In This Issue
• Comanche first monohull to finish in Transpac 50
• Team Beijaflore Tour Voile Champions
• The power of three - Arksen Yachts
• Finn U23 Worlds concludes in sunny Anzio
• Quantum Racing Restore Their Winning Ways in Cascais
• TR2019: Last Team Standing - Charisma Is the Final Boat Home
• Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award
• 40th birthday for a legendary yacht at Hamilton Island Race Week 2019
• A Sad Day For Ronstan
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Baltic Yachts 37
• • Johan Anker 49Ft Q-Class Sloop - Leonore
• • Swan 54
• The Last Word: Peter O'Toole
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
Comanche first monohull to finish in Transpac 50
After the same slow start that plagued all Saturday starters this year in the 50th edition of the LA-Honolulu Transpac, Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant's VPLP 100 Comanche still managed to sneak out of the light air, get into the offshore breeze, and sail on to be first to finish in Honolulu at 21:14:05 Hawaii time. For being the first monohull to cross the finish line at Diamond Head, the Comanche team will win the coveted First to Finish carved slab of Hawaiian Koa wood known as the Barn Door Trophy. From 2009-2017 this award was given only to yachts with no powered systems, but was re-dedicated this year for monohull yachts of all sizes and types.
Navigator Stan Honey has been on many Barn Door-winning boats, and says the award is appropriate to represent the boat that is not only fast but also uses the latest in technology to achieve performance.
"The winners of the Barn Door Trophy represent the progress of technology in the history of offshore sailing," said Honey. "Like Dorade, Storm Vogel, Windward Passage and Merlin, Comanche very much deserves to be part of this history."
While not matching her record time set in 2017 of 5 days 01:55:26, her time of 5 days 11:14:05 this year was still good for an impressive VMG of nearly 17 knots on the course.
* With the conditions on the race course remaining perfect, the first of a large wave of finishers has started to cross the finish line at Diamond Head in the 50th edition of the 2225-mile LA-Honolulu Transpacific Yacht Race. Since Merlin Trophy-winner Rio100 finished last night, four more boats have finished: Phil Turner and Duncan Hines's R/P 66 Alive from Australia, Bob Pethwick's Rogers 46 Bretwalda 3, Daniel Gribble's Tripp 56 Brigadoon, and the local Hawaii-based team on Cecil and Alyson Rossi's Farr 57 Ho'okolohe. Tom Holthus's Pac 52 BadPak is fast approaching to be next to finish at sunset.
The crowd at Waikiki YC was so full of friends and family to greet Ho'okolohe, the berthing dock threatened to collapse. Buoyed by their spectacular finish at Diamond Head and finishing in their own home waters, the crew described their trip in glowing terms like "champagne sailing", "best trip yet", and "this boat has never gone so fast."
Brigadoon beat Ho'okolohe to the finish line by an hour and 40 minutes, but trailed in corrected time scoring by about 14 minutes. However, currently Brigadoon is the sole finisher in the Corinthian division, where a trophy will be awarded to the team composed of all-amateur sailors who finishes with the best corrected time.
In corrected time, which is determined by the boat's Transpac rating multiplied by their elapsed time, the contest is incredibly close. At stake is who wins the overall King Kalakaua Trophy, one of the most prestigious in this race, which rewards the team who has sailed the course most efficiently relative to their rating. During the race the YB tracker system estimated the projected corrected time based on the rate of progress made every hour between scheds and the distance left to the finish.
For colorful tales and photos of life aboard an entry in Transpac 50, visit the dedicated pages to blog posts at 2019.transpacyc.com/news/boat-blogs
Team Beijaflore Tour Voile Champions
A thrilling match within the match saw overall leaders Team Beijaflore and Cheminees Poujoulat embark on an incredible battle to the very last tack with a breathtaking comeback from Beijaflore in the final few metres that clinched the title for the team skippered by Valentin Bellet and Guillaume Pirouelle. After sailing, and winning, an excellent race today, Cheminees Poujoulat, skippered by Robin Follin, had to settle for a thoroughly respectable second place overall, just three points back. For the second year in a row, third place went to Reseau IXIO - Toulon Provence Mediterranee, skippered by Sandro Lacan.
From third place in 2017 to second in 2018 and finally victorious in 2019, Beijaflore's Valentin Bellet of La Rochelle never lost faith in this hard-won victory.
Rounding off a highly competitive Top 5 were Golfe du Morbihan Breizh Cola, skippered by Solune Robert, and Renaissance Services, skipper by Stevie Morrison, both of whom had racked up wins on more than one occasion.
Although final victory was decided on the last day, both teams had performed consistently from the off in order to get to that position, qualifying for each and every one of the nine Nautical Stadium Finals. Team Beijaflore demonstrated their class with ten podium finished over the 15 races days, while Cheminees Poujoulat notched up nine, including a run of three consecutive wins over the final two Acts.
In addition to the General Classification, teams have also been competing for separate Youth, Amateur and Mixed rankings. Cheminees Poujoulat could no longer be caught and had the Youth Ranking wrapped up heading into today's race. The all-female team on La Boulangere, who finished in 12th place overall - narrowly missing out on their objective of a Top 10 finish, were also mathematically assured victory in the Mixed Ranking. In the Amateur Ranking, meanwhile, all was yet to play for, with the two leading teams fighting for the overall win in today's Super Final. The Swiss team on CER - Ville de Geneve had established a fairly comfortable lead of 14 points, but their closest rivals, Gregory Lemarchal - Les Sables d'Olonne, were still capable of raining on their parade if they managed to finish far enough ahead. That didn't materialise, but they did finish in style with a great third place in today's Super Final to conclude the Tour in ninth place behind CER - Ville de Geneve in eighth.
Overall Rankings
Team Beijaflore - 765 pts
Cheminees Poujoulat - 762 pts
Team Reseau Ixio - Toulon Provence Mediterranee - 729 pts
Mixed Rankings
La Boulangere - 622 pts
Helvetia Purple by Normandy Elite Team - 583 pts
EFG Sailing Arabia The Tour - 538 pts
Youth Rankings
Cheminees Poujoulat - 762 pts
Golfe du Morbihan Breizh Cola - 719 pts
Ocewood #Waterfamily - 660 pts
Amateur Rankings
CER - Ville de Geneve - 684 pts
Gregory Lemarchal-Les Sables d'Olonne - 672 pts
West Team - BBN - Ecole Navale - 596 pts
The power of three - Arksen Yachts
In the world of long-distance cruising, adventure has become a big deal. Driven by a new breed of long-legged, self-sufficient, go-anywhere blue water cruising yachts, new corners of the world have become a reality for those who are inclined to think big.
There are some that see this as just the start. Arksen is taking the adventure concept even further with a range of innovative boats that raise the bar in the technology stakes and provide a more efficient, affordable and sustainable way of embarking on a long-distance cruise.
Their three new designs are more than just a new product range in the busy powerboat world.
Full article in the August issue of Seahorse
Finn U23 Worlds concludes in sunny Anzio
With the pressure off after securing the 2019 U23 Finn World Championship for the Jorg Bruder Finn Silver Cup, a day early, Oskari Muhonen, from Finland, led all the way in the final race to record one of the biggest winning margins of the week. A third place finish from Joan Cardona, of Spain, was enough for the silver medal, while a second place for Nils Theuninck, from Switzerland, was enough for the bronze.
Like Muhonen, Liam Orel, from Slovenia, had already won the U19 gold, while behind him Italians Paolo Freddi and Roberto Rinaldi were fighting for the other medals. Finishing next to each other in the final race, Freddi took silver with Rinaldi taking bronze for a double home medal.
The final race was also sailed in light winds after a short postponement ashore.
Final results (11 races, 1 drop)
1. Oskari Muhonen, FIN, 34
2. Joan Cardona, ESP, 50
3. Nils Theuninck, SUI, 52
4. Federico Colaninno, ITA, 57
5. Johannes Pettersson, SWE, 91
6. Guillame Boisard, FRA, 93
7. James Skulczuk, GBR, 96
8. Liam Orel, SLO, 100
9. Sebastian Kalafarski, POL, 110
10. Panagiotis Iordanou, CYP, 113
U19 Top 3
Liam Orel, SLO, 100
Paolo Freddi, ITA, 151
Roberto Rinaldi, ITA, 159
Full results here: 2019.finnsilvercup.org/results-day-4/
Quantum Racing Restore Their Winning Ways in Cascais
Quantum Racing clinched their first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta title of the 2019 season, but their perennial arch rivals Azzurra ran them close, the Italian-Argentine teams losing out by a matter of a only a couple of metres on the finish line of the last race of a windy Cascais 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week.
While there were equal measures of relief and satisfaction for Doug DeVos's US-flagged team that bounced back to a well-earned victory here after bottoming out with an overall seventh place in Puerto Sherry, Andalucia last month, for the Azzurra team emotions where mixed.
They leave Cascais, and the third regatta of the 2019 52 SUPER SERIES season, with a lead of eight points on the overall circuit standings, having started the week five points off the top spot.
But as they finished second in the second race today, behind Platoon by only two tiny seconds in a photo finish, and with Quantum down in fifth, they miss out on the regatta win by a hairsbreadth, just as they did last month in Puerto Sherry.
Cascais 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week
Final regatta standings
1. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (2,1,2,2,1,4,3,3,5) 23 points
2. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) (3,3,1,3,6,2,2,2,2) 24
3. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (5,4,3,1,7,5,5,4,1) 35
4. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) (4,2,4,7,3,3,7,1,4) 35
5. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (1,5,7,5,2,7,6,6,3,) 42
6. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Hasso Plattner) (6,6,5,4,5,1,4,7,DNS8) 46
7. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (7,7,6,6,4,6,1,5,6) 48
2019 52 SUPER SERIES
Overall season standings after three of five events
1. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) 95
2. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) 103
3. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) 103
4. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) 108
5. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) 112
6. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) 136
7. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Tina Plattner) 154
8. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) 164
TR2019: Last Team Standing - Charisma Is the Final Boat Home
The Transatlantic Race 2019 will go down as one of the slowest on record, but for none was it more drawn out than for Constantin Claviez and his crew on Charisma. The German skipper and his trusty 1980 vintage Swan 441, which he has campaigned for the past 20 years, arrived in Cowes [Thursday afternoon July 18] after a slow day spent crossing Lyme and Christchurch bays in light winds before bucking a powerful ebb tide exiting the western Solent.
Charisma finally crossed the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line off Cowes at 16:47:00 UTC. Her elapsed time of 23 days, 1 hour and 37 minutes was some 5d:15h:39m after the previous arrival, Mark Stevens' Hinckley 50 Kiva last Friday. Charisma's time this year was some 4d:6h:31m slower than it took her in the Transatlantic Race 2015.
As has been the case for everyone in this year's Transatlantic Race, Charisma's crossing was one of light conditions. But her crossing was made worse when the crew just missed a band of southerly winds, the transatlantic express train that the group immediately ahead of her was able to ride until it ground to halt negotiating the high pressure bubble off southern Ireland.
Aside from playing the Gulf Stream to perfection, the only other moment of the race where Mother Nature smiled on the German crew was in the English Channel. On Tuesday the high pressure finally moved away and Charisma was the only yacht in this year's race to enjoy 20-knot following winds propelling her up the Channel.
The prize giving for the Transatlantic Race 2019 will take place at the Royal Yacht Squadron on July 31.
Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award
The Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image photo competition is delighted to announce the composition of its international jury 2019. Ricardo Pinto, professional sailing photographer and winner of the previous edition, Rob Hodgetts, international sports journalist for CNN, Cliff Webb, president of the Yachting Journalists' Association, Magda Makowska, professional sailor and organizer of the Sopot Match Race, Helena de la Gandara, renowned press officer in Spain and beyond, and Nicolas Mirabaud, Managing Partner and member of the Executive Committee of Mirabaud & Cie SA, will select the best sailing photos of the year.
Initiated in 2010, the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award is the leading international photo competition dedicated to the sport of sailing. Its objective is to give the opportunity to sailing photographers from all over the world to share their passion with the public.
The top eighty images will be pre-selected by three professional photographers / picture editors: Ricardo Pinto, Rob Hodgetts and Cliff Webb. The top 80 will be published on the event website on 22 October. The public will then be invited to vote for their favourite photo.
The twenty best images selected by the International Jury will be exhibited on 25 and 26 November in Bilbao (ESP), at the Yacht Racing Forum. The prestigious award will be presented in public on November 26, in the presence of the main players in the world of competitive sailing.
The main prize, the Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award, will be selected by the international jury. Two secondary distinctions will be awarded in parallel: the public prize, based on votes collected on social networks, as well as the Yacht Racing Forum prize, chosen by the event delegates.
The submission of photos is open until October 13th at midnight on the event website.
40th birthday for a legendary yacht at Hamilton Island Race Week 2019
Ragamuffin. Click on image to enlarge.
Now owned by well-known offshore sailor Graham 'Scooter' Eaton and based on the Gold Coast, the sleek 73-footer, which contested the inaugural Race Week in 1984, will be back this year for its sixth campaign.
The birthday boat, due to receive a new wardrobe of upwind sails as a gift, will be among more than 220 yachts and 1500 sailors competing in the internationally acclaimed series, to be staged from August 17 to 24.
Built in Sydney in 1979 for local yachtsman John Kahlbetzer, Bumblebee IV's design and aluminium construction was state-of-the-art for the era. 'The Bee' made its mark on the sport immediately after being launched by taking line honours in the Hobart race that year, then the following year finished first in the Newport to Bermuda race. It also raced in Sardinia.
Ocean racing legend Syd Fischer became the owner in 1984 and competed in the inaugural Race Week at Hamilton Island that year. He also contested four Hobarts with the yacht, taking line honours in 1988 and 1990.
For yachting history buffs, there is an interesting link between Bumblebee IV and the towering mast on the flag deck of Hamilton Island Yacht Club. It was originally Bumblebee IV's mast! That mast broke when the yacht was racing off Sydney many years ago and to minimise the risk of damage to the yacht it was cut away and allowed to sink. After being salvaged and repaired it was purchased by Hamilton Island's owners, the Oatley family, so it could become the impressive flag mast that it is today at the yacht club. -- Rob Mundle
www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
A Sad Day For Ronstan
Click on image to enlarge.
Together with Stan LeNepveu, Ron was the "Ron" in Ronstan.
The two met in 1946 and raced sailing dinghies together, before teaming up to build boats and make stainless steel yacht fittings. They officially formed Ronstan in 1953 and sold the company in 1977.Ron continued as General Manager until 1981, when he retired to go fishing, bowling, golfing and spending time with his family.
The legacy Ron and Stan left is a close knit, wonderful organisation with a name that is a household name in international sailing circles. Ronstan manufactures world class products, has offices around the world, has won endless awards for excellence and has provided challenging, rewarding and enjoyable employment for thousands of us in the Ronstan family over the past six and a half decades.
Thank you Ron! (and Stan!)
The name lives proudly on!
Alistair Murray, Chairman, Ronstan
Today the Ronstan team mourns the passing of Ron Allatt, who died peacefully with his wife Jan at his side, on the 19th July, 2019. Ron was 89.
Together with Stan LeNepveu, Ron was the "Ron" in Ronstan.
The two met in 1946 and raced sailing dinghies together, before teaming up to build boats and make stainless steel yacht fittings. They officially formed Ronstan in 1953 and sold the company in 1977.Ron continued as General Manager until 1981, when he retired to go fishing, bowling, golfing and spending time with his family.
The legacy Ron and Stan left is a close knit, wonderful organisation with a name that is a household name in international sailing circles. Ronstan manufactures world class products, has offices around the world, has won endless awards for excellence and has provided challenging, rewarding and enjoyable employment for thousands of us in the Ronstan family over the past six and a half decades.
Thank you Ron! (and Stan!)
The name lives proudly on!
Alistair Murray, Chairman, Ronstan
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The Last Word
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