Scuttlebutt Europe #2810 - 8 April

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

Fantastic Finale In Palma
Photo by Richard Langdon/Ocean Images, www.oceanimages.co.uk. Click on image for photo gallery.

Palma de Mallorca: A fantastic week of sailing has come to a close in Palma. The 44th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mapfre - third event in the ISAF Sailing World Cup circuit has delivered great racing conditions and a real test coming into the new Olympic quadrennial.

Denmark's Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard will be awarded the Absolute Winner trophy which recognises the sailors with the best average score over the regatta.

It was interesting to test here a new scoring system and format, and despite mixed opinions, the regatta has deserving winners in all classes and most of the regatta leaders conserved their yellow jersey after their medal races.

Sailors focus now turns to ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres in the South of France. Racing gets going on 22 April through to 27.

Top three by class:

470 Men
1. Mat Belcher, AUS, 8 points
2. Panagiotis Mantis, GRE, 29
3. Luke Patience, GBR, 36

470 Women
1. Fernanda Oliveira, BRA, 16
2. Sophie Weguelin, GBR, 28
3. Anne Haeger, USA, 41

49er
1. Erik Heil, GER, 21
2. Allan Norregaard, DEN, 47
3. David Evans, GBR, 51

49er FX
1. Ida Marie Baad Nielsen, DEN, 10
2. Alexandra Maloney, NZL, 24
3. Jena Mai Hansen, DEN, 45

Finn
1. Giles Scott, GBR, 17
2. Pieter Jan Postma, NED, 22
3. Vasilij Zbogar, SLO, 45

Laser
1. Andy Maloney, NZL, 35
2. Tom Burton, AUS, 43
3. Sam Sam Meech, NZL, 51

Laser Radial
1. Alison Young, GBR, 37
2. Sarah Gunni, DEN, 43
3. Anne-Marie Rindom, DEN, 47

Nacra 17
1. Mandy Mulder, NED, 36
2. Renee Groeneveld, NED, 41
3. Moana Vaireaux, FRA, 42

RS:X Men
1. Ivan Pastor Lafuetne, ESP, 23
2. Toni Wilhelm, GER, 26
3. Kiran Badloe, NED, 32

RS:X Women
1. Flavia Tartaglini, ITA, 18
2. Bryony Shaw, GBR, 23
3. Moana Delle, GER, 34

2.4 Metre
1. Bjernar Erikstad, NOR, 7
2. Megan Pascoe, GBR, 12
3. Barend Kol, NED, 22

Full results: www.trofeoprincesasofia.org

Erwan Tabarly Wins Transat Brittany Martinique
After 20 days of racing, 4455 miles covered at an average speed of 6.95 knots, Erwan Tabarly (Armor Lux - Comptoir de la Mer) crossed the finish line in Fort-de-France to 12 h 48 mn 55 s (Paris time), or 06 h 48 min 55 s (local time). Eleven years on the Figaro Beneteau circuit, always placed in the forefront, but never on the highest step of the podium, he was waiting for his first victory at the helm of a one design, his first victory over a solo transatlantic playing field.

Soon 39 years, a very brilliant record of offshore racer most often at the forefront, Erwan Tabarly (2nd in the 2012 Med Race four times runner-up France Elite racing solo during which the last two seasons, and already the second Transat Brittany Martinique in 2009 ... four minutes behind Gildas Morvan !) felt from Brest that this time would be good. He was going to win, and that's all.

His victory in the Transat Martinique Brittany is undoubtedly the experience and maturity. The experience of thousands of miles on a boat he knows by heart.

First three finishers:

1. Erwan Tabarly Armor Lux - Comptoir de La Mer
2. Gildas Morvan Cercle Vert
3. Fabien Delahaye Skipper Macif 2012

www.transat-bretagnemartinique.com

Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
Last month's winner:

Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA)
His latest Vendee Globe did not end the way he would have liked, but it did end with a fine piece of seamanship as Dick took a very carefully judged approach to finishing the course safely during severe Biscay weather after losing the keel off his Imoca 60 Virbac. ‘An outstanding achievement’ - Hans Staler; ‘A gentleman par excellence’ - Tom Gaveriaux; ‘Jean-Pierre is the only Frenchman with the phlegm of an Englishman... Bravo!’ - Tanguy de Lamotte; ‘And he also raised a lot of money for children’s charity!’ - JP Riou.

This month's nominees:

Alessandro Di Benedetto (ITA)
Any man who sails around the world successfully on a 6.5m yacht (singlehanded, as if we needed to say) and then pursues ‘the dream’ all the way on to competing in the Vendée Globe on almost certainly the slowest Imoca 60 in the race, and then finishes in a far from shabby time barely 26 days behind François Gabart’s all singing, all dancing new Desjoyeaux-backed entry, deserves his place on this page.

Sean Langman (AUS)
This is definitely the month for recognising passion for the sheer spirit of going racing in a sailboat... Langman has followed his successful career in 18-foot skiffs with a series of extremely individual ocean racing campaigns, ranging from the slowest Sydney-Hobart entry to the new Hobart course record holder, his Orma 60 trimaran Team Australia. In addition he remains a major player in the New South Wales sailing industry

Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Harken McLube, Dubarry & Musto. 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

The First Five
British pair Sam Davies and Annie Lush, Australians Sophie Ciszek and Liz Wardley and Carolijn Brouwer of the Netherlands are the first sailors selected by Team SCA to be part of the all-female team for the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Around 20 women sailors have so far been through a rigorous selection process at the team's base in Puerto Calero, Lanzarote.

The first five to win their places have a wide range of experience, from single handed offshore sailing to the Olympics and match racing. They proved their skills while sailing on board the team's training boat, the repurposed Mar Mostro now named SCA Care.

Only four other all-female teams have competed in the Volvo Ocean Race since its first edition in 1973 and the last all-female entry was Amer Sports Too in the 2001-02 race.

For 2014-15, all-female teams will race with 11 sailors, compared to eight in all-male teams.

This first squad will be based in Lanzarote and will continue training there until the start of the race in autumn 2014. The delivery of their Volvo Ocean 65 One Design boat is expected in the early autumn this year.

www.volvooceanrace.com

Ficker Cup: Qualifier For 49th Congressional Cup
Long Beach, California, USA: Taylor Canfield and Scott Dickson already had their Congressional Cup berths locked up when they raced into the championship match of Long Beach Yacht Club's Ficker Cup Sunday but, win or lose, that was important.

Dickson said, "I just enjoy going head to head with the best guys in the world."

They'll certainly be in that company in next week's 49th Congressional, Tuesday through Saturday, when they step up from Grade 2 to Grade 1 level on the global match racing circuit. That will be on the same outer harbor waters where Canfield, ranked No. 8 in the world, won his last 12 races to claim the prize named for Bill Ficker, who was skipper of the 12-Meter Intrepid that successfully defended the America's Cup against Australia's Gretel II in 1970. The noted Newport Beach architect also won the Congressional Cup in 1974.

Canfield, of the U.S. Virgin Islands, already had an invitation to the Congressional, as did Australia's Jordan Reece, who placed fifth overall in the eight-boat international fleet. But Dickson, representing the host club with a local crew, had to win his way in.

This will be Dickson's 12th Congressional and Canfield's third.

The Congressional racing Tuesday through Saturday also will be at Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, starting at noon each day, conditions permitting. -- Rich Roberts

Sunday's Results

5th-8th sailoffs: Jordan Reece, Australia, d. Peter Holz, Chicago, 2-0; Chris Poole, Portland, Maine, d. Colin Rathbun, British Virgin Islands, 2-0.

Semifinals: Scott Dickson, Long Beach, d. Dustin Durant, Long Beach, 2-1; Taylor Canfield, U.S. Virgin Islands, d. Waturu Sakamoto, Japan, 2-0.

Petite finals: Sakamoto d. Durant, 2-1.

Championship finals: Canfield d. Dickson, 2-0.

www.lbyc.org

A2B Ocean Race
New Zealand's new major yacht race - the A2B Ocean Race will set sail from Auckland on the 9th of February 2014.

It will travel the length of the country, departing our largest city - Auckland and arriving in our smallest port town - Bluff. On route, it will head up through the Bay of Islands, round Cape Reinga, down the West Coast before rounding the base of the South Island and into the town famous for its oysters and southern hospitality - Bluff.

The A2B Ocean Race will be held on an annual basis on the first Sunday after Waitangi Day. With the race expected to take a week to sail, this date maximises spectator opportunities with the fleet departing Auckland on a Sunday and the majority of yachts being welcomed into Bluff the following weekend.

The race fleet is limited to 30 boats in the inaugural year. Half of these boats are expected to be international entries, with expressions of interest already being received from yachts excited at the challenge of pitting themselves against the Southern Ocean.

a2b-race.com

Solo Round The Isle Of Wight Race
On Saturday 20th April SORC are running their second race of the season, Solo Round the Isle of Wight (RIOW). The race is traditionally the most popular of the season attracting over 30 entrants and this year is no exception.

Last year was won by Will Sayer in his Sigma 33, Elmarleen, closely followed by Richard Breese in his Sonata, Impro and Chris Flewitt in his Contessa 28, Tringa. Rob Craigie taking line honours in his J122 Jebelino.

The start will be at 8 O‚Clock on the JOG line off Cowes.

For 2013 the SORC Round the Isle of Wight will accept LV TCCs, and we hope that if you do not wish or need to get a full Spinlock IRC certificate, the option of racing with an LV TCC at a reduced cost will encourage your participation in this event.

offshoresolo.com

Sodebo and Thomas Coville Enter The Tour De France A La Voile
On Thursday morning in Paris, Sodebo announced its sponsoring schedule for the upcoming seasons. As well as the Tour de France a la Voile, skipper Coville will sail another single-handed record attempt round the world onboard his maxi-trimaran Sodebo and the Route du Rhum onboard the former Geronimo of Olivier de Kersauson.

Last weekend, Coville and his men faced their future M34 competitors on the Spi Ouest France Intermarche. They already distinguished themselves by taking third behind the M34 veteran Daniel Souben, who won the race. Franck Cammas, another 'rookie', took second.

"We clearly wanted to attract renowned names like Thomas Coville on the Tour de France a la Voile. We are very proud to welcome him this summer. When Franck Cammas joined us in December, a very good competitive level was already expected. Thomas Coville's arrival is confirming this. It will be interesting to see how these experienced sailors will do in front of the veteran teams of the circuit. We are already thinking of the great show they will give to the public this summer," said Jean-Etienne Amaury, Amaury Sport Organisation Chairman, the organisation of the Tour de France a la Voile.

www.sodebo.fr/voile

Roger Blasse Secures Second OK Dinghy World Title
Click on image for photo gallery.

Roger Blasse (AUS) has won the 2013 Singha OK Dinghy World Championship in Pattaya, Thailand after placing second in the only race sailed on the final day. Nick Craig (GBR) took the silver while Mike Williams (AUS) took the bronze. The final race was won by defending champion Andre Budzien (GER).

It was always going to be the lightest day of the regatta and as the fleet launched at 11.00 the wind was 2-3 knots and very patchy. The race officer Kevin Wilson (AUS) was clear he would not start racing in unsuitable conditions so the fleet waited afloat in 30 degrees of heat for over two hours. Finally the breeze stabilised and the fleet got away on the second attempt in 7-8 knots which built to 14 knots during the race. -- Robert Deaves

Results (top 10 from 74)

1. Roger Blasse, AUS, 17 points
2. Nick Craig, GBR, 32
3. Michael Williams, AUS, 35
4. Paul Rhodes, NZL, 46
5. Mark Jackson, AUS, 49
6. Greg Wilcox, NZL, 55
7. Jorgen Svendsen, DEN, 59
8. Stefan Myralf, DEN, 68
9. Andre Budzien, GER, 91
10. Terry Curtis, GBR, 95

www.varuna.org/ok-worlds

Oyster Regatta - Grenada
Monday 8th April marks the start of the Oyster Regatta Grenada, a five-day extravaganza of wonderful sailing and exclusive parties for Oyster owners and their guests. The Oyster Regatta Grenada boasts a truly international cast; 19 Oyster Yachts will take part from all over the world, including yachts from British Virgin Islands, Italy, UK, Channel Islands, Venezuela and the United States.

Nine examples of the Oyster range have come to Grenada to enjoy sailing in outstanding azure blue waters,

The island of Grenada offers some of the most idyllic cruising grounds anywhere in the world. Wonderful hidden coves and beaches with sand like fine sugar typify Grenada. Known as The Spice Island, the mountainous interior is festooned with spice plantations with the sweet scent of nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla carried on the breeze.

Hosted by Port Louis Marina, the Oyster fleet will rendezvous in St George's Harbour for the start of the event. The programme for the week will include racing around the coast of the island, an overnight stop at Le Phare Bleu, Lay Day at Port Louis Marina. The fleet will return to Port Louis Marina for the prize giving party and finale dinner. -- Louay Habib

www.oysteryachts.com

Old Gaffers' Jubilee Bonanza
Six hundred dinner tickets were snapped up and 180 boats registered when bookings opened for the Old Gaffers Association's (OGA) Jubilee Festival.

The first phase of ticket sales sold out for the event at Cowes, Isle of Wight, which aims to be a spectacular finale for the Round Britain Challenge - the 50th anniversary voyage of traditional gaff-rig boats from across Europe.

Organisers are now working with sponsors to obtain more berths on the island for the festival dates of 15-18 August to meet the demand.

There will be racing in the Solent on the Saturday for anniversary trophies and crew parties every night.

Festival registration fees start from £30 for OGA members and £40 for non-members, and include three nights' mooring, a festival pennant and skipper's goodie bag.

For revellers attending on foot, entry is free for members and £5 for non-members, but online registration is needed to buy dinner tickets.

A bumper series of events are taking place nationwide to mark the OGA's historic year.

Forty boats have so far registered their interest in the 2,000-mile Round Britain Challenge, which begins in Maldon, Essex on 21 April and will see Old Gaffers travelling clockwise around the coast, enjoying celebrations en route.

One of the oldest boats participating is Bonita, a Morecambe Bay Prawner launched in 1888, while 'new gaffers' include Tim and Liz Dodwell's modern glassfibre 9.1m (30ft) pilot cutter High Barbaree, built by Cornish Crabbers.

For smaller boats, The Relay invites sailors to join in the fun by carrying or accompanying a token on shorter legs around the UK.

Traditional Sail Cardiff 2013 is celebrating the OGA's 50th anniversary from 28 June to 1 July with river-raiding up the Ely and Taff Rivers, racing for boats of all sizes and a grand parade of sail.

The OGA 50 2013 Irish Sea Rally, held from 8-12 August, will see the Peel Traditional Boat Weekend on the Isle of Man extended to five days in celebration of the OGA Jubilee. An anniversary book, compiled and edited by Viv Head, will also be published.

www.oga50.org

Featured Brokerage
2000 Reichel/Pugh 66'3" Racing Sloop. EUR 450,000. Located In Lymington, Hampshire, United Kingdom.

Ultimate Cruiser racer. Won Fastnet and can cruise 8 people in total comfort.

Brokerage through Berthon International: www.yachtworld.com/berthon/

Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com

The Last Word
The only way to know how much is enough, is to do too much, and then back up. -- Jerry Jeff Walker

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