In This Issue
Vestas 11th Hour Racing to miss weekend race action | Volvo Ocean Race partners with Twitter to live stream eight In-Port Races | Change of conditions shifts the leaderboard on Day three in Miami | 2018 iSail Whitsundays Contender World Championships - Final Day | J/70 Class Suspensions | Mobile is EVERYTHING | Miami Melges 24 Tune-Up/Midwinter Regatta | Peter Duncan, Erika Reineke Selected as US Sailing’s 2017 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year | Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race | Another UK entry for the Golden Globe Race | For the Record | 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
Vestas 11th Hour Racing to miss weekend race action
Vestas 11th Hour Racing has informed Volvo Ocean Race that the team will not be participating in inshore racing in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China, as well as Leg 5 from Hong Kong to Guangzhou.
The team is currently coordinating necessary repairs to the boat caused by the collision with a non-racing vessel on Saturday 20 January.
"First and foremost, our thoughts and condolences are with the families affected by this tragic incident," said Mark Towill from Hong Kong.
"At this time, we are still assessing all of our options to return to the race," said Charlie Enright. "We once again thank everyone for their continued support."
Practice racing on Thursday, followed by the In-Port Race and Around Hong Kong Race this weekend as well as Pro-Am Racing at the start of next week, are all programmed to take place in Hong Kong.
The fleet of Volvo Ocean 65s will then depart in Leg 5 for Guangzhou on Wednesday 31 January for the next stopover in mainland China.
Volvo Ocean Race partners with Twitter to live stream eight In-Port Races
The Volvo Ocean Race will live stream on Twitter the eight remaining In-Port Races from the 2017-18 edition, beginning on Saturday 27 January in Hong Kong.
Fans from all around the world will be able to watch the exciting live races and join the real-time conversation via @volvooceanrace on Twitter.
In addition to the live In-Port Races, @volvooceanrace will also broadcast premium video content from the seven participating boats.
The collaboration sees the 83,000 kilometre ocean race – dubbed the toughest test of a team in professional sport – further expand its digital presence, and means that fans on Twitter can look forward to a mix of live action, expert analysis and best-of highlights. Partnering with Twitter is the latest in a series of evolutions which have seen the four-decade old event put digital at the forefront of its storytelling strategy.
In May 2015, the Volvo Ocean Race broadcasted live from the field of play using Periscope, Twitter’s live streaming video app.
Change of conditions shifts the leaderboard on Day three in Miami
With nine full-fleet races in the books, and just three remaining, for the Nacra 17 at the 2018 World Cup Series Miami, USA, this much is clear: anyone hoping for a place on the podium in the Mixed Multihull is going to have to knock a defending Olympic medalist down a peg.
Five of the six sailors that won medals in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games are sailing in the class this week, and showing little willingness to share the wealth, so to speak.
Rio 2016 silver medalists Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin (AUS) have done their homework when it comes to the lifting foils that were introduced to the class less than a year ago. Whether in near-drifting conditions on the opening two days or the full-on breeze on the third, they have been extremely hard to beat, winning five races and posting just one finish outside the top four.
All of the fleets enjoyed big winds on the third day of competition in Miami as a north eastern breeze brought 17-20 knots ensuring plenty of high flying action in the Nacra 17 and the remaining nine Olympic events.
543 sailors from 50 nations are racing on Biscayne Bay, just off Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida, USA. Three more days of competition remain with Medal Races on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 bringing the first major event of 2018 to a close.
Top three:
470 Men
1. Luke Patience / Chris Grube, GBR, 16 points
2. Kevin Peponnet / Jeremie Mlon, FRA, 22
3. Anton Dahlberg / Fredrik Bergstrom, SWE, 26
470 Women
1. Ai Kondo Yoshida / Miho Yoshioka, JPN, 21
2. Afrodite Zegers / Anneloes van Veen, NED, 27
3. Agnieszka Skrzypulec / Irmina Mrózek Gliszczynska, POL, 28
49er Men
1. Dylan Fletcher-Scott / Stuart Bithell, GBR, 46
2. Diego Botín le Chever / Iago Lopez Marra, ESP, 49
3. Federico Alonso Tellechea / Arturo Alonso Tellechea, ESP, 53
49erFX Women
1. Victoria Jurczok / Anika Lorenz, GER, 10
2. Ragna Agerup / Maia Agerup, NOR, 20
3. Tanja Frank / Lorena Abicht, AUT, 30
Finn Men
1. GIles Scott, GBR, 12
2. Alican Kaynar, TUR, 13
3. Caleb Paine, USA, 23
Laser Men
1. Tom Burton, AUS, 25
2. Philipp Buhl, GER, 35
3. Nick Thompson, GBR, 38
Laser Radial Women
1. Emma Plasschaert, BEL, 20
2. Mannami Dol, JPN, 42
3. Annne-Marie Rindom, DEN, 43
Nacra 17
1. Jason Waterhouse / Lisa Darmanin, AUS, 14
2. Santiago Lange / Cecilia Carranza Saroli, ARG, 33
3. John Gimson / Anna Burnet, GBR, 35
RSX Men
1. Louis Giard, FRA, 15
2. Pierre Le Coq, FRA, 27
3. Kiran Badloe, NED, 30
RS:X Women
1. Stefania Elfutina, RUS, 33
2. BIanca Manchon, ESP, 36
3. Flavia Tartaglini, ITA, 37
Full results: sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php
2018 iSail Whitsundays Contender World Championships - Final Day
The 'Grand Finale' between the two mighty Contenders - Mark Bulka and Jason Beebe.
Two races were planned but light winds hampered the format so only one was held leaving Jason requiring at least five places to retain the title.
Beebe came off the start line like a bullet but close behind shadowing was Mark Bulka. By the gybe mark Mark was second and closing the gap fast.
Criss-crossing each over the beat, local McCrae Yacht Club sailor took the lead and never looked back until crossing the finish line. The new 2018 Contender World Champion, Mark Bulka, was crowned by his fellow club member and New Zealand Team Emirates Americas Cup skipper Glenn Ashby.
Video: player.vimeo.com/video/252649828
J/70 Class Suspensions
The International J/70 Class Association (IJ70CA) Executive Committee (EC) has unanimously agreed to the J/70 Class membership suspensions listed below. The IJ70CA EC authority and process to suspend a membership is described in Section 6 MEMBER SUSPENSION of the IJ70CA Constitution, a copy of which is available on the International J/70 Class website. The J/70 EC has found that the individuals below have been involved, to different degrees, in the "Intentional violation of the Class Rules" and/or "unsportsmanlike conduct" at the 2017 World Championship and/or some extended period prior to the World Championship.
Carlo Alberini owner of hull #949, Class membership is suspended for 12 (twelve) months commencing on 1 December 2017
Claudio Dutto owner of hull #922, has been warned that although the EC did not suspend his membership, he needs to be more diligent that his boat is in compliance with the Rules at all times
Mauro Mocchegiani owner of hull #1088, Class membership is suspended for 4 (four) months commencing on 1 December 2017
Alessandro Molla owner of hull #570, Class membership is suspended for 4 (four) months commencing on 1 December 2017
Achille Onorato owner of hull #1269, Class membership is suspended for 4 (four) months commencing on 1 December 2017
Alessio Querin former owner of hull #922, Class membership is suspended for 24 (twenty four) months commencing on 1 December 2017
Marco Salvi owner of hull #910, Class membership is suspended for 12 (twelve) months commencing on 1 December 2017
Alexey Semenov owner of hull #667, has been warned that although the EC did not suspend his membership, he needs to be more diligent that his boat is in compliance with the Rules at all times
In addition to the suspensions, the following boats have had their Manufacturers Declarations withdrawn and are not permitted to sail in J/70 events until the boats are inspected and corrected by the Licensed Manufacturer.
Hull/sail #949 owned by Carlo Alberini
Hull/sail #1269 owned by Achille Onorato
Hull/sail #570 owned by Alessandro Molla
Hull/sail #910 owned by Marco Salvi
Hull/sail #667 owned by Alexey Semenov
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Miami Melges 24 Tune-Up/Midwinter Regatta
Miami, Florida: Seventeen Melges 24 teams spanning the globe converged on Miami's famous Biscayne Bay for three days of great racing (January 19-21) and midwinter tune-up action, taking a much desired break from the deep freeze of winter.
Getting the absolute most from this event was of course was the all-amateur teams. Topping the results was Russia's Vasyl Gureyev's Barmaley in first place. Newly appointed USMCA Midwest District Governor Megan Ratliff's Decorum finished second, then reigning Corinthian National Champ KC Shannon's Shaka came third. These teams went home very happy each being awarded a bottle of Gosling's Rum.
The U.S. Melges 24 Class is just getting started in 2018. Teams are now looking to compete at the St. Pete's NOOD on February16-18 (18 Melges 24s are registered), traveling to Coconut Grove for Miami Sailing Week on March 7-10 (15 teams signed up), and onward to Charleston Race Week on April 12-15 (19 teams registered). Get with it and get registered!
Overall Top Five Results (After Eight Races, One Discard)
1. Bruce Ayres, Monsoon, USA, 21
2. Brian Porter, Full Throttle, USA, 24
3. Alan Field, WTF, USA, 25
4. Travis Weisleder, Lucky Dog Racing, USA, 26
5. Kevin Welch, MIKEY, USA, 28
Full Corinthian Results (After Eight Races, One Discard)
1.) (UKR) Vasyl Gureyev, Bramaley, UKR, 55
2. Megan Ratliff, Decorum, USA, 57
3. KC Shannon, Shaka, USA, 66
4. Laura Grondin, Dark Energy, USA, 72
5. Scott Foxman, Relentless, USA, 81
6. George Haynie, Firewater, USA, 93
7. Kent Picknell, APEX, USA, 95
Full Results www.yachtscoring.com
Peter Duncan, Erika Reineke Selected as US Sailing’s 2017 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year
J/70 World Champion Peter Duncan (Rye, New York) and Enoshima Olympic Week Laser Radial Gold Medalist Erika Reineke (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) today were selected as Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year for their remarkable sailing performances in 2017.
The selection follows the announcement in December of the six men and eight women who were shortlisted for these prestigious awards and recognized as sailing's top performers of the year by US Sailing.
Placing second in the award voting for Yachtsman of the Year was Etchells World Champion Steve Benjamin (Coconut Grove, Florida), who won the award in 2015. World Cup Series Miami Champion Dave Hughes (Miami, Florida) finished third in the voting.
Finishing second in the voting for Yachtswoman of the Year was IKA Formula Kite World Champion Daniela Moroz (Lafayette, California), who won this award in 2016. Placing third was Youth World Champion Laser Radial sailor Charlotte Rose (Houston, Texas).
Reineke and Duncan will be honored on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, during a luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, where they will be celebrated by family and friends, teammates and crew, past winners, sailing dignitaries, and representatives from US Sailing and Rolex. They will also be presented with specially-engraved Rolex timepieces
www.ussailing.org/rolexyofy2017-award_winners/
Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race
The Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race 2018, run by Wicklow Sailing Club, is a little over 5 months away and is expecting a strong turn out with very positive interest from the off-shore sailing community in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe.
2018 marks the 40th year anniversary of the biennial race, renowned for being one of the most gruelling offshore races in the global calendar. The race starts on Saturday June 30th at 14.00 from Wicklow and leaves 'Ireland and all its islands, excluding Rockall to starboard', and is approximately 704 nautical miles.
It is the second longest race in the Royal Ocean Racing Club calendar and has grown strongly since the first race took place in 1980 with only thirteen boats. This sustained development and growth of the race is largely due to the passion of Wicklow Sailing Club, supported by the continued investment of Volvo in sailing in Ireland.
As part of Volvo's sponsorship of the race, they are rewarding the registered entrant who accumulates the best overall points result across the three Volvo Round Ireland races 2016, 2018 and 2020, with a brand new Volvo V40!
The current monohull race record is held by George David in Rambler 88 who completed the course in 50 hours 24 minutes and 9 seconds in 2016. And the course record is held by the Sultanate of Oman's flagship trimaran Musandam-Oman Sail of 38 hours 37 minutes and 7 seconds in that same 2016 race.
Another UK entry for the Golden Globe Race
A third British sailor has now signed up to compete in the Golden Globe Race.
Ertan Beskardes, 56, is currently refitting his Rustler 36, Lazy Otter, in Fertilia Marina in Sardinia, ahead of the race start in Les Sables-D'Olonne, France on 1 July 2018.
The Turkish-born British national, who is originally from Istanbul, was initially planning to enter the second Golden Globe Race in 2022.
'I have always been self-employed and always wanted to do something special like sail around the world. I first learned about the Golden Globe Race on Facebook in 2017 and thought to enter the second race in 2022, but then learned that there were places available for the 2018 event,' he said.
'I quickly found a Rustler 36 in Sardinia and have just started to prepare her for the race,' added Beskardes, who has been cruising regularly since 1998.
All race competitors must show prior ocean sailing experience of at least 8,000 miles and another 2,000 miles solo in any boat, by 30 April, 2018.
Beskardes is planning to set out on his qualifying solo trip from Sardinia to Falmouth in February.
With 6 months to go until the start of race, organisers have announced that 23 skippers are at advance stages for the start, with six others hopeful of finding a boat and sponsor in time.
For the Record
The WSSR Council announces the establishment of a new World Record:
Record: Singlehanded Equator to Equator Intermediate Record
Yacht: "MACIF" 30 metre Trimaran
Name: Francois Gabart. FRA
Dates: 10th November to the 10th December 2017.
Start time: 05;45;00 on 10/11/17
Finish time: 10;35;00 on 10/12/17
Elapsed time: 30 days 4 hours and 50 minutes .
Comments: Previous record: Sodebo4. Thomas Coville. FRA. 18/12/16. 35d 21h 38m 49s
John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council
sailspeedrecords.com
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