In This Issue
• On the matter of Iker Martinez
• ORA H-Zero Handicap Analysis
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• Maiden Documentary
• 2020 Newport to Bermuda Race News
• Phantom announces 2019 sailing events calendar
• Kiel Week
• Father & Son Duo Set To Compete In Final Regatta
• Letters to the Editor
• Featured Brokerage
• The Last Word: Steven Pinker
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
On the matter of Iker Martinez
World Sailing has released their report on the matter of a disciplinary process against Spanish sailor Iker Martinez.
On 2 August, Martinez's boat, ESP 70, was inspected in accordance with ER 4.1. During the inspection, the maximum distance that the daggerboard bearing could move (between the back of the bearing and the front of the worm drive), was measured to be 79.5mm on both hulls.
Following a review process, and having carried out checks against a reference sample of 45 boats, the Jury found that ESP 70 had revealed deviation significantly greater than permitted by the manufacturing tolerances under the class rules. As ESP 70 did not comply with the Nacra 17 class rules, a DNE penalty for race 1 was applied because the breach was, in the Jury's opinion, deliberate. ESP 70 did not complete equipment inspection and the subsequent registration so did not sail at the Championships.
The Jury reported the matter to the Event Disciplinary Investigating Officer (EDIO). Following an investigation carried out by the EDIO at the event, the EDIO charged Martinez with misconduct under RRS 69 and a hearing took place before the International Jury.
Following the hearing, the International Jury found that it was comfortably satisfied that Martinez deliberately modified ESP 70 in breach of the class rules and concealed the modification and therefore had committed a breach of good sportsmanship. Further, the Jury found that Martinez did not tell the truth to the EDIO or the International Jury and was therefore in breach of good sportsmanship and had committed unethical behaviour.
The Jury deemed that a significant penalty was appropriate however given the limited range of penalties available to the Jury at the time, they excluded Martinez from the venue and revoked his accreditation.
The decision was reported to World Sailing under RRS 69.2 (j)(2) and World Sailing Regulation 35.4.7.
The DIO has been presented with a statement from a third party, affirmed before a notary public, that they carried out the modifications to ESP 70 and not Mr Martinez.
Having considered this further evidence the DIO concluded that further action was not warranted because it was likely the Independent Panel appointed to consider further charges would not be comfortably satisfied that a case for further disciplinary action had been made out.
This decision is independent of the International Jury's decision, which considered the issues at the event and not the question of further disciplinary action.
Following this decision, World Sailing's Board of Directors has requested the Executive Office to appoint a review group to examine improvements in the investigation and prosecution of equipment cheating, the use of discretionary penalties for equipment infringements, and the consequences for sailors who present boats at inspection which do not comply with the rules.
The Board of Directors has also affirmed its position that owners and persons in charge must be held responsible for the actions of those who work for them. The review group will report to the Board of Directors by May 2019.
The paper in whole: www.sailing.org/tools/documents/MartinezReport-[24818].pdf
Offshore Racing Association Research Announced: The ORA H-Zero Handicap Analysis
The Offshore Racing Association announces the launch of a 2019 research study called "The ORA H-Zero Handicap Analysis," a multi-part project with the Marion Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race Association (MBCYRA) and Newport Bermuda Race Organizing Committee (BROC). The research is led by ORA Technical Director James Teeters and initial funding has been secured.
The purpose of the study is to use existing computer-modeled wind records called H0 (Zero) GRIB files to extract a summary of wind conditions that boats would have experienced in each part of a past race and use the data to enhance current scoring methodologies.
Funding commitments in place to date come from the MBCYRA, the Cruising Club of America (co-sponsor of the Newport Bermuda Race), and individual donors within the CCA.
Last year, Teeters collaborated on a study with the MBCYRA, providing a means of more fairly handicapping the race when light-wind conditions dramatically slow the fleet in the middle of the race. In Phase 1 of the 2019 H-Zero Handicap Analysis, the ORA will monitor the 2019 race from Marion and critique the initial work, suggesting further improvements.
In Phase 2, the ORA will conduct test scoring of the actual Marion to Bermuda Race using the H0 wind records, running competing boats through an optimal routing program to compare a boat's elapsed time against the theoretical best elapsed time it could have achieved with a perfect race. This means that a boat is scored against itself given the conditions that existed on the racecourse. MBCYRA organizers plan to run this as a scoring experiment (without awarding prizes) and then evaluate the results.
In Phase 3, ORA research will retrieve H0 wind records of several past races to Bermuda, run a representative fleet of boats through optimal routing, and compile a table of the combinations of wind angles and wind speeds experienced. The Newport Bermuda Race organizers will use that analysis to consider fine-tuning the assumptions in the Performance Curve Scoring (PCS) system used for the 2020 Newport Bermuda Race.
The ORA H-Zero Handicap Analysis aligns with the ORA's mission to promote sailors' enjoyment of the sport by improving current rating rules. Other study participants and additional research phases may be announced in coming months.
The Offshore Racing Association is a non-profit organization based in Newport, RI. Its family of rating rules - ORR, ORR-Ez, and ORR-Mh (multihull) - are based on a proprietary velocity prediction program the ORA developed, owns and maintains.
Seahorse March 2019
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Update
Sad times -November 1969 and the first edition of Seahorse has just appeared. Now Anthony Churchill who started the whole story off has gone; Tim Jeffery and Lucy Pumfrey remember a polymath with Sydney-Hobart and Admiral's Cup victories on his CV. Plus, just where is that Hobart race headed, who's showing at the party and loving the mule. Jack Griffin, Terry Hutchinson and David Salter
World news
An Imoca explosion... VDH's rearguard action, small race big challenges, Storm Trysail does not stand still, exporting a (rainy) Solent to (balmy) Block Island. Patrice Carpentier, Ivor Wilkins, Blue Robinson, Dobbs Davis
(South Seas) legend
The biannual Transpac too short for you, then why not try the Transpac Tahiti which is more than half as long again. Of course you can always do both, like ocean racing veteran John Jordane...
Paul Cayard - Taking responsibility
Meet the chairman of the board!
(Still) the greatest game in town
Hello, Mr Bond... a new boat from the east and a 'new' crew put to the test. Andi Robertson
RORC news - Fastnet frenzy
Eddie Warden-Owen
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Maiden Documentary
Released on 8 March 2019 to coincide with International Women's Day, Maiden is a feature length documentary on Tracy Edwards.
The film tells the story of 24 year-old Edwards, a cook on charter boats, who became the skipper of the first ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989.
Tracy Edwards had her first Whitbread Round the World Race experience working in the galley of the boat Atlantic Privateer. She enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to take part as a skipper and three years later she bought the 58ft yacht Maiden. Edwards put together an all - and first - female crew and entered the race. The crew went on to win two of the Whitbread legs and came second in class overall.
2020 Newport to Bermuda Race News
Bermuda Race Night is coming soon either to your yacht club or one nearby: The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee is working with several yachts clubs, ranging from Nova Scotia throughout New England, to the Chesapeake and the Great Lakes, to present a John Rousmaniere-authored piece about the race. If your club would like us to make a presentation to your members, please contact Race Vice Chairman Kenyon Kellogg to make arrangements.
This month, we're highlighting a video interview with Mark Lenci, organizer and leader of the series of Safety at Sea Courses sponsored by The Cruising Club of America. Mark is a firm believer in building a safety ethos that helps a crew avoid trouble in the first place. As a participant at the January course, I can assure you that these courses are extremely worthwhile to all crew, particularly those in leadership positions.
As a reminder for the 2020 Bermuda Race: ALL Captains, and 30 percent of the rest of the crew, must have a current certificate of completion of an International Offshore Safety at Sea Course with Hands on Training. Certificates are issued by World Sailing and US Sailing, and are valid for five years from the date the course is taken. For the Newport Bermuda Race, they are valid for the next three races following the date of the course. So, there is no reason to wait: get your certificate now and avoid the last-minute crowds.
This extension of the validity of the certificate for our race is one of what I hope is many examples of our effort to make it easier for competitors to qualify and participate. Another example, which I've mentioned before, is that we have a new yacht inspection policy for those whose boats have been previously inspected.
We also recently released a Competitor Guide on the Bermuda Race website, making loads of good information available for those planning to sail the next race. And this week we posted a great perspective on the entire race experience, by Finisterre Division competitor, Peter Holmes.
Phantom announces 2019 sailing events calendar
The 13 events are open to all Flying Phantom Owners: Professional sailors with solid foiling experience and Week-end sailors who are just new to foiling.
"Keeping all events in Europe and Caribbean was a deliberate choice, following FP Series experience on the Extreme Sailing Series where the events were in the four corners of the world, involving high logistics costs", says Charles Hainneville, who manages the FP Elite league. "And most importantly, we wanted to mix professional competitors with week-end sailors. This is is essence of the new format and everyone will benefit from it. The Pros will enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere with less logistics, and the week-end sailors will learn and progress from watching and talking with foiling cat specialists".
Racing will be a mix of long distance, racing and stadium formats, tailored for week-end racers or pro sailors. More details soon with the Racing Rules.
The FP Elite League (ex FP Series) will feature two different rankings :
- the CUP, for Amateur sailors : ranking by skipper, one discard
- the SERIES, for Pro-Am sailors : ranking by boat, no discard
The 2019 calendar does not only include RACING events but also three CAMPS with foiling specialists and training races. Two in April-May on the French coast and one in mid-season in Italy. These camps will help sailors improve their foiling skills.
ACT 1: 5-7th April : ENVSN, Quiberon, France. Camp
ACT 2: 27-28th April, Biscarosse, France. Camp
ACT 3: 2-4th May, Eurocat, Carnac, France. Racing
ACT 4: 10-12th May, Raid Cup Legend, La Baule, France. Racing
ACT 5: June TBC, Finist'Air, Brest, France. Racing
ACT 6: 21-23rd June, Dunkerque, France. Racing
ACT 7: 28-30th June, Raid Emeraude, St Lunaire, France. Racing
ACT 8: Mid July TBC, Lake Garda, Italy. Racing + Camp
ACT 9: September TBC, event in Switzerland. Racing
ACT 10: 27-29th September, Barcelona, Spain. Racing
ACT 11: 5-6th October, Catagolf, Arradon, France. Racing
ACT 12: 19-22nd October : X-Trem Gliss Crozon, France. Racing
ACT 13: 4-11th November : Martinique Flying Regatta, Fort-de-France, Racing
www.phantom-internationalclass.com
Kiel Week
Kiel Week will continue to be international. For the first time, the Marselisborg Yacht Club/Sailing Arhus has joined the organization team of the Kiel Week (22. - 30. June).
"The combination of the World Championships of the Olympic classes in Arhus was a great success, and we have seen great race committees. Therefore we thought about working more closely together with the Danish", said Dirk Ramhorst, Head of Organization of the Kiel Week regattas.
Next to the 'Kiel Yacht Club', the 'Norddeutscher Regatta-Verein' and the 'Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee', it is the first international club joining the organization team at the Kiel Week.
With the Olympic classes, the 2.4mR, the OK European Championship as well as the offshore regattas also 15 international classes are part of the Kiel Week, which is presenting the whole spectrum of sailing from 22. until 30. June.
And while the National German Team is performing its "freestyle" program in Kiel-Schilksee and in the years 2019 and 2020 is looking at the starting spots for the nations in Enoshima, the Kiel Week is looking even more into the future than at the Olympics in Japan. In France 2024, new sailing disciplines will be at the start line. One of them is Mixed Doublehand Offshore.
"In the discussion about the Sailing World Cup, World Sailing criticized our mixture of Olympic, international and offshore events, but especially the last ones now prove to be also perfect for World Sailing. Because we are the only 'classical' event, which can now react immediately on the doublehand offshore format", said Dirk Ramhorst.
The new Olympic discipline from 2024 "Mixed Doublehand Offshore" is in the Kiel Week program from Wednesday until Sunday. Short, medium or long distance tracks are according to the Olympic program, but not only for mixed crews. They will be sailing on yachts with ORC Club measurement. Also the married couple Roland and Nahid Gaebler are among the starting crews.
Kiel is also offering the mixed version for the double hand dinghy 470, because the double hand dinghy sailing in the mixed version shall become Olympic in 2024
The NOR is now posted: www.kieler-woche.de/en/sailing/nor.php
Father & Son Duo Set To Compete In Final Regatta
The 2019 49er, 49erFX & Nacra17 European Championship, this year to be competed on the waters off Weymouth, will see Olympic hopefuls pushing to qualify their countries and themselves for the ever nearer Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020. There is one team however, who aren't as concerned with qualification, as they are with enjoying the ride.
Father and son duo, Roger (65) and Simon (35) Coles from Lee on Solent Sailing Club will be competing for one last time together in the 49er, before Roger 'hangs up his harness'. First stepping foot on a 49er in 1998, Roger says he's accumulated "about 15 years" in a class that is "simple to setup, physically demanding but very rewarding when you get it right."
In a country such as England, where double handed boats are many and varied, it's a fair question to ask 'Why the 49er?' As the helm, Simon says "Once you have planed upwind on the wire, as a helmsman you won't go back to sitting out. With the upgrades to the carbon rig over the years, the boat just got better and better to sail. It's still one of the few boats that just going for a sail in can be as rewarding as racing." Simon's first foray into 49er sailing was aged 16, and he owned his first boat aged 17, in 2000.
At 65 years young, Roger is a testament to the class and its use-ability for a wide range of sailors. The sheet loads are light and easy to handle, and the ergonomics which set the boat apart when it was first released in 1996, ensure's the potential for injury is minimal compared to other double handed high performance classes. With the introduction of the 49erFX rig in 2012, which is set atop the standard 49er hull, there is also the option for lighter sailors or those wanting a more manageable setup.
The 49er Class wishes the best of luck to Roger and Simon at the 2019 Europeans, and maybe if they're still having fun they will delay retirement until the Masters Worlds, planned for Lake Como in August 2020. With that regatta immediately following a Junior Worlds, there will be plenty of charters available.
www.rya.org.uk/racing-events/2019-europeans
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