In This Issue
Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar: In Support of Sail Aid | Bogatyr wins 2017 Rolex Middle Sea Race | America's Cup Veterans Battling for Survival in the Sail Off | Harken Spotlights Small Boat Continuous Line-Drive Furler at Hansboot - 10/28 - 11/5 | RenRe Junior Gold Cup: A South American Drag Race | Can we have our boat back? | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Industry News | Martin Crotty - An Appreciation | 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
Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar: In Support of Sail Aid
Nominations open now for two awards: Best Caribbean Bar and Best Bar Elsewhere. Send us your bleary memories: scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars
Bogatyr wins 2017 Rolex Middle Sea Race
Igor Rytov's Russian-crewed JPK 1080 Bogatyr has been declared the overall winner of the 38th Rolex Middle Sea Race. While a number of yachts are still racing, none has the possibility of beating Bogatyr's corrected time. Bogatyr is believed to be the first Russian yacht to win one of the classic 600-mile offshore races. Rytov is an accomplished sailor, but is a recent convert to offshore yacht racing. He campaigns a Melges 20 with great success on the international circuit and a number of his Melges crew were with him on this race.
Rytov and his crew will be presented with a Rolex timepiece and the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy at the final prize giving at the Mediterranean Conference Centre (former Sacra Infermeria of the Order of St John) on Saturday, 28th October, 2017.
America's Cup Veterans Battling for Survival in the Sail Off
After two days of fleet race Qualifying three skippers are battling for survival through to the Super 16 Stage. This is the final of the World Match Racing Tour, so the heat is on for the young Australians Steve Thomas and Matt Jerwood who are joined by young Dane Joachim Aschenbrenner in the Sail Off. This will determine which one of these three progress to the knock-out stages in the match racing.
Taylor Canfield had the best day on the water, with stronger breeze of 12 to 13 knots and lumpy swell working to the US Virgin Islands skipper's advantage. The former World Champion won three heats straight, only falling in the final race of the day with a 6th and last place. Canfield tops the group, two points ahead of defending World Champion Phil Robertson from New Zealand.
In Group 2, although Chris Steele didn't quite dominate to the same extent as on day one, the New Zealand skipper steered 36 Below Racing to some solid finishes to win the division 9 points in front of two teams tied for second place, Australia's David Gilmour and Great Britain's Ian Williams, the multiple World Champion from the keelboat era of the World Match Racing Tour. Steele's performance was the best of the fleet racing, making him top seed for the Super 16.
In Group 3, the Dutchman Pieter-Jan Postma got better throughout the day as he steered Sailing Team NL to scores of 4,3,2,1 - sufficient to clinch the group by a single point from Australian Harry Price who finished tied for second place with Nicklas Dackhammar from Sweden.
Harken Spotlights Small Boat Continuous Line-Drive Furler at Hansboot - 10/28 - 11/5
Unleash the performance of small boat furling with Harken's continuous line-drive furler. The unique combination of its small size and continuous line makes this low-profile furler the perfect choice for harnessing and managing the ever-increasing horsepower of today's high-performance boats.
The line is easy to install and can be removed without disassembly. Offset holes in the drive sheave grip line securely, with the stripper and feeder working together to prevent jamming. The line guard adjusts in 90-degree increments to accommodate attachments to the boat. The furler is used with an upper swivel or a hoistable halyard swivel to build a fixed or hoistable jib furling system.
Harken's continuous line-drive furler will be demoed during the Hamburg International Boat Show at Peter Frisch GmBH, Hall B5, Stand D.121.
Stop by and give it a go!
RenRe Junior Gold Cup: A South American Drag Race
Hamilton, Bermuda: The opening races of the 15th annual RenaissanceRe Junior Gold Cup were held in "glamour" conditions out on the Great Sound today. Breeze was 20-22 knots from the ESE all day under mostly sunny skies.
Straight out of the gate in it looked to be a South American drag race with Jose Rother from Argentina and Santiago Pacheco from Uruguay leading the pack. 'Santi' was here last year and has returned having won his National Championships two years in a row. He is back to make good on his 5th place finish of last year as he felt he could do better and was very pleased to have the opportunity to return. Santi said, "I was so happy when I won the Nationals Championship at home and really hoped that Uruguay would receive the invitation so that I could come back to Bermuda, I love it here so much".
Not to be overlooked on the water was 12 year old Richard Schultheis from Malta. Both he and his sister Antonia are here competing and Malta is making their debut appearance in the Junior Gold Cup. Although he is the youngest of the overseas sailors and one of the smallest, he handled the breeze with confidence and his consistent finishes of 5, 3, 5 leave him in 4th after today.
Leading the female fleet in 8th overall is Natascha Rast from Switzerland, the 2017 Swiss Female National Champion.
Racing continues tomorrow through Sunday with the first annual Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup Team Race Championships to be held in Hamilton Harbour on Saturday.
Can we have our boat back?
School children in South Carolina in the USA are awaiting news on the whereabouts of their unmanned sailboat that made landfall in Ireland's North West this past week.
As WCSC Live 5 News reports, the miniature vessel named Cruiser was believed to be on its way to a school in Bangor Erris after reaching the Co Mayo mainland near Achill Island on Wednesday (11 October), some five months after it was launched by students at Harbor View Elementary in Charleston.
If you have any information as to Cruiser's current whereabouts, you can get in touch with the school HERE.
The news comes six months after the miniature unmanned yacht Lancer was returned to the ocean after sailing from the north east US to Connemara - and bringing together the Connecticut high schooler behind the marine science project with the Galway girl who found the boat near her home.
In July, Lancer was tracked on a return course to Ireland. The boat finally made landfall near Plymouth in Devon last month, but its current whereabouts are unknown.
Seahorse November 2017
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Torque is cheap - Part II
After a 'bit' of a party Emirates TNZ skipper Glenn Ashby is back in circulation and tells Blue Robinson more about what was going on in Auckland before the team left for Bermuda
End of an era (but the innovation carries on)
Dobbs Davis looks at the dramatic influence of the Gougeon brothers on boatbuilding materials and techniques that today we take for granted
Cup heritage - Part II
Eric Hall moves onto the 12-Metre era, boron, carbon and aerospace epoxies… and a lot of lead?
Design - Not always obvious
Mischa Heemskerk is not afraid to sacrifice a bit of sail area - doesn't seem to slow him down
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Industry News 
Marlow's Pink Rope Supports Breast Cancer
To support Breast Cancer Awareness a percentage of the profits from the sale of Marlow's pink rope will go to the cancer charity.
The vibrant pink yarn was introduced in the Gecko FCR 2 c two years ago and is used throughout the leisure marine sector.
Jon Mitchell, MD, Marlow Rope said: "Marlow contributes to a range of charities every year. Cancer Research UK is just one of the charities we support. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and our vivid pink yarn is the perfect fit for this chaitable initiative."
Earlier this year, Marlow also launched its support for another cancer charity, The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, with the launch of its Ultimate Guide to Splicing book. A percentage of sales from the book goes directly to the cancer trust that aims to rebuild confidence after cancer, using sailing to support, empower and inspire young people.
Marlow Ropes is the world-leading manufacturer and authority on ropes. Based in Hailsham, East Sussex with a global distribution network, it creates in excess of 400 new products each year. Marlow Ropes' breadth of knowledge and technical expertise has earned it a global reputation for quality and innovation.
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The receiver handling the US Watercraft bankruptcy in Rhode Island has received a cash offer of US$620,000 for its trademarks, boating lines, tooling, moulds and manufacturing processes. Its brands include True North, C&C, PDQ and J/Boat.
A notice said that the offer was to be free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, with no contingencies and a deposit in the amount of 10% of the purchase price.
The Alerion line was not included in the offer to purchase. The Alerion 20, Sport, 28, 33 and 41 moulds, plugs, lines, trademarks, complete engineering, CNC cams, BOM etc are being offered for sale to the highest bidder.
Salvadore Auctions is scheduled to sell off other assets related to US Watercraft's marina facilities, including travel-lifts, woodworking equipment, J-Boats and other equipment at its facilities in Warren, Rhode Island on November 11.
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The Volvo Ocean Race has selected Great Circle–Squid as its marine and race weather provider.The Volvo Ocean Race, a 45,000 nautical mile race around the world, has selected Great Circle–Squid as its marine and race weather provider.
This marks the second consecutive race that Great Circle–Squid has been named official weather provider of the Volvo Ocean Race
Safety and performance will be the main focus for the meteorological solutions provided daily to the race management team, which are then shared with each of the competitors in the 8-month race around the world.
Founded in 2011, Great Circle-Squid is a world-leading provider of marine weather services, both for race management and sailors (skippers and navigators).
www.greatcircle.be
volvooceanrace.com
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The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has extended its commitment to a fourth season of the award-winning 'Race of Their Lives' human adventure unscripted TV series, produced by UK based 1080 Media TV, to complete distribution deals through to 2020.
The unique event trains every-day people from all walks of life, many of them sailing novices, to take on the world's toughest oceans in the biggest round-the-world race featuring hundreds of crew from over 40 nations, battling it out on twelve identical modern yachts, in a year-long 40,000 nautical mile series of races between six continents to circumnavigate the globe.
"We continue to have excellent feedback from broadcasters to the 7-part series we produce for the Clipper Race, which follows this unique challenge through the experiences of the Corinthian competitors of all ages and backgrounds, as they take on this extraordinary endurance challenge," said Cliff Webb, CEO of the 1080 Media TV.
"We are currently in production with the third season of 'The Race of Their Lives' which is following the 2017-18 edition of the Clipper Race, which has just reached Cape Town. The extension of our role as Host Broadcaster for the Clipper Race to 2020 enables us to respond to the growing demand to include the 2019-20 edition in our distribution deals."
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Recently acquired West Marine Inc. said chief executive Matt Hyde, who led the company for five years, will leave.
Chief financial officer Jeff Lasher will take over as interim CEO until the company finds a replacement, spokeswoman Margo Donohue told Trade Only Today.
Hyde transformed the company from a recognized boat parts retailer to a broader "waterlife outfitter" for retail and professional customers, the company said in a statement issued Monday evening.
West Marine was publicly traded prior to its September sale to private equity firm Monomoy Capital Partners for $328 million, or $12.97 a share.
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Hurricane Maria, which slammed into St. Croix before devastating Puerto Rico on Sept. 20 as a Category 4 storm, will make a significant impact on the boating industry, though the extent of it might not ever fully be appreciated.
"It's a huge loss to the maritime industry," BoatUS CAT team member D.J. Smith, who spent time on both islands Oct. 11-14, told Trade Only Today. "It's staggering, actually."
"There are huge amounts of foreign entities there that are charter fleets that aren't American or American-registered," Smith said. Many of the boats there are registered in St. Martin and St. Croix, as well as countries around the world.
Smith, who wound up tallying between 45 and 50 days salvaging and assessing boats through hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, also visited the region after Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
"I think as far as the vegetation on [Puerto Rico], Hugo did a lot of damage, but Maria did probably three times as much," Smith said. "Every tree was dead, all the power lines were down. Traffic was a snarl out there because people were all going to one certain place to get water, food and gas."
The marinas fared pretty well because they rebuilt up to a higher standard after Hugo, Smith said. "But the boats - when you have high surge, boats have a tendency to break lines, break loose and end up on pilings. If they're not secured properly, it can become a mess."
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Helly Hansen, the Norwegian technical outdoor brand, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire UK sailing and country apparel brand Musto for an undisclosed sum. The news comes not long after the company was put up for sale by its owner, Phoenix Equity Partners. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
With this transaction, Helly Hansen says it will become a global leader in professional sailing apparel, complementing its existing leadership position in professional skiing apparel and enhancing its presence in the UK outdoor market.
Peter Smith, CEO of Musto, will continue to lead the business and will report to Helly Hansen CEO Paul Stoneham, who will also become executive chairman of Musto.
Helly Hansen says it will invest in Musto's international growth ambitions as well as deepen its technological and sourcing capabilities.
Martin Crotty - An Appreciation
Martin Gerard Crotty was a man of many interests and talents, most notably in design and sailing.
He served as president of the Institute of Designers of Ireland and vice-commodore and trustee of the National Yacht Club. In both arenas, his legal background, and charming and helpful manner served to bring out the best ideas, while a keen eye for detail ensured both work and leisure pursuits were done to a very high standard.
He initially sailed a Flying Fifteen dinghy in the National Yacht Club at Dun Laoghaire with Jim Gorman. After success in this arena, he wanted to do more offshore and long-distance events and bought a share with his best friend Peter Cullen in the Cruiser Racer half-tonner, Eliminator. They were the first Irish boat to win the prestigious Victoria Cup run by the Royal Dee Yacht Club, a thrilling victory. Peter and Martin moved up to the yacht Nyala and while doing a Round Ireland race in 1991 pulled into Dingle for refuge and repairs. It was here that the plan to develop the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle (D2D) race was hatched.
Martin was the first chairman of the NYC D2D and ran it successfully for 22 years, only stepping down this year. He served on the committee of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and was vice-commodore of the National Yacht Club in 1993.
His sage advice was treasured by the Irish sailing community and he served as trustee of the National Yacht Club over the last three years.
He shared the last 30 years with his partner Sabina Saar and loved to spent time in Dromcollogher, Co Kerry, where they had a house. He is survived by Sabina, sister Marie Therese, nephew Luke and brother -in-law Noel Gardiner.
Featured Brokerage
Grand Soleil 34. New Boat.
GS 34, the legend's return The mythical Grand Soleil 34 is a true legend: designed by Finot in the 1970s, has remained in production until the 1980's, with over 300 hulls made. Today, past and future meet in this restyling, based on the same concept as a small-big boat.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
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via Fratelli Lumiere, 34 - 47122 Forlì (FC)
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Knierim FC53 Fast Cruiser. NEW BOAT.
The Knierim FC53 Fast Cruiser is a very interesting boat for all who want to combine speed and comfort.
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2014 Swan 60-910 'Thor'. 3,250,000 EUR. Located in California, USA.
‘Thor’ was launched in November 2014 and is ready for racing or cruising. Currently lying in Mexico, she is available for immediate delivery.
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Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Lorenzo Bortolotti
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See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
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