In This Issue
• Vendee Arctique: One mark and they're off again
• Melges 32 World League: the first day of 2020 is a balance game
• Storm Trysail Club Ted Hood Regatta
• RORC L'Ile d'Ouessant (Ushant) Race - Cancelled
• Class 40: Back to business on the water
• INEOS TEAM UK Lead Systems Engineer Andy 'Animal' McLean
• Hellenic Sailing Federation sues Olympic gold medallist over alleged comments
• Features for Marine Binoculars: Boat Rat Tip Of The Week
• Industry News
• Featured Brokerage:
• • SW78 Ocean Horse
• • X-Yachts X-50 Modern
• • Ker 40+ "Arabella"
• The Last Word: Malcolm X
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
Vendee Arctique: One mark and they're off again
This Thursday morning, Thomas Ruyant pipped Charlie Dalin and Jeremie Beyou to the post by being the first to round the IOC-UNESCO waypoint to the south-west of Iceland. Jogging along now, half the IMOCA fleet has already begun its descent down to Les Sables d'Olonne.
On Wednesday evening, Thomas Ruyant was a long way shy of the top two who seemed to have a clear lead in the far north. Some 42 miles astern of Charlie Dalin and Jeremie Beyou, who were posting good speeds en route for 62°N 25°W, it seemed rather optimistic to hope to play a part in the Ulysse Nardin Challenge.
Whilst the skipper of LinkedOut battled to get the most out of the westerly wind, which was a tad fleshier until the early hours, Charlie Dalin and Jeremie Beyou were sampling the delights of the calm airs over the IOC-UNESCO waypoint, which is the most northerly point ever offered up in an IMOCA race. And it was slow going. Very slow. Achingly slow. Except for Ruyant that is. Indeed, while his two adversaries were already in line with the virtual waypoint, he managed to leave the skipper of Apivia standing and rounded the IOC-UNESCO mark with a six-minute advantage. It was broad daylight when Charlie Dalin commented on the tactical coup made by his pontoon buddy: "Thomas took the inside track last night, whilst we were ensnared in the light patch". Effective.
Ranking on Thursday 9 July (16:00 French time)
17 skippers on the racetrack
1. Charlie Dalin (Apivia) 1,530.5 miles from the finish
2. Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut) 0.4 miles behind the leader
3. Jeremie Beyou (Charal) 2.1 miles behind the leader
4. Sam Davies (Initiatives-Cœur) 10.1 miles behind the leader
5. Kevin Escoffier (PRB) 10.5 miles behind the leader
6. Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco) 14.0 miles behind the leader
7. Isabelle Joschke (MACSF) 22.6 miles behind the leader
8. Yannick Bestaven (Maître-CoQ) 28.0 miles behind the leader
9. Fabrice Amedeo (Newrest - Art & Fenêtres) 51.3 miles behind the leader
10. Clarisse Cremer (Banque Populaire X) 51.4 miles behind the leader
Retirements: Armel Tripon (L'Occitane en Provence), Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL), Sebastien Simon (ARKEA - PAPREC)
Melges 32 World League: the first day of 2020 is a balance game
Malcesine, Italy: In second weekend of sailing in Italy, it is time for the protagonists of the Melges 32 Class to be back to racing. The fleet will be involved, starting from today and until Saturday, in the first act of the 2020 Melges World League in Malcesine.
On the regatta course of Lake Garda, today three regattas have been completed, all with Ora wind from the South ranging between 10 and 14/15 knots. The rhythm of the first day is set by Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's G-Spot, historical face of the Melges 32 Class, who immediately puts the seal on the first two races of the day and almost makes it also in third regatta, only to slip into fifth position a few meters from the finish line due to a penalty.
Fighting with G-Spot, in the first rows of the fleet, we can find the World Champions in charge on board Christian Schwoerer's La Pericolosa (today 2-3-2), second at the end of the day on equal points with Di Lapigio's boat, and the Melges World League 2020 winners on Martin Reintjes' Caipirinha (5-2-1), third with a single point of delay.
The young crew of Homanit (3-7-6), who begins to boast several years of experience in the Melges 32 Class, leads the Corinthian ranking in front of the Swiss Skadi (8-6-9).
Top five results after three races:
1. G-Spot, Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio, MON, 7 points
2. La Pericolosa, Christian Schwoerer, GER, 7
3. Caipirinha Martin Reintjes, ITA. 8
4. Vitamina Andrea Lacorte, ITA, 13
5. Dumbovit Flavio Campana - Alessandro Lotto, ITA, 13
Storm Trysail Club Ted Hood Regatta
The 4th Annual Storm Trysail Club Ted Hood Regatta (named after famed Marblehead hero, America's Cup winner, National Sailing Hall of Fame Inductee, and STC member) Ted Hood, is scheduled for August 21 - 23. While we are hopeful, as befitting an organization very much focused on safety, we will also be cautious, vigilant, and closely following the Massachusett's COVID-19 guidelines. The NOR and race information can be found at tedhoodregatta.com.
The regatta's roots go back to the early 1990's when it was the PHRF New England Championships, then morphed into the One Regatta, before it was re-christened as the Storm Trysail Club Ted Hood Regatta in 2017. In all three incarnations, the regatta has been held in late August, with the cooperation of the Eastern YC, the Corinthian YC, and the Boston YC - all of whom take turns hosting the event on a rotating basis. This year the host will be Boston YC.
The event is always a big draw, with close to 80 boats and almost 1,000 participants, volunteers and spectators expected. Two popular handicap systems will be offered; PHRF as administered by PHRF/New England, and ORR/EZ. We also anticipate the usually strong turnout of one-designs such as J/105's, J/70's, and Vipers. Other one-design classes will be formed based on the number of entries. In addition to the traditional Windward/Leeward racing format, there will be a double-handed and Fully Crewed overnight/distance race, and Jib and Main racing.
RORC L'Ile d'Ouessant (Ushant) Race - Cancelled
After a long and open discussion by the RORC Race Management team, senior members of the RORC Committee, and with advice from medical experts, it has been decided that any overnight race that the Club would run would not adhere to the UK Government guidance currently in place. As a result, the Ushant race has been cancelled and in its place will be organised a long day race in the English Channel using laid and virtual marks, starting and finishing in Cowes.
"It was a difficult decision as we were all keen to run a proper offshore race," said RORC Racing Manager Chris Stone. "The crux of the decision was based around the guidance that overnight stays away from home are permitted, but only with others from the same or one other household. So whilst a group of up to six people from different households can meet outside, and therefore race a boat (subject to social distancing), they cannot stay together overnight. Our medical expert also pointed out that it would be impossible to honour the 1m+ social distancing guidance when down below in all but the largest race boats."
"The RORC has to take a responsible position when organising offshore races and although teams are in the open air where transfer of the virus is dramatically reduced, we had to consider the position while below decks and the current Government guidance on staying away from home overnight," said RORC Commodore Steven Anderson. "The decision only affects the Ushant race and we will consider the options for the Cherbourg race (Friday September 4th) at the end of July."
RORC Mini Series
The RORC will now put in place a series of long day races which will include the 'Race the Wight' on Saturday August 1st, a round the cans day race in the Channel on Saturday 15th August and another long day race on Saturday 22nd August, with the Cherbourg race (or its replacement, on Saturday September 5th) and trophies awarded to each class winner, the Two Handed division and overall.
Race the Wight
Given that Government guidance now allows up to six people from different households to race on the same boat, the RORC Race Management team have also reviewed the eligibility criteria for the forthcoming Race the Wight, scheduled for the 1st August. There is no change to the Two Handed division, but the number of crew on any boat will be limited to six in total, or two thirds of the IRC crew number (rounded down), whichever is the least, with a minimum of three people.
Class 40: Back to business on the water
The least we can say is that the season has been severely disrupted this year! Even if the period has been efficiently used by the class to deal with all the short term and future issues, and by the skippers who were able to fine-tune their project ashore, it is about time that we saw some action on the water. Especially as more than 15 boats have changed hands and 5 new boats have been built or confirmed in 2020.
Currently Ian Lipinski is trying to beat the single-handed record round Britain in a 40-foot monohull aboard Credit Mutuel, this record is held by Phil Sharp since 2018. Over on the Atlantic coast, the Class40s are meeting up in Cherbourg for a long-awaited return to racing and it is the Drheam Cup which will restart the season on 18th July thanks to the determination of the organisers. Get ready for a 736 nautical mile loop between the Cotentin peninsula and La Trinite sur Mer via the Fastnet!
The European Trophy, which has been greatly reduced this year, could be confirmed if there is enough participation for at least 2 out of the 3 races on the calendar. SSE Renewables Round Ireland, starting on August 22nd in Wicklow. The Normandy Channel Race, a great classic on the Class40 circuit, has already more than twenty entries and has therefore been confirmed without hesitation, the race will start on September 13th in Caen. Heading into autumn, the exceptionally beautiful Rolex Middle Sea Race will take place on 17th October in the Mediterranean.
To end the season in style, some are planning on participating in the Spi Ouest France held in La Trinite sur Mer this September. And finally, several projects have announced plans to carry out parallel record campaigns on Round Britain and Ireland, the SNSM Record, the Defi Pure Ocean or Les Griffes du Lion.
European Trophy:
- Round Ireland Race (22nd August)
- Normandy Channel Race (13th September)
- Rolex Middle Sea Race (17th October)
INEOS TEAM UK Lead Systems Engineer Andy 'Animal' McLean
Andrew 'Animal' McLean is both a highly experienced inshore and offshore racer as well as a qualified mechanical engineer. He has a vast amount of experience, having competed for four America's Cups and in two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR). All that experience in both sailing and engineering has led him to his current role as Lead Systems Engineer at INEOS TEAM UK.
After years of sailing as a hobby Andrew's road into a future in professional sailing began when he joined the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth Training Programme - a well-trodden route in New Zealand.
Andrew's hard work immediately paid off when straight out of University he was offered a dream job, he was hired by Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) in 2001 to write the visualisation tools for the weather team for their America's Cup Challenge. The role with ENTZ was the start of a pattern for Andrew. A pattern of sailing and racing, while working at the cutting edge of technology and development.
Hellenic Sailing Federation sues Olympic gold medallist over alleged comments
The Hellenic Sailing Federation (HSF) has filed a lawsuit against Olympic windsurfing gold medallist Nikos Kaklamanakis for comments he made in the Greek Parliament.
Kaklamanakis, who claimed Olympic gold at the Atlanta 1996 Games in the Mistral category, spoke in November and has since faced backlash from the HSF who said he accused them of "squandering money".
One of Greece's greatest Olympians, Kaklamanakis lit the Olympic Torch at the Opening Ceremony of his home Athens 2004 Games and went on to win his second Olympic medal with a silver in the same event.
The HSF are requesting €100,000 (£89,600/$112,000), according to the Athens News Agency.
"In the 32 years of continuous administration of the Federation, we have not seen an out-of-court settlement or lawsuit against anyone," the governing body said.
"However, against the former athlete and current coach we had to for what he said in the Greek Parliament last November in which he had spoken about the squandering of public money by the Federation."
Kaklamanakis, now 51, is also a three-time world champion and two-time world silver medallist.
Greece's Sports Minister, Lefteris Avgenakis, said that the HSF's action was "sad" and "outside the boundaries of sportsmanship and values".
He added that every Olympian is not only a role model for their medals, but also for the "courage of his opinion."
Kaklamanakis has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
Features for Marine Binoculars: Boat Rat Tip Of The Week
Binoculars are an important piece of equipment for sailboats from finding a mooring, looking for buoys in the distance or checking up high in the rigging. To get the most out of your binoculars there are some things to consider such as size of magnification, BAK4 versus BK7 prisms, individual versus center focus and armoring. This article from BH Photo will help you wade through the various choices.
Seven by fifty. That is all you need to know. Almost. The classic size of binoculars for marine use is 7x50. This means that they have 7x magnification and the objective lenses are 50mm in diameter. There are three characteristics of the 7x50 binoculars that make them attractive for marine use: conservative magnification, large objective size, and generous exit pupil size.
Many binocular shoppers, regardless of the planned use for their optics, start off by looking for the maximum magnification available. The problem is that when you increase magnification, you also increase image shake due to unsteady hands. No matter how steady your ace-at-the-board-game-Operation hands are, you cannot avoid image shake in high-powered binoculars. Now, compound that shaking with the motion of a vessel floating upon the water. Are we not starting to paint a picture here? A blurry picture? Regardless of the type of vessel you are on, movement will occur while underway, and the best way to make your viewing reasonably steady is to limit the binocular's power to somewhere around 7x.
Industry News
METSTRADE organiser RAI Amsterdam today released a statement to say that it has submitted a request for advice to the Dutch Works Council for a reorganisation. The move is required due to the major impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the convention centre's operations.
"RAI Amsterdam has been closed for exhibitions, conferences and events since the Dutch government's measures were announced on March 16," reads the statement. "The RAI normally welcomes some 1.5 million visitors a year to around 500 events and hopes were high that 2020 would be its busiest year to date. The reality has been very different indeed.
The newly proposed reorganisation is aimed at ensuring the continuity of RAI Amsterdam and the related jobs. "The RAI is looking at a loss of €20m this year and to restore RAI Amsterdam's financial health, the company needs to make cuts to the tune of €25m. This is expected to involve the loss of approximately 125 jobs. RAI Amsterdam currently employs 483 people and compulsory redundancies cannot be avoided. Together with the works council, the RAI hopes to establish a social plan to implement the redundancies but specific notices to the staff involved will not be issued until mid August."
Paul Riemens, RAI Amsterdam CEO, says the outbreak of Covid-19 has had an enormous impact on operations. "A reorganisation is an extremely painful decision to have to take but is crucial in order to make the company financially healthy again," he says. "We must act now in the interest of the future of the RAI. The coronacrisis has significantly affected our reserves, and it is essential that we return to a financially healthy state as soon as possible. That will require us to go forward as a leaner organisation and that will also reduce our risk if a new crisis should arise."
As of July 1, RAI Amsterdam has been permitted to host and facilitate live events in accordance wtih regulations set by the authorities. The work in planning for METSTRADE 2020, to be held from November 17-19, is in full swing and its role in bringing the industry together after so many other events have been cancelled around the world will form a crucial part in preparing for 2021.
The show's director, Niels Klarenbeek, commented that "despite these times of uncertainty we will do the utmost to enable the industry to meet in Amsterdam this November. METSTRADE 2020 can only be held if we can make it a safe and successful show."
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US boat and yacht retailer MarineMax has acquired Private Insurance Services, a specialty yacht insurance agency, for an undisclosed sum.
US boat and yacht retailer MarineMax has acquired Private Insurance Services, a specialty yacht insurance agency, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition gives MarineMax a foothold into the yacht insurance sector.
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The 30th International BoatBuilders' Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), scheduled for September 29 - October 1, 2020 in Tampa, Florida, announced today it will transition to a virtual only event allowing the entire marine industry to come together in a new way as an online community. This decision was made to pivot the in-person show to a virtual only event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The marine industry will still be able to connect virtually with all the experts and product manufacturers at the new IBEX online event on the same IBEX 2020 dates.
"The health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors, and partners is our primary concern," said Anne Dunbar, IBEX Show Director. "While gathering in-person is not the right decision this year, we will instead connect virtually. IBEX is known for forward-thinking education and allowing buyers and manufacturers to meet and do business. We are working to bring all that you expect from IBEX to an online format. With the barriers of travel, budget constraints and time away from the office removed, this is a unique opportunity to attend from a distance and a great chance to share IBEX with your co-workers and teams who don't typically attend, particularly emerging professionals or those new to the marine industry."
The details for IBEX Online: A Virtual Experience are currently being developed. Registration for the new virtual IBEX experience will be announced in August.
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Groupe Beneteau reveals full impact of Covid as it reports 2019-20 nine month revenues; announces new strategic plan
Boat business down 43.3% - new strategy in place to cope with Covid aftermath with cuts in production planned
Groupe Beneteau has revealed it latest financials and a new strategy to cope with the 'new normal' in an investors call this evening.
Following first-half growth of 4.8%, the Group's revenues for the third quarter, affected by the Covid-19 health crisis, came to €249.3 million, down 42.6% compared with the third quarter of the previous year. This contraction reflects the temporary shutdown of production for half of the quarter, before gradually starting up again due to the strict health constraints.
The Boat business is down 43.3%, while the Housing business is reporting a drop of 39.4%.
As a result, consolidated revenues for the first nine months of FY 2019-20 totaled €768.7 million, down 17.3% year-on-year and 17.9% at constant exchange rates. The Boat business is down 17.8%, while the Housing business, which was able to start its shipments up again slightly more quickly, recorded a 15.4% decrease compared with the same period in 2019.
www.ibinews.com/groupe-beneteau
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The Last Word
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