In This Issue
• Antigua Bermuda Race
• Argo Group Gold Cup
• B&G Zeus³ 9 chartplotter with world basemap
• D35 Trophy opener: Alinghi returns to victory
• Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead: Race 3 - ISORA Offshore Series
• Full house - Sevenstar Yacht Transport
• Limerick's Ketch Ilen to Be Put in Focus With "Salmons Wake" Voyage to Greenland
• 80 Seconds with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
• A Legendary Yacht with a great Cause has Registered for the North Sea Regatta
• Correction
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Brenta B38
• • Ker 40 - "Hooligan VII"
• • IMERYS Class 40
• The Last Word: Philomene Long
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
Antigua Bermuda Race
The third edition of the Antigua Bermuda Race organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week will start on Wednesday 8 May 1200 (AST). The 935 nautical-mile ocean race has attracted a diverse fleet of yachts from the 100ft carbon flyer SHK Scallywag, to the 1938 Classic Mariella - and just about everything in between. The common denominator is the need to sail north after the finish of the Caribbean season.
The Antigua Bermuda Race gives purpose to the need to go north, offering safety in numbers with satellite tracking and the added attraction of two fabulous parties in Nelson's Dockyard Antigua and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. The rich diversity of the travels of the competing yachts is astounding.
The 100ft Supermaxi SHK Scallywag (HKG) is the hot favourite for Line Honours. Skippered by David Witt, the team will be representing the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and will sail on to Newport, Rhode Island, USA for the forthcoming Transatlantic Race 2019. Given the right conditions, SHK Scallywag is very capable of beating the race record set last year by Stephen Murray, Jr. (USA) Volvo 70 Warrior (2 days, 18 hours, 32 minutes and 48 seconds).
The Antigua Bermuda Race is part of the Atlantic Ocean Race Series. Three teams will pick up valuable points prior to the start of the Transatlantic Race 2019: SHK Scallywag, Pata Negra (GBR), and Hermes II (CAN).
Lombard 46 Pata Negra, skippered by Andy Lis, will be competing for the second year. Following last year's race, owner Giles Redpath skippered the boat to an overall win in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race.
Pogo 12.50 Hermes, co-skippered by Morgen Watson & Meg Reilly has competed in all previous editions of the Antigua Bermuda Race. They have been in the Caribbean since November, racing at numerous regattas. Between them, co-skippers Morgen Watson (CAN) and Meg Reilly (USA), have sailed 180,000 nautical miles offshore, including 19 Atlantic crossings!
Tracking: yb.tl/a2b2019
Argo Group Gold Cup
Hamilton, Bermuda: Racing for the 69th Argo Group Gold Cup is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning, May 7, at 1000 hours on Hamilton Harbour, just off the docks of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
The first match on the schedule pits grizzled veteran Johnie Berntsson of Sweden, a two-time winner of the King Edward VII Gold Cup, against first-time participant Kelsey Durham, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club representative.
Other matches in the first flight include Maxime Mesnil of France (sailing his first Argo Group Gold Cup) racing Chris Poole of the U.S., Ettore Botticini (the reigning Youth Match Racing World Champion) of Italy racing Eric Monnin (the World No. 1-ranked match racer) of Switzerland and Australian Torvar Mirsky (the reigning Open match racing world champion), against Lucy Macgregor (the reigning Women's match racing world champion) of the U.K.
Pauline Courtois (Women's No. 1-ranked skipper) of France makes her Argo Group Gold Cup debut in the third flight of matches when she takes on Nicklas Dackhammar of Sweden in Match 3. Harry Price of Australia, another first-time entrant, makes his debut one match later, against Mirsky.
B&G Zeus³ 9 chartplotter with world basemap
The Zeus³ 9 is a complete chartplotter navigation system for blue water cruisers and regatta racers. This ultra-bright, wide-angle display combines an all-weather 9-inch touchscreen with a rotary dial and keypad for ultimate control in all conditions. Easily leverage dedicated, race-proven sailing features such as SailSteer, Laylines, and RacePanel. Connect with online services and mobile devices using built-in Wi-Fi, and integrate seamlessly with a wide range of instruments and accessories for greater safety, performance, and enjoyment on the water.
Enjoy full control whatever the conditions with Zeus³. Ideal for the serious cruising or racing sailor, Zeus³ boasts a stunning touschscreen and keypad, high-speed processor and B&G's award-winning sailing features. Let Zeus³ guide you to your destination.
The SolarMAX HD screen ensures perfect visibility in all conditions. Zeus³'s screen has been tested to the limit in everything from tropical sunlight to the depths of the southern ocean and polar winters. You can see it through polarised sunglasses, and the responsive touchscreen works even in flying spray and rough sea.
Zeus³ has an integrated rotary dial and keypad that can take over control of all functions in extreme conditions, along with customisable keys for instant access to frequently-used functions.
D35 Trophy opener: Alinghi returns to victory
After nine rounds sailed in a rather strong wind (La Bise so strong that it grounded the crews on Sunday), Alinghi, Zen Too and Ylliam-Comptoir Immobilier took the spots on the podium of this opening Grand Prix organised by the Société Nautique de Genève.
Yves Detrey, Bowman: "The team has had a good recovery period and our good form in training has been confirmed in these regattas. "In order not to repeat the mistakes of the end of last season, we worked on the fundamentals and found a certain calmness on board. We did things simply, though as a team we still have to find some things to click to operate as one given the arrival of Bryan on board. "But we are on the up and will do everything to make it last!"
Two incidents, almost unnoticed, but what happened?
"One was due to a composite piece that was starting to get tired. The boats are old now. We've been racing for quite a few years and it was a weekend with strong wind. Suddenly we lost two sets of mainsail and jib settings. It was necessary to find a solution during the race, to finish it, which is what we managed to do. Then to find a more secure fix in the break between two heats.
"The next day, a block broke under stress. There was no apparent or obvious wear and so it is difficult to predict. But it's part of the game. Fortunately we managed to tinker again during the round, without losing too much ground."
The seven teams in the 16th D35 Trophy will next be lining-up on the Nyon-side of the Lake from 17 to 19 May for the Realstone Grand Prix.
Full results: d35trophy.com/classements/
Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead: Race 3 - ISORA Offshore Series
The first offshore race of the ISORA Offshore Championship 2019 took place on the 4th May with a starting time of 08.00. 19 boats from the entry list of 20 came to the start line in Dun Laoghaire.
The course was decided early by the Racing Committee due to the long term forecast of northerly winds. The forecast promised gusty and cold conditions in the Irish Sea. With Races 1 & 2 blown out due to Storm Hannah on the previous week, the fleet needed some "comfort racing" conditions. It was decided that the race would be from the start, direct to the finish in Holyhead harbour leaving South Burford to Port - approximately 55 miles.
The weather forecast for Race 3 was predicting northerly 15-20 knots however the winds picked up in the afternoon and veered more north-easterly.
As the fleet crossed the Irish Sea, Andrew Hall's "Jackknife" led the way followed closely by Chris Power-Smith's "Aurelia", Brendan Coughlan's "YoYo" and Paul O'Higgins "Rockabill VI". The lead position on IRC changed constantly during the race amongst these four lead boats. However, it was "Rockabill VI" ability to fly a Code 0 for the last hour and a half of the race that got them over the line to take the race Overall and Class 0.
Class 1 was won by Nige Ingram's "Jetstream" and Class 2 was won by Irish Offshore Sailing's boat "Desert Star". They also took the two handed prize.
Yellowbrick Tracking: www.isora.org
Full house - Sevenstar Yacht Transport
Very rarely... given the capacity of Sevenstar's fleet to ship even the very largest yachts to the world's premier regattas
The allure of bucket list races and regattas around the world and the strong interest in participation has prompted a revolution in yacht transport. 'It's quite amazing how we have been able to modernise what has been a traditional industrial sector to adapt to the unique demands for safe and effective transport of fragile items like racing yachts,' says Wouter Verbraak, head of racing logistics at Sevenstar.
Decades ago most boats were delivered from one region to another, with the length and difficulty of the voyage often constraining the choices of which races were within reach. Deliveries were often epic adventures for the delivery crews, but they could also be very time-consuming and often prone to delays and damage.
Those that did choose to travel by ship often had difficulties: poor handling of the boat and spars often caused damage, while inefficient paperwork handling and bureaucracy would also cause delays.
Now, however, efficiencies within the top segment of the shipping industry have not only helped global commerce, but yacht transport as well.
Full article in the May issue of Seahorse
Limerick's Ketch Ilen to Be Put in Focus With "Salmons Wake" Voyage to Greenland
On a gentle day early in 2019 in Limerick, Ilen is finally able to set her complete new suit of fore-and-aft sails. Photo: Gary MacMahon. Click on image to enlarge.
The historic ketch Ilen of Limerick puts to sea again from her home port this weekend at the beginning of a complex 2019 sailing programme which will see the restored ship voyage in July towards southwest Greenland writes W M Nixon. She'll be following in the wake of the migratory salmon which have journeyed since time immemorial between the Shannon and Greenland's only salmon river, the Kapisillit at the head of a fjord at Nuuk, Greenland's capital and Ilen's primary destination.
Ireland's last surviving sailing trading ketch, the 1926-built 56ft Ilen was originally designed by global circumnavigator Conor O'Brien to be the inter-island freight and ferry vessel in the Falkland Islands, and he sailed her out there after she'd been built by Tom Moynihan and his men at the Fishery Schools in Baltimore. When Ilen was retired from active service in the islands in the 1990s, Conor O'Brien enthusiast Gary Mac Mahon of Limerick set about trying to bring her home for restoration.
In November 1997 he achieved his first goal when Ilen was finally lifted off a ship in Dublin Docks. After wintering in the city's Grand Canal basin, she sailed for the first time in many years in Dublin Bay in May 1998, and soon made the passage to West Cork for the Baltimore Wooden Boat Festival and the Glandore Classics Regatta.
However, it was obvious that a huge project of restoration work was required to make the ship compliant with survey requirements for regular sea-going, and for several years she was virtually moth-balled. But in time a programme was devised - the Ilen Project - whereby the main hull restoration would be undertaken by master shipwright Liam Hegarty at Oldcourt Boatyard on the Ilen River above Baltimore in West Cork, while 180-kilometres away in Limerick, Gary Mac Mahon and the Ilen Network established an international project, the Ilen Boat-Building School, which made many of the detailed items such as the hatches and deckhouses, and the spars and rigging came out of this extensive Limerick workshop as well.
This ambitious Salmons Wake Voyage will take over Ilen's 2019 programme at the end of June. But meanwhile, the first part of the 2019 season involves Ilen interacting with the Sailing Into Wellness movement, with a series of short voyages along Ireland's south and east coasts. -- WM Nixon
80 Seconds with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
To celebrate the 80th birthday of their Brand Ambassador, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, MS Amlin has created a series of twelve videos titled "80 Seconds with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston", presented by the legendary Dee Caffari.
Each episode will delve into the mind of Sir Robin to discover his thoughts on topics including the lure of the sea, the future of sailing and how it has been impacted by the changing environment. Whilst sailing aboard Suhaili with his talented peer and friend Dee Caffari, they were able to capture conversations and special moments which allow them to bring you a unique insight into one of the world's most famous sailors. Watch the trailer and first two episodes on their YouTube Channel now.
A Legendary Yacht with a great Cause has Registered for the North Sea Regatta
A legendary sailing yacht, the Flyer, and a legendary sailing race, the Rolex Fastnet, will meet for the first time this year and will also have the pleasure to see this team compete in the North Sea Regatta. A team of sailing enthusiasts will participate in the Rolex Fastnet Race with the Flyer, the sailing yacht with which Conny van Rietschoten won the Whitbread Round the World in 1978.
The purpose of the race; pleasure, achievement, enthusiasm for offshore sailing and a tribute to the Flyer, which has nevertheless played a leading role in one of the highlights in Dutch sailing history.
The aim of the Flyer's First Fastnet campaign is to draw attention to SKOV. This foundation is committed to allowing children with cancer to enjoy a carefree holiday. At many of the camps, these children can enjoy various water sport options. Donations for this foundation can be made at Flyer-SKOV
To follow the Flyer's First Fastnet campaign go to www.flyersfirstfastnet.com or follow us on social media under flyersfirstfastnet.
Correction
There was a an error in the RORC Cervantes race report in Monday's issue.
In the multihulls Buzz took line honours finishing just under 2 hours ahead of Tancrede who won the class on handicap
Featured Brokerage
2005 Brenta B38. 249000 USD Located in Vineyard Haven MA
Extensively upgraded and updated example of the blisteringly fast and easy-to-sail Luca Brenta designed B38 daysailor. Huge spec and 100% ready to go.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
GRABAU INTERNATIONAL
Lead broker - Alex Grabau
Tel: +44 (0)1590 673715
Email: alex [AT] grabauinternational [DOT] com
-----------------------------------------
2011 Ker 40 - "Hooligan VII". 245,000 GBP. Located in Hamble, UK,
Want an IRC or ORC winning boat, capable of Inshore and Offshore success?... Look no further Hooligan VII is now available at a fraction of the new boat cost and with recent optimization is back at the front of the rating game! Very strong inventory and recent cosmetic improvements too.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats
+64 277733717
+44 2380 016582
sampearson [AT] ancasta [DOT] com
-----------------------------------------
2013 IMERYS Class 40. 320,000 EUR. Located in Lorient, France.
Winner of the 2018 and 2017 Class 40 Championship, Imerys is fresh back from a podium in the Route du Rhum in great condition for immediate sale.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Phil Sharp:
+44 7973 378997
phil [AT] philsharpracing [DOT] com
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
A poet needs air, some nutrients, and time. -- Philomene Long
Editorial and letter submissions to editor [AT] eurosailnews [DOT] com
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb [AT] beesonstone [DOT] com or see www.eurosailnews.com/advertise.html