EuroSail News #5050

In This Issue
• Australia Crowned SailGP Champions
• Stockholm International Team Race Regatta
• Making history by looking ahead - North Sails Performance
• Swan One Design Scarlino Warm Up
• Ben Ainslie uncomfortable about Saudi Arabia hosting America's Cup
• Dialing Up the Fun Factor with A Race to Foxy's!
• Bermuda Race
• Rodolphe Sepho, from the islands to the globe: the long road
• Inspiring Sport Capital Announces The Acquisition of CDK Technologies
• No surprise at all, really
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Moondoggie - Gunboat 66#3
• • Swan 75-003 Jasbid W
• • Ocean Marine Imoca 60 CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE
• The Last Word: Sergey Brin

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

Australia Crowned SailGP Champions
Australia have won the SailGP Championship for a second successive year, beating Japan and the United States in the Grand Final on a crazy, incident-filled day in San Francisco.

The Aussies and Driver Tom Slingsby, who won the inaugural Championship in 2019, defeated incredibly tough conditions to win the entire Mubadala Sail Grand Prix event, before overcoming Nathan Outteridge's Japan and Jimmy Spithill's USA in the winner-takes-all final race.

A crazy day on the Bay saw collisions between France and New Zealand and Spain and the USA, while two races were abandoned and restarted - including the Grand Final itself due to a whale entering the racecourse.

But, once the race was restarted, the Aussies overcame all this adversity to prove their talent once again, and wild cheers greeted their lifting of the Championship trophy in the San Francisco race village.

Despite losing in the final, it was incredible that the United States even managed to race at all, having suffered serious hull damage when the Spanish crashed into their boat during the opening race of the day.

But, despite rapid repair work ensuring they could race, and a huge number of fans cheering them on from the shore, Spithill's team only managed a third place finish in the final, continuing his record of never having actually won a SailGP event.

As Australia celebrate their back-to-back successes, they must also start preparing for their title defence with Season 3 starting in just over a month, with the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix taking place on 14-15 May.

sailgp.com

Stockholm International Team Race Regatta
Click on image for photo gallery.

We are pleased to announce that the Stockholm International Team Race Regatta 2022, the biggest event of the year for Gamla Stan's Yacht Sällskap, after a two-year break, will now take place between 26 and 29 May in our beautiful capital. The popular J80 regatta has attracted teams from the US as well as from England and Italy. New York Yacht Club, Royal Thames Yacht Club, Newport Harbor Yacht Club, The Royal Yacht Squadron, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Gamla Stans Yacht Club will this year compete for the coveted GSYS Team Race Cup.

The regatta, which takes place right in the centre of Stockholm, close to the Royal Palace as well as Kastellholmen, where the Swedish Armed Forces' war flag is raised and lowered every day, is proof of the fantastic sailing opportunities that the Swedish capital offers. We hope that the regatta again this year, in addition to our competing teams, also will attract a large audience of both Stockholmers and visitors. -- Jill Bederoff

www.gsys.nu

Making history by looking ahead - North Sails Performance
North Sails Performance clothing delivers '3DL technology for humans' (and some of the world's fastest humans at that)

'Our first year has been an outstanding one for us,' says North Sails Performance director, Nigel Musto. 'We've been delighted that several of the world's top sailors, on board some of the most exciting boats - like the Gitana Team - have chosen to wear our kit. In particular the performance of 4DL, our "4-layer durable laminate" reinforcement, was way beyond even our own expectations and the feedback has been superb.'

In the competitive world of offshore clothing it would be easy to dismiss such enthusiasm as being the talk of the trade. But Nigel Musto's hands-on approach and considerable racing and clothing experience is well known. When he talks of a breakthrough it's worth taking note. But to understand why the new approach is so effective it's important to understand a few background matters.

Full article in the April issue of Seahorse

Swan One Design Scarlino Warm Up
The sail-racing year of the Yacht Club has started with a weekend dedicated to Swan One Design, during which ten ClubSwan 50 and five ClubSwan 36 have tested their technical skills in the gulf, in front of the Marina di Scarlino, to prepare for The Nations League 2022 circuit, which will see its start in the same waters, as already happened in 2021.

The weekend saw training regattas unfold, in which the teams were able to stretch out after the winter and finalize the fine-tuning and test sails and materials.

In the ClubSwan 50, the winning team of the 2021 circuit, HATARI, is reconfirmed in great shape with the German Markus Wieser calling tactics, assisted by the well-known New Zealand athlete of the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race, Ross Halcrow.

The Belgian team of BALTHASAR, which lines up the New Zealander Amish Pepper, also seems destined to be talked about. Olympians Iker Martinez (ESP) aboard ULIKA and Will Ryan (AUS) aboard EARLYBIRD will certainly be names to beat.

For the ClubSwan 36, the consolidated Trieste duo made up of Gabriele Benussi and Lorenzo Rufo Bressani seems to start off on the right foot, aboard FRA MARTINA, aiming to oust fellow citizen Michele Paoletti, aboard GSPOT, from the leadership of the circuit.

Full results on YachtScoring.com

Ben Ainslie uncomfortable about Saudi Arabia hosting America's Cup
British ace Sir Ben Ainslie has raised concerns about the prospect of the America's Cup being staged in Saudi Arabia, believing there are "better options".

Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is in the mix, along with Malaga and Barcelona in Spain, and Cork in Ireland, as Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron look to announce the venue for the 2024 regatta on March 31.

Ainslie heads Team UK who are the challenger of record and have been working closely with Team New Zealand setting up the rules and parameters of the next America's Cup, though he stresses the hosting decision lies with the defender.

The second Saudi Arabia Grand Prix is being held in Jeddah this week as Formula One continues ties with the country. That will be raced against the backdrop of 81 people being publicly executed in Saudi on March 12, the largest mass execution in the modern history of the country.

"Again I've never been to Saudi Arabia. I just know what I read in the press and a lot of that can be negative so yeah, it's a challenge," Ainslie told The Times.

Ainslie raised the prospect of the delicate and crucial hosting decision, that will form the basis of Team New Zealand's finances for this defence, being delayed after the original deadline of September 17 last year was missed. -- Duncan Johnstone

www.stuff.co.nz

Dialing Up the Fun Factor with A Race to Foxy's!
Foxy When contemplating world-famous bars, and importantly those located on fabulous beaches in the Caribbean, Foxy's Bar on Jost Van Dyke is among the best. This year, day two of racing in the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival will take competitors for a morning race towards the West End of the British Virgin Islands. On crossing the finish line, Foxy's, the legendary place, and person, will be the host and sponsor of the "Race to Foxy's," on March 31, 2022.

The Sailing Festival race days are a well-conceived element of Spring Regatta, designed as a warm-up to the major three-day racing event and a chance for racers to see other islands of the BVI. One of the most popular places anywhere to see in the New Year, Foxy's Bar is iconic to the Caribbean and beyond, with Foxy himself often the main event.

"Foxy's is proud to be a sponsor of the BVI Spring Regatta, the premier event in the BVI's Sailing Calendar each year," he continued. "BVI Spring Regatta has a story like our own - over 50 Years of service to the sailing community in the British Virgin Islands & STILL GOING STRONG!"

The Sailing Festival will start on Wednesday March 30th is a race to neighboring Scrub Island for their Invitational Race- a short morning race and then an afternoon BBQ with games and relaxation. It is a chance to discover the British Virgin Islands.

Thursday March 31st A Race to Foxy's A chance to explore more of the islands, work on the boat practice and then enjoy all the fun and festivities the renown Foxy's Bar has to offer. Registration starts at noon for those entering the BVI Spring Regatta.

Friday April 1- Sunday April 3 is three days of top racing round rocks, islands with 18 classes, there's a boat and a course for everyone. Friday April 1st is Mount Gay Race Day.

bvispringregatta.org

Bermuda Race
Entries for the 2022 Race will close at midnight on April 3rd. Currently, we have 220 entries, exactly the maximum number established for the race. However, working closely with venue authorities in Bermuda, we fully expect to be able to accommodate additional boats. If you or someone you know is planning to enter, please initiate entry now, and if you have started your entry but not paid your deposit, you must make the payment to secure your place.

bermudarace.com/guide/race-entry-portal/

Rodolphe Sepho, from the islands to the globe: the long road
The 36-year-old skipper, who has already taken part in the Route du Rhum twice, is patiently continuing his offshore learning. For a time associated with Arnaud Boissieres with whom he took part in the last Transat Jacques Vabre, he dreams of being the first Guadeloupean to compete in the Vendee Globe, aware of the work he still has to accomplish.

His sailing club's support has allowed him to reach the dream of offshore. In 2010, the association acquired a Pogo 40 and, supported by the region, set off for the Route du Rhum. Jimmy Dreux is the skipper, Rodolphe is on the adventure. The duo treat themselves to the joys of the finish (37th ) and the coskipper discovers the open sea, its immensity and its " indescribable " pleasure during long slides under spinnaker as well as " the exceptional feeling of freedom ".

Rodolphe then acquires the boat, shines in the RORC Caribbean (4th in 2013), competes again in the Route du Rhum (26th, 2014), learns by multiplying the navigations with Aymeric Chappelier or Kito de Pavant. Then, he bought the FS40 from Jorg Riechers and Pierre Brasseur, joined the Pôle Vendee Course and returned to the 'Rhum' (20th in 2018). -- editorial staff of the Vendee Globe / Antoine Grenapin

www.vendeeglobe.org

Inspiring Sport Capital Announces The Acquisition of CDK Technologies
Inspiring Sport Capital brings together a group of private investors to take the majority of CDK Technologies and develop the leading shipyard in offshore racing. Associated with this ambitious growth project, Cyril Abiteboul, CEO of Renault F1 Team between 2015 and 2021, has been entrusted with the general management of CDK Technologies. He succeeds Philippe Facque who is retiring.

A leader in the offshore yard sector thanks to its expertise in the construction of hulls and innovative composite parts, the CDK Technologies shipyard , founded in 1984, has forged a solid reputation and an outstanding track record in the field. offshore racing. In fact, the work carried out by Philippe Facque, at the head of the site for more than thirty years, supported by the deputy managing directors Yann Dollo and Stephane Digard, and by all of their teams, has enabled the company to develop by regularly investing in state-of-the-art tools and to shine in the most emblematic offshore races in the world, including the Vendee Globe, the Route du Rhum, the Transat Jacques Vabre, the Jules Verne Trophy and The Ocean Race .

Today identified as the benchmark for competitive yacht builders, thanks in particular to four victories in a row in the prestigious Vendee Globe and a full box on the podium in the last edition in 2020-2021, the yard has always refused to rely on its achievements and invariably expands its global offer.

www.imoca.org

No surprise at all, really
Always been impressed by the short-handers. Not on my own there, either. Over the last few years I've written a lot about it all, and to see them take off in famous races around the globe, like the Fastnet, has been more than a buzz. Of course, when our own backyard joined the party for the 2021 Sydney Hobart race with a two-handed division, well it just made it all the more interesting again.

I was completely captivated by the line from a very qualified pro ocean racer who said that if a two-handed crew won the overall prize, then they deserved to keep the cup for life. Obviously, that part of the journey did not come to pass, but it did not stop the crews getting right into it, nor me from tapping away merrily.

Now when it was all done, the analysis showed that these crews had made a sterling effort, and were not that far off the pace of like boats that were fully crewed. Many of them could barely use their autohelm due to the conditions, so I am still in awe of crews that steered, trimmed, ran the boat, did the scheds, made food, caught a nap somehow, did reefing, sail changes and everything else, all whilst your eyes must have been falling out of your head so far as to be getting severely scuffed up by the non-skid on the deck. Respect. -- John Curnow

EuroSail News #5050 - 28 March

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