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
Emotional Seventh Place Finish For Spirit Of Hungary
Click on image to enlarge.
Nandor Fa (HUN) and Conrad Colman (NZL) crossed the finish line of the Barcelona World Race this Monday20th April at 22:59:40 hrs UTC (00:59:40 Tues 21st CET) to complete their race in seventh place and effectively close the course for this third edition of the double-handed non-stop around the world race.
Respectively the oldest and youngest skippers in the eight boat field which left Barcelona on 31st December 2014, Hungarian Fa, 61, and New Zealander Colman, 31, took 110 days, 10hrs, 59 mins secs to complete the 23 321 miles at an average speed of 8.8 kts for the theoretical course which passes all three Great Capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin and Cape Horn and for the first time did not pass between North and South Islands, New Zealand.
The duo actually sailed a measured 27,575.28 miles at an average speed of 10.4 kts. They finished 26 days and 5 hours after race winners Cheminƒes Poujoulat and 4 days and 11 hours 24 mins after sixth placed Renault Captur.
From long before the start it was clear their race would be compromised by how late the Spirit of Hungary project was forced to run. A very large amount of last minute work was required to get the boat, which is designed by Fa and largely built by him, to the start line.
This was, in effect, the maiden race for Fa's Spirit of Hungary and to finish their circumnavigation against odds which would have stopped many other teams represents a huge achievement.
2018 Golden Globe
To mark the 50th anniversary of the first solo non-stop circumnavigation under sail achieved by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston during the 1968/9 Sunday Times Golden Globe Yacht Race, a new Golden Globe Race is set to start from Falmouth UK on June 14, 2018 - the same day that Knox-Johnston set out on his epic voyage 50 years before.
The announcement today is significant, marking the 46th anniversary of Robin's victorious return to Falmouth in 1969, as the sole finisher in the original Sunday Times event.
The 2018 Golden Globe Race is very simple. Depart Falmouth, England, sail solo, non-stop around the world via the five Great Capes and return to Falmouth. Entrants are restricted to using the same type of yachts and equipment that were available to Sir Robin in that first race. That means sailing without modern technology or benefit of satellite based navigation aids. Competitors must sail in production boats between 32ft and 36ft overall (9.75 - 10.97m) designed prior to 1988 with a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge, similar in concept to Knox-Johnston's Suhaili.
A prize purse of £75,000 has been budgeted for the 2018 Golden Globe Race, and all who finish before 15:25hrs on 22nd April 2019 (the anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's finish) will receive a Suhaili trophy and a refund of their entry fee.
mcintyreadventure.com/goldengloberace/
Team NZ: 'it's Not The End Of The Road'
Team New Zealand maintains it is "not the end of the road" for an America's Cup pre-regatta to be held in Auckland, despite an official announcement all races will be held in Bermuda in 2017. Team NZ board chair Keith Turner said signed documents between Team New Zealand and ACEA confirmed the Auckland event earlier this year.
"We are not at the end of the road," he said. "They can't do this, they can't sign us up to a qualifier and then change their minds suddenly.
"It is subject to arbitration, we have some documentation that's been signed between us and the ACEA. It was announced at the team meeting in March that there would be a qualifier in Auckland and that's now subject to arbitration."
Dr Turner said it was no secret the government would not provide additional funding if there was no Auckland event - but that stage had not been reached yet. -- Claire Trevett, Morgan Tait in the New Zealand Herald
www.nzherald.co.nz/yachting/news/article.cfm
Henri Lloyd Elite Offshore - Gore-Tex&Reg; Technology
The Henri Lloyd Elite 3 layer fabric is the result of collaboration with GORE-TEX® - resulting in a lighter yet denser face fabric which optimises weight to strength ratio. The GORE-TEX® membrane remains the same to ensure the same level of waterproofing and breathability, combined with the slide glide inner face which uses Gore™ Micro-Grid technology.
The fabric technology is not the end of the story though; Henri Lloyd's innovative design, attention to detail and quality of manufacture are just as important to the end result. Articulated ergonomic design, advanced taping process, design and placement of seams work together as a complete system.
The Lightest, Most Breathable Offshore Gear Ever, Without Compromise: www.henrilloyd.com/elite/
IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship: Jean Le Cam Wins Again
The Barcelona World Race, concluding the 2-year IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship season, sees Jean Le Cam crowned as victor, having won the double-handed round the world with Bernard Stamm, and the Transat Jacques Vabre with Vincent Riou.
With his Championship win in 2006, this is the second time that Jean Le Cam is World Champion.
From now on, the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship will be awarded every two years, at the end of each of the two pinnacle round the world races that punctuate it: the Barcelona World Race, and the Vendee Globe. As such, this current title rewards all the Championship races since the last Vendee Globe, namely the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2013, the New York to Barcelona Race, the Route du Rhum and the Barcelona World Race in 2014.
Thanks to his two victories in the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Barcelona World Race, Jean Le Cam adds a new line to his list of triumphs, while Bernard Stamm and Guillermo Altadill complete the podium. Thanks to their solid performances in the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum, Jeremie Beyou and Marc Guillemot secure fourth and fifth place respectively.
www.imocaoceanmasters.com
www.imoca.org
Iain Murray Says Sailing To Outweigh Technology In 2017
Murray believes the rapid evolution in foiling will add to the [America's Cup] competition.
The controversial move to make the boats smaller and include several one-design components will also put more reliance on sailing abilities.
"Leading into the last America's Cup, there were so many major changes and collectively we learned so much about how to design, build and race these foiling multihulls," Murray, who held the same role in San Francisco in 2013, said.
"Now we have the chance to fine-tune and make adjustments to make it even better.
"You will see the competition come down more to the players than just the technology - and that's a good thing.
"The last time was really the first time the crews were racing flying boats.
"But this time around I think the acceptance of flying boats, whether it be in the little Moths or the bigger America's Cup cats, the understanding of the technology and the development of the boats and skills of the crews will really take it to a higher level of close competition.
Congressional Cup Draws World Class Line-Up
An all-star line-up is taking shape for the 51st edition of the Congressional Cup (13-17 May), with Scott Dickson's recent selection as Long Beach Yacht Club (LBYC) representative, and the announcement of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour skippers.
Dickson - this year racing in his 15th Congressional Cup - will be mixing it up with 11 other sailing greats from around the globe, including a who's who of the world's top-ranked skippers, as determined by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF - the yachting world's organizing authority).
Current ISAF World Match Racing Champion and two-time Congressional Cup winner Ian Williams, GBR (ranked no. 1); defending Congressional Cup champion Taylor Canfield, ISV (no. 2); Eric Monnin, SUI (no. 4); Bjorn Hansen, SWE (no. 5); Joachim Aschenbrenner, DEN (no. 9); Keith Swinton, AUS (no. 10); Reuben Corbett, NZL (no. 12); Phil Robertson, NZL (no. 13); and Przemeyslaw 'Tara' Tarnaki, POL (no. 26) are pledged to compete. Dickson, NZL (no. 167) and two finalists from the Ficker Cup regatta - which concludes May 10 - will round out the contest.
www.thecongressionalcup.com
http://wmrt.com
Seahorse May 2015
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
ISAF column
And it's a warm welcome back to these pages, with the first edition of our newest column penned by ISAF President Carlo Croce
Design - Offshore potential
Dobbs Davis takes a close look at the latest, tasty and offshore-capable 33-footer from the combination of Jason Ker working alongside McConaghy Boats
Seahorse build table - Game changer?
The new Vrolijk 52 that got chief measurer James Dadd ruminating about just how much it is possible to do with the 'modern racing yacht'
RORC news - Upgrade!
Eddie Warden-Owen
Sailor of the Month
Our aim has never been to try to make this easy...
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No Water Maker Is A Big Problem
Twenty-four hours into Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race and Dongfeng Race Team suffered another set back. Not as immediately devastating as breaking the mast, but with potential serious consequences. Dongfeng OBR, Sam Greenfield, tweeted from the boat: "Broken water maker. No more fresh onboard. Thirsty crew. Bad."
The VO65 is fitted with an electric water maker turning the salt water they are sailing through into drinkable water, as a back-up they have a manual one but the effort required to produce adequate supplies to not only to rehydrate but to prep the freeze-dried foot, is mind-boggling, a needless distraction from racing, but essential as our Boat Captain put it into perspective "The crew will need to pump approximately 8-9 hours a day to make enough water."
"They know what the problem is," said Neil Graham, Technical Director. (Watch video from onboard as Charles explains). "We're waiting for confirmation form the boat but Kevin should have attempted a repair on the Membrane Pressure Vessel. The plan was to apply some glue and then wrap the end of the vessel, where the leak is, in carbon fibre laminate, to seal it." We're hoping our Mr Fixit, Kevin Escoffier, can work his magic once again.
In the meantime, the determined men on board have to keep pumping.
Champagne Sailing For The Spring Championship
Photo by Iain Mcluckie. Click on image for photo gallery.
164 boats racing and over 60 races laid on over the opening weekend (18/19 April) of the Brooks Macdonald Crewsaver Spring Championship and the Warsash Spring Series.
The Black Championship Group were racing windward-leeward courses out in the Solent, with starts based near Flying Fish buoy.
IRC1 and IRC3 saw some close racing across both days with Antix (Ker 40 Anthony O'Leary) leading IRC1 by the end of the weekend, with last year's Championship winners, Tokoloshe II (GP42 - Michael Bartholomew) and Alice (Mumm 36 Simon Hennng) in close second and third respectively.
Saturday saw 22 knots of wind that started in the NE and gradually swung to the SE and back again by the end of the day. Sunday had a generally steadier ENE breeze of 8 to 10 knots with gusts in the low teens and the occasional drop to 5 knots.
The Black Flag had to be dusted off for Sunday's races with the initial wind against tide pushing the normally conservative IRC4 fleet across the line; resulting in a general recall and the black flag to ensure they got away cleanly at the second attempt.
The J70's followed and similarly were recalled and got away at the second attempt, but four boats at the pin end did pick up a disqualification. The SB20s and J80s spotted the problem and managed better.
The second and concluding weekend of the Spring Championship is on 25/26 April.
To see the full results go to www.warsashspringseries.org.uk
Gipsy Moth IV Tours UK For Summer
Historic yacht Gipsy Moth IV, in which Sir Francis Chichester circumnavigated the globe in 1967, has announced its 2015 summer programme intended to promote charitable activities, make the iconic vessel available to young people and the public, and raise funds for its upkeep.
Gipsy Moth IV's summer tour will include visits to Gosport, Weymouth, the Channel Islands, France, Isle of Wight and London, and she will be taking part in Panerai Classic Week, Cowes Week, America's Cup and Weymouth Waterfest, among many others. Passage making opportunities will be available between all ports of call and the Gipsy Moth Trust will be making the yacht available for private and corporate bookings to support its upkeep, as well as public viewings and free youth involvement.
www.allatsea.co.uk
www.gipsymoth.org
For The Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record:
Record: Cowes to Dinard Outright record.
Yacht: "Lending Club" 105 ft Trimaran
Name: Renaud Laplanche, USA/FRA, Ryan Breymaier, USA, and a crew of six
Dates: 1st April 2015.
Start time: 06;41;34 UTC 01/04/15
Finish time: 11;56;21. UTC 01/04/15
Elapsed time: 5 hours 14 minutes and 47 seconds
Distance: 138 NM
Average speed: 26.28 kts
Comments: Previous record "Maiden II, Thompson/Darvelid, GBR, Sep 02, 5h 23m 38s
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 Glenn T. McCarthy: The Olympic Sailing Event does not belong in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016. By forcing our sport to sail in raw sewage, the image of sailing worldwide will change in the public's eye. We will be called "disgusting" after the Games conclude (rich, exclusive and disgusting). This will harm our businesses, by the public not wishing to come sail with us, not leading to new sailors.
We need to change the future, together, all of us.
The Press Release after the Olympic Test event in August of 2014 claimed it was a success. Reports on illness, boats running into trash losing first place, and boat damage tells a much different story, the event actually failed at providing a "fair field of play."
Read on - www.chicagonow.com
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The Last Word
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