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
Sevenstar Round Britain And Ireland: Pedal To The Metal
At 1230 BST, Musandam-Oman Sail were 520 miles from the finish of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. To set a new outright World Record, the MOD 70 needs to cross the Royal Yacht Squadron Line by 12:59:14 on 14th August 2014.
Musandam-Oman Sail has been on the charge all morning and last night averaged over 25 knots, hitting a top speed of 35 knots. At that pace the World Record would be broken by over 3 hours.
During the third night of the race, a northwesterly breeze of about 19 knots is expected in the Celtic Sea, which should be enough to keep Musandam-Oman Sail on for the record and make landfall at The Lizard around midnight tonight. During the night, the wind is expected to go lighter and back to the west, which could make for a dramatic last few hours as Musandam-Oman Sail round the Isle of Wight, before crossing the finish line from the east.
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Volvo Ocean 65, Azzam, continues to lead the charge and has extended their lead on Team Campos, skippered by Iker Martinez, to over 30 miles.
Brian Thompson, skipper of IMOCA 60 Artemis-Team Endeavour, contacted the RORC Media Team as they rounded Out Stack. At their current projected finish time, Artemis-Team Endeavour will break the IMOCA 60 record, set in 2010, by over 24 hours.
roundbritainandireland.rorc.org
Vendee Globe Hopefuls Already Winners In Les Sables-D'olonne
The two candidates hoping to compete in the non-stop solo round the world race can share honours in the Mini 6.50 Les Sables - Azores - Les Sables race. While Nicolas Boidevezi (ImaginAlsace) dominated the second leg, the Italian Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) has come out with a comfortable lead in the overall rankings after an amazing first leg.
"Entering the harbour entrance channel in les Sables-d'Olonne as a winner is as great as winning overall!" Winner of the second leg of the les Sables - Azores - Les Sables today (Tuesday) after 5 days 21 hours 22 minutes and 15 seconds of sailing (average speed: 8.99 knots), Nicolas Boidevezi could not hide his pleasure. The famous harbour entrance has got the skipper from Alsace thinking, as he looks forward to competing in the next Vendee Globe.
Boidevezi took the lead on the second day of the race and never relinquished it, in spite of the constant pressure from Giancarlo Pedote aboard his incredible prototype with the rounded bow.
As overall winner, the Italian skipper, who is also hoping to take part in the solo round the world race perfectly managed his significant lead over Boidevezi: a lead of around twelve hours as they set sail from Horta.
Although Michele Zambelli was four hours ahead of him when they started this second leg, Nicolas Boidevezi will now take second place in the overall rankings. In the 15h UTC rankings, Zambelli was around 90 miles from the finish in les Sables, so Boidevezi has therefore clearly made up for lost time.
Top Five Ranking August 13 at 17 hours local time
Series
1. Tanguy Le Turquais (Terreal - Dreams of Childhood), arrived August 13 at 12am 07mn 15s
2. Damien Cloarec (ETF - www.damien-cloarec.fr), arrived August 13 at 18h 26mn 40s
3. Jonas Gerckens (Netwerk), arrived August 13 at 18h 39mn 30s
4. Antonio Fontes (Leonor), 31.0 miles to finish
5. Francis Jambou (Kairos) at 39.1 miles to finish
Protos
1. Nicolas Boidevezi (ImaginAlsace) 16h 31mn 15s arrived on August 12
2. Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian), 20h 00mn 16s arrived on August 12
3. Ian Lipinski (Innovative Companies), 07h 57mn 54s arrived, August 13
4. Michele Zambelli (Fontanot), 07h 59min 57s arrived, August 13
5. Ludovic Mechin (Microvitae) 08h 17mn 12s arrived, August 13
Silver Star Goes To Diego Negri And Sergio Lambertenghi
Brunnen, Switzerland: The final day of the 2014 International Star Class Eastern Hemisphere Championship at Brunnen, Switzerland, ended without completing a 5th, or any of other additional scheduled races. Therefore, the final standings after 4 races became the Final Overall Results for the Championship and further validated Diego Negri and Sergio Lambertenghi's (ITA 8491) dominance of the event.
With the completion of four races were completed, both Negri and Lambertenghi (ITA 8491) were awarded their second ISCYRA Eastern Hemisphere Silver Stars of their Star sailing careers.
Overall Top 10
1. Diego Negri & Sergio Lambertenghi, ITA, 9 points
2. Emilios Papathanasiou & Antonis Tsotras, GRE, 13
3. George Szabo & Serge Pulfer, USA, 26
4. Hubert Merkelbach & Gerrit Bartel, GER, 33
5. Tom Lofstedt & Frithjof Kleen, SWE, 43
6. Alessandro Pascolato & Henry Boening, BRA, 44
7. Christoph Burger & Renato Marazzi, SUI, 48
8. Kurt Scheidegger & Markus Scheidegger, SUI, 51
9. Marc de Haas & Eric Veldhuizen, NED, 52
10. Philip Rotermund & Nils Hollweg, GER, 54
lswiss-star-class.ch/em-brunnen-2014
live.starsailors.com
Peters & May Joins The 52 Super Series As Official Supplier
One of the world's most experienced boat transport operators have reached an agreement with the 52 SUPER SERIES to be the official supplier, and provide transportation services to the circuit and teams. The initiative was concluded to span over the 2015 and 2016 seasons when the circuit is widely expected to make significant steps forward.
Peters & May is a global leader in the world of shipping and logistics and their support will help the 52 SUPER SERIES improve efficiencies and help the circuit maximise growth and satisfaction among owners and crews. The agreement is considered to be mutually beneficial. 52 SUPER SERIES teams will be able to move their boats and containers around the Mediterranean more efficiently and faster thanks to the logistical support of the international company.
The CEO of Peters & May, Dave Holley, commented on the sponsorship agreement 'we are delighted to have been made an official sponsor for the 52 SUPER SERIES for the next two seasons (2015 & 2016), and to be part of such a prestigious international series. We have a great team here in the UK and in Spain who are totally dedicated to giving the best possible service throughout this campaign'.
Agustin Zulueta, CEO of the SUPER SERIES, believes that the signing of this agreement is extremely beneficial to the Circuit, 'we are convinced that Peters & May is the partner we need to ensure international growth and guarantee logistical success. We believe the series will continue to develop in the 2015 and 2016 season, and will require the support of the Peters & May team to overcome all logistical challenges. This will help both the teams and owners focus on their performance'.
ISAF Match Race Rankings
There is no change at the top of either the Open or the Women's Rankings as Ian Williams (GBR) and Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN) continue their winning ways and stay at World #1.
Ian Williams (GBR) claimed his second Alpari World Match Racing Tour victory of the season in Sopot, Poland, defeating Mathieu Richard (FRA) in the final. Williams extends his lead at the World #1 position ahead of Taylor Canfield (ISV) at World #2 and Richard at #3.
Completing the top five are Bjorn Hansen (SWE) and Nicolai Sehested (DEN). Announced yesterday as part of the Danish Volvo Ocean Race line up, Sehested today moves up one place to a career best of World #5.
Two more regatta wins sees Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN) hold firm at the top of the Women's Rankings ahead of Anna Kjellberg (SWE) at World #2.
In a dramatic final against Kjellberg, Ulrikkeholm took her fourth consecutive win at the ISAF Grade 1 Lysekil Women's Match in Gulmar, Sweden. The Danish team also took the win at the ISAF Grade 2 Women's Golfe Du Morbihan Match Race in France.
The bronze medal in Lysekil was claimed by Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (DEN) who maintains her position as World #5. Meldgaard Pedersen's opponent in the petit-final was Caroline Sylvan (SWE) and she climbs one place up the rankings to World #7.
Top ten open rankings:
1. Ian Williams, GBR
2. Taylor Canfield, ISV
3. Richard Mathieu, FRA
4. Bjorn Hansen, SWE
5. Nicolai Sehested, DEN
6. Keith Swinton, AUS
7. Pierre-Antoine Morvan, FRA
8. Joachim Aschenbrenner, DEN
9. Philip Robertson, NZL
10. Staffan Lindberg, FIN
Full rankings: www.sailing.org/mrorankings
Top ten women's rankings:
1. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN
2. Anna Kjellberg, SWE
3. Stephanie Roble, USA
4. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED
5. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, DEN
6. Anne-Claire Le Berre, FRA
7. Caroline Sylvan, SWE
8. Milly Bennett, AUS
9. Claudia Pierece, NZL
10. Denise Lim, SIN
Full rankings: www.sailing.org/mrwrankings
Girls Take Gold at the 53rd Optimist UK National Championships
The Volvo Gill Optimist British and Open Championship came to a close Friday 8th August] with the girls leading the results. After a week of fantastic sailing in a range of conditions, light winds prevented any racing for the over 470 Optimist sailors on the final day of the event at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.
Following a successful week on the water, Vita Heathcote, 13 (Royal Lymington Yacht Club) took this year's Volvo Gill Optimist National Champion title in the Senior Fleet (Main), her second consecutive national title, having won last year's National Junior Fleet Championships in Largs.
Alexandra Schonrock, 12, (Parkstone Yacht Club) was a strong contender in the Junior Fleet, and having lead the British contingent of competitors for most of the week, the young sailor was able to successfully secure the National title in the Junior Fleet (Main).
This is the second annual event of the year that Volvo and Gill jointly sponsor, with the third being the Volvo Gill Optimist End of Season Championship, taking place at Rutland Sailing Club, 11th and 12th October 2014.
For full results and more information, visit the official event website: www.kbsuk.com/optimist/
Irish Model Yacht Entry for European IOM Championships
Once again there is a model yacht skipper representing Ireland at the up-coming 2014 IOM European Championships held in Lake Garda in September writes Gilbert Louis.
Jeff Kay from Howth Yacht Club will be flying the Irish flag once again. Jeff is not new to this level of competition as he represented Ireland at a number of European and World Championships over the past few years.
Probably the most experienced skipper in our fleet, Jeff has a wealth of experience in sailing (Laser, Squib, Cruiser/Racers, etc...) as well as in model boats too. He brings a great technical knowledge to the fleet because of his experience over the years of racing often in the top 20 at international events.
One important element to understand! The IOM fleet at international level is the most competitive fleet there is in model boats. It includes a number of World class sailors from national, international, World, European champions and Olympic sailors too. The fleet also includes professionals in the sailing world: be TP52 campaigns, VOR, skiffs, even from the America's cup teams, like Ian Vickers (OT USA). That is not counting on the countless top model boat skippers. The top 20 includes over 50% of former EU or World champions. So it is no break in the top 20.
Jeff will be racing a Britpop, a boat designed by Brad Gibson (AUS) which has taken the IOM world by storm. A still relatively new boat design with chines. It has already won numerous podiums around the world as well as Gold medals a the last EU and World champs. So it is already proven design - so proven in fact that a lot of other skippers will race one too.
Team Nika's Match Racing Day In The Sun
Marstrand, Sweden: Ex-Hurricane Bertha provided a lively opening day to the 2014 RC44 Marstrand World Championship with the wind at times gusting to 20+ knots and a lumpy sea that placed a premium on boat handling.
As usual at a RC44 regatta, day one was a continuation of the season's rolling match racing championship and Principal Race Office, Peter 'Luigi' Reggio was able to lay on six flights for the 12 teams competing.
Star performer today was unquestionably Vladimir Prosikhin's Team Nika, which won all five of her matches.
Kirill Podolsky's Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge scored its best ever day of match racing with four wins and one loss, the same scoreline as Nico Poons' Charisma. However Charisma, newcomer to the RC44 class this year, along with Team Aqua, were both docked one point for a collision that took place between them during their Flight 4 match.
Racing continues through Sunday August 17th.
Yava Trophy Match Race
The Jubilee YAVA Trophy, ISAF Grade 2 Match Race event was held from 6 -10 August in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Ten teams from Russia, Finland, Australia, Poland and India came to Ekaterinburg to compete for the Yava Trophy.
The wind was very light throughout the regatta.
The Race Committee had reduced the semi-finals from best of five races but the second semi-final race had to be stopped due to a massive wind shift on the first beat, the course had to be reset and the race started anew. Before this moment, Wittey managed to even up to one race a piece, but there was no chance for the third decisive race so Gilmour was determined as the finalist on count back by the results of the round robin. The second finalist Neugodnikov won his semi-final with two straight wins and he progressed to the final to face Gilmour.
Gilmour and his crew won the final in two straight races from Neugodnikov to take the title.
Final Results
1. David Gilmour, Australia
2. Eugeniy Neugodnikov, Russia
3. Sergey Musikhin, Russia
4. Neville Wittey, Australia
5. Georgy Shayduko, Russia
6. Sam Gilmour, Australia
7. Maxim Taranov, Russia
8. Staffan Lindberg, Finland
9. Marek Stanczyk, Poland
10. Mahesh Ramchandran, India
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The Last Word
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