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
Three Races at the Commodores' Cup
In contrast to the frustration of yesterday's two unfinished races, today three inshore races were successfully held at the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup, bringing the Royal Ocean Racing Club's biennial flagship event for national teams with amateur crews back on schedule.
With five inshore races sailed Ireland has now established a solid lead of nearly 100 points, on 176 followed by GBR Red in second on 275.5 and with France Green and GBR Scotland jockeying for third place on 291.5 and 292.5 respectively. After today's second race just five points separated second from fifth place in the team rankings.
Principal Race Officer Stuart Childerley bravely set up a start line off Osborne Bay just to the east of Cowes for today's first windward-leeward race, sailed in a light northeasterly.
The second race was started in the same northeasterly wind, but saw a substantial right shift on the first upwind leg. In this it was the turn of GBR Scotland's big boat, James McGarry's Swan 45 Eala of Rhu to make her mark.
Eala of Rhu went on to win the race by more than two minutes from Michael Boyd and Niall Dowling's Grand Soleil 43, Quokka 8, sailing in the Irish team.
The race was unusual for having match racing-style starboard weather mark roundings.
After a catalogue of delays due to the arrival of ships in the Solent and wind shifts, plus three general recalls, a third race finally got off late in the afternoon once a southeasterly breeze had established. This final windward-leeward was claimed by France Green's Teasing Machine, finishing on the water behind yet another close match race between the two leading Ker 40s.
Tomorrow the classic course round the Isle of Wight is scheduled.
Places after Thursday's racing:
1. Ireland, 176 points
2. GBR Red, 275.5
3. France Green, 291.5
4. Scotland, 292.5
5. France Blue, 301
6. France Red, 334
7. GBR White, 342.5
8. France White, 410.5
9. GBR Blue, 411.5
Full results at: www.rorc.org/raceresults/2014/bdccovos.html
Le Berre & Zuiderbaan Share Early Lead
Starting with a totally calm and sunny morning, and finishing the day in thunderstorms and heavy rain, the Women's Match Race Golfe du Morbihan in Vannes, France, put the sailors to the test on the first day of racing. Four teams stay undefeated, with home sailor Anne-Claire Le Berre and Dutch veteran Klaartje Zuiderbaan sharing the top spot on four victories.
For Zuiderbaan it was the first race with the current crew composition, though she's sailed with all of the team members before, and obviously that was a winning concept. When sailing began for the day, after a few hours postponement due to the lack of wind, Klaartje & Co. immediately started their winning strike by defeating Kiwi Claudia Pierce in the first match. After another three straight victories the Dutch team now have gained ground on most of their opponents in this second stage of the 2014 Women's International Match Racing Series (WIM Series)
Standings in the round-robin of the Women's Match Race Golfe du Morbihan, the second stage of the 2014 WIM Series (name/nationality/wins - losses):
1. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA, 4 - 0
1. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED, 4 - 0
3. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN, 3 - 0
3. Anna Kjellberg, SWE, 3 - 0
5. Morgane Fountaine, FRA, 2 - 1
6. Annabel Vose, GBR, 2 - 2
7. Pauline Courtois, FRA, 1 - 2
8. Claudia Pierce, NZL, 1 - 3
9. Lucie Scheiwiller, FRA, 0 - 3
9. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 0 - 3
9. Rajaa Al Owaisi, OMA, 0 - 3
12. Anastasia Guseva, RUS, 0 - 4
Gill Announces Title Sponsorship of the RS European Championships
Fast paced one design racing is at the core of the Gill DNA and so the RS European Championships at Fraglia Vela Riva, Lake Garda is a perfect event for the technical sailing brand to work with.
Attracting more than 100 boats, the RS fleet return to one of their favourite venues for the Gill RS European Championships 2014 this summer, which offers some of the best high wind sailing conditions and most spectacular back drops on the planet.
Bryan Stewart Sales and Marketing Director at Gill comments: "We love the high octane racing of the RS fleet and we love Lake Garda so what's not to like about this event, it's a perfect fit for us. On a personal level I have sailed at Garda a few times and it is certainly one of my favourite places to race."
Gill will be on site during the event, providing a broad selection of great prizes across the fleets and adding to the legendary RS party atmosphere by supporting some of the after sailing fun during the week. In addition they'll be running a fully professional photo shoot working with the superb Ian Roman and hope to capture some great video footage out on the water.
Outteridge Charges Into The Lead At Moth Worlds
Hayling Island, UK: An earlier start allowed the Gold fleet to get a full four races on the penultimate day of the International Moth World Championships at Hayling Island, with the Silver fleet once again getting in three.
The breeze was a gusty and shifty 8-13 knots, which dropped off during the final race as it shifted round to the East. Once again racing was held in scorching temperatures under a cloudless sky.
Gold fleet started Finals race 3 under the Black Flag on the second attempt after a general recall. Robert Greenhalgh's vang then broke which took him out of the race. Scott Babbage led from start to finish with a good performance, winning comfortably from Nathan Outteridge with Josh Mcknight 3rd and Chris Rashley 4th.
The Black Flag remained hoisted for the rest of the starts - the Committee were obviously keen to get the racing in before the wind died.
Finals race 4 saw Nathan take the win, and the outright lead, with Josh Mcknight just behind and only a second ahead of Scott Babbage, who continued his good form of the day to finish 3rd. Paul Goodison had his best race so far of the finals series in 4th.
Top five, Gold fleet going into the final day of racing:
1. Nathan Outteridge, AUS, 16 points
2. Chris Rashley, GBR, 18
3. Josh Mcknight, AUS, 24
4. Scott Babbage, AUS, 43
5. Ben Paton, GBR, 45
Six Metre European Championship
Falmouth, UK - After a two-day hiatus, the fourth day of the Six Metre European Championship in Falmouth finally produced a much-needed third race for the twenty-seven competing teams.
The wind failed to cooperate for much of the day and it wasn't until 17.30 that the race finally started in a rainy nine knots from the northeast. With the wind largely driven by slow moving rain clouds it wasn't long before it began to destabilise and by the second run it was down to five knots or less, making for some very challenging sailing.
In the Modern Division race victory went to Bertie Bicket's GBR86 Scoundrel I with Robin Richardson's GBR88 St Kitts second, Claes Henningsson's SWE114 Notorious third and Paul Smith's GBR107 Valhalla fourth.
In the Classics three boats were called OCS at the start and failed to go back. The race was won by Peter Andreae's GBR57 Erica, with Peter Hoffman's US83 Llanoria second, William Booth's N71 Flapper third and Rainer Muller's KC10 Gallant fourth.
With three races now sailed both divisions remain wide open, setting us up for an exciting final day. Valhalla leads the Modern Division and the Championship with seven points, four points ahead of Don Martin's C11 Blade Runner. Scoundrel I lies third on twelve points, just half a point clear of Notorious.
In the Classic Division Andy Postle and Brian Pope's GBR22 Titia came sixth today and leads the fleet on eleven points, just a single point ahead of Gallant.
Solo UK National Championship
Brightlingsea, Essex: The 2014 Solo National Championship will be hosted by Brightlingsea Sailing Club, Essex, from 26 July to 1 August, with some sixty-six helms travelling from across the UK to compete.
The regatta opens with registration and inspection on Saturday 26 July and championship racing will run from Sunday 27 July to Friday 1 August, with up to two races per day planned.
Racing will take place on windward leeward courses on the Colne and Blackwater Estuaries which offer sheltered open sea sailing at all states of the tide. As well as the main championship prizes, there will also be a number of special trophies including the first wooden boat, the leading Veteran, Grand Master, Septimus, Junior and Lady sailors and a Top Club Trophy.
Designed by Jack Holt in 1956, the Solo is a classic one-design, single-handed dinghy sailed at many clubs in the UK, Holland and Australia. The entry list for the event includes defending champion Charlie Cumbly and last year's runner up Andy Tunnicliffe, as well as many of the top names in the class
www.sailbrightlingsea.com
www.solosailing.org.uk
Premier Composite Technologies
The Premier Composite Technologies team has been at the forefront marine composites since 1986, when it developed the very first carbon fibre rudders for racing yachts, a market which it dominated for many years to come. The teams' diverse and pioneering approach to finding new applications for composite structures, led it next to Malaysia in support of some major architectural projects, and eventually to Dubai where PCT was established in 2006.
Throughout this period, and despite the steady growth in new markets, the PCT team has remained true to its passion of building racing yachts and powerboats, continuing to deliver high quality, performance products for many of the world's leading designers, including: Farr, Judel/Vrolik, Kerr, Mills, Fisher, Botin and of course Carkeek.
The sheer scale of the operations and the facilities and resources available are more than any company could justify if the sole business was building semi custom boats. PCT's marine team is therefore in the fortunate position of having access to possibly the best, purpose-built, facility of its kind, in the World.
PCT are currently building: the GC32 flying catamaran, high performance monohull Carkeek 40 MKII's & Carkeek 47's, the Premier 45 performance cruiser and the Farr 280 one design sportsboats.
If you have a project or would like to discuss a particular boat, please get in touch marine@pct.ae
ISAF Youth Match Race Worlds
The ISAF Youth Match Racing World Championship on water action matched the warm climate as the competition heated up on the second day in Helsinki, Finland.
Temperatures in Helsinki reached a new summer high but that not did stop the on-water action with 12 more flights completed. The situation is incredibly tight ahead of the last ten flights.
The day commenced at 09:45 local time with one flight in a dying breeze. As the wind filled in, racing resumed at 11:45 with a 10-11 knot breeze ensuring fair racing across the remaining flights.
The racing continues on Friday at 09:30 local time. The forecast is for similar conditions with a lot of sun and heat, but luckily also some wind.
Results:
Joachim Aschenbrenner, DEN 8-2
Sam Gilmour, AUS 8-2
Nevin Snow, USA 8-3
Mark Lees, GBR 7-2
Valerio Galati, ITA 7-3
Pierre Quiroga, FRA 7-3
Chris Steele, NZL 7-3
Nelson Mettraux, SUI 5-5
Tyler Rice, ISV 5-6
Markus Ronnberg, FIN 4-5
Philip Bendon, IRL 4-6
Jakob Klitte, SWE 3-7
Slawomir Plichta, POL 1-8
Florian Haufe, GER 1-9
Vladislav Abramov, RUS 0-11
Training The Next Generation
After 55 hours of punishing fitness testing, mentally exasperating exercises, a harrowing sea survival simulation, 10 hours of sailing and a ride around a velodrome, eight exhausted candidates came out the other side of the 'Fantasy Solitaire du Figaro' - this year's Artemis Offshore Academy Selection Trials theme.
Two sailors, Andrew Baker (24, Cowes/Belfast) an accomplished Laser competitor and Robert Bunce (19, Hamble) a talented match racing and fully crewed racer, have so far been selected to go forward with the Artemis Offshore Academy next season.
Joining long term Artemis Offshore Academy squad member Robin Elsey in training as he makes the transition from double-handed to the full-time solo Figaro programme, the new recruits will become part of the growing British Figaro squad already preparing for the 2015 Solitaire du Figaro, starting 31st May.
Selected off the back off this year's Trials, Academy freshmen Andrew and Rob have had just a taste of solo offshore sailing, now about to sink their teeth in fully as they start on the Academy's structured training programme.
www.artemisoffshoreacademy.com
Ocean Race To Celebrate 400 Years Since The Discovery Of Cape Horn
The official presentation of the Drake & Horn 1616-2016 Regatta took place at the dinner opening the 13th edition of the Bailli de Suffren Trophy organised by the Mare Nostrum Yacht Club. Classic yacht owners attended together with Pierre Hugo, president of the Bailli de Suffren hotel group, the mayor of Saint Tropez, the president of Societe Nautique, the maritime prefect for the Mediterranean, the president of the Order of Malta, the Maltese Ambasador for France and various admirals and crews.
The race will gathers together classic yachts, goelettesschooners and modern yachts from around the world for an adventure which starts from Saint-Tropez on October 25, 2015.
The race will see the fleet round Cape Horn in January 2016 by the Drake Passage on the anniversary of their discovery. The race will finish in Istanbul, where the closing regatta on the Bosphorus will symbolise the maritime link between Europe and Asia created there 400 years ago.
For Lionel Pean, who has a long list of acheivements, it will be the realiastion of one of his dearest dreams.
"I had a dream of becoming Cap Horner and especially to win a race around the world," Pean said. "I fought for and realised that dream with a great crew on the beautiful 'Team Spirit'. But I have had other dreams since and I want to share the picture of schooners and modern yachts becoming Cape Horners in a race.
So ,as when realising my other dreams and and after much discussion with other sailors, owners, captains and crew, I set down on paper the project of the Drake & Horn 1616-2016 Regatta."
Dubarry Crosshaven - Comfortably The Best Performer
Volvo Ocean Race teams have chosen Dubarry's Crosshaven in every edition of the race since the boot was developed with Green Dragon in the 2008 edition. There are several reasons for that.
First, the innovation that impressed the Green Dragon guys most: the integral gaiter. Made of lightweight, hard-wearing, water-resistant fabric and cinched up with a drawstring, this gaiter means you can kneel down and work on the foredeck without suffering the dreaded 'bootful of green' that kills comfort for the rest of the passage.
And when you're dodging icebergs in the Southern Ocean as winter's teeth snap at your vitals, you'll appreciate the 350g GORE-TEX® Duratherm membrane and thermally insulated footbed that will keep your feet, at least, toasty.
Then there's the award-winning grip of Crosshaven's non-slip and non-marking sole. If you're trying to stay vertical on deck, and several tonnes of water traveling at 30 knots is trying to persuade you that you might be more comfortable lying down, you need your feet to stay planted.
We can all benefit from experience, but it comes at a price. Lucky for you that Green Dragon footed the bill, and the benefit is all yours.
Dubarry Crosshaven - Born at sea
Extremely Nice
Extreme Sailing Series organiser OC Sport has today confirmed the bustling Mediterranean City of Nice as the Host Venue for the penultimate Act of the 2014 season, to be held 2-5 October. Hosted by Ville de Nice, the Extreme Sailing Series has been a regular feature on the city's sporting calendar since 2011, sitting alongside other world-class international events, including the French Riviera Marathon (Nice-Cannes), the IronMan of Nice, the Nice Côte d'Azur ATP Tennis Open, the Tour de France and the Haute Route Alps.
Nice will be the final European Act of 2014, before the event containers are packed and shipped to Sydney, Australia for the grand finale. The 11-strong fleet will race on the Bay of Angels, and over the last three years the event has attracted thousands of spectators who line the world famous Promenade des Anglais to watch the Extreme 40 catamarans go head-to-head.
For the French 'home team' Groupama Sailing Team, this Act in Nice will be one of the highlights of the 2014 season.
The confirmation of Nice as Host Venue is the first in a series of announcements from the organisers of the original Stadium Racing series to be revealed over the next month, including confirmation on the Host Venue selected to host the opening Act of the 2015 global tour.
ADM / GGYC Lawsuit Settled
African Diaspora Maritime Corporation (ADM) and Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) hereby jointly announce that ADM and GGYC have mutually agreed to settle the action titled African Diaspora Maritime Corporation v. Golden Gate Yacht Club, Index No. 653419/2011, filed in the Supreme Court of the State Court of New York, County of New York.
In its complaint, ADM alleged (among other things) that GGYC failed to consider in good faith ADM's application to compete in a Defender Series for the 34th America's Cup (AC34). GGYC denied ADM's allegations. The parties have now settled their dispute.
ADM is fully committed to continuing its efforts to participate in future America's Cup races. GGYC, which will again defend the Cup in the 35th America's Cup, is fully supportive of ADM's stated mission.
Cricket Captain's Ocean Yacht Race Debut
Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke will enter uncharted waters this weekend when he makes his ocean yacht racing debut.
Clarke is a crew member of the star-studded Perpetual Loyal in the Sydney to Gold Coast yacht race.
The race starts on Saturday afternoon at Nielsen Park on Sydney Harbour with a fleet of 56 yachts tackling the 384-nautical mile event that finishes off Main Beach at Southport on Queensland's Gold Coast.
The Loyal team, which includes ex-Wallaby Phil Waugh, will raise money for children with life-threatening diseases and injuries.
It's a cause close to Clarke's heart, having with his niece placed in intensive care after being born 10 weeks premature.
This will be the first time Perpetual LOYAL and Wild Oats XI have met since last year's Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and both have recently undergone modifications
Line honours contenders will be aiming at WOXI's open race record of 22 hours 3 minutes 46 seconds, set in 2012.
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