In This Issue
• Dragon World title goes down to the last day
• Tornado World Championship
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• John Merricks Sailing Trust Invites Applications for Ian Atkins Keelboat Award
• Tom Cunliffe and HMS Medusa
• 12ft Skiff Interdominion
• 2019: an unprecedented boom for the IMOCA class
• Industry News
• Featured Brokerage
• The Last Word: Gilbert Gottfried
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
Dragon World title goes down to the last day
Fremantle, Western AustraliaL At the start of the penultimate day of the 2019 Dragon World Championship in Fremantle, the top 6 boats were separated by 6 points. After two more races today the current world champions, Provezza sit just 3 points ahead of Louise Racing with Fever one point adrift in third.
The first race of the day was scheduled for 1200 noon but the afternoon sea breeze was a bit slow to materialise to its full potential. The highly experi-enced PRO John 'JT' Taylor knows the waters in this part of the world better than anyone so he patiently waited for the breeze to establish. Under a slightly eery skyline with a lot of 'Alto Cirrus' clouds signifying a front was due, racing got going on the second attempt under black flag.
A two lap windward/leeward course was set on an axis of 215 degrees. Peter Gilmour's Yanmar Racing got an absolute corker of a start towards the committee boat end with the majority of the favourites spread along the line. The temperamental breeze pulsated between 16 - 18 knots with the odd gust of 20kts.
Klaus Diederichs just managed to push his nose across the finish line in front of Yanmar Racing to gain a handy point going into the final day of racing. Grant Gordon slipped to fourth leaving his Louise Racing team trailing Provezza by 3 points with one final race remaining. Anatoly Loginov, Vadim Stratsenko and Alexander Shalagin finished 6th to keep them in the mix on the final day.
Some special performances today include Matthew Whitnall from Sydney sailing Akula with WA Dragon Class President, Steven Cole and Christian Brook as crew. They sailed a blinder finishing 8th and 7th, clearly their best performances of the regatta.
Going in to the final day of racing only one race remains to decide the title. The top three boats are still only 4 points apart and any slip ups could be fa-tal. The final race is scheduled for an earliest warning signal at 1100hrs.
The 2019 Dragon World Championship is sponsored by Tourism WA, Yanmar, Packer & Co and Glenfiddich/Hendricks. -- Jonny Fullerton
Full results: www.sportspage.com.au
www.dragonworldsfremantle2019.com
Tornado World Championship
Those that managed to out shift the shifts were the winners on the day for Races 5 and 6 of the 2019 Tornado World Championships Powered by Candida Stationery. Racing on the waters offshore from Takapuna Beach, the south-westerly caused some frustration amongst the fleet, with the results being blown wide open on Day 3 of offical racing.
The fleet will now take a well deserved break with the lay day planned for Tuesday 8 January. Most of the sailors are heading to Brick Bay Winery for lunch and Kiwi hospitality, while others will be back to the rigging lawn to make vital repairs to their catamarans before the final two days of racing. Four more races on the cards before the champions will be crowned.
Overall After 6 Races
1. Brett Burvill & Max Puttman (AUS)
2. Jorg Steiner & Michael Gloor (SUI)
3. Estela Jentsch & Daniel Brown (GER)
www.tornado-class.org/2019-tornado-worlds-day-3/
Seahorse January 2019
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
How simple is that?
For 30 years very little changed in the measurement of line and rigging loads. But free thinking combined with tidy engineering has delivered a powerful yet simple new solution... one which will allow far more sailors to benefit from this key performance - and safety - input
All-star cast
We all knew it would be good, but hosting the latest Yacht Racing Forum in Lorient - world capital of offshore sailing - was indeed a stroke of genius
And fortunately it works
Eric Hall likes most of what he sees with the new America’s Cup class. But he always would!
Half term report
Aarhus to Enoshima. Andy Rice
Stayin’ alive
Not so obvious. Brian Hancock
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John Merricks Sailing Trust Invites Applications for Ian Atkins Keelboat Award
The John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST), the charity set up in memory of 1996 Olympic Silver medallist John Merricks, is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the first ever Ian Atkins Keelboat Award.
This award has been made possible thanks to the generosity of US company, Dominion Enterprises, owners of the businesses that Ian ran for many years (including the boat sales websites boats.com and YachtWorld) and who wished to recognize his extraordinary career, on his retirement after over 40 years in the marine industry. Ian is also well known as an enthusiastic, active, keelboat sailor with an outstanding record of success in yachting both at home and abroad.
This Award is open to any sailor or sailors, under 25 years old, who require funding to help them transition from dinghies to keelboats. The award will be a bursary of up to £5000 to be awarded to the sailor(s) who most impress the awards panel consisting of Ian Atkins and the JMST Trustees.
The Ian Atkins Keelboat Award winner(s) will be announced at the RYA Dinghy Show on 2 / 3 March at Alexandra Palace, London.
This will be the first of 5 separate bursaries to be awarded annually for the next 5 years. Applications each year will be judged on the track record, commitment, future potential and financial need of the applicants as well as the scope and ambition of the project or program.
Applications should be supported by references and sent by e-mail to . Please include name and age of applicant(s), sailing club, details of the project or program including its goals and predicted impacts, specific financial need, plus any references (inc contact details). Application deadline 15thFebruary.
Tom Cunliffe and HMS Medusa
Alan Watson and the crew of HMS Medusa, a WWII Harbour Defence Launch, show Tom Cunliffe their vessel and explain the unique history of a truly remarkable boat.
12ft Skiff Interdominion
A ship seen by some, but not by others competing in the Your Move Conveyancing 12ft Skiff Interdominion today, played a big part in determining the outcome of Race 5, which in turn affected the overall standings.
The gun Sydney Sailmakers crew of Nick Press/Andrew Hay from Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club won the earlier Race 4, but while leading Race 5, were in a blind spot, only spying a ship at the last minute. Unable to sail their course or get around the ship, the pair was pushed right down the pack, but recovered somewhat.
All agreed conditions were the best of the regatta so far, with a beautiful 15-18 knot nor' easter. "You couldn't ask for better," Press said after two days of trying overcast weather.
Geotherm finished second in Race 4, with the quickly improving Terms & Conditions crew of Brad Phillips/Harry Bethwaite third, then fourth in Race 5.
Terms & Conditions is a new crew who are moving upwards and lead the handicap event. Both have sailed skiffs, but independently.
Phillips says: "We had a slow start, but we only had two training sessions beforehand. We're getting the crew work in order and improving. We just have to point the boat in the right direction. It's a quick boat and we're enjoying sailing together."
Crew, Harry Bethwaite, is the son of former skiff champion and skiff designer (including the Olympic class 49er), Julian Bethwaite.
The Your Move Conveyancing 12ft Skiff Interdominion, supported by Brentnalls NSW, continues on Wednesday from 2.30pm, with two more races planned. -- Di Pearson
For full results and all other information: skiff.org.au
2019: an unprecedented boom for the IMOCA class
The IMOCA class has never experienced such enthusiasm and as 2019 gets underway, it looks like being a very exciting year. At least six new generation IMOCAs will be launched in 2019 and more than thirty boats will be out there racing with in particular the Transat Jacques Vabre (start on 27th October from Le Havre) bringing together a record line-up. Various new projects were recently unveiled and others will follow shortly. It is time for us to take a quick look at the fleet through the expert eyes of Jacques Caraes, the Race Director for the last Route du Rhum and the next Vendee Globe.
Out of the twenty sailors who took part in the Route du Rhum, eighteen are continuing with their project as they make their way towards the Vendee Globe. The only exceptions are Erik Nigon, who is looking for funding and has put his boat up for sale, and Vincent Riou, who has handed over the helm of his PRB to Kevin Escoffier.
British sailors, Pip Hare and Richard Tolkien have respectively bought the former Superbigou and Pindar, the Belgian skipper, Denis Van Weynbergh is now the owner of the former Spirit of Hungary, while the Italian, Giancarlo Pedote will be taking the helm of Yann Elies's IMOCA, Ucar-StMichel. Saint-Malo based Maxime Sorel will be entering the circuit too in 2019 with the former Le Souffle du Nord/Team Ireland. As for Jean Le Cam and Sebastien Destremau, they may well return to the IMOCA class this year… We can see that between eight and ten IMOCAs remain available in the second-hand market, including some that are attracting a lot of attention, like the sought after former Safran and Hugo Boss...
Only one new generation IMOCA has been launched, Jeremie Beyou's Charal. But later this year, at least six other new boats will be launched for Alex Thomson, Charlie Dalin, Sebastien Simon, Armel Tripon, Kojiro Shiraishi and Thomas Ruyant. These IMOCA were designed by four different architects: Juan Kouyoumdjian, Guillaume Verdier, Sam Manuard and the VPLP team.
Two bits of good news were recently announced. The first concerns Isabelle Joschke, who now benefits from the support of MACSF, which is returning to the IMOCA class.
Other big news from late 2018: Vincent Riou will not be lining up for his fifth Vendee Globe and will be handing over the helm of his PRB to Kevin Escoffier. Winner of the last Volvo Ocean Race with Dongfeng, the head of the Banque Populaire research team, Escoffier certainly has a lot of technical knowledge and is a very skilled racer.
Industry News
Navico, parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and C-MAP brands announced today Knut Frostad has joined the management team as executive vice president of digital business and marketing. Frostad brings extensive industry experience, most recently serving as chief executive officer of Volvo Ocean Race. Furthering Navico's commitment to leading the industry in providing a fully connected and integrated vessel, which opens the boating eco-system, Frostad will be responsible for enabling a large set of new services for a full end-to-end experience and creating new business models that will drive more valuable interactions with consumers.
A former professional offshore and Olympic sailor, Frostad assumed the role of CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race in 2008 and brought a wealth of knowledge to the race. Having competed in four editions of the event, as helmsman, watch leader and skipper, as well as raising full sponsorship of all his campaigns, he is also recognized for helping the Race achieve true globalization through the use of a comprehensive digital media platform, onboard reporters and a sophisticated race control center in Spain to bring high-quality content to a worldwide audience.
Born in Harstad, Norway, Frostad has mirrored his successful sailing career in the boardroom. He has a business background in management, has held a number of director and advisor positions within international companies, and has been an active Navico board member since 2005 and a driving force in the company. He is also a renowned motivational speaker.
Volvo Ocean Race's Jordi Neves will also join Navico on January 28th as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President. Highly technical and analytical with a strong focus on marketing, digital transformation, and sustainable business growth, Neves has a proven record of delivering consumer products, omnichannel customer experiences and digital solutions. Neves will lead Navico's brand management and digital marketing, as well as regional sales and trade marketing.
Both Frostad and Neves will be based in Navico's London office.
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Russian billionaire Arkady Rotenberg has officially launched the construction of a major new marina development in the Crimean city of Balaklava in Sevastopol.
The project is being implemented by Rotenberg via his engineering holding, Stroygazmontazh. Also known as the SGM Group, Stroygazmontazh was the general contractor for the building of the Crimean Bridge.
The new marina will be designed to accommodate around 700 yachts, making it one of the largest marinas in Europe.
According to the governor of Sevastopol, Dmitry Ovsyannikov, construction should be completed by the beginning of 2020. By this time, the marina will be have been officially commissioned.
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Elvstrom Sails' earnings before tax more than tripled in the 2017/18 financial year
Danish sail-maker Elvstrom Sails has reported a significant increase in both turnover and profitability during the 2017/18 financial year. According to a company statement, earnings before tax more than tripled to DKK 9.1m against last year's DKK 2.8m.
Elvstrom Sails took over the activities of its sister company, Elvstrom Sails France, in September last year and has since worked intensely on integrating the two companies.
Elvstrom Sails is one of the world's leading sail producers. The company employs more than 100 people spread across its main office in Aabenraa, Denmark, and four subsidiaries in the UK, Norway, Spain and France.
Elvstrom is also represented by more than 50 dealers in Europe, North and South America, and Australia.
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Committed to continuously developing products to improve safety at sea, Ocean Safety is once again bringing innovation to Düsseldorf.
Hosted by SOSTECHNIC, Ocean Safety's leisure German distributor, the company will be bringing the very latest in the Kru range of high performance lifejackets and the newest KIM safety ladder to the show, along with the ever-popular Ocean ISO and Ocean Charter 2.0 liferaft and the Typhoon SUP (Stand up Paddleboard) lifejacket.
Other tried and tested products include the Ocean Safety Jonbuoy man overboard recovery system and the updated range of Jonbuoy products.
Visit Ocean Safety's stand in Hall 12/B35 to speak to our team of safety experts. As well as product advice the team can advise on servicing schedules, winterisation and coding.
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Marine professionals--both yacht and commercial-and non-marine professionals interested in the marine appraisal profession may want to come aboard the legendary Queen Mary to attend the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) Marine Survey course on March 21-23, 2019. Permanently docked in Long Beach, CA, the RMS Queen Mary is a retired British ocean liner that sailed primarily on the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. Currently the opulent 1,109 foot, 81+K ton ship serves as a museum, hotel and restaurant venue.
Lead instructor Norman F. Laskay developed the comprehensive 24 credit hour Marine Survey course. An Accredited Senior Appraiser of commercial marine equipment, Laskay is active with the ASA's International Machinery and Technical Specialties Committee. Laskay is of Counsel at Dufour, Laskay & Strouse, Inc., an organization of worldwide marine appraisers, surveyors and consultants. View Q&A with Norm Laskay here.
In past years ASA's Marine Survey course (ME-208) has been conducted at various locations in the U.S., including in San Francisco, Norfolk, New Orleans and Baltimore--and overseas in Russia and Australia. This is the second time that the course was been offered aboard the Queen Mary.
To register for or find out more about ASA's Marine Survey course (ME208-000) visit: www.appraisers.org. Registration is now open and spaces are limited.
Featured Brokerage
2003 Swan 45 - Elena Nova. 350000 VAT.paid EUR. Located in Italy.
Swan 45 Elena Nova Elena Nova is one of the most successful Swan 45 in the fleet. She became world champion in 2016 and won the Copa del Rey in 2017 in this high competitive one design class. Professionally maintained with no expense spared.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Holger Lehning
Tel.+49 17632154661
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2012 G-Force X-Treme 37. 155000 EUR. Located in Athens, Greece.
Carbon fibre sandwich Cat A (Ocean) Certified 25 knot speed machine is only in her second ownership with an extensive sail wardrobe from 2012/2016/2018, and optional carbon steering wheel, B & G electronics & bowsprit flown asymmetric.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
GRABAU INTERNATIONAL
Lead broker - James McNeil
Tel: +44 (0)7979 907210
Email:
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2007 Farr 100 - LEOPARD 3. 2,950,000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca.
Farr 100 LEOPARD 3 is the ultimate charter yacht. Hugely competitive for line honours racing and a very comfortable charter yacht operating with a very successful package.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Ben Cooper
Telephone: +44(0) 1590 679222
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
There are certain things I don't want to joke about. If it's about somebody else, it's fine. If it's about me, I think it's totally insensitive! -- Gilbert Gottfried
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