In This Issue
• Small is Beautiful for IRC Classes in Dun Laoghaire Regatta Day One
• Teasing Machine Crew Mentally Exhausted After Transatlantic Race 2019
• Island Water World Grenada Sailing Week 2020
• 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart reaches 100 entrants
• The Ocean Race Updates
• Ex- Cup winner Dick Enersen helms Defender in 12 meter worlds
• Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
• Industry News
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Swan 115-003 Highland Fling 15
• • Arksen 100
• • Soraya
• The Last Word: Albert Camus
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
Small is Beautiful for IRC Classes in Dun Laoghaire Regatta Day One
Photo by David Branigan/Oceansport. Click on image for photo gallery.
It was ultra-high summer, and it was difficult sailing in Dublin Bay for the hugely varied fleet starting their racing in the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2019 writes W M Nixon. Today’s opening racing started with so much promise – a sparkling sunlit westerly and the race area enlivened by the flood tide. But as the afternoon settled in, the breeze went to sleep, and when a new easterly finally decided to come creeping in under a soft grey sky, it did so in a very uneven way, as was shown in the results for the IRC Classes.
For although the glamour boats of Classes 0, 1 and 2 were in the Race Area nearest the smooth opulence of Dublin Bay’s southeast coast, it was the smaller craft exiled to the middle of the bay – virtually the Northside as some true blue Dun Laoghaire types saw it – who had the best of the day’s sailing, as the new wind nipped in round the Baily with some determination, whereas it was decidedly languid as it wandered in past the Muglins and Dalkey Island.
In other words, the biggies completed just one race, but the little ‘uns got in two. In Class 0, Jamie McWilliam’s Ker 40 Signal 8 from Hong Kong looked like she could fly given a wind, but for some time there weren’t no wind at all at all to ruffle the hair-styles of Dalkey, and it was Frank Whelan’s achingly consistent Grand Soleil 44 Eleuthera from Greystones which started from where she’d left off at Kinsale by taking the bullet, while second went to Conor Phelan’s Ker 36 Jump Juice from Crosser, but Signal 8 still made the podium with the third.
Meanwhile the 30 boats which had gone offshore in the coastal race finally managed to find their way to a finish, and it was Seamus Fitzpatrick’s handsome big Beneteau First 50 Mermaid IV (RIYC) – with former All-Ireland Sailing Champion Ben Duncan as tactician - which managed to stave off the challenge of Andrew Hall’s slippery J/125 Jackknife from Pwllheli in second, third place going to George Sisk (RIYC) with his Xp44 WOW.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the IRC racing is the sheer size of the class numbers involved. If the fates decide to give us enough breeze tomorrow to provide racing, we’ll look in more detail at some other sides to this varied and complex story. But for now, the miracle is that with the awkward wind pattern, the Race Officers still managed to get in a programme, we have results, and tomorrow is another day. -- WM Nixon in Afloat magazine:
Teasing Machine Crew Mentally Exhausted After Transatlantic Race 2019
Cowes, England: Laurent Pagès stood dockside in Cowes and let out a sigh. Ça va bien, merci, he answered, affirming that all was well after Teasing Machine finished the Transatlantic Race 2019. But it was his sigh that told the story of the crew’s languid final days in the 2,970-nautical-mile race.
“The last five days were really tough. Being stuck in high pressure, which was moving with us, there was no way to deal with it,” said Pagès, the project manager for Eric De Turckheim’s Nivelt/Muratet 54-footer. “We had a great atmosphere on board. Teasing Machine is an awesome boat, and the spirit among the crew was very uplifting.”
“We’re physically fit, maybe mentally exhausted, but that’s what it is after a long race. Everything is okay,” said De Turckheim, the 68-year-old owner from Geneva, Switzerland. “It wasn’t easy because the weather was not kind with us. All the way was really complex weather systems right from the start. I’ve done three trans-Atlantics and they were all totally unusual. I’ve never had a good race, downwind all the way.”
Teasing Machine finished the Transatlantic Race today at 1335:34 UTC for an elapsed time of 15 days, 22 hours, 15 minutes and 34 seconds. Fourth in line honors, Teasing Machine is projected to place third in IRC 2. The Teasing Machine crew included Quentin Bouchacourt (Lorient, France), Tony Brochet (La Rochelle, France), Bertrand Castelnerac (Lorient, France), De Turckheim (Geneva, Switzerland), Laurent Mahy (Morbihan, France), Jean Baptiste Morin (La Rochelle, France), Jean Luc Nelias (Quimper, France), Gabriele Olivo (Belluno, Italy), Pagès (Sainte Marie de Re, France), Emmanuel Supiot (Saint Rogatien, France) and Jerome Teillet (Le Pradet, France).
* Lucy Georgina, an XP44, finished at 12 Jul 2019 00:59 UTC, first place in IRC2, fifth to finish.
* David and Peter Askew’s Wizard is the overall winner of the Transatlantic Race 2019! The final time allowance expired at 2255:59 UTC this evening, making the VO70 the overall winner on corrected time. Congrats to the crew!
Island Water World Grenada Sailing Week 2020
Organisers of Grenada Sailing Week are pleased to announce that Island Water World the number one Caribbean yacht chandlers are title sponsor for the seventh year running. Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in St George’s the islands capital and Secret Harbour Marina in Mount Hartman Bay are the prestigious venues hosting the event. The Grenada Tourism Authority, Mount Gay Rum & Sea Hawk Premium Yacht Finishes are confirmed as Race Day Sponsors and Dream Yacht Charters as charter partner.
Island Water World Grenada Sailing Week kicks off the Caribbean regatta circuit in the southern Caribbean 26-31 January 2020. With two vastly different coasts to race off, four days of racing, and six nights of spectacular parties, it promises to be an exciting event. The scratch sheet is already looking good with a number of entries in all classes. Classes include CSA classes, J24’s, Classic’s and Carricou Sloops. Consideration will be given to PHRF or other classes, such as Bareboat depending upon sufficient entries (minimum of five boats).
Register and pay now for the reduced fee: yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=9522
NoR is posted on our website www.grenadasailingweek.com. Sign up for our newsletter online, Email: info [AT] grenadasailingweek [DOT] com, Facebook: GrenadaSailingWeek, or Twitter @grenadasailweek
75th Rolex Sydney Hobart reaches 100 entrants
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is pleased to announce a milestone 100th yacht has already entered this year’s 75th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, with the receipt of Marcus Grimes’ entry for Insomnia, a JV42 from Pittwater in NSW.
Insomnia, previously known as Elena Nova, has competed in one of Australia’s greatest sporting events only once; in 2016, with a previous owner. The seven-year-old is joining a cast that includes some of the fastest and most modern yachts in the world, along with winners from yesteryear and newcomers.
At the pointy and technologically advanced end are super maxis Black Jack, InfoTrack and SHK Scallywag 100, a record-breaking boat which took line honours in the Transatlantic Race from Rhode Island to Cowes only a few days ago.
The 2017 winner, Ichi Ban (Matt Allen), is back with an envious list of victories to her name. She is joined by other previous winners in Quest (won twice – 2008 and 2015), Oskana (as Victoire in 2013) and Simon Kurts’ veteran Love & War, one of only two boats to have won three Sydney Hobarts (1974, 1978, 2006).
Ed Psaltis won the tragic 1998 race and returns with his most recent ‘Midnight Rambler’, a Sydney 36. Among those being initiated into the race is Melbourne’s Carrera S, a Marten 49 owned by Gerry Cantwell and Finnish yacht, Lintu, a Swan 57 owned by Jyrki Mki. Lintu is one of six internationals already signed up.
Entries into the 2019 Rolex Sydney Hobart close on Friday 25 October at 1700hrs. For full list of entries and further information visit The Yachts page. -- Di Pearson
The Ocean Race Updates
Paul Meilhat, the French winner of the last Route du Rhum race, has confirmed his registration for The Ocean Race 2021-22.
“My goal is to set up an ambitious project and win The Ocean Race 2021-22, then the Route du Rhum 2022 and the Vendée Globe 2024,” Meilhat said.
“Since I was a teenager, I have dreamed of doing this race. And when I started racing the Figaro, I thought more about the "Volvo" (the previous name for The Ocean Race) than the Vendée Globe.
While he works to secure his funding and begin design work for The Ocean Race, Meilhat is going to be racing with Sam Davies on Initiatives Coeur for the 2019 IMOCA season, including for next month’s iconic Fastnet Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre in October.
Read the full interview, including Paul's thoughts on sailors and designers for his team, in Voiles et Voiliers
* Last month in Kiel, Germany, a new IMOCA 60 team emerged with ambitions for the start of The Ocean Race in 2021.
Offshore Team Germany christened its IMOCA 60 ‘Einstein’ at a ceremony timed to coincide with Kiel Week, one of the largest and most important regattas in Europe.
Michael Illbruck, the team principal of the 2001-02 effort, sent a video message to those assembled in Kiel, where he called the dramatic win 20 years ago, “Our moon landing – we have the very best memories of our finish in Kiel.”
Jens Kuphal, Michael End and Robert Stanjek, are the initiators of Offshore Team Germany and in Kiel, the boat was christened by Annie Lush, a two-time veteran of The Ocean Race. Nico Lunven, another veteran of the race was also on hand and sailing with the team.
Ex- Cup winner Dick Enersen helms Defender in 12 meter worlds
The lure of sailing a 12 meter yacht again in Newport, Rhode Island, was too much for Dick Enersen to pass up.
Enersen, 76, is at the helm of Defender in the 12 meter world championship on Rhode Island Sound this week, 55 years after he helped win the America’s Cup aboard Constellation.
Enersen picked up the charter for Defender, which was skippered in the 1983 defender trials by the late Tom Blackaller, from its owner, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Sailing Foundation. He is raising money for Warrior Sailing, which gives wounded, injured and ill military members and veterans the chance to go sailing.
Enersen said he’s looking forward to having “stupid good fun” sailing in a class that remains venerable more than 30 years after it was last used in the America’s Cup.
He was 21 in 1964 when he crewed aboard Constellation, which successfully defended the America’s Cup with a 4-0 victory against the British challenger Sovereign. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he had one of the toughest jobs on the boat.
“I’m up for steering because that’s less demanding physically than my previous role on the boat, which was grinding,” said Enersen, who lives in San Rafael, north of San Francisco.
“I’ve sailed in various campaigns as a coach, trimmer, temporary guy, but was never able to get away long enough to do another full-on campaign, which meant I had to get a job,” he added. “Now of course they’re paying people beginning lawyer wages to go sailing. Notably, we are not paying anybody on the vessel. This is a purely Corinthian effort, which is the proper term for amateur sailing.”
Newport’s run as host for the America’s Cup ended in 1983, when the wing-keeled Australia II stunned Dennis Conner’s Liberty to end the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak. The 1987 America’s Cup, when Conner went Down Under and won back the Auld Mug, was the last sailed in 12 meters. -- Bernie Wilson
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/
Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
Last month's winner:
Asia Pajkowska (POL)
Five hundred-plus Polish sailors can't be wrong. 'I vote for Asia!!' - Jan Niedzi; 'She is the absolute best!' - Asia Dudkiewicz; 'Captain Pajkowska is absolutely a legend!' - Premo Jacniacki; 'She kept up the Polish tradition, pride and conceit are foreign to her' - Halina Mainska; 'I followed her cruise from beginning to end, I am a devoted fan' - Przemys Borowiecki; 'All Poland can be proud of her' - Tutomirova Besheniyenot; 'Asia started three months after the Golden Globe but beat the last finisher by four weeks!' - Krzesimir Kowaksli; 'Paul Cayard is a great sailor but I adore tough sailing women even more!' - Yvette von der Burchard
This month's nominees:
Vladimir Krutskikh (RUS)
Krutskikh won his third Finn World Masters title with a perfect score of seven wins in seven races… discarding one win in his final tally. ‘For me everything is good. I won seven races so I am happy…’ You would be, wouldn’t you? It’s worth mentioning that the class itself was also reasonably happy with a 248-boat turnout for its latest event: ‘Numbers are down on last year but this is still a good entry.’ An entry that most classes would kill for
James Lyne (USA)
About time we put up one for the guys behind the scenes… Lyne must surely now have the best record in big boat coaching in the world? (Letters, please) A string of TP52 success with Quantum Racing plus Maxi72, Melges 24 and Farr40s titles, he is now head coach at the New York YC’s Terry Hutchinson-led American Magic Cup challenge. This former Finn and Flying Dutchman sailor – bit big now, lad – is also a Pom by birth. Should never have let him go
Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Musto, Harken McLube & Dubarry. Who needs silverware, our prizes are usable!
Cast your vote, submit comments, even suggest a candidate for next month at seahorsemagazine.com/sailor-of-the-month/vote-for-sailor-of-the-month
View past winners of Sailor of the Month
Industry News
Sailingfast is to further develop its partnership with high performance dinghy boatbuilder, Ovington Boats.
The company will now take on responsibility for promoting key classes in Scotland, working with class associations and supporting sailors.
The news comes as building work continues on a new office for Sailingfast after the company secured funding £47,259 from Kelvin Valley & Falkirk LEADER for the work.
Sailingfast was established in 2002 and is owned and run by husband and wife team, Emma and Duncan Hepplewhite.
“For the last 17 years my wife and I have worked from a shed which has no central heating or electricity,” said Duncan.
“During the Scottish winters, it can be very challenging so this funding will make a huge difference to our working environment.
“It will also enable us to employ more people and to continue to grow our business.”
Sailingfast has worked with Ovington Boats since 2010 with the developing partnership aimed at growing the Optimist and 29er fleets in Scotland.
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The UK division of Hong Kong-based electric outboard manufacturer ePropulsion has signed a deal to supply 60 fully integrated propulsion systems to RS Sailing.
The contract covers a bespoke mounting arrangement and integration of ePropulsion’s 1kW ‘Spirit’ electric motor into a flush-fitting retractable electric drive system onboard the first 60 boats in RS Sailing’s fleet of new RS21 keelboat day racers.
To create a seamless plug-n-play propulsion system, ePropulsion has also designed a new side-mounted throttle arrangement with a removable handle which will help to reduce snags in the racing cockpit. All of the battery and motor information is displayed on a new high-contrast LCD screen.
The last part of the solution is a new nylon mounting bracket with stainless steel fittings that mates the skeg of the ePropulsion motor to the outer hull plate. When racing, the whole motor arrangement, which weighs just 7kg, is hauled-up into the stowed position with the outer hull plate flush with the rest of the hull, eliminating any unnecessary drag.
The 1KW Spirit propulsion motor provides the equivalent thrust of a 3hp petrol outboard. Other advantages over combustion engines include no fuel or oil to spill, no regular servicing, no tricky starting procedure and noise or fumes when operating. There’s also no need to swivel the motor around for reverse thrust.
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Nautor’s Swan Palma has merged with EMV Marine, the group’s authorised service and refit partner in Spain.
Based in Badalona, just north of Barcelona, EMV offers a range of services at a 6,750sqm facility that includes 5,720sq m for yacht winterisation, a mast area and rigging jobs.
The new partnership broadens Nautor’s presence in one of the most important ports of the Mediterranean.
Nautor’s Swan Customer Care offers certified repair and refit services for all Swans at the home of Nautor in Pietarsaari, Findland. The company has other dedicated service yards in France, Italy and Spain, as well as a network of more than dozen Authorized Service Centers around the world.
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INEOS Team UK names Harken Official Supplier
As Official Supplier to INEOS Team UK, Harken is already at work designing, testing and manufacturing componentry integral to the performance of the team’s test boat (T5) and its two AC75s. Harken will supply deck hardware, winches and pedestals, gearboxes, blocks and hydraulic componentry produced in its Pewaukee, Wisconsin USA and Limido Comasco, Italy factories.
“Harken is pleased to be extending our more than 40 year history of developing technology for the America’s Cup,” said Harken Chairman, Peter Harken. “This work we’re doing with INEOS Team UK represents some of the toughest challenges we’ll ever confront. It’s not going too far to say we built our whole company to be ready for what we’re doing here.” The Harken-INEOS Team UK partnership will be active throughout the 36th America’s Cup cycle from this development and testing period through the launches of both of the team’s in-build AC75s and through to Auckland where Harken will continue its history of ‘in-competition’ technical and mechanical support.
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The 31st MYBA Charter Show, held earlier this month at Marina Port Vell in Barcelona, appears to have been one of the most successful in the event’s history – if not the most successful. A number of records are reported to have been achieved.
The 2019 MYBA Charter Show comprised the following statistics:
60 yachts on show compared with 53 in 2018
The total LOA of those yachts was 2,652m (8,707ft) as against 2,521m (8,277ft) last year
The average LOA was 44.2m (145ft) versus 47.6m (156ft)
Their total gross tonnage was 29,464, which was down compared with 32,167 GT last year
The average gross tonnage was 491,07 in 2019 compared to 606.92 GT
The accumulated charter rate was €11,486,500 as against €12,154,500 in 2018
The average charter rate was €194,686
Total number of attendees was 2,074 in 2018 while 2017 numbered 1,885. Of the 2,074, 518 were charter brokers and central agents, of which 167 were MYBA members.
In terms of exhibitor stands, a total of 502 staff manned them with 138 of them belonging to MYBA’s list of “Loyal Exhibitors”. Over 600 captains and crew worked to ensure that everything onboard the yachts and 65 members of the press attended.
The success of the show of the past three years at Marina Port Vell has led MYBA to sign up the location for another two through to 2021.
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Sunsail has announced the addition of several new Jeanneau yachts to its UK charter fleet. The investment, worth £3.75m, will deliver 15 new Sunsail 41.0 yachts in 2020, and a further 10 yachts the following year.
Based at Port Solent in Hampshire, the new fleet will be available for charters on the UK south coast, starting in Portsmouth, Southampton, Cowes, Lymington and throughout the Solent.
The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410s have a modern and spacious interior. Taking inspiration from modern racing boats, they boast a full-length chine, twin rudders and a reverse bow that rises out of the water. At a total length of 12.95m, the deck construction offers 30% weight savings compared to traditional decks.
The newest members of Sunsail’s fleet will be available for charter at all major UK sailing events, including Cowes Week, Round the Island Race, Little Britain Challenge Cup and Southampton Sailing Week. The yachts will also be used at Sunsail events, cruising charters and as part of sailing school courses.
Charters with the new Sunsail 41.0s will begin in March 2020.
Featured Brokerage
Swan 115-003 Highland Fling 15. 9,900,000 VAT Paid. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Highland Fling 15 is Germán Frers design along with the demanding requirements of a highly experienced, serial Swan yacht owner.
See listing details in Nautors Swan Brokerage
Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Thomas Perry
brokerage [AT] nautorswan [DOT] com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com
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Arksen 100 - NEW BOAT. POA GBP. Located in
Designed For Explorers Made For Adventure Arksen 100 is an exceptional explorer vessel.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Arksen Ltd
Port Hamble - Hamble - UK
+44(0)2380 010 017
tellmemore [AT] arksen [DOT] com
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1960 Soraya. 55,000 GBP. Located in the Isle of Wight.
Soraya is a beautifully designed classic yacht. She is based on the famous 'Danegeld' designed by David Cheverton in 1957. Soraya is the cruising version of the Danegeld design, but has, nevertheless, achieved a very handsome reputation on the RORC circuit. Soraya is lying ashore on the Isle of Wight under cover. Her owner has spent over £40,000 on her over the last few years, keeping her in very good shape. She has cruised the Baltic and is now seriously for sale.
See listing details at Waypoint Yacht Brokers
Contact
Call Nick on 07900 191 326
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
Real generosity towards the future lies in giving all to the present. -- Albert Camus
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