In This Issue
• Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards
• Jeff Martin posthumously awarded the Beppe Croce Trophy
• Britain's two Sams challenge as fleet divides
• Robline in a nutshell…may we introduce the brand
• SailGP's F50 crowned World Sailing's Boat of the Year
• Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) Rating Rule is in good shape for the 2020 season
• Veni Vidi - Ino-Rope
• An Open Letter To The Worldwide Yacht And Boat Manufacturing Industry
• International Paint Poole Regatta 2020
• Matt McGovern Rejoins Irish Sailing Team As 49er Coach
• Featured Charter
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Sly 48 C
• • ORMA 60 Trimaran 'Akron Aoton'
• • Tripp 62 'Chessie Racing'
• The Last Word: Leonard Mlodinow
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
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Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards
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Gradoni, at 15 years old, was crowned Rolex World Sailor of the Year for his success in the Optimist class, having won three consecutive World Championship titles, the first sailor to ever achieve this result.
Italy's Marco Gradoni is the most accomplished sailor of his age group and from September 2018 he won every single Optimist event he participated in, securing 14 gold medals.
He won the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Optimist World Championship and made history in 2019, winning the largest Optimist World Championship in Antigua. Facing 250 sailors from 65 nations, he excelled and also spearheaded the Italian team to the Optimist Team Racing Championship title.
Rindom has dominated the Laser Radial over the last 12 months and found rhythm that was unrivalled as she secured her second world title, which has highlighted her as a favourite for Tokyo 2020 gold.
The road to an Olympic Games has its ups and downs and regular success is often hard to come by. Denmark's Anne-Marie Rindom has found form at the right time ahead of Tokyo 2020 and has been the leading Laser Radial sailor in 2019.
She secured her second world title in 2019 and that success has not been isolated; throughout 2019 she has secured gold medals at four high-profile events.
Before she headed to Japan for the 2019 World Championship, Rindom secured gold at the Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia Regatta in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. She then topped the standings at her second consecutive event after she won in light and challenging wind conditions at the Hempel World Cup Series event in Genoa, Italy. Just weeks later she made it three in a row by securing the European Championship title in Porto, Portugal, moving to World #1 as a result.
The World Sailing Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and exceptional contributions to the sport of sailing. It is the social highlight of World Sailing's Annual Conference and recognises success throughout the sport.
Jeff Martin posthumously awarded the Beppe Croce Trophy
Martin dedicated his life to sailing and more specifically, the Laser class. His engagement with sailors and members worldwide undoubtedly enabled more countries to compete internationally. This subsequently enabled more nations to participate in the Olympic Games and established a legacy for these nations from elite sailing to the grassroots.
In 1981, Jeff became an International Judge and an International Race Officer and Measurer in November 1998. His involvement in World Sailing started in 1991 and he served as Vice Chairman of the Classes Committee from 1991 to 1994 and again from 1999 to 2000. In 2001 he became Chairman of the Classes Committee and a Council representative and held the post through to 2016.
His work worldwide through the Laser saw friendships form with sailors, race officials and global sports administrators. He has left a true legacy to sailing and to all those who were lucky enough to cross his path.
Britain's two Sams challenge as fleet divides
Britain's Samantha Davies and her French co-skipper, Paul Meilhat have sent a message at the start of this and it rang out across the Bay of Biscay yesterday as they tacked south-west at Cape Finisterre in third place. They are fast and they are here to win the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre.
In the same wind as the latest generation IMOCA 60ft monohulls, Initiatives-Cœur, their VPLP - Verdier design launched in 2010, but heavily upgraded and with huge foils, has kept pace.
With weather files that would give Aeolus a headache, the 29 IMOCA skippers have been wrestling, as forecast, with whether to go east or west. Is staying east going for quick profits or is it pragmatism? Is heading west investing in your future or risking conditions not favourable for these boats?
The bulk of the fleet tacked on Monday night, led by Davies, who were the first to turn onto the more direct road to Salvador de Bahia. They were quickly followed by the bulk of the fleet. Was that a dilemma for the leader, Charal? Follow their route to south or join Hugo Boss?
Charal tacked. On a tactical level, the skippers, Jérémie Beyou and Christopher Pratt's decision to accompany the rest of the fleet late in the night was pragmatic, because the scenario for the next 48 hours is quite uncertain. "It's a more tactical than strategic decision," Pratt admitted on Tuesday morning.
The decision is not final and Davies and others may still look west.
The situation is not so different in the Class40, as they were struggling upwind in the middle of the Bay of Biscay yesterday afternoon, with the professionals beginning to leave the amateurs behind in the 25-boat fleet.
The going has been too tough for the Japanese duo, Hiroshi Kitada and Takeshi Hara, on the Class40 KIHO, who informed the race office that they had abandoned this afternoon (Tuesday).
At the 15:00 UTC ranking, the marginal pre-race favourites, Aïna Enfance and Avenir (Aymeric Chappellier / Pierre Leboucher), had taken the lead from Britain's Sam Goodchild and his French co-skipper, Fabien Delahaye. But only four miles separated them and both had to tack twice quickly to try and improve their angle in the complicated conditions.
* Alex Thomson Racing (HUGO BOSS) Transat Jacques Vabre race update
Ross Daniel. Technical Director, Alex Thomson Racing:
"Alex and Neal are now committed to the western route onboard HUGO BOSS. Over the coming days, it will appear on the race tracker that the boats which took the southerly course are further ahead, ticking more miles off towards the finish line.
"However if we consider the long term effect in the Atlantic, when we look at the weather models the boats to the south could face light upwind conditions over the next 2-3 days, making it harder for them to punch through the trade winds.
"Alex and Neal meanwhile, on the western route, will pass an old dissipating low pressure system and head towards another new system developing off the eastern sea board. By the time they start to head south, towards the trade winds, we'd expect to see them pick up pace and for fleet positions to change.
"It will certainly be a few more days before we see for sure which teams took the right course!
"Onboard HUGO BOSS, Alex and Neal are in good spirits. They both managed to find an opportunity to get some sleep, and both are recharged and ready to tackle what lies ahead of them".
Robline in a nutshell…may we introduce the brand:
For those who did not realize yet, there is a new brand name at the market - Robline. Having its heritage in the 1990s where company TEUFELBERGER acquired FSE, the German yachting brand, and the yachting line segment of Roblon, the Danish rope manufacturer. This together became FSE Robline back in the days. However to go with time and to not stop moving forward TEUFELBERGER decided to give this brand a new appealing look - Robline featuring now the colours monsungrey and cucuum instead of red and blue. Why? Because we want to be forerunners and stand out of the mass!
Read more soon!
SailGP's F50 crowned World Sailing's Boat of the Year
As SailGP prepares to kick off its second season in 2020, the global championship continues to be recognized for its successful debut. Today, the F50 catamaran - the fastest sail race boat in the world - was honored as World Sailing's 2019 Goslings Boat of the Year, praised for its innovative concepts and ground-breaking technological advancements that are changing the face of the sport across the globe.
The World Sailing Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and exceptional contributions to the sport of sailing and took place at the World Sailing Annual Conference in Bermuda. SailGP was also shortlisted in two other categories - the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award and the Hempel Team of the Year Award, which recognized the Australia SailGP Team's performance in Season 1.
The SailGP rules mandate that each team race with equal technology. The SailGP design and build team are thus able to introduce new developments during a season however, these must be applied equally across all teams. Throughout the five grand prix events in Season 1, there were a number of highlights for the new global league with the F50s reaching speeds never seen before in competition. Memorable moments included Tom Slingsby's Australia team making history by breaking the 50-knot speed barrier in competition during the Cowes event, capsizes by the U.S. and British teams in New York and Cowes, and a dramatic SailGP Season 1 Championship Final Race, in which the final duel came down to a mere 78 centimeters at a crucial moment on the racecourse before the Australian team earned the inaugural victory.
"Coming off the back of a successful first season of SailGP, it is great validation to see years of strategic development and execution be recognized across the industry with the F50 taking home this accolade," said SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts. "The F50s produced some spectacular racing and we ended the season with all teams winning at least one race. The continuous development and innovation, incredible speeds and close nation against nation racing helps to set us apart. The incredible performance of the F50 plays a critical role in delivering an unmatched sporting experience to a global audience."
SailGP Season 2 will debut February 28-29, 2020 in Sydney. Tickets go on sale November 1 at SailGP.com/Sydney
Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) Rating Rule is in good shape for the 2020 season
With some 16 major international regattas coming up in the spring of 2020 across the Caribbean, the CSA prides itself in its robust and well-received rating formula which has underpinned the success of world-famous events including Antigua Sailing Week and the St Maarten Heineken Regatta.
As the Chief Measurer and Chief Technical Officer of the Caribbean Sailing Association, Bastien Pouthier has the job of managing the team of measurers spread all over the Caribbean and working together with them to find the compromise to the Rule to make the rating formula as fair as the measurers can see it.
To keep the Rule up to date the CSA's measurers meet annually to air problems they have encountered over the season, compare regattas and yachts results and discuss amendments to the constantly evolving formula and evolution of boat design.
Bastien, originally from France, but now a resident of Trinidad, draws the picture. "This year we have made a few adjustments. We had a first meeting in Antigua during Antigua Sailing Week in May where we decided where we needed to aim the 2020 Rule. Then, at the measurers' meeting during last week's CSA Conference sessions, held in Antigua, we tested these amendments. My main goal was to have the 2020 Rule and program ready for the end of October, to launch in November 2019 ready for the beginning of the Caribbean Racing season. We've now achieved this."
In theory there is one measurer per island, although that doesn't mean all the smaller territories will have one. However, the main Rule covers most of the racing boats in the Caribbean region. There are also an additional three Rules: Multihull, Simplified and Classics. "In the last two years we have modified this main Rule quite a lot and there was quite a heavy burden on our meetings over that period to test it out. However, I'm pleased to say that this week we were just doing fine tuning." Bastien adds "This is a sign that we have achieved a big stepping stone with our Rules, and this is because we have done a lot of work over the last few years."
"The three additional Rules are integrated into the new programme, so, for the first time this year, we now have one platform for all formats. All the Caribbean regattas can now be run under this rule including the classic boat events."
The Rule is easy to implement and boats need to be certified annually and remeasured every five years. A new pared-down payment structure is in place for the Simplified and Classics measurement certificates. Around 200 boats in the Caribbean have a CSA rating certificate plus there are another 30 or more Classics besides.
Historically the CSA Rule has been shown to be very reliable and steady as well as cost efficient, full measurement. We've got a good team here now in the Caribbean," concludes Bastien, "but the ultimate aim is towards fair racing."
Veni Vidi - Ino-Rope
'For Us, By Us' could easily have been the tagline that Julien Barnet - a professional sailor and rigger - and Thibault Reinhart - pro sailor and certified naval engineer - came up with when, in 2013, the two Frenchmen formed their new company Ino-Rope.
The pair first met in an Italian boatyard while working on separate Mini Transat 650 projects and quickly became firm friends. They launched Ino-Rope to satisfy an unfulfilled demand among the offshore racing community for light, strong and reliable turning blocks and shackles.
Over the next year the duo came up with an innovative solution using high-tech textile fibres to produce the first block using a rope - rather than ball-bearing - axle.
Full article in the November issue of Seahorse
An Open Letter To The Worldwide Yacht And Boat Manufacturing Industry
The International Institute of Marine Surveying has written an open letter to the worldwide yacht and boat manufacturing industry to stimulate debate on the subject of hidden defects in the sector.
"All manufacturers have a duty of care to their customers and end users to manufacture a safe product, which meets recognised quality criteria and international standards," write Geoff Waddington and Mike Schwarz.
"Common sense must prevail; for example, the life expectancy and indeed the suitability of a product is to a degree dependent on its use. However certain models of cars and domestic appliances are often recalled by manufacturers due to latent defects which have subsequently come to light following production and placement on the market.
Lives are being put in danger
"If a washing machine or tumble dryer overheats, it can be switched off, but if the rudder breaks or the keel falls off a yacht in mid Atlantic, there is little one can do. Lives are therefore put in danger and at risk. Arguably, the only other industry which has similar risks associated with it is the aeronautical industry, where mechanical failure often leads tragically to loss of life, but water craft are not subjected to annual vehicle MOT inspections or CAA inspections.
"Some marine industry manufacturers take their responsibilities seriously. As soon as a latent defect comes to light, they inform the purchasers. Others, however, deem it acceptable to wait for individual purchasers to bring each example of a defect to their attention before taking individual action - in effect a damage limitation attitude and approach, which is not good enough when the safety of life is potentially being put at risk.
Boat manufacturers must act responsibly
"What the institute would like to see more than anything else is the worldwide yacht and boat manufacturing industry coming together to act responsibly at all times in the way it treats latent defects with their products, those which they are either already aware of or are subsequently brought to their attention later by users."
This is a redacted version of the open letter written on behalf of the IIMS by Geoff Waddington and Mike Schwarz.
International Paint Poole Regatta 2020
The International Paint Poole Regatta 2020 is developing to be the biggest event yet, with the organisers pleased to announce that round two of the inaugural IC37 Championship will be hosted over the weekend. The latest high profile racing class joins the Fast 40+ fleet in making Poole Bay a key location in their racing schedule.
Also confirmed are the J80, J24, HP30 and VPRS National Championships alongside the 2.4mR Tidal National Championship, the IRC Southern Area Championship and the Shrimper Southern Championship. There will be a lot of silverware on offer.
All well-known classes will have their own starts at Poole and discussions are ongoing with several to add to the championship bonanza already signed to race next May.
Matt McGovern Rejoins Irish Sailing Team As 49er Coach
Former Irish Olympic 49er sailor Matt McGovern has rejoined the Irish Sailing team as coach in the two-handed skiff class.
McGovern, who represented Ireland in the 49er at London 2012 and Rio 2016 with Ryan Seaton, retired from active competition in February last year and subsequently took up the role of high performance manager with the RYANI.
He will now assume coaching responsibilities for the two Irish Sailing 49er teams, which include his former skiff partner Seaton's duo with Seafra Guilfoyle. The pair placed sixth in the World Cup medal race at Enoshima, the site for next summer's Olympics, this past August.
Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove, 2018 U23 49er World Champions and Volvo Irish Sailors of the Year, will also benefit from McGovern's Olympic experience.
McGovern joins the team ahead of Ireland's next bid for a place at Tokyo 2020 in the 49er Worlds this December.
Available for:
Available for: Caribbean 2020
Phan was designed by Botin & Carkeek and built by King Marine. The GP42 was designed to be a fast, offshore capable, truly competitive performance racing yacht and has had much success globally. Phan is in immaculate condition having been meticulously maintained her whole life. This summer she has been in the shed at Longitude Cero in Valencia, having some exciting modifications, including a new rudder and deeper keel.
The new keel will give greater righting moment and more up wind power, and the new rudder will be larger and with different balance, to give more low speed manoeuvrability and lower load when high speed reaching.
A full kite take down system has been added, the deck layout has been optimised with many of the control lines re-run, and the pedestal overdrive has been upgraded for better kite gybing speeds.
Phan has a full wardrobe of North Sails, B&G 3000 instruments, a smooth underwater finish and a Gori 420 racing prop.
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Lucy Jackson - LV Yachting
Call: +44 2392 161272
Email:
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The Last Word
Language is handy, but we humans have social and emotional connections that transcend words and are communicated - and understood - without conscious thought. -- Leonard Mlodinow
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