EuroSail News #4769 - 4 February
In This Issue
• Clarisse Cremer Finishes 12th in the Vendee Globe
• IRC Rating opens for 2021
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• Gloves are off as dark side of Cup game surfaces on time
• Ryan Breymaier on his plans for a 2024 Vendee Globe campaign
• Doublehanding Tips
• Owner dies as 1902 schooner Coral of Cowes sinks
• Industry News
• Jimmy Fitzpatrick
• Letters to the Editor
• Featured Charter: Swan 80 - Umiko
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Aquarius Alfa - Swan 100S
• • Vismara V50 DS
• • Powerplay
• The Last Word: Mark Twain
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
Clarisse Cremer Finishes 12th in the Vendee Globe
After a prudent, careful passage across a boisterous Bay of Biscay, negotiating one last stormy low pressure, a triumphant Clarisse Cremer crossed the finish line of the ninth Vendee Globe at 15:44:25 hrs UTC to take an excellent 12th place on Banque Populaire X.
Finishing in late afternoon Vendee sunshine and a diminishing westerly wind of 20kts with 4-5m seas she is the first female skipper to finish from the field of 33 starters.
Her elapsed time of 87 d 02 hrs 24 mins Cremer breaks Ellen MacArthur's 21 year monohull solo non stop record for a female skipper of 94 days 4 hours which she set when she took second in the 2000-2001 Vendee Globe.
But Cremer played down her ranking as first female to finish, "For me, yes we know that being a woman in ocean racing becomes a differentiator on land. But this is a mixed race and a mixed sport and it about the breadth of ocean racing together. There is no female classification. At sea, I am a sailor and I don't tell myself that the sailor in front is a man or a woman, I don't think about that at all."
She received a huge, warm welcome in Les Sables d'Olonne's channel as thousands of well wishers turned out to see the return of the sailor who only sailed her IMOCA 15 months ago for the first time.
IRC Rating opens for 2021
The new season has got off to a positive start with applications coming in for 2021 IRC rating certificates and a steady stream of enquiries to the RORC Rating Office, the technical hub of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. There was a record flood of entries for the RORC's flagship event, the Rolex Fastnet Race, when entries opened in mid-January, as well as enthusiasm from club racers around the UK and overseas.
The International Rating Certificate (IRC) is aimed at a very wide range of keelboats of all sizes and shapes including modern production cruisers and cruiser/racers through dedicated one-off race boats, older cruisers and racers to classic yachts and superyachts. IRC is continually developed to encompass new developments while at the same time protecting the interests of the current fleet. There are some exciting developments for 2021 including the addition of flying headsails to the IRC sail wardrobe and an improved method of rating spinnaker poles and whisker poles, and the RORC Rating Office is seeing great interest in the rating effects of these changes.
Recognising the evolution of sail types, IRC has introduced a new definition of a Flying Headsail which encompasses some "Code0" sails that do not measure as a spinnaker. There are several rules defining the Flying Headsail relating to the half width/foot ratio, a maximum tack point position, no battens or stiffening of the sail and other requirements. A new definition of Spinnaker Pole Length has been added to enable IRC to better rate boats with both a bowsprit and spinnaker poles; and the 2021 IRC software includes changes to the rating of whisker poles with the intention of rating them more equitably.
Full details are in the IRC Rule and further advice is available on the IRC website ircrating.org/irc-rule/
The RORC Rating Office, the technical office of the Royal Ocean Racing Club that administers IRC ratings in the UK and several countries around the world, has held their new application and revalidation fees at 2020 prices for all boats under 18 metres hull length; this encompasses over 95% of the IRC fleet.
For boats based in the UK the RORC's MyIRC online application system is open for 2021 at myirc.rorcrating.com. Boats outside the UK should apply through their relevant IRC Rule Authority, please see ircrating.org/irc-certificate/how-to-apply/
Seahorse February 2021
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Update
Match racing round the world, are foilers the answer (or is it the wrong question), Charlie Dalin master boatbuilder, serious times in Kiwi, with a lot still to learn... and are we all heading up a blind alley? Patrice Carpentier, Jean Le Cam, Mrs Le Cam), Jack Griffin, Terry Hutchinson, Robert Laine
New classic
And an almightily pleasant one at that... the latest 600-mile IRC/ORC offshore contest takes full advantage of some of the finest sailing waters on the planet
Taking care of home
We know more about the Moon and Mars than we do about the deep ocean... but we know enough to do a better job of looking after it
It’s all in the mind - Part II
David Munge talks to Prof Vincent Walsh about doing the little things better...
1yr Print Sub: €77 - £48 - $71 / Rest of the World: £65 www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/
1yr Digital Sub for £37.50: www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/
Discounts shown are valid on a one year subscription to Seahorse magazine.
Gloves are off as dark side of Cup game surfaces on time
Right on time, the dark side of the America's Cup ramps up.
It's the Prada Cup challengers final and the stakes are rising.
The Italians have the British in a corner before a race even starts, and they will look to maximise that.
They've already caught INEOS Team UK out once with technical protest that has Sir Ben Ainslie sitting on a yellow card and knowing another will result in a race disqualification.
Getting a win and a point without even racing is absolute gold at this level. The two teams look pretty even ahead of their final series that requires seven wins to earn victory and the chance to race Emirates Team New Zealand for the America's Cup in March.
Expect Luna Rossa's reconnaissance of the British to be relentless from here. They will put the microscope over Britannia every minute it is out of the boat shed, looking for one feature that might be pushing the rules of these incredibly technical boats.
Duncan Johnstone in Stuff.co.nz
Ryan Breymaier on his plans for a 2024 Vendee Globe campaign
The ink may not yet be dry on the results page for the 2020/2021 Vendee Globe, but that certainly doesn't mean that other talented and highly qualified sailors aren't already looking ahead to the 2024/2025 edition of this storied solo around-the-world race. One such skipper is Ryan Breymaier, an American who has been around high-level offshore sailing since his days at St. Mary's College, and who has long aspired to compete in this storied race.
Breymaier's name is likely familiar to many readers who have followed distance racing. While his accomplishments are impressive and varied, he's likely best known for his all-conquering campaign aboard the VPLP-designed maxi trimaran Lending Club (now called IDEC SPORT) in 2015.
Unlike other Americans who have eyed - or completed - the Vendee Globe, Breymaier has long lived in France, where he has deeply immersed himself in the IMOCA class, and where he has been instrumental in helping other skippers achieve offshore success. Moreover, he intimately knows the French offshore sailing culture and what it takes to build and prepare an IMOCA 60 for a solo around-the-world adventure.
While securing funding and a solid sponsor for this grueling race isn't easy, especially as an American, Breymaier recently reached out to some of his friends in the sailing industry stating his intention to be on the starting line of the 2024/2025 Vendee Globe in a next-generation foiling IMOCA 60. Wisely, he has given himself a time budget of nine months to find the right sponsor(s) for this long-held goal.
David Schmidt interviews Ryan in Sail-World.Com
Doublehanding Tips
With the explosive interest in doublehanded big boat racing, UK Sailmakers is happy to announce a new instructional section on our website dedicated to tips on how to sail with just two instead.
This article was written by Swedish sailor Federico Garofalo, who publishes a blog called VELOCE SAILING (velocesailing.se), which focuses on single and doublehanded sail racing. Federico writes, "The purpose of my blog is to showcase my journey to become a competitive, non-professional racer; to encourage amateur skippers to get out on the water and race their boat -- whatever that boat might be. In fact, my boat VELOCE is not a racing-machine; she is a 15-year-old 32-foot "production" yacht that is sailed by a self-confessed nerdy and passionate amateur."
In times when roller furling technologies become ever more alluring, VELOCE has gone back to traditional jib hanks. The Jeanneau Sun Fast 32i came equipped with a Facnor R130, which used to be Facnor's racing system. It consists of an aluminum double-track foil, drum, base attachment kit, top swivel and halyard deflector.
After cruising VELOCE for two seasons and racing one season I came away with the following thoughts about roller furling.
Furlers are great for coastal cruising and lazy daysails. Unfortunately, I suffer from "trim paranoia," a common ailment for racing sailors trying to daysail; it's hard to "just" lazy along the coast.
Great in and out of harbor... if only I didn't sail with horizontal battens.
The halyard has sometimes wraps itself around the forestay when unfurling. Of course, I end up not noticing until the time to furl in came and the wind picked up!
I have never sailed with roller reefed headsail. The sail shape is bad and produces bad chafing spots on the foot and the leech. Besides, the sail gets terrible looking wrinkles when roller reefed.
With the sheets hanging two meters above the foredeck, there is no option to jibe the spinnaker with dip pole technique.
The spinnaker head often gets stuck between the mast and halyard deflector, which creates the imaginable panic of a spinnaker that cannot be doused.
Sail changes are too painful with a furler.
Full article: www.uksailmakers.com
Owner dies as 1902 schooner Coral of Cowes sinks
The 1902 Fred Shepherd schooner Coral of Cowes has sunk off Crete with the loss of the owner.
Press reports say the body of Hugh Kerr Bradley Roberts, 74, was found with the boat, which sunk in a shallow part of Souda Bay, on the north west coast of the island.
An autopsy was being carried out amid a reported suggestion of foul play from Kerr's family.
The owner's dog, Friar Tuck, was found clinging to the half-sunken boat. There were hopes that the boat would be raised.
Coral of Cowes was built by White Brothers as Bamba III and renamed in 1923, after which she won the King's Cup in 1926 and 1928. She underwent a restoration in Cape Town in 2005 and later at Peake Yacht Services in Grenada under the then new owner Richard Oswald.
The 98ft (30m) schooner is well-known and much loved across the classic boat world, having raced extensively at Cowes, in the Caribbean and in the Mediterranean.
Richard Oswald said it was "very sad news" and in a Facebook post wrote: "Five years ago I handed her over to a new skipper. That skipper, a Scot and a gentleman, was Hugh Roberts, ex-naval officer, car racer and proper old gaffer.
"He showed up in Cowes, just after the Royal Yacht Squadron's bicentennial regatta [in 2015] wearing sandals and a pair of old cords, rolling his own cigarettes. He was a connoisseur of things beautiful and elegant and Coral of Cowes was to be his swansong.
www.classicboat.co.uk/news/owner-dies-as-1902-schooner-coral-of-cowes-sinks/
Industry News
SailGP has announced a three-season partnership with the world's leading supplier of composite yacht rigging, Future Fibres, to exclusively supply rigging on the F50 - the high performance catamaran engineered for intense, high-speed racing in the global SailGP championship.
Future Fibres will provide its unique multistrand technology, ECsix, with its track record for high performance and reliability, to all eight F50s racing in the annual, global SailGP league. The three-season deal will also allow SailGP to explore Future Fibres latest hybrid products, such as AEROsix, to further increase the performance of the F50 catamarans. As well as providing Future Fibres with a unique test platform to further develop its products.
SailGP Season 2 starts in Bermuda on April 24-25, 2021 and features eight national teams made up of the sport's best athletes squaring off in eight events across three continents.
Future Fibres is part of the North Technology Group and is the leading global manufacturer and supplier of composite rigging solutions. Operating out of Valencia, Spain, it delivers the most advanced composite rigging technologies available. Future Fibres supplies composite rigging products to all segments of the yachting market, from sailing circuits such as the America's Cup, SailGP, and the 52 SuperSeries, through to offshore race yachts such as the IMOCA60, as well as landmark superyacht projects.
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Southern Spars, a division of North Technology Group, has joined the International Windship Association (IWSA), which promotes the uptake of wind propulsion in the commercial fleet.
The company, which recently partnered with Magma Structures to develop the next generation of rig solutions, specialises in DynaRig manufacture, the iconic concept first developed in the 1960s as an alternative to conventional rigs for superyachts.
"With requirements to cut emissions and increasing fuel prices, there is an ever-growing demand for wind-assisted solutions for commercial shipping," explained Andy Shaw, Magma Structures MD.
"We are working on several commercial shipping and workboat projects for various wind-assisted solutions and for DynaRig systems similar to the rigs installed on the superyachts Maltese Falcon and Black Pearl."
Data from these two installations has validated the system's efficacy on larger vessels. The Maltese Falcon is an 88m self-standing three-mast square rigger with a sail area of 2,396m2 and larger still, the Black Pearl is 107m with 2,900 m2 of sail and a maximum speed of 30 knots under sail alone.
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In December 2020, European Boating Industry (EBI) and experts nominated by EBI members participated in videoconferences with the experts of the RCD (Recreational Craft Directive) consortium on the topics of exhaust emissions, evaporative emissions, and design categories.
In each one of them, EBI was able to present its position, which all EBI members had contributed to and had agreed in 2019/20. Key points on the practical perspective, as well as the future developments of the industry, were brought across and followed up with written input to the consortium.
A new development is that measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from recreational boats will also be included in the review and may feature in a future revision of the RCD. The European Commission confirmed to EBI that the European Green Deal is behind this decision, which has the target of making the EU carbon-neutral EU by 2050, with an intermediate reduction target of 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels (as proposed by the Commission).
EBI will closely engage with the consortium to provide input and suggestions on how greenhouse gas emission measures could be implemented, and will emphasise the proactive role of the recreational boating industry.
Based on these points, the EBI Executive Committee and experts are currently preparing detailed papers with regulatory suggestions for the future development of the RCD.
As part of the review, a consultation with a deadline of 14 March was launched by the European Commission. EBI will respond to the consultation and encourages its members to do the same.
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Perini Navi, the Italy-based superyacht builder owned by the Tabacchi family, has had its debt structuring plan rejected by an Italian court.
According to published reports, including the newspaper Milano Finanza, a court in Lucca not only denied the restructuring, but also won't allow Perini Navi additional time to determine ways to remain operational.
The option now is to proceed with a bankruptcy auction, which would take place in June. According to reports, the Ferretti Group and Sanlorenzo are potential candidacies for an acquisition.
Last year, it was reported that Sanlorenzo was poised to take a 70 percent controlling stake in Perini Navi after a debt restructuring.
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Finnish yacht-builder Nautor's Swan is placing strong emphasis on its Swan Maxi models as a key part of the brand's future. Nautor's Swan has been involved with the Maxi market segment for some 50 years but it is now looking to build on the launch of the innovative Swan 115 from 2010 and the launch last July of the first Swan 98.
With four Swan Maxis in build comprising two Swan 98s, one Swan 120 and a ClubSwan 125, the company states there is a "great deal of anticipation and excitement for the coming months at the shipyard."
Looking ahead, the third Swan 98 is due for launch in April, while the fourth hull of the same model will be the first to have an owner-forward layout. Also expected for delivery next year is the newest unit of the Swan 120 flagship, while the ultra-fast ClubSwan 125 is poised to beat all the world records.
But not one to rest on their laurels, the designers and naval architects at Nautor's Swan are already working on new projects.
"The ClubSwan 80 project was born for two reasons: One, because clearly our line deserves a new yacht of this kind, and second, because in the Maxi reality we see the possibility and the space for a high-performance yacht that will fill a regatta system that is now lacking something like this," says Enrico Chieffi, Nautor Group vice president.
For the construction of the ClubSwan 80, Nautor's Swan is in partnership with Persico Marine, based in Nembro, an international shipyard renowned worldwide for its expertise in building high-performance yachts.
The ClubSwan 80 has been conceived to be a very fast and high-performance yacht, completely in line with her sisters, based on the concept of One Design yachts.
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Jimmy Fitzpatrick
One of Dublin Bay's great sailing characters Jimmy Fitzpatrick of the Royal Irish Yacht Club has sadly passed away.
A true corinthian of sailing Jimmy Fitz was very well known both here and abroad. While he sailed out of the Royal Irish, he could be spotted most seasons holding court on the balconies of all the waterfront clubs. He was on first-name terms with everyone. All who met or sailed with Jimmy would agree that a friendlier, considerate or more entertaining companion was hard to find. He had a deep raucous laugh that was not easily missed.
In honour of Jimmy's life, the flags of each of the Royal Irish Yacht Club, the Royal St. George Yacht Club and the National Yacht Club were flown at half-mast on the day of his funeral last Thursday, January 28.
Jimmy co-skippered alongside Mark Mansfield, a boat sponsored by his employers AIB in the 1988 Round Ireland Race. In 2004, Jimmy's nephew Rory represented Ireland at the Olympics in Greece. Jimmy worked hard behind the scenes to help Rory gather funds for the campaign to get him qualified.
It was when Jimmy got to UCD that his real passion in sailing developed; it was Team Racing. Jimmy competed in hundreds of team racing events over the years. He won the colours match for U.C.D. three years in a row setting the platform for the Rhinos (Spike, Joe Blaney & Marto Byrne) to go win it for another three years after that.
Team racing and Dublin Bay will be the poorer for the loss of the unbridled enthusiasm of Jimmy Fitz. He only had one speed, and that was full-on.
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 David Munge:
The International Olympic Committee, and World Sailing are about to decide to add/or not, Offshore Mixed Gender Racing to the Paris Olympics. If this decision is made it removes the Finn from Olympic sailing. We have all been fascinated to watch Giles Scott, and Ben Ainslie picking their way around the course in Auckland. It is not coincidence that Ainslie, Scott, Coutts, Bertrand, and many other Finn sailors end up at the pinnacle of our sport. There are many other sailors on all the AC boats who are Laser sailors. Many laser sailors would, as they grow bigger move up to the Finn.
By denying the Finn it is rightful place in the Olympics the IOC, and WS are breaking the very pathway that brings these amazing sailors to the top of our sailing.
Featured Charter
Swan 80 - Umiko
Umiko’s condition can quite simply be summed up in one word - stunning. She has been continually maintained and cherished throughout her life by professional crew for very discerning owners. She has also had the benefit of numerous upgrades during construction and post building. These upgrades have been made with full consultation with the factory. Maintained to exacting standards this Swan will appeal to anyone looking for the very best, whether they wish to cruise, race -- or both!
See listing details in Nautors Swan Charters
See the the Seahorse charter collection
Featured Brokerage
Aquarius Alfa - Swan 100 S.
Aquarius Alfa - the perfect fast cruiser to explore the oceans in style.
See listing details at Carrswood Yachts
Contact
Alastair for further details +44747 6888639
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Vismara Marine V50. 385000 EUR.
Truly innovative Italian-built custom performance cruiser with unparalleled speed. Composite construction, carbon fibre mast and a fantastic three-stateroom two heads.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Michele Antonini – Grabau International (Italia)
Tel: +39 333 74 89 281
Email:
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2012 CDK Built MOD70. 1,500,000 USD.
Newest MOD70 available Highly optimized Turn-key package
Turn Key - Race ready
- Extensive sail wardrobe
- New tramps 2019
- New lifting foils 2019
- Spare set of foils
- Osprey installed H500 electronics
- Spare rudder
- Wheely and static Cradles
- 1 x 40ft workshop container
- 1 x 40ft storage container
- Foldable Pusher Rib Boat
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Please contact: Ned Collier Wakefield
+447809212039
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
At the end of this year I shall be sixty-three - if alive —-and about the same if dead. -- Mark Twain
Editorial and letter submissions to
Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.eurosailnews.com/advertise.html
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