In This Issue
• Melges World League Launched The New 2021 Format
• How The Round The World Races Have Grown
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• Great Britain SailGP Team confirms Season 2 squad and female development programme
• M32 European Season Starts in Italy
• FINNFARE celebrates 60 years with April 2021 edition
• Kiel Week
• "The Norwegian Steam"
• Industry News
• Featured Charter: Pata Negra - Marc Lombard IRC 46
• Featured Brokerage:
• • 'Merrymaid' - Gaff Cutter
• • ClubSwan 50-003
• • Baltic Yachts 64
• The Last Word: Barry Goldwater

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

Melges World League Launched The New 2021 Format
La Spezia, Italy: A consistent fleet of almost forty boats competed in the opening event of the Melges World League: to inaugurate the 2021 season of Melges 20 and Melges 14, the organization chose Marina di Scarlino and the Yacht Club Isole di Toscana as hosting venue.

Eight regattas were completed by the Melges 20, with a weather regime that ranged from the light breezes of the first day to the more unsteady ones on Sunday, passing through the strong wind on Saturday, when the so-called mosquitoes returned to surf the ways at their best.

In the end, the winners in the Melges 20 fleet were the already European Champions of Russian Bogatyrs: they managed to keep up and overcome a very consistent Fremito d'Arja and the young crew of Siderval. The team of Igor Rytov (Konstantin Besputin and Anton Sergeev with him) smiles, while preparing the 'weapons' in view of the main event of the season, the European Championship, scheduled in Puntaldia next September. Positive experience also for the crew of Siderval who, led by Marco Giannini, climbs on the overall podium and makes his success among the Corinthians, anticipating the Germans of Heat and B.Lex of Benedetta Iovane, winner of the last regatta of the series.

Also the Melges 14 fleet was called in the water this weekend: the sailors completed a series of six regattas on an independent race course from the Melges 20, proof of the considerable organizational effort put in place by Melges Europe and its operational partners. Luca Angelini, at the helm of ITA-516, sealed the victory of the event only in the last race of the series, leaving behind BRA-810 by Gustavo Vianna, leader in the first part of the series, and Luca Antonini on ITA-808.

Full ranking on Yacht Scoring

After Scarlino, the Melges World League will stop in Cala Galera, where between 17 and 20 June the Melges 20 and the Melges 14 will also be joined by the Melges 32.

This is the calendar of upcoming events:
- Cala Galera (17-20 June), formerly the site of a Melges 32 World Championship and a Melges 20 World Championship;
- Malcesine (22-25 July), theater of the European Melges 20 2019 and home to many other events organized over the years by Melges Europe;
- Villasimius (27-30 August), where the fourth stage will be followed by Melges 32 Worlds 2021 (1-4 September)
- Puntaldia (22-25 September), elected as the stage of the European Melges 20
- Santa Marinella (1-3 October), location that will host the Euro Cup Melges 14

melges32.com
melges20.com
melges14.com

How The Round The World Races Have Grown
Racing round the world via the three legendary Capes has seemingly never been so popular, to race organisers and, they hope, to potential racers. Between July 2022 and September 2023 it seems like as many as five round the globe races could set off in just about every conceivable format solo, double or crewed, mainly intended for amateur or semi pro sailors. It is about selling the realisation of a lifetime's dream or the next career milestone for others. Tip & Shaft look at the budgets, the contexts and the risks.

Class40: two projects, two philosophies

The first race is the Globe40, a round-the-world race in eight stages targeting new and exciting destinations (Mauritius, Papeete, Ushuaia, etc.) combining racing and adventuring starting from Tangier. "We are in the operational phase" assures Manfred Ramspacher the organizer who says he has 12 pre-registered for the race due to start on June 26th 2022. "Our budget of 2 million euros is based on two thirds coming from on the host cities. Whether or not we get a title partner is not a major issue that will not prevent us starting".

GGR and OGR: back to basics is successful

Organized by the duo Hugh Piggin / Sam Holliday, The Race Around is also for Class40s and it is due to start in September 2023. Its four-stage format resembles the BOC challenge of the 1980s as well as the sporting level. The budget announced by the organizer of 8.6 million euros, will be financed 95% by private partners.

Building on the success of the first edition, the Golden Globe Race will start again from Les Sables d'Olonne on September 4, 2022, "two months later than the previous one for better timing for entering the Forties", explains Don McIntyre, creator of the race.

After the GGR, McIntyre has added another acronym to his list of events with the OGR standing for the Ocean Globe Race, which is a way to revive the Whitbread and which will set sail in the summer of 2023 for the fiftieth anniversary of the first crewed race around the world.

Full article in Tip & Shaft

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

Smooth operators
When the world capital of ocean racing is right there on your doorstep there is also no shortage of knowledgeable - and demanding - volunteers to push you to develop a superior product

Designed for the job
As well as great sailing performance a new generation of sailcloths is exploiting the potential for very much improved levels of durability

Ultimate dependability
When it comes to furling today's huge sails in a hurry it is good to know that there are 130 years of development and engineering excellence behind the key components upon which you are relying

IRC - (Today's) final frontier
Once your yacht has lifted itself out of the water then all bets are off. In every respect. Jean Sans

Seahorse build table - Something different?
VPLP do not only design breathtaking giant racing and cruising multihulls. Axelle Palabe

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Great Britain SailGP Team confirms Season 2 squad and female development programme
Great Britain SailGP skipper and helm Ben Ainslie and trailist Hannah Mills. Click on image to enlarge.

With less than one week to go until the start of SailGP Season 2, which commences with the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess April 24-25, the Great Britain SailGP Team has unveiled its squad that will race in the global sailing championship in 2021-22.

The team's F50 catamaran will once again be helmed and skippered by the world's most successful Olympic sailor, Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR). Joining him is fellow Olympic gold medallist Iain Jensen (AUS), who returns as Wing Trimmer, and Flight Controller Luke Parkinson (AUS/GBR), who was most recently seen piloting the British boat in the America's Cup. The grinder roles, meanwhile, are filled by Olympic gold winning rower Matt Gotrel (GBR), the Isle of Arran's Neil Hunter (GBR) and Richard Mason (GBR). All three grinders have been part of the Great Britain SailGP Team since the first season of the cutting-edge sailing league.

In Bermuda, the British team will be joined by a fourth Olympic gold medallist, Hannah Mills (GBR), who will be the first trialist in the squad's female development programme, a new initiative which aims to fast-track the inclusion of female athletes into SailGP. Mills brings a significant amount of experience to the team, having won Olympic gold in the Women's 470 in Rio in 2016 and a silver medal at London 2012 where she was a teammate of Ainslie in her first and his last Olympics.

In the following two events after Bermuda, five more female athletes will trail with the team, before a final decision will be made on the successful athletes who will join the British team full-time. Anna Burnet (GBR), who will be competing in her first Olympic Games in Tokyo, will trial with the team in Taranto, Italy, whilst Hannah Diamond (GBR), Ellie Aldridge (GBR), Nikki Boniface (GBR) and Emily Nagel (GBR) will complete their respective trials in Plymouth, UK.

www.SailGP.com

M32 European Season Starts in Italy
The M32 European season will start in Sanremo in May. After the Italian regatta the fleet will head north to Holland and Denmark to return to Italy and Riva del Garda for the European Championship in September this year.

Rejoining the fleet for this season is Andrea LaCorte with his team "Vitamina Rapida/Cetilar". This year the team is adding a second boat, "Vitamina Veloce/Cetilar", helmed by Marco Radman.

Andrea LaCorte, a skipper with long experience from many high level racing classes is looking forward to the season start and comments: "Every time I come from another boat I always wonder why the M32 is not the only boat I drive … I'm 60 years old, and believe me, even at my age the boat is very steady, with two or three good crew anyone from monohulls and slow boats can enjoy some very fast sailing … The fun you are going to have on this boat is absolutely outstanding".

Some of the M32 veterans will also be seen in Sanremo, like "Inga from Sweden" and the "Vikings". Jakob Wilson, managing the Vikings, comments, "It feels great that we finally will be back racing. The factory team, Cape Crow Vikings, are ready and will bring a demo boat down to Italy to be leased out to a team that wants to try the thrill of the M32 sailing."

m32world.com/calendar/

FINNFARE celebrates 60 years with April 2021 edition
FINNFARE has been part of Finn class culture for 60 years. First published in 1961, it has consistently brought Finn sailors the news and views from around the world.

FINNFARE is also the legacy of the class. In 1961, the arrival of FINNFARE was often the first news of major races, and the only place that Finn addicts could read about their heroes and see what they looked like.

FINNFARE has also documented the history of the class at the Olympic Games and the 14 past covers shown in this issue illustrate the evolution of that coverage.

This edition is the 167th issue since it was started in the USA by Fred Miller in 1961. Over those six decades 11 editors have published just shy of 4,000 pages of fun filled Finn pages. While many have called for FINNFARE to become 100 per cent digital, in recent surveys the majority have steadfastly stuck to the desire to receive it through their letter box three times a year, something tangible, to be read at their unadulterated leisure.

In this issue we talk to two of those heading to Tokyo this summer Alex Kokumai, from Japan, and Luke Muller, from USA, both featured on the front cover.

The April 2021 edition of FINNFARE can be downloaded from the Finn class website here or read online here.

Kiel Week
In 2021 there will be no Kiel Week (September 4 to 12) in the usual format. While the 2020 edition was based on the principle of "sailing first", the main focus in 2021 will be on a united Kiel Week for sailing and festivals. Of course, everything will be done in compliance with the pandemic rules to protect the active participants, the organization and the guests.

This year, Kiel Week (September 4 to 12) will have nothing in common with the events of the past. Four weeks after the Olympic Games, the situation is completely different. Many classes, especially the Olympic ones, have parallel events and cannot start in Kiel. In addition, the Kiel organization team had to react very flexibly to a new class mix and the integrated Star World Championship. Now the 16 classes, the Star and the FAREAST 28R World Championships as well as the Offsore races are rearranged.

From now on the registration with the class mix is opened on manage2sail.com. The athletes can leave their entry for June (it will then automatically be taken over for September), can re-enter or withdraw (until June 1st). In case of withdrawal or if the class is cancelled, the entry fee will be refunded.

The Notice of Race, adapted to the new situation and the new date, can be found at: www.kieler-woche.de/nor.

"The Norwegian Steam"
Between 1893 and 1937 hundreds of Norwegian sailors crewed on the yachts that defended the America's Cup. Many of these yachts were designed by N.G. Herreshoff and built at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company.

In the words of Olin Stephens "The Norwegians were obviously very good sailors, and as most of our America's Cup defenders were crewed by Norwegians, one can say that it wasn't the Americans who won the Cups……it was the Norwegians!"*

This is their story.

Thursday, April 22
Begins at 7pm, Eastern

Tickets:
Members: $10
Non-Members: $15
Save $5. Support the Museum. Become a Member today.

Virtual Lectures are hosted on Zoom Webinars

Purchase tickets here

Industry News
This year's HAMBURG ancora YACHTFESTIVAL has been cancelled by organisers Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.

The event had been scheduled to take place in Neustadt, Holstein from 28 to 30 May 2021, however following consultations with authorities and partners and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, organisers say there is no basis for reliable planning.

The next HAMBURG ancora YACHTFESTIVAL is now scheduled to take place from 27 to 29 May 2022 at the same location, the ancora Marina in Neustadt, Holstein.

www.boatingbusiness.com/

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The organisers of the International Superyacht Summit 2021 have just announced new dates for the event, which will go ahead on the 8th and 9th of December, aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel in Dubai. The location aboard the ex.Cunard Line steamship-turned hotel, will allow for organisers to comply with Covid-19 measures, without having to limit visitor numbers.

The focus of the event has been, in previous years, the development of the UAE as a preferred winter destination for superyachts. The 2021 edition will introduce two new themes. Firstly, how superyacht marina developments empower lifestyle and tourism, and the role of the yachting industry in new and consolidated tourist destinations.

While the second new theme is the emerging trends in superyacht ownership and how builders can accommodate the needs of an ever-younger generation of owners and charterers. Central to this trend is also the growing environmental awareness of these younger generations and the higher intolerance of unsustainable practices.

Tickets for the International Superyacht Summit 2021 event will be available to purchase in the coming months.

www.superyachttimes.com/

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Miami's historic Marine Stadium, closed since it was condemned in 1992, may be in for a revival - finally. But it's been a long time coming.

The 6,566-seat stadium opened in 1963 as a venue for powerboat racing, and then special events. Located on Virginia Key and accessible by Rickenbacker Causeway, it offered spectacular views of downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay. The stadium was designed by Hilario Candela, then 27 and a Cuban immigrant, and featured a 326-foot-long cantilevered roof, supported by eight slanted columns. It was the longest span of cantilevered concrete in the world at the time.

The stadium also was a venue for concerts and special events. Mitch Miller and Jimmy Buffett appeared there; so did Sammy Davis, Jr., with Richard Nixon. But the stadium was declared unsafe after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. It has been closed ever since, although graffiti artists have managed to leave their imprint on the seats and walls.

In 2008, a local group, the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, tried to restore the stadium; Gloria Estefan was a major contributor. Proposals were raised, and shelved. The Miami boat show moved next door for a few years. The stadium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, and the city approved a $45 million bond issue to fund the renovation.

The city now is working with architects and local groups, including Hilario Candela himself, and it expects to approve final plans in a few months. The city also is planning a multi-use flex park in the area around the stadium, as well as a possible maritime center. Stay tuned. Read more:

www.si.com

cruisingodyssey.com

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Oyster production turnover to double by 2022 supported by strong sales and demand.

The clear message from its latest financial figures and additional company information is that premium sailboat brand Oyster Yachts has made strong progress through its three-year turnaround plan and is now set on a sustained path of profits and growth going forward.

The UK-based builder moved into a profitable position during Q4 of its fiscal 2020-21 year which ended on March 31. Rebecca Bridgen, Oyster's Deputy CEO, told IBI, "The results just published (FY20) are the history and in spite of Covid this year, the business has moved ahead and is now back to profits going forward."

She added, "It is positive news; the past three years have been very hard but we are doing exactly what we set out to do and put the group on sound footing for the future."

The turnaround plan was set out in 2019 with a core objective - according to the strategic report for Oyster Yachts Holdings Ltd (OYHL) published with its recent Companies House accounts filing - to "successfully re-establish all its operations in yacht production, refit, brokerage, charter, crew, technical and sales support." OYHL is the ultimate parent company of the Oyster brand with a 100% stake held by CEO Richard Hadida.

This multi-faceted plan has actively included new investment in facilities and equipment, a total redesign of the Oyster yacht range, upgrading the product development and design processes, and firm initiatives to build a strong highly-skilled and sustainable workforce to underpin the brand's future growth.

oysteryachts.com

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The Haven Knox-Johnston crew are limbering up once again as the official insurance partner for the 2021 Round the Island Race. The 90th anniversary race will be held on Saturday 3rd July and will also see the 20th year of Haven Knox-Johnston supporting this great event with the Island Sailing Club. Two sponsored yachts, Haven K-J Enigma and Haven K-J Scotch Mist, will be amongst the fleet competing for the Gold Roman Bowl and tactics are already being discussed.

With so many high-profile events being cancelled, the Round the Island Race is being tipped as one of the biggest events to be staged since the UK's first lockdown over a year ago.

With 19 years of tradition, all Haven Knox-Johnston pleasure craft policy holders heading for the start line on the 3rd July will have their boat insurance policy given a boost to include racing cover for the day at no extra cost. Obviously, they hope you won't need it, but you have enough to concentrate on in the chaos at the start line, so nice to know that Haven K-J have your back!

As you make your own plans for race day, make sure one of them is to get the right insurance cover for you and your crew, by getting in touch with our crew, who are always on hand to help. Give them a call on 01732 223 650 or drop them an email on , whatever works for you.

Featured Charter
Pata Negra - Marc Lombard IRC 46. Located in Caribbean / Northern Europe

Pata Negra is a prototype IRC 46 design by Marc Lombard and built by CSC Composites in 2016. Marc Lombard is renowned for designing some great offshore racing yachts, including IMOCA 60ʼs, Class 40ʼs and Mini’s. Pata Negra is a great example of this offshore pedigree and has a proven track record of podium results offshore including overall winner of the Round Britain Ireland 2018, 1st in class in the RORC Caribbean 600 2020 and 2nd in class in the Rolex Fastnet Race 2017.

See listing details in Seahorse Charters

Contact
Lucy Jackson - LV Yachting
Call: +44 (0) 20 3920 6261
Email:

See the the Seahorse charter collection

Featured Brokerage
1904 MERRYMAID - Gaff Cutter. 4950000 EUR. Located in Spain.

A beautiful and remarkable living link to Victorian and Edwardian yachting's 'Golden Era', MERRYMAID is surely the most accomplished, thoroughly well-proven restored large classic yacht of our time.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk

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ClubSwan 50-003. 700000 EUR.

The cutting edge of contemporary yacht design - ClubSwan 50-003.

See listing details in Nautor's Swan Brokerage

Contact
Giorgio Passarella
E:
T: +377 97 97 95 07

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1991 Baltic Yachts 64. 695000 EUR. Located in Tuscany, Italy

Comprehensively upgraded, refitted and modified example of the iconic S&S designed Baltic 64. The penultimate boat launched and maintained regardless of cost.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Lead Broker: Michele Antonini - Grabau International (Italia)
Tel ITA: +39 333 74 89 281
Tel UK: +44 7989575669
Email:

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

The Last Word
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. -- Barry Goldwater

Editorial and letter submissions to

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.eurosailnews.com/advertise.html