Scuttlebutt Europe #2994

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

Switzerland Claims Its First Win In Clipper Race 7 To Brisbane
Switzerland has crossed the finish line into Brisbane, Australia at 10:27 UTC , claiming its first podium result and its first win in the Clipper 2013-14 Race.

And the yacht has also done the double and won the Race 7 Ocean Sprint too in 18h03m.

Vicky Ellis is the only female skipper competing in the twelve strong fleet race and only the third woman to skipper an entry in the history of the race.

The win will further consolidate the teams hard work after Vicky was awarded the Jane Tate Memorial Trophy at the official prizegiving ceremony of the 69th Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. The trophy is given to the first female skipper over the line in perpetuity since the 50th edition in 1994

Derry-Londonderry-Doire has secured second place after crossing the Race 7 finish line at 10:59 UTC with OneDLL close behind to claim the third podium position at 11:19 UTC.

Old Pulteney crossed the finish line in fourth place at 15:20 UTC ahead of GREAT Britain in fifth which crossed at 16:35 UTC.

Jamaica Get All Right crossed the finish line off Moreton Island at 18:02 UTC.

Invest Africa crossed the line at 23:49 UTC.

These results are provisional subject to confirmation by the Race Office and calculation of redress for Qingdao in compensation for assisting Mission Performance at the start of Race 7.

The remainder of the fleet will arrive into Rivergate Marina over the next two days.

www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Gill 2014 Melges 24 World Championship
An impressive fleet of 31 Melges 24s has so far registered for the Gill Melges 24 World Championship 2014, to be in Geelong, Australia, from the 27th January to 2nd February 2014. Many of these same teams will test the waters and their stamina for back-to-back events when they contest the Australian Open Nationals that will be held as part of the Festival of Sails immediately prior, 23rd - 27th January.

"When we started work on the 2014 world's project two and a half years ago, given the distance the overseas teams would have to travel the big question was 'who would come?," said Warwick Rooklyn.

"To have six nations at the national championship as part of the Festival of Sails prior to the main event is also very satisfying, Outside of Europe I don't think many classes can say they've achieved such a result."

Countries represented on the world championship starter's list include; Germany, USA, America, Finland, Hungry, Japan, Italy, Canada and of course Australia.

Melges 24 class officials don't just officiate. Once the organising is put to bed, Riccardo Simoneschi, Chairman of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA) will be racing Audi (ITA-840), and defending Melges 24 North American Champion and Australian class president, Warwick Rooklyn racing Bandit (AUS-814), will join their classmates on the track.

Reigning Melges 24 world champion, Brian Porter and his Full Throttle racing team are absent from the line-up.

Runner-up at San Francisco last October, Flavio Favini, the Italian skipper of Swiss entry Blu Moon (SUI-825), is heading to the Southern Hemisphere to fulfill his ambition to be world number one.

https://www.facebook.com/Melges24Worlds2014

Gary Bodie Talks Getting Regatta-Ready
The Games of the 31st Olympiad, set for Rio de Janeiro in August 2016, are around 900 days away, but the athletes who will be on the quest for gold and national glory aren't sitting around binge-watching Breaking Bad-the training for the Olympics is a full-time career, and sailing has a long series of competitions and time trials before anybody gets to Brazil. One of them begins at the end of this month, when about 500 athletes, both men and women from up to 40 countries, descend on Miami and test their skills in the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Sailing World Cup regatta, from January 25 to February 1.

It's the third of five ISAF regattas this year around the world and the only one held in North America. Gary Bodie, 58, is co-chairman of the regatta and was for 10 years the head coach of the US sailing team, which during his tenure won eight Olympic medals, including a gold and silver at his last Games at Beijing in 2008.

The sailors all look like Tour de France riders: long, lean, and muscular.

You're accurate with your description. There are 10 different classes of Olympic sailing, and depending on the size of the sailor, the weight of the boat, and other technical factors, it tends to typecast a body form. Actually, many sailors cross-train on bicycles because that helps give you the leg strength that's important in sailing.

What makes Miami a good place for sailing competitions?

The same thing that makes it a great winter destination: It's warm, it's sunny, the breeze blows pretty reliably. Biscayne Bay is relatively protected, so you don't have big ocean [waves] and you generally don't have raging winter storms. It's not the most challenging place, but it's a really good place to sail. Miami is the winter home of the US team, and a number of other countries come to set up shop for a month to six weeks when it's too cold in Europe.

Read more at oceandrive.com/personalities/

TP 52 Available For Regatta Charter In The Caribbean
Bach Yachting Sailing Experiences offers regatta charters and business sailing.

The TP52 is a true Grand Prix Racer, designed for yacht racing at the highest level. The all carbon fibre yacht with powerful sail areas and deep keel is built for no-compromise performance. There is nothing more thrilling than sailing on our TP52 Balearia.

Now you have the opportunity to sail Balearia in the warm waters of the Caribbean. Our TP52 is ready for some exciting regattas such as the Heineken Regatta, Voile de st Barths and the BVI spring regatta.

There will be a maximum of 16 people onboard including our qualified crew. We can adjust the number of crew based on your experience and preference. You can take the helm if you wish.

For more information see www.sailingexperiences.org

2014 Supplements To The Call Books For Match And Team Racing
2014 supplements to the 2013-2016 Call Book for Match Racing and 2013-2016 Call Book for Team Racing have been published on the ISAF website.

he ISAF Call Books for Match Racing and Team Racing provides a clear definition, for both competitors and umpires, how certain incidents will be called in match or team racing events.

Through written and illustrated examples, scenarios that occur in match or team racing events are presented along with the rules applicable to that situation and how and when they should be applied.

Match Racing (PDF)

Team Racing (PDF)

2014 Prohibited List Takes Effect
The 2014 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods took effect on January 1, 2014.

The 2014 List is currently available in English, French and Spanish.

All Stakeholder issues and comments were discussed in detail at the List Committee meeting. Further information on topics included in the Summary of Modifications and Explanatory Notes, and on many other issues or queries brought to the attention of the List Committee as part of the stakeholders comments are in the Questions & Answers on the 2014 Prohibited List: www.wada-ama.org

In addition to the print and PDF formats, the List and its related documents is now available for mobile devices and as an iPhone/iPad application.

list.wada-ama.org

Free App:
itunes.apple.com/us/app/wada

Rod Davis - Still Looking For Answers After Cup Defeat
Emirates Team NZ coach, Rod Davis, admits he is still a bit stunned, three months after the conclusion of the 34th America's Cup, and the shock loss by the Challenger, after being on Match Point.

Part of Davis' post-Cup frustration-relief therapy is to go sailboat racing every chance he can - and by is own admission, that is a lot of sailing, at present.

'It's still hard to believe that we out-prepared Oracle by that much, ahead of this regatta, and lost the regatta', he says with the incredulity of the 9-8 result, still to fully register.

'It is hard to come to grips with it. Normally when you out-prepare a team by that much in any sport, you come away with a victory. And it didn't happen that way.'

'Suddenly Oracle ended up with a better package, and that's amazing and depressing!'

Davis believes the key error made by Emirates Team New Zealand was showing their hand too early on the foiling of their first AC72. -- Richard Gladwell in Sail-World.com

Full article at www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=118184

Marinepool Iso Automatic Life Jackets - Test Winners Around The Globe
Safety is the last area where compromise is an option.

Marinepool utilizes only the best materials, state of the art release mechanisms and all life jackets are produced in ISO certified production facilities. More than 20 years of experience and design excellence and a proven track record have made the German brand the largest producer of life jackets for the leisure market and its products the benchmark in the market.

Marinepool life jackets have come out on top of product tests by magazines around the globe again and again. Proof that our no-compromise designs and no-nonsense attitude result in the best product for your safety. Marinepool is striving after setting the bar ever higher to satisfy the demands of top athletes and the general watersport enthusiast alike.

For both highest functionality and uncompromising quality go hand in hand and add to their success on the race courses or their pleasure when out at sea.

Turning the wearer quickly into the correct position, with face and airways clear of the water, while putting them in a secure and comfortable floating position regardless of weight and size is crucial.

At the same time, the life jackets must offer a simple and hassle free adjustment system for harness and crotch strap. Marinepool life jackets excel in both areas and are made to the new ISO 12402 standards - already compulsory in Italy and Spain for life jackets sold in these countries - which are much more stringent than previous CE standards.

Marinepool offers a comprehensive range of 150N, 180N and 300N automatic and manual life jackets as well as 50N and 100N foam filled life jackets for cruising and performance sail racing. In addition, the range includes horse shoes, sling rescue systems and ISO certified life lines with two or three hooks.

Comfort and ease to wear make it more likely that life jackets are put on and it remains fact that only a life jacket that is worn can do much good.

Visit us at boot Dusseldorf January 18th - 26th, Hall 11, Stand H41.

The ISO life jacket range by Marinepool. Design. Technology. Passion.

www.marinepool.com

Industry News
Musto has annouced a partnership with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing for the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race.

Ocean racing is integral to Musto as a brand, which announced its position as official supplier of sailing apparel and footwear for the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race in June 2013. Musto's association with the historic race stretches back to 1981/82 when it partnered with winning boat Flyer II and has continued to be involved as a supplier in all subsequent editions.

The design and development of Musto's ocean racing gear incorporates rigorous testing by Volvo Ocean Race teams to trial the garments to provide innovative and practical solutions to sailors battling the very worst of the elements.

www.volvooceanrace.com
www.musto.com

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The organisers of the London Boat Show, which opened on Saturday 4 January and runs until Sunday 12 January at London's ExCeL exhibition centre, has named the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation as its official charity of the 2014 show.

The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation is a national charity that encourages young people to get into sailing. Andrew Simpson, gold and silver Olympic medallist and America's Cup professional, lost his life in a training accident in May 2013.

The Foundation looks to support deserving children and young people from their first experiences on the water through a mentoring programme with some of the world's best sailors. Through sailing experiences the charity will help to develop their life skills, and importantly it will assist the children into employment in the sailing community through apprenticeships with partners including sailmakers, boatbuilders and other marine companies.

The charity will have a stand at the London Boat Show (E144), manned by a number of Olympic sailors and friends of Andrew.

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Buyer pressure to find the 'best deal out there' has turned the UK's used boat market into a ticking time-bomb according to Jane Gentry, Chief Executive of the Yacht Brokers Designers & Surveyors Association

With less money in their pockets and more choice of used boats than ever before, UK boat buyers are doing all they can to grab a bargain. Unfortunately, this means they are taking more risks when it comes to protecting their purchase.

"It is easy for buyers and sellers to believe that they have got all their ducks in a row, but there's a general lack of understanding about the legal process involved," explains Jane Gentry, Chief Executive of the YBDSA. "The stats are alarming: reportedly over half of all the boats that our ABYA members have for sale have issues with their paperwork that have to be corrected to ensure legal ownership. This Marine Legal Conveyancing work can be complicated and laborious, but it is all part of the legal service that ABYA brokers include in their fee."

"In the next five years the marine industry is going to have all kinds of problems with undocumented boats," warns Gentry. "The recreational boating market is already awash with vessels that don't have a proper paper trail, making the whole sector a legal minefield for future buyers and sellers."

www.ybdsa.co.uk

Letters To The Editor -
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* From Talbot Wilsonn: Don't claim to know this was the first Ocean Race, but it is earlier than the British one in 1869.

See Chapter One of Ocean Racing by Alfred Loomis. He starts his definitive history of Ocean Racing with this Trans Atlantic race of 1866.

The Ocean Yacht Race
NY Times Dec 2, 1866
query.nytimes.com