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

Seiko 49er & 49erfx European Championship
The opening day was a tricky one for a variety of reasons and started with a BANG. 2013 European's Silver medalists, Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign hit a rock near the port layline of course C, splitting their hull wide open. Brazil's Thomas Low-Beer saw the incident, "It was extreme, they stopped so fast that the boat wen. vertical, bow buried, and stern straight in the air. We tacked immediately and hoped to miss the rock."

Dylan and Alain limped back to shore and may be done for the event, but they explained how they will try to fix it. At least four others made contact with the bottom, including fellow Team Great Britain sailors Jon Pink and Stuart Bithell. John and Stuart escaped somewhat and only missing the second race and the rest were able to continue. They were able to pull their 49er onto a rib, wrestle the broken daggerboard out of the boat, pack some tape into the hole and sail with their spare board. They left the stern plug out of the boat for the whole race, so water entering through the centerboard trunk could pulse out while they sailed. "We drained it on the downwinds and filled her back up on the upwinds," said Stuart Bithell.

An incident of this sort puts all sorts of pressure on race officials, who investigated the situation. Additional marking has been placed over shallow spots on both course A and C. Both team who missed races filed for redress and redress was granted in both cases.

The 49erFX fleet got some glamour conditions sailing second up. Not only did they get the best of the breeze, they also had 4 races schedule, each completed under unblemished skies.

Kate MacGregor and Katrina Best had a great day, with a bullet, two seconds and a twelfth.

Top three, 49er after 3 races
1. Giuseppe Angilella / Pietro Zucchetti, ITA, 10 points
2. Victor Bergstrom / Victor Vasternas, SWE, 13
3. Erik Heil / Thomas Ploessel, GER, 14

Top three, 49erFX after 4 races
1. Kate Macgregor / Katrina Best, GBR, 17
2. Giulia Conti / Francesca Clapcich, ITA, 33
3. Martine Grael / Kahena Kunze, BRA, 19

49er.org

Russia 2 - Norway 1, After Pedersen and Kistanov Slug It Out at Finn Silver Cup
Anders Pedersen (NOR) and Arkadiy Kistanov (RUS) engaged in a battle of wits on the third day of the Finn Silver Cup in Hoorn, Netherlands to slug it out for the overall lead. Kistanov narrowly missed out on all three race wins but the final score was was one win for Pederden and two for Kistanov. This left Pedersen leading Kistanov by two points with Nenad Bugarin (CRO) 23 points back in third.

The race team did a great job running three races in quick succession as a procession of looming, grey clouds and 'liquid sunshine' kept everyone eager to keep the pace up. The three tough races brought the regatta back on schedule after one was lost on Monday. Starting with 15-16 knots the offshore wind produced a range of conditions across the course making the racing very tactical and challenging for the 32 young Finn sailors from 17 nations.

The forecast for Wednesday is for a lot more wind and a bit less rain. Two more races will start from 12.00. The Finn Silver Cup consists of a series of 11 races up until Friday 11 July.

Top five after six races

1. Anders Pedersen, NOR, 8 points
2. Arkadiy Kistanov, RUS, 10
3. Nenad Bugarin, CRO, 33
4. Mikolaj Lahn, POL, 35
5. Jacob Stachelhaus, DEN, 39

Event website: wsvhoorn.nl/?page_id=380
Full results at: wsvhoorn.nl/?page_id=902

Half Ton Classics Cup: Swuzzlebubble Takes Lead After Opening Day
Saint Quay Portrieux, France: Opening day of the 2014 Half Ton Classics Cup saw plenty of sunshine and a range of wind conditions; the race management provided three windward leeward races.

Boats were frequently separated by mere seconds on corrected time and a different boat won each race. Race one went to Francis Marshall's 1989 Andrieu designed Concord, race two to Bernard Fournier Le Ray's Brittany Drizzel, a 1978 Berrett design, and race three to Peter Morton's beautifully refitted 1977 Farr designed Swuzzlebubble.

With three races completed fleet newcomer Peter Morton, better known as the man who revived the Quarter Tonners and who won his fourth revived Quarter Ton Cup just a fortnight ago, is leading the fleet. Swuzzlebubble is something of a legend among Half Tonners and this is her first serious outing at a Half Ton Classics event. Despite being the new kids on the block Peter and his very experienced crew laid down a 2, 2, 1 score as they found their feet in the boat.

Swuzzelbubble has been extensively optimised for IRC with a swept back spreader rig and a fully modernised deck layout. Rob Lark, tactician aboard Swuzzlebubble, acknowledged that the boats with a more modern rig and deck layout do have some advantages, particularly in close tacking duels when the need for extra time to change runners can make all the difference to a boat, as Brittany Drizzle, who retains her runners and checks, found out when they engaged in a tacking duel with Swuzzlebubble on the second beat of race two.

Tomorrow the boats will take part in a short offshore race starting at 10.00 that will take them around l'Ile de Brehat, some 25 miles to the north west of Saint-Quay-Portrieux. The regatta continues until Friday.

www.halftonclasseurope.net

Marinepool Revolution NX Line - The New Generation Of Racing Gear
What if there was a racing top light weight like a shirt, ultra comfortable, made from highly flexible fabric, waterproof like the best offshore sailing gear and more breathable than anything you have ever seen or worn? Impossible? Too good to be true? Well, not any longer!

The new "Revolution" NX top by Marinepool combines all the above mentioned highly regarded qualities in one new innovative garment with Dermizax® NX technology. This high-tech and high-end racing top is one of the stars in the Marinepool 2014 collection. The Marinepool design team and Toray, the producers of the Dermizax® NX fabrics, have been working behind the scenes to bring this new product to market, while the world-class athletes on Extreme Sailing Series Champion "The Wave, Muscat" put it through it´s gears in a thorough testing programme.

The feedback was inspiring the name of this racing top: Revolutionary

Never before has a racing top ticked off the boxes like "Revolution NX" with unrivaled comfort, ease of movement and a breathability at 30,000+ g/m2/24h - 50% higher than most other top of the range products on the market today.

"Revolution NX" features highly flexible neoprene neck and sleeve cuffs, a 3D designed shape, printed reinforcements and an adjustable neoprene hem. Reflective prints provide increased safety. The top is complemented by light-weight and ultra-flexible trousers and bermuda shorts. Both are made from the same high-tech ultra breathable 3-layer fabric with Dermizax NX membrane and feature abrasion resistant Cordura® reinforcements at the knees and bottom, adjustable elastic waistbands, belt loops and a bulky leg pocket with water resistant zipper. The trousers have got pre-shaped knees for increased wearing comfort and mobility and adjustable leg cuffs.

Dermizax® membrane is a nonporous membrane, highly waterproof and breathable. Its smooth and soft texture, super light weight and elasticity significantly increase wearing comfort. Athletes who turn every stone to reduce weight and who always are in pursuit of a competitive advantage will look no further.

"Revolution" NX by Marinepool. Design. Technology. Passion.

www.marinepool.com

Tour Voile: Two More Races and Two New Winners
Just a night sleep to recover from yesterday's tough offshore leg, and the sailors were out on the water again. At 10am they took the start of an inshore race just off the beach of Dieppe. The young crew of Toulon Provence Mediterranee - COYCH rounded the first upwind mark ahead and managed the keep the rest of the fleep behind until the finish line, taking their first victory since the beginning of the Tour de France a la Voile 2014. Courrier Dunkerque 3 finished second followed by Team Omansail and Groupama 34 who failed to make the right tactical choice on the race course.

The second race started off with a more usual scenario. Groupama 34 led the fleet for the first turn but at the second upwind mark, Ville de Geneve – Carrefour Addictions arrived on starboard tack and close the door on Groupama 34 who got stuck between the Swiss and Courrier Dunkerque 3 and was left with a penalty turn. Nicolas Groux and his crew won the race, Daniel Souben in 2nd and Fabien Henry in 3rd.

Tomorrow, the fleet will leave Dieppe for Granville.

Top five overall ranking:
1. Groupama 34, Franck Cammas, 240 points
2. Courrier Dunkerque 3, Daniel Souben, 237
3. Team OmanSail, skipper, Sidney Gavignet, 225
4. Bretagne - Credit Mutuel Elite, skipper Nicolas Troussel, 214
5. Ville de Geneve - Carrefoux Addictions, Nicolas Groux, 209

www.tourvoile.fr

Bermuda And San Diego Shortlisted As America's Cup Venues
The island of Bermuda and the city of San Diego have been shortlisted as potential host cities for the 35th America's Cup.

Chicago, which had also been under consideration, is now a likely venue for America's Cup World Series racing in 2015 and 2016.

"Both Bermuda and San Diego have made very compelling cases to be the host for the next America's Cup," said Russell Coutts, Director of the America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA). "We will be in good hands with either venue."

Bermuda is 640 miles (1,030 km) east-southeast of North Carolina. It is known to sailors for the Newport to Bermuda race, as well as the Bermuda Gold Cup match-racing event, both of which have a long history of success on the island and a sterling reputation among sailors. America's Cup racing in Bermuda would take place close to shore, within the Great Sound.

San Diego is one of only seven cities to have hosted the America's Cup. When the Cup was previously held there in 1988, 1992 and 1995, the race course was far offshore, on the ocean waters beyond Point Loma. But if San Diego were selected as the venue this time, racing would take place in San Diego Bay, offering viewing opportunities for spectators along the city's waterfront.

The host city for the next America's Cup will be announced by ACEA before the end of this year.

americascup.com

Volvo Cork Week: Classic Opener
Photo by Tim Wright, www.photoaction.com. Click on image to enlarge.

100 yachts racing in Cork Harbour produced a magnificent spectacle. The gusty north easterly breeze tested the boat handling skills of the international fleet, with several yachts reporting a boat speed of up to 20 knots on the surf.

The first race of Volvo Cork Week started just outside Roches Point, the wind speed piped up to 17 knots with a short sea state. The beat into Cork Harbour had the fleet swapping tacks past Spike Island, before negotiating close tight reaching legs along the picturesque town of Cobh. For many it was a race of over three hours, before returning to the Royal Cork Yacht Club to enjoy the full facilities of the exclusive race village.

Michael Boyd racing Grand Soleil 43, Quokka (Royal Irish YC) had an outstanding race, winning IRC Two by a landslide 15 minutes on corrected time. Tony Ackland's Dubois 37, Dark Angel (Swansea YSC) was second in IRC Two, just seven seconds ahead of Jim Macgregor's Elan 410, Premier Flair (Poole YC), which made an impressive comeback after starting prematurely.

Victory in IRC Three went to Pat Kelly's J/109, Storm (XXYC). Paul O'Higgins Corby 33, Rockabill V took line honours but after time correction Storm won by nearly three minutes from Robert McConnell's A35, Fools Gold with Rockabill V third.

Racing continues at Volvo Cork Week tomorrow Wednesday 8th July, with the international fleet enjoying a variety of courses both inside and outside of Cork Harbour.

www.corkweek.ie

Future Fibres Seeking Production Staff
Future Fibres are seeking production staff to fill positions within their mast building facility in Valencia. Current positions available are for persons with experience in pre-preg laminating and composite fit out work.

Applicants must be eligible to work within the EU.

Please send expressions of interest and a CV to

Cowes Dinard St Malo
Monster Project. Click on image to enlarge.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club's Season's Points Championship continues this weekend with close to 80 yachts competing in the Cowes- Dinard - St Malo Race. Teams from Belgium, France, Great Britain and The Netherlands will race across the English Channel to St Malo in Brittany, France. The 175 mile race pre-dates the Royal Ocean Racing Club by almost 20 years, with the overall winner awarded the King Edward VII Cup, which was first presented by the British monarch to the Club Nautique de la Rance at Dinard in 1906.

Andrew Budgen and Fred Schwyn's Volvo 70, Monster Project, was in fine form during last month's Round Ireland Yacht Race, taking Line Honours and the win in IRC Canting Keel. Monster Project is favourite to be the first monohull to finish in St Malo although the IMOCA 60, Artemis Team Endeavour skippered by Mikey Ferguson, is also very capable of taking the gun.

In IRC One, Piet Vroon's Dutch Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3, returns to RORC racing after a highly successful Caribbean season. Tonnerre de Breskens 3 was class runner-up in last year's Cowes-Dinard-St Malo Race. The current class leader for the 2014 season, RORC Commodore Mike Greville's British Ker 39, Erivale III, is not racing this weekend.

Seventeen yachts will be competing in IRC Two including the current class leader, Vincent Willemart and Eric Van Campenhout's Belgian MC34, Azawakh.

IRC Three will be the largest class for the St Malo Race with twenty three yachts competing, including the overall leader for the 2014 RORC Season's Points Championship: Louis-Marie Dussere's JPK 10.10, Raging Bee.

In IRC Four, Noel Racine's JPK 10.10, Foggy Dew, is the current class leader.

Fourteen yachts will be competing in the 175 mile race two-handed

Three multihulls will be taking part including Loic Fequet's Maitre Jacques, which set the multihull record for the race in 2012 with a time of 12 hours 39 minutes. Five Class40s will also be enjoying a close battle including Michel Kleinjans' Brusails for Belgium, who will be taking part in next month's Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. -- Louay Habib

www.rorc.org

Team Brunel Adds Laurent Page To Complete Its Team
Experienced French sailor Laurent Pages has been chosen by Team Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking to complete his line-up for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15.

Pages brings a winning pedigree to the Dutch challengers after he helped guide Groupama to victory in the last edition in 2011-12. Additionally, he was watch captain in the Spanish team Telefonica Blue in 2008-09 where he sailed with Bekking.

With the arrival of Pages, Team Brunel's race crew is complete. Others in the crew are Bekking (NED), Gerd-Jan Poortman (NED), Pablo Arrarte (ESP), Jens Dolmer (DEN), Andrew Cape (AUS), Rokas Milevicius (LTU) and Louis Balcaen (BEL).

The team has yet to appoint an onboard reporter.

The race starts on October 4, 2014 with the Alicante in-port race and ends in Gothenburg on June 27, 2015 after visiting 11 countries in total and covering 38,739 nautical miles.

volvooceanrace.com

From The Ashes
Carrickfergus Sailing Club is celebrating the re-opening of its newly restored clubhouse just two years after a major fire destroyed the building.

VIPs and members of the sailing fraternity from across Northern Ireland gathered at Rodgers Quay for the Grand Opening and to sample the impressive new facilities that will make Carrickfergus one of the top sailing clubs in Ireland.

The new clubhouse was opened by long-serving club member Terry Windsor, who joined in 1955. He is also one of the club's most experienced sailors and for the last five years has been Race Officer for the club's points racing.

Members of the club have worked hard over the past two years to ensure that sailing continued as normal and events went ahead despite the devastating loss of their clubhouse.

www.pbo.co.uk

I Want One
Spanish electronics company, Aquila, has launched a new range of high speed electric powered surfboards.

Aquila has designed three boards, each developed for different surfing styles and ranging from 185cm to 245cm in length. Its Blade, Manta and Carver boards will enable the user to surf at high speed.

The boards and propulsion systems are lightweight and fast, and environmentally friendly, with no noise, no emissions and no pollution.

www.boatingbusiness.com

Letters To The Editor -
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 Rees Martin: The recent government decision to support BAR is heartening - but it's just not enough. There is a proven track record that the America's Cup is a very profitable venture, The numbers have been scary, but these appear currently to be under better control. The egos are equally scary, but no high profile projects ever succeed without them.

New Zealand is a classic example of how a nation/country/city benefits. Before their challenge, the Viaduct was a sad place; struggling developments, scruffy. The city fathers stepped in and apart from the huge dock developments, massive office/residential building started appearing in - and around the centre. Frankly we the onlookers were scared by the enormous amount of infrastructure being replaced; how could a tiny economy such as NZ expect to get their investment back?? Capitalist self interest? Of course - how else do these projects get off the ground.

Well the Viaduct development worked. The surrounding developments are occupied, the area is no longer blighted and the dock has an industry the country is proud of. Yes, there have been some optimistic ventures, but that's, as they say, business - and the market inevitable picks these up and they emerge bruised, but alive. It's called growth.

I am working on a 6m European Championship regatta in Falmouth and am having a great time working with the local support infrastructure; the Royal Cornwall Yacht club, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Pendennis, Aussie Marquees, Southwest Bars and several supporting organisations. I know I am risking fate but the numbers look ok - and we have a record thirty Sixes entered.

This event relies heavily on those Falmouth entities who twenty years ago fought for the National Maritime Museum/marina development. The then politics were frightening; xenophobia, self-interest and plain bloody mindedness came close to scuppering the development. Now, it's a wonderful international maritime centre. Pendennis Shipyard is just inspirational; one of the finest superyacht yards in Europe, employing over 300 people and planning further wet dock extensions. The Museum is active, busy and great fun. The Events Square is regularly used for temporary structures and has a real buzz.

Come on Mr Cameron, don't just make gestures, put some serious money (and effort) into Ben Ainslie's project. He has the support of the entire yachting fraternity; now that's a vote winner...

Featured Brokerage
The spectacular OYSTER 885/01 'LUSH' will be in Palma from the 7th - 21st July and available for viewings.

Built in 2012 she features a large ergonomically designed split cockpit ideal for relaxation and alfresco dining. There are also spacious deck spaces and a swimming platform meaning she would be a good charter proposition. A high level deck saloon has triple seascape windows flooding the area with light, a settee and an expandable dining table. Accommodation is for eight guests in four staterooms including a full beam master suite, a VIP stateroom and two double cabins. All staterooms come with television screens and en suite facilities.

The hull of the 885 has a fairly fine entry that helps the yacht cleave through a seaway with excellent VMG and at the same time the stern with twin rudders below is relatively broad to deliver a high level of form stability and an off-wind potential that will allow for fantastically fast passage making.

LOA - 27.08m (88'10")
Beam - 6.33m (20'9")
Draft - 3.50m (11'6")
Rig - sloop
Price - £5,750,000

Don't miss the oppourtunity to step aboard. Please contact Fiona McCarthy for appointments -

The Last Word
I don't want to see old people doing rap or rock and roll. It makes me cringe. -- Grace Slick

Editorial and letter submissions to

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html