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

Magic Blue and Lionheart Claim Inaugural Menorca Maxi
The fourth and final day of the inaugural Menorca Maxi saw the nine Wallys and three Js race under tough and tricky conditions.

The shifty winds and passing rain clouds caused a one-hour postponement but the race committee was finally able to hold two close races for the Wally Class and one for the Js. While the top of the leaderboard was almost decided heading into the final day, the Wally Class saw a match race take place in the second race, between the equally-matched Sensei and Galma. Alberto Palatchi's Galma prevailed and closed the podium places, just one point ahead of Sensei.

Antonio Cacace's Magic Blue was the clear favorite heading into Sunday but the rest of the podium places were still up for grabs with three boats, Magic Carpet3, Sensei and Galma having a shot at second and third place.

Lionheart continued her dominant form in the final race for the three J Class yachts competing at the Menorca Maxi, taking her fifth straight win to secure the regatta victory.

On the final downwind leg Hanuman gybed off first, with Ranger following to cover shortly after. Confident of their advantage, Lionheart continued straight to the finish, and crossed the line to take their fifth successive victory of the series and secure the event win with a perfect scoreline.

Menorca Maxi 2014 - Wally Class - Results after 6 races (1 discard)
1. Magic Blue, 3,2,1,1,1,(10)= 8 points
2. Magic Carpet3, (6),1,2,6,3,1 = 13
3. Galma, 2,(4),4,7,2,3 = 18
4. Sensei, 5,(7),3,3,4,4 = 19
5. Tango G, 1,(8),8,5,7,2 = 23
6. Ryokan 2, (7),5,5,4,6,5 = 21
7. J ONE, 4,6,7,2,(10),10 = 29
8. Open Season, 8,3,6,8,5,(10) = 30
9. Kenora, (9),9,9,9,8,6 = 41

Menorca Maxi 2014 - J Class - Results after 5 races (1 discard)
1. Lionheart, (1),1,1,1,1 = 4 points
2. Ranger, 2,2,(3),3,2 = 9
3. Hanuman, (3),3,3,2,3 = 11

www.menorcamaxi.com

Gryphon Solo 2 Wins The 2014 Atlantic Cup
Gryphon Solo 2 skippered by Joe Harris and Patrick O'Connor, held on to first place overall in the 2014 Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing after a tight weekend of inshore racing. Both Gryphon Solo 2 and #116 - JeffreyMacFarlane.com were tied at the end of racing today, however per the Notice of Race, all ties are broken in favor of the boat with the most points earned among the two offshore legs, which was Gryphon Solo 2. The weather on day 1 of the inshore series delivered wind speeds consistently in the upper teens, but in day 2 the wind was variable from 7-12 knots making for a challenging two days of inshore racing in Narragansett Bay. #39 Pleiad Racing dominated the inshore series by winning three of the five races, en route to securing third overall.

Gryphon Solo 2 bested the field during the first offshore leg (Charleston, S.C. to N.Y. Harbor) and placed 3rd in the second leg (N.Y. Harbor to Newport, R.I.). JeffreyMacFarlane.com finished 1st in the second leg and 4th in the first leg. Both teams finished the overall racing with 31 total combined points. However, per the Notice of Race, the tie is broken in favor of the team scoring the most points in the offshore legs, which was Gryphon Solo 2. With the victory Gryphon Solo 2 claims $4,000 of the $15,000 purse, one of the largest in sailing in the United States.

www.atlanticcup.org

From Joe Harris on Gryphon Solo2:

It is very satisfying to win the AC in my third try and my check and trophy are now prominently displayed in my son's bedroom. Our strong offshore performance in the first two legs carried us through an OK inshore series as the light wind conditions did not favor our boat. However, we had great crew work and gained at most mark-roundings, and our reaching and running was fine - the Achilles heel was going upwind in less than 8 knots, where we were sticky. So we will have to go to work on that issue and come back next year with some solutions.

But for now it feels great to just enjoy the win for a moment before preparing in earnest for the upcoming Newport-Bermuda Race which starts on June 20.

I hope you all had as great a Memorial Day week-end as we did on GS2 and I look forward to the Bermuda Race and delivery back to Maine for the refit coming up.

Our condolences to Team Dragon for their unfortunate rendezvous with a rock on Saturday and we are hoping they will be back up and running in time for the Bermuda Race.

www.gryphonsolo2.com

Marinepool Club And Crew Jacket Collection 2014 - A Sportive Look And Maritime Chic In Classic Style
2014 has seen the introduction of a new Club and Crew Jacket line that is the perfect outfit for get togethers in the clubhouse, an apres sail drink in the cockpit or for any trip both on water and land. Garments for all occasions and events that require a sportive look in a classic style.

There is hardly any other sport that is similarly demanding on clothing than sailing. Garments used on boats or for regattas require highest reliability in terms of waterproofness, breathability, abrasion resistance. Functional cuts, light weight and further intelligent design features are indispensable - and the ideal crew wear brings all these qualities together. Furthermore, sailing as a sport and lifestyle reaches beyond the action on board and on race courses. Maritime clothing has a wide appeal and has become a way of living for many. The functionality of the garments is a welcome add-on and asset. The new Club and Crew Jacket collection by Marinepool is designed for racing crews, club teams, the ambitious amateur and fashion conscious water sports enthusiast alike. The utilization of technical high-quality fabrics ensures crucial features in terms of function such as breathability, wind and waterproofness and highest wearing comfort.

Consequently, these products can be used for racing, day sailing and any other dynamic outdoor activities. Maritime colours and fashionable details such as the striped knitted sleeve cuffs, collar and hem of the "Storm Jacket", available for men, women and kids bring a casual touch to the functional jackets. In combination with jeans, chino trousers, shirts or polo shirts and with its stylish design, the "Cruising Jacket" is the perfect outer layer for casual looks or sportive elegant outfits.

The new Marinepool club and crew jacket collection.

Design. Technology. Passion.

marinepool.com

When Gybing Is Synonymous With The Solent
The competitors in the Normandy Channel Race rounded the Isle of Wight at dawn this morning. The war of nerves, combining gybes and currents, has begun. Following on from the pitfalls of the Solent, the fleet will have to be on the alert at Portland Bill, which they'll reach over the course of this afternoon.

Portland Bill, a peninsula to the south of Weymouth, has its fair share of surprises in store for the 16 Class40s competing in this Normandy Channel Race 2014. This is especially true given that a wind shift isn't likely to help them thwart the currents created by the peninsula.

All the sailors had very little sleep last night, 30 minutes at best for some teams, and the upcoming forecast doesn't seem ready to give them any respite. -- Translated by Kate Jennings

Ranking: (at 1345 GMT Monday)
1. L'express - Trepia (Lautrou/ Ruyant)
2. Groupement Flo (Maisonneuve/ Aubrun) +1.9 Nm
3. Advanced Energies - Carac (Duc/ Rousseau) + 2.2 Nm
4. Serenis Consulting (Galfione/ Jourdain) +2.6 Nm
5. Erdf - Des Pieds Et Des Mains (Seguin/ Gregoire) +4.4 Nm

www.normandy-race.com

Webb Chiles, 72, Sixth Circumnavigation Attempt In 24ft Daysailer
At 72 years, and with five circumnavigations already behind him, last week Webb Chiles commenced his sixth circumnavigation attempt.

Not only is this a game attempt, he is doing it in what some would regard as a light racing boat unsuited to such a voyage. His 24ft boat Gannet is a Moore 24, a boat design which has never so far been sailed around the world.

While Webb is known to hard core cruising sailors, he is almost wholly unknown in mainstream news, in spite of the fact that he holds the record for the first American sailor to round Cape Horn solo.

Some of his escapades have been newsworthy, however, including the sinking of his own 36' sloop Resurgam and subsequent 26 hours of floating and swimming to survive. He was not rescued, but carried more than 125 miles by the Gulf Stream before reaching an anchored fishing vessel. He also broke Sir Francis Chichester's record for the fastest solo circumnavigation in a monohull by more than three weeks.

The Californian-designed Moore 24 is the first ultra-light displacement class built in the United States. Moore 24s have often been successfully raced from California to Hawaii, but no one has ever before attempted to circumnavigate in one. It was first designed in 1972, but has always been used primarily for racing and fast daysailing.

You can follow GANNET's track at my.yb.tl/gannet and learn more about the artist who is sailing the boat at www.inthepresentsea.com -- Nancy Knudsen in Sail-World.com

www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=122537

Rodos Cup
The Offshore Yachting Club of Rhodes is organizing for the 18th year the international sailing week "RODOS CUP 2014" in the Dodecanese islands. The aim of the event is to promote Offshore Sailing by uniting as many sailors as possible, giving them the opportunity to enjoy the wind, sea and sun of the Greek islands.

Starting from the island of Hippocrates - Kos ( www.kosmarina.gr ), we will visit the islands of Nisiros ( www.nisyros.gr ), Symi ( www.symi.gr ) and the sun island of Rhodes ( www.rhodes.gr ). The regatta constitutes an invitation and at the same time a challenge for sailing holidays in the Dodecanese. Dodecanese lies in the Aegean sea and offers challenging and demanding sailing conditions. Rodos Cup 2014 is a unique opportunity to experience the natural beauties, the sights, the rich traditions as well as the Hellenic warm hospitality

www.rodoscup.gr

Fuel Cells....The Standard For On-Board Power?
Fuel Cell growth within sailing - and racing in particular - is increasing. Adopters of Fuel Cell soon become the strongest promoters of the technology:

'... one less point of failure to worry about. The fuel cell has become an essential part of our equipment ....
Richard Palmer, Jangada Too
Winner, BNY Mellon JOG Cascais Race 2013

'far easier and more reliable than any of the other power generation methods...... Easy to use, simple, clean, quiet - what more could you ask for'?
Pip Hare, The Potting Shed
Winner, Mini Fastnet Race, 2013

To users the benefits of Fuel Cell are undeniable:

'... delighted with the system... it has made our life on board so much better... we don't have to worry about battery charging by either shore power or running the engine. We were able to pick up cartridges in both Crete and Levkas ..."
Jacky Black, Arwen of Bosham, moored Crete.

...and media experts have joined the campaign to make on-board battery charging simple and reliable with Fuel Cell technology:

'Fuel Cells will soon be standard on-board equipment'.
Ian Galetti, Cruising Association Magazine June 2012

'Neat, noise and pollution-free'.
Yachting World September 2013

www.fuelcellsystems.co.uk

Letters To The Editor -
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.

* From Phillip Ross Editor - Cruising Helmsman: Both Habib and Walker cover the difficult task of accepting sponsors for an event and giving, both them and readers interested in the event, value. Reportage versus promotion.

Here in Australia the coverage of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is a great example. Talk to any yachtie and the complaint circles around the television coverage concentrating on the super maxis with next to nothing regarding the vast majority of the smaller boats that make up the fleet.

Talk to Channel Seven (current TV broadcasters) the S2H is one of the most expensive sporting events to put to air with very little advertiser interest due to its low consumer interest and competing events (Boxing Day Cricket test etc). The broadcasters are at pains to tell sailors that before the race they cover a vast range of small boats and use knowledgeable commentators, but this is still a limited answer as they cannot be expected to give detailed descriptions regarding up to 100 boats. Plus once the race starts, all interest is on the big boys and girls.

And that is the problem besetting one of the most iconic races in the world. How does a smaller, usually amateur-run, championship/regatta balance such competing interests? Let alone create cut-through in the media sporting pages to get coverage to appease those interests?

Working in the sailing print and online media we try and differentiate between the two media to provide for both parties. The internet is immediate so its reporting of results is second to none. In the print publications we can publish more nuanced, informative, behind-the-scenes, human interest stories where the sponsor may gather more traction other than just having a banner click through on the web result page. Thus, hopefully, appeasing all (or at least vaguely annoying everyone but at least it is fair!)

I agree with both Habib and Walker, although the answer lies somewhere between the two. A lot of PR agencies do write to appease the bill payer with little thought to the readership and do both a disservice. We would like to assist but cannot in all conscience put such nonsense to print. It needs to be a partnership, as I believe Walker claims, so all involved can achieve a satisfactory compromise.

How that happens involves commitment and time. Anyone?

* From Adrian Morgan: The best PR merchant is invariably the poacher turned game keeper, and the name of Hugh Marriott springs to mind. He treated us with the contempt we deserved, and won our respect for that (how perverse we journalists can be.) We are easily swayed, bought, or even traduced with a set of logo-ed oilskins, exclusive interview, or a bag of branded goodies (I have a number of sailing jackets spanning my career but my favourite was a tub of Brittany oysters), but feed us b*ll*cks and we rebel.

However it's as well to remember Humbert Wolfe's famous lines:

You cannot hope
to bribe or twist,
thank God! the
British journalist.

But, seeing what
the man will do
unbribed, there's
no occasion to.

Which is almost as true as the old saying that yachting (for which read the America's Cup) is a game played by gentlemen; and you know you can never trust a gentleman.

* From Daniel Charles: I'd like to add my voice to the discussion on the inanity of press releases (and of quite a few articles in the yachting press)

In the 1987 America's Cup, the American challenger had an artificial skin whose microscopic groves diminished some obscure vector of hydrodynamic drag. I got the info in advance of my colleagues, and reported it in the French daily Liberation. Since it was a scoop, they gave me a double spread. In the end my paper owed as little to hydrodynamics than Indiana Jones owes to archaeology: it was first of all an adventure in knowledge shared by the readers. And with such an unappealing subject we actually increased the sales, less because the story was well told than because the reader felt that he had understood something hidden.

Some say that subjects have to be reduced to a common and minimal denominator to be accepted by the general public. But the "general public" doesn't exist; it is only a vision of statisticians! There is only a great number of individuals, and one has to address all these individuals one by one. All of them want to feel better, and understanding what happens behind the scene make them feel more valuable. Communication manager, producers, even some editors I know, believe that the public's ignorance is as great as theirs (and they are probably right), and that the public's intellectual laziness is equal to theirs (and they are dead wrong). We in the story business tend to grow stale under our cloud of information, but the occasional reader retains a freshness of curiosity, a greed for a well-written story that professionals often underestimate.

My criticism of PR releases is that they invest so much in factual reporting (which will be forgotten the next day) instead of investing on analysis, on what has to be understood (which will last). Sponsors would find their investment comforted if they distributed knowledge instead of ephemeral info.

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The Last Word
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. -- Hunter S. Thompson

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