Brought to you by boats.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

VOTE for your favourite bar in the Wight Vodka Favourite Yachting Bar competition:
With nearly a thousand votes cast so far, One Bar in Lanzarote has a commanding lead... voting continues until December 27th at scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars.html

Team France For The America's Cup
This Wednesday 11 December, at the Nautic Paris Boat Show, Franck Cammas, Michel Desjoyeaux and Olivier de Kersauson presented Team France, which is dedicated to the next America's Cup as well as the training up of young engineers and racers. A number of personalities from the economic, institutional, sporting and media world came along to show their support for this pioneering trio and for the club of founder members.

The stand for the French Nautical Industries Federation boasted a full house this Wednesday at 1400 GMT with the presentation by a prestigious trio, who had come along to announce that they were going to be flying the French flag under the Yacht Club de France colours in their bid to participate in the upcoming America's Cup, scheduled for 2017. The elements of the Protocol, which governs this star event of international sailing, are yet to be confirmed (boat type, nationality rule, date and venue for the America's Cup selection rounds...), the aim of this announcement was to demonstrate that France could be a legitimate pretender.

Team France thus boasts some illustrious patrons. Bruno Bich, the son of Baron Bich, who was the first French boat owner in the America's Cup back in 1965... Thierry Martel, Managing Director of Groupama, who confirms his support to Franck Cammas for the next two years. Bertrand Meheut, President of the Canal+ group, which is committed to following the sporting event, the preparation and the mounting of Team France with its various broadcasts. Stephane Kandler, who was the last French representative during the 32nd America's Cup and is taking up the post of General Manager of the Team. Yves Lagane, President of the Yacht Club de France, who will lodge the challenge with the Americans and Jean-Pierre Champion, President of the French Sailing Federation.

Artemis Racing Signs Outteridge and Jensen For AC35
Artemis Racing is pleased to announce that Olympic Gold medalists Nathan Outteridge and Iain "Goobs" Jensen are continuing with the team, which is currently preparing its bid for the 35th America's Cup.

Nathan and Goobs will be once again joining forces with existing sailing team members triple Olympic medalist Iain Percy and legendary grinder Chris Brittle. This combination of sailing talents will serve as the foundation of Artemis Racing on the water and will work closely with designers to develop a winning boat.

Nathan served as helmsman and Goobs as wing trimmer in the 34th America's Cup, giving them invaluable experience on AC72s. The pair have sailed together from childhood and have achieved numerous victories, including a Gold Medal in the 49er class in the 2012 Summer Olympics - a feat which they look to repeat during the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Artemis Racing continues to assess the criteria for the next America's Cup, and is in the meantime building a winning team based on experience, talent and collaboration.

www.americascup.com

An Absorbing Interest. The America's Cup - A History
By Bob Fisher (£250 + p&p)

Revised limited edition signed by the author. Now down to the last 60 copies... for the sailor on your gift list who seemingly has everything... a very unique gift.

This coveted  2-volume slip-case edition has become a collector's item as important to the history of the Cup, as Lawson's original 'History of the America's Cup' published in 1901. 

These two beautifully designed tomes chart the history of sailing's most enigmatic and greatest prize, covering  the dramas, designs, and personalities from the first race around the Isle of Wight in 1851 to 2003 in Auckland where Ernesto Bertarelli and his largely Kiwi renegade team stole the Cup away to Europe. It is this rich history that has  led to the sheer fascination of what has become the oldest international sporting event. Heavily illustrated with rare etchings, lithographs, line drawings, paintings and pictures, all chosen to complement the text, this collector's edition charts every Cup match in great detail and can rightly claim to be a definitive history. 

The perfect gift for all those fascinated by the Cup

"This is the Bible of the America's Cup." Bruno Troublé - Louis Vuitton

View sample pages: www.southatlanticpublishing.com/aai_sample.htm

Purchase online at southatlanticpublishing.com

NOTE: Last day to order for Christmas delivery is December 16

"Sailing As We Know It Is Officially Over"
The sixth edition of the World Yacht Racing Forum and Yacht Racing Design and Technology Symposium closed its doors on Wednesday night following two intense days of presentations and networking at Gothenburg's Clarion Post Hotel.

An America's Cup on foiling catamarans, a one-design class for the Volvo Ocean Race and key elements of the traditionally liberal IMOCA Class standardised: those are only some of the radical changes sailing has gone through in 2013, and that have been debated with passion over the last two days by the delegates of the World Yacht Racing Forum in Gothenburg, Sweden.

"Sailing as we know it is officially over", commented keynote speaker and North Sails Group President Ken Read. Whether people like it or not, the sport is moving fast, in terms of technology but also promotion, communication tools, territories visited, classes... "Just look at how much sailing has evolved this year and compare it with soccer", observed Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad. "It 's simply amazing, although I think the sport should have evolved even faster. Sailing has been much too slow at adapting some of the new technologies available."

The World Yacht Racing Forum focused on the commercial aspects of the sport, in both offshore or in-port sailing, Olympic classes or the America's Cup. Talking about Olympic sailing, Olympic Champion and team Artemis CEO Iain Percy insisted on the fact that "the integrity of racing must be preserved despite the increase of commercial needs. It is wrong to put too much emphasis on the final race." An argument that seems recurrent in the World Yacht Racing Forum, already highlighted vehemently by Sir Ben Ainslie in 2012.

Over 230 delegates and 60 speakers from all over the world attended the different presentations.

www.worldyachtracingforum.com

ISAF Match Race Rankings
There is no change at World #1 in the Open and Women's Match Race Rankings with Taylor Canfield (ISV) and Lucy Macgregor (GBR) holding firm at the top.

Taylor Canfield (ISV) showed why he is World #1 in the Open Rankings after taking the ISAF Match Racing World Championship title at the Monsoon Cup, the final event of the 2013 Alpari World Match Racing Tour.

Having been knocked out at the semi-final stage Canfield was nervously waiting on shore as Ian Williams (GBR) faced Phil Robertson (NZL) in the final. A victory in the final for the Briton would have won him a record fifth title but Robertson swept Williams aside and victory for Canfield was assured.

Canfield finished the Monsoon Cup in third place overall, solidifying his World #1 position whilst a second in Malaysia for Williams keeps him at World #2.

With no ISAF graded Women's Match Racing regattas taking place in the current period there are few changes in the rankings.

Lucy Macgregor (GBR), Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN) and Anna Kjellberg (SWE) continue to hold the top three spots.

With crews losing regattas to their points total based on the 24-month system there are minor changes behind the top spots.

Top Ten Open

1. Taylor Canfield, ISV
2. Ian Williams, GBR
3. Bjorn Hansen, SWE
4. Philip Robertson, NZL
5. Mathieu Richard, FRA
6. Keith Swinton, AUS
7. Nicolai Sehested, DEN
8. Simone Ferrarese, ITA
9. Przemek Tarnacki, POL
10. Eric Monnin, SUI

Top Ten Women

1. Lucy Macgregor, GBR
2. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN
3. Anna Kjellberg, SWE
4. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen, DEN
5. Ekaterina Skudina, RUS
6. Stephanie Roble, USA
7. Alexa Bezel, SUI
8. Claire Leroy, FRA
9. Tamara Echegoyen, ESP
10. Julie Bossard, FRA

www.sailing.org/rankings/match/index.php

Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series
Bridgetown, Barbados: A healthy line-up of entries is expected at the inaugural Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series that runs from 15-24 January 2014.

Organised by the Barbados Cruising Club in association with the Barbados Tourism Authority and Mount Gay, the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series encompasses the already established Mount Gay Round Barbados Race plus a new series of coastal races, and a final 300-mile sprint to Antigua starting on 25 January.

Those signed up already include Idea - Reichel Pugh 78 - owned by John Wilson, UK, which holds the outright monohull record 70 miles clockwise round Barbados, with a time of 5 hours, 3 minutes, 34 seconds. Silver Bullet - Supercat 30 - owned by Bryn Palmer, Barbados, plans to defend the multihull title (4 hours, 24 minutes, 27 seconds).

Other interesting entries include Matt Baker's stunning Alfred Mylne-designed The Blue Peter that is currently en-route to Barbados, a 32m working Brigantine - Tres Hombres - from Holland, and Monster Project - a VO70 from the UK.

As expected at the home of Mount Gay Rum, fine Caribbean hospitality will be in full flow throughout the week with a party every night including the legendary Mount Gay Rum Red Cap party. The organisers have also teamed up with the Barbados Polo Club to run an exhibition match during lay day (20 January).

mountgayrumroundbarbadosrace.com

No Ride For Spithill For Sydney To Hobart
He may have won the America's Cup by orchestrating one of sports great comebacks but sailing hero James Spithill has revealed he hasn't had a single offer to do this year's Sydney to Hobart.

World sailing's hottest property also confirmed he has been approached by numerous teams to do the next America's Cup - although not Bob Oatley's Australian campaign - but said he is close to re-signing on the dotted line with American billionaire Larry Ellison and his Oracle team.

"Oracle is where I really expect to be,'' Spithill told The Daily Telegraph.

"I expect to have some news by Christmas.''

But while he is set to sail in the America's Cup again, Spithill has denied scuttlebutt he will be on one of five supermaxis preparing for the 69th Sydney to Hobart.

"I actually haven't had any offers,'' Spithill revealed from the US.

"I plan to be on my couch with a beer in one hand, watching the fleet sail up the harbour and then flicking across to the cricket on Boxing Day.''

Spithill will return to his hometown of Sydney for a brief holiday with family over Christmas before returning to the US. -- Amanda Lulham

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/

Practical Preparation For An Offshore Passage From The Experts At World Cruising Club
Click on image to enlarge.

Hosted by World Cruising Club in association with Yachting World, the Ocean Sailing Seminar will return to Guildford, UK from 7th to 9th March 2014. Open to all, the seminar is perfect for those considering the transition from coastal cruising to blue water passage making. Lecturers have been chosen for their wealth of knowledge in their specialist fields including refitting a yacht for offshore cruising, communications equipment choices, sourcing and interpreting weather forecasts and heavy weather sailing techniques.

The Ocean Sailing Seminar combines classroom lectures with group discussions and one-on-one interaction with speakers and fellow students. An all-inclusive program of seminar presentations, speaker materials, hotel accommodation, meals, and social time together combine to provide a cost-effective, enjoyable in-depth learning experience.

For a taster of what to expect during the three day seminar, skippers and crews are welcome to attend one of the free Bluewater Cruisers' Question Time forums held at the London Boat Show. Taking place on Saturday 4th and Sunday 12th January, these interactive panel discussions will provide a focused introduction to life at sea and will answer key questions for those preparing for bluewater cruising.

For more information about how to join the Ocean Sailing Seminar and Bluewater Cruisers' Question Time, please visit www.worldcruising.com/training

Abner Kingman Wins Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image 2013
A jury composed of specialists from the yacht racing and photographic industries chose Abner Kingman's photograph taken during the 34th America's Cup for the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award 2013. The delegates from the World Yacht Racing Forum chose Rick Tomlinson's photograph for the "Public Award". The fourth edition of the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image welcomed 82 professional photographers from all over the world ; the pictures can be viewed at http://www.yachtracingimage.com

Aged 44 and the father of two children, Abner Kingman, has been awarded for his photograph of Emirates Team New Zealand and Oracle Team USA, taken during race 8 of the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco (USA). The shot captures the precise moment when Oracle Team USA took over the lead on Emirates Team New Zealand whilst ETNZ almost capsized; the turning point in the last America's Cup.

A selection of the photographs got sold during a silent auction on Tuesday night, in favour of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation, raising over 4'500 Euros.

Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image 2013 - the five finalists:
1. Abner Kingman, (USA), winner of the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image 2013
2. Sander van der Borch, (NED)
3. Christophe Favreau, (FRA)
4. Nico Martinez, (ESP)
5. Pedro Martinez, (ESP)

Public award - the five finalists:
1. Rick Tomlinson (UK)
2. Patrick Le Galloudec (FRA)
3. Jen Edney (USA)
4. Sander Van der Borch (NED)
5. Ainoha Sanchez (ESP)

Nao Vittoria Headed To Florida
Click on image to enlarge.

Ferdinand Magellan would be astonished. The sailing ship Victoria (Nao Vittoria), a replica of the sailing ship which was the first to successfully circumnavigate the world, is having a cushy ride across the Atlantic, courtesy of of the DYT Yacht Transport's semi-submersible yacht carrier, from Palma de Mallorca to Port Everglades in Florida.

And why? 'Although she can sail perfectly on her own keel, she would take nearly two months to get from Spain to Florida, so we decided to ship her to reduce the voyage time,' said Eduardo Almagro Blanco, the general manager for Fundacion NAO Victoria, the Spanish not-for-profit foundation that manages NAO Victoria along with El Galeon, another historic Spanish replica.

Upon her arrival in Port Everglades mid-December, the 25.9-meter sailing ship will sail to St. Augustine for the Christmas holiday before beginning a cultural exhibition tour that will take her along the coast of Florida and up the U.S. East Coast to educate the public about the first complete circumnavigation of the world by Magellan's expedition in the 16th Century.

The original 85 ton NAO Victoria, launched in 1519, was one of five ships in the Portuguese explorer's Spanish expedition to discover the passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans known as the Strait of Magellan. After his death, killed in the Philippines, and under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano, it became the first ship in history to complete the 32,000-mile voyage in 1522 and the first ever to successfully circumnavigate the globe. -- Des Ryan in Sail-World.com

www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=117370

ISAF Publish Change To The Racing Rules Of Sailing
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has published an urgent change to rule B3.31 of the Racing Rules of Sailing. The change will be effective from 1 January 2014.

The urgent rule change was authorized during the ISAF Annual Conference in Oman as permitted by ISAF Regulation 28.1.2.

"Rule 31 is changed to 'A board may touch a mark but shall not hold on to it.'"

Download all changes and corrections made since the publication of the RRS 2013-2016(PDF):
www.sailing.org

Seahorse January 2014
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Unconvinced
Foil specialist and now winning International 14 and National 12 designer Dave Hollom thinks there is more to Oracle's big turnaround than at first meets the eye

Filmless composite sails
OneSails introduce the 4T FORTE filmless sailmaking system

Update
It's a wrap, with Terry Hutchinson, 'just make bigger cradles', says Mark Weinheimer and the extraordinary Costa Concordia story with Italian designer Giovanni Ceccarelli

Special rates for Scuttlebutt Europe subscribers:
Seahorse Print or Digital Subscription Use Discount Promo Code SB2

1yr Print Sub for UK residents: €77 - £48 - $71 / Rest of the World: £65 www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/

1yr Digital Sub for £30: www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/digital

Discounts shown are valid on a one year subscription to Seahorse magazine

Getting The Pieces In Place
One of the main difficulties with any sport is getting the selection and dynamics of the team right. To do this you need a group of dedicated selectors who are experts in their areas and are able to bring the best out of those looking to represent their club or country.

To this end, the RYA is delighted to announce that it has set in place its 2014 Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup Selection Panel to run the trials over the Spring, and help develop its GBR teams into a group of potential Commodores' Cup winning boats and sailors.

Chairing this group is Chris Mason who will be supported on the Panel by Jonathan Goring and Chris Arscott - a blend which mixes professional sailing with experienced campaign-hardened owners.

Mason has over 35 years' worth of big boat racing experience from one-design through to America's Cup Challenger trials. He has previously won the Commodores' Cup, was a member of the Selection Panel in 2012.

Jonathan Goring is one of the UK's most talented and committed owners, having been a part of the winning team twice, the first in 2004 and the second time in 2012.

The final member of the group is Chris Arscott, who is the past Commodore of the Royal Western Yacht Club based in Plymouth.

The RYA has selected three events for its trials, starting with the RORC Cervantes Trophy Race which sends competitors across the English Channel from Cowes over to Le Havre in France. Triallists will then be challenged to some inshore racing where they will take part in the Vice Admiral's Cup before heading offshore again for the final event which will be the RORC-run Myth of Malham race.

www.commodorescup.rorc.org

New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup 2015
Newport, Rhode Island, USA: In just five years, the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex has become the world's premiere international Corinthian sailing competition. Competitors from around the globe were effusive and unanimous in their praise of the third running of this event, in Newport, R.I. last September. "There is nothing similar which has this very close class racing of identical boats," said Nick Burns of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. "Every time I come here I think it's the most fantastic event."

The fourth edition of the Invitational Cup presented by Rolex will take place Sept. 12 to 19, 2015.

The Invitational Cup is a regatta for amateur sailors representing both their yacht clubs and home nations. It is a one-design regatta, utilizing the New York Yacht Club Swan 42.

Clubs from the United States will have the opportunity to earn an invitation to the 2015 Invitational Cup by finishing in the top three positions at the 2014 U.S. Qualifying Series, Sept. 2 to 6, 2014, in Newport, R.I. The fleet for the 2014 USQS will be announced by year-end 2013.

For information on entering the Invitational Cup presented by Rolex, contact event chair Patricia Young at

nyyc.org

Featured Brokerage
2008 Dufour 365 Grand Large. EUR 97,000. Located in Crosshaven, Cork, Ireland.

This Dufour 365 Grand'Large is in very good condition. She is the twin aft cabin version and comes with an excellent inventory including a fully battened mainsail, Furling Genoa, hot water, shore power and more. She has the added advantage of a 2010 Volvo 29HP diesel engine. "St. Jude" has had light use from new. Excellent value!

Brokerage through Crosshaven Boatyard: www.yachtworld.com/crosshavenboatyard/

Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com

The Last Word
May you live as long as you want and not want as long as you live. -- Tom Hanks

About boats.com
boats.com is a highly powerful and effective global marketing solution for the boating industry. With half a million new and used boat listings, offered across the globe by manufacturers, brokers, dealers and private advertisers, it is the most comprehensive site in the World. Over 1.4 million boating consumers visit our sites every month, generating up to 16.5 million page views, with over 500,000 of these visitors coming from within Europe. Whether you are providing a product or service or selling new or pre owned boats, boats.com offers an extensive and varied range of solutions, tailored to suit all marketing budgets offering extensive local and international coverage.

Editorial and letter submissions to

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