In This Issue
• Canfield Completes Line-Up For World Match Racing Tour Final
• Libby Greenhalgh: "Even Now, I Find It Incredibly Hard That We Didn't Find John"
• 21st Jersey Regatta
• Star Western Hemisphere Championship
• Top Ten Beach Bars in the Bahamas
• Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
• The X Factor In Kinsale
• Marion Bermuda Race Book: A Voyage of Discovery
• WASZP Easter Spectacular
• Featured Brokerage
• The Last Word: Richard Daley
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
Canfield Completes Line-Up For World Match Racing Tour Final
Former Match Racing World Champion and co-founder of the 'Stars & Stripes Team USA' America's Cup team, Taylor Canfield, has been confirmed as the twelfth and final skipper for the World Match Racing Tour championship final in Marstrand, Sweden from 3-7 July. Canfield joins a world class line-up of eleven other professional match racing skippers including defending world Champion Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Mirsky Racing Team, and six-time world champion Ian Williams (GBR), Team GAC Pindar.
29yr old Canfield, from St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, has become a formidable name on the professional match racing circuit. A former Match Racing World Champion in 2013, he is a four-time winner of the crimson blazer at Long Beach Yacht Club's Congressional Cup, two-time winner of the Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda, and has won numerous other events on the World Match Racing Tour since his Tour debut in 2011.
In December last year, Canfield was announced as helmsman for the 'Stars & Stripes USA' America's Cup team under the flag of the Long Beach Yacht Club, CA. The team was confirmed as the 5th challenger for the 36th America's Cup in Auckland, New Zealand.
The five-day WMRT Championship Final takes place 3-7 July in Marstrand, Sweden hosted by GKSS Match Cup Sweden. The teams will race on identical M32 carbon fibre multihulls providing close-action racing in front of the tens of thousands of spectators that flock to the picturesque island of Marstrand each year for the event.
Confirmed skippers for the WMRT Championship Final:
Nicklas Dackhammer (SWE) Essiq Racing Team
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar
Yann Guichard (FRA) Spindrift Racing
Harry Price (AUS) Down Under Racing
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Mans Holmberg (SWE) Holmberg Match Racing Team
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
Markus Edegran (USA) Team Torrent
Phil Robertson (NZL) China One Ningbo
Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) Sailing Team NL
Daniel Bjornholt (DEN) Youth Vikings Denmark Taylor Canfield (ISV)
Libby Greenhalgh: "Even Now, I Find It Incredibly Hard That We Didn't Find John"
Two times Volvo Ocean Race navigator Libby Greenhalgh admits she is still in consolidation mode, looking for projects, after a mentally tough race on Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag. She joined the team in Melbourne as a replacement, stepping on board for Leg 4 which they went on to win. She admits she struggles daily trying to come to terms with the loss of John Fisher just over one year ago, but she is quietly determined to move her career on to new levels. A director with the Magenta Project, spun off the Team SCA campaign, now a globally renowned initiative which is doing fantastic work to accelerate the opportunities for women in sailing at all levels. Most recently she was navigator on the Rolex Sydney Hobart all women Ocean Respect alongside many of her Volvo Ocean Race contemporaries. Tip & Shaft caught up with Libby.
Looking back now at your Volvo Races how do you reflect on your performance and that of the different teams?
Well the second race was really one of two halves. It was a very different way to SCA. I felt I came late into SCA, and then very obviously came very very late into Scallywag. Let us just say it was pretty interesting meeting the team the day before and stepping on the boat to be offshore immediately for 20 days. Now when I look back at the races and what I know, even with an SCA and even more with this one I would really struggle to join a programme in the role, or step in at all that late. I think it is a big ask when you are working with a team. It's quite full-on. But, never say never…..When I stepped on we were by no means were we on the speed, so we had to do something different I guess to get results. And it was great to see our first two legs pretty positive and when we were with the teams we could hang with them and at moments we were probably fast-ish. But then I think ultimately after losing John, it was a different game, and a difficult game psychologically for a lot of the team. Meantime everyone probably learned lots from that leg that we didn't. The latter end of the race, others were really moving forwards and getting faster and faster, we weren't. We were kind of staying where we were at. And that punished us - we were slow relatively. It was hard to keep pace with people.
Such a situation, being slow, is especially tough on the navigator?
There is increased pressure on the role. They ask what are we going to do and you've got a choice. Even with SCA we were slow, we were 0.3 of a knot slower on the first leg, 0.1 and then maybe by the end we could match most angles, but we still knew we were incredibly slow under the A3. We knew the moment we put that sail up it was going to be painful for us. I mean I knew that, but whether the rest of the team really fathomed that…….. I think that is the thing, when you are 0.1 of a knot slower it doesn't sound a lot but it is over days that is fricking miles. And then as soon as you are a few miles behind, that is it. You are into something different.
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, jerseyregatta.com
For further information, please contact the Regatta office, , or call 00 44 (0)1534 732229.
Star Western Hemisphere Championship
Sailors and spectators can enjoy the view of the International Star Class Western Hemisphere Championship from Wednesday, May 22 through Saturday, May 25. Nearly 30 Stars are headed to San Diego in less than a month and will be making their way southeast of Point Loma for a four-day series of ocean races.
Since 1934, Star sailors have been competing to earn their colored stars. Last year, first place in the Western Hemisphere Championship went to Skipper Lars Grael and Crew Samuel Goncalves from Brazil, sailed in Miami, FL. This year, the entry list is flush with several local San Diego sailors looking to fight for the silver Star.
There's a rich history of Star sailing local to Southern California and this regatta will have the pleasure of seeing several big names appear on the scoresheet. Mark Reynolds, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, is one of the many excited to get out on the water. "I've sailed in this regatta at least 25 times. I'm not sailing that much these days, but with the regatta at the SDYC, I figured it would be a good chance to get in the boat with Hal Haenel [Olympic crew] again," Reynolds began.
Although it may seem like there's a bias, home-town advantage, the regatta isn't always a SoCal shoe-in. "Even though the San Diego Star fleet can be argued to be the best in the world over the history of the class, I think it took almost 50 years for a local to win the Star Worlds when it was held here," explained Reynolds.
Some of the other prominent Star sailors participating in next month's event include:
Mark Reynolds: Star World Champion (2x) & Olympian (4x)
Brian Ledbetter: Olympian
Paul Cayard: Star World Champion & Olympian
Carl Buchan: Star World Champion & Olympian
Eric Doyle: Star World Champion
Top Ten Beach Bars in the Bahamas
There are hundreds of bars and restaurants throughout the Bahamas that serve up amazing eats along with a side of great vibes. But there's only a handful that are perched on the edge of some of our favorite beaches. We've come up with this Top Ten list based on ambience and food, but first and foremost, for their ocean views from the deck or dining spaces. These locations all have a great beaching where you can go for a refreshing dip or take a walk in some powder soft sand after your meal.
Typically these establishments will have a nice mix of locals, seasonal homeowners, boaters and tourists. There are many more that range from lean-to's to high-end cuisine, but most of the ones on our list are somewhere in between, serving up a laid-back flip-flop vibe, great music and ice cold beers.
So here they are in no particular order…the Top 10 Best Beach Bars in the Bahamas.
1. Chat 'N' Chill, Stocking Island, Exumas
2. Sip Sip, Harbour Island
3. Tippy's, Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera
4. Sandbar Bar & Grill, Spanish Wells
5. Tiny's Hurricane Hole, Long Island
6. Nipper's, Great Guana Cay, Abaco
7. Pete's Pub, Little Harbour, Abaco
8. Nirvana, Love Beach, New Providence
9. Banana Bay, Fortune Beach, Grand Bahama
10. On Da Beach, Elbow Cay, Abaco
Details, and photos to make you smile (and regret being stuck in the office today...):
www.outislandlifebahamas.com
Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
Last month's winner:
Stacey Jackson (AUS)
'She can outsail most guys blindfold' - Pete Sherwood; 'She's a warrior!' - Jean Wright; 'Tough, tenacious, humble' - Alex Nolan; 'Stacey, 'cause she is gold!' - Jeanine Drummond; 'The Mob has spoken!' - Linda Lindquist; 'An outstanding leader, I am a fan' - Blue Robinson; 'For so many reasons… go Stacey!' - Mandy McLean; 'She smashed it, talk's easy but Stacey gets on and does it' - Harry Spedding; 'You forgot to add she's the nicest person in the Moth park' - Nick Deussen; 'Stacey is a star, a great sailor and a beautiful person' - Joshua Alexander; 'And her drive to clean up the oceans is relentless!' - Sharyn Wright.
This month's nominees:
Not for building the mighty Comanche with his boatbuilding partner Tim Hacket, nor for all the other fast machines he has put on the water over the years, this nomination is for leading the team that took a McConaghy 38 one design and pared it back to just the hull shell before then rebuilding it as a half-scale working AC75 with all the systems operating and the boat up and foiling reliably within days of first getting wet. Go, the American Magic!
As all-round sailors go there are few who cover the bases as well as the French four-time Nacra 17 world champion and also the current Volvo champion with Charles Caudrelier on Dongfeng. After switching the body back into athletic mode from muscular 'configuration' for the Volvo, Riou and Besson were back in Olympic action at the Princesa Sofia. As for other Volvo returnees Burling and Tuke, it was not an easy first regatta but watch for the rate of improvement
Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Musto, Harken McLube & Dubarry. Who needs silverware, our prizes are usable!
Cast your vote, submit comments, even suggest a candidate for next month at seahorsemagazine.com/sailor-of-the-month/vote-for-sailor-of-the-month
View past winners of Sailor of the Month
The X Factor In Kinsale
Preparations for championship sailing are are well under way in Kinsale for the O'Leary Life Sovereigns Cup 26th to 29th June.
With almost 70 entries the O'Leary Life Sovereigns Cup definitely has the X factor , Conor Doyles XP 50 Freya, George Sisk's XP 44 WOW and Robert Rendell's Samatom XC45 are all competing in the Coastal Fleet.
In the IRC fleet you have D-Tox , Dux and Alpacha, all very competitive boats plus Dux is a previous Winner of the Sovereigns Cup. Add in the J109's and a strong half ton fleet you can be guaranteed that there will be close quarter racing.
With the 1720 European Championships and the Dragon Irirsh National Championship taking place out on the sportsboat course and the White Sail Fleet on their own course the waters between the Old Head and the Sovereign Islands will provide quite a spectacle of sailing.
Early Bird 2 Closing date is April 26th
Regatta Director - Bobby Nash,
Marion Bermuda Race Book: A Voyage of Discovery
From its dramatic front cover painting by renowned artist Willard Bond to the back cover ad reminding readers of those Gosling Dark 'n Stormy cocktails waiting in Bermuda this June, the new 2019 Marion Bermuda Race Book is a 110 page tribute to sailors, to the sea and to a race bringing all participants and volunteers on a Voyage of Discovery. There are shared stories of experiences from many of the 22 races spanning 42 years.
Click here - Marion Bermuda 2019 - to download your copy and catch the feeling of Marion Bermuda, a great ocean race. Or read it online at that link.
The 2019 race is the 22nd Marion Bermuda Race and the 42nd year for the 645-mile open ocean challenge for cruiser type yachts.
The first Marion-Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race in 1977 saw 104 starters cross the line. Over the forty-two years since that first race the race has evolved into a true offshore challenge for cruising yachts, amateur, family and youth sailors. Special prizes abound to emphasis celestial navigation, short handed sailing, family crews and regional competition. The race is handicapped under the ORR rating system to assure the fairest scoring available for ocean racing yachts.
The race starts on June 14.
WASZP Easter Spectacular
What a fantastic Easter it was to kick off what will be a monumental 2019 European season! 22 WASZPs competed in the season opener at Univela Campione, the WASZP was the largest fleet out of the A-class and Moth which is a fantastic achievement in itself.
The event started with a clinic hosted by the best WASZP sailors in the world, current WASZP Games champion Rory Hunter from GBR and Alexander Hogheim from Norway led the way working with the 20+ sailors with everyone showing fantastic improvement across the week.
It was a real festival of sailing at Lake Garda with around 2,000 Optimists and 300 Lasers also sailing events around the Lake. However, on the 'rest day' WASZP introduced a large number of opti & laser sailors to the world of foiling. The WASZP is leading the way with opening up the foiling world to youth and grass roots sailors alike.
The 6.9m rig is perfect for young kids coming out of Optimists and the ability to cross train between a WASZP and other traditional youth pathway classes is evident in many countries. However the WASZP is now establishing itself as both a youth pathway class through the 6.9m rig and also a destination class on the 8.2m rig for many sailors who want to embrace the WASZP lifestyle and event circuit that is on offer.
The European season is now well under way with events in the UK, Norway, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands and Germany starting the European season with a bang and leading into the 2019 European Championships. This event is expecting over 100 boats between the 15-20th July at Fraglia Vela Malcesine, with a huge focus on lifestyle, tight racing and new and exciting formats.
2019 WASZP European Championship Entry
Foiling Easter Results: foilingeaster.com/results/
Featured Brokerage
Opportunity to purchase one of the revered Volvo Ocean 65.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Please Contact: Ben Cooper
Telephone: +44(0) 1590 679222
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PEGGY BAWN is quite simply the best behaved yacht anyone had the pleasure to sail.
Long gone are his huge America’s Cup challengers and “Big Class” racing yachts, and only two of the fleet of palatial steam yachts – the superyachts of their day – from his Glasgow drawing boards are known to survive, in fabulous condition although barely recognisable from their original appearance.
It is left to PEGGY BAWN to carry the flame for Watson’s groundbreaking mid-1890s work in setting the standard for moderation in sailing yacht design, work that has never been challenged – only endorsed by those who followed his lead through the 20th century, especially Olin J. Stephens, who was a self-confessed Watson fan.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Barney Sandeman
+44 (0)1202 330077
33 High Street
Poole, Dorset
BH15 1AB
United Kingdom
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RIO 100 is for sale for a fraction of her build costs. Stunning success's the last few years include two barn doors in the transpac race, the race record in the Pac cup ( beating the 143 foot MARI CHA's record) race record to Puerta Vallarta, th elist goes on and on
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
The police are not here to create disorder, they’re here to preserve disorder. -- Mayor Richard Daley, 1968 Chicago
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