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Robertson Wins Monsoon Cup, Canfield Wins The Tour
Photo by onEdition / WMRT. Click on image for photo gallery.
Kuala Terengganu: Taylor Canfield has won the Alpari Match Racing World Tour after a dramatic final day at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia. Canfield has Phil Robertson to thank for his Tour victory after the WAKA Racing skipper swept to a 3-0 win over Ian Williams to take the Monsoon Cup.
After a week of frustratingly light winds, overnight some strong breeze hit Kuala Terengganu. Fortunately the strongest wind had abated by race time this morning, ready for the Semi Finals to begin.
In a semi final series, four-time World Champion Ian Williams sailed on to a straightforward 3-1 victory over the GEFCO Match Racing Team.
In the other Semi-Final, all Taylor Canfield had to do was dispatch Phil Robertson, book his place in the final of the Monsoon Cup and the World title would be his, regardless of whether or not he was beaten by Williams.
But Robertson saw things differently. "We've got nothing to lose, these guys have the pressure of a World Championship on the shoulders." The WAKA Racing skipper made the most of his opportunity and outmanoeuvred Canfield at the starts, winning 3-1.
In the third match of the finals, Robertson secured a penalty against Williams in the pre-start and although the British led around the three-lap course, the gap was never big enough to shake off the penalty. Again Williams resorted to the big slow-down, but again Robertson avoided the trap and won the race - and the Monsoon Cup.
Kiwi celebrations on the water were more than matched by USone's celebrations in the Alpari lounge. When Robertson came ashore, it was USone who raised the Kiwi skipper aloft on their shoulders, grateful that he could finish the job for them. In his first full year on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, the 24-year-old Canfield won at his first attempt.
Final Results for the Monsoon Cup 2013
1. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing
2. Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar
3. Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone
4. Mathieu Richard (FRA) GEFCO Match Racing Team
5. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) eWork Sailing Team
6. Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX
7. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa
8. Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing
9. Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team
10. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team
11. David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour
12. Jeremy Koo (MAS) Team KFC - MYA/KRT
Alpari World Match Racing Tour Results 2013
1. Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone
2. Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar
3. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing
4. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) eWork Sailing Team
5. Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX
6. Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing
7. Mathieu Richard (FRA) GEFCO Match Racing Team
8. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team
Benoit Marie Wins The Mini Transat
The skipper of benoitamarie.com crossed the finish line in Pointe-a-Pitre line at 17h 46m 05s local time (21h 46mn 05s GMT) Sunday. His total racing time was 18d 13h 01m 05s. His average speed over the course was 8.25 knots.
This is Benoit Marie's first victory in a major single handed ocean race. In two years, his development has been linear. Considered a definite outsider at the start from Douarnenez, Benoit Marie has shown that he deserves his place in the major leagues.
He only learned of his victory in the Bay of Pointe a Pitre, when a spectator boat told him that no one else had crossed the line.
"This year has been really tough. The wait could be highly demotivating and the more we waited, the harder it was to get into race mode. I really took care never to let it unsettle me. From Sada, we knew we would face strong winds, it was on us almost immediately."
Giancarlo Pedote, the skipper of Prysmian crossed the finish line at Pointe-a-Pitre in second place
His running time was 18d 15h 56mn 30s. He finished 2h 55mn after the leader. His average speed over the course was 8.20 knots.
Giancarlo Pedote slipped in less than 3 hours behind Benoit Marie. The Italian navigator holds the race record for the greatest distance sailed in 24 hours at over 273 miles and he has been the the leader of the race for 9/10 of its duration.
An Absorbing Interest. The America's Cup - A History
By Bob Fisher (£250 + p&p)
Revised limited edition signed by the author. Now down to the last 75 copies... for the sailor on your gift list who seemingly has everything... a very unique gift.
This coveted 2-volume slip-case edition has become a collector's item as important to the history of the Cup, as Lawson's original 'History of the America's Cup' published in 1901.
These two beautifully designed tomes chart the history of sailing's most enigmatic and greatest prize, covering the dramas, designs, and personalities from the first race around the Isle of Wight in 1851 to 2003 in Auckland where Ernesto Bertarelli and his largely Kiwi renegade team stole the Cup away to Europe. It is this rich history that has led to the sheer fascination of what has become the oldest international sporting event. Heavily illustrated with rare etchings, lithographs, line drawings, paintings and pictures, all chosen to complement the text, this collector's edition charts every Cup match in great detail and can rightly claim to be a definitive history.
The perfect gift for all those fascinated by the Cup
"This is the Bible of the America's Cup." Bruno Troublé - Louis Vuitton
View sample pages: www.southatlanticpublishing.com/aai_sample.htm
Purchase online at southatlanticpublishing.com
Rogues And Delahaye Win Class 40 of the Transat Jacques Vabre
Having had an unchallenged lead since the race re-started from Roscoff in the very early hours of the morning of Sunday 10th November, French duo Sebastien Rogues and Fabien Delahaye sailed GDF SUEZ across the finish line off Itajaí, Brasil on Friday evening at 2056hrs local time (2256hrs UTC) to win the Class 40 fleet of the Transat Jacques Vabre from 26 starters.
The Class 40 winners' elapsed time for the theoretical course of 5450 miles is 20 days 21 hours 41 minutes and 25 seconds. On the theoretical course they sailed at an average of 10.76kts. In reality they sailed 5578 miles at a real average of 11.12kts.
Sailing the Sam Manuard designed Mach 40 design, the duo have been comfortable leaders for almost the entire race, only recently coming under pressure when they lead into light, unsettled winds at Cabo Frio at the entrance to the Bay of Rio.
Early in the Transatlantic they made a carefully calculated technical pit stop into Muxia on the north west corner of Spain to scale their mast and replace two vital wind vanes. Their brief halt cost them less than 50 minutes and they still lead the fleet by 19.8 miles when they emerged.
An astute choice of route allowed them to increase that margin by 30 miles. Only later did they reveal that they had actually blown up two key spinnakers in quick succession which ultimately cost them some of their lead in the lighter conditions further down the race course. Indeed at Cabo Frio their cushion was halved and the second placed Spanish duo Alex Pella and Pablo Santurde on Tales Santander closed to within 34 miles on the Bay of Rio.
When GDF SUEZ crossed the line for victory the second placed Class 40 was around 50 miles behind.
See latest postions for the fleets:
www.transat-jacques-vabre.com/fr/classement
Final Day For Submissions For Wight Vodka Favourite Yachting Bar
Pictured: Last year's winner the Sint Maarten Yacht Club
At midnight GMT today (Monday December 2nd), entry submissions for this year's Wight Vodka Favourite Yachting Bar will close.
A panel of judges from Wight Vodka, Seahorse magazine and Scuttlebutt Europe will read each essay and choose the Top Ten Bars to put forward for the vote. Please keep in mind that the Top Ten will be chosen based both on the quality and passion of the submission, as well as the numbers of submissions received for a particular bar. The emphasis, however, will be on the quality of your submission.
Voting will start Saturday December 7th and continue until Friday December 27th. The winner will be announced on the 31st December and, similar to years past, the crew from Wight Vodka will be placing calls to the winning bars on New Year's Eve to congratulate them!
Tell us why YOUR bar should be in the voting:
scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars.html
Slingsby's In
For 10 years Tom Slingsby has been asked to race in the Sydney to Hobart.
And for 10 years, the America's Cup winning sailor and London Olympic gold medallist has said no.
"My excuse has always been 'Oh, I've got Olympic commitments or different commitments. The truth is, I've just been pretty happy watching from my lounge with a beer in my hand," Slingsby admits.
But Boxing Day this year will be different.
The 29-year-old has joined Perpetual Loyal to compete in his first-ever yacht race - and maiden overnight voyage aboard a super-maxi.
All it took was a phone call from owner Anthony Bell, whose newly-rebuilt boat and celebrity-heavy crew made it an easy sell.
"But the kicker with raising money for the Loyal foundation - it's just a dream sort of gig," said Slingsby, whose father David competed in eight Sydney to Hobart races by the time he was 29.
"It's for a great cause, a great team and great boat, and I thought how can I not be a part of this?"
Musto International Youth Match Racing Championship
Sydney, Australia: New Zealander Chris Steele has held his nerve and successfully defended his Musto International Youth Match Racing Championship title, defeating American Christophe Killian 3-0 in the grand final.
Steele, and his crew of Connor Mashlan, Dylan Wichman and George Brasell representing Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, dropped one match throughout the entire regatta, which was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and contested on the fleet of Elliott 7s.
Stating at the beginning of the week, he wanted to finish his youth match racing career on a high, Steele was ecstatic to have achieved his goal.
"It's great to have defended the title," Steele said. "I've had six podium finishes in ten events and we've won the last two - finally!"
Final Placings
1. Chris Steele (NZL) - RNZYS
2. Christophe Killian (USA) - BYC
3. Harry Price (AUS) - CYCA)
4. Rawiri Geddes (NZL) - RNZYS
5. Murray Jones (AUS) - CYCA
6. Sam Mackay (AUS) - RPNYC
7. Milly Bennett (AUS) - RPAYC
8. Lucas Chatonnier(FRA) - CNC
9. Dylan Gore (AUS) - RYCT
10. Carolyn Smith (AUS) - NHYC
St. Francis Yacht Club Seeks Race Manager
World renowned St. Francis Yacht Club (StFYC) is seeking a full-time Race Manager, to run all aspects of the Club's Racing program. The Club operates a year-round regatta schedule with all aspects of competitive sailing: kites, sailboards, dinghies, keelboats, match and team racing. International applicants welcome.
For more information please visit www.stfyc.com or email resume to hr.racemanager@gmail.com
SSORC: Double Celebration For Victoire
Photo of John Walker by Andrea Francolini, www.afrancolini.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
Darryl Hodgkinson and his crew on Victoire had two causes for celebration this afternoon after taking Division 1 of the Lion Island Race in Middle Harbour Yacht Club's annual Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship (SSORC).
The Victoire crew stepped ashore for a quick celebratory drink after defeating their nemesis, Patrice (Tony Kirby), by one minute and seven seconds overall and local hero, Nine Dragons, Bob Cox's DK46. It was quick as Hodgkinson's long term principal helmsman, Sean Kirkjian, rushed away to pick up his wife and brand new baby boy Alex from hospital.
"What a way to end the day," a thrilled Hodgkinson said. "We're back," he said referring to being back at the top of the sailing pile as he was with his previous Victoire, A Beneteau 45. "We had a quick drink to toast Sean and his new son too - I hope the fun continues tomorrow."
The plastic surgeon purchased the former Jazz, a canting keeled Cookson 50 with attitude earlier this year and had to adjust from a fixed keel to canting. "I'm not sure we're fully used to it yet, but we're getting there," Doctor Darryl confirmed.
Their win over Tony Kirby's brand new Ker 46 was also a psychological won ahead of the 2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart in which they are both entered. "Patrice was always going to be our main problem," Hodgkinson admitted.
In Division 2, old age and treachery once again proved superior to youth and skill when 91 year-old John Walker helmed his Peterson Three Quarter Tonner, Impecabble to take out Division 2 from two J24's; John 'Hector' Crawford's Innamincka, and Chris Lee's Vortex
Division 3 went to Jon Short's Beneteau 40.7, L'attitude, from Mark McLean's Bavaria 39 Pindimara and Col Wildman's Beneteau 43, Oarsome. -- Di Pearson
New Team Garmin Clipper Round The World Yacht Race Skipper Takes Over
The new Team Garmin Clipper Round the World Yacht Race skipper Mark Burkes has officially taken over from Leg 3 skipper, Ben Bowley after the yacht's arrival into Albany, Western Australia on Friday.
Mark Burkes, 48, from Worcestershire, UK, circumnavigated the globe in the Clipper 2011-12 Race as a watch leader, and additionally qualified person, and has recently worked as a training skipper for the Clipper Race.
In addition Mark competed in the Fastnet Race, 2009 and 2011; Cowes Week 2010; Warsash Spring Series 2010, 2011; Warsash Winter Series 2010 and the Swan World Cup, Puerto Cervo 2002. He has also worked as a cruising instructor for six years on a part-time basis.
Mark relieves Clipper Race Chief Instructor Ben Bowley who took the helm temporarily for Race 4 after the original skipper left the race in Cape Town.
18ft Skiffs 3-Buoys Challenge, Race 7
Click on image for photo gallery.
Sydney Harbour: The new Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel was christened in the rigging area just before the race then Jack Macartney, Peter Harris and Mark Kennedy put the finishing touch to the day of celebration with a great win in Race 7 of the 3-Buoys Challenge on Sydney Harbour today.
After a slow start, the Coopers 62-Rag team recovered brilliantly to grab the lead on the final windward leg before taking the race by 17s.
It was a fine reward for the Calligeros family, who have been sponsoring skiffs at the Australian 18 Footers League since George Calligeros began sponsoring in the mid 1990s.
Chris Nicholson, Mike McKensey and Ricky Bridge finished second on Mojo Wine, with Sydney City Marine (David Witt, Tom Clout and Keagan York) a further 16s back in third place.
In an exciting spinnaker run to the finish line, Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones) took fourth place by just 6s from series leader Rabbitohs-Kenwood (Brett Van Munster).
Today's race was sailed in a 6-10 knot ENE breeze which was a nightmare for competitors as it continually changed direction throughout the entire race.
Skippers Witt and Nicholson were two of the stars from the Grand Prix Sailing era in the 1990s and it looked as though their rivalry was about to be re-ignited again for the win today.
Ironically, it was Jack Macartney, son of the Grand Prix Sailing chief Bill Macartney, who spoiled their party with great crew work and boat speed over the final lap of the course. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League
Fresh Breeze and Flat Water
Melbourne, Australia: The first day of racing at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne looks set to get underway in very testing conditions.
First to get underway are the 470's, Finn, Laser and Laser Radial who are scheduled to start at 12:00 local time. The Paralympic classes, featuring the 2.4mR and the SKUD18 will start at 15:00.
Already the breeze is up from a northerly direction, which is a hot inland breeze blowing down Port Phillip Bay.
According to Predictwind.com the breeze is forecast to be around 15-16kts, based on an observation point at Melbourne Airport. But at 10:00 at the same location winds were recorded at speeds of 21kts, indicating that the breeze may well exceed the forecasts. At 10.30 a real time weather forecasting station close to the race venue was recording winds averaging 19kts and gusting 22kts - with the readings showing a drop from 21kts gusting 25kts measured at 09.00.
A key driver in the windstrength is the temperature which at 10:00 was 28°C at the airport and is expected to peak at around 35-36 degrees in the afternoon. On Tuesday the temperature is predicted to be even higher with a peak of 38 expected.
The regatta venue is directly downwind from the airport, meaning that wind predictions and observations will translate directly onto the race area. Being an offshore breeze the competitors should have flatter seas given the protection from the land with some variation from the Melbourne cityscape. -- Richard Gladwell
www.sailing.org/worldcup/regattas/
Laser Masters World Championships
Just a week after the curtain came down on an action packed Laser World Championships, a new set of starting signals were sounded in Mussanah Beach today to mark the opening of the Laser Masters World Championships 2013 following a lively launch party last night.
Around 300 guests gathered on the Millennium Resort Hotel's quayside at the Al Mussannah Sports City on Saturday to be warmly welcomed to the party, which was jointly hosted by Oman Sail and Oman's Ministry of Sports Affair.
They included 184 sailors who have flown into Oman, many of them with their families, from 34 countries around the world.
The Laser Master World Championships are raced in eight fleets, which are divided into the Laser Standard and the Laser Radial fleets then further classified according to age. All fleets are open to men and women. -- Daphne Morgan Barnicoat
Fleets:
1.Laser Standard Apprentice: Aged 35-45
2.Laser Standard Masters: Aged 46-55
3.Laser Standard Grand Masters: Aged 56-65
4.Laser Standard Great Grand Masters: Aged 65 +
5.Laser Radial Apprentice: Aged 35-45
6.Laser Radial Masters: Aged 46-55
7.Laser Radial Grand Masters: Aged 56-65
8.Laser Radial Great Grand Masters: Aged 65 +
Racing starts on Monday at 12.00pm with two races scheduled.
Letters To The Editor - editor@scuttlebutteurope.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 Henry Menin: Just a couple of small corrections to your piece on the Carlos Aguilar Match Race.
1. Peter Holmberg beat Stephanie Roble 1-0, not 2-1. The finals and the Petite Finals were shortened because of time restrictions.
2. More importantly, there were two major sponsors of the regatta, not one. Though the Chicago Match Race was one of the major sponsors, and we deeply appreciate their support, the second, and equally important major sponsor, was the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. The DoT has recognized the importance of this match racing event in showcasing the ideal sailing (and vacationing) conditions in the US Virgin Islands and they have "put their money where their mouth is", much to our benefit and appreciation.
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The Last Word
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