In This Issue
• Hardy Cup
• SailGP nations line up for the first time
• 5 classes & 90+ boats set to do battle for 35th Primo Cup
• Australian Wooden Boat Festival
• Australian Finish For Spindrift 2
• 16th Edition Of Transpac Tahiti Race To Start May 2020
• M32 Events: North America
• The OCC Announces Awards for 2018
• Launchings
• Letters to the Editor
• Featured Brokerage
• The Last Word: Richard Feynmann
Brought to you by Seahorse magazine and YachtScoring.com EuroSail News 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] eurosailnews [DOT] com
Knots Racing from Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron win Hardy Cup in Sydney
For the fifth time since the inaugural Hardy Cup Sydney International Match Racing Regatta in 2001, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's match racing prowess proved unrivalled on Sydney Harbour.
In a classic Sydney summer sea breeze gusting to 20 knots - two Black Hawk choppers cruising the skies and SailGP's F50s passing impressively by the race track returning to base - the all-international final went to the Kiwis 3 - 0 over the Chris Weis-skippered Del Rey Yacht Club team from California.
Namesake and Patron Sir James Hardy spent the final day of the series with friends watching the thrilling action from his striking 1933-launched classic yacht Nerida.
Next for those teams continuing across the Tasman are the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club's CentrePort Youth Match Racing Championship, February 13 - 17, followed by the RNZYS's Nespresso Youth International Match Racing Cup, February 21 - 24.
Meanwhile the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is gearing up to host the much-anticipated launch of SailGP, when six foiling F50s take to the harbour February 15 and 16. -- Lisa Ratcliff
Overall placings
1. Nick Egnot-Johnson - Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, NZL
2. Chris Weis - Del Rey Yacht Club, USA
3. James Hodgson - Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, AUS
4. Finn Tapper - Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, AUS
5. Patrick Harris - Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, NZL
6. Nick Rozenauers - Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, AUS
7. William Sargent - Derwent Sailing Squadron, AUS
8. Charlie Welsh - New York Yacht Club, USA
9. Alistair Reed - Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, AUS
10. Jed Cruickshank - Darwin Sailing Club, AUS
11. Charlotte Griffin - Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, AUS
www.matchracingresults.com/2019/hardy-cup/
SailGP nations line up for the first time
Sydney, Australia: Sydney Harbour was awash with colour today as the revolutionary SailGP F50s of Australia, China, Great Britain, France, Japan and the United States lined up on the water together for the first time just one week out from the inaugural Sydney event.
The teams hit the water in their identical, supercharged catamarans as part of the first official Sydney SailGP rehearsal. The spectacle included a practice start, before the teams completed laps of the race track.
With today's race rehearsal, the stage is nearly set for Sydney SailGP, which will see six nations compete on Sydney Harbour before the global championship heads to San Francisco, New York City, Cowes (UK) and Marseille (France), where the champion will be crowned.
Sydney SailGP will take place 15-16 February in Sydney Harbour. Tickets for a variety of exclusive spectator experiences are still available for the world-premiere SailGP event at SailGP.com/Sydney
5 classes & 90+ boats set to do battle for 35th Primo Cup
The 35th Primo Cup - Trophee Credit Suisse, organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco, kicks off today. Launched in 1985, the Primo Cup is the opening meeting of the season in the Mediterranean for one-designs.
This year again, some 500 sailors from 12 nationalities number many of the best European sailors, including Laser star Jean-Baptiste Bernaz, with three Olympic preparations under his belt, Sebastien Col, former America's Cup helmsman, Roberto Spata, one-design specialist with six European Champion and five World titles to his name, and a host of amateurs who love sailing and racing.
With 60 entrants, the J/70 is the biggest fleet at this event and continues to grow, boding well for a potential record participation when Monaco hosts the class's World Championship in 2021 (18-23 October).
The Rob Humphreys-designed H22s are back, alongside the always twitchy and quick Longtze Premiers, Primo Cup regulars Melges 20 and the enduring Smeralda 888 class, designed by German Frers and famously helmed by "gentlemen" amateur sailors.
A popular feature of the Primo Cup-Trophee Credit Suisse is that it rewards team-work, with every crew member on the top three boats for each class receiving a garment from SLAM's Advanced Technology Sportswear range.
"For the moment, our focus is on understanding why the rudder broke: aside from cost, there is also the delay in building a new rudder and the simple fact that boatyards are very busy at this time of year. If we have to build a new one [rudder], then that will take time. So, it is still too early to know what we are going to do. First we will meet with our stakeholders and look at all the facts and then we will then take time to consider whether we continue with the Jules Verne Trophy programme next winter, or not."
yacht-club-monaco.mc/en/home-en/
Australian Wooden Boat Festival
Over 500 beautiful wooden boats will be the main attraction at Australia's most popular salute to wooden boats and the biggest maritime event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere - the biennial MyState Bank Australian Wooden Boat Festival.
Visiting tall ships including the James Craig, Soren Larsen, Young Endeavour, Bark Endeavour, Enterprize and One And All will lead the ever-popular Parade of Sail to mark the opening of the festival on Friday 8 February and then gather in Hobart for the four days of the event. These will be joined by Tasmanian-based tall ships Julie Burgess, Rhona H, Yukon, Lady Nelson and the brigantine Windeward Bound, celebrating her 21st birthday.
Boats Ashore are always a major attraction at the festival. In February, the main Boats Ashore draw-card is likely to be the inaugural Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race participant Mistral II. At 64 ft long, Mistral II will certainly be the largest boat on display on land and, given her history, there will be significant nostalgic interest in her. Another historic racing yacht, Tassie Too, will be on display as well.
www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au
Australian Finish For Spindrift 2
Shortly after arriving into Fremantle on Wednesday morning (French time) Yann Guichard, the skipper of Spindrift 2, spoke about the situation that led to the team's retirement from their Jules Verne Trophy record attempt, following the breakage of the boat's starboard rudder stock.
After spending five days nursing the boat back to land with the constant worry as to the viability of the damaged rudder, the black and gold trimaran is now safely docked in Fremantle (near Perth, Western Australia) and, after much consideration, the team has decided that the quickest and best solution to repatriate Spindrift 2 back to its home port in Brittany, will be by cargo ship.
"We will remove the rudder and organise the boat in readiness for the cargo ship. We also have a concern over the port rudder, so it could be complicated to get back to our base [in Brittany, France] by sea, especially as we are on the other side of the world. The whole crew, and an additional five from our technical team, will focus attention on preparing the boat for the return trip. We will have to remove the mast and ensure that she is fully ready for the journey," commented Yann Guichard a few hours after arriving in the Australian port.
"The starboard rudder stock broke shortly after the Kerguelen Islands. We do not know when exactly, but Thierry Chabagny was helming, said it suddenly felt very heavy. I am positive that we didn't hit anything. We were on port tack heading east-northeast with the downwind gennaker. As it happened at night we tried to establish what the issue might be - whether the rudders were parallel, the tension of the steering cables, or just something stuck on the rudders. But nothing. When we changed helmsman, it was exactly the same - difficult to round up or bear away. It was becoming even more difficult to steer as the boat was doing what it wanted. At first light we were able to see that the starboard rudder stock had broken between the two bearings. The rudder was useless and kept moving sideways - it just did what it wanted," continued the skipper of Spindrift 2.
16th Edition Of Transpac Tahiti Race To Start May 2020
The Transpacific Yacht Club and Archipelagoes Tahiti are pleased to announce their plans to organize the 16th edition of the Transpac Tahiti Race in late May 2020. This is one of the world's longest classic ocean races, a 3570-mile voyage from Los Angeles to Papeete first sailed in 1925, with a small but influential group of boats and sailors counted among its alumni. Only 72 entries have raced to Tahiti in its entire history, with the last edition held 7 years ago in 2012.
Yet now the interest is strong, with over 40 guests attending a press announcement this evening at Los Angeles Yacht Club.
The first start of the Transpac Tahiti Race 2020 will be on May 28, 2020, with possible other start dates depending on the size, speed and style of yachts that enter. The details of the Notice of Race are still being refined, but the basic structure is in place: the race is open to Monohulls of at least 40 feet in length and Multihulls at least 45 feet in length, the start held south of Point Fermin in Los Angeles and finish in Papeete in Tahiti.
John Jourdane is one of the most respected navigators in trans-Pacific ocean races, having amassed an outstanding list of 18 Transpacs, four Pacific Cups, three Vic-Maui and three Tahiti races, and has some thoughts about this race.
"The Hawaii Transpac is a sailor's delight. Other than a possible rough, cold first two or three days, it is a warm, fast downwind run to Hawaii. The navigation is pretty straightforward: a close reach to the desired waypoint to cross the north Pacific high ridge to a chosen isobar (Stan Honey calls it the 'slot'), then run down the slot across the Pacific until you reach your desired layline into the finish. Every day it gets warmer and the trade winds supply great wind and waves for surfing.
"It's a much longer race, and can be rougher, but it is well worth the adventure. Even though Papeete is busy with tourists and cruise ships, it is still beautiful, and once you leave Papeete, the other islands are like Hawaii was 50 years ago."
Jourdane plans to do both races in this next cycle: the 50th Transpac this year on Mr Bill, an Andrews 70, and the 2020 Tahiti Race with a team yet to be named.
M32 Events: North America
The M32 North America class continues to grow with three additional boats joining the fleet this fall. We would like to welcome Team Hedgehog and Midtown Racing. The fleet is currently enjoying the Miami Winter Series and will head up the East coast this spring, stopping at Charleston Race Week, the largest one-design event in the US. Then we will move to Newport, RI for the New York Yacht Club Regatta in June, followed by the Midtown Cup in July.
The fleet is arranging the schedule around and providing a discounted shipping/logistics package to join our European friends at the Worlds this August. We then plan to host the North America Championship later in the fall of 2019 and the 2020 Worlds Championship the following fall, both in Miami.
2019 Events
-Event 3, Miami, FL, US 8-10 February
-Event 4, Miami, FL, US 15-17 March
-Charleston Race Week, Charleston, SC, US 12-14 April
-NYYC Annual Regatta, Newport, RI, US 14-16 June
-Midtown Cup, Newport, RI, US 12-14 July
-Deadline to ship North American M32s to Italy 17 July
-North American Championship, Miami, FL, US November
2020 Dates
-Winter Series Event 1, Miami, FL, US Jan
-Winter Series Event 2, Miami, FL, US Feb
-Winter Series Event 3, Miami, FL, US March
-M32 Worlds, Miami, FL Fall
Contact: dave [DOT] doucett [AT] astonharald [DOT] com
m32world.com/tag/international-class-association/
The OCC Announces Awards for 2018
Dartmouth, Devon, UK: The Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), the Worldwide Community for Adventure Sailing Since 1954, has announced the recipients of awards that recognize achievements in blue water sailing over the past 18 months.
The Club's premier award, the OCC Barton Cup, named after OCC founder Humphrey Barton, goes to Australian member Bill Hatfield, s/v L'EAU COMMOTION, for his recently-completed westabout single-handed circumnavigation, which included a particularly difficult and protracted passage around Cape Horn.
Aged 79, Bill Hatfield arrived at Southport Yacht Club on Monday 10th September 2018 after spending 414 days at sea, becoming the oldest solo sailor to circumnavigate the world west-about. https://www.sailblogs.com/member/leaucommotion/407102/
The OCC Lifetime Cruising Award is awarded to Lin Pardey (a member since 1977) and her husband Larry (non-member), for their 50 plus years of ocean cruising, two engineless circumnavigations, and inspirational books and DVDs.
It is 50 years since SERAFFYN was launched and, though sadly Larry now has dementia and is no longer able to sail, Lin continues to sail and write from her home in New Zealand. Over those 50 years their lives revolved around boats and the sea, and they have become legendary wherever cruising sailors congregate. Their biography, As Long as It's Fun, was written by Herb McCormick and released by Paradise Cay Publications in 2014. It would be hard to imagine a couple more deserving of the OCC Lifetime Cruising Award.
Website: www.landlpardey.com
Lin's podcast: landlpardey.com/POD.html
The OCC Seamanship Award, which recognizes acts of bravery or extraordinary seamanship, goes to Dustin Reynolds, s/v TIAMA, for his outstanding courage and tenacity as a double amputee in setting out to circumnavigate alone. So far he has made it halfway around the world.
Website: www.thesinglehandedsailor.com
Dustin's trip is featured in a documentary film in the series The Folks of the Ocean
The OCC Jester Award is presented to Szymon Kuczynski, s/v ATLANTIC PUFFIN, for his 270-day solo unassisted circumnavigation in a boat just under 21 feet in length, securing a new world record.
Website: www.zewoceanu.pl
Photo gallery: photos.app.goo.gl/iMO5DfXcCkfWzPTt2
Further awards made for 2018 are:
- THE OCC VASEY VASE - Sue & Andy Warman
For their exploration of Japanese waters, described in a very informative report for the OCC Forum, followed by their passage north to Alaska and then on to British Columbia.
- THE OCC AWARD (member) - Dick Guckel
Primarily in recognition of his more than 20 years' service to the OCC
- THE OCC AWARD (non-member) - Des Cason
For the highly professional weather and routing assistance, free of charge, to yachts approaching the coast of South Africa
- THE OCC WATER MUSIC TROPHY - Mike Norris
For the practical information incorporated in their two articles about cruising Greek waters
- THE OCC EVENTS AND RALLIES AWARD - Jose Azevedo
For his pivotal role as owner of Peter Cafe Sport in facilitating last June's Azores Pursuit Rally
- THE OCC PORT OFFICER SERVICE AWARDS - Mary Schempp-Berg, Dianne Tetreault & Agustin Martin For their friendly and helpful attitude towards visiting OCC members
- THE OCC DAVID WALLIS TROPHY - Ellen Massey Leonard
For her article A PENCHANT FOR THE PRIMITIVE: REFLECTIONS ON SPENDING MY TWENTIES AT SEA
- THE OCC QUALIFIER'S MUG - James McCaughan
For his transatlantic passage as skipper of Seamogs, a family-owned Nicholson 48.
Launchings
Click on images to enlarge.
As part of an ongoing commitment to customers, RS Sailing are always developing and perfecting their products. Their latest project has focussed on the RS Tera. After many successful years of manufacturing they have decided to upgrade the moulding and production process of the RS Tera.
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Haines Boatyard, nestled on the foreshore at Itchenor, is well known for its highly skilled wooden keelboat and GRP dinghy repair and boatyard services. Recently the company has been undertaking some more unusual work in renovating and maintaining wooden and GRP rowing boats.
The full range of skills and experience of the in-house shipwrights have been engaged in the renovation of a Solent Galley. Originally built for racing in Portsmouth Harbour and its environs, the Solent Galley is a 30ft long, clinker-built, fixed seat rowing boat with 4 oars and a cox. They are light, slim and fast and have some notable achievements to their names including holding the record for the circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight.
Southsea resident, the late Pat Sherwin was passionate in his wish to preserve the few remaining examples of these boats and established the Pat Sherwin Rowing Trust, who own and operate a number of galleys, some of which are lent to local organisations to encourage recreational rowing.
Solent Galley, 'Bembridge', arrived at Itchenor Sailing Club in late 2016 from Langstone Cutters Rowing Club where she had participated in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012 and a number of Great River Races. Bembridge and her sister boat, Sallyport, have been rowed across the Channel from Cherbourg to Portsmouth and Ouistreham and Caen to Portmouth! Bembridge was built in 1960 by George Feltham of Old Portsmouth.
'Iccanore', a new GRP Celtic long boat arrived at Itchenor in June 2018 to substitute for 'Bembridge' while she went through a major refurbishment in July and August that involved the replacement of 24 wooden ribs by the shipwrights at Haines Boatyard. The Celtic Longboat was chosen as its rowing characteristics are very close to those of a Solent Galley and allowed the very popular Chichester Harbour outings to continue uninterrupted.
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Beneteau recently announced the creation of an all-new 53 footer that will be the flagship of the completely re-imagined First line of performance cruisers. The First brand has long been popular worldwide because the designs -36.7, 40.7, 47.7 among them—can be raced in one design fleets, can compete successfully in rated events under the various rating rules, have been successful in long offshore events such as the Newport-Bermuda Race and the designs also double as fun family cruisers.
The new boat was design by Roberto Biscontini and Lorenzo Argento who have extensive experience designing custom racing boats and America's Cup boats. The new 53 has the sleek lines of a true thoroughbred, with a low cabin top, straight sheer, plumb bow, long bow sprit and broad, powerful transom. It comes with a carbon rig and can be setup with a full racing package that includes an iron-lead deep keel. The working sail area of the standard boat is a whopping 1,800 square feet.
The inside of the boat is open, simple and looks very comfortable for a racing crew or a family out cruising. The whole package truly expresses Beneteau's new branding slogan: "Beneteau, the Avant Guard in Boating."
The First Yacht 53 will be introduced at the Cannes (France) boat show in September 2019 and should make its American debut soon thereafter.
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Southern Wind Shipyard has announced that 32-meter sailing yacht Power of 2 is successfully launched, being the #3 hull of SW105 series. She has interior and exterior design by Nauta Design, with the Farr Yacht Design responsible for the naval architecture. This cooperation has met recognition from the industry, as 29-meter Seatius with their design has won Neptune Award for the 2019 Best Sailing Yacht Interiors at the Boat International Design and Innovation Awards.
Her twin rudder system combined with the lifting keel (3-5m) allows access to more remote shallower ports and anchorages, and with the keel down this configuration provides excellent upwind light air performance. Her fixed bowsprit with an integrated anchor arm makes for easy anchoring.
She is built with a Deck Saloon configuration that was specifically designed by Nauta Design and Southern Wind Shipyard. The yacht's coachroof coamings create a protected guest cockpit and integrate with the deckhouse lines seamlessly.
The lifting keel's design allows light to cross the saloon joining both sides of the yacht. The interior features Southern Wind Shipyard's most popular owner's cabin, with the forward layout. This comprises three comfortable en suite guest cabins amidships with crew quarters and galley aft; a layout that allows maximum privacy for crew and guests.
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 Euan Ross:
Monopoly Money: For those sad armchair sailors such as mygoodself who find this stuff interesting, the article referenced here from the 'Law in Sport' website, sets out rather neatly the concerns many of us have long held about the favoured monopolies tucked under the wings of World Sailing. The Laser is under particularly critical review in the blogosphere at the moment, but the 49er variants and others are also within reach of the long arm of the law. Apparently, the cosy relationship World Sailing has with its 'suppliers' has been reconceptualised as "activation". So, perhaps we can add 'crimes against the English language' to whatever else might come up in the European courts.
Did I miss the story about the rebranding?
Featured Brokerage
2002 Swan 45-001 Kyknos. 310,000 EUR. Located in Cesenatico, Italy
Swan 45-001 left Finland during the spring of 2002 and within two months was collecting silverware as the overall winner of the 50th Anniversary Giraglia Cup. She still has everything it takes to be competitive in the Swan 45 one-design class and is offered for sale at a very attractive price.
See listing details in Nautors Swan Brokerage
Contact
Giorgio Passarella
brokerage [AT] nautorswan [DOT] com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
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2006 Spirit 54 - 007 Yacht - SOUFRIERE. 595000 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 [DOT] cooper [AT] berthon [DOT] co [DOT] uk
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2007 Farr 100 - LEOPARD 3. 2,950,000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca.
Farr 100 LEOPARD 3 is the ultimate charter yacht. Hugely competitive for line honours racing and a very comfortable charter yacht operating with a very successful package.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Ben Cooper
Telephone: +44(0) 1590 679222
ben [DOT] cooper [AT] berthon [DOT] co [DOT] uk
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
If you cannot explain something in simple terms, you don't understand it. -- Richard Feynmann
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