In This Issue
• Borch Captures Ficker Cup Title
• Strong maxi turn-out for Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille
• Much bigger questions - IMA
• RORC Easter Challenge
• Nordic Folkboat: the most successful design in the Round the Island Race
• International Classic Boat Recognition
• Novel format for new Porto Cervo to Monaco maxi race
• Ian Walker to Step Down as RYA Racing Director
• Stuart Childerley - From Olympian to GC32 Racing Tour Pro
• Featured Brokerage:
• • IMOCA 60 - Arkea Paprec FRA04
• • Beneteau First 40.7 Performance
• • Seaquest SQ46
• The Last Word: Kurt Vonnegut

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

Borch Captures Ficker Cup Title
Long Beach, California, USA: Jeppe Borch (DEN) and Team Borch Racing have won the Ficker Cup regatta, in a rousing upset over defending champion Emil Kjaer (DEN) Blue Sails Racing in the finals. Peter Holz' (USA) Windy City Racing took third and Dave Perry (USA) fourth, in this World Match Racing Tour WS Grade 2 qualifier event hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club.

Both Borch and Kjaer will advance to the Congressional Cup regatta next week, joining a top-notch field of international foes in the battle for the prestigious Congressional Cup trophy and Crimson Blazer.

Kjaer had dominated the Ficker Cup round robin series, suffering only one loss - to Borch - in the final match. But Borch had come out swinging as well and finished the round robins 10-4.

The Dueling Danes are no strangers: Borch hails from Roskilde Sailing Club and Kjaer from the Royal Danish Yacht Club in Copenhagen, less than an hour apart. The teams have been amiable sparring partners for years and were frequently seen huddled around the same breakfast table at LBYC this week.

Although rain threatened early Saturday morning, the skies cleared and the wind turned on.

At the prizegiving at LBYC the late Bill Ficker's daughter Deon Macdonald presented the esteemed Ficker Cup trophy to Borch' team, while Congressional Cup Chair Lisa Meier bestowed invitations to both Borch and Kjaer.

The Congressional Cup is slated for April 19 to 23. Borch and Kjaer will join an all-star lineup including five-time winner and defending champion Taylor Canfield (USA); Ian Williams (GBR) a four-time victor; 2009 champion Johnnie Berntsson; (SWE) Harry Price (AUS); Chris Poole (USA); Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL); Pearson Potts (USA); and Dave Hood (USA).

thecongressionalcup.com

Strong maxi turn-out for Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille
The International Maxi Association's Caribbean Maxi Challenge resumes tomorrow with its third event, Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille. Based out of Gustavia in the paradise French Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy, the event has bounced back, after a two year absence due to the pandemic, with a near record attendance of 68 yachts. The line-up includes nine maxis, racing under IRC across two classes, and a further six competing in CSA 3.

A favourite among maxi owners and crews, Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille has attracted several of the most competitive of the US fleet with George David's Rambler 88 highest rated ahead of Wendy Schmidt's Botin Partners 85 Deep Blue and the two former Maxi 72s, Hap Fauth's Bella Mente and Jim Swartz's Vesper, in the Maxi 1 class. All are 'repeat customers', although for Wendy Schmidt, who competed previously on her Swan 80 Selene, this will be the first time with Deep Blue.

The most regular competitor is George David's Rambler 88, having won here in 2015. His crew is the usual all-star cast of America's Cup and round the world race legends, led by tactician and four time America's Cup winner, Brad Butterworth.

The Maxi 2 class is more international, including the Mills 68 Prospector, campaigned by a syndicate from Shelter Island in Long Island Sound, plus a strong European turn-out including Italian Luigi Sala on the Vismara 62 Yoru, Fabio Scalzi's Swan 68 Defiance, Sergio Llorca Swan 651 Papirusa and the CNB 66 Umaren of Ad Illel.

Competing in CSA 3 are several more: three CNB yachts - the 66 Espace of Karl Volker Frank and two Bordeaux 60s, Mikan Markovic's Nina and Dumia of Germany's Hans-Peter Howaldt. But perhaps the best competition will be between the three Swans - Shahid Hamid's 58 OM II, Adrian Lee's 60, Lee Overlay Partners II and the 601 Stark Raving Mad VII of American Jim Madden. -- James Boyd / International Maxi Association

lesvoilesdestbarthrichardmille.com

Much bigger questions - IMA
The beautiful and very tricked-out Mylius 60 CK Cippa Lippa X racing last summer at Capri Sailing Week.

This column should perhaps come with a health warning: 'not entirely about Maxi yacht racing'.

The large, angry bear in our swimming pool right now cannot be ignored. This came to a head during the most recent RORC Caribbean 600 at the same time as the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. The knee-jerk response was to exclude all further participation by Russian entries.

The problem with a blanket ban on all involved is overall proof of Russian ownership. Most people assume that two of the Maxis in the 600 are both essentially Russian-owned but it is much more complex than that. The problem is that very few Maxis are registered in the country of their ownership. The majority fly flags of convenience, commonly Cayman Islands, Marshall Islands, Malta and elsewhere. The flags and sail numbers usually correspond with those countries. The owners are often theoretically unknown hiding behind companies or consortia, or if known are dual nationals of Russia, Cyprus, Malta, Monaco and so on.

Full article in the May issue of Seahorse

RORC Easter Challenge
Classic Solent conditions prevailed for the Royal Ocean Racing Club's first inshore regatta of the 2022 season. After eight thrilling races, IRC class winners for the RORC Easter Challenge were: Ian Atkins' GP42 Dark N Stormy (IRC 1), The Army Sailing Association's Sun Fast 3600 Fujitsu British Soldier, skippered by Henry Foster (IRC 2), and Lena Having's Corby 33 Mrs Freckles (IRC 3).

At the final Prize Giving held at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse, Regatta Race Manager Steve Cole introduced RORC Commodore James Neville who had been racing INO XXX at the Easter Challenge. James awarded glassware to the IRC class winners and the customary Easter Egg frenzy was well received by a big turn out!

The Solent delivered magnificent weather every day of the RORC Easter Challenge, but Mother Nature saved the best until last. Easter Sunday was blessed with a solid south-easterly, building during the day along with the tide. With outside assistance allowed during the regatta, a RORC coaching team supported by North Sails, was led by Andrew 'Dog' Palfrey. All competitors were offered coaching during racing, plus the daily video debriefs and online content provided an opportunity to take-in the lessons learnt. At the Saturday debrief, one of Dog Palfrey's main points was the start routine and the final day's racing proved that the teams were listening. Two races were held for all IRC classes with close to blanket starts achieved by the competitors.

Results

www.rorc.org

Nordic Folkboat: the most successful design in the Round the Island Race
GBR707 Madelaine. Click on image for photo gallery.

This year celebrating its 80th anniversary, the Nordic Folkboat stands out as the most successful design in the history of the Round the Island Race (RTI) with remarkable competitive longevity.

As Nordic Folkboat fleets across the Western Solent (and around the World!) gear up for the 2022 Sessan Cup and the UK National Championships, both to be held at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club in September, all eyes will be on Folkboat performance at this year's RTI on 25th June.

If you want to win the Round The Island Race, you need the right boat; one that will benefit from the tidal gates in this race. Past history tells us that the overall winner will generally come from either IRC Division 3D or IRC Division 0.

Within IRC Division 3D, the Folkboat stands out. It benefits from tuning up with close one-design class racing in Solent waters, which helps it to sail to its optimum in these conditions. No wonder then that the Nordic Folkboat has won the Gold Roman Bowl on four occasions in the last 16 years.

The first carvel-hulled British Folkboats were built in the UK around 1950. According to Yachting World the first two keels were laid in 1949 and the first carvel British Folkboat, Cyra, was launched in July 1950. She was owned by Jim Saunders, a Lloyds yacht surveyor, who went on to become the first UK Class Chairman. Cyra proved the competitiveness of the Folkboat by winning the Gold Roman bowl for first place in the RTI in 1958 and again in 1963, while Fenya won in 1962, making this a good period for racing a Folkboat in the RTI.

Ted Donald's British Folkboat Celia Mary (FB39), built by him post-war on a ration book in the Hamble, won the Gold Roman bowl in 1994, skippered by his son Malcolm Donald and again in 1999 skippered by his grandson Ed Donald. The Donald family have won the Gold Roman Bowl four times in two different Folkboats.

The 2022 UK Folkboat Association International Regatta at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club will include the UK Nordic Nationals and Walcon Cup from Saturday 17th to Sunday 18th September and the Sessan Cup from Tuesday 20th to Thursday 22nd September. Five days of racing are planned in Christchurch Bay during the regatta week, along with a sensational week of socials, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Nordic Folkboat and the centenary of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club.

Entry is now open for the International Regatta, sponsored by Spencers of the New Forest and supported by Yacht Havens, Walcon Marine, SoResource Management, Folkboats UK and the UK Folkboat Association.

Enter online at rlymyc.org.uk/folkboat-nationals-sessan

Hal Sisk, Steve Morris and Fionan de Barra Awarded International Classic Boat Recognition in London
Hal Sisk sailing his first major project, the restoration of the 1884 Fife cutter Vagrant in 1984. Photo: W.M.Nixon. Click on image to enlarge.

Hal Sisk of Dun Laoghaire has received the International Classic Boater of the Year Award in London for his decades of inspired service to classic craft and sailing history, while his colleagues Fionan de Barra of Dun Laoghaire and Steve Morris of Kilrush Boatyard were also personally awarded - at a ceremony in the Royal Thames Yacht Club - for their exceptional work in the trio's current shared project, the restoration of the Dublin Bay 21 Class.

Hal Sisk's involvement with classic craft - which includes his current role as Chairman of the International Association of Yachting Historians - came after an active offshore racing career. He was one of the creators fifty years ago of ISORA in 1971-72, while his first significant vintage project was the restoration of the 1884-vintage Fife cutter Vagrant in 1984.

Many other interests and classic boat types were explored before - in 2003 - he initiated the successful 2005-completed restoration of the 36ft 1894-vintage G L Watson designed cutter Peggy Bawn (built by Hilditch of Carrickfergus), while another avenue of thought was explored with a glassfibre version of the 1890s Dublin Bay Colleen class.

He served as Class Captain of the Dublin Bay Water Wags (with whom he has actively raced for many years) when the 1887/1900 class finally achieved a turnout of 30 boats on the starting line, and meanwhile he was starting to work with Fionan de Barra, custodian of the 1902-founded Dublin Bay 21s, on developing a meaningful way of restoring the seven boats as a viable proposition to suit contemporary circumstances.

With four of the re-built boats expected in commission this summer thanks to the work by Steve Morris and his team at Kilrush Boatyard, the dream is becoming reality, and it means that Hal Sisk has now been very successfully involved in restoring classic craft from the three greatest Scottish designers of the "Golden Age" - William Fife, G L Watson and Alfred Mylne.-- WM Nixon in Afloat magazine

afloat.ie/sail/

Novel format for new Porto Cervo to Monaco maxi race
Before tackling the Strait of Bonifacio and the Corsican coast, competitors must once again negotiate the azure waters of the La Maddalena archipelago. Photo: ROLEX / Studio Borlenghi. Click on image to enlarge.

As entries roll in for September's Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, the pinnacle event of the maxi racing calendar, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the Yacht Club de Monaco and the International Maxi Association have joined forces to create a novel event returning the maxi fleet back to the European mainland.

The race format for the Porto Cervo-Monaco IMA 24 Hour Challenge is simple, but unique. Competitors will set sail from Porto Cervo at 1100 on Sunday, 11 September, the day after the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has concluded.

The course will take the maxis to Monaco, but aside from this is left open. Competitors can pass through the Strait of Bonifacio and sail up the west coast of Corsica, which is a distance of roughly 200 miles. Otherwise, if wind conditions look more favourable, they can instead leave Corsica to port and sail a route some 30 miles longer around the north of the island.

If competitors finish within 24 hours, then their times will be recorded as usual. Competitors who haven't reached Monaco by 1100 on Monday 12 September will instead have their distance to the finish calculated. IRC TCCs will then be applied to determine a winner using time on distance scoring.

The event is open to all maxi yachts (ie of 18.28+m LOA) who have completed registration for the 2022 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (MYRC). This will be the first edition of what will become an annual fixture in the maxi racing calendar.

By the Monday evening all the competitors are expected to have arrived in Monaco where there will be a prizegiving at 1900 followed by an owners' dinner at the Yacht Club de Monaco. -- James Boyd / International Maxi Association

www.yccs.it

www.internationalmaxiassociation.com

Ian Walker to Step Down as RYA Racing Director
Click on image to enlarge.

Ian Walker MBE will be stepping down from his position as RYA racing director this summer, the organisation has confirmed.

Walker joined the RYA in the autumn of 2017 and, in his dual role as performance director, he oversaw the British Sailing Team's success in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics - which included Dublin sailor Saskia Tidey's strong showing with 49erFX partner Charlotte Dobson.

The RYA says Walker has also been instrumental to the strategic planning for the Paris 2024 Olympic cycle.

During the pandemic, he was central to the development of the RYA's COVID-19 response and enabling people back on the water as soon as possible.

Well-known for his emphasis on high performance, the former Irish Green Dragon VOR skipper has also been passionate about youth and junior sailing and has prioritised the support of clubs and volunteers.

Commenting on his time at the RYA, Walker said: "I am very grateful to the RYA for believing and trusting in me when I was fresh out of professional sailing.

"I have learnt so much over the last four years and much of that I have learnt from the incredibly dedicated staff and volunteers I have worked with. It has been a very challenging time for everyone under the backdrop of COVID-19.

"I think now is a good time for me to leave as we are in a short lull between Olympic cycles and the RYA will soon be starting the process of creating their new strategy for the next generation.

Walker concluded: "The RYA has been part of my life since I was a youth sailor over thirty years ago. I now have a far greater understanding of the value that the RYA brings to sailing in this country and I hope I can continue to support them in the future."

rya.org.uk

Stuart Childerley - From Olympian to GC32 Racing Tour Pro
One of the strengths of the GC32 Racing Tour is the calibre of its staff from the multi-lingual, former America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race sailor that is its manager Christian Scherrer, to the over-qualified Stephanie Nadin who heads the corporate hospitality program (when she is not running SailGP's French event in its entirety), to the 35+ years of experience across newspapers, magazines and websites of their chief communicator. One of the most accomplished on the payroll is certainly Principal Race Officer Stuart Childerley.

A top sailor of his generation, the 56-year-old Brit earned his first stripes in 1984 when he won the Youth World Championships in the Laser (an accolade claimed in other years by other top sailors like Russell Coutts, Dean Barker and Ben Ainslie). He went on to represent Britain in the Finn dinghy at the Olympic Games in 1988 and 1992 finishing a disappointing fourth on both occasions. After missing selection to Team GBR in the Soling for Atlanta in 1996, Stuart gave up professional sailing and instead joined the family aggregate business. Nonetheless during this time, he enjoyed much further success on the water, such as winning the One Ton Cup with Olympic medallist Ian Walker on the TP52 Patches, and coming out top boat in the Admiral's Cup and winning the Tour de France a la Voile as part of the Barlo Plastics Team. During the early 2000s his was the boat to beat in the ultra-competitive Etchells keelboat fleet, winning back-to-back World Championships in in 2001 and 2002. He also raced on the Mini Maxi Alegre, winning the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship in 2014. He even sailed two legs of the 2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race on Team News Corp.

Read More:
gc32racingtour.com/stuart-childerley-olympian-gc32-racing-tour-pro/

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Seaquest SQ46. POA USD.

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seaquestcatamarans.com

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

The Last Word
Of course it is exhausting, having to reason all the time in a universe which wasn't meant to be reasonable. -- Kurt Vonnegut

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