In This Issue
• Winners Announced at Antigua Classics
• Falmouth Puts On Spectacular Display For Sir Robin
• Playing smart in the money markets
• Snell's K1 Sweeps The Weston Grand Slam
• 53rd annual Governor's Cup
• 2018 Handicap Rating Rules Report
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille: A Perfect 10
• Hong Kong to Puerto Galera Yacht Race
• Featured Brokerage
• The Last Word: Douglas Adams
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
Winners Announced at Antigua Classics
The final race for the 32nd edition of Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, sponsored by LOCMAN, was held off the stunning south coast of Antigua in relatively moderate conditions of 15 knots south of east. Whilst the breeze had eased from the previous three days of racing, the intensity of the competition was at a crescendo, eight of the classes were decided on the very last race.
In the Classic Schooner Class, Gonzalo Botin's 54' schooner Severine won the last race to take class honours. The 141' schooner Columbia, owned by Brian D'Isernia was runner up, and Tom Gallant's 47' schooner Avenger was third.
"Severine was built in 1993 and she is a replica of a 1927 two-masted gaff schooner designed by Alden," commented Gonzalo, a member of the famous Botin family from Santander, Spain. "I saw her for the first time in 2003, before I competed in the Mini-Transit, and I loved her from first sight. She is a lovely little schooner, really beautiful. This is the first time Severine has raced at 'Classics, it is a lovely regatta, full of tradition, and we have loved coming here and racing with the other beautiful yachts.
In the Historic Class, Jonty & Vicki Layfield's 1972 S&S Swan 48 Sleeper, finished the regatta off in style, winning the last race, to remain undefeated in four races. There was a three-way tie for second place! Geoffrey Pidduck's 1907 Six Metre Biwi Magic, took the runner up spot on countback from Tommy Paterson's Yachting World Diamond Rita, skippered by Tanner Jones. Markus Bocks' 1972 S&S Swan 48 Montana was out of luck, finishing just off the podium.
There were two more windward leeward races for the Dragon Class today, Rocco Falcone's Antigua young Yacht Club team won the first race to clinch the regatta win. Phil Hopton's team, also representing the AYC, won the last race, to win a close battle for second in the regatta. Gluca Perego's team representing YC Cortina, scored a 3-5 today to take third for the six-race series.
The Vintage Schooner Class was decided by countback, Richard West's 1928 50' schooner Charm III won the last race, to win from Gerald Rainer's 1926 53' Herreshoff schooner Mary Rose. Cameron Riddell's 1939 115' schooner Eros was third.
The Vintage Other Sail Plan Class went to the wire, Mathew Barker's 1929 65' Alfred Mylne sloop The Blue Peter, won today's race. However, the class winner for the regatta, by a single point was the 1936 41' Rasmussen sloop Seefalke II, skippered by Oliver Greensmith. Carlo Falcone's 1938 79' Alfred Mylne yawl Mariella was runner up for the regatta, and The Blue Peter was third. -- Louay Habib
Falmouth Puts On Spectacular Display For Sir Robin
A truly impressive flotilla of vessels, including Royal Navy warship HMS Mersey, and over one hundred supporting yachts of all shapes and sizes, joined Sir Robin, and Suhaili in Falmouth Harbour to recreate the historic moment he returned home 50 years ago to scenes of national jubilation, and changed the future of ocean racing forever.
After he stepped back on shore at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club in the precise location he took his first steps back on land after 312 days at sea in 1969, Sir Robin said: "Today has just felt like a fantastic display for my sport. I looked around out there and was so proud to see so many people out enjoying the day with me, celebrating something that happened 50 years ago. I feel truly honoured."
He added: "My pleasure comes from watching others getting to enjoy my sport. Sailing on the oceans, is the way I enjoy it, and as long as I can, I will go on persuading others to try it because once you have, you will understand and be captivated by it like I was."
As the clock struck 1525 - the precise time he crossed the finish line those fifty years previously - the warship and all the yachts sounded their horns in salute to the man who not only inspired the nation but also the world, and changed the face of ocean exploration for ever more.
Among the many supporters turning out to help re-create Sir Robin's moment were family members, friends, colleagues and sailing comrades from across the decades, as well as local well-wishers who were there to see him return in 1969.
Commenting on the appearance of the Royal Navy today, Sir Robin, said: "My huge gratitude to the crew of HMS Mersey for taking the time to join us here today, I feel very grateful for their support.
"I love the Navy. I joined when I was 16 and I think it is one of the greatest careers open to a young person these days. More people should want to join. It's a brilliant life and a brilliant service. I learned my trade as a Merchant Navy officer and that's really what gave me the skills and the confidence to go out and sail around the world. Without the Navy, I would never have done what I did."
There was another boat that Sir Robin was keen to make part of the day, as he explains: "I invited Lively Lady to come and join us. She also went around the world around the same time as me, though made a couple of stops. I was lucky enough to know Alec Rose, her Skipper. He was a lovely man, and I was proud to have his boat with me. His team have done a phenomenal restoration job on her and she is part of our culture, our history. She is run by volunteers and they are doing an important job but they do need our support."
Whilst many people got to join Sir Robin and the celebrations in Falmouth, many more from around the world have been sending in their well-wishes from afar, detailing how their lives have been changed by Sir Robin's achievements.
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Snell's K1 Sweeps The Weston Grand Slam
Andrew Snell's K1 keelboat won the Weston Grand Slam convincingly on a tropical and light airs Easter weekend in Southampton Water. With 48 entries, this was the first tidal event in the Great British Sailing Challenge calendar and an opportunity for monohull dinghies, multihulls and small keelboats all to compete against each other. At times, all boat types had a sniff of the front of the fleet but the dying breeze ultimately suited the momentum of Snell's K1.
The main event over Saturday and Sunday was preceded by the Rooster Time Trials on Good Friday. A bit like the qualifying session of a Formula One grand prix, the aim is to clock the fastest time (under handicap) around the course. There was a window between 12pm and 3pm, with many of the fast boats waiting ashore in the belief that the final hour would bring a good sea breeze, whilst the slow boats headed out early. In the end the breeze died as the sea and land breeze battled it out, meaning the fastest laps recorded early on. It was a local Enterprise that benefited from the lighter breezes, with Christopher and Kayleigh Spencer winning the Rooster Time Trials
As for the massed fleet, race one took place in the best breeze of Saturday, as the occasional gust wafted across the course at about 10 knots. Race one was won on corrected time by Ralph and Sophie Singleton in their RS800 ahead of John Tuckwell's Nacra Carbon 20 from Bala. Just six handicap seconds behind the foiling catamaran was Snell's singlehanded keelboat with the Formula 18s of Grant Piggott/ Simon Farren and Simon Northrop/ Caleb Cooper in fifth and sixth.
With the wind beginning to die for Race 2, the fast catamarans struggled to match their handicap performance of the earlier heat, although Tuckwell still managed fourth on corrected time. Snell's K1 was really coming into its won, dominating the race while Steve and Sarah Cockerill finished 2nd in their RS400 ahead of Val Millward's Challenger trimaran.
Race 3 was even more of a drifter which again gave Snell the victory, this time ahead of Rich Vincent's RS Aero 9 and Dave Barker's Hadron H2.
The sailors enjoyed some great evening hospitality at Weston Sailing Club and hoped for some more close racing on Sunday. However, the wind didn't show up and so the scores from Saturday would stand, with three races not permitting a discard. Snell became the winner ahead of the Cockerills' RS400 and a Europe sailed by Emma Pearson. Overall results are here
53rd annual Governor's Cup
Newport Beach, CA: The Selection Committee for Balboa Yacht Club's Governor's Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship, presented by Disc Sports and Spine Center, today named ten skippers and a first alternate to compete in this year's 53rd Annual "GovCup". Based on the April World Sailing Open (non-age limited) match racing rankings of the invited skippers, the Club may again seek an upgrade from World Sailing to Grade 1 status, as was granted for the 2018 Governor's Cup.
This year's RNZYS skippers include 2017 and 2018 runner-up Leonard Takahashi, as well as Nick Egnot-Johnson, a rising match racing star with a win in the 2018 U.S. "Grand Slam" series and a 5th place finish in his first Congressional Cup last month. They will be joined by Jordan Stevenson, winner of Australia's Harken youth match racing event and a podium finisher in two other major events in Australia and New Zealand.
United States skippers include Jack Parkin (Riverside YC / Stanford Sailing Team), a former U.S. Youth Match Racing Champion who finished just out of the semi-finals in his first GovCup last year, and Wade Waddell (American YC / Boston College Sailing Team) winner of the 2018 U.S. Intercollegiate Match Racing Championships. Frank Dair, (California YC), who won Australia's Musto Youth MR Championship and was a podium finisher at the Harken series last in 2018 was also selected.
There will be at least one additional USA skipper named at the conclusion of the U.S. Youth Match Racing Championship for the Rose Cup hosted by San Diego YC in late June.
The 53rd Annual Governor's Cup, presented by Disc Sports and Spine Center, will be held July 15-20, 2019.
www.balboayachtclub.com/govcup
2018 Handicap Rating Rules Report
A two-year look at handicap racing rules and VPP scoring
Ratings based on velocity prediction programs are gaining advocates across North America. Here are the numbers.
The total number of boats with rating certificates derived from measurements and a velocity prediction program is on the rise in North America. As our end-of-year survey proved, the market is moving, and the team at the Offshore Racing Association (ORA) is encouraging that move.
Note that for the purposes of this survey, we have included the single-number rating rule, IRC, which is not a VPP-based rule but in many areas competes for market share with current VPP-based rules. Note also that the ORA owns and manages three VPP-based rules—Offshore Racing Rule (ORR), ORR-Ez, and ORR-Mh (multihull).
Reviewing the published 2018 data from the groups managing the IRC, ORCi, and ORC Club, as well as the ORR and ORR-Ez, shows that 1,543 certificates were issued to boats in North America last year. This is an increase of about 400 compared to 2017, a 35-percent lift, and is the result of growth in three of the five rules surveyed. -- John Horton, Executive Director, Offshore Racing Assn.
Seahorse May 2019
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Tsunami of talent
Non-Figaristes, beware... come the 2020 Vendee Globe there is a whole flood of fresh but extremely battle-hardened Figaro talent joining you all on match day. Nicolas Troussel talks to Jocelyn Bleriot
Hidden horsepower
Once the exclusive preserve of the mega yachts the benefits of captive winch technology are now becoming available to (us) mere mortals...
Not just a pretty face
The rest of the smarts behind Sailmon's easy-to-readeven- in-bright-sunlight displays are very cool too...
To fly or not to fly...
Dave Hollom has no concerns about the performance and manoeuvrability of the new AC75s. It's getting going that worries him
Lean (and hungry)
There is good reason for those who train the current crop of America's Cup sailors to be worried about keeping their charges healthy and happy. Alan Boot and Mark Chisnell
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Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille: A Perfect 10
The 10th edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille delivered a perfect '10' across all categories: great breeze and challenging race courses, shoreside fun, and even three perfect scorelines within the nine classes racing: Peter Harrison's Sorcha (Maxi 1), Andy Berdon's Summer Story (CSA 2) and Sergio Sagramoso's Lazy Dog (CSA 3).
One of three classes to set the standard, Peter Harrison's Sorcha led the Maxi 1 class the entire way, followed by SHK Scallywag, the Dowell 100 skippered by David Witt; and Ambersail, Saulius Pajarskas' Volvo 65.
Not only did Sorcha win the class, they also bring home the Richard Mille Maxi Cup and win the coveted Richard Mille RM 60-01 watch*.
"It was great having Peter and Pierre alternate driving," said Andy Clark, Sorcha boat captain referring to Pierre Casiraghi, Monaco royalty and this year's Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille ambassador who joined the Sorcha team for the week as co-skipper.
Clark admitted the team was really looking forward to racing against the new Bella Mente to gauge the season. "But unfortunately, they had an issue with their mast and had to withdraw before racing began which was a real shame. Now we will wait until September to line up against them."
The 2020 Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille is planned for April 12 - 18, 2020.
Hong Kong to Puerto Galera Yacht Race
Sailing across the Limit Point Line (where the course had been shortened) at 18h 28m 36s last night, Fred Kinmonth's and Nick Burns' GTS 43 Mandrake III took the IRC Overall win in the inaugural Hong Kong to Puerto Galera Yacht Race with an elapsed time of 103h 08m 36s.
This will be their second win in a row in a Hong Kong to Philippines race having won IRC Overall in the 2018 Rolex China Sea Race. As planned before the start, this was Fred's last offshore race and he remarked on arrival, "How do I feel about my last offshore? It's like a whole lifetime has passed before my eyes. All I can look forward to is slippers, a pipe, a warm fire, retirement and that rosy glow of knowing one's done their best!"
With the IRC 0 Division finishing in Puerto Galera and the IRC Overall being calculated from the Limit Point Line, two unprecedented results have occurred with Antipodes winning the IRC 0 Division with a corrected time of 133h 16m 52s over Standard Insurance Centennial's 134h 35m 41s and Standard Insurance Centennial coming second in IRC Overall with a corrected time of 123h 09m 11s ahead of Antipodes' 124h 42m 13s.
As mentioned before, second in IRC Overall, Line Honours win and race record went to Ernesto Echauz's R/P 75 Standard Insurance Centennial from the Philippines.
Winner of the HKPN division went to Michael Ashbrook's Jeanneau 469 Sitka followed by Dean Chisholm's Hanse 40 Darling.
The only yacht which continues to race is Chin Yew Seah's A40 Rc Avant Garde, however with the 1800hrs cut off time tonight it seems highly unlikely they will get to the finish with the current conditions.
Full provisional results are available at www.hkpuertogalerarace.com/results
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The Last Word
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