In This Issue
MAPFRE leads the Volvo Ocean Race fleet to start Southern Ocean leg
Alinghi crowned champions of 2018 Extreme Sailing Series Act 1, Muscat
St. Barth's Bucket
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Ed Wright snatches Finn European title after spectacular medal race
Andrew Simpson Foundation to Unite Cyclists & Sailors!
Warrior Perpetual Trophy Announced
Sunday 18 March Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series race cancelled
ORC Sportboat European Championship
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: P. G. Wodehouse
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
MAPFRE leads the Volvo Ocean Race fleet to start Southern Ocean leg
It was a spectacular start to Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race on Sunday afternoon, as the fleet left Auckland in perfect conditions.
The sun was out, the wind was near 20 knots, and as they have for 10 stopovers, the Auckland fans took to the water by the thousands to farewell the fleet. It wasn't a surprise - over the course of the Auckland stopover, over 500,000 fans came through the Race Village at the Viaduct Basin.
On Sunday afternoon the Kiwi spectator armada consisted of foiling kite-boards, windsurfers, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, sailing dinghies, as well as hundreds of power and sail boats, along with the former Whitbread Round the World Race winner, Steinlager 2.
It was MAPFRE, the overall race leader, who made the best start to lead the fleet around a loop of the Waitematā Harbour and out into the Hauraki Gulf, with Dongfeng, Team Brunel and Turn the Tide on Plastic in close and giving chase.
In a return to the heritage of the event, Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race will take the teams on a 7,600 nautical mile journey into the Southern Ocean, and around the iconic Cape Horn, before returning to the Atlantic Ocean towards the finish in Itajaí, Brazil.
The initial ETA for the finish in Itajaí, Brazil is between April 4th and 6th.
Alinghi crowned champions of 2018 Extreme Sailing Series Act 1, Muscat
Three-time Extreme Sailing Series champions Alinghi were crowned winners of the opening Act of the 2018 Series today, their first win in Muscat in their eight-year history in the event.
After four days of consistently strong sailing in Oman, the Swiss team extended their lead on the fleet of super-fast foiling GC32s, closing the Act with a six-point lead.
Consisting of experienced Series sailors Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey and Timothe Lapauw - the team sailed unchanged from last year. It proved a magic formula that saw the Swiss squad finish second in the Act's final race, worth double points.
Following their collision with NZ Extreme Sailing Team on the Act's penultimate day, Red Bull Sailing Team charged into day four, determined to claw back some points after an incident that took both boats off the water. Top-three finishes in four consecutive races saw them climb one place on the overall leaderboard.
There was little change to the overall rankings on the Flying Phantom racecourse today. Zooming around the racetrack, Team France Jeune maintained their lead and took the Act victory, finishing first for the fourth time in Muscat.
The Flying Phantom Series will rejoin the Extreme Sailing Series in Barcelona from 14-17 June, following their second Act in Quiberon, 18-21 May.
Extreme Sailing Series 2018 Act 1, Muscat standings after Day 4, 25 races (17.03.18)
1. Alinghi (SUI) Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Timothe Lapauw, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey 277 points.
2. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Rasmus Kostner, Adam Minoprio, Julius Hallstrom, Pierluigi de Felice, Richard Mason 271 points.
3. Oman Air (OMA) Phil Robertson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Stewart Dodson, Nasser Al Mashari 253 points.
4. Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) Will Alloway, Leigh McMillan, Oli Greber, Adam Kay, Mark Spearman 244 points.
5. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Chris Draper, Ed Powys, Neil Hunter, Dan Morris, Rhys Mara 215 points.
6. NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) Jason Waterhouse, Will Tiller, Harry Hull, Luke Payne, Guy Endean 210 points.
7. Team Mexico (MEX) Erik Brockmann, Tom Buggy, Alex Higby, Tom Phipps, Danel Belausteguigoitia Fierro 177 points.
Extreme Sailing Series 2018 overall standings
1. Alinghi (SUI) 12 points
2. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN)11 pts
3. Oman Air (OMA) 10 pts
4. Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) 9 pts
5. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 8 pts
6. NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) 7 pts
7. Team Mexico (MEX) 6 pts
Flying Phantom Series Act 1, Muscat standings after Day 4, 24 races (17.03.18)
1. Team France Jeune (FRA) Solune Robert, Antoine Rucard 483 points.
2. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Olivia Mackay, Micah Wilkinson 474 points.
3. Idreva Zephyr Foiling (FRA) Charles Hainneville, Pierre-Yves Durand 446 points.
4. Culture Foil (FRA) Nicolas Ferellec, Theo Constance 426 points.
5. Flying Frogs (FRA) Pierre Le Clainche, Arnaud Vasseur 397 points.
6. UON (POR) Jose Cladeira, Helder Basilio 365 points.
7. EVO Visian ICL (GER) Raphael Neuhann, Elias Neuhann 357 points.
8. Masterlan (CZE) David Krizek, Zdenek Adam 314 points.
Flying Phantom Series 2018 overall standings
1. Team France Jeune (FRA) 20 points
2. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 19 pts
3. Idreva Zephyr Foiling (FRA) 18 pts
4. Culture Foil (FRA) 17 pts
5. Flying Frogs (FRA) 16 pts
6. UON (POR) 15 pts
7. EVO Visian ICL (GER) 14 pts
8. Masterlan (CZE) 13 pts
St. Barth's Bucket
Three days of racing here in the Caribbean, for 25 Super Yacht's, concluded today with a 8-10 knots race, clockwise around the island.
For us on Rosehearty, it was quite a different week. Many of our usual competitors like Seahawk and Perseus were not in attendance this year. Zenji and ourselves ended up grouped in class D with three yachts who weigh 1/3 of our weight. There was no contest. The winner was Hap Fauth's Whisper. Whisper and Blue Too beat us on average by 20 minutes each day. A bit of a change for us as we had won our class that last two years here.
Four years on with the same core team on Rosehearrty and our crew work and manouvers just keep getting better. Today we actually started a drop, in a super yacht, when the bow was at the mark. That's a first. Hats off to the crew of Rosehearty!
In other classes, Svea won the J class while Nilaya won Class A over Visione. The Class B winner was Sojana, Class C Farfalla, and Class E Missy.
Sailing in St. Barth's is truly a special priviledge. -- Paul Cayard, cayardsailing.com
Seahorse April 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
World news
Armel Le Cleac'h is a happy man, the Class40 is still nuts, a lot of truth in the Kiwi legend, Bill Macartney's latest TV spectacular gets underway. Plus this time we will to make it to Bermuda (really). Patrice Carpentier, Blue Robinson, Dobbs Davis, Ivor Wilkins
Essential staff
Peter Harken has few doubts about the identity of some of the most important contributors to the ongoing Harken story
The great Victorian
... and a gentleman yachtsman with a very, very long name. John Rousmaniere
Tech Street: The genie's out the bottle
Tech Street: Standby
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.
Ed Wright snatches Finn European title after spectacular medal race
Ed Wright won his second Finn European title on Saturday, in Cadiz, after a spectacular medal race in high winds and huge waves that nearly resulted in the race being cancelled. Nicholas Heiner, from the Netherlands, had led all week, but several capsizes and a last place left him with the silver, while Max Salminen, from Sweden did enough to take the bronze, after winning the race.
The Final Race for the rest of the fleet was cancelled with sustained gusts well over 30 knots and huge seas. This meant that Nils Theuninck, from Switzerland, won the U23 European title, from last year's winner, Henry Wetherell, from Britain, and Ondrej Teply, from Czech Republic in third.
The medal race started with an average windspeed of 24 knots gusting to 29. With the huge waves it was on the limit, but the Finn sailors wouldn't have it any other way. The race was on and they loved the extreme challenge of survival against the elements.
On his second European title, 12 years after the first, Wright said, "It was a crazy race. I saw Heiner capsize at the five-minute so then I realised everyone was having a hard time with the conditions not just me."
It has been a great week in Cádiz, with the venue finally living up to the promises over the past three days. Now the sailors can rest and in two weeks time the battle for supremacy will continue at the Princesa Sofia Regatta in Palma.
Results after medal race (medal race in brackets)
1. Edward Wright, GBR, 57 (5)
2. Nicholas Heiner, NED, 60 (9)
3. Max Salminen, SWE, 71 (2)
4. Josh Junior, NZL, 73 (1)
5. Caleb Paine, USA, 73 (3)
6. Ben Cornish, GBR, 92 (6)
7. Jorge Zarif, BRA, 97 (DSQ)
8. Josip Olujic, CRO, 99 (4)
9. Jonathan Lobert, FRA, 101 (7)
10. Ioannis Mitakis, GRE 110 (8)
Andrew Simpson Foundation to Unite Cyclists & Sailors!
Andrew Simpson Foundation: The Sailing Charity is to unite sailors and cyclists with a brand-new fundraising and cycling event in memory of Olympic Gold Medallist and America's Cup Sailor Andrew 'Bart' Simpson. Bike4Bart will take place on Sunday 2nd September 2018 from Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Dorset.
Cycling inland from the Isle of Portland and the home of the Andrew Simpson Foundation, the three different route options will head into Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offering a real treat of a ride whatever your ability level. With a mixture of spectacular views, leg-pumping climbs and historical scenery the route will always have something to keep everyone interested.
Alongside the Cycling event, the Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre - Portland, (also based at the National Sailing Academy) will throw its doors open to the public offering a variety of free sailing and water-based activities, culminating in a great fun day for all the family.
Bike4Bart aims to help raise awareness of the amazing work that is currently carried out by the Andrew Simpson Foundation around the world, and to raise funds, allowing the sailing charity to continue both increasing participation in the sport and improving the lives of disadvantaged young people.
To sign up to Bike4Bart as an individual or as a team please visit ukcyclingevents.co.uk
Warrior Perpetual Trophy Announced
The 2018 Antigua Bermuda Race is organised by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in association with Antigua Sailing Week, and supported by the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Goslings Rum.
The second edition of the 935-mile oceanic race will start off Fort Charlotte Antigua on May 9th, 2018 and will have a new trophy. The Warrior Perpetual Trophy will be won by the boat scoring the lowest corrected time under IRC.
The Antigua Bermuda Race holds a special place for the American Volvo 70 Warrior. Skippered by Stephen Murray Jnr, Warrior was the overall winner under IRC for the inaugural race and set the outright race record of 3 days 20 hours 32 minutes 41 seconds. Warrior was in fine form in last month's RORC Caribbean 600, finishing runner-up for monohull line honours and taking joint third overall under IRC in a fleet of 84 yachts.
"Warrior's first race was the 2017 Antigua Bermuda Race, so most of the personnel have been together for a year now and we have gelled together as a team," commented Stephen Murray Jnr. "Warrior is sponsored by my family for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and for the benefit of Warrior Sailing which assists wounded veterans in their recovery through the sport of sailing. As any sailor knows, sailing is very therapeutic but also there is a teamwork element to sailing that many of the wounded warriors miss."
For the 2018 Antigua Bermuda Race, Warrior will face stiff opposition for the new trophy. Jens Kellinghusen's Ker 56 Varuna tied with Warrior for third place in the RORC Caribbean 600 after the German yacht was awarded redress, and Eric de Turkheim's French Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine, overall winner of the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race will also be a top contender. Two young German teams will renew their friendly rivalry, Andrews 56 Broader View Hamburg, winner of IRC One for the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race, will be skippered by Joachim Brünner and JV52 Haspa Hamburg, skippered by Sebastian Ropohl will also be competing.
The 2018 Antigua Bermuda Race is also open to multihull and monohull yachts racing with a valid Caribbean Sailing Association rating certificate. As well as Superyachts under the ORCsy Rule and classic yachts with a valid ISYR Rating. Boats in all but the IRC Divisions may elect to use their engines during the race, subject to a time correction. Among the early entries in CSA Cruising are Edgar Rumble's American Oyster 625 Black Lion and Louis Goor's Irish Oyster 575 Irene III.
For all classes the entry fee is just US $500 per boat and $50 per crew member payable on or before April 11, 2018. With great parties in both Antigua and Bermuda and close to a thousand miles of warm ocean racing, the Antigua Bermuda Race is not to be missed.
Sunday 18 March Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series race cancelled
This Sunday's - 18th March - Helly Hansen Warsash Spring Series race was cancelled.
The race officers, having discussed the forecasts for Sunday, believe that the conditions would be unpleasant and possibly unsafe for competitors and the volunteers running the racing.
For Black Group we hope to recover the lost race on one of the following three Sundays; details of this will be communicated to competitors. White Group already have three races a day and we will not be adding to that.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday 25th March in British Summer Time.
The Warsash Spring Series is sponsored by Helly Hansen, with race partners Crewsaver and Doyle Sails.
For more information go to www.warsashspringseries.org.uk
ORC Sportboat European Championship
Portopiccolo, Italy: Following on the success of last year's ORC Worlds Trieste 2017, the Upper Adriatic and Gulf of Trieste are once again the site of another important event in the ORC calendar: the ORC Sportboat European Championship 2018. Held over 29 May - 3 June, this is one of the three most important championship regattas on the 2018 ORC calendar of events, and is open for entry to boats from any country ranging in length from 6.00 - 9.15 meters and meeting other criteria for defining an ORC Sportboat.
The venue for this regatta will be Portopiccolo, Italy, an exclusive marina resort that has its own innovations in design and technology with its avant-garde architecture and structures surrounded by the sea cliffs of Sistiana, similar to the Sportboat entries competing at this event. Organizers are expecting a strong turnout of boats and teams that will be divided into three divisions based on boat types for a series of races that vary from a coastal race to several buoy races held in the Gulf of Trieste.
The event will be organized by Yacht Club Portopiccolo, based at the resort, and by the Diporto Nautico Sistiana, one of the most active marine sports organizations in the Upper Adriatic. The event is now open for entries to be made online at the event website www.orcsportboat2018.eu. The schedule of events includes two days of measurement and inspection from Tuesday to Wednesday, 29-30 May, with seven races scheduled (including a coastal race) between Thursday 31 May and Sunday 3 June.
Entries are limited to be no more that 30 from one country in each division, and a 30% discount on the entry fee will apply if received by 31 March...more information can be found on the Notice of Race available on the event website.
Featured Brokerage
Aquarius Alfa was built for a passionate yacht owner who implanted his extensive knowledge gained during the construction of several previous yachts to help Nautor achieve the perfect blue-water performance cruiser.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com
-----------------------------------------
Top performing IRC boat in South Africa over recent years and with sister ships dominating the ORC circuit too, shes a complete package. Very tidy and high spec sail inventory included.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats
+64 277733717
+44 2380 016582
-----------------------------------------
Originally launched as "Container", this boat has always been a front runner in any regatta its entered and is arguably the most competitive TP/IRC 52 on the market today. Inshore and offshore capability, refined by the best that NZ has to offer. An absolutely turn-key, regatta winning boat!
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats
+44 2380 016582
+64 277733717
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
Golf, like measles, should be caught young. -- P. G. Wodehouse
Editorial and letter submissions to
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html