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
Star Worlds Race One Win For Robert Stanjek
Photo by Carlo Borlenghi, carloborlenghi.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
Malcesine, Italy: It was a long Monday here at Fraglia Vela Malcesine on beautiful Lake Garda for the start of the 2014 International Star Class World Championship. A ferocious storm during the previous night hindered the afternoon wind. After an hour and a half delay, a stable Ora developed, but the over-eager fleet of 87 teams required two general recalls and a Black Flag before the fleet got away. Even then Race One was festooned with disqualifications.
At the finish, the German pair of Robert Stanjek and Frithjof Kleen took the gun after a tremendous battle with the Greek team of Emilios Papathanasiou and Antonis Tsotras. Hubert Merkelbach & Garrit Bartel sailed consistently well during the five legs to take third.
This spectacular italian location, is a world class venue for sailing and paragliding, thanks to the cableway of Monte Baldo. The Star Sailors League was broadcasted live, online with race commentary and Virtual Eye's 3D video, a first time for a Star Class World Championship.
Racing at the Star World Championship is scheduled to resume Tuesday 1st June at 12:20 CET with more live coverage at: live.starsailors.com
Antipodean Teams Ahead After Opening Day
Marstrand, Sweden: The 20th anniversary Stena Match Cup Sweden opened with a full day of racing and eight flights of Qualifying completed in near perfect 12-15 knot winds and brilliant sunshine.
At the end of play of day one on this second stage of the 2014 Alpari World Match Racing Tour, it is the Waka Racing and Team Alpari FX teams of New Zealand's Phil Robertson and Australian Keith Swinton respectively, who lead, both currently on 5-0.
Luna Rossa skipper Francesco Bruni took on both of the 'Tour legends' today - American Ed Baird and Swede Magnus Holmberg - and won against both. "It is always good to win against 'the old foxes'," said the Italian America's Cup team skipper. "They really know the game and they don't make too many mistakes. It is hard to beat them. We had a couple of days of training before coming here, which I'm not sure they had. So that may make the difference."
Qualifying at Stena Match Cup Sweden continues tomorrow with racing due to get underway at 0930CET and is being streamed live on www.wmrt.com or via new.livestream.com/WorldMRT/smcs14-qs2
Results after Flight 8
Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX 5-0
Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing 5-0
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 5-1
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Luna Rossa 3-0
Nicolai Sehested (DEN) Trefor Match Racing 3-3
Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets 1-2
Ed Baird (USA) Quantum Racing 1-3
Magnus Hoimberg (SWE) Team Magnus Holmberg 1-5
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team 1-2
Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Team Trifork 0.5-0
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team 0.5-4
David Gilmour (ASU) Team Gilmour 0-1
Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone 0-3
Viktor Ogeman (SWE) Team Accure 0-3
50 Years Since Tabarly Won The Solo Trans-At
In 1964, when a motley crew of thirteen Anglo and two French sailors arrived in Plymouth (SW England) for the second Singlehanded Trans- Atlantic Race, the scene was nothing like modern-day offshore racing. The fleet was moored in Millbay Docks, a vacant commercial dock basin entered via a lock too narrow for modern ships. The race had been well publicized in the yachting press, but the scene in the historic dock was so informal it could easily have been a stopover on a weekend cruise of Plymouth Sound.
No information was available and no thought had been given to public viewing of the yachts - there was nothing to suggest that this event would witness a revolution in the sport of ocean racing. Only a handful of spectators were on hand, waiting patiently for something to happen, or huddling under a warehouse awning to escape the rain. I was one of them, and eventually managed to beg a program from a race official and started to identify the competitors.
Peter Marsh's full article is available as a PDF:
www.nwyachting.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/June14.pdf
Marinepool Revolution NX Line - The New Generation Of Racing Gear
What if there was a racing top light weight like a shirt, ultra comfortable, made from highly flexible fabric, waterproof like the best offshore sailing gear and more breathable than anything you have ever seen or worn? Impossible? Too good to be true? Well, not any longer!
The new "Revolution" NX top by Marinepool combines all the above mentioned highly regarded qualities in one new innovative garment with Dermizax® NX technology. This high-tech and high-end racing top is one of the stars in the Marinepool 2014 collection. The Marinepool design team and Toray, the producers of the Dermizax® NX fabrics, have been working behind the scenes to bring this new product to market, while the world-class athletes on Extreme Sailing Series Champion "The Wave, Muscat" put it through it´s gears in a thorough testing programme.
The feedback was inspiring the name of this racing top: Revolutionary
Never before has a racing top ticked off the boxes like "Revolution NX" with unrivaled comfort, ease of movement and a breathability at 30,000+ g/m2/24h - 50% higher than most other top of the range products on the market today.
"Revolution NX" features highly flexible neoprene neck and sleeve cuffs, a 3D designed shape, printed reinforcements and an adjustable neoprene hem. Reflective prints provide increased safety. The top is complemented by light-weight and ultra-flexible trousers and bermuda shorts. Both are made from the same high-tech ultra breathable 3-layer fabric with Dermizax NX membrane and feature abrasion resistant Cordura® reinforcements at the knees and bottom, adjustable elastic waistbands, belt loops and a bulky leg pocket with water resistant zipper. The trousers have got pre-shaped knees for increased wearing comfort and mobility and adjustable leg cuffs.
Dermizax® membrane is a nonporous membrane, highly waterproof and breathable. Its smooth and soft texture, super light weight and elasticity significantly increase wearing comfort. Athletes who turn every stone to reduce weight and who always are in pursuit of a competitive advantage will look no further.
"Revolution" NX by Marinepool. Design. Technology. Passion.
Round Ireland Race: Tidal Gates Are Beginning To Come Into Play
At 21:00 hrs BST Monday, the fleet is strung out along the west coast from the north Mayo coastline all the way down to just north of the Dingle peninsula. David Ryan in Wicklow's Volvo 70 Monster Project is still holding his lead over Teng Tools Kilcullen, Alan Crosbie and Enda O Coineen, in their Open 60 with about 14 miles between them as they round Belmullet and head across Sligo Bay.
The next two boats are now about 40 miles off the lead boats. Libertalia (Ocean 60, Team Jolokia from Lorient) and Newstalk for Adrenalin (Farr 60) have been close all rtace and about a mile separates the two now, with Libertalia just ahead. This looks like a duel that will continue for a while yet.
Further back the fleet has spread out a little bit after the doldrums last night at the Fastnet, when winds were very slack, and it stretches from Clifden across Galway Bay and down the Clare coast to the Shannon estuary. Leading the pack, and gaining on the two ahead, is Gouy Laurent in Inis Mór, Ker 39, last year's winner, who knows these waters very well. He's 1st on corrected time in Class 1.
It looks like the little wind that is there is slackening and forecast shows it slackening further throughout the night, with not much for Tuesday at all. This will make the tidal gate at Rathlin Island even more important; whoever gets there to take advantage of the flood tide will gain significantly. Boats who miss the flood might find themselves anchoring to hold position against the ebb tide and stronger winds from SW are not forecast until later Tuesday night.
http://www.roundirelandyachtrace.ie
Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
Last month's winner:
Gwenole Gahinet and Paul Meilhat (FRA)
'First attempt, first time together, first victory!' - Christophe Fourleignie; 'Good race and a beautiful victory for a young and nice team' - Olivier Guy; 'Because they are the best!' - Charles Harmonic; 'Two great sailors' - Armel Le Cleac'h; 'The best young navigators!' - Mic Sauvage; 'Gwenole and Paul delivered an outstanding performance in the AG2R, they deserve this prize' - Gerard le Page; 'The lads sailed a truly amazing race, boat speed, boat speed, boat speed!' - Henry Bomby. 'Top job' - Nick Cherry.
This month's nominees:
Chris Draper (GBR)
He did an extremely solid job at the helm of Luna Rossa's single underdeveloped AC72 last summer and before that he had done a terrific job on the AC World Series circuit... no surprise then that the young Brit has been confirmed on the helm of the Italian team's next Cup challenger. Draper repaid that confidence by cleaning up at the first foiling Great Cup 32 regatta against some extremely tough opposition.
Doug DeVos (USA)
Two good reasons for this nomination: one topical, one more long term. Long term is that while DeVos has tirelessly supported sailing through some tough times, with backing for events like Key West, he has also been one of the three people underwriting the TP52 Class that is making such a go of it in the Super Series. The more topical reason is that DeVos has just taken yet another world title in the TP52 Class... only fair, some would say.
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
To subscribe to Seahorse Digital £30 for one year with discount promo code SB2 click www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/digital
Morgan Cup Race: Apollo Over The Moon
Nigel Passmore's Apollo 7 at the finish of the RORC Morgan Cup Race. Photo by Jonathan Nichols. Click on image to enlarge.
The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Morgan Cup Race took the fleet from Cowes, east out the Solent, along the southside of the Isle of Wight and along the southwest coast of England to Dartmouth and it proved to be a tough test. To make the finish, a 110-mile beat required determination, even tenacity. After the fleet received their finishing times, corrected under IRC, the results made several significant changes to the standings for the RORC Season's Points Championship, including the overall lead.
Nigel Passmore's J/133, Apollo7, with an all-Devonian crew, were celebrating in Dartmouth after winning the Morgan Cup.
Line Honours and the win in IRC Zero went to Piet Vroon's Lutra 56, Formidable 3, propelling the Dutch team to the top of the class for the season.
IRC One
RORC Commodore, Mike Greville racing his Ker 39, Erivale 3, was the class winner. He gained enough points to take pole position for the RORC Main Series by just 1.2 points from Steven Anderson's Corby 40, Cracklin Rosie, who only missed the race as Stephen has been away competing in the Newport Bermuda Race.
IRC Two
Apollo 7 won the race, Michael Boyd & Niall Dowling, sailing Peter Rutter's Grand Soleil 43, Quokka 8, was second in the class and overall by just over six minutes
IRC Three
Louis-Marie's JPK 10.10, Raging Bee, was the winner of the class and the Two-Handed division.
IRC Four
Two French yachts, both racing two-handed enjoyed a close battle. Matthias Kracht's JPK 9.60, Ultreia! was the class winner finishing just over three minutes ahead of fellow French JPK 9.60 team onboard Sous Mama Boule skippered by Ludovic Melnyk. However, the performance bySous Mama Boule was enough to lift the team to second overall for the RORC Season's Points Championship. -- Louay Habib
Future Fibres Seeking Production Staff
Future Fibres are seeking production staff to fill positions within their mast building facility in Valencia. Current positions available are for persons with experience in pre-preg laminating and composite fit out work.
Applicants must be eligible to work within the EU.
Please send expressions of interest and a CV to info@futurefibres.com
AF Offshore Race: Fog And Light Winds Pose A Challenge
For the 77'th time, the prestigious sailing race around the island of Gotland is underway. Nearly 300 boats left downtown Stockholm on Sunday morning to sail the 350 nautical mile - ÅF Offshore Race.
With current weather forecasts, this year's race is set to pose a real challenge, says Fredrik Feldreich.
But it is not because of the harsh conditions. Rather, on the contrary. The winds are light and variable. This places greater demands on the crew's mental abilities, than on their physical, says Fredrik Feldreich.
This year's competition involves 40 foreign boats from a total of ten countries.
This is Northern Europe's largest ocean race and the most classic, says Fredrik Feldreich. For the last four years, the start has taken place from Stockholm Stream, downtown Stockholm. Hundreds of thousands of spectators now have the chance to view everything from thoroughbred racing enthusiasts to family sailors embark on the offshore adventure.
The fastest boats were expected to reach the finish-line in Sandhamn sometime late Monday evening.
Close Conclusion To Sotogrande Cup
Racing at the RC44 Puerto Sotogrande Cup finished today with the tensest of conclusions, two boats tied going into the final race and the ultimate result of the regatta going right to the wire. Three races were held, once again in brilliant sunshine and a slowly building, but very very shifty westerly breeze blowing off the Andalucian coast.
Artemis Racing has had 'zero to hero' tendencies this week and at the end of the regatta had scored the most race wins – three out of the 11 races held. Torbjorn Tornqvist's crew, with British multiple Olympic medallist Iain Percy calling tactics, won today's opening race, but then suffered a badly wrapped spinnaker in the second that caused them to finish in last place, dropping them off the podium. They ultimately finished fifth overall.
Star performer of the day was unquestionably Valentin Zavadnikov and Leonid Lebedev's Synergy Russian Sailing Team, with Lebedev behind the wheel today. Synergy won the last two races as the breeze increased to more than 20 knots for the final one.
RC44 Puerto Sotogrande Cup Ranking (after 11 races)
1. Bronenosec Sailing Team, 45 points
2. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 48
3. Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team, 48
4. Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge, 53
5. Artemis Racing, 57
6. Team Aqua, 65
7. Aleph Racing, 68
8. Charisma, 70
9. Team Nika, 72
10. Katusha, 86
11. MAG Racing, 115
RC44 Championship Tour Overall Fleet Race Ranking (After three events with one discard)
1. Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team, 3
2. Team Aqua, 3
3. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 5
4. Bronenosec Sailing Team, 8
5. Artemis Racing, 10
6. Team Nika, 12
7. Bombarda Racing, 12
8. Charisma, 12
9. Aleph Racing, 13
10. Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge, 13
11. Katusha, 17
12. MAG Racing, 22
FISU World University Match Racing Championship
Yesterday, 29 June, the 7th edition of FISU's World University Match Racing Championship kicked-off with the Opening Ceremony. The event will last until 5 July.
For this 7th edition of the event, the WUC travels to Lago di Ledro, in the Trentino region in Italy. 27 teams from 14 countries are participating (Australia, Brazil, France, Great Britain, Singapore, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, Poland, Turkey, Russia, the United States & Italy).
The event can be followed via the OC website
wuc2014.avll.it and FISU's website www.fisu.net
ISAF Invites Bids To Host The 2018 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship
ISAF is now inviting all Member National Authorities to bid for the 2018 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship.
The ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship is ISAFs longest running event, having taken place every year since the first championships hosted by Sweden in 1971.
The event has been held in 26 countries welcoming over 100 nations and thousands of young sailors. The 44th edition will take place from 12-19 July in Tavira, Portugal before the flag is handed over the hosts of the 2015 ISAF Youth Worlds, Langkawi, Malaysia.
Al Musannah Sports City, Oman will host the 2016 ISAF Youth Worlds before it heads to Akko, Israel in 2017.
In advance of the 2014 ISAF Annual Conference in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, ISAF is inviting bids to host the 2018 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship.
The bid manual: www.sailing.org/38057.php
Featured Brokerage
2005 DK46. AUD$369000. Located in Sydney, Australia.
The Mark Mills designed DK46 IRC racing yacht "Exile" represents the opportunity to purchase a beautifully cared for, well maintained and highly successful 46 footer with over $200,000 spent on a new carbon rig 12 months ago & an almost new inventory of North 3Di Race Sails plus Spinnakers. This particular example has a very enviable race record over the last 6 months with a 1st overall in the 2014 Sydney Harbour regatta against the likes of the Farr TP52 'Quest', Ker 46 'Patrice' & Carkeek 60 'Ichi Ban'. Also 1st overall IRC 2014 Coffs Harbour Series, 2nd Overall IRC Nationals 2014, 2nd overall IRC Coffs Harbour Race with a 3rd Overall IRC in the 2014 Lord Howe Island race. Fully race ready for the coming season to continue her winning ways. Don`t risk buying something unproven, this is your winning yacht!
Contact Ron Jacobs at Performance Boating Sales in Sydney on 61(02)99799755 or info@performanceboating.com.au
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
In any field find the strangest thing and then explore it. -- John Wheeler
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