Scuttlebutt Europe #4047 - 13 March
In This Issue
Big waves for big sailors on opening day of Finn Europeans in Cadiz
McKnight To Take Flight - Targeting Win and Podium Crown in Grand Final
Southern Spars and the next generation of mast
A youthful approach from Ireland
Belfast's Great Light & Titanic Walkway Open to Public
2018 Women's Match Racing Worlds Notice of Race released
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Industry News
Letters to the Editor
Featured Brokerage: Swan 70, Nautor Swan 68, Oyster 655
The Last Word: Hunter S. Thompson
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
Big waves for big sailors on opening day of Finn Europeans in Cadiz
Nicholas Heiner, from The Netherlands, won the only race possible on the opening day of the 2018 Finn European Championships in Cadiz, Spain. Caleb Paine, from the USA, and Facundo Olezza, from Argentina are joint second.
With 30 U23 sailors, it is the largest youth fleet at the Europeans for some time. 2015 Junior World Champion, Ondrej Teply, from Czech Republic leads from Joan Cardona Mendez, of Spain and Guillaume Boissard, of France.
A three metre swell, left over from the storm that caused Sunday's practice race to be abandoned, made for an interesting day in the Bay of Cadiz, but the light and patchy winds meant that only one race was completed, with the second race abandoned near the end of the first upwind.
Defending champion Jonathan Lobert said, "It was a tricky day with big waves and light winds. The waves were much bigger then the wind. I had a wonderful start and was leading by miles on the left side of the course and I don't know what happened but fifty metres before the top mark I suddenly lost all my lead, but then I managed to survive to finish fourth, so not too bad for a day like today."
Three races are scheduled for Tuesday, with the forecast showing stronger winds and rain. The first warning signal is scheduled for 11.00
Results after one race:
1. Nicholas Heiner, NED
2. Caleb Paine, USA
3. Facundo Olezza, ARG
4. Jonathan Lobert, FRA
5. Oliver Tweddell, AUS
6. Josh Junior, NZL
7. Alican Kaynar, TUR
8. Piotr Kula, POL
9. Edward Wright, GBR
10. Ondrej Teply, CZE
McKnight To Take Flight - Targeting Win and Podium Crown in Grand Final
World Champion Josh McKnight is eyeing off a regatta win in the final SuperFoiler event in Sydney and knows that could thrust his team onto the series podium.
The former moth World Champion, who sails alongside London Olympic silver medallist Olivia Price and 29er World Champion Harry Morton on the Kleenmaid SuperFoiler, had his best result in Busselton – finishing third in the West Australian regatta - and believes his crew are peaking at just the right time.
It has been an astounding turnaround for the New South Wales based crew who by their own admission initially found it hard to find their groove on the world- first machines.
"We are loving the series and the concept, it has evolved even since we started the series and it's exciting to contemplate what is going to happen in future years. I think we are all looking to sign up again," said the World Champion. The Expr3ss! SuperFoiler Grand Final - Sydney will reach its epic conclusion on Sydney Harbour across Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of March 2018.
Championship Standings following the Busselton Regatta - Euroflex (19), Tech2 (17), Pavement (16), Record Point (12), iD Intranet (11) and Kleenmaid (10).
Southern Spars and the next generation of mast
The production of the next generation of TP52 masts is well underway by Southern Spars, ready for the TP52 Super Series, which begins in May.
With the Series at the forefront of the Grand Prix racing arena, Southern Spars were the obvious choice to provide the rig and rigging package to the TP52 fleet. As the leaders in innovation themselves, providing the rigs to a purely performance-driven class such as the TP52 allowed Southern Spars to push the limits of technology again. The masts are the stiffest TP52 masts that they've ever built, using the highest modulus pre-preg fibre available, which is custom made from their supplier to their desired specifications.
The rigging has likewise been updated with Future Fibres RAZR rigging, which is marginally lighter and smaller in diameter, delivering great mast tune and windage performance for minimum weight.
From their facility in Auckland, Southern Spars have already produced six of the TP52s masts, whilst another three are still in production. Manufacturing each of these masts takes a total of 16 weeks, which includes the global design process, laminating, curing and assembly production. Most recently, Azzurra's mast was delivered to Valencia where it will be stepped this week along with her RAZR rigging, whilst Onda and Quantum Racing have also recently been finished and sent out for delivery.
Soon every TP52 new build, of which there are nine this year, will sport the newest in Southern Spars mast technology, helping them to reach maximum performance during the Super Series this summer.
A youthful approach from Ireland
The Irish Dragon fleet recognises the need to encourage young blood into the class and legendary Irish Dragon sailor, restorer, author and adventurer Don Street has introduced two interesting initiatives to support that goal.
Recycled Dragons to attract youth sailors
Don Street, patriarch of the Glandore Dragon Fleet in Ireland, has launched an appeal for National Dragon Associations everywhere to find old or unused GRP Dragons and make some funding available to restore them cheaply so that youth sailors can race at local fleet level.
The scheme is open to under-25-year-olds and the idea is to get them racing at minimal cost. Any young person or group who undertakes to recommission an older fibreglass Dragon should be provided with some financial assistance (and advice) from their NDA, and owners with boats at the top end of the fl eets will be asked to donate their no longer used sails. Each NDA should commit to providing some funding to pay for mooring/ parking for a period of three years as long as the boat completes a minimum number of local fleet races.
For further details: contact Don Street at
Belfast's Great Light & Titanic Walkway Open to Public
Belfast Lough's offering as a maritime heritage destination has been given a major boost today as two iconic attractions – the Great Light and Titanic Walkway – officially opened to the public in Titanic Quarter.
The opening event was also selected to launch The European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 in Northern Ireland.
The Great Light gave Mew Island Lighthouse on the Copeland Islands its traditional revolving light and guided mariners to and from Belfast Lough until 2014. It is the world's first and largest hyper-radial Fresnel lighthouse lens, installed in Tory Island Lighthouse in 1887 then reconfigured and moved to Mew Island in 1928.
The optic was removed from Mew Island in 2014 as the lighthouse was modernised and converted to solar power.
The Great Light project from Titanic Foundation, the charity committed to preserving Belfast's maritime and industrial heritage, in partnership with the Commissioners of Irish Lights, will see the optic given a new role bringing to life the story of lighthouses, their technological developments, their light-keepers and their role in the maritime and industrial history of Belfast and beyond.
From Friday, 9 March, visitors will be able to walk the new 500 metre Titanic Walkway on Victoria Wharf, which connects the Titanic Slipways to HMS Caroline and the Thompson Dock, learning about the maritime and industrial heritage of the area on their way to the Great Light. This iconic waterfront walkway has been delivered by Titanic Quarter Limited.
The projects have been funded by Tourism NI, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Belfast City Council, Ulster Garden Villages and the Commissioners of Irish Lights.
2018 Women's Match Racing Worlds Notice of Race released
The 2018 Women's Match Racing World Championship will be held in Ekaterinburg, Russia and will run from 13 - 18 August 2018.
Twelve skippers will be invited to compete in the Ricochet-747 with a crew of four or five members. The defending champion plus two skippers, selected by the organizing authority and World Sailing, will receive a direct invitation to attend the Championship. The remaining invitations will be based on the 15 March 2018 World Sailing World Match Racing Ranking list.
Skippers will be seeded into a round robin or divided into two groups based on the World Sailing ranking list 30 days prior to the event.
The winning team at the World Sailing Women's Match Racing World Championship are crowned World Champions and presented with the Francoise Pascal Memorial - Women's Match Racing World Championship Trophy. The trophy is named in honour of the late Francoise Pascal, a former Vice-President of the Fédération Française de Voile and a hugely influential figure in the growth of women's match racing.
The first, second and third place overall team receive World Sailing Gold, Silver and Bronze medals respectively. In addition, the first-placed skipper following the round robins is presented with the World Sailing Nucci Novi Ceppellini Memorial Trophy. The trophy is named after Nucci Novi Ceppellini, World Sailing Vice-President from 1998-2008, who passed away in February 2008 after many years dedicated to the sport, with women's match racing one of her particular passions.
Great Britain was crowned recent 2017 Women's Match Racing World Champions, sailed by; Lucy Macgregor, Silja Frost, Rosie Watkins, Imogen Stanley, Charlotte Lawrence.
Seahorse March 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Update
It’s not an easy time to be a wannabe America’s Cup challenger, the extraordinary CV of that Mapfre navigator and the complexities of modern campaigning. Plus modern real-time performance analysis... think again. Jack Griffin, Joan Vila, Carlos Pich, Terry Hutchinson
Design - Plenty (more) to come
Bernard Nivelt And Alexis Muratet have no intention of turning back the clock...
The game of life
Blue Robinson talks America’s Cup and an extraordinary career with Tom Whidden
What does it take...
A big picture hunt for the commonalities of a successful Olympian. Carol Cronin
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Industry News
Yelken Dünyası, one of Turkey's oldest and best-known yacht magazines, is to close this month. First launched in 1984, the publication faced economic difficulties stemming from the growing trend towards digital media.
Yelken Dünyası provided sailing information and advice to its followers, and has made a significant contribution to the sailing community in Turkey by increasing the skills and awareness of Turkish sailors.
The magazine says that its team is currently working on a new platform to meet again with its readers.
News of the closure was met with much surprise and disappointment amongst the local sailing community in Turkey.
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Days after Cantiere del Pardo said that the Italian courts had decided in its favour regarding its dispute with HanseYachts, the German manufacturer of the Fjord line has issued a statement directly contradicting the del Pardo statement.
HanseYachts had filed a lawsuit against Cantiere del Pardo, alleging that the Italian manufacturer has directly copied the Fjord 42 for its Cantiere del Pardo 43 design. It said that the Court of Genoa has ordered Cantiere del Pardo to stop manufacturing the 42 and that injunction is still in effect. HanseYachts said that on the 7th of March, the court confirmed its preliminary injunction.
"As a consequence they are still 'forbidden to further manufacture, advertise, hold, exhibit, promote, sell or transfer the Pardo 43, limited to economic relations already existing or that will be instituted in the future in the Italian territory.'"
HanseYachts said it would "take all legal measures necessary in order to enforce this order".
Cantiere del Pardo said last week that the same court had essentially completed the case by judging that its boat was not a direct copy of the Fjord 42. IBI has requested that both companies provide original court documentation.
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Nottinghamshire County Sailing Club have been named RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year 2018 at the RYA Dinghy Show where the awards were presented by double Olympic medallist Saskia Clark.
Beating off stiff competition, the Midlands club were recognised for their efforts in Facility Development and were announced as overall winners.
After a strategy to rejuvenate the club, over £250,000 including grants was invested in expanding and upgrading the clubhouse and facilities including updated changing rooms, expanding the boat park and renovating the clubhouse.
This has enabled Nottinghamshire County SC to maximise participation and increase membership by 27% with currently over 1,200 members.
Commodore Ross Ryan said: "It's fabulous and we're delighted! The hundreds of members who volunteer all year- it's what it's all about. The award included a public vote this year so we're really grateful to the boating community who voted for us".
All five shortlisted sailing clubs were recognised for their achievements of across five categories: Increasing Participation, Innovation, Communication, Inclusivity and Facility Development.
Dartmouth Yacht Club were presented with the 'Communication' award for their successful campaign which welcomed everybody in their town to get involved and out on the water at their club.
The Increasing Participation award was given to London Corinthian Sailing Club. The club has recently made significant progress with major initiatives to increase participation in both dinghies and offshore sailing, offering a wide range of activities for all ages, all levels of experience and all aspirations.
Whitefriars Sailing Club were back for a second year and this time as the winners of the Inclusivity Category. The club's Sailability group grew from just a few sailors in 2012 to over 90 in 2017 with weekly sessions often attracting over 40 participants.
Finally Marconi Sailing Club were named winners of the Innovation Award. They had an increasing number of new members who wanted to learn to sail yachts while participating in racing, so they invested in a small keelboat to increase capacity.
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Thousands of dinghy sailing enthusiasts from across the UK and even further, flocked to Alexandra Palace for the 67th RYA Dinghy Show presented by Suzuki in association with Yachts and Yachting and Gill.
"It was great to see the support that the sailing community has shown for the RYA Dinghy Show. We were delighted to welcome just under 8,000 people this year despite the wintery conditions outside." said RYA Director of Sport Development Alistair Dickson.
Hosted for the first time this year by Rio 2016 470 champion and double Olympic medalist, Saskia Clark, and two-time 49er class Olympian, Stevie Morrison, the theme was #dinghysailingforlife celebrating a lifetime sport for all.
Expert talks on the Suzuki Main Stage and Knowledge Zone attracted large audiences with speakers including double Olympic medalist and Volvo Ocean Race winning skipper Ian Walker, foiling expert Alan Hillman and Paralympic Gold medalist Helena Lucas.
Visitors also enjoyed the brand new stages, the Class Association Stage and the Women's Sailing Hub as well as getting close to members of the British Sailing Team including Olympic Gold Medalists Giles Scott and Hannah Mills.
The show also celebrated 100 years of Ian Proctor with a historical exhibition showcasing some of his earliest designs including the Gull, Minisail, Osprey and the Wayfarer.
Ten of the UK's most promising young sailors were recognised with the RYA Regional Youth Champion Awards and David Ward from Essex was announced as the winner of the RYA Dinghy Show Suzuki Safety Boat competition winning a brand new Suzuki powered safety boat and trailer for his club.
The RYA Dinghy Show 2019 will take place on 02-03 March at Alexandra Palace.
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The Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 has added 96.2 million euros to the Spanish Gross Domestic Product (GDP), an increase of 7.6% over the 2014-15 edition. The race also generated the equivalent of 1,700 full time jobs in Spain, according to an economic impact study delivered by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) measuring the impact of the Volvo Ocean Race on the Region of Valencia and Spain.
Antonio Bolanos, Managing Director of the Volvo Ocean Race, said he was pleased, but not surprised to learn about the positive impact of the event.
"In addition to the numbers that reinforce the success of the event for another year, in this edition we have grown exponentially in many areas:
"The first is the business, due to the remarkable growth of corporate guests;
"The second is social due to the success of the Comunitat Valenciana pavilion, which hosted innumerable local representatives, as well as the open, integrated approach of the Race Village itself;
"The third is in the area of sustainability, and here I'm not only talking about the message that has been transmitted and amplified to the public about Ocean health, but also the concrete commitments secured from businesses and government to adopt sustainable practices."
The mayor of Alicante, Gabriel Echávarri, stated the importance of the Volvo Ocean Race for his city: "It is a bet that affects the city enormously. We will continue defending it with data ".
Jordi Esteve, of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, who conducted the study, put the results in context: "This study shows the great economic benefits that the Volvo Ocean Race can bring to a city, a region and a country. The impact of the Volvo Ocean Race compared to other major events, whether sporting or otherwise, is a good measure of its value and importance."
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 Adrian Morgan:
Lasers in the Olympics? Better an old boat with known faults, than a new boat with unknown faults. No names; no pack drill. As for Bruce reading Scuttlebutt Europe at 90, let's hope he's still reading it at 100 and beyond, by which date I'd like to bet his Laser will still be sailing, and selling, and being enjoyed by hundreds of thousands who are happy, as Euan says, to remain blind to its shortcomings, whether or not it's been replaced as an Olympic class.
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The Last Word
I am a generous man, by nature, and far more trusting than I should be. Indeed. The real world is risky territory for people with generosity of spirit. Beware. -- Hunter S. Thompson
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