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
IMOCA Ocean Masters New York To Barcelona Race: Safran Abandons
The monohull Safran, skippered by Marc Guillemot and Morgan Lagraviere, has been forced to abandon while leading the Transat New York to Barcelona Race.
Last night, at around 0200hrs (French time), during a manoeuver in 35-40 knots of wind, Guillemot fell and suffered a serious blow. He has probably broken some ribs.
At 1500, the boat docked at Puerto Sherry, the port in Cadiz, Spain and Guillemot has gone to hospital for a diagnosis.
Marc Guillemot: "Abandoning is one injury that always hurts and it's hard to accept but we are very happy with how we've done in the race. Morgan was really assured in looking after the boat. I'm not in very good condition. We are abandoning despite not wanting to. "There was the (rough) sea, 30-35 knots of wind and there was a big wave. The boat reared up, and I did too, but the boat is heavier and it came back down faster. I found myself one meter above it and then crashed on to the edge of the headsail furler. Fortunately, Morgan saw that something was happening and he was able help me get back to the cockpit. I was doubled over. Once I was safe, he got the boat in a position to continue sailing to Gibraltar."
"The overall analysis (of the race) is still positive, as we came to work hard and we are super happy with the work we have done and the partnership we formed. We led the race from start to finish and we were still in the lead. It looked like we would win. We will have good memories even if abandoning is not easy to accept."
ETA of lead race boats into Barcelona is currently Sunday 15th June late afternoon.
RORC IRC UK National Championship
For over a decade, the RORC IRC National Championship has produced arguably the most competitive IRC Championship in the world. The open event features yachts from six different countries, crewed by 400 sailors from all over the world. Bolstered by nine yachts competing for the 2014 Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup, the international fleet, of nearly 50 yachts, is set for an intense three-day battle on tight Solent courses.
Hair-raising action is very likely in IRC One with two GP42s spearheading the charge: Mike Bartholomew's Tokoloshe and Mark Lloyd's Problem Child. The all-carbon fliers are at the top of the rating band and will need to take line honours from an extraordinary chasing pack to be in with a chance to win on corrected time.
Marc Glimcher's American Ker 40, Catapult, with Olympic sailor Peter O'Leary calling tactics, makes its RORC debut and is the highest rated of three Ker 40s heading for the battle zone. Harmen J de Graaf's Dutch team will be on Baraka GP and Ed Broadway's British team on Hooligan VII.
13 yachts are entered for IRC Two, including three Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup contestants: Kevin Miller's Scottish First 40, Zephyr, James Neville's British Corby 36, Ino and Richard Patrick's British First 40, Dusty P.
In IRC Three James Chalmers' J/35, Bengal Magic, is back to defend their class win.
The largest and most diverse class racing at the RORC IRC National Championship is IRC Four. Giovanni Belgrano's 1939 Laurent Giles designed sloop, Whooper, will be the oldest yacht competing at the championship whilst Quarter and Half Tonners, immaculately restored for racing, will also be out in force. -- Louay Habib
Racing starts on Friday 13th June with nine races scheduled.
Persico Celebrate The Successful Launch Of Ran V
Accustomed to high-quality precision engineering and fabrication in automotive and other specialized parts, Persico has found it quite comfortable to put their talents to work with specialty marine applications as well. They have done this so well that in the most competitive arenas of the sport - the America's Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race, and the Mini-Maxi Class - Persico is becoming the first choice for those teams that want a thorough, collaborative and no-compromise approach to being at the absolute cutting-edge of technology and innovation.
What makes Persico uniquely qualified to produce impressive arrays of products and services is the wide range of resources available at their facility near Bergamo, where every aspect of a complex production cycle is in their control. This makes it a onestop shop to serve all needs of a project.
While known for their projects in the America's Cup (Prada),Volvo Ocean Race (Abu Dhabi) and the new Volvo Ocean Race 65s - Persico's latest success can be seen in the build of the latest Mini-Maxi from Judel-Vrolijk, Niklas Zennstrom's Ran.
From Seahorse magazine:
www.seahorsemagazine.com/current-issue/210-a-one-stop-shop
www.persico.com/nautical.htm
Ran Racing Step On Up With Coastal Win
Porto Cervo, Italy: Defending world champions Ran Racing stepped up their title defence at the Audi TP52 World Championships off Porto Cervo, Sardinia when they won the closest of four way battles which had raged all the way around the classic 31 miles coastal course out to Spargi Island and back.
Niklas and Catherine Zennstrom's crew held off the challenge from Quantum Racing to the finish line as all four top boats finished within a minute and indeed only 35 seconds separated Ran Racing, second placed Quantum Racing and Eduardo de Souza Ramos' Phoenix in third.
After three hours of sailing during which there was no let up in the action at all, ranking as one of the closest coastal racing yet on the Barclays 52 Super Series, any one of the top four boats could have won. Ran Racing's coastal triumph brings them to within one point of regatta leaders Quantum Racing which has scored a first and second to Ran Racing's first and third.
Racing continues Friday and Saturday with windward-leeward courses.
Overall after 2 races
1. Quantum Racing, USA, (Doug De Vos USA) (1,2) 3pts
2. Ran Racing, SWE, (Niklas Zennstrom SWE) (3,1) 4pts
3. Azzurra, ITA, (Alberto Roemmers ARG) (2,5) 7pts
4. Phoenix, BRA, (Eduardo de Souza Ramos BRA) (4,3) 7pts
5. Provezza 7, TUR, (Ergin Imre TUR) (6,4) 10pts
6. Gladiator, GBR, (Tony Langley GBR) (5,7) 12pts
7. Paprec, FRA, (Jean Luc Petithugenin FRA) (8,6) 14pts
8. Hurakan, ITA, (Giuseppe Parodi ITA) (7,8) 15pts
9. B2, ITA, (Michele Galli ITA) (9,DNF) 19pts
Finn Lynch Nominated For Nissan Generation Next Competition
Irish sailor and current U21 Men's Laser Radial World Champion Finn Lynch has been shortlisted in Ireland for the prestigious Nissan Generation Next competition which recognises up-and-coming sports stars. The top six nominees will win a Nissan for a year which would be of considerable assistance to Finn during his campaign for the Rio 2016 Olympics. The Irish sailing community is calling on the international sailing community to help Finn earn the recognition both he and the sport of sailing deserve. To vote for Finn all you need to do is click on the link below and enter your email address. No registration necessary.
Finn Lynch is an incredibly talented young sailor from landlocked Co. Carlow in Ireland. Although only 18, Finn has already secured one of only two spots allocated to compete in the Laser Standard Olympic Qualifier in Santander this September in the hopes of qualifying Ireland for the 2016 Games. Having only just graduated to the Standard, Finn capped off his Laser Radial career in 2013 by winning the U21 Men's Laser Radial World Championship and taking Bronze in the Men's Laser Radial World Championship. He adds these achievements to his 2012 Silver medal from the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships. However his accomplishments so far are nothing compared to his goals for the future. Finn plans to represent and bring home the Gold for Ireland at the Olympics. As his hometown of Carlow is landlocked, Finn would benefit greatly from a Nissan, as it would cut his three-hour commute to his club in Dublin down to one hour.
To support Finn and the sport of sailing please go to nissangenerationnext.ie and click Vote. No registration required.
Voting closes Monday, June 30th at 12pm GMT.
Finn and the Irish sailing community appreciate your support!
RORC De Guingand Bowl Race: Home Win For Cracklin' Rosie
Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, the De Guingand Bowl Race was the fifth race of the RORC Season's Points Championship and featured teams from five different European nations: Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain and the Netherlands. Starting and finishing in the Solent, the flexi-course used virtual marks in the English Channel to produce a course that tested the tactical awareness of the fleet, especially in the light airs close to dusk on the south side of the Isle of Wight.
While Piet Vroon's Dutch Lutra 56, Formidable 3, took line honours for the race and IRC Zero it was three British yachts racing in IRC One who dominated the podium for the overall result. Cracklin' Rosie, Steven Anderson's Corby 40, was the winner overall and in IRC One, and the Solent based team was delighted with their second win of the season. RORC Commodore Mike Greville racing his Ker 39, Erivale III, was second overall and Mark Emerson's Rodman 42, Phosphorus, third.
In IRC Two the J/122 Relentless on Jellyfish, raced by James George, was the winner, followed into a well-deserved second place by Robin Elsey and Will Harris who were racing Two-Handed on their Figaro II, Artemis 43. Sailing Logic's First 40, skippered by Nick Martin, Arthur Logic, placed third in class.
Taking first place in the Two-Handed Class, as well as winning IRC Four, was the highly experienced multihull and shorthanded sailor from Le Havre, Renaud Courbon, who was racing his First Class 10, Shortgood.
The RORC Season's Points Championship will continue with the sixth race of the series; the Morgan Cup Race from Cowes to Dartmouth, starting on the Friday 27th June.
ISAF Sailing World Cup Final Announced
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates will host the inaugural 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final through to 2017.
The ISAF Sailing World Cup is the annual circuit of Olympic sailing for elite and professional sailors. Its centre-piece is the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.
The Final will bring together the top 20 boats in each Olympic event providing them with an annual challenge to compete against the best of the best for the crown of ISAF Sailing World Cup Champion and the ISAF Sailing World Cup prize purse.
The 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final is scheduled for the last week of November 2014.
www.sailing.org/worldcup/home.php
HYC Sportsboat Cup
With only a week to go anticipation is building for the inaugural HYC Sportsboat Cup. Three fleets will be battling it out over two racecourses in what is promising to be a spectacular addition to the Irish racing calendar. Racing will begin on Friday the 20th June and run over the weekend on what is the longest day of the year.
Racing will start at midday each day but the fleets will be back on dry land in time to take advantage of the late evening sun.
The 1720 Europeans will be held as part of the event which is drawing an international flavour to the racing, with boats travelling from the UK to compete for the title. This is the first time in several years that this event has been held out of the 1720 stronghold of Cork.
The J24 fleet will be hotly contested with several seasoned campaigners and previous regional and national champions battling it out for the title. The fleet have lots of experience racing in Howth and are returning to the battleground of last summer's Worlds and the Europeans from 2011.
New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta
A Who's Who of sailors has hit the shores of Newport, R.I., in preparation for this weekend's 160th edition of the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex. One sixty is a lot of years - in fact, it's the most that any regatta in this country can claim - and the event's reputation is rock-solid as a "must-do," especially during even-numbered years when it directly precedes the Newport Bermuda Race. It's not surprising, then, that a record-breaking 189 boats, 25 percent more than last year, are planning to participate in a full slate of buoy racing on Saturday and Sunday (June 14-15), and many will take on the challenges of a separately scored Around the (Conanicut) Island Race on Friday (June 13), as well.
Having not sailed here since 1983, when he snatched the America's Cup away from the New York Yacht Club after its 136-year hold on it, is Australian John Bertrand, who has arrived to skipper in the 46-boat Etchells Class, which is preparing for its World Championship (also hosted by the New York Yacht Club) that starts June 24th.
"This week, I have visited some of the places here that I spent time at 31 years ago," said Bertrand, "including the Armory downtown where the press conferences were once held for The Cup and the street that I lived on. Being here has been a walk down memory lane."
Jerry Kirby (Newport, R.I.), another America's Cup veteran (he has done six) and Volvo Ocean Race star (three times) is famous in his own way for his exploits as an in-demand bow man. The 58-year-old was 14 when he got his first gig at the pointy end of a boat, and for the last 10 years plus he has served in that role aboard George David's (Hartford, Conn.) 90-foot Rambler, where he'll be, once again, superbly carrying out his often-acrobatic duties during both the Around the Island Race and the Annual Regatta.
Four circles will accommodate buoy racing for IRC, Classics and One-Design classes (12 Metre, S Class, Etchells, Melges 32 and Swan 42), while Navigator Races around government marks are scored under either PHRF or ORR.
AWMRT Chicago Match Cup Qualifier
Chicago, Illinois, USAL This weekend, the Chicago Match Race Center will host a Grade 2 qualifier to determine who will get an invitation to the only US stop on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, the Chicago Match Cup. Ten teams from the US, Finland, USVI, Australia and New Zealand will be fighting at the Chicago Match Cup Qualifier. Teams will compete for three days off Chicago's Belmont Harbor shoreline for one invitation to the Tour event, which features $75,000 in prize money and some of the toughest competition in the sport.
Among the favorites in the field are CMRC's own Don Wilson, who has done more racing and won more events in the CMRC's TOM 28 keel boats than any other skipper, and is the highest-ranked US sailor in the ISAF Open Match Race Rankings at 23rd in the world. But he has Staffan Lindberg from Finland, ranked 10th in the world, and Chris Steele from New Zealand, ranked 22nd in the world, to give he and his team a strong challenge.
At 63rd in the world, David Chapman from Australia won the CMRC Autumn Invitational A in 2013, and when not match racing he has been not only campaigning in the highly-competitive Farr 40 Class, but was also recently received the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron's Crew Member of the Year award.
And rounding out the field is US-transplanted Kiwi Scott Dickson ranks 110th in the world and has been to CMRC as both a competitor once and expert commentator several times, but returns by invitation next week as a competitor, having finished second at the Ficker Cup, the Long Beach YC's qualifier to the Grade 1 Congressional Cup.
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* From Ginny Jones: For the past hour I have skim read (with some degree of thoroughness) through the 100 pages of this report. It was made public on the gCaptain.com website today following release by the Coast Guard. It is a very detailed and very sobering document and I urge anyone who is involved with wooden boats and "tall ships", or who may be a boat builder, marine engineer, or marine surveyor to read it over when you have a chance. And if you are a crew member or aspiring crew member you should read it. Even if you don't have a chance to read it carefully (and I will go back and read it with care) try to go through it and read the main points. Also check out the photos which show some of the rot and problem areas in the frames and planking (from frames and planking installed in 2006 - 2007) keeping in mind that the BOUNTY was lost in 2012 so those frames and planks were only 6 years old. There is considerable detailed information about the materials and gear used, and a lot of information about various aspects of design and construction, systems and their maintenance or lack thereof, stability, outfitting, load lines, manning requirements and the level of experience of the various crew members. Compared to the NTSB report (some months ago) which was about 20 pages if I remember correctly, this is a very thorough and important document. The other was, in my opinion, very wishy washy.
At the very end the report notes that the helicopter rescue crews should be commended for their actions and in fact they have been duly recognized internationally. If you haven't watched the 12 minute video online of the rescue, you should -- it will give you a whole new perspective on safety at sea. Finally the Coast Guard is to be highly commended for the quality and detailed scope of this report. My only complaint is that considering that the proceedings are available on the internet (with all the people named), the redaction of virtually all the names including the captain, crew and shipyard workers from the report (except for C. Christian) seems unnecessary. Only a little diligent research would produce all that information.
Thank you gCaptain.com for making this available!
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