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
America's Cup Racing Returns To New York
America's Cup racing will return to New York for the first time since 1920 with Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series racing on May 7-8, 2016.
The New York event is one of six events planned during 2016, each featuring thrilling, high-speed competition, as six America's Cup teams, with the top sailors in the world, vie for points that count towards the final competition for the 35th America's Cup in 2017.
Practice racing in New York is on May 6, with point-scoring races on the weekend of May 7-8.
Four events on the 2016 schedule have been announced to date:
Muscat, Oman - February 26-28, 2016
New York, USA - May 6-8, 2016
Chicago, USA - June 10-12, 2016
Portsmouth, UK - July 22-24, 2016
Two additional Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series events are anticipated to complete the calendar, likely in Europe in mid-September and in Asia in mid-November.
McMillan Closes In On An Historic Third Extreme Sailing Series Title In Sydney
After five years competing with the Extreme Sailing Series The Wave, Muscat's British helm Leigh McMillan has become a household name in multihull sailing.
But it hasn't always come easy to the 35-year-old and McMillian knows all too well that in the world of Extreme Sailing it is never a 'sure thing' until the final finish line.
On the eve of the final Act of the 2015 season, to be played out in the spectacular setting of Sydney Harbour from the 10-13 December, McMillan is poised to enter the history books as the only skipper in the Series' nine years to win three championship titles.
After his two-year winning streak was broken in 2014 by Alinghi, who snatched victory away from McMillan in the final Sydney Act, The Wave, Muscat were expected to come back fighting in 2015. But despite being widely tipped as season favourites, McMillan surprised everyone at Act 1, Singapore when he only just scraped onto the podium in third place.
The announcement that the Extreme Sailing Series is moving to the hydro-foiling GC32 catamaran for 2016, and with McMillian and his right-hand-man Pete Greenhalgh also racing together on the current GC32 Bullet Tour, they had every incentive to get back into the game. With a fresh approach and a new style of sailing, McMillan has led his crew to an incredible five Act wins out of a possible seven so far this season.
Fans around the world can watch the final decider races of the 2015 season live on Fox Sports Australia and the official event website from the 11-13 December, at the following times:
11 December 1600-1730 (GMT+11)
12 December 1530-1700 (GMT+11)
13 December 1530-1700 (GMT+11)
Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar Competition
The seventh annual competition is underway... previous winners are eligible for a repeat (the ISAF Sailor of the World award has gone to Ben Ainslie four times, why not a second year for Best Bar???)
Previous winners:
2014: The King & Queen, Hamble
2013: One Bar Playa Blanca
2012: Sint Maarten Yacht Club
2011: IYAC, Newport
2010: Soggy Dollar, Jost Van Dyke
2009: Peter-Cafe Sport, Horta
Send us YOUR recommendation on the best bar:
scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars
To help you with your prose, this classic Vodka cocktail: The White Russian
Today's drink is one that every bartender in the world should know, and for devotees of The Big Lebowski and Dudeism, it's mother's milk...
2 oz. Wight Vodka
1 oz. Kahlua
Splash of Heavy Cream.. in an old fashioned glass.
The Dude's version: substitute non-dairy powdered coffee creamer for the cream. Blasphemy to do that to a premium spirit like Wight Vodka? Perhaps... but the Dude version is going to taste a hell of a lot better with a serious vodka in it.
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede Announces Entry In 2018 Golden Globe Race
French solo yachtsman Jean-Luc van den Heede is the latest to throw his cap into the Golden Globe Race ring. He made the announcement yesterday at the Paris Boat Show that he is to race a Rustler 36 yacht in the 2018 circumnavigation event to commemorate the original Sunday Times Golden Globe Race.
The 5-time circumnavigator already holds the record for the fastest solo west-about non-stop circumnavigation against the prevailing winds and currents, and has been a podium finisher in four previous solo round the world races:
He joins 23 other men and one women - Britain's Susie Bundegaard Goodall - to have paid an initial $3,000 entry fee. Other entrants hail from America, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Palestine, Russia and Switzerland.
mcintyreadventure.com/goldengloberace/
Imperia Winter Regatta
Photo by Paolo Cugudda. Click on image for photo gallery.
Today sunny and no wind on Imperia sea, but the 26th edition of Imperia Winter Regatta confirms its international success with a huge number of boats and a special prize for Azerbaijan.
Imperia, Italy: The five days 26th edition of Imperia Winter Regatta ends today. The race has become a classic winter appointment for 420 (open and women) and 470 (men and women) classes, has confirmed its international success with the presence of 13 nations from all over the Europe an also from Mexico. Today weather was sunny but there was not a great wind for the races in program. Two races for the 470 and only one for both 420 open and women.
In the afternoon a little prize giving ceremony closed the Imperia Winter Regatta with all the athletes and a special prize dedicated to the new club of the Azerbaijan, in Imperia for its first international race.
Top three results:
420 Women
1. Carlotta Omari / Matilda Distefano, ITA, 21
2. Veronica Ferraro / Guilia Ierardi, ITA, 41
3. Demi Rio / Maria Coluzzi, ITA, 53
420 Open
1. Giovanni Pizzatti / Anna Poli, ITA, 23
2. Vincent Jim / Victor Mas, FRA, 31
3. Carlos Balaguer / Ignacio Balaguer, ESP, 36
470 Men
1. Joonas Lindgren / Niklas Lindgren, FIN, 31
2. Giacomo Ferrari / Guilio Calabri, ITA, 36
3. Matteo Capurro / Matteo Puppo, ITA, 36
470 Women
1. Angela Pumariega / Patricia Cantero, ESP, 17
2. Annika Bochmann / Marline Steinherr, GER, 38
3. Benedetta Di Salle / Alessandra Dubbini, ITA, 43
Complete results: ycim.it/2015/12/classifiche-finali-iwr-2015/
Amlin International Moth Regatta
Chris Rashley (Southampton, England) celebrated his 27th birthday today by winning Races 4 and 5 at the Amlin International Moth Regatta in Bermuda. Rashley overcame strong winds and near-blinding conditions, punctuated by a squall with gusts topping 30 knots, to take over the lead.
Tomorrow Rashley will wear the yellow bib recognizing the overall leader at the regatta. After today's victories Rashley is tied with Day 1 leader Rob Greenhalgh of the U.K. with 7 points, but owns the tiebreak advantage because he won the last race sailed. (With five races completed, the regatta now discards each competitor's worst score.)
With the wind blowing 18 to 24 knots as the fleet sailed to the racecourse on Great Sound some never even made it to the first start. By the end of the day at least half a dozen boats were brought back to shore on RIBs after suffering broken masts. Others suffered breakdowns that included broken booms, tillers and tiller extensions and other controls such as boom vangs and cunninghams.
Provisional Standings (after 5 races, with one discard)
1. Chris Rashley, GBR, 7 points
2. Rob Greenhalgh, GBR, 7
3. Simon Hisccocks, GBR, 16
4. Chris Draper, SoftBank Team Japan, 17
5. Paul Goodison, Artemis Racing, 17
6. Kyle Langford, ORACLE Team USA, 24
7. Ben Paton, GBR, 26
8. Jason Belben, GBR, 29
9. Anthony Kotoun, ISV, 33
10. Victor Diaz de Leon, VEN, 40
Dubarry Crosshaven - 'Race Face' Protection
It's pitch-black. We're on the wind halfway across the Irish Sea, heading for 'The Rock' in a Force 6 - and it's building. On the rail we might look like a troop of Japanese snow monkeys on valium but we've huddled into something like comfort when skip calls the headsail change we've been dreading for the last five minutes. Three minutes later I'm clipped on with my feet on the leeward toerail with an armful of changed foresail when a wave engulfs the foredeck. The water clears and I'm still onboard thanks to the combined efforts of my tether and the stanchion lodged in my crotch. Lucky me.
Sail change over I'm back on the rail but my feet are cold and wet and my enthusiasm for this caper ebbs quickly away, unlike the sea water - the boots were still wet a week after the finish in Plymouth. It's 1989 and, though the stylishly weathered Shamrock boot is much in evidence, the Crosshaven is but a dream. Had I been wearing Crosshavens, the gaiter and drawstring would have kept my feet dry and my race face on. Funny how something so simple can be so incredibly effective.
Dubarry Crosshaven - Born at sea
A Rare Glimpse Of John Lennon, Sailor
A captain's logbook from a sailing trip John Lennon took in 1980 might have some people wondering what the former Beatle was doing in the middle of the Atlantic sailing in a 43-foot schooner with four strangers and a mysterious figure known only as "Captain Hank." The answer? Shaking off a five-year bout of writer's block.
The book - which surfaced at a recent auction held by London rock-memorabilia house Cooper Owen - is signed by several sailors and guests of the vessel Megan Jaye and includes notes and doodles made by Lennon during the stormy 600-mile voyage from Rhode Island to Bermuda in June 1980. "Dear Megan," reads one inscription, "There is no place like nowhere. And thanks Hank. Love, John." Along with his notes, Lennon drew a picture of himself with a beard, sailing the Megan Jaye through the Bermuda Triangle. The book also contains other entries and anecdotes that touch upon the importance of this Bermuda trip, which is credited with lifting the Beatle out of depression and inspiring him to begin writing his last album, Double Fantasy. Lennon, rock historians say, considered the Bermuda trip one of the most important events of his life. -- John Clarke Jr. in Paste magazine
John Lennon was killed 35 year ago on December 8, 1980.
ISAF Becomes World Sailing As Part Of Rebrand
The governing body of sailing worldwide, formerly known as ISAF, has officially announced its rebrand to 'World Sailing - A Sport for Life'.
At the heart of the federation moving forward is a significant focus on change for the better. More transparency, better communication, stronger governance and greater accountability are the four main aims of the new leadership team and the rebrand to World Sailing represents their commitment to those aims.
Malcolm Page, Chief Marketing Officer of World Sailing, said, "We are really looking forward to a new era of sailing governance and myself and the team are determined to make World Sailing the best that it can be.
"It feels natural to develop our brand as the organisation evolves. The new identity satisfies all of the existing positive expectations of what our previous mark stood for, whilst moving the brand forward to acknowledge the maturity, functionality and diversity of sailing.
Ranger To Rainbow: The J Class Yachts
A perfect Christmas present and a good read. The book 'Ranger to Rainbow' covers the rebirth of the J Class from the late 1990s and includes a short history of these iconic yachts from their origins in the 1930s. It offers an insight into the enormous task of delivering these monster yachts across oceans to the many regattas around the world and racing them.
The book is packed with many technical and sailing images, and covers the build and launch of five new replicas, the technical developments, the crewing and the Class Association.
132 pages A4 packed with colour images.
"What a wonderful account of the past 15 years in the class and how great to have it written by the one who was on board and on the inside of it all. I read it in one go!"
More details at: www.rangertorainbow.co.uk and also available from leading bookshops and Amazon.
ISBN 978-0-9576156-2-5
Taylor Canfield Wins Carlos Aguilar Match Race
St. Thomas, USVI: The USVI's Taylor Canfield's undefeated streak came to an end today, but it did not deter his team's victory in the 7th Carlos Aguilar Match Race.
In the third and final day of racing, the conditions provided the full range: sun, squalls, blustery and breathless. As for the competition, Canfield suffered his two defeats at the hands of fellow match racing titans, the USA's Dave Perry and the USA's Stephanie Roble. However, this duo of losses didn't stand in the way of Canfield and his combination USOne-VI crew of Mike Rehe, Alden Reid, William Bailey and Sam Morrell from soundly securing a championship victory with a three-win lead.
Final Results
1. Taylor Canfield, ISV, 14-2
2. Stephanie Roble, USA, 11-5
3. Peter Holmberg, ISV, 11-5
4. Dave Perry, USA, 11-5
5. Dave Dellenbaugh, USA, 9-7
6. David Storrs, USA, 6-10
7. Chris Poole, USA, 4.5-10
8. Juliana Senfft, BRA, 3-13
9. Elizabeth Shaw, CAN, 1-15
A Brief History
In the years following World War II sailing in the Caribbean was limited to a handful of adventurers. Their numbers were augmented by a select group of owners with larger sophisticated yachts cruising slightly 'off-piste'
Following the arrival of the Nicholson family in Antigua in 1949 the yacht charter industry started to take shape. Within 10 years the Leeward and Windward Islands gained a sturdy reputation as an ideal yacht charter destination where consistent trade winds offered ideal conditions on a variety of (mostly classic) yachts based in the island chain. Despite increasing availability the activity remained the preserve of a privileged few.
In the 1950s and 1960s yacht racing in the USA and Europe had become commonplace and it was evolving into an increasingly technical and professional sport - regattas were gaining support from a wide cross-section of the population. I have no doubt there was some form of yacht racing in the Caribbean at this time - particularly in the Windward Islands where the traditional boats were built and the Southern Islands which were the destination of choice for larger yachts of the period.
A defining moment in Caribbean regatta history has to be the inaugural edition of the annual Antigua Sailing Week which took place in June 1968.
John Burnie's full article in Seahorse:
Jonathan Janson
It is with great regret that ISAF reports the passing of Jonathan Janson.
Jonathan Janson was part of the Dragon team, together with Graham Mann and Ronald Backus, that won bronze at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 in Bluebottle, which belonged to HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
Jonathan also competed in the 1960 Rome Olympics and also served on the International Jury at four Olympic regattas.
The long time servant of sailing, Jonathan was Vice President of ISAF between 1970 and 1990, the same year in which he was awarded the IOC Olympic Silver Medal for services to the Olympic movement.
Jonathan is also one of the few to have received the prestigious ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy.
ISAF extends our sincere sympathy and condolences to Jonathan's family and friends.
There will be a private funeral service followed by a Thanksgiving Service at Holy Trinity Church, Bembridge at 12 noon on Friday 11th December 2015 and afterwards at the Bembridge Sailing Club. Donations for Bembridge RNLI or Alzheimer's Society to Weaver Bros, Funeral Directors, Bembridge (01983 872598)
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Updated: Longitud 0 (2015)
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The Last Word
There are three stages in scientific discovery. First, people deny that it is true, then they deny that it is important; finally they credit the wrong person. -- Bill Bryson
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