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
Alinghi Rise Through The Ranks
It may not have been high-speed racing on the second day of the Extreme Sailing Series in Muscat, Oman, but it was as close as it gets, with the leaderboard reshuffling after every race. The fleet of 11 elite level teams used all of their tactical prowess to manoeuvre their Extreme 40s around the course, and after a short one lap shoot-out for the final race, the Swiss Alinghi took the lead, setting the scene for the business end of the event and the penultimate days racing tomorrow.
Alinghi handled the light wind stadium with equal skill as yesterday's open water racing, where the reaching starts determined the finishes, and mistakes were punished hard. 9 of the 11-boat fleet were given an OCS throughout the day pushing their Extreme 40s hard to the start line, resulting in a restart, with only Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand keeping their noses clean.
Standings after Day 2, 13 races
1. Alinghi (SUI) Morgan Larson, Anna Tunnicliffe, Pierre-Yves Jorand, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey, 88 points
2. The Wave, Muscat (OMA) Leigh McMillan, Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh, Kinley Fowler, Nasser Al Mashari, 85
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) Dean Barker, Glenn Ashby, James Dagg, Jeremy Lomas, Edwin Delaat, 82
4. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Jes Gram-Hansen, Rasmus Køstner, Thierry Douillard, Peter Wibroe, Nicolai Sehested, 77
5. Groupama sailing team (FRA) Franck Cammas, Sophie de Turckheim, Tanguy Cariou, Thierry Fouchier, Devan Le Bihan, 66
6. J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) Ben Ainslie, Nick Hutton, Paul Goodison, Pippa Wilson, Matt Cornwell, 64
7. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans-Peter Steinacher, Mark Bulkeley, Nick Blackman, Stewart Dodson, 60
8. Oman Air (OMA) Rob Greenhalgh, Tom Johnson, Will Howden, Hashim Al Rashdi, Musab Al Hadi, 59
9. Realteam (SUI) Jerome Clerc, Arnaud Psarofaghis, Bryan Mettraux, Thierry Wassem, Nils Palmieri, 58
10. Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) Igor Lisovenko, Paul Campbell-James, Alister Richardson, Pete Cumming, Aleksey Kulakov, 57
11. GAC Pindar (AUS) Seve Jarvin, Troy Tindill, Ed Smyth, Sam Newton, David Gilmour, 33
Nashwa Al Kindi annd Hilary Lister Set Records
British quadriplegic sailor Hilary Lister (42), and Omani Nashwa Al Kindi (32) have sailed into the record books aboard a 28ft Dragonfly trimaran to claim two new trans-ocean records.
Although they crossed the finish line in Oman last night, the official welcome took place at The Wave, Muscat earlier today. A huge gathering turned out to honour the two girls who now hold records for the first ever severely paralysed woman and the first Arab female sailor to make a trans-oceanic crossing.
The 850-nautical mile journey across the Indian Ocean started from Mumbai, India on Tuesday 11 March and took nine days to complete. The course generally took them up wind with winds reaching no more than 10-15kts, and the average boat speed was 5-6kts.
Lister commented: "I am delighted to have set this record with Nashwa. It was a truly amazing journey, particularly the arrival into Oman. More than anything, however, this trip has highlighted that longer offshore legs are a lot easier for me than shorter legs where I am constantly getting on and off the boat."
The team, powered by Oman Sail and sponsored by Mistal and United Engineering Services, with support from Oman Air, GAC Pindar, Harken, Ocean Safety and Raymarine, were sailing a specially adapted Dragonfly. This boat incorporates a unique sip and puff sailing system that sends signals to a device using air pressure. By inhaling or exhaling into a straw Lister is able to steer, trim sails and navigate.
Lister's teammate, Al Kindi believes that becoming the first Arab female to set a new sailing record will hopefully inspire other women to follow their dreams. Al Kindi, who is a dinghy sailing instructor at Oman Sail, only started sailing in 2011 but instantly adopted the sport. In a short period of time she was recognised as the "Coach of the Year" in Oman Sail's Sailor of the Year Awards 2013, and presented with the ISAF President Development Award 2013 for outstanding achievement.
17th Match Race Germany
Langenargen, Germany: Great name, new face: David Gilmour will follow his famous father's footsteps. The son of Peter Gilmour plans to conquer the peak of the international match race scene. But he wants to do it his way. For the first time this years the 22-year-old shooting star from Perth in Australia is one of the eight Alpari World Match Racing Tour Card Holders this year for the first time and is fighting for the world title in the discipline of duel sailing.
'I am really proud to be racing on the 2014 Tour as a first time card holder," commented Gilmour. "It has been a major goal of ours to win the Alpari World Match Racing Tour and it's a tough field this year, but I believe I have the right team with me that can really challenge for the world title."
The tour will be opened by the German Grand Prix at Lake Constance. Match Race Germany is dated 5th to 9th of June 2014 and will attract tens of thousands of visitors to the Gondola Harbor of Langenargen for the 17th time. The duels of the best match racers in the world will be staged spectacularly close to the shoreline of the picturesque Castle of Montfort.
Porsche, MHP, Adidas, Ultramarin and Nauti Sattler remain aboard as major partners. ZF Marine is a new partner in the brand family.
The good soul of Match Race Germany, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in three years from today, remains the event organizing body of Match Center Germany, which was founded by Eberhard Magg, Harald Thierer and Bernd Buck in 2008. Supporting the trio is the Yacht Club Langenargen with its exceptionally dedicated members to present a very high leveled sailing sports show on the biggest boats of the World Tour: B 40S.
Nilaya, Freya And Tempus Fugit Take Top Spots On Day One
Photo by Jeff Brown / Superyacht Media. Click on image to enlarge.
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands: The first day of the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous brought a round-the island race for the 20 superyachts competing in the three day event. A fresh south easterly breeze of approx. 12 knots made for a fantastic first race. The fourth edition of the event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Boat International Media, is underway at YCCS Virgin Gorda from 19th to 22nd March.
The 34 metre Reichel-Pugh designed Nilaya claimed victory in Division A ahead of Leopard by Robertissima and the 33.4 metre Vitters-built Inoui respectively.
Vasco Vascotto, tactician on board the super maxi Leopard, chartered for this event by Roberto Tomasini Grinover who was unable to race today due to a fever, was pleased with the team's first competitive outing on the record-breaking yacht: "We were curious to see how the super maxi would perform in this first race of the event and it was a great race in spectacular conditions. The course around the island was interesting in terms of strategy, which sails to use. We are satisfied with the second place we got today, we did good clean manoeuvres and we didn't take any chances. We hope that tomorrow we will have the owner back on board and that we'll improve wherever possible on today's performance."
All three of the top spots in the seven-boat Division B were taken by Nautor's Swan yachts. The 27-metre Freya, launched in late 2012 and competing for the second time in this regatta, claimed victory in corrected time ahead of the 25-metre sloop Alpina. The Fers-designed Selene, winner of the Rolex Swan Cup Caribbean at YCCS Virgin Gorda in 2013, took third place.
The newly launched, J-Class inspired Tempus Fugit - in her first competitive performance - took first place in Division C by just under two minutes in corrected time. The Dubois-designed yachts Sarafin and the 2013-launched Moonbird took the respective runner-up slots.
www.loropianasuperyachtregattaandrendezvous.com/news
Seahorse April 2014
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
A long-lasting commitment
Dona Bertarelli and a serious step up in the sailing activities of her new sponsor Mirabaud
Making the difference
Mike Sanderson, Ian Walker and Jules Salter look at what it will take to win the first ever one-design race around the planet
Rod Davis
Building that (most) perfect America's Cup sailing team
Sailor of the Month
It's an all-Australia battle this month
Special rates for Scuttlebutt Europe subscribers:
Seahorse Print or Digital Subscription Use Discount Promo Code SB2
1yr Print Sub: €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
ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres
In one month's time, from 19 to 26 April 2014, the town of Hyeres will be hosting the much awaited final leg of the ISAF world circuit, the Sailing World Cup Hyeres - Toulon Provence Mediterranean. The only French leg of the Sailing World Cup, organised by the French Sailing Federation (FFV), is proud to welcome more than sixty delegations, more than 600 boats and almost one thousand crew members.
Five major legs make up the ISAF Sailing World Cup circuit: Qingdao (China), Melbourne (Australia), Miami (United States), Palma (Spain) and Hyeres (France). Each of them plays host to all 10 Olympic classes as well as some Paralympic classes. In Hyeres, the Finn , 49er , 49erFX , Nacra 17 , RS:X , Laser , Laser radial, 470, Sonar and 2.4mR will be competing in the different areas offered by its waters.
This year celebrates the second edition of the Sailing World Cup to be held in Hyeres and organised by the FFV with the technical, logistical and financial support of the town of Hyeres and financial support of the Community of the Toulon Provence Mediterranean Agglomeration.
Official web site: swc.ffvoile.fr
FFV site: www.ffvoile.fr
Gdynia Bids for 2018 ISAF Sailing World Championships
Gdynia located in Pomerania Region is committed to bidding for and presenting a world-class event plan to host the 2018 ISAF Sailing World Championships - Gdynia.
The host organizers City of Gdynia and Polish Yachting Association have full support of the Pomerania Region Government as well as the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of Polish Government.
The Organizing Committee will consist of well experienced members in running races representing Polish Yachting Association, responsible for on the water areas as well as extremely committed shore management representing Gdynia Sport Centre responsible for on shore facilities.
The base for all sailing events will be Marina Gdynia and its neighbourhood - the largest and most modern marina in Poland. One of its strengths is the location in the city centre. In 2014 the Polish Yachting Association and the City of Gdynia will start an investment called "New Marina", which will include constructing new buildings along the yacht harbour. In addition to spaces for sailing clubs there will be also service areas, a shopping centre, restaurants, an apartment hotel and offices. The final investment in improving facilities will be ready in 2017.
A Slide Show by Rick Tomlinson at RORC Clubhouse
Rick Tomlinson made his name capturing the Southern Ocean at its most treacherous from the decks of various yachts in the Whitbread Round the World Race. He started with freelance pictures published in Yachting World and Seahorse in 1985 from Drum and finished his 4 Race Whitbread career with a commission from National Geographic onboard Team EF. Read more about Rick and his career here: www.rick-tomlinson.com/about
In coordination with his exhibition at the Clubhouse, Rick will host a talk showing some of his recent work with Team SCA and discussion about his career as a Yachting Photographer. This will include some of his classic images from the Whitbread era and spectacular high latitude and wildlife images.
Free for members, £10 for non-members.
A two course buffet will be available following the presentation at £15 per person.
Tuesday 1st April 2014
19.00 at the RORC London Clubhouse
Artemis Racing Training On San Francisco Bay
Photo by Erik Simonson, www.pressure-drop.us. Click on image for photo gallery.
We were extremely lucky to have caught Loick Peyron at the Alameda base for Artemis Racing yesterday as their 1st session of AC 45 training was coming to an end, and core crew members were packing up to return home of wherever the next venue called from. Along with Nathan Outteridge, Iain Percy, Iain "Goobs"Jensen, Stu Bethany, Chris Brittle, and Red Bull Youth AC team graduate Niclas During, the sails and a skeleton crew dusted of the old AC 45s and got back to work.
The team will be working in cycles, and for all intents and purposes expect to be doing a lot of their sailing, training, testing and development from the Alameda base, which is leased for the next 3 years. "Its a perfect venue for us" said Loick, "The weather, the base, the wind is dependable, so why not"? On this day the last day of winter, with temps in the 70's and 12-15 knots easing across the facilities, it was hard to argue.
The plan is to stay small, size wise, until the venue for the 35th America's Cup is announced, and cycle the core team through training sessions out of Alameda, with rotation of hopefuls to keep mind and body in shape, and some small scale testing and development. We were asked not to reveal and delicate parts and pieces, but new ideas and concepts are already being evaluated vis-a-vis the two boat program. A new open door policy is also a promising addition for this cycle, with more open house events, base tours and public communication, press releases and better media relations.
With Oracle Racing content to train in Sydney Harbor and then Hamilton Island, and the very distinct possibility their whole program could move elsewhere, the Artemis program just might be the sole SF Bay America's Cup fix the local AC junkies might have for a while! -- Eric Simonson
Industry News
Dominion Marine Media, the division of Dominion Enterprises that operates YachtWorld, Boat Trader and boats.com, is pleased to announce that the 2014 MDCE Best Ideas White Paper is now available for download.
In this white paper, sponsored by Dominion Marine Media and produced by Boating Industry magazine, you will find 46 of the best ideas, proven by boat dealers from across the United States and Canada, on topics including business management, customer satisfaction, sales, marketing, events, and service departments.
The ideas included serve as a resource for dealers, allowing them to learn from their peers' successes on a variety of projects, ranging from mobile app development, to effective disaster planning, to winboats software. Each featured idea also outlines the implementation process and discusses the ultimate results of the project.
----------------------------------------------
This year's Marine Equipment Trade Show in the Netherlands will open an hour early on two days instead of one
Amsterdam RAI has announced that this year's Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) in the Netherlands will open its doors to the public an hour earlier on two days instead of one.
METS 2014 runs from November 18-20 at the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre.
The 2013 edition of METS saw the doors open at 09:00 on the Wednesday of the three-day event for the first time in history. The organisers have now decided to also start the day at 9:00 on the Thursday at METS 2014.
"We took this decision during a meeting with the exhibition committee," explains Amsterdam RAI's maritime domain manager Irene Dros. "It reflects the feedback from visitors who wish to spend even more time at the show, such is its productive nature.
----------------------------------------------
The 2015 Norwegian International Boat Show is moving back to its original location in Lillestrøm following disappointing visitor attendance at last week's show. It will be held at Lillestrom showground in Oslo for the next three years.
----------------------------------------------
It seems the London Boat Show works for most of its exhibitors. But, as Peter Poland points out, the future looks shaky.
Whatever is done, the attendance seems mired in a persistent downward plunge. And, at a time when Paris brought in 240,000 and Düsseldorf 248,000, London's paltry in comparison 89,000 seems ever more second division, as the erudite Mr Poland puts it. But, if the exhibitors are happy with the sales they are achieving, presumably they don't worry too much which division they're in.
The show is now very much a regional boat show, saved only by the gleaming attendance of Sunseeker, Princess and a pleasingly emerging Fairline. Without the three industry leaders, the London Boat Show would probably be hard put to beat the Telegraph Cruise Show's 18,500 over its three says.
Some suggest losing the Friday press day has robbed the show of a lot of its press coverage - and vital visitor attendance - for a small reduction in exhibitor costs.
Featured Brokerage
2009 Pogo 40. 195,000 Euros. Located in France.
This Pogo is the leading model of the Class 40 circuit. She has been designed to sail long distances at high speed. Thanks to her very well fitted cockpit and deck, she is simple to sail single handed or with a reduced crew. JUMPA LAGI is very versatile, whether it be for an international off shore race such as the Route du Rhum or to cruise with your family across the Atlantic. She is easy to maintain, reliable and unsinkable.
E-brochures: www.bernard-gallay.com/yacht-for-sale/JUMPA-LAGI-116
Brokerage by Bernard Gallay:
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
The artist's task is to save the soul of mankind; and anything less is a dithering while Rome burns. If artists cannot find the way, then the way cannot be found. -- Terence McKenna
Editorial and letter submissions to
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html