Brought to you by Boats.com Europe, Yachtworld.com Europe, 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 The Apprentice Turns Master If the spectators expected the relative newcomer to the ISAF World Match Racing Tour to be apprehensive after a disappointing opening day, he did not show it. As the thermally-induced Maloja wind rushed in, the young Frenchman exhibited some deft moves on the water, leading Minoprio around mark one by three lengths and eventually extending his lead all the way to the finish. Iehl looked every bit a champion in the making today. His next fight was against another super-tough opponent, Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, currently ranked second in the Tour. Mirsky gained the initial advantage, but Iehl read the subtleties of the wind to perfection, building what proved to be an insurmountable 10-length lead at the first mark. With two victories under his belt Iehl was unstoppable, even by the might of triple Olympian and America's Cup sailor Francesco Bruni (ITA) AZZURRA. At the start the French team gained the favourable lee bow position and led the accomplished Italian round all three laps of the course. With seven teams advancing to the next stage, three are confirmed as having made the quarter finals, but another six - including some veteran stars - are still in the hunt for the remaining four places. Results after Day 2 of the St. Moritz Match Race: Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar: 7-1 You can follow the live blog at www.wmrt.com from 1 to 5 September from 11.00am until racing finishes at approximately 18.00 Wright and Trujillo Battle For Supremacy The big winds and close competition is also proving something of a hit on the internet with more than 9,000 internet users enjoying the live video stream provided by SailGroove this week. This can be watched this through the event website at www.finngoldcup.com with full commentary during the racing and shore interviews before and after racing. The website also includes all the in-depth regatta reports as well as a Twitter feed sponsored by MotionX by FullPower with comments, mark roundings and latest updates for those unable - or without the time - to watch the live streaming. For the first time in more years than anyone can remember there is a substantial entry from Australia. An unprecedented eight Australians are competing this week, which is a reflection on the huge growth currently underway in the Australian Finn fleet. As is often the case, the growth comes down to the enthusiasm drive and commitment of one person, in the case an ex-pat British Finn sailor, Rob McMillan (AUS). McMillan, a three time British National Champion in the Finn is currently lying in 45th position after a 33 and 23 today, his best results so far this week. The final two qualification races are scheduled for Friday before Saturday's medal race. The top five boats have created a 32 point cushion over the rest of the fleet, with just eight points separating the next five boats. Both Wright and Trujillo have a high score they will want to avoid counting so Friday's two races will be crucial for both of them. Results after 8 races: 1. Edward Wright, GBR, 16 points www.finnclass.org Slingsby Extends As Laser Worlds Heads Into Final Phase Overall leader Tom Slingsby carries forward his consistent momentum into the critical six race Finals phase of the Laser World Championships buoyed by his fourth race win and a fifth from the last day of Qualifying heats in Hayling Bay off Hayling Island. The 159 competitors racing on the last day of the group stages could find little to fault with the sparkling English summer weather conditions as another day of sunshine, moderate 8-11 knots mainly E'ly and SE'ly breezes was complemented by a worthwhile swell to offer the downwind specialists the chance to shine. But even if the winds looked ideal, appearances were deceptive as at least two of the top four sailors sailed their discards on this last qualifying day. While Australia's Slingsby retained his run of form, as did Kiwi Andrew Maloney who with today's 3,4, promoted himself from seventh this morning to qualify in fourth, on equal points with third placed compatriot Michael Bullot, world champion Paul Goodison confessed later to a couple of 'schoolboy errors' in the first race, contributing to his 14th and hit the windward mark in the second race when he finished fifth. The Skandia Team GBR sailor, who is Olympic and defending World Champion, goes forward to the three days of Finals in second 14 points, behind Slingsby. And Bullot, runner-up to champion Goodison last year in Halifax, returned ashore scratching his head after having had to recover more than 30 places in his first race to earn his third. But his powers of recovery deserted him in the second heat of the day and he, too, sailed his discard race on the eve of the Finals. After their rest day today the Junior World Championships resume their Qualifying with two scheduled races Friday before their four race Finals commence Saturday. Provisional Standings after 8 of 8 Qualifying Races, one discard. 1. Tom Slingsby, AUS, 20 points www.laserworlds2010.co.uk Olympic Legend Flies Into The Lead Following Wednesday's layday, today was the first of the second round/final series with racing getting underway on time at 1100 local for the Men and Women's Gold fleets in good breeze and sun, following a windless, overcast start to the morning. While some of the top players in the Women's fleet had high scores today including Poland's Maja Dziarnowska, France's Charline Picon, past leader China's Sasa Sun, Sensini posted a valuable 3-1. In the Men's RS:X class, the Netherland's Dorian van Rijsselberge continues to lead, although such is the level of competition that a 12th in today's first race (non-discardable as he was black flagged in race one of the series) has allowed second placed Pole Piotr Myszka to close to within three points of him. Tomorrow, final series racing continues with the Men and Women's Gold fleets setting sail at 1100 local time. Sailmaker and windsurfing legend Neil Pryde, also the creator of the RS:X class, arrived in Kerteminde today from his home in Hong Kong, to take in the World Championship. At present Pryde has much to discuss in terms of new boards. The RS:1 is due to go into production imminently. According to Pryde it is designed to be "an intermediate board, a stepping stone into the RS:X, little less expensive, more popular in design and style. The family resemblance is similar. It will still be a very good performing board and probably a little lighter than the RS:X we have today. Our aim is to create a second tier international windsurfing class." Further down the track, Pryde also hopes to introduce a new lighter version of the RS:X for use at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. The new board, at present without a name, will be 3kg or 20% lighter than the present board. worldwindsurfingchampionships2010.rsxclass.com Job Offer at Quantum Sails Tortola Individual must be organized, must have good communicational skills and most of all must have a strong sail making back ground. Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron Enter The GOR The duo's racing CV is an impressive register of grand prix offshore events: Mabire has 33 years and more than 300,000 miles of offshore racing experience with five Whitbread Round the World Races, 32 transatlantic races including The Artemis Transat and OSTAR with victories in the Quebec - St. Malo and Twostar and extensive Solitaire du Figaro participation. Merron's track record is similarly impressive with solo, double-handed and fully-crewed races including the Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Route du Nouveau Monde, Volvo Ocean Race and a Jules Verne Trophy attempt on the catamaran Royal Sun Alliance. Most recently, Merron won the 2008 Class40 Championship and last year she took seventh place in the double-handed Solidaire du Chocolat on Class40 40 Degrees and also broke the Round Britain and Ireland record on Dee Caffari's IMOCA Open 60 Aviva. While the team's passion for offshore racing is clear, their approach to the campaign is unique. Mabire and Merron's choice of a Pogo S2 is the second Finot-Conq Design Class40 to enter the GOR following the launch in mid-June of Groupe Picoty - the yacht of the President of the Class40 Association, Jacques Fournier, and his co-skipper, Jean-Edouard Criquioche. The duo will take delivery of the hull, deck and interior structure of their Class40 during the fourth week in September at their boatyard in Barneville-Carteret, 30 miles south of Cherbourg. However, construction of the keel, rudders, rig and the entire fitting-out of the yacht will be undertaken by Mabire and Merron. View the 15 updated GOR teams here: Rodriguez & Hall Continue Winning Ways Lake Erie served up another stellar day of wind and slight chop challenging the sailors to stay powered up for the long windward-leeward courses. A moderate 8-12 knots was seen on the course. Rodriguez and Hall could be found rounding the first weather mark near the top and then using their speed and tactics to edge out the win or 2nd place finish. Their only loss today was to Augie Diaz and Kathleen Tocke of the US. Brazilians Rafael Gagliotti and Andre Urbina were on the march today with a second and what seemed to be a race win, but an OCS and a deep last race have pushed them back. Day one leader Alexandre Tinoco and Gabriel Borges of Brazil found their groove back and moved up to sit 3rd overall. The forecast for tomorrow may have some rain and significantly more wind for the final race and a second discard countered in may mix up the standings behind Rodriguez/Hall. For more information, go to: www.buffalocanoeclub.com Phoenicia Makes Landfall In Gibraltar Whilst in Gibraltar Phoenicia is being supported and hosted by Ocean Village Marina ( www.gibraltarberths.com ) which is providing a fantastic base for the expedition over the next 5 days. Expedition Leader Philip Beale and the 10 international crew members will enjoy an eventful stay in port which will include re-stocking the ship with fresh supplies, welcoming new crew onboard and a days filming with the BBC before setting off to continue the expedition across the Mediterranean. * This is just one part of a voyage that began in Syria in August 2008. Phoenicia then sailed through the Suez Canal before reaching the Republic of Yemen at the foot of the Red Sea in January 2009. Phase two began in August 2009 when she was launched once more to continue around the Horn of Africa, down the east coast, passing through the challenging Cape of Good Hope and back up the west coast en route to the Straits of Gibraltar. -- Gibraltar Chronicle, www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=19875 Bissaro/Cesari Dominate F18 Italian Nationals Invest in your performance. Les Voiles De Saint Tropez Among the largest craft, including the gigantic masts of the J classes, Shamrock V and Velsheda, we will be able to see the highly elegant silhouette of the ketch that holds the Atlantic record under sail, Mari Cha III. Not as long but just as aesthetically pleasing, the Tofinou 9.50 from the Latitude 46 yard, which blends classic lines with a modern hull, carbon fittings and a teak deck, will be out in force with over 15 participating boats. Such a line-up that will enable them to enjoy a specific ranking and race in elapsed time. Also much awaited at Les Voiles de Saint Tropez are Black Bird and Black Legend, two examples of the brand new "code zero" built by the Blackpepper yard in the Arcachon basin with the participation of the renowned sailor Yves Parlier. With the honour going to the old boats, it's Partridge who will this year steal the thunder from the largest traditional craft by celebrating her 125th birthday with grace and elegance. With her plumb bow, her massive bowsprit and her beautiful extended counter stern, Partridge is a small copy of Galatea, the English America's Cup challenger in 1886. Recovered from a mud berth, her restoration took nearly twenty years of passion and determination to rediscover her original sailing capabilities and the charm of her characteristic outline. Added to this, the 2010 event is likely to see the arrival on Saint Tropez' race zone of Atlantic, the replica of Charlie Barr's famous 70 m schooner. From the moment she was launched in the United States in 1903, the yacht from the New York Yacht Club was noted for her striking beauty and speed, which she demonstrated during her first sea trials by reaching 20 knots. At that time nobody could have guessed that, just two years later, she would set a record for traversing the North Atlantic which was to remain unbeaten for nearly a century. The replica of Atlantic was launched in March 2009 at the Van Der Graaf yard in Holland, after a two year build, before being rigged in La Rochelle. This year will mark her very first season in the Mediterranean. All the traditional yachts measuring over 16 metres will, for the fifth year running, be eligible for the Rolex Trophy, which was won in 2008 and 2009 by the very elegant New York 40, Rowdy. Ellen Macarthur Foundation The Ellen MacArthur Foundation was launched today to an audience of industry leaders at the Science Museum in London. The move is part of a very different journey for MacArthur, who became a sporting legend in 2001 after finishing second in the Vendee Globe solo, non-stop round the world race and again in 2005 as the fastest person to sail single- handedly around the world by providing a framework for change through inspirational content, education programmes and communication. www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org Featured Brokerage his remarkable ketch has been successfully racing and cruising, accommodating a small crew and guests in luxury. Equipped with a extensive set of sails and deck equipment she is a lightning fast vessel, also in light winds due to her displacement of only 13.500kg. She is equipped with a wing keel designed by Ben Lexcen, famous for the America Cup winner Australia II. The large saloon is air conditioned and offers plenty of room for guest and crew. Navigation is done with a perfect view from the deckhouse. In 2006 and 2007 she underwent a complete refit, including replacement of her engine. The electrical system has been replaced in 2009. Now seriously for sale is a sail-away state. Brokerage through Tulip Yachts: www.yachtworld.com/tulipyachts/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at The Last Word |
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