In This Issue
• The Rolex Sydney Hobart Protest
• Green Light For Departure
• Job/Role Title: World Sailing Classes Executive
• Wight Vodka Best Sailors Bar
• A Very Instructive Transat Jacques Vabre
• How The Figaro Is Looking To Relaunch
• J/70 UK Class celebrate a fantastic 2021 season
• 2022 New Caledonia Groupama Race Registrations Are Open
• Jerry Milgram
• Featured Charter:
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Maxi Yachts 1300
• • Swan 70-002 Caveo
• • Gunboat 72V
• The Last Word: Meher Baba

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

Voting for the 13th annual Wight Vodka Best Sailor's Bar search is on... Top ten voting open until January 19

The Rolex Sydney Hobart Protest... some opinions...
From Magnus Wheatley's Rule69Blog:

A protest from IRC runner-up Ichi-Ban alongside the Race Committee for failing to respond to calls over the VHF when a Personal Beacon from a crew-member accidentally went off was successful. The result was a 40 minute time penalty and relegation to second overall on IRC. Some may choose to commentate that it was the height of unprofessionalism in not monitoring the VHF more closely and only being alerted when Ichi-Ban fired rocket parachute flares to get their attention in the dead of night. Others, and I'm in this camp, will acknowledge that sailing unbelievably noisy carbon hulled boats to the limit of exhaustion produces errors through ultimate fatigue. I don't think the Celestial crew were pulling a fast one by a long shot. Tough, cruel and again indifferent.

So the tale of the tape shows Matt Allen's Ichi-Ban (meaning 'number one' in Japanese in case you didn't know) recording their record equalling third win of this utterly outstanding annual ocean behemoth. Congratulations to that team – and I've been alerted to some of the stand-out pros onboard that boat. It's a crew of ocean racing and big boat legends who once again have performed at the highest level. Perhaps not the sweetest victory of their three but a win all the same and another Rolex for the collection.

Hard sport for the crew of Azzurro though who just finished off the podium in fourth place overall – that's not to be sniffed at. The leather medal at this level is something to be immensely proud of and we all know that had mother nature played ball, the story would be different. They'll be back and thank you for giving us spectators such tension...not sure I've ever willed a boat, other than my own, on with such gusto. We won't forget the mighty Azzurro in a hurry.

And what about the winners in the inaugural double-handed race? Who can deny that this is one of the most stand-out features now of offshore racing and let's be absolutely honest, you really want to be a part of it don't you...?

rule69.blog/2021/12/31/cruel-sport/

From Paulo Pernao, Interesting Sailboats:

Celestial, Sam Haynes's yacht, had the IRC time to win the Sydney-Hobart, and was given as provisional winner, when it was protested by the boat that had the second-best time, Ichi Ban, Matt Allen's yacht (and later also by the RC), for not being able to be reached on VHF, for a 90 minute period, during the race.

I thought the protest would be dismissed, many boats suffered the same radio problems along a long stretch of shore that not always has good VHF coverage, and that situation had not given Celestial any advantage...

...Being contacted by a portable VHF radio probably means that Celestial had some problem on the main radio or antenna that they were not aware, but regarding the safety problem, that the RC makes a big fuss around, if Celestial did not change course or speed, if it did not deploy flares (and they would know that, being Ichi Ban close), neither attempted to call the RC with his satellite phone (that the RC knew they had), it was obvious with 99% certainty that it was a false alarm...

... The 3-minute redress to Ichi Ban, taking into consideration that it did not change course or speed, seems excessive to me, the 40 minutes penalization for "breaking race communication rules", namely a permanent VHF watch seem arbitrary because many other boats were contacted and almost none replied in a manner compatible with a permanent VHF watch, being the average response time 15 minutes, but with some taking 25 minutes to reply.

If a penalization was given to Celestial, other boats should have been penalized too, even if in a lesser extent, but Celestial was the only one penalized.

http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.com

Green Light For Departure
After reading the latest weather files, Christian Dumard, router and meteorologist, gave his "Go" to the crew of the Trimaran Use It Again!.

Romain Pilliard and his Spanish co-skipper Alex Pella tomorrow, Tuesday January 4th, will set off on their attempt at a Round the World Record. For now, the pair could cross the start line between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

The explanations of Christian Dumard: "Tomorrow, Tuesday, the wind should shift to the North-North-West in the afternoon with a lagging sky to follow. The departure could take place between 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., the earlier the better. Romain and Alex will therefore set off in a sustained North-North-West flow. The wind will ease quickly overnight as a ridge approaches. The end of the night will be rather soft with a wind which will switch to the South. It will then be necessary to cross westward to cross this soft zone and find a well-established northwest flow that will accompany them along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. The starting window is not very fast. It doesn't break records at the equator. On the other hand, it allows to set off in manageable conditions with a relatively well established trade wind to follow. This is the first time since the start of the stand-by that we have had a window that allows you to leave without having very strong winds upwind in very rough seas during the first days. Not knowing what the future holds, it is better to take advantage of this window even if we can always hope for better. "

The Trimaran Use It Again! is currently moored at the Lorient Submarine Base, ready to tackle the 21,600 miles of the course. More precise timing of the pontoon departure and the crossing of the starting line between the Pen Men lighthouse on the island of Groix and the Kerroc'h lighthouse in Lorient from where the public can follow the start of this Round the World Tour, will be communicated in the evening or very early tomorrow morning depending on the latest weather information.

Information will be regularly updated at www.useitagain.earth/

The boat was originally constructed in 2003 and used by Ellen MacArthur for her world record circumnavigation as B&Q Castorama. It was refitted in 2017 and placed 4th in the Ultim categbory of the Route du Rhum.

Job/Role Title: World Sailing Classes Executive
Reporting To: Technical And Offshore Director

Role summary

Main responsibilities:
The WS Classes Executive is responsible for managing the administrative and technical services to the 120 World Sailing Class Associations and their manufacturers, specially focused on servicing classes and maintaining World Sailing’s databases and reporting systems.

Key Responsibilities
- Provide administrative support to the World Sailing Classes and their manufacturers,
- Manage the review of World Sailing Classes against regulatory requirements,
- Review and maintain the Class Agreements, Class Constitutions, Class Rules and plaque fee schemes,
- Manage Annual Class reports and World Championship reports,
- Control world-wide production of equipment tracking plaques and certification, manage equipment registration schemes and equipment databases,
- Maintain World Sailing Technical and Offshore webpages using World Sailing’s CMS
- Maintain Class Association CRM database by liaising with 120 Class Associations and ensuring the database is up to date and compliant with GDPR guidelines,
- Manage Class applications for World Sailing Class status,
- Monitor and promote World Sailing’s 2030 Sustainability Agenda commitments among World Sailing Classes and their manufacturers,
- Provide full support to the following World Sailing Committees:
-- World Sailing Classes Committee
-- Equipment Committee
-- International Measurer’s Sub-Committee

Knowledge and Technical Skills

Knowledge:
- A working knowledge and understanding of CRM and database administration
- Experience of using Wordpress CMS
- Knowledge of sailing’s equipment key performance factors
- Knowledge of equipment manufacturing processes and materials
- 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.

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

The closing date for all vacancies is 8 January 2022.

www.sailing.org/worldsailing/secretariat/job_vacancies.php

Wight Vodka Best Sailors Bar
One of our top ten nominated bars this year is a favorite of your humble narrator... and known to virtually any match racer in the world for the past quarter century... the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in Hamilton Bermuda. The view of the racing in the Harbour is superb, particularly from the second story terraces and dining areas, as well as along the outer docks.

The food is as world class as the sailing, and one can get a fully authentic Bermuda national drink there.... the Dark 'n Stormy.

The website Advanced Mixology has some interesting stories about the drink, and a long list of variations on the theme.

"Do you know that you might get a lawsuit if you make a Dark N Stormy using dark rum other than Gosling's? Actually, the registered patent for the cocktail is Dark 'N Stormy in the late 1970s. However, the company is explicit that anyone can mix any dark rum with ginger beer and lime but give it a different name.

"This drink is called the world's most litigious cocktail. Gosling's have filed numerous infringement cases of using Gosling's Black Seal Rum with other ginger beer brands or any dark rum and ginger beer to make Dark 'N Stormy. Picaroons Dark and Stormy Night Beer were even taken off the market in September 2017 for this same reason, despite being in production for 11 years."

Ingredients for the patented version...
Ice
2 oz Gosling's Black Seal Rum
4 oz Gosling's Ginger Beer, chilled
Lime wedge for garnish, optional

Steps to Make
Fill a highball glass with large chunks of ice.
Fill the glass with 4 oz of ginger beer.
Top with Gosling's Black Seal Rum.
Garnish with a lime wedge.

This scribe had one tonight with a big bowl of chile... comfort food for the first snowfall here in the mid-Atlantic.

Voting is open for our top ten, and all evenly matched after the first day. Sip a D 'n S and contemplate your vote, then visit eurosailnews.com/sailors-bar

A Very Instructive Transat Jacques Vabre
In every class of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 the Ultims, Ocean Fiftys, IMOCAs and Class40s designed by VPLP demonstrated their reliability and logged impressive performances. Even the latest models which went into the water shortly before the starting gun did the design firm proud. Architects Quentin Lucet, Xavier Guilbaud and Antoine Lauriot-Prévost give us their assessment of the race and tell us what to expect for 2022, including season highlight the Route du Rhum.

Let's start with the Ultim class. What's your take on the performances of SVR-Lazartigue (2nd) and Banque Populaire XI (3rd)?
Xavier Guilbaud: The results are very positive. They achieved podium places and fetched Martinique with their racing potential 100% intact, which is remarkable considering they've only been in the water a few months. First and foremost the skippers wanted to pile on the experience by getting some nautical miles under their belts. So they didn't take any undue risks.

Quentin Lucet: You have to admire the remarkable job the technical teams have done in getting to grips with these extremely complex trimarans. They managed to iron out the teething troubles and make the boats reliable in just a few short months. These Ultims were real contenders throughout, and in certain conditions we saw some very interesting runs which substantiated their capacity for higher speeds.

That's encouraging for the 2022 Route du Rhum...
Xavier Guilbaud: Yes, François Gabart and Armel Le Cléac'h can expect to cross the starting line of the Route du Rhum with boats running like clockwork. We've seen that these Ultims can "easily" maintain high average speeds. It's encouraging for the Route du Rhum and in the long term for the solo round-the-world race [ed. note: scheduled for late 2023]. We know from experience that it takes a skipper several seasons to master these boats fully.

What do you think about Actual Ultim 3's fourth place?
Xavier Guilbaud: Actual Ultim remains a very good machine, but she suffered from the weather. We know that she's less competitive in winds under 12–14 knots. In the same conditions the new trimarans will start flying but not Actual Ultim. We believe that had there been more wind, the results would have been much tighter. Her structure is in great shape and has a strong potential for development, such as adding new appendages. She could be a real contender in the Route du Rhum.

www.vplp.fr/en/

How The Figaro Is Looking To Relaunch
The Figaro Beneteau class held its general assembly on December 9. There the 2022 calendar was adopted and the creation of an Academy was validated. This initiative is intended to facilitate access to the circuit for newcomers. This is seen as a necessity for a class which is seeing the number of participants on the circuit dropping.

With just 34 participants competing, the 2021 edition of La Solitaire du Figaro had the fewest entrants for more than 20 years. This is a downwards trend which contrasts with other offshore classes. "We realize that things are sold out on the Mini Transat and that there are plenty of new projects in Class40, while for us, there seem to be less and less people", recognizes Estelle Graveleau, Director of the Team Vendee Formation and member of the class's board of directors.

The explanations are diverse. "Unlike other races which are based on flagship events every two or maybe four years, the Figaro class needs to organize its main race, La Solitaire du Figaro every year. In itself that was a feat last year to run the race but we have suffered more than others from the health crisis, it was very complicated to set up a schedule," says Marcus Hutchinson, who has just been elected vice-president of the class.

The success and strength of Class40 also has an influencing role, attracting Figarists who wish to change class (Corentin Douguet, Martin Le Pape, Pierre Quiroga, Xavier Macaire, Alexis Loison.....) and diverting sailors who might have gone down the Figaro route. "I think that without this competition, some would have come to the circuit, for example someone like Amélie Grassi", confirms Benoît Mariette, skipper of Générations Senioriales.

Amateurs are now almost non-existent

The Solitaire du Figaro project manager at OC Sport Pen Duick, Alex Picot adds: "It should also be noted that the other classes are structured in terms of their calendars. Where traditionally, you had room between two editions of the Vendée Globe to do the Figaro, that is becoming less and less the case."

Another explanation: "The abandonment of the mixed doubles offshore race from the Olympic programme was undoubtedly a buffer while we felt that it was struggling a bit especially on the foreign side," notes Yann Eliès three-time winner of the Solitaire. "And I think the circuit level is perceived as a bit scary, we have to manage to reduce that perception."

Too tough, too elitist, the Figaro? "It can actually scare beginners who do not necessarily want to learn finding themselves at the bottom or lower middle of the scoreboard," responds Alex Picot. "Guys like Tom Laperche who perform well from the outset are rare, but sailors come in with high expectations, but the Figaro is will serve them all their lives. You just have to look at the podiums of the last Transat Jacques Vabre or the Vendée Globe to see that the Figaro remains a real school of performance."

Full article in Tip & Shaft

J/70 UK Class celebrate a fantastic 2021 season
The 2021 J/70 UK Grand Slam winners were presented with their trophies at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, Knightsbridge on Friday 10th December. 59 teams entered the 2021 season with the J/70 UK Class enjoying a fantastic seven months of racing. The 2021 season included seven Grand Slam Events plus five fast and furious Sprint Series Regattas.

Nick Phillips' Chaotic (RTYC) won three of the Grand Slam Events, including the Royal Southern YC Salcombe Gin Regatta, Cowes Week, and the Open J/70 UK National Championship. Chaotic was the overall winner of the 2021 J/70 Grand Slam Series. Johnathan Calascione & James Peters' Calypso (RYS) was runner up for the season, and Paul Ward's Eat Sleep J Repeat (RSrnYC) was third.

Doug Struth's DSP (RSrnYC) was the Corinthian winner of the 2021 J/70 Grand Slam Series. DSP made a late charge for the season, culminating in a superb performance winning the Corinthian J/70 UK National Championship. Second by a single point for the season was Charles Thompson's Brutus II (RSrnYC). Patrick Liardet's Cosmic (RSrnYC) was third.

The 2022 Season will kick off in April with a Training Clinic organised by Dog Palfrey. A new venue for 2022 will be the International Paint Poole Regatta which will be one of seven UK Grand Slam Events. The 2022 J/70 UK National Championships will be held during the J/Cup organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

www.j-70.co.uk

2022 New Caledonia Groupama Race Registrations Are Open
The 7th New Caledonia Groupama Race is 654 NM around the biggest lagoon in the world, Unesco Heritage listed.

The regatta is open to monohulls and multihulls.

A new category : "short-handed" (2 people) is open !

Get all the informations about the race

Eligible boats may register and pay required fee no later than 20 March 2022.

In return, a final registration form will be sent to the applicant, who must return it duty completed before May 20,2022.

groupamarace.nc/en/2022-new-caledonia-groupama-race-registrations-are-open/

Jerry Milgram
Age 83, passed away December 20, 2021, at his home in Winchester, Massachusetts, with his family by his side. Jerry was the W. I. Koch Professor of Marine Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he taught since 1970. Jerry was a member of the National Academy of Engineers and recipient of the 2017 Gibbs Brothers Medal (awarded for outstanding contributions in the field of naval architecture and marine engineering). Jerry contributed to the development of many technologies associated with oceans: boat design, oil spill clean-up, tug and tow technology, underwater submersibles, and even holograms that detected plankton. He often worked closely with the United States Navy and the Coast Guard.

Jerry was the design director and chief computer modeler for America3, which won the America's Cup in 1992 by using a more scientific approach to the design of racing yachts.

An online Memorial Service will occur on January 8, 2022. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Oceana (www.oceana.org), which is the largest international ocean conservation organization, or to MIT (giving.mit.edu).

www.legacy.com

Featured Charter
Club Swan 50. Located in Northern Europe, UK, Mediterannean.

The ClubSwan 50 is a yacht by Nautor Swan, that pushes the boundaries by being a small revolution in performance and pure sailing pleasure. She is an extremely fast boat that would also be easy to take to the limit. Available to Charter in the UK, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean.

See listing details in Seahorse Charters

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

See the the Seahorse charter collection

Featured Brokerage
2007 Maxi Yachts 1300. 27000 EUR. Located in Adriatic Sea, Italy

Ready-to-go ocean cruiser performance cruiser from the award-winning Pelle Petterson design. Huge inventory list and configured for single or short-handed trans-oceanic sailing.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Michele Antonini
Tel: +39 333 7489281
Email:

-----------------------------------------

2001 Swan 70-002 Caveo. 1500000 EUR. Located in Barcelona, Spain.

'Caveo' (ex. Stay Calm) was delivered in 2001 and has been subject to a rigorous maintenance program.

See listing details in Nautor's Swan Brokerage

Contact
Jens-Petter Flesvig
T. +47 64 90 70 41 / +47 917 75 721

-----------------------------------------

Gunboat 72V - NEW BOAT . POA EUR.

Introducing the Gunboat 72V, a new catamaran concept to complement the existing heritage series’ currently in production (the Gunboat 68 and Gunboat 80) - the first catamaran with Gunboat performance and a flybridge. Design and engineering is the collaboration of Gunboat, VPLP, Christophe Chedal Anglay, and Patrick le Quement (the same team for the Gunboat 68) with a bespoke interior by Isabelle Racoupeau.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact

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

The Last Word
No amount of prayer or meditation can do what helping others can do. -- Meher Baba

Editorial and letter submissions to

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