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
The Wave, Muscat Win In St. Petersburg Extreme Series Act 6
The Wave, Muscat have been crowned victors at the Extreme Sailing Series Act 6, Saint Petersburg presented by SAP, mastering the complex conditions of the River Neva in front of huge crowds, to win the Act with a race to spare. Their fourth Act win and third consecutive victory this season sees two-times Series winning skipper Leigh McMillan and his team extend their lead at the top of the 2015 leaderboard, with only two Acts left this year.
"Everything seemed to go our way from the moment we arrived and it felt good," explained McMillan. "It doesn't often happen like that and it has been a long time since everything clicked in the way it has in Russia so yes, I would say this was the best event so far this year for us. If we keep on sailing well and confidently, it would be fantastic to win a third title."
With only two Acts left this season, The Wave, Muscat have a healthy advantage at the top of the Series leaderboard, with Red Bull Sailing Team eight points behind in second, and SAP Extreme Sailing Team a further point back in third. The result in Saint Petersburg was a clear statement of intent from The Wave, Muscat - Leigh McMillan is going for the treble.
Next stop, Istanbul Turkey 1-4 October.
Extreme Sailing Series Act 6, Saint Petersburg presented by SAP standings after Day 4, 30 races
1. The Wave, Muscat (OMA) Leigh McMillan, Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh, Ed Smyth, Nasser Al Mashari, 234 points.
2. Lino Sonego Team Italia (ITA) Enrico Zennaro, Arnaud Psarofaghis, Bryan Mettraux, Nevio Sabadin, Tom Buggy, 216
3. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans-Peter Steinacher, Shaun Mason, Stewart Dodson, Kate Macgregor, 207
4. GAC Pindar (GBR) Adam Minoprio, Seve Jarvin, Joel Turner, James Wierzbowski, Adam Piggot, 202
5. Oman Air (OMA) Stevie Morrison, Nic Asher, Ted Hackney, Ed Powys, Ali Al Balashi, 198
6. Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) Igor Lisovenko, Phil Robertson, Garth Ellingham, Alexander Bozhko, Aleksey Kulakov, 191
7. Team Turx (TUR) Mitch Booth, Tom Dawson, Diogo Cayolla, Can Bayülken, Henry Bomby, 181
8. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Jes Gram-Hansen, Rasmus Køstner, Thierry Douillard, Mads Emil Stephensen, Brad Farrand, 180
GC32s To Replace Extreme 40s
Extreme Sailing Series owners and organisers OC Sport, who recently announced a switch of racing platform to a foiling yacht, can now confirm that the Series will fast track to the GC32 catamaran to replace the existing Extreme 40 fleet in time for the 2016 season, as part of a long-term strategy and collaborative partnership with The Great Cup BV.
The Extreme Sailing Series will celebrate its tenth season in 2016 with the introduction of a fleet of foiling GC32 catamarans, which will see the world's top sailors 'flying' in front of thousands of spectators at premium venues around the globe. The 2016 season will again feature a full grid of professional and brand-backed sponsored teams racing at iconic venues as diverse as Saint Petersburg, Cardiff and Sydney.
The switch to foiling will also bring forward a refresh of the Extreme Sailing Series format, which will now incorporate Pro-Am racing on short courses, and open water racing where venues permit.
OC Sport has ordered a number of GC32 boats to ensure availability for teams considering entering the Extreme Sailing Series 2016.
Teams interested in competing in the 2016 season should email entries@extremesailingseries.com for the provisional Notice of Race.
*|YOUTUBE:[$vid=IHVaF_ws2ZQ, $max_width=500, $title=N, $border=N, $trim_border=N, $ratings=N, $views=N]|*
Ocean Safety's Training Day For Clipper Fleet Crews
The twelve Clipper Yachts that will line up on the Thames on 30th August for the start of their global race are finalising onboard preparations. Safety, as always, is top of the agenda, and Steve Bockett, the Ocean Safety's training manager just a couple of weeks ago completed a training day for the bosun on each yacht, focussing especially on lifejackets.
Every crew member is equipped with a custom made Ocean Safety Clipper lifejacket. "It's likely that the crews will be wearing their lifejackets quite a lot of the time and there could be times when they are putting them on in the dark in difficult and extreme conditions," says Bockett, "so it's important that they are completely familiar with them and all their functions before the start the race, as well as care and maintenance."
Bockett also showed crews the deployment of their liferaft and the contents of liferaft survival packs. Operation and care of EPIRBs, Personal AIS Recovery systems, Man Overboard and other safety equipment were covered too.
The yachts are undertaking their second circumnavigation and Ocean Safety, which is an Official Partner of the race, has already supplied a full safety inventory to each one, all of which will be thoroughly inspected, serviced and replaced where necessary.
Melges 32 Pre-Worlds Completed
Trapani, Italy - With slight cloud cover and a strong southerly breeze seen for the first time since teams began arriving in Trapani, the fleet pushed away from the regatta village for one day of Pre-Worlds racing. Like a pre-season football game, teams are eager to perform well, but not tip their hand and use up their best efforts. With wind ranging between 16-22 knots, the tightness of racing and pile ups at the marks gave a preview of what is to come when the World Championship officially starts on Wednesday.
Ryan DeVos was able to defend his 2014 Pre-Worlds title, something they hope will be a precursor to something great come Sunday.
With a lay-day on the schedule for Tuesday, teams will either opt for one more day of practice to polish any of their speed and crew work, or take the day off, enjoy the sights of Trapani and have a day of relaxation before five intense days of racing.
Top Five Pre-Worlds Results
1. Ryan DeVos/Mark Mendelblatt; Volpe
2. Filippo Pacinotti/Gabrio Zandona; Brontolo HH
3. Dalton DeVos/Jonathan McKee, Delta
4. Richard Goransson/Mike Buckley, Inga From Sweden
5. Keisuke Suzuki/Nicolai Sehested; Swing
Results of the World to be on Yacht Scoring
'Mutiny' Led To Dean Barker's Demise
Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker paid the price for "internal mutiny" against his boss Grant Dalton.
That's the theory of Peter Montgomery as he runs the rule over some of the most influential figures in New Zealand's proud America's Cup history.
In his biography The Voice of Yachting released on Thursday, Montgomery says he met Barker last December and warned him of the drumbeats around the Auckland waterfront.
"The more I'm hearing is you are really being set up," Montgomery told Barker.
Montgomery writes that "Dean may have been trying to set something up with Ross Blackman (Team NZ's business manager) after 2013 - perhaps trying to fill the vacuum after Grant Dalton said if Team NZ did not win he wouldn't continue. Whether or not Dalton had a change of heart, Dean's actions were regarded as internal mutiny by Dalton. There would be no room for both."
Barker was subsequently axed as skipper in ugly circumstances as Team NZ undertook a major overhaul for the 2017 challenge.
James Dadd Is Appointed Director of the RORC Rating Office
After 22 years at the RORC Rating Office, Mike Urwin, its Technical Director, is stepping aside to relinquish the day to day running of the Rating Office to James Dadd, 44, with effect from 1st September.
Mike will continue to work as a part-time consultant for the foreseeable future and James will take overall technical and managerial responsibility as Director of the Rating Office in Lymington, Hampshire.
James joined the Rating Office 17 years ago to help with the development of new rules to protect IRC. The focus has since been to work and support Mike and the rest of the IRC Technical Committee to continue to develop IRC into the future.
Over the past 17 years, James has also been a measurer at four America's Cups and four Volvo Ocean Races, developing class rules for both events. James is also involved in the maintenance of the IRC software, is a member of various committees.
Mike Urwin will continue as a member of the IRC Technical Committee and spend time on research and development of the Rule.
Louis Vuitton America¹s Cup World Series Gothenburg, Powered By North Sails
Less than a week to go until the AC45s will be racing in Swedish waters off Gothenburg for the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series. The Swedish west coast and Gothenburg are hot spots for international sailing events, most recently hosting the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 finish.
North Sails, the world leader sail technology and design, is proud to power all the AC45s as Official Sail Supplier to the America¹s Cup World Series. North Sails President and former AC skipper Ken Read will be in Gothenburg commentating and offering his unique insight into the racing action.
Follow along with North Sails:
www.northsails.com/us/news-and-events/americas-cup
Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
Last month's winner:
Charlie Enright (USA)
''Perfect role model for our young sailors, thanks, buddy' - Larry Kennedy; 'Incredible work rate and from a very talented sailor' - Ryan Scott; 'Wonderful sailor, true gentleman' - Sue Maloney; 'Inspirational' - Oliver Moore; 'Young talent becomes great professional' - Joey Mello; 'Not only did Charlie take a dream and drive it into reality, he took on the holy grail of sailing with a very young team and won the final leg. Now he's perfectly positioned to launch a follow-up campaign for 2017-2018' - Andrea Watson.
This month's nominees:
Vasco Vascotto (ITA)
Wins at both the ORC world championship and the 2015 TP52 worlds take Vasco's tally of world titles to a somewhat formidable 25. Now the last time we made a fuss of Italy's irrepressible smiling tactician we also carried a picture of Vasco with the 'wrong' girl. This time we will dodge that bullet, but we absolutely must applaud an immense achievement across a very wide range of boats and classes
Ergin Imre (TUR)
Ergin and his family have been supporting big boat racing for as long as we remember. Always preferring to crew their boats with a mix of amateur and professional sailors, the family's tireless efforts were at last properly rewarded with a bronze medal at the 2015 TP52 worlds onboard the latest Provezza. The emotionally charged result was vigorously welcomed by their rivals - unanimous in applauding a determined and enthusiastic crew.
Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Musto, Harken McLube & Dubarry. Who needs silverware, our prizes are usable!
Cast your vote, submit comments, even suggest a candidate for next month at seahorsemagazine.com/sailor-of-the-month/vote-for-sailor-of-the-month
To subscribe to Seahorse Digital £30 for one year with discount promo code SB2 click www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/digital
Arctic Ocean World Record Challenge
Chinese sailor Guo Chuan, who holds a world record of solo non-stop circumnavigation in a 40ft yacht, will be leading a team to set a record transiting the Northeast Passage.
Acquiring Francis Joyon's 97ft trimaran IDEC, Chuan will start the Arctic Ocean world record challenge on September 3 from the northern Russian port of Murmansk, sailing "Qingdao China" non-stop to the finish line at the Bering Strait.
If the challenge is successful, Chuan will set the first world record of non-stop sailing with a team along the Arctic Northeast route. The journey is expected to be completed within two weeks.
Joining Chuan is the immensely talented navigator Boris Herrmann from Germany along with experiencd crew Jochen Krauth and Quentin Monegier from France. Also included is Sergei Nizovtsev, who has earned his nationwide fame in Russia as an exploring legend. Lastly, Tim Frank from Germany will be on board as the media crew designated to document the voyage.
A weekly video series produced by award-winning director Stewart Binns will follow along. Here is the series timeline.
IRC Australian Championship; Four Winners Declared
Four champions have been declared at the end of the pinnacle Australian IRC series at Hamilton Island; two existing titleholders continue to reign in their class and two new champions join the small band of winners dating back to the year 2000.
Light drizzle soaked all crews contesting the final Lindeman Island race at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, but the tradewinds stayed constant until the regatta's final hours when the wind died to 5 knots and boats struggled to the finish line.
Karl Kwok's magnificent men on his brand new IRC optimised TP52, Team Beau Geste, were an impressive sight even before Audi Hamilton Island Race Week began. Sailing for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Team Beau Geste keeps its current Australian division A label until the 2016 championship.
Bob Steel's Mat 1180 Quest was launched last month and already has an Australian title in the bag, in IRC division B, without needing to sail the final race today, Saturday August 22, 2015.
Roger Hickman's brilliant division C defence continues the 30 year-old Farr 43 Wild Rose's extraordinary spate of major IRC wins - the IRC Australian championship two years in a row and the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart's highest trophy.
The IRC Passage division was added to the 2015 championship for owners preferring distance racing to round-the-buoys. Matt Owen's borrowed BH36 Local Hero and Canberra crew have a long tradition of podium finishes at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and now the 16ft skiff champion and CEO of Canberra Yacht Club, who was planning an overseas world championship tilt in place of this year's Race Week, has the premium IRC crown as well.
www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
Noroton YC Rolls To Hinman Masters Team Race Championship
Newport Rhode Island, USA: A summer of practice paid off for the Noroton Yacht Club Masters Team Race squad as they won one of the most prestigious masters-level team racing events of the year, the Invitational Team Race Regatta for the Commodore George R. Hinman Masters Trophy, hosted by the New York Yacht Club at Harbour Court.
While an ominous weather forecast worried officials and sailors, the predicted rain held off for all three days, the breeze was better than expected and the race committee was able to get off two complete round robins, a silver round robin, semi-finals and finals.
Noroton YC started strong, winning every race in the first round robin. In the second round robin they lost races to New York Yacht Club and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, two of the clubs that also made the final four.
But the Connecticut squad quickly found their rhythm in the semifinals, beating Seawanhaka 3-0, while St. Francis dispatched host New York Yacht Club, the defending champions, in the other semifinal.
Noroton YC won the first two races of the best-of-five finals, before dropping the third.
The fourth race went to Noroton YC, cinching the championship.
2015 NYYC Invitational Team Race Regatta for the Commodore George R. Hinman Masters Trophy
Final Placings
1. Noroton Yacht Club (Darien, Conn.)
2. St. Francis Yacht Club (San Francisco)
3. Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club (Oyster Bay, N.Y.)
4. New York Yacht Club (New York, N.Y.)
5. Texas Corinthian Yacht Club (Kemah, Texas)
6. Southern Yacht Club (New Orleans)
7. Eastport Yacht Club (Annapolis, Md.)
8. Eastern Yacht Club (Marblehead, Mass.)
9. Indian Harbor Yacht Club (Greenwich, Conn.)
10. Beverly Yacht Club (Marion, Mass.)
J/70 UK National Championship
The J/70 UK National Championship will be hosted by the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble this August Bank Holiday Weekend, at the newly commissioned, Prince Philip Yacht Haven. With over 900 J/70s worldwide, this planing high performance sportsboat is the fastest growing sailing class in the world. Besides crowning the UK National Champion, prizes will be awarded to: Best Corinthian Crew, Best Mixed Crew, Best Under 30 Crew and Best Over 50 Crew.
Ruairidh Scott will be racing with Ian Atkins on Boats.com, the defending J/70 UK National Champion. Ruairidh's results in sports boats speak volumes; J/80 World Champion, 1720 National & European Champion, 2013 J/70 EuroCup winner. Boats.com was fourth in last month's J/70 World Championship, the highest ranked British team.
"Depending how many of the Cowes fleet take part, we could have more than 30 teams for the J/70 National Championship." commented Ruairidh. "I believe there are over 60 boats in the UK now and many more in Europe, which is something we haven't seen from a one-design class for a long time. The J/70 is much lighter on the helm and the sheets, than other sportsboats and as a result you sail it more like a dinghy. It is a simple boat to sail but getting that last 5% of performance is the tricky bit and big part of the attraction.
Featured Brokerage
2000 Mills 37. 69,950 GBP. Located in Port Hamble, UK.
2000 Mills 37, designed by Mark Mills and built by 2HO in Hamble. She went on to have a major overhaul and refit by 2HO in 2010. She comes with fantastic race history, she has been a trophy winner since her launch. Coming 3rd in her first Cowes Week Regatta in 2000, she went on to win the IT Regatta (now called the Silicon Cup), Cork Week 2002 and 2nd in the UK IRC nationals a month before. She was Class 1 winner in the Island Sailing Club's 2003 famous Round The Island Race and winner of her class in the 2005 Fastnet Race.
This Racer/Cruiser commission has proved how well a dual-purpose design can fulfill those roles. She has fulfilled all the desires of an owner who wanted "to have a nice boat, that's fun, gives good class racing and is able to go short-handed racing too." . More recently she has completed the 2 handed Round Britain and Ireland Race in 2010 and the Fastnet race in 2011.
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind. -- Humphrey Bogart
Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html