In This Issue
Allegra take Multihull Line Honours | Platoon Leads Rolex TP52 World Championship | What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine | Fifth Volvo Ocean Race entry | New Multihull Sportboat Class for Vice Admiral's Cup, | Industry News | 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
Allegra take Multihull Line Honours
Allegra, the Nigel Irens-designed 78ft catamaran skippered by Adrian Keller was the second boat to finish the 2017 Antigua Bermuda Race on Tuesday 16 May 2017 at 21 hours 40 mins and 53 secs ADT, taking Multihull Line Honours.
News from the fleet still racing is that Les Crane's Farr PH 56, Monterey had been abandoned after taking on water; the cause is unknown. The crew are all safe and well having been transferred onto the Volvo 60, Esprit De Corps IV. The schooner Spirit of Bermuda is close by and monitoring the situation and both boats are making their way to the finish in Bermuda.
British Swan 82, Stay Calm is the second monohull to finish the race just before midday, local time on 17th May. Stay Calm passed St. David's Light, but their corrected finish time was not enough to topple Volvo 70, Warrior from the top of CSA. Don Macpherson's Swan 9,0 Freya is 54 miles from Bermuda and is expected to be the next yacht to finish the race. The first classic yacht to finish is likely to be the magnificent schooner, Eleonora. With 50 miles to go, the 162ft gaff rigged schooner - an exact replica of the 1910 Westward, designed and built by N. G. Herreshoff - is expected to finish the 935nmile race around sunset tonight.
Further back in the fleet, some 250 miles from the finish, the weather conditions seemed to have improved from the light airs of the last few days.
Platoon Leads Rolex TP52 World Championship
Scarlino, Italy: Maintaining a superlative level of consistency through a tough, three-race day, Harm Muller-Spreer's German-flagged team on Platoon have taken over the lead of the Rolex TP52 World Championship, earning themselves a cushion of three points ahead of defending world champions Quantum Racing.
The foundation component of the Platoon consistency seems to be their ability to find themselves a workable, clean lane up the first beat even after a poorer start. And so far, after four races at this prestigious world championship, they are the team that seem to have been gaining places more often than losing them.
Their 2,3,2,2 finishes so far are an accurate reflection of an excellent overall package, the hugely experienced Muller-Spreer profiting from the strong team around him led by American, John Kostecki - the only sailor to have achieved the sport's pinnacle trifecta, winning an Olympic Silver medal in the Soling in 1988, winning the Volvo Ocean Race on Illbruck in 2001-2 and the 33rd America's Cup with BMW Oracle in February 2010.
Platoon worked hard for their third in the first race of the day, contested in the early NE'ly gradient breeze blowing offshore. They were pressing hard behind second-placed Quantum Racing in a race that was won by Azzurra. Tony Langley's Gladiator crew won the second race after a neatly executed pin end start allowed them an early jump on the fleet, Platoon taking second before only just losing out to Quantum Racing - the winners of the third race.
Standings after four races
1. Platoon (GER, Harm Muller-Spreer), (2,3,2,2) 9 points
2. Quantum Racing (Doug DeVos, USA), (1,2,8,1) 12
3. Azzurra (Roemmers Family, ITA/ARG), (3,1,6,8) 18
4. Alegre (Andres Soriano GBR/USA), (5,6,4,4) 19
5. Gladiator (Tony Langley, GBR) (6,10,1,3) 20
6. Sorcha (Peter Harrison, GBR), (7,4,3,10) 24
7. Rán Racing (Niklas Zennström, SWE), (10,5,5,7) 27
8. Sled (Takashi Okura, USA), (4,9,7,9) 29
9. Bronenosec (Vladimir Liubomirov, RUS), (8,7,9,5) 29
10. Provezza (Ergin Imre, TUR) (9,8,10,6) 33
For full results
To watch the race again
Seahorse June 2017
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
World news
Sebastien Josse prepares to meet his monster, as Thomas Coville speeds his up, scows rule (again), timeless in Auckland, gagged in the USA and who got there first? Patrice Carpentier, Ivorwilkins, Rob Kothe, Dobbs Davis
Better (motor) boats
Low drag has played a central part in the long and successful design career of Nigel Irens. And nothing's changed with his latest venture...
ORC column - Justice prevails
Yes at last we have a 2016 European Champion!
Behind the throne - Part II
America's Cup sails but with more handwork - Burns Fallow talks Superyacht rigs
New kid comin'
For shiny carbon parts from small to very large indeed... look no further
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Fifth Volvo Ocean Race entry
The fifth entry to the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will sail under the name Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag and will represent Hong Kong, it was announced today.
The campaign will be backed by Seng Huang Lee and Sun Hung Kai & Co., the Hong Kong-based owner of supermaxi yacht Scallywag, and aims to promote competitive sailing in Asia and build a long-lasting youth sailing legacy in the region. Hong Kong will be a Host City in the Volvo Ocean Race for the first time in the 2017-18 edition, starting in October.
Lee purchased the 100-foot yacht Scallywag, previously known as Ragamuffin, in 2016, and the team has already set numerous speed records. The entry into the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is the next step in Mr Lee's long-term vision to build a strong sailing legacy in Asia, and see more Asian teams compete at international events.
The team, racing a Volvo Ocean 65, will be skippered by experienced Australian sailor David Witt, who returns to the Volvo Ocean Race following a 20-year absence, after competing in 1997-98 race onboard Innovation Kvaerner - the boat led by former Volvo Ocean Race CEO, Knut Frostad.
A veteran of the Sydney to Hobart Race, having competed the challenge over 20 times, Witt is regarded as one of the best heavy weather sailors in the sport, and is keen to retest his mettle in the Southern Ocean when the fleets heads south later this year.
The other confirmed entries so far are team AkzoNobel (skippered by Simeon Tienpont, Netherlands), Dongfeng Race Team (Charles Caudrelier, France), MAPFRE (Xabi Fernández, Spain) and Vestas 11th Hour Racing (Charlie Enright, USA).
New Multihull Sportboat Class for Vice Admiral's Cup
Having helped rejuvenate the Tour de France a la Voile in 2015, Diam 24 One Design will make its debut on the Solent over 19-21st May at the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Vice Admiral's Cup.
The 7.25m by 5.62m one design is from the drawing board of VPLP, who has penned many top offshore multihulls such as the MOD70 and all recent Jules Verne Trophy record holders. Significantly the Diam24od is the first multihull class to be invited to compete in the Vice Admiral's Cup, the annual one design/level rating regatta, celebrating its 12th birthday this year.
Five Diam24ods from the UK are entered in the Vice Admiral's Cup
While the Diam24od held their first regatta in the UK at Poole Week last year, the RORC's Vice Admiral's Cup will be their first official outing on the Solent. "This will be our first formal race having been sailing the boat for just under a year," says Smith.
Peter Morton with his wife, Louise, originally created the Vice Admiral's Cup for one design and level rating classes or tightly grouped handicap classes, or as he puts it: "To fill a gap that the Admiral's Cup left behind. With the handicap classes, we wanted to try and narrow it right down so there was more boat-on-boat racing."
Classes are invited to complete at the Vice Admiral's Cup and over the years they have moved with the times, the Diam24od being the event's very latest class.
Both Mortons are competing once again this year. The event was supposed to have marked the debut for Peter's brand new Carkeek 40 Mk3, Girls on Film, in the FAST 40+ class. However the boat's arrival has been delayed, so for the Vice Admiral's Cup, Morton has chartered Andrew Pearce's Ker 40+, Magnum 4.
FAST40+ Class President, Robert Greenhalgh is expecting 10 FAST40+s at the Vice Admiral's Cup. As to the form boats, Morton can never be discounted, while the boat Greenhalgh sails on, Sir Keith Mills' Ker 40+ Invictus, won the RORC Easter Challenge and Morton's 2016 boat, now Bas de Voogd's Hitchhiker, won the FAST40+ Spring Regatta.
Louise Morton will once again be campaigning in the Quarter Ton class. While her Bullit is the defending Coutts Quarter Ton Cup champion, Louise has not had it her own way so far this year with Sam Laidlaw's Aguila winning both the RORC Easter Challenge and the Warsash Spring Series.
At least ten Quarter Tonners are expected to compete at the Vice Admiral's Cup, including Aguila and Bullit plus a couple of new additions to the fleet. As to the event which they conceived, Louise says: "We were very proud of it and we like to keep an eye on it!" Other classes competing at the Vice Admiral's Cup are the HP30, the J/109 and J/111, the Impala and SB20. -- James Boyd
Industry News
Nautor's Swan has just confirmed another essential position in the APAC region, appointing Olivier Decamps as the new Regional Director.
"I have always admired Nautor' Swan yachts ever since I started racing over 40 years ago. I strongly believe that the Asia Pacific region is only at the beginning of its "yachting growth", says Olivier Decamps "I look forward to working with the team, developing the Agents' network, promoting the brand and bringing some of Nautor Swan's passion to Asia Pacific."
Olivier Decamps is originally from Belgium but he lives in Hong Kong since 2004, working professionally in the industry as an experienced broker and competent racer.
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Returning for its second race partnership, TIMEZERO by MaxSea, has been named as the Official Navigation Software Supplier for the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race.
The race's twelve Clipper 70 yachts, the planet's largest matched racing fleet, will once again be equipped with the latest in marine navigation software to help complete their eleventh month circumnavigation.
Clipper Race Founder and Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston welcomed the renewed partnership, saying: "We are pleased to announce that all the fleet will be equipped with the latest TIMEZERO by MaxSea software. This will enable the boats to download the weather forecasts and then calculate the best choice of routes from that advanced information."
Adding, he said: "Having used TIMEZERO by MaxSea myself I know how invaluable it is and frankly it is not possible to race effectively these days without it."
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Hyde Sails has expanded and increased its loft space by a third to nearly 6,000m2 due to 'relentless demand'.
And the company is also to increase its staffing levels from the current level of 257 to around 300.
Hyde Sails is UK owned and managed with offices in Hamble and Ipswich.
Manufacturing used to take place in South Benfleet but production relocated to the Philippine island of Cebu.
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Garmin has acquired Active Corporation, which develops "crowd-sourced, rich content for boaters" under the ActiveCaptain brand, according to a Garmin statement. Terms were not disclosed.
ActiveCaptain is a community-based, electronic marine database that contains near real-time information about marinas, anchorages, local points of interest, and marine hazards for cruising and sailing destinations around the world. Most of the content is user generated. The database boasts more than 250,000 users and can be accessed via web browser or a variety of mobile applications.
Karen and Jeffrey Siegel, who founded ActiveCaptain, will become Garmin employees.
Jeffrey Siegel said the acquisition by Garmin would make ActiveCaptain even "more and global" as it develops. "Garmin has extensive engineering and cartography capabilities that will allow ActiveCaptain to be deeply integrated into their product offerings," said Siegel in the statement.
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Farr Yacht Design has created new and improved rudder designs for the Farr 395, Beneteau First 10R and Beneteau First 40.7. These new designs feature carbon fiber rudder posts, higher aspect ratio rudder blades, and the latest in foil technology. These modifications result in reduced weight and lower drag while, at the same time, increasing the stiffness, strength and safety factor.
Replacing the factory supplied rudder on these types of production cruiser-racers with a more racing-oriented rudder yields excellent bang-for-the-buck to improve the performance and handling of a production cruiser racer.
Farr Yacht Design has collaborated with Competition Composites, Inc. (CCI) to build these replacement rudders. Owners of these yachts now have access to a vastly improved rudder design at an affordable price. All of these rudders are plug-and-play. They can be fitted into existing bearings and attached to the existing steering systems with little or no modifications required. The rudders were designed using our advanced parametric 3D modeling tools and tailored to suit the production methods of CCI.
farrdesign.com/news-rudder-redesign.html
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Groupe Beneteau unveiled a three-year plan that reaffirms the importance of the North American market at an event celebrating 30 years in the United States at its plant in Marion, S.C.
With a contribution of 30 percent to group revenue, the North American market is one of the pillars of Groupe Beneteau's growth. Beneteau said it will extend the range of powerboats that are built in Marion and delivered to the American market to better serve its distribution channels.
It also will move production from its plant in Brazil back to the United States.
Beneteau also said it will make "significant investments earmarked for the training and skill development of its 700 U.S. employees" and modernize U.S. manufacturing plants.
In 1984 the French boatbuilder was celebrating its 100th anniversary as it decided to enter the American market. Two years later, Beneteau opened its first production plant in Marion, where more than 8,700 Beneteau and Jenneau sailboats have been produced.
The group's headquarters for the Americas is in Annapolis, Md. It operates a second plant dedicated to powerboat production in Cadillac, Mich. The group's Four Winns, Glastron, Wellcraft and Scarab brands are produced at that plant. Today Groupe Beneteau Americas employs more than 700 people in the United States.
The company will unveil a new Oceanis sailboat at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis and introduce new models in the Swift Trawler and Gran Turismo lines that will debut at the Fort Lauderdale and Miami International boat shows, respectively.
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Matt Sheahan spoke to over 130 press and industry guests at the sixth annual MAA Press Lunch, which took place on Friday 12th May 2017. Matt shared his thoughts on the 2017 America's Cup, which takes place in Bermuda in two weeks time. The event, which is held at Haslar Marina, is organised by the Marine Advertising Agency (MAA) with sponsorship from Dean & Reddyhoff.
This year's event kicked off with tours of Ocean Youth Trust's new sail training vessel, Prolific, which has undergone an extensive refit and modifications to meet the Trust's unique requirements.
With the America's Cup in Bermuda just two weeks away, Matt Sheahan, Head of Performance Sailing at Sunset & Vine, who produce the TV coverage of the America's Cup for BT Sport, spoke at the lunch to give his perspective on the challenges facing the teams. Mark Todd, Chief Executive of Ocean Youth Trust South, also spoke at the lunch. He talked about the OYT's work with disadvantaged young people and the chance that sailing gives to improve outcomes for these young people.
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The America's Cup has announced that the latest addition to its roster of international broadcast partners is RTVE, the Spanish company which is the largest broadcaster in Spain broadcasting in the Spanish language. The free-to-air, national broadcast package is a significant sign of the strong interest the Spanish market has for the America's Cup, creating extensive TV coverage of the 35th America's Cup in a key market, with the content available to all.
The RTVE deal will see the Spanish broadcaster showcasing the entire live feed for each race day of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Qualifiers, the Louis Vuitton America's Cup Challenger Playoffs America's Cup and the America's Cup Match presented by Louis Vuitton live, or just delayed, on their free to air channels Teledeporte, Teledeporte HD, La1, La 1 HD, La2, 24h and TVE Internacional.
Featured Brokerage
2002 Farr 52 FURTIF2. 180000 EUR. Located in Toulon, South of France.
She was built in 2002, refitted in 2008 in New Zeeland by the current owner and brought to France in 2012. She has been optimized for the IRC racing. 2016 Rating : TCC = 1.288. Well maintained and ready to go.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
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2012 Swan 60 Racer Cruiser. Price on application. Located in Spain.
New to the brokerage market, this Swan 60 has been optimized for competitive racing and is offered as a turn-key regatta program including sails, rigging, equipment and storage/shipping cradle. Contact our office in Monaco for additional information about pricing and location
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com
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2010 Corby Dale Nelson 36. POA. Located in Wales.
High performance sailing meets DALE build standards. From the drawing board of John Corby, the technology of a cedar strip/carbon fibre composite hull marries perfectly with DALE’s traditional craftsmanship. ROXY 6 was built in 2010 for the Irish Commodores cup team, where she helped them to victory with a 2nd in class. A change of owners circumstances means the boat has not been in the water since and so the boat is in 'brand new' condition and available at a fraction of the original cost. Contact for more information on this unique opportunity. Location: Wales Listing office: Ancasta Raceboats POA (Tax Paid)
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Sam Pearson
Ancasta Port Hamble
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
Back For The Monday Issue
No issue out on Thursday night for Friday, as your humble narrator will be attending a pharmacological colloquy on the proper roles of Old Guys in today's society. Specifically... Land Shark or Parrothead? with renowned polymath James William Buffett.
The Last Word
Rock and Roll: Music for the neck downwards. -- Keith Richards
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