In This Issue
• Statement by World Sailing regarding interference in World Sailing Elections
• ORC Annual Meeting Schedule Now Posted
• The Evolution of Sailboat Coaching
• On This Date in the Bermuda Gold Cup: October 7
• Sailing has done enough to return to Paralympic Games at Los Angeles 2028, claims Andersen
• Yachting Developments New Zealand Match Racing Championship
• Chapter Closes For The TP52 Azzurra After Ten Seasons
• Solent Sunbeams; surviving and thriving
• RS Aero Atlantic Coast Championships
• SAP Launches New Mobile App
• Featured Charter: Ikigai - 82ft JFA Sailing Yacht
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Ridas 37 ORC Racer
• • Pilot Classic 83
• • Outremer 55 - New Boat
• The Last Word: Timothy Leary
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
Statement by World Sailing regarding interference in World Sailing Elections
It has come to the attention of World Sailing that Mr. Ser Miang Ng, IOC Member from Singapore and member of World Sailing Ethics Commission, has been interfering in the internal elections and politics of World Sailing. These actions are deemed unacceptable and condemned by World Sailing.
For an individual to misuse their position in order to intervene in the election and politics of an autonomous International Federation goes against all good governance practices.
In discussions and reference statement by the IOC and ASOIF, World Sailing understands that these actions were taken by the individual alone and do not reflect the views of the IOC or the Olympic Movement.
World Sailing prides itself on being an open and transparent organisation, one with well governed processes that are in line with ASOIF and IOC guidelines. The actions by this individual are an attempt to compromise the World Sailing Election Committee and the elections themselves.
ORC Annual Meeting Schedule Posted
London, UK: Due to the global pandemic this year, the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) is following the same process as many other organizations and holding its annual general meeting remotely via Zoom. The dates for the meetings are now set for Saturday, October 31st through Saturday, November 7th. All committee meetings are being held from 1500-1800 UTC/GMT, and the ORC Congress will be held from 1600-1900 on the final day of the conference.
As with all ORC annual conferences, all but the Management Committee meetings and EGM are open to observers as well as Committee members. Interested observers are asked to register in advance on the ORC meeting website to obtain instructions on how to access to the Committee and Congress meetings.
The discussion topics on how to improve the rating system and its policies are found in the list of Submissions found on the website. This year even without the normal busy pace of racing activity there were 15 submissions from Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the USA on topics varying from new certificate layouts to racing formats, scoring and addressing technical nuances in the VPP.
The wording of these submissions, each committee's agenda and observer registration are all found on the meeting page of the ORC website: www.orc.org/meetings
The Evolution of Sailboat Coaching
Over the past six months, the landscape of both professional sailing and coaching has changed significantly. Most people haven't been able to get out racing as much and very few events have even been happening, but what hasn't changed is peoples thirst for knowledge and wanting to improve.
"Throughout the recent lock-down with travel essentially ceasing, I have been busy responding to sailing friends and clients with an appetite for sailing knowledge but the inability to go out sailing. So I have been doing a lot of remote coaching, something I've been doing for a few years anyway. I've helped teams remotely in Australia, the USA, Asia and Europe but it's been fairly ad-hoc and also quite time consuming. Then a few months back I became aware of SLOCOACH and the fit came at a perfect time.
"The SLOCOACH platform is very impressive and it's not about one-size-fits-all, generic advice. It provides me with the analysis tools to deliver high-quality feedback to sailors in a very convenient, professional and innovative format. The sessions I've done with sailors so far have been enjoyable and satisfying. It's great to have a tool with a wide reach, where sailors from anywhere and at any level, have such easy access to top coaching. Anything that helps sailors to be their best and to enjoy the process of improving, has got to be good for the sport of sailing.
"Whilst SLOCOACH has been conceived to help people at all levels from all across the world, two earlier adopters are a team of double-handed high profile sailors. Double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson needs no introduction. She has recently embarked on a double-handed sailing campaign with Henry Bomby and asked for some guidance on the set up of their Sunfast 3300 keelboat. Paul Ward is the reigning J70 World Champion and is embarking on an Etchells campaign. He too has already seen the benefit of the SLOCOACH platform."
Below are some quotes from the sailors about the experience -
Paul Ward - "Great analysis. Andrew always explains in great details, works incredibly hard on each session and makes all of the time we spend together useful and relevant. Huge amount of knowledge, great communicator. Coaching right at the top of our sport and always has time to help!"
Shirley Robertson - "By far the best 100 bucks we've ever spent. We could have gone through all season trying to find the best way forward on our own. Dog is unquestionably THE supercoach, one of the most sought after coaches at the very top end of the game. His help was clear and engaging, full of personal experience and anecdotes yet also really analytical in his approach. There was no 'waffle' and he left us with definitive next steps....we'll be back!!"
There are several coaching sessions available through the platform. These include specific skills like helming, starts and manoeuvres to an open session for a set price of AUS$100 or around €60. There's also a racing bundle, which gives you 3 sessions with a $50 discount.
So whether you want to win against the local rockstar who's been beating you every week in the sailing club or are trying to win a World Championship, check out www.sailing.dog or www.slocoach.com for convenient and cost effective professional coaching using a state of the art platform.
On This Date: October 7
A brief history of the storied King Edward VII Gold Cup
If it's October it must be time for the Bermuda Gold Cup, featuring competition for the King Edward VII Gold Cup, the oldest trophy in the world for competition involving one-design yachts.
Luminaries such as Ben Ainslie, Francesco Bruni, Russell Coutts, Briggs Cunningham, Chris Dickson, Peter Gilmour, Peter Holmberg, Peter Isler and James Spithill have all starred in the America's Cup arena while also winning the King Edward VII Gold Cup.
Crafty veteran sailors and blue water racers such as Warren Brown, A.F. "Bert" Darrell, C. Archie Hooper, Cornelius Shields, Jr., E.S. "Penny" Simmons, B.W. "Jordy" Walker and William S. Widnall won the King Edward VII Gold Cup between 1951 and 1983 when it was a regatta between the U.S. and Bermuda.
More recent winners such as Johnie Berntsson, Taylor Canfield, Adam Minoprio, Torvar Mirsky and Ian Williams are match racing afficionados who view winning the King Edward VII Gold Cup among the pinnacle achievements in their career.
Since being reorganized to the current tournament format in the mid-1980s October has been the month for King Edward VII Gold Cup drama. The autumnal winds are punchy and shifty and can wreak havoc on the racecourse. Herewith a listing of some championship moments over the past 30 years in the month of October.
October 7
2012 - Taylor Canfield wins the 64th King Edward VII Gold Cup with a 3-0 defeat of Sweden's Johnie Berntsson "We came in here this week with the goal of making it to the quarter finals, but we've been very confident all week with our boat handling skills. We are ecstatic with our win. It has been a great week for us... I would also especially like to thank my father, Bill, who has been supporting me since sailing the Opti's... Thanks, Dad."
Sailing has done enough to return to Paralympic Games at Los Angeles 2028, claims Andersen
World Sailing President Kim Andersen has claimed that the sport is in a strong position to lobby for a return to the programme at the Paralympic Games in time for Los Angeles 2028.
Sailing had featured at the Paralympics in every Games between Sydney 2000 and Rio 2016 but in 2015 it was announced it was being dropped for Tokyo 2020.
Last year, it failed in a bid to return for Paris 2024.
Sailing was axed, along with football seven-a-side, for the Games in the Japanese capital because the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) claimed it could not fulfil their minimum criteria for worldwide reach.
"It was unfortunate that Parasailing was removed from the Paralympics before my tenure, but during my time this has been among my priorities to ensure that we put in place a strong Parasailing structure with the goal of once again being part of the Paralympic Games," Andersen said in a message released as part of his election campaign.
"With our new 2020-2023 strategy for Parasailing, which shows how World Sailing will continue to grow, promote and develop all Para disciplines worldwide I believe that we have a strong foundation to make our case to the IPC.
"Parasailing has a unique capacity to include people from all ages and abilities."
"Positive steps have been made over the past few years with the Parasailing Development Programmes to increase participation by 30 per cent.
"Furthermore, with our strong links to the IPC we have already began discussions to getting back into the Paralympic programme for 2028.
Yachting Developments New Zealand Match Racing Championship
Click on image for photo gallery.
A stellar sixteen teams will be on the water at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron from Thursday through to Sunday this week vying for the 2020 Yachting Developments New Zealand Match Racing Championship title.
Defending champion Nick Egnot-Johnson and his RNZYS Performance Programme Knots Racing Team are looking to go back-to-back, but Egnot-Johnson is wary of the fact it's going to be even tougher this year.
Last year's runner-up Reuben Corbett is back for another crack, and this time he has called upon a few experienced match racers to join his team. Harry Thurston - a three-time winner of this event with various skippers - Tom Bentham, and Guy Pilkington have all signed up to race with Corbett.
Two-time runner-up Graeme Sutherland will be doing his best to finally win one and is joined in his crew by Olympic Bronze medalist and last weekend's Theland NZ Open National Keelboat Champion Sam Meech. Meech also has experience winning this event, with victories in 2017 and 2018 crewing for Andy Maloney and Josh Junior respectively.
We have two all-female teams racing, Megan Thomson (RNZYS PP 2.0 Women's Racing Team) and Celia Willison (RNZYS PP Edge Women's Match). Both have the advantage of only just competing at the NZ Women's Match Racing Championship a few weeks ago, so both should be ready to go.
Two more RNZYS PP teams are also hitting the water, including Jordan Stevenson (RNZYS PP Vento Racing) and Niall Malone. Malone is representing the Royal Irish Yacht Club.
Making the journey from the bottom of the North Island are Albert Stanley and Will Wright who are both representing the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club in Wellington. Both have competed at a few youth match racing events here so know the conditions fairly well, and Stanley will be desperate to improve on his last place finish at this event in 2019.
Former RNZYS Mastercard YTP sailors Frankie Dair and Alastair Gifford are in, and both are pretty handy match racers, especially in the Elliott 7's, so they can't be discounted as a chance to win this weekend.
Current RNZYS Mastercard YTP sailor Max McLachlan is taking part in what is his first open match racing event, and will no doubt gain valuable experience.
RNZYS Mastercard YTP skipper Robbie McCutcheon finished second at the NZMRC qualifier two weeks ago, securing his place on the entry list. Sean Herbert also qualified via that event, as did the Royal Akarana Yacht Club's Isaac McHardie, and all three will be trying to push their cases as entry's who aren't just making up the numbers.
The final name on the list is Leonard Takahashi. Takahashi has been out of the match racing scene for a while as he has been a busy boy on board the Japan Sail GP team, as well as training in the 49er in which he has qualified to represent Japan at the Tokyo Olympics. Takahashi has got his Pacific Racing Team band back together, which includes Taylor Balogh and Josh Wijohn, and also has his 49er teammate Ibuki Koizumi joining the team. Takahashi has a 3rd and 4th place finish at this event to his name and he's looking forward to getting back out there and match racing against the best in New Zealand
Chapter Closes For The TP52 Azzurra After Ten Seasons
Porto Cervo, Italy: After 10 highly successful seasons, the Roemmers family has decided to leave the TP52 Azzurra sporting programme. They leave behind an important legacy, with Azzurra currently reigning champion of the 52 Super Series and undefeated in the only regatta held in the 2020 season.
Azzurra's journey in the TP52 class began in 2011 in the circuit known as the Audi MedCup, which would become the 52 Super Series the following year. Owned by YCCS member Albert W. H. Roemmers and later by his sons Albert Jr and Pablo, Azzurra won four titles in the 52 Super Series - in 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2019 - and a TP52 World Championship in 2015, a year in which she was truly unbeatable.
The adventure in the TP52 class spanned 10 seasons and was marked by numerous successes, the most recent of which was a March 2020 victory in the circuit leg in Cape Town, South Africa - the only event held this season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, all good things must come to an end, and so it is for the programme supported by the Roemmers family, which flew the YCCS burgee high in the top-level professional circuit for keel boats.
Over the course of those 10 seasons, the structure of the team built by Guillermo Parada remained practically unchanged, based on bonds of friendship and fraternity that translated into a perfect and winning synergy on board, which was also reflected in daily life ashore. The main changes on board related to the tacticians: Francesco Bruni, and later Vasco Vascotto, left for America's Cup campaigns with Luna Rossa, while multiple Olympic medal-winner Santiago Lange withdrew from the 2020 season to prepare for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Prior to Covid-19 bringing all activities to a halt, new tactician Michele Paoletti guided Azzurra to her most recent victory in Cape Town.
"I would like to thank the Roemmers family, the skipper and the entire Azzurra team for what they have done since 2011." commented YCCS Commodore, Michael Illbruck. "In full agreement with Pablo Roemmers, we accepted the family's decision not to continue with their direct involvement. We are working to ensure that their legacy is carried forward in a fitting manner."
Solent Sunbeams; surviving and thriving
Click on image for photo gallery.
The historic Solent Sunbeam fleet, which boasts 97-year-old wooden keelboats through to brand-new GRP hulls, has experienced one of its best sailing seasons despite the shadow of Covid-19 and a late start to the season. The fleet has enjoyed some of its largest ever turnouts at its Covid-secure racing events as well as the extra bonus of new family groups spending quality time together on Chichester Harbour.
By July, the season was fully underway with new guidelines, including mixed households and socially distanced sailing, and the Sunbeams experienced some of their biggest number of entrants for their re-scheduled Chittagong Cup. With excellent weather, sunshine and blue skies, the 19 boats enjoyed Chichester Harbour racing at its best with steady winds, challenging tides and very tight competition. The series was won by V41, Fleury with V26 Danny in second place.
August saw the rescheduled Chisholm Trophy regatta attract 20 Sunbeams in what turned out to be a two day event due to strong winds cancelling racing on the middle day. The newly named Itchenor Keelboat Week (formerly Points Week) was held in September, rather than its customary June date. 20 Sunbeams competed in what started as a light wind event but ended with a cancelled final day due to the strong wind forecast. Extremely tight racing on the water was reflected in very close final scores with V41 Fleury winning the regatta on 5 points, the 97-year-old, V1 Dainty, runner up just two points adrift and 3 boats tying for 3rd place!
A new Class Captain was voted in during the summer with Ollie Gilchrist taking up the mantle for the next three years. Ollie lives locally in West Sussex and has sailed from Itchenor since childhood.
As the season comes to an end the fleet is looking to the future and in particular the fast approaching centenary in 2023. With this in mind, the class association is keen to update the history and ownership of each of these classic boats with a view to publishing a new book for the 100th celebrations. The class association would like to hear from anyone who has owned a Sunbeam, past or present, or just sailed a Sunbeam; photos, images, anecdotes and stories can be sent to info [AT] solentsubeam [DOT] co [DOT] uk
RS Aero Atlantic Coast Championships
Click on image for photo gallery.
Cedar Point YC, CT, USA, Oct 3/4th: The local RS Aero fleet at Cedar Point YC has been growing quickly this past year culminating in a great fleet of twenty RS Aero 9s for the Atlantic Coast Championships at Cedar Point YC, which formed part of their Fontelieu Fall OD Regatta. Five RS Aero visitors travelled from other parts of the USA's North East, although Covid kept many more away.
Light winds were forecast on Day 1 and so everyone agreed to sail RS Aero 9s creating the largest RS Aero 9 regatta to date in North America! Sailors enjoyed blue skies and winds out of the SE/S produced flat water but a shifty breeze for the seven races held on the triangle/sausage course. Ralph Kinder from Rhode Island scored two bullets early on, however, the breeze increasing up towards 15kn by Race 4 allowed straight-line speed to help Marc Jacobi and Madhavan Thirumalai pull away.
Five more races on Day 2 with the wind from the East 8-13 knots created bigger seas to make surfing possible for some fun reaches with plenty of place changes!
Sailors found the racing competitive with places hard fought throughout the fleet. Local CPYC sailors Marc Jacobi and Madhavan Thirumalai ended the weekend atop the leaderboard with Ralph Kinder of Bristol YC nipping at their heels. Eric Aker took fourth sailing a strong and consistent series and a strong performance by Francisco Barreto with great starts and first beats saw him take 5th. Anne Kochendorfer finished as first Lady in 12th, beating Sally Sharp.
We realised what a great venue Cedar Point is in the Fall with blue sky 'champagne sailing' in good breezes! Thanks to Cedar Point YC for hosting the event and their slick race committee work.
Top five final places
1. Marc Jacobi, Cedar Point YC, 15
2. Madhavan Thirumalai, Cedar Point YC, 29
3. Ralph Kinder, Bristol YC, 39
4. Eric Aker, 71
5. Francisco Barreto, Cedar Point YC, 73
SAP Launches New Mobile App
Walldorf, Germany: SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) and partner Sailing Yacht Research Foundation (SYRF) today announced the launch of Sail Insight, a new mobile app designed for the global sailing community. The user-friendly app allows users to create, track and manage their own races and provides live data and analytics to improve performance and training. The app is available for download on iOS and Google Play and has been endorsed by World Sailing, the world's governing body for the sport of sailing.
Historically, tracking and analyzing live sailing action has been cost prohibitive for many sailors, coaches and race organizers and has made events and regattas invisible to fans watching from shore. Now, Sail Insight can be used at thousands of regattas and training races around the world to benefit various sailing audiences and the sport overall. Clubs and race organizers can create their own races and provide live tracking for teams, participants and fans. Sailors can access live leaderboards and live race performance data. Coaches can base their tips and instructions on training and in-race tracking analytics, and fans can use their own devices to follow sailors and teams during races.
The Sail Insight mobile app is available for free through 2020. The free version of the app will allow users to test all features, create a sailor profile, participate in regattas, conduct self-tracking, share results and send invitations on social media. In 2021, the app will shift to offer both free access and a subscription-based model, which will unlock additional features.
The app utilizes SAP® Sailing Analytics, the world's largest and most robust sailing database. It provides insights and transparency using cloud and in-memory technology, processing GPS and wind measurement data in real time. For the first time, SAP is bringing the capabilities of SAP Sailing Analytics to the broader sailing community by introducing, together with SYRF, the new Sail Insight mobile app.
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The Last Word
To describe externals, you become a scientist. To describe experience, you become an artist. -- Timothy Leary
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