In This Issue
• World Sailing Election Committee Statement
• Rolex Middle Sea Race 2020: In The Balance
• INEOS TEAM UK christen ‘Britannia’
• Audi Sailing Champions League Final
• Is Olympic Offshore Racing Still Under Threat?
• 18' Skiffs Spring Championship, Race 2
• Swan One Design Worlds: New World Champions Crowned
• Farr 40 Australia One Design Trophy
• Cruising Association Brexit VAT Briefing
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Kinetic Catamarans - KC62
• • Sly 48 C
• • Ker 40 - "Keronimo"
• The Last Word: John Oliver
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
World Sailing Election Committee Statement
127 Member National Authorities submitted a verified vote to the Independent Scrutineer by the deadline of 1500hrs UTC on Friday 16 October. The ballot papers were sent to the Election Committee by secure means on Friday evening with all identifying information removed.
The members of the Election Committee have now counted and verified the votes and met today to agree the results.
No discrepancies or irregularities in the votes have been reported by the Independent Scrutineer or by the members of the Committee.
Presidential Election
As required by Regulation 4.2, a candidate for President must obtain more than 50% of the votes in order to be elected. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, then a runoff vote must be held between the top two candidates.
No candidate has received more than 50% of the votes. A second round of voting will therefore be required.
The second round will be between:
ANDERSEN, Kim (DEN)
QUANHAI, Li (CHN)
Voting packs will be sent to MNA Officers on the morning of Tuesday 20 October 2020. Voting will open when the packs are distributed and will close at 1500hrs UTC on Friday 23 October 2020.
The number of votes received by each candidate will be published following the declaration of the results at the General Assembly.
Vice Presidential Election
Regulation 4.3 sets out how candidates for Vice President are elected.
Following the counting of the votes, the Committee declares that a result has been obtained and no further rounds of voting are necessary.
As required by Article C.4(g) of the Constitution, the results will be notified to the General Assembly during its meeting on Sunday 1 November, and afterwards on the website and by written notice to all World Sailing Members.
Rolex Middle Sea Race 2020: In The Balance
Looking at the overall picture, the five racing multihulls all passed Stromboli between 0400 and 0800 CEST. Ricardo Pavoncelli’s Mana (ITA) and Giovanni Soldini’s Maserati Multi70 (ITA) leading the way. Around this same period the front running monohulls were exiting the Messina Strait. At 0545 CEST I Love Poland, skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski, was first through the narrow stretch dividing Sicily from mainland Italy, with Wild Joe (HUN), E1 (POL) and Aragon (NED) popping clear about 45 minutes later. The remainder of the fleet were hugging the mainland shore searching for positive counter current and any available breeze to help them up the 20nm channel.
As we head into the evening of the second day, Mana and Maserati are locked together north of Palermo, midway between Capo Gallo and the island of Ustica. They have 50nm to run before making the turn south, just off Trapani and the Egadi Islands. Some 30nm behind, Ultim’ Emotion (FRA), Shockwave (AUS) and Primonial (FRA) are engaged in their own battle. According to the forecast, there is still north westerly wind filling the Sicily Strait. It is not set to last and there look to be holes in the pressure between the multihulls and the grail-like turning point.
For the leading monohulls, a mix of IRC Class 1 and Class 2 yachts, the second key juncture of the race has been negotiated. I Love Poland led the selection round the volcano of Stromboli and the islet of Strombolicchio at 1230 CEST. The Swan 50 Balthasar was one of the last to round, three and a half hours later, but reassuringly in the lead provisionally after time correction. With so much of the race still to go, it will be a small comfort for the Belgian crew, but a nice present for their skipper, VOR veteran Louis Balcaen, who celebrates his birthday today. Eric de Turckheim’s Teasing Machine (FRA) is three minutes behind on corrected time, with Freccia Rossa (ITA) in third, a further three minutes back. This group is now stretching its legs as best it can, heading west, with the likelihood of a long and difficult night ahead.
INEOS TEAM UK christen ‘Britannia’
INEOS TEAM UK has officially christened their America’s Cup race boat ‘Britannia’ from the team’s base in Auckland, New Zealand, three months before the start of racing for the 36th America’s Cup.
Britannia, the team’s second AC75, pays homage one of Britain’s most famous racing yachts as INEOS TEAM UK seek to become the first British team ever to win the America’s Cup, the world’s oldest international sporting trophy.
From the historic challenges of Sir Thomas Lipton through to Sir T.O.M. Sopwith and more, the ‘Auld Mug’ has evaded British hands for 170 years ever since the yacht America won the first edition of the regatta in 1851 and took the famed trophy off of British shores.
Standing beside the iconic masterpiece of Scottish engineering, The Forth Bridge, Elaine Wyllie MBE, founder of The Daily Mile, an initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of children worldwide which now has over 3 million children walking or running a mile a day globally, officially christened Britannia virtually via a video into the team’s Auckland base, drawing on the British and Scottish heritage in the America’s Cup.
As Elaine could not be attend in person the ceremonial Nyetimber spray of Britannia was completed by Her Excellency Ms Laura Clarke, British High Commissioner for New Zealand who has been instrumental in supporting the team’s relocation from the UK.
With estimated top speeds of over 50 knots (93 KM/H, 57.5 MP/H), Britannia is a significant evolution from the team’s first AC75 with noticeable changes to hull shape, deck layout and more.
Chief Designer Nick Holroyd added:
“The biggest change from RB1 is simply that the fundamental capabilities of our design group have evolved immeasurably over the past two years. This boat is on time, perfectly on weight and the detail of the fit out and systems is immaculate. That is a real credit to each team member involved.
Audi Sailing Champions League Final
Porto Cervo, Italy: It was a perfect last day of racing at the Audi SAILING Champions League that saw the German team from Segel-und Motorboot Club Überlingen cinch the highest spot on the podium. The Italian team from Aeronautica Militare came in second ahead of the Swiss team from Seglervereinigung Kreuzlingen in third place.
After a mixed bag of results in the previous days of racing, today the German team from Segel-und Motorboot Club Überlingen stayed concentrated and had their best day. With two wins out of four races they are now the champions of the SAILING Champions League 2020.
Michael Illbruck Commodore of the YCCS had these words: “In four days we have seen all kinds of weather conditions, the teams sailed in gusts at up to 30 knots. I have to say that it has been a real challenge for the twenty-seven teams that have participated! Events like these embody the fundamental values of sailing like sporting spirit, competiveness and a sense of belonging with one’s club. We hope to welcome many teams again next year here in Porto Cervo!”
Final top ten:
1. Segel-und-Motorboot Club, GER, 10 points
2. Aeronautica Militare, ITRA, 11
3. Seglervereinigung Kreuzlingen, SUI, 14
4. Akhmat National Sailing Team, RUS, 16
5. Regatta Club Oberhoren, SUI, 39
6. Club Nautico Arrecife, ARG, 42
7. Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, GER, 42
8. Kongelig Dansk Yachtklub, DEN 44
9. Wassersport-Verein Hemelingen, GER, 44
10. APCC Voile Sportive, FRA, 46
Is Olympic Offshore Racing Still Under Threat?
It is in December that the IOC are due to approve the Olympic sailing programme for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which was adopted by World Sailing two years ago. The programme includes the brand new mixed, double-handed offshore race, which, as the World Sailing Annual Conference starts, looks still under threat, especially if there is a change of president. Tip & Shaft finds out more.
The World Sailing 2020 Annual Meeting which was due to take place in Abu Dhabi, began on Thursday with a virtual meeting because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The big question is the election of the president with the previous one, the Dane, Kim Andersen, standing against three rivals the Uruguayan, Scott Perry, the Spaniard, Geraldo Seeliger and the Chinese representative, Quanhai Li. But many other subjects will be examined and voted on, in particular, the programme for the 2024 Olympics, adopted in 2018 by the International Federation. Nicolas Henard, President of the French sailing federation, says the subject "remains under threat until it is approved by the International Olympic Committee, which is planned for December."
Whether we are talking about what is happening within World Sailing or the IOC, the opponents to this programme, and particularly those against the new offshore mixed doubles race, have not had their final say. As for World Sailing, two submissions have been put forward (to be voted on by the Council) questioning the choices made back in 2018: Submission 36, put forward by the Czech federation proposes that if the Tokyo Games are postponed or cancelled, the programme scheduled for 2024 and 2028 should remain the same as the 2020 programme; Submission 37, made by the Hungarian, Serb, South Korean federations and the RS:X class (Olympic board until 2020, which is due to be replaced in Marseille by the iQFoil), requests that the programme adopted for 2024 be postponed until 2028.
18' Skiffs Spring Championship, Race 2
Click on image for photo gallery.
Sydney Harbour: The Marcus Ashley-Jones led Andoo team produced a powerful last lap of the course to score a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the Australian 18 Footer League's Race 2 of the Spring 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today.
After trailing the leader by 50s at the second windward mark, Ashley-Jones and his team mates Jeronimo Harrison and Cam Gundy revelled in the freshening breeze, which went from 8-10 knots in the East to 14-15 knots South-East.
The early leader The Kitchen Maker-Caesarstone (Jordan Girdis, Lachlan Doyle, Tom Quigley) were sailing a great race but found the changing conditions too testing for the lighter crew weight.
Andoo grabbed a narrow lead as the pair approached the final windward mark and edged away on the tight reach between Shark Island and Clark Island to finish 33s ahead of The Kitchen Maker-Caesarstone.
The first two teams benefited from the 3-buoy format and were clearly ahead of the rest of the fleet for most of the race.
Strongest performer from the backmarker group was the Winning Group team of Will Phillips, Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton, which finished a further 1m15s behind The Kitchen Maker-Caesarstone, in third place.
Race 1 of the Club Championship in conjunction with Race 3 of the Spring Championship series will be conducted next Sunday, October 25. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.
Swan One Design Worlds: New World Champions Crowned
Scarlino, Italy: The Swan One Design Worlds, the racing component of this week’s inaugural Swan Experience, concluded earlier today in Scarlino, Tuscany. The week’s class winners have been confirmed. Marcus Brennecke’s German yacht Hatari is the new ClubSwan 50 world champion. The Swan 45 worlds was claimed by Lennard van Oeveren’s Dutch entry Motions. Competing for the Gold Cup, Cetilar-Vitamina was the triumphant ClubSwan 36. The same boats also claimed The Nations League 2020 prizes (calculated on combined Swan One Design Worlds and Swan Tuscany Challenge points).
The fickle conditions along the Tuscan seaboard created significant challenges for the Race Committee who despite providing the best possible opportunity for competition to take place had to make the pragmatic decision both yesterday and today that the breeze was not sufficiently stable or reliable for races to start.
ClubSwan 50 Final Standings
1. Hatari (Ger) 17 points
2. Niramo (Ger) 19 pts
3. Skorpidi (Rus) 20 pts
4. Earlybird (Ger) 20 pts
5. Onegroup (Ger) 23 pts
Full standings (PDF)
Swan 45: Final Standings
1. Motions (Ned) 5 points
2. K-Force (Ned) 7 pts
3. Ange Transparent (Sui) 10 pts
Full standings (PDF)
ClubSwan 36: Final Standings
1. Cetilar-Vitamina (Ita) 5 points
2. Sease (Ita) 12 pts
3. Goddess (Ger) 15 pts
Full standings (PDF)
Farr 40 Australia One Design Trophy
Click on image for photo gallery.
The final day of the Farr 40 One Design Trophy was sailed on Sydney Harbour and Nutcracker, with substitute helmsman Ray Roberts, held onto their substantial lead from yesterday to take out the regatta. The standard has now been set, so Melbourne Owners Rob Davis and Andy Baker, whilst ecstatic, will be no doubt be feeling under pressure to similarly perform to this level at the next regatta in November.
Conditions were light and smoky on The Sound today with aerial choppers continuing to put the fires out on North Head. The hazy conditions provided by the fires certainly gave indication of the variability on the first race, which was won by Nutcracker.
Rob Pitts right hand trimmer Mal Parker took over the helm of Double Black this weekend and didn’t disappoint. The crew did an excellent job in the extremely challenging and difficult conditions yesterday, which had even the most experienced owner/drivers having their turn at wipeouts. With consistent scores over two days and placing five out of eight races in the top three, a second place overall and boat of the day was well deserved, no doubt leaving another owner with an ambitious goal to be achieved for the next regatta.
Due to the variability and the wind disappearing, PRO Phil Yeomans made the excellent decision to shorten the final three races to one lappers, thereby ensuring all eight scheduled races were achieved. Communication from the race committee, during difficult starting procedures with an out flowing current, was second to none.
Four races produced four winners today with Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen taking out Race 6, Jeff Carter’s Edake winning race 7 and Joe de Kock winning the final race, positioning Good Form in third place overall.
The Farr 40 Class will next reconvene on the 14th and 15th November 2020, where, if the Victorian borders are open, the postponed 2020 National Championships will be held. If the borders are closed and Victorian owners are unable to travel, the regatta will take place and become part of the 2020/21 series point score. -- Jennie Hughes
Final Results
1. Nutcracker (Ray Roberts)
2. Double Black (Mal Parker)
3. Good Form (Joe de Kock)
4. Outlaw (Tom and Alan Quick)
5. Edake (Jeff Carter)
6. Zen (Gordon Ketelbey)
7. Exile (Rob Reynolds)
Cruising Association Brexit VAT Briefing
HMRC has caused controversy amongst the many thousands of British yacht and motorboat owners that keep their boats in EU countries by introducing a penal interpretation into UK tax law requiring them to pay VAT a second time on the value of their boats when they bring them into UK waters.
This threat of levying VAT on the import of boats into the UK results from HMRC applying a long-established EU VAT law rule into UK law. EU tax law gives "Union-goods" status to boats on which VAT had been paid in an EU country and this gives the boats freedom of movement throughout the EU (including the UK during its EU membership) without further payment of VAT or customs duties. However, "Union-goods" status is lost if a boat is exported outside the EU for more than three years under the Returned Goods Relief rules. If Union-goods" status is lost VAT must be paid on the then value of the boat when it is re-imported into EU waters.
HMRC Imposes Penal VAT Interpretation
With Brexit, the EU and the UK are becoming separate territories for tax purposes. Last year, HMRC was very clear that all British owned yachts would continue to hold full VAT-paid status at the end of the Transition Period, irrespective of the location of the yachts. However, in early October, HMRC changed its approach and said that it will reproduce the Returned Goods Relief rules into UK law and would apply these rules rigidly (see RYA statement). This would mean that the exemption from a further payment of VAT could only be claimed for boats returning to the UK within three years of the date on which they left the UK.
HMRC's changed stance on this issue only became public in early October, despite many organisations, including the Cruising Association, the Royal Yachting Association and British Marine, attempting to engage with HMRC on the issues over a number of years.
Full article on the Cruising Association website: www.theca.org.uk
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The Last Word
Britain did far, far worse things than America could even dream of doing, but we did it with a certain gentlemanly swagger. -- John Oliver
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