In This Issue
• At The Sharp End
• America's Cup: J class to merge as part of AC36 events program reshuffle
• RORC Lockdown Live Series | Time Over Distance
• Harken: You Will Get What You Need. We Will Make Sure
• Yacht Racing Podcast Episode 14 - Boris Herrmann
• Personal Taste - Y Yachts
• J/99: Join the experts for a Live Show with Jeff Johnstone
• WIZARD: Herreshoff's Fishers Island 31
• Tall Ships Races 2020 Postponed To 2021
• New Video Shows Howth Youth Laser Star Eve McMahon in Action
• Letters to the Editor
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Swan 82-010 Grey Goose
• • Outremer 4X - New Boat
• • Victory '83
• The Last Word: Bertrand Russell
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
At The Sharp End
Renowned yachting photographer Ingrid Abery celebrates a pictorial life at the forefront of international sailing regattas. Delving into her extensive archive Ingrid shares gems captured over the past two decades.
With the current situation putting paid to the opening round of the 36th America’s Cup World Series due to take place this week in Cagliari, Sardinia, here is a look back at some highlights from the final exhilarating races of the previous incarnation in Bermuda.
To see more of the selection link through to: www.ingridabery.com
America's Cup: J class to merge as part of AC36 events program reshuffle
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has confirmed that the J-class regattas will be merged with the superyacht events in the upcoming 36th America's Cup.
Earlier the J class managers had announced that the 120-135ft sailing leviathans, which participated in the America's Cup from 1930-1937, would not be sailing as a class in Auckland, as a consequence of the COVID19 virus.
Originally five of the majestic yachts of which only ten were built, were entered in the New Zealand regattas. But most of the current J class are new builds and must be constructed to a unique J class design from that era.
Although an official class event will not now be held, individual J-class can still sail to New Zealand and compete with the superyachts. The re-jigging of the J class event will be part of a reconsideration of the total regatta program, which is expected to expand, due to new events and interest.
Although the J class usually carry around 30 crew, many of these were expected to have been New Zealanders - former America's Cup and Volvo Ocean race crew, who pre-COVID19 who raced onboard the J's as part of the so-called "Seniors Tour".
As an extension to the superyacht regattas, events for super motor yachts could be included in the new program, Hayden Porter, RNZYS CEO told Sail-World. More classic yachts will also be encouraged to complement the strong New Zealand based classic fleet which will compete. Twenty superyachts are expected to compete in racing for their class, which usually requires a minimum length of 120ft to be classified as a superyacht. -- Richard Gladwell
RORC Lockdown Live Series | Time Over Distance
Vol. 4 - Skip Novak
Whitbread Racer and Antarctic Explorer
Born in Chicago in 1952, Skip Novak is best known for his participation in four Whitbread Round the World Yacht Races, including three as skipper with Alaska Eagle, Drum and Fazisi. Simon Le Bon's Drum famously capsized in the 1985 Fastnet Race but went on to compete in the Whitbread Round the World Race, finishing third. In 1989 Skip Novak project-managed the build of the first Soviet entry in the Whitbread Race - as the Iron Curtain was coming down, Novak skippered Fazisi in the round the world race. Wishing to combine his mountaineering skills with sailing, Novak built his first expedition yacht Pelagic in 1987 and has since spent every season in Antarctic waters. www.pelagic.co.uk
Harken: You Will Get What You Need. We Will Make Sure
Do you suddenly have time for a bigger boat project and find you need more Harken products? If you can’t find them at your local shop or at an online dealer, Harken is up and running. We’re here to help you get what you need. Send an email to . Include your contact information and the part numbers and quantities of what you want to buy.
An experienced, caring, motivated Harken team member will return your email with the option that best assures you will receive your products as quickly as possible. Please understand, we’ll work to find you product other ways first, but to keep our Harken resellers healthy during these times, equipment that must be shipped directly from Harken will be sold at suggested retail prices—our dealers normally charge less.
But if you need Harken, Harken will get you Harken.
Yacht Racing Podcast Episode 14 - Boris Herrmann
Our guest on Episode 14 of The Yacht Racing Podcast is the highly accomplished German ocean racer Boris Herrmann. Herrmann has an impressive track record that includes competing in two double handed around the world races - the Global Ocean Race in 2014 (which he won with Felix Oehme) and the Barcelona World Race with...
The post Yacht Racing Podcast Episode 14 - Boris Herrmann appeared first on Yacht Racing Life.
Personal Taste - Y Yachts
When experienced sailors define their own perfect yacht they often find others have been thinking the same thing. If you have a lifetime of experience in the industry you’re better placed than most to pull it off...
When Michael Schmidt wanted a large yacht to go off cruising with his wife, he found nothing on the market - new or second-hand - that came near to meeting his rather exacting requirements. Most people in that position would explain their ideas to a designer and commission a full custom shipyard to build the boat they want, but Schmidt went much further than that and founded a whole new shipyard to ensure that he had total control over every aspect of the build. Unsurprisingly, given Schmidt’s entrepreneurial spirit and keen nose for such things, it turned out that there was a gap in the market for the sort of yacht he had in mind and six years on, his Y Yachts shipyard continues to thrive.
It must be said that Schmidt is neither a typical yacht buyer nor an average sailor. One of Europe’s major yachtbroking networks bears his name; his Yachtwerft Wedel produced some of the fastest IOR racers of the 1980s - boats such as Pinta, Düsselboot, Outsider and Container - and he personally won the Admiral’s Cup for Germany in 1985 as skipper of Rubin.
Full article in the May issue of Seahorse
J/99: Join the experts for a Live Show with Jeff Johnstone
Since 1977, nearly 15000 J/Boats have been launched. The J/99 is the latest design and in many respects, truly innovative as a J Boat. Hull #40 has just been delivered to J/Boats co-founder Rod Johnstone, and nearly 50 boats have been delivered worldwide to date.
Join us for a Live interview with J Boats President Jeff Johnstone, and Key Yachting Sales Director Hannah Le Prevost, for a detailed discussion on the J/99. The live feed will have detailed pictures, videos and the latest updates on the J/99.
This will be an open discussion with viewers able to comment and ask questions.
When: Thursday 30 April 1400 UTC (10am Rhode Island, 3pm UK)
Where: www.facebook.com/KeyYachtingLtd/
WIZARD: Herreshoff's Fishers Island 31
Last week we looked at the beginnings of Capt. Nat's career as "The Wizard of Bristol." Today, thanks to our friends at Off Center Harbor, we get a close look at one of his later and most celebrated designs, the eponymous Fishers Island 31 WIZARD. After successfully completing a 3-year circumnavigation in 1962, she endured decades of stationary neglect. Thanks to a 2017 restoration at Brion Rieff Boatbuilders, she's sailing as beautifully as ever.
Tall Ships Races 2020 Postponed To 2021
Sail Training International has announced that due to the COVID-19 outbreak the Tall Ships Races 2020 has been postponed until next year - the first time this has happened since the event was first held in 1956.
The Tall Ships Race is a huge pubic celebration of youth development and international friendship. During the Cold War years, it was almost alone in bringing together large numbers of young people from both sides of the Iron Curtain - an achievement that resulted in a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
In 2019, over 4,000 young people from 59 different nations took part on 87 vessels. Nearly 6 million visitors went to see the ships in six different ports. The 2020 event was scheduled to start in Lisbon on 2 July and finish in Dunkerque on 9 August, visiting Cadiz and A Coruna en route.
Jonathan Cheshire, Chair of Sail Training International, the UK-based charity that coordinates worldwide sail training, said:
“It is a great sadness to us and this year’s host ports to have to postpone the event until next year, but we all agree that a public gathering of this size is out of the question in the midst of a pandemic. We feel for all the young people who will be disappointed by the decision, but public health and safety must take priority. The financial impact on the charity will be serious, but survivable; and before the outbreak, we had just commenced a search for new sponsorship to put the event on a more secure long-term footing.
“We are determined that the postponed event next year will be as rich and rewarding an experience as usual. The interaction between young people from so many nations, on board and in port, is a powerful catalyst for cross-cultural tolerance and understanding. The experience of life at sea gives young people unparalleled opportunities to learn responsibility, self-confidence, trust, and teamwork. In our highly managed and mechanised world it offers unmediated contact with one of the last great wildernesses.”
New Video Shows Howth Youth Laser Star Eve McMahon in Action
A new sailing video of youth Laser Radial star Eve McMahon gives a clear understanding of why the Howth Yacht Club ace was awarded the 2019 Irish Youth Sailor of the Year Award in February.
The video below prepared for HYC members also gives an interview with the rising star who is one of four sailors seeking the Irish Radial nomination for the Tokyo Olympic Regatta, a trial that sees her up against Olympic silver medalist Annalise Murphy.
McMahon had an outstanding 2019 season becoming Irish youth national Radial Champion at Royal Cork in May 2019 before going on to take the Under-17 World title in Kingston, Ontario in August, also impressively finishing 3rd in the overall competition.
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 Tom Hayhoe and Natalie Jobling, J105 Mostly Harmless
As we have done for the past ten years with Mostly Harmless, once social-distancing restrictions are relaxed we will be entering as many Solent races as possible. However, we fear that continuing restrictions may prohibit fully crewed racing for some time. In the meantime, there may be a window for double handed sailors to train or race informally before restrictions are completely removed. We are impatient to get sailing again and hope others will join us to seize the opportunity.
Anyone interested in joining the Solent IRC Double WhatsApp Group should email with details including a mobile phone number so they can receive an invitation to the group.
Featured Brokerage
2006 Swan 82 'Grey Goose'. 2,950,000 EUR VAT Paid. Located in Valencia, Spain
This Nautor's Swan 82 FD "Grey Goose" has been built for two defined missions. One is luxurious and short handed family cruising with performance but without any stress on deck. The second mission is competitive racing in all conditions inshore as well as offshore and even transatlantic racing. She is not a pure race boat even more she demonstrates the real Swan DNA by accomplishing both missions in a perfect manner beeing comfortable, sea worthy and very fast. She has proven her outstanding performance in several racing events and in numerous family holidays cruises.
See listing details in Nautors Swan brokerage
Contact
Lorenzo Bortolotti
Nautor's Swan Brokerage
T. +377 97 97 95 07
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Outremer 4X - New Boat
Outremer 4X is the fastest sailboat in its category. Its outstanding performance ensures enjoyment and safety and allowed it to earn the distinction as the European Yacht of the Year 2017
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
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1983 12 Metre Victory 83. All Reasonable Offers Considered USD. Located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Victory'83 - 2 Time World Champion - completely updated, fully tuned up with an extensive sail inventory. A proven Winner - add crew, water and GO!. Complete program for sale with tender and container.
Victory'83 received a complete refit and update in 2008. The first twelve to be fully outfitted and laid out for the larger crew size permitted in the current 12M Rule. The original hull, keel and tab was retained. We added new cockpits and foredeck, rudder, winches, hardware, spars/rigging, electronics, hydraulics and of course, fairing and paint - in essence a new boat! She set a new standard for the Class and has earned an enviable race record. The Owner is retiring from Twelve Metre Racing and would like to pass her on to a new custodian!
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Victory83.com
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. -- Bertrand Russell
Editorial and letter submissions to
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.eurosailnews.com/advertise.html