In This Issue
Swedish David topples Aussie Goliath | Second Wave Starts 2017 Transpac | 100 Days to The Nations Trophy | ORC Worlds Trieste | Your Fastnet Race starts here. Book for the Pre-race party... | Star World Championship | Irish Sail Training Ship Hopes Given Boost by Taoiseach | Remembering Kilo | Letters to the Editor | Featured Brokerage
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
Swedish David topples Aussie Goliath
Marstrand, Sweden: GKSS Match Cup Sweden is renowned for drawing out exceptional performances from local sailors, fired up by crowds cheering them on from the perimeter of Marstrand Arena and with assistance from the Nordic wind gods. This occurred today when Nicklas Dackhammar's ESSIQ Racing Team, 15th on the World Match Racing Tour leaderboard, overcame Australian Matt Jerwood's Redline Racing 5th placed team in a five race marathon.
The southerly wind veered west mid-afternoon and there were large holes across the course, with wind speeds of 4- 14 knots. Aboard their high performance M32 catamarans, Dackhammar won race one, then in the second Jerwood prevailed after three lead changes. Jerwood planted a pre-start penalty on his opponent taking it to match point but then the young Swede bounced back the level the score. The final race seemed to all be over when Dackhammar copped another pre-start penalty. Advantage Australia.
However "there were puffy conditions. It was getting quite light and we thought that would favour us, sailing upwind with the gennaker," explained Dackhammar. "We tried to avoid the light patches and make good manoeuvres sailing fast all the time."
Swedish fans were euphoric when their underdogs eventually pulled ahead, to win the decider and a Quarter Finals place.
Tomorrow the remainder of the Super 16 Knockout series will be sailed to determine the rest of the Quarter Finalists.
Qualifying sail off - results
Harry Price (AUS) Down Under Racing 2-0 Eric Monnin (SUI) Albert Riele Swiss Team
Harry Price (AUS) Down Under Racing 2-0 Evan Walker (AUS) KA Match
Super 16 knockout - results
Yann Guichard (FRA) Spindrift racing 3-0 Sam Gilmour (AUS) Neptune Racing
David Gilmour (AUS) Team Gilmour 3-0 Sally Barkow (USA) Magenta 32
Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) Sailing Team NL 3-1 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Nicklas Dackhammar (SWE) ESSIQ Racing 3-2 Matt Jerwood (AUS) Redline Racing
Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing 3-0 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) FLUX Team
Second Wave Starts 2017 Transpac
Photo by Doug Gifford/Ultimate Sailing. Click on image for photo gallery.
Los Angeles, California, USA: The second wave of three starts to the 49th edition of the 2017 biennial Transpac Race left Pt Fermin today in a pleasant 8-10 knot Southern California seabreeze, en route to a finish line awaiting them 2225 miles away at Diamond Head in Honolulu. The group of 16 boats in Divisions 3 and 4 were today faster and more lively than the cruiser/racers crossing the line on Monday's first start, with plenty of action and even one boat over the start line at the gun.
With a slight pin end favor to the line set perpendicular to the course, John Schulze's SC 50 Horizon timed it perfectly to win the pin with speed and jump out to an early lead. Horizon is one of the perennial favorites among the competitive Fast 50's in this race, having earned herself top prize in this class except for last year when Eric Grey's Allure beat her by less than 3 minutes after nearly a week of racing,
Steve Sellinger's SC 52 Triumph set up early on the line, luffing her headsail to modulate her speed, but got caught when the fleet converged and kept her above the line at the gun. So PRO Tom Trujillo and his team raised the X flag and called her back, a small hiccup for a race lasting several days ahead.
Another early leader in the pack was Naomichi Ando's R/P 45 Lady Kanon VI, powered up, heeled over and going fast even in the light breeze.
100 Days to The Nations Trophy
The first edition of The Nations Trophy will be held from 10 – 14 October 2017 in Palma de Mallorca hosted by the Real Club Nautico Palma and is open to three Swan One-Design classes: ClubSwan 50 and ClubSwan 42, also competing for their European Championship; and, Swan 45, also contesting its World Championship.
The Nations Trophy is reminiscent of events popular during one of the golden ages of international yacht racing. The Admiral's Cup in 1957 proved a catalyst for number of nation versus nation team events and, even as trends in yacht racing have changed, the sentiment that nation versus nation competition should feature strongly has never wavered. Come October, anticipated entries from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the USA will hopefully demonstrate that The Nations Trophy is playing its part in reinvigorating this element of sailing competition.
Charter yachts are available, but you need to be quick!
Contact clubswan@nautorswan.com for charter information or enter online at: thenationstrophy.com
ORC Worlds Trieste
Trieste, Italy: The start of inshore racing on the third day of the ORC Worlds Trieste 2017 saw another day of light air - 6-8 knots from the southwest - but racing that was surprisingly close in corrected time. Two races on windward-leeward courses were completed today, with a shortened course in the second race, and new series leaders have emerged in two of the three classes.
Maurizio Poser's Swan 42 Sheraa Yacht Club Hannibal seems to have chosen the right strategy in being the slowest rated boat in Class A because the are sailing extremely well and have extended their lead in the standings on the strength of their 3-1 finishing record today.
In Class B Diego Zanco's X-41 Nube from Croatia had solid finishes of 3-3 today to jump to the top of standings, helped in part by yesterday's series leader - Sergey Kolesnikov's X-41 Technonicol from Russia - suffered a 50-point black flag penalty for being over early at the start, a testament to the aggressiveness of the starts in this class.
In Class C the racing was especially close, with two teams in the top ranks having to share points for third place. On scores of 5-3 in Races 3 and 4, Alessio Querin's Farr 30 Mummy One-Lab Met jumped to the top of the leaderboard with a 7.5-point lead over Michael Mollmann's X37 Hansen from Denmark and another Farr 30, Giacomo and Franco Loro Piana's Sease. They are 10.5 points ahead of the next nearest rival, Giuseppe Giuffre's Italia 9.98 Low Noise II, Class C World Champion in 2014 and 2015. The leader after the first two offshore races, Aivar Tuulberg's Arcona 340 Katariina II, the reigning ORC Class C European Champion, had a tough day on scores of 20 and 16, forcing him off the top of the standings.
Racing resumes tomorrow in the Gulf of Trieste, with another two inshore races planned.
Your Fastnet Race starts here. Book for the Pre-race party...
To celebrate the 47th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the Royal Ocean Racing Club is delighted to announce a pre-race Crew Party for competitors on Wednesday 2nd August.
Flying in from Antigua for this special event is RORC's favourite singer songwriter Asher Otto and her band, Itchyfeet.
The party starts at 2000hrs with rum punches on arrival, followed by music and dance in the marquees and on the deck.
- Wednesday 2nd August from 2000hrs
- Antigua's hottest singer songwriter and Caribbean band
- Only 800 spaces available
- Welcome drinks on arrival
- Book your tickets now £10 cowes@rorc.org
To secure your exclusive tickets to this event, please email cowes@rorc.org
Star World Championship
Troense, Denmark: Today was a beautiful day here in Troense. No rain, and there was more sun than clouds. The wind for the two races held today was 12-14 knots still from the west. The Star World courses are 10.4 miles long by the class rules so 2 of those plus a 4 mile sail out and 4 miles sail back, made for a long day.
Danny and I managed to keep the boat in one piece today and fairly happy with finishing both races in the mid 20's. In the first race of the day, race 3 of the regatta, Augie Diaz USA & Bruno Prada, 2016 World Champs, took first place. Eivind Melloby NOR and Josh Revkin finished second and Lars Grael BRA with Samuel Goncavles brought home a third place.
This gave Melloby/Revkin the lead at the half way point in the regatta. They were awarded the Bud Vandeveere trophy for the leading skipper at the half way point and the Robert S. "Buck" Halperin trophy for the crew.
There is a perpetual trophy named after various illustrious sailors from the 110 years of the class, for the winner of each of the 6 races plus the mid week, the overall skipper and crew, the second place skipper and crew, and the Harry Nye Trophy for a life long contribution to the class.
The Nye trophy was awarded to Sune Carlssson SWE this afternoon. Sune, who has been in attendance here in Troense all week, had a heart attack at the harbor, during the day and was hospitalized. He is stable but awaits a surgery. Our thoughts are with him!
The race committee postponed tomorrows start until 13:00 as the forecast is for very light winds tomorrow. -- Paul Cayard, cayardsailing.com
Irish Sail Training Ship Hopes Given Boost by Taoiseach
The up-beat mood of the weekend's Galway Seafest was moved several notches higher by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, when he revealed at Galway Port that his government is broadly in favour of the concept of an all-Ireland sail training ship, which is promoted by the Atlantic Youth Trust writes W M Nixon.
The recent turbulence in Irish politics had induced a mood of pessimism about any implementation of this complex project, with some of the difficulties involved being outlined recently in Afloat.ie. However, we indicated the likelihood that, if such an idealistic scheme were ever to achieve fruition, then it would most likely be through the Enda O'Coineen-inspired Atlantic Youth Trust, whose Chief Executive, the popular Neil O'Hagan, has been quietly beavering away lobbying on the project's behalf on both side of the Irish border.
For O'Hagan, the story from Galway by Lorna Siggins in the Irish Times is well-earned encouragement in his challenging quest. The Taoiseach said that sail training was "one of the areas where we could have North-South co-operation, and also very important cross-community co-operation".
He acknowledged that many people deeply regretted that the sail training brigantine Asgard II was no longer available, but indicated that his government is well aware of the €16 million cost of a replacement. Nevertheless his own enthusiasm for the concept was in evidence, and he clearly stated that discussion about the new ship "'is certainly something we can engage in".
Remembering Kilo
It is with great sadness that we see the sudden passing of one of Sydney Harbour's great sailing legends Robert "Kilo" Killick who crossed his last finishing line on Saturday 24 June. Kilo was well known around Sydney Harbour, Port Hacking, Hervey Bay and numerous locations around the planet through his sailing, whale watching, charter vessel operations and pretty much any activity that involved having fun.
In recent years he was best known for his contribution to 18 ft skiff sailing whether it was Saturdays skippering the Historic 18 ft skiff "Yendys" out of the Sydney Flying Squadron or Sundays following the modern 18 footers out of the League at Double Bay around the track on Sydney Harbour in the Camera Cat. Kilo was passionate about 18 footer sailing and played a pivotal role in developing and sustaining both classes.
At the Sydney Flying Squadron Kilo was a key figure behind the building of a number of the replica skiffs including the most recent Myra Too being Billy Barnett's 1951 winning skiff, and his beloved "Yendys" that he cared for like a father.
Kilo was a great man, he had a great heart and shared his love generously in bringing people together and providing encouragement towards helping us believe in ourselves.
For those of us who were fortunate enough to share his acquaintance he leaves a big hole in our heart, but always a smile on our face.
Never a dull moment Kilo!
Heartfelt condolences to Sam, Mackenzie and Angus and his family.
Bon Voyage brother.
Billy Loader
Commodore Sydney Flying Squadron
Samantha and Gus Killick extend an invitation to all Killo's friends to his "Last Race"
Friends should arrive at
Double Bay Wharf, 77 Bay Street, Double Bay
in time to board the ferry at 2:15pm
Sunday, 9th July 2017 for a 2:45pm start.
The ferry will sail one lap of the n'east course then back to the Australian 18footers league for eulogies, refreshments and tales of Killo's amazing life.
Tea and scones probably won't be served.
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 Giles Pearman:
I would like to understand better why there is an apparent clamour in some quarters for America's Cup races to be in boats that encourage close-quarter match racing. I'm sure the aficionados and historians will put me right, but the original Deed of Gift and even the notice for the race that spawned the Cup make no mention of 'match-racing', particularly as we might think of it today. The Cup was referred to as a 'match' in the Deed and, by default, two boats racing 'one on one' is a match race. But wasn't it the introduction of the 12 Metres that cemented the notion that the Cup must be decided by a series of close-fought match-races; a concept continued by the IACCs and clung to pointlessly by the subsequent multihulls. Could the Js and other yachts that preceded the 12s engage in a 'modern' match-race duel any more than an AC50? Certainly dial ups and dial downs in the pre-start must have been tricky.
As for the need to increase the proportion of crew deemed to be sailing, again that seems a hangover from the 12s and IACCs. I'd hazard that a guy pulling a halyard (along with 10 or so others) to hoist a sail on a J was no more skilled a sailor than someone riding a bicycle to drive hydraulic pressure today. Fit, athletic, committed, competitive, dedicated - absolutely, but skilled in the nuances of sail trim and tactics? I suspect that is a romantic view of the fishermen earning some extra cash by racing for the rich boys.The J Class Association website advises that: "The permanent racing crew in the early days was probably around 16 men though this may have been augmented to around 30 for racing. When not required for sail changes, spare crew were often moved to below decks." At least today's grinders or cyclors stay in sight all race, permanently contribute to the speed of the boat and get wet.
I understand that foiling multihulls are not to everyone's taste. I was unconvinced of the move away from monohulls before the Kiwis first went flying on the Waitemata in 2012. The AC has always been a contest on many different levels, and not just on the water. The racing seems to me to be the final, short-lived part of an engaging spectacle and I would go so far as to suggest it almost does not matter what is raced as long as it is impressive in today's world. Albeit with some constraints to avoid complete mismatches, I'm for letting them 'race what they brung', whether they race next to each other after the start or a mile apart.
* From Paul Newell:
Comment by Malcom McKeag: "But if the Kiwis want to bring the 36th iteration of the event that began in 1870 in New York harbour to 'millions of people' they will need to do a much better job than did the recent defenders".
Am I the only one that read "irritation" instead of "iteration"?
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The Last Word
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To look at you, anyone would think you have caused it. -- George Bernard Shaw to G. K. Chesterton
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