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

Ready To Race At Quantum Key West 2014
Quantum Key West 2014 will feature five days of racing in 10 classes on the aqua-colored waters off the coast of the Conch Republic. From the professional-laden 52 Class to the family-oriented programs in the PHRF classes, there is something for everyone.

Newport-based professional Tim Healy will be back to defend his title in J/70 class, which has attracted a whopping 60 boats. Runner-up Brian Keane (Weston, Mass.) and third place finisher Bruno Pasquinelli (Dallas, Texas) will also be back as the J/70 class contests its Midwinter Championship.

IRC 3 is shaping up as one of the most competitive classes with 10 boats and a diverse group of designs. Catapult, a Ker 40 skippered by Marc Glimcher of New York, captured the IRC Sub Class last year, but will be challenged by an influx of new entries such as a Sydney 43, Ker 43, Mills 43 and four Swan 42s.

Groovederci, skippered by Deneen Demourkas of Santa Barbara, Cal., placed third at the 2013 Melges 32 World Championship and headlines a strong eight-boat fleet in Key West. Hedgehog, skippered by Alec Cutler of Bermuda, was the runner-up at the 2012 worlds while the Brazilian entry Phoenix (Sergio Rocha) has five-time Olympian Santiago Lange aboard as tactician.

Teamwork, a J/122 skippered by Robin Team of Lexington, N.C., will be seeking a rare three-peat in PHRF 1. North Sails professional Jonathan Bartlett will once again be calling tactics for Team, who will also have his two sons aboard.

The consensus is that a three number PHRF handicap system provides for closer, more fair racing in a disparate fleet. This year Key West Race Week is employing a three-tiered rating system that is based on wind speed. Each boat's handicap can vary slightly different depending on whether the wind is light, moderate or heavy.

J/80 class has tripled in size since last year and will have 14 boats on the line as it contests its Midwinter Championship. Vayu2, skippered by Ron Buzil of Chicago, will defend its Key West crown against several seasoned teams, including former North American champion John Storck Jr. on Rumor. Bill Wagner. Regatta dates are January 19 - 24, 2014.

www.Premiere-Racing.com

Spookie Wins Lauderdale-Key West Race
This year's Ft. Lauderdale to Key West Race certainly lived up to the pre-race caveat of "Be Prepared." The light VMG running of the past couple of years was a distant memory, as a stout northwesterly that built overnight brought the fleet down and around the curve in rapid fashion, but made them work hard for the quick trip. When they reached the island, a slew of familiar names graced the top of the leader board.

Steve and Heidi Benjamin's Carkeek HPR 40 Spookie brought a boatload of top talent along, and turned a careful, mid-line start into a corrected time win in the IRC Class over past class winner Tonnerre De Breskins 3, Peter Vroon's Ker 46. Spookie completed the course in 17H 53M 56S, 7 minutes ahead of the larger 46-footer.

Third place corrected time finisher Privateer, Ron O'Hanley's canting-keeled Cookson 50, took line honors on a time of 17H 9M 47S, and will be featured in the artwork for the 2015 Key West Race shirt. A mix of veterans and newcomers brought out Spookie's winning form, with current Moth World Champ and boat speed aficionado Bora Gulari commenting that the race delivered everything advertised and then some, and race veteran Tom Lihan making markedly more reserved comments about conditions that can make a 40-foot boat seem small in a hurry.

hprsailing.org

Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series
Photo by Peter Marshall. Click on image to enlarge.

Bridgetown, Barbados: Sailing conditions on the third and final day of Coastal racing at the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series was spot on once again with a good breeze, sparkling sunshine and courses set on the vibrant, turquoise waters of the south coast.

The breezy conditions, although slightly less gusty than the previous day, still caught out a few, testing crew and equipment to the limit. Among the casualties of the day was Steven Ginger's Beneteau 40 - Spirit of Venus - that was in a collision with Ben Armstrong's Hobie 21. Thankfully no one was injured but Buckeroo Too, the Hobie, suffered damage forcing both boats to retire from racing. In the Racing class frontrunner Idea - John Wilson's Reichel Pugh 78 from the UK, suffered gear failure, which also led to a retirement.

Having started the day on equal points at the top of the fleet with Ralph Johnson's Beneteau First 53 Rapajam, there was all to play for in this final race of the series. However, on the 15 mile beat along the south coast Idea's jib gave way. Clint Brooks, skipper, said it was a great disappointment but looking on the bright side, it was fortunate it happened before Tuesday's big Round Barbados Race, which is the key reason they are at the event.

Rapajam, on the other hand, had another successful day, with the 14-strong team - ranging from four to 74 years of age - demonstrating how to mix serious racing with serious fun. Having won yesterday's race they were keen to repeat their performance, which is exactly what they did. Not only did they win again today, but also with just four points, they won the overall class series from Peter Lewis' J/105 - Whistler - with which finished on eight points.

With three wins to count, local catamaran sailor Bryn Palmer, took an overall win of the Multihull class sailing his RC30 - Silver Bullet. He also hopes to retain the multihull record in the Round Barbados Race on Tuesday.

mountgayrumroundbarbadosrace.com

Race The RORC Caribbean 600 On A Volvo 70!
Do you dream of sailing a Volvo 70? The keel fully canted. Flying a huge spinnaker with six of your crewmates grinding on the pedestals in tropical sunshine. Feeling the power as the boat accelerates down a wave at 25+ knots in warm Caribbean winds...

This could be you!

Monster Project, Team Russia's boat (Kosatka) in the 2008 Volvo Ocean Race, is the only Volvo Open 70 available for charter - a unique opportunity for amateur sailors to experience these amazing racing machines!

The RORC Caribbean 600 is the headline offshore racing event in the Caribbean. With a 600 mile course around 10 islands, it's an epic race to rival the Fastnet - but much warmer!

Join us on Monster Project for our RORC Caribbean 600 program:

- Tuesday 18 through Saturday 22 February: pre-race training at Falmouth Harbour in beautiful Antigua
- Saturday 22 February: Welcome Party, Antigua Yacht Club
- Sunday 23 February: final boat preparations / rest day
- Monday 24 February: RORC Caribbean 600 starts at 1050h
- Friday 28 February: Prize-giving Ceremony, Antigua Yacht Club

Monster Project's RORC Caribbean 600 package includes:

- Race entry
- Berthing fees
- Pre-race training
- Professional Racing Skipper and Crew
- Food and bottled water during sailing
- Monster Project race clothing
- Safety equipment (loan)
- Wet-weather clothing (loan)

Can't make it to the RORC? Monster Project also operates Caribbean, UK, European and Trans-Atlantic Racing and Adventure Sailing charters for groups, corporates and individuals.

See the Calendar on our website:
www.volvo70charter.co.uk
email:

Sevenstar Round Britain And Ireland Race 2014
Online entry for The Royal Ocean Racing Club's 2014 season is now open and Ian Walker's Volvo Ocean 65 Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing was quick off the mark to confirm its participation with Azzam (Determination) in the RORC's toughest race of the year - The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race.   The 1802nm course, starting on Sunday 10th August, has been supported by leading Dutch specialist yacht transport company Sevenstar since 2006. Starting and finishing in Cowes, Isle of Wight, the race takes competitors non-stop around the coastline of Britain and Ireland.

Britain's twice Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker will skipper the Volvo Ocean 65, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race prior to their second successive Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015.

"This will be my first Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race and I can't wait to take part in our new Volvo 65. It will be an excellent training run just before the start of the Volvo Ocean Race which starts in October. Racing is always more demanding closer to land with headlands, tidal issues, wind effects and all the resulting sail changes. This will be a tough test for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing at just the right time," comments Skipper, Ian Walker. The organisers of Volvo Ocean Race confirmed that the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is part of their pre-race programme. This will give all teams the chance to compete for the first time against each other, offering valuable crew training and boat preparation before the start of their round the world race from Alicante, Spain in October 2014.

In the 2010 edition Class40 Concise 2, with a crew of six, set a new Round Britain and Ireland record for the 40ft Category, completing the race in just 9 days 13hrs 32mins 20secs which was ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. The team have entered the 2014 edition with their new Class40, Concise 8.

Other entries in the race include Scarlet Oyster, run by Sailing Logic who have won the Best Sailing School Yacht in IRC every year since 2005 in the RORC's annual awards.

Interest has also been received from Stormforce Coaching's First 40.7, Cheeki Rafiki. Principal Doug Innes was part of Ger O'Rourke winning team in the 2006 race on the Cookson 50, Chieftain.

roundbritainandireland.rorc.org

From Saint Petersburg To Warnemunde Via Helsinki
The Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) and Saint Petersburg Yacht Club (SPYC) have announced the programme for Nord Stream Race 2014 during a press conference of their partner Marinepool which was held at boot Dusseldorf. After in 2013 the race went nonstop northwards from Germany to Russia, this year the course starts in Saint Petersburg and ends in Rostock-Warnemunde with a stopover in Finland's capital Helsinki.

To begin with the yachts will sail a medium distance race of 150 nautical miles from Saint Petersburg to Helsinki which starts on the 29th of May.

In Helsinki the boats will stop for four days (30th of May to 2nd of June). There the participants of the Gazprom Swan 60 class will compete in a match races series while the ORC yachts will do inshore races. In addition the organisers are planning an extensive programme in the race village right in the city centre of Helsinki.

Highlight of the regatta is the following 600 nautical miles long-distance race from Helsinki to Rostock-Warnemunde. The course starts at the Gulf of Finland and passes Gotland and Bornholm following the Nord Stream gas pipeline, the eponym of the race. Depending on wind and weather the yachts will arrive at the finish in Warnemunde between 5th and 6th of June. 

All legs as well as the match race series and inshore races respectively will count towards the overall result.

www.nord-stream-race.com

18ft Skiffs Australian Championship, Race 2
Click on image for photo gallery.

Sydney Harbour: The Gotta Love It 7 crew of Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Scott Babbage gave a brilliant exhibition in the 14-16-knot South East wind to dominate Race 2 of the Australian 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today.

The defending champion team grabbed the lead soon after the start and were relentless as they powered away from the fleet throughout the race.

After more than one hour sailing, Gotta Love It 7 crossed the finish line 2m32s ahead of Thurlow Fisher Lawers (Michael Coxon, Dave O'Connor, Trent Barnabas).

Smeg (Nick Press, Dan Phillips and Dave Ewings) was 34s further back in third place, followed by Coopers 62-Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney), Appliancesonline.com au (Micah Lane) and Sydney City Marine (Dave Witt).

Consistency over the two races sailed so far gives Thurlow Fisher Lawyers (5 points) a two points lead over Gotta Love It 7 on 7 points.

Race 1 winner Asko Appliances (Marcus Ashley-Jones) is third on 8, Smeg on 8, Lumix (Jonathan Whitty) on 11 and Coopers 62-Rag & Famish on 11.

The fleet reveled in the steady breeze and gave spectators plenty of excitement with some spectacular spinnaker action.

With three more races to come (over the next three Sundays) the scene is set for a close finish to the championship.

www.18footers.com.au
www.18footerstv.com

Pendennis Announce Fleet For 2014 Pendennis Cup
Photo by Nick Bailey / Richard Langdon. Click on image to enlarge.

Initially founded in 2008 the Pendennis Cup has grown year on year, creating a unique opportunity for classic and modern superyachts to showcase their sailing capabilities in the waters of Cornwall.

Once again race management will be provided by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and supported by renowned sailing officer Peter Craig, experienced in managing international events such as the Bucket Regattas, the Maxi Rolex World Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race.

The 2014 Pendennis Cup will take place from the 26th-31st May in Falmouth, UK. The race days on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, are supported by a range of shore side social events.

An eclectic fleet is expected this year with Mariette of 1915 returning to defend her title, challenged by the impressive 65m three-masted schooner Adix who returns to the event for the first time since racing in the 2008 Pendennis Cup. Additionally we will see Pendennis-built performance sailing yachts compete against each other at the Cup for the first time: the iconic 1996 built Rebecca and the beautiful 46m Ron Holland ketch Christopher. Launched by Pendennis in 2011 Christopher raced exceptionally well at her inaugural regatta, the St Barth's Bucket, the month after her launch. These yachts will be joined by local vessel Breakaway and the 26m Bermudian Ketch Velacarina, who has competed in the last three regattas, with previous winner Adela keen to return.

The Pendennis Cup fleet will be supported by an equally competitive group of smaller classic yachts, now known as the Little Dennis Cup, which is set to include Ed Dubois' Firebrand returning to defend her 2012 title, alongside Pinnucia, Zarik and the 1928 Kelpie of Falmouth.

www.superyachts.com
www.thependenniscup.co.uk

Sergio Gaibisso
It is with great sadness that ISAF reports that Sergio Gaibisso (ITA) has passed away, aged 84.

Born in 1929 in the coastal town of Alassio, Italy, Gaibisso held key roles nationally and internationally.

Gaibisso dedicated many years of his life to sailing, becoming a popular figure in the process and inspiring many generations of sailors.

After many years of competitive sailing, Gaibisso turned his attentions to the administrative side of the sport and in 1989 was elected as President of the Federazione Italiana Vela, a position he held through to 2008.

The Italian was part of the Keelboat Committee from 1987 to 1994 and then became an Events Committee member from 1995 to 2000.

Gaibisso's influence at the World Governing Body grew and in 1998 he became a member of ISAF Council. Gaibisso was a member of ISAF Council through to 2012.

www.sailing.org/news/37235.php

Featured Brokerage
1988 Nautor's Swan 53. US$ 325,000. Located in Seattle, WA, USA.

The name Nautor's Swan is synonymous with fast cruising vessels of the highest quality. HAKAI, a 1989 Swan 53 fulfills this description completely. Her German Frers designed hull is fast, elegant and solidly constructed - equally at home stern tied to a wharf in the BVIs, island hopping in the Med or competing in an offshore race. On deck space is well conceived for this wide range of use possibilities. Below decks, her finely crafted teak interior exceptionally comfortable. She boasts a huge salon arrangement - even for her 53 feet. A large dinette with beautiful fixed leaf table will be the center of entertainment. Her large master stateroom with centerline berth and two additional guest staterooms will sleep six.

HAKAI has benefitted greatly from light use by her longtime owner - summer sailing in the Pacific Northwest for the past 18 years. She is presently moored on the fresh water of Lake Union, 30 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Brokerage through Swiftsure Yachts: www.yachtworld.com/swiftsure/

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

The Last Word
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once. -- Robert A. Heinlein

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