In This Issue
IRC European Championship
2018 J/70 European Championships
Argentario Sailing Week Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge
Giraglia Rolex 2018 - A Fine Day Of Wind For The Last Day In Saint Tropez
America's Cup: Sardinian team clarifies Challenge status
Winners declared at 28th Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta
Kiel Week record: More than 1.900 boats registered
Eight Bells for Stephen J. Pavlidis, a Prolific Cruising Author
Featured Brokerage
The Last Word: Jimi Hendrix
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
IRC European Championship
A third light, tricky day with strong tides at the Royal Ocean Racing Club's IRC Europeans and Commodores' Cup saw a lengthy round the cans course in the central Solent just completed before the wind shut down. After a wait, the skies darkened, the temperature plummeted as a southeasterly wind filled in, lasting just long enough for a singleton windward-leeward to be held for the three classes.
A powerful flood tide off Osborne Bay, pushing boats down towards the pin presented some novel problems along the start line of today's first race. In the starts for each of the three classes, boats were called over early. In IRC One Robert Bicket's Club Swan 42 Fargo was OCS, but remarkably went on to win the complex course, criss-crossing the central-eastern Solent on different points of sail, in varying tidal states.
Fargo's victory in race one came at Ino XXX's expense. "We thought we'd won the first race until the wind disappeared 100m from the line and everyone else came in with new breeze," observed owner James Neville. However he and the crew of his HH42 were compensated by winning today's second race, ahead of Mike Bartholomew's higher-rated Tokoloshe II. "We are having a good few days," Neville continued. "We just need more wind, but Stuart [Childerley - PRO] has done a good job keeping things on the road." Nonetheless, the immaculately consistent Tokoloshe II continues to lead IRC One with no scores lower than second, leaving her five points clear of Andy Williams' Keronimo, with Ino XXX third.
While the First 40s were in the chocolates yesterday, the King 40s fought back in IRC Two today. A 3-3 for Nifty propelled Roger Bowden's team back into the lead, while the Blair family's Cobra managed a convincing win in today's first race, but bombed in the second, leaving her fourth. However the day belonged to Scots Rod Stuart and Bill Ram on their Corby 37 Aurora, which posted a 2-1 elevating her to second in class, three points astern of Nifty.
As in IRC One, the final tight reach back towards the Isle of Wight into even lighter airs compressed the fleet.
IRC Three is developing into a two horse race between Michael Mollmann's X-37 Hansen and Didier Le Moal's J/112e J Lance 12. Today definitely belonged to the French who won both races. They now lead, one point ahead of the Danes who posted a 3-2 today.
Jean-Eudes Renier's JPK 1080 Shaitan, chartered to Scottish adventurer Jock Wishart was second in today's first race, but, showing a lack of consistency typical across this fleet thanks to the awkward conditions, was eighth in race two.
In the Commodores' Cup, Jock Wishart's Celtic Team managed to build itself a cushion on day three of the competition and is now 19 points in front of Kings High, comprising the two King 40s, Nifty and Cobra, plus Mike Bridge's Elan 37 Elaine racing in IRC Three. This was despite the Celtic Team's Shaitan along with her team mates, the First 40 Adventurer and Andrew Williams' Ker 40 Keronimo all experiencing mixed results today.
A change of schedule for the remaining four days of the IRC European Championship and Commodores' Cup was announced this evening, with the offshore race, originally due to take place over Wednesday-Thursday now replaced by a race around the Isle of Wight on Thursday. This race was started yesterday, but abandoned due to light wind.
Fortunately good breeze is forecast from tomorrow afternoon for the remainder of the week, with the strongest set to coincide with the rescheduled lap of the Isle of Wight. Inshore races will take place on the remaining days.
Commodores' Cup standings:
1. Celtic Team, 43 points
2. Kings High, 62
3. Team Orange, 67
4. GBR - RORC, 75
5. Haribo, 77
6. Brex-In, 78
www.rorc.org/racing/race-results/2018-results
Commodores' Cup: www.rorc.org/raceresults/2018/rccovos.html
2018 J/70 European Championships
Day One of the 2018 J/70 European Championships was blessed with sparkling conditions in Ria de Vigo. A brisk northerly breeze piped up to 18 knots with a metre sea state providing thrilling downwind conditions. Highly competitive starts, with solid traffic at mark roundings, made for high octane racing of the highest calibre. Three races were held for the 69 boat fleet, with three different winners. Krzysztof Krempec's "EWA" (POL), Alberto Rossi's "Enfant Terrible" (ITA), and Paolo Tomsic's Società Nautica Grignano (ITA). Luis Bugallo's "Marnatura" (ESP), representing the Real Club Nautico de Vigo, was the top Corinthian J/70.
Peter Duncan's "Relative Obscurity" (USA) came back from a bad start in the last race to get up to fourth, which really made the difference, the reigning J/70 World Champion was a happy man after his first taste of action in Vigo.
"It was gorgeous sailing out there today, a beautiful body of water, very exciting with 69 boats on the start line. The race committee did a good job, which is not easy with that many boats. I have always thought that Europeans sail J/70s well, and they showed that today. It was really close, if you made a mistake, you paid for it." - Peter Duncan.
Alberto Rossi's "Enfant Terrible" (ITA) scored a 3-1-11 to finish the day in second place. The former Farr40 and TP52 World Champion was full of praise for the J/70 Class.
"It was tough racing today, the level continues to increase in the class, with the top 30 boats all capable of winning races. Even with a split start line, a lot of boats tend to go for the favoured side, and if you don't get a good start and hold your lane, you can easily end up with a bad result. We did make a few mistakes, but we are happy with our results." - Alberto Rossi.
The 2018 J/70 European Championships continues tomorrow, Wednesday 13 June. Three races are scheduled, with similar awesome conditions predicted for the international fleet. -- Louay Habib
Argentario Sailing Week Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge
43 Grandes Dames from 11 nations ready to race 4 days in Tuscany with 9 yachts debuting (13-17 June)
Final countdown to the 19th edition of Argentario Sailing Week kicking off on Thursday 13 June and wrapping up on Sunday 17 June 2018, which features four days of racing on the crystal blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea with the islands of Giglio, Montecristo and Elba providing a stunning backdrop.
The regatta continues to increase in popularity with 9 yachts debuting in #argentariosailingweek; and Porto Santo Stefano is ready to welcome over 40 classic yachts from 11 nations participating in the event organized by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano in partnership with the Florentine haute horologerie brand Officine Panerai.
The history of yachting from 1899 - with lovely Tigris designed by Alfred Mylne, to 2013 - with spirit of tradition Hanni II, will be docked in Porto Santo Stefano and offer sailing and beauty enthusiasts alike the opportunity of admiring these majestic grand dames of the sea up close. All participating yachts, designers and stories are described on FB Argentario Sailing Week
Social Events - Welcome cocktail YCSS (13), Crew Dinner hosted at 18th Century Spanish Fortress overlooking the Argentario Bay (15), Oysters & Prosecco (16) and Prize Giving Ceremony & Farewell Cocktail (17 June). Prizes - Overall winners in the Classic, Vintage, Big Boat and Spirit of Tradition classes shall receive an Officine Panerai timepiece.
Info: /www.facebook.com/ArgentarioSailingWeek - www.argentariosailingweek.it/ - www.ycss.it Twitter: /twitter.com/ArgSailWk - #argentariosailingweek#PCYC#sailing#classicyachts
Giraglia Rolex 2018 - A Fine Day Of Wind For The Last Day In Saint Tropez
Perfect conditions for the last day of coastal racing. The French part of the Rolex Giraglia ends today with the prizegiving this evening and the great Rolex party on the Ponche beach
From the racecourses of the beach of Pampelonne: the Maxi 72 Cannonball was the winner in Class 0. Magic Carpet Cubed in the Wally 100, Cuordileone in the ClubSwan 50 and Porron IX for the Swan 45. Here now are the results from the groups in the coastal races:
IRC A: : TP 52 - Alizee- Laurent Camprubi (2,1)
IRC B: J 109 - Chestress- Giorgio Anserini (2,1)
ORC A: Swan 42 - Selene-Alifax- Massimo De Campo (4,1)
ORC B: X 35 - Foxy Lady- Giuseppe Gambaro (2,1)
The start gun is at midday tomorrow. 222 yachts will head out for the Giraglia rock and then sail back to Genoa.
America's Cup: Sardinian team clarifies Challenge status
A spokesman for Sardinia Challenge has clarified claims in a media statement issued by the team last Wednesday.
Superyacht magazine publisher, Colin Squire, who is based in Suffolk, England says a miscommunication within the team led him to the impression that the Challenge had been accepted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
Instead, Squire claims that the team have been in contact with the RNZYS and have been told verbally that if they submit a Challenge by the June 30 deadline, "it will be accepted".
"I was under the impression when I wrote the media statement that the Challenge had been accepted, and it is now apparent that I had misinterpreted the conversation [with team head Renato Azara in Sardinia]. It's awful - I would never in a million years send out something that I knew to be incorrect, but it appears that Renato has been given the verbal assurance that when he submits the Challenge at the end of the month, which he is aiming to do, they [presumably RNZYS] will accept it. That was a misinterpretation on my behalf, it came about through a language issue."
"He has been four or five months trying to get the Challenge together, and we can only sit and wait."
Although he has run many stories over the years on the America's Cup, Squire says he has never been involved in the Challenge process and wasn't aware of the strict procedure involved where a notice of challenge is issued, the defending club receives it, puts it through a vetting process and then decides if it complies with the Deed of Gift and Protocol and whether or not it will be accepted.
A key point will be whether the yacht club meets the validity tests in the Protocol and Deed of Gift and in particular if it holds an annual regatta on an arm of the sea. -- RIchard Gladwell
/www.sail-world.com/news/206408
Winners declared at 28th Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta
The three-day six-race 28th Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta on Port Phillip in Melbourne wrapped up today when the final two races decided the outcome of two open divisions and the S80 Division, the best five results counting in the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS), hosted regatta.
A wider range of conditions would be hard to find - extremely light and shifty on Day 1, shifty moderate winds on Day 2, while the final day produced moderate winds that developed to 18 knots plus, with bullets up to 28 knots towards the end of the final race, testing everyone.
Madonna Derks came into the day leading Division 1 with the J/70 Spike, and finished that way, despite her worst race of the Championship - an eighth in Race 5. She won within a whisker, as the Adams 10 Salamander III, steered by Monica Jones, moved up to second place following a pair of third places in the final two races, to finish one point behind. Last year's AMS Division 1 winner, Elyse Guevara (NSW), rounded out the top three, after helming the Adams 10 Cruiser, Scarlet Runner to fifth and 10th places.
However, none of the top three won either of the final two races. Those honours when to crew Claire Heenan (NSW), aboard the Adams 10 Jungle Juice in Race 5, while Mary Ann Harvey's South Australian crew won Race 6 with the Bavaria 40 Cruiser, School's Out.
Division 2 was won by Jack Tar, the S80 skippered by Deb Parker (Vic). Her crew maintained second place throughout and came into the final day tied on points with the leader, but second on countback. Jack Tar won Race 5, but was 13th in Race 6, which was used as a drop.
The scratch series for the S80s went to Maria Ferrario and her 'Escape' crew from the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club in New Zealand. A crew skippered by the Argentinean born Ferrario finished second overall in the S80 at last year's Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta.
The AWKR also contains some special awards as follows:
Novice Helm - The person must not have helmed regularly for more than 12 months and their first time helming at the regatta. It was awarded to Christine Pfeiffer from Take Five
Most improved - Bon Vivant
Sportsmanship - Rose of Wyndham (They had right of way on the final day, but gave way to Spike because they didn't want to slow down someone who could potentially win the regatta.)
Rohan Brownlee Leadership and Endeavour Award - Karen Koedyk, who came over from Perth to helm for a novice skipper who didn't want to helm herself (Rebecca Irwin from Espresso). She also loaned her ownS80 to the crew from RFBYC so they could practice before coming over.
Best Performed Owner/Skipper - Monica Jones - Salamander III
Full results and all information can be found at: /www.awkr.com.au
Kiel Week record: More than 1.900 boats registered
Kiel Week once more offers the whole spectrum of the sailing sport from 16. until 24. June. Moorings are reaching their capacity limits.
More than 4000 active sailors want to prove their abilities in Kiel. The Olympic classes are set up with international and top-level sailors. Above all the teams from overseas, from countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the USA also use Kiel as a general trial for the Worlds in Aarhus taking place five weeks later. For the German National Team it is in the end about qualifying to participate in Denmark. With the World Championship of the Laser Radial Men, the Eurosaf European Para Sailing Championship, the big boat regatta "Aalregatta", the worldwide first event of the Women's Campions League and the start of the Nord Stream Race, Kiel Week again has many high-level sailing events on the program agenda in its 136. year.
More than 4,000 regatta participants, 1900 boats, more than 400 starts, active sailors from about 60 nations, 42 classes/disciplines, ten race courses on nine days - those are the numbers of the Kiel Week 2018, where 3.5 million visitors are expected, among them 400,000 visiting the sailing games in Kiel Schilksee.
The innovations in the surroundings and ashore also fit to this huge event which is happening on the water during the Kiel Week. The new RFID system (radio frequency identification) will provide more safety. Each crew checks out, when going on the water, and checks in, when they are back ashore. And the cooperation with the new supporter Remonds will improve the sustainability. No straws, waste separation, fast degradable coffee cups and on-site information about waste avoidance are the first steps this year.
Kiel Week Schedule (16. until 24. June)
Part 1 (16.-19. June):
29er (Euro Cup, 18 races), 505er, Albin Expreß, Contender, Europe, FD, Folkeboot, Formula 18, Hobie 16, J/24, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial (Open), OK-Jolle (alle 11 races).
Part 2 (20./21.-24. June):
Olympic classes (20.- 24. June/EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup /10 races + Medal Race): Laser Std. Männer, Laser Rad. Frauen, 470er Frauen, 470er Männer, Finn (+ masters), 49er Männer, 49erFX Frauen, Nacra 17 Mixed. Eurosaf Para Sailing EC (20.-24. June/10 races): Hansa 303, 2.4mR (Open, with extra-EC-ranking) International classes (21. - 24. June/11 WF): 420er, J/70, J/80, Melges 24. Laser Rad. WC of the man (20.-24. June).
Offshore (16.- 23. June)
Aalregatta (16./17. June), without measurement (Yardstick) and Rendezvous of the Classics. Welcome Race (16./17. June): ORC Club I-IV, Albin Ballad, Multihull. ORC Baltic Pre Worlds (Kiel-Cup/18.-20. June/9 races): ORCi I-IV + IRC/group ranking. Senatspreis (21. June): ORC Club I-IV
Silbernes Band (22./23. June): ORC Club I-IV
North Stream Race (24. June): Club Swan 50
/www.kieler-woche.de/en/index.php
Eight Bells for Stephen J. Pavlidis, a Prolific Cruising Author 
Stephen J. Pavlidis, one of America's top cruising guide authors, died May 29, 2018, in Covington, Georgia, after a long period of failing health. He was 65. "Steve was one of the hardest-working individuals I have ever known," said his publisher and close friend, Joseph F. Janson of Seaworthy Publications. "Even as his health was failing he continued to work on projects and co-authored a new book, The Captain's Guide to Hurricane Holes, published in 2018. He had a brilliant mind and was that unique combination of writer and cartographer in one person."
Pavlidis lived aboard his stout 40-foot sailboat IV Play beginning in 1989 and continued living aboard for much of his life, a period just shy of 30 years. He cruised the Bahamas and Caribbean for much of that time, researching and writing more than a dozen cruising guides. His guides covered the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, the Northwest Caribbean including the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Guatemala and the Río Dulce River, as well as Honduras and the Bay Islands. His guides have long been described as some of the best available references for cruising the Bahamas and Caribbean. According to Janson, "Steve personally sailed to and visited each place he wrote about, and he created over 500 detailed charts for his guides. Seaworthy Publications is committed to keeping Steve's guides up to date just as Steve always did his best to ensure. Steve was more than a good writer researcher-he was my friend. He will be sorely missed." -- Milt Baker
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The Last Word
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