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Brought to you by Boats.com Europe, Yachtworld.com Europe, Scuttlebutt Europe 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brits Lead The Charge
Two British sailors are leading the event after a tough day two out on the water. Ian Williams (Team GAC Pindar), the 2006 and 2007 World Match Racing Champion, was a distant fifth on points going into this event. Today he sailed outstandingly, showing great skill in the light and very tricky conditions, qualifying for the quarterfinals with a 7-0 scorecard. Ben Ainslie (TEAMORIGIN), the triple Gold Olympian is close on Williams’ heels having lost just one match yesterday to Phil Robertson (WAKA Racing). After two days of racing Ainslie sits at 5-1, having completed one less match than Williams. Torvar Mirsky (Mirsky Racing Team), the West Australian skipper who is also mathematically in the World Championship running, is close behind the leaders, having suffered just two losses from seven matches (5-2). Mirsky went down to Williams and Francesco Bruni (Team Azzurra) in hard fought matches. The leaders can only look back in amazement at the chaos behind them. In the middle of today, the World Match Racing Championship tour leader Mathieu Richard looked anything but relaxed, seemingly suffering a serious form slump in this event. Down, Richard did not seem to be making good decisions. In the critical match against Francesco Bruni (Team Azzurra) Richard just won the start on the pin, in light and shifty conditions. After a slow tacking duel Richard was three lengths ahead. On the left Bruni was in pressure and reduced Richard’s lead to less than one length. A bad tack from Richard and a gain on a shift from Bruni, meant a lead change before the top mark. Richard struggled back and into the lead down the run but Bruni went hunting for pressure and shifts. Richard inexplicably did not cover, the number one match racing rule, and so conceded the match to Bruni. The afternoon did not improve for Richard and a loss to Ben Ainslie (TEAMORIGIN) left him 0-4 and in 11th place. But clearly the determined Richard was not yet ready to give up the Championship title dream and things turned a little his way. Richard finished the day 5-3 and in seventh place. Looking despondent the French skipper explained: "We have not been sailing well. We still have a lot of work to do, we need six wins to be sure to get into the quarterfinals and we have to beat Minoprio (ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing), Mirsky and Robertson to get there. Right now it does not look good." Looking at the leader board Williams has plainly qualified and Ainslie, Mirsky and Radich look comfortable. Behind them it seems there are six crews fighting for four quarterfinal placings. Monsoon Cup - Day 2 Leader board www.monsooncup.com.my Copernicus To Sail In Volvo Ocean Legends Race
The 45’ Copernicus was built especially for the first Whitbread by the Gdanska Stocznia Jachtowa ‘Stogi’ boatyard in Poland, with a lot of help from the members of the Yacht Klub Stal Gdynia on the Baltic Sea coast, who have owned her ever since. She is their pride and joy and the club keeps her in good condition and tries not to interfere with the history of her construction or to alter her lines. The participation of Copernicus in the Volvo Ocean Race Legends Regatta will bring the club back to the world of ocean racing. “We have to be there,” says Marek ‘Goly’ Galkiewicz, the project manager for the yacht club. “We are cultivating a tradition and thinking of the future,” he says, while confirming that Delphia Yachts, the biggest Polish producer of sailing yachts and powerboats, supports Yacht Klub Stal Gdynia and Copernicus in their participation in Legends Regatta. Copernicus raced the whole way around the world without drama or incident, except perhaps on the final leg. Nothing had been heard of the yacht since the start in Rio de Janeiro some weeks earlier and the Race Committee, who suspected her radio was out of action, put out a request to all shipping to report any sighting. One month after the start from Rio, the little yacht and her crew were reported to be in excellent condition and still racing. Fourteen boats completed the course and Copernicus finished the grueling 27,000 nautical miles in 11th place. Her skipper was Olympic yachtsman, Zygfryd ‘Zyga’ Perlicki. She is constructed on an oak frame with mahogany planking with a plywood deck covered with teak and was the smallest boat to complete the race. Concorde, a French Contessa 32, although smaller, only sailed in leg two. After finishing the race in 1974, Copernicus was used for training, cruising and expeditions and still regularly sails across the Baltic and North Sea. In 2006 she was awarded The Cruise of the Year trophy in Poland for a circumnavigation of Iceland. 50 Years Of Passion In Paris This year the show boasts 1200 exhibitors, 1400 boats (of which 300 are new) and numerous celebratory events including a retrospective of the last Route du Rhum, the Yachtsman of the year trophy, an official presentation of the next Solitaire du Figaro and the next Barcelona World Race. The Musto Stand in Hall 1, stand B66 will be showcasing the 2011 collection whilst you can buy all your favourite Musto garments from the Musto Shop in Hall 2.1, stand E87 One Hundred Kilometres Per Hour Record : World Sailing Speed Record Comments: Current record: Hydroptere. 51.36 knots, September 2009. As there were a number of subsequent claims on the World Record during the month-long Luderitz speed event, the Council will announce them in chronological order as they are ratified. This will give due recognition to each holder, even though it may have only been for a limited period. The above record is remarkable in that it represents the first sailing craft to achieve 100 km/hr. John Reed Wight Vodka Best Yachting Bar... Penmanship Prize! Our contest has caught the eye of our friend BIll Lynn of Atlantis WeatherGear in Marblehead Mass, USA. Sailors as old as your humble narrator remember Atlantis from many years ago (I still have one of their first GoreTex jackets, my son has claimed it for I seem to be a bit rounder than I was 30 years ago, funny, that...). Well, Atlantis has been back now for a few years, with some seriously nice kit. And you can win a Grand Prix Softshell Jacket (sells for $200 USD) embroided with the Wight Vodka logo, for penning the best submission. Your choice of color and size... see www.atlantisweathergear.com All previously submitted letters are in the hunt. So sharpen your pencil and send us your thoughts on why a certain watering hole is the best bar for sailors... We have extended the entry deadline from this Saturday until Midnight Tuesday December 7 (midnight between Tuesday and Wednesday). Have at it, bards of the bar! Go to www.scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars.html Melges 32 Fleet Readies For Gold Cup Competition Twenty-one teams have traveled from all across North America, Great Britain and Italy to compete. Among those poised for victory are defending Gold Cup champion Rod Jabin (Annapolis, Md.) on Ramrod with 2009 Melges 24 World Champion Chris Larson serving as tactician. One of Jabin's top adversaries, 2010 Winter Series and European Champion Joe Woods (Torquay, UK) with tactician, Olympic Gold Medallist Paul Goodison on Red is also in attendance. Other teams expected to excel and do well include Kip Meadows (Rocky Mount, N.C.) and tactician, multiple match racing champion Andy Horton on roXanne; 2010 U.S. National Champion Ryan DeVos (Macatawa Bay, Mich.) on Volpe pairs up with Ed Baird on tactics; East Coast Champion Alex Jackson (Riverside, Conn.) on Leenabarca will be assisted by Volvo Ocean Racer Rob Greenhalgh's tactical expertise, and Lanfranco Cirillo (Torri del Benaco, Verona, Italy) on Fantastica employs the talents of Michelle Paoletti. Friends, family and fans of the Melges 32 will be able to tune-in and enjoy the racing action and developments from a distance, special thanks to Sail 22’s all new Sailing Updates and Sail Groove. They have teamed up to bring as-it-happens coverage from the water as well as after racing sailor interviews. The 2010 Gold Cup Regatta is the first of three, major 2011 Winter Series events for the Melges 32 in North America. On January 17-21, the fleet will assemble in Key West, Fla. for Premiere Racing’s Key West Race Week and Miami Grand Prix on March 10-13. In Europe, things will heat up in the spring with yet another spectacular line-up of Audi Sailing Series events beginning in March, leading up to Copa Del Rey on August 1-6, culminating at the 2011 Melges 32 World Championship in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. www.melges32.com Not Just Racing Ullman Sails ñ Invest in your performance. Visit us at ullmansails.com Zhik Moth Worlds Attracts a Red Hot Field of 112 Entries
Head lining the entry list is ISAF Sailor of the Year & three time Laser World champ Tom Slingsby (AUS) who is looking to add yet another world title to his growing tally, however Tom will have a big challenge on his hands because there will be Four previous World Champions; Simon Payne (GBR), Bora Gulari (USA), John Harris (AUS) , & Chris Dey (AUS) along with another Four Olympians all pushing hard for the title. To pick a favorite for this event is almost impossible with a lineup of champion sailors from Australia, NZ, USA, Great Britain, Singapore, Japan, Ireland, Sweden, Germany & Switzerland. (See entry list below) Interestingly, competitors will be racing with a variety of rig & foil combinations with the Mach‐2 package being the most popular. Current World Champion, Simon Payne (GBR) will be looking to recreate the form which won him the 2010 Moth World championships in Dubai, however there will be a stack of Aussies led by Nathan Outteridge, Andrew McDougall (Aka “A‐Mac”), Scott Babbage & Dave Lister who will be all putting pressure on the Brit over the course of the week. Nathan Outteridge (AUS) is the current Moth Open European Champion and has been in solid form of late having just won the Zhik Australian 49er National Championships with his crew Iain Jensen (AUS) who is also competing at these worlds. 2009 World Champ Bora Gulari (USA) has thrown down the gauntlet to his fellow competitors and will be arriving at the Lake with a solid wing sail on his Mach‐2. The yet to be measured sail has been designed and built by Canadian C‐ Class Champions Object 2 Skiff Works and it will be sure to provoke intense interest both within the class and the sailing community. Other sailors to watch include seasoned America’s Cup campaigners, Adam Beashel (AUS), Charlie McGee (USA) & Tatsu Wakinaga (JPN) along with Volvo Around the world sailor George Peet (USA) who could surprise the seasoned Moth guru’s. The Zhik Moth Australian championships will be held on January 4th & 5th and should be a great form indicator for the Zhik Moth Worlds which starts on Saturday January 8th. Governors Cup Start
With the SA Navy Band playing on the lawn at False Bay Yacht Club, it was time for the proceedings to begin as Mark van der Sandt welcomed everyone to the departure ceremony. After introductions of the skippers and crew, Rev. Peter Storey blessed the fleet and it was time to say good bye to loved ones and get ready to begin the adventure of racing to St. Helena, 1,700 nautical miles away. With well wishers crammed on the dock, each yacht slipped its mooring and proceeded towards the start line, located near the lighthouse on Roman Rock. Many spectator s followed the racers on their yachts and the cannon fired at noon to signal the start of the 2010 Governors Cup. The first buoy was set near Lower North Gun Battery and the fleet jostled in the light winds as they sailed around it to the second mark near the Simonstown train station. As the wind started to fill in the bay, the crews worked their way towards the wind line and first into the freshening breeze was Our Dianne, skippered by Billy Leisegang, with Swimlion close behind. With the rest of the fleet behind them, they shot off and laid a course for Cape Point and the open ocean. With the wind now filling in, the rest of the fleet worked their way into the breeze and followed in their wake. With the boats all carrying transponders, they are easy to follow via the event website at: Bids Coming In For 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships The Hague: The City of The Hague and The Royal Netherlands Yachting Union are both keen to host Olympic sailing’s pinnacle event, the World Championships in 2014. Together with the Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF) the organisers are able to form a well-balanced expert Organising Committee for the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships. On December 1st the organisers will enter a multi-facetted bid for the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships in The Hague to the ISAF. The Hague aims to be an international sports city by the sea and has already been host for several international sports events including the Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, the ISAF Delta Lloyd 470 World Championships and the annual North Sea Regatta. One of the results of this ambition is the development of an International Sailing Centre based on international standards. The event will ensure the development of facilities that can be used long after the event has finished. There will be a considerable economic spin-off for the city, surrounding area and the international sailing community for many years to come. The facilities for all Olympic classes will all be in walking distance of each other leaving a minimal environmental footprint. On the beach of The Hague, a special area will be set up for the public to watch the events, either direct or via screens with live 3D Tracking & Tracing. Millions of tourists visit the unique beach at The Hague every year. For the full bid please see: www.denhaagmarketing.com/praktisch/959 ------------------------------------------ Denmark has handed in its bid for the sailing event of them all; the huge ISAF Worlds 2014 event. Dan Ibsen, Secretary General of the Danish Sailing Association says: “Denmark has a long-standing tradition for sailing and Danish clubs find it cool to stage all kinds of sailing races, including international events. The many skilled volunteers in the clubs help to ensure that the major international sailing events in Denmark are safely planned and staged, both from a professional and a financial point of view”. Even in 2011 as many as 7 world championships are scheduled in Denmark and the boat classes concerned are all ISAF-authorised. In the light of the many sailing event activities in Denmark, it is only natural to go for the sailing event of them all, namely the ISAF Sailing World Championship 2014. As per 1 December 2010, Denmark has handed in its final bid for the 2014 Worlds to be held in Aarhus - the second largest city of Denmark - and is now looking forward to presenting it to ISAF at the end of January 2011. Lars Lundov, Chief Executive of Sport Event Denmark points out: ”We, as the Danish national event organisation, are proud of the heavy event activity in the domestic sailing community and we are impressed by the skills and readiness to innovation that characterise the Danish sailing event organisers. We are going 100% for this unique one-in-a-lifetime-event in 2014”. Featured Brokerage The boat was built 1997 and has been involved in much racing. Originally she sailed under British flag in the last Whitbread 1997 and 1998. Silk Cut won one leg and ended up as fifth, after breaking the world record for mono hulls. She sailed 417,2 nautical miles in twenty four hours. After the race she was bought up by Team SEB and used as a training platform for their campaign in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001 and 2002. Pleomax is an Exciting Bruce Farr design and had an extensive refit in 2008. Also good PR opportunity. Brokerage through De Valk Yacht Brokers: Complete listing details and seller contact information at * Editor's choice for best possible city name. Imagine telling a police officer when questioned where you live, "Elsewhere". With a straight face. Perfect, just perfect... The Last Word |
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