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
Alinghi Win In Qingdao Despite A Huge Crash
Photo by Mark Lloyd, www.lloydimages.com. Click on image to enlarge.
On the final days racing at the Land Rover Extreme Sailing Series, Act 3 Qingdao, the Olympic sailing city lived up to its reputation as a notorious and unpredictable racecourse. Even one of the biggest crashes in the Series' eight-year history, that saw Red Bull Sailing Team T-bone Alinghi and knock the Swiss out of racing, couldn't stop Morgan Larson, Anna Tunnicliffe, Nils Frei, Pierre-Yves Jorand and Yves Detrey, who took victory despite watching the final races from the dock, after the international jury awarded the he Swiss boat a redress, to helmsman Larson's relief.
"We were lining up at the start, and approaching the line with ten seconds to go and most of the fleet was on port. Red Bull ducked behind us, the winds were shifty and up and down, there was too much of a puff and they couldn't get the bear away and T-boned us - it happens. It's great to have won, we had such a great regatta that it was bittersweet to end that way, but I think we earned it so it feels good. We're just glad that no one was hurt and that the boat is repairable - it will take a week in a good boat yard, but it will be back and ready to race."
A change in race format saw the fleet race in groups of six for safety reasons with gusts up to 25 knots blasting across the racecourse, in what proved to be a day of mixed fortunes for the 12-boat elite level fleet.
Next stop for the fleet is Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the season will reach its halfway points, 26-29 June.
Land Rover Extreme Sailing Series Act 3 Qingdao, for the 'Double Star Mingren' Cup standings after Day 4, 32 races
Position / Team / Points
1. Alinghi (SUI) Morgan Larson, Anna Tunnicliffe, Pierre-Yves Jorand, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey, 178 points
2. Realteam by Realstone (SUI) Jerome Clerc, Arnaud Psarofaghis, Denis Girardet, Bryan Mettraux, Thierry Wassem, 168
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) Peter Burling, Glenn Ashby, Blair Tuke, Jeremy Lomas, Edwin Delaat,160
4. The Wave, Muscat (OMA) Leigh McMillan, Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh, Kinley Fowler, Nasser Al Mashari, 159
5. Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) Igor Lisovenko, Paul Campbell-James, Alister Richardson, Pete Cumming, Aleksey Kulakov, 140
6. Oman Air (OMA) Rob Greenhalgh, Tom Johnson, Kyle Langford, Hashim Al Rashdi, Musab Al Hadi, 133
7. J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) Ben Ainslie, Nick Hutton, Paul Goodison, Pippa Wilson, Matt Cornwell, 129
8. Groupama sailing team (FRA) Franck Cammas, Sophie de Turckheim, Tanguy Cariou, Thierry Fouchier, Devan Le Bihan, 128
9. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans-Peter Steinacher, Mark Bulkeley, Nick Blackman, Stewart Dodson, 126
10. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Jes Gram-Hansen, Rasmus Kostner, Thierry Douillard, Peter Wibroe, Nicolai Sehested, 125
11. Team Extreme Qingdao (CHN) Mitch Booth, Zhang Yiran, Liu Xue, Nick Moloney, Freddie White, 111
12. GAC Pindar (AUS) David Gilmour, Troy Tindill, Ed Smyth, Sam Newton, Alexandra South, 98
Extreme Sailing Series 2014 overall standings
1. Alinghi (SUI) 28 points
2. The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 26
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 24
4. Realteam by Realstone (SUI) 22
5. Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) 15
6. Groupama sailing team (FRA) 12
7. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 11
8. J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) 10
9. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 9
10. Oman Air (OMA) 8
11. GAC Pindar (AUS) 3
Gaastra Palmavela Crowns Its Winners
Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
On Sunday the 11th edition of the Gaastra PalmaVela finished in the waters of Palma de Majorca, Spain, with the presence of traditional Embat wind from Majorca.
The winner in the Wally class was still to be decided depending on what happened today in the bay of Palma. The fleet today sailed a 27 mile coastal race in which Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones' "Magic Carpet Cubed" took the advantage to climb up to the overall first position by winning a complicated race. Behind the British crew, Antonio Cacace's "Magic Blue" with Sergio Lottini at the helm, took the silver and the bronze went to last edition's winner, Jean-Charles Decaux's "J One" with Piers Richardson as skipper.
As expected, Niklas Zennstrom's "Ran V" won the gold in the Gaastra PalmaVela in Mini Maxi class after having an impressive performance in the race of Real Club Nautico de Palma. He started today with five podiums out of the five races sailed so far, and with a very comfortable points cushion. The fight in the overall leader board was among their pursuers, so they finished fourth in today's race.
In today's coastal race, Andres Soriano's "Alegre" was able to react and, in addition to winning today's race, he also took third place overall. Roberto Tomasini's "Robertissima" with Vasco Vascotto as tactician, took the silver.
"Provezza 7" finishes off the job in IRC
After taking the lead yesterday, "Provezza 7" won for the second consecutive year the Gaastra PalmaVela. Determined to finish the job and win the gold, no sooner said than done, the Turkish crew added a first and a second place on today's races that put him at the top of the leader board with a three-point lead on Eduardo de Souza's "Phoenix", second, and six points over Harm Muller "Platoon", third.
"Elena Nova" and "Three Sisters" in the first position of ORC
The five ORC fleets sailed today two races on the Bay of Palma. German Christian Plump's "Elena Nova" and Czech Milan Hajek's "Three Sisters" didn't fail and are the winners in ORC 0 and ORC 1, respectively.
In ORC 2, Felix Comas' "Pinyol Vermell" finally took the gold and in ORC 3 "Yabadaba" from the R.C.N. Palma, climbed to the top of the Gaastra PalmaVela after winning the today's last race. Meanwhile "Ibe-Tres Mares", from the C.N. Arenal, rose to the top position in ORC 4 and wins in their division.
Full results of all classes:
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UK Solent 650 - Hamble To La Trinite
Lightish conditions at the start on Saturday in the UK Classe Mini 6.50 Race sponsored by Fuel Cell Systems, but a strong tide propelled all the competitors out of the Solent nice and quickly. Now they'redown off the Dorset coast. Nothing to tell between the speed of any of them. Single or double handed.
Nikki now starting to separate to the south of the others what route will they take. The weather routing suggests they should go to the south of the rhumb line but so far only Nikki moving towards the south.
2014 Entries
Lizzy Foreman Solo - Hudson Wight, GBR633
Nikki Curwen Solo - Boreal, GBR741
Toby Iles & Pip Hare Double Handed - Mintaka, GBR843
Morten Bogaoki & Felix Koster Double Handed - Mo' Jo, GER553
Pedron Elodie & Frederic Bazin Double Handed - Manu Poki, FRA504
Follow the race:
www.facebook.com/UkSolent650
ukmini650.wordpress.com/news-updates/
www.mini650.co.uk
Yellowbrick Race Tracker: yb.tl/solent6502014
ETNZ Out Of Next Volvo Ocean Race
Emirates Team New Zealand announced today that it would not be competing in the next Volvo Ocean Race.
In recent weeks, the team had explored a joint challenge with Spanish interests. The Volvo Ocean race starts at Alicante, Spain, on October 4 this year.
Grant Dalton said the team was not convinced it could mount a successful challenge in the time available and the team's energies would be better directed towards the next America's Cup.
Dalton said the team had worked hard with excellent people representing the Spanish interests and with the Volvo Ocean Race management to get an entry to the start line.
"In the end, time was against us. Every passing day magnified the impact that preparations for a round-the-world race would have on Emirates Team New Zealand's other operations.
"The team exists to win the America's Cup. With the imminent announcement of the Protocol for the 35th America's Cup, it's time for us to withdraw reluctantly from any consideration of participation in the Volvo Ocean race." -- Warren Douglas
Cup Engineers Share Secrets
Team NZ and Oracle are set for an America's Cup rematch - in the debating hall.
In the Battle of the Boats lectures, lead engineers from Team NZ and Oracle will shed light on the technological tweaks that made such a big difference in last year's challenge in San Francisco.
Team NZ's Andy Kensington and Oracle's Neil Wilkinson were in the thick of the behind-the-scenes drama when teams worked into the night to give the boats an edge.
The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, which is marking its centenary this year, is organising the lectures. -- John Weekes in the New Zealand Herald
The schedule of the free public lectures across New Zealand:
www.ipenz.org.nz/IPENZ/Events_and_Awards/
Here's hoping they upload videos of the lectures... as they did with the Mars Exploration lectures:
Solo Concarneau Trophee Guy Cotten
British solo skipper Sam Matson (Artemis 21) showed the strength of his offshore metal in Concarneau on Saturday crossing the Solo Concarneau Trophee Guy Cotten finish line at 15:29 BST in 11th position overall and second Rookie - the second time an Artemis Offshore Academy sailor has stood on the Rookie podium this season, and the first Brit to finish.
Setting off on Thursday, Matson was the 22nd boat of 32 boats at the first mark, while fellow British skipper Henry Bomby on Red led the fleet all the way to the Glenans. Pushing his way through the fleet from the early 20s to top 10 through the first night, by morning Matson had worked his way into fifth position. Sailing alongside the eventual winner of the race Yann Elies, runner-up Adrien Hardy and third place Jeremie Beyou, Matson, competing in only his second solo offshore race, kept his speed against the experienced frontrunners for the first 24 hours, before dropping a few places to ninth as the fleet rounded Ile d'Yeu - the most southerly mark on the course.
The Solo Concarneau course, running north from Concarneau to Ouessant through the Raz de Sein, before heading back south past Belle Ile to Ile d'Yeu, was a great dry run for the Solitaire du Figaro starting in just four weeks time. With just one final dress rehearsal, the Solo Basse Normandie (16-18 May) left to race ahead of the main event, the count down has begun. The 2014-mile Solitaire du Figaro starts from Deauville on 8 June. -- James Boyd in TheDailySail.com
Top ten final finishes:
1. Yann Elies, Groupe Queguinner Leuchemie Espoir
2. Adrien Hardy, AGIR Recouvremennt
3. Jeremie Beyou, Maitre Coq
4. Gildas Morvan, Cercle Vert
5. Corentin Douguet, Un Maillot Pour La Vie
6. Charlie Dalin, Normandy Elite Team
7. Anthony Marchand, Recherche Sponsors
8. Frederic Rivet, DFDS Seaways
9. Xavier Macaire, Skipper Herault
10. Sebastien Simon, Bretagne Credit Mutuel
IMOCA New President: Jean Kerhoas
The IMOCA association, which runs the class of boats that compete in the Vendee Globe, has a new president, Jean Kerhoas, who is Vice-President of the French Sailing Federation (FFVoile). He takes over from Luc Talbourdet, who remains on the board.
So what are the main tasks in your job?
"Accompanying everyone as these new rules are applied, developing the international aspects, broadening our partnership with OSM, but also working on improving the relations with international bodies like the ISAF (International Sailing Federation), race organisers with the Vendee Globe at the forefront, but also with national federations. I believe it is possible to develop the race calendar and broaden the race programme."
Your appointment as President marks a continuation, as your predecessor, Luc Talbourdet, is still on the board... "Indeed, I asked Luc to work alongside me, because he knows what it's all about and we can work together. The board has hardly changed, as all those who stood for office again were re-elected: Jean Le Cam, Armel Le Cleac'h, Luc Talbourdet, Vincent Riou..."
How do you see the Vendee Globe?
"It is an extraordinary race and highly symbolic. It's a race, but also an adventure bringing together the most talented solo sailors from around the world. They are excellent at sea, but they also know how to generate the same passion ashore. What the Vendee region has managed to do with this event is unique. There are a lot of contenders getting ready to line up for the start in 2016 and I remain hopeful that there will be more entrants in 2016 than in 2012."
For 23 years he was Director of "Nautisme en Finistère" (Sea sports in Finistère). He is President of Nautisme en Bretagne (Breton sea sports). He is still Vice-President of the FF Voile, in charge of economic and social development.
Seahorse June 2014
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
World news
And the next Vendee Globe is rolling already, as is the Transat AG2R and the Halvardmiranda show. Plus Maxi cut-and-shut in Auckland, getting off the line with Jimmy Spithill and Tom Slingsby and a smooth transition in St Thomas. Blue Robinson, Ivor Wilkins, Patrice Carpentier, Dobbs Davis
Rod Davis
Time for pastures new and time also to reflect on the pathway of Emirates Team New Zealand
ORC column
Refining the wish list. Dobbs Davis
Design - Powerful heritage
Farr Yacht Design president Patrick Shaughnessy on the significance of and the significant work that went into the new Farr 280
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Brightlingsea SC To Host D-One Europeans In June
Click on image for photo gallery.
On-line entry is open for the D-One Europeans to be hosted by Brightlingsea SC from 27th to 29th June 2014 sponsored by Suntouched Sailboats and Devoti Sailing.
The D-One fleet goes from strength to strength with club fleets growing across the UK and good number of new boats already entering the country for the 2014 season. Having been accepted as an RYA registered class just 2 years ago the singlehanded hiking asymmetric is gaining momentum throughout the UK, together with a very strong European following in Italy, Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia.
A competition was run at the 2014 RYA Dinghy Show where one lucky winner would be offered the use of a D-One for the Europeans, sponsored by Suntouched Sailboats. The winner was 15 year old Cameron Tweedle from Oxford Sailing Club.
Although only 15, Cameron already stands at 6ft 3" tall, weighing 82kg and races as part of the RYA Laser Standard Youth Squad. At last year's D-One Gold Cup sailors in the top five ranged in weight from 74kg through to 118kg demonstrating the versatility of the D-One rig.
At the 2013 Endeavour Trophy there were three D-One Nationals winners - not only 2013 champion Charlie Chandler representing the class, but also previous champions Nick Craig and Charlie Cumbley
www.d-oneassociation.org
www.facebook.com/groups/gbrdevotione/
Third Time Lucky Round The Island?
A Weymouth sailor is hoping it's third time lucky as he bids to complete a race round the Isle of Wight.
Retired racing car driver, John Kirby from Weymouth, is aiming to complete this year's J.P Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.
Together with his son Colin and Castle Cove Sailing Club mates Kevin Combs and Graham 'Bertie' Beckram, the team will be among some 16,000 sailors set to tackle the famous 50 nautical mile course around the Isle of Wight, on Saturday June 21.
Mr Kirby, who started sailing five years ago having raced on the Mighty Minis car circuit for 35 years, has entered the past three Round the Island races on his 27ft yacht, Iola, but fate has conspired that she has yet to cross the finish line without mishap.
In 2011 Iola lost her foresail just five miles from the finish at Ryde, in 2012 poor conditions meant they opted not to even start, and last year her rudder snapped at the same point off Ryde causing them to be towed back to Cowes by the Gosport RNLI.
Unperturbed, the Castle Cove quartet are back for another attempt this year. Retired Marine Engineer John has one aim, "Just to get past Ryde and finish without incident would be something," he joked.
Superyacht Sailing Yacht Of The Year
Click on image to enlarge.
After much consideration of the two sailing yacht class winners - Ganesha and Inukshuk - the judges voted almost unanimously to select Inukshuk, a 32.6-metre sloop built by Baltic Yachts in Finland, as the winner of this prestigious award. Their decision was largely based on recognition that this yacht provides an optimal balance between excellent sailing performance and the high degree of comfort and customisation offered to its owner. Inukshuk's elegant looks, which feature uncluttered deck spaces derived from the drawing board of German Frers, state-of-the-art sailing systems and the high standards of construction seen both in the structure of the vessel and its interior finish by Adam Lay Studio, were all factored into the decision.
Complete list of awards winners:
worldsuperyachtawards.com/winners-2014/
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The Last Word
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