Brought to you by Seahorse magazine, 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
Racing Heats Up Ahead Of Final Series In Mallorca
Photo by Richard Langdon/Ocean Images, www.oceanimages.co.uk. Click on image for photo gallery.
The qualification series at ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca - Trofeo Princesa Sofia concluded on Tuesday 1 April with sailors gearing up for a tough three days of final series racing.
For the 1,130 sailors from 55 nations the second day of racing meant do or die as the places for the final series of racing were decided.
Racing got off to a late start in the afternoon with a light morning breeze ensuring Palma Bay resembled a shiny pane of glass.
When the first race got underway after 14:00 local time a moderate 5 knot breeze that picked up to 10 knots saw the light wind specialists continue their strong early form. Racing in the one Paralympic and ten Olympic events concluded at 19:30.
Racing resumes on Wednesday 2 April with the first race start scheduled for 11:00 local time.
Results are available here www.sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php
Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
Last month's winner:
Glenn Ashby (AUS)
If there is one ringing endorsement for the principle of moving the America’s Cup into multihulls then the way that the ‘new Cup’ has provided a high visibility outlet for the talent of small boat sailors like the 8-time A-Class world champion is right up there. Ashby was Jimmy Spithill’s main ‘go-to’ source of advice when he was getting to grips with Oracle’s giant USA-17 in 2010 and he was at the very heart of Grant Dalton’s team in 2013. No surprise that the Kiwis moved so fast to get his name on a contract for 2017.
This month's nominees:
Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl (USA)
How great was it to see the Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallists and former Star world champions back in action together at this year’s Bacardi Cup in Miami? And the old magic is still there, as two of the most helpful and popular sailors on the planet slid into the runner-up slot ahead of the likes of five-time Olympic medallist Torben Grael, now sailing with Guilherme Almeida
Loick Peyron (FRA)
Another hugely popular figure in the sport, Peyron has recently rejoined Iain Percy and the boys at Artemis for the next America’s Cup campaign as a helmsman and technical adviser. Peyron remains the current Jules Verne Trophy holder with Banque Populaire V but these days you are just as likely to see him ripping up the bay in La Baule on his Mach 2 foiler Moth. One of the great all-rounders of the sport and a magical seaman to boot
Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Musto, Harken McLube & Dubarry. Who needs silverware, our prizes are usable!
Cast your vote, submit comments, even suggest a candidate for next month at seahorsemagazine.com/sailor-of-the-month
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Happy To Be Alive
Following Derry-Londonderry-Doire's dramatic North Pacific rescue operation yesterday, Clipper Race round the world crew member Andrew Taylor is making a good recovery, with Skipper Sean McCarter explaining: "Andrew is in good spirits and has been chatting away with his crew, and whilst clearly shocked, he is quite happy to be alive I think!
In a report just received from the boat, Sean McCarter has provided further detail on the incident during Race 10, China to San Francisco, as he said: "After a dramatic day yesterday I am both happy and relieved to report that all the crew are healthy and in good spirits. "The crew reacted perfectly, nobody panicked, everyone went through the procedures that we practice religiously in Clipper Race training. The MOB button was pressed giving us the position on the electronic chart plotter, the engine was started, boat checked for ropes in the water and staysail dropped all within minutes.
Following what has been learnt so far about the incident, Clipper Race chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has sent a personal message to the boats to remind them of their safety training, in which he stated: "This is a reminder of two basic points from your training. Always clip on, and check that you are clipped on by pulling on the tether to ensure it is fast before going further…Human life is far too precious to be thrown away by a moment's forgetfulness.
"Sail safely, and please stay aboard!"
Derry-Londonderry-Doire and the rest of the 12-strong fleet is due into San Francisco on April 11.
Marinepool NTS Dinghy Collection
The National Team Series (NTS) convinces with revolutionary design ideas, inventive features, high class materials and outstanding finish right down to the smallest detail.
The National Team Series by Marinepool provides novelties in the area of neoprene but also new dry suits. A great variety of neoprene suits in different thicknesses, rash guards and flex shirts (both short-sleeve and long-sleeve), accessories such as knee pads, removable sleeves, neoprene boots and gloves as well as matching life jackets, hiking pants and trapeze harnesses result in a comprehensive dinghy collection with a benchmark setting quality.
Indeed, dinghy wear for Olympic racing requires highest standards in terms of fabric selection and design. Body climate management is crucial for an athlete´s performance and thus the selection of the right materials and the combinability of styles to suit a wide range of weather conditions and venues like the cold Solent and hot Rio is of utmost importance.
The NTS neoprene suits by Marinepool are made from durable and flexible materials. Strong reinforcements at knees and bottom with extra inside patches ensure high abrasion resistance at stressed parts while elastic flex neoprene at shoulders and along the sides all the way down to the ankles allow great mobility, comfort and a perfect fit. Additionally the collars, cuffs at sleeves and legs of all neoprene suits and drysuits have been designed with a focus on waterproofness.
Besides of the outstanding functionality of the National Team Dinghy Series, the products draw remarkable attention due to their attractive design: the basic colours grey and black are combined with jazzy highlights in neon colours. The result is an aggressive and speedy high performance look.
The new Dinghy Series by Marinepool
Design. Technology. Passion.
St. Thomas International Regatta
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Top-quality competition, razor-close finishes and camaraderie that spanned decades for some and days for others proved that in spite of a new name, the St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR) has remained the 'Crown Jewel' of Caribbean yacht racing. Nowhere was this more apparent than on the third and final day of sailing. No one easily walked away with a win. Plus, the podium was filled with teams representing the Caribbean, U.S., and Europe.
First time racing in the STIR proved a charm for Near Miss, Franck Noel's TP 52. The Switzerland-based team finished by winning every race but one in the CSA - Racing O Class. That defeat came at the hands of the Netherlands' Peter Vroon aboard his Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3, which finished second.
Team Line Honors lived up to its name by taking the prize in the fiercely-competitive one-design IC-24 Class. Only three points separated the USVI's Taylor Canfield's Team Line Honors from second place finisher, Puerto Rico's Marco Teixidor aboard Cachondo.
In the Beach Cat Class, it was the USVI's John Holmberg and crew Terri McKenna that finished first aboard their Nacra 17, Flight Risk. "There were challenging conditions with the big breeze and swell, and the difficulty of sailing by handicap, but we sailed our best and it turned out well. During the regatta, we were able to try different things like rig settings and measure ourselves against the other boats. That certainly helped us in our bid to represent the territory in the 2016 Summer Olympics."
For more information about the STIR and full results, visit www.stthomasinternationalregatta.com or www.yachtscoring.com
One Of Ocean Racing's Greatest Adventures
A lot has changed in offshore sailing since Larry Huntington first raced across the Atlantic in 1957. Advances in yacht design, construction and materials have made the boats exponentially faster and more durable. Modern communications enable boats to remain in touch with other competitors and the rest of the world throughout the nearly 3,000-mile journey. But the essence of the adventure remains much the same.
"Going across the Atlantic is a fantastic change of pace from everyday life," says Huntington, who is a former commodore of the New York Yacht Club, which will co-host the race with the Royal Yacht Squadron, in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Storm Trysail Club. "It's a chance to think about what Joseph Conrad wrote about the mystery of the sea. 'The true peace of God begins at any spot a thousand miles from the nearest land.' All of that goes through your head as you do this kind of adventure. It's a wonderful time for reflection. It's also intensely competitive. I find it all-consuming and enormously energizing."
So it's no surprise, that more than a half century after his first trip across the Atlantic, Huntington's 50-foot Snow Lion was one of the first boats to enter into the 2015 Transatlantic Race, which will start from Newport, R.I., in late June and early July of 2015 and finish at Lizard Point, on the southwestern corner of England.
With 15 months until the first gun is fired from Castle Hill in Newport, R.I., more than 20 boats have entered and nearly 70 others have expressed interest. The fleet for 2015 is expected to be almost double the 26 boats that competed in the race in 2011.
To secure your spot for the Transatlantic Race 2015, register your entry at www.TransatlanticRace.org or via email. Those entries received before Sept. 15, 2014, will receive an entry-fee reduction of $1,000. The fleet is limited to 50 boats.
Change Of Plans
Best-laid plans are not easily adhered to in the sport of offshore sailing and such is the case for the Volvo Ocean 65 Dongfeng currently on their training leg from Sanya, China to Auckland, New Zealand. Charles Caudrelier and his crew left Sanya on 22nd March with an estimated time of arrival around the 8th - 10th April.
Donfgeng faced strong upwind conditions of around 20-25 knots which have eased in the last few days as Dongfeng gained more miles to the east but, unfortunately, the latest weather information reveals more upwind in lighter airs, and the estimated time of arrival to Auckland extending by another 10-12 days. Ultimately there is now a risk Dongfeng could miss her shipping date from Auckland to take her to the States.
The decision has been taken to instead sail to Hong Kong to take advantage of the good downwind weather conditions and training optimisation for the Chinese crew on board.
The team are, of course, disappointed not to pit stop in Auckland this time and thank the Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron for their support and help in planning for the team's arrival. The distance to Hong Kong is approximately 1,800 miles but Charles and the crew plan to make good use of these downwind conditions
The team plan to arrive in Hong Kong around 8th to 10th April and ship the boat directly to the USA ahead of their planned transatlantic in full race mode.
www.volvooceanrace.com
www.dongfengraceteam.com
Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta
Photo by Tobias Stoerkle, sailing-photography.com. Click on image to enlarge.
Walk the dock at Antigua Yacht Club during 'Classics and you will behold an astounding collection of beautiful yachts, ranging from pretty childhood fantasies to the almighty J-Class of the Golden Era.
About sixty yachts are expected, a rare rendezvous of breathtaking yachts, which are categorised in six different classes. Traditional, Vintage, Classic, Classic GRP, Spirit of Tradition and Tall Ships. Not all of the yachts are wooden, some date back to the 1900's, others are modern-day reproductions. However, all of the yachts are descendent or examples of traditionally rigged displacement sailboats.
Racing in the magnificent sailing grounds, on the south coast of Antigua, starts on the 17th April with the Classic Single-Handed Race, followed by four days of racing for the full fleet. The courses romantically named; Old Road, Butterfly, Cannon and Windward are designed to take the best advantages of wind, sea, scenery and skill.
The Antigua Classic Regatta concludes on the 22nd April with Afternoon Gig Racing and Cream Tea Party at the Admiral's Inn, Nelson's Dockyard and the Prize Giving Ceremony on the lawn of the Copper and Lumber Store.
The 27th edition of the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta will be a very special occasion. After a short illness, Kenny Coombs, 'Father of Antigua Classics' passed away in October 2013. In 1988, Kenny formed a race committee for a classic yacht event that has grown in size and stature and attracts worldwide recognition for its beauty and down-right good fun. -- Louay Habib
New Print Of An Old Favourite
Click on image to enlarge.
'More On Reliance' is one of the five most read articles in [the A Brush With Sail] blog and many readers have been enquiring about the availability of prints of my 1997 painting 'New Breeze', (above). It features the giant, successful 1903 defender of the America's Cup for the U.S., the Nathaniel Herreshoff designed 'Reliance'.
Well, there is news for 'Reliance' fans! A very limited edition of only 50 prints (450mm 17 3/4" X 650mm 25 3/4" approx.) are now available. They are expertly produced on the highest grade, Hahnemule German Etching 310gsm, mould made stock, each print hand numbered, titled and signed by the artist. Along with the print you receive a detailed information sheet describing the events portrayed and more detailed facts about this biggest yacht to compete in an America's cup regatta.
The prints cost NZ$ 250.00 plus packaging and freight.
To order your print and find payment details, email Jim Bolland: jim@jimbolland.co.nz
It's Not Ok Even If It's A Lawyer...
A yachtsman accused of endangering the life of a British lawyer after pushing her off a yacht has been acquitted by a court in Dubai.
The Dubai Court of Misdemeanours heard how the Kuwaiti man had invited a group of friends, including the British lawyer and her sister, on board his father's boat in May last year.
After the boat had dropped its anchor, the 32-year-old lawyer, who could not swim, asked if she could leave the yacht to take a ride on a jet ski with a friend.
The yachtsman allegedly lost his temper and pushed her off the boat and proceeded to throw the victim's handbag at her head.
When the lawyer's sister attempted to help her from the water, the yachtsman also tried to push her from the boat.
The lawyer was rescued by the nearby jet ski and taken ashore where she reported the incident to local police.
The man in question denied the charges, claiming that she had jumped from the yacht to take a ride on the jet ski.
The lawyer later dropped the charges and took civil action against the man in the hope she would receive some compensation.
He was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
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The Last Word
The respect of those you respect is worth more than the applause of the multitude. -- Arnold Glasow
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