In This Issue
• Ocean Race Europe crews battle fierce conditions
• Cascais 49er & 49erFx ACT II Championship
• Dubarry’s new range of high-performance sailing kit
• Team Argo on pace to break Bermuda to Plymouth world speed record
• Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Forecast
• You, Harken, Vang-Master and Perfect Top Batten Control
• Checco Bruni Is One Ocean Foundation Ambassador For The Safeguard Of The Sea
• Medway Promises A Marathon Of A Sailjuice Challenge
• Industry News
• Featured Charter: Shamlor - 67ft Sailing Yacht
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Ker 40 - "Keronimo"
• • Gunboat 60 ALAIA
• • CF 520 IRC Racing Yacht
• The Last Word: P G Wodehouse
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
Ocean Race Europe crews battle fierce conditions
A day after leaving Cascais, Portugal on the second leg of The Ocean Race Europe, this afternoon the race’s 12-boat fleet battled fierce headwinds in the Gibraltar Strait.
As expected, strong easterly headwinds gusting over 40 knots made for brutal conditions for The Ocean Race Europe yachts for the three-hour Gibraltar Strait passage.
The five IMOCA and seven VO65 crews had made short work of the opening stage of leg two. They enjoyed mostly fast downwind conditions on their way south along the Portuguese coast to Cape St. Vincent, before they turned southeast overnight and this morning began to feel the effects of easterly headwinds flowing from the Mediterranean on the beat across the Gulf of Cadiz.
Prior to the start of leg two there had been much discussion in Cascais about what the winning strategy might be for negotiating the Gibraltar Strait. The consensus was to pick a side: either south, short tacking along the Moroccan coast; or north, doing the same along the Spanish shoreline - and nothing in between would do.
Led by Sailing Team Poland the bulk of the VO65 crews opted for the southerly option, but two of them - first Erik Brockmann’s Viva México (MEX), and then AkzoNobel Ocean Racing (NED) - made a break to the north in the hope of smoother sailing.
Conditions are expected to moderate for The Ocean Race Europe fleet as they move further into the Mediterranean tonight. With a little under 300nm / 556km still to race on this second leg the fleet is expected to arrive in Alicante, Spain on Wednesday June 9, although with light conditions forecast before the finish, this ETA could slide back.
Cascais 49er & 49erFx ACT II Championship
Photo by Neuza Aires Pereira. Click on image for photo gallery.
After the first training event in May, the best sailors in the world in the Olympic Classe 49erFx class rejoined in Cascais for the last race before the Summer 2021 Tokyo Olympics Games. This championship will serve as a barometer for the Olympics during this summer an as it has the participation of the European Champions in 2020, Tina Lutz and Susann Buecke, with the World Champions in 2020, Tamara Echegoyen and Paula Barceló, and the Gold medalists at the 2016 Olympic
At the end of three races and at the top of the overall is the duo from the United Kingdom, Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey, who won the last race of the day. In second place was the Argentine duo of Victoria Travascio and Sol Branz with a bullet in the second race. With the victory in the debut race and closing the podium at the end of the first day was the Spanish team of Tamara Echegoyen and Paula Barcelo.
In total, 5 continents are represented - North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania - in a total of 19 nationalities will sail in Cascais Bay. The championship takes place in Cascais from the 7th to the 12th of June 12 races are scheduled plus a Medal Race that will count double points for the final overall.
Dubarry’s new range of high-performance sailing kit
Their sea boots and deck shoes need no introduction. Many sailors swear by them. Now Dubarry has launched a whole new range of high-performance technical clothing, footwear and accessories, in men’s and women’s styles. The Aquatech Collection is specifically designed for active sailing with a host of useful design features.
Spray on your shades but can’t leave the helm? Aquatech jackets have eyewear cleaning patches sewn in. Trainers unwelcome in the yacht club bar? Aquatech deckies have classic leather uppers with subtle trainer soles so you can go straight from boat to bar in the same pair of shoes. For scorching summer days, Aquatech tops are moisture-wicking and quick-drying with antimicrobial odour prevention and full UPF-50 sun protection built in. For physical foredeck work, Aquatech gear combines full breathability with excellent waterproofing, and the shorts are engineered to stay on your waist.
The whole range, from boots to belts, is designed by sailors and optimised for performance and comfort at sea, preserving your natural agility on deck and ensuring full freedom of movement. It’s also hard-wearing, featherlight, made from marine-grade materials and plenty smart enough for après-sail use with a touch of classic nautical style.
Explore the Dubarry Aquatech collection
Team Argo on pace to break Bermuda to Plymouth world speed record
Team Argo remain firmly on pace to break the Bermuda to Plymouth world speed record.
The Newport, Rhode Island-based team’s offshore foiling MOD70 trimaran Argo was clocked travelling along at 30 knots at one stage yesterday on the edge of a weather front making its way up the North Atlantic.
The team’s crew of six, led by helmsman/navigator Brian Thompson, is attempting to break the five-year-old Bermuda to Plymouth world speed record, which stands at five days 11hr 57min 17sec, and have already completed half of the 2,870 nautical mile journey on Lloyd Thornburg’s 70ft one-design multihull.
“They are still on sub-five-day target, with about 25 to 26 knots average speed, which is good,” said Tom Clarke, the International Race Officer and Bermuda Sailing Association president. “I think they need to average 24 knots to stay below five days and right now they are tracking well for the record.”
Perhaps the biggest obstacle Team Argo’s crew of six could potentially face will be the last hundred miles going to Britain when the system they are hitching a ride on turns left before it gets to England and moves towards Scotland. -- Colin Thompson
Dun Laoghaire Dingle Race Forecast
Long-range forecasts from numerous sites are being pored over avidly by crews competing in this year's Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race commencing next Wednesday, June 9th at 1400. The general consensus seems to indicate that the 38-boat fleet (as previewed by WM Nixon here) will encounter 10 to 20-knot southerly veering southwesterly winds over the first 48 hours.
At this stage, there is potentially a temporary veering on Thursday along the south coast that could benefit the larger yachts, but only for a short period as the indication is for lighter winds on the Cork and Kerry coasts. If the winds blow as predicted there is a real chance that the entire race will be a two-sailer for a large portion of the fleet, with nothing abaft the beam currently in the forecast until early on Saturday morning.
It is hard to tell how this will impact the fleet - perhaps it will disadvantage the boats that are rigged for asymmetric sailing as there are currently unlikely to be favourable reaching angles. Perhaps the most telling factor might be the tide, particularly as the start time, two hours after high water, means that the big boats are unlikely to round the Tuskar before the second flood, perhaps giving an advantage to the lower-rated boats. It does mean that there will be rock-dodging activity along the Wexford coast in the twilight hours of Wednesday evening as the fleet seeks to avoid the stronger flood offshore.
So at this stage, there seems to be no great rating advantage due to the weather.
You, Harken, Vang-Master and Perfect Top Batten Control
Harken has teamed up with Marine Products Engineering to offer Harken Vang-Master rigid pneumatic mechanical vangs. That’s right, the Vang-Master uses air to provide the extension pressure that holds booms up—no need for fluid or hoses. And they offer unlimited adjustment without springs and their squeaks. Every Vang-Master is built of hardcote-anodized 6061-T6 aluminum. Tubing and end-fittings thread together to eliminate fasteners and reduce corrosion caused by dissimilar metals.
To help make the selection process easier, Harken Vang-Masters come in four-cylinder diameters. There’s a menu of 120+ build lengths for everything from J-80s to Santa Cruz 70s to get you close. But even stock one-designs can be slightly different. So compare the list with your own pin-to-pin measurement for the perfect fit. External purchase systems are sold separately and supplied with line specifically selected for its application, pre-measured, and spliced with 100% Harken hardware. And now an assortment of mast and boom fittings are also offered— a complete solution.
Harken distribution makes Vang-Master easy to obtain, while making sure technical support is there and there’s with fast turnaround on spare parts. Is it time to replace that aging vang? It’s easier now. We’re pumped!
Checco Bruni Is One Ocean Foundation Ambassador For The Safeguard Of The Sea
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli helmsman joins the list of great sailors embracing One Ocean Foundation’s mission
Taranto, May 5th 2021 - Francesco Bruni, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli helmsman, in occasion of the just concluded America’s Cup in New Zealand and sole Italian sailing in the SailGP in Taranto as Team Japan’s flight controller, joins the group of renowned sailors supporting One Ocean’s mission by being Ambassadors.
“Safeguarding the sea is a duty for anyone - says Checco Bruni - it’s a topic I particularly care about and I fell I personally have to testify this urgency since my life as sailor is in the sea. I become Ambassador hoping that such a commitment can be a model especially for spectators at Taranto’s regatta. I exhort everyone to sign One Ocean Foundation’s Charta Smeralda on their website”.
One Ocean Foundation collaboration with Checco Bruni starts with Taranto SailGP and will continue in the following years, so as to spread its principles through the Italian helmsman’s professional programs.
“We are glad to welcome among our Ambassadors Checco Bruni, which I’ve known and esteemed for years - declared OOF Vice President Riccardo Bonadeo - his contribution will be useful for reaching new passionate people which approach the sport thanks to SailGP and America’s Cup”.
Medway Promises A Marathon Of A Sailjuice Challenge
Most events in the Selden SailJuice Winter Series are fast and frantic spins around a hectic short course, so the inclusion of the Medway Marathon is a 26-mile long distance departure from the norm.
Taking place on the Medway River on Saturday 19 June, the Marathon has been hosted by Medway Yacht Club for many years and attracts all kinds of monohull sailing craft to the east coast venue. Dinghies with a Great Lakes handicap PY of 1315 or less are eligible to compete alongside the local keelboat fleets of International Dragons, National Sonatas and National Squibs. The event is not open to kiteboards, sailboards, multihulls or foiling boats.
For the under-23s, the 13-mile Half Marathon is a shorter option, although challenging neverthless.
The Medway Marathon is a very recent addition to the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series which has been extended from last winter through to the final event which is the rescheduled Tiger Trophy, due to take place at Rutland Water on the final weekend of August.
To enter the Medway Marathon (or the Half Marathon if you’re under-23) and compete in an event that’s very different to your average open meeting, go here: https://sailjuiceseries.com
Industry News
UK-based boat transport and logistics firm Peters & May has renewed its sponsorship of the 52 Super Series and the transatlantic ARC Rally, run by the World Cruising Club. Although both on and offshore events are still facing limitations, organisers of the ARC and the TP52 fleet are looking ahead to a return to racing this year.
Peters & May has supported the 52 Super Series since its inception, shipping not only these grand-prix monohulls but also transporting their containers of equipment, RIBs, kit, and spares, and handling all customs requirements on behalf of crew. The company has also supported the large number of sailors taking part in the WCC’s transatlantic rallies each year for almost two decades.
Peters & May has also confirmed its support as partner sponsors to two other prominent events in the yacht racing calendar, the Cape 2Rio Race 2023 and the Beneteau Cup which recently took place in Hong Kong.
The inaugural Beneteau Cup took place in Hong Kong in mid-May. The two-day event, which proved a great success, saw competitors taking part in an island and pursuit race. The Cup was organised by Asia’s leading yacht broker, Simpson Marine, a long-term logistics partner of Peters & May, who has been providing the broker with tailored logistics and yacht transportation solutions for many years.
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The Pineapple Cup-Montego Bay Race, an 811-nautical mile sailing race hosted biennially by the Montego Bay Yacht Club and Storm Trysail Club, is pleased to welcome the Jamaica Tourist Board as a Gold Level Sponsor.
The Jamaica Tourist Board is charged with a mission of marketing the tourism product so that Jamaica remains the premier Caribbean tourism destination. As a Gold Level Sponsor, Jamaica Tourist Board’s support provides an additional level of promotion for one of the oldest offshore races in the world.
As part of the new sponsorship, the Pineapple Cup-Montego Bay race will be proactive in efforts to communicate with fans, teams and sailing enthusiasts about the destination of Jamaica.
The Pineapple Cup - Montego Bay Race will be held January 22 - 29th. The 811-nautical mile race is open to mono and multi-hulls over 40 feet. Started in 1961, it is one of the oldest offshore races in the world.
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St. Francis Yacht Club, located in San Francisco, CA, announced today the internal promotion of Adam Corpuz-Lahne to Senior Sailing Director. Corpuz-Lahne, who has been with the St. Francis Yacht Club for almost a decade as Head Sailing Coach will now helm all of the Club’s sailing departments including Race, Juniors, Docks and Sailing Education.
Corpuz-Lahne first joined the staff of the St. Francis Yacht Club in 2011 and has run the Club’s renowned junior sailing program ever since, coaching hundreds of competitive young sailors who have gone on to compete in college, in national circuits and on the US Sailing Team.
In a typical year, the St. Francis Yacht Club’s on-water schedule includes 40-45 regattas and 150+ days on the water, with clinics, trainings and weeknight racing.
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The organisers of the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) in the US have announced a new online resource to enhance this year’s in-person event.
IBEX 365 is a value-added service that brings together exhibitors and visitors online throughout the year. The new digital platform gives the IBEX audience a resource for product development and innovation through the website, email newsletters, and social media platforms. It brings the exhibit halls to an online format - available anytime.
IBEX 2021, celebrating its 30th anniversary, will be held at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida from September 28-30.
Exhibitors can post articles to IBEX 365 about new products and technology launches, company news, and relevant, timely education sessions including photos, videos, brochures, social media links, and much more. These articles are categorized by industry sector and article type, making it easy to find the information users are looking for, while also displaying related products and suppliers in the same categories.
IBEX 365 is available online at IBEXShow.com/IBEX365
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The final piece of an important puzzle has been put in place today, with Australian Sailing announcing the appointment of performance development specialist Ken Lynch to the role of National Performance Pathway Manager.
Lynch will be charged with leading the performance pathway programs and initiatives across the Australian Sailing High Performance system.
The appointment of Lynch rounds out a body of work being done by Australian Sailing to ensure a clear pathway to success is in place for our next generation of high performance champions.
Key deliverables from the new Australian Sailing High Performance Strategy “#nextlevel - Towards Paris 2024 & LA 2028” which have been completed in recent months include the launch of the Performance Pathways Futures Program, the Athlete Development Framework, last week’s announcement of the Athlete Wellbeing & Engagement Framework and additional resourcing allocated to technical coaching in the state daily training environments in partnership with the National Institute Network.
Lynch will now take charge of the National Performance Pathway and State Sailing Pathway Programs, with an aim to build a talent pool of sailors and coaches to deliver repeatable success (on and off the water) towards the LA 2028 Olympics and onto what we hope will be a home Olympics in 2032. -- Michael Martin
Featured Charter
Shamlor - 67ft Sailing Yacht. From 15,000 per week EUR. Located in West Mediterranean.
With over twenty years of experience in the sailing market, the Italian shipyard Maxi Dolphin, known for producing one-off yachts, has followed its natural evolution and now launches the 20m sailing yacht Dream 67 SHAMLOR.
See listing details in Seahorse Charters
Contact
Lisa Spiller
Charter Manager
Bernard-Gallay
Phone 1 : +33(0)6 33 42 45 09
Phone 2 : +33 (0)467 66 39 93
Mail :
See the the Seahorse charter collection
Featured Brokerage
2010 Ker 40 - "Keronimo". 185000 GBP. Located in UK.
Highly competitive under IRC and ORCi gives widespread appeal. With "Keronimo" under your wing you know you have the chance to win any regatta you enter, whether it be inshore or offshore. This boat gives you the chance to experience planing performance, at sensible costs.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats +447759 424900 +442380 016582
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Gunboat 60 ALAIA. POA USD.
The world-class luxury, performance Gunboat catamaran ALAIA represents generations of build experience and meticulous upkeep in a platform optimized for self-sufficient cruising and adventure.
Underneath the subtle curves and graceful sheer lines, the Gunboat 60 is a true performance machine built with high-end race boat construction methods and top-of-the-line exotic materials. The all-carbon hulls are built in female molds set in epoxy and post cured over a Corecell foam core to achieve lightness with maximum strength and durability. Performance and safety go hand in hand with ocean-going structures designed to deliver the most pleasurable sailing motion in the widest range of conditions.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
gunboat.com/brokerage
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CF 520 IRC Racing Yacht. POA GBP
FIBRE Mechanics and Carkeek Design announce a new 52ft IRC racing yacht for 2021. Full production tooling for the new boat, to be known as the CF-520 is now under construction at FIBRE Mechanics in Lymington UK. We plan to build a short series of CF-520s, with boat one already scheduled for launching in early March 2021. A second build slot is available for delivery in May 2021.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
FIBRE MECHANICS
18 Waterloo Road
Lymington, SO41 9DB, UK
+44 (0)1590 427007
www.fibremechanics.com/yachts/cf-520
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
There are moments, Jeeves, when one asks oneself, 'Do trousers matter?' 'The mood will pass, sir.' -- P. G. Wodehouse
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