In This Issue
• Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta
• Hempel World Cup Series at the Allianz Regatta
• Letter from the Antipodes: Auckland's loss is Barcelona's gain
• INO XXX victorious for RORC Myth of Malham
• French Ocean Racing: Competition Between Banks Is Hotting Up
• Alinghi Red Bull Racing Wins The Geneve-Rolle-Geneve
• Oldest person to sail solo non-stop across Pacific
• Sailing World on Water
• Jamie Mears - 18 footers lose a champion
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Zeydon Z60
• • Persico Fly 40
• • Bavaria C42
• The Last Word: Vincent Van Gogh

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

Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta
Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

The Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta concluded today with a win in the day's racing and overall victory for the Wallycento Magic Carpet Cubed, owned by YCCS member Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, assisted as always on tactics by Jochen Schuemann. In the Multihull category the overall winner was Allegra, owned by Adrian Keller and with tactician Paul Larsen, who was beaten in today's final race of the event by Lord Irvine Laidlaw's Highland Fling XVII.

The weather conditions, with overcast skies and a shifty and variable breeze, gave the Race Committee food for thought, before opting for a southerly course. From the starting line located off Porto Cervo, both divisions rounded the island of Soffi before heading for the Bisce pass and the finish line. Once again, starting procedures got underway as scheduled at 12.30 p.m. with the Multihulls setting off first, followed by individual staggered starts for the Superyacht Division.

The duel between the multihulls Allegra and Highland Fling XVII seemed to be going Allegra's way again, however a tactical decision to sail close to the coast on the approach to the finish line allowed Highland Fling to overtake her rival right on the line, by just one second in real time - which would translate to 1 minute and 5 seconds in compensated time.

Competition was no less heated in the Superyacht Division, where Magic Carpet Cubed was forced to defend the overall lead she had conquered with a win on day one, as her pursuers, Bullitt and Magic Blue closed in. With Bullit and Magic Blue finishing in second and third place today, as well as in the overall standings, the podium places and the trophies offered by Giorgio Armani were claimed by a trio of Wally yachts.

In addition to the Silver Jubilee Cup for the winner of the Superyacht Division, the owner of Magic Carpet Cubed, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, received the YCCS Trophy for the best result among the members of the organising club and the Pantaenius Trophy for the best starts.

www.yccs.it

Hempel World Cup Series at the Allianz Regatta
The boat classes completed their medal races on Saturday, and on Sunday it was the finale in Lelystad for the four Olympic board classes.

Formula Kite Women - Home Waters Celebration

All week Annelous Lammerts (NED) had set the pace in the Formula Kite women's fleet. For winning qualifying, the Dutch rider earned a place directly in the four-board final along with second qualifier Giselo Pulido (ESP). Meanwhile it was two Israelis - Maya Ashkenazi and Gal Zukerman - who fought their way through from the two semi-finals to take their place alongside Lammerts and Pulido on the start line of the final.

Despite finishing last in the four-board final, Pulido's championship point from qualifying in second place meant the Spaniard took the silver medal. Zukerman was second across the line just ahead of her teammate Ashkenazi, so it was Zukerman who took bronze with Ashkenazi in fourth overall.

Formula Kite Men - Gomez Jumps For Joy

Benoit Gomez (FRA) powered his way to victory in the first heat of the final, although not without a start line battle with his closest rival, Lorenzo Boschetti (ITA) where their kites came dangerously close to each other. From there the race became more straightforward for the Frenchman. As Gomez crossed the finish line he skyrocketed his board out of the water and celebrated 4 metres above the surface of the grey Markermeer. Gomez had used the week to experiment with new equipment and made a radical decision to fly a mid-size 15-metre kite in the light airs of the final day.

Behind the big Frenchman it was silver and bronze for the two Italians, Boschetti and Riccardo Pianosi respectively.

Iqfoil Women - Tiebreak Gives Gold To Peru

Maria Belen (PER) had been closing in on her training partner Lilian de Geus (NED) all week and by the end of Saturday had drawn level on points at the top of the leaderboard. Even more crucially, Belen came off better on the tiebreak which meant the Peruvian wore the yellow bib going into the final day. The unique medal series format of the iQFOiL class puts the winner of qualifying straight through to the three-board final.

It was gold for Belen, silver for de Geus and bronze for Lena Erdil (GER).

iQFOiL Men - Triple Dutch

The Dutch squad dominated the iQFOiL Men's podium, with no change on the final day as the wind proved insufficient to complete the medal series. As yellow bib wearer from the previous day, Huig Jan Tak (NED) beat his Dutch teammate Max Castelein who had led for much of the regatta. Joost Vink (NED) had overhauled Louis Giard (FRA) towards the end of the competition, making it a perfect podium for the home team. -- Andy Rice for World Sailing.

Full results for all classes

allianzregatta.org

Letter from the Antipodes: Auckland's loss is Barcelona's gain
Piece by piece, more information is coming out about the 2024 America's Cup hosting in Barcelona.

Reasons other than financial, are emerging as to why the regatta was not staged in Auckland.

A commentary piece on the website of Emirates Team NZ's agent, London based Origin Sport, indicates the bid process started in May 2020 - ten months before the 36th America's Cup Match was sailed. The prospect of hosting an America's Cup attracted early, and significant, interest.

The primary factors were the estranged relationship between the team and Kiwi officialdom; along with the cash component of the Hosting Fee offered for the 2024 Cup being $9million less than for the 2021 Cup, together with the continual media leaking with the team being forced at one stage to obtain injunctions in the High Court to stop publication of private meeting recordings and papers.

In an interview just published in the authoritative Seahorse magazine, the President of the Port of Barcelona, Damià Calvet, revealed that the first bid for the Cup hosting, with all teams in a common area, was "not exciting for Team NZ". A second proposal with the teams scattered around the old port, but closer to the city centre carried the day for Barcelona.

Interestingly the Port company is not allowed to invest in the Cup. "Our only income is the port fees, and we cannot use this revenue for anything other than port activity." There has been contribution "in kind by donating our facilities, but we do not contribute anything to the fee requested by Team New Zealand," the President added.

Richard Gladwell's full editorial in Sail-World.com

INO XXX victorious for RORC Myth of Malham
The overall winner racing under IRC for the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Myth of Malham Race was the British HH42 INO XXX, raced by the RORC Commodore James Neville. Niklas Zennström's brand new Swedish CF-520 Rán 8 was second overall and took line honours in an elapsed time of just over 26 hours for the 230-mile course. Ed Bell's British JPK 1180 Dawn Treader had an excellent race, placing third overall and winning IRC One.

The Myth of Malham Cup was given to the RORC by Captain John Illingworth in 1958 and is named after his famous boat, which won the 1947 and 1949 Fastnet Race. The race mirrors the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race. 68 teams from eight different nations took part in the 2022 edition of the Myth of Malham Race. An unusual downwind start got the fleet away at a fast pace out of the Solent. During the course of the race, the fleet experienced a huge range of conditions from 5-25 knots, and at times a significant sea state.

IRC Class Winners for the Myth of Malham Race

IRC SZ Zero Volvo 70 Telefonica Black
IRC 0 INO XXX
IRC 1 JPK 1180 Dawn Treader
IRC 2 & IRC Two-Handed JPK 1080 Mzungu!
IRC 3 J/109 JAGO
IRC 4 S&S 34 Morning After

http://www.rorc.org/racing/race-results

French Ocean Racing: Competition Between Banks Is Hotting Up
From the Arkea Ultim Challenge to the recent Banque Populaire Grand Ouest Trophy and so including the Transat CIC and the CIC Normandy Channel Race and of course including the Figaro, Class40, Imoca and Ultims in the colors of Credit Mutuel, Arkea and their competitors, the sponsorship battle is hotting up between major players in the French banking sector who see a great value in partnerships in offshore and ocean racing sailing. Tip & Shaft investigates.

Sailing has always attracted partners from the banking sector starting out with pioneering brands like Credit Agricole - sponsor of Philippe Jeantot from 1983 to 1991- but head and shoulders above the rest is Banque Populaire which started out in sailing in 1989 with Francis Joyon. "In 2000 we became a partner of the FF Voile. We then decided to become 'the sailing bank' as there is a tennis bank (BNP Paribas) and a rugby bank (Societe Generale)", recalls Thierry Bouvard, sponsorship ans patronage director at BPCE group. They are now sponsors of Armel Le Cleac'h in the Ultim and Clarisse Cremer in the Imoca. But Banque Populaire are also present in the territories via their regional subsidiaries, particularly in the West of France where Banque Populaire Grand Ouest (BPGO) supports both sailors and events.

But the historic sailing sponsor are seeing its leadership in the sport increasingly challenged. If BPGO were the main partner of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe in 2018, they were then replaced by the CIC for the 2022 edition. "Immediately after the last edition, we spoke with Banque Populaire Grand Ouest to discuss the continuation of the partnership," explains Joseph Bizard, general manager of OC Sport Pen Duick. "We made a proposal which obviously did not find a positive feeling since they did not follow up; and time was pressing so we asked CIC, with whom we had built the Transat CIC [which did not take place in 2020, editor's note]."

Maurice Bourrigaud, CEO of Banque Populaire Grand Ouest: "We had entered into negotiations to renew the partnership and at the third stage of the planned duration of this negotiation, OC Sport warned us that they had chosen the CIC. So it was absolutely not the choice of BPGO, on the contrary we would have liked to be the main partner again." He adds: "Now, I respect the decision of OC Sport and the fact that the CIC took the place -- such is the the law of the open market. I explained my way of thinking to OC Sport, we are long-term allies and of course we will work together again I am sure."

Read more in the latest Tip & Shaft

Alinghi Red Bull Racing Wins The Geneve-Rolle-Geneve
Alinghi Red Bull Racing wins the Geneve-Rolle-Geneve in 3h2m after fighting hard to stay ahead of old rivals Realteam for Leman hope and Spindrift on a perfect day of racing on Lake Geneva.

The long-distance race started lightly under brilliant sunshine with the fleet of 220 boats drifting over the start line in three knots of breeze. Of the TF35s, Spindrift had the best start and took an early lead, in contrast, form team Alinghi Red Bull Racing struggled.

By the first cross on the approach to Versoix Realteam for Leman hope had taken the lead from Spindrift with Alinghi Red Bull Racing chasing meters off their stern.

As forecast, good wind conditions began to pick up for the afternoon and the TF35s, specifically designed to fly in ultra-light winds, were on their foils by Coppet as the breeze picked up to 7-knots. But still, all seven TF35s remained compact, and the competition tight as the fleet followed the pressure beating up the righthand side of the lake.

The fleet was on foils for the entire downwind leg back to Geneva, hitting 28 knots of boat speed in 12 knots of breeze approaching the finish line.

Holding a faster pace downwind new Italian team, Vitamina Sailing, led the chasing pack across the finish line in fourth with Team SAILFEVER in fifth, ZEN Too in sixth and Ylliam XII - Comptoir Immobilier in seventh.

Tomorrow regular fleet racing will resume for the TF35 Mies Grand Prix, with the first warning signal planned for 11.30 CET.

tf35.org

Japanese man, 83, becomes oldest person to sail solo non-stop across Pacific
Photo by Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images. Click on image to enlarge.

Before he set off, Kenichi Horie said his only fear about sailing solo non-stop across the Pacific Ocean was his age. But on Saturday, the 83-year-old- known as "Japan's most famous yachtsman"- proved it was not an obstacle after all as he became the world's oldest person to complete the challenge.

After more than two months at sea, the record-breaking octogenarian, who in 1962 also became the first person to successfully take on the feat, arrived in the waters off the Kii peninsula in western Japan at 2.39am local time.

He left San Francisco, California, in the Suntory Mermaid III, his 990kg 19ft-long pale aluminium vessel, customised to fit his 5ft build, on 27 March. Some parts of the voyage were challenging, he said, and he called his family at least once a day to ensure they didn't worry.

Horie, who made no port calls, was spotted off Hawaii's O'ahu island on 16 April. He was due to arrive in Cape Hinomisaki on Saturday, after which he will be towed to his home port, Shin Nishinomiya yacht harbour, and go to an arrival ceremony in Nishinomiya city in Hyogo prefecture.

Horie has travelled across the Pacific in multiple vessels, including ones made from aluminium cans, beer kegs and whiskey barrels and powered by solar panels and foot pedals. He does not physically train for his adventures. "I'm always fine, always in shape ... No overeating, no over-drinking," he told the San Francisco Chronicle before departing on his latest voyage.

Asked whether he had any concerns about his trip, he said: "Nothing at all. Maybe just being old."

www.theguardian.com

Sailing World on Water
Highlights of what happened globally in the sport of sailing in the last 7 days.

The America's Cup is scheduled for Barcelona, Spain and Sir Ben Ainslie ives it his thumbs-up. Jeddah of Republic of Saudia Arabia missed out on the America's Cup this time but the Foiling Week was there with all their boats.

Damien Seguin Skipper of APICIL the IMOCA 60 shows how he climbs the boat's mast alone using just his climbing gear. Not for the faint hearted. Day 3 of the 52 Super Series Baiona, Spain. Rod Davis is interviewed. The America's Cup teams are fighting each other in the C 32 Riva Cup and it looks like Alinghi is coming out on top. Day 4 of the 52 Super Series Baiona and Quantum Racing makes a move. Day 3 and the final Day 4 and Alinghi consolidates their first place in the Riva Cup.

Jamie Mears - 18 footers lose a champion
Click on image for photo gallery.

The 18 footers class lost one of its champion sailors last month when UK and European champion Jamie Mears lost his life following a tragic mountain bike accident in Italy.

Jamie (1976-2022) leaves behind his wife Gemma and his three sons Tommy, Ollie and Will.

After a successful period in the B14s during the early 2000s, Jamie, together with his brother Stewart, joined the 18 footer ranks in 2008 when he campaigned his PICA skiff throughout the UK and Europe.

His team won the UK Overall Grand Prix four times, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, as well as several European circuit victories, but his best result was in 2011 at the Mark Foy Trophy regatta.

Jamie, along with his brother Stewart (bow) and Tristan Hull (sheet), contested the international Mark Foy Trophy at Sonderborg, Denmark and finished second to Australia's JJ Giltinan champion John Winning. The placing gave Jamie and his PICA team the title European champion of 2011.

Jamie also led the PICA team to Australia in 2013 and 2014 to contest the JJ Giltinan Championship on Sydney Harbour.

In 2013, with Stewart Mears and Tristan Hull, Jamie skippered PICA into 11th place overall, in a strong 31-boat fleet, and recorded a best place 5th (in Race 3) as well as two other top ten placings in the six-races contested during the regatta.

In 2014, this time with Stewart and Matt Searle, Jamie skippered PICA into 17th place in a 34-boat fleet from six countries. The team had best placings of 7th and 8th in races 2 and 3, but disappointing placings in the next three races proved costly in the overall standings.

League Director Grant Rollerson, who competed many times against Jamie and his PICA team, added, "Jamie will be remembered as one of the great UK skiff sailors of his era." -- Frank Quealey,, Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.

18footers.com

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The Last Word
I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day. -- Vincent Van Gogh

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