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
Figaro Start
At 1700hrs (French time) on Sunday, the Figaro Beneteau Safran-Guy Cotten and the 38 other competitors on the 46th edition of La Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bompard Cachemire set off from Pauillac for 461 miles (854 km) solo sailing to Sanxenxo in Spain. Determined to give his best, Gwenole Gahinet knows that this first stage will be tough and it will set the tone for this intense month of competition. The objective for Safran-Guy Cotten skipper: to be in the top 5.
A few hours before the starting signal of his second Solitaire du Figaro this morning, Gahinet wore his perpetual smile, but the pressure had still gone up a notch. "There is a bit of stress this morning, but that's normal," Gahinet said. "This first stage will be difficult. But I'm much more rested and focused than last year. As a rookie, I was going into the unknown, but now, I know what is ahead of me and I'm really looking forward to being back in the race. It's a positive pressure." After a last weather check with Christian Dumard, the young skipper cast off for the starting area in front of Pauillac. At 1700hrs, in a wind of around ten knots, the starting signal of the 46th Solitaire du Figaro was given on the gentle and grey water of the Gironde.
First ten at the Radio France buoy
1. Jackson Bouttel (Gac Concise)
2. Jeremie Beyou (Maitre CoQ)
3. Charlie Dalin (Skipper Macif 2015)
4. Alexis Loison (Groupe Fiva)
5. Sam Matson (Chatham)
6. Gwenole Gahinet (Safran-Guy Cotten)
7. Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat)
8. Yann Elies (Queguiner-Leukemia Hope Group)
9. Yoann Richomme (Skipper Macif 2014)
10. Benoit Mariette (Entrepose)
Xavier Macaire (Skipper Herault) Wins Figaro Prologue
The 39 sailors sailed in groups of siz, sailing against the clock in the city center of Bordeaux. Starting at 1:45 until 5:50 the competitors sailed in 8 to 10 knots.
Xavier Macaire (Skipper Herault), one of the rising stars of the circuit, the fastest to complete the course in 38 minutes and 25 seconds, wins. He won ahead of Thierry Chabagny (Gedimat) and Jeremie Beyou (Maitre Coq). Also note the teffific performance Faguet Sophie (Region Basse Normandie), a rookie, who finished 4th.
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Delta Lloyd Regatta
Medemblik, Netherlands: The Medal Race format in Olympic sailing is designed to create drama and uncertainty, especially when the wind is blowing hard - which it did on the final day of Delta Lloyd Regatta.
Based on previous form, Marcus Hansen and Josh Porebski would have been expected to hold on to gold in the men's 49er, but an uncharacteristic capsize put them to the back of the fleet. Diego Botin and Iago Lopez seized the moment, won the race, and won Spanish gold.
The top two nations, with three golds apiece, were Australia and the Netherlands. So often the bridesmaid on home waters, PJ Postma finally sealed the deal in the Finn this year. Marit Bouwmeester was dominant in the Laser Radial, and 49er FX team Annemieke Bekkering and Annette Duetz clinched a third gold for the host nation.
Top three by class:
RS:X Men
1. Pawel Tarnowski, POL
2. Kiran Badloe, NED
3. Tom Squires, GBR
RS:X Women
1. Maja Dziarnowska, POL
2. Zofia Noceti-Klepacka, POL
3. Lilian de Gues, NED
Finn
1. Pieter-Jan Postma, NED
2. Jake Lilley, AUS
3. Josh Junior, NZL
Laser
1. Matthew Wearn, AUS
2. Rutger van Schaardenburg, NED
3. Marco Gallo, ITA
Laser Radial
1. Marit Bouwmeester, NED
2. Annalise Murphy, IRL
3. Evi van Acker, BEL
49er FX (crew not listed in results)
1. Annemiek Bekkering, NED
2. Remy Oomens, NED
3. Nina Keijzer, NED
470 Women (crew not listed in results)
1. Sophie Weguelin, GBR
2. Amy Seabright, GBR
3. Agnieszka Skrzypulec, POL
49er (crew not listed in results)
1. Diego Botin, ESP
2. Marcus Hansen, NZL
3. Joel Turner, AUS
SKUD18
1. Daniel Fitzgibbon / Lisesl Tesch, AUS
2. Alexandra Rickham / Niki Birrell, GBR
3. ROlf Schrama / Sandra Nap, NED
Sonar (crew not listed in results)
1. Colin Harrison, AUS
2. Bruno Jourdren, FRA
3. Aleksander Wang-Hansen, NOR
Nacra 17 (crew not listed in results)
1. Lin Ea Cenholt, DEN
2. Allan Norregaard, DEN
3. Gemma Jones, NZL
470 Men (crew not listed in results)
1. Johan Molund, SWE
2. Panagiotis Kampouridis, GRE
3. Sheremetev Mikhail, RUS
2.4 Metre
1. Damien Sequin, FRA
2. Heiko Kroger, GER
3. Matt Bugg, AUS
Enfant Terrible Comes From Behind To Capture West Coast Championship
When organizers announced there would only be one race on Saturday, the crew aboard Enfant Terrible did not think there was any chance they could capture the West Coast Championship.
The Italian entry entered the day in third place, four points behind overall leader Groovederci. Tactician Tommaso Chieffi had hoped there would be two races as planned. Roberto Strappati filled in for owner Alberto Rossi as helmsman and acquitted himself well,
Enfant Terrible had a difficult second day, suffering a sixth and a ninth and falling down in the standings. The Italian team closed the regatta strong, finishing no lower than fourth in the final four races.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Groovederci owner John Demourkas, who was attempting to win a regatta for the first time since 2012. Lengthy postponements ashore and again on the water did not help the Santa Barbara skipper's mindset.
Final top five
1. Enfant Terrible, Alberto Rossi, ITA, 42.0
2. Groovederci , John Demourkas, USA, 42.0
3. Estate Master, Martin Hill, AUS, 47.0
4. Plenty, Alex Roepers, USA, 48.0
5. Struntje light, Wolfgang Schaefer, GER, 51
Full results: www.yachtscoring.com
Bretagne - Credit Mutuel Wins The Normandy Channel Race 2015
Nicolas Troussel, skipper of BRETAGNE - CREDIT MUTUEL, and his co-skipper Felix Pruvot took line honours on Friday evening, 29 May 2015, at a time of 16h 59min 50sec GMT in the 6th edition of the Normandy Channel Race. With a race time of 5 days 2 hours 50 minutes 50 seconds covered at an average speed of 7.86 knots, the Breton crew sailed a faultless race after taking the lead on the first day and holding on to it till the bitter end.
The rest of the podium is filling up fast behind them with Le Conservateur (Yannick Bestaven - Pierre Brasseur), about to snatch second position and Solidaires en Peloton - ARSEP (Thibault Vauchel Camus - Victorien Erussard) set to complete the top trio. -- Kate Jennnings
Final top five:
1. Bretagne - Credit Mutuel, Nicolas Troussel / Felix Pruvot, FRA
2. Le Conservateur, Yannick Bestaven / Pierre Brasseur, FRA
3. Solidaires En Peloton-Arsep, Thibaut Vauchel Camus / Victorien Erussard, FRA
4. Teamwork 40, Bertrand Delesne / David Raison, FRA
5. Carac Advanced Energies, Louis Duc / Christophe Lebas, FRA
Full results: www.normandy-race.com/index/classement2015
Vladimir Krutskikh Secures First Finn World Masters Title In Kavala
A third place in the medal race was enough for Vladimir Krutskikh (RUS) to take the overall victory at the Finn World Masters in Kavala, Greece. Dmitry Petrov (RUS) took the silver while Giacomo Giovanelli (ITA) snatched the bronze.
It has been a difficult week weather wise in Kavala, and the final day was no different. The final race never happened. The fleet sailed out to the race course in a solid offshore force 4 but Yellow Group only got as far as the windward mark before the race was abandoned as the wind disappeared. However the sun had returned by then and the temperature started to rise. Almost an hour later the race officer abandoned for the day with the time limit approaching and the medal race still to run.
The medal race was held close to the shore to give the spectators a chance to see the top sailors in action. A light wind gradually filled in from the sea, but the first attempt was abandoned shortly after the start as the wind again switched off for a short time. A light breeze 10 minutes later allowed the race to be restarted but it was barely more than 5 knots at any time. The left side provide the best wind with Thierry Van Vierssen (NED) emerging with nice lead to head the fleet at the first mark from Petrov and Krutskikh. Nothing much changed at the front as the race developed except Van Vierssen extended for a comfortable win. -- Robert Deaves
Final top ten after medal race (medal race in brackets)
1. Vladimir Krutskikh M RUS 7 26 (3)
2. Dmitry Petrov M RUS 711 34 (2)
3. Giacomo Giovanelli M ITA 202 41 (4)
4. Martijn Van Muyden M NED 12 42 (8)
5. Yuri Tokovoi GM UKR 21 44 (9)
6. Thierry Van Vierssen M NED 881 49 (1)
7. Laurent Hay GM FRA 75 53 (6)
8. Walter Riosa M ITA 55 58 (5)
9. Allen Burrell GM GBR 2 60 (10)
10. Aleksandr Kuliukin M RUS 161 68 (7)
Full results are here: iim.teikav.edu.gr/sailrc_public/ranking.php
SEAHORSE JULY 2015
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Design - Winning formula
Patrice Carpentier catches up with his old buddy Christian Bouroullec at Structures Shipyard to talk about two of the company's rapid new designs... at least one of which has some beds
Big task - little time
Brandon Linton concludes his review of the (very) speedy build of the 100-footer Comanche
Sailor of the Month
Behind the scenes... but time for some recognition
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Artemis Racing Eye Early Move To Bermuda
Further to the statement made by the Hon. Dr. Grant Gibbons to the House of Assembly, the ACBDA and the America's Cup Event Authority can confirm that Artemis Racing are looking to move their entire operation to Bermuda as soon as this year. Presently their home base is located in San Francisco and this move would see Bermuda becoming Artemis Racing's headquarters through the 2017 America's Cup regatta. This would be significant for Bermuda as the potential move would involve many more people in the Artemis Racing team moving to Bermuda much earlier than anticipated in our projections.
The full Artemis Racing team base will require a significant amount of land space and they are therefore exploring all their options for locating that base on the Island.
The recent decision to have the America's Cup Qualifiers, Challenger Series and Final Match all take place in Bermuda continues to prove beneficial in terms of the presence that the teams will have in Bermuda and therefore the economic impact on the country.
Artemis Racing have indicated their clear commitment to the Event Village concept, which will feature all the America's Cup teams in one location for the first time, and, should they choose an initial alternate location for their main base, they will certainly move into the Dockyard Event Village early in 2017.
Open Season and Momo, Kings of Menorca Maxi Regatta
Click on image to enlarge.
Thomas Bscher's Open Season in the Wally class and Dieter Schon's Momo in the Maxi 72 class are crowned victors in Menorca. Magic Blue - tied on points with the winner- and Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones' Magic Carpet Cubed complete the podium in the Wally class, and Sir Peter Ogden's Jethou and George Sakellaris' Shockwave complete the podium in the Maxi 72 class.
The final day of the regatta was marked by a coastal race and the beauty of the Menorcan coastline resulting in a tight fought race that went to the Wally Magic Blue and the Maxi 72 Jethou.
Six races were sailed - 4 windward/leeward and 2 coastal races - in 4 days of competition
Once the finish line for the coastal races was crossed, both fleets raced for the honours of the Ambassador Trophy. The boats sailed towards a new finishing line located in the Mahon Bay, in front of the Club Marítimo de Mahon. The race didn't bring any points, after the coastal races, but they did bring the amazing sight of seeing these 17 boats sailing into the Mahon waters to all the public in the port. The Ambassadors Menorca Trophy went to Inti (Wally Class) and to Robertissima III (Maxi 72 Class).
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The Last Word
When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity. -- Albert Einstein
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