In This Issue
Ichi Ban is No. 1 - Matt Allen wins Rolex Sydney Hobart | LDV Comanche awarded line honours after protest | Pierre Casiraghi winner at YCM Awards - Trophee Credit Suisse 2017 | Dongfeng Race Team appoint Franck Cammas for Leg 4 | Team Brunel Brings In Experienced and Talented New Powers | Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar Competition | New kids - very new boats | Tinsley's Laser shines at the Brass Monkey | Spinlock IRC Welsh Championships | Everett Pearson | Featured Brokerage

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

Ichi Ban is No. 1 - Matt Allen wins Rolex Sydney Hobart
Matt Allen's new TP52 Ichi Ban has been declared the overall winner of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2017 - and Allen, the president of Australian Sailing, can hardly believe it.

"It hasn't sunk in yet. It's been 34 years since we won on Challenge II with Lou Abrahams," said Allen, who was Abrahams' boat captain. "In 1992 I finished second with Morning Mist (Alf Neate) - but this is special, because it's my boat," he said after beating Bob Steel's Quest to the punch by just over 20 minutes, and Tony Kirby's Patrice by an hour.

Among the pre-race favourites, the Sydney yachtsman has personally won a multitude of yachting trophies with his variety of Ichi Bans (translates to No 1 in Japanese), but not the Tattersall Cup, although he has come close a couple of times. Last year after featuring in the top two throughout the race, the fickle Derwent decided otherwise, taking its toll on a few boats.

His last Ichi Ban (originally known as Shogun V and sailing this race as Envy Scooters Beach Ball 52) finished fifth last year and his Jones 70 was fifth in 2007.

Ichi Ban has also finished second overall in the ORCi category, where Quest reversed the trend by winning. Third was the Italian Cookson 50, Mascalzone Latino owned by Vincenzo Onorato, but skippered by Matteo Savelli in his absence.

This afternoon Matt Allen and his crew of Gordon Maguire, navigator Will Oxley, Anthony Merrington, Tim Sellars, Stephen Thomas, James Corrie, Sean O'Rourke, Wade Morgan, Harry Bethwaite, William Sykes, Charles Kosecki, Jeremy Rae, Davin Conigrave and Craig Garnett will celebrate "with some nice wine - the boys will have beer and wine and I dare say Customs House and lunch at Shipwrights Arms is on the cards." -- Di Pearson

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

LDV Comanche awarded line honours after protest
LDV Comanche has been awarded Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race line honours after its protest against Wild Oats XI was heard by the international jury late this afternoon.

International Jury Chairman, John Rountree said: "Wild Oats XI on port had to keep clear of LDV Comanche under Rule 10. Wild Oats XI failed to keep clear while tacking - Rule 13. LDV Comanche luffed to avoid a collision - Rule 14. Wild Oats XI did not comply with Sailing Instruction (S.I.) 20.1a to do a two-turn penalty for breaking the rule of part 2 occurring prior to clearing mark Zulu. The decision is in lieu of disqualification, penalised a time penalty of one hour to be added to her elapsed time in accordance with Sailing Instruction 20.1b and SI 22.1."

Like Wild Oats XI, LDV Comanche finished inside last year's record time, so the new record is one day 9 hours 15 minutes 24 seconds. She finished 26 minutes behind Wild Oats XI, but the latter's one hour penalty means Comanche takes line honours by 34 minutes from Wild Oats XI.

After the hearing, Jim Cooney said: "I think it's entirely fair and reasonable that the jury acted as they did. When you're dealing with boats of this size and this calibre, we are at the elite level of our sport, and the boats have to be conducted responsibly in fair respect of the conditions and the impact that your manouvres might have.

"I felt very strongly that wasn't the case," Cooney said. "The rules are there to protect the people and the boats and if we can't rely on that it's a difficulty in the sport."

Cooney said the way they won the race has not taken any gloss off the sport. "The race is about how you conduct yourself and how your crew performs and how the boat performs. We feel we sail to the best of our abilities and (to win) justified our boat's performance and the crew's preparation."

Wild Oats XI's skipper, Mark Richards and Sandy Oatley representing the Oatley family, were gracious in defeat.

Richards said, "Obviously we're very disappointed, but the international jury had a job to do. They saw the incident the way they saw it, we saw it a little bit differently, but the result is the result and we have to respect the decision of the jury."

www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

Pierre Casiraghi winner at YCM Awards - Trophee Credit Suisse 2017
The YCM Awards - Trophee Credit Suisse crowned a busy year that saw Yacht Club de Monaco sailors competing all over the world, and was attended by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.

The Club's 2,000 members voted Pierre Casiraghi YCM Sailor of the Year. After two years on the GC32 circuit, the Club's Vice-President started offshore racing on Malizia II, an IMOCA 60' which joined the fleet in June 2017. It proved a highly successful year, including 3rd place in the Rolex Fastnet Race.

The Club's Vice-President was competing for votes with other YCM owners/helmsmen who graced podiums in 2017: Lord Laidlaw, Vladimir Prosikhin, Vincenzo Onorato (title holder), Orel Kalomeni, Kostia Belkin and Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio.

In the Youth Awards, the Optimist category was won by Logan Viciana, who leads the 23-strong Monegasque team that qualified for the World Championships in Thailand. Jeremy Moutout triumphed again in the Lasers, after a successful first year in the Laser Standard where he won the Mediterranean Championship.

Looking ahead, the Club is organising two new international events: Monaco Swan One Design (27-31 March) which opens the Nations Trophy Mediterranean League 2018 for ClubSwan 42, Swan 45 and ClubSwan 50 classes, and Monaco Globe Series (1-8 June), a 1,400nm offshore race for IMOCA 60s and qualifier event for the Vendee Globe.

From Monaco, teams head down Corsica's west coast to Sicily via the Strait of Bonifacio, then back to Monaco via the Balearics.

But first, the 9th Monaco Optimist Team Race (11-14 January) and Act IV of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series (19-21 January).

www.yacht-club-monaco.mc/en/home-en/

Dongfeng Race Team appoint Franck Cammas for Leg 4
Following an injury to Dongfeng Race Team navigator Pascal Bidegorry, the Chinese-flagged entry in the Volvo Ocean Race has called up Franck Cammas, one of the stars of French sailing.

The skipper of the recent French America's Cup campaign - Groupama Team France - and a former Volvo Ocean Race winner as skipper of Groupama 4 in the 2011-12 edition - Cammas is standing in at the last minute as replacement for Bidegorry who sustained a rib injury on Leg 3.

Cammas, aged 45 from Lorient in Brittany, will sail as navigator on board Dongfeng alongside skipper Charles Caudrelier, one of his closest friends in professional sailing and a former crew member on Groupama in the 2011-12 campaign.

Cammas scrambled at 12 hours notice to get to Melbourne from his home in France and will arrive tomorrow afternoon local time as Dongfeng Race Team prepares for the start of Leg 4 from Melbourne to Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Neil Maclean-Martin the Dongfeng Race Team human performance manager, said Bidegorry's injury will take time to heal. "Pascal sustained an injury to the joint between one of his ribs and the sternum when a wave hit the cockpit and he fell against the supporting bar of the wheel," he said.

"As with all rib injuries, this is painful and restricting. Frustratingly there are only a few things we can do for treatment to support the natural healing process."

The full Dongfeng Race Team crew for Leg 4 from Melbourne to Hong Kong is as follows:

Charles Caudrelier (FRA) - skipper
Franck Cammas (FRA) - navigator
Daryl Wislang (NZL) - watch captain
Jeremie Beyou (FRA) - watch captain
Carolijn Brouwer (NL) - trimmer
Justine Mettraux (SUI) - trimmer
Kevin Escoffier (FRA) - bowman
Chen Jinhao 'Horace' (CHN) - bowman
Jack Bouttell (AUS/GBR) - bowman

volvooceanrace.com

Team Brunel Brings In Experienced and Talented New Powers
Jens Dolmer (DEN), Sally Barkow (USA), Sam Newton (AUS) and Rome Kirby (USA) join Team Brunel in the Volvo Ocean Race for Leg 4 from Melbourne to Hong Kong. The foursome will take the positions of Louis Balcaen, Annie Lush, Alberto Bolzan and Peter Burling. The fleet will leave Melbourne on Tuesday January 2nd.

Bouwe Bekking, the most experienced skipper of the fleet, explains: "It was always the plan that Burling and Balcaen went home after this leg. Burling has sailed everything from the start and also has some America's Cup obligations in the coming weeks."

"That we had to replace Annie after her injury is obvious. We felt we need to give Alberto some extra recovery time after this heavy Southern Ocean. This is sport at it's highest level and you have to be 100% fit. Better to take rest now and return later in the race."

"We are really happy with Sally Barkow stepping in for Annie. I know Sally a bit from the previous edition when she was on board Team SCA with Abby and Annie. Both of them are more than confident that she will fit in our Team Brunel."

Crewlist Team Brunel Leg 4
1. Bouwe Bekking - NED - skipper
2. Andrew Cape - AUS - navigator
3. Carlo Huisman - NED
4. Jens Dolmer - DEN
5. Kyle Langford - AUS
6. Sam Newton - AUS
7. Rome Kirby - USA
8. Sally Barkow - USA
9. Abby Ehler - GBR
10. Yan Riou - FRA - OBR

volvooceanrace.com

Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar Competition
In support of SailAid UK

ONE DAY LEFT TO VOTE. Voting closes at midnight UTC Friday. The winners will be called on New Year's Eve and announced here in our next issue for Tuesday January 2nd.

While you cast your last votes, we recommend this lovely concoction... the Christmas Mule.

A holiday twist on the classic Moscow Mule. No need for pewter mugs for this one... the colors deserve a clear view.

For the Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
8 ounces frozen cranberries (2 cups)
1 tablespoon finely grated lime zest

For the cocktail
2 ounces Wight Vodka, chilled
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice, plus 3 thinly sliced lime rounds, for garnish
4 ounces ginger beer (1/2 cup), chilled *

* I recommend Barretts, as I've had so much of it in Bermuda where it combines with Goslings Black Seal Rum for their National Drink the Dark n Stormy. But to paraphrase Will Rogers... I never met a ginger beer I didn't like.

Make the Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup:

Stir together sugar, cranberries, lime zest, and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high, stirring constantly, until cranberries just start to burst, about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat; let cool completely.
Refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.

Make the cocktail:

Fill a 12-ounce glass with ice cubes. Stir in vodka, lime juice, ginger beer, and 3 tablespoons cranberries and syrup from Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup. Garnish with lime rounds.

Sip, gulp, and vote!

scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars

New kids - very new boats
Wilson Marquinez are following the tradition of free-thinking Argentine designers ready to break the old moulds wherever they see opportunity

Argentina's track record for producing some of the world's foremost (and most disruptive) yacht designers is underscored by the latest offering from the young Wilson Marquinez Design House: the MW680F.

At 6.80m this small, very light yet stable design bridges a gap in high-performance sportboats between the fastest class keelboat and a true foiling sportboat. With a crew of three, the 680F is low freeboard but decked over in the bow to shed water, has racks rather than trapezes for easier manoeuvres, a lifting 1.6m bulb keel, and 40m2 of sail to propel only 300kg in boat weight plus another 250kg in crew.

Getting around in this 'wet mode' the boat will be fast, but when fitted with adjustable V-foils it takes off like a rocket with boat speed projected to match wind speed over about 10kt of true wind. The rake of the T-rudder needed for foiling is pre-set for the wind conditions with the main foil being controlled to maintain longitudinal stability over the foiling range. Launched as a one-design, the MW680F features a single jib, one main and one asymmetric spinnaker that is shaped more like a Code 0.

Full story in the January issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com

Tinsley's Laser shines at the Brass Monkey
Graham Tinsley from the host club sailed consistently to take the win at the YDSC Brass Monkey, which forms part of the GJW Direct Sailjuice Winter Series. Entries were oversubscribed weeks before the event although some of those from the Midlands struggled to make the journey due to heavy snowfall in their area.

Arriving on the day sailors were greeted to a bleak northerly gusting up to 25 knots and temperature hovering around 0 degrees, but luck was with the PRO Phil Whitehead (who had to chip ice off the course board during the briefing) as the breeze swung to a preferable north-westerly at 15 knots and the mercury rose to a balmy 1 degree.

Fleets were split into three starts with the "slow" boats off first. At the first windward buoy it looked like Graham Tinsley would lead but he took turns for an infringement leaving the OK of Tony Woods to lead the fleet. On the downwind one energetic Laser sailor decided it was getting too warm so went for a quick swim in the icy water. In the "middle" fleet more singlehanders were hitting the front, this time the Blaze of Charlie Chandler and Finn of Hector Simpson who had a fantastic battle all day.

It was no surprise to see the colourful kite of 49er Matty and James Lyons hoisted first of the "fast" boats as they flew through the fleet, but after a slow start it was the Musto Skiff of Jono Shelley who sailed well enough to take the win followed by Graham Tinsley, Chris Pickles/Matt Sharman (RS400), Hector Simpson, and the Laser Radial of Oliver Blackburn.

Next up in the series is he Grafham Grand Prix on 30 December

www.sailjuiceseries.com

Spinlock IRC Welsh Championships
The date for the '2018 Spinlock IRC Welsh National Championship' is 17th to 19th August (Friday to Sunday) - a long weekend packed full of great racing and fun ashore

We will be providing racing in the world-renowned sailing waters of Cardigan Bay with the majestic backdrop of the mountains of Snowdonia and the rugged coastline of the Llyn Peninsula.

The Championship will feature three separate race courses; IRC Fleets, Sports-Boat Class and Cruiser Class - Something for everyone.

Notice of Race is published and available

Entry Form - The easy to use on-line entry form is now open and ready for you to enter. We do not require your IRC certificate at this time - so just your details and general information about your boat - sail number and that sort of stuff! Start here

Prize Draw - All entries made before 31st December will be included in the Prize-Draw.

www.ircwelshchamps.com

Everett Pearson
Here's a life to really celebrate! Neither I, nor J/Boats, nor sailing in America would be where we are without him. Everett Pearson may be the grandfather of production auxiliary fiberglass boatbuilding, selling 17 Pearson Tritons at the 1959 New York Boat Show. But, he was Rod's and my 3rd brother that made J/Boats happen. Rod had a design, I had $20,000 and a marketing plan.

But, it was Everett investing in the tooling and start up costs at two plants in Fall River MA and Warren RI, starting from scratch in 1977 to be building 36-J/24's per week by May '78. Everett was "all into" what he believed, racing the boats he built, continually looking for new ways to build them. J/80 was one of the first built with the "SCRIMP" process.

A "can-do" inspirational leader and team player. To appreciate the impact Everett had on sailing in America, consider this: Of 26 boats in the American Sailboat Hall of Fame, Everett built 5 them. The Triton, Ensign, J/24, J/35, and Freedom 40. Doubtful anyone will ever match that. Bon Voyage, my friend. Thanks for the ride! Save me a place on your crew up there. -- Bob Johnstone

www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

Featured Brokerage
Swan 90-708 Alix. 5,300,000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Another successful collaboration between German Frers and Nautor, the Swan 90S 'Alix' is the quintessential performance cruiser combining elegant and powerful lines with Finnish quality to achieve an aggressive beauty. The anthracite grey colour scheme and customized four-cabin interior with Wengé and tinted oak give Alix a modern edge while maintaining the classic and timeless appeal of a Swan yacht.

Alix has been maintained to the highest level and benefits from two substantial maintenance periods in 2014 and 2015. The new engine, carbon standing rigging and complete paint job have kept her looking and working like new.

The yacht is MCA LY2 coded for commercial use and was inspected by MCA in September 2017.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek

Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
http://nautorswanbrokerage.com

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2000 Swan 80-003 Conquistador. 1,850,000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

CONQUISTADOR’s condition can quite simply be summed up in one word – stunning. She has been continually maintained and cherished her throughout her life by professional crew for very discerning owners. She has also had the benefit of numerous upgrades during construction and post building.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek

Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
http://nautorswanbrokerage.com

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1996 Eric Goetz Maxi 80. 320000 EUR. Located in Kiel Germany.

One of the original Iconic Maxi yachts is now available.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Port Hamble

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

Back on Tuesday January 2nd
Another Monday holiday will see our return on Tuesday January 2nd. A Happy New Year to all and to all a good night!

The Last Word
And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been. -- Rainer Maria Rilke

Editorial and letter submissions to

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html