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

Hobie 16 Masters Worlds
Dapeng, China: After 11 races in the series so far and another day on the water today the Masters series has given all competitors the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a variety of conditions and in a fair set of races.

Rod and Kerry Waterhouse of Australia are in the lead, William and Lucinda Edwards from South Africa hold second and Australians Mick and Patrick Butler are in third.

Racing for the Masters continues through Thursday. Hobie 16 Great Grand Masters, Hobie 16 Grand Masters, Hobie 16 Women and Hobie 16 Youth racing is June 2-5.

Hobie 16 Open starts with Qualifying June 6-8 with Semis and Finals sailed June 9 - 13.

Top five after 12 races:
1. Rod Waterhouse / Kerry Waterhouse, AUS, 28 points
2. Mick Butler / Patrick Butler, AUS, 36
3. William Edwards / Lucinda Edwards, RSA, 38
4. Byeong Ki Park / Hae Kwang Youn, KOR, 42
5. Phillip Epps / Caitlyn Epps, AUS, 58

hobieworlds.com

Fast And Slow
After getting used to spending life inclined to the left since they started, the three front runners in the New York - Vendee (Les Sables d'Olonne) Race presented by Currency House and SpaceCode life are today having to get used to living heeled to the right.

The trio of front runners - with Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss still leading from Jeremie Beyou on Maître CoQ and Sebastien Josse on Edmond de Rothschild - all gybed on to port this morning. Furthest south, Beyou was first to go at 0900 UTC followed by Josse and Thomson both at around 0940 UTC.

Running downwins in 20-25 knot westerlies, the boats are currently pointing towards the southeastern end of the ice box. However the wind is forecast to veer northwest, a shift which will enable them to point their bows closer towards the finish.

The skippers are also battening down hatches in preparation for tomorrow when a cold front, currently to their north, will cross them. According to race meteorologist Christian Dumard the boats will see 35-45 knots to the north of this front.

Rankings - 1 June 2016 at 16.30 BST:

1. Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) : 2059.5 nm to the finish
2. Jeremie Beyou (Maitre CoQ) : +18.8 nm behind leader
3. Sebastien Josse (Edmond de Rothschild) : +27.0 nm
4. Paul Meilhat (SMA) : +101.4 nm
5. Vincent Riou (PRB) : +131.0 nm
6. Tanguy de Lamotte (Initiatives Cœur) : +151.1 nm
7. Kojiro Shiraishi (Spirit of Yukoh) : +208.6 nm
8. Fabrice Amedeo (Newrest-Matmut) : +239.8 nm
9. Conrad Colman (100% Natural Energy) : +871.6 nm
10. Jean-Pierre Dick (StMichel-Virbac) : +873.1 nm
11. Yann Elies (Queguiner-Leucemie Espoir) : +877.9 nm
12. Pieter Heerema (No Way Back) : +904.4 nm
13. Morgan Lagraviere (Safran) : +931.3 nm
Ab Armel Le Cleac'h (Banque Populaire VIII)

Track the boats on: www.ny-vendee.com/en/race-tracker

www.ny-vendee.com

North Atlantic Record: Macif In The Starting Blocks
Winner of The Transat Bakerly, on 11 May, in his first single-handed race on the MACIF trimaran, Francois Gabart has taken advantage of the last three weeks to recover from the cumulative fatigue of over eight days of racing. At the same time, the MACIF skipper continued to train with a view to a return Atlantic crossing, in the shape of a single-handed record attempt of the New York to Lizard Point route.

"I'm ready to go. Jean-Yves Bernot and I are now waiting for a good weather window. For the moment, nothing has emerged for the first week of June. "What is the ideal window to set off?" Stable wind, a 20 to 30 knot south-westerly ahead of a low and a reasonable sea. This is the ideal scenario, but since our standby period is fairly short "MACIF must be back on 12 July in Brest to take part in the maritime festival", we will not necessarily get the ideal window. You need to be an opportunist to know how to make the best use of the weather."

In attempting the north Atlantic record single-handed from east to west, Francois Gabart will be making a monumental effort, both in the short and long-term, when it comes to endurance and intensity. Since Bruno Peyron in 1986 (11 days 11 hours 46 minutes), the reference time on the 2818 miles of this route has been more than divided in half, and gone successively through the hands of Florence Arthaud(1990), Bruno Peyron again (1992), Laurent Bourgnon (1994), Francis Joyon(2005) and Thomas Coville(2008). Once again, since June 2013, the record is held by Francis Joyon, who sailed the route in 5 days, 2 hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds, at an average real speed of 26.20 knots (23.30 knots theoretical shortest speed, on the shortest route).

www.macifcourseaularge.com

Caribbean IRC Racing Expands In 2017
The recent announcement of the 2017 Western Caribbean Series reinforces the position of the International IRC rating rule in the Caribbean and southern USA. With the easing of travel restrictions to Cuba for American sailors in December 2014 after 50 years, clubs in the area are welcoming the new opportunities for offshore races.

IRC sailors will be spoiled for choice in the north western Caribbean in early 2017 with different offshore options to choose from after Quantum Key West Race Week in January. As well as the Western Caribbean Series, comprising the Pineapple Cup (Miami to Montego Bay) followed by the inaugural Cuba Cup (Montego Bay to Havana), a shorter option is the Miami to Havana Race. These events extend IRC's reach into Cuba, and Jamaica where clubs are already looking at IRC for their local racing.

On the other side of the Caribbean, IRC is used for scoring the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Caribbean 600 which is now an established long distance race with a growing, high profile entry list racing around the south eastern Caribbean islands.

For more information on IRC rating see ircrating.org
2017 Western Caribbean Series
Miami to Havana
RORC Caribbean 600

World Match Racing Tour Newport
Newport, R.I. USA: The World Match Racing Tour Newport entered its match racing phase today. While Newport Harbour was fog-free and blessed with sun all day, there was a long pause mid-way through the Qualifying Group Sail-offs as the wind slowly veered from the north into the sea breeze direction of the southeast. But from there it built to a shifty 15 knots, more than enough for the nimble M32 catamarans to fly.

The Sail-off matches were held between the bottom two finishers from each of the four groups from the Qualifying round of the first two days. The winner of each of the four Sail-offs got to 'live another day' by going through to the next round, the Super 16 Knockout.

Among the first to two Sail-offs, it was only Steve Thomas and his RPM Racing team that were able to take out their opponent 2-0. In Thomas' case this was fellow Perth match racer Keith Swinton's Team Accure.

Newport Results Day 3 - Super 16 Knockout (These pairs continue racing tomorrow along with the other four pairs who did not sail today.

Overall Results of Qualifying Races (places 17-20 did not move on)
1. Chris Steele (NZL), 36 Below Racing
2. Phil Robertson (NZL), WAKA Racing
3. Nicolai Sehested (DEN), TRE_FOR Match Racing
4. Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar
5. Nicklas Dackhammar (SWE), ESSIQ Racing Team
6. Yann Guichard (FRA), Spindrift Racing
7. Mattias Rahm (SWE), Rahm Racing
8. Michael Menninger (USA), 13FIFTY Racing
9. Taylor Canfield (ISV), US One
10. Sally Barkow (USA), Team Magenta 32
11. Hans Wallen (SWE), Wallen Racing
12. Johnie Berntsson (SWE), Flux Team
13. Matt Jerwood (AUS), Redline Racing
14. Eric Monnin (SUI), Albert Riele Swiss Team
15. David Gilmour (AUS), Team Gilmour
16. Steve Thomas (AUS), RPM Racing
17. Evan Walker (AUS), KA Match / CYCA
18. Chris Poole (USA), Riptide Racing
19. Iker Martinez (ESP), Team Espana
20. Keith Swinton (AUS), Team Accure

wmrt.com

Western Caribbean Series
Montego Bay, Jamaica: The Montego Bay Yacht Club, the Storm Trysail Club, and the Hemingway Yacht Club announced today the 2017 Western Caribbean Series. The Western Caribbean Series will include the 33rd edition of the Pineapple Cup - Montego Bay Race and the Cuba Cup, a new race from Montego Bay to Havana following the conclusion of the Pineapple Cup.

The Pineapple Cup is set to start in Miami, Florida, on February 3, 2017 and send competitors on a 811 nautical mile course to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Following a brief stop-over and Awards Ceremony in Montego Bay, boats may elect to sail in the newly formed Cuba Cup, a 640 nautical mile race from Montego Bay to Havana set to start on February 17th.

The two events will include divisions for IRC, PHRF, double-handed and multi-hulls. Both races may be registered for and raced independently, however, there will be an overall series trophy awarded in Havana to the boat with the best combined corrected time.

The Pineapple Cup will award the Robert McNeil Mobay Course Challenge Trophy to the first monohull to break the Montego Bay Race Record of 2 days, 10 hours, 24 minutes and 42 seconds set in 2005 by Titan 12. In addition, the Silver Rose Bowl (1st monohull to finish), Silver Pineapple Cup (1st overall corrected time IRC), Silver Seahorse (1st overall correct time PHRF), Arawak (1st overall corrected time multihull) perpetual trophies will be awarded at the prize giving. The Jamaica Tourist Board Log Award will be awarded to the team with the most interesting log.

The Pineapple Cup-Montego Bay race first started in 1961 and has been run either annually or biannually ever since.

www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

pineapplecup.com
stormtrysail.org

Seahorse June 2016
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Seahorse Magazine

Closer closer
Under 7,000kg for the first time but sailing even higher and faster, Rob Weiland looks at some of the more subtle TP52 developments for 2016

Raceboats to Wallys
Mark Mills and the engineers and builders at Persico Marine work to bring raceboat levels of weight concentration to the Wally Cento fleet...

Sounds simple
But it's not... Sam Davies explains the timeline and the sometimes harsh reality of putting together (and funding) a Vendée Globe programme

Relentlessly talented
Behind every great modern Olympian... and standing behind 49er stars BURLING and TUKE is their coach Hamish Willcox

Special rates for Scuttlebutt Europe subscribers:
Seahorse Print or Digital Subscription Use Discount Promo Code SB2

1yr Print Sub: €77 - £48 - $71 / Rest of the World: £65 www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/

1yr Digital Sub for £30: www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/digital

Discounts shown are valid on a one year subscription to Seahorse magazine.

Landsail Tyres J-Cup Set For Over 60 Boats
Over 60 yachts are expected for The Landsail Tyres J-Cup in Partnership with B&G, exclusively for racing yachts of the J Boats brand, and this year will incorporate a record four UK National Championships for the J/88, J/97, J/109 and J/111. Besides the four National Championships, an impressive fleet of J/70 Sportsboats will be racing, as well as other J Boats racing under the IRC Rating system.

Three days of exciting and highly competitive racing will be complimented by lively shoreside entertainment at the newly constructed Royal Southern Yacht Club's Prince Philip Yacht Haven. The superb facility will be home to The Landsail Tyres J-Cup for the regatta, with well over 400 sailors enjoying the hospitality of the famous club on the River Hamble.

www.jcup.co.uk

Fukuoka, Japan To Host Asia's First Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series
America's Cup racing is coming to Asia for the first time in the 165-year history of this iconic event.

The Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series is scheduled to bring America's Cup racing to Fukuoka, the fifth largest city in Japan, from November 18-20, 2016.

SoftBank Team Japan is the fourth Japanese challenge for the America's Cup, and the first since 1999.

Kazuhiko "Fuku" Sofuku was a bowman with that 1999 team and he has returned to the America's Cup with SoftBank Team Japan as General Manager and sailing crew member for this new challenge.

In 2016, the Louis Vuitton America's Cup World Series includes stops in Muscat, Oman; New York and Chicago, USA; Portsmouth, UK; Toulon, France; and Fukuoka, Japan.

americascup.com

Three New Projects Supported By SYRF
Newport, RI - The Sailing Yacht Research Foundation (SYRF) is pleased to announce three new projects approved for funding to help SYRF's ongoing mission to support the science behind handicapping.

Phase 1 of the Downwind Aero Moments and Aero Forces study conducted by JB Braun of North Design has been posted to the SYRF Library, and should help improve the accuracy of modern handicapping rules at understanding downwind aerodynamic performance.

Phase 2 of this project has proposed to continue the research to a wider array of wind angles and include a greater level of detail in sail shapes. For this SYRF will support the Wolfson Unit at Southampton University to write a new code for the Open Foam software to better integrate these shapes into the modelling process. The Board of Directors has approved the funding for Part 2.

Funding was also approved to support a Data Analysis Project that will help bring accuracy to handicapping through validation from performance analysis. With logs of their instrument data, Dimitri Nicolopoulos of KND Sailing Performance has been providing detailed feedback on boat performance and weather conditions to Grand Prix-level race teams in the TP 52, Maxi 72 and other high-profile classes at their events. With help from SYRF, this type of performance analysis can now be made available to many different boat types racing in a much wider variety of races, including offshore races such as the Chicago-Mackinac, the Bayview-Mackinac Race and the New York YC Annual Regatta.

www.sailyachtresearch.com

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 Dave Williams: I sailed with Sir Edward at the same time as David Arnold, I haven't been contacted by the Wiltshire Police, I actually contacted them late last year. I was called by a reporter from the BBC fishing for a story and clearly trying to make two plus two equal six.

After that call I telephoned the Wiltshire Police HQ in Devizes and told them the exact same thing as I told the Beeb reporter. For Sir Edward to have committed any of the acts he is being accused of, it would have had to involve the collusion of many members of our police force, ranging from the Met, Hants and CI forces, ranking from Constables through to Special Branch DI's; not a chance.

As an ex premier, Sir Edward was a prime target for terrorists and was protected as such. If he wasn't being watched over by his protection officers, he was on the boat with us. The truth of the matter is that Ted Heath was a super bloke always interested in his crew members as people not just sportsmen helping sail his yacht. He was fun to sail with and fun to be with. This culture of accusation with no substance to back it up must cease, it is wrong and totally unfair, especially on those no longer around to defend their good name.

Finally, as the late Ted Heath's Bowman, I am now prepared to admit that the bow of Morning Cloud was worth half a boat length on the Squadron start line. There has to be some perk of having served the nation.

Featured Brokerage

Raceboats Only Raceboats Only Raceboats Only


1996 Mumm 30. Located in Turkey.

Specification Farr 30 / Mumm 30
Completely new painted in 2013, also mast and boom.
She was always drysailed.

Details

Contact

----------------------------------------------

2007 JPK 110 - LANNA AEL. 135000 EUR. Located in Brittany, France.

The JPK brand of yachts are world IRC beaters and Lann Ael is a beautiful example of her class. She is complete with an excellent sail inventory and trun key ready to go to the next rega

Details

Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679222

----------------------------------------------

M32 One Design

In action on both the World Match Racing Tour and the M32 Series. Its lightweight carbon-fibre hull and two-piece mast make the durable M32 very easy to transport. Crewed by 4-5, this low-drag design uses just main and gennaker to achieve full performance

Details

Contact
Magnus Holmberg
m32series.com/contact

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

The Last Word
A modern revolutionary group heads for the television station. -- Abbie Hoffman

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