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In This Issue
• Three big finishes on the way
• Japan SailGP Team
• Ocean Safety's full range of accredited Ocean SOLAS Ultralite liferafts now available
• Turkish Airlines Around the Island Race
• Newport RI to Host 12-Metre World Championships
• Hot racing, warm weather: Oman's EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour is a winter treat
• First blood to Ashby and Landy at the A-Cat Worlds
• Industry News
• Letters to the Editor
• Featured Brokerage
• The Last Word: Tom Waits
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
Three big finishes on the way
Pointe-a-Pitre is gearing up for three class winners who should all arrive sometime tomorrow as the 2018 Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe reaches its climax in the Class40 division and in the amateur Rhum classes - the Monos and Multis.
The first to finish tomorrow is expected to be the French sailor Pierre Antoine at the helm of Olmix who is set to win the Rhum Multi class by a big margin, despite having to stop to pick up Lalou Roucayrol from his capsized trimaran, Arkema.
Next into the finish is likely to be Yoann Richomme on Veedol-AIC who has put on a masterclass in his new boat at the front of the Class40 fleet. Richomme will be followed by Sidney Gavignet, who has been just as dominant as Antoine, but in the Rhum Mono class on board Cafe Joyeux.
Japan SailGP Team
Tokyo, Japan: SailGP today introduced the sixth and final team for season one of its new global racing league, the Japan SailGP Team - a world-class crew combining three of Japan's most talented sailors with three international foiling catamaran veterans. The Japan SailGP Team's blend of youth and experience will allow the crew to challenge in season one, and set the standard for the next generation of aspiring Japanese sailors.
Two-time Olympic medalist and America's Cup veteran Nathan Outteridge - one of the world's most talented and experienced high-performance foiling sailors - leads the Japan SailGP Team as CEO/helm. He is joined by the Japanese trio of Yugo Yoshida, Yuki Kasatani and Leo Takahashi, who will all serve in the grinder role in season one. Yoshida represented Japan in the 470 class at the Olympic Games London 2012 and several world championships. He made his high-performance foiling catamaran debut with SoftBank Team Japan at the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda, alongside SailGP teammate Kasatani - a former national-level rowing champion. Meanwhile, 19-year old Takahashi is the youngest athlete in SailGP. He has been a member of the Japan National Team since 2015 and was part of Japan's 2017 Youth America's Cup effort.
Outteridge's Olympic- and world-title winning Australia teammate Iain Jensen and another fellow Australian, Volvo Ocean Race winner Luke Parkinson, round out the six-man roster. The trio all sailed together with Artemis Racing for the 2017 America's Cup.
Six rival national teams will compete in the first season: Australia, China, France, Great Britain, Japan and the United States. SailGP is ultimately aiming to have 10 teams in 10 race venues, including one in Japan by season three. Starting in season two, in each team market SailGP will establish youth sailing initiatives to provide young sailors opportunities to develop via school programs and yacht clubs, creating a path to professional racing.
Ocean Safety's full range of accredited Ocean SOLAS Ultralite liferafts now available
Ocean Safety's Ocean SOLAS Ultralite liferaft range is now available in 6, 8,10 and 16-person models and comes with official MED Ship's Wheel accreditation.
The first to be developed was the 12-person version of the rafts, causing a sensation last summer when they were chosen for the 2017/2018 Volvo Ocean Race in the quest to save weight. A vital 23% was shaved off the new Ultralite compared to previous similar liferaft models.
While the rafts used for the Volvo race were already fully certified, the MED (Marine Equipment Directive) conformity means that the remaining liferafts in the range, the 6, 8, 10 and 16 person models can now be installed on commercial vessels throughout EU and other European countries and other flag states.
The Ocean SOLAS Ultralite compact liferaft is derived from Ocean Safety's original space-saving Ocean Ultralite liferaft using carbon composite technology to give that vital boost in the search for speed for performance yachts and other vessels where weight saving is a priority. The key areas of development have been in the inflation system, pack contents and the construction of the canister. Despite the weight reduction, the liferaft containers still offer the same strength qualities to withstand harsh marine environments.
Turkish Airlines Around the Island Race
Hong Kong: In a complete contrast of conditions, the 2018 Turkish Airlines Around the Island Race kicked off in grey overcast skies until the fleet hit Cape D'Aguilar where the sailors hoisted their kites in beautiful blue skies as the first of the fleet approached Stanley headland. 195 boats competed in this year's event held yesterday which was first raced in 1864.
Taking the overall ATI win was Mark Thornburrow's Flying Phantom catamaran Flyer followed by Tat Choi Fung's Nacra 17 catamaran and Akira Sakai's 49er, Rocket Ron.
The biggest yacht in the fleet was Karl Kwok's MOD Beau Geste and the smallest were the three 29ers which were all skipper by under sailors under the age of 19. Out of the 29ers, 15-year-old Malo Kennish received the Hayes Morgan Trophy for the first skipper under 18. MOD Beau Geste took the fasted elapsed time of 02h 16m 45s, narrowly missing out on the race record by 3m 34s.
Deputy Race Officer Inge Strompf-Jepsen assisting Race Officer, Dave Nortonl summed up the conditions of the race, "There wasn't a lot of wind, but it was a steady breeze. The wind shifted from easterly to southeasterly and followed the fleet around, hence pushed the fleet through the Lamma Channel. We only had one hiccup at the end of the Lamma Channel coming towards Green Island; we had a short period where we had a few doldrums. However, the yachts came out quickly and were then heading back up into the harbour under 10 - 12kts with a knot of tide against them."
Newport RI to Host 12-Metre World Championships
The largest gathering of 12-metre yachts in the United States will take place next July 8-13 in Newport.
Ida Lewis Yacht Club and the International Twelve Metre Association announced last week that the city will host the 2019 12-Metre World Championships. The fleet will feature 24 teams from seven countries, including defending champion Nyala, owned by Prada CEO Patrizio Bertelli.
Also in the field of competitors are five boats that successfully defended the America's Cup: Columbia (1958), Weatherly (1962), Intrepid (1967, 1970), Courageous (1974, 1977) and Freedom (1980).
"The last 12-Metre World Championship was in Barcelona, Spain in 2014, so there is some pent-up energy for sure," event chair Peter Gerard said in a press release. "Over the last two years, there has been an emphasis on developing new teams, training for the worlds and getting these iconic yachts into the best possible condition for competition."
The boats are placed into divisions based on when they were built. At the World Championships, eight competitors will sail in the Grand Prix, a division for 12-metre boats with a winged keel built in 1987. The Modern class, a fleet of seven, is for boats built between 1967 and '83. Five will compete in the Traditional division (1958-66) and four in the Vintage (1907-58).
Hot racing, warm weather: Oman's EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour is a winter treat
As winter begins to assert its lengthy grip on Europe the appeal of warm weather sailing further afield starts to have a growing appeal.
While the Caribbean and other long-haul destinations will always have their devoted fans, among many of the high-speed fraternity - and Diam aficionados in particular - Oman is now looming large in their early season planning.
The new-look EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour earned plaudits and praise in February this year when it delivered exciting and challenging racing in a spectacular setting. Unlike the seven previous editions of the popular event, the 2018 Tour exchanged racing in the southern Gulf region for a memorable course along Oman's magnificent coastline.
Eight hard-charging Diam 24 crews fought it out over two weeks, completing a total of 24 races taking in seven different venues, with Valentin Bellet's Beijaflore crew earning the win ahead of Thierry Douillard and his EFG Bank team.
It is perhaps no coincidence that both crews, along with three other EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour teams, went on to finish in the top-10 in the ultra-competitive Tour Voile. Pre-season training was never so enjoyable, or worthwhile.
Following up on this success, the 2019 edition will repeat the winning formula of in-port and coastal racing - though sending what is expected to be an enlarged fleet in the reverse direction, starting in the capital Muscat on February 2nd with the conclusion in the subtropical city of Salalah, more than 1,200km to the south, on February 16th.
Along the way the crews and supporters can soak-up the extraordinary beauty of the coral reefs and lagoons of Bandar Khiran, the history of Sur, nature reserves in Ras Al Hadd and the island paradise of Masirah.
With a turn-key charter package on offer, including all in-country transport, catering, accommodation and race support alongside return shipping to the UK, EFG Sailing Arabia - The Tour has earned its place as a pre-season, warm weather contender - with a shot of authentic Arabian spice in the mix.
sailingarabiathetour.com/the-race/
First blood to Ashby and Landy at the A-Cat Worlds
Racing started today in earnest at the 'A' Class Worlds on the beautiful warm waters and beaches of Hervey Bay in Australia. Following the cancellation of yesterday's racing after all the fleet had arrived at the race areas. The weather was a little kinder. The winds had dropped to a lovely 12-18kts. However, it was swinging 10 to 15 deg all day a coming feature of the South Easterly wind direction as it comes over a promontory, and this also results in more gusty conditions. The effect was to make it seem like sailing on a huge lake, and indeed the lake sailors felt at home. Getting into the correct sequence with the wind swing was a skill few mastered today, with even the best getting caught out sailing into headers and holes occasionally.
The skill came in joining the dots of the areas of higher pressure to maximize the VMG. Staying on a constant heading would cost you dear.
Two courses are run, one each for the two 'A' Cat divisions. This is the first Worlds where the two different versions of this 52 year old development class single handed thoroughbred catamaran have been separated in a championships. The Classic, usually the C and straight board, boats that do not foil but sail in a displacement mode. And the Open or Foiling division where all the boats are allowed to fly on their foils. Both types will measure as 'A' Cats, but due to their speed differentials and differing sailing angles in higher wind conditions, it was elected to allow a separation of the types into two divisions. Most events run the two together and split out the results, but for the big ones, it is separated for safety reasons. In Hervey bay this year we have a split of about 70/30. The split meant that many more Classic sailors turned up, as they now no longer feel they had been left behind due to their lack of circus skills or desire to remain in one piece.
This year, the standard of competition has gone to a whole new level: we have at good hand full of America's Cup sailors in the fleet and at least a dozen Olympians, plus a woman voted 2018 World Sailor of the year.
On both fleets the race officers got all their 3 races away cleanly.
Top Five - Open
1. Glenn Ashby, AUS, 6 points
2. Peter Burling, NZL, 18
3. Mischa Heemskerk, NED, 28
4. Darren Bundock, AUS, 30
5. Stephen Brayshaw, AUS, 31
Top Five - Classic
1. Andrew Landenberger, AUS, 5
2. Scott Anderson, AUS, 12
3. Graeme Parker, AUS, 21
4. Alberto Farnesi, SWE, 24
5. Bob Webbon, USA, 33
Full results: www.sailherveybay.com.au/live-results
Industry News
The 31st METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam came to a successful end on Thursday with a record number of visitors.
According to event organiser Amsterdam RAI, 16,716 people attended the three-day show and the number of visits reached 26,052 - a 5% increase over last year's event.
Nearly 1,600 exhibitors from 50 countries booked a spot - up 3% compared to last year - and 237 companies exhibited for the first time.
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The French boat manufacturer Bavaria Catamarans will return to using its Nautitech name, following a decision by the new owners of Bavaria Yachtbau to revive the well-known brand identity.
Representatives of the company's new investor, CMP, met this week with local representatives at the French yard in Rochefort where the catamarans are built to discuss the future of the subsidiary, which CMP acquired together with Bavaria Yachtbau in September.
Bavaria's new managing director Ralph Kudla siad: "Bavaria stands for yachts, Nautitech for catamarans". As Chief Restructuring Officer, Kudla is also responsible for Bavaria's French subsidiary. He added in a press statement published on Wednesday, "We believe it is important that both companies can emphasise their respective identities even more clearly in the future."
The "Bavaria Catamarans" brand introduced after the acquisition of the multihull business by the German shipyard will no longer be used. The new management does not believe that the Bavaria brand has the same charisma as the traditional Nautitech brand name.
In 2018, the French subsidiary produced 75 multihull yachts. Around 30 orders have been added since CMP's takeover in September. In the difficult period following the company's surprise insolvency, the builder continued to produce boats without an investor, subsequently obtaining new boats reaching the triple-digit level, which are now to be processed.
Overall, French shipyards delivered a total of 718 catamarans, according to the French Nautical Industry Association. This corresponds to a total value of €333 million, an increase of 35% over the previous year. Around 90% of all multihulls worldwide are built in the west of France between Lorient and Bordeaux.
Nautitech could produce up to 100 catamarans per year on the current 7,000 sqm site. In order to meet the upswing of demand in the segment, the builder said it would be necessary to expand its industrial resources and to almost double the operating premises.
With the support of local and regional officials, Bavaria is examing the possibility of expanding the current site. The shipyard is located at the commercial port of Rochefort with direct access to the sea. Herve Blanche, mayor of Rochefort and Chairman of the Rochefort Ocean subregion, explained, "Bavaria proves us right in founding the new nautical-maritime cluster of New Aquitaine together with our partners. This infrastructure project will generate 'economic dynamics in our region', said the mayor.
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The new Harken CLR mooring winch won the award for the best product in the Deck Equipment, Sails and Rigging category of the 2018 DAME - Design Award competition, the most significant marine equipment event of its kind in the world. It was presented Tuesday, Nov. 13, in Amsterdam at this year's METSTRADE Show, the world's largest business-to-business trade exhibition for leisure marine equipment. The CLR was among 63 products that were nominated to enter the final rounds of judging.
The DAME jury praised Harken for "offering a fantastic blend of practicality, aesthetics and versatility with this winch, adding value to the owner experience."
They said the CLR was the best of several strong entries highlighting a trend towards "clean deck" focused equipment this year. The CLR pop-up winch is flush to the deck when not in use and offers significant installation weight and space saving over predecessor models.
The CLR is a flush-stowing, deck-mounted powered winch for both sail and power yachts featuring geometry and mechanical characteristics never before seen. There have been other retracting, flush-mounted winches, but none offer the power-for-size ratio offered by the CLR. It stows completely belowdeck and occupies 40% less horizontal and less than 50% of the vertical space required by the previous market leaders. Plus, the CLR weighs just 33% of its competition while delivering comparable mechanical advantage. This gives naval architects more usable belowdeck space.
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A statement was published last night by the Italian Marine Trade Association UCINA regarding the sudden departure of Carla Demaria as the chief executive of Monte Carlo Yachts (MCY). It outlined in detail the dispute which has arisen between Demaria and the parent company Groupe Beneteau.
Carlo Demaria led the development of Monte Carlo Yachts as a start-up, beginning December 2008
This morning Beneteau responded with an announcement stating that there had been disagreements over the management and strategic plans for the business and confirming the termination of Demaria's executive powers at MCY.
Carla Demaria, who is the current President of UCINA, is robustly contesting the company`s actions, citing in the statement "illegitimate behaviour" which she feels undermines the future of MCY and is detrimental to the Italian marine industry at large.
Beneteau, for its part, has restated its commitment to the brand and announced it will be launching three new MCY models in the coming season.
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The Polish Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Waterways is drafting a new regulation with the aim to cap the country's yacht registration fees.
The draft ordinance establishes a maximum fee of PLN 60 (€14), significantly reducing its rate for owners or larger craft. Under current rules, the fee is calculated based on a yacht's length, and it can reach up to PLN 375 (€87) for a craft with a length of 24 metres (79ft).
The new regulation will complement Poland's law on registration of yachts and other craft with a length of up to 24 metres which was passed by the country's parliament earlier this year. Under the plan, the cap on registration fees will enter into force on 1 January 2020.
The ministry has released its draft ordinance for a public consultation, and it is currently awaiting the opinions of the invited stakeholders. These include local trade unions OPZZ, NSZZ Solidarity, and FZZ, employers' organisations PRP, Lewiatan, and Business Centre Club, as well as local industry associations, such as the Polish Sailing Association (PZZ) and the Polish Motorboat and Waterski Federation (PZMiNW), among others.
Letters To The Editor - editor [AT] scuttlebutteurope [DOT] 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 Adrian Morgan:
I had a classic double take when I read Euan's post. Is Brunel's old ship rusting? Are they planning a horrible Cutty Sark style restoration? It's the decks. I knew it. Fresh water leaks. Or maybe dry rot. Wet rot? Then the penny dropped and I realised to my shame that I had just proved that my first thoughts were for an old ship rather than the future of my country.
* From Don Street:
Regarding Thomson hitting the northernmost tip of Guadalopue. The late Frank Crawford, winner of CCA blue water medal ... at some time in 70 or early 80s../ said in his wonderful little book "To Count the Cats in Zanzibar" :
Fatigue is the rust that destroys boats
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The Last Word
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