In This Issue
• America's Cup: Races 3 & 4
• 18ft Skiffs JJ Giltinan Championship, Race 7
• Rigged By Marlow: Herrmann & Hare, The Vendee Globe History-Makers
• Pure Performance at Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta
• An exceptional course is revealed for the Solitaire du Figaro 2021
• Trim Guides For Cruisers: Mainsail & Headsail
• RORC and IMA collaborate with Yacht Club de France for Transatlantic Race
• Storm Trysail Club Releases Offshore Sailing Leadership Symposium Report
• Registration Open For 2021 Rolex Middle Sea Race
• Featured Brokerage:
• • CF 520 IRC Racing Yacht
• • Swan 77-010 Mascalzone Latino
• • X-Yachts X-442
• The Last Word: John Belushi

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

America's Cup: Races 3 & 4
In light winds, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli too the first race handily, with a winning time margin of 37 seconds. On race four, Emirates Team New Zealand nailed the start and increased their lead to finish far ahead... a winning margin of 1:03.

The America's Cup is now tied at 2 all. Two races are scheduled for each of the next four days. First to 7 wins...

americascup.com

18ft Skiffs JJ Giltinan Championship, Race 7
Click on image for photo gallery.

Sydney Harbour: The Smeg team of Michael Coxon, Ricky Bridge and Trent Baarnabas scored its third race win of the 2021 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today to virtually wrap up the series with two more races still to be sailed.

Smeg grabbed the lead early and led for most of the entire race before defeating Noakesailing (Sean Langman, Ed Powys, Josh Porebski) by 19s, with Shaw and Partners Financial Services (Jim Colley, Shaun Conner, Harry Bethwaite) a further 9s back in third place.

The win gives Smeg a net total of 11 points, twelve ahead of second placed Yandoo Winning Group (John Winning Jr., Seve Jarvin, Saam Newton). Noakesailing is now third placed on 27 points, closely followed by Shaw and Partners Financial Services on 29, Bird and Bear (James Dorron) on 30 and Andoo (Marcus Ashley-Jones) on 31.

Another disappointing day for the pre-series favourite tech2 (Jack Macartney) sees the team in seventh place on 36 points.

Needing to defeat Smeg in today's race to maintain pressure on the overall standings, the Yandoo Winning Group was never able to recover after being in fourth place at the first windward mark behind today's three placegetters.

The Marcus Ashley-Jones led Andoo team continued a very consistent regatta to finish in fifth place, ahead of tech2, Yandoo (John Winning), Finport Finance (Keagan York), Bird and Bear and The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Aron Everett), which rounded out the top 10 placings.

Race 8 of the championship will be sailed Saturday, March 13 on Sydney Harbour . -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.

www.18footers.com

Rigged By Marlow: Herrmann & Hare, The Vendee Globe History-Makers
For Marlow Ropes, the 2020-21 Vendee Globe has been a highly anticipated, history-making race, electrified by two inspirational Marlow-rigged skippers. Boris Herrmann (Germany) and Pip Hare (UK) who completed the Vendee Globe 2020-21 respectively, rigged with Marlow's bespoke Grand Prix (MGP)* series.

Known as the 'Everest of the seas' the Vendee Globe is the pinnacle of single handed, non-stop races that sailors aim for and only 89 out of 167 contenders have ever managed to cross the finish line. Herrmann, as the first German skipper to compete the 2020-21 race finished in fifth place on Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco and was crowned the new IMOCA Globe Series champion, due to his consistent campaign with Team Malizia over the last three years.

British skipper Pip Hare made history as only the 8th woman to have ever completed the race and is the first British skipper to finish the 2020-21 race, having dreamt of competing in the Vendee since she was a teenager. Crossing the line after 95 days, she follows in the footsteps of UK sailing success, Ellen MacArthur, who was also rigged by Marlow in her 2000 Vendee Globe.

Commenting on working with the global rope manufacturer, a heartfelt Hare said: "I want to thank you (Marlow Ropes) for investing in my campaign at such an early stage, trusting me to deliver and supporting me through all these months. I hope you feel this has been your success as well as mine. Once again from the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping to make this happen."

Marlow's Leisure Marine Director, Paul Honess comments on Marlow's work with Herrmann and Hare:

"Both of these sailors have triumphed the Vendee in their own unique way and we are very proud to have played a small, yet vital part in their Vendee Globe victories. Marlow's relationship with Vendee Globe's elite sailors dates back 24 years thanks to our 200+ year history of manufacturing ropes capable of extreme round-the-world sailing.

The high performing Grand Prix Series is made for this type of challenge and both skippers used MGP to very different specifications. Each skipper we work with needs a different specification, and Boris and Pip are no different. Working with this calibre of athlete gives us vital technical knowledge to ensure our rope innovation and development stays at the top of the game."

*Marlow's MGP (Grand Prix) Series is a bespoke rigging service customised to exact specifications of the race boat. The UK and US based rope manufacturer have worked with many offshore sailors and race teams, who have used their bespoke service including America's Cup 2021 challengers American Magic and Ineos Team UK.

marlowropes.com

Pure Performance at Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta
Perfect performance weather conditions delivered an average 14 knot breeze with occasional gusts up to 20 knots on Biscayne Bay, Miami, where racing continued for the Star Class contesting the Bacardi Cup and kicked off for the J/70 and Melges 24 Classes racing the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta.

A stunning day of racing delivered a full schedule, with three races for the J/70 and Melges 24 and two for the Star Class. No change in the Star Class frontrunners with Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Bruno Prada (POL) holding firm, whilst earning first day colours in the J/70 and Melges 24 were Travis Odenbach and his team on 'Honey Badger' and Bruce Ayres and crew on 'Monsoon'.

Racing is scheduled to get underway Friday 12 March, at 1000 hours for the J/70, 1115 hours for the Melges 24 and 1125 hours for the Star Class.

Racing for the 94th Bacardi Cup continued after racing was called off yesterday due to strong wind, with two back to back races on a double triangle course and the race throw out coming into play after race 4.

Eric Doyle/Payson Infelise (USA) scored a 2,5 to sit 3 points off the leaders, with John MacCausland/Phil Trinter finishing 4,2 and, now able to discard their DNC from race 1, they advance nine places to 3rd overall.

Two more days to go and whilst Kusznierewicz/Prada seem unstoppable there is plenty to wrestle for.

Star Class - Provisional Results after Race 4
1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Bruno Prada (POL 8548) - 3 pts
2. Eric Doyle / Payson Infelise (USA 8423) - 6 pts
3. John MacCausland / Phil Trinter (USA 8448) - 10 pts
4. Augie Diaz / Marcus Koy (USA 8509) - 10 pts
5. George Szabo / Guy Avellon (USA 8528) - 12 pts

J/70
The J/70s were up on the race track first and after a short postponement faced a wind against tide windward/leeward course. Three races were fought in 12-16 knots of shifty breeze and variable pressure ensuring plenty of twists and turns, although a relatively level playing field in the 17-boat Melges 24 fleet saw the race wins shared across different teams.

Three races are scheduled for Friday 12 March.

J/70 Class - Provisional Results after Race 3
1. Travis Odenbach / Andy Horton / Geoff Becker / Danny Lawless (USA 40) - 7 pts
2. Joel Ronning / Jud Smith / Kris Stoke / Patrick Wilson (USA 65) - 10 pts
3. John Brim / Zeke Horowitz / Zach Mason / Ian Coleman (USA 340) - 11 pts
4. Vernon Robert / Paula Herman / Nicholas Robertson / Rodrigo Robles / Sophie Robertson (CHI 1038) - 17 pts
5. Robert Hughes / Cameron Appleton / Thomas Allin / Ty Baird (USA 353) - 19 pts

Melges 24
Just 4 points separate the top three teams in the seventeen boat Melges 24 fleet, who kicked off racing at 1120 hours with a shifty breeze and short wave chop for their windward/leeward races.

Like the J/70, this massively competitive fleet saw different teams claim mastery of the track to seize the three wins, with race glory going to defending champion Bora Gulari and his team on 'New England Ropes', Laura Grondin's team on 'Dark Energy' and Bruce Ayres on 'Monsoon'.

Melges 24 Class - Provisional Results after Race 3
1. Bruce Ayres / Jeremy Wilmot / Tomas Dietrich / Ted Hackney / Chelsea Simms (USA 851) - 8 pts
2. Travis Weisleder / John Bowden / Mark Mendelblatt / Haide Goodrick (USA 858) - 11 pts
3. Laura Grondin / Taylor Canfield / Rich Peale / Scott Ewing / Cole Brauer (USA 864) - 12 pts
4. John Brown / Jeff Bonanni / Mike Buckley / Charlie Smythe / George Peet (USA 856) - 13 pts
5. Bora Gulari / Kyle Navin / Norman Berge / Ian Liberty / Micheal Menniger (USA 820) - 21 pts

bacardiinvitational.com

An exceptional course is revealed for the Solitaire du Figaro 2021
Boasting four legs and a route spanning nearly 2,500 miles which alternates between offshore roller-coaster rides and high-voltage coastal skirmishes, the 52nd edition of the Solitaire du Figaro 2021, the third to be contested on a Figaro Beneteau 3, is taking things to a whole new level as it unveils an ambitious course.

Set to be an exceptional edition marked by a new partnership with the Loire-Atlantique department, the race will set sail on Sunday 22 August from Saint Nazaire on France's western seaboard and round off its journey five weeks later in the same port on 19 September.

The entire length of the Bay of Biscay, a debut appearance in Fecamp and a unique passage mark in the Celtic Sea...

In a nod to Armel Le Cleac'h, reigning champion and triple winner of the event, the start of the fourth and final leg will take place around his home waters of Morlaix. Saint Nazaire will welcome the skippers back for the finish, but not before they race via Ireland and the Fastnet to round off a complex, demanding and exciting Solitaire du Figaro

The course of the 52nd Solitaire du Figaro in brief:

Leg 1: Saint-Nazaire/Lorient (689 miles) - from 22 to 26 August
Leg 2: Lorient/Fecamp (490 miles) - from 29 August to 1 September
Leg 3: Fecamp/Baie de Morlaix (624 miles) - from 5 to 9 September
Leg 4: Baie de Morlaix/Saint-Nazaire (685 miles) - from 12 to 16 September

www.lasolitaire.com

Trim Guides For Cruisers: Mainsail & Headsail
You don't need an advanced degree to get the most out of your sails, but a good understanding of core trimming concepts will help ensure you get the experience you're looking for on the water. Download our mainsail and headsail trim guides now for your next adventure.

RORC and IMA collaborate with Yacht Club de France for Transatlantic Race
The 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race will see a collaboration between two eminent yacht clubs; The Royal Ocean Racing Club and Yacht Club de France, as they team up for the next edition of the 3,000 nm (5,500km) race from Lanzarote, Canary Islands to the Caribbean.

With an interest in expanding their programme of races, the Paris-based Yacht Club de France were keen to seek an alliance with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the International Maxi Association to promote the already established RORC Transatlantic Race to its members and affiliated clubs. Modern IRC boats, as well as classic yachts will be invited to participate in the 8th edition of the annual race which has attracted previous entries from around the world to date.

The longest offshore race in the RORC's Season's Points Championship, which consists of over 20 events, the RORC Transatlantic Race was originally set up as a feeder race for the popular RORC Caribbean 600, to allow RORC members and Maxi boat owners the opportunity to race across the Atlantic before competing in the Caribbean regatta season.

Since the inaugural race in 2014, the RORC Transatlantic Race has been run in association with The International Maxi Association who award an impressive silver trophy to the Line Honours winner each year and the 2022 race will continue this custom.

The RORC Transatlantic Race will start on 8th January 2022 from Lanzarote and hosted by Calero Marinas in the Canary Islands.

rorctransatlantic.rorc.org

Storm Trysail Club Releases Offshore Sailing Leadership Symposium Report
Last November, Storm Trysail Club's Seamanship Committee virtually gathered 90 accomplished leaders from within - and outside - the sailing world for its Offshore Sailing Leadership Symposium. World-class sailors, military officers, mountaineers, Merchant Marine officers, public health experts, and business executives worked together to better understand and promote a culture of safety and leadership in offshore sailing and to recommend improvements to Safety at Sea training and education.

Findings coming out of the seminar include:

- The Skipper/Owner is Ultimately Accountable
- The Implications of Leading with High Character
- Insights on Selecting and Training the Team
- Critical Processes for Planning and Preparation
- Methods of Ensuring Clear Roles and Responsibilities
- The Effects of Ego on Teamwork
- Positive Impacts of Open Communication
- Error Chain Recognition and Maintaining Situational Awareness
- Benefits of Adjusting Goals and Plans as Conditions Require
- The Importance of Remaining Calm in an Emergency
- How Maintaining Optimism is Key to Positive Results - Never Giving Up!

The 52 page report includes links to reference material, as well as a number of personal sea stories that bring to life actual crises, and the attendant learnings. Particular attention is paid to recommendations on how best to develop leadership qualities in young sailors, and identifying leaders among crews.

Read the report

Registration Open For 2021 Rolex Middle Sea Race
All being well, the 42nd Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 23 October 2021. The Notice of Race is available online and yachts may already register to participate. Given the ongoing global pandemic causing so much disruption, there is a long way to go before the starting cannons fire in Grand Harbour. However, the Royal Malta Yacht Club is a one of the few organizations to have successfully hosted a blue riband offshore race in 2020. There is, therefore, considerable hope that the club will be able to repeat that success.

Some 50 yachts made it to Malta last year and took on the famous 606 nautical mile race that features two active volcanoes, a myriad of islands and, uniquely, a start and finish in the same location.

The 42nd edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday, 23 October 2021.

Notice of Race

Registration

Featured Brokerage
CF 520 IRC Racing Yacht. POA GBP.

FIBRE Mechanics and Carkeek Design announce the CF-520, a new 52ft IRC racing yacht. The yacht is built in IM carbon pre-preg and Nomex honeycomb from full production tooling, and incorporates the latest thinking from the innovative Carkeek Design office. A high-end racing yacht without the cost of one-off yacht design and tooling. Boat one is due to launch in early May 2021, with build slots available for deliveries in the second half of 2021 and March 2022.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
FIBRE MECHANICS
18 Waterloo Road
Lymington, SO41 9DB, UK
+44 (0)1590 427007

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2003 Swan 77 Mascalzone Latino. 1,850,000. Located in Porto Ferraio, IT

Developed by Nautor’s for the discerning owner seeking a performance yacht with a high degree of interior comfort and volume, the Swan 77 meets the design brief allowing for fast sailing in a sea kindly yacht that is both strong and agile.

Mascalzone Latino is the last Swan 77 built therefore benefits from the experience gained during the construction of the previous nine yachts.

See listing details in Nautor's Swan Brokerage

Contact
Giorgio Passarella
Nautor's Swan Brokerage
T. +377 97 97 95 07

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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:

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

The Last Word
What rock n' roll was supposed to be about was getting loose, enjoying it, going a little crazy, and not caring how you act or dress. -- John Belushi

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