH 21 (Christoph Burger, Renato Marazzi, Peter Vlasov) and Avalon, SUI 210 (Beat Aebischer, Aaron Teuscher, Christof Gerber).
It was an emotional day for Victorine Bredero, owner helm of Duchess of B, NED 31as it was her final race in the class.
"Over the years it was very fun to race 5.5. We went to various places, all over Europe as well as Curacao, The Bahamas, and you meet a lot of different people, all sailors in the same class but totally different and that's nice also."
"It's one big family I am leaving and I now I realize that, and that's not just the boat, a marvelous boat, but it's also the group of people around it. But I hope to be in Helsinki next year for the world championship to visit all them and see how they are going so best wishes to everyone."
"The boat is going to England and that's nice, so after several years there will be a British boat sailing again so maybe the fleet will grow. It's going to Cowes and the new owner said he wants to sail internationally."
Final top three results after 4 races
1 Marie-Francoise XIX, SUI 228 (Jurg Menzi, Dino Fumasoli, Christof Wilke) 5
2 Avalon, SUI 210 (Beat Aebischer, Aaron Teuscher, Christof Gerber) 7
3 New Moon, BAH 21 (Christoph Burger, Renato Marazzi, Peter Vlasov) 7
50th Barcolana
Spirit of Portopiccolo wins Barcolana50 after completing the race in only 57.04 minutes. Second: Ottica Inn - Tempus Fugit, third: Way of Life.
Viriella, the largest sailboat to ever compete in a Barcolana regatta, ranks fourth, followed by: Woodpecker Cube, Pendragon, Anemos, Ancilla Domini, and Seven.
China Coast Regatta
Another superb day of excellent conditions; 15kts, sunshine and blue skies for the final races of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's China Coast Regatta 2018. Racing got away smoothly with all IRC Racer and HKPN divisions sailing one windward / leeward and one islands course ranging in distance from 10 to 16.5nm. The islands course took the fleet on a beat towards a windward mark and reaching to an ocean mark before rounding Beaufort or Sung Kong and finishing off Bluff Head near Stanley.
After the windward / leeward this morning, Hong Kong's TP52 Free Fire owned by Sam Chan came out on top of the IRC Racer 0 division, putting herself 8 points ahead and untouchable to Shawn Kang's Ker 46+ Lighthorse Alpha Plus.
After narrowly missing out in China Coast Regatta in 2017, Tiffany Koo's King Mills 40 Hero Racing Team took the IRC Racer 1 win. Tiffany almost had a clean sweep across the board and was thwarted by Fred Kinmonth and Nick Burns' Mandrake III taking the win in the final islands race of the regatta.
In IRC Racer 2 Glenn Smith's Grand Soleil 45 Blackjack took the win in her division ahead of Richard Van Den Berg's J/111 Juggerknot. They were followed by Joshua Cole's A40RC Avante Garde who tied with Blackjack on corrected time in the final race of the regatta.
In IRC Racer 3, Lowell Chang's AC35 Dexter II took the win in her division - 5 points ahead of Nick Southward's J/109 Whiskey Jack.
IRC Premier Cruising sailed two 10nm island courses which took them around Beaufort Island. Their second race of the day was started to the south of Stanley, for which they had a downwind start. Peter Churchouse's Warwick Custom Moonblue 2 came out on top with a clean sweep across the board for the second year running.
Open Letter to World Sailing By Greenpeace
Dame Vivienne Westwood's son Joe Corre delivered an Open Letter from Greenpeace UK, Friends of the Earth Ireland and Talk Fracking at World Sailing HQ, Paddington today at 10:00am along with 6ft Ocean animals including a dolphin, penguin, seal and seagull with INEOS plastic bags over their heads.
The Open Letter was written by Jennifer Robinson, Human Rights Barrister of Doughty Street Chambers.
Kendall Harris, Legal Counsel for World Sailing read a response to the Open Letter.
Green groups who have co-signed the letter include Greenpeace UK; Friends of the Earth Ireland, #BreakFreeFromPlastic; Food & Water Watch/Europe; the Centre for Environmental Law; Aberdeen Climate Action; Frack Free United; Oil Change International; Earthworks; Mission LifeForce. Others to sign include Dame Vivienne Westwood, Joe Corre, the Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Human Rights; Professor Peter Strachan, Professor of Energy Policy at Robert Gordon University at Aberdeen Business School; Prof. Robert Howarth, Professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; and Cross Party Frack Free have signed up so far. The letter delivery will also mark the Global Gasdown Frackdown Day of Action on October 13th.
A website with the Open Letter has been launched at www.BanINEOSFromAmericasCup2021.com
In the Open Letter, Ms. Robinson says: "It is with grave concern and disappointment that we have witnessed World Sailing's ongoing silence and complicity in relation to INEOS Team UK, an America's Cup 2021 entrant sponsored by a company known for its environmentally destructive practices and ongoing assault on the democratic right to protest".
"Mr Andersen, we know that you are already all too aware of the pressing issues posed by the plastic contamination of our oceans. In June this year, World Sailing joined the Clean Seas Campaign, partnering with the International Olympic Committee and UN Environment to "beat plastic pollution".
"In the case of INEOS, its fracking production in the UK and USA to provide cheap feedstocks (ethane, propane) for plastic production. INEOS is one of Europe's biggest producers of disposable plastic".
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The Last Word
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. -- Marcus Aurelius
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