In This Issue
• Multihull Line Honours Victory: PowerPlay win with last throw of the dice
• Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
• Russell Coutts: "I Would Expect The F50 Will Do 53-54 Knots"
• 2020 52 Super Series
• Entries booming for Hamilton Island Race Week 2020
• Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta
• Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta
• Industry News -- The RYA Dinghy Show
• Featured Brokerage:
• • SW100RS Cape Arrow
• • Farr 40
• • Vismara V56 Mills
• The Last Word: Douglas Adams
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
Multihull Line Honours Victory: PowerPlay win with last throw of the dice
Photo by RORC/Caribbean 600. Click on image for photo gallery.
A nail-biting finish rounded off an epic light airs tactical battle between three of the world's fastest ocean-going multihulls. During the 600-mile race, the lead changed at least seven times. Maserati fought tooth and nail, but their T-Foil rudders were more of a hindrance than an enhancement in the unusually light conditions. Despite the disadvantage, Maserati came back time and time again to challenge for the lead. PowerPlay and Argo had a full-on 46-hour match race from start to finish and it all came down to the final leg from Redonda to Antigua.
Giovanni Soldini's Maserati Multi70 set the race record last year (30 hours 49 mins). This year's light air race keeps that record safe, but Maserati's fully foiling design was a handicap this year.
"Our record is safe for another year, but the conditions were too light for us this time. We have a speed problem against the other boats in under 13 knots," commented Giovanni Soldini. "It was a very good race with three boats fighting a lot. Even though we were slower, we were able to catch them three times. We did well at Guadeloupe going very close to the land, they came to cover us and we were all near the beach, but we kept the inside lane, then the wind died for 20 minutes. We then went south of Marie-Galante because we had to try something different, but the easterly lift did not come for one hour."
Seventy teams are still racing in the RORC Caribbean 600, stay up to date as the drama unfolds.
Rankings and boat positions are available on the YB Tracker page Follow all the action online: caribbean600.rorc.org/
Track the fleet: caribbean600.rorc.org/Race-Information/Tracking/
2020 RC600 Finishes - Weds 26th Feb - AST, Antigua:
1. Powerplay
Crew:
Paul Allen
Jackson Bouttell
Ned Collier-Wakefield
Peter Cunningham
Simon 'Sci-Fi' Fisher
Matt Noble
Charlie Ogletree
Loick Peyron
2. Argo
Crew:
Franck Cammas
Jason Carroll
Charles Corning
Thierry Fouchier
Artie Means
Alister Richardson
3. Maserati
Crew:
Guido Broggi
Ronan Cointo
Carlos Hernandez
Oliver Herrera Perez
Nico Malingri
Matteo Soldini
Giovanni Soldini
Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
This month's nominees:
First off, give the photographer a break here; he was in a cold liferaft 20nm from the Australian coast after surviving the capsize of a 40-foot yacht in pitch darkness in 30-40kts of wind. That they had a liferaft to get into was primarily due to Charalambous's courage in taking off his lifejacket after swimming out from under the upside-down yacht, then swimming back into it again to recover the liferaft stuck down below
Multi-talented doesn't come close. A manager at Persico by day, the high-energy Rizzotti started the original Foiling Week on the shores of Lake Garda in 2014 as an informal gathering of sailors to meet up, sail and talk whacky ideas. Foiling Week 2020 is a global driver of foiling, safety, sustainability, gender, age, experience, and ability, along with a wide ranging education, research and development programme
Josh Junior (NZL)
'This kiwi selection fight for Tokyo between Josh, Andy Moloney and Jake Lilley has been something else!' - Scott Dickson; 'We always knew Josh's turn in the sun was coming' - Heidi Marstrøm; 'Go go Josh!' - Gemma Jones; 'The boy just gets better every time he goes afloat' - Pat Healey; 'Good luck from here mate' - Murray Jones; 'That was one hell of a hard one to win' - Robert Deaves; 'We're all proud of you, mate' - Harry Dodson.
View past winners of Sailor of the Month
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
Russell Coutts: "I Would Expect The F50 Will Do 53-54 Knots"
All eyes will be on Sydney at the end of next week where Season 2 of SailGP kicks off with seven teams, two new. Tip & Shaft caught up with Russell Coutts, soon aged 58, CEO of Sail GP and four times winner of the America's Cup.
Russell, two new teams coming into the mix for Season 2, and do you think the performance gaps we saw last season will be compressed?
The two new teams, Denmark and Spain we really are excited about. The Spanish are going through a bit of a purple patch with their Olympic sailing right now and they probably have a chance of medalling in the 49er class and so their team is mainly their Olympic sailors who are already proving to be pretty useful in practice. The Danes are also going well. They are both definitely going to boost the competition. I think the Australians are looking really strong in practice but I think the other teams are closing the gap. Getting access to all of the data (after last season) is the key. The teams got access to all of the data, so for example they can see how other teams trim their wing sails and how much movement other teams are using in their foils, what rudder differentials they have got.
You have Sir Ben's INEOS team coming in, can they be challengers off the boat?
They are going to be strong. They have selected a team of sailors that are obviously really experienced in these boats. Whether they beat the Australians in these early events remains to be seen. Having Iain Jensen on the wing and Luke Parkinson on flight control is a massive benefit for them. The British have had a lot of time in the simulator and they should have enough time to get sailing these boats well. In the case of Ben he has a sailing team of course which raced right through last season including his grinders and they will be a strong team.
INEOS are self funding?
Yes, they have their sponsors on their boat already. So there are two teams from the seven (Brits and Danes) which are now self funded which is a good step forwards.
Originally we understood the teams had to be self funding within five years, now that period of support is reported to have been foreshortened. When do the other teams have to be self funding?
Well in actual fact we have not changed our business model. We still have funding but clearly there is an expectation and desire that there is progress made commercially and so we review this position yearly. And if enough progress has not been made then there are other teams that want to come on. We are likely to have announcements on that in the near future. An option is to continue or to replace one of the exiting teams with a new team. The teams have to be commercially sustainable.
2020 52 Super Series
Cape Town, South Africa: As the ninth successive year of racing on the 52 SUPER SERIES opens Monday, racers on the world's leading grand prix monohull circuit are relishing a whole new set of challenges as two regattas on Cape Town's Table Bay raise the curtain on what promises to be a most exciting and close-fought six-event season.
The first ever visit to Cape Town by the circuit, and indeed the class, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, will test the ten different teams from eight nations that are set to compete on inshore racing waters relatively unknown to the majority of crews.
While there are high hopes that the Cape Doctor - the world famous strong, dry south easterly wind - will pay a prolonged visit to the Odzala Discovery Camps 52 SUPER SERIES V&A Waterfront - Cape Town regatta; and although most crews have optimised for middle to upper wind speeds, the truth is that anything could happen at this first regatta of the season.
Just as Illbruck laid the foundations of an overall victory in the 2001-2 Volvo Ocean Race with their leg win into Cape Town 18 years ago, Halcrow and the Platoon team will be hoping regatta wins in Cape Town will be the foundation for finally topping the 52 SUPER SERIES season championship points table.
That the Cape Town events are being run is in no small way thanks to the support of the Plattner family who are based there, home port to their Team Phoenix. Both Phoenix 11 and 12 fly the South African flag and will carry high hopes of a home victory.
2020 Entries
Alegre - Andy Soriano (USA/GBR), 2018 Botin
Azzurra - Roemmers Family (ARG/ITA), 2018 Botin
Bronenosec - Vladimir Liubomirov (RUS), 2019 Botin
Gladiator - Tony Langley (GBR), 2017 Botin
Paprec Recyclage - Jean-Luc Petithuguenin (FRA), 2015 Judel/Vrolijk
Phoenix 11 - Hasso/Tina Plattner (RSA), 2018 Botin
Phoenix 12 - Hasso/Tina Plattner (RSA), 2014 Botin
Platoon - Harm Muller-Spreer (GER), 2018 Judel/Vrolijk
Provezza - Ergin Imre (TUR), 2018 Judel/Vrolijk
Quantum Racing - Doug DeVos (USA), 2018 Botin
Sled - Takashi Okura (USA), 2018 Botin
Team Vision Future - Jean Jacques Chaubard (FRA), 2015 Botin
Entries booming for Hamilton Island Race Week 2020
An unprecedented surge of early interest in Australia's premier offshore regatta, Hamilton Island Race Week from August 15-22, sees the fleet growing at a rate faster than any other time in the event's 37-year history.
Staged over eight days on the tropical, island-laced waters of Queensland's Whitsundays area, Race Week's appeal is due to the fact that it delivers the ideal balance between exceptional tradewind sailing, a second-to-none social program, and unrivalled onshore camaraderie that bonds competitors, their families and friends.
Race Week had 233 entries last year and the largest ever fleet was 252 in 2016.
The first international entry is the Beneteau 51.1, Kiwi2, owned by Scotsman Marcus Barnetts, who resides in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Hamilton Island Race Week has an impressive history. It was established following Australia's remarkable 1983 victory in the America's Cup in Newport, Rhode Island. The inaugural regatta in April 1984 attracted an outstanding fleet of 92 yachts from all points across Australia, including Perth.
The Notice of Race and all details relating to Hamilton Island Race Week 2020 are on the website: www.hamiltonislandraceweek.com.au
Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta
Miami, Florida, USA: More than 500 sailors from around the world will race in Biscayne Bay, Miami, at the 93rd Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta from March 1-7, 2020.
Holding ninety-three years of tradition the Bacardi Cup is a member of an exclusive club of historic and long established sports events. First staged as a three-day regatta in Cuba in 1927, with less than ten Star boats, the event has grown year on year in partnership with BACARDI rum, which has sponsored the event since its inception.
Offering a unique blend of world-class racing, atmosphere and social events, the Bacardi Cup and Bacardi Invitational Regatta is undoubtedly one of the world's most prestigious regattas that, in 2020, will welcome a record-breaking 196 entries, attracting an international entry list of professional rock star racers and super-talented Corinthian teams.
The goal is to build on the long tradition of the Star Class and maintain and champion performance in other popular classes, whilst retaining the mix of outstanding racing on Biscayne Bay and superb shore side atmosphere and socials for which the event is renowned.
Across the fleets, sailors from around the USA will be joined by teams representing nineteen countries, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand. Four courses will operate simultaneously and this year, the iconic Star Class will be joined by the J/70, Melges 24, Viper 640, and brand new for the race track this year are the VXOne sports boat and AV8 and Windfoil classes.
Racing for the Star Class gets underway in Biscayne Bay on Monday 2 March, with the J/70, Melges 24, Viper 640, VXOne and windfoils taking to the track on Thursday 5 March. The Star fleet will contest their traditional one race per day in a true test of endurance relished by the sailors, whilst all other fleets will sail eight races across three days. Race schedules are available online at: bacardiinvitational.com
The J/70 fleet has a compelling line-up of forty teams with potential to seize the crown, as demonstrated at the two winter warm-up events where different faces claimed the top three standings. Those likely to feature up front include the USA teams headed up by Joel Ronning, Ryan McKillen, John Heaton, Trey Sheehan and Pamela Rose. But equally, some of the newer teams such as Great Britain's JOLT, which includes plenty of Olympic talent, could pack a punch and change the leaderboard guard. Of course the reigning J/70 World Champion, Paul Ward (GBR), will no doubt also set the race track rivalry stakes.
Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta heading to the record books - again!
The Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR), hosted by Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) each year, has deservedly earnt the reputation of being the largest all-women keelboat regatta in the world, with numbers in this 30th edition having the potential to exceed last year's record 40 boats - if early indications are anything to go by.
Open to yachts for AMS, IRC and EHC divisions, along with a division for S80s, the regatta is the brainchild of past RMYS commodore and former entrant, Gai Clough. Neither she nor the Club could have possibly foreseen the regatta growing so much in stature and size.
Sailed on Port Phillip, with all its vagaries, the fundamental attraction to the annual event is that it is open to experienced sailors and to those who are making their way in the sport. Some skippers are bringing through talent from their clubs' youth academies, while others are offering spots to newcomers, as women's participation in sailing continues to rise.
Among the early entrants is regular competitor, Claire Heenan, back for her fourth tilt at the trophies; "I did my first in 2015," she said. The Gosford sailor returns to the fold with the Adams 10, Jungle Juice (NSW), loaned to her again by past RMYS Commodore, Janet Dean.
Last year, Heenan and crew finished second overall in AMS Division 1 to Ocean Respect Racing, bur reversed that result in IRC.
Apart from the winners' trophies, the AWKR also contains some special awards:
Novice Helm; Most improved over the series; Sportsmanship; Rohan Brownlee Leadership and Endeavour Award and Best Performed Owner/Skipper.
This is Australia's largest women's keelboat regatta with a record 40 yachts and 300 women taking part from Australian and New Zealand last year.
The Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta thanks long-standing sponsor and competitor, Rebecca Badenoch and her law firm Culshaw Miller Badenoch and Doyle Sails for their ongoing support. McGrath is back on board to sponsor the upcoming lecture series - more details will be available in due course. -- Di Pearson/AWKR media
Industry News -- The RYA Dinghy Show
If you're planning a visit to the RYA Dinghy Show in association with Yachts & Yachting (29 February-01 March, Alexandra Palace), the RYA will be on hand to share a wealth of information and advice.
'Ask the RYA' (Panorama Hall)
From club development opportunities and training courses to information on racing and coaching, visitors can get one-to-one advice from RYA staff on a range of subjects in the 'Ask the RYA' area in Panorama Hall throughout the weekend.
Club representatives can sign up for the RYA Club Briefing for important notices and updates from the RYA at 10.30. This will be followed immediately by an RYA Legal Update. Places can be booked in the Club Zone area of the RYA website here.
RYA Sailability (Panorama Hall)
Come and meet the RYA Sailability team for advice on sailing opportunities for disabled people and those who may need specific support to get on the water.
If you're a sailing group or club, find out more about the #MoreThanSailing campaign, how to become an inclusive venue or a Sailability site. If you're a sailor, speak to the team about the upcoming Multiclass Regatta and the Special Olympics or share stories with Sailability ambassador Hannah Shelmerdine who will be available throughout the weekend and speaking on the Great Hall Stage at 11am (Saturday and Sunday).
RYA OnBoard (Panorama Hall)
Find everything you need to know about RYA OnBoard which has introduced more than 900,000 youngsters of all ages and backgrounds to sailing and windsurfing. Discover the broader learning benefits of the sport, how to get on the water at your local OnBoard venue and the upcoming Panerai Challenger Trophy.
RYA Training (Panorama Hall)
Join the celebrations to officially mark 50 years of RYA Training at 11.30 in the Panorama Hall on Saturday 29 February. Whether you're looking to travel, compete or advance your career, speak to the experts from RYA Training who will be happy to answer your questions throughout the show.
The Green Blue (Panorama Hall)
Find out more about 'The Green Blue', the joint environment programme between the RYA and British Marine and speak to a member of the team for practical tips on how we can protect the environment we enjoy sailing in.
Visitors are invited to turn detective and solve the 'Marine CSI Plastic Pollution Challenge' which includes the '60 Second Litter Challenge' and 'Microplastics Under the Microscope' activity. The winner of The Green Blue University Sailing Sustainability Challenge will also be unveiled at 13.15 on Saturday 29 March on the Great Hall Stage.
RYA Membership (Panorama Hall)
Look out for exclusive RYA Membership offers at the Show. To celebrate 50 years of RYA Training sign up for family membership for just £50. While new adult members pay just £20.20 in celebration of the 2020 Olympics.
Visitors to the show can also be in with a chance of winning a Mark Warner holiday at the Levante Beach Resort, in Greece. To be entered in to the free prize draw either sign up for RYA membership at the show or if you are an existing member visit the membership stand and speak to member of the team to enter. Terms and Conditions apply
RYA Publications (C69)
For 2020 check out the new edition of the best-selling title RYA Tactics written by race strategist and Olympic coach, Mark Rushall. Directly after his 'Talking Tactics' coaching session at 12.00 on the Knowledge Zone, Mark will be joined by Olympic Medallist Hannah Mills to sign copies on the RYA Publication stand.
Visitors can also listen to newly launched audiobooks and RYA Members can take advantage of a special 20% show discount. Plus the first 10 people to visit the stand each day will receive a free Tactics eBook so get in there quick!
British Keelboat Sailing, British Youth Sailing and Racing Services (Stand B12)
Ever wondered how to get into keelboat racing? You can find out more about the RYA's match racing programmes, how to apply for the British Keelboat Academy, club verses club racing in the British Keelboat League and many other racing opportunities.
Also on B12 you can find out what British Youth Sailing activity is going on in your region. Come and have a chat about youth and junior racing and what is involved in the Regional Training Groups, National Training, and Youth Squads and beyond.
The Racing Services Team will be on hand throughout the weekend with advice and information on event and race management, race officials, handicapping and racing rules and more.
Buy your tickets at www.dinghyshow.org.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0844 8589069.
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Musto is joining forces with the RYA as the official partner of the RYA Musto Regional Youth Awards, recognising the impact that young people are making within boating.
These awards celebrate the achievements of young people in the sport whether it's on the racecourse, volunteering, instructing, coaching or overcoming adversity.
"The vision is to broaden the existing RYA Youth Awards to better promote and recognise the amazing achievements that take place within sailing, windsurfing and powerboating which, more importantly, inspire others both on the racecourse and elsewhere within boating activity" explains RYA Director of Sport Development Alistair Dickson.
"Musto has long supported sailors from the beginning of their sailing careers, all the way to the pinnacle of the sport," explained Nick Houchin, Head of Marketing at Musto. "The quality and durability of Musto clothing affords sailors of all levels the confidence to push themselves and flourish on the water, safe in the knowledge that their kit won't let them down. The RYA Regional Youth Awards is a really rewarding partnership, supporting grassroots sailing and championing youngsters destined to be game-changers within the sport."
The 10 winners of the 2020 RYA Musto Regional Youth Awards will be revealed at the RYA Dinghy Show on Sunday 01 March at 13.15 on the Great Hall Stage. The awards will be presented by RYA Chairman Chris Preston and the British Sailing Team's John Gimson and Anna Burnet who will fly the flag for Great Britain in the Nacra17 this summer in Tokyo.
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The RYA Dinghy Show 2020, (29 February - 01 March, Alexandra Palace) will be the UK's premier viewing of 'The Foiling Dinghy' along with sister boat, the 'L12 Lowrider' from Advanced Sailing Technologies (AST); see them in the UK for the first time on stand D20.
The Foiling Dinghy has been designed by AST to be an easy to foil sailing dinghy, purpose built to foil with a dual foil system. It's affordable, lightweight and easy to transport, launch and handle on land.
As well as showcasing these great new dinghies The Show will see the launch of new business, 'Dynamic-Sailing', headed up by Stephen Blake who will be working with AST to promote The Foiling Dinghy in the UK.
With over 40 years of sailing experience, Stephen commented: "It's a great time to launch The Foiling Dinghy in the UK, I was so impressed with the boat at the Dusseldorf boat show in January 2020 I knew that we had to showcase the boat in the UK. For me, German design and engineering has delivered a foiling boat that can be enjoyed by the majority that can sail a sailing dinghy, if you can sail a laser 1, you can go foiling with The Foiling Dinghy."
Drop by the stand to chat with Stephen who will be on hand with the manufacturer from Germany, AST, to answer any queries you may have.
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The Green Blue will be returning to Alexandra Palace on the 29th February - 1st March for the RYA Dinghy Show! Following the success of last year's show the environmental programme will once again be holding an exhibitor stand with hands-on activities as well as giving talks on the Great Hall stage.
The Green Blue is the environmental programme which is joint funded by the Royal Yachting Association and British Marine. It aims to inspire sustainable recreational boating for cleaner, healthier waters.
The Green Blue's Campaign Manager, Kate Fortnam, will be joined on stage for both days by The Final Straw's Bianca Carr, and Olympian, Hannah Mills, who is representing The Big Plastic Pledge. You can hear how these three campaigns are all contributing to protecting the waters we sail in as they discuss, 'Dinghy sailing for a Sustainable Future.' The trio will also be open to questions so don't miss your opportunity to join in with the conversation. You can check out The Green Blue's talk at 2.15pm (Sat. & Sun.) on the Great Hall Stage.
After the talk, make sure you drop by The Green Blue's exhibitor stand in the Panorama Hall. Don your lab coat and have a go at being a detective with Marine CSI: Plastic Pollution. Get up close with sand samples and learn just how long it really takes for litter to biodegrade. Guess all the answers correctly and you could be in with a chance of winning a Dry Robe! The daily prize winners will be announced at the end of each day.
For more information about The Green Blue visit: thegreenblue.org.uk
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At the 2020 RYA Dinghy Show Weatherfile.com, developed by Richard Paul Russell Ltd, will be showcasing its range of WeatherFile wind and weather monitoring equipment (stand C9).
Weatherfile.com has been supplying coaches, yacht clubs, watersports centres and events with wind and weather monitoring systems for over 20 years, as well as delivering solutions to the British Sailing Team, professional sailing coaches and numerous sailing and yacht clubs.
Visitors to the Weatherfile.com stand (C9) can also take part in a FREE prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a Kestrel Wind Meter, K1000. One winner will be picked each day of the show with the winner's draw taking place at 15.00 on the stand, so make sure you take part and drop by the stand on Saturday and Sunday at 15.00 to see if you are a winner.
Throughout the weekend Weatherfile.com's team of qualified staff will be available on the stand (C9) to help answer any of your questions and help you find the right products for you.
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For a chance to win a £100 Deck Gear Voucher, meet the Barton Team at the Dinghy Show and Beat the Barton Block Clock on Stand B22. You'll also find the full dinghy equipment range and be able to discover exciting new products launching at the Show.
A race ready Barton rigged Streaker dinghy will take centre stage on the stand showing a selection of products for demonstrations and rigging ideas for all boats. Try out the Barton Ratchet Block, which wins accolades from racing sailors hailing its optimum control capabilities, with a 12 face anodised sheave and a break load of 1200kg! .
The full dinghy equipment range, including new 2020 product launches will be available for show and tell and the Barton experts will be on hand to advise how to optimise your rigging set up for maximum speed and ultimate control. Also, discover the new Quick Cleat models for dinghies, kayaks, water toys and inflatables.
Featured Brokerage
Beautifully maintained Southern Wind 100 with Raised Saloon configuration, Cape Arrow was delivered in 2011 and is presented in excellent condition
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Southern Wind Shipyard (Pty) Ltd
Salita Dinegro 7/1
16123 Genoa Italy
Tel. +39 010 570 4035
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Farr 40 built by Carroll Marine. She is in very good condition and always kept on dry dock. Complete refit done in December 2017-april 2018. During this refit everything was out from the boat and renewed/refitted
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
www.racing-yachts.com
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Latest generation Vismara and Mark Mills composite speed machine with a focus towards effortless fast family bluewater cruising. Huge build specification and fantastic price to attract a quick and simple sale.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Tel UK: +44 (0)1590 673715
Tel ITA: +39 333 7489281
Email:
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
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