Brought to you by Boats.com Europe, Yachtworld.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 The Economic Impact of a San Francisco America's Cup That's the assessment of a new economic study obtained by The San Francisco Chronicle that found that holding the next America's Cup in either 2013 or 2014 would infuse $1.4 billion into the Bay Area's economy - the vast majority of it in San Francisco - and generate 8,800 jobs, from prep cooks to engineers. Hosting a Super Bowl generates between $300 million and $500 million on average. All told, including statewide and national impacts like extended tourism, the series of yacht races in San Francisco Bay would generate $1.9 billion in economic activity and create about 12,000 jobs, according to a city-commissioned report by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute and Beacon Economics, which is to be released today. Those extended crews, along with potentially millions of spectators, would patronize hotels, restaurants and stores, the report said. Piers would be upgraded to host the boats and their crews - infrastructure benefits that would remain with the city for years to come. Piers 30-32 and Pier 50 are the leading sites for a sailing village. The city would also be showcased to an international television audience watching the contest play out in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. In terms of output, the economic impact of the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia was just shy of $7 billion, according to the Valencian Institute of Economic Research. -- John Cote Full article at: www.sfgate.com The full report at: Mediterranean Conditions In Cowes Competitors at the British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta 2010 were treated to sailing conditions more akin to the Mediterranean than the Solent as racing got under way on day one. Some early cloud cover this morning quickly burnt away to reveal clear blue skies and by the time the fifty-two boat fleet reached the start line an idyllic ten to twelve knots breeze had developed across the entire racecourse. Starts and mark roundings were fiercely fought in every fleet and boat-handling mistakes were cruelly punished throughout the day. The 1937 12 Metre Wings was the first to show from the combined Class 1 and 2 start, powering off the line before tacking on to port to lead the fleet away up the first beat. Jim Thom, skipper of Mariquita, the biggest and perhaps most well known boat in the regatta, the 1911 built 19 Metre Gaff-Cutter, took a more circuitous route up the first beat than most in an effort to find a clear lane to navigate in. Thom commented afterwards 'We have returned to this regatta because we enjoyed ourselves so much in 2008. We are here to enjoy the racing of course, but when racing in a fleet with so many boats smaller than ourselves, our priority is always the safety of our boat and the others on the water.' When the scorers had completed their calculations, in Class 1 a confident performance by Stephen O'Flaherty's Soufriere earned them a comfortable win. Class 2 saw John Lister's Wings convert their early lead on the water into an overall handicap victory. Class 3 was won by Sir Michael Briggs's Mikado and victory in Class 4 went to Jonathan & Scilla Dyke's Cereste. Racing continues tomorrow with a long distance race, potentially featuring a course which will take the fleet around the Isle of Wight. www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/regatta Extreme 40 World Championship The final day's racing saw a change of conditions from the rest of the five-day regatta, with a storm sweeping through Portoroz overnight bringing strong winds and rain showers. However the testing conditions were dealt with expertly by the Extreme 40 crews, made up from sailing talent from across the globe including Olympic gold medallists, world and national champions, top ocean racers and America's Cup veterans. Just two points separated the overnight leaders, Mitch Booth's Slovenian home team The Ocean Racing Club, from their closest rivals Red Bull Extreme Sailing, led by Roman Hagara. Competition between the two teams was incredibly tight with each team boasting six wins and four seconds over the week. In order to win the overall title Booth needed to finish less than two points behind Hagara in the last and only race of the final day. It was Team Kempinski/Great Britain, helmed by Shirley Robertson, which put the pedal to the metal leading the fleet for the whole race in a spectacular show which saw the crew take their first win of the regatta. Rounding the final windward mark, Red Bull Extreme Sailing were close behind in second with Team IWC/Holland in third and The Ocean Racing Club in fourth. It was looking like Booth and The Ocean Racing Club could be edged out of the top spot but some stylish downwind sailing from catamaran legend Booth saw them overtake Team IWC/Holland in the dying seconds to clinch third - and become the first ever Extreme 40 World Champions. Hotel and Development Land For Sale in Bequia - Located on c 435,600 sq ft land; About Bequia Further details available on request. Contact for enquiries A Perfect Day At Torbole Watching the racing from the Committee Boat on Course Alpha, it was clear that the racing conditions were exactly as described in the brochure, "At 1230 hrs, the Ora wind will arrive from the south of the Lake"....and it did, enabling Principal Race Officer Roberta Righetti, to get the fleet away on time with a clear start. Course Brava started soon after, having suffered a slight delayed whilst the Race Committee struggled to anchor the pin end mark. Typically for Course Alpha, the fleet bunched at the pin end of the start line, before heading off to hug the shore all the way to the windward mark. The same side of the course remained the favourite for downwind leg. Luca Bacci (ITA) rounded the windward mark in first place, and lead for the remainder of the race, extending his lead at times to over 150 metres as the wind built. Bacci (ITA) went on to win race 1 on Course A, followed by Sarah Allan (GBR), Craig Burlton (GBR) and Mark Rushall (GBR). All 3 boats all sponsored by Gill. Course Bravo enjoyed, "Perfect Riva racing conditions" according to Jerry Hill (GBR) helm of 3 Sad Old Blokes. "With a 3, 5, 1 today the Sad Old Blokes have plenty to build on and Grunter (bowman Grant Rollerson) showed his grunt at the front of the ship." Team Proximo (RSA) helmed by Ian Ainslie suffered a broken pole during the first downwind leg of race 1 forcing them to sail without a pole for the rest of the race in which they still managed to finish second. Their subsequent results will be a disappointment to their event ambitions. Current Laser SB3 World Champions Craig Burlton leads the fleet overnight. Racing continues tomorrow when the fleets will split again onto the two courses, this time sorted by odd and even finishing position. Brest Classic Week: A Successful First Edition This afternoon the curtain fell on the first edition of Brest Classic Week. During this final day, the 40 crews competed in a coastal course, spanning a dozen or so miles, in a 10 to 12 knot SW'ly breeze. Ultimately, Dione, a newcomer to the Classic Yacht circuit, emerged as the winner in the overall ranking in Class A, while the young crew of Bim Bam from Brest took victory in Class B. With some exceptional conditions, some varied courses around the harbour of Brest and the Iroise Sea and some battles worthy of professional match racing, this first edition of Brest Classic Week thoroughly lived up to expectations. In Class A, there was some intense fighting from beginning to end between Stiren skippered by Gildas Rostain and Dione helmed by Stephane Even. The winner of the Transat Classic in 2008 and the Belle Plaisance in Benodet last June, finally bowed to the newcomer of the Classic Yacht circuit. As regards Class B, the local boat Bim Bam, driven by the young sailor Stephane Lainez, literally sailed through the event, winning all of the five races run. The ranking Class A: Class B: Pazienza wins the Traditional Yacht Prize The jury comprising Anne Liardet and Michel Vanek (sailors), Gwendal Jaffry (Editor of Chasse-Maree) and Francois Lebrun (journalist at Echos), Hubert Stagnol (builder), and Loic Blaken (co-organiser), awarded the Traditional Yacht Prize (Prix du Yacht de Tradition) of Brest Classic Week to the superb Giles design, which belonged to The Who's guitarist Peter Townsend. This 18 metre boat was also named on a national level for the Traditional Yacht of the Year Prize (Prix du Yacht de Tradition de l'Annee) in the 15-23 metre category, while Bim Bam was selected for the category of boats of less than 15 metres. The latter Prize will be awarded on 3rd December 2010 during the Paris boat show. Camet Code Zip Performance Shirt For more information please see: Class40 World Championship Ned will be the one to beat, facing the 15 teams of challengers expected at the 2010 World Championship. Fifteen teams have registered: : the Spaniards Gonzalo Botin (Tales Villa Esperanza) and Anna Corbella (Aux filles de l'eau), Dutch Roeland Franssens (Moonpalace), South African Nick Legatt (Phesheya Racing), the German Mathias Blumencron (Red), From Great Britain, Peter Harding (40 degrees) and Ned Collier Wakefield (Concise 2), from France Christian Chardonnal (Neurodon.fr/Espoir en tete), Jean-Edouard Criquioche (Groupe Picoty), Thomas Ruyant (Courrier Dunkerque), Patrice Bougard (Kogane), Samuel Manuard (Vecteur Plus), Thierry Bouchard (Mistral Loisirs), Marc Lepesqueux (Marie Toit) and Louis Burton (Spirit aux filles de feu). Some newcomers will have to be watched closely, ready to take everyone by surprise facing Ned Collier Wakefield. Winner of the last Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50 on a prototype, Thomas Ruyant won the Normandy Channel Race as soon as he arrived in this class. Thomas is coming to get some experience in Class40 before the Route du Rhum. Also to be watched closely: Sam Manuard. The well-known designer will be on board the BM40 designed with Bert Mauri. Anna Corbella, 13th on Prototypes and 1st woman during the last Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50, is preparing for the Barcelona World Race that she will run with Dee Caffari on a 60-feet monohull. The regatta should be very interesting as well since it will feature very different designs on water. The Pogo 40 (Pascal Conq) will be the most represented at sea with 3 crews on the 1st version, 1 version S, and 1 version S2. There will be, as well, 3 Akilaria (Lombard) with one RC2. Besides, there will be one 1 design Lombard prototype, 1 Jaz 40 MKII (Owen Clarke design), 1 Tyker 40 Evolution (Marin / Verdier), 1 Jumbo 40 (Rolland), 1 OCD40 (Owen Clarke Design), 1 design JPK 40 (Valer) and BM40 (Manuard/Berti). Rainbow JH2: Transported To Holland Jachtbouw Rainbow JH2 has been re-designed by Dykstra & Partners Naval Architects according to the original design of William Starling Burgess, but now constructed in aluminium with carbon mast and rigging and 3-DL racing sails. On Monday July 19th Rainbow JH2 was transported on a barge to Holland Jachtbouw in Zaandam. Zwartsluis based HEBO took care of the transport, across the IJsselmeer and through Amsterdam. The 40 meter yacht is now on a cradle inside Holland Jachtbouw where she will be finished. Early 2012 Rainbow will be launched and rigged. Immediately afterwards test sailing and crew training will commence off Ijmuiden. At the J class event at Fallmouth and Cowes in June 2012 Rainbow JH2 will be able to compete against her sister ships for the first time. During the Olympic Games in England, Rainbow will be available for (day)charters. Building progress and latest developments can be checked at www.rainbow-jh2.com Solo Westabout Challenge Steve White takes on the 'Impossible Voyage', sailing a Volvo Open 70, considered to be a handful for its usual full crew of ten men. Steve will sail across the historic Ushant - Lizard start line, then down to Cape Horn before turning right underneath it and into the Southern Ocean, where he will spend up to sixty days battling into the wind and against the current in some of the harshest conditions on the planet before turning right again one last time below the Cape of Good Hope, to head North and home to the finish line. Due to the extreme nature of this record, only five sailors have made this attempt in the past forty years. The current record of 122 days is held by Frenchman Jean-Luc Van Den Heede. Steve is confident of being able to return the record to Britain on its 40th anniversary. Sailing legend Sir Chay Blyth was the first to set the record onboard "British Steel", in what was referred to by The Times in 1970 as the "Impossible Voyage". The highly experienced team at White Ocean Racing are currently looking for potential sponsorship partners. The rewards of title sponsorship are exceedingly high, as this is a unique and steerable event for a sponsor. Women's Open Keelboat Championship Competitors include: - Current champion Louise Morton will be returning to defend her title with Espada. Racing takes place on Saturday and Sunday (24/25 July) at the Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hamble. There will be three classes : J80s, IRC 1 and IRC 2 with prizes for first, second and third overall in the Championship, plus the winners and runners up in each class. We are delighted to be sponsored this year by Coffin Mew LLP (Championship sponsor), Dubarry of Ireland (Race sponsor) and Wight Vodka (Drinks sponsor). This year, WOKC will once again be supporting Breast Cancer Care, and money raised from the raffle will be donated to them. Prizes include a host of sailing, food and beauty goodies. Yachts and crews can still enter the competition. For details of how, visit the Royal Southern Yacht Club website at: www.royal-southern.co.uk Event site: www.wokc.co.uk Kito de Pavant Back In The Figaro A single-handed delivery of his Figaro Groupe Bel was carried out in early July, from Lorient to Le Havre, from where he will set off on 27 July for the first leg of the 41st Solitaire du Figaro, heading for Gijon (Spain). This should be enough to get him back into the rhythm of things, as if he really needed to. "It is a true test of endurance. You need to be mentally prepared, because all the legs are difficult. I'm fairly familiar with how it goes. We're going to have successive sleepless nights, we'll have to play with winds veering in all directions and currents changing at the wrong time, and all this surrounded by dozens of contenders hungering for victory. An increasing number of skippers enjoy Figaro sailing throughout the year and the level is much more consistent. This makes it all the more difficult to find a place in the sun, but experience is very important. You need to be strong minded and sail fast. What I really like about this race is that it's a very full race. There's close contact racing among the rocks as well as offshore and fierce competition between the racers. We all race at the same speed and you have to try and be fairly detached from the fleet, know how to take risks at certain moments and not take others. Some sailors are particularly suited to this kind of event. I hope I still am. It is true that achieving a performance on the Solitaire will not be the easiest thing to do." Schedule for the Solitaire du Figaro 2010 www.lasolitaire.com Featured Brokerage Aeolus was launched in 1981, and is hull number 61 of the 70 classic Swan 47. One of the tall rig cutter versions, she responds to the slightest puff, and with a removable inner forestay, tacking in light winds is a breeze. This boat has a 7.5 kt. hullspeed, and with 33,000lbs. of momentum, she really does become that racer. And when the wind is blowing, she really comes alive. With a jiffy reefing system on the main, Harken furling 120 foresail, and cutter staysail, she cuts through the waves with comfort and ease, even at speeds approaching ten kts... A recently installed Monitor windvane, will sail her unerringly for many hours on a fast and true course. This boat is fully outfitted with current electronic and safety equipment for long distance cruising. Her knowledgeable owners have kept her in beautiful shape while honoring her simple, effective, and pleasing esthetics. Brokerage through Southern California Yacht Sales: www.yachtworld.com/scyachts/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at The Last Word |
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