In This Issue
• Monaco Swan One Design
• Torrential Montenegro Conditions for 44Cup
• 21st Jersey Regatta
• Oman Air and Zoulou to compete on enlarged 2019 GC32 Racing Tour
• Great British Sailing Challenge: Weston Grand Slam
• Royal Thames YC sailing office vacancy
• Storage Tips for Your Yacht in the Tropics
• Giant IMOCA 60 turn-out for 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race
• Towards an Eco-friendly Regatta
• Featured Brokerage
• The Last Word: R. U. Sirius
Brought to you by Seahorse magazine and YachtScoring.com EuroSail News 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
Monaco Swan One Design
2019 Monaco Swan One Design opened today with a single race. The Yacht Club de Monaco Race Committee, led by Ariane Mainemare, managing the sole opportunity presented by today’s less than promising conditions. The racing proved close across the three classes. The top guns were: Dmitry Rybolovlev’s Skorpios in ClubSwan 50, Luis Senis’ Porron IX in Swan 45 and Lorenzo Mondo’s Far Star in ClubSwan 42. In The Nations Trophy standings, Italy leads from Switzerland and Russia.
A long wait looked in store as the crews gathered at their boats in front of the magnificent YCM clubhouse. The Race Committee were more optimistic than the outlook, taking to the water on time and not holding the teams onshore. The decision was rewarded with the breeze establishing itself sufficiently around midday. The first race was underway at 12.20, with the ClubSwan 50s setting off ahead of the combined Swan 45 and ClubSwan 42 fleet. The 5.7 nautical mile, four-leg course was raced in a maximum of 10-12 knots of easterly.
As part of The Nations Trophy Mediterranean League’s sustainability drive, during the Owner’s Dinner, hosted by investment firm, Banor Capital Ltd, and to be held at the Yacht Club de Monaco on Friday evening, an auction will be held in support of Marevivo. Items have been donated by a number of Nautor’s Swan’s friends and partners, including SEASE, Ferrari, the photographer Carlo Borlenghi, Salvatore Ferragamo, the stylist Marta Farre, Andy Bianchedi and Resort Baia Scarlino. All funds raised will go towards Marevivo’s activities in protecting the oceans.
Racing at the Monaco Swan One Design continues tomorrow, 11 April, with the first signal scheduled for 11.00 CEST.
Torrential Montenegro Conditions for 44Cup
While the forecasts had looked glum and windless, the Bay of Kotor somehow allowed PRO Peter Reggio and the race committee successfully to lay on two races on the opening day of the 44Cup Porto Montenegro.
Having been delayed for an hour and a half tied up to the dock off the Regent Porto Montenegro hotel, several teams headed out into the lake-like bay, not expecting to race, but to practice on the winds ahead of a squall line. Ultimately this southwesterly breeze held, albeit backing severely, for one race before dying on the final run. An hour later, a solid southerly filled in just long enough for PRO Peter Reggio to pull the rabbit out of the hat again, despite the tops of the surrounding mountains being obscured by low cloud and the rain turning torrential.
After two races, the PRO sensed his luck was running out and sent the boats in. Despite the major shifts, the leaderboard is remarkably close after day one with Team CEEREF a mere point ahead of Team Nika with Peninsula Petroleum a further two astern.
Racing is due to start tomorrow for day two of the 44Cup Porto Montenegro at 1130.
44Cup Porto Montenegro results (After 2 races)
1. Team CEEREF, Igor Lah, SLO, 4 points
2. Team Nika - Vladimir Prosikhin, RUS, 5
3. Peninsula Petroleum - John Bassadone, GBR, 7
4. Team Aqua - Chris Bake, GBR, 10
5. Charisma - Nico Poons, MON, 10
6. Tavatuy Sailing Team - Pavel Kuznetsov, RUS, 11
7. Bronenosec - V. Liubomirov & K. Frolov, RUS, 14
8. Artemis Racing - Torbjorn Tornqvist, SWE, 14
9. Aleph Racing - Hugues Lepic, FRA, 15
21st Jersey Regatta
As ever, the Regatta is open to local and visiting boats, alike, with racing for sportsboat, cruiser/racer, Quarter Ton, dayboat, dinghy, sport catamaran and windsurfer classes. The 6th Spinlock IRC CI Regional Championship is included in the programme and will, undoubtedly, be a major attraction for the cruiser/racer fleet.
The Regatta gets under way on the Thursday evening with an ice-breaking reception and skippers’ briefing. A distance race for the sportsboat and cruiser/racer classes opens the programme on Friday whilst Saturday and Sunday feature back-to-back racing with boats competing over distance, round-the-cans and/or Olympic-type courses. The ‘small boat’ classes race separately over Olympic-type courses in the beautiful confines of St Aubin’s Bay. Trophies and prizes are awarded for each day and overall prizes are awarded for the best boats in each class.
Jersey Marinas will be providing complimentary berthing whilst Condor Ferries is offering discounted fares for those wishing to transport their boats to the Island for the event.
The closing date for entries is 29th August but why not take advantage of the attractively low entry fees that are made even more enticing with an ‘early bird’ fee for those entering no later than 12th August. The Notice of Race and entry form are available on the Regatta website, www.jerseyregatta.com.
For further information, please contact the Regatta office, , or call 00 44 (0)1534 732229.
Oman Air and Zoulou to compete on enlarged 2019 GC32 Racing Tour
One of the oldest and most successful Extreme Sailing Series teams is set to be among the ten boats jockeying to win the GC32 Racing Tours’ 2019 season.
Team Oman Air supported by EFG Private Bank Monaco will compete on the five event GC32 Racing Tour with two new crewmen. Returning are the team’s British project manager, mainsail trimmer and tactician Peter Greenhalgh, together with Kiwi headsail trimmer Stewart Dodson and long standing crewman Nasser Al Mashari, in charge of board control. They are joined by Adam Piggott from the UK, who is foil trimmer having previously sailed on a variety of GC32 teams, including Pierre Casiraghi’s Malizia - Yacht Club de Monaco and Red Bull Sailing Team in 2017.
Recruited as helmsman is New Zealander Adam Minoprio. In 2000 Minoprio became the youngest ever Match Racing World Champion and he has since sailed two Volvo Ocean Races and been part of the Luna Rossa and Groupama Team France America’s Cup challenges.
But Minoprio is also one of the most experienced and successful GC32 helmsmen. He was steering when SAP Exteme Sailing Team won the Extreme Sailing Series in 2017 and finished third last year. The season before he had claimed several events on the GC32 Racing Tour standing in for Franck Cammas on NORAUTO, after a winter when the French America’s Cup team was training daily on GC32s. In fact Minoprio won the very first GC32 event back in May 2013.
Having come second in the GC32 Racing Tour’s owner-driver championship in 2018 and finish third on the overall podium, France’s Erik Maris returns with his Zoulou team. He has retained the same crew, once again led by America’s Cup veteran Thierry Fouchier and including several who were part of Franck Cammas’ last French challenge for the America’s Cup - Thomas le Breton, Bruno Mourniac from the French Youth AC crew and bowman and GC32 veteran, Nicolas Heintz.
2019 GC32 Racing Tour schedule
22.-26 May: GC32 Villasimius Cup / Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy
26-30 June: GC32 World Championship / Lagos, Portugal
31 July-4 August: 38 Copa del Rey MAPFRE / Palma de Mallorca, Spain
11-15 September: GC32 Riva Cup / Riva del Garda, Italy
6-10 Nov: TBA
Great British Sailing Challenge: Weston Grand Slam
The Great British Sailing Challenge moves to the south coast of England for the Weston Grand Slam where boats as diverse as Toppers and foiling Nacra 20 Carbons are set to race each other...
As part of the Great British Sailing Challenge, there are some small changes to the setup of what has already proven a very popular and successful event over the years. As a preview to the average lap handicap racing on the Saturday and Sunday, on Good Friday there is a chance to race against the clock in the Rooster Time Trials. Using GPS trackers provided by SailRacer, the race course will be open between 12.00 and 15.00, where you will be timed over as many laps as you wish to race, with the winner decided on the best average lap, adjusted to dynamic handicap according to the wind conditions experienced. Rooster have provided some great prizes for the top 3 and winners across GBSC divisions, with class prizes for those with three or more boats competing.
For the Saturday and Sunday, there will be three back-to-back races per day with the racing run under the tried-and-tested Great Lakes handicap numbers. Competition at the front will be tough, with the likes of catamaran superstar Grant Piggott likely to be leading the charge. Other previous category winners at the Grand Slam in the dinghy classes are Steve and Sarah Cockerill who won in a 4000 a couple of years back but are likely to show up in their RS400, Andrew Rawson in the Laser and a host of Contender stars including the local legend Keith Paul. As well as the category winners, there will be an overall winner for the first time.
With Rooster Sailing providing the prizes for Good Friday, the local watersports specialist retailer Andark are sponsoring the prizes on the Saturday and Sunday.
GBSC Calendar - Remaining events in 2018 / 2019 series
Weston Grand Slam - 19-21 April 2019
Derwent Dambuster, Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club - 11 & 12 May 2019
Wilsonian River Challenge, Wilsonian Sailing Club - 1 & 2 June 2019
Bala Long Distance, Bala Sailing Club - 22 & 23 June 2019
Mountbatten Centre, Plymouth - 8 to 10 August 2019
Ullswater Ultimate, Ullswater Yacht Club - 17 & 18 August 2019
Grand Finals, Rutland Water Sailing Club - 28 & 29 September 2019
Royal Thames YC sailing office vacancy
The role is fast paced and varied managing sailing events both in Cowes and at Queen Mary reservoir and also at the Clubhouse in Knightsbridge. The candidate should have a background in event management and a knowledge and interest of sailing. Some weekend and evening work will be required for which time in lieu will be granted.
Interested candidates should send a CV and cover letter with current salary to
Storage Tips for Your Yacht in the Tropics
As summer approaches in the Caribbean, many sailors are looking for the answer to the age-old question of what to do with their boat in the hurricane season.
After the disasters of 2017, most sailors think they know what NOT to do with their boat. When compared to the time and depreciation cost of sailing to the US or Europe, it may become an option to store your boat within the Caribbean. There are lots of things to think about beforehand, and quite a few things you can do to your vessel to reduce the effects of summer storage in the tropics.
First thing is to check the coverage of your insurance company for the location you are considering.
Surprisingly enough, coverage is still available for named storms within the hurricane belt. If your current insurance policy does not cover you adequately, ask the boatyard or other cruisers, as there are companies that do insure year round in the tropics. Don’t forget that the definitions of the ‘hurricane belt’ and ‘hurricane season’ are somewhat defined by the insurance companies, and are no guarantee of safety or risk.
Six more tips from Glenn Harman at All At Sea: www.allatsea.net
Giant IMOCA 60 turn-out for 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race
One of the largest fleets of IMOCA 60s ever gathered is due to set off on the Rolex Fastnet Race on Saturday, 3rd August. 29 of the boats, best known for their use in the Vendee Globe singlehanded non-stop round the world race, will assemble on the Cowes start line of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's premier event to take part in the biennial voyage to Plymouth via the Fastnet Rock - 26 competing in the IMOCA class, another three in the main IRC fleet.
This line-up is the third biggest in IMOCA history, after the 2016-17 and 2008-09 Vendee Globes, and is due to the Rolex Fastnet Race being a qualifier for the next Vendee Globe.
The IMOCA class is also now under the microscope internationally after its selection as one of the two classes for the next Ocean Race (ex-Volvo Ocean Race).
Eight new foilers are set to be on the start line of next year's Vendee Globe. Two are currently entered in the Rolex Fastnet Race - Jeremie Beyou's Charal, launched last year, and Sebastien Simon's Arkea-Paprec, a brand new design from Juan Kouyoumdjian, launching this June. Simon, winner of last year's La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro, will be sailing with 2004-05 Vendee Globe winner Vincent Riou, who also won the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2015 aboard PRB. (PRB is also competing, but with new skipper Kevin Escoffier, who sailed Dongfeng Racing Team to victory in the last Volvo Ocean Race, alongside Jeremie Beyou).
Among the older foil-assisted boats are Bureau Vallee 2, formerly the 2016 Vendee Globe winner Banque Populaire, now skippered by Louis Burton. German skipper Boris Herrmann returns with Malizia (ex-Edmond de Rothschild), which he sailed to third place in the last Rolex Fastnet Race. Italian ex-Mini sailor Giancarlo Pedote has acquired the former St Michel Virbac previously campaigned by Jean-Pierre Dick and Yann Eliès.
Britain's Sam Davies is back on Initiatives Coeur (originally Michel Desjoyeaux's 2008-9 Vendee Globe winner Foncia), having taken over this campaign from Tanguy de Lamotte, with whom she claimed fourth place in the last Rolex Fastnet Race. This time Davies is sailing with Paul Meilhat, winner of last year's Route du Rhum and the last Rolex Fastnet Race.
Having sold their 2016-17 Vendee Globe winning IMOCA 60 to Louis Burton, Banque Populaire is back in the class having acquired the former MACIF/SMA, originally Francois Gabart's 2012-13 Vendee Globe winner. For their latest programme they have recruited 29-year-old Clarisse Cremer, following her second place in the 2017 Mini-Transat La Boulangère's Series class. On board for the Fastnet race with Cremer will be the team's principal skipper, 2016-17 Vendee Globe winner Armel le Cleac'h, as he awaits the launch of his new replacement Ultime maxi-trimaran.
Miranda Merron makes a welcome return to the IMOCA 60 after a long tenure in the Class40 with her latest Campagne de France - the former Temenos/Great American IV.
Other female skippers competing are Ireland's Joan Mulloy, on Mike Golding's former Gamesa, France's Alexia Barrier on 4myplanet and Franco-German skipper Isabelle Joschke on MACSF.
Towards an Eco-friendly Regatta
For its 10th edition and building upon the great work from the Collectivity of St. Barth with the Assises de l’Environnement (Environment Symposium), which took place on the island last December, the organizers of Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille are committed to make the event as clean, ethical and eco-friendly as possible.
Thanks to the support of the 11th Hour Racing organization, the Sailor for the Sea association and the Agence Territoriale de l’Environnement de Saint-Barthelemy, Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille has put in place various environmental actions. Moving towards zero plastic requires its use to be limited as far as possible, whilst favoring reusable or recyclable equipment. One example is that the event has replaced disposable cups with eco cups, eliminated drinking straws and plastic bags, and will exclusively use biodegradable materials.
In association with their partner Caisse d’Epargne CEPAC, the organizers of Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille are offering a series of conferences throughout the week for schoolchildren from the island’s primary schools, with 5 students from the ENS, the INSA and the OceaSciences association, who will be presenting their Exploragyr project, a year-long yacht-based scientific adventure with an ecological vocation.
In fact, their research focuses on microplastics. For now, no antidote has been found and the latter is concentrated at the heart of the gyre, a large circular marine current. Their aim is to provide crucial knowledge in the struggle to combat plastic pollution in the marine environment, as well as share it with the widest possible audience, and children in particular.
www.lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com/us
Featured Brokerage
GLOBE – Ex Bagages Superior, winner of the 1992 Vendee Globe, 2nd in the Transat Jacques Vabre 1993 and 2nd in the Route du Rhum 1994 with skipper Alain Gauthier.
Ex Legal le Gout, 4th in the Vendee Globe 1997 with skipper Eric Dumont.
Ex UUDS, 10th in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2001 and 8th in the Route du Rhum 2002 with skipper Miranda Merron.
Ex Operon, 2nd in the Velux 5 Oceans Race 2011 with Zbigniew Gutkowski.
She is a great Open Imoca 60 type monohull. She is ideal to win next Ostar Race.
She is well equipped: canting keel, carbon mast, central water ballast for upwind sailing and twin rudders.
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Very special one-owner full custom Baltic 60 in full carbon/epoxy Nomex sandwich construction with fantastic performance cruise/race inventory and extremely versatile interior layout.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
GRABAU INTERNATIONAL
Lead broker - Alex Grabau
Tel: +44 (0)1590 673715
Email:
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SEARGENT RECKLESS is a beautifully built Tripp design that was originally known as BELLA PITA. Three very nice cabins, huge main salon, large galley and states of the art Navigation area. On deck, large rig with roller furling for cruising or put her in full race mode with the race sails.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
William Jenkins
Thoroughbred Yacht Sales
410 267 9419
410 353 7862
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
The rise of the Net and the Web represents a victory for the counterculture and the subculture. The next generation, raised on the Net as their primary medium, won't even know what consensus reality is. -- R. U. Sirius
Editorial and letter submissions to
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