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
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ISAF Sailing World Cup Final
The inaugural ISAF Sailing World Cup Final has been declared open by ISAF President Carlo Croce in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
With a packed crowd of local dignitaries, VIPS and competitors, the ISAF President welcomed the world's finest Olympic sailors and kiteboarders who will be battling it out on Abu Dhabi's waters.
London 2012 Olympic Laser Radial bronze medallist Evi Van Acker (BEL) gave the athletes' oath whilst Chief Equipment Inspector Barry Johnson (AUS) swore in the officials.
Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club, host of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final are utilising the star names competing at the regatta to highlight the sport of sailing within the Emirati capital. With Olympic heroes and World Champions in their numbers at the event local children are being inspired to take up the sport as Croce concluded, "It is a good legacy for the local people and the youngsters. I know some of you went around the schools showing the young people how our sport is developing. No better ambassadors could be found outside this group.
Sailors' attentions now turn to preparing their equipment for the battles on the race track. Practice racing will allow the sailors the first opportunity to test themselves against each other on 26 November. Racing commences at 12:00 local time on 27 November and concludes on 30 November.
Gothenburg Added To America's Cup World Series Line-Up
Gothenburg, Sweden: Artemis Racing and the City of Gothenburg will host an America's Cup World Series event during the last weekend of August (28th - 30th) 2015.
The America's Cup World Series is the first stage of competition in the 35th America's Cup. Beginning in the summer of 2015, the circuit will feature all of the America's Cup teams racing in one design AC45 catamarans, providing an early opportunity to win points that will carry forward into the next stage of the competition.
The overall ranking position in the America's Cup World Series will determine the starting points score of the teams in the America's Cup Qualifiers in 2017.
Racing will take place either on the Gota River close to the city centre, or at Langedrag, and the race village will be located in Frihamnen.
artemisracing.com
americascup.com
An Absorbing Interest. The America's Cup - A History
By Bob Fisher (£250 + p&p)
Revised limited edition signed by the author. Now down to the last 38 copies... for the sailor on your gift list who seemingly has everything... a very unique gift. After the final copies are sold there will be no reprint.
This coveted 2-volume slip-case edition has become a collector's item as important to the history of the Cup, as Lawson's original 'History of the America's Cup' published in 1901.
These two beautifully designed tomes chart the history of sailing's most enigmatic and greatest prize, covering the dramas, designs, and personalities from the first race around the Isle of Wight in 1851 to 2003 in Auckland where Ernesto Bertarelli and his largely Kiwi renegade team stole the Cup away to Europe. It is this rich history that has led to the sheer fascination of what has become the oldest international sporting event. Heavily illustrated with rare etchings, lithographs, line drawings, paintings and pictures, all chosen to complement the text, this collector's edition charts every Cup match in great detail and can rightly claim to be a definitive history.
The perfect gift for all those fascinated by the Cup
"This is the Bible of the America's Cup." Bruno Troublé - Louis Vuitton
View sample pages: www.southatlanticpublishing.com/aai_sample.htm
Purchase online at southatlanticpublishing.com
Star Sailors League Returns To Nassau
The Star Sailors League Finals returns to the Nassau Yacht Club between December 2nd and 7th for the second consecutive year, this time with a fleet of 20 boats.
As promised at the end of the SSL's maiden edition, this new chapter has an even higher champion-count and even more refined technology designed to immerse viewers in the short but spectacular live-streamed races as they unfold.
The now-famous international Bahaman outing will once again deliver an event that will go down in sailing history thanks to an incredible number of superstars on its entry list. Robert Scheidt (BRA), Torben Grael (BRA), Freddy Loof (SWE), Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) and Xavier Rohart (FRA) are probably the most famous names because of their Olympic medals, but the fleet also numbers many other equally competitive entrants. T
he top three names on the Star Sailors League ranking list are, in fact, Diego Negri (ITA), who has held a solid lead since summer having missed out on the world title by a whisker last year, Augie Diaz (USA), the Miami living legend in not one but several classes, and 2014 Star World Champion and all-round sailing wunderkind Robert Stanjek (GER).
The list of skippers that qualified automatically for the Final because of their position on the ranking list also includes skipper: Johannes Polgar (GER), European Champion 2010, George Szabo (USA), 1 Gold and 2 Silver Stars, Mark Mendelblatt (USA), 1 Silver Star and third in the SSL Finals 2013, Eivind Melleby (NOR), third in the Worlds 2014, Emilios Papathanasiou (GRE), and Marcelo Fuchs (BRA).
Luke Lawrence (GBR), silver medallist in the 470 at London 2012, is also coming to Nassau and some of the world's finest Finn sailors are also in the fleet too, not least Jorge Zarif (BRA) and Giles Scott (GBR), World Champions in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Other highly-ranked, up-and-coming stars include Ivan Kljaković Gašpić (CRO), Luke Lawrence (USA) and Josh Junior (NZL).
Riders - Or Dodgers - Of The Storm?
A big make-or-break moment for Leg 2 is almost upon the Volvo Ocean Race fleet in the Indian Ocean: do they take on an approaching tropical storm in the next 24 hours or so, or dodge it? If they try to ride its power, there are three likely outcomes. They will either be catapulted at high speed towards the stage's destination of Abu Dhabi through the Indian Ocean. Or they will suffer breakages, possibly serious, on the boat.
Or it could be a combination of the two.
Equally, the decision to avoid the storm has its ups and downs. The boat that opts for this strategy is more likely to stay intact, but its crew could find themselves several days - if not up to a week - behind the risk-taking leaders.
Gonzalo Infante, Volvo Ocean Race's official meteorologist, summed up the dilemma in a briefing to volvooceanrace.com on Wednesday.
In a nutshell, the seven-strong fleet is facing an old-fashioned game of "chicken", and the decision whether to take on the storm will be made by most of them before midnight (UTC) on Wednesday.
Infante said the tropical storm could even pick up to become a cyclone but, similarly, could peter out into a depression.
Either way, the winds are likely to be high, according to Infante, with a worst case of gusts of up to 70 knots, which is more than the one-design Volvo Ocean 65s have faced so far.
Position report at 26 November, 21:40 UTC
1. MAPFRE
2. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, 5nm to leader
3. Team Brunel, 5nm
4. Dongfeng Race Team, 6nm
5. Team Vestas Wind, 9nm
6. Team Alvimedica, 10nm
7. Team SCA, 24nm
Race Coach Vacancy
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, one of the oldest sailing and rowing clubs in Hong Kong, is looking for a high calibre individual to fill the post of Race Coach.
This is a full-time contract based in Hong Kong commencing February 15. Reporting to the Sailing Development Manager, the successful applicant will coach up and coming teenagers to high levels of racing expertise. The racing program aims to instil skill, confidence and ability within participants in order to achieve high levels of success in regional and international competition. Classes of boats include the Optimist, Laser, 29er and 49er. Coaching and mentoring at international events will be involved. Responsibilities include communication with parents and other stakeholders plus some basic administration tasks. Based at RHKYC's Middle Island facility, the Race Coach will be part of a professional development team. Middle Island has a clubhouse, hardstand, marina and launching areas serviced by a regular club ferry.
We look for people with:
- Extensive dinghy sailing experience and graduation from a internationally recognised sail training academy.
- Superior racing results at National, International or ISAF endorsed events board Olympic Class boats.
- Excellent interpersonal, team and leadership skills.
- Work history as an instructor / coach with a respected club or academy.
- Technical knowledge and experience in maintaining Optimist, Laser, 29er and other Olympic class boats.
- Flexibility to work weekends and midweek shifts.
- Good command of written and spoken English is required while Chinese would be an advantage.
- Athletic standard of fitness and health.
We offer attractive remuneration and excellent fringe benefits to the right candidate. Closing date for applications is 15 December 2015. Interested parties should submit a comprehensive CV to The Human Resources Manager, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, Kellett Island, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong or e-mail: hrm@rhkyc.org.hk
Industry News
The Royal Yachting Association, the UK's national governing body for sailing and windsurfing, has appointed Corbis as its commercial agency to work on securing a title partner for the British Sailing Team in the Olympic and Paralympic Classes.
The British Sailing Team's preparations towards sustaining this success at Rio 2016 are already well underway, with 2014 seeing the first official Olympic Test Event held on Rio's Olympic waters, and the team qualifying its maximum number of country quota spots for the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander (ESP), and the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships in Halifax (CAN).
The team is seeking commercial partners to provide investment towards its ambitious medal-winning plans
Corbis has experience and success both in the National Governing Body sector and the sailing industry working with brands such as Aberdeen Asset Management with their sponsorship of Cowes Week, as well as securing England Hockey a partnership with Now Pensions, and pairing British Fencing with Beazley Insurance.
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Crewsaver has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of David Duffin as the Sales Director. David will be managing the UK and Export Sales teams and working towards taking the Crewsaver brand global.
David has worked within the marine industry for 20 years, has a wealth of Sales Management experience and a proven track record leading successful sales teams and developing key relationships between businesses.
Matthew Bridge has joined as Commercial Manager. Matt will take a lead role in the day to day management of sales and customer service of the business.
Matt comes from a strong consumer focused, industry background through both his role as Global Operations Manager for SailLaser & LaserPerformance and as Commercial Director for Oman Sail.
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The World Yacht Racing Forum will welcome for the first time Dr. Cem Bozkurt, CEO of Alvimedica, the partner of the Turkish/American entry in this year's Volvo Ocean Race. While Team Alvimedica is battling their way to Abu Dhabi on Leg 2 of the around-the-world race, their team owner will join the World Yacht Racing Forum.
Now in its 7th year, the World Yacht Racing Forum is the leading yacht racing industry conference, and is the only occasion in the year where key players from yacht racing event organisers, teams, sponsors, agencies and sailors gather together and help shape the future of the yacht racing industry discussing topical debates.
This year's event includes the following speaker line-up:
- James Dadd, Class Project Manager, Volvo Ocean Race
- Sir Keith Mills - Founder, Open Sports Management
- Herve Favre - Director of Sailing, OC Group
- Bryan Winning -Director of Business Development, Oman Sail
- Geoff Stock, Technical Director, Green Marine
- Panos Marinopoulos - Director, Icarus Sailing Media
- Yann Penfornis - Multiplast
- Oliver Schwall - Creator, Sailing Champions League
- Bertrand Cardis - Decision SA
- Dirk Kramers, Manager, SDK Structures & Ben Ainslie Racing
- Julien Goupil, Director Of Media, Amaury Sports Organisation
- Rob Weiland - Class Secretary TP52's and Mini Maxis
- Andrew McIrvine - Admiral, RORC & Secretary General, International Maxi Association
- Hans Eckhard Von der Mosel - Kieler Wocher
- Michelle Warner - Sales & Marketing Director, Cowes Week
- Randy Draftz - Event Director, Charleston Race Week
- Alistair Fox - Head of Competitions, ISAF
- Guillaume Semblat - Managing Director, Le Telegramme Development
- Dobbs Davis, Editor, Seahorse Magazine
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Organisers of the 2015 London Boat Show have agreed a title sponsorship deal with Forex trading company CWM FX. As a result, next year's show will be known as the CWM FX London Boat Show.
Murray Ellis, managing director of CWM FX London Boat Show, comments: "It is fantastic news for the show and the marine industry as a whole. The sponsorship signifies the importance of our world-class event, recognising the show as one of the most iconic and respected boat shows globally; it also reinforces the impact that the show's new creative direction and campaign is already enjoying.
CWM FX offers quality, user-friendly and professional trading platforms and features, giving users the power to customise their trading experience to fit personal needs for any trade, anywhere, any time.
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The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has joined forces once again with Hyde Sails to power the fleet for the historic 2015-16 edition, and sail production for the new wardrobe is already well underway.
Chairman and founder of the Clipper Race, Sir Robin Knox Johnston said: "The Clipper Race is very pleased to welcome Hyde Sails back on board as Official Sails Supplier for our fourth consecutive race partnership."
"Hyde Sails evolved with us when we introduced the new Clipper 70 fleet in the last race and we were very pleased with how well the new sail wardrobes stood up to almost a year of being tested in the world's toughest conditions. For this reason, I also chose to use Hyde Sails on my own yacht for the Route du Rhum."
Sir Robin added: "We're very much looking forward to another exciting Clipper Race with Hyde Sails once again powering our teams around the world."
UK-based Hyde Sails is one of the largest volume sailmakers worldwide, offering service and sales support in every hemisphere, backed up by almost 50 years of expertise in high performance sail technology, design and production.
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NetComposites has launched a new website for the seventh biennial Advanced Composites in Construction (ACIC) conference which will take place on 9-11 September, 2015, at St John's College, Cambridge, UK.
The new, user-friendly, website allows you to submit a paper, due by 5th December, 2014, and register to attend the event.
The conference will focus on topics within the construction industry which highlight the use of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials in new and existing all-FRP structures as well as strengthening, refurbishment and reinforcement applications in traditional infrastructure.
All speakers will be notified of acceptance before the end of January 2015, and full papers will be required by 10th April 2015.
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Windermere School has become the first in the UK to achieve Champion Club status awarded by the Royal Yachting Association. This recognises the work that this co-educational Independent School, situated in the heart of the Lake District, has been doing to help their pupils to take up sailing and develop into competitive racing.
RYA Champion Clubs are considered 'Centres of Excellence' for junior race training and racing and many form the very foundation of the British Sailing Team.
The programme normally recognises, promotes and invests in sailing clubs that have continually introduced young people into sail racing and encouraged them to progress via good quality race training in a safe and fun environment. This is the first school to have been awarded this recognition in the UK.
Letters To The Editor - editor@scuttlebutteurope.com
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.
* From Adrian Morgan: Bermuda could be just the venue for a cup that has evolved into a contest based not on nationality but skill, wherever that talent can be bought. So why not choose a British Overseas Territory to hold the next cup, especially one which affords generous tax breaks to the likes of those who indulge in this sport of billionaires. As for the choice between Bermuda and San Diego, no contest, in my view. The evidence of past cups in the city suggest that San Diego is just too big and has too many other things on its mind to care much about a yacht race. Besides, it's not exactly the most vibrant place on earth, or wasn't when I was there for the last cup. Bermuda should give the British challenge a boost, and that's got to be good. An America's Cup based on a round the Isle of Wight Race (or seven). That would be a proper challenge.
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The Last Word
Dining with one's friends and beloved family is certainly one of life's primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal. -- Julia Child
Back on Monday
Your humble narrator is going to thoroughly enjoy his favourite holiday: Thanksgiving. Socially sanctioned gluttony and sloth, with few of the horrid commercial overtones that have so despoiled the next holidays on the calendar...
And as always, a good time to be thankful, a good year to be alive. We live in remarkable times.
Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html