In This Issue
• Tasar Worlds: It's been a tough one...
• A thrilling day at Cowes Classics Week Day 3
• All Aboard for the 21st Jersey Regatta!
• Winners return to the Rolex Fastnet Race
• 38 Copa del Rey MAPFRE
• Alinghi and Oman Air neck and neck after five full-on races at Copa del Rey MAPFRE
• Shirley Robertson catch up with the fastest man around the planet - French offshore star Francois Gabart
• Class 40: Setting up a selection mode for the next Route du Rhum
• World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award
• Correction
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Swan 115-003 Highland Fling 15
• • Sly 53 - STEVE WONDER 2
• • Soraya
• The Last Word: Jon Stewart
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
Tasar Worlds: It's been a tough one...
Click on image for photo gallery.
With the weather looking more favourable than yesterday but still on the challenging side the Tasar Fleet headed out to Hayling Bay. With two races scheduled the first race of the day started at 1212 BST. This start was black flagged, followed by further black flag and a general recall. Racing got underway at 1228 BST.
Race 4 Finish order (provisional) First AUS 2942 James Burman, second AUS 2848 Rob Douglass and third 3rd GBR 2877 James Peters
Race 5 Finish order (provisional) first AUS 2813 Rick Longbottom, second AUS 2922 Lloyd Lissiman and 3rd AUS 2831 Paul Ridgway HISC's very own James Peters and Charlie Darling recorded hitting 13.8 knots on the Tracker today!
Leading positions after 5 races, 1 discard (provisional)
1. Rob Douglass / Nicole Douglass, AUS, 7 points
2. Rick Longbottom / Darryl Bentley, AUS, 14
3. James Burman / Tara Burman, AUS, 15
4. James Peters / Charlie Darling, GBR, 15
5. Michael Karas / Molly Jackson, USA, 16
A thrilling day at Cowes Classics Week Day 3
Spinaway X, the oldest yacht in the fleet. Photo by Tim Jeffreys. Click on image for photo gallery.
Cowes, UK: A cracking stiff breeze opened the third day of Cowes Classics Week with welcomed starts for the one design and cruiser classes after yesterday's gale-enforced postponement. Wind over tide with gusts building up to 28 knots in parts of the race area by lunchtime characterised the challenges of the day.
One group which managed to find relatively peaceful conditions away from the bumpy mid-Solent was the committee boat race area for the Swallows, Vintage Dragons, Flying Fifteens and Bembridge One Designs, sponsored by Robert Oatley Wines. Even so the race team's course setter Matt Cowan explains "We had around 12 knots of breeze at the committee boat and just under a mile up the race course to the west it was blowing more like 20 knots."
Like all the entries in Cowes Classics Week each of these classes boast a classic heritage with the 15 strong Swallow class originating as a two-man Olympic class for the 1948 Olympics but now sailed with three crew. The class has developed into a thoroughly modern classic as demonstrated by the competition on the water. Mike Wigmore in Gwaihir showed that he was coming back to defend his previous 2017 and 2018 titles when he added todays' three races to his first position of Monday to keep him ahead. Harry Roome in Skua was today's scratch boat, with two wins but a no-show for the final race.
The Bembridge One Design, a smaller but equally graceful boat, shared the same race area. Slower that the Swallows and without spinnakers these hardy little yachts relished the courses even in the gusts. They were also able to get three races in. The strict one design fleet, which is resident at Bembridge Sailing Club is a close relative of the Alfred Westmacott designed XOD, both over 100 years old. Hugh Doherty sailed BOD10 into the lead today with a 1,2,3 with wins also going to last year's BOD Champion Russ Fowler in BOD1 and Charles Able-Smith in BOD7.
Further north towards the mainland shore conditions were even more lively. The XOD fleet, the largest in the event, with 37 entries, was dominated by Roger Yeoman sailing Xcitation, finishing today one point ahead of another previous Cowes Classics Week champion Max Crowe with Clair de Lune.
Racing continues tomorrow and Friday. The Darings, Vintage Dragons, and a host of other boats, all of whom are designs of more than 50 years old, will be on the start lines along with a others including Twisters, Contessa 26s and, for one day only, the Seaview Mermaid fleet will take part.
Red Funnel is Signature Sponsor of Cowes Classics Week and live coverage from on the water comes courtesy of Cowes Radio 87.9fm.
All Aboard for the 21st Jersey Regatta!
With the summer in full swing and the Island’s sailing programme progressing at a rate of knots, the scene is set for the 21st edition of the Jersey Regatta, the Island’s ‘flagship’ sailing event. Slated for 6th to 8th September, the Island’s combined clubs’ ‘jamboree’ will be held, as ever, in the beautiful arena of St Aubin’s Bay and adjacent coastal waters.
Key to the ongoing success of this most popular of events is the warm regatta community atmosphere in which competitors of all ages and experience compete in sportsboat, cruiser/racer, Quarter Ton, dayboat, dinghy, sport catamaran and windsurfer classes. The organisers’ guiding principle is to ensure a great welcome and three days of camaraderie, fun and keen racing for all. Visiting boats, especially, provide that added ingredient that puts the local sailors on their mettle whilst, often, winning many of the prizes and coveted silverware.
The Regatta gets underway on Thursday 5th September with the traditional welcoming reception in St Helier YC. The racing programme opens on Friday morning with a long race for the sportsboat and cruiser/racer classes, the ‘small boat’ classes racing later that afternoon. Friday’s races are ‘standalone’ whilst races held on Saturday and Sunday count towards the Jersey Regatta class championships, in each class, and the IRC Channel Islands Championships that are the major feature of the cruiser/racer programme. All IRC-rated boats will be competing for the Championship titles and, additionally, the great prizes provided by Spinlock, the IRC Sponsors. This year sees a change in the Sportsboat and Class 1 programme with two longer races replacing the traditional three ‘round the cans’ races on both days.
However, this sailing extravaganza is not only about competing, winning and having a good time on the water, it is complimented by a lively social programme ashore that is intended to provide everyone with plenty of opportunity to unwind and enjoy the camaraderie and ever-warm welcome that awaits them in the Clubs.
For local and visiting boats alike, Jersey Marinas, supporters from the first edition in 1999, will be providing complimentary berthing and will be available to provide such other assistance as may be needed to help things run smoothly.
Condor Ferries, also long-time supporters, are providing discounted fares for those Regatta entrants wishing to transport their boats to the Island; this kind offer covers accompanied boats on trailers
For further information, please contact the Regatta office, info [AT] jerseyregatta [DOT] com, or call 00 44 (0)1534 732229.
Winners return to the Rolex Fastnet Race
Didier Gaudoux and the crew of his JND39 Lann Ael 2 return as the defending champions. Photo by Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex. Click on image to enlarge.
While the toughest competition in the Rolex Fastnet Race will be within the individual classes, the ultimate kudos comes from winning the Fastnet Challenge Cup, the outright prize for IRC corrected time for the world's largest offshore yacht race. The challenge will be all the harder for this year's race has an immense fleet of 336 boats (excluding the 60 racing in the non-IRC fleet).
Many past winners will be setting sail from Cowes this Saturday lunchtime for the start of this 48th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's premier event.
Over the last three editions, French crews have lifted the Fastnet Challenge Cup exclusively. Didier Gaudoux and the crew of his JND39 Lann Ael 2 return as the defending champions. This season Lann Ael 2 has competed in the RORC's UK offshore programme (her best result being 7th in the Myth of Malham).
Since 2017, Lann Ael 2 has been converted to twin rudders, which Gaudoux says has improved her performance reaching in a breeze, at the expense of light wind and upwind pace. Her sail plan has been slightly enlarged, increasing her rating.
According to Gaudoux some key members of Lann Ael 2's crew have also changed: "My daughter is pregnant and my son is in Canada for business. But the rest are similar, guys who know the boat quite well." Significantly Figaro sailor Fred Duthil, the sole pro on the boat two years ago, has been replaced by another leading Figaro sailor Fabien Delahaye.
Never to be underestimated is Gery Trentesaux, overall winner in 2015 with the JPK 10.80 Courrier Du Leon, when, while racing in IRC Three he finished half way up in IRC One on the water (despite being OCS and then taking 40 minutes to restart thanks to the ebb tide). He is also one of the most experienced Fastnet competitors having first taken part in the 1977 race at the age of 18.
This time Trentesaux returns with Courrier Recommande, a newer JPK 11.80. Launched last year, she won October's Rolex Middle Sea Race and since then her owner says that they have "changed many sails and many things. The boat is quite fast upwind and reaching. She is not so fast downwind in medium weather."
This season the Rolex Fastnet Race is Trentesaux's principle objective, although he maintains modestly that "we are just coming to participate... The Fastnet is the best race in the world, a mythical race. All the good boats enter it. You have a maximum of 100 boats in the Rolex Sydney Hobart and Middle Sea but 400 in the Fastnet - there is no competition."
38 Copa del Rey MAPFRE
With a strong Mistral wind blowing on the Mediterranean to the north of Mallorca, the third day of the 38 Copa del Rey MAPFRE was the most challenging yet. Racing in gusty offshore NE'ly winds of 12-25 knots, the winning watchwords were keeping it safe and simple in many of the 11 divisions.
Certainly that was the case for three Maxi 72s in the Mallorca Sotheby's IRC Class where Dario Ferrari's Cannonball sailed to a second and a first to maintain a one point margin over Hap Fauth's newer Bella Mente which mirrored their scores going 2,1. Proteus suffered a technical breakdown in the first race and their DNF drops leaves the class's early leaders in third. Previously this class has seen all three boats tied on points and the tie break deciding the title.
Tomorrow's races conclude the Preliminary Series. The class leaders then carry one point into Friday and Saturday's Finals, second get two and so on in what is a new initiative for this edition.
BMW ORC 0
1. Paprec Reciclaje, Stephane Neve, (6)+3+1+3+1+2=10
2. Team Vision Future, Mergui Mikael, 3+2+2+1+3+(4)=11
3. Freccia Rossa, Vadim Yakimenki, 1+(5)+4+4+2+1=12
... 7 boats
BMW ORC 1
1. Rats on Fire, Rayco Tabares, (3)+1+3+1+3+1=9
2. Estrella Damm, Luis Martinez, 1+(5,5)+1+3+1+3=9
3. From now on, Hernan Mones, 2+3,5+2+2+4+6=13.5
... 15 boats
BMW ORC 2
1. Teatro Soho Caixabank, Daniel Cuevas, (2)+1+2+2+1+1=7
2. El Carmen - Elite Sails, Jose Coello, 1+2+1+1+2+(4)=7
3. Rivareno, Christian Plump, (4)+4+3+3+3+2=15
... 20 boats
BMW ORC 3
1. Vertigo Dos Texia, Jorge Martinez Doreste, 1+1+(7)+1+2+2=7
2. Airlan Aermec, Juan Cabrer, (17)+5+3+6+1+1=16
3. Tanit IV - Medilevel, Nacho Campos, (11)+2+10+2+4+6=24
... 27 boats
Mallorca Sotheby's IRC
1. Cannonball, Dario Ferrari, (3)+3+1+1+2+1=8
2. Bella Mente, Hap Fauth, 2+2+(3)+2+1+2=9
3. Proteus, George Sakellaris, 1+1+2+3+(DNF)+3=10
Herbalife Nutrition J80
1. Solintal, Ignacio Camino, 1+1+3+1+5+2+2+(9)+5=20
2. Bribon Movistar, Marc de Antonio, (7)+3+6+4+4+1+4+1+1=24
3. Grupo Garatu, Juan Vazquez, 2+2+1+(8)+7+5+3+2+3=25
... 11 boats
ClubSwan 50
1. Cuordileone, Ettore Mattiello, 2+1+3+1+2+(5)=9
2. Stella Maris, August Schram, 3+7+(9)+3+1+1=15
3. Cetilar-Vitamina, Andrea Lacorte, 1+(6)+1+4+4+6=16
... 14 boats
Swan 45
1. Swing Cube, Paolo Bucciarelli, 1+3+2+2+(5)+1=9
2. Porron IX, Luis Senis, 2+1+(3)+3+1+3=10
3. Fever, Klaus Diederichs, (5)+2+4+1+4+4=15
... 6 boats
Mallorca Sotheby's ClubSwan 42
1. Natalia, Natalia Brailoiu, 1+3+2+3=9
2. Dralion, Pit Finnis, 4+6+1+2=13
3. Nadir, Pedro Vaquer, 2+2+6+5+1+(7)=16 ... 11 boats
Purobeach Women's Cup
1. Dorsia Sailing Team, Natalia Via-Dufresne, 1+1+1+3+(4)+1+1+2+3=13
2. Federacion Gallega, Patricia Suarez, 4+2+2+4+3+3+2+1+2=19
3. Federacion Balear, Helena Alegre, 5+(7)+7+1+1+5+3+3+1=26 ... 12 boats
Alinghi and Oman Air neck and neck after five full-on races at Copa del Rey MAPFRE
After a faltering start to day one of the 38 Copa del Rey MAPFRE, Alinghi turned on the afterburners to take the final two races of a full-on, five-heat afternoon in the latest round of the 2019 GC32 Racing Tour in Palma, Mallorca.
The recently crowned GC32 World Champions sit tied on points with Oman Air who won the first and third races of the day. The warm northeasterly breeze was blowing 15-18 knots straight off the shore of Palma, although there were some big gusts and wind shifts ready to catch the foiling catamaran crews unawares.
Aside from the double bullets notched up by Alinghi and Oman Air, Red Bull Sailing Team won the other race of the day. Double Olympic Champion Roman Hagara can see a noticeable improvement at the front of the fleet compared with a couple of years ago in this still young one design flying catamaran class.
Racing continues on Thursday with a start time of 1300 hours local time, and with moderate breeze on the forecast. It should be another sparkling day of GC32 competition in Palma.
Results
1. Alinghi, 10 points
2. Oman Air, 10
3. Red Bull Sailing Team, 12
4. Zoulou, 21
5. Black Star Sailing Team, 23
6. M&G Tressis Silicius, 29
Shirley Robertson catch up with the fastest man around the planet - French offshore star Francois Gabart
Francois Gabart is a man revelling in his time, an articulate and intelligent athlete delighted to be involved in the sport of sailing while it undergoes a radical and exciting revolution. Shirley Robertson sits down to interview the French offshore sailor for the third instalment of her sailing podcast, in a revealing an honest hour of chat about all things offshore.
He's the youngest ever winner of the solo around the world marathon the Vendee Globe, but Francois also holds the title for the fastest ever solo lap of the planet, achievements that have made him a household name in his native France.
Gabart set a remarkable world record in 2017 when he spent just 42 days 16hours 40minutes and 35seconds to sail alone, non stop around the world, coming within just 2 days of the overall crewed world record. The landmark achievement was set sailing the giant 100ft trimaran 'Macif', a foiling trimaran capable of sustained periods of high speed out in the world's toughest sailing conditions...:
"I love speed. I'm not afraid of speed and I have to say that sometimes I even think that speed is not dangerous, that it's sometimes safer to go fast."
As a six year old child Gabart spent a year at sea with his parents, as on a whim they decided to take off to see the world. He attributes a degree of his success to these formative days spent enjoying the experience of being out at sea. His sailing career started well, he was national champion in the competitive Optimist class. Several national titles followed as Gabart set his sights on Olympic success, but admits to Shirley that even then, his horizons were slightly wider...:
"There was something missing when I would just sail around the buoys, and then go back to shore at night. I was thinking 'why can't we jusy try to go further, sail into the night and just go'"
And so began a search for something more. Gabart discusses with Robertson the unique French pathway to becoming an offshore professional, and how he tentatively set off around the world on his one and only Vendee Globe race, aged just 29.
Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast is available to listen to via the podcast page of Shirley's own website, at www.shirleyrobertson.com/podcast or via most popular podcast outlets, including iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcast and aCast
Class 40: Setting up a selection mode for the next Route du Rhum
The Route du Rhum destination Guadeloupe 2018 was a great success for the Class40 with 53 Class 40 participants for more than 57 projects pre-registered before registration closes on March 31, 2018. If the organization had planned to limit the number to 40 in its Race Notice, faced with massive entries, it had increased it by 10 boats in January before accepting 3 more just a few weeks before the start. The announcement of a waiting list had further discouraged some late projects.
In view of the enthusiasm generated by this race and the renewal of quota per class for the 2022 edition, the Class40 wanted to invest in the management of the future list of pre-registered applies more. It has thus proposed to OC Sport a selection process that is more relevant and adapted to class development.
Priority rules process
This selection system only provides priorities in the event of exceeding the limit on the number of boats that will be set by the organization. The main objective is to give priority to runners who participate in class races on a regular if not ad hock basis, who are used to the Class 40s and are therefore comfortable with the support from the point of view of safety and performance, establishing a criteria of miles travelled in the race by the skippers concerned. Furthermore, to correct the possible pernicious or inequitable effects for class development, Class40 built from mid-2021 will automatically be awarding a place to not slow boat buildings. Moreover, the Class40 is proud to have a lot of members who do not live in Europe. To be allocated a place without entering this system of miles, a non-European skipper will have had to participate in a Class40 transatlantic between 2017 and the closing of registrations.
The full selection mode is available in the Races section of the Class 40 website www.class40.com
World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award
This year marks the second annual World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award, and we're looking for a diverse and talented applicant pool so that we can honor and empower the best and brightest leaders of sustainability in the sailing world. This award celebrates the effective execution or ongoing delivery of high-impact, highly-replicable sustainability initiatives, aligned to World Sailing's Sustainability Agenda 2030.
Do you know someone who meets this description? Can't forget the fantastic project you saw while on vacation? Or, perhaps the best nominee is right in your backyard or office!
The 2019 winner will receive a $10,000 prize to support its sustainability initiatives and an iconic, perpetual trophy that is made from recycled carbon fiber from an America's Cup boat. Better yet, the work of these winners will serve as a catalyst for positive change and inspire others to start their own sustainability projects.
Click here to nominate someone by telling us why this individual or organization deserves to win this award, and how they have contributed to a more sustainable sailing industry or used sailing as a platform to promote sustainability.
The deadline to nominate a sailor, sailing club, class association, Member National Authorities, or any other organization that is delivering sustainability initiatives is August 23rd.
Correction
re: our story last night about Greta Thunberg's voyage on Malizia II across the Atlantic. We incorrectly stated that Malizia II was owned by Yacht Club Monaco. The IMOCA yacht 'Malizia' ist not owned by the YCM. The owner is German business man Gerhard Senft from the Stuttgart area. The YCM chartered the boat for the next Vendee Globe.
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The Last Word
If you don't stick to your values when they're being tested, they're not values: they're hobbies. -- Jon Stewart
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