Brought to you by Boats.com Europe, Yachtworld.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

Breakthrough Victories At The 2010 Miami Grand Prix
Photo by Rick Tomlinson, rick-tomlinson.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Miami Grand Prix Miami Beach, Florida, USA: The 2010 Miami Grand Prix will always remain memorable for the owners and crew members of Teasing Machine and Flash Gordon. That's because both boats registered signature victories at the annual four-day regatta, organized by Premiere Racing.

Skipper Jean-Francois Cruette and his crew on Teasing Machine displayed tremendous consistency to capture the Melges 32 championship. It was French team's first regatta title since joining the popular sport boat class a year ago.

Owner Helmut Jahn and the boys on Flash Gordon also made a bit of a breakthrough by capturing the Farr 40 class by a mere point over the Italian entry Nerone. It marked the first victory in an international regatta for the Chicago-based syndicate, which previously won the Farr 40 North American Championship that had no foreign entries.

Several members of the Flash Gordon team, notably jib-spinnaker trimmer Dave Gerber and coach Ed Adams, have been with Jahn for nearly two decades. San Diego-based professional Bill Hardesty came aboard as tactician two years ago and has helped elevate the crew performance, evidenced by the fact Flash's only two Farr 40 victories have come in the past six months.

It was close but no cigar for skipper Massimo Mezzaroma, tactician Vasco Vascotto and the rest of the crew on Nerone, which won four races and finished second in two others.

Nerone did capture the Florida Grand Prix title, which is awarded based on the combined results from Premiere Racing's two winter regattas. The Italian boat placed third at Key West 2010 and totaled 81 points - 13 better than Barking Mad (Jim Richardson, Newport, R.I.).

Skipper Jim Bishop completed a wire-to-wire win in IRC class with a first and a second in Sunday's two races. The Rhode Island skipper steered his 20-year-old J/44 to victory in five races and finished no worse than second in totaling 19 points. Decision, a TP52 owned by Stephen Murray of New Orleans, closed the regatta with a bullet and overtook the J/125 Stark Raving Mad (James Madden, Oyster Bay, N.Y.) for second.

Full results on www.premiere-racing.com

OMEGA Auckland Match Racing Regatta
Photo by Chris Cameron / ETNZ, chriscameron.co.nz. Click on image for photo gallery.

OMEGA Auckland Match Racing Regatta The best was definitely left to last in the Omega Auckland Match Racing Regatta, which saw Dean Barker of Emirates Team New Zealand overcome a scratchy beginning to the regatta to beat British Team Origin skipper Ben Ainslie in the finals.

Ainslie was the big performer in the round robins, losing just two matches, while Barker struggled and at one stage looked unlikely to make the final four. However, their fortunes reversed when the second round robin could not be completed, bringing into play a countback system, which saw Barker advance.

Once into the sharp end of the action, Barker and his Emirates Team New Zealand crew shook off their earlier lack of form and came out with all guns blazing, first defeating Adam Minoprio and his young BlackMatch team 2-0 in the semi-final and then defeating Ainslie by the same score.

Ainslie said he was pleased with the way he and his crew had sailed, but were disappointed with the final, "But that is the game," he said. "Dean Barker sailed really well in the last couple of hours."

This is not the first time Barker has struggled for form in the early part of a major match race regatta, only to come through at the end and take the title. "We don't like doing it that way. It is not good for the nerves," he said. "I couldn't get it right in the beginning of the second round, but we did enough to scrape through.

"Ben Ainslie and his Team Origin crew set the benchmark in the regatta. They sailed consistently well all four days. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't. We were lucky it came good for us at the end."

Final Finish Order
Dean Barker (NZL)
Ben Ainslie (GBR)
Adam Minoprio (NZL)
Torvar Mirsky (AUS)
Karol Jablonski (POL)
Bertrand Pace (FRA)
Magnus Holmberg (SWE)
Francesco Bruni (ITA)
Sebastien Col (FRA)
Chris Dickson (NZL)

www.rnzys.org.nz

'Meet The Experts' Yacht Club Road Show 2010
Meet The Experts Roadshow Following on from the success of 2009, Henri Lloyd, Hyde Sails, Tacktick and Spinlock will be offering yacht club members the chance to hear the latest in product innovation, top tips for the forthcoming season and information about new product launches. Experts from the manufacturers will be on hand to answer members' questions and queries as well as offering invaluable inside knowledge on how to get the best out of your equipment for the forthcoming season.

The series of free road shows will take the form of informal evening events with drinks and practical presentations from the marine specialists together with product demonstrations and the chance to win a goodie bag of manufacturers' prizes worth around £800.

Castle Cove SC, Weymouth, 24th February 2010
Royal Dart YC, Kingswear, 3rd March 2010
Royal Cornwall YC, Falmouth, 4th March 2010
Parkstone YC, Poole, 10th March 2010
Royal Southern YC, Hamble, 13th March 2010
Largs SC, Largs, 19th March 2010

spinlock.co.uk

A Hellish Tack
On a perfectly rectilinear course since rounding Cape Horn, Groupama 3 is continuing her ascent of the Southern Atlantic by cleverly limiting the haemorrhage of miles lost in relation to the Jules Verne Trophy champion. Furthermore, they are in no way losing sight of the fact that they will have to battle all the way to the end and that they must remain in great shape to do so.

As announced a few days ago by weather adviser Sylvain Mondon, the medium NNW'ly wind is reigning implacably over what is a much calmer ocean.

"We haven't tacked for a very long time and, from this evening, we'll be making two or three changes of tack to gently make headway to the North. It's at that point that we'll lose the greatest distance in relation to Orange, but we're left with no other alternative if we are to locate a system which is more favourable to our progress. The fact that things are very tight as regards the record time is highly motivating and we know we've got a real battle on our hands" said Jacques Caraës during the daily radio link-up with Groupama's Jules Verne HQ.

Tonight, just to have a change from the routine which they're slowly slipping into aboard, the succession of helmsmen will alter course to the left and then, a few hours later, to the right, thanks to the wind variations along the western edge of the zone of high pressure. As such the wind strength and direction, as well as the barometric pressure will be navigator Stan Honey's principle points of reference in trying to limit the extra distance to travel as much as possible. -- translated by Kate Jennings

Groupama 3's log (departure on 31st January at 13h 55' 53'' UTC)

Day 33 (5th March 1400 UTC): 445 miles (lead = 150 miles)
Day 34 (6th March 1400 UTC): 461 miles (lead = 58 miles)
Day 35 (7th March 1400 UTC): 382 miles (deficit = 100 miles)

www.cammas-groupama.com

Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
Last month's winner:

Iker Martinez & Xabi Fernandez (ESP)
Olympic sailing is now such an 'industry' that to stand out you need to broaden your reputation. No one has done that better than Spain's 3-time 49er world champions and Volvo veterans. 'The old-timers do it again' - Marcus Spillane; 'So many years at the top!' - Oscar Haizekin; 'Probably the best all rounders in the world (after Torben!)' - Giovanni Giotese; 'Their best series ever?' - (49er measurer) Barry Johnson. And now for the Barcelona Race! Seahorse Sailor of the Month comes to you with Musto, Harken McLube and Dubarry. Please contact the office for your prizes...

This month's nominees:


Buddy Melges (USA)
Olympic gold* in the Soling, two Star world titles and an America's Cup victory in 1992... 26 January saw the Wizard of Zenda celebrate his 80th birthday. Incredible. This most gregarious and immensely popular of sailing talents has done so much for so many in the sport over the years. As fast in an ice boat (still) as a sailboat: 'just watch the heel angle.' *Did we mention an Olympic bronze in the Flying Dutchman in '64 as well...


Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson (GBR)
Two Olympic gold medals (one in the Finn) for Percy, one so far for Andrew 'Bart' Simpson. Plus now a second world title in the Star won in Rio in January, seemingly with the ease that marked Percy's original Finn medal in Sydney in 2000. Time is on the side of these two to go on and build remarkable careers in the sport. Olympic gold, America's Cup and Volvo Race... it's still there to be done.


Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Harken McLube, Dubarry & Musto.

Cast your vote, submit comments, even suggest a candidate for next month at
sailor.seahorsemagazine.com/seahorse-sailor-of-the-month.html

* Seahorse has a special six issue subscription offer for those who vote and/or comment on the Sailor of the Month... vote and see!

Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta
Photo by Andrea Francolini, www.afrancolini.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta Division 1 of the Audi IRC Series at the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta again belonged to Stephen Ainsworth and his well-sailed Reichel/Pugh 63 Loki (NSW) today, his second overall win handing him the Series win after Wild Oats X, (Bob Oatley's Reichel/Pugh 66, suffered generator problems again and shredded two spinnakers, while Geoff Ross' Reichel/Pugh 55, Yendys (NSW) could not keep up the Loki pace.

Loki, with international yachtsman Gordon Maguire at the helm, handled the short sharp chop on the windward/leeward course with aplomb. "Winds were in the 17-22 knot range, and as usual, they were shifty," Ainsworth said.

While Wild Oats X, with Mark Richards at the helm and Loki went head-to-head, Yendys battled it out with Melbourne entry, Living Doll, the Farr 55 owned by Michael Hiatt. Ross and his crew including VOR sailor and Olympian Chris Nicholson calling tactics and round the world yachtsman Will Oxley navigating, had their way to notching up a pair of second places to finish the regatta in second overall , with Living Doll third.

As a divisional winner, Ainsworth is eligible to enter the Audi Final Challenge, which will take place at Eastern Creek International Raceway tomorrow, Monday morning. The Final Challenge will be held in the Audi TT RS coupes and the winner, which will come from the 24 divisions competing at the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, will drive away in an A4 Avant 1.8 TFSI multi.

Media‚ 'Money Man', Paul Clitheroe, won Divison 2 of the IRC Series with his Beneteau 45 Balance. -- Di Pearson

www.audi.com.au/sailing

Etchells Worlds NOR & Entry Form Available
Howth Yacht Club, near Dublin, Ireland, which hosts the 2010 Etchells World Championships in late August, has announced that the Notice of Race and Entry Form for the event are now available on the championship website - www.etchellsworlds2010.org.

Currently the Irish 'Sailing Club of the Year' award winner, Howth YC is one of the longest established clubs in Ireland, dating back to 1895, and today has some 2,200 members who enjoy year-round sailing and state-of-the-art facilities. These include a modern, Continental-style clubhouse, a 300-boat marina and a large boatpark - recently doubled in size - with two cranes ideally suited for the efficient launching and hauling-out of Etchells.

Regarded as one of the premier racing clubs on the Irish sailing scene, Howth has earned a global reputation for its race management expertise and has hosted numerous national and international events over the years. Three European Championships and three Worlds in the past 15 years are testimony to the club's ability to stage major regattas.

Further information on the event - taking place between August 19th and 28th - is available on the championship website - www.etchellsworlds2010.org

Battle Of The Titans At St.Maarten Heineken Regatta Opener
Photo by Tim Wright, www.photoaction.com. Click on image to enlarge.

St.Maarten Heineken Regatta Simpson Bay, St. Maarten - After an extremely close, tactical, race on the opening day of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Tom and Dotty Hill's custom Reichel/Pugh 75 - Titan 15, managed to hold off George David's Reichel/Pugh 90 Rambler and Irvine Laidlaw's Wally 82 Highland Fling to take top spot in the St Maarten Round the Island Race.

Peter Isler and team aboard this stunning new, ultra lightweight racing machine enjoyed an extremely testing 32nm race round the island of St Maarten in unusually light, southerly winds which only reached 12kts at best. They engaged in an early bow-to-bow battle with Rambler and Highland Fling from the start and, although Rambler soon powered off in the building gusts on the first spinnaker leg to the western most point of the island, Titan and Highland Fling were always snapping at her heels.

The tactical part of the race for all classes really began in Marigot Bay where choice of headsails was critical. Isler chatting about the race said: "We went with the jib top which is a bit smaller, tighter angle combination and the other two went with spinnakers and a Code Zeros. For a while our combination was better but behind the lee of the island it got quite light. We were headed on starboard tack reach first then when we got to the middle of the bay it started lifting and the Code Zero started to pay which allowed us to overtake Highland Fling."

Once round the north-east tip of the island at Tintamarre (mark 4) it was a beat back down to the finish at Philpsburg in an ever-decreasing breeze. Titan however, now with about a minute on Rambler and in striking distance of Highland Fling had done enough to secure the first Spinnaker Class 1 race of the regatta.

The Reichel/Pugh 44 Peake Yacht Services sailed by Peter Peake and team managed to hold off Richard Matthews and team from the UK aboard Oystercatcher XXVI - the fast, and well sailed Tom Humphries design, to take their first win of the regatta in Spinnaker 3, despite a spinnaker wrap round the third mark.

Italian Andrea Scarabelli sailing the Melges 24 Budget Marine is another one to watch out for this week. This racy-looking team managed to beat the other Melges 24s in Spinnaker 7 fleet and finished second in class by just four minutes on corrected time to Dave West and team in the Melges 32 Jurakan.

Calvin Reed and his Gill Commodore's Cup-winning team from yesterday put up another good performance today and won the highly competitive Spinnaker 5 fleet once again. Elandra - one of six Beneteau 40.7s competing in this class - comes from Antigua and Geoff Linton tactician said they hope for more light winds. -- Sue Pelling

www.heinekenregatta.com

Launchings
Click on images to enlarge.

Thalima * At the end of January the Cape Town based shipyard Southern Wind launched their new flagship, the SW 110 RS Thalima. The superyacht is built for an experienced owner who for the third time has entrusted the same team, Southern Wind, Farr Yacht Design and Nauta Design, to build his latest superyacht.

Farr Yacht Design was responsible for the hull lines and sail plan, while the interior and exterior were styled by the team of Nauta Design.

Thalima features a traditional lay-out, as found on the smaller Southern Wind sailing yachts. The crew quarters, galley and two twin guest cabins are situated in the stern, amidships there is the saloon, dining area and VIP cabin, and the owner's cabin with private study, walk-in wardrobe and bathroom is situated forward. The saloon features a seating area to port, dining area to starboard and moving forward, taking the stairs down there is second seating area with a large TV.

Thalima will be exhibited in September at the 2010 Monaco Yacht Show.

By Merijn de Waard in the Superyacht Times:
www.superyachttimes.com/editorial/2/article/id/4014

www.sws-yachts.com

* The International OK Dinghy Class Association exhibited the brand new Icebreaker Hull at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show 2010

After a year in the workshop, Alex Scholes of Idol Composites successfully created an improved mould for the new dinghy which is traditionally built in New Zealand.

The prototype was tested by dinghy sailing champion Nick Craig and orders are coming in fast now the first boats have been completed. Irish Olympic Finn representative, Tim Goodbody has placed an order already; no doubt he was attracted to the high standard and variety of international competition offered by this thoroughbred single hander.

www.okdinghy.co.uk

* The Redwing Class have exhibited their latest boat, the R249, at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show.

The R249, had her first outing at the class championships in the Isle of Scilly last August and was on display on the Redwing stand (F28) throughout the weekend. -- www.nationalredwing.co.uk

Nimble * Robert Brooke, of the Auckland Traditional Boatbuilding School, has completed building a replica of Nimble Q8, designed and sailed by Des Townson, and she was the leading points scorer in the New Zealand team that competed in the inaugural event held on Sydney Harbour in 1957.

Over the past week she has been on display at the 50th Anniversary Dinner for the 12ft class, and today was at Auckland Sailing Club.

Sail-World has a gallery of images, both as a tribute to the beautiful Townson line and also in recognition of the outstanding skills, craftsmanship and perseverance of Robert Brooke who has built a beautiful yacht, accurate to the available gear and fittings of her time.

See www.sail-world.com

Featured Brokerage
Featured Brokerage Boat 1977 Manzanita Quarter Tonner, EUR 15,000. Located in Hamble, United Kingdom.

The Manzanita 25 is an uncompromising IOR quarter ton class racer designed by Ron Holland. The exceptional design of the body convinces especially with moderate winds. Equipped with a maximum sail area of around 82sqm downwind, this 30 year old design keeps up very well with todays racers. There has been over 35,000.00 euro spent on her over the last 5 years.

Brokerage through HM Yachts Ltd.: www.yachtworld.com/hmyachts/

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

The Last Word
I never met a woman I didn't like. -- Groucho Marx

Bookmark and Share

Use this box to send a copy of this issue of the Scuttlebutt Europe Newsletter to a friend:
[FORWARDFORM]

Or [FORWARD] for a page where you can send copies to up to a dozen friends.

About YachtWorld.com
Formed in 1995, YachtWorld.com is the premier online sales channel for yacht brokers around the world. The site lists more than 110,000 boats for sale in 115 countries by some 2,500 brokers in 60 countries. The total value of boats listed is over $40 billion. Headquartered in Seattle, YachtWorld.com has its European headquarters in the United Kingdom, with sales offices in Germany, Italy and Russia and sales representation in Dubai, Australia and China.

About Boats.com
Boats.com provides marketing and Web services to boat builders, dealers, brokers and service companies throughout the global recreational marine industry. The Boats.com Website provides consumer access to information, boat listings and financial and insurance products. With more than 143,000 new and used boat listings from more than 5,500 brokers, dealers and manufacturers, Boats.com is the largest concentration of recreational marine industry marketing in the world.

Yachtworld.com on line magazine is available free of charge and delivered digitally every month. Click here to receive your copy: www.yachtworldmagazine.com/ywm/latest/

NEW! See the Boats Blog at Boats.com -- www.boats.com/blog/

To subscribe, unsubscribe, and select HTML or Text format visit scuttlebutteurope.com

Editorial and letter submissions to

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

Search the Archives

SEARCH SEARCH

Our Partners

Seahorse Magazine

YachtScoring.com

Wight Vodka

Robline Ropes

Harken

Marlow

Navico

Translate