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
An Extraordinary Series Of Events
Click on image to enlarge.
Sidney Gavignet and the crew of Musandam-Oman Sail, a MOD70 trimaran crossed the finish line of the 2014 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race off the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes, at 12.42.36 BST on Thursday 14th August 2014.
This is an elapsed time of 3 days, 3 hours, 32 minutes, 36 seconds and, subject to ratification by the World Speed Sailing Record Council, a new Outright World Record for the Round Britain and Ireland course and a new race record for the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race.
It was almost unthinkable that a 70ft trimaran, with no ability to decide when to start, could defeat a 140ft trimaran that had decided exactly when to set off. However a fantastic boat, a perfect performance and an extraordinary series of coincidences lined up to make the impossible a reality.
"I didn't think this was possible but we had exceptional conditions and a boat with amazing potential that was used properly. I know this course well because I have the solo record for the Round Britain and Ireland. I like it; it is a great course, very challenging, and I am very thankful to Sevenstar and the RORC for organising this race. Loick Peyron was the record holder and he phoned me after we crossed the line to say congratulations. He is a gentleman and someone I really respect as a sailor and a person but I know he will want his record back!" -- Skipper, Sidney Gavignet
* The Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing guys are very likely to smash the current monohull record around Britain and Ireland. They are leading the five-strong Volvo Ocean 65 fleet, and it looks like they could - they should - arrive back in Cowes this Friday, around midday.
And they've been fast, too - averaging 20 knots, day and night.
In fact, they have been much faster than the record-holder and winner of the last race, Groupama, who did the race in 2010 in 5d 21h 26m 55s.
The Emirati team have been in the lead since Sunday evening, but Iker Martínez and his Spanish crew, desperately trailing the frontrunners, have not given up. They are still only 50 nautical miles behind
roundbritainandireland.rorc.org
Early Lead For Charisma
Marstrand, Sweden: Fleet racing at the RC44 Marstrand World Championship got underway today in lively conditions, delivering a mix of sun with occasional torrential rain, strong winds with occasional lulls, plus, in race three, a giant squall.
Today's three races have left RC44 newcomers, Nico Poons' Charisma three points clear of class veteran Chris Bake and his Team Aqua's 11 points, in turn a point ahead of Vladimir Prosikhin's Team Nika. These three boats now hold a small advantage over the chasing pack.
Proving that consistency, rather than simply coming first, is what pays in fleet racing, neither Charisma nor Team Aqua won a race today, but their 4-2-2 and 2-4-5 scorelines were enough to leave them a cut above the rest. Charisma's race two result was particularly impressive given she was over early and had to restart.
Fleet racing continues Friday with the first warning signal at 11.30 local time.
RC44 Marstrand World Championship Overall Ranking (After three races)
1. Charisma, 8 points
2. Team Aqua, 11
3. Team Nika, 12
4. Synergy Russian Sailing Team, 18
5. Peninsula Petroleum Sailing Team, 18
6. Bronenosec Sailing Team, 18
7. Artemis Racing, 20
8. Katusha, 21
9. Artemis Racing Youth, 24
10. Bombarda Racing, 25
11. Gazprom Youth Sailing Challenge, 29
12. MAG Racing, 32
Ocean Safety's Award Winning Para Drogue Shows Off at Southampton Boat Show
When you're boat's being struck by heavy weather conditions and you want to ride out the storm, Ocean Safety's Para-Drogue can certainly make things more bearable. Deployed from the stern, it is designed to provide greater control, vary the speed of the vessel and improve directional stability downwind.
The Para-drogue has just been awarded 'Best on Test' after recent drogue trials by Practical Boat Owner magazine (PBO) and will be on display at Southampton Boat Show on stand G125.
PBO comments: "Drogues have many uses aboard, and could help you ride out a storm, enter a harbour safely, steer after the loss of a rudder or keep you safe under tow. They could, then, save your boat and your life."
Made in Britain from high density nylon and with all seams and panels heavily reinforced the Para-drogue is a quality piece of equipment, which when stowed, can be stored in a shoe box sized locker.
GP14 World Championship - New Leaders After Race 3
With three races completed at the GP14 World Championships, Sam Watson and Andy Hunter (5,2,1) are the new series leaders. Robert Gullan and Jack Holden (4,4,3) move into second and early leader Ian Dobson and Andy Tunnicliffe, despite winning the first two races, drop to third overall. The event is hosted by the East Down YC situated on the southwest shores of Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland. -- Gerald New, Sailweb.co.uk
Top five after 3 races:
1. Sam Watson / Andy Hunter, 8 points
2. Robert Gullan / Jack Holden, 11
3. Ian Dobson / Andy Tunnicliffe, 18
4. Richard Instone / Jim Toothill, 18
5. Shane MacCarthy / Damien Bracken, 20
www.sailweb.co.uk
www.edyc.co.uk/index.php/gp14-worlds-2014
New Faces Hope To Ruffle The Old Order In Cardiff
Excitement in the Welsh Capital is building, as the fleet of 11 high-performance Extreme 40 catamarans are preparing to bring Stadium Racing to Cardiff Bay, as the headline Act to the Harbour Festival, 22-25 August. The Act, which is presented by Series Main Partner Land Rover, will see the fleet launch into the second half of the 2014 Series, and the 55 elite level sailors are raring to race, having last faced each other eight weeks ago in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
One man who knows the Cardiff stadium better than most is The Wave, Muscat's skipper, Leigh McMillan, having finished first and second in 2013 and 2012 respectively. "Cardiff as a venue is very tricky racing. With big buildings all around the course, the wind is a big challenge and I am sure this year it won't fail to deliver a diverse, challenging and exciting event." In 2013, 120,000 spectators crammed into the Bay to watch the racing.
Cardiff will see significant crew changes for nine of the teams, including onboard the UK home boat, J.P.Morgan BAR. Britain's Paul Campbell-James - a two times winner of the Extreme Sailing Series - has transferred from Team Russia to Ben Ainslie's team, replacing Paul Goodison as mainsail trimmer. Pippa Wilson will also be absent from the line-up for this event, replaced by Welsh lad and Team GB 49er sailor Bleddyn Mon, previously of The Wave, Muscat, who is sure to bring in the support of the home crowd.
Current Series leaders Alinghi will welcome back Anna Tunnicliffe to the role of tactician, off the back of her recent Cross Fit Games success, while Red Bull Sailing Team have recruited Shaun Mason, previously of GAC Pindar, to replace Nick Blackman, Realteam will welcome Bruno Barbarin back to the team and Aussie Ted Hackney will make his debut with Oman Air. Groupama sailing team and The Wave, Muscat remain unchanged.
Organisers of the Extreme Sailing Series, OC Sport, have also announced the addition of a new multi-year supplier deal with AkzoNobel - a leading global paints and coatings company - to further strengthen the growing family of Series partners. AkzoNobel will provide coating solutions for the Extreme 40 fleet with the best support to refit the boats every year.
GBR Skud Sailors Aim For Super Six at IFDS Disabled Worlds
Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell will aim to win a sixth straight world title when they line up at the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships in Halifax, Canada, next week (19-24 August).
The Paralympic bronze medallists are among the eleven-strong British Sailing Team contingent set to compete across all three Paralympic Classes - the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD and the one-person 2.4mR - over six days of competition at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.
Looking to extend their unbeaten run to six regattas since winning bronze at London 2012, which included the European crown last year and victory at the recent North American Championships, the 28-year-old Birrell confirms the opportunity to race against a large international fleet is crucial in terms of their preparations for Rio 2016.
Racing at the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships starts on Tuesday 19 August and concludes on Sunday 24 August. There are 11 races in total scheduled for each class (two races per day Tuesday - Saturday and one race on Sunday 14 August).
www.ifdsworlds2014.ca
www.britishsailingteam.com
Big Finish For Natasha Lambert
In July 2013 Natasha Lambert (Miss Isle) successfully completed an historic sail across the English Channel. Natasha, 17, was born with athetoid cerebral palsy, which severely affects her limbs and speech and confines her to a wheelchair. She sails her boat using her breathing alone via a 'sip and puff' straw mechanism in a bicycle helmet engineered by her electrician dad, Gary.
On 24 July Natasha, from Cowes, set off on her biggest challenge yet - 'Sea and Summit' - a month-long challenge sailing her 21ft boat, Miss Isle Too, single-handed around the South West coast of England to Wales. She will then swap her boat for a special walking aid, called a Hart Walker, to climb Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, the highest peak in Southern Britain. In total she will have sailed around 430 miles and climb 2,907ft.
The final sail of Natasha's extraordinary 12 leg sailing challenge will see her sail from Bideford across the Bristol Channel to arrive in Swansea. Natasha has previously stopped at Padstow, Newlyn, Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth, Salcombe, Dartmouth, Exmouth, Portland and Poole.
Natasha is taking on the challenge to raise money for the RNLI, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and the RYA Foundation, and to encourage others with disabilities to get on the water.
Launchings
"Spectre", the first build of the new Frers 60 foot daysailer/racer series has just hit the waters at the end of July in La Spezia (Italy). With its large, open and almost empty cockpit, a 4.80m cross beam and a water line of 17.1m which almost reaches its overall 60 foot length, this racy-looking boat will bring day sailing to new dimensions. The boat was designed by Frers Naval Architecture and Engineering, Milano/Italy, and was built by Persico Marine of Nembro/Italy, while James Stagg coordinated the whole project.
Gurit's structural engineering team worked closely with the naval architects at Frers to design an efficient, lightweight and stiff platform. Various studies, including Finite Elements Analysis, were carried out during the engineering process of the boat. The goal was to optimise the laminate layups and the core densities and thicknesses to achieve the specified weight target set by Frers. Gurit engineers also worked with the Persico Marine specialists, discussing structural concepts and finalising the details of the design.
-------------------------------------------------
Defining a new phase in Oyster's long running, carefully structured product development programme, the company is delighted to announce the all new Oyster 675. Pairing with the Oyster 745 concept introduced in Autumn 2013, the Oyster 675 completes for now a new third tier to Oyster's range, meeting the evolving needs of owners and how they view and crew their sailing.
The twin rudder hull by Humphreys Yacht Design is configured and engineered to take a more powerful rig plan than the smaller yachts, with options for carbon masts and rigging and performance sails
With its lower profile, stretched deck saloon window visually triggering a sense of power and purpose in a manner akin to the more tasteful of performance road cars, this Oyster 675 joins the latest 'Coupe' range.
-------------------------------------------------
Baltic Yachts has announced the signing of a new order for a 39.6m Baltic 130 high-performance cruising yacht, due for delivery in summer 2016. Overall styling, deck and interior design is the work of Nauta Design, with hull lines from Reichel Pugh Yacht Design. The project, managed by Nigel Ingram of MCM, will begin work in September 2014.
Made from carbon sandwich coinstruction, the yacht will be equipped with a retractable propulsion system and lifting keel. The Baltic 130 will have a plumb bow and a wide stern combined with a flush deck to fulfil the owner's wishes as a passionate regatta sailor. The interior will see an owner forward layout with a saloon, galley and an additional five cabins, two for guests and three for crew.
-------------------------------------------------
C40 MkII: the first of the 'second generation' HP-IRC optimised racing yacht from Carkeek Design Partners (CDP).
The MkII is a continuation of the MkI (series) which has consistently achieved class and overall victories at major US IRC and HPR events over the past 3 years. These include Key West, Miami Race Week, Newport Bermuda, Block Island, US and East Coast IRC Championships, NYYC Race Week and Charleston Race Week.
The MkI has demonstrated that an optimized, light, fast concept racing yacht can win under IRC, and the MkII takes the concept a step further, benefitting from nearly three years worth of performance feedback and onboard data analysis from MkI teams.
The MkII is available in three construction options: Race (E-Glass/foam), Grand Prix (Carbon/foam), and Grand Prix Custom (Pre-preg/Nomex).
-------------------------------------------------
Hanse unveil 455 cruiser
The latest model from the German Hanse stable is a spacious 45ft cruiser designed by Judel / Vrolijk and available with a wide range of interior options.
The styling is sportier than many of the marque, with a racing style T-bulb keel fitted as standard, although L-shaped options are also available. The deck layout is designed with ease of sailing as a key priority, allowing the yacht to be sailed with the smallest of crews.
This is achieved with the help of a self-tacking jib and winches positioned close to the helm, allowing all halyards and sheets to be operated from the wheel.
-------------------------------------------------
Camper & Nicholsons International have delivered new 65.2 metre (213'9) Lamima, to a design by Marcelo Penna. The yacht, of which only renderings are available for now, will be available for charter in South East Asia, with CNI, for clients looking for a bit of adventure.
Her build began in 2012 when boat builders from Ara, Sulawesi, skillfully set about constructing the world's largest wooden sailing yacht. She offering the charm of an Indonesian two-masted phinisi with opulent luxuries of modern yacht design.
Lamima's stunning interior is contemporary yet welcoming. Beautiful Asian influences are apparent throughout her artwork, furniture and fittings. Indoor spaces are open and relaxing, and she comfortably accommodates 14 guests in seven large staterooms, all of which boast ensuites.
Featured Brokerage
2008 King 40. GBP 240, 000. Located in Hamble, United Kingdom.
Any sensible offers will be considered. Tokoloshe has been campaigned by the same owner since new and has had no expense spared in order to keep her competitive and looking good.
All sails by North. 3dl, 3di and panelled delivery sails.
34 sails in total including 2012 and 2013 sails.
Re faired and re painted 2010.
New deck paint 2013
Spare rudder, spinnaker pole and much more.
This yacht is very well equipped and prepared and is ready to sail.
Brokerage by Blue Marine Yachting: bluemarineyachting.com
Contact:
David Bartholomew
0778 086 0134
info@bluemarineyachting.com
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
I hate ware as only a soldier who has lived it can. Only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html