In This Issue
Guest Editorial: World Sailing
Spinlock IRC Welsh National Championship
Nathanael Herreshoff, Steam Engineer: The MIT Years (Part II)
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Sea History Magazine
2020 J/24 World Championship Postponed to September 2021
Norman Long
Letters to the Editor
Featured Brokerage:
• • Beneteau First 40.7- Philosophie IV
• • Marten 49 - Summer Storm
• • Bagliettto 64 Ft Marconi Cutter - EA
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

Guest Editorial: World Sailing
John C. Quigley | Chief Executive | QXI INTERNATIONAL

This is not intended as an assault on the incumbent management team and Board, they are dealing with what is in front of them now, but it would seem that there may be better ways to go forwards from here other than 'all as before'.

However do forgive me if the following observations are considered to be overly simplistic.

I have not seen the World Sailing operating management accounts but presumably the move to London and ongoing presence there does create a substantial financial burden on the organisation.

No doubt at the time this move made sense as part of a development strategy envisaged by a new leadership team - which has now changed - as has presumably the strategic vision to some degree.

With the reported financial health issues, together with the impact of the current virus pandemic, is this not perhaps time for a proactive rethink of the roles, structure and financing of the global organising body of the sport sailing, by experienced and intelligent leading minds in the sport? By this I mean people who have a passion for and understand sailing in all its forms, and also have broad experience in international business as well as the sport, who may be able to shape a vision and pathway that is fresh and both sensible and viable for the good of all participants and the sport. The world has changed dramatically in the past 20 years, even the past 10 years. Have we kept up?

Survival often means radical change not tinkering with the cogs.

For instance - perhaps ……..

1. What are the key functions and roles required by the global participant membership (at all levels) of such an organisation?

Being the custodian and coordinator of the ongoing standards and health of the sport on behalf of the interested parties, rather than view it as a Governing Body overseeing from above, perhaps revert to the style of International Sailing Federation providing governance services to its international membership - the people who sail.

2. In addition - is there a requirement to contribute and offer services to competitive sailing (racing) alone, or to leisure sailing as well? How broad should the scope and reach be?

3. Where should it operate from?

Common sense says a location by the sea where there is active participation in sailing of all types. Or that by its presence it helps develop that activity.

We live in the age of information, data and communications being on the 'Cloud'. Why does there have to be a static longterm HQ? Perhaps the base should be located in places that are keen and willing to support and provide facilities to host the offices of the organisation - for say 3 - 4 years.

We have seen this happen with the Volvo Ocean Race with a very good relocation to Alicante from Southampton.

4. Should there be multiple international representative offices?

Perhaps your central hub has small teams in a variety of remote locations - also being willingly hosted by local city authorities or organisations - independently and proactively engaged with a designated geographic region and those MNA's - all the while liaising and aligning with the central hub and other remote centres through modern technology?

In the sailing world people are by nature adventurous; and young, energetic and intelligent enthusiasts abound in our sport. All of whom are of the 'International Generation'.

'Marins sans Frontieres'. This should not be a job for life - just part of a career contributing to your sport.

5. Financing the operations and activities.

As many people have said before the Elephant in the corner is always the Olympics and the IOC funding contributions.

Olympic sailing and the pathway towards it is important to thousands of people and rightly so, but it is not the whole sport.

Therefore stop it being a distraction and ring fence its activities and finances - stand alone.

Therefore the Olympic Sailing Affiliate, as organiser and coordinator covers its overhead from this and any other sponsorship or funding it can raise, and distributes the remainder of funds to MNA's where needed. (i.e. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Brunei, and others are hugely wealthy nations that they should be able to self fund their MNA's and the funds be used to foster the Olympic spirit where it is really needed).

The main activities and role related to global sailing and racing must raise funding or sponsorship / financial support from other sources.

As a Federation actively representing the interest of the sport of sailing / racing participants and delivering tangible value, I am sure we can all see ways that such funding could be secured, but it needs to be a new approach.

Different for sure, but new and of its time perhaps.

I will wait to be shot down in flames - I know there are strong views out there and many who are far more knowledgable on the subject that I am - but open debate and innovation is healthy.

Spinlock IRC Welsh National Championship
The Welsh IRC Welsh Championships 2020, is scheduled to take place from Friday August 14th to Sunday August 16th. Despite the current restrictions, work is continuing from home on all of the organisational aspects of the championships, and we remain committed to running the event if at all possible.

Stephen Tudor - Championship Secretary said - "We continue to move forward with plans for the event and remain hopeful that by the time we get to mid-August - still four months' away - the necessity to socially distance ourselves will have reduced sufficiently so that we can run some great boat racing in Pwllheli, following an ISORA race over from Dún Laoghaire"

In addition to our traditional two IRC classes and NHC cruiser class, we have added a new class for 2020, an offshore/coastal class racing coastal courses under IRC. This class will aim to race 20-35 mile courses, and the Saturday race will incorporate both the King Constantine Cup (a club race) and the Postponed ISORA coastal race, part of the Welsh Coastal series.

Should Government restrictions and guidance change, we can adapt some our our classes and racetrack styles, switching on or off various components with the minimum of lead time, and allowing us significant leeway - perhaps until the mid July - before we need to make any big decisions.

The safety of participants and volunteers working behind the scenes is foremost in our minds of course, but providing that we can run an event that complies with all guidance in place at the time, then we fully intend to do so. I suspect there will be a lot of sailors desperate to get boats on the water by August!

The Notice of Race is published online at the championship website www.ircwelshchamps.com and further details regarding the coastal class will be added when we have more clarity, but will certainly be confirmed in the SI's, scheduled to be published by July.

The entry procedure is open for all classes, and camper-van bookings can be made via the Plas Heli website. See Camping booking details here.

Any boat owners requiring accommodation locally, or who have any questions or suggestions relating to the planning of the championships, please reply to this email or contact and one of the event team would be delighted to help in anyway.

Nathanael Herreshoff, Steam Engineer: The MIT Years (Part II)
VIOLET under sail. Image by N.L. Stebbins courtesy Historic New England. Click on image to enlarge.

Nathanael remained involved in sailing yachts and designing boats during his three years at MIT. He was invited to the first meeting of the Boston Yacht Club in November 1866 and was elected a member at the Club's second meeting that December. Dexter Stone - who for a short time had been a partner in Nathanael's brother John's boatbuilding business - was a founding member of the Club and later served as the Club's measurer. Eben Denton, the owner of VIOLET, modeled by Nathanael and built in 1866, was also a founding member. Both these men would certainly have been well aware of Nathanael's abilities as a helmsman and designer.

Soon after becoming a member, the Club asked Nathanael to develop a measurement formula and time allowance rules for handicapping the various sized yachts in their races. The resulting direct reading time allowance tables were first issued in 1867 and remained in wide use for well over a century. It is truly remarkable to think an 18-year-old college student was recognized as having the necessary mathematical skills and understanding of sailing yacht performance to be assigned such a task. Nathanael resigned from the Boston Yacht Club upon leaving MIT in1869 but was made an honorary member in 1877 and served as Rear Commodore in 1891.

An alternative theory about NGH's job offer at Corliss being made through an MIT connection (discussed in Part I) comes from another account that states Nathanael became acquainted with George Corliss at the Boston Yacht Club. Although George Corliss does not appear to have been a member, it is certainly possible another Club member provided a recommendation or introduction which lead to a job offer.

Full article: herreshoff.org

Seahorse May 2020
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

World news
Unbowed, and growing, a rush to new builds (amen to that), staying (120 per cent) focused, a blinding return to form and a mood change in the US of A. Patrice Carpentier, Ivor Wilkins, Halvard Mabire, Kevin Shoebridge, Ben Ainslie, Tom Slingsby, Blue Robinson, Dobbs Davis

Let strong classes lead the way
When you've been the world's biggest sailmaker and the king of two major sporting disciplines, then your opinions warrant a proper audience. Neil Pryde talks to Oyvind Bjordal

Stay classy
We've seen some shockers in recent years but the standard of racing yacht motherships appears to be back on the rise again. Iain Mcallister

Phoney war
The enigma of four completely different AC75s was only made worse with the cancellation of the AC World Series in Sardinia. Andy Claughton

Planting the seed
Seems strange but the Botin-designed Deep Blue is the first new racing Maxi launch for close to 10 years. Jocelyn Bleriot and Adolfo Carrau

Simple pleasures
Will Ricketson

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Sea History Magazine
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2020 J/24 World Championship Postponed to September 2021
The International J/24 Class Association (IJCA) and the Parkstone Yacht Club in Poole United Kingdom today announced that the 2020 J/24 World Championship scheduled for September 12-18, 2020 will be postponed until September 24-October 2, 2021.

"With the current COVID-19 situation, it is looking very likely that the lockdown in the UK is going to carry on for some time yet, and at this time no indication has been given on how an exit policy will work," commented Bryan Drake, Regatta Chair. In addition to health and safety concerns, travel restrictions are likely to remain for some time as well as limited access to yacht clubs and marinas.

"The IJCA is extremely fortunate to have incredible World Championship hosts committed to the next four years that allow for this scheduling change," said Nancy Zangerle, IJCA Chair. "We hope this approach will allow our Class members and our hosts to plan accordingly. At this time, of greatest importance is the health and well-being of our J/24 family. We all long for the time when we can return to the water."

The IJCA World Council met via phone conference on April 20, and is able to confirm that all previously approved World Championships for 2020 through 2023 have agreed to shift as follows:
2021 World Championship, September 24-October 2, Parkstone Yacht Club, Poole UK
2022 World Championship, March (exact dates To Be Announced), Mendoza, Argentina
2023 World Championship, July 16-23, Corpus Christi, Texas USA
2024 World Championship, dates and exact location To Be Announced, Greece

j24class.org

Norman Long
It is with sadness that we learn of the death of our fellow Corinthian Norman Long who was a great contributor to Irish and International sailing since the late sixties. My memory of Norman appearing on the sailing scene was in a Mirror dinghy with his signature white construction helmet and impish attitude. He was an oddity- an English adult sailing in what was then a embryonic junior class. But it was this that endeared everybody to Norman he didn't care and his enjoyment was infectious. He with the late Theo Harris founded the Irish Mirror Class. They, as Secretary and Chairman, guided it in its early years to become the largest Irish dinghy fleet, training hundreds of juniors and producing three Irish Mirror World Champions. While racing Theo in Mirrors in Dun Laoghaire Harbour in the winter of 1970 they decided it would be fun to have a series of races for Mirrors and thus the DMYC frostbite was founded in 1971 which is run to this day almost fifty years later.

He graduated from Mirrors to the Glen class in Dublin Bay having found a Glen in Dickies Yard in Holyhead. They launched the boat to sail it back to Dun Laoghaire whereupon it promptly sank! After a soaking, the planks tightened and they completed the voyage home to the Royal Irish YC.

His love of organising led him into race organisation, management and judging. He was race officer for many years at the annual Dublin Bay and Alfred regattas. He also served for many years as Senior Race Officer for West Highland Race week, which requires a robust constitution for the heaving seas and an enduring ability to hold your Malt, neither of which was a challenge to Norman. He was one of Irelands first World Sailing International Judges (then ISAF) and served for over twenty years at various regattas in Ireland and around the world. He also provided support for many prospective IJ's such as the late Paul Murphy and Tony O'Gorman. He was elected in the late 1990's Commodore of the Royal Alfred YC and served with distinction for three years. During his tenure there were a total of four International race officials from three disciplines on the committee; befitting the club that wrote the first Racing Rules of Sailing.

He was an avid chorister and a member of the Waterfront Players, an irregular troupe of actors, singers and musicians who entertained members of the Dun Laoghaire yacht clubs for many years.

Thank you Norman for all you did for the sport of sailing. RIP -- Gordon Davies IJ

Letters To The Editor -
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.

* From Craig Dymock:

I fear your correspondent stating that the Fastnet Race was suspended in 1937 due to WW2 (Eurosail April 20th) may not have got his history quite right. In every historic source I can find including those of the RORC states it was run in 1937 and won by Yacht "Zeearend". American's having done so well in previous races this time it was won by a boat from Holland, thus prompting a famous comment by one of the race's great chroniclers and participants, the American journalist Alf Loomis: "For once the race wasn't won by a damned Yankee; no, the winner was a blasted Dutchman".

The Fastnet was run again in 1939, this time won by the famous yacht "Bloodhound" (whose mast now adorns the RYS start line at Cowes). The race was suspended 1941 until 1945 once hostilities had started between Germany and the UK and was reinstated in 1947.

It intrigued me that there was a 1939 Fastnet Race at all, so with a little time on my hands at the moment, I decided to have a look in my own archives. The excellent Ian Dear book cataloging the history of the RORC "The Royal Ocean Racing Club - The first 75 years" tells the story and I thought it might be of interest to your readers.

Not only was the war just one month away but there were three entries from Germany. Yacht "Roland von Bremen" which had competed in the 1937 race and two Kriegsmarine (The German Navy) entries, "Walkure" and the 60ft Yawl "Nordwind".

"Nordwind" broke the course record set in 1926 but wasn't placed on handicap however "Roland von Bremen" went on to come third overall.

Dear writes; "At the after dinner race the "Roland von Bremen's" skipper made a speech about how the Germans intended to win the 1941 Fastnet. No one present was left in any doubt what he was alluding to, and when the German crews gave the Nazi salute as "Nordwind's" skipper was handed his trophies they were roundly booed".

Thought this might brighten up an otherwise dull day indoors!

* From David Brunskill re: World Sailing Finances

The United Kingdom currently is host to around 1200 international Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) , everything from "Amnesty International" to "World Youth Service and Enterprise". They collectively employ thousands of British employees, support the office property market and retail suppliers of everything from computers to stationery. Their visitors support the hotels, restaurants, off duty leisure activities and international transport services for which London in particular , at its hub excels.

World Sailing (WS) is one such organisation. As at 31 December 2018 World Sailing (UK) Ltd. reported turnover of £3,175,227, paid taxes of £33,706 and had 30 employees (most of whom are British). The value to the economy is not just to the taxman, but to all the other services WS supports, the jobs available to British citizens and the value of the amounts paid to our hospitality and travel services by the many overseas visitors to London.

WS has been a relatively small but important contributor to the economy of the United Kingdom for many years. I do not resent WS taking advantage of the current Covid 19 financial arrangements. Far from it. If these and other arrangements persuade WS and other NGO's to remain in the United Kingdom after Brexit and for other NGOs to join them, then that's fine by me.

Taking advantage of the Furlough and other arrangements for UK limited liabilities is a matter of sensible and prudent financial management, freely available to WS and supporting its decision to remain in this country when its location was last reviewed.

WS should be congratulated, not criticised for accepting the Covid 19 arrangements of its host country.

* From Morty (Peter Morton): re: World Sailing

In fairness the UK Revenue authorities have been collecting tax from IYRU/ ISAF / World Sailing employees for years. However, my understanding of the British furlough offer is to protect those jobs in " Viable companies" for the future and mainly for those who have genuinely lost their job through Covid 19 and CAN'T work from home. Hmmm!

This begs the question, is World Sailing still viable and have a future and if not I hope HMRC have a close look at who authorised this application.

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