In This Issue
• SailGP Grand Final - $1,000,000 Final looks out of reach for Brits in Marseille
• Argo Group Gold Cup To Rejoin World Match Racing Tour
• Join us At The Front: Subscribe to Harken's Newsletter
• MS Amlin Seamanship Award
• Mini Transat Prologue postponed until Friday
• Yacht Racing Forum: Business, Network, Information - and Fun!
• Pensacola YC Offers Spring 2020 Safety at Sea Seminar
• Hong Kong to Vietnam Race: Two Racing Trimarans Ready and Set to Go
• For the Record
• Launch Of Spindrift 2 and a New Appointment
• Featured Charter
• Featured Brokerage:
• • X-50 - MAXIAN
• • Swan 45-007 'Eala of Rhu'
• • Vismara V52
• The Last Word: Robin Ince
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
SailGP Grand Final - $1,000,000 Final looks out of reach for Brits in Marseille
The Great Britain SailGP team have a mountain to climb at the final stage for the first season of the SailGP event.
The teams are in Marseille for the inaugural SailGP final - where all six foiling wingsailed catamarans will battle it out with a winner-takes-all $1,000,000 match race on the final day.
And it's all to play for... well not for all the teams.
The Event has been dominated by the two Aussie skippered teams, Australia with Tom Slingsby and Japan with Nathan Outteridge. Between them they have taken first and second at each of the four events sailed to date, Australia winning 3 and Japan 1.
Australia and Japan now top the leaderboard with a 40+ point advantage over the third placed USA team skippered by Rome Kirby. Sitting in fourth place, 45 points off the two leaders, are Dylan Fletcher and the GB SailGP team.
After the first two events where the Brits held onto third place, things took a down-turn with wipe-outs in New York and then in Cowes where they finished last in both events.
So how will Fletcher and the GB SailGP team overcome this huge point discrepancy?
Well, according to the latest team PR they have accepted that the one-million-dollar match race final is beyond them, and are concentrating on a third-place podium position.
Even if they, or the USA, were to win all eight races they would need Australia and Japan to suddenly crash and burn before they could make the final.
Their best hope is for an equipment malfunction removing one or both leaders at some point, but weather conditions look mild, with the light winds picking up on Saturday and Sunday to provide ideal racing conditions.
It might not be what Russell Coutts had in mind for the first grand final, but if Fletcher could pull it off it would stand beside the fantastic efforts of Ben Stokes in the third Ashes test . . . and might even get the mainstream media headlines that SailGP have obviously been aiming for. -- Gerald New in Sailweb
Argo Group Gold Cup To Rejoin World Match Racing Tour
Hamilton, Bermuda: The Argo Group Gold Cup, one of the most storied match racing regattas in the world that has been won by the luminaries of the America's Cup arena, will rejoin the World Match Racing Tour for its 70th competition next year, scheduled May 11-16, 2020.
Event organizers at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club are also pleased to welcome back Argo Group, an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance, as the title sponsor. An expected field of 12 teams will battle for the King Edward VII Gold Cup, the oldest match racing trophy in the world for competition involving one-design yachts that dates to 1907, and a $100,000 prize purse.
Argo Group returns as the title sponsor for the 11th time, renewing a longstanding tradition of supporting community and sporting events on Bermuda, the picturesque British island territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.
"We are thrilled to continue as title sponsor of the Argo Group Gold Cup," said Argo Group CEO Mark E. Watson III. "Argo's support of this prestigious match race demonstrates our ongoing commitment to Bermuda. Supporting this event is also a natural extension of Argo's commitment to innovation, teamwork and sustainability. Like the elite athletes who compete in the Argo Group Gold Cup, we know that rewards come only to those who overcome risks through innovation, approach risks as a team, and manage risks in ways that respect our environment."
The Argo Group Gold Cup rejoins the World Match Racing Tour after a four-year hiatus. The tour has been under new ownership since earlier this year and is returning to its broader business model with a collective of world championship level events, including the Argo Group Gold Cup, and qualifier events that will comprise the tour season. Points accumulated at the events will lead to the crowning of the Open Match Racing World Champion as sanctioned by World Sailing.
The Argo Group Gold Cup was a flagship event for the tour before its hiatus and now is the first event to join the tour as it reassembles.
Invitations to the 70th Argo Group Gold Cup will be issued later this year.
Join us At The Front: Subscribe to Harken's Newsletter
Olaf and Peter Harken didn't set out to transform our sport. They just wanted to make some equipment that would help the best sailors extend what is possible in sailing. In many ways, that's what we still do. We never stop asking: Can it be lighter? Does that add line speed? Will it be flawless under higher load?
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MS Amlin Seamanship Award
Roy P. Disney. Click on image to enlarge.
Roy P. Disney and crew are declared the winners of the MS Amlin Seamanship Award 2019 for their selfless action rescuing John Sangmeister and his crew following catastrophic damage to their Santa Cruz 70, OEX, during the Transpac Race 2019. Selected as the winners from a record number of entries, Roy received the trophy at the prestigious YJA MS Amlin Yachtsman of the Year Awards Gala Dinner on Friday night in Southampton.
On Saturday 13th July Roy P. Disney and crew set sail from San Pedro California aboard his Andrews 70, Pyewacket, to compete in his 23rd Transpac race. Little did they know that less than two days later, their race would be taking a dramatic turn.
At 0200 on July 15th, Roy was just waking for his watch when he heard an urgent radio transmission from OEX issuing their intention to abandon ship due to rapid water ingress from a damaged rudder post. Unfortunately, despite courageous attempts to construct a makeshift repair and keep on top of the flooding with pumps and buckets, the crew had no choice but to abandon OEX, which subsequently sank.
After a quick consultation with Pyewacket's navigator, Roy altered course to go to OEX's rescue. One hour after the first emergency signal was activated by OEX, Pyewacket contacted Tranpac's race headquarters to report that they had safely picked up all 10 crew members from OEX, with no reported injuries.
Responding to the emergency signal so promptly meant the 10 crew members of OEX only had to spend minutes in their life rafts. They could even see the running lights of Pyewacket as they boarded in the middle of the night, hundreds of miles from land in pitching seas. A scenario which would most definitely have been a terrifying situation despite the experience of everyone involved.
On receipt of the award Disney said,
"To carry out the rescue took 10 sailors from Pyewacket and 9 sailors from OEX. The Seamanship Award is not just for me, but for all 19 people involved. We were thankfully right on top of OEX when they needed us and no one had any second thought as to what we had to do. I am sure that if it had been the other way around, they would have taken exactly the same action."
The MS Amlin Seamanship Award, has previously been awarded for great acts of seamanship during the Round the Island Race, but was expanded this year to include any act taking place throughout the year. The response to the competition was excellent with entries coming in from around the world.
MS Amlin Yacht are boat insurance specialists
Mini Transat Prologue postponed until Friday
Initially scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday 18 September, the Prologue for the 22nd Mini-Transat La Boulangere has been put back to Friday. Denis Hugues, race director, explains the reasoning behind his decision: "We're putting the prologue back as we're expecting 25 knots of NE'ly breeze, gusting to 30. The skippers are preparing for a singlehanded transatlantic race on 6.50-metre boats. As such, it's essential that they don't take any risks in this prologue, the idea being to have a dress rehearsal so that the competitors get a clear picture of the start zone. On Friday the wind is set to ease and become more stable at 10-13 knots."
The excellent atmosphere at the finishes is another trademark of the Mini-Transat, and indeed the Mini spirit as a whole, as 34-year-old Japanese sailor Masa Suzuki explained on the dock this Tuesday. "I have been so impressed by the help and the kindness shown to me and to everyone else within our Mini community. Equally striking is the fact that no matter what your result, everyone celebrates all the finishes, at whatever time of the day or night. I've never witnessed that before. In fact, I feel so welcome here that I'm considering living in France, if my wife will agree!" It's little surprise then, that his friends and his wife have travelled all the way to La Rochelle from Japan to see what this Mini spirit is all about, offer their own support and see him safely on his way on Sunday.
In the Canaries as in Martinique, the festivities on shore match up to the level of difficulty encountered at sea. "The Mini spirit is also about ensuring you stay 'hydrated'. Some aren't quite so good at that side of things and we have a few worrying elements there", jokes Christophe Briere de la Hosseraye (755), who goes on to explain that experiencing something so strong and intense brings you closer. "You can become great mates with a guy or girl who's 10 years younger or older."
Leaving the Mini circuit and its spirit can lead to a form of nostalgia. "Even though I'm preparing for it, the period after the Mini scares me a bit. I'm expecting to feel a massive void on an emotional and personal level", Guillaume Coupe admits.
Yacht Racing Forum: Business, Network, Information - and Fun!
There is no other event like the Yacht Racing Forum. It is the B2B conference where you will meet potential clients and partners, discuss and learn about the evolution of the sport, meet potential clients, suppliers or sponsors.
And also have fun, network with the sports' leading personalities, share a drink with the best designers and sailors, the greatest event organisers, sponsors or class managers.
The 12th edition of the Yacht Racing Forum will take place in Bilbao, Spain, on November 25-26. The conference will bring together around 350 delegates, including the sports' main decision-makers from all over the world.
If you haven't registered yet, here is the address: www.yachtracingforum.com
Pensacola YC Offers Spring 2020 Safety at Sea Seminar
Pensacola, Florida- September 15, 2019: Safety Training can save your life. Now's your chance to get the boating safety experience you need, before you need it. The Pensacola Yacht Club Satori Foundation will host a US Sailing sanctioned two-day Hands on only Safety at Sea Seminar and Offshore sailing workshop on March 21 and 22. At the same time your family can enjoy a Spring Time beach getaway in beautiful Pensacola, Florida.
The seminar will be held at Pensacola Yacht Club where Bayou Chico meets Pensacola Bay. The PYC Satori Safety at Sea training course is a 2-day event. Saturday morning will feature a Offshore Sailing Workshop. Hands-on training for an international certification will begin Saturday afternoon and conclude on Sunday.
The hands-on practical experience with feature groups rotating through outdoor stations on the dock, on the beach, the terrace and in the pool. Participants will learn how to inflate their PFD, float huddled together for warmth, climb into an inflated liferaft, launch flares, put out a fire and recover a crew mate who has gone overboard. Rigging storm sails and other safety gear will be demonstrated as well.
Only people who have completed their US Sailing Sanctioned Offshore Safety at Sea (online or in person) within the last 365 day from the date of that course, can attend a hands-on training to upgrade their certificate to an International Offshore Safety at Sea. If they are outside of the range, they will have to retake the course either online or in person.
Registration is now open through US Sailing Regatta Network: Pensacola SAS Seminar. Information about the seminar offering is available at www.satorifoundation.com. Club Information is at Pensacola Yacht Club. Information about Pensacola accommodations is at Visit Pensacola.
Hong Kong to Vietnam Race: Two Racing Trimarans Ready and Set to Go
SHK Scallywag/FUKU. Photo by RHKYC / Guy Nowell. Click on image to enlarge.
International entries from six countries mark the first sign ups for the 9th biennial Hong Kong to Vietnam Race; the 673nm predominantly downwind run to Nha Trang Beach, Vietnam. Racing kicks off on 15 and 16 October 2019 on Victoria Harbour in front of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's flagship Clubhouse at Kellett Island.
The Category 1 Offshore race is known for its windy and warm weather sailing conditions and is run under the auspices of Royal Ocean Racing Club. Racing finishes in Nha Trang which boasts many family-friendly resorts and is very accessible with Cam Ranh International Airport located about 40 minutes from Nha Trang town.
The first entries hail from Italy, United States and Hong Kong. Among them for the first time are two trimarans; Italian Maserati Multi70 racing against Hong Kong's Orma 60, SHK Scallywag/FUKU.
SHK Scallywag/FUKU (previously Team Australia) holds the World Sailing Speed Record Council record of 1d 5h 52m 23s between Sydney and Hobart achieving top speeds of 39.6kts. Maserati Multi70 established the fastest Hong Kong to London sailing record in 2017. Both crews will rival each other for line honours.
Also to be watched is American Bryon Ehrhart, Hong Kong to Vietnam Race 2013 IRC Racing 0 Division winner, who is returning to the Race with this high performance yacht Maxi 72 Lucky competing with a crew of well-experienced Hong Kong to Vietnam Race veterans.
The Hong Kong to Vietnam Race was first run in 1996 and then regularly since 2004. It is recognised as a qualifying race for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the longest Category One offshore race in Asia. The current record is 42h 17m 24s and was set in 2015 by Syd Fischer's Ragamuffin 100 clocking an average VMG of 15.8kts.
Facebook page
Event website
Online Entry
Notice of Race
For the Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of 2 new World Records:
Records: Monohull 60 ft Transatlantic and Singlehanded Monohull 60 ft Transatlantic
Yacht: "Helvetia". Open 60 ft.
Name: Alan Roura. FRA
Dates:.11th to the 19th July 2019.
Start time: 19:22:14 0 on 11/07/19
Finish time: 12:20:40 on 19/07/19
Elapsed time: 7 days 16 hours 58 minutes and 26 seconds
Comments: Previous Records. "Safran" Marc Guillemot. FRA. Jul 13. 8d 5h 20m 20s
John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council
Launch Of Spindrift 2 and a New Appointment
Spindrift 2 was put back in the water on Monday 16th September in the presence of Dona Bertarelli, Yann Guichard and the Spindrift racing team.
The world's largest racing maxi trimaran has spent the past few months being further optimised, as well as being fitted with new load bearing rudder plates, following the structural failure of the starboard rudder plate during the Jules Verne Trophy record attempt last winter.
The whole team was onsite at the Multiplast boatyard in Vannes this morning to help with the launch operation; this required careful attention down to the smallest detail, as the 40m trimaran was gently lifted into the water.
The operation was overseen by team co-founder Yann Guichard and Spindrift 2's boat captain, Erwan Le Roux, who had also ensured that each stage of the refit went smoothly.
Once its 32m tall mast is fitted, the trimaran will sail to its home port of La Trinite-sur-Mer. There, the technical team will finish configuring the maxi trimaran for record mode, before the Jules Verne Trophy squad begins a series of 'inshore' and 'offshore' training sessions during September.
The Jules Verne Trophy remains the team's goal, with the two-month stand-by period starting on the 1st October. The challenge is to beat the record time of 40 days 23 hours 30 minutes and 30 seconds set by Francis Joyon on Idec in 2017.
Alongside the new racing season and the team's future challenges, Yann Guichard and Dona Bertarelli are also delighted to announce changes to the management team at Spindrift racing.
Leo Lucet, who, as Executive Director, has been one of the pillars of Spindrift racing since its creation in 2011, has taken over the management of all of Dona Bertarelli and Yann Guichard's private affairs in Switzerland, of which Spindrift racing is a part.
Lucet will be succeeded as Executive Director of the Spindrift racing by Jean-Sebastien Chenier Proteau, who will be joining the team at its Saint-Philibert base in mid-October.
A key player in the industry for several years, the 36-year-old Canadian has worked on major international projects such as the America's Cup with Groupama Team France, the victorious Dongfeng Race Team in the Volvo Ocean Race, as well as Oman Sail and SailGP. Chenier Proteau, who has a Master's in Business and Administration, will be in charge of organising the administrative, technical and sports teams.
Featured Charter
Figaro 3 -Raw
Available for:
UK 2019 Day Sail
Caribbean 2020
The Figaro 3 is the first production foiling one-design monohull. Resulting from a collaboration between group Beneteau’s best experts and the Van Peteghem Lauriot-Prévost (VPLP) office, the architects of the two last boats to win the Vendée Globe, this boat is fast, powerful and very exciting to sail. It is equipped with foils, a ballast-free hull, a slender and deeper keel, a setback mast and an extensive and large sail plan.
The Figaro 3 has recently been awarded Sailing Worlds “Boat of the Year” for 2019, with judges praising its sailing on all points of sail! Chartering the Figaro 3 will be the experience of a lifetime. A truly awesome racing machine, you are bound to have an exhilarating time on the water putting the boat through its paces.
See listing details in Seahorse Charters
Contact
Lucy Jackson - LV Yachting
Call: +44 2392 161272
Email: info [AT] lvyachting [DOT] com
See the the Seahorse charter collection
Featured Brokerage
2005 X-50 - MAXIAN. 230000 GBP. Located in Hamble, UK.
From 2005, by X-Yachts and Jeppesen, the X-50 is very much a sailor’s yacht. With a powerful, easily managed rig with in boom furling and well-drawn lines, she is every bit a performance cruising yacht. Fully equipped for long distance adventures.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Ben Cooper
Telephone: +44(0) 1590 679222
ben [DOT] cooper [AT] berthon [DOT] co [DOT] uk
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2002 Swan 45-007 'Eala of Rhu'. 295,000 VAT Paid EUR. Located in Barcelona, Spain.
Swan 45 EALA of RHU is an excellent example of this hugely successful one design fleet, built as a Two Cabin version with twin heads and a large sail locker accessed from the cockpit.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jerome Mainemare
brokerage [AT] nautorswan [DOT] com
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com
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2007 Vismara V52. 350,000 EUR. Located in Sicily, Italy.
Stunning carbon-hulled 52ft fast cruiser from Vismara in 2007. Ultra-stylish, yet ultra-practical and set up for effortless short-handed fast cruising
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
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
We very quickly forget about the wonderful things we've got. People lose their excitement because there's too much. Basically we're experiencing nothing, because everything is available to us. -- Robin Ince
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