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

Epic Conditions At Cabrillo Beach
Enfant Terrible, the Italian entry skippered by Alberto Rossi, recovered from a 10th place finish in Race 1 to win Race 2 and 3 at Midwinters, being hosted by Cabrillo  Beach Yacht Club. Photo by Sara Proctor. Click on image to enlarge.

The Farr 40 Midwinter Championship got off to a rip-roaring start as 16-18 knot westerly winds buffeted the 16-boat fleet, making boat-handling challenging for skippers and crews while providing exciting racing.

Skipper Kevin McNeil and his crew on Nightshift handled the heavy air off Cabrillo Beach the best on Wednesday, posting a pair of seconds and a fourth to take the early lead in the four-day regatta. Nightshift has a low score of eight points, two better than Alex Roepers and the Plenty team.

Annapolis (MD) skipper Kevin McNeil and his Fleet Transit team on Nightshift hold the overall lead after a wild first day of racing at the Farr 40 Midwinter Championship.

Veteran professional Andy Horton is calling tactics for McNeil, whose Fleet Transit team remains intact from last year when Nightshift lost the Rolex World Championship to Enfant Terrible by tiebreaker.

Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club in San Pedro (Cal.) is hosting the Midwinter Championship, which is the opening regatta on the 2014 International Circuit. Principal race officer John Busch was able to reel off three races in succession with minimal course changes as the wind held fairly steady from 255 degrees.

Farr 40 Midwinter Championship Results - Top Five

1. Nightshift, Kevin McNeil, Annapolis, MD., 2-4-2=8 points
2. Plenty, Alex Roepers, New York, 3-3-4=10
3. Struntje Light, Wolfgang Schaefer, Germany, 4-2-5=11
4. Enfant Terrible, Alberto Rossi, Italy, 10-1-1=12
5. Flash Gordon 6, Helmut Jahn, Chicago, 1-9-7=17

For complete results: www.yachtscoring.com

Gazprom International European Dragon Championship
Photo by Matteo Littardi. Click on image to enlarge.

Sanremo, Italy: Overcast skies, well formed seas and steady wind from the east - northeast between 18 and 20 knots were on offer in Sanremo for the first day of racing of Gazprom International European Dragon Championship organised by the Yacht Club Sanremo in collaboration with the International Dragon Association and the Italian Sailing Federation and with the partnership of Gazprom International and BMW.

84 crews from 23 nations left the Yacht Club Sanremo dock this morning to face each other in the single race of the day which started at 11:30 . The race was held on a windward-leeward course : the crews of Sophie (Switzerland) and Alfie (Great Britain ) initially retained command of the fleet for most of the race, butlost ground on the last beat to the Finnish crew aboard Lisa.

Overall ranking after the first day of the regatta:

1. Lisa (Finland ): Jouko Lindgren, Tuomas Tenkanen and Calle Lindfors
2. Sophie (Switzerland): Pedro Andrade , Martin Westerdahl and Diogo Cayolla
3. Debutant (Denmark): Lars Hendriksen , Kleen Frithjof and Anders Bagger
4. Sinewave (Germany): Thomas Muller, Vincent Hoesch and Michael Lipp
5. Tergeste (Italy): Nando Colaninno , Guido Antar Vigna and Mauro Grandone

Complete rankings at www.yachtclubsanremo.it

Hudson Wight - Daring To Be Different
The team at Hudson Wight has combined its sailing experience with proven fabric technology, design and manufacturing expertise to produce great looking, high-performance sailwear at surprisingly low prices. A simple and effective business model delivers a daringly different solution to your sailing clothing needs. In short, you can now buy offshore specification kit made with top quality three-layer OceanVent fabric, at prices only ever seen before on inshore and coastal ranges from the better-known brands.

Hudson Wight only sells direct via its website and offers its products through an Affiliate Scheme with Clubs, Class Associations and other marine-related individuals and organisations, hence being able to sell core products at much lower prices than comparable products from other leading brands.

The feedback has been unanimous in its praise of the OceanVent waterproof and breathable fabrics and how quickly any build up of sweat and related condensation dries out via the hydrophilic breathable membrane.

Hudson Wight will be represented at a number of UK regattas this year, some in support of Affiliate Sail 4 Cancer.

Apart from buying the product and wearing it yourself, the recommendations from sailors now wearing the kit is one of the best ways to get the message across that you can buy top quality performance sailwear at very sensible prices. Read what Delivery Skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Instructor Norrie Forster from Scotland had to say in his forthright appraisal of the HW1s after a testing 5 day delivery trip from Southampton to The Clyde last year.

www.hudsonwight.com/blog/

Giancarlo Pedote: "Now Is The Time To See My Dream Come True"
He may not be that well known in the eyes of the general public, but he did finish in second place in the last Mini Transat aboard the 6.50 m prototype with the scow type bow. Now, Giancarlo Pedote is aiming higher setting his sights on the 2016 Vendee Globe. Based in Lorient, the 38-year old Italian skipper would like to sail on a boat able to compete in the middle of the fleet for his first attempt at the race.

Is your search for a budget going well?
GP: I've made some contacts, but things are moving rather slowly. It requires a much bigger budget than for a Mini 6.50. So I need to explain a lot about sponsoring to any potential partners, underlining the advantages of the Vendee Globe in terms of communication... My current sponsor, Prysmian, would like to remain with me for a Vendee Globe project, but cannot afford to come up with all of the funding. So they are helping me look for other partners. At the same time as this quest continues, I'm taking part in another Mini season. I believe it's vital to keep sailing. Weather, trimming, navigation: I want to stay in contact with ocean racing and not forget what it feels like to have salt water stinging your eyes.

On which boat are we going to see you compete in 2016?
GP: A second-hand boat of course. I'm looking at the boats from 2006-2007 and maybe those from 2010. My idea is to set off in 2016 with a monohull that is in with a chance of ending up in the middle of the fleet. I'd like to fight it out in the race with boats from the same generation. My second big goal is to gain confidence in the machine, get used to these big monohulls and then I'd like to come up with a new boat to compete in the following Vendee Globe.

Are Italians really fascinated by the Vendee Globe?
GP: There is a certain amount of interest when there are Italian skippers lining up. But we haven't been there regularly enough. We have to be more consistent when competing so that the media and the general public can get excited. But the potential is there. -- Interview with Olivier Bourbon / Mer & Media

www.vendeeglobe.org

Asia's Bluewater Classic
Rolex's 2014 international yachting season commences in Hong Kong in mid-April with the return of the biennial Rolex China Sea Race. Running 565-nm from Hong Kong's bustling Victoria Harbour, where traditional sampans compete for water space with modern commercial craft, it is Asia's principal offshore competition. The race crosses the South China Sea, finishing in Subic Bay, The Philippines.

The 2012 edition of the race marked the 50th anniversary of the competition and celebrations were suitably festive. Australian Geoff Hill's 90-ft Maxi Genuine Risk claimed line honours in just over 60 hours, someway off the course record set by acclaimed local yachtsman Karl Kwok on his Volvo 60 Beau Geste (elapsed time 47 hours, 43 minutes and 7 seconds) in 2000.

With a month to go until the start, the current entry list suggests a typical fleet of around 35 boats. In its new guise as Ragamuffin 90, skippered by Australian sailing legend Syd Fischer, the former Genuine Risk will start as favourite for line honours and is by some distance the largest competing yacht. Meanwhile, Hill will be campaigning the 72-ft Antipodes (GBR).

The 27th edition of the Rolex China Sea Race commences at 13:10 local time on Wednesday 16 April.

www.rhkyc.org.hk/rolexchinasearace.aspx

Miller Claims Victory at RYA Winter Match Racing Event
Rolex's 2014 international yachting season commences in Hong Kong in mid-April with the return of the biennial Rolex China Sea Race. Running 565-nm from Hong Kong's bustling Victoria Harbour, where traditional sampans compete for water space with modern commercial craft, it is Asia's principal offshore competition. The race crosses the South China Sea, finishing in Subic Bay, The Philippines.

The 2012 edition of the race marked the 50th anniversary of the competition and celebrations were suitably festive. Australian Geoff Hill's 90-ft Maxi Genuine Risk claimed line honours in just over 60 hours, someway off the course record set by acclaimed local yachtsman Karl Kwok on his Volvo 60 Beau Geste (elapsed time 47 hours, 43 minutes and 7 seconds) in 2000.

With a month to go until the start, the current entry list suggests a typical fleet of around 35 boats. In its new guise as Ragamuffin 90, skippered by Australian sailing legend Syd Fischer, the former Genuine Risk will start as favourite for line honours and is by some distance the largest competing yacht. Meanwhile, Hill will be campaigning the 72-ft Antipodes (GBR).

The 27th edition of the Rolex China Sea Race commences at 13:10 local time on Wednesday 16 April.

www.rhkyc.org.hk/rolexchinasearace.aspx

Miller Claims Victory at RYA Winter Match Racing Event
Connor Miller and his crew of Mike Matthews and Tom Neilson came out on top following a windy second and final event of the RYA Winter Match Racing Series this weekend (22-23 March).

Aberdeen's Miller, a current Loughborough University student, mastered the breezy conditions at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to overcome William Goldsmith's crew 3-1 in the final to claim weekend honours.

The RYA Winter Match Racing Series takes place in the former Olympic class Elliot 6m boats and combines part-training, part-competition with RYA coaches and a full umpire team on hand at each event.

Eight teams contested this final weekend of the 2013/14 series, with Nick Wilkinson, sailing with Robbie Hooper and Fred Brown, opening the preliminary round robin stage with a bang claiming seven race wins, while Annabel Vose and her crew followed closely behind in second to claim the two top spots.

This weekend (28-30 March) will see 14 teams compete at the BUCS/BUSA Match Racing Championships at WPNSA, an event which also forms part of the 2014 RYA National Match Racing Series.

RYA Winter National Match Racing (22-23 March) final results:

1. Connor Miller; Mike Matthews, Tom Neilson
2. William Goldsmith; James Hayward, Kate Devereux, Lucy Lowe
3. Nick Wilkinson; Robbie Hooper, Fred Brown
4. Annabel Vose; Emily Nagel, Hannah Peters, Amy Prime
5. Tom Harrison; Jamie Diamond, Jonty Cook
6. Bruno Van Dyke; Rob Bunce, Andy Lis
7. Andrew Wishart; Joe Simmons, Joe Stansfield
8. Matt Goacher; Sam Edom, Katie Dewing

www.rya.org.uk/racing

Monos & Multis Link Up For Brisbane To Keppel Yacht Race
The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron is grabbing the opportunity to expand its Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race fleet and giving multihull and monohull believers the chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder.

While debate continues around the country on the inclusion of multihulls in 'traditional' monohull offshore races, RQYS' sailing committee has sprinkled holy water on the combined fleet idea for its signature offshore event and joined a growing number of influential clubs inviting multihulls and monohulls to race as one fleet for separate trophies

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club successfully ran a multihull division for the January Pittwater to Coffs race and Middle Harbour Yacht Club's resumed partnership with Mooloolaba Yacht Club has brought the Sydney to Mooloolaba yacht race back to the calendar (April 9) with monohulls and multihulls invited.

Queensland's coastal fringe offers rich cruising and racing grounds and the RQYS aims to tap into this concentration of multihull owners and lure entries from other states on their way to Airlie Beach and Audi Hamilton Island race weeks in August.

The 343 nautical mile Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race from Queensland's Moreton Bay to Rossyln Bay at Great Keppel Island will start at midday on Thursday July 31, 2014.

www.brisbanetokeppel.com

Land Sailors Of India On Adventure Across The Rann
So you thought that land and ice yachting took place only in Europe or America, maybe in the deserts of Australia? Think again. The Indian Army is right now on a five day land yacht adventure across the Great Rann of Kutch, the largest salt water desert in the world located in north western India.

The Rann covering an area of 18,000 sq kms is an extensive mudflat, salty and creaked inundated during monsoons. Its landscape is parched, desolate and desert like averaging 15m above sea level.

The barren and vast expanse of Rann though provides the ideal terrain for land yachting. However, lack of landmarks, local resources and the sandy terrain devoid of any vegetation pose adequate challenges for adventure seekers.

A team of 26 trained soldiers from various units, led by Captain Abhinav Sharma are sailing the expedition. -- Lee Mylchreest in Sail-World.com

www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=120354

See also: www.indiablooms.com

From Moscow Sea To The White Sea
Click on image to enlarge.

I realized there is no Cote d'Azur with sandy beaches and emerald water in my country Russia. However, I had a strong tailwind, the northern sky and a crew that turned this trip into one of the best adventures of my life.

The Ivankovo Reservoir, the so-called Moscow Sea, with an area of 32,000, is located to the north of the capital. As spring sets in, local sailors come to its shores. This is an excellent place for the training of beginners - but one should go North to find real adventure, the fabled White Sea.

If you look at the map of the western part of Russia the uninformed would not even imagine where you can go starting from the Moscow Sea - there are only small rivers and lakes mixed up with marshes everywhere. However, if you take a closer look, you will notice that there are locks between the rivers, through which a yacht from Moscow can sail to the White Sea in the Arctic Circle.

Our route ran through Moscow - Tver - Kimry - Rybinsk - Rybinsk Reservoir - Cherepovets - Kubenskoye Lake - Beloye Lake (Kirillo-Belozersky Museum Reserve is on its shores) - Onega Lake - Petrozavodsk - Baltic Canal - White Sea.

Passing through the locks also proved to be an interesting experience. According to the rules, the priority in passing the locks is given to ships with passengers, then to tankers and dry cargo carriers, and only then to us in micro-class, the yachts. If you are lucky enough, you can 'slip' through the lock within half an hour, if not - you can wait an entire day, and you can never tell in advance. -- Ivan Dementievsky

www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=120371

Strong Irish Support For Volvo Cork Week
Grand Soleil 43, Quokka. Photo by Paul Wyeth. Click on image to enlarge.

Early entries for Volvo Cork Week are promising a wide variety of sailors and yachts coming to enjoy, Ireland's longest running and most prestigious yachting regatta. Interest has been received from several high performance yachts from overseas and with Volvo Cork Week taking place just two weeks before the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup, competing teams are eyeing up Volvo Cork Week as an ideal training event for the country versus country competition.

Half of the early entries for Volvo Cork Week are from Dublin Yacht Clubs, promising signs of a strong Irish presence, looking to take on well sailed overseas visitors.

Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell will be crew boss for the Grand Soleil 43, Quokka, at Volvo Cork Week. Quokka, co-skippered by Niall Dowling and Michael Boyd will be part of the Irish team at the Brewin Dolphin Commodores' Cup. " Cork Week will be our last event before the Commodores' Cup." confirmed Prof. "We will have the full team racing the boat and we will be flying the flag in Ireland for the last time before the big event based in Cowes.

My tuppence worth of advice for first timers at Cork Week, is to sail conservatively and prudently on day one. Give way early and avoid damage at all costs. Whether right or wrong, damage will ruin your week. Better to give up half a boat length than spend the day at the protest room or boat yard. Everyone is more relaxed after the first day. Also, remain civil afloat, as you will meet ashore at some stage and you may well find that you spend the whole week afloat with the same small group of boats, as if tied by an invisible string. Much better to make friends day one and enjoy it. We still meet friends we made on the water twenty years ago. -- Louay Habib

www.corkweek.ie

Featured Brokerage
2010 Custom Davidson 70. $1,500,000 USD. Located in Marina del Rey, California USA.

Built by Franklin Boat Works in New Zealand and launched in California for a very knowledgeable yachtsman. Built entirely in carbon fibre pre-preg, with carbon rig by Southern Spars, carbon rigging and locking halyards. Pendragon VI is easily driven by her very extensive North Sails inventory. All halyards and control lines are led aft under the cabin and deck making for a clean uncluttered deck. The keel is a lifting foil, with bulb. The 75hp Volvo Penta diesel auxiliary has a retractable drive for drag free speeds while sailing. Twin rudders make steering positive in all conditions, with off wind speeds of 30+ knots attainable. The interior ends are finished in high gloss clear, while the center area is painted and has American Maple trim with red upholstery. Boat is being sold for a fraction of it's original cost.

Details

Contact Bill Peterson, +1 310 821 5883,

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
Winning tastes good. -- Jean-Claude Killy

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