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
Williams Grabs Victory in Hot and Blustery Poland
Sopot, Poland: Sopot Match Race, the latest event on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, saw an impressive come-from-behind victory for British skipper Ian Williams’ GAC Pindar team on a day that seemed set to be sailed in light northerly winds. That was until the wind shut down, performed a 180 degree turn, and then filled in with a sudden blustery 20 knots from the south.
The day started with the last Semi Final races. France’s Mathieu Richard and his LunaJets team were able to able to secure their Finals berth promptly, taking their score from 1-1 to 3-1 against defending Alpari World Match Racing Tour champion Taylor Canfield. For Williams it was much harder, 0-2 down against Phil Robertson’s WAKA Racing team and having to win three straight races to make it through. In the event Williams managed to level the score to 2-2 but in the last race trailed the Kiwi team around the race course, until this all changed in the very last metres. GAC Pindar crossed ahead within the final metres of the final run.
The finals went 2-1 to Williams and with the cut off for the last race being at 1500 no more racing could be held and Williams was announced the winner of Sopot Match Race.
The next event on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour is the Chicago Match Cup which will be held 17-21 September from the Chicago Match Race Center using the Tom 28 Max.
Overall results of Stage 3 Sopot Match Race, Alpari World Match Racing Tour
1. Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar
2. Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets
3. Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone
4. Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing
5. Karol Jabłoński (POL) Jablonski Sailing Team
6. Nicolai Sehested (DEN) Trefor Match Racing
7. Keith Swinton (AUS) Team Alpari FX
8. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team
9. Przemysław Tarnacki (POL) Tarnacki Yacht Racing
10. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team
11. David Gilmour (ASU) Team Gilmour
12. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team
Finals
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar vs Mathieu Richard (FRA) LunaJets 2-1
Petit-Finals
Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone vs Phil Robertson (NZL) Waka Racing 2-1
Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Day 2
Family Day at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week provided another great day of racing under clear skies with a steady south-westerly breeze of 13-17 knots that built to give gusts of 20 knots by the end of the afternoon.
Black Group yachts starting on the Bramble line saw plenty of action at the favoured committee boat end of the line, with many starts seeing optimistic skippers attempting to barge into a none-existent space amid much shouting, before having to bail out and restart at the back of their fleet.
Most boats in IRC Class 1 were line shy, even though the tide was carrying them away from the line. Malcolm le May’s Mills 37 Thunder ll led the fleet towards the line with a minute to go, while Lime Sailing’s Sydney 40 Lime Loco took position furthest south at the pin end of the line. After the start James Gair’s Mills 39 LocalLetterbox Zero ll and Mike Greville’s Ker 39 Erivale lll were first to tack onto port towards the tidal relief on the north shore of the Solent. Thunder also tacked to port early, but was disadvantaged when she had to tack again for a boat on starboard tack within a couple of minutes, leaving Gair with a five boat length lead a few minutes into the race.
In IRC Class 1 James Gair’s Mills 39 LocalLetterbox Zero ll was first across the finish line, but was only five seconds ahead of Belgian Francois Goubau’s lower-rated First 47.7 Moana, which took first place on corrected time. However, LocalLetterbox Zero ll saved her time on Norwegian Aasmund Drolsum’s King 40 Magic, which took third both on the water and on corrected time.
In IRC Class 3, Mr and Mrs Peter Morton’s JND35 Salvo was first across the finish line three and a half hours after the start, just 11 seconds ahead of the faster-rated Puma Logic, and saved her time on the lower-rated boats in the class to win on corrected time, with Bernard Olesinski’s X-40 Xinska next across the line and taking third on handicap.
The dayboats in White Group had a very different challenge to the Black Group Yachts for their starts on the Royal Yacht Squadron line - they were heading east, with the tide threatening to sweep boats over the line prematurely. -- Rupert Holmes
Complete results of all classes
AAM Cowes Week Photography Competition
After its successful launch in 2013, Aberdeen Asset Management is pleased to announce the continuation of the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Photography Competition at the 2014 regatta, 2-9 August, which this year includes a brand new Instagram category.
The photography competition is open to all spectators, competitors and budding photographers at the regatta, encouraging all event participants to share their own experiences both online and through their smartphones. The challenge for entrants is to capture Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week through the theme of ‘the spirit of the regatta’ in three competition categories, with an additional fourth category for an Instagram #Sailfie competition.
Entrants to the Shore-side, On-the-Water and Under 18 categories will be able to submit their images through the official Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week website ( http://www.aamcowesweek.co.uk ) and will be in with a chance of winning a £250 photography equipment voucher.
The main competition will be open for entries until Saturday 16 August, whilst the Instagram category will be close at the conclusion of the regatta, 09 August. For more information on the competition and for full terms and conditions, please visit http://aamcw.co/comps
#GILLMOSTWANTED
Gill is pleased to announce a social media campaign and competition to support Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2014. During the week, our Gill man, dressed in full sailing gear including a distinctive sailing hood that disguises his face, will be amongst the crew and spectators in and around the Yacht Haven.
We're giving the public a chance to win the Ocean Racer jacket and trousers he is wearing, worth up to £800. To take part in the competition, they have to spot the Gill man and take a selfie with him. Then post that selfie on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #gillmostwanted to be entered into the draw to win. Posters, leaflets and a trailer on the Gill Marine Facebook page will show spectators what he looks like and help them begin their search.
Facebook followers who are not at the event also have the opportunity to get involved by spotting our Gill man in event photos that are posted on our Facebook page each day. To enter the draw, they just have to identify where he is in the comments box of the photo.
Watch the campaign film here or check it out on the Gill Marine Facebook page
RS:X and Finn Fleets put Rio to the Test
Racing kicked off at the Aquece Rio - International Sailing Regatta 2014 with the Finn and RS:X fleets taking to two race courses on Guanabara Bay.
The day began with a press briefing that saw over 120 national and international journalists, broadcasters and photographers turn up to witness the first Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Test Event first hand.
At the briefing the attendees included Rio 2016 Executive Director of Sport, Agberto Guimaraes, Rio2016 Director of Sports, Rodrigo Garcia, Rio 2016 Director of Communications, Mario Andrada, ISAF Technical Delegate Alastair Fox and London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Mat Belcher (AUS).
Initiatives to improve water quality were explained and an outline of the event, the largest ever Olympic classes' regatta held in Brazil, was given.
Once the briefing concluded attention turned to the racing action. A south easterly breeze coming in at 8-12 knots ensured that two races were completed in all three fleets.
Top three:
Men's RS:X
1. Dorian Van Rijsselberge, NED, 2 points
2. Byronas Kokkalanis, GRE, 5
3. Pierre le Coq, FRA, 8
Women's RS:X
1. Charline Picon, FRA, 2
2. Maayan Davidovich, ISR, 5
3. Patricia Freitas, BRA, 8
Finn
1. Jorge Zariff, BRA, 3
2. Edward Wright, GBR, 6
3. Giles Scott, GBR, 8
Racing in the Finn and RS:X resumes Monday 4 August at 13:00 whilst the remaining seven fleets kick off racing. All five race courses will be used on the second day of racing.
www.aquecerio.com/en
www.sailing.org/2014-test-event.php
Brazil Dismisses Rio 2016 Olympics Water Pollution Worries
The organisers of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have dismissed concerns about water pollution in the bay where sailing events will be held.
Brazilian officials said recent tests show that the waters in Guanabara Bay meet international standards.
Athletes who have competed there recently say they bumped into floating debris, including sofas and a dead dog.
Brazilian media reported that the event could be move to another sailing venue.
But the Rio Olympics Organising Committee said there was no plan B.
"The tests were positive and we can confirm that water is safe for the athletes," said Rio-2016 Sustainability Manager Julie Duffus.
In its Olympic bid, Rio promised to clean Guanabara Bay by 80%.
But in June Mayor Eduardo Silva admitted the target would not be met.
Record Fleet Starts Monday at 2014 ORC Worlds
Kiel, Germany: At 10:55 AM Monday 4 August, the first Warning signals will sound for the first race on three separate course areas here in Kiel for the start of the 2014 edition of the ORC World Championship. This offshore World Championship sanctioned by ISAF features a record-setting turnout of 151 boats from 19 countries, and has attracted some of the world's best sailors from the Olympics, America's Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, and other high-level events.
Multiple World Champion Markus Wieser, for example, is sailing this week on Harm Muller-Spreer's new Carkeek 47 Platoon, one of the favorites among the 27 boats racing in Class A. Platoon was not on the starting line today for some light air practice racing due to an incident that occurred in the blustery 20+ knots and choppy seas on the Kieler Bucht yesterday.
"The strop on our headstay broke," explained Weiser, "but no one was hurt and we managed to keep the rig up. So today we replaced our composite headstay with one made of rod that we brought in from Denmark, and we are ready to go for tomorrow."
Weiser and his team missed the opportunity to tune up against the 2011 and 2012 Class A ORC World Champion, Alberto Rossi and his team from Italy on his TP 52 Enfant Terrible, who have been here in Kiel training for the past week. Not only is Rossi is coming off a victory in the Farr 40 West Coast Championship in Santa Barbara two weeks ago, but, like Platoon, Rossi has loaded his boat with a talented crew of veterans from numerous America's Cups, all led by 3-time Melges 24 World Champion Lorenzo Bressani.
Wind conditions tomorrow are expected to be a light northwesterlies, but Principal Race Officer Stefan Kunstmann hopes for two races to get the week started. Kunstmann will be managing the Class B course, while Eckart Reinke will be running Class A and Fabian Bach will manage Class C.
Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015 - Will A Danish Entry Take Boat 7?
Just on 70 days before the start of the 2014-2015 Volvo Ocean Race and rumours abound that a major Danish company is set to sponsor a last minute entry in the round the world race, grabbing the available one design boat seven.
Shipping giant Maersk, satcomm company Thane & Thane and now most recently Vestas Wind Systems, the largest manufacturer of wind turbines systems in the world, based in Aarhus Denmark, who were the sponsor of Paul Larsen's Sailrocket has firmed as favourite.
Chris Nicholson, a four times VOR veteran, dual Olympian, with three 49er and three 505 World championship has been named as the most likely skipper, with other crew members including a number of Danish sailors to be announced shortly. -- Rob Kothe in Sail-World.com
www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=125172
Seahorse September 2014
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Speeding up the design curve
The latest sail design technology saves time from the initial shape creation to the final rig set-up
The start of the fifth cycle
Former Figaro competitor Marcus Hutchinson takes stock as the Artemis Offshore Academy rolls into another round of pre-selections
Remarkably close
Just 29kg covered the spread of measured dry weights for the first seven new VO65s out of the yard... Class measurement manager James Dadd explains just how it was done
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2014 29er Worlds - Aussie World Champions
Kingston, Ontario, Canada: A light wind day finished off the final series of the 29er World Championship on Lake Ontario for the 29er Worlds. After an hour postponement, the breeze filled in at noon to the class minimum of 4 knots. After 3 attempts the Gold fleet was off in 4-6 knots. Aussie leaders Kurt Hansen and Harry Morton sailed their discard race in the first race while Brice Yrieix & Loic Ficher-Guillou (FRA) posted a 3rd moving them closer to the top. However, the final race found the Aussies finishing 4th to secure the title while the French sailed their discard. Spanish sailors Tania Bonilla and Marc Chapon sailed both their discards it the ultra-light conditions, dropping them to tie for 3rd overall, but losing the tie breaker to Jasper Steffens and Tom Lennart Brauckmann (GER) who didn’t have a spectacular day, but sailed well enough for bronze. Americans Antoine and Romaine Screve sailed a stellar day with a 2-2.
Winners of the silver fleet were Ignacio Varisco & Nicolas Peirano Prat (ARG) with bronze fleet winners Theresa Blumroth & Maria Berking (GER). The top youth team also went to Hansen & Morton (AUS) with the top female team to Carla & Marta Munte of Spain.
J/111 Europeans
Cowes, England: Concurrent with AAM Cowes Week, the J/111s will be competing for their 2104 European Championship off the Royal Yacht Squadron line. It promises to be an entertaining, fun, challenging regatta as the J/111s will be vying for both class honors as well as “water” just about anywhere they go criss-crossing the Solent with a few thousand other boats as obstacles. The crews participating are all very experienced Solent sailors, so nothing should come as a surprise to them sailing the “neap tides” of this year’s event.
The J/111 Europeans will take place from August 2nd to 5th, at the beginning of the entire Cowes Week extravaganza. Of the thirteen teams participating, perhaps the one team to watch out for based on past performances at premiere events will be David & Kirsty Apthorp’s J/DREAM. Hot on their heels will be past Round Island Race winner Duncan McDonald and Phil Thomas on SHMOKIN JOE, James Arnell’s JEEZ LOUISE, Cornell Riklin’s JITTERBUG, Chris Jones & Louise Makin’s JOURNEYMAKER II, Tony Mack’s McFLY, and Munkenbeck & Cheeseman’s MUNKENBECK.
Visiting teams from the Netherlands, Kees van Vliet & Hans J.G. Zwijnenburg sailing SWEENY and Martin Dent’s JELVIS from France will have to contend with a well-trained, fast fleet of boats from Great Britain.
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