In This Issue
• Wild West Or Safer South?
• Plans for four stage Great Cape Race around the world revealed
• Bringing it home - Inmarsat
• Time Over Distance - Special Edition
• America's Cup holders slam New Zealand government department
• Statement On The Release Of Letters By Emirates Team New Zealand
• Wight Vodka Best Sailors Bar
• World Sailing win prestigious Sustainability Award
• Parade Of Sail 2021
• 2020 RS:X Windsurfing European and Youth European Championships & Open Trophy
• Featured Charter: Ultim Emotion 2 =- Trimaran Ultim Maxi 80
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Ker 56 - Varuna VI
• • ClubSwan 42-024 Barleycorn
• • Luna Mist - 104ft sloop
• The Last Word: Alan Watts
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
The 12th annual Wight Vodka Best Sailors Bar search is on... Send us your thoughts and drink recipes...
Wild West Or Safer South?
Heading west this afternoon and encountering building winds, skippers of the many of the faster foiling IMOCAs are preparing themselves for an overnight pounding, set to last five or six hours, when they punch through an active weather front which is forecast to bring them 40 knot gusts and big seas.
The reward for looking after their boats and themselves as best they can tonight will be some faster, albeit bumpy miles in a more direct, southerly direction.
While 30 year old Les Sables d'Olonne hometown favourite Benjamin Dutreux tops the afternoon classifications due to his more southerly position, some 50 miles north west of the Ria de Vigo on the Galician coast, so also Nico Troussel on the new Juan K IMOCA Corum L'Épargne has broken from the other foiler and taken this southerly option which is considered to be safer.
Dutreux on OMIA-Water Family (which was built in Cowes as BT), Troussel, Maxime Sorel (V and B – Mayenne) and Jean Le Cam have led a southerly pack inside the Cape Finisterre TSS (Traffic Separation Scheme no go area).
Troussel's option may be related to taking a more conservative safe option, sailing more miles but with the benefit of less severe winds, to safeguard his boat which is in its first race. But the 46-year old double La Solitaire du Figaro champion was renowned in the world of the Figaro for taking flyers away from the fleet and often coming out smelling of roses. Such gambles and big gains gave rise to rise to the expression 'doing a Troussel'.
Troussel was lying fourth on the afternoon standings, almost 100 miles south east of rivals Jeremie Beyou (Charal), Charlie Dalin (Apivia) and the hard driving Kevin Escoffier on the older PRB who is just seven and a half miles off Beyou's leeward quarter.
Plans for four stage Great Cape Race around the world revealed
News has emerged about plans to stage a brand new around-the-world yacht race for grand prix ocean racing yachts, to be called the Great Cape Race.
A provisional Notice of Race has been issued for the proposed four-stage event which would start in October 2021 in Europe and take the competing yachts around all three of the world's great southern capes – Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Cape Leeuwin in Australia and the notorious Cape Horn at the tip of South America.
The organisers have appointed the appropriately-named serial round-the-world campaigner Andrew Cape as race director and say the race is aimed at ocean-going race boats in the range of 60 to 100 feet with a minimum crew of four.
Starting in a yet to be decided location in Europe, stops are planned in Cape Town in South Africa, Hobart in Tasmania, and South America, before returning to finish in Europe. Rather than making stopover deals with cities and building race villages, the organisers plan instead to use local yacht clubs to host the fleet
Bringing it home - Inmarsat
Both the stories and the sailors... powerful and reliable comms has never been so important as in the era of the oceanic 'speedboat'
Following an ocean race from the comfort of home, watching live video from yachts speeding through the Roaring Forties, you might assume they all have the same ability to keep in touch with the rest of the world. 'That's not always the case,' says Nick Moloney, who has been relying on connectivity in the world's most remote oceans since the 1997 Whitbread Race. 'During the last edition of The Ocean Race, the home viewer experienced a connection to offshore yacht racing like never before. This was delivered by the event partner Inmarsat, and the systems and hardware were exactly the same from boat to boat. That event-sponsor partnership established a whole new benchmark of what is achievable in regards to connectivity and content transmission from the most remote parts of our oceans.'
Full article in the December issue of Seahorse
Time Over Distance - Special Edition
A special edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club Time Over Distance series with Louay Habib talking to Alex Thomson just days before Alex and HUGO BOSS started the |2020 Vendee Globe. This is Alex Thomson's fifth race and having come second last time, HUGO BOSS is one of the favourites.
The interview was recorded live with Alex exploring the physical and mental strength required for the race, plus details of the radical IMOCA 60 design and the cutting-edge technology on board.
America's Cup holders slam New Zealand government department
America's Cup holders Team New Zealand (TNZ) on Tuesday launched a blistering condemnation of the government department in charge of 2021's event after an investigation into financial impropriety.
TNZ were cleared of financial wrongdoing in August after an audit of the public funding from the ministry of business, innovation and employment (MBIE) to America's Cup Events (ACE), the body organising the regatta on behalf of TNZ.
The team, however, said the ministry had acted inappropriately and in bad faith during the investigation, releasing documentation to substantiate their accusations. The ministry has not responded to a request by Reuters for comment, though the New Zealand Herald and Stuff Media reported they had refuted the claims.
The documentation claimed the ministry had spent six months working with a company contracted to ACE to gather information before they told TNZ that allegations of impropriety had been made.
"We feel that we must now set the record straight having tried to respect a due process in this saga all year," TNZ said in a statement.
Statement On The Release Of Letters By Emirates Team New Zealand
In the face of further defamatory and baseless allegations again being levelled at ETNZ/ACE and its Directors we feel that we must now set the record straight having tried to respect a due process in this saga all year.
We have wanted to avoid such a public condemnation of MBIE but given their moves to conceal their totally inappropriate behaviour through this protracted contractual process, we now feel obliged to release a suite of letters addressed to MBIE and Ministers which call MBIE to account for their actions.
These letters paint quite a different story than that currently being presented.
As we state in these letters we would welcome the intervention of the Ombudsman or Public Services Commission to look at MBIE's actions through this protracted process.
emirates-team-new-zealand.americascup.com
Wight Vodka Best Sailors Bar
Into our second decade now, and the list of the word's best dispensers of drinks, camaraderie and a warm hearth on a cold day is long and deeply impressive.
The winners...
2019 - Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club
2018 - Cloggy's in Antigua
2017 - Pensacola Yacht Club and St. Thomas Yacht Club
2016 - Pewaukee Yacht Club
2015 - Plas Heli, Wales and Pier View, Cowes
2014 - The King & Queen, Hamble
2013 - One Bar Playa Blanca
2012 - Sint Maarten Yacht Club
2011 - IYAC in Newport, Rhode Island USA
2010 - The Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke in the BVI
2009 - Peter-Cafe Sport - Horta, Azores
For the next few weeks, we welcome your submissions. Particularly welcome are stories about the bar, both your experiences there and the history. We also welcome drink recipes that you've done extensive field research on at said establishment (provided the barkeep parts with the recipe and/or you remember enough about it to make a good guess). The "dragon's blood" in the Sint Maarten YC's famed Bloody Mary is a notable and unique ingredient.
A recent submission is one of your humble narrator's favorites, albeit from many years ago... the Royal Ocean Racing Club's St. James London Clubhouse:
"Tucked away in London's club land here is a bar open to members (who have to qualify by doing ocean races) which is refreshingly casual compared to all the other similar establishments in the west end. With a flip to an honour bar system later (for residents) this has been a very late night watering hole for me on many occasions - sometimes to the detriment of my wallet!"
Please send us YOUR favorite... submissions welcome for any bar, including past winners and those no longer in operation.
World Sailing win prestigious Sustainability Award
World Sailing is delighted to have won the inaugural GAISF Sustainability Award, cementing its place as the leader in international sport for its work on sustainability.
Announced today [10 November] at the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) General Assembly, World Sailing were joined on the podium by World Rugby and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
The first overall winner of the award, World Sailing was recognised for its Sustainability Agenda 2030. This ambitious commitment to a sustainable future outlines how sailing will contribute to the United Nation's Sustainability Development Goals, creating a sustainable legacy that spans from grassroots sailing clubs to elite competition.
Already, World Sailing has eliminated hundreds of thousands of single use plastic bottles throughout its event portfolio, and launched an innovative project in conjunction with the Paris 2024 Organising Committee to encourage a transition from combustion engines in support boats.
World Sailing has also launched a Sustainability Education Programme, which covers everything from climate change to biodiversity, and aims to equip future generations of sailors with the knowledge to make a positive impact on the world around them.
World Sailing will continue its delivery of Sustainability Agenda 2030. Out of the 56 targets, 13 have been delivered whilst work has started on a further 25.
For further information on World Sailing's Sustainability initiatives, please visit www.sailing.org/about/Sustainability.php
Parade Of Sail 2021
We're back, and what better way to start the year than with wind in our sails. We would like to introduce the Parade of Sail 2021, to be held on Sunday 7th of February 2021 on the River Derwent.
The Parade of Sail is one of the most spectacular and popular events during our biennial festivals, anyone can be involved, even if you don't have a boat and that's why it is loved so much! Some of the best viewing points are from easily accessible points along the shores of the River Derwent including Alexander Battery Park, Long Beach Sandy Bay, Wrest Point Casino and anywhere near the wharf. We can practice social distancing and still have a great day out. Any excuse for a sail, right? So get onboard your wooden boat or your friend's wooden boat, whether it's motorised or wind powered, we want to see as many boats as we can out on Sunday 7th February.
If you are a wooden boat owner and want to be involved, register your interest by sending dockmaster [AT] awbf [DOT] org [DOT] au an email. We have extended the EOI cut off date to the end of the year, just let us know if you want to be involved! A big thank you to TasPorts for helping us facilitate this event.
Full article www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au
2020 RS:X Windsurfing European and Youth European Championships & Open Trophy
22-28 November 2020
Vilamoura, Portugal: The European championship has been approved as 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (to be held on 2021) qualifying event for European continent
The status of Olympic Qualifier may be removed only when any European country which did not qualify yet, will not be allowed to travel to the event.
The NOTICE OF RACE is published and ONLINE ENTRY is open for registration!
The Organizing Authority's LETTER TO THE SAILORS who are coming to Vilamoura
Welcome to Vilamoura!
Please read more on the Event website: www.rsxclass.org/europeans2020/
Featured Charter
Ultim Emotion 2 – Trimaran Ultim Maxi 80
The Ultim’Emotion 2 is a giant of the seas, combining power, lightness and robustness. Extremely powerful and able to pick up speed immediately, she provides the ride of a life time. Designed to race, there is no other option like her, ensuring performance, speed and durability.
Recently (Jan 2020) breaking the World record for the fastest South Atlantic crossing with Lovewater Sailing Team, and receiving Line Honours in the Cape2Rio.
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
2015 KER 56 - VARUNA VI. POA EUR. Located in Hamburg Germany.
One of the most exciting IRC/ORC offshore boats ever built. Substantial optimization and development since new, led by some of the worlds best sailors, has pushed this boat a long way from its original performance and she is ready to challenge for trophies at the worlds biggest events!
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats
+442380 016582
+447759 424900
sampearson [AT] ancasta [DOT] com
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ClubSwan 42-024 Barleycorn. 295.000 EUR. Located in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Barleycorn is hull #024 of this most popular, ClubSwan 42. Barleycorn" was the sole Swan 42 representing the fleet in the Greenport distance race. The Owner always kept her in great conditions, she has raced her lightly and locally over the past few years.
See listing details in Nautor's Swan Brokerage
Contact
Giorgio Passarella
Nautor's Swan Brokerage
MYM Mediterranean Yacht Management
Tel:+377 97 97 95 07
Email: info [AT] mym [DOT] mc
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1992 LUNA MIST - 104ft sloop. 950,000 VAT PAID GBP. Located in Southampton, UK.
Here is a unique opportunity to acquire a 104 ft four cabin sloop at an attractive price.
Lunar Mist (Ex Cinderella II) is a Bill Tripp designed sloop which was built by Windship Trident Shipworks, USA in 1992. The yacht is ideally suited for extended world cruising and has particularly good ‘large yacht’ features. LM has 4 x dedicated double guest cabins (each with their own bathrooms), a very large crew accommodation and a central cockpit midships for guest socialising and dining. She has all of the credentials to be a very desirable and active charter yacht should you wish to offset some running costs. Lunar Mist would benefit from a good winter refit to give the yacht a fresh lease of life.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Carrswood Yachts
email: brokerage [AT] carrswoodyachts [DOT] com
Tel: +44 (0)7476 888639
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
As human being have to make the gamble of trusting one another in order to have any kind of workable community, we must also take the risk of trimming our sails to the winds of nature. For our "selves" are inseparable from this kind of universe, and there is nowhere else. -- Alan Watts
Editorial and letter submissions to editor [AT] eurosailnews [DOT] com
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