Brought to you by boats.com Europe, Scuttlebutt Europe 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@scuttlebutteurope.com
Coming Out Of The Fog A Winner
When light air and fog delayed the start of racing for day two of the 2013 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, the race committee took the 15-strong fleet up Narragansett Bay in search of wind. Their patience was rewarded with sunshine and good breeze -- for race one of the day -- before the fog caught up to the racers and things got complicated.
"The conditions for the first race were great; we did a really good job, had a great start and led to the top mark," said Jim Richardson (USA), who, in 1998 in Miami, won the first-ever Farr 40 World Championship title -- the first of his three class world titles ('98, '04, '09).
Richardson's Barking Mad wound up between Nightshift and Enfant Terrible. "We were in the middle and eventually had to decide which side we wanted to lose to. We ended up beating Enfant across the line, but Nightshift won the race. Second race we made a tactical error and started too far down the line and everyone to the right of us was ahead. We did a good job fighting back and gained boats around the course and then the fog rolled in and made things intense – where the buoys were, where the competition was, and where the wind was coming from." With finishes of 2-6 today, Richardson's Barking Mad moved from fourth to second in the overall standings.
2013 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship Results
Place, Yacht Name, Owner/Skipper, Country, Results; Total Points
1. Nightshift, Kevin McNeil, USA, 2-8-3-1-2; 16
2. Barking Mad, James Richardson, USA, 4-3-6-2-6; 21
3. Enfant Terrible, Alberto Rossi, ITA, 5-5-8-3-1; 22
4. Charisma, Nico Poons, MON, 1-1-1-11-9; 23
5. Flash Gordon 6, Helmut Jahn, USA, 7-2-2-9-8; 28
6. Asterisk Uno, Hasip Gencer, TUR, 9-7-4-4-4; 28
7. Struntje light, Wolfgang Schaefer, GER, 13-10-5-5-3; 36
8. Nanoq, HRH Prince Frederik, DEN, 6-6-7-14-7; 40
9. PLENTY, Alexander Roepers, USA, 3-9-12-13-5; 42
10. Transfusion, Guido Belgiorno-Nettis, AUS, 11-4-11-7-11; 44
11. Endorphin, Erik Wulff, USA, 8-12-9-12-13; 54
12. White Knight, Zoltan Katinsky, USA, 10-14-14-10-10; 58
13. Groovederci, John Demourkas, USA, 12-15-13-8-12; 60
14. Flojito y Cooperando, Bernard Minkow/Julian Fernandez, MEX, 15-11-15-6-14; 61
15. Oakcliff Racing, Seth Cooley, USA, 14-13-10-15-15; 67
"I Have A Dream"
Photo by Erik Simonson, www.pressure-drop.us. Click on image for photo gallery.
That's the thoughts and hopes of the 76 youth sailors involved in the Red Bull Youth America's Cup. There's a lot lot riding on this, or not. To quote David Liebenberg in a recent Sailing World interview:
The regatta is portraying as this "stepping-stone" into the America's Cup, and it's not that easy. It's a good step, but it's only one step in a long series to get to where any professional sailor wants to be: whether that's winning the America's Cup, doing a Volvo or going to the Olympics. No one knows how to perceive this regatta because it's never happened before, and I've sort of gone back and forth about it in my mind saying, "This is a huge deal," and "This doesn't mean anything." And only time will tell, how it's actually perceived. But, it being probably the most exciting thing to happen in this America's Cup will hopefully help it become important in people's minds.
If one thing is for sure, The Red Bull Youth America's Cup has already mimicked it's bigger, more established contests, the AC, Volvo and Olympics. Yes there has been international competition, between Nations, and youth striving to achieve the highest level in there field. There has also been politics, infighting, member swapping, injuries, parties, love, hate, joy, frustration, jubilance, anger and all emotions in between. Toss in a late night roll over accident which could have killed 3 team members, and that's just on one team.
It's an uphill row to hoe, and a long one at that. Most of the teams formed some 18 to 19 months ago. Some came equipped via an already established sailing organization with a sturdy foundation and funding behind it. Other teams have been more self reliant and have struggled with making ends meet. Taking time off from paying jobs, from school, from the creature comforts of home for the chance to compete on the highest level on million dollar state of the art catamarans on the legendary San Francisco Bay. -- Erik Simonson
ISAF Match Race Rankings
Taylor Canfield (ISV) has taken over as World #1 in the Open Rankings, ending Ian Williams' run at the top that started on 11 January 2012. Lucy Macgregor (GBR) has moved to the top of the Women's Rankings pushing Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN) to World #2.
Open
Taylor Canfield (ISV) has ended Ian Williams' (GBR) run at the top of the Open Rankings following two big victories at the Chicago Match Cup, the fourth stop of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, and at the ISAF Grade 2 US Grand Slam also in Chicago, USA.
The U.S. Virgin Islands match racer is in strong contention for the ISAF World Match Racing World Championship with two Tour events to go and trails now World #2 Williams by nine points on the 2013 leader board.
This month's biggest climber is another Steele defeater, Ryan Davidson (USA), who overcame the Kiwi at the Kintec Summer Invitational Match Racing Regatta in Vancouver, Canada. The victory moves the American a staggering 84 places up to World #66.
Women's Rankings
Lucy Macgregor (GBR) reclaimed the World #1 spot in the Women's Rankings after she finished second at both the New York Women's Invitational in Oyster Bay, USA and the Lysekil Women's Match in Sweden.
Macgregor's performances on the Inaugural Women's Match Race Series were consistent and culminated in her taking the first title, sealing it with her runners up spot in Lysekil. Her steady run of results also ensured a return to the top of the Women's Rankings for the first time since 6 July 2011 having played second fiddle to Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) all throughout 2012 and early 2013.
Sweden's Anna Kjellberg took the New York honours to climb from World #8 to World #5, a best ranking to date for the Swede.
Top ten match racing - Open - Wednesday 28 August 2013
1. Taylor Canfield, ISV
2. Ian Williams, GBR
3. Keith Swinton, AUS
4. Bjorn Hansen, SWE
5. Pierre-Antoine Morvan, FRA
6. William Tiller, NZL
7. Mathieu Richard, FRA
8. Johnie Berntsson, SWE
9. Philip Robertson, NZL
10. Simone Ferrarese, ITA
Top ten match racing - Women - Wednesday 28 August 2013
1. Lucy Macgregor, GBR
2. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN
3. Ekaterina Skudina, RUS
4. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, DEN
5. Anna Kjellberg, SWE
6. Stephanie Roble, USA
7. Claire Leroy, FRA
8. Julie Bossard, FRA
9. Tamara Echegoyen, ESP
10. Alexa Bezel, SUI
Full rankings: www.sailing.org/mrorankings
The 2014 Quantum Key West Scratch Sheet Is Growing!
From mini-maxis to J/70s there will be something for everyone at Key West Race Week. It's too early to predict the final scratch sheet, but there will certainly be top-notch competition and plenty of grand-prix boats from all points of the compass.
The exciting High Performance boats, mini-maxis, and TP52s will be back. Strong one design fleets including Melges 32s, Melges 24s, Swan 42s and the J/70s will fill the ranks. Enter now and plan your ideal winter escape for world-class racing, unique shoreside fun, and Florida's southernmost sunshine and dependable breeze. January 19 – 24, 2014.
Entries and more: www.premiere-racing.com
Perini Navi Cup Set To Start
Porto Cervo, Italy: The fifth edition of the Perini Navi Cup, a fleet regatta for sailing yachts from the renowned Italian shipyard, will take place from 28th August, through 31st August. The event, organized in collaboration with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, will see three days of intense racing around the spectacular coastal courses of the La Maddalena Archipelago accompanied by an exclusive social programme.
Among the 15 sailing yachts that have confirmed their presence is the first-time participant P2, a 38-metre sloop and the first example of the shipyard's Racing Line, the majestic 88-metre clipper The Maltese Falcon, winner of the previous edition of the Cup, will also be present together with Seahawk, Perini Navi's most recent creation and the first of a new series of 60-metre hulls.
Sailing greats taking part in the competition include veteran America's Cup sailor Dawn Riley aboard the 50-metre Silencio while Volvo Ocean Race sailor Justin Clougher and Mike Toppa are aboard the 56-metre ketch Zenji.
The first race is scheduled for Thursday 29th August and will be followed by a cocktail competition between boats organized by Vhernier during which Mrs. Perini and Carlo Traglio, President of Vhernier, will present a specially designed gift to each participating yacht. The Vhernier After Race Cocktail Party at Bar Aqua will round off the evening. After the second day's racing on 30th August a gala dinner will be held for owners at the YCCS Clubhouse. The event concludes on 31st August with the third and final race, the prize giving ceremony and the closing Party in Piazza Azzurra.
Hard Work Pays
A number of existing TP52s have been modified to race under the IRC handicapping rule; but Austin Fragomen of Newport, RI, who purchased a 52 project started by the late Dick Oland of Canada, decided to see what could be done if the optimisation process began before the boat was launched. As it turns out, the TP52 known as Interlodge 3 has proved to be extremely successful on the IRC circuit.
Dr Robert Ranzenbach, a consultant working with Quantum Sails on the project, says the only initial constraint was the use of an existing female mould designed by Botín Partners from which a pair of TP52s had already been produced. 'This would ultimately prove an excellent starting point as one of these original TP52s, Quantum Racing, would later go on to win the 2011 Audi MedCup Series,' notes Ranzenbach.
Exploring options According to David Flynn of Quantum Sails, hull shapes in the TP52 fleet had become optimised to the point where there was only limited further potential. 'So rather than focusing on optimising hull shape, Botín Partners proposed a study to identify an alternative mainsail planform that might offer upwind performance advantages under the IRC rule,' says Flynn.
Full article in the September Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com
Tornado Open and Mixed World Championships
Photo by Martina Bartenova. Click on image to enlarge.
It's now just one month until the Tornado Class sailors will be hitting Ibiza for the annual Tornado Open and Mixed World Championships.
The event is being held in the village of Santa Eulària des Riu on the Eastern side of the island, between the 28th September and 5th October with a full weeks schedule. Already there are 34 boats registered and the Tornado Class are expecting between 40 and 45 entrants in total.
There's bound to be a fight at the front of the fleet with many teams already dominating in Europe over the summer and that's without mentioning the teams traveling in from Australia and other areas of the World for the event.
Ullman Sails Pablo Soldano will also be available for the first few days to provide coaching sessions to those sailors who are using the new One Design Sails which were voted in at the beginning of the year.
It's not too late to enter if you're interested in attending, there's a 20% discount on the Baleria Ferry from Barcelona and registration is open until the event starts.
Old Pulteney Sails For Scotland
Scotland's only entry into the world's longest round the world sailing challenge was officially revealed today (Wednesday 28th August) as an international crew from the Clipper Round the World Race were piped on board the 70ft 'Old Pulteney' yacht at St Katharine Docks in London.
Led by their skipper Patrick van der Zijden - known as the 'flying Dutchman' but today wearing a traditional Highland kilt in honour of sponsor and 'maritime malt' Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky - the boat was then christened by Clipper founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Old Pulteney Senior Brand Manager Margaret Mary Clarke.
The Old Pulteney is one of a fleet of 12 super yachts which will depart London this Sunday (1st September) on a year long voyage around the world, stopping in the northern French Port of Brest before a tour that will take in Rio, Cape Town, Australia, Singapore, Qingdao, San Francisco, Panama, Jamaica, New York and Londonderry - concluded by a homecoming in London in July 2014.
The crew is made up of men and women from all walks of life - from retired engineers to taxi drivers to housewives - who give up their normal lives to train and take on the adventure of a lifetime. Scots, Adam Nunn from Dundee and Charles Slater, who originates from Orkney are amongst them, along with people from twelve different countries - the UK, the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal and Spain.
IRC - Shared Values and Advantages
If your club uses the IRC rating system to provide competitive racing for your fleet, you will already be aware of the advantages of running a club series and/or open events under this International Rule.
As a simple, straightforward rating rule that is recognised by competitors to produce fair and equitable racing, IRC allows both local and visiting boats to compete with their existing rating – no need for upsetting owners with local handicapping – while initiatives such as the Limited Validity IRC TCC encourage entries from more casual competitors. From a race organiser's point of view, IRC racing is easy to administer and results can be calculated using any of the main scoring programmes, or even a simple spreadsheet!
I believe that Clubs and IRC share the same values of getting boats on the water sailing, well run events and the provision of fun and fair racing, and I am keen that these shared values be continued well into the future. To this end, and as part of RORC's efforts to promote IRC, I am contacting regatta organisers to suggest that when writing or signing off press releases and regatta reports that you mention that your event will be, is being, or was raced under IRC in the main body of the press release.
Why are we suggesting this? Plainly, it will be good PR for IRC, but just as importantly it will be good PR for your event now, and in the future; owners are more likely to want to enter your event if they know that it is raced under IRC. Do please help to promote it.
It's good for IRC and therefore good for your regatta!
If we can help you or your competitors in any way with your event, please get in touch with the RORC Rating Office by telephone on 01590 677030, or email info@rorcrating.com.
Our PR consultant, Peta Stuart-Hunt | PR Works www.prworksuk.com can be contacted at: peta@prworksuk.com -- Mike Urwin, Technical Director, RORC Rating Office
Gold To Israel, Italy and Ukraine
A tense final day waiting game at the 420 and 470 Junior Europeans in Pwllheli, Great Britain as teams waited for the forecast 9 knot breeze to fill in. But local knowledge, which had predicted no breeze this morning, unfortunately won through, with the Race Committee waiting until the last possible timeframe before abandoning racing at 1530 hours. As the time limit expired, three teams were left celebrating their first major Championship victories, whilst the rest of the leaderboard lamented the chance they never got to improve their positions.
Ninety-six teams competed in the 420 Junior European Championships contesting 10 races, with a qualification and final series.
420 Ladies Junior European Championship, Final Top 5
1. Ilaria Paternoster / Benedetta Di Salle , ITA, Female, 68 points
2. Marie Soler / Laura Pebrier, FRA, Female, 86
3. Silvia Mas / Nuria Miro, ESP, Female, 94
4. Annabel Cattermole / Bryony Bennet-Lloyd, GBR, Female, 106
5. Ewa Romaniuk / Katarzyna, POL, 111
420 Open Junior European Championships, Final Top 5
1. Ilaria Paternoster / Benedetta Di Salle, ITA, Female, 68
2. Bart Lambriex / Philip Meijer, NED, 77
3. Marie Soler / Laura Pebrier, FRA, Female, 86
4. Diogo Pereira / Pedro Cruz, POR, 88
5. Tim Riley / Luke Burywood, GBR, 93
Forty Teams Competed In The 10 Race 470 Junior European Championships.
470 Men, Overall Top 5
1. Gal Cohen / Dan Froyliche, ISR, 35
2. Mike Wood / Hugh Brayshaw, GBR, 38
3. Julian Autenrieth / Adrian Hoesch, GER, 40
4. Jordi Xammar / Joan Herp, ESP, 50
5. Sacha Pelisson / Mathieu Bouchet, FRA, 50
470 Women, Overall Top 5
1. Anna Kyselova / Anastasiya Krasko, UKR, 24
2. Joanna Freeman / Katie Tomsett, GBR, 33
3. Bàrbara Cornudella Ravetllat / Sara Lopez Ravetllat, ESP, 38
4. Noya Bar-Am / Danielle Maman, ISR, 42
5. Annabel Vose / Kirstie Urwin, GBR, 44
www.470.org
www.420sailing.org
Featured Brokerage
2004 Beneteau Oceanis 423 Clipper. EUR 149,000. Located in Crosshaven, Cork, Ireland.
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Brokerage through Crosshaven Boatyard: www.yachtworld.com/crosshavenboatyard/
Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com
The Last Word
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