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Brought to you by Boats.com Europe, 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 Sanya Returns to Volvo Ocean Race Route for 2014-15 Thursday's announcement means the race will be visiting China for the third edition in succession. Sanya, a tourism capital in Hainan province will be the fourth of 10 Host Ports along the route and as in the 11th edition in 2011-12, the stopover will come between Abu Dhabi and Auckland. Sanya made a striking debut as a Host Port in the 2011-12 Race, with hundreds of thousands of visitors getting their first taste of the Race amid the tropical conditions of the island. China has become a fixture on the Race calendar after a stop in Qingdao in 2008-09 and Sanya in 2011-12. The city is the ninth to be unveiled on the route for the 2014-15 edition, which will start in Alicante, Spain and finish in Gothenburg, Sweden. The other confirmed stopovers for the next race are Recife on the north east coast of Brazil, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Sanya in China, Auckland in New Zealand, Itajaí in the south of Brazil and Newport, Rhode Island before a transatlantic crossing to Lisbon. Cape Town to Host World's Biggest and Longest Ocean Race The Capital of the Western Cape has been a regular stopover on the Clipper Race since the inaugural event in 1996 and this year will be the seventh time that the fleet has stopped in the iconic city to enjoy a warm African welcome and prepare for the extreme challenges of the Southern Ocean that lie ahead. The fleet of twelve new 70 foot ocean racers will be a major attraction when it arrives in Cape Town in October; it is the world's biggest and longest event of its type and will be the only round-the-world yacht race stopping in the city this year. The impressive third generation Clipper Race fleet will be berthed at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town's leading tourist destination, renewing a long-term partnership between the Clipper Race and the city, and showcasing its thriving maritime culture to a huge global audience. Cape Town's strong sailing heritage is reflected in the number of international yacht races to which it has played host over the years, providing an excellent base for Clipper Race crew to relax and recover after taking on the infamously stormy South Atlantic on Leg 2 of the race from Brazil. Oracle Skipper Hits Out At Team NZ In a two-part interview with yachting website sail-world.com, the Australian dismisses any advantage ETNZ might have from a greater number of sailing days with their AC 72 catamaran. When asked if he wished Oracle had the same amount of time on the water as ETNZ Spithill responds, "Trust me I don't wish I was a New Zealander. That would never ever happen. Team New Zealand has had more sailing time and they have been making a big deal about it." Spithill also has strong words about ETNZ's on the water performances, where Dean Barker's team have recorded mixed results in the AC World Series, sailed in the one-design AC 45. "I can tell you one thing that Team New Zealand struggled on is the racing part, in the Ac45's. When the pressure came on in Newport in the final World Series they dropped the ball there. The last two events in San Francisco they didn't perform that well either," he says. The Oracle skipper ends the interview with an attack on ETNZ CEO Grant Dalton's claims the American syndicate have unlimited resources. "It is just complete crap. Larry Ellison didn't get to where he was by just throwing money," Spithill says. -- Greg Pearson Full article on NZ 3 News: www.3news.co.nz Charter An Open 70 We can tailor a package to meet your needs. Bring your friends and spend time with us team building with your colleagues, or take your clients out on an experience of a lifetime in a Volvo Open 70. We can offer charters from the Solent, Europe or in the winter the Caribbean. We have vast experience of Inshore and Offshore sailing. If you'd like to join us for a particular event, check out our race events for more information. Our boat charters are individual, and packaged to your specifications. Alternatively, if you are unable to get a full crew together, we can offer some individual crewing opportunities at many of the Race Events on our sailing calendar. Our Volvo 70 is commercially coded and fully certified for the waters it sails. The Volvo 70 will accommodate up to 12 guests inshore and 8-10 guests offshore. See our Race Events and more information on our new website: www.volvo70charter.co.uk Close Competition at Miami Beach Invitational
"All seven boats were lined up in a row. It literally looked like a seven-way tie," said Hardesty, tactician aboard Flash Gordon 6. "This fleet is amazingly tight. If you make even the slightest error, you're going to the back of the pack." Wolfgang Schaefer, owner-driver of overall leader Struntje Light, discovered that reality in Race 5. Struntje Light was in second place coming into the leeward mark and thought the boat ahead was going to round the left gate. So Schaefer took his boat to the right gate, only to realize when it was too late that the competition changed its mind. "We got kicked out and had to make a circle and of course after that we were in last place," Schaefer said. Fortunately for Schaefer, Struntje Light placed second in Race 4 and that was good enough to maintain the overall lead with 13 points, three better than skipper Alex Roepers and the Plenty team. Owner Helmut Jahn steered Flash Gordon 6 to victory in Race 5 by taking the middle road on the second upwind leg. Struntje Light has now led at the end of racing for two straight days so Schaefer was asked if he thought the rest of the fleet might starting hunting his boat a bit on Friday. "That is not the normal style of this class. All these owners are gentlemen. That type of thing usually does not happen until the last day," he said. Miami Beach Invitational Standings (Top Three) 1. Struntje Light, Wolgang Schaefer, Germany, 1-2-1-2-7=13 For complete results, visit www.yachtscoring.com Annapolis to Newport Race 2013 marks the 34th running of the 475 mile biennial Annapolis-Newport Race run by the Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC) and New York Yacht Club (NYYC). The Annapolis to Newport race links two of the nation's oldest seaports and is one of the most historic and well-known U.S. East Coast blue water races. The race provides a contrast between the country's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean, creating an extremely challenging racing triathlon that combines elements of grand prix sailing, ocean sailing, and cruising. In 2011, twelve three-boat teams represented the Annapolis Yacht Club, New Yacht Yacht Club, Tred Avon Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club, Naval Academy Sailing Squadron, Naval Academy Offshore Sailing Team, Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia, and Norddetscher Regatta Club from Germany, the first European team to ever compete for the City of Annapolis Team Race Trophy. The course record is held by Joseph Dockery's Carrera, a Farr 60 skippered by Chris Larson, which finished the 2001 race in 42 hours, 58 minutes, and 12 seconds. In addition to the open divisions racing under IRC or PHRF, there is a start for the traditional cruiser or racer-cruisers, as well as a double-handed division. 2013 also marks the fourth time in the race's storied history where GPS transponders will be used to keep track of each boat so fans can follow their favorites as they make their way to Rhode Island. Alpari World Match Racing Tour Announces 2013 Skipper Line-Up Four-time Tour Champion and British sailor Ian Williams returns to defend his title for a fifth time under the familiar colours of his GAC Pindar team. Eager to snatch the title from Williams is 2012 runner-up Bjorn Hansen (SWE) with his Hansen Sailing Team, and 2012 podium finisher Phil Robertson (NZL) sailing with WAKA Racing. Robertson finished 3rd in the final Tour rankings at the end of 2012 following an impressive second place finish at the Tour finale event, the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia. 2009 ISAF Match Racing World Champion Adam Minoprio (NZL) also joins the line up of skippers with his BlackMatch team in a committed return to the Tour for 2013. Competing on the Tour for the second year running are young Australian talent Keith Swinton and his Black Swan Racing team and French skipper Pierre-Antoine Morvan, keen to improve on his 2012 performance. With two Tour event wins in 2012 including an impressive victory at the Tour finale event in Malaysia, Taylor Canfield (ISV), has also blasted his way onto the Tour after finishing 7th overall in 2012 counting just 3 results towards the overall standing. With the option of racing at all 7 events this year, Canfield's prospects look very good to chase the title. Completing the line up of skippers is Swedish sailor Johnie Berntsson. Sailing under his new sponsor, Stena Sailing Team, Berntsson is looking to re-create the form that brought him victory at the 2008 Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda and a third place finish on the 2011 Tour Championship. James Pleasance, Executive Director of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, was impressed with the level of interest from teams noting that 17 applications for Tour Cards were received but with only 8 places available the selection process had been very challenging. The 2013 Alpari World Match Racing Tour starts in Germany on 16 May on the waters of Lake Constance in Southern Germany. Finn Class Partners Dinghy Academy To Train Next Olympians The first two recipients of the Finn class grants are Alejandro Foglia (URU), and Agustín Zabalua (ARG). Foglia is a three-time Olympian in the Laser class, while Zabalua is a highly experienced dinghy and keelboat sailor. Two more grants are still to be allocated. As well as providing coaching, boats, logistics and a training base, the agreement includes the opportunity for sailors who are considering joining the toughest of all Olympics classes to have five days free use of the equipment and facilities in Valencia. Interested sailors should contact the class and those from new countries to the class would be especially welcome. This new scheme comes under the auspices of the FIDeS programme (Finn International DEvelopment Support), created in 2006 as a way to channel funds and expertise within the class towards sailors from nations trying to develop Finn sailing. The Dinghy Academy is the brainchild of Luca Devoti (ITA), the 2000 Olympic silver medalist and long-term builder of the Finn through Devoti Sailing. He explained the concept of the Academy. "We have put together a well-assorted team of Olympic champions from various countries in one high-level training centre under the guidance of some of the world's top specialists." "We offer top coaching, charter Finns and a team of dedicated sailors led by Vasilji Zbogar (SLO) showing how to get better at Finn sailing and how to get to know your inner being to master it and to have a real chance at winning." "The joint venture with the Finn class is working at further internationalising the sport, attracting new countries to the ultimate sailing challenge, the Finn." If you are an aspiring Finn sailor from a developing Finn nation and wish to take advantage of the opportunities of this programme then please email Finn class executive director Corinne McKenzie at corinne.mckenzie@orange.fr HISC Round Hayling Island Race Last year winner of the Round Hayling Windsurf Race was Robert Kent from Calshot Activity Centre when 32 of the 79 Gold Fleet entries completed the full course Round Hayling Island In 2010, 42 knot gusts and 90° windshifts made for possibly the most memorable of all Round Hayling events. In the insane conditions only nine managed to make it round and across the finish line. The honours went to Guy Cribb in a time of 1 hour 8 minutes. For the NOR and Entry On-line go to the HISC website - www.hisc.co.uk Corfu Cup Corfu ranks amongst Europe's most fascinating destinations. Marked by intriguing contrast and consecutive influences, the island is a crossroads of colors and civilisations. It is located in the northern Ionian Sea, at the entrance to the Adriatic Sea, between Greece's mainland and Italy. Due to its strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea, the island has been "the apple of discord" among the big powers of each era. Furthermore, its position enables visitors today to reach the island by direct flight from almost all European countries, while there are daily ferry connections with many Italian ports. The Corfu Cup aims to bring the most competitive super yachts for a race that combines the deep blue waters of the Ionian Sea and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Corfu island. Here you can find the promo video of the race: youtu.be/ffZJwQMmedY 2013 ISAF Annual Conference View the schedule on the ISAF website here: In order for delegates and Member National Authorities (MNAs) to save costs the Executive Committee decided to reduce the length of the ISAF Annual Conference to seven days. The Executive Committee understands the value for Committee Members of being a part of the Annual Conference and the reduction in length will make it easier for delegates, in particular ISAF Council members, to attend the whole conference. Although for some Commissions and Sub-committees it may be more convenient to meet at events or electronically, the new meeting schedule will still enable those Commissions and Sub-committees who need to meet at the Annual Conference to do so. ISC Race Management Team Holds Free Forums Starting March 23rd - Saturday 6th April 1630 Parkstone Yacht Club, Poole These expert but informal presentations are followed by Q&A sessions and the Forums give first timers and those more accomplished hands the opportunity to get right up to date with the latest Race details and some very important procedures that are in place to help everyone have an enjoyable time. Just turn up and if you need more information telephone the ISC on: +44 (0)1983 296621. Make this the year you compete in Britain's favourite yacht race on Saturday 1st June. You can enter here: rtir.me/entries For all the other news and Race details visit the official Race website: 10 Of The Best Marine Watches For Sailing and Watersports A watch stands alone in the world of marine accessories as the only object that is able to sidestep technological advancement without becoming obsolete. After all, you can now get a digital watch that will give you a display of perpetually accurate radio-controlled time, plus tidal data, barometric pressure, temperature, compass bearing, Bluetooth-compatibility and even a depth gauge facility. And yet we persist in buying analogue watches that do nothing but tell the time. It's like rejecting a suite of Apple Mac touchscreen equipment in favour of a quill and parchment. And yet it continues to happen - so much so that (regardless of my own entirely justifiable preferences) any top ten list needs to encompass a fair and representative mix of both types. Boats.com: uk.boats.com Featured Brokerage Based on the Relfex 38, 6 years on the design was transformed into the Pronavia 38. The interior has been replaced by a fully fitted interior, built to the highest Swedish standards by skilled craftsmen. The living space provides excellent accomadation which is generous in volume and stowage. The Pronavia 38 is aimed at the sailor who wants to fast cruise or race competitively whilst not forgoing the comfort associated with cruising yachts. Brokerage through Ancasta International Boat Sales: www.yachtworld.com/ancasta/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at The Last Word |
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Scuttlebutt Europe #2794 - 15 March
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