In This Issue
• Blast Off for the RORC Caribbean 600
• National 18 Prevails At Light Airs 160-Boat Finale In Oxford
• Superyachts to Gather in St. Barths for Bucket Regatta
• SailGP Sydney - Key Moments Analysis
• Bay of Islands MACH 2 foiling week
• Entry open for 2019 Finn Europeans and Tokyo 2020 Qualifier
• Torbay Royal Regatta
• SeaBubbles shows off its 'flying' all-electric boat in Miami
• Industry News
• Featured Brokerage
• The Last Word: Nick Danger
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
Blast Off for the RORC Caribbean 600
The 2019 RORC Caribbean 600 kicked off in spectacular conditions off the south coast of Antigua with the magnificent fleet starting the 600 mile non-stop offshore race in bright sunshine, full-on gusting tradewinds and two-metre high waves. The 11th edition of the race featured 76 starting yachts from 20 different countries. The Caribbean Classic made headline news before the start; MOD 70 Argo flipped during practice on Friday, but miraculously made the start line just three days later. The majority of the fleet are racing under IRC for the overall win and the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy, plus a record Class40 Division and one of the finest multihull fleets ever assembled for the race. Early in the race for the overall win, Volvo 70 Wizard, TP52 Tala, and Botin 65 Caro are estimated to be the top three after IRC time correction. Bella Mente was the shock early retirement.
In IRC Zero, Volvo 70 Wizard owned by David and Peter Askew (USA) got a great start and powered up the beat to be the first in class to Green Island. Fully launched downwind in a show of immense power, Wizard pulled out a substantial lead on superyacht JV115 Nikata. Wizard was caught on the YB Tracker speed camera doing well over 20 knots on a screaming reach. Hap Fauth's Maxi72 Bella Mente (USA) was a shock early retirement, pulling up just after passing Willoughby Bay to return to Antigua. In the big sea state, the new design showed phenomenal speed, but the pounding proved too much, and having shipped a ton or more of water down below, turned for home. All of the Bella Mente crew are safe and well.
Showing enormous respect for their opposition, Giovanni Soldini's Maserati Multi70 (ITA) agreed to a delay to the race by just two hours to allow Jason Carroll's Argo (USA) just enough time to finish repairs to their MOD 70. The match race kicked off two hours after the rest of the fleet. At the start, Argo got away well, but Maserati was soon snapping at their rivals, playing the bays along the coast of Antigua. Snarling into an epic duel with the gloves full off. At Green Island, Maserati hit the after-burners, aided by their fully-foiling set up, screeching away at over 30 knots of boat speed. Maserati made Barbuda in 107 minutes, averaging an astonishing 26 knots.
The Multihull Class racing under the MOCRA Rule got away well with the two Gunboats, Chim Chim, owned by John Gallagher (USA), and Arethusa owned by Phil Lotz (USA) hitting the line with pace. Beiker 53 Fujin, owned by Greg Slyngstad (USA) showed the fleet the way and at Green Island, Fujin was substantially ahead, unfurling downwind sails to blast towards Barbuda at over 20 knots of boat speed. Falcon skippered by Shannon Falcone (ANT) was in the mix at Green Island, having overhauled the two Gunboats on the water.
Check out the new LIVE page on the race minisite
Pip Hare checks in from Class40 Hydra
National 18 Prevails At Light Airs 160-Boat Finale In Oxford
Peter Gray, Richard Pepperdine and Simon Forbes powered their way three-up to victory in a National 18 at last Saturday's Oxford Blue, concluding the 2018/19 edition of the Selden SailJuice Winter Series.
Farmoor Reservoir was like Piccadilly Circus, with 160 boats of various shapes and sizes packed on to the reservoir. A big chunk of the entries, almost a third of the total number, were RS Aeros competing in their Winter Championship. The light airs prevailed for most of the day until the tail end of the third and final race saw the gusts kick up to 18 knots and caught a few people napping, with capsizes ensuing.
The fluky conditions tended to favour the hiking singlehanders and slower boats like the Comet Trio and 2000 who made the most of the short, sharp gusts. Gray kept the big, powered-up National 18 trucking along nicely, with Simon Forbes on the trapeze when most other trapeze sailors were still crouching on the side.
The 2000s have performed well throughout the season, and Jasper Barnham and Serena de Nahlik finished just two points off victory, winning the middle race of the day. Finishing tied with the 2000 but losing out on tiebreak was the Comet Trio Mk2 sailed by Alex and Bob Horlock with Andrew Snell's K1 keelboat just a point off the podium.
The winning National 18 was the only trapeze boat in the top 10 overall, the next best being another N18 skippered by Colin Barry to 13th overall, one place ahead of an Osprey that has competed at all seven events this season, sailed by the son and father duo of Ben and Simon Hawkes.
The final prizegiving for the Selden SailJuice Winter Series takes place at 1030am on Saturday, not long after doors open at Alexandra Palace in London for this year's RYA Dinghy Show on 2 March. While Oxford marked the end of the Winter Series, it was also part of the Great British Sailing Challenge, a brand new series which moves on to north London on 16 & 17 March for the King George Gallop. The Gallop first took place last year on very short notice when the club launched the race from a standing start, and received rave reviews from those who came to race at King George. This year it progresses from a single pursuit race to a full-on weekend of handicap racing.
Superyachts to Gather in St. Barths for Bucket Regatta
Every March superyachts gather for the prestigious three-day St. Barths Bucket Regatta, which features racing and social events. The invitational regatta, scheduled for March 21-24, is for yachts 30.5 meters or greater, or yachts meeting the SYRA 90' Class criteria. It is an event conceived and hosted for the pleasure of sailing superyacht owners.
Among those participating is last year's overall winner, the Baltic 112 Nilaya. She is fresh off a Corsair Class victory in the Antigua Super Yacht Challenge, and is equipped with Harken winches, tracks, cars, blocks, padeyes, and a 32 mm Switch Track mast system with a halyard locking car. The mainsail has a custom Harken hydraulic outhaul control system.
Nilaya is skippered by Ryan Donaldson.
"Harken has always been my 'go to' for deck hardware since sailing Optimists," Donaldson said. "Now, sailing Nilaya the loads are slightly higher. At the top of this game we rely on Harken equipment with our lives. Their service is always prompt, reliable and innovative. You know you're dealing with the most experienced people in this industry and there's never a lack of knowledge shared."
Harken's Tech Team will be at St. Barths. Email technicalservice [AT] harken [DOT] com if you need assistance.
SailGP Sydney - Key Moments Analysis
Mark Chisnell looks at what gave the Australians victory on their home turf in the inaugural SailGP event
ailGP has opened for business; the brand-new professional sailing circuit launching on a beautiful summer's day on Sydney Harbour on the 15th February. The home team fronted by skipper and helmsman Tom Slingsby came away with the win and we're going to look at the key moments on the Aussie's road to victory.
Anyone that watched the last America's Cup in Bermuda will be familiar with the race course; a reaching start takes the boats to a windward mark and onto a downwind leg. They then complete a number of laps of the windward/leeward course (with a gate at both ends) selected to match the race length decided by officials. The overall SailGP competition format is explained in this video .
The breeze in Sydney Harbour was light for this opening weekend, down to five knots at times, but it was mostly enough to get the boats foiling. This put a premium on getting and staying airborne, particularly through the manoeuvres - a race winning skill that we saw from the get-go.
Race 1
Clear cut favourites going into the event were Nathan Outteridge representing Japan; and Tom Slingsby and the Australian boat. Neither looked like regatta winners off the start line of Race 1. They both got much too close, too early as we can see in Image 1, both boats luffing hard to kill speed while the rest of the fleet were already rolling down to accelerate.
Commentary on all the races and links to the videos: www.bandg.com/sailgp/news/mark-chisnell-blog--sydney/
Bay of Islands MACH 2 foiling week
The scene is set for a stunning week of sailing at the inaugural Bay of Islands MACH 2 foiling week starting today , hosted by the Bay of Islands yacht club.
All manners of foiling vessels will be on show at the event's first edition in Bay of Islands waters, including Nacra, Moth, Waszp, and Kiteboard. Foiling is a process whereby a vessel's hull is lifted up and out of the water by wing-like foils mounted under the hull to decrease drag and increase speed.
About 40 vessels had entered and would take part in a variety of different events across the week. Today and tomorrow would be used as practise days where contestants could get a feel for the area. Tomorrow also featured a speed test to see who could move the fastest through the water.
Wednesday would be a rest day for competitors as well as a demonstration of different foiling techniques, before a race to Urupukapuka Island on Thursday and the fleet regatta starting on Friday and ending on Sunday.
Sailing enthusiasts could tune in to hear the action on 88FM from 4pm to 6pm on Monday to Thursday, relayed by renowned sailing commentator Randy Cunningham. A number of international sailors, including Olympic and world champion windsurfers, would also be attending the event.
www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/
Entry open for 2019 Finn Europeans and Tokyo 2020 Qualifier
Entries are invited for the 2019 Finn Open and U23 European Championship in Athens, Greece.
The championship has recently received approval from the IOC as the second Finn class qualification event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition.
It is expected to be the largest and most competitive Finn event of the year, with four places on the start line in Tokyo 2020 up for grabs, as well as acting as a national selection event for a number of countries.
Online entry can be made through the event website at: 2019.finneuropeans.org
Registration for coaches is also open.
An Emerging Nations Programme will be in place for this event. Applications should be sent directly to the IFA office.
Torbay Royal Regatta
August 24th to 26th over the Bank Holiday Weekend
Three great days of racing for IRC and Cruiser Classes, Sportsboats, PY Dinghies and Junior Classes with racing taking place on the fine sailing waters of Torbay on the English Riviera.
The Regatta Notice of Race is now published and together with On-Line Entry can be found at rtyc.org/event/torbay-royal-regatta-2019/
This year features the J/70 UK Class National Championships as part of the regatta. Racing takes place on its own course area and is expected to attract J/70 sailors from around the world, keen to spend time in Torbay in preparation for the J/70 World Championships, also in Torbay during the following week.
The J/70 Nationals Notice of Race is now published and together with On-Line Entry can be found at rtyc.org/event/j70-uk-national-championships/
Free berthing for yachts and dinghies is included in the entry fees and from the sheltered harbour there is quick and easy access to the race areas. The town offers an enviable range of accommodation within walking distance of the club and harbour.
Torbay offers a spectacular venue and The English Riviera is just a great place to be during August. Competitors and their families can be sure of a very warm welcome and will enjoy a friendly atmosphere, cordial hospitality and great shoreside entertainment featuring regatta welcome night and other themed party night.
rtyc.org/event/torbay-royal-regatta-2019/
SeaBubbles shows off its 'flying' all-electric boat in Miami
We were promised flying cars but, as it turns out, flying boats were easier to build.
SeaBubbles, a "flying" boat startup that uses electric power instead of gas, hit Miami this weekend to show off one of its five prototype boats - or six, if you count an early, windowless white boat they've lovingly dubbed the "soapdish." This innovative boat design combines technology from nautical industries and aviation and intelligent software to raise the hull of the boat out of the water using foils, which helps it consume less energy by allowing it to travel on rougher waters with reduced drag, while also keeping the passenger cabin relatively comfortable.
When raised, the boat is "flying" above the water, so to speak.
Founded only three years ago in Paris, the idea for SeaBubbles was dreamed up by Alain Thébault, a sailor who previously designed and piloted the Hydroptère, an experimental hydrofoil trimaran, using a similar system that lifts the boat in order to reduce drag. That boat went on to break the world record for sailing speed twice, at 50.17 knots. Meanwhile, SeaBubbles' co-founder Anders Bringdal is a four-time windsurfing world champion, who also set a windsurfing world record at 51.45 knots.
Together, the two have envisioned SeaBubbles as a way for cities to reduce traffic congestion and help the environment by taking advantage of the area's waterways to move people around in fast water taxis.
Industry News
A resurgent sailing yacht market?
In light of the increased primacy of the green agenda, is the sailing yacht market the natural choice for today's environmentally sensitive UHNWIs…
Few in recent years would have refuted the claim that the 30m-plus sailing yacht market is in decline. By stark contrast, the rhetoric that presently surrounds the motoryacht market is that of consolidation. Yes, there has been a year-on-year decline in annual delivery figures within the motoryacht market, but the top yards are still performing admirably, and the order book looks strong which is cause for cautious optimism. However, the sailing yacht market has reduced to less than a third of the size it was in 2009. And yet, there may still be cause for optimism.
The reasons why the sailing yacht market declined so rapidly are open to interpretation. Obviously, the global financial forces that had such a profoundly negative effect on the wider market are partially to blame. However, for lack of qualitative evidence, my gut tells me that the decline has much to do with relationship between being cash rich and time poor and the contemporary perception of luxury. -- Rory Jackson, Superyacht News
Read more: www.superyachtnews.com/opinion/a-resurgent-sailing-yacht-market
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MDL's Hythe Marina is delighted to announce its next boat jumble will take place on the morning of Saturday 13th April 2019. The boat jumble is an annual event which draws sellers and buyers from across the South Coast in search of a bargain and is run by MDL and Hythe Marina Association.
Entry is free for visitors, who are welcomed from 9.30am.
Always popular, those who wish to set up their stall (be it out of their boot, or on a table) are advised to be at Hythe Marina Village, Shamrock Way, Hythe, Southampton SO45 6DZ by 8am in the morning.
Fees for selling are: car £10, 4x4s / vans £15, and car + trailer £20.
All profits from this great event will go to local good causes.
Phil Bridges, Hythe Marina's Night Lock Keeper, says: "The boat jumble is one of the events of the year. We normally get around 40 people selling goods, from inflatable ribs to oars and outboards. There is always a bargain to be found. And, once you've finished shopping, visitors are more than welcome to stay for lunch at our great restaurants, the Boathouse and Marine Seventeen."
Pitches can be booked by emailing p [DOT] bridges [AT] mdlmarinas [DOT] co [DOT] uk, or calling the Lock Office on 023 8020 7073. Limited short stay visitor berthing is available for this event, but please phone ahead to confirm a berth as they're subject to availability (£9.25 up to 15m - or at no cost to MDL Freedom Berthing customers).
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BHG Marine and Willow Marine have been sold to Lymington Marina for an undisclosed sum.
BHG and Willow Marine were owned and run by father and son team David and Paul Martin. David - who has spent 62 years working in the marine industry - will now retire, with Paul staying on as consultant to both businesses.
Both BHG Marine and Willow Marine - trading as BHG Service - will retain all staff and existing operations.
The Lymington BHG site will move from its Bridge Road home in Lymington over the next few months to a new showroom in Bath Road.
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UK-based deck hardware manufacturer Barton Marine has chosen EP Barrus and SailForce to distribute its products in Britain, effective March 29.
The new partnership looks to build on Barton's current market position and provide ever-increasing levels of technical support, customer service, stock availability and merchandising improvements for in-store presence, says the company.
Barton was previously represented in the UK by Marathon Leisure, which will continue to fulfill existing orders placed with them until the March 29 handover.
An extensive inventory of products from the Barton range will be stocked at the Barrus warehouse in Bicester, Oxfordshire, supported by an online ordering platform that provides visible real time stock figures for trade customers.
Barrus and SailForce are both UK companies committed to high-quality service levels. Following a detailed training program, the SailForce team will assist with all deck hardware requests, backed up by the Barton technical team in Whitstable, Kent.
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Torqeedo's new Deep Blue 100i integrated inboard electric propulsion system was honored today with a 2019 National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Innovation Award at the Miami International Boat Show. The Innovation Awards were judged by a team of experienced marine-industry journalists from Boating Writers International (BWI).
"Torqeedo keeps turning up the juice with electric propulsion for two new target markets - one for large torque needs as well as one for high-speed applications like tow boats," said BWI judge Pat Rains.
Torqeedo's new Deep Blue 100i is the first fully integrated inboard electric propulsion system for larger and faster planing and displacement boats. This new efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly electromobility solution incorporates a combination of innovations never before offered in the boating industry.
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AkzoNobel NV, the Dutch-based multinational maker of decorative paints and performance coatings, has reported mixed 2018 results due to adverse currency movements, pricier raw materials and lower volumes.
It put 2018 operating income at €798m, down from €905m in 2017.
Yet CEO Thierry Vanlancker called 2018 "a landmark year" for AkzoNobel, highlighted by the sale of its Specialty Chemicals division for €10.1bn to Carlyle Group and Singapore's GIC sovereign wealth fund.
The sale generated a net profit of €5.8bn. It was part of AkzoNobel's defense against a €26bn takeover bid in 2017 from US rival PPG Industries.
AkzoNobel is bullish on its newly introduced Paint the Future challenge, an outreach to startups. AkzoNobel uses it to leverage its scale and expertise with "ingenious solutions of startups and scale-ups" in the paints coatings sector to make the company a reference in innovation.
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The Last Word
The atmosphere was as phony as the Tudor balustrade that leered at me from the top of the staircase, and there she stood, radiant. All those curves showing through that flimsy burnoose. -- Nick Danger
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