In This Issue
• The Ocean Race: Libby Greenhalgh on the 2021-22 route
• Sir Peter Blake's famous red socks were meant to be pink
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• RORC Lockdown Live Series | Time Over Distance
• Storm Trysail Club's 75th Block Island Race Postponed to 2021
• Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta 2020 cancelled
• Sailing Can Help Companies Rebuild Themselves Around Positive Messages
• Safety-At-Sea Video Library Continues to Grow
• It's Official! Croatia is Now Open to Sailors
• SailGP auctions ride to benefit COVID-19 relief
• Featured Brokerage:
• • SW110 Thalima
• • Johan Anker 49Ft Q-Class Sloop - Leonore
• • J/133 - Hephzibah
• The Last Word: Creative Talent Agency
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
The Ocean Race: Libby Greenhalgh on the 2021-22 route
British professional weather forecaster and ocean racing navigator Libby Greenhalgh made her name in The Ocean Race during the 2014-15 edition when she took the navigators seat aboard the all-female entry Team SCA. In the last race she was called on to take over as navigator of the Hong Kong entry Team Scallywag from Cape Town onwards.
In the latest of our exclusive series of interviews with Ocean Race sailors past and present we quiz Greenhalgh on the challenge facing the teams in the next edition which is scheduled to start in the Autumn of 2021.
What was your immediate reaction to the confirmed route for the next edition of the race?
The two things that struck me were firstly that the leg from Cape Town, South Africa to Shenzhen, China will be an absolute monster, and secondly the number of stops there are going to be in Europe.
The big leg to Shenzhen is going to take in excess of 30 days and covers new waters for the race. For me that's exciting as it is an area of the ocean that you don't normally necessarily rush to traverse - but ten that makes it interesting and exciting. That said though, it is likely to be slooooow at times.
The number of European stops means that after racing around the world you have these mini races at the end which are super intense and almost more knackering than the longer legs. This can be difficult to deal with because you have already done so much to get that point and then the race can be decided in the short, fast blasts.
Full interview in YachtRacing.life
Sir Peter Blake's famous red socks were meant to be pink
Sir Peter Blake's famous red socks might have been pink had his wife Pippa had her way.
The month of May is a time for reflection on the life of the iconic New Zealand sailor.
On May 13, 1995 he led Team New Zealand to their historic America's Cup victory in San Diego, making this the 25th anniversary. On May 22, 1990 he guided Steinlager 2 across the finish line to win the Whitbread round the world race.
Blake's good friend Christian Fevrier, a French photographer and yachting historian hired to record the 1995 America's Cup campaign, has delightfully told the tale behind the red socks that became a key fundraising drive for the breakthrough win and have remained a Team New Zealand trademark ever since.
Duncan Johnstone's article in Stuff.co.nz
Seahorse June 2020
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Into the third dimension
There has been little noise around the decision to allow in autopilots for crewed offshore races. But with the latest pilots from France things are not going to be quite what many seem to think. Vincent Riou, Fred Augendre and Matthieu Robert set out the new landscape
99 years young
The Anderson course has long been a favourite among team-racers especially; time to catch up with the man who gave it its name. Carol Cronin sits down with Harry Anderson for a lifetime of sailing anecdotes in an hour
Number One
The top offshore boat in Australia... no decision there, 'mate'. Rob Kothe digs into the Ichi Ban secrets with Will Oxley and Matt Allen
Starting at the top
Holding up a superyacht mast or getting the power from the engine to the wheels on a 950hp racecar are a relative walk in the park when your first project was creating carbon cables for a 124-metre suspension bridge
A different (round the) world
Without modern media tools and satellite communications there would be no modern round the world racing... it's that simple
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RORC Lockdown Live Series | Time Over Distance
Rolex Fastnet Race Course' with Ian 'Soapy' Moore
Ian 'Soapy' Moore hails from Northern Ireland but has lived in Cowes, Isle of Wight for many years. As a navigator, Ian has a highly impressive record with big event wins literally running off the page: Volvo Ocean Race, Transatlantic Race, Rolex Sydney Hobart, Newport Bermuda Race, RORC Caribbean 600, Transpac, Rolex Middle Sea Race, Rolex Giraglia, HK Vietnam Race, and Round Ireland. One big overall win has eluded him though - in nine attempts at the Rolex Fastnet Race, Moore's team has made the podium twice, but failed to win the Royal Ocean Racing Club's flagship race.
Ian is fascinated by the Rolex Fastnet Race and is a leading expert on offshore racing tactics and strategy. He analyses the new route, giving expert advice on the nuances of the famous offshore classic scheduled to start on Sunday 8th August 2021.
Storm Trysail Club's 75th Block Island Race Postponed to 2021
Storm Trysail Club has been monitoring conditions since our last communication about the race. At that time, we said that we would make a final go / no-go decision by May 15th. The timing of this decision is driven by a variety of health and safety, logistical, and practical factors. Although nothing is certain in these uncertain times, after closely reviewing all of the available data and resources from Federal and State Governments, World and US Sailing, and other authorities the Club does not feel that conditions on June 19th will be such that it can responsibly hold a start. We are, of course, disappointed that the race will not be held but we look forward to a spectacular 75th running next May.
Competitors may: a) request a full refund of their entry fee, b) ask that their entry fee be credited towards next year's race, or c) donate their entry fee to the Storm Trysail Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) foundation dedicated to safety at sea education and the promotion of youth sailor's pursuit of safe offshore sailing. Please e-mail Executive Director Whitney Kneisley at with your preference.
Event Chairs Ray Redniss and Doug Lynn convey their thanks to all boat owners who have either entered, or had planned to enter, the race. The Storm Trysail Club would also like to thank this year's sponsor, Harbor Point. We very much look forward to welcoming them and everyone to the 75th Block Island Race next May 28 and to a kicking party next May 30.
Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta 2020 cancelled
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the South Coast's most popular yacht club regatta has been cancelled this year, but dates are already set for the event's return on 16th-18th July 2021.
"It is with great regret that the Flag Officers and General Committee of the Royal Solent Yacht Club have agreed that the 2020 Taittinger RSYC Regatta must be cancelled," confirmed the club's Commodore, Anne Kyle, on Friday (15/05/20) from the RSYC's base in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.
Following record competitor numbers and highly-encouraging feedback at the 2019 regatta, cancelling this popular event - scheduled for 17th-19th July this year - was a supremely tough call: "We have taken this difficult decision after much deliberation and consultation with our sponsors - Champagne Taittinger supported by River Yar Boatyard and Wight Marine," Anne Kyle continues. "After a thorough evaluation, the RSYC believes that this is the right decision for our members, staff, competitors and volunteers."
At the 2019 Taittinger Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta, 214 competing boats and around 1,500 racing crew and shore-based friends and family filled Yarmouth
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our past competitors for their support over the last 12 years and to assure you the regatta will be back and we very much look forward to seeing you once again," says Anne Kyle. "In the meantime, once current restrictions are eased, albeit with social distancing, we hope you will at least be able to visit the RSYC this summer."
Sailing Can Help Companies Rebuild Themselves Around Positive Messages
With the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the whole planet, it has meant a great deal of uncertainty for sport in general and sailboat races are no exception. What will the impact be on our sport? What changes will there be to the economic model? How do races need to change? How will sponsors behave?
To try to get to grips with this new situation, Tip & Shaft is carrying out a series of five interviews about the future of sail racing. Our third guest, Nathalie Quere is an expert in sponsorships, who worked for Infonet and BT, where she developed partnerships with Alinghi (America's Cup in 2001-2003) and OC Sport (Vendee Globe 2008-2009 alongside Sebastien Josse). Until last year she was head of the AkzoNobel brand - whose campaign she led in the last Volvo Ocean Race. Today, she works as a consultant and managing director of W Ocean Racing, a management company involved in sailing which she co-founded with the Australian skipper, Chris Nicholson.
Let's start by talking about your news. Can you tell us about your projects with W Ocean Racing?
We're currently working on a campaign for the next edition of The Ocean Race. We are looking for partners and have had lots of business meetings over the past year. These talks are well advanced, but came to a standstill more or less because of the virus. We hope and for the moment we believe it can happen, that the race will take place next year. Of course, we are keeping a close eye at what is happening with the Vendee Globe, because even if I have seen that things look like being confirmed, the two races are linked. We are still running the AkzoNobel's VO65, because AkzoNobel decided to continue to make the most of their commitment in the last Volvo Ocean via tours that we organised in 2019 and 2020 with clients. Now within the campaign we are running for The Ocean Race, we have not ruled out taking part with a 60-foot Imoca and we are also looking at the Vendee Globe. I know that Chris really wants to do it (see our interview from October 2018), so we are looking at the possibility of a programme which allows us to do both.
What impact has the crisis around the Covid 19 pandemic had on your project?
Everything came to a halt in April. The companies we were in talks with told us that for the moment, they could not say anything more for the time being. But that was not necessarily a definitive refusal and we agreed to get back in contact once out the other side. At the same time, we are aware that we have lost a lot of time; I think we have lost six months in terms of commercial work, because there are bound to be questions about budgets which were either planned or being talked about. We had hoped to complete our funding by the end of the year but now we are really looking at the end of the second quarter of 2021.
The full interview in Tip & Shaft
Safety-At-Sea Video Library Continues to Grow
Free Safety-At-Sea Video Series Library Grows
Created by the Storm Trysail Foundation, the Offshore Safety-At-Sea Video Series serves as a resource for all sailors. Normally, reserved for our seminar participants only, the Storm Trysail Club started releasing a 15-25 minute video each Friday for sailors to learn and enjoy while staying home. All but one of the nine videos had been posted so far with the final video on the "Ocean Prediction Center" to be released next Friday.
Since the first release in early April, over 50,000 minutes of Safety-At-Sea Videos have been watched by our fellow sailors. We are thrilled these have been so well received and thank everyone for watching, sharing, commenting, and learning with us.
To catch up visit the playlists on our Facebook or YouTube pages.
It's Official! Croatia is Now Open to Sailors
Croatia is open again to sailors! Croatia is considered one of the safest countries to travel to at the moment, having handled the Coronavirus pandemic in a paradigmatic way.
Entering Croatia. Entering Croatia with a Booked Yacht Charter, you don't have to self isolate. Here are the things you need to know:
1. No need to stay on the boat. Croatia has already reopened most of its restaurants, bars and other businesses.
2. No navigating restrictions within Croatia's territories. Explore the land of more than 1000 islands.
3. Cross the borders with your Charter Documents. You will need to have with you the Official Crewlist and the Charter Contract / Boarding Pass.
4. You will have the best experience ever, after being locked down for weeks!
Start Sailing Again. Here at SailChecker we have a list of criteria our partners should meet, in order to ensure high quality service for our clients. Now more than ever, we ensure the highest disinfection standards at all bases and yachts.
SailGP auctions ride to benefit COVID-19 relief
SailGP and the United States SailGP Team have joined the growing list of celebrities, sports teams and leagues taking part in Fanatics' "All In Challenge" to support COVID-19 relief. An experience like no other, the winning bidder will be the first fan ever to ride on the world's fastest sail race boat as part of an ultra-exclusive VIP experience during a grand prix event in 2021.
With the goal of providing food for those in need, the All In Challenge has raised more than $42 million to-date by challenging the sports and entertainment industry to submit experiences for auction or sweepstakes.
As part of this effort, SailGP and the United States SailGP Team are offering a one-of-a-kind experience at either the San Francisco or New York SailGP event in 2021, including:
- Participation in a practice session onboard the U.S. SailGP Team's F50 catamaran
- Behind-the-scenes tour with five-time America's Cup winner Sir Russell Coutts and U.S. SailGP Team helmsman Rome Kirby
- VIP Adrenaline Lounge access for a premium race day experience
- Race viewing on a high-speed chase boat
- Dinner with Rome Kirby and the U.S. SailGP Team
- A complete kit of U.S. SailGP Team swag
- Flight and accommodation
"We couldn't be more excited to accept the 'All In Challenge' and join with other sports in helping to give back to all the frontline workers and people in need during this crisis," said Kirby. "We're looking forward to giving the winner of our auction the ride of their life."
Fans can go to sail.gp/allinchallenge to bid on the experience. The auction ends Wednesday, May 20 at 9 p.m. ET. All proceeds will benefit Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, America's Food Fund, Feeding America and the World Central Kitchen.
Featured Brokerage
2010 SW110 Thalima. 6,200,000 VAT Paid EUR. Located in Barcelona, Spain.
SW110 Thalima is Southern Wind flagship. This yacht is the perfect blend of a high-performance and nimble yacht, fun to steer, aesthetically linear and a bluewater yacht to sail around the world in safety and comfort.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Southern Wind Shipyard (Pty) Ltd
Salita Dinegro 7/1,
16123 Genoa, Italy
Tel. +39010 570 4035
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1925 Johan Anker 49Ft Q-Class Sloop - Leonore. 600000 EUR. Located in France.
This thoroughbred sailing yacht continues to turn heads and offer only transom views. Q-Class yachts offer fun racing for a bunch of friends in boats that look gorgeous - at the dock or on the water - with performance that lives up to looks.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Barney Sandeman
+44 (0)1202 330077
22 Market Street
Poole, Dorset
BH15 1NF
United Kingdom
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2003 J/133 - Hephzibah. 145000 GBP. Located in Lymington, UK.
A vinylester version of the popular fast cruising J/133. Well setup for coastal cruising and easily handled by two. Sensible spec and in the water, ready to sail.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Ben Cooper
Telephone: +44(0) 1590 679222
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
Eventually, everyone will be quarantined to their houses with no sports to watch... and in 9 months from now a boom of babies will be born... and we will call them Coronials. -- Creative Talent Agency
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