In This Issue
Melges 24 World Championship
British Etchells National Championship
Discover the Yacht Racing Forum programme and speakers list
Norway are seriously considering an America's Cup challenge for Auckland 2021
Race record and photo finish in the 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar
A Wall of improvement
2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
41st Three Peaks Yacht Race
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: Charles Bukowski
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
Melges 24 World Championship
Victoria, BC, Canada - Light breeze was the protagonist of the opening day of the 2018 Melges 24 World Championship in Victoria BC, Canada, where forty-one crews from five countries gathered to determine who will be the next one to achieve the Melges 24 Worlds title after Italian Gian Luca Perego's Maidollis success at the 2017 Championship in Helsinki.
The Race Committee presided by John Abel waited for the breeze to fill in, displaying AP flag ashore, before sending the fleet out to the water from the Victoria International Marina.
The shifty and light breeze only allowed to complete one race in the inaugural day of the 2018 World Championship and the American crews were the indisputable protagonists of the regatta: the "birthday bullet" was scored by Alan Field's WTF USA829, with Steve Hunt calling the tactics celebrating also his birthday today.
WTF was shortly followed on the finish line by Brian Porter's Full Throttle USA849, already World Champion in San Francisco 2013, and Bruce Ayres' Monsoon USA851 in third position.
The Canadian entry ADHD CAN184 by Brad Marchant, closing the race in seventh position overall, leads the provisional Corinthian ranking, with just one point margin over Matt MacGregor's Good Enough USA806. The provisional podium of the Corinthian division after the first day of racing is completed by another Canadian entry, Hold My Beer CAN591 by Mike Bond.
The racing for the Melges 24 Worlds' title will resume on Wednesday with a first signal schedule at 11am.
Overall Top 3 after Day 1
1. WTF USA 829, Alan Field, Erik Shampain, Willem Van Waay, Steve Hunt, Lucas Calabrese, California Yacht Club, - 1 ; 1
2. Full Throttle USA 849, Brian Porter, RJ Porter, Matt Woodworth, Andy Burdick, Lake Geneva Yacht Club, - 2 ; 2
3. Monsoon USA 851, Bruce Ayres, Chelsea Simms, George Peet, Jeff Reynolds , Mike Buckley, NHYC, - 3 ; 3
British Etchells National Championship
Any time a boat gets to discard a second place in its winning scoreline, it suggests a walkover, but in the case of the 2018 British Etchells National Championship Lawrie Smith and his crew of Richard Parslow / Will Heritage and Goncalo Ribeiro only took the championship on the last beat of the last race. In that race they had moved from well back in the fleet to eventual first place, snatching the title from Andy Beadsworth (Marco Pocci / Ben Cornish (sailing under the HKG sail number of Marco)) who for most of the last race had the destiny of the title in his own hands.
These two were head and shoulders above the rest of the 19 boat fleet, Smith finishing with six points, Beadsworth with eight while Peter Rogers / Neil Jaffa Harrison and Ben Cooper finished an extremely creditable third overall but with a rather distant 20 points in total.
It was a very high scoring regatta with only the first two boats able to show any consistency. In fact only three boats in the whole fleet managed to stay in single figures all regatta.
Lawrie Smith is the 2018 British Etchells National Champion, just reward for his hard work over the past couple of years since joining fleet and another title on the CV of one of Britain's top boat racers while Ante Razmilovic took the Corinthian title. -- Laurence Mead
Top five
1. Alfie, Lawrie Smith / Goncalo Ribeiro / Richard Parslow / Will Heritage, GBR, 6.0
2. Les Freaks Sont Chics/ Bon Vivant, Andy Beadsworth / Marco Pocci / Ben Cornish, HKG, 8.0
3. HIGHLIFE, Peter Rogers / Neil Harrison / Ben Cooper, GBR, 20.0
4. Northern Havoc, Grant Simmer / Iain Murray / Steve Jarvin, AUS, 22.0
5. Exabyte 7, Shaun Frohlich / David Bedford / Duncan Truswell, GBR, 27.0
Top five, Corinthian
1. Swedish Blue, Ante Razmilovic / Brian Hammersley / Andrew Mills, GBR, 32.0
2. ICE, Andrew Cooper / Mike Greville / Harry Frith, GBR, 38.0
3. Stampede, Rob Goddard / Sam Penhaul Smith / Jack Muldon / Suen Williams, GBR, 44.0
4. Sumo, Midge Watkins / Anna Watkins / Phoebe Connellan / Patrick Bray, GBR, 48.0
5 Escape, Stephen Line / Titus Treneman / Quentin Bes-Green, GBR, 48.0
Full results: yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=4852
Discover the Yacht Racing Forum programme and speakers list
The leading annual conference for the business of sailing and yacht racing will take place in Lorient, Brittany (France), on October 22-23.
The programme and speakers list are now ready (although not complete yet) and confirm that the Forum is THE place to be for any corporation or individual active commercially into the sport.
The Forum 2018 will focus on the sports' hottest topics. The leading professional classes and events will be represented, alongside popular events, yacht clubs and venues.
Held alongside the « Business & Marketing » conference, the Design & Technology Symposium will present the latest technological developments, innovations and discuss the future of our sport.
The speakers list is quite exceptional. Some of Frances' sailing legends such as Armel Le Cleac'h, Loick Peyron or Francois Gabart will be present alongside a fine selection of the sports' most dynamic actors from all over the world including Martin Wadhams, chairman RS Sailing, Luca Rizzotti, founder of The Foiling Week, Alistair Dickson, Director of Sport Development, Royal Yacht Association, Gary Jobson, Vice President of World Sailing or Phil Lotz, New York Yacht Club Commodore, Merfyn Owen, Ignacio Mallet or Michel Kermarec.
Personalities from outside the sport of sailing will also bring a different perspective, including Jean-Loup Theirs, from Airbus.
Numerous media representatives have already confirmed their participation, including Andrew Hurst, editor-in-chief of Seahorse Magazine or Andy Rice, as well as several on-board reporters from the Volvo Ocean Race such as Brian Carlin and Martin Keruzore.
Last but not least: the sports' leading brands confirm their ongoing support for the Yacht Racing Forum, including North Sails, Akzo Nobel, Clipper Ventures, Spinlock, Gurit, Zhik, GAC Pindar, OC Sport, Future Fibres and many more.
The gala evening reception will be memorable and will take place in an exceptional setting: the Cite de la Voile Eric Tabarly, entirely privatized for the occasion.
Registration: www.yachtracingforum.com
Norway are seriously considering an America's Cup challenge for Auckland 2021
It's new ground for a proud sailing nation but Christian Loken, 40, and Petter Morland Pedersen, 34, believe the land of vikings has the technology and expertise to have a decent crack at the Auld Mug.
The two Norwegian sailors have had international success with Pederson finishing fourth in the Star class at the 2012 London Olympics, and they have spent the last year investigating whether an America's Cup challenge is feasible.
Their conclusion is positive and they already have some investors backing them but are in search of more.
"We are giving it full gas. We will win the America's Cup with Norwegian technology and Norwegian heads," Loken boldly told Norway's business newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv.
They claim Norway's marine technology puts them in a strong position.
"The actual sailing is only a small part of the project and it is not even certain that we will finally be in the boat when the initial competitions start in the autumn of 2019. Our goal is that this will be a showcase for the latest in Norwegian technology, research and maritime industries," Pederson said.
When Emirates Team New Zealand announced the class rule around the new 75-foot foiling monohull, the fledging syndicate were even more excited.
Race record and photo finish in the 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar
Generally match races last around 20 minutes and there is a clear winner. In the 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar 2018 there was a 10 hour long heavyweight maxi bout for line honours between Nicola Paoleschi's Laurie Davidson 69 Pendragon VI and Miguel Matias Galluccio's Reichel-Pugh 86 Vera, the former winner of line honours in three of the last four races, the latter IRC winner in 2016 when she was Pier Luigi Loro Piana's My Song.
Vera led on the water at the mark off Marina di Pisa and then extended down the 55 mile fetch to the Giraglia rock off north Corsica. However soon after, at around 2200 CEST, the dark blue maxi fell into a wind hole and parked. This enabled Pendragon VI to catch up and for the next 90 miles to the finish off Punta Ala, the two maxis remained in contact. At 0730 this morning, as they rounded the last mark of the course at Scoglio dello Sparviero, Pendragon VI had not only drawn level but was holding 'rights' in the right as the two boats came together for a cross within metres of the line. This caused her fourth line honours win, by just 15 seconds.
Sailing with a largely amateur crew, Florence-based Paoleschi was also proud to have set a new race record for the 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar of 15 hours 30 minutes and 45 seconds, breaking the 16 hours 25 minutes and 23 seconds record set by set by Claudio Uberti's Ourdream in the 2011 race: "We set the first record with Sagamore, but that was beaten in the second year by Ourdream. So this year we have won 'our' record back."
Vera's star crew arrived beaming, even if she was out of place. Alessandra Sensini is a household name in Italy, having won four windsurfing Olympic medals including gold at Sydney 2000. Since retiring after London 2012, Sensini has taken up desk jobs with the Italian Olympic Committee and Sailing Federation, and not ventured afloat: "After London 2012 I was tired and I started working, but I called a friend of mine who said he was doing the 151 Miglia and I said '...maybe I'll come too!' The race is really cool - plus my city, Grosseto, is nearby."
Another boat-on-boat race that started off Marina di Pisa yesterday afternoon took place astern between event founder Roberto Lacorte on his Vismara 62CR SuperNikka and Carlo A. Puri Negri's Farr 70 Atalanta II. SuperNikka held a small lead rounding Giraglia but then on two occasions around Elba SuperNikka got stuck less than her rival, resulting in her 16 minute real time lead at Formiche di Grosseto, the most southerly mark of the course. Sadly they were becalmed just short of the Scoglio dello Sparviero turning mark, off Punta Ala. This enabling Atlanta II to close, but ultimately SuperNikka finished 11 minutes 25 seconds ahead (just over five minutes under IRC).
Owner Carlo A. Puri Negri observed that it had been largely a 'soldier's race' – all fetching/reaching, little beating/running. "When you go to Giraglia often you are upwind, but this was more downwind and straight line with the Code 0, trying to go fast. I prefer it when there is more tactics and you have more opportunities." However he was pleased how quickly they had finished. "In past races I have never arrived this early. I said to my wife 'I'll see you on Saturday' but I had to call her back and tell her 'I'll see you on Friday!'"
For Puri Negri competing in the 151 Miglia-Trofeo Cetilar is part of his challenge to win the International Maxi Association's 2017-18 Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge, of which this is the third event. To maximise Atalanta II's chances he intends to compete in four or the series' five events (the best three count).
Ultimately Vera claimed the maxi boat IRC prize for boats of more than 60ft LOA, finishing on corrected some 22 minutes ahead of second placed SuperNikka with Atalanta II third and Pendragon VI fourth.
Another close battle in the maxi boat fleet was between the two Mylius 65 sisterships Aldo Parisotto's Oscar3 and Walter Caldonazzi's Magic Rocket-Itas Assicurazioni Rovereto, as was the case at last month's Rolex Capri Sailing Week. These two boats finished just over two minutes apart under IRC corrected time. --James Boyd / www.sailingintelligence.com
For more information on the International Maxi Association visit www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
A Wall of improvement
For a class declared as having 'passed' as recently as 2012 the TP52 seems to be doing rather well...
Although I see myself as a butler running a complicated house, some see me as a saviour and others as just lucky when it comes to my work as manager of the TP52 class.
For sure it is easier to look good in your profession when things go well. Then again, to be tested at times helps to become better at the job. Since being declared dead by most in the industry in 2012 when we were down to four boats, the remarkable resurrection now known as the 52 Super Series, built upon three owners deciding to set up a new series when the MedCup faltered, has since attracted about 20 owners. From 2014 to 2018 it was the motivation behind the construction of 20 new TP52s.
Confidence is back, as 52 Super Series experienced in her recently launched Technical Partners programme – chalking up names like Quantum Sails, North Sails, Southern Spars, King Marine, Longitud Cero and Botín Partners. Their contribution allows live TV links between races for interviews and race summaries. Some new 2018 boats still need to be launched but what I see so far makes me extremely happy to be part of this household.
Full article in the June issue of Seahorse: www.seahorsemagazine.com
2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) has released the Notice of Race for the 2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – and already 8 yachts have registered to enter what is arguably the world's toughest offshore racing challenge.
The 2017 edition of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, in which Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant's LDV Comanche claimed the Line Honours title in record time of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds with Matt Allen's Ichi Ban taking out the coveted Tattersall Cup was a race to remember. And the 2018 race looks set to capture even more headlines across the country and around the world.
The 2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is set to be another great race with estimates of more than 90 yachts lining up at the start on iconic Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day. With many super-maxi yachts including Comanche, Wild Oats XI, Scallywag, InfoTrack and Black Jack expected to enter, the race for Line Honours will be fierce.
The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was first conducted in 1945, with the 74th edition in 2018, and is a genuine blue water classic. The race takes competitors 628 nautical miles down the east Australian coast, through the unpredictable and potentially treacherous Bass Strait, up the Derwent River and finishing in the Tasmanian capital of Hobart at Constitution Dock.
The Notice of Race release comes just days before the PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race, sets sail from Sydney Harbour when it commences on Saturday 2 June. It is the first time the race has been staged in 25 years.
Entries for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race close at 1700 hours on 26 October 2018, with the Notice of Race and entry forms available from the official Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race website.
41st Three Peaks Yacht Race
The annual Three Peaks Yacht Race takes place from 17.00 on June 9th starting in Barmouth, where 8 teams will gather to tackle one of the worlds oldest and most prestigious adventure races.
The race is now in its 41st year, and was inspired by the climbing and sailing exploits of Barmouth resident Major H.W. Tilman. The race takes combined teams of runners and sailors up the beautiful and treacherous West Coast to Fort William, with the runners going ashore along the way to scale the highest peaks in Wales, England and Scotland.
The sailing distance is around 389 miles and the hazards of the passage include sand bars, the passage of the rocky Menai Strait, numerous tidal gates, and shallow harbour entrances, and there is even a whirlpool to beware of! It is demanding coastal sailing to challenge any skipper and crew and the weather could be anything from gales to calms, during which teams man the oars. (This year the Wild Spirit team are planning on using pedal power as well as oars if it is calm.)
For the runners the challenge is to run up and down Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis from the coast. They will be on the mountains in the dark some of the time and will cover 72 miles of running and 14,000 feet of climbing, plus 26 miles of cycling in the Lake District. They may also have to row a yacht, learn to sail and cope with seasickness and a lack of sleep before they even set foot on land!
This year's teams include some very experienced 3 Peaks racers. The Skipper of the Jeanneau 40 'Wild Spirit' is Paul Jackson, who has raced 3 times before and been on the winning boat, and he has once again team up with runner Stuart Walker, a former 'King of the Mountains' winner.
Also returning is Team Ajax, who won the prestigious 'Tilman Cup' for all round performance last year (by putting 4 of the team on a summit). The J109 is belongs to the Royal Armoured Corps Yacht Club and their participation continues a long history of military teams taking part, often with great success. Only one of last year's prize-winning team is racing this year (Alasdair Coombe) and the team have one of only two female racers taking part this year, Kirsty Chambers. (The other is Caroline Mattock on the Smithers Purslow team in the Challenge class.)
For the first in many years there is an all-Irish boat and team racing. Team Digital Built Consultants are racing in a Beneteau First 34.7 skippered by Steve Hayes and they are one of several teams raising money for charity (for a hospice which is local to them). Another fundraising team are Smithers Purslow, who all work the same building surveyors company which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. They aim to raise £40k for several over the year and their entry is part of that campaign.
Featured Brokerage
1993 Swan 68-004 Explotadot. 1,300,000 Located in Barcelona, Spain.
Swan 68-004 Explotadot was originally launched in 1993 as ‘Solleone’ for the chairman of Nautor’s Swan. She was the first Swan 68 to feature four guest cabins with a galley forward arrangement, allowing greater separation from guests and crew.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Giorgio Passarella
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com
-----------------------------------------
2993 Swan 70-003 Blue Pearl. 1,500,000 EUR. Located in La Spezia, Italy.
Blue Pearl is the third Swan 70 and was delivered in 2003. Until 2006, the boat was stored ashore and unused while her original owners built a larger Swan yacht. Sold to her current owner in mid 2006, she was set up for a mutli-purpose program of competitive racing and comfortable cruising.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Nautor's Swan Brokerage - Jeremy Peek
Tel. +377 97 97 95 07
nautorswanbrokerage.com
-----------------------------------------
1998 Elliot 1850 Schooner - ZINDABAR. 545,000 GBP. Located in Bay of Islands, NZ.
Greg Elliot is a legend in the Southern Hemisphere where his fast, lean and utilitarian yachts are perfect for making fast passages through the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean. They are superb seaboats and there design and execution is simple and robust. ZINDABAR is a good example of his craft and has been substantially updated in this ownership. A big refit in 2009 has been followed by a number of smaller upgrades to ensure that she remains ocean ready.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Ben Cooper
+44 (0) 1590 679 222
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
Genius could be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way, or even to say a simple thing in a simpler way. -- Charles Bukowski
Editorial and letter submissions to
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html