In This Issue
• Apivia: damaged port foil system
• Sam Davies sets sail from Cape Town
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• America's Cup Rialto: December 14 - A race at last - Practice Day 4
• The America's Cup Village Is Open
• Entries for 2021 Finn World Masters pass 100 in just four days
• Rolex Capri Sailing Week
• Wight Vodka Best Sailor's Bar
• GC32 Racing Tour resumes in 2021 with new French venue
• On your marks.... Prepare to register for the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race
• Letters to the Editor
• Featured Charter
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Swan 56-012 - 'Amoress 3'
• • X-Yachts X-442
• • LM46 Performance Cruiser
• The Last Word: Thor Heyerdahl

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

Apivia: damaged port foil system
This Monday afternoon, around 7 p.m. (HF), while APIVIA was sailing at the head of the fleet, Charlie Dalin was slowed down after hearing a loud noise on board. Charlie is currently analyzing the situation with his shore team to assess the extent of the damage possibly caused, particularly to the port foil system.

While sailing at the head of the fleet, 65 miles ahead of Yannick Bestaven, Charlie Dalin called his technical team around 7 p.m. on Monday after hearing a noise that he does not identify, for the time being, to be linked to an UFO .

After a first night inspection, the Apivia skipper could already see that the port foil system was damaged. He did not notice any leaks on board. Charlie continues his inventory in order to anticipate repairs and does everything to get the situation under control.

www.vendeeglobe.org

Sam Davies sets sail from Cape Town
Some 12 days days after hitting an object which damaged the keel housing structure on Initiatives Coeur and so forcing the end of her Vendee Globe, Sam Davies has set out this afternoon from Cape Town, South Africa to complete her adventure, seeking to finish the course but outwith the race.

At around 1500hrs UTC Davies bid farewell to her technical team and all those who have worked round the clock to repair her boat and set sail to return to the famous three capes routes, with the objective of getting closure on her personal story and continuing the inititiave to save children with heart problems.

For each new fan or share on Initiatives-Cœur's Facebook and Instagram accounts, the boat's sponsoring partners (Initiatives, K-Line and VINCI Energies) pay € 1 to the Mecenat Chirurgie Cardiaque association, which brings children from disadvantaged countries with severe heart defects to France to operates on them. Since the start of the Vendee Globe, 37 children have already been saved thanks to this initiative called 1 click = 1 heart and to the generosity of the public, whose donations are significant. The goal is to save 60 children knowing that each operation costs € 12,000.

After several days and nights of hard work, the shore team of Initiatives-Coeur put the boat back in working order. Davies set off to crorss the Cape of Good Hope (for the third time in three weeks) which opens the course to Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn.

Davies follows a line of 12 skippers who have completed the course outside the race. Among the big names of these adventurers are Patrice Carpentier in 1990, Isabelle Autissier in 1997 and Bernard Stamm in the 2012-2013 edition.

www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/21032/fair-winds-sam

Seahorse January 2021
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Right size right boat
By the time that he began planning the 35th yacht in his Oystercatcher dynasty Richard Matthews had a pretty good idea of what he wanted. One look at the result and whether you want to win the Fastnet or Block Island Race Week we believe others will soon follow his lead

Building the proper toolbox
Michel Desjoyeaux is very focused in terms of what he sees as the correct role for his Mer Agitee operation. Jocelyn Bleriot

No introduction required
Rod Davis talks to Carol Cronin on the subject of... Rod Davis

Smorgasbord
Boys are on a roll. A fixed-keel 111ft DSS fast cruiser is the newest brief for Infiniti Yachts who tasked Clay Oliver with the foil details

1yr Print Sub: €77 - £48 - $71 / Rest of the World: £65 www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/

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America's Cup Rialto: December 14 - A race at last - Practice Day 4
After four days of practice racing, the four America's Cup teams finally managed to have a contested race - the first ever sailed in the AC75 class.

What should have been an historic moment came more as sense of relief. As the day turned out race organisers were lucky to get a race in at all.

As the teams left the inner Waitemata and headed for a new course area - Course A, off Auckland's North Shore, the northerly breeze looked set to settle and build onto a nice seabreeze, for which Takapuna is renowned.

The first race of the day, got underway at 1410hrs, between Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Team UK. While the prestart was keenly contested, INEOS Team UK was penalised for starting early (OCS) the British boat came off her foils and was unable to get back on her feet and could only watch the kiwis sail off. Fortuitously for the British, Emirates Team New Zealand failed to make it up the 1.7nm first leg within the required time limit of 12 minutes, and the race was abandoned.

The second race between Luna Rossa and American Magic, was a more spirited affair, after the clock restarted once, presumably due a minimum wind limit not being reached in the specified period.

Luna Rossa extended to a 39 second lead on Leg 3 upwind. American Magic held the margin to 39 secs at the finish - giving the Italians the honour of winning the first ever official race sailed in AC75's.

Richard Gladwell's full article: www.sail-world.com

The America's Cup Village Is Open
The official opening of America's Cup Race Village was commenced early this morning in Auckland Viaduct harbour and Wynyard Quarter with a small Dawn Ceremony with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei who blessed the village and its new structures with Karakia and Waiata Tawhito.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, have played a key role alongside event organisers and officials to provide support to help ensure a world class and successful experience for all taking part and visiting Auckland during the various events.

The ceremony marked a significant milestone for all of the event management team at America's Cup Event Ltd (ACE) and the Challenger of Record AC36 (COR36), who have been working around the clock for the past 6 months especially, to ensure the delivery of a world class race village and sailing spectacle for the public of Auckland and New Zealand to enjoy for the summer ahead.

www.americascup.com

Entries for 2021 Finn World Masters pass 100 in just four days
After the entry process was opened last week, more than one hundred entries have already been received for the 2021 Finn World Masters in Medemblik, The Netherlands. It is being held from 21-28 May.

For an event that is used to setting records, getting the first 100 entries in just four days is another new record.

People clearly want to go Finn sailing. In fact it looks like they are desperate to go Finn sailing. This is a great illustration of the strength of the class at the moment, and on the choice of Medemblik for next's year event.

Medemblik last hosted the Finn World Masters in 2008. At the time, it was the first year the championship had attracted more than 200 entries – 229 to be exact. Entries since then have eclipsed this number, twice exceeding 350, which is probably the largest ever senior dinghy event in the world.

The championship is back in Medemblik in 2021 due to the 2020 event, which was supposed to be in Port Zelande, also in The Netherlands, being cancelled due to COVID-19. The annual schedule was delayed to allow the Dutch their chance to host the event.

The 104 entries come from 18 nations, with more coming in every day.

More details as well as the entry form can be found at the event website at fwm2021.com

Rolex Capri Sailing Week
Following the 2020 edition postponement last May due to Covid, everything is ready for the 2021 Rolex Capri Sailing Week.

An event that is expected to be so crowded that organizers have limited to 100 the number of yachts allowed to join the ORC European Championship, 30 the Maxi Yacht Capri Trophy.

Already posted is the Notice of Race and list of yachts already confirmed from the 2020 edition.

New entries will be placed on a waiting list until March 1st, 2021, when the final entry list will be posted on the website.

The program starts in Capri Tuesday, May 11th, with the opening race of the Maxi Yacht Capri Trophy, followed by daily races until Friday 14th.

Saturday 15, the event will move to Naples for the midnight start of the 66th edition of the Tre Golfi, the offshore race open to all yachts, and that will be the first race of the 2021 ORC European Championship.

Following the arrival in Capri, ORC yachts will race until Thursday 20th, when the prize-giving ceremony will gather all participants in the famous Capri "Piazzetta".

www.rolexcaprisailingweek.com

Wight Vodka Best Sailor's Bar
Bermuda is home to both the 2019 winner, the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, and perennial nominee the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club... which actually has two bars. The main one on the patio is well known to every match racer in the world for the past 35 years. Home base for the Bermuda Gold Cup. The other one is inside, almost invisible and small. Perfect on a day when wind rain and cold preclude the main bar. It feels like something out of the 1930s with the woodwork, the burgees and the cozy atmosphere. Damn near perfect.

As well as the famed Dark n Stormy, both clubs are notorious for the Rum Swizzle (and there's a wonderful establishment mid-island called the Swizzle Inn)

Classic Bermuda Rum Swizzle
6 oz Barbados or good amber rum
2 oz Gosling's Black Seal Rum
1 oz apricot brandy
Juice 4 fresh limes
2 oz Falernum
4 dashes Angostura Bitters

Full a pitcher or cocktail shaker one third full with crushed ice.

Add all ingredients and churn vigorously with a Swizzle stick until a frothing head appears

Strain into 'sour' glasses. Enjoy!!

Tell us about YOUR favorite bar to nominate it for the 2020 award: eurosailnews.com/sailors-bars

GC32 Racing Tour resumes in 2021 with new French venue
After this season sadly had to be written off due the COVID-19 pandemic, the GC32 Racing Tour will bounce back in 2021 with another five event circuit, including a World Championship, for its ultra-high performance one design foiling catamarans. Up to ten international teams from afar afield as Australia and the USA are due to compete across the season including several new teams that have acquired the few remaining secondhand boats, eager to experience the outstanding racing and the unrivalled performance 'bang for your buck' the GC32 provides.

As usual the GC32 Racing Tour will visit venues chosen to offer competitors the best chance of solid breeze and flat water, the optimum conditions for foiling. Yet the 2021 venues also offer diversity ranging from alpine lakes to Mediterranean bays and even the Atlantic, albeit well protected.

The season kicks off with a welcome return to France, one of the GC32's spiritual homes with many leading French sailors such as America's Cup skipper and Volvo Ocean Race winner Franck Cammas having passed through the circuit. The 2021 GC32 Racing Tour will begin at top of the Golfe du Lion in Port Camargue au Grau du Roi with the GC32 Occitanie Cup. Located in the Gard department within the Occitanie region of southern France, Port Camargue au Grau du Roi has more than 5000 berths making it the world's second largest marina after San Diego. Famously it features characteristic 1970s architecture by Jean Balladur.

Over April-May, Port Camargue au Grau du Roi is the best time of year for foiling with the most winds of 12+ knots, blowing offshore from the north-northwest, making for flat water. The venue is well accustomed to holding racing for keelboats and dinghies including a stopover of the Tour de France à la Voile in 2017 and the J/70 World Championship in 2015.

From the second event, the 2021 GC32 Racing Tour returns to familiar territory. At the end of May, the flying catamaran fleet head to Riva del Garda at the northern end of Lake Garda, Italy. A revered venue for all high performance yachts, Riva del Garda offers the opportunity to sail in perfect 15-20 knots, ideal for exhilarating GC32 competition all with the spectacular backdrop of the mountainous southern Dolomites. This will be the fifth time the GC32 Racing Tour has been hosted here by the Fraglia Vela Riva, including the class' first ever World Championship in 2018.

The GC32 Racing will also return in 2021 to Lagos, Portugal, situated at the southwesternmost tip of Europe and fast becoming recognised as a top venue for leading yacht racing events. Lagos' bay, thanks to it being protected from the prevailing northwesterlies, yet in close proximity to Cape St Vincent made the port a frequent setting-off point for voyage during Portugal's Age of Discovery. In 2019, it also staged a successful GC32 World Championship, well received by the ten teams that competed.

The 2021 GC32 World Championship will take place in mid-September this time in Villasimius, located on Sardinia's southeastern point. The GC32 Racing Tour has worked hard with the authorities at this popular Italian holiday destination, famous for its beaches, the flamingos on its salt water lake and nature reserve located off Capo Carbonara, to help plant Villasimius and its well equipped marina on the international sailing map.

The venue for the grand finale of the 2021 GC32 Racing Tour will be confirmed in the next weeks. -- James Boyd

www.gc32racingtour.com

On your marks.... Prepare to register for the 2021 Rolex Fastnet Race
With less than one month to go until entry opens for the 48th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the RORC Race Team are concerned there will be a repeat of the 2019 rush to enter when the race became oversubscribed in less than 5 minutes.

In order to secure a place when registration opens at 1000 UTC on Tuesday 12 January, it is recommended that you register your boat in advance on RORC's SailGate race entry management system.

A comprehensive Guide for Entrants is available on the Rolex Fastnet Race website to take competitors - whether race veterans or first timers - through the registration process, and the RORC Race Team are on hand to offer advice and assistance.

For further information go to. rolexfastnetrace.com/en/enter-race

Featured Charter
Reichel Pugh 45 - Katsu

Katsu is a Reichel Pugh 45 that in 2011 was named Sailing World’s ‘Boat Of The Year’ and has all it takes to win a regatta.
For full details please go to.....bit.ly/LVY-katsu

See listing details in Seahorse Charters

Contact
Lucy Jackson - LV Yachting
Call: +44 2392 161272
Email:

See the the Seahorse charter collection

Featured Brokerage
1999 Swan 56-012 Amoress 3. 475,000 EUR. Located in Cala Galera, Italy.

This beautiful Swan 56 “Amoress³” has a stunishing teak interior with holly cain sole. 2013 the interior has been revarnished and a massive refit has been done in 2014/2015. This Swan 56 has been build for competitive racing and luxury cruising with a short handed crew.

See listing details in Nautor's Swan Brokerage

Contact
Giorgio Passarella
Nautor's Swan Brokerage
MYM Mediterranean Yacht Management
Tel: +377 97 97 95 07
Email:

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2001 X-Yachts X-442. 160000 EUR. Located in Adriatic Sea, Italy.

Very smart white-hulled performance cruiser from X-Yachts in Denmark. Lightly used and still under her first ownership. Ideal for both bluewater cruising and racing.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Michele Antonini
Tel: +39 3337489281
Email:

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LM46 Performance Cruiser. POA USD.

Presenting the LM46, a high-performance, bespoke sailing yacht that will reconnect you to what matters.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, Inc.
84 Knox Street
Thomaston, Maine 04861
Tel (207) 354-6904
Fax (207) 354-8176

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity. -- Thor Heyerdahl

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