In This Issue
• Chasing Charlie
• Beyou turns round after sustaining damage off Finisterre
• Don't Miss Out On Our Early Bird Offer - Only Available Until Wednesday 18th November
• 18 Skiff Spring Championship Up-For-Grabs
• America's Cup 2021: Where, when and how to watch
• Superdocious! Racing Insights and Revelations from Legendary Olympic Sailor Rodney Pattisson
• Sailing Around the World - Against Each Other
• Jo Aleh elected Chair of the Athletes' Commission
• Haven Knox-Johnston Insurance Is Back
• NOT Sailing... but very cool. Shakespeare and Co.
• Letters to the Editor
• Featured Charter: Sanssouci Star - Classic Motor Yacht
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Vismara Marine V80
• • Maxi Catamaran 'Ocean Pearl'
• • HH66 - NEW BOAT
• The Last Word: John F. Kennedy
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
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Chasing Charlie
Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) is up to second place after a profitable day, recovering after last night's low pressure trough in which the British skipper says he saw more than 50kts in the gusts.
Charlie Dalin (Apivia) is on top of the rankings as the fleet enters their fourth night at sea.
Sliding downwind at speeds between 17 and 19 knots 600 miles north east of the Azores, Kevin Escoffier is third in this tightly matched leading group.
"It is very close. I am enjoying it. Charlie is about four miles over there and Kevin about the same distance over there." Says Thomson on his evening video. The British skipper paid tribute to rival Jeremie Beyou who has had to return towards Les Sables d'Olonne 'Sorry Jeremie it's tough I hope you manage to get back in the race...."
Beyou turns round after sustaining damage off Finisterre
After a big night in fierce headwinds and rough seas off the northwest corner of Spain, Jérémie Beyou on Charal has been forced to turn round and head back towards Les Sables d'Olonne.
Beyou set sail as the widely-regarded favourite for this ninth edition of the Vendée Globe, but an impact by a floating object on one of his rudders and various other problems forced the triple winner of the Solitaire du Figaro to head for port.
The decision is a huge blow for Beyou who came into the race in arguably the most well-proven of the new generation of foiling IMOCAs after winning the Vendee-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne Race and the Défi Azimut 48 Hours.
The damage to Charal occurred as the fleet tackled a big frontal system off Cape Finisterre that saw the boats pounding to windward in winds gusting to 40 knots and confused seas.
Charal is not the only boat with issues. Armel Tripon on L'Occitane en Provence was heading to the Spanish coast to sort out a broken halyard lock, but finally, having evaluated all possible technical solutions to replace the J3 Hook with the technical team of the boat, Armel Tripon resumed his route having secured his mast; he will wait until light conditions to proceed with the repair at sea.
This morning too, Kevin Escoffier on PRB was coping with a large ingress of water as a result of a faulty valve on the self-draining system of one of the boat's foil casings.
The race remains poised at a fascinating stage with the nominal leader once again Maxime Sorel on V And B Mayenne who is part of a group of mainly non-foiling yachts that headed inshore past the Finisterre Traffic Separation Scheme to try to avoid the worst of the sea conditions in the frontal system.
But the real battle for the initiative looks to be continuing 175 nautical miles northwest of Sorel where Thomas Ruyant on LinkedOut is now leading a tight group of three boats that are hammering southwards in a northwesterly air flow. Ruyant is being chased by Sébastien Simon on ARKEA PAPREC and Louis Burton on Bureau Vallée 2 who are both within 25 miles of him.
To leeward, and also looking good, are three more foilers led by Charlie Dalin's APIVIA who has Alex Thomson on HUGO BOSS close by to windward and Escoffier not far behind. About 25 miles astern of Dalin, Sam Davies on Initiatives-Coeur looks to be the well-placed too.
The weather picture has been complex and challenging and in the next few days that pattern looks set to continue as the leaders focus on crossing a patch of light airs and then have to make a big strategic decision on how to deal with Tropical Storm Theta. This is currently blocking the direct route south and is centered about 700 miles west of Funchal in Madeira.
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18 Skiff Spring Championship Up-For-Grabs
Click on image for photo gallery.
Going into Sunday's final race of the 18ft Skiff Spring Championship on Sydney Harbour, the title is up-for-grabs as the veteran Yandoo team of John Winning, Mike Kennedy and Jasper Warren holds a narrow lead over the current Australian champion tech2 team of Jack Macartney, Charlie Wyatt and Lewis Brake.
Yandoo leads by just three points, but the likely outcome becomes more complicated as the two teams will sail to separate windward buoys under the 3-Buoys handicapping system being used by the Australian 18 Footers League in the seven-race series.
Tech2 won Race 4, but has to carry a 13th place from Race 5, while Yandoo has relied on consistency throughout the event to gain the lead.
The predicted 14-knot North-East wind conditions for Sunday are similar to those which prevailed in Race 1.
In that race, tech2 finished in second place behind The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines while Yandoo was granted a third placing, after being rammed by an 'outside' craft while hold a safe third place midway through the race.
Tech2 will have to finish three places ahead of Yandoo to claim the title but will have to concede a three times windward mark rounding under the handicap system.
Nearest competition to Yandoo and tech2 is the highly experienced Smeg team of Michael Coxon, Ricky Bridge and Trent Barnabas but, as the team trails Yandoo by 12 points, victory would be very unlikely.
Points so far are, Yandoo - 27, tech2 - 30, Smeg - 39, Winning Group (John Winning Jr.) - 43, Bird & Bear (Tom Clout) - 45, Finport Finance (Keagan York) - 54 and Vintec (Tom Cunich) - 56. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.
America's Cup 2021: Where, when and how to watch
America's Cup World Series Auckland and the Christmas Race - December 17 to 20, 2020 This will be the first chance for all the teams to race each other on their second AC75s. More detail
The Prada Cup - January 15-February 22, 2021 This will decide which of the Challenger teams will take on Team NZ in the America's Cup. More detail
The America's Cup - March 6-21, 2021 Defender Emirates Team New Zealand will take on the winner of the Prada Cup, with the first of those two teams to score seven points being the winner of the America's Cup 2021. More detail
TVNZ will broadcast races in New Zealand. More detail
A range of broadcasters have secured rights worldwide. Details
Every America's Cup race will also be streamed live on Youtube, Facebook and americascup.com in almost every country around the world.
Fan zones will operate around New Zealand from March 6-15, 2021 from 4pm-8pm daily. Further details to be announced.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, New Zealand's border is currently closed to everyone except citizens and permanent residents. Compulsory two-week quarantine is in place for all arrivals. Most overseas visitors are therefore unlikely to be able to attend in person at this stage. Latest from NZ Immigration
Superdocious! Racing Insights and Revelations from Legendary Olympic Sailor Rodney Pattisson
SIGNED LIMITED EDITION - GREAT XMAS GIFT for any aspiring sailor
What makes an Olympic Champion tick?
This controversial autobiography is a must read for any aspiring champion - a warts and all account of one man's drive to reach the top and the fair and foul methods employed by rivals and established figures within the sport to undermine his continued dominance and influence.
With a foreword by Sir Ben Ainslie and introduction by Admiral Lord Boyce, the former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Defence Staff who graduated from Dartmouth Naval College with Rodney, and crewed for him in his first Flying Dutchman campaign, the book sets out to determine what makes an Olympic champion.
The winner of fourteen world and European championships in dinghies, multihulls and offshore, Pattisson also dominated the Olympic Flying Dutchman Class for more than a decade during which he won two Gold and a Silver medals
He's a perfectionist when it comes to preparation, and passionate about speed on the water, Rodney's successes stem from a selfless focus on the end goal, a ruthless desire to win and an unquenchable thirst to succeed in everything he does.
An intensely private individual, Rodney has always kept the media at arm's length, viewing press attention as an unwanted distraction from winning. His previously untold story not only charts his own trials and tribulations in becoming one of the best sailors in the world, but also reveals the double standards, deceit, political and sporting interference and outright cheating he had to overcome along the way. Superdocious! is an explosive commentary, on a lifetime of remarkable achievements in an international sport that Rodney made his own. His story will shock, amaze and inspire not just today's young sailors looking to realise their own dreams, but every sportsman and woman around the world.
Special limited edition signed by Rodney Pattisson is available only from South Atlantic Publishing southatlanticpublishing.com/ priced £20.00 + P&P
“‘Loved this book - a 'tell all' classic from one of sailing’s true greats, well written and wonderfully story rich. I was always impressed by Rodney's talent and approach and now even more so”. -- Double Olympic Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson
Sailing Around the World - Against Each Other
Before beginning the Vendee Globe, a solo, nonstop around-the-world sailing race, Romain Attanasio could only describe the preparation as complicated.
Sure, there was sorting out the sails. And fine-tuning the navigation systems and acquiring and storing three months worth of freeze-dried food and troubleshooting myriad technical issues, all while dealing with the pandemic.
But the real complication was the skipper in the next room, Samantha Davies, who is his life partner, the mother of their 9-year-old son Ruben, and for this race, a competitor. An accomplished British ocean sailor, Davies was among the 33 sailors on the starting line Sunday, too.
They are the first couple to race in the Vendee Globe, which covers 24,000 nautical miles over nearly four months and is run every four years, starting and ending in the Vendee area of France.
Jo Aleh elected Chair of the Athletes' Commission
Jo Aleh (NZL), a London 2012 gold and Rio 2016 silver medallist in the Women's 470, has been elected as Chair of World Sailing's Athletes' Commission.
Aleh replaces Yann Rocherieux (FRA) following his resignation as Chair after he was elected as a World Sailing Vice-President at the 2020 General Assembly on 1 November.
Athens 2004 gold and Beijing 2008 bronze medallist Sofia Bekatorou (GRE) has been elected as Vice-Chair.
The Athletes' Commission report directly to the World Sailing Board of Directors with the Chair a permanent voting member of the Board. The Commission represents the interests of the sailors in the Olympic and Para events. The Athletes' Commission is composed of athletes representing Olympic and Para events and is elected by the athletes themselves.
The Athletes Commission elect members to sit on Events, Equipment and Race Officials Committees as well as receiving invites to Working Parties considering Olympic and Para sailing matters, and selection of World Championships venues.
Both Aleh and Bekatorou were voted for by the members of the Athletes' Commission that include, Maayan Davidovich (ISR), Jens Kroker (GER), Juan Ignacio Maegli (GUA), Lijia Xu (CHN) and Vasiliij Zbogar (SLO). -- Daniel Smith - World Sailing
Haven Knox-Johnston Insurance Is Back
Haven Knox-Johnston, the well-loved and trusted boat insurance brand, is set to make a triumphant return. The revival comes under the new ownership of the renowned Aston Lark group, following their purchase of MS Amlin's Kent-based yacht operation. Contract terms have been agreed and the deal is expected to formally complete in January.
Cofounded in 1986 by Chris Knox-Johnston, the brother of sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Haven Knox-Johnston grew to be one of the most recognised brands in UK boating. Rebranded MS Amlin in 2016, following its acquisition by insurance giant MS&AD, the Haven Knox-Johnston name will now be restored with a fresh new look and personal approach to boat insurance, whilst MS Amlin continues to provide underwriting capacity.
Aston Lark, as one of the UK's top five independent insurance brokers, shares many of the traditional Haven Knox-Johnston values. The combined ethos of customer care and a focus on the smallest detail, makes them the perfect fit to reignite the Haven Knox-Johnston brand.
Founding family member Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said, "I am so pleased that Haven Knox-Johnston, the brand my brother Chris and I helped to build over so many years, is coming back. The original business was built on pillars of knowledge, fairness and integrity and I am confident this will continue under the new ownership of Aston Lark."
NOT Sailing... but very cool. Shakespeare and Co.
Your humble narrator is an old school bibliophile. Absolutely nothing I love more (other than family members) than a hardcover book accessorized with the time-of-day appropriate beverage. And no activity I crave more, particularly in these days of the Covid Apocalypse, than rummaging around in a bookstore.
Two of my favorites are "sister stores"... City Lights in San Francisco (home of the Beats, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the Howl obscenity trial) and Shakespeare and Co. in Paris (so legendary I can't begin to say anything). A few months ago City Lights was in dire straits financially, opened a GoFundMe, and raised half a million dollars almost overnight. I helped, several times, in a small way.
Shakespeare and Co. is also suffering. They reached out to customers and did a land-office amount of business last month, but now have started another initiative to help sustain through 2021. This is the letter I received today. I can think of few better gifts than purchasing the book-lovers in your life a membership. And the chance to have the top level prize... if you've got 500 Euros to spare...
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Today we are inviting those with the interest and means to do so to join Friends of Shakespeare and Company 2021, a one-year membership program created to support the bookshop, financially and spiritually, through the coming year.
Membership starts at 45€ (a one-time payment for all of 2021). Along with our eternal gratitude, we'll deliver-four times a year, straight to your inbox-a bit of the bookshop, made exclusively for members. To give a taste: this might include a reading from a celebrated author, a short story read by a book-loving actor, and new work from a leading poet. You can find out more on our website.
The idea came to us from our ever-bright beacon, Sylvia Beach, the founder of the first Shakespeare and Company. During the Great Depression, to secure the future of her shop, Beach established "Friends of Shakespeare and Company." In exchange for an annual fee, participants were invited to members-only readings with T. S. Eliot, Andre Gide, Paul Valery, and even Ernest Hemingway, who made an exception to his rule against public events. As we can't bring all our members to Paris and to the bookshop, we're committed to bringing the bookshop to you.
As a bonus, the inimitable Dave Eggers and the brilliant Neil Gaiman have come forward with a mind-blowing gesture of support. If you join Friends of Shakespeare and Company at the 500€ level by November 15, you'll be mailed a portrait sketch of yourself (or loved one) by Dave or a hand-drawn doodle by Neil!
Join here: friendsofshakespeareandcompany.com
Letters To The Editor - editor [AT] eurosailnews [DOT] com
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.
* From David Munge:
The following title and first paragraph are taken from a recent edition of Tip & Shaft:
IS OLYMPIC OFFSHORE RACING STILL UNDER THREAT?
It is in December that the IOC are due to approve, or alter the Olympic sailing programme for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which was adopted by World Sailing two years ago. The programme includes the brand new mixed, double-handed offshore race, which, as the World Sailing Annual Conference is completed, looks still under threat.
We do now know who the next President of World Sailing will be. However, we can reflect on why they should be reviewing, and in my opinion dropping Double Handed Sailing from the Olympics.
Cost is of course a major consideration. The whole concept of encouraging gender diversity into sailing is to widen considerably the opportunity of everyone to join in sailing at the highest level. Yet Double Handed sailing in its current format will be by far the most expensive discipline if it is retained in the Games. Those of us who can remember that the Star was dropped from the Games because of cost.
It is not difficult to draw up a budget for a 2 boat, 4 year Double Handed campaign costing $1 million. That does not include any salaries for the crews but does include payment for coaches. Salaries would vary massively, from Europe and the US to possible lower levels in some Asian countries.
How can you increase participation of any sailing class with such a high cost? IF the IOC/WS supply the boats for the games it does not reduce the cost very much as anybody serious is going to do the full Olympic preparation in any case and incur the full cost as above.
The cost of running the Double Handed sailing in France must also be considered. With the sailing taking place in the Mediterranean, Security must be of uttermost importance. Nobody wants another Munich. It must be an absolute that military level security be provided for each boat, for 3 days, and two nights. It is of course possible for the French Navy to pick up the bill, but this sets an unnecessary complicated precedence for future games. Who will pay for this? Likewise, as this is the Olympics each boat will need to have judges for the 3 days and 2 nights. Each judge would need a boat able to survive all weather conditions, along with a driver, and a supply of fuel. 10 boats, i.e. 10 judges, three eight hour shifts per day, for 3 days means 90 judge/boat units. Massive cost.
Lastly, Gender Diversity. This is the whole reason for including Double Handed sailing in the games, and of course any right-minded person can appreciate how important it is to get more females in all our sports. The Vendee Globe, which is about to start has 6 females competing, and one female skipper, Miranda Merron, recently stated, that "parity should not be forced". Is she saying, by forcing gender diversity you are damaging the cause of gender equality?
The desire to go sailing stems from the individual, and there is nothing stopping anybody from sailing if that desire is strong enough.
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The Last Word
The President of a great democracy such as ours, and the editors of great newspapers such as yours, owe a common obligation to the people: an obligation to present the facts, to present them with candor, and to present them in perspective. -- John F. Kennedy
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