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
Light Winds Slow Cape2Rio Fleet
Scarlet Runner at the start. Photo by Trevor Wilkins. Click on image to enlarge.
The wind in Rio has dropped almost to a minus! The yachts at sea are reporting light winds, gentle warm seas, hot sun - juxtaposed to the raging storm which caused concern and the return of 10 yachts to the shelter of their home port.
The hype is on as to what will happen when the wind picks up...which yachts will it favour, will the positions change!
"Scarlet Runner" has slowed down and is now 540 Kn off Rio cruising at 6.5knts. Next in to cross the line is "Explorer" with 780kn.
Competitors have time to catch up on their reports, do a bit of housekeeping after their battering in the storm. -- Trevor Wilkins
A report from Myrtle of Bonnivale:
Yesterday at about midday we had 2 knots of wind and Myrtle sailed at 1 knot. Clear sky and very hot.
The yachts in our cruising multihull division are allowed to use engines for 300 of the 3600 nautical miles. That is about 2 days motoring out of a 23 day predicted trip. We have to use it sparingly to save some for the final approach to rio if needed. We used some of our miles last night whilst it also charges the batteries when the engines are on. Other days we run a generator for an hour a day to charge the batteries and to run the watermaker. Our diesel on board should be enough to cover both the motoring allowance and generator use.
Before sundowner time, we did a thorough discussion on emergency procedures and equipment. We went through all safety equipment, from life jackets to EPIRB,to fire extinguishers and dan buoys, also unpacked the 2 grab bags and discussed the many different items inside.
We saw one other cargo ship today.
All well on board. We eat too much. Women talk more than men. -- Pierre Albertyn
Coville Set To Depart On Record Attempt
Thomas Coville on the maxi-trimaran Sodebo is set to leave Brest tonight at 2000. Tough conditions are forecast, with winds of 30 knots in the marina. The starting line is the Creac'h Lighthouse located on the island of Ouessant.
The forecast calls for wind from the southwest 25 to 30 knots accompanied by squalls and a heavy swell off Ushant. It is for the skipper to jump before the passage of a trough (area of low wind) announced on Brest tomorrow morning. "They are not really dream conditions. From night to close in the sea soon becomes complicated, particularly sailing solo on a boat of 30 meters. But we must jump with the wind to avoid getting stuck in Brest tomorrow morning when it was announced less than 7 knots. The situation is different for Lionel (Lemonchois, skipper of Maxi80 Prince de Bretagne who will tackle the record tomorrow from Port-Louis, France to Port Louis, Mauritius). Starting from Lorient (80 miles - 150 km to the south), it should escape this soft shot and will have 15 to 20 knots tomorrow afternoon. The window is tempting. I have 12 and 14 hours of close in strong wind before crossing the front and recovering a West-Northwest wind. Then it will be a fast descent into the wind and the sea in Portugal.
Luna Rossa Opens New Base At Cagliari
Luna Rossa Challenge moves to Cagliari where the team will install its new base in view of the 35th America's Cup, scheduled to take place in the Summer of 2017.
The work to set up the base will start in the coming weeks and it is expected to be operative as early as March. From May onwards the sailing team will start training on the water.
Patrizio Bertelli, President of Luna Rossa Challenge, declared:
"We chose Cagliari because the weather conditions in this bay are ideal for training with catamarans. The city of Cagliari also offers excellent logistic solutions and has given us a particularly warm welcome. We are very pleased, after several years abroad, to have the team base back in Italy again."
Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series
Bridgetown, Barbados: With nearly 50 boats entered for the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series, 100s of sailors are tonight enjoying the fine Barbadian hospitality on the eve of the first race, which takes place tomorrow.
With 10 boats signed up already, the J/24 fleet is one of the biggest fleets at the regatta and undoubtedly one of the most competitive with local talent including current national champions - Hawkeye (Robert Povey and team), keen to notch up another impressive victory.
The Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series encompasses the already established Mount Gay Round Barbados Race plus a new series of coastal races, and a final 300-mile sprint to Antigua - to link up with the Superyacht Challenge - starting on 25 January.
The first race for J/24s starts at 1000 tomorrow while the rest of the fleets commence at 1110. After a day of intense coastal racing, competitors will have earned their place at the Mount Gay Rum Red Cap party at Barbados Yacht Club tomorrow evening.
www.mountgayrumroundbarbadosrace.com
Inspirational Speakers
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Once you have engaged a speaker with us, you will receive a full briefing pack with profiles, pictures and vital information, and we will work with you to develop the speech, presentation or training day to cover the key points.
Our speakers include: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Sir Chay Blyth, Tony Bullimore, Harold Cudmore, Captain Williams Wells, Jim Saltonstall, Tom McClean, Dag Pike, Bob Fisher, Barry Pickthall, Rob Salvidge, Dee Caffari MBE, Geoff Holt MBE and Mike Perham
See www.pplmedia.com/speakers/
Big Breeze Could Suit The 'Balls At Brass Monkey
Click on image to enlarge.
At last year's Yorkshire Dales Brass Monkey, the World Champion Fireball team of Tom Gillard and Simon Potts blasted around a windy Grimwith Reservoir to dominate the handicap event with two bullets. This Saturday is shaping up for another windy Brass Monkey, the sixth regatta in this season's GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series.
For this winter Gillard has switched to a Solo singlehander, and after last weekend's 320-entry Bloody Mary, it is another Solo - Michael Sims from Carsington - who takes the lead for the first time. Sims is entered for the Brass Monkey but would probably prefer a lighter forecast to play to the Solo's strengths.
Instead it is looking set to be a fast-boat benefit, with the Fireball of Nathan Batchelor - this weekend crewed by Flying Fifteen World Champion Chris Turner - looking like a good challenger for overall honours. Tim Holden will be looking to go one better after finishing runner-up in his Contender at last winter's Brass Monkey. Like the Fireball, the Contender singlehander revels in the strong winds where it can make the most of the trapeze and can plane all the way around the course.
With online entry already booked to capacity, there are 101 entries for the Yorkshire event. Fingers crossed that the weather plays fair with the Brass Monkey this time, after being forced to postpone from its original date on 27 December due to the gales that have lashed Great Britain for weeks on end.
After last weekend's Bloody Mary, the nature of the scoring for the SailJuice Winter Series - which benchmarks all the events against the largest turnout - means there has been a bit of a shuffle in the pecking order. With the Bloody Mary effectively the scratch event in the Series, it's important to score well at the big pursuit race. Sims' solid 10th in the Solo puts him ahead of previous Series leader, Ben Schooling, although a 19th in less than ideal conditions for a Musto Skiff at the Bloody Mary keeps the Datchet sailor well in contention. A 7th place at Queen Mary for Craig Williamson moves the Laser sailor closer to the leaders, and he sits in 3rd place overall behind Schooling.
Entries still open for Steve Nicholson Trophy at Northampton Sailing Club and the John Merricks Tiger Trophy at Rutland: www.SailJuiceSeries.com
For local info on the Brass Monkey: www.yorkshiredales.sc
LAUNCHINGS
Click on images to enlarge
Stephens Waring Yacht Design have been shortlisted for the International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2014, with their project Rapture entering the Yacht Concept Design up to 30 metre category.
Rapture hull and deck components will be built with a carbon fibre / e-glass composite, the spars will be carbon fibre, under-deck line controls can be either hydraulic or manual - depending on the owner's wishes - and finish options include teak decks and varnished wood detailing for the deck furniture and cabin superstructure. The cockpit offers versatility that will provide for a leisurely day sail, an intense afternoon of racing, single handed sailing or a cocktail cruise. The aft helm and compact working area that includes port and starboard control stations makes enjoying the sumptuous and generous seating forward safe and comfortable. Weekender accommodations provide a refuge for a quick doze or to freshen up.
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Oyster Yachts is set to reveal to the world for the first time the all new Oyster 825 at BOOT Dusseldorf
Three sold off plan before hull 'one' even hit the water and her optional super-shallow-draft, all-external swing keel is adding to appeal.
Hull lines drawn by Rob Humphreys; styling and engineering developed by the Oyster Design Team.
Significantly with Oyster's new twin-rudder configuration bringing max beam further aft and also lower in the hull, the new Oyster 825's internal volume 15 per cent up on her predecessor, the Oyster 82 of which 17 were built.
The Oyster 825 is a powerful, optionally carbon rigged yacht, yet one easily short-handed with the aid of joystick and hydraulic sail controls.
www.superyachttimes.com
oysteryachts.com
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Discovery Yachts announce the launch of their new Discovery 55 Mk II; a re-designed version of their blue-water cruiser which has evolved from the wealth of experience of current Discovery 55 owners. Full details of the new Discovery 55 Mk II will be available on the Discovery Yachts stand at the Dusseldorf Boat Show, 18th-26th January 2014, Hall 16 stand D76.
As well as the new Discovery 55 Mk II, Discovery will be launching their new Discovery 58 in 2014. Full details of the complete range, from the Discovery 50 Cat to the flagship Discovery 67 will be available at the show.
BOOT show dates February 18 - 26
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After a successful launch of the Flying Phantom One Design during the 2013 Paris Boat Show, Phantom International starts this new 2014 year with a high pace to ramp up the activity and prepare the future of the world's first production foiling catamaran: sailing sessions to test, prepare and optimize the boat; a new website to present products, media and latest news; launch of the production of the first units and preparation of the Dusseldorf Boat Show.
The boat will be shown in the special multihull segment in Hall 15 Booth 58 that has become a permanent feature in Dusseldorf, with 20 exhibitors presenting catamarans and trimarans of all sizes. A Cat Lounge will be available for exhibitors and visitors making deals or exchanging know-how. Information revolving around the topic "Sailing with catamarans and Trimarans" will be presented at the Multihull Forum, which offers a comprehensive, professionally organized lecture program on each of the trade fair days.
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The new Jongert yacht under construction is 32 meters in length, named 3200P. She will be the first of the new range of performance yachts. The performance line will eventually be consisting of a 28, 32, 36 and 40 meter version.
Design studio Rhoades Young, which has been involved in many of world's most successful projects in recent years, is responsible for the exterior and interior design. The hull lines are drawn by Doug Peterson.
The layout of the yacht includes a full-beam owner's suite featuring an aft-facing bed that provides stunning views to the horizon and gives access to a private beach deck. Symmetrical guest cabins and an open plan lower saloon and dining area, with room for a third guest cabin. The open plan layout of the deck saloon with large glass doors provides instant access to the cockpit.
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SpeedDream, in conjunction with their technology partner, the Russian tech giant Yandex have announced that they will take the lessons learned from the SpeedDream27 prototype and apply them, along with other innovations, to a much larger offshore prototype. The boat, which will launch during 2014, will be skippered by Mike Golding.
"We are thrilled to be in a position to build this offshore prototype with the help and support of our technology partner Yandex," said SpeedDream lead designer Vlad Murnikov. "And we are equally happy that Mike Golding will lend his steady hand to the project assisting with technical support as well as taking on the role of skipper. His experience and long history of winning races is a very valuable asset to SpeedDream and our ongoing quest to build a record breaking sailboat."
"I was impressed with the SpeedDream prototype when I sailed on the boat last summer," said Golding. "That led to discussions with the SpeedDream team about scaling up their design to a larger offshore prototype. There are some potential breakthrough ideas here that may well change the way we view sailboat design in the future and I am very happy to bring my own experience and ideas to this exciting project."
The SpeedDream design team will be expanded to include some well known European race boat design offices, further enhancing the current design team which includes Rodger Martin and Ross Weene of Rodger Martin Yacht Design.
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The Tiwal 3.2, exhibited by Cornish Crabbers at last week's London Boatshow, looks like a top choice for a fun toy this year. The French design is the first proper inflatable sailing dinghy I have come across - it stows into two compact bags and can be launched (from the boot of a car or the transom of a yacht), assembled and sailed anywhere. It seems safe, enjoyable and friendly and ideal for getting kids into dinghy sailing.
Like the popular inflatable stand-up paddleboards it has been inspired by, the Tiwal uses high strength PVC material inflated via a high-pressure pump. An alloy structure gives it a backbone and allows the helm or crew to sit out. This stows into one bag along with the sail and a freestanding carbon mast that splits into four. The hull fits into a second bag, so the entire can fit in the back of the car, caravan or large locker. It is easy to assemble in 20 minutes and apparently sporty enough to surf and plane. -- Toby Hodges in Yachting World:
www.yachtingworld.com/blogs/toby/
Featured Brokerage
2005 Owen Clarke Open 60. US$ 749,000. Located In Vancouver, BC
"O Canada" was designed and built for short handed offshore racing and is exceptionally well equipped. Wind Athletes commissioned Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders to do a complete upgrade and refit in 2009 including new LPU paint.
"O Canada" is a turnkey offshore racing program for solo or double handed ocean racing and includes updated sails and electronics.
Very clean, professionally maintained and a must see if considering an offshore racing program.
Brokerage through Fraser Yacht Sales Ltd.: www.yachtworld.com/fraseryachtsales/
Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com
The Last Word
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