In This Issue
• 52 Super Series Scarlino
• Tied at the top in Tuscany after four races at the Royal Cup 52 Super Series Scarlino
• Back to full speed - Caribbean Sailing
• Hobie 16 Worlds: A great first day for the finals
• Freddie Mercury The Lateen Rig
• Golden Globe Race heading south from Lanzarote film gate
• J/111 North American Championship
• Land Union September Regatta
• EUROSAF Inclusive Cup 2022
• Featured Charter: Cape 31
• Featured Brokerage:
• • TP52 - J/V 2007
• • J 45 Elegance Yacht
• • Dazcat 1495
• The Last Word: Martha Wells

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

Tied at the top in Tuscany after four races at the Royal Cup 52 Super Series Scarlino
Photo by Max Ranchi, www.maxranchi.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

After four races at the Royal Cup 52 Super Series Scarlino regatta in Tuscany, Italy there have now been different winners in every race. Takashi Okura's 2021 circuit champions Sled are tied with Quantum Racing at the top of the leaderboard while Andy Soriano's Alegre today moved up to third overall.

Alegre's first place and a third - aggregating just four points in the breezy, challenging conditions - was the lowest tally today on a Gulf of Follonica race track which is really putting the 52 Super Series afterguards to the test.

As Phoenix won the second contest of the day, both successive race winners seeming to follow the same basic strategy - starting off the left end of the start line and holding left - the secret of success today was much more than just that. It was also about being able to ride the best veins and gusts of wind pressure for longest, to deal with the awkward waves state kicked up in a SE'ly breeze which still peaked at over 20kts and it was to sail clean with smooth boat handling and manoeuvres.

Quantum Racing sailed a 4,5 today and are tied with Sled on 13pts whilst Alegre are now in third one point behind. Phoenix are fourth on 15pts.

Provisional standings Royal Cup 52 Super Series Scarlino:
1. Sled (USA), Takashi Okura, 13 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA), Doug DeVos, 13
3. Alegre (GBR), Andy Soriano, 14
4. Phoenix (RSA), Hasso & Tina Plattner, 15
5. Provezza (TUR), Ergin Imre, 21
6. Interlodge (USA), Austin & Gwen Fragomen, 23
7. Vayu (THA), Whitcraft Family, 24
8. Platoon (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 26
9. Gladiator (GBR), Tony Langley, 31

52superseries.com

Play resumes at Les Voiles!
Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Thanks to a slight easing of the Mistral and a warm sunshine, all the racers, in both the Modern and Classic fleets, were poised for battle this morning, eager to test their mettle in the still bracing W'ly wind. From 11:00 hours, the 132 Modern sailboats set sail for L'Escalet, where a fantastic coastal course hugging the shore awaited them. Meantime, the 82 Classic yachts tried, in vain alas, to make for their own start zone, the sea state and the gusts of over 30 knots breaking their stride. Ultimately the latter group were forced back into port, but not before the many image hunters caught them on film. The 5 Groups of Modern IRCs fortunately managed to validate their second race of the week.

The TP 52s had the opportunity and the ingredients to cook up a storm in the IRC C group, which is competing for the BMW Trophy. The President of the Hong Kong Yacht Club, Karl Kwok and his TP 52 BeauGeste repeated their performance from Monday to snatch another victory after a very wet 90-minute sprint in today's short coastal course. The other two TP 52s, Peter Harrison's Jolt 3 and reigning champion Prince Frederik of Denmark's Nanoq, completed the TP52 podium. Vying for the North Sails Trophy in IRCB, the mano a mano initiated on Monday between Laurent Courbin's First 53 Yagiza and Linda Goddard's Swan53 Bedouin continued apace in the day's breezy conditions. Tonight, each of these two boats boast one victory and one second place.

Appreciated by racers and owners alike, tradition has it that Thursday is a celebration of the spirit of the Nioulargue, forerunner to Les Voiles, and its creator Patrice de Colmont. With challenges aplenty, combining classes and styles, the Club 55 Cup and the Centenarians' Race, the day is a regatta between the gentlemen and gentlewomen of yachting that is all about the beauty of the gesture and the creation of memories that will last a lifetime. The start line off Le Portalet is open and each captain is allowed to set sail once their presence has been announced to the Race Committee. -- Maguelonne Turcat

Week 1: Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez: Modern and Classic
Thursday 29 September: Challenge Day, Club 55 Cup, Centenarians Race
Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October: racing for the modern and classic yachts
Saturday 1 October: Prize-giving (week 1)

www.lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr

Back to full speed - Caribbean Sailing
After pulling off miracles to keep the Caribbean yachting circuit not just on the road post-pandemic, but positively thriving, it's no holds barred once again in 2023 for another round of racing in the world's greatest venues

Organisers ticked the box on hosting every major Caribbean regatta in 2022, a welcome feat after most events experienced a two-year pause due to the pandemic. Sailors from both sides of the pond and beyond responded favourably. Jeanne Kleene, event manager for the St Barths Bucket sums up the positive reaction to her event, which echoed regionally: 'The energy and enthusiasm were fantastic! Following recent cancellations, lockdowns and travel restrictions the pent-up demand was evident, producing a robust, competitive fleet. We had 30 superyachts that enjoyed great racing in breathtaking conditions.'

Weather is the quintessential carrot that entices sailors to travel thousands of miles by air or sea to the Caribbean.

Full article in the October issue of Seahorse

Hobie 16 Worlds: A great first day for the finals
Day 1 Finals racing - Building breeze and tight quarters for the first day of the finals. Winds started out on the lighter side but quickly built to 10-15 knots. With the field cut to just the top 48 teams, the fleet was very compact and it was crowded at every mark rounding. It was one of those days where a small mistake didn't cost you a position - it could cost you 20 positions that you couldn't get back. The right side of the course seemed to be favored but getting there in the crowd and keeping your lane clear was easier said than done. Five races were completed.

The lead positions shuffled following todays racing with Cam Owen/Susan Ghent (AUS) taking the lead followed by Yamil Saba Fuentes/Gonzolo Cendra Falcon (VEN) and Darren Smith/Claire Bisgood (AUS).

Thursday will be the final day of racing.

Full results

hobieworlds.com

Freddie Mercury The Lateen Rig
Click on image to enlarge.

As I pushed through the narrow lanes of Stonetown, smelling the dried fish, cloves and cardamon, I stumbled across the "Freddie Mercury Museum". Incongruous on many levels… I had discovered a bit of history not mentioned in that awful biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Mercury was born in Zanzibar's Government Hospital on 5th September 1946. He didn't often speak publicly about his upbringing, but that has not stopped a lucrative tourist trade growing around him in the archipelago.

Today, Queen fans can take tours of his childhood haunts - including his home, his family's place of worship and the court where his father worked. There is also along with the museum a Freddie Mercury restaurant and gift shop.

But Freddie Mercury is not why I came to Zanzibar. Early childhood memories of holidays at Lamu on the Kenyan coast are filled with images of powerful Dhows plying their trade up the East African coast. Our family always had a simple carved wooden toy dhow made out of driftwood, sail intact, hanging on the wall in the children's bedroom. I had come to Zanzibar to refresh my childhood memory and to understand a little about these craft that had played a formative part in my appreciation of the vernacular of wooden boats.

For many centuries, dhows have sailed on the Indian Ocean. Despite their historical attachment to Arab traders, dhows were originally an Indian boat because much of the wood for their construction came from the forests of India. Building dhows has always been considered an art and it has been passed down from father to son, preserving the basic design and use. There seems to be no need for written documentation such as plans or offsets in constructing a new Dhow. The plan comes directly from the shipwrights head as the timber is sawn and hewn into very consistent shapes

Read more in Southern Woodenboat Sailing

Golden Globe Race heading south from Lanzarote film gate
Damien Guillou, the French favourite for the Golden Globe Race made it through the Lanzarote Rubicon Marina film drop under his biggest spinnaker on a tight reach, this morning. A wind vane repair returning to Les Sables d'Olonne had cost him six days on the rest of the fleet. The last 12 twelve days have been an impressive comeback. He is consistently posting the top 24 hour distances of the fleet, having already caught up with the other French sailor Arnaud Gaist and the Australian mariner and GGR 2018 Mark Sinclair Captain "Coconut".

A lack of weather information this week from a defective Weather Fax, and a high-pressure system with light winds, while the wind came back in the south, favouring the leaders, hampered his efforts to catch-up. The leader is 700 miles ahead. The mid-fleet pack is only 3 to 4 days ahead.

Another impressive comeback is Kirsten Neuschäfer (SA) who exited the Bay of Biscay in 10th position. She did not hide her disappointment at being 6th at the Lanzarote gate. She has now joined the lead pack in 5th position and has been working very hard, spending a lot of time at the helm of Minnehaha, to catch up. This morning, she averaged 7 knots over the last 24 hours, clocking 170 miles and gaining 55 miles over her closest competitor Abhilash Tomy (IND)!

goldengloberace.com

J/111 North American Championship
Cleveland, Ohio, USA: The magic number on the first day of the J/111 North American Championship hosted by Lakeside Yacht Club in Cleveland, OH was eight: eight boats, eight-foot waves and 18 knots of breeze. Teams reveled in the wild conditions, led by Bill & Jackie Baxter's Fireball who posted a 2,2 for 4 points and the narrow advantage. Peter Wagner's Skeleton Key and Rob Ruhlman's Spaceman Spiff flopped scores (4,1 for Wagner and 1,4 for Ruhlman) for the next two positions.

Ruhlman's Spaceman Spiff kicked off the event with a victory, ahead of the Baxters' Fireball and Andrew & Segdwick Ward's Bravo. Wagner's Skeleton Key took line honors in Wednesday's other race, with Baxters and Wards staying in the top three.

Racing continues through Saturday.

Full results at YachtScoring.com

Land Union September Regatta
Ian Atkins and crew. Click on image to enlarge.

The Royal Southern Yacht Club Summer Series came to a spectacular conclusion with the Land Union September Regatta held 24-25 September. The final regatta of the four-event series was blessed with magnificent racing, superb shoreside entertainment and outstanding prizes, including a holiday with flights, superb accommodation, and entry to the world famous Munich's Oktoberfest. Den's Deck was transformed into Oktoberfest on Saturday with complimentary beer and sausages and an Oompah Band!

The Land Union Raffle for a complimentary city-break to Munich for the Oktoberfest was held on Sunday. The winners were Mike Moxley's Malice, Sture Wikman's Vitres and the Royal Thames Academy J70, skippered by Bethan Matthew.

Antigua Sailing Week's Rana Lewis awarded the regatta experience of a lifetime; an all-in trip to Antigua including; flights, Dream Yacht Charter, and boat entry to Antigua Sailing Week. Norths Sails Ian Walker joined the prizegiving team with North Sails prizes awarded to race winners

Ian Atkins' GP42 Dark 'N' Stormy with five bullets and a second was the victor in the thirteen-strong IRC One Class. Second in class, and top Cape 31, was Johnny Cooper's Fanatic. Third in IRC One was Rob Bottomley's Mills 41 Sailplane 3.

Full results at YachtScoring.com

www.royal-southern.co.uk

EUROSAF Inclusive Cup 2022 - Continental ranking for the inclusion class 2.4mR
In 2022, for the second time, the EUROSAF Inclusive Cup provides a continental ranking in the 2.4mR class. Last weekend the last regatta of the Cup took place. The overall winner is Karin Hofmann (GER) ahead of Alexander Sadilek (CZE) and Heiko Kröger (GER).

EUROSAF Cups consist of a specific number of existing regattas of a class or discipline in at least four different European countries. The results of these events are included in the overall Cup ranking based on a special calculation method, resulting in a EUROSAF-sanctioned European ranking.

The EUROSAF Inclusive Cup is currently held in the inclusion class 2.4mR. Nine regattas were chosen together with the class association for the EUROSAF Inclusive Cup 2022. Starting in Italy on Lake Garda at the end of April, with other regattas in Germany, France, Austria and Italy, the final event took place last weekend on Lake Machá in the Czech Republic. Due to lack of wind not always the required three races could be sailed. Finally, six events were included in this European 2.4mR ranking.

A total of 106 sailors from 12 nations in the ranking confirms that the EUROSAF Inclusive Cup increased visibility and recognition in Europe - to the 2.4mR class in general and to the individual regattas - and it promoted the motivation of the sailors to take part in regattas beyond their national borders. The 2023 edition will be composed as soon as all regatta dates are set.

www.eurosaf.org

Featured Charter
Cape 31's. Located in the UK & Caribbean

Cape 31s are 31-foot high-performance keelboats targeted at the highest level of regional/club sailing. A class known to many, is one which has seen expeditious growth over the last 12 months. A truly fast, modern, speedster. Available to charter in the UK and Caribbean.

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 TP52 - J/V 2007. POA EUR. Located in Hamburg, Germany.

This TP52, built by King Marine has been very nicely prepared by her last few owners, who all had high-level, offshore racing on their calendars. A high quality inventory, with new electronics, un-used brand new EC6 standing rigging and a proven track record - this boat needs a closer look!

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats
+447759 424900
+442380 016582

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J 45 Elegance Yacht. POA EUR. Located in France.

paving the way for new standards in cruising.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
J Composites
1 Allee Titouan Lamazou
CS 20402 Olonne sur Mer
Les Sables d’Olonne
85109 Les Sables d’Olonne

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Dazcat 1495. 935,000 ex VAT GBP.

The D1495 is designed and built by sailors for sailors, whether cruising or racing. Astounding performance proven by repeat RORC and MOCRA wins inshore and offshore; the 1495 is set up for ease of shorthanded sailing and comfort of ride above and below decks, we also like our home essentials!

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact

multihullcentre.com

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

The Last Word
So they made us smarter. The anxiety and depression were side effects. -- Martha Wells

Editorial and letter submissions to

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