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RIO 2016 Paralympic Sailing
In a finale fitting on the setting, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition came to a spectacular close with the medals decided in front of a sell-out crowd lining the shores of Flamengo Beach.
Racing on the Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf Mountain) race course, onlookers were treated to a thrilling climax in which some medals were settled by just seconds.
After 11 races under the backdrop of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer, the stakes were high for a chosen few sailors who had the opportunity to grab a Paralympic medal.
The final gold to be decided went to France's Damien Seguin who joined Australia's Two Person and Three Person teams who wrapped up the gold the previous day.
One Person Keelboat - 2.4 Norlin OD
France's Damien Seguin became a double Paralympic gold medallist when he crossed the line in fourth position in front of the only sailor that could mathematically beat him, London 2012 gold medallist, Great Britain's Helena Lucas.
Two Person Keelboat - SKUD18
Sailing in the SKUD18 fleet were the only sailors in history to defend a Paralympic title. That honour was bestowed on Australia's Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch with two races to spare in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition. Sailing on day five was just a victory lap. A victory lap they still finished second place in.
Fighting behind the dominant Aussies were John McRoberts and Jackie Gay (CAN), Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell (GBR) and Monika Gibes and Piotr Cichocki (POL).
Three Person Keelboat - Sonar
With the gold wrapped up in the Sonar by the Australian team of Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden and Jonathan Harris with a race to spare, it was down to the battle for silver and bronze.
Mathematically there were still quite a few teams left in the fight, but USA and Canada, sitting in second and third respectively, had the advantage before the final race got underway. That advantage paid dividends in the end as Alphonsus Doerr, Hugh Freund and Bradley Kendell (USA) confirmed silver with Paul Tingley, Logan Campbell and Scott Lutes (CAN) taking bronze, but only just. -- Richard Aspland - World Sailing
Final medal winners:
2.4m
1. Damien Seguin, FRA, 30
2. Matthew Bugg, AUS, 36
3. Helena Lucas, GBR, 39
SKUD18
1. Daniel Fitzgibbon / Liesl Tesch, AUS, 12
2. John McRoberts / Jackie Gay, CAN, 34
3. Alexandra Rickham / Niki Birrell, GBR, 36
Sonar
1. Colin Harrison / Russell Boaden / Jonathan Harris, AUS, 26
2. Alphonsus Doerr / Hugh Freund / Bradley Kendell, USA, 44
3. Paul Tingley / Logan Campbell / Scott Lutes, CAN, 51
Full results:
www.sailing.org/paralympics/rio2016
Morty Wins The One Ton Cup
Photo by Paul Wyeth, www.pwpictures.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
It was fifth time lucky for Morty, but the wait is now over. Peter Morton's Carkeek 40+ Girls on Film has won the 2016 One Ton Cup. The Cowes based team were worthy winners having scored no worse than a fourth in nine races. Peter Morton has come second in the One Ton Cup on two occasions and the attempts to win the prestigious trophy span over three generations.
Alex Mills at the helm of Ker40+ Invictus was runner-up, Invictus tactician and FAST40+ Class President, Robert Greenhalgh, congratulated Peter Morton and the Girls on Film crew. "At the beginning of the season, we didn't really know what to expect. The class has grown far quicker than we expected and it is continuing to attract more owners and sailors. The FAST40+ is an ideal boat for the Solent and during the season, the racing has got tighter and tighter. The One Ton Cup is our biggest event and to have nine boats make the podium just shows how competitive the FAST40+ Class is."
On the final day of racing, Mike Bartholomew's South African GP42 Tokoloshe was the winner of the penultimate race of the regatta and Bill Coates Texan Ker 43 Otra Vez finished the One Ton Cup in style winning the final race.
The One Ton Cup owned by the Cercle de la Voile de Paris, presented by Hamble Yacht Services and organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club, took place between 16-18th September in the Solent, UK. Nine races completed with a mixture of windward-leeward and weighted points factor longer races. -- Louay Habib
Final top five:
1. Peter Morton, Girls on Film, GBR, 12 points
2. Alex Mills, Invictus, GBR, 28
3. Stewart Whitehead, Rebellion, GBR, 45
4. Mike Bartholomew, Tokoloshe II, GBR, 46
5. Tony Dickin, Jubilee, SUI, 46
Full Results:
www.royal-southern.co.uk/Afloat/Results
Class: www.fast40class.com
Rolex Middle Sea Race, With Five Star Sailing
Click on image to enlarge.
Onboard our Farr 45 'Werewolf' (pictured at right)
You will join our skipper, John, and first mate Sam onboard our Coral, Farr 45 for on the water training and preparation .You will be fully involved in the racing throughout, making you an important and valued member of the race team.
2016 Dates:
Arrive in Malta: Monday 17 October
Training starts: Tuesday 18 October
Coastal Race: Wednesday 19 October
Race starts: Saturday 22 October
Prize Giving: Saturday 29 October
Depart Malta: Sunday 30 October
Cost: £1,595 per person.
What's included?
All race entry and mooring fees, 3 days training and preparation, training in the Coastal Race and the Middle Sea Race, racing skipper, and first mate, food aboard the yacht whilst racing and training and team shirts to keep.
These crew places are for experienced racers and are not available to beginners. All crew members are expected to have medical insurance for the duration of the trip.
We are very keen for more helmsmen, trimmers, foredeck and mast.
For more information please contact John on 0034 618 406 747 or email
Quantum Racing Win TP52 World Title
Photo by Max Ranchi, www.maxranchi.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
Menorca, Spain: Quantum Racing closed out their fifth TP52 world title with a solid, workmanlike fifth in the last race of the 52 World Championship 2016, their nearest title rivals Azzurra well behind them.
After starting the penultimate day of the championship, Saturday, with a lead of 17 points and no race finish worse than third from the six starts, Quantum Racing fell victims to a black flag disqualification from Race 8. With Azzurra's back to back wins and Quantum's 13pt penalty included into their scorelines there was then just nine points separating the two going into the final day.
On the final race, while Paul Cayard steered Phoenix to a runaway win, a high note to finish their first TP52 class regatta on, Quantum Racing could consolidate. Their second fifth place of the day secured the team owned by Doug DeVos the 2016 world title to add to those won in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2014.
Final Standings
1. Quantum Racing, Doug DeVos USA, 35 points
2. Azzurra, Pablo/Alberto Roemmers ARG, 45
3. Provezza, Ergin Imre TUR, 50
4. Rán Racing, Niklas Zennstrom SWE, 51
5. Bronenosec, Vladimir Liubomirov RUS, 65
6. Platoon, Harm Müller-Spreer GER, 67
7. Alegre, Andres Soriano USA, 68
8. Gladiator, Tony Langley GBR, 77
9. Phoenix, Richard Cohen USA, 78
10. Sled, Takashi Okura USA, 79
11. Paprec, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin FRA, 82
12. Sorcha, Peter Harrison GBR, 86
Winners Crowned At Rolex Swan Cup
Porto Cervo, Italy: The curtain closed on the 19th edition of the Rolex Swan Cup and Swan 45 World Championship with a superb final day of brisk wind and choppy seas putting the 125 competing yachts through their paces on the regatta course off Porto Cervo. In a record edition of the event organized at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda which also marked the 50th anniversary of the Nautor's Swan shipyard, the overall winners in the various divisions after four race days are: Freya (Maxi), Arobas (Mini Maxi), Music (Grand Prix), Sleeper (Sparkman & Stephens) and Natalia (Swan 42). The new Swan 45 World Champion is Elena Nova di Christian Plump.
Special prizes were also awarded for Line Honours - for the fastest average speed during the race - which went to the Swan 115 Highland Fling. The YCCS award for the highest placed club member went to Marietta Strasoldo's Lunz Am Meer while Checkmate took the Swan 45 Corinthian prize.
Full results for all divisions are available online.
Spanish Crew Takes The Bullet In The Normandy Channel Race
All hail to the fleet of Class40 sailors competing in the 7th edition of the Normandy Channel Race and the dazzling performance by the Spanish crew on Tales II, Pablo Santurde and Fidel Turienzo, who secured a win after a brave fight in what proved to be a particularly gruelling race, both in sporting terms and meteorologically.
Engaged in a mano a mano with the Anglo-French pairing of Phil Sharp-Sam Manuard on Imerys since leaving Ouistreham last Sunday, the two boats only left each other's sides for a few hours on the slog up to Tuskar, when Imerys opted for an extreme easterly route skirting Wales. The sailors from northern France, Maxime Sorel and Hugo Dalhenne (V and B) completed the podium some 52 minutes later, in what is a superb result for this young crew. Hot on their heels, a special mention must go to the duo of Thibaut Vauchel Camus - Fred Duthil (Solidaires en Peloton-ARSEP), a serious contender in this race, who ended their bid on a high, despite having no power for the last 24 hours or so. -- translated by Kate Jennings
Current ranking:
1. Tales II : Pablo Santurde - Fidel Turienzo - 4 days, 17 hours, 41 mn, 54 sec.
2. Imerys : Phil Sharp - Sam Manuard - 4 jours 17 hours, 44 mn, 43 sec.
3. V and B : Maxime Sorel -Hugo Dalhenne - 4 days, 18 hours, 31 mn, 56 sec.
4. Solidaires En Pelotons -ARSEP Thibaut Vauchel-Camus - Fred Duthil : 4 days 19 hours, 14 mn, 39 sec.
5. Sensation Class40 : Marc Lepesqueux - Laurent Pellecuer : 4 days, 20 hours, 8 minutes, 12 sec.
6. Moonpalace : Roeland Franssens - Michel Kleinjans : 4 days, 21 hours, 36 minutes, 32 sec.
7. Colombre XL : Massimo Juris - Pietro Luciani : 4 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes, 17 sec.
8. Serenis Consulting : Jean Galfione - Nicolas Troussel : 4 days, 21 hours, 42 minutes, 5 sec.
9. Generali-Horizon Mixite : Isabelle Joschke -Alain Gautier : 4 days, 21 hours, 46 minutes, 25 sec.
10. Groupe Setin : Manu Cousin - Remi Aubrun : 4 days, 22 hours, 14 minutes et 55 sec.
The top 10 boats finished within 4 hours 33 minutes.
Appointment Malta: The Yacht Racing Forum
The premier conference for the global yacht racing industry will take place in Malta on 28-29 November. The only major business-to-business conference to bring together the sport's key players, the Forum encourages business development through quality networking opportunities with decision makers from all sectors of the industry. This annual two-day event draws together sailing's key personalities and experts to discuss the business of the sport as well as the critical wider issues of sponsorship, television, media, sustainability, new markets and event hosting by venues.
At the top of today's owner-funded grand prix scene are the TP52s (above) and a gently growing fleet of Maxi 72s. A little further down the food chain is the Fast40+ fleet which will see some 15 boats on the startline at the One Ton Cup this month. But how do we persuade competitive Corinthian owners back into events like the Volvo Ocean Race? A good topic for debate in Malta this November...
Many of the most active brands and stakeholders have already confirmed their participation in the ninth edition of this increasingly popular gathering of the great and the good. It's not an exaggeration that the Forum has evolved steadily into a must-do event for organisers, sponsors, sailing teams, technical providers, venues, yacht clubs and agencies involved in the yacht racing industry at all levels and in all its many and varied guises. And for those who can arrive a few days early, this year's Forum has the added attraction of being preceded by the 2016 RC44 Valetta Cup.
Full article in the October issue of Seahorse:
www.seahorsemagazine.com
Suhaili Is Relaunched
After three years' work, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has now relaunched his 32-foot Suhaili. The legendary sailor spent hours restoring the boat which took him around the world.
"No one would call Suhaili a greyhound, but she is solid, strong and a very good seaboat," writes Sir Robin Knox-Johnson about the Bermuda ketch.
Arguably one of the most famous yachts in sailing history, Suhaili is the first boat to ever sail non-stop around the world.
The 32-foot boat has now been lovingly restored by Sir Robin at a Solent boatyard.
The teak ketch will have one of its first outings when Sir Robin competes in the Hamble Classic Regatta on 24-25 September. -- Katy Stickland
For The Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record:
Record: Around Ireland. Outright record.
Yacht: Phaedo 3. MOD 70
Name: Lloyd Thornburg, USA / Brian Thompson. GBR and 6 crew
Dates:.3rd to the 5th August 2016.
Start time: 14;09;00 UTC on 03/08/16
Finish time: 03;01;04 UTC on 05/08/16
Elapsed time: 36 hours 52 minutes and 4 seconds
Distance: 698 NM
Average speed: 18.93 kts
Comments:
During the 2016 Around Ireland Race, Musandam Oman Sail recorded a time of 38 hours 37 minutes and 7 seconds.
John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council
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 David Munge:
I would be the last person to try and argue against the points that Dr. Newton has so eruditely made in his recent submission to Scuttlebutt. I can also attest to the great work that he has done around the reduction in stress to Olympic sailors.
However, the point I was making is that there is currently no Olympic class, which will allow a sailor of 110KG and over to compete. Not as a crew, and certainly not as a helmsman.
At a time when participation in sailing is dropping the IOC should take a lead, and stop discriminating against the sizable proportion of the world's population who are over 110KGs. I should think, but don't know, that there are good reasons to consider, that athletes who are constantly dieting to reduce their weight to get into certain weight bands potentially also could be damaging their long term health.
BTW Dr, can you recommend any good knee surgeons.
* From Paul Hendersion
to Andy Hunt, World Sailing: cc To Concerned Sailors
As you are fully aware one of the major issue that triggered my nomination again to be World Sailing President is the new "corporate governance" model now being followed which is where the CEO and Executive Staff, out of Southampton, conceive policies which impact Sailing and the sailors without inclusive open debate allowing them to achieve significant changes to the competitive and diverse sport of Sailing.
Two major issues which are now being put forward are the "Sailing World Cup" and "Strategic Platform" both of which will have major consequences for Sailing and specifically the sailors.
World Sailing Executive Staff have or are preparing these initiatives without what I believe is "Procedural Fairness". International Class Associations have always been a strong pillar of the sport of Sailing as they transcend national borders and represent a solid fraternity of Sailors, International Classes are responsible for the technical aspects of their contribution to Sailing.
The IOC has a similar structure where they acknowledge, respect and involve the two pillars of the Olympic Movement which are the National Olympic Committees who prepare their National Teams and the International Sport Federations (IF's) who are responsible for all technical aspects of the Games of which Sailing is one of the 25 core sports. IF's are included openly in all decisions of the IOC even to having 15 of their Presidents voting members and a position on the Executive Board.
The CEO and Executive Staff will have a briefing of all MNA's a month before the November AGM and elections on their latest initiative a "Strategic Platform" limited to only MNA's and not the "public" I would recommend that World Sailing Board of Directors allow an appointee of each recognized international Class Association to be allowed to dial into the October 4th briefing on the "Strategic Platform" as it would appear that they could be greatly impacted by whatever is being proposed by the CEO and Executive Staff.
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The Last Word
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