In This Issue
• Opportunity may well be knocking for small boats in Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
• 'We are excluded'
• Easy call - Aegean 600
• Class40 World Championship 2022
• Proposal for Stranraer to be the new home for historic tall ship
• Wight Vodka's Best Sailor's Bar
• All things AC40 with Dan Bernasconi
• Job/Role Title: World Sailing Technical Specialist
• Cheese & Wine
• Back on Monday
• Featured Charter: Swan 78 Azzurro
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Cannonball M72 Custom Maxi Racer
• • CF 520 IRC Racing Yacht
• • Maximizer. Farr 73’ Cruiser-Racer
• The Last Word: Stephen Hawking

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

The 13th annual Wight Vodka Best Sailor's Bar search is on... Send us your stories and drink recipes...

Opportunity may well be knocking for small boats in Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
As the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet settles into its first night at sea after the start, don't be surprised if some of the smaller boats like White Bay 6 Azzurro are well in the frame.

Based on Monday's long range weather forecast for the race that starts at 1pm on Boxing Day, predictions set up a tight race with a forecast for early southerlies, possible rain and thunderstorms, a high pressure ridge on days one, two or three that could see winds turn easterly, and numerous transitions.

The 100-footers should still lead, but their margin may not be as great as usual. The smaller boats like Shane Kearns' White Bay 6 Azzurro might be able to use the shifting conditions, minimise their losses, and set up their bids to win the Tattersall Cup.

Kearns' S&S 34-footer, built in 1981, has been a regular overall challenger in recent years. However, there are other yachts in the 2021 fleet that fall into the same frame. These include Simon Kurts' S&S 47, Love & War, and Bruce Taylor's Caprice 40 Chutzpah.

Still, there is something about White Bay 6 Azzurro, registered with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which indicates this may be her standout year.

After first being sailed by Kearns in the 2014 Rolex Sydney Hobart to 33rd overall, she has continued to rise as a threat. In 2015 as Quikpoint Azzurro, she almost took the overall victory from Balance. -- Rupert Guinness / RSHYR

rolexsydneyhobart.com

'We are excluded'
Entrants competing in a new division of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race have been left disappointed after organisers declared two-handed boats be part of the race but ineligible to take out the Tattersall Cup for overall handicap honours.

This year's race will see 18 pairs compete in the inaugural two-handed division

The move comes after a recent boom in popularity for the yachts which has been attributed to COVID-19. With just two crew members required, the division means fewer hands-on-deck and less risk of spreading the virus.

The division has become so popular in recent years it will feature at the Olympics in Paris 2024.

But traditionalist sailors in the Sydney to Hobart race have pushed back on the introduction of the boats into the event, arguing the use of autopilot systems, which are fitted to the boats and replace a human helm, should not be included in the historic event.

Race organisers are yet to determine how to correctly factor in the autopilots to the handicap system and have therefore ruled the boats ineligible from winning the race's overall handicap prize, the Tattersall Cup.

www.smh.com.au

Easy call - Aegean 600
Launch a new 600nm offshore classic, attract a strong international entry, run the first race very well and send everyone home very happy – well, obviously they are going to ask you to do it again next year...

After two years of planning and anticipation, the inaugural running of the Aegean 600 in July 2021 provided the proof of concept needed to have this new race join the list of the world's must-do offshore 600- mile classics. The hospitality shown by the organisers, the beauty and the challenge of the racecourse, and the strong enthusiasm shown by the participants all combined to make this first edition special for all.

Based on this positive response, organisers from the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) have made a firm commitment with their partners and sponsors to offer this race again on an annual basis to be held during the first two weeks of July, with the next edition to start on 10 July 2022. This timing was devised to not interfere with other major events on the racing calendar and allow maximum participation among sailors and teams, many of whom have already signed on for this next edition.

Full article in the January issue of Seahorse

Class40 World Championship 2022
The Class40 World Championship organised by Grand Pavois Organisation (GPO) will be held in La Rochelle in June 2022. GPO has already organised a Class40 World Championship in Gijon (Spain) in 2010 and another edition will be proposed by the Rochelle-based association from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 June 2022. Another edition of this event which is expected to welcome more than about twenty crews to the heart of La Rochelle in the Bassin des Chalutiers.

This World Championship will be held over 6 days and GPO wants to bring together 3 different countries from a minimum of 2 continents. The regattas will be held around La Rochelle and, in addition to a 24-hour race, coastal and constructed routes will be proposed in the Pertuis Charentais. Finally, a Race Area will be available on Esplanade Eric Tabarly next to the Bassin des Chalutiers to support the event and share it with the general public and many dedicated Class40 partners engaged in this World Championship will be present.

Provisional programme of the Class40 World Championship:
Monday 13 June: Presence Bassin des Chalutiers, registrations and gauge checks,
Tuesday 14 June: Presence Bassin des Chalutiers, registrations and gauge checks, briefing and departure of the 24-hour route,
Wednesday 15 June: Arrival of the 24-hour route, presence Bassin des Chalutiers and the day's podium,
Thursday 16 June: Rounds (2/3 races), presence Bassin des Chalutiers and the day's podium,
Friday 17 June: Rounds (2/3 races), presence Bassin des Chalutiers and the day's podium,
Saturday 18 June: Rounds (2/3 races), presence Bassin des Chalutiers the day's podium and prize ceremony.

www.gpoevents.com

Proposal for Stranraer to be the new home for historic tall ship
Falls of Clyde International Ltd visited Stranraer last week to evaluate the possibility of bringing a tall ship to the town.

The Glasgow-based group is currenbtly searching for a new home for the 'Falls of Clyde', an iron hull sailing ship, built in Port Glasgow in 1878.

The ship is currently berthed in Honolulu harbour, with the former Stena Line port now under consideration as its new home.

The site, which has been unused for a decade since Stena switched to Cairnryan, would not only see the four-masted former oil tanker and cargo carrier being rebuilt for a return to sea.

Additional plans could see the creation of a visitor village to cater to an anticipated increase in the tourism sector, while longer term, the company will import ethically produce products and carry Sail-cargo.

The estimated cost of the project is around £15/£20m and commercial partnerships are currently being worked on to provide the necessary funding.

www.gallowaygazette.co.uk

Wight Vodka's Best Sailor's Bar
If you're looking for a pick-me-up post-dinner, the Espresso Martini is here to jolt you awake with its boozy magical powers. The cocktail has been jumpstarting outings and extending nights ever since making its debut in the 1980s.

The now-classic drink was invented by British bartender Dick Bradsell at Fred's Club in London. Legend has it that a "top model" asked for a drink that would "wake me up and f**k me up" at the same time. Bradsell complied, mixing vodka with espresso and coffee liqueur, and the Espresso Martini was born.

If you have an espresso machine, you can pull a shot and put it in the freezer for a quick chill. That will keep the hot liquid from melting the ice and overly diluting the drink. If you don't have an espresso machine, using cold brew concentrate is an easy hack. The strongly flavored coffee subs admirably for fresh espresso and keeps the temperature just right.

2 ounces Wight vodka
1/2 ounce coffee liqueur (usually Kahlua)
1 ounce espresso, freshly brewed (or cold brew concentrate)
1/2 ounce simple syrup
Garnish: coffee beans

Steps
Add vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice and shake until well-chilled.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with 3 coffee beans. -- From Liquor.com

What's YOUR favorite Vodka Martini recipe? Tell us about it and your favorite bar, put your bar into the top ten for voting in January... eurosailnews.com/sailors-bars

All things AC40 with Dan Bernasconi
An exclusive deep dive look at the new 40-foot one-design foiling monohull concept with Emirates Team New Zealand's head of design

One of the most exciting new aspects of the 37th America's Cup cycle is the introduction of a new America's Cup class – a scaled down 40-foot foiling monohull version of the AC75 class, known as the AC40.

Sailed by a crew of four, the teams can utilise the AC40 as a training boat for honing match racing skills, and/or a development mule for testing new rig or foil designs.

After being returned to full one design configuration the AC40 fleet will also be used for any preliminary regattas prior to the Challenger Selection Series and the 37thAmerica's Cup Match – such as America's Cup World Series events – as well as for the Youth America's Cup and Women's America's Cup.

To find out more about how the AC40 concept came to fruition I booked some time with the man at the centre of it all – Emirates Team New Zealand designer Dan Bernasconi.

Bernasconi told me that the idea of a class of a class of scaled down AC75s that were simpler and easier to sail than the full-size boats was triggered by outside interest in the team's one off half-scale training boat, the 38-foot Te Kahu, which the Team New Zealand sailors trained on whenever their AC75 was in the shed or in transit.

Full interview in Cup Insider: Subscribe here

Job/Role Title: World Sailing Technical Specialist
World Sailing is accepting resumes for the position of Technical Specialist.

Main responsibilities:

The Technical Specialist is responsible for the application of quality standards, regulations and procedures which ensure the integrity of our sport, specially focused on servicing World Sailing classes and their manufacturers.

Key responsibilities:

- Provide technical support to Equipment Manufacturers, World Sailing Classes,
- Control world-wide production of equipment tracking plaques and certification, managing equipment databases,
- Manage the approval process of new manufacturers, new production tooling and changes to building specifications,
- Manage approval processes for licensed manufacturers,
- Perform equipment and documentation reviews at manufacturing sites internationally,
- Manage Class Rule Changes,
- Conduct reviews of class rules to evaluate if they continue to support the objectives of each Class and provide a reasonable framework for technical control of the class,
- Liaise with World Sailing Classes and International Measurers regarding rules, regulations and associated control processes,

- Provide full support to the following;
- - Equipment Committee
- - Oceanic and Offshore Committee
- - World Sailing Classes Committee
- - International Measurer's Sub-Committee
- - Equipment Rules Sub-Committee

Knowledge and Technical Skills

Knowledge:
- Knowledge of sailing's equipment key performance factors.
- Knowledge of equipment manufacturing processes and materials.
- Quality control procedures and tools.
- Knowledge of the Equipment Rules of Sailing, Racing Rules of Sailing and World Sailing Regulations.
- Experience around sailing events.

Skills:
- Previous involvement in sailing through any technical capacity. (i.e. coaching, naval architecture, performance optimization, manufacture, measurement)
- Excellent written and verbal English language skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- High computer literacy. Database experience a plus.
- Good communication ability, both verbal and in writing (technical and non-technical)
- Interest and involvement in the sport of sailing.
- Completely comfortable working irregular hours and traveling internationally.
- Ambitious with a 'can do' attitude.
- Organized, methodical and thorough individual.
- Constant improvement driven.
- A willingness to learn new skills and develop existing competencies.
- Second international language encouraged.

Relationships & Interfaces

Strategic reporting to:
- Technical and Offshore Manager

Support & Guidance to:
- Equipment Manufacturers
- International Measurers and Event equipment inspectors
- World Sailing Classes
- World Sailing Committees (listed above)
- World Sailing staff

Travel and Other requirements
- Flexibility to work irregular hours and traveling internationally.

Applications should be sent to . Applicants should provide a current CV and covering letter.

The closing date for all vacancies is 14 January 2022.

Cheese & Wine
It's a story gaining momentum. Fuel is being relentlessly poured on what was a flickering flame as debate now rages about a topic that has been taboo for some while now. But the whispers and hushed tones are hard to ignore. Can he survive? How long has he got? He's done by the summer. He's lost the room. Those around him are all preparing for a leadership challenge. His judgement is poor. His agenda has shifted. And yes, they are probably right if those accusations are levelled at our cheese and wine consuming Prime Minister, but they're not. Big Ben is ringing.

Let me be clear here, I don't buy this story one scintilla, but people are talking about Britain's greatest sailing Olympian and after that ding in Sydney at SailGP, questions are being asked, conclusions are being drawn, aspersions are cast, assumptions are being made.

Could Ben Ainslie be benched in the next America's Cup? Baloney in my book and speaking to people recently who I massively respect (you know who you are) and who have sailed at the very highest level of international competition, they agree with my call that racing incidents happen no matter who you are and we're going to see a lot more of them in the coming years ahead of AC37.

But in a 24/7 ruthlessly woke world, there are many that are seeking to cancel Ben, call time on his career, demand his demotion and it's all pretty galling stuff.

Magnus Wheatley's full editorial in Rule69blog.com

Back on Monday
Happy Holidays to all. Thank you for your readership in this past year; as we approach the 5000th issue mark sometime in January, it's still fun to report on such a great sport and its participants and armchair admirals. Next issue will be on the 27th of December.

Featured Charter
Swan 78 Azzurro. Located in Marina di Scarlino- Tuscany (Italy)

Delivered in 2019, AZZURRO sporting a clean, special satin black finish above deck and high gloss clear coat below deck. All of Nautor’s know-how and experience in racing and cruising yachts have been incorporated into this new Swan 78, a direct descendant of the original Swan 80 and 82 models of the past.It features an iconic Hall V-boom and full Future Fibres EC six multi strand rigging package. The new boat is faster, safer, easier to control and, more comfortable at sea. The appearance is that of neatness and efficiency. This new Swan is and will be, the best of her kind for years to come. Azzurro, the new Swan 78 delivered in 2019, offers big volumes areas in all her elegant and accommodating shape.Her hull form is beamy and very powerful, her big volumes host four comfortable cabins fully equipped for the guests. The sports/swim platform, off the Aft of the yacht, offers easy access to the sea, while also folding neatly up into the vessel for sleek storage. Incredible deck space not only creates a feeling of grandeur but it also provides guests with the ability to enjoy privacy.

See listing details in Nautor's Swan Charters

Contact
Nautor's Swan Charters - Nicolo Telese

Tel. +377 97 97 95 07

See the the Seahorse charter collection

Featured Brokerage
2017 Cannonball M72 Custom Maxi Racer. POA TAX PAID EUR. Located in Palma.

The 2019 & 2021 Maxi World, Champion, Cannonball, is for sale.

Built in 2017 by Premiere Composites, 2019 & 2021 World Champion are simply the state- of-the-art for top performances thanks to its fully optimized structure for minimum weight and maximum stiffness.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact

tel +39 335 467234

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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

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1994 Farr 73 Cruise-Racer "Maximizer". 560,000 EUR. Located in Northern Caribbean.

Cruising-Regatta For Sale - a boat with an interesting and long history in regattas

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact:
email:
email:
Tel: Pachi Rivero: +34 628251492
Tel: Ana Roses: +34 659726641

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

The Last Word
We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special. -- Stephen Hawking

Editorial and letter submissions to

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