In This Issue
• Stormy First Night Ahead for Transatlantic Race 2019 Fleet
• Fredrik Loof secures second OK Dinghy European title at Kieler Woche
• Hunger & Jess Win The 2019 505 Euro Cup In Kiel
• NeilPryde Sailing's new summer 2019 collection
• Last Night Nerves For The Fleet?
• Women in the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race
• Le Cam is back
• Vive la France - Doyle Sails
• Bertelli not a fan of the AC75
• Catchpole and Coop Lead Charge of the 400s at Bala
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Rosenn 1896 Solent One Design
• • 2013 CNB Bordeaux 60
• • 2015 Infiniti 36GT - Skazka
• The Last Word: Ralph Steadman
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
Stormy First Night Ahead for Transatlantic Race 2019 Fleet
Newport, RI, USA: At 1600 hours ET, four and a half hours after the final start of the Transatlantic Race 2019, the fleet of 13 yachts was south of Martha's Vineyard and was beating in 15 to 20 knots of south/southeasterly wind towards the first virtual mark south of Nantucket Shoals, led by the three largest boats, SHK Scallywag (Dovell 100), Wizard (Juan K VO70) and Aegir (Rogers 82).
Based on weather forecasts, the race is shaping up to be a long one for the 120 sailors competing in the 3,000-nautical-mile race to Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England. Tonight is forecast to be very wet as a front clears off the East Coast of the U.S., followed by light winds with the likelihood of the fleet compressing around Point Alpha, the ice zone limit. The line-honors winner might be eight or nine days on elapsed time, well outside the 6-day, 22-hour record. In fact, the first night might be the hardest of the race.
"If we live through this afternoon's thunder and lightning, very frightening stuff, it gets very light tomorrow as the front moves away," said Mike Broughton, navigator of Aegir. "We need to keep under the rain today to keep moving. Overall, we're looking at a pretty unconventional race with light winds early next week and plenty of winds ahead of the beam."
The three classes got underway between 1110 and 1130 hours, as scheduled and without incident. With the start line extending from Newport's iconic Castle Hill Light, a southerly wind of 10 knots propelled the racers out of Narragansett Bay. A few boats started on port tack, but by the time everyone could clear Brenton Reef they were all on starboard tack and making an east/southeasterly course towards the first virtual mark south of Nantucket Shoals.
The past few days have seen frantic preparations for many of the racers. Jean-Pierre Dick has two new crew aboard The Kid (Verdier JP54) who've never raced trans-Atlantic before, which had him concerned for safety.
The fleet was reduced to 13 yachts this afternoon when Fearless, the Baltic 55, withdrew due to troubles with the water maker.
The Transatlantic Race 2019 is organized by the Royal Yacht Squadron, New York Yacht Club, Royal Ocean Racing Club and Storm Trysail Club. It is the 31st Transatlantic Race organized by the New York Yacht Club.
Fredrik Loof secures second OK Dinghy European title at Kieler Woche
Fredrik Loof, from Sweden, has secured his second successive OK Dinghy European title in Kiel with a race to spare after winning the first race of the day on the final day on Tuesday. Valerian Lebrun, from France took silver, while Thomas Hansson-Mild, from Sweden took a late bronze after his best day of the championship. Bo Petersen, from Denmark, won the final race. The 2019 OK Dinghy European Championship was sailed within Kieler Woche.
Loof only needed a top 12 placing to secure the title and wrap up his second title. His performance this week has been almost flawless, but he has had to fight for every boat length against a fleet that is increasing in talent and numbers. In only his second season back in the class, he has twice finished second in the world championship, but aims to put that right next year, and if this week's performance is anything to go by, he will go in as favourite.
The whole event has been blessed by amazing and untypical weather, and on Tuesday the temperatures soared to 30 degrees on shore. Though the forecast for the day was good, the fleet set off for the final day in a very light breeze with a more than an hour's sail to the start line. Race 9 got away under black flag in 6-8 knots but the wind soon began to freshen and by the time Race 10 started, also under black flag, there was a beautiful 10-12 knots.
Final results after 10 races
1. Fredrik Loof, SWE, 16 points
2. Valerian Lebrun, FRA, 40
3. Thomas Hansson-Mild, SWE, 59
4. Bo Petersen, DEN, 61
5. Stefan De Vries, NED, 63
6. Mads Bendix, DEN, 68
7. Lars Johan Brodtkorb, NOR, 85
8. Greg Wilcox, NZL, 89
9. Tomasz Gaj, POL, 99
10. Andre Budzien, GER, 102
U23: Jamie Harris GBR
Veteran: Fredrik Loof SWE
Master: Bo Petersen DEN
Grand Master: Bob Buchanan AUS
Lady: Jessica Finke GER
*|YOUTUBE:[$vid=1XKdtyezuEAz, $max_width=500, $title=N, $border=N, $trim_border=N, $ratings=N, $views=N]|*
Hunger & Jess Win The 2019 505 Euro Cup In Kiel
Kiel, Germany: Multiple World Champions Wolfgang Hunger & Holger Jess (GER) have won the 2019 505 Euro Cup Kiel, the third leg of the Euro Cup series.
Sailed as part of Kiel Week, the 2019 'Kieler Woche' will be remembered for blazing sunshine, tight racing and a vibrant atmosphere ashore. Hunger & Jess put on a dominate display of smart racing and good boat speed to win the 4 day, 11 race series with a race to spare.
"It is very nice to see Wolfgang and Holger back on the podium in a major international event." said Class President Michael Quirk. "Wolfgang, who is a legend in his home town of Kiel has won five 5o5 World Championships but has been absent from the podium recently. The 5o5 European Championships are being held in August in Sønderborg (DEN) where I suspect Wolfgang and Holger will be the team to beat based on recent performance"
The other podium places were hard fought and went right down to the final race. Multiple Olympic medallists and current 5o5 European Champions, Jorgen & Jacob Bojsen-Møller (DEN) won the first race of the day with Penny and Russ Clark (GBR) second, drawing level on overall points. Close behind we're Roger Gilbert and Ben McGrane (GBR) for a three way scrap for the silver and bronze positions.
In a close final race, Penny and Russ managed to hold off the Bojsen-Møller brothers to take the second spot with British National Champions close behind in 4th overall.
Overall top five
1. Wolfgang Hunger & Holger Jess, GER
2. Penny & Russ Clark, GBR
3. Jorgen & Jacob Bojsen-Moller, DEN
4. Roger Gilbert & Ben McGrane, GBR
5. Thomas Gillard & Geoff Edwards, GBR
www.int505.org/2019-euro-cup/round-3-kiel-germany/
NeilPryde Sailing's new summer 2019 collection
Get ready for the sailing summer with the new range of performance clothing and accessories from iconic brand NeilPryde Sailing. The choice of watersports enthusiasts, dinghy and keelboat sailors the world over, NeilPryde Sailing offers an advanced collection of drysuits, spray tops, base layers, hiking accessories, buoyancy aids, footwear and more.
Newcomers for the summer include the star of the clothing portfolio, the Elite Firewire 1mm long john wetsuit and top, whose super-stretchy comfort and heat control fabric is a result of the latest in neoprene technology developed by the company.
Take a look also at the latest design in dinghy boots, the Elite Lace Hike boots. The unique design of the lace fastening along the full side of the boot creates the ultimate in a secure and precise fit. It's easy to get in and out of and an ankle strap gives added support and keeps the lacing tidy. Meanwhile don't miss the brand new edition of the tried and tested Aquashield performance sailing top layer, redesigned to give even more shaping and precise comfort while being easy to move in. Featuring a very warm fleece liner and rubberised outer shell together, the Aquashield is virtually dry with its high roll snug fitting adjustable collar, adjustable cuff closures and neoprene smooth skin waist band.
Last Night Nerves For The Fleet?
With an accumulated overall lead time of one hour and 11 minutes, and just 85 miles left to sail to the finish of the final leg on Stage 4 of La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro, overall leader Yoann Richomme (HelloWork/Groupe Telegramme) might reflect on the warnings of 'The Godfather' Michael Corleone: "Hold your friends close and your enemies closer."
But - given the very calm conditions and the likely spread of the fleet through the last night of racing - Richomme can do little more than sail his own race across the bay of the Seine to the finish line in Dieppe.
After passing around the final turning mark of the course this afternoon, Saint-Marcouf on the east side of the Cherbourg peninsula, the fleet has spread far and wide to follow three basic strategies.
Richomme therefore has little or no chance of controlling or staying with his five main rivals whose time deficits extend from second placed Gildas Mahe's at 1 hour 11 minutes, down to fifth placed and top rookie Benjamin Schwartz (Action Contre La Faim), who is 2 hours and 48 minutes behind him on elapsed time after the three stages sailed so far.
All were within 1.2 miles of him at 1700hrs BST this afternoon. But at average speeds, in the glassy conditions, of between 0.7 and 1.1 knots, anything can happen. And on this particularly engaging 50th anniversary edition of the French multi-stage solo race, there has been no shortage of surprises.
The first skippers are expected to arrive in Dieppe early afternoon Wednesday, to round off what has been an exceptional anniversary edition of La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro that looks set to continue right through to the finish.
Women in the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race
On the RORC website today, we publish the case studies and views of six female sailors. They range from the top pros down to first timers.
While crew lists for August's Rolex Fastnet Race are far from finalised, currently just over 10% of those competing in the Royal Ocean Racing Club's biennial voyage from Cowes to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock will be women. While this is a long way from parity between the sexes, it is at least a step up from races say 20 years ago when the equivalent figure had yet to reach 5%.
To date only one female skipper has won the Rolex Fastnet Race - French solo sailor Catherine Chabaud (with a full crew) on board her IMOCA 60 Whirlpool-Europe 2 in 1999. Dona Bertarelli claimed line honours in both 2013 and 2015 with her partner Yann Guichard on board the 40m maxi trimaran Spindrift 2.
One reason for increased female participation, not just in the Rolex Fastnet Race, but also sailing generally, is thanks to female role models from Tracy Edwards and her high profile Maiden, Royal & Sun Alliance and Maiden II campaigns and, before her, Dame Naomi James and Clare Francis' round the world voyages. Since then there have been the phenomenal, headline grabbing exploits of Ellen MacArthur and the round the world voyages of Dee Caffari. In France there has also been a wealth of accomplished female offshore sailors from the late Florence Arthaud, outright winner of the 2000 Route du Rhum to Isabelle Autissier, and an exponentially large group of contemporary sailors benefitting from their ground work. There are similar, albeit fewer, examples across the globe.
Le Cam is back
Since early April, Jean Le Cam has done a lot of sailing aboard the IMOCA on which he won the Barcelona World Race (in 2015 with Bernard Stamm) and finished in sixth place in the Vendee Globe (in 2017). Currently busy sailing from port to port between Genoa and Calais, Jean will be decorating his boat in the colours of Corum L'Epargne, Nicolas Troussel's partner, for the Transat Jacques Vabre. At the same time, Le Cam is looking for funding to be able to compete in the Vendee Globe next year. He has lined up for every edition of the race since 2004.
After this experience around the coast of Europe, Jean Le Cam's IMOCA will be taken out of the water (on around 10th July) and decorated in the colours of Corum L'Epargne, Nicolas Troussel's partner. "Nicolas is currently having a new IMOCA built and before the launch, we need to train for the Vendee Globe," explained Le Cam. "My IMOCA was available, so that worked out well. It also allows me to take part in my first major race since the Vendee Globe, making improvements to the boat, in particular offering her new sails. Everyone's a winner like that. I know Nicolas well. He's a great guy. You can't imagine finding anyone better to pair up with." The pair are not going to be competing in the Rolex Fastnet Race (start on 3rd August) as the boat is not due to be relaunched until early September. "There won't be any foils on my IMOCA. Our aim in the Transat Jacques Vabre is to race against the boats with straight daggerboards from the same generation," added Jean.
For Jean Le Cam, being at the start of a fifth Vendee Globe in a row is something that seems natural. "I love this race, as it is different each time. You never go through the same things twice," he said. "In 2020, it's going to be fantastic race, as it is each time, especially with eight brand new boats lining up. When you see the speeds they are forecast to reach, it's scary. Finishing sixth like last time would be an unthinkable performance. I think there will be around ten boats without foils lining up. I would like to be the first to finish in that group. That's the unusual sporting challenge I'm giving myself."
Vive la France - Doyle Sails
The most recent fleets to embrace the latest technical advances from Doyle Sails are those rather choosy professional French offshore classes
With its innovative Cable-less technology Doyle Sails has been making significant inroads into grand prix ocean and offshore racing fleets. A wide range of winners are now using Doyle's cable-less technology across an increasing range of sail codes and configurations, from the top Fast 40 in the UK, Rán, to most of the major trophy-winning Maxi 72s - Momo, Bella Mente, Proteus and now Cannonball - along with the two 100ft Rolex Sydney-Hobart 2018 racers Comanche and InfoTrack and a number of new superyachts including this year's Saint Barth's Bucket winner Hetairos.
Cable-less technology was developed from 2016 onwards and was initially applied only to Code Zero sails, but its uses are constantly expanding. The Sydney-Hobart 100- footers have been using cable-less J-Zeros developed from the VO65s as well as furling J1s, A2s and A3s. But without doubt the hotbed of upcoming development for all major sailmakers will be the Imoca class as The Ocean Race joins the Vendee Globe as the twin peaks for crewed and solo round the world racing.
Full article in the July issue of Seahorse
Bertelli not a fan of the AC75
Italian challenger of record Luna Rossa have labelled the new America's Cup boats "too difficult, too extreme".
The criticism comes as the wealthy syndicate have launched a smaller test version of the 75-foot foiling monohull to continue their development.
Patrizio Bertelli, team principal of Luna Rossa Prada, believes the revolutionary design is too complicated and is proving prohibitive to new teams.
At present Luna Rossa, American Magic and Team INEOS UK are the only confirmed challengers to defenders Emirates Team New Zealand. Late challenges from the west coast of the United States and the Netherlands have until July 1 to confirm their participation at Auckland 2021.
Bertelli, never shy to offer an opinion during a long association with the America's Cup, was a driving force in returning monohulls to the competition after three editions in multihulls but says he would have preferred a more simple option than what Team New Zealand have come up with.
"I had suggested to the Kiwis to choose a less extreme boat than this one. A sort of modern VOR60 (the boat of the former Volvo Ocean Race) on which to develop two rudders with foils. Instead, they [Team New Zealand] wanted a hyper-technological solution, they insisted ... " Bertelli told La Stampa in a hard-hitting interview.
"The electronic part is especially complicated. We have been working on it for two years."
Catchpole and Coop Lead Charge of the 400s at Bala
Richard Catchpole and Gary Coop led the charge of the RS400s and won the Bala Long Distance, latest event in the Great British Sailing Challenge. Recent weeks have seen a perfect Force 3 to 4 south-westerly blowing along the length of Lake Bala, set in the Snowdonia National Park. But as the windy (and rainy) weather disappeared over recent days, at least the sunshine came out for the four-hour long distance race on the opening Saturday of the regatta.
In total, 61 boats from 38 classes signed up for the weekend, with a huge array of craft lined up to race each other under the Great Lakes handicap numbers. Boats as diverse as Toppers to the International Moth, multihulls and sportsboats all came to do compete against each other on the lake. Many boats were crewed by family members, taking part in the Generation Game, the competition being encouraged within the Great British Sailing Challenge.
On Sunday, the sunshine had gone but at least the breeze showed up for three back-to-back average lap races. With the breeze blowing Force 2 to 3 but with some occasional Force 4 gusts, the sailors were kept on their toes and again the random conditions suited the relatively stable RS400s. However, Colin and Oly Murray's Norfolk Punt came good for the final race, taking the win ahead of the 400s.
In terms of overall scores though, the RS400s won the day, with Catchpole and Coop joined on the podium by Chris Pickles/ Mark Lunn and Jon Heissig/ Nicky Griffin.
The next two events of the GBSC take place in August at Plymouth and Ullswater. Find out more and get your entry in at www.sailingchallenge.org
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The Last Word
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