In This Issue
Scallywags never give up
2018 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Iberostar
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Inspiring Since 1968
New Caledonia Groupama Race: a different kind of South Pacific adventure
Match Race Germany
Sperry Charleston Race Week Gears Up
Kaskelot to set sail to Sutton Harbour
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: Douglas Adams
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
Scallywags never give up
Skipper David Witt says in a Facebook post that the team are aiming to start leg eight from Brazil to Newport, United States on April 22
In honour of lost team member John Fisher, the crew of Hong Kong's Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag have decided to continue to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race with skipper David Witt offering a rousing rallying cry on Facebook.
"Scallywags never give up!" wrote Witt, three days after the Volvo 65 boat arrived in Puerto Montt in Chile, where they crew have been resting and recovering from the emotional stress of losing 47-year-old Fisher, who was knocked overboard on March 26 and is presumed lost at sea.
"When you're feeling the pain, And you're sick of the game, But you're young and you're brave and you're bright, You pick yourself up and dust yourself down, Cos it's the carrying on that's hard," wrote Witt.
The Scallywag crew are now in a race against time to reach Itajai, Brazil for the start of the 5,700-mile eighth leg on April 22 to Newport, Rhode Island, in the United States.
An eight-strong delivery crew have arrived in Puerto Montt and the plan is for them to head for the Straight of Magellan, emerge into the Atlantic Ocean in the south of Argentina and sail towards Itajai.
2018 Trofeo Princesa Sofía Iberostar
Bang on cue Mallorca's Bay of Palma fired up the best breeze yet of the 49 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Iberostar as the Finals phase started for most of the ten Olympic classes. In warm spring sunshine, the breeze puffed to 18 kts at times to present a new, more physical challenge.
Only Australia's Mat Belcher and Will Ryan in the Men's 470 and their female counterparts France's Camille Lecointre sailing with Aloise Lecointre sailed the perfect day, both crews unbeaten in the breeze today.
The full-to-capacity fleet of Lasers and Radials reveled across their briskest day of racing yet as the breeze picked up to 15-17kts at times with sharp, steep waves typical of the Bay of Palma.
As the level stepped up into the first of the Finals races the Netherlands' double Olympic medallist Marit Bouwmeester, current world champion, posted the best two race tally for the day, winning the first contest and finishing fourth in the second. She lies two points clear of Danish rival Anne-Marie Rindom, 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, and 2015 world champion.
Top three places by class:
470 Men
1. Mathew Belcher / William Ryan, AUS, 18 points
2. Deniz Cinar / Ates Cinar, TUR, 49
3. Tetsuya Isozaki / Akira Takayanagi, JPN, 50
470 Women
1. Camille Lecointre / Aloise Retornaz, FRA, 21
2. Hannah Mills / Eilidh Mcintyre, GBR, 24
3. Ai Kondo Yoshida / Miho Yoshioka, JPN, 31
49er
1. Dylan Fletcher-Scott / Stuart Bithell, GBR, 43
2. Mathieu Frei / Noe Delpech, FRA, 54
3. Yago Lange / Klaus Lange, ARG, 55
49er FX
1. Annemiek Bekkering / Annette Duetz, NED, 30
2. Ida Marie Baad Nielsen / Marie Thusgaard Olsen, DEN, 53
3. Odile Van Aanholt / Marieke Jongens, NED, 62
Finn
1. Giles Scott, GBR, 33
2. Nicholas Heiner, NED, 70
3. Nils Theuninck, SUI, 72
Laser
1. Matthew Wearn, AUS, 25
2. Sam Meech, NZL, 43
3. Tonci Stipanovic, CRO, 51
Laser Radial
1. Anne-Marie Rindom, DEN, 29
2. Marit Bouwmeester, NED, 37
3. Alison Young, GBR, 57
NACRA 17
1. Ruggero Tita / Caterina Banti, ITA, 27
2. Ben Saxton / Nicola Boniface, GBR, 34
3. Iker Martinez / Olga Maslivets, ESP, 66
RS:X Men
1. Louis Giard, FRA, 20
2. Sebastian Fleischer, DEN, 27
3. Pawel Tarnowski, POL, 28
RS:X Women
1. Lilian De Gues, NED, 21
2. Pei Na Chen, CHN, 22
3. Flavia Tartaglinik, ITA, 32
J80
1. Javier Chacartegui, ESP, 5
2. Sebastian Allebrodt, GER, 11
3. Pablo Ariel, ESP, 17
Dragon
1. Otto Pohlmann, UAE, 11
2. Stephane Baseden, FRA, 17
3. Javier Scherk Serrat, ESP, 20
ORC fleets and full results: www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/en/default/races/race-resultsall
Seahorse April 2018
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Update
The flying Banque Populaire IX in detail; don't buy it use it; let's ditch the (damn) triangle; running a Cup campaign is some kind of a job. Plus be in no doubt... we are going to capsize. Jack Griffin, Scott Dickson, Peter Heppel,Terry Hutchinson
On to the next one
It won't be there in Japan but it may very well be there when you get to Paris. Rob Kothe
The multihull era
The time of the monohulls has passed. Now it is the time of the multihull... or it was. Eric Hall
Tech Street: Power
Tech Street: Huge ask
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Inspiring Since 1968
With just weeks to the start, entrants face real challenges everyday pushing to the start line while new sailors continue to be inspired planning for the GGR 2022. Boats are now arriving for final sailing preparations.
The GGR has been inspiring sailors since 1968 and its all starting again. I see it in many places. The passionate commitment of our entrants is impacting followers around the Globe. Millions have been exposed to Abhilash Tomy in India. The numbers are staggering. His beautiful SUHAILI replica is on a ship headed to the UK. Mark Sinclair and Kevin Farebrother have both shipped their boats to Europe, at about Euro $40,000 each. Not much for some maybe? but a HUGE commitment on top of everything else to make your dream happen, like Kevin selling his house! Many of the back stories to the struggle of ordinary sailors getting to the start are yet to be told. I know some and they are inspiring, exciting, sad and unreal! The Human side of the GGR is about to hit home in a few weeks when we are all together in Falmouth as the GGR family.
It will also be an incredible honour and privilege for us all, to relive the history of that day on June 14th with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. In some ways it will be surreal. Black and white history being relived present day in full colour, with passion. For me personally I will be forever grateful for Sir Robin's friendship, support and advice over the past 36 years and his huge moral and actual support for the 2018 Golden Globe Race from the very beginning
New Caledonia Groupama Race: a different kind of South Pacific adventure
Entries for the long-awaited New Caledonia Groupama Race close April 17 and a cross-section of monohulls and multihull owners have signed-up for a very different kind of South Pacific adventure.
Most visitors to the French territory travel for the water sports, beaches, ethnic fusion and diverse natural landscapes. Then there is the breed of sailor eager for a winter race to New Caledonia starting from Sydney, Auckland and Brisbane with a few days to recover and restock before they set off again, this time alongside the locals racing the clock around the island of New Caledonia starting Sunday June 17, 2018.
One of the smallest in the fleet at 10.05m is the Sydney based Komatsu Azzurro, Shane Kearns' trusty S&S34 - the little boat that could. Komatsu Azzurro's backstory of ruin to restoration is well told, and Kearns' optimism is well known.
Joining Royal Akarana Yacht Club's Auckland Noumea Yacht Race fleet is Graeme Wilson's RP52 Miss Scarlet. After competing in the Bay of Islands Race Week in January and the Jack Tar regatta last month, work has commenced to convert Miss Scarlet to offshore mode for the race to Noumea and the New Caledonia Groupama Race. "The crew is itching to get offshore and let Miss Scarlet stretch her legs," Wilson said. "The warm tropical waters, trade winds and the beautiful reef will make the Groupama Race a highlight for 2018."
Entry for the Auckland Noumea Yacht Race closes May 11, website
Entry for the PONANT Sydney Noumea Race closes May 4, website
Entry for the Brisbane Noumea Yacht Race closes May 11, website
The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria has decided to cancel its Melbourne to Noumea race citing lower than anticipated entries due to the running of the biennial Melbourne to Osaka double-handed race. It's likely those entries will join the CYCA feeder race from Sydney.
The New Caledonia Groupama Race fleet leaves Noumea on June 17 and sails counter-clockwise alongside reefs, past the compulsory waypoint at the Grand Passage and inside the UNESCO World Heritage listed turquoise lagoon then onto the finish. -- Lisa Ratcliff/OCC
Match Race Germany
Langenargen / Bodensee, Germany: The fleet for the 21st Match Race Germany on Lake Constance is complete. Twelve international top teams will compete over Pentecost from 16 to 21 May in front of Langenargen at the Grand Prix of Germany. The field is led by defending champion Eric Monnin and his Albert Riele Swiss Team. With 12-time ice-sailing world champion and former America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski and his Jablonski Racing Team, one of the most furious dueling sailors is entering the four-nations region. Young savages like the only 23-year-old Dutchman Jelmer van Beek want to challenge the stars of the scene and set their course for Germany's most famous match race.
The twelve teams will represent nine countries this year. The five to six-member crews are at home in France, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Russia, the Netherlands, Portugal and Germany. Helmsman Max Gurgel and his team from the Hamburger Alster start under German flag. Not so far from Langenargen is Eric Monnin´s club, the Segel Club Stafa. The 42-year-old defending champion not only won the jubilee edition of Match Race Germany 2017, but was also second in the classic Bermuda Gold Cup.
Skippers:
Eric Monnin (Switzerland)
Maxime Mesnil (France)
Patryk Zbroja (Poland)
Max Trippolt (Austria)
Dejan Presen (Slowenia)
Vladimir Lipavski (Russia)
Jelmer van Beek (Netherlands)
Lukasz Wosinski (Poland)
Szymon Jablkowski (Poland)
Max Gurgel (Hamburg/Germany)
Karol Jablonski (Poland/Germany)
Alfonso Leijte (Portugal)
Sperry Charleston Race Week Gears Up
First-class customer service has produced remarkable loyalty and transformed Sperry Charleston Race Week into one of the premier events of its kind. What started in 1996 as a regional gathering has steadily grown into the largest keelboat regatta in North and South America.
"We feel we have found a formula that resonates with the sailors and we are constantly working to refine what we are offering," said Randy Draftz, now in his 14th year as event director of Sperry Charleston Race Week.
Draftz said the Charleston Ocean Racing Association, organizing authority and owner of event, hit a home run when it landed Sperry as title sponsor. Sperry's involvement has been a driving force behind the remarkable development of Charleston Race Week, helping take the event to another level in terms of quality and prestige.
"Sperry is more than just our title sponsor, they are a true partner," Draftz said. "As a company, Sperry is fully invested in Charleston Race Week and brings incredible value that makes the event better."
Sperry Charleston Race Week is also fortunate to have the continued support of three critical corporate sponsors in Quantum Sails, Gosling's Rum and Vineyard Vines. West Marine has been added to the lineup of corporate sponsors with the world's premier retailer of boating, fishing and paddling gear announcing it will give away up to $30,000 in gift cards.
Sailors from all over the United States and beyond are gearing up for the 23rd edition of Sperry Charleston Race Week, being held April 12-15 out of the famous South Carolina port. Nearly 250 boats in 16 classes are slated to compete in the three-day regatta, which combines one-design and handicap racing along with inshore and offshore courses.
Kaskelot to set sail to Sutton Harbour
Click on image to enlarge.
During its four-week stay in Britain's Ocean City, Kaskelot will be lowering its gangway for a series of open days where the public are invited to come on board and explore the historic vessel.
Kaskelot previously visited Plymouth for three weeks in May 2017, which saw the vessel transformed into an outdoor cinema during a two-day film event as well as hosting a craft market and school workshops, and again back in 2015 where it attracted huge crowds to the waterfront.
In addition to hosting the popular open days and film screenings throughout August, Kaskelot will be running workshops and training days for people who are interested in sailing and the marine industry.
There will also be an opportunity to hire Kaskelot to host corporate events and private functions on board with more events to be announced over the coming months.
Kaskelot was originally built in Denmark in 1948 and worked as a support vessel for Danish fisheries in the Faroe Islands. More recently the beautiful barque has become famous having appeared in many hit Hollywood films and TV dramas such as Cutthroat Island, Longitude and David Copperfield.
To keep up to date with the latest news and information follow Sutton Harbour on Facebook at www.facebook.com/suttonharbour or @Sutton_Harbour on Twitter, or keep pace with Kaskelot's activities at www.facebook.com/svkaskelot and by following @SVKaskelot on Twitter.
Fast USA
On Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 0800 hours, news officially broke that US Sailing has opened a brand-new training facility-dubbed the Facility for Advanced Sailing and Technology (FAST USA)-on San Francisco Bay's Treasure Island, in partnership with the St. Francis Yacht Club's (St.FYC) St. Francis Sailing Foundation and the Treasure Island Sailing Center (TISC). FAST USA opens its doors as the primary national training center for the US Sailing team, and it will physically be housed in a container-based structure that was donated to US Sailing by Oracle Racing.
"We have watched the successes that other sports have had in creating a national training center and permanent home for their top athletes, coaches and trainers," said Peter Stoneberg, Chairman of the FAST USA Committee, in an official US Sailing press release. "For the first time in the history of American sailing, FAST USA at TISC will provide this home for the sport. New and Olympic sailors alike will be surrounded by world-class technology companies, universities and life science facilities. When added to the outstanding sail training conditions in San Francisco Bay, we will be mining Olympic gold on Treasure Island."
In addition to mining gold medals and creating a world-class training facility for Olympic-caliber sailors, this partnership will also help to advance TISC's community-sailing objectives. Additionally, the partnership helps to advance St.FYC's long-held "Puddles to Podium" initiative that seeks to create a "seamless pathway" that can carry beginner sailors all the way to the expert level. (For example, TISC and the St. Francis Yacht Club's St. Francis Sailing Foundation have already collaborated to create the successful "Set Sail Learn" program for fourth-graders from San Francisco's public schools.)
As a result, FAST USA will create an atmosphere that welcomes beginners and Olympic hopefuls alike, while also helping to shift the US Sailing team's overall culture, as well as West Coast sailing culture.
The final pieces of the FAST USA equation are the facility's close proximity to California's booming tech industry, world-class universities, and San Francisco's culture of innovation, which US Sailing hopes will help give the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team a technological edge compared to their international rivals.
David Schmidt's interview with Jack Gearhart in Sail-World.com:
www.sail-world.com/news/203798/?source=rss
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The Last Word
Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable, let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all. -- Douglas Adams
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