In This Issue
• Spindrift starts Jules Verne Record Attempt
• A new eighth IMOCA under construction
• Marlow Shares Sustainability & Ropecare Lessons At Boot, Dusseldorf 2019
• Panerai is the Official Sponsor of Luna Rossa
• Nab Tower Pursuit
• Bigger fleet, rebrand and two new venues for the RC44s in 2019
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• British Marine responds to Brexit vote
• Sir Robin Knox-Johnston To Kickstart 50Th Anniversary At Boot Dusseldorf
• Featured Brokerage
• The Last Word: Sam Ervin
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
Spindrift starts Jules Verne Record Attempt
Yann Guichard and his crew started their world tour at Ushant today, Wednesday, January 16 at 11h 47min 27sec UTC. To win the Jules Verne Trophy they have to recross the line by February 26 at 11h 16m 57sec UTC to break the record, held since 2017 by Francis Joyon and his crew, of 40 days 23h 30m 30s.
The weather conditions were favourable at the Creac'h lighthouse, which marks one end of the start and finish line of the Jules Verne Trophy course, the round the world sailing record via the three Capes. A southwesterly breeze of 20 knots and calm seas allowed the giant black and gold trimaran to head quickly towards a front off Ushant and pick a good system from the north-west. It is these strong winds that Spindrift 2 will be able to pick up to take them quickly down to Madeira, the Canaries and the Cape Verde archipelago.
According to the routing of the team's onshore weather router, Jean-Yves Bernot, the team could reach the equator during the night of Sunday to Monday, January 21, after less than five days at sea. Once over this imaginary line between the two hemispheres, Yann Guichard and his crew must continue to speed on, with the aim of crossing the longitude at the Cape of Good Hope in about twelve days. This challenge is very possible as Francis Joyon and his crew reached the African cape in 12d 21h 22m.
By adding all the best reference times since the first attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy in 1993, the crewed world tour from Ushant to Ushant could potentially be completed in 38 days.
The first stretch towards the equator looks very favourable, but it is still too early to anticipate what follows. If a depression moves away from Brazil during the passage off Salvador de Bahia, the weather configuration could allow the team more options to sail more directly towards the South without having to go around the St. Helena anticyclone.
Afterwards it will be the depressions to the south, their trajectories, north-south positioning and speed that will determine if the Indian Ocean can be crossed in less than 5d 21h 08m and the Pacific in less than 7d 21h 13m.
The Jules Verne Trophy:
Start and finish: a line between Creac'h lighthouse (Isle of Ushant) and Lizard Point (England)
Course: non-stop around-the-world tour travelling without outside assistance via the three capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn))
Minimum distance: 21,600 nautical miles (40,000 kilometres))
Ratification: World Sailing Speed Record Council, www.sailspeedrecords.com)
Time to beat: 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds)
Average speed: 22,84 knots
Date of current record: January 2017
Holder: IDEC Sport, Francis Joyon and a 5-man crew
Start date for Spindrift 2: 16 January 2019 at 11h 47min 27sec UTC
A new eighth IMOCA under construction
There will be at least eight IMOCA of the last generation at the start of the Vendée Globe 2020! The latest announcement came from Nicolas Troussel, who will launch in about a year "Corum l'Epargne", a Kouyoumdjian plan with foils. Double winner of the Solitaire du Figaro and a Transat AG2R in double with Armel Le Cléac'h, the Morlaisian concretizes a long-standing dream by integrating the IMOCA circuit and engaging in the solo and nonstop world tour.
Corum was your partner in Class40 last year. How did you manage to convince this sponsor to join the IMOCA circuit, despite your abandonment on the Route du Rhum?
"The bosses of Corum wanted to check that sailing is a good vector of communication to increase its notoriety. The project in Class40 enabled them to measure the media impact of a sailing project. The 2018 season has been positive with successful RP operations and good results in prep races. The Route du Rhum unfortunately ended earlier than expected, but they have taken into account that sailing is a mechanical sport and that the breakage is part of the game They also understood that to make a name in the world of offshore racing, we must be part of continuity. The project in IMOCA went up very quickly, between the end of the Route du Rhum and the holidays. "
You will have a new IMOCA. For the Vendée Globe 2020, four architects are on the ranks. Why did you choose Juan Kouyoumdjian?
"We've looked at all the options, including buying a good used boat. Safran and Hugo Boss was still on the market. But we wanted to have a boat still competitive until the end of the project, in 2022. We therefore focused on the construction of a new IMOCA, which also allows to secure the selection in the Vendée Globe. We studied the different possibilities and finally decided to work with Juan Kouyoumdjian. I had already had contacts with him, we get along well and he is ready to put a lot of energy into winning the Vendée Globe."
Full interview: www.imoca.org
Marlow Shares Sustainability & Ropecare Lessons At Boot, Dusseldorf 2019
This year, Marlow are encouraging visitors to develop their sailing knowledge with aninteractive Technical and Innovation zone on Stand 11D25, opposite German Distributor Gotthardt. Here, visitors can try various knots, test which ropes work best in cleats, spot rope fatigue and lifetime indicators and learn about Marlow's technical innovations included in their Grand Prix range; used by the US & UK America's Cup Teams, Maxi World Champions MOMO and the top three winners of the TP52 Super Series. Splicing workshops and ropecare advice will be scheduled at 11am, 2pm and 4.30 pm daily.
Marlow will also be taking part in the Re-Fit Hall 11 speaker's programme every day during the BOOT Show at the following times to give practical rope care advice suitable for every sailor.
19th January: 16.15 - 16.30
20th January: 10.45 - 11.00
21st January: 15.45 - 16.00
22nd January: 11.30 - 11.45
25th January: 10.45 - 11.00
26th January: 16.00 - 16.15
27th January: 16.00 - 16.15
In addition, the UK rope manufacturer will be showcasing their new eco-conscious Blue Ocean Dockline for the first time to the international Boat Show audience, and they'll be introducing it on the 'Love Your Oceans stage' in Hall 3 at the following times. Come along to find out more about their new sustainable product made from 100% recycled plastic.
25th January: 16.45
27th January: 13.45
Panerai is the Official Sponsor of Luna Rossa
An exciting new Italian story associated with the sea, with excellence and with technical innovation is taking place thanks to the partnership between Panerai and Luna Rossa, Challenger of Record of the 36th edition of the America's Cup.
The agreement, signed by Panerai's CEO Jean-Marc Pontroue and Patrizio Bertelli, President of Luna Rossa and CEO of the Prada Group - title sponsor of Luna Rossa together with Pirelli - provides that Panerai will be the Official Sponsor of Luna Rossa. Panerai will create a series of watches directly inspired by the technologies and materials used in the America's Cup, which is the oldest sports competition in the modern world, but also one of the more advanced in terms of research and innovation.
The new Panerai Luna Rossa watches, perfect instruments for life at sea, will be worn by the members of the Luna Rossa Sailing Team headed by Massimiliano "Max" Sirena - who has already won the America's Cup twice - and by many sailing enthusiasts who are eagerly awaiting the America's Cup World Series, the preliminary races which will precede the final in New Zealand in 2021.
The first watch inspired by the partnership between Panerai and the Challenger of Record of the 36th America's Cup is the SUBMERSIBLE LUNA ROSSA, a diving watch water-resistant to a depth of 300 metres (30 bar) with a case made of carbotech, the innovative material based on carbon fibre introduced into the world of high quality watchmaking by Panerai.
Nab Tower Pursuit
The Nab Tower Pursuit, Gosport Marine Scene's annual charity pursuit event for sailing yachts of all different shapes and sizes, will take place on Saturday 15 June, 2019. It's open to all; full details of the event and conditions of entry are available online at https://gosportmarinescene.com/events/nab-tower-pursuit-2019
The Nab Tower Pursuit is always a memorable day out on the water. The course takes the fleet out to round the Nab Tower and back to finish around Fort Gilkicker, at the eastern end of Stokes Bay. The event is rounded off with a prize giving and celebratory barbecue hosted at the Hornet Services Sailing Club, Haslar Creek.
This charitable event has raised over £18,000 in the past three years. 100% of the entry fee goes directly to funding Marine Futures which aims to fund 10 young Gosport people each year to experience the fun and challenges of sailing 60-foot sail training yacht, SY Discovery. While skippers can choose which charity to raise money for, Gosport Marine Scene encourages support of Marine Futures as it also provides young people a chance to experience the local Gosport marine industry. To date, 18 young Gosport people have benefited from this experience, of which four have now taken up employment in local marine businesses.
More information about the Nab Tower Pursuit is online at www.gosportmarinescene.com (Pursuit), including an entry form.
Bigger fleet, rebrand and two new venues for the RC44s in 2019
For its thirteenth season, the RC44 Championship Tour has been given a makeover and has been rechristened the 44Cup with a more modern logo in carbon black and neon yellow.
Frequently at this stage of their lives one design classes get superseded, often wrongly. However a strong, enthusiastic group of owners including Bake, 2018 circuit winner Nico Poons, reigning World Champion Vladimir Prosikhin, plus Artemis Racing's Torbjörn Törnqvist, Team CEEREF's Igor Lah, Peninsula Petroleum's John Bassadone, Bronenosec Sailing Team's Vladimir Liubomirov and Kirill Frolov, Aleph Racing's Hugues Lepic, among others, remain staunchly committed to both the 44Cup and the Russell Coutts inspired one design yacht they still very much enjoy racing on it. For this season they will be joined by new boat Tavatuy Sailing Team.
For the first time the circuit will visit the country at the opposite end of former Yugoslavia from Slovenia - Montenegro. Taking place over the second week of April, the 44Cup Porto Montenegro will be hosted by the world-renowned superyacht marina.
Porto Montenegro is situated in Tivat on the Bay of Kotor, virtually landlocked from the sea. Its setting is spectacular, nestled between mountains and vast fjords to Venetian hamlets and untouched parks. Home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Montenegro is firmly on the ascent as a tourist destination.
The fifth and final event of the 2019 44Cup will take place in a venue that is extremely well known in the yacht racing community, but where, surprisingly, the RC44s will be making their debut - Palma de Majorca, Spain.
44Cup Events Schedule 2019
44Cup Porto Montenegro - Montenegro - April 10 to 14
Adris 44Cup - Croatia - May 29 to June 2
44Cup Marstrand - Sweden - July 9 to 13
44Cup Cascais - Portugal - October 2 to 6
44Cup Palma - Spain - Nov 13 to 17
Seahorse January 2019
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Update
First came the CFD (or at least first came all the pretty pictures) and then came the simulation - with Emirates Team New Zealand leading the way - and now comes the simulator. Plus the remarkable Dr Stuart Walker, breaking an Ultime from one who knows, first days with the Mule and ‘going back to San Francisco’. Jack Griffin, Adrian Thompson, Malcolm Page, Terry Hutchinson, Dobbs Davis
Unprecedented
Remarkable as it is the 2018 Route du Rhum marked the first time in recent memory that Francois Gabart lost a major ocean race. But losing to Francis Joyon can sometimes feel like an honour... as he tells James Boyd
Going native
Another Imoca, yes, but the new Charal signifies a wholesale change in design philosophy. Paolo Manganelli and Katia Merle
Man and dog
Peter Harken
Watching the show Places to be (and not to be). Rob Weiland
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British Marine responds to Brexit vote
Following UK Parliament's overwhelming rejection of the EU Withdrawal Agreement yesterday, industry association British Marine today responded to the outcome of the vote.
Commenting on the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, Lesley Robinson, CEO at British Marine, says: "Like many industries up and down the UK, we do not support the idea of the UK leaving the EU in a 'No Deal' scenario. It is vitally important that our members have stability for their businesses while the UK and EU negotiate the details on the future relationship.
"There are still many unanswered concerns for our industry, like the future of VAT Paid Status on vessels already placed on the market in the EU. It is crucial that we have answers on these issues and time to implement the solutions."
British Marine is calling on all members of UK Parliament to put aside their political differences and work together to find a plan that offers security to UK marine businesses and protects jobs, growth and investment.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston To Kickstart 50Th Anniversary At Boot Dusseldorf
One of Sir Robin's legacies has been to make sailing accessible. By founding the Clipper Race, the biggest round the world yacht race, now in its twelfth edition, some 5,000 non-professional crew members from all walks of life achieve the remarkable.
Chris Kobusch, Clipper 2017-18 Race Skipper, originally from Herford, Germany, is fresh from leading the Qingdao Clipper Race team to a place on the the overall podium. Chris will be speaking on Friday 25 January at 16:30 (UTC+1) on the Sailing Stage in Hall 15.
Clipper Race At Boot Dusseldorf - Hall 15 A03
Sailing Stage Hall 15 Schedule:
Monday 21 January - 14:30 - Sir Robin Knox-Johnston 50th Anniversary talk
Tuesday 22 January - 12:30 - Della Parsons, Clipper Race Crew Recruitment Director, Clipper Race talk
Thursday 24 January - 15:30 - Della Parsons, Clipper Race Crew Recruitment Director, Clipper Race talk
Friday 25 January - 16:30 - Former Clipper Race Skipper Chris Kobusch talk
Saturday 26 January - 12:00 - La Course de Leur Vie film showing
Sunday 27 January - 15:30 - Della Parsons and Chris Kobusch talk
Clipper Race Stand
Monday 21 January - 15:00 - 15:45 - Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Meet and Greet - PUBLIC
All week - Drop by the Clipper Race stand Hall 15 A03 to meet former Clipper Race crew and find out what it takes to embark on the race of your life.
clipper-ventures.com
www.clipperroundtheworld.com
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The Last Word
The President seems to extend executive privilege way out past the atmosphere. What he says is executive privilege is nothing but executive poppycock. -- Sam Ervin
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