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
Rolex World Sailor Of The Year Nominees Announced
World Sailing, the international governing body for the sport, and Rolex are delighted to announce a golden line up of nominees for the 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award.
The Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards is the most prestigious award of recognition in the dynamic sport of sailing.
The names vying for the coveted and prestigious 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards are:
Male
Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL)
Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO)
Santiago Lange (ARG)
Giles Scott (GBR)
Damien Seguin (FRA)
Female
Marit Bouwmeester (NED)
Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG)
Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA)
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR)
Charline Picon (FRA)
The announcement of the 2016 female and male Rolex World Sailors of the Year will be made on Tuesday 8 November in Barcelona, Spain, the host city of the World Sailing's 2016 Annual Conference.
The male and female winners will be decided by World Sailing Member National Authorities, attendees on the night as well as, for the first time, the public. Public voting will commence at 12:00 UTC on Friday 4 November for a period of 72 hours. Further details on how to vote will follow. -- Daniel Smith - World Sailing
Previous recipients of the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award include:
2015 Peter Burling & Blair Tuke (NZL), Sarah Ayton (GBR)
2014 James Spithill (AUS), Martine Grael & Kahena Kunze (BRA)
2013 Mat Belcher (AUS), Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie (NZL)
2012 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Lijia Xu (CHN)
2011 Iker Martinez & Xabier Fernandez (ESP), Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
2010 Tom Slingsby (AUS), Blanca Manchon (ESP)
2009 Torben Grael (BRA), Anna Tunnicliffe (USA)
2008 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Alessandra Sensini (ITA)
2007 Ed Baird (USA), Claire Leroy (FRA)
2006 Mike Sanderson (NZL), Paige Railey (USA)
2005 Fernando Echavarri & Anton Paz (ESP), Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
2004 Robert Scheidt (BRA), Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
2003 Russell Coutts (SUI), Siren Sundby (NOR)
2002 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Sofia Bekatorou & Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE)
2001 Robert Scheidt (BRA), Ellen MacArthur (GBR)
2000 Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl (USA), Shirley Robertson (GBR)
1999 Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL), Margriet Matthijse (NED)
1998 Ben Ainslie (GBR), Carolijn Brouwer (NED)
1997 Pete Goss (GBR), Ruslana Taran & Elena Pakholchik (UKR)
1996 Jochen Schumann (GER), Lai Shan Lee (HKG)
1995 Russell Coutts (NZL), Isabelle Autissier (FRA)
1994 Peter Blake (NZL) & Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR), Theresa Zabell (ESP)
100 Foot Limit Relaxed For 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race
The Royal Ocean Racing Club, organisers of the Rolex Fastnet Race starting on Sunday 6th August 2017, has relaxed the limit of a maximum monohull length of 100ft (30.48m).
The biennial event is the world's biggest offshore race and the last edition attracted a record-sized fleet of 356 starters. The 47th race is expected to be no different, with a diverse fleet of yachts from around the world eager to secure a spot when the online entry system opens at midday (UTC) on 9th January 2017. Such is the draw of this classic 600-mile race, it was oversubscribed in under 24 minutes last time round.
Following interest from a number of superyacht owners and skippers wishing to take part in this classic offshore race, the RORC Race Committee has elected to lift the 100ft (30.48m) monohull limit opening the race up to the new breed of fast and agile cruiser/racer designs such as Peter Harrison's beautiful Farr designed ketch Sojana, the new Swan 115's and Baltic 115's, to name but a few. These yachts are regularly seen on the superyacht race circuit and have always been eligible to race in another RORC classic 600-miler, the annual RORC Caribbean 600 from Antigua.
In the last Rolex Fastnet Race there were two monohulls at this upper limit of 100ft: Mike Slade's British Farr 100, Leopard who was competing in his 5th consecutive race and from the United States, Jim and Kristy Hinze Clark's Maxi Comanche. The 100ft Comanche was the fastest monohull finisher in 2015, but narrowly missed the chance to break Ian Walker's VO70's 2011 monohull race record of 42 hours 39 minutes.
Leading Sailing Brands Are Partners Of The Yacht Racing Forum. Why Don't You Join Too?
The sports' top brands have confirmed their participation at the Yacht Racing Forum, Malta, November 28-29.
North Sails, Volvo Ocean Race, the World Match Racing Tour, Clipper Ventures, World Sailing, Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image, GAC Pindar, Gurit, GeoRacing, Marine Camera Solutions, Virtual Regatta, Icarius Sailing Media, Yachting Events / Yachting Malta and others have understood that the Forum is THE PLACE TO BE for business, networking, valuable information, debates and fun.
No less than seventeen international media have also joined the event as official media partners.
Our goal is to develop this event with a long term vision. If you consider joining the Yacht Racing Forum as a partner in the future, we suggest you come and visit us in 2016 in order to make up your mind.
If you become a partner in 2017, we will reimburse your 2016 entry fee.
Register: www.yachtracingforum.com
Call us for enquiries: + 41 22 735 55 30
Les Voiles De Saint-Tropez
A bit of jousting... Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
The world of the sea, inshore racing and offshore racing traditionally come together at Les Voiles. At the helm of the most exquisite craft, calling tactics, on the manoeuvres, out on the rail and on the quaysides, sailing's big names have flocked to the famous port in southern France's Var region, with the noticeable presence, in this Vendee Globe year, of two competitors who will be at the start of the solo round the world race that sets sail on 6 November: Sebastien Josse and Sebastien Destremeau, as well as a former winner of the event, who will be in charge of security for the next edition: Alain Gautier. Other round the world sailors at the show have included Sebastien Audigane, South African Jan Dekker, Philippe Poupon and his actress wife Geraldine Danon, Philippe Monnet, Bruno and Loick Peyron (also currently involved in the Artemis challenge for the next America's Cup) Lionel Pean and also Volvo sailor Eric Peron.
There has also been a plethora of Figaro sailors, Mini sailors and members of other oceanic classes like Yannick Bestaven, Sebastien Rogues, Erwan Leroux, Nicolas Lunven and Armel Tripon.
There are sailors from the Olympics too... like Sofian Bouvet, (French 470 Team in Rio), Noe Delpech, (French 49er Team in Rio), Guillaume Florent, bronze Olympic Finn medallist in Beijing and German Jochen Schumann, Olympic Finn and Soling champion, America's Cup specialists, Marc Pajot, Bruno Trouble, Sebastien Col, American Tom Whidden and New Zealander Brad Butterworth, not to mention the royal racing aficionados such as HRH Juan Carlos, King of Spain, HRH Charles de Bourbon des Deux Siciles and Pierre Casiraghi, helmsman on the 15mJI Tuiga.
The Trophies At Les Voiles
Rolex Trophy: Moonbeam IV (Grand Tradition)
Edmond de Rothschild Group Trophy: TP 52 Team Vision (IRC C)
BMW Trophy: Open Season (Wally)
Kappa Trophy: Leopard (IRC A)
Pommery Trophy for the most beautiful spinnaker: Elena of London
YCF Trophy: Spartan
Byblos Trophy: Spartan (Period Gaff A)
Jetfly Trophy: Rowdy (Period Marconi A)
Euronews Trophy: Maria Giovanna II (Guest Class)
Mercantour Events Trophy: Yanira (Classic Marconi A)
Esprit Village Trophy: Cholita (Period Marconi C)
Tropheminin: Alibi
Les Marines de Cogolin Trophy: Team Chalets (IRC D)
SNSM Trophy: Absolutely (IRC E)
Full results of all classes: www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr
Armel Le Cleac'h Wins In Lorient
For the final test-match before the Vendee Globe, there were in the end 12 monohulls competing in the Azimut Trophy 24h race. Armel Le Cleac'h's Banque Populaire VIII finished first on Saturday after 11 hrs 56 mins and 26 secs. Armel won this major race in the Azimut Challenge after dominating the race practically from start to finish. Morgan Lagraviere on Safran came in second ahead of Jeremie Beyou and his Maitre CoQ. Paul Meilhat (SMA), finished fourth but was the first of the older IMOCA 60s.
The first race in the Azimut Challenge lived up to its promise. It offered a variety of wind conditions over the 245-mile course offering the ideal setting for the final rehearsal with just a few weeks to go to the start of the Vendee Globe.
From the first length the clear leader, Armel Le Cleac'h (Banque Populaire VIII) lived up to his role as favourite throughout. Clearly determined to win, he held on to achieve a clean victory. In his wake, Morgan Lagraviere (SAFRAN), managing to keep up, can also be pleased. The young competitor finished in a well deserved second place on his boat that was recently fitted with new foils. As for Jeremie Beyou (Maitre CoQ), who came back quickly towards the end of the race, he showed his skills. The three times winner of the Solitaire du Figaro took third place on the podium, given over entirely to foilers.
Battle Of The Classes
With a record entry of 41 boats, 14 past and present Champions competing, the 2016 Battle of Classes at the Southampton Boat Show was all set to be a classic event. A brisk breeze and sunshine all added to a great atmosphere, and ensured plenty of spectators watching the various class associations.
The experienced race team from Royal Southampton Yacht Club, got the 2016 Battle of the Classes away efficiently at the scheduled 14:30 start time with Nigel Thomas, sailing his Mirror single handed, leading the way for the 90 minute pursuit race.
Next away at 14:33 was 14 year old Sam Cooper, the current Topper National Champion and recently back from being placed 3rd at the World Championships. It took Sam around 17 minutes and half a lap, for his Topper to overhaul the Mirror. At the end of the first lap, Sam had a good three minute lead over the next boat and was now faced with a gaggle of the faster boats, such as the 505 and B14, who had just started their first lap.
With winds gusting well over 20 kts, the SailRacer GPS trackers were regularly posting ever faster speeds on the reaches. Topping the speed charts, were the father and daughter pairing of Ralph and Sophie Singleton in their RS800, hitting 19.8 kts.
With a decrease in the wind strength during the second half of the Pursuit race, the faster boats were finding it hard to make up time on those who started earlier. At the halfway stage, the front of the fleet broadly followed the starting order, with the Topper leading from the Mirror, with the Miracle Champions, Hannah and NIck Smith still some 7 minutes behind.
At the 90 minute mark, the 420 took the winning gun, with the Topper a distant second, and the OK of Richard Burton completing the podium. Tom Collyer and Aaron Chadwick, are the first Youth winners of the prestigious Battle of the Classes Pursuit race, taking home both the overall and youth trophies.
Full results: Battle.SailRacer.org
Seahorse November 2016
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Get it right (from the start)
Without needing the language skills to allow you to read every international journal you can now identify and purchase the right high-tech rigging and equipment from the comfort of your den...
Not simple
(Very) fast and (very) comfy please. So arrived the brief for Reichel/Pugh's latest Superyacht. David Oliver explains how he got his first grey hairs
Back to its roots
After (way) too long bouncing off the Equator the Volvo Ocean Race is heading back down south. Richard Mason talks to Blue Robinson
Good clean racing
Catherine Zennstrom is among those leaning on grand prix racing to clean up its act
Don't assume
Moths in the Olympics? Ironically the pocket foiler may soon offer the big boys their only real alternative to muscling up for a Finn... Chris Rashley, Mike Lennon and Andy Rice
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RS400 Sailor Alex Barry Is ISA Senior All Ireland Champion 2016
Cork Harbour's own Alex Barry finished on top in the All Ireland Sailing Championships at Royal Cork Yacht Club today but not before an exciting duel for the coveted trophy with Rio Olympic silver medalist Annalise Murphy who finished second overall in the eight boat fleet writes Gail McAllister.
After a frustrating wait in dead calm conditions on day 2 of the ISA All Ireland Sailing Championships sailors were treated to a perfect 20 knots of breeze in the final races. It was thrilling to watch Ireland's top sailors from each class compete in the latest National 18 dinghies.
Annalise Murphy and crew gave an outstanding performance with 3 bullets in the final 3 races and the final winner was not clear until judges and race officer had done the maths on discards. RS400 sailor from Monkstown Bay Yacht Club came out top with 11 points, with Annalise Murphy only one point behind on 12 and Darragh O'Sullivan, who had dominated the board throughout the afternoon, came in at 3rd with an equal 3 points, because Annalise had 3 bullets to Darragh's 2. Race Officer Peter Crowley completed a good series with 20 minute races and a fast turnaround between races keeping everyone on their toes.
This weekend's top sailors came from a broad spectrum of classes RS400, Laser Radial, Laser Full Rig, National 18, ICRA 1, 2 & 3, 1720, IDRA14, RS200, J24, Mermaid, Shannon One Design and Flying Fifteen.
Geoff Hunt Wins Classic Boat Art Prize At RSMA Show
Click on image to enlarge.
The winner of the Classic Boat prize at the Royal Society of Marine Artists annual exhibition is Geoff Hunt, for his work entitled Cayman Islands Town Regatta, 1935.
The exhibition takes place in London from 28 September to 8 October at the Mall Galleries (London).
The winning oil painting by Geoff Hunt, one of the most popular marine artists working today who became to known to many for his covers of the Patrick O'Brian books, is for sale at £9,250, a cost the purchaser can spread over 10 months with the Own Art scheme run at the show.
Classic Boat editor Rob Peake presented the prize to Geoff at the show's private view.
The show encompasses works of art depicting all manner of watercraft and nautical themes, with a variety of styles used.
Classic Boat readers can claim Free Entry to the exhibition by quoting 'Classic Boat' at the gallery desk.
The exhibition:
www.mallgalleries.org.uk
A preview of the exhibition paintings:
www.rsma-web.co.uk/exhibition_paintings_2016.html
From Classic Boat:
www.classicboat.co.uk
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The Last Word
There are plenty of areas in the United States crying out for a counter-balance to existing graven tributes to archaic Abrahamic barbarism. Arkansas is looking rather appealing. -- Lucien Greaves
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