In This Issue
• PRADA America's Cup World Series: Race Report Day 1
• Cape to Cape
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• Jangada win RORC Yacht of the Year 2020
• YCM Awards - Trophee Credit Suisse 2020
• RYA welcomes new UK Double Handed Offshore Series
• Brexit issues for cruising sailors addressed in RATS webinar
• Solid Solo Victory For Dobson At Datchet
• Launchings
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Latitude 46 Tofinou 12
• • HH 50 New Boat
• • MAT 1340 - NEW BUILD
• The Last Word: Charles M. Schulz

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

PRADA America's Cup World Series: Race Report Day 1
Auckland NZ: The PRADA America's Cup World Series, the series of regattas leading up to the January PRADA Cup, kicked off Thursday in Auckland. The event will run through this long weekend, culminating with the PRADA Christmas Race on Sunday.

Race Director Iain Murray chose to hold today's racing on racecourse C, at North Head, the closest to the coast. The afternoon was characterized by south-westerly winds that fluctuated between 12 and 17 knots in intensity and made it possible to complete all four scheduled races.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli raced twice, first against Emirates Team New Zealand, which ended in favour of the defender, and the second (third race of the day) against Ineos Team UK who was forced to retire due to a foil cant system technical problem.

The leader board at the end of this first day shows American Magic in the lead, with two wins, followed with equal points by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and Emirates Team New Zealand.

Four races are scheduled for tomorrow, in which Luna Rossa will face American Magic in the first and third regattas of the day.

RACE 1 - Emirates Team New Zealand vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team
The first race of the day started on schedule at 3.12 pm, with wind conditions on the course ranging from 13 to 15 knots south-west. In the pre-start, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli entered the box on starboard and kept to the right side of the course from the start and for the first lengths. At the first cross on upwind leg Emirates Team New Zealand was slightly in the lead, but this increased quickly thanks to an excellent interpretation of the shifty conditions on the racecourse, where the wind changed both in direction and intensity, going from 12 to 17 knots. Luna Rossa maintained a constant distance throughout the first two legs but was unable to close the gap as the kiwi boat increased its lead in the last part of the race, going on to win a little over three minutes ahead.

RACE 3 - Ineos Team UK vs Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team
Race three of the day featured Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli racing against Ineos Team UK. With a brilliantly executed start, Luna Rossa entered on starboard and blocked the English team on the right side of the entry box, forcing them to a penalty. Luna Rossa then took the lead with over thirty seconds of advantage over its opponents who, halfway down the first windward leg, had to withdraws due to a technical problem.

Here's a great way to watch live:
www.lunarossachallenge.com/it/live

If you get a note that you can't watch from your geographical location on your computer/tablet/phone, buy a VPN. Your humble narrator prefers NORD VPN. Install, then select Italy as your "location". The VPN is far less expensive than the outrageous sum charged by some providers (cough... cough... NBC in the USA...cough... cough... ).

Cape to Cape
From retirements to mid ocean rescues, the Vendee Globe is living up to its reputation - Steve Ancsell reports on the state of play as the fleet heads from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Leeuwin

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

When the best team up
When Sam and Oliver Moore first set up their own composite shop in 2014, they'd already learned from the best and quickly attracted high-end clients. Three years later they acquired Composite Solutions Inc (CSI) from their mentor Jeff Kent.

IRC - Not foiling (just) yet
But with enough research and good work we'll be able to rate you soon. Jason Smithwick

RORC news - Well represented
Four entries in the 2020 Vendee Globe is a good effort for any club. Eddie Warden-Owen

Seahorse build table - Meeting demand
A much awaited new addition to the ranks of Class40 scow designers. Andre Cymone

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1yr Digital Sub for £37.50: www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/

Discounts shown are valid on a one year subscription to Seahorse magazine.

Jangada win RORC Yacht of the Year 2020
Jangada, Richard Palmer's British JPK 10.10 announced as RORC Yacht of the Year 2020. L to R: Richard Palmer and Jeremy Waitt with the Somerset Memorial Trophy. Click on image to enlarge.

The 2020 RORC Yacht of the Year, winning the Somerset Memorial Trophy is the British JPK 10.10 Jangada, owned by Richard Palmer. Racing with Jeremy Waitt as crew, Jangada was the overall winner of the RORC Transatlantic Race and winner of the Two-Handed Class for the RORC Caribbean 600. Only two other Two-Handed teams have won the award before; Shaun Murphy with Slingshot in 2006 and Nick Martin with Diablo-J in 2012.

For the first time in the history of the club the RORC Season's Points Championship had to be cancelled. Health restrictions made it impossible to run overnight races for all IRC classes. Whilst Richard Palmer was recovering from a knee operation, Jangada was raced Two-Handed by Jeremy Waitt and Shirley Robertson, winning the newly organised Two-Handed Autumn Series.

Since 1965, the Somerset Memorial Trophy has been awarded for outstanding racing achievement by a RORC Member. Despite most of the 2020 season being cancelled, the RORC Committee thought it appropriate to continue with the history of the trophy in highlighting the outstanding racing achievement of Jangada in 2020.

Jangada is planning to come back racing next year in the 2021 RORC Season's Points Championship, including the Rolex Fastnet Race. -- Louay Habib

RORC Yacht of the Year
2009-2020 winners - Somerset Memorial Trophy

2020 - Jangada, JPK 10.10, Richard Palmer
2019 - Wizard, Volvo 70, Peter and David Askew
2018 - Ichi Ban, TP52, Matt Allen
2017 - Lisa, First 44.7 , Nick & Suzi Jones (skippered by Michael Boyd)
2016 - Teasing Machine, A13, Eric de Turckheim
2015 - Azzam, Volvo Ocean 65, skippered by Ian Walker (Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team)
2014 - Antix, Ker 39, Anthony O'Leary
2013 - Courrier Vintage, MC34 Patton, Sam Marsaudon & Gery Trentesaux
2012 - Diablo-J, J/105, Nick Martin
2011 - RAN, JV 72, Niklas Zennstrom
2010 - Tonnerre de Breskens 3, Ker 46, Piet Vroon
2009 - Puma Logic, Reflex 38, (skippered by Philippe Falle)

http://rorc.org

YCM Awards - Trophee Credit Suisse 2020
The traditional Winter Cocktail, which welcomes new members before the YCM Awards - Trophee Credit Suisse are presented, went ahead this year albeit remotely in compliance with the current health situation.

First the focus of this 16th YCM Awards was on offshore racing, given the participation of Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco, helmed by Boris Herrmann in the 9th Vendee Globe.

The Malizia project, renamed Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco for the Vendee Globe, was initiated by YCM Vice-President Pierre Casiraghi who spoke about his friend's race.

"Boris is having a fantastic race. The Vendee is a race of elimination, especially in these last two weeks. We have seen lots of breakages on boats. Of course, Boris has had a few small technical issues, forcing him to keep a course further north, but he has managed to preserve the boat which is essential. The milder conditions have enabled him to fix them. For the last couple of weeks he's been missing a very important intermediary sail (J2). The boat can now be used in optimum conditions and Boris is in great shape, ready to tackle the second part of the race. It's incredible that after 37 days at sea, he is neck and neck with four other contestants."

YCM Awards 2020 - Trophee Credit Suisse: winners for all generations
Matteo Asscher, 13, was this year's winner in the Optimist category for his 3rd place at the Monaco Optimist Team Race 2020 and for having already competed twice in the European Championship, although he only very recently started sailing. "Matteo has one of the fastest progression curves, he's an asset, very diligent, motivated and with an excellent attitude," said his coach Margaux Meslin.

A regular on the J/70 regatta scene, Pierrik Devic received a special prize for his excellent results in the Laser Master. Having embarked on this physically tough Olympic solo class boat, he won the Euro Master Circuit 2020 in the Laser Radial Master category and clinched 4th place in his category at the Laser Master European Championship.

The YCM Awards 2020 also recognises members who have best defended the Club's burgee during the past year. In the Smeralda 888 class whose president is HRH Prince Charles de Bourbon-Siciles, the big winner was Timofey Sukhotin. At the helm of Beda, this year he won the Primo Cup - Trophee Credit Suisse, Coppa Europa and finished 2nd in the Smeralda 888 finale in October.

In the YCM's flagship J/70 class with 17 boats flying the burgee, Ludovico Fassitelli took the honours as he did last year. He finished 3rd in the 2019/2020 Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series at the end of 20 races, 1st in the Med Cup, 7th in the Malcesine J/70 Cup, 5th in the J/70 Italian Championship and winner in the Corinthian (amateur) category.

The coveted 'YCM Sailor of the Year' 2020 award went to Lord Laidlaw (Highland Fling/Oui Fling), nominated three years in a row since 2017, for the sum of his successes in the world's most prestigious races.

ycm.org

RYA welcomes new UK Double Handed Offshore Series
The RYA has welcomed the creation of a new sailing series aimed at promoting and growing shorthanded offshore sailing in the UK.

The UK Double Handed Offshore Series will be a standalone series debuting in 2021 made up of sixexisting races including flagship events such as the Rolex Fastnet Race and Round the Island Race.

The RORC-backed series is the brainchild of round-the-world sailor Henry Bomby, who raced in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race and has also competed on the singlehanded Figaro circuit.

It will be open to double handed teams sailing boats with an IRC rating between 0.990 and 1.055 TCC, and has already attracted big names such as two-time Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson and Dee Caffari, the only the only woman to have sailed non-stop around the world three times.

In recognition of the diverse number of teams taking part, there will be a range of different trophies that have been supported by companies in the marine industry including the RYA-sponsored First Mixed Crew award.

Eight teams are currently signed up to compete in the inaugural UK Double Handed Offshore Series. For more information on the series, including the Notice of Series, go to www.doublehandedoffshore.com

Brexit issues for cruising sailors addressed in RATS webinar
The key Brexit issues affecting the sailing community have been addressed in a recently held Brexit Special Webinar entitled "Brexit Issues for Cruisers", the contents of which was researched and presented by members of the Cruising Association (CA) Regulations and Technical Services group (RATS).

Over 300 members of the CA from 13 different countries tuned into the webinar on Saturday 5 December and there has since been huge demand for the webinar to be made available to the public.

The CA and RATS are delighted to now share the webinar publicly, excluding the Q&A segment which attracted around 150 questions and is available exclusively on the CA members' version.

The webinar programme focuses on the main difficulties facing cruising sailors as a result of Brexit:

- Introduction: Robin Baron (Chair)
- People issues including immigration and Schengen 90 days: Trevor Page
- Vessel issues including VAT: Roger Bickerstaff
- CA Brexit webpages: Robin Baron

If anyone wishes to view a PDF of the Powerpoint presentation slides, this has also been included on the CA's public website pages. www.theca.org.uk

The recording of the webinar and PDF of presentation slides must be viewed and read in conjunction with the Disclaimer below, and on the understanding that it is based on information available at the time of broadcast on 5 December 2020. As such, any of the detail provided may be superseded at any time and the video or PDF of the slide presentation will not be updated to reflect any changes.

Disclaimer
Any advice has been prepared voluntarily by the Cruising Association, its members and others and they and it have tried to ensure that the contents are accurate. However, the Cruising Association, its employees, contributors and relevant members shall not be liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience of any kind howsoever arising in connection with the use of such advice, save to the extent required by applicable law.

The webinar recording can be viewed here

Solid Solo Victory For Dobson At Datchet
Ian Dobson came out on top last weekend at the Datchet Flyer, which opened this season's Selden SailJuice Winter Series with a record turnout of 134 boats and 188 sailors competing across the two days. Two bullets gave Dobson, a past Winter Series champion, victory on Singlehanders Sunday, with two other Solos - Fraser Hayden and Patrick Overs - respectively taking second and third in the light and extremely chilly conditions.

The milder and breezier Saturday was for the doublehanders and it was reigning Selden SailJuice Winter Series champions, Simon Horsfield and Katie Burridge, who powered their 2000 to victory on the day with scores of 1,2.5,1. Finishing behind the 2000 was the 505 of Roger Gilbert and Ben McGrane who won one race but had to discard the first due to equipment problems. Otherwise the European Champions might have run the 2000 close for the overall doublehanded win. In third place was the GP14 of Andy Smith and Phil Hodgkins.

After all the setbacks due to Covid restrictions this year, the turnout was impressive. It could have been even bigger but for the fact that some sailors couldn't retrieve their boats from sailing clubs in Tier 3 areas of the country. Even so the 188 sailors that did make it to Datchet came from 70 sailing clubs and competed in 42 different classes, with an age range from 12 to 80 years.

Although they never met on the water, the two fleets were combined into an overall ranking using SailRacer's GPS tracking data to provide a course correction factor for each race (course handicap). This led to Dobson winning overall ahead of Horsfield and Burridge with Gilbert and McGrane's 505 in third.

Virtual has been the watchword of all preparations for the Selden SailJuice Winter Series, including the virtual prizegiving on Facebook on the Tuesday evening, and which has drawn over 2000 views already:

SeldenSailJuiceWinterSeries/videos

There was even a virtual protest between a 420 and Osprey, so hard times are proving that old practices can be modified to fit our new situation.

There were three classes with 10+ boats: 420, Topper and RS Aero 7, along with a growing number of youth and juniors, not least the first time competitors in the Series from the Greig City Academy.

Launchings
The new J/45 is a true sailing yacht, designed and built for the sea by life-long bluewater sailors. The J/Boats and J/Composites teams have collaborated to create a special design for discerning sailors seeking an exceptional sailing experience.

The J/45's feather-light touch on the helm and easy reach of the sail controls delivers pure enjoyment as you sail in perfect balance across the ocean waves. The J/45 can be sailed solo, cruised by 2-3 couples or large family, and pleasure sailed or raced with room for the whole crew. This is an investment grade yacht that won't require a professional crew to sail, handle or maintain.

The J/45 is built strong by J/Composites (in the Vendee region of France) with the latest advanced composite resin infusion technology - twice as strong as hand-laid fiberglass boats. J/Composites was the first European-based shipyard to adopt the patented SCRIMP resin infusion system in the mid 90's and is now one of the most experienced sailboat builders in the world for sandwich/infusion construction.

Anchoring the internal structure of the J/45 hull is an extensive composite grid and series of structural composite bulkheads that are bonded to the hull and deck. The J/45's custom-engineered structure provides exceptional stiffness and optimal strength-to-weight, without sacrificing the comfort of the living spaces below.

www.jboats.com/j45

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On December 1st Multiplast began construction of the moulds for their first Class40, a boat which will be launched next July. It is the product of their collaboration with VPLP office,and this 40 footer which has been ordered by Italy's Andrea Fornaro (see below) will be followed by a second boat mid-August for Nicolas d'Estais and the aim is for a third in time for the Transat Jacques Vabre.

Class40 goes from strength to strength. Since the August 2019 launch of Credit Mutuel, the first scow-shaped 40-foot post-Route du Rhum, the announcements of new boat builds followed one after another.

Some new boats already been launched, for Olivier Magre and Antoine Carpentier, others will appear in the coming weeks and months for Axel Trehin, Aurelien Ducroz, Jonas Gerckens, Jean Galfione, Jörg Riechers. And right now the demand seems strong two years from the Route du Rhum 2022.

This buoyant market has not escaped renowned designers VPLP nor indeed the Multiplast yard which have decided to join forces to tap into this market. "The project started when we saw scows appear and mark a fairly significant difference in terms of performance, which seems to see a reset for the fleet with new designs required." explains Vincent Lauriot-Prevost, co-founder of VPLP. "We've been wanting to get into this class for a while and this is the chance to run with it, as long as Multiplast agreed to work with us and build multiple boats and then meeting with a skipper has convinced us."

In this case the skipper is Italian Andrea Fornaro, who after two participations in the Mini-Transat (16ti in series in 2015 and 5th in proto in 2017), wanted a new ambitious project in Class40 after familiarising himself with the class on Tales II,chartered to Loïc Fequet.

He is driving this project with a view to the Transat Jacques Vabre, with a Russian skipper, Igor Goikhberg, (they finished 7th in the Normandy Channel Race in September), before tackling the next Route du Rhum in 2022.

vplp.fr

www.multiplast.eu/en/

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In November, we unveiled the MAKARA sailing superyacht series. Designed by the award-winning superyacht designer Malcolm McKeon, the three-boat series ranges in size from 85ft to 120ft.

This full carbon, large volume, luxury superyacht is designed to glide with even the lighted of breeze, delivery maximum performance for minimal effort.

A MAKARA yacht is offered with a choice of three interior schematics or McConaghy invite prospective owners to develop their own interior vision, working in liaison with their specified interior designer of McConaghy's own in-house team.

Benefitting from McConaghy's extensive build experience, the highest quality materials and advanced components, the MAKARA 85 is exceptionally well priced and ready to commence production.

www.mcconaghyboats.com

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Oyster Yachts has announced the Oyster 495, the company's much anticipated 50-foot yacht, which promises to set the standard in her class.

The 495 is a collaboration between Humphreys Yacht Design and Oyster's own in-house design studio, overseen by Oyster's CEO & owner Richard Hadida and Oyster's founder Richard Matthews. This hugely experienced team have produced their best work to date, creating this remarkable new Oyster.

The Rob Humphreys powerful G6 twin rudder hull form delivers true performance cruising and clean lines. The beam is set well aft, contributing form, stability and great sailing performance, making the Oyster 495 a true live aboard, go-anywhere blue-water yacht, designed to be sailed shorthanded.

Founder and Director Richard Matthews says, "The objective was to follow our proud tradition of creating true, go-anywhere blue water cruising yachts and Rob and the design team have delivered an exceptional yacht on every level. You can feel the Oyster DNA running from bow to stern; this new yacht offers many of the high-end features you would expect to find on our larger vessels. Oyster have produced some great yachts over the years and I believe this new 495 will prove to be one of the best ever - she feels just right."

oysteryachts.com

Featured Brokerage
2010 Latitude 46 Tofinou 12. 150000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca

Lightly-used ready-for-sailing example of the beautiful Tofinou 12. TOY FOR BOYS is the perfect push-button daysailer capable of hosting guests for occasional weekends.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Lead Broker: Lucio Pellegrini – Grabau International (Palma)
Tel: +34 675 236 174
Email:

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HH50- NEW BOAT

Carbon construction and luxury interiors come together on a platform well suited for exhilarating, yet safe sailing. Kept deliberately simple for single or double handing, this is a perfect yacht for exploring the remote corners of the world without the need for crew. 12-18 month lead times mean the dream could be closer than you think.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Hudson Yacht & Marine

www.hhcatamarans.com

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MAT 1340 - NEW BUILD. 421,500 EUR.

Introducing the new MAT 1340, designed by Mark Mills. This new 44 footer is hot off the drawing board and after an extensive R&D phase, the 1340 offers a modern IRC solution, capable of offshore and inshore racing.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats

+447759 424900
+442380 016582

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

The Last Word
I love mankind; it's people I can't stand. -- Charles M. Schulz

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