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
Volcano Race Line Honours For ESIMIT EUROPA 2
A light night and early morning saw the front runners in Rolex Capri Sailing Week's Volcano Race trickling into Capri's Marina Grande, after completing a 230 mile course south around the active volcano of Stromboli before returning to Capri.
Claiming line honours, as expected, was Igor Simcic's 100ft (30.5m) Esimit Europa 2. The European-flagged Maxi, largest of the 12 boats competing, led the Volcano Race from start to finish. After being becalmed within sight of the line, Esimit finished at lunchtime today, having completed the course in 1 day 3 hours 11 minutes and 44 seconds.
Reaching Stromboli, Esimit Europa 2 had pulled out a 17 mile lead over the Mini Maxi Robertissima, which had overtaken Villa Saxe Eiffel moving into second place on the water. The French VO70 had been going well, but dropped off to the west and subsequently found herself on the wrong side of a shift coming into Stromboli. As Esimit was becalmed off Stromboli, one of three occasions during the race, Robertissima was able to close to within 8 miles of them.
The park-ups cost Esimit Europa 2 the lead under IRC, currently held by Roberto Tomasini Grinover's Judel Vrolijk 72 Mini Maxi, Robertissima, which arrived home second on the water, at 16:47 local this afternoon, to lead Esimit by an hour on corrected.
www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
Phoenix Dream Start, Quantum Racing Lead
Photo by Nico Martinez, www.martinezstudio.es. Click on image for photo gallery.
While the Barclays 52 Super Series newest owner, Brasil's Eduardo de Souza Ramos may have been the owner-driver wearing the biggest smile around Capri's Marina Grande this evening after he and his Phoenix team won their first ever race, Day 1 Race 1 of this year's four regatta circuit, it is Quantum Racing which top the 52 fleet on Rolex Capri Sailing Week's standings by scoring a fourth and first from today's light airs races.
With nine boats racing here in Capri, representing seven nations, the fleet is certainly as tough and even as it has been in Europe for four years at least. De Souza Ramos was predictably delighted to win on his Barclays 52 Super Series debut, but he is old enough and wise enough to know that theirs will be a steep learning curve.
Overall after 2 races
1. Quantum Racing, USA, (Doug DeVos USA) (4,1) 5 points
2. Azzurra, ITA, (Alberto Roemmers ARG) (3,3) 6
3. Vesper, USA, (Jim Swartz USA) (5,2) 7
4. Phoenix, BRA, (Eduardo de Souza Ramos BRA) (1,7) 8
5. Rán Racing, SWE, (Niklas Zennström SWE) (2,8) 10
6. Provezza 7, TUR, (Ergin Imre TUR) (6,4) 10
7. Paprec Recyclage, FRA, (Jean Luc Petithuguenin FRA) (7,5) 12
8. Gladiator, GBR, (Tony Langley GBR) (9,6) 15
9. B2, ITA, (Michele Galli ITA) (8,9) 17
Perfect Weather and Close Racing on First Day at the Delta Lloyd Regatta
Photo by Sander van der Borch, www.sandervanderborch.com. Click on image to enlarge.
Competitors at the 2014 Delta Lloyd Regatta are very happy that summer has arrived in Medemblik in time for the regatta, in contrast to last year's cold and wintry conditions. On Tuesday 20 May, the 350 sailors from 49 nations enjoyed some close, tactical racing in light to moderate winds and very warm temperatures.
Racing started on time at 11.00 in 9-11 knots from the south-west and slightly overcast skies, and later rose to around 15 knots, though there were some significant wind shifts through the day, that mixed up some fleets and delayed others.
In general, the favourites found there way to the front, though there were a few surprise performances through the day. In the Finn Philip Kasueske (GER) posted a perfect day with two bullets, as did Michelle Broekhuizen and Marieke Jongens (NED) in the 470 women.
The Polish sailors dominated the RS:X events with Pawel Tarnowski (POL) winning two races in the RS:X Men with Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL) winning the third, and Maja Dziarnowska (POL) leading a Polish top three in the women's fleet.
In other fleets there was some very tight racing with the honours split between the sailors. But the message from the returning sailors was always the same: this year is a lot nicer than last year.
The last fleets came ashore just after 16.00, completing the full programme on the first day of the regatta.
Racing continues Wednesday at the slightly earlier time of 10.00. Full results for each class can be found at: results.deltalloydregatta.org
Onboard & Onshore With Hudson Wight
The Hudson Wight Performance Sailwear brand will be very evident both afloat and ashore throughout the season, supporting a variety of events as the official clothing sponsor and supplier to a number of high profile yachting regattas and events around the UK.
We are delighted to be supporting Sail 4 Cancer by donating Raffle and Auction prizes for 11 significant regattas. Competitors at all events will either win or bid for a high-value Hudson WIght voucher enabling them to choose or redeem against key items such as the much-lauded HW1 'oilies'.
As Official Clothing Sponsor to the Poole Regatta (24-26 May), Race Officers will be kitted out in event branded HW1 oilies, and top value prizes are being donated for class winners and the overall regatta winner.
The Hudson Wight pop-up-shops are proving really popular and there will be one up and running for the duration of the Poole Regatta.
Looking ahead to June, Hudson Wight is racing in the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on 21st June with solo offshore sailor Lizzy Foreman on the helm of Hudson Wight, her Mini 6.50. She's one of the great British hopes for next year's gruelling Mini Transat and Hudson Wight is on board for the duration of her campaign as her title sponsor.
Solent Sunbeam Invitational
Click on image to enlarge.
Medallists and one design champions lined up to show they are still on top of the game when they competed in the Itchenor Sailing Club's Solent Sunbeam Invitational on 17th May.
Twenty two elegant and amazingly nimble Sunbeams were put through their paces by the likes of Mike MacIntyre, Gold Medal winner in the Star Class in 1988, showing that he hasn't lost his edge by gaining second place in both of the day's two races. Two International 14 champions also dominated the top of the fleet. Douglas Pattison, winner of the prized Prince of Wales Cup, took the afternoon's big race of the day while it was Archie Massey, four times Int 14 World Champion, who earned the day's overall top position with a 1st and 3rd.
Uniquely for a class which first appeared over 90 years ago, each Sunbeam competes on a level playing field , regardless of age. No. 6, Little Lady, was the yacht steered by Massey and the oldest in Saturday's racing fleet. Built of wood when she was launched in 1924, she was full of surprises when he steered her to that win in the morning's 'Blue Flight' fleet and a 3rd place in the combined fleet of 22 yachts later in the day. Yet the most recent, No. 66, Molly, steered at this regatta by John Tremlett, was constructed using the greatly more cost effective GRP, and took to the water only this year. The class is enjoying an incredible resurgence thanks to the new low-cost low-maintenance yachts. There is none of the old-new class split suffered by other regenerated classes, as proven beyond doubt with No. 6, top performer of the day.
The fleet looks set to grow into the future. The Solent Sunbeam class, whose yachts are almost all in immaculate and optimised condition, is resident at Itchenor Sailing Club, where all the Solent boats, active throughout the twentieth century, were finally gathered together into their one-design fleet in 1966. The fleet annually attends Cowes Week. Seven new GRP yachts have been built in the past three years - the most recent is gleaming and ready in the shed at Haines Boatyard, Itchenor, looking for an owner.
Painting A Youthful Picture At Scottish Series
Silvers Marine Scottish Series will be celebrating 40 years this weekend 23 - 26 May 2014 and it is hoped that 100 boats will participate in this well-known Clyde Cruising Club Yacht Regatta.
The event may be mature but not so for all the competitors. Hempel Paints will mark the involvement of the youth sailors giving recognition for the depth of talent across the classes and presenting the acclaimed Crawford McInnes Trophy. Many young participants are attracted to this particular event to improve and develop their skills in keelboat racing. This may be the first opportunity to make the transition across from dinghy sailing to the larger keelboats and skippers, families and friends provide young enthusiastic sailors with this chance.
There will be some very talented youth sailors bringing with them a wealth of experience and energy, who have been brought up within the sport sailing on family yachts or have had access to coaching through local sailing clubs and RYA Scotland's development squads.
Hempel Paints, who are no stranger to this event, are very proud of their involvement ensuring that the youth sailors (under 25) helm or crew who, in the opinion of the Race Committee, has given the best performance of all eligible competitors in the Series will be awarded with the prestigious Crawford McInnes Trophy. -- Joanna Turner
With only days to go to Scotland's most renowned sailing series, social media feeds are getting busy and can be followed for regular updates throughout. Twitter (@ScottishSeries) and Facebook (Scottish Series) will signpost you to all you need to know and share wonderful images of the sailors in action.
The Figaro: Leg 1 Deauville To Plymouth
This first leg will already shows how difficult and challenging will be this 45th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro – Eric Bompard cachemire. Indeed, the skippers after a coastal course in Baie de Seine, will quickly head north for a the 77 miles Channel crossing, toward east of the Isle of Wight, to round the buoy "Owers".
From this mark, in view of the predominance of the west sector winds, the fleet will start a 200 miles windward course to Wolf Rock, in south-west of the Cournailles. The skipper's strategic choices will vary according to the wind shifts, but also with the tidal currents approaching the different caps of United-Kingdom south coast included Ste Catherine, Portland Bill, Start Point, Cap Lizard.
The fleet should thus scatter on the water, before converging again toward the Wolf Rock lighthouse which is the start of the descent into the Roscoff channel entrance buoy. No respite, not only for watching carefully the maritime traffic on this zone, but also to anticipate the arriving on Ile de Batz.
After the Roscoff mark, the last tack will be again a Channel crossing to Plymouth port, cradle of the solo offshore racing (English Transat 1960), where La Solitaire du Figaro will stay for the first time in the Plymouth Sound until the next leg to Roscoff.
Departure the Sunday 8th of June at 1pm
Distance: 484 miles
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Is Looking For A Marine Services Manager
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club is looking for a high caliber individual to fill the post of Marine Services Manager.
This is a senior management position reporting directly to the General Manager.
The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for delivery of marine services to support all the Club's marine based activities:
- Sailing, local and International events, sailing development and sail training, race management and race support
- Rowing and paddle sports, local and International events, rowing development and training
- Maintenance and operation of a sizeable fleet of Club owned boats
- 46 berth marina and 310 moorings
- Pontoons and slipways at 3 clubhouses
- Hardstanding / haul out & boat handling facilities for around 250 boats at 3 clubhouses
- Yacht repair facility with 50T travel hoist
- Yacht chandlery
We are looking for someone with:
- A proven record of achievement in the marine (recreational) Industry.
- Strong leadership and management skills.
- Extensive knowledge of marine related operations, the associated standards, best practice, legislation and compliance requirements.
- Relevant professional qualifications.
- A positive approach to team building, promoting effective communication and be capable of instilling a strong work ethic amongst all staff.
- Ability to plan and implement improved workplace practices and procedures.
- Past experience working in a Club environment with a proven ability to develop new products and services to meet member expectations.
- Strong communication skills including a good command of written and spoken English.
- Ability to effectively represent the Club's requirements in dealing with related government departments.
- Proficiency in Microsoft office software.
We offer attractive remuneration and excellent fringe benefits to the right candidate.
Interested parties should submit a comprehensive CV together with a recent photograph to the Human Resources Manager, RHKYC, Kellett Island, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong or email hrm@rhkyc.org.hk
100 Mile Offshore Race From Dun Laoghaire To Holyhead
Up to 20 boats are expected on ISORA's 100-mile race from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead sailed under the burgee of the National Yacht Club.
One boat that will miss the start is Isle of Man regular, Polished Manx, a Sigma 33 that was dismasted and rescued a fortnight ago in a punishing race off Holyhead. It had been hoped that the yacht would be back on the startline on Friday but instead the aim now is to be ready for the Liverpool race on May 28th. Still not a bad turnaround!
The exact Irish Sea course to be sailed on Saturday will not will be published until the eve of the race, next Friday evening, and may include one of ISORA's innovative new virtual marks.
The race, which is also one of the qualifying races for next month's Round Ireland Race from Wicklow, will start in Scotsman's Bay in Dublin Bay between the DBSC 'Pier' mark and an adjacent committee boat flying a NYC burgee.
According to the Sailing Instructions, the finish line off the Welsh coast shall be between the end of the Holyhead breakwater and the Clippera Buoy - 0.6 miles off pier head, bearing 067(T).
First Italian 2k Team Racing Championships
Just 2 years ago Anzio hosted the first 2K clinic. On Friday 23 rd May no less than 5 Italian teams including the leading team from Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will face off in Anzio for the first edition of the Italian Championships. Joined by teams from Holland, Ireland and Bavaria all seasoned 2K sailors the competition looks set to move the game to new heights.
Will the team from Sardinia that recently smashed the Brits in Monaco but have lost to the Dutch hold their form. A weekend of training last weekend will have sharpened the Italians but the Dutch have just completed a full season of tight racing. Bavaria who lack nothing in boat speed could upset all the plans. Rome too have been working hard on their game... So right now all we can say is this will be a hard one to call.
For the sport the holding of the first national championships is a huge step forward. with no less than 3 more 2 K events in Italy this year Italy is set to be the epicentre of this rapidly growing game.
Ted Gozzard
Ted Gozzard, a veteran of the Canadian boating industry, passed away last week at his home in Bayfield, Ontario.
Gozzard started designing and building cruising yachts in the early 1970s when he founded Bayfield Boat Yard (BBY) with his brother Hayden. Before selling his shares in the company in 1979, BBY had delivered over 1,500 full-keeled cruisers from 25ft-40ft.
In 1982, Ted Gozzard decided to found his own yard - Gozzard Yachts in Goderich, Ontario. The family owned business specialises in custom and semi-custom sail and powerboats and is particularly well known in Canada and the US.
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The Last Word
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