In This Issue
• Blue Water Medal Presented to Kenichi Horie
• Only a matter of time - Persico Marine
• Periodic Table of Elements?
• North Sea Race
• JOB OPPORTUNITY – Experienced Yacht Rigger required
• A wonderful celebration of sailing and parties
• Q&A Call with Sam Sills, Olympic foiling maestro
• 10th S&S Swan Rendezvous - 28 June - 2 July 2023
• M32 Winter Series
• Cruising Associaton Zoom Talk this Wednesday
• Featured Charter: OLA - San Lorenzo 82
• Featured Brokerage:
• • INFINITI 46 - "Maverick"
• • Open 42 one-off
• • Gunboat 68
• The Last Word: Will Rogers
Brought to you by Seahorse magazine and YachtScoring.com EuroSail News 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
Blue Water Medal Presented to Kenichi Horie
Kenichi Horie, 84, with Cal Currier, 17, winner of the Young Voyager Award. Photo by Dan Nerney. Click on image to enlarge.
On his way to becoming Japan's most famous sailor, Horie crossed oceans and circumnavigated in a variety of small boats, beginning in 1962 when he sailed from Japan to San Francisco in a 19-foot plywood sloop. Sixty years later, at age 83, he sailed a similar-sized boat the other way, from San Francisco to Nishinomiya, Japan in 2022. In the years in between, Horie sailed alone around the world multiple times and made other remarkable ocean crossings in boats using solar, wind, and wave power and made of recycled materials.
The youngest winner to be recognized by the CCA was Cal Currier, who earned the Young Voyager Award. As a 16-year-old high-school student from Palo Alto, California, Currier learned to sail early in 2022, bought and prepared a modest 30-foot sailboat, and then sailed it alone last summer from Marion, Massachusetts, to Lagos, Portugal, via the Azores. Currier was cited for his impressive initiative and remarkable voyage.
Only a matter of time - Persico Marine
This beautiful and impressively engineered electric runabout is born from a partnership between Persico Marine and Zagato Atelier – two iconic and proudly Italian brands, both world leaders in their respective fields.
Unlike most of the other famous Italian coachbuilders that have made (and continue to make) car design history, the background of Zagato Atelier is not in the traditional industry of building horsedrawn carriages, but at the cutting edge of early aviation. Ugo Zagato founded his company in 1919 after working in the design office of a biplane manufacturer. His aim was to transfer the sophisticated construction techniques that he had developed in his previous job – combining light weight with strength – from aircraft to automobiles. Part of this heritage can be found today, more than a century later, in the electric runabout project.
Full article in the March issue of Seahorse
Periodic Table of Elements?
Introducing new Zircon blocks - named after the element Zirconium - a metal, #40 on the Periodic Table, and more commonly known as ceramic. Inside Zircon are just seven ceramic balls. They're so microscopically smooth and so hard, if they didn't travel in bearing races of the same metal, they'd destroy the block from the inside. Zircon is no all-purpose block. In fact, no block is right for every application. But Zircon blocks overcome rolling resistance so easily, information flows acutely through the sheet. In the lightest air, trimmers feel they can actually push the sheet out. Sheet in hand, they respond quicker... better matching sail shape to the new condition - often the difference between winning and not.
Most of us here aren't material scientists. But with Zircon, you know it when you feel it.
Study & buy here: harken.com/en/shop/zircon-blocks/
Watch a Zircon video here: harken.com/en/news/zircon-riley-gibbs/
North Sea Race
Registration for the NSR 2023 is open.
This year we have a full line up of exciting one design classes and a brand new ORC coastal class.
Head over to our Manage2sail portal to register and secure your spot for the 2023 edition.
Vuurschepen Race: May 16, 2023
North Sea Race (RORC): May 19, 2023
Inshore Races & Coastal: May 27 -29, 2023
This year ORC 1/2/3 boats may choose to sail two coastal races during the inshore racedays, instead of three Windward- Leeward races.
NSR Inshore Races One Design Classes
Saturday 27 May 2023 - Monday 29 May 2023
This event is open for the following classes:
J/22
J/80
SB 20
Maxfun 25
Javelin
Finn
ILCA 6
ILCA 7
29er
RS 500
JOB OPPORTUNITY – Experienced Yacht Rigger required
They are understandably proud of their team of highly knowledgeable craftsmen, engineers, boat handlers, riggers, electricians and fabricators, most of whom have worked for the company for many years. With the boatyard at its busiest ever Fox's are looking for an Experienced Yacht Rigger to join the team. The candidate will be responsible for delivering rigging projects, and liaising with customers and colleagues, to ensure jobs run smoothly.
Requirements:
• Up-to-date knowledge of yacht rigging/sailing systems, on vessels up to 100ft
• Experience in the manufacture of standing rigging in wire and wool
• Knowledge of hand splicing/rope work
• Good communication skills – written and verbal
• Solid organisational skills with the ability to multi-task
• Physically fit - able to work inside and out on vessels ashore and afloat
• Comfortable working at height
• Team player with the ability to work alone when required
• Proven experience in the marine industry is preferred
40 hours per week - with flexibility.
Apply in writing with your CV detailing relevant experience and qualifications to
A wonderful celebration of sailing and parties
The Gosnell Trophy. Photo by Ted Martin. Click on image to enlarge.
The invitational event is held in the spectacular waters of Antigua with laid-back social events in Nelson's Dockyard. The Superyacht Challenge has one clear objective; to provide all the facilities to stage an ideal event for an exclusive selection of superyachts.
The 148ft Dubois ketch Catalina is back for their second regatta having come class runner up in 2019. Catalina's Boat Captain is Sean Witney. Catalina is part of the history of The Superyacht Challenge Antigua, her former owners, the Gosnells competed in the first three editions of the regatta as Timoneer. The Gosnells donated the ship's bell and that is the only trophy awarded at the regatta. Each yacht competing yachts, and the race committee, cast one vote for the yacht that has competed in the Spirit of the Regatta, both afloat and ashore. The winner lifts The Gosnell Trophy.
superyachtchallengeantigua.com
Wednesday, 8 March, 1900 hours UTC: Q&A Call with Sam Sills, Olympic foiling maestro
TOPIC - How to survive in a 'Sudden Death' world...
Over the past year Sam Sills (GBR) has been one of the most consistent performers on the new foiling windsurfing circuit. Competing on the massively popular iQFOiL tour, one of the new events on the Olympic sailing scene, Sam has been wearing the leader's yellow bib quite a bit in recent months. But even if he sometimes finds himself clocking up a huge points lead during qualifying, Sam doesn't necessarily find himself on the top step of the podium at the end of the last day.
The 'sudden death' format, the winner-takes-all possibilities of the iQFOiL medal series certainly makes for some last-minute drama, as someone from further down the field emerges at the top of the pile. But how do you keep your head straight when you know you're one of the most consistent, acknowledged as one of the best by your peers, yet risk missing out on the glittering prize?
With a gold medal at stake in Paris 2024, the 'winner takes all' format presents a fascinating, high-pressure mental challenge for the foiling windsurfers, very different from the more predictable double points Medal Race still being contested by the 'boat' classes.
Join Road To Gold for a free Zoom call and a 60-minute Q&A session with Sam to learn how to apply his hard-earned experience to your own windsurfing and sailing ventures.
Road To Gold Q&A calls are free to join live, and offer a rare opportunity to speak directly with some of the best sailors in the world. If you've got questions about training, teamwork, attitude, technical challenges, anything related to making your boat or board go faster, join these calls live. Road To Gold's Andy Rice and Hamish Willcox will be fielding live questions throughout each 60-minute session.
Join Zoom Meeting with Sam Sills
Meeting ID: 858 9029 0585
Passcode: 229299
Make sure you're signed up to the Road To Gold Facebook Group to get further info on the call.
facebook.com/groups/roadtogoldsquad
It's free the join the call Live, but if you can't make it live you can get downloadable recordings of this session and other Road To Gold Q&As by following the link below and subscribing to the calls at a very favourable rate:
To subscribe to Live Coaching Calls: roadtogold.net/p/calls
10th S&S Swan Rendezvous - 28 June - 2 July 2023
Marciana Marina, Elba Island, Mediterranean Sea: The Sailing Club of Marciana Marina is pleased to announce that it will host the 10th Edition of the prestigious S&S Swan Rendezvous.
An impressive fleet, as of today 42 yachts have expressed their intention to participate in the Rendezvous. A record number! Coming together in a series of regattas racing by the shores of the principal island of the Tuscan archipelago from the 28th June to the 2nd of July.
The Owners and their beloved yachts - and also members of the S&S Swan Association- will be coming from all over the World such as Australia, Finland, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
Besides the competitive racing programme, there will also be many shore events for Owners and crew to come together at this great event that takes place every two years - there will be a talk about the 1979 Fastnet Race where the S&S Swans were indomitable protagonists and luckily unharmed. Also a talk about the Ocean Globe Race 2023 with participants of the race and Owners of S&S Swans who will be at the Rendezvous.
The sailing club of Marciana Marina will donate a part of the registration fees paid by the participants to the non-profit association "Abbracciamoli" who operate in the field of the fight against infant leukemia and the donation will aid the pediatric hematology wards in hospitals
The 10th Edition is dedicated to Lars Storm, recently deceased, the greatest friend of all the S&S Swan Owners have ever had for over 30 years, former head of the technical department of the Finnish boatyard. -- Laura Jelmini
M32 Winter Series
Miami, Florida, USA: Sailors from all around the world descended upon the palm trees, turquoise waters, and colorful foliage of Miami for the third event of the 2023 M32 Winter Series. The three-day event just closed in dramatic fashion after 14 races.
A big round of congratulations is in order for Jake Julien's young Rated X team of Stephan Baker, Keith Swinton, Julius Hallstrom, Jeff McCooey, and Dave Gilmour. Rated X was certainly the team to beat after Saturday's racing, but with only a one-point margin ahead of Dan Cheresh's Extreme2, every Sunday point was going to count.
Winning today's first race extended Rated X's winning margin - but only until Extreme2 won Race Two, reeling in the young guns. The two boats were at each other's throats all day long. The grand finale was a classic who-beats-who between Rated X and Extreme2, tied at the top with 28 points. Rated X played it cool and led the race wire-to-wire. 18-year-old Stephan Baker stepped in for Jake Julien on Saturday and Sunday. "I was offered to drive the boat for the weekend because Jake had to do a high school business challenge, so of course I took the opportunity," said Baker. "It was an unbelievable experience. I don't know how to pop champagne yet. Turns out I need to practice!"
The fleet saw three days of non-stop sunshine, warm weather, and a perfect big breeze that faded on the last day for a light wind finale. Dock talk will tell you Friday's conditions were the best of the year.
The fleet will stay in Miami for the Winter Series finale in April. Next is Lake Garda for the European Series and Newport, Rhode Island for the Midtown Cup series. It all leads up to the 2023 M32 World Championship in Newport in September.
Full results at m32world.com
Cruising Associaton Zoom Talk this Wednesday
The Cruising Association is pleased to invite you to a Zoom talk led by the CA's expert Regulatory and Technical Services group (RATS) at 1900 hrs on Wednesday 8 March 2023.
The talk will feature a number of short presentations with the focus on advice cruisers can use in practice, followed by a panel discussion and Q&As from the audience, covering:
- Orca Interactions - a presentation of the experiences, both interactions and uneventful passages, of sailors during the 2022 season in the waters where the Gibraltar Strait orca pod live, what has been learnt and what is planned for 2023 to help with the problem.
- Windfarms - there are more than 40 operational offshore wind farms off the shores of the UK with many more under construction or in various stages of planning. The talk will explain the hazards and advise how best to navigate around and through a windfarm, both in the UK and elsewhere.
- Cruising in Europe Now - we are still getting used to myriad changes and learning how to live in post-Brexit times, as well as finding out much more about how we can continue to go sailing and enjoy the delights of being 'abroad'. The talk will summarise how the main changes are working in practice.
- VAT - dealing with VAT issues is now an everyday reality for yacht cruising, particularly for those who cruise between the UK and the EU. This talk will provide practical guidance on what needs to be done to avoid inadvertent VAT liabilities.
- CE/RCD issues - following the UK leaving the EU, the UK is replacing the well-known CE mark with its own version, UKCA, with full implementation now delayed to the end of 2024. This talk will summarise how the new UK system will work for yachts, who it may impact and how it may affect yacht movements or transactions.
Featured Charter
Boasting a host of fabulous amenities and a classic interior, OLA is tailor made for elegant charters. Relax on her sunpads, dine beneath the shade of the canvas bimini or hop aboard her tender for a ride, and let your cares slip away.
Refitted in 2021, OLA offers guest accommodation for up to 8 guests in 4 comfortable cabins. The bed configuration includes 4 singles in 2 twin cabins and 2 king size beds in 2 in one Master Suite and one VIP stateroom. She is also capable of carrying up to 3 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.
Built with a GRP hull and GRP superstructure, OLA boasts impressive speed and great efficiency thanks to her planing hull.
Charter Destinations:
SUMMER : West Mediterranean
French Riviera | Corsica | Sardinia | Marseille to Saint Tropez
WINTER : West Mediterranean
French Riviera | Corsica | Sardinia | Marseille to Saint Tropez
See listing details in Seahorse Charters
Contact
Charter Department
Bernard-Gallay
Phone : +33 (0)467 66 39 93
Mail : or
See the the Seahorse charter collection
Featured Brokerage
Designed by DSS-creator Hugh Welbourn, the Infiniti 46 is an uncompromised carbon fibre racing yacht principally for coastal and offshore events.
Maverick is fitted with a canting keel and single dagger board option, to complement its lateral DSS foils.e racer, ready to challenge again in 2022.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats
+442380 016582
+447759 424900
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Canting Keel Kuka-Light has been constantly upgraded and shown to be as fast as the best 50 and 60 footer in races like Giraglia and Middle Sea Race.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
www.racing-yachts.com
Zuidersluisweg 41, Lelystad, The Netherlands
Tel +31 (0)6 42444433
Email:
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A dream team of designers have developed the platform to make the Gunboat 68 the greatest Gunboat ever built.
Fast, technologically advanced, and elegantly designed, The Gunboat 68 is the culmination of development within the fleet since the first Gunboat launched in 2002. Incorporating the best of what has come before with experienced boatbuilding and valuable industry partnerships, the Gunboat 68 is a step-change in the evolution of the brand.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
gunboat.com
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets. -- American humourist Will Rogers
Editorial and letter submissions to
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see eurosailnews.com/advertise/