Scuttlebutt Europe #4101 - 30 May
In This Issue
Team Brunel wins Leg 9
Green Dragon Powered by UBOX is the 3rd Volvo 70 entered in the 2018 Legends Race
Marlow Sponsors International Optimist Class Association 2018
America's Cup now a game for engineers, Bertarelli won't be there
America's Cup Supplied Equipment: Foil Arms and Foil Cant System (FCS)
Sweeny wins the J-Cup!
A very personal relationship
Normandy Channel Race: Bound for Tuskar
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: Antonin Scalia
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
Team Brunel wins Leg 9
Early on Tuesday morning Team Brunel was victorious in Leg 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race. A few hours before the finish, AkzoNobel led the fleet, even though Team Brunel held the leading position in the first few days of the leg. In the Bristol Channel, skipper Bouwe Bekking's team finally re-took the lead. On the finish line, after more than eight days of sailing, the difference was merely four minutes and five seconds. Thanks to this win, Team Brunel still has a chance of winning the overall race.
Team Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking: "We have won another leg in which double points can be earned. We cannot have done it better than this. The fact that we beat the two red boats, Dongfeng and MAPFRE, and there were a number of other boats in between us and them, simply means that we are doing well in the classification. I am extremely satisfied."
Result Leg 9 Newport - Cardiff
1. Team Brunel
2. Team AkzoNobel
3. Dongfeng Race Team
4. Vestas
5. Mapfre
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic
7. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag
Overall scoreboard after Leg 9
1. Dongfeng Race Team 60
2. MAPFRE 59
3. Team Brunel 57
4. Team AkzoNobel 48
5. Vestas 36
6. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag 29
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic 26
Green Dragon Powered by UBOX is the 3rd Volvo 70 entered in the 2018 Legends Race
Green Dragon was the first Chinese backed entry in the Volvo Ocean Race. She was sponsored by Wei Chai Power and Triangle Tyres from China and Discover Ireland hence her name.
Skippered by Ian Walker, who went on to win ‘The Volvo’ two editions later, Green Dragon not only shared a Chinese sponsor’s hopes, she also carried the first Chinese crew member in Guo Chuan who sailed as the team’s On Board Reporter as the position is now known. Guo went on to become a true legend in Chinese offshore sailing competing in the Mini-Transat, setting the record for a single handed circum-navigation in a 40 footer, the reference time for the North East Passage and his final voyage attempting to set a new Trans-Pacific record on the Trimaran Qingdao, the former IDEC.
Sadly on this last record attempt Guo Chuan was lost at sea with all that was found on his boat being a severed harness tether. It is to honour Guo’s memory that Wang Bin, CEO of UBOX and a keen sailor himself, decided to charter Green Dragon to take part in the Legends Race. In fact Wang Bin was Guo Chuan’s main supporter on his Mini-Transat and solo circumnavigation, part of a long association between the two men.
Always at the forefront of sailing development in China and the founder of the China Association for the Promotion of Sailing (CAPS) Wang Bin is somewhat of a legend in Chinese sailing himself.
He circumnavigated the globe on his 60 foot aluminium Alubat sponsored by SINA and China Mobile along with his friends, some of whom will be joining him on the Legends Race.
A huge fan of the Volvo Ocean Race and somewhat more than just a fan of Dongfeng Race Team as between VOR editions Charles Caudrelier skippered Wang Bin’s Cookson 50 UBOX to a 3rd Overall in IRC and 1st Overall ORCi in the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart while using the boat as part of the team selection process.
In return Wang Bin became the team’s leg jumper when the fleet departed Hong Kong for Auckland.
Green Dragon powered by Ubox will be crewed by a combination of East and West with Wang Bin and a number of his fellow members of CAPS joining the western owner Johannes Schwarz, his skipper Benedikt Clauberg and a number of European sailors for the Legends Race.
Green Dragon powered by UBOX, a Volvo Ocean Race Legend being sailed in memory of Guo Chuan, a true Chinese (and Volvo) sailing legend.
A unique example representing the Past, the Present and the Future of Chinese Offshore Sailing. -- Alistair Skinner
Marlow Sponsors International Optimist Class Association 2018 Following its support at the GBR Optimist Team Selection Trials earlier this month, Marlow Ropes announces its sponsorship of the International Optimist Class Association (IOCA).As a practical partner for grass-roots sailing, Marlow will share it technical expertise and work with coaches and sailors to ensure that the best lines are used for the application. At the key events in the IOCA calendar Marlow will provide rig-checks, rope education and practical splicing workshops.
Emma Donovan at Marlow Ropes said: “It is important to share our expert rope and rigging knowledge gained over the last 200 years. It is also incredibly rewarding to work with young sailors and their families at the start of their sailing journey. This IOCA sponsorship will further facilitate our engagement and knowledge sharing with young budding sailors.”
Sharon Davidson-Guild, Chair of IOCA UK, said: "Selection Trials is a nerve-racking but exciting event to attend and team places are highly competitive. This year, we are excited to be partnering with sponsors, xtremity.net and Marlow Ropes. We are very grateful for their support of the Optimist class and Selection Trials 2018."
For further information on Marlow Ropes’ education workshops and its work with IOCA visit: www.marlowropes.com and www.optimist.org.uk. The National & Open Championships will take place from the 4 - 10 August Marlow Ropes is also the official supplier to both the British and US sailing teams.Marlow Sponsors International Optimist Class Association 2018
Following its support at the GBR Optimist Team Selection Trials earlier this month, Marlow Ropes announces its sponsorship of the International Optimist Class Association (IOCA).
As a practical partner for grass-roots sailing, Marlow will share it technical expertise and work with coaches and sailors to ensure that the best lines are used for the application. At the key events in the IOCA calendar Marlow will provide rig-checks, rope education and practical splicing workshops.
Emma Donovan at Marlow Ropes said: “It is important to share our expert rope and rigging knowledge gained over the last 200 years. It is also incredibly rewarding to work with young sailors and their families at the start of their sailing journey. This IOCA sponsorship will further facilitate our engagement and knowledge sharing with young budding sailors.”
Sharon Davidson-Guild, Chair of IOCA UK, said: "Selection Trials is a nerve-racking but exciting event to attend and team places are highly competitive. This year, we are excited to be partnering with sponsors, xtremity.net and Marlow Ropes. We are very grateful for their support of the Optimist class and Selection Trials 2018."
For further information on Marlow Ropes’ education workshops and its work with IOCA visit: www.marlowropes.com and www.optimist.org.uk. The National & Open Championships will take place from the 4 - 10 August
Marlow Ropes is also the official supplier to both the British and US sailing teams.
Marlow Ropes is also the official supplier to both the British and US sailing teams.
America's Cup now a game for engineers, Bertarelli won't be there
Double America's Cup winner Ernesto Bertarelli has confirmed Alinghi won't contest the 2021 regatta in Auckland with the Swiss magnate strongly attacking the new direction of sport's oldest trophy.
Hopes of him returning to the game in Auckland now appear dashed after he expressed disappointment at the direction taken by new cup holders Emirates Team New Zealand who are returning the monohulls to the America's Cup.
Bertarelli, who has just completed the GC32 world championships in foiling 32-foot catamarans, believes multihulls remain the future of the sport.
He described the new foiling 75-foot boats under design and construction for Auckland as "catamarans dressed as monohulls".
"They will be slower boats than we could have by keeping and developing the catamarans we had seen in the latest edition of Bermuda, probably less governable and safe, because they took away the second rudder," Bertarelli told Italian newspaper La Stampa, breaking his silence on the 36th edition of the Cup.
"Just ask the young sailors what boats they want. As early as 12 years old they would like to get on the flying catamarans like the Moths and then the Nacra 15.
He felt the expense was limiting the potential field as was shown with only Team New Zealand, Britain's Ben Ainslie Racing, Italian challenger of record Luna Ross and the New York Yacht Club confirmed so far.
America's Cup Supplied Equipment: Foil Arms and Foil Cant System (FCS)
The foil arms and the mechanism to raise and lower them will be identical for all teams and will be supplied by a single source. When the AC75 Class Rule was released at the end of March, two important pieces of information were missing: the specifications for the FCS and the drawings and specs for the one design mast tube. The class rule states that the date for releasing this information is TBA - to be announced. As of last week, the teams had not received these specs.
The AC75, AC50, and AC45F catamarans controlled lift by raking the daggerboards fore and aft to change the angle of attack of the foil wings. The foil wings were not allowed to have movable control surfaces like flaps. The AC75's will be very different: the foil arms will not be raked. The foil wings will have movable flaps to control lift.
Foil design was crucial for the 2017 America's Cup. That will be true again for 2021. The teams need the FCS specs to get going on their foil wings designs. -- Jack Griffin
Sweeny wins the J-Cup!
66 teams from Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, and the Netherlands, raced in the 19th edition of the J-Boats festival of racing, held every year in United Kingdom. The 2018 Landsail Tyres J-Cup also incorporated four UK National championships for the J/97, J/88, J/109, and J/111 Classes. All four of the championships were decided in the very last race, and the IRC and J/92 Classes also enjoyed highly competitive racing. Paul van Driel & Hans Zwijnenburg's Dutch J/111 Sweeny was awarded the J-Cup, the first overseas team to win the overall prize in the history of the event. Sweeny was also won the 11-strong J/111 Class, winning the last two races, to come from behind.
J/97 National Champion - Bob & Jon Baker’s Jaywalker
Jaywalker won the last race of the series to clinch the title, just a point ahead of 2017 National Champions; Annie and Andy Howe's Blackjack II. Mike Sellars & Chris Miles' High Jinks was third. Rachel & Robert Hunt's Jumblesail II made the podium in three races to finish fourth.
J/88 National Champion -Kirsty & David Apthorp's J-Dream
The J/88s produced a photo finish with J-Dream winning on countback from Gavin Howe's Tigris. Tim Tolcher's Raging Bull was third, and Richard Cooper's Jongleur made the podium in two races to finish fourth.
J109 National Champion - Joe Henry's Jolly Jack Tar
Five teams made the podium in the J/109 championship, won by Jolly Jack Tar in the final leg of the final race. John Smart's Jukebox made the podium in every race to finish a worthy runner-up, and Neil Angel's Diamond Jem was third, just two points ahead of Simon Perry's Jiraffe. Chris Preston's Jubilee scored a podium finish to end the regatta in fifth.
J/111 National Champion - Chris Jones & Louise Makin's Journeymaker II
Sweeny was top of the podium for the J/111 Class but the Dutch team is not eligible for the UK National Championship. Journeymaker II was the top UK boat, finishing in second place for the class, with Sjaak Haakman's Dutch team on Red Herring claiming third, just a point ahead of Michiel v/d Meulen's Swiss Lällekönig. Sebastian de Liedekerke's Djinn and Paul Griffiths' Jagerbomb also scored podium race finishes.
J/70 Class Winner - Graham Clapp's Jeepster
The 20-strong J/70 Class was hotly contested with seven teams making the podium over the six race series. Graham Clapp's Jeepster scored two race wins and discarded a fourth. Consistency was the name of the game, aided by world class talent including NACRA 17 World Champion Ben Saxton, and Olympic 49er sailor Sophie Ainsworth. Geoff Carveth & Doug Struth's DSP was second , and Clive Bush's Darcey was third. Patrick Liardet's Cosmic finished the regatta with a 2-2 to place fourth and Paul Ward's Eat, Sleep,J,Repeat scored a race win to finish fifth.
IRC Class Winner - Chaz Ivill's J/112 Davanti Tyres
Davanti Tyres won the class for the second year in a row but was pushed hard all the way by Mike & Sarah Wallis' J/122 Jahmali, which won the last two races of the series to come runner-up. Mike Lewis' J/80 Jester was on the podium for all but one race, to finish the regatta in third, and Angus Bates J/133 Assarain IV also made the podium. Piotr Nahajski’s J/95 Jollity was fifth.
J/92 Class Winner - Robin Stevenson's Upstart
Upstart held on to win the class by a single point from Jack Banks' Nightjar. David Greenhalgh's J'ronimo was always in contention but an OCS in Race 4 proved costly, with the team finishing third for the regatta. Guy Stansell's Captain Scarlett and Ralph Mason's Jabberwock tied after time correction in Race 4, demonstrating the intensity of the racing in the J/92 Class.
Full Results: www.islandsc.org.uk/racingdocuments.aspx#jcup
A very personal relationship
Solo ocean racers trust their lives as well as their results to their autopilots, none more so than the skippers of the new generation of foiling Ultim - where the pilots themselves also face unprecedented new demands
After Vendee Globe winners Team Banque Populaire elected to go with B&G for the pilot systems on their own first fully foiling Ultim we spoke to B&G’s R&D team about their rather enormous new brief...
‘Sailing upwind everything feels relaxed and calm, and you’re unaware that you’re doing 23kt,’ says Matt Eeles, B&G’s R&D lead on the Banque Populaire project, ‘but as you bear away onto a reach you really feel the power and acceleration. Your senses are heightened as the full power from the canted wing mast and the sails rapidly accelerates the boat from 20 to 40kt.
‘With the foils raked back and emitting a resonating scream there is no sign of the bows burying. Looking outside the helm position without goggles is nearly impossible as the apparent wind beats you in the face and your eyes hurt as you try to stare at the foils to see all three hulls flying in the air.
‘We frequently saw SOG go into the 40s, peaking at well over 40kt under pilot when fast reaching in 25kt TWS,’ he adds. ‘High averages will be crucial for this project and I can easily see them being able to achieve averages into the high 30s sailing downwind while maintaining a safe and stable platform. After reaching at over 40kt, downwind at 35kt was quite a pleasant ride!’
Full article in the June issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com
Normandy Channel Race: Bound for Tuskar
In contrast with certain past editions, the first Channel episode of the Normandy Channel Race hasn’t succeeded in sorting out any kind of hierarchy among the 26 protagonists still on the racetrack. Solely the Japanese crew made up of Hiroshi Kitada and Fumiyoshi Tomouchi (Kiho)*, will be missing from this evening’s roll call as the fleet tackles the ‘purple passage’, the beat across the Celtic Sea towards Tuskar lighthouse.
The 14 ‘historical’ leaders who made good their escape during the passage in the Solent were already beginning to tackle this first category ‘col’ from late morning today, resulting in a succession of fleeting leaders depending on whether they were on a tack taking them away from the direct course or towards it. These have included Imerys (Sharp-Pulve), Aina Enfance et Avenir (Chappellier-Delahaye), Carac (Duc-Riou), Volvo (Gerckens-Duthil) and Lamotte Module Creation (Berry - Le Vaillant). The minimal separation between them with multiple upsets at the top of the rankings and a changing physiognomy to the racecourse coloured by the landscapes are part and parcel of what makes a Normandy Channel Race and far from revealing its eventual prize-winners, there is no doubt tonight that there are numerous twists and turns in perspective yet.
The Beat across the Celtic Sea.
As such it’s upwind, in a NNE’ly breeze that the 14 front runners have been tackling the Celtic Sea since midday en route for Tuskar. As forecast, the rounding of the western tip of Cornwall, Land’s End, caused a more or less pronounced stalling of the pace according to the gusts as the fleet negotiated a bay that was incredibly protected from the NE’ly winds. With this particular pitfall out of their way, the Class 40s latched onto a fresher and better established breeze, which should enable them to round Tuskar tonight through into tomorrow.
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The Last Word
I think Thomas Jefferson would have said the more speech, the better. -- Antonin Scalia
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