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
Watch The Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Bermuda
Tune in to live coverage and highlights of Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series racing from Bermuda this weekend. Expanded broadcasts through television, online and mobile devices will bring racing to the world.
"We are looking forward to an exciting weekend of racing, and through multiple broadcast platforms, viewers around the world will get a first look at Bermuda's Great Sound and the venue for the next America's Cup," said Harvey Schiller, Commercial Commissioner of the 35th America's Cup.
"New features have also been added to AC+ on the Official America's Cup App. Fans now have a chance to watch Virtual Eye graphics and to catch up on the first two regattas with discounted rates for replays of the Portsmouth and Gothenburg events."
On television, NBC Sports will broadcast Sunday's races (Oct. 18) in the U.S. at 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT on television and simultaneously online through NBC Sports Live Extra. Viewers can also watch live racing and replays from both days on the official America's Cup App.
In the UK and Ireland, both days of racing will air live on BT1 Sport - at 17:00 on Saturday, Oct. 17 and 17:30 on Sunday, Oct. 18. BT1 and BT2 Sport will run replays of racing throughout the week (check local listings). Highlight shows from the weekend will run on the BBC on Monday, Oct. 18 at 8:00 pm and Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 5:35 pm and 10:30 pm.
A complete list of international broadcasts of the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Bermuda can be found at http://www.americascup.com
App downloads
https://www.americascup.com/en/app.html
acws-bermuda.americascup.com/en/home.html
Schedule of events:
acws-bermuda.americascup.com/en/event-program.html
Ainslie's Happy Hunting Ground
Land Rover BAR will be keen to make further inroads towards the British challenger's bid "to bring home the cup" at this weekend's Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Bermuda.
At stake at the conclusion of the series are points that teams will carry through to the America's Cup Qualifiers in 2017 which Sir Ben Ainslie, the Land Rover BAR team principal and skipper, is going all out for.
Land Rover BAR are second behind leaders Emirates Team New Zealand in the World Series standings heading into the Bermuda leg.
The British challenger has already enjoyed success in the series having won the first event at the team's home port in Portsmouth in July.
Traditionally, Bermuda has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Ainslie.
He won a gold medal in the Laser when the Island hosted the 1995 World Youth Sailing Championships, and is also a two-times Argo Group Gold Cup winner, having won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. -- Colin Thompson
A Taste Of The Mediterranean
The Rolex Middle Sea Race will start this Saturday, 17th October. However, the traditional warm up race, the Rolex Middle Sea Coastal Race, took place on Wednesday 14th October.
30 Yachts started the Rolex Middle Sea Coastal Race, divided into six IRC Classes. Principle Race Officer, Peter Dimech, set a course of approximately 30 miles from Marsamxett Harbour, around the island of Comino, and a finish at the point of origin, within sight of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. Competitors reported wind speeds in excess of thirty knots, giving the fleet a taste of the ocean racing to come.
From Texas USA, Bill Coates' Ker 43 Otra Vez, was the winner of IRC Two and corrected out to win the 2015 Rolex Middle Sea Coastal Race overall. This is the first time that the Texan Ker 43 has raced in Maltese waters. Followers of the Rolex Middle Sea Race will recognise the name, Otra Vez. However the Maltese J/122 Otra Vez, is owned and sailed by Aaron and Edward Gatt Floridia.
Franco Niggeler's Swiss One Off Kuka-Light was the winner of IRC One by some margin.
Arkas Sailing Team, racing Turkish Ker 40 Arkas Flying Box, scored a big win, not only winning class but placing second overall In IRC Three.
Xp-44, Vikesha II, sailed by Igor Skalin from the Czech Republic, corrected out to win IRC Four and Yves Grosjean's French J/133 Jivaro, from Trinite-sur-Mer was the winner of IRC Five. David Latham's Pronavia 38, Seawolf was the winner of IRC Six.
Vincenzo Onorato's Cookson 50, Mascalzone Latino was the fastest yacht around the course by some distance but finished third overall after time correction
The 36th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race will start at 1100 CET, Saturday 17th October, with seven starts for the fleet in the stunning surroundings of Valletta's Grand Harbour.
103 And Counting...Entries Climbing For 2016 Quantum Key West Race Week
The number of entries to the 2016 edition of Quantum Key West Race Week has exceeded 100, indicating one of the strongest early turnouts in years to this mainstay on the international sailing calendar held over January 17-22, 2016. Currently there are 16 classes organized: nine one-design and seven monohull and multihull classes racing under handicap. This indicates a diverse range of boat types attracted to race in the winter sun in Key West, with teams from 10 nations represented among the entries thusfar.
One design classes include the following: Melges 24's (14 entries), J/70's (21 entries), J/80's (4 entries), Farr 280's (5 entries), Viper 640's (3 entries), J/88's (7 entries), C&C 30's (10 entries), J/111's (8 entries), and J/122's (2 entries).
Among the handicap classes, IRC 0, 1 and 2 have thusfar attracted 13 committed entries, and the three new class offered at this year's event are also gaining interest: ORC Club (9 entries), Multihulls (4 entries) and Performance Cruisers (3 entries).
Besides providing the best in race management on the water, organizers from the Storm Trysail Club will enhance the shoreside experience for all entries with afternoon seminars, evening prizegivings and social events, and full logistic support through their partners and vendors on site...plus the unique ambience offered by time spent in Old Town Key West.
For more information and to enter 2016 Quantum Key West Race Week, visit www.keywestraceweek.com
Leigh McMillan Signs For Land Rover BAR
Land Rover BAR has reinforced its sailing team with the addition of Leigh McMillan as a helmsman. McMillan has been one of the world's top multihull sailors for the last decade. He's the only skipper to have won two Extreme Sailing Series and has already won this season's Bullitt GC32 Racing Tour in foiling multihulls. He learned his trade in the Olympic Tornado class, with two appearances for Team GB at the Games in 2004 and 2008.
Leigh McMillan will be commentating on the forthcoming Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series Bermuda event live from the BT Sport Studio, Stratford 17th- 18th October 1730-1945.
Israeli Windsurfing Delegation Gives Up Hope Of Participating In World Championships In Oman
The Israel Sailing Association announced on Thursday that it will not send a delegation to next week's windsurfing world championships in Oman, capping a saga that began with a local blunder and ended with accusations of anti-Semitism.
Due to the security concerns raised by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), which is responsible for the safety of Israeli national teams when competing abroad, the Israel Sailing Association (ISA) notified the organizers last week that it will not take part in the championships in the Muslim sultanate, resulting in the cancellation of the visas originally issued by Oman in July.
The ISA backtracked a day later and decided to send its three most senior surfers, Ma'ayan Davidovich, Shahar Zubari and Nimrod Mashiah. However, the organizers insisted they are unable to issue new visas so quickly and the three will have to watch the championships from afar.
Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev blasted the organizers and labeled Oman as anti-Semitic, ignoring the part the ISA played in the turn of events and the fact the Israeli surfers were initially given visas in July.
Thursday's news is a big blow for Davidovich, Zubari and Mashiah.
Davidovich was aiming to claim her third straight medal at the Worlds, while Zubari and Mashiah are battling for Israel's lone berth at next summer's men's competition at the Rio Olympics. The world championships were supposed to be the fourth of five competitions which will decide who of the two will represent Israel in Brazil and the ISA plans to select another event in its place next week.
www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/
Oldest Dragon Sailing?
Click on image to enlarge.
Gypsy was listed in the old British Dragon association as a Johannsen 1938 build. We have recently discovered she is a Anker and Jensen 1933 build. Since the dragon was only designed in 1929 and the first three were launched by Johannsen 1930 Gypsy must be one of the first 30 or 40 dragons ever built.
She has been racing competitively in the Glandore Harbor Ireland dragon fleet. Is Gypsy at 82 the oldest dragon still racing? Any information of older dragons still racing would be appreciated.
She is raced by one of the oldest skippers still racing 85 year old Don Street.
Send information to and we'll get it to Don and the Seahorse crew...
Extreme 40 Racing Catamaran Marstrom Composites 2009
Price: On Application
Length: 40'
Hull Material: Composite
Current Price: On application
With the Extreme Sailing Series™ adopting a new boat for 2016, there is a unique opportunity to purchase a fleet of up to 10 Extreme 40 catamarans as a set, or individually, that are priced to sell.
Superfast, exciting to sail and to watch, the Extreme 40 catamaran was developed by TornadoSport in 2005 to bring sailing to the public on short courses in stadium settings.
Built in carbon-fibre, these "flying machines" are 40ft long and have a beam of 23ft. They have a top speed of around 40 knots. Complete with sails, shipping container, with spares and road container negotiable, these well-maintained boats could offer excellent corporate entertainment or activation around another race campaign.
Available from mid-December to ship from Europe/Australia/GCC.
Points Tighten As Sweden And Great Britain Sweep
What a day of drama out on the race track, as two new leaders take over the 470 Men and 470 Women leaderboards, points close and the top ten leaderboards shuffle on day 4 of racing, Two races for all fleets raced in around 10 knots, with the persistent unpredictably of the race track unseating some teams.
Points are close and Friday will be a gripping decider to determine the top ten teams advancing to Saturday's medal races and nations claiming Rio 2016 Olympic qualification.
470 Men
A superb performance from Sweden's Anton Dahlberg/Fredrik Bergstrom, who found their mojo on the race track and accelerated up the leaderboard, leapfrogging from third going into the day to claim the yellow leader bib.
470 Men - Results after 9 Races
1. Anton Dahlberg/Fredrik Bergstrom, SWE, 39 points
2. Sime fantela/Igor Marenic, CRO, 39
3. Mathew Belcher/Will Ryan, AUS, 41
4. Pavel Sozykin/Denis Gribanov, RUS, 41
5. Jordi Xammar/Joan Herp, ESP, 46
470 Women
A third place finish in race 7 and the 2012 Olympic silver medallists, Hannah Mills/Saskia Clark (GBR), seized back the lead they held after yesterday's race 5, pushing Austria's Lara Vadlau/Jola Ogar into second.
470 Women - Results after 8 Races
1. Hannah Mills/saskia Clark, GBR, 30 points
2. Lara Vadlau/Jolanta Ogar, AUT, 31
3. Camille Lecointre/Helene Defrance, FRA, 47
4. Jo Aleh/Polly Powrie, NZL, 50
5. Anne Haeger/Briana Provancha, USA, 50
Battle At The Top At The 2015 Sunfish World Championship
Paracas, Peru: Four races were added to the score sheet today as the race committee called for an hour earlier start to the day. The fifty three competitors were treated to a spectacular day of winds in the 15-20 range leaving some to wonder if it is ever light here.
Two time World Champion, Alexander Zimmermann of Peru had a strong day winning two races and continuing to post finishes in the top five. David Gonzalez Arria of Venezuela and winner of last week's Sunfish Youth World Championship continues to challenge for the top in second place only four points behind Zimmermann. With a discard in the mix, Peru's Jean-Paul De Trazegnies popped up to third overall and is tied on points with Gonzalez Arria. American Paul-Jon Patin posted his second race win of the series to sit in fourth place. USA's David Mendelblatt rounds out the top five.
Friday will be the scheduled lay day for the sailors. Racing will resume for the final day on Saturday. A total of twelve races are scheduled in the World Championship running through October 17.
Full results: www.sunfishperu.org
AUDI Hong Kong To Vietnam Race
At 1320hrs today, after weeks of intense preparation and safety scrutineering, 12 boats crossed the start line for the seventh edition of this 673nm Category 1 offshore race from Hong Kong to Nha Trang, Vietnam, which started in 1996.
Alive made an almost perfect start and, along with Syd Fischer's Team Ragamuffin, was first through the gap. At 1700hrs HKT, Rags was averaging nearly 15kts VMG and had built up the expected lead on the water, 6nm ahead of RP66 Alive and 10nm ahead of TP52 FreeFire. The battle for IRC Overall is a lot more difficult to call, with Alive currently showing at the top of the list, but with Black Baza, FreeFire and Ambush very much on her transom.
ARK 323, hoping to use the race as their Qualifier for this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart race, had a setback when their propeller parted company with the boat while still in the typhoon shelter. Shrewdly, the TP52 started with the fleet and sailed as far as Lei Yue Mun before returning to Kellett Island to be lifted out and refitted with a propeller donated by RHKYC's Frank Pong. Operational once more, she was returned to the water and continued with her race, although she currently lies well behind the fleet.
The current ETA for Syd Fischer's Team Ragamuffin is mid-afternoon on Saturday, which would leave her well outside her stated target of finishing inside 40 hours, however stronger winds are expected to kick in later in the race which may still make a new record feasible.
www.rhkyc.org.hk/hkvietnamrace2015.aspx
Search Halted For Mohammed Al Alawi
In an immensely sad decision and after nine days, the search for Mohammed Al Alawi, has stopped and we are accompanying Mohammed's father and uncle back to Muscat to be with their family at this tragic time. The Italian and Croatian coastguards remain on alert.
"We are completely devastated," said David Graham, Oman Sail Chief Executive Officer "Mohammed [26] has been a sailor and sailing instructor with Oman Sail for many years, he was a cherished member of the team with a hugely positive approach and passion for the sport. He was a highly respected colleague and will be greatly missed. We are doing everything that we can to support his family at this difficult time."
Mohammed Al Alawi was reported Man Overboard on Wednesday 7 October, pre-dawn, just south of Pula in Croatia. The MOD70 trimaran Musandam-Oman Sail was on a delivery from Lorient, France to Trieste in Italy for the Barcolana. A combined search effort between the Croatian coastguard and Oman Sail began immediately using all means available: aircraft, RIBs, the MOD70 and coastguard launches.
Time and tidal patterns prompted the search to shift to the Italian side of the Adriatic Sea between Ancona and Rimini yesterday. The search in this area continued today. Using a light aircraft, we searched the coast and coastal waters, sadly, once again, without results.
www.omansail.com/mohammed-al-alawi/
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The Last Word
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