In This Issue
• Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Line Honours
• World Sailing's bid to reinstate Para Sailing for LA28
• Environment and sporting excellence top agenda at YCM Awards
• Calendar cornerstone - Nautor Swan
• Ellie Driver | Chilli Pepper
• Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
• Wight Vodka Best Sailors' Bar
• In Conversation with Barry Ashmore
• Sports for Nature framework
• Featured Charter: J122 El Ocaso
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Corby 37 - "Aurora"
• • MC68 multihull
• • J 45 Elegance Yacht
• The Last Word: Root Boy Slim

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

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Line Honours
Andoo Comanche, skippered by John Winning Jr, has taken Line Honours in the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Crossing the finish line off Hobart at 00:57 on Wednesday, 28 December, the 100 foot (30.5 metre) maxi completed the 628nm course in a time of one day 11 hours 56 minutes 48 seconds.

At the dockside award ceremony, Winning paid tribute to his multi-national crew of 24: "Everyone played their part and performed impeccably. We have the utmost respect for each other, which is testament to the character and skill of the individuals."

Winning also acknowledged the determination and commitment of Comanche's closest competitors in the battle for line honours and the J.H. Illingworth Challenge Cup. "It is an incredible ocean race, something quite special. Equal amounts of effort will have gone into all the yachts competing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The three other 100 footers especially kept us honest, and I would like to congratulate them for an amazing competition. They did not let us feel comfortable for a second."

The Verdier Yacht Design & VPLP designed boat, has now secured line honours on four separate occasions under three different owners and several variations of the name: 2015 as Comanche (Jim Clark and Kirsty Hinze-Clark), 2017 as LDV Comanche and 2019 as Comanche (both occasions for Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant) and, now in 2022 as Andoo Comanche (John Winning Jr). The yacht also holds the current race record of one day nine hours 15 minutes 24 seconds in 2017.

* With Line Honours done and dusted, the focus of the 2022 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race turns to contenders for the Tattersall Cup, awarded to the overall winner, and since the race began on Monday, four TP52s have lit up the top four places.

The TP52s have taken control of the race, with CYCA Vice Commodore Sam Haynes’ Celestial (NSW) constantly at the top of the standings, trying to keep all comers at bay.

Celestial has battled the US entry, Warrior Won, throughout the night, but Matt Donald/Chris Townsend’s Gweilo and the New Zealand entry, Caro, skippered by Max Klink have been knocking on the door this morning.

Quest (Craig Neil), Patrice (Tony Kirby), Smuggler (Sebastian Bohm) and Zen (Gordon Ketelbey) have all moved up to join the fray, filling fifth to eighth positions on the overall leaderboard. The race is on!

rolexsydneyhobart.com

World Sailing's bid to reinstate Para Sailing for LA28
Since World Sailing launched its campaign to reinstate sailing into the Paralympic Games for LA28, the overriding message has been that sailing is a sport for all and is life-changing.

Sailing - present at every Paralympic Games since Atlanta 1996 to Rio 2016 - is also a global family, and this is why the #BacktheBid campaign to reinstate sailing into the Paralympic Games, has been met with universal support from the international sailing community.

Bouwe Bekking, round the world sailing legend, eight-time competitor in The Ocean Race, and multiple world champion from The Netherlands, said, "Sailing is a sport for everyone and is very social. In the last five years there has been a 30% increase in the number of participants in international Para Sailing events, it is clear that it is super popular. So, give Para Sailors another chance to get to the pinnacle of our sport: the Paralympic Games!"

A decision on whether sailing will return in Los Angeles is expected by the end of January 2023, and World Sailing CEO David Graham has already reaffirmed support for the sport even if the application is unsuccessful.

In the meantime, with the support of international sailors across all disciplines, sailing has come together to champion #BacktheBid and shown that regardless of the outcome, the sport has a bright future.

sailing.org

Environment and sporting excellence top agenda at YCM Awards
Pierrik Devic with the Prince. Click on image for photo gallery.

At the annual YCM Awards-Trophee Credit Suisse when Yacht Club de Monaco recognises their top sailors and welcomes new members, the club took the opportunity to highlight its commitment to maritime heritage and yachting's eco-transition as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations in 2023. The first ever E-Boat Rally for electric boats on the market is a brand new element of the 10th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (3-8 July2023), a couple of months before the 16th Monaco Classic Week (13-16 September).

At the YCM Awards-Trophee Credit Suisse ceremony attended by club president, HSH Prince Albert II, the coveted YCM Sailor of the Year prize went to Pierrik Devic, making his first appearance among nominees, for his remarkable consistency all-year in the J/70 class culminating with the World Vice-Champion title at the J/70 Worlds organised by YCM for the first time in October. He was up against some talented helmsmen including Nico Poons, RC44 World Champion, Joost Schuijff, winner of the Rolex Middle Sea Race (Monohull Line of Honours), Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio, Swan36 European Vice-Champion, Vladimir Prosikhin, Melges 20 World Vice-Champion and Leonardo Ferragamo, Swan50 World Champion.

In the Youth Awards, for the second time in his short career, Noah Garcia won the trophy. After shining in the Optimist class in 2019, this season he excelled in ILCA 4, including bagging the French Champion title. The cup adds to a track record recalling that of Monegasque kiteboarder, Alexander Ehlen, French Formula Kite Vice-Champion who has his sights set on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

As the club's 70th year dawns, YCM intends to maintain its course on major sporting, environmental and innovative projects, including the first Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous (23-24 March), under the aegis of the 'Monaco Capital of Advanced Yachting' approach, to contribute to development of sustainable yachting.

yacht-club-monaco.mc/en/home/

Calendar cornerstone - Nautor Swan
With 97 boats from 18 nations in seven classes and elite pro teams competing alongside amateur crews in perfect sailing conditions, this year's Rolex Swan Cup was a classic

From New Year to the New York Marathon, there are certain events that don't just populate columns in diaries, they provide key anchors. Without them a calendar feels unhinged. Among the classic events in the sailing world that pin the season down is the Rolex Swan Cup.

For more than 40 years this biennial event, hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, has not only been one of the best supported regattas of its kind, but for the many skippers and crew that return year after year it has become a non-negotiable feature of the sailing calendar. More recently it has become a natural focus of attention for Swan's highly successful Nations League. It doesn't take much to see why the Rolex Swan Cup has proved so successful.

Full article in the January issue of Seahorse

Ellie Driver | Chilli Pepper
The Royal Ocean Racing Club's RORC Talk Series continues with and exclusive interview with Ellie Driver. The 20-year-old RORC Member was voted Sailor of the Year at the 2022 British Yachting Awards.

The father and daughter duo, Jim and Ellie Driver, raced Sun Fast 3300 Chilli Pepper in IRC Two-Handed throughout the 2022 RORC Season's Points Championship. Notably Chilli Pepper won the Morgan Cup overall under IRC, and in August, Ellie became the youngest ever skipper to finish the gruelling Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race.

Watch the 30-minute interview from RORC TV :

Seahorse Sailor Of The Month
This month's nominees:

Xu Jingkun (CHN)
What order do you want it? Great guy, hysterical sense of humour, tough, generous, plus a Paralympian who just became the first Chinese sailor to complete the Route du Rhum and in the very respectable time of 16 days. The 33-year-old now has his sights set on the Vendée Globe. Xu has an unusual way with his huge fan base: asking them to send him their 'woes', he prints them out on tiny slips of paper then discards them in the ocean to 'wipe away their sadnesses'

Sarah Lee (AUS)
Those looking for crew for the Women's America's Cup in Barcelona should take a trip down to Sydney and pay a weekend visit to the Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club. Lee has been quietly working up through the ranks the last two seasons and now wins more often than not against a tough, predominantly male, fleet. But it's not just Lee, in mid-December the club recorded their first ever female trifecta when Lee led home the 16-footers of Zoe Dransfield and Jessica Iles in 2nd and 3rd

January's winner:
Doug Devos (USA)
Best owner and driver ever!' - Federico Michetti; 'Great helm, greater person, thanks Doug for all you do to support sailing' - James Lyne; 'Outside of being an incredible person and talented sailor Doug and his family have done more to grow and support sailing and sailors than anyone could imagine, so thank you, Doug!!' - Sean Clarkson; 'Pure commitment to the process of winning, there is nothing better in a team mate. An absolute legend!' - Terry Hutchinson.

View past winners of Sailor of the Month

Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Harken Derm, Musto and Dubarry. Who needs silverware, our prizes are usable!

Cast your vote, submit comments, even suggest a candidate for next month at seahorsemagazine.com/sailor-of-the-month/vote-for-sailor-of-the-month

Wight Vodka Best Sailors' Bar
In this issue we celebrate our 2016 winner and perennial nominee... the Pewaukee Yacht Club.

Pewaukee is a Mecca on the sailing map. Both Harken and Melges have their global headquarters there - and I know they are very aware they were in the hunt and all got behind the club voting in 2016.

The photo at right and in the gallery... what appears to be what your humble narrator believes to be a, sadly, much overlooked essential for a yachtie bar... a Go-Go dancer cage (for both men and women, of course...)

From one of the PYC's poobahs:

"Yeah, of course it wasn't intended to be that but sailors have a way of turning any innocuous object into something to party with. Clearly this was a pretty good party."

And from a famed (but unnnamed here) PYC member:

PYC is famous for "The Bar Walk" which is a required activity for whatever competitor is in last place after day two of three during the annual E Scow Blue Chip Championship regatta always held in September. This is the event where we bring in a mystery guest to compete - with the likes of Spithill, Connor, Cayard, Holmberg, Perry, Ullman, Jobson, Isler, Mckee, Gulari, Campbell, Coutts, etc. having competed in the past.

This form of punishment and public ridicule is a time-honored tradition that always has these champion competitors a bit more on edge in racing on day two. With the notoriety of international exposure of a global yachting media partner like Seahorse, I'm certain sphincters will be a little tighter on the start line! During the Blue Chip's 50th we had Terry Neilsen of Finn and Laser sailing fame up there in boxers and a necktie. He ended up sporting that outfit for the rest of the evening in pure Finn style class.

Care to share a favored story and/or drink recipe from YOUR favorite bar? Nominations open until January 6th

eurosailnews.com/sailors-bars

In Conversation with Barry Ashmore
The Nautor's In Conversation with Campaign continues and after interviewing the key people behind the scenes, it's time to talk about the trends and the feeling of the markets with the main actors - people "in front of the customers" - the Nautor ambassadors for these beautiful yachts.

Our first chat in this sense is with Barry Ashmore, Regional Director for Northern Europe.

Barry, please, give us an overview on Nautor Swan in Northern Europe? What is the brand awareness and how does it perform today on a worldwide basis?

Nautor Swan has a long-held presence in the key Northern European markets - obviously in Scandinavia, where our brand originated, but Swans also quickly became celebrated right from our early years among both racing and cruising yachtsmen, with sizeable fleets forming in the UK, Germany and Benelux too. Northern European sailors have always held Nautor in very high regard, valuing Swans for their build quality, fine performance and reputation for seaworthiness and reliability - these brand values are now appreciated world-wide.

How's the perception of the sport of sailing in your markets?

Well sailing in my opinion is the very best way of connecting with nature, fulfilling one's sense of adventure and enjoying absolute freedom. Sailing also provides the challenges of navigation, competition and seamanship and a Swan is a great choice - a boat you can absolutely trust no matter how ambitious your cruising or racing program. Swan Owners include family cruising sailors as well as keen racers but there's a clear division between those who sail in home waters, and those enjoying their Swans in the Mediterranean and further afield. Northern European local cruising tends to suit smaller Swan models so our Swan 48 has become incredibly successful with local sailors, as her size is perfect for smaller harbours and very easily managed by a couple or with a small family. The lovely thing about owning a Swan however is that it's a boat that can sail anywhere in the world, so it's wonderful to follow the cruising voyages of our Owners as they venture further afield. At the moment there is a definite trend towards more remote cruising including to high latitudes. Generally though, it's great that sailing is becoming more and more accessible and we see people progressing into larger cruising yachts after being introduced to sailing through charter, crewing or even dinghy sailing. For sure a comfortable cruising yacht adds a wonderful dimension to family life!

Full interview

World Sailing joins the IOC as a founding signatory of the Sports for Nature framework
World Sailing has joined 20 sports organisations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a founding partner, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, in signing the first-ever Sports for Nature Framework.

Signatories pledge to adhere to four key principles that will safeguard nature and contribute to the new global goals for biodiversity, which governments are expected to agree to later this week at the Convention on Biological Diversity 15th Conference of the Parties meeting (COP15) in Montreal, Canada.

David Graham, World Sailing Chief Executive Officer, said, "Sailing operates close to the natural world and the people who take part in our sport are often passionate guardians of their environment. This relationship means that we at World Sailing are proud to be a part of Sports for Nature, and we are committed to working with others to protect the places where our sailing communities live, work and play."

World Sailing has committed to environmental sustainability at every stage of the sport. Through its Sustainability Agenda 2030, World Sailing has set 56 different targets in six main operational areas ranging from water quality and single-use plastics to reducing its carbon footprint and contributing to the health of marine biodiversity, as well as participation and gender equality.

All World Sailing Special Events must develop a comprehensive sustainability strategy, which is aligned with the ISO 20121 sustainable event management system and with the United Nations Clean Seas initiative, which safeguards the oceans from plastic pollution, and the UNFCCC's Sports for Climate Action Framework, in which sports events and organisations commit to measure, reduce and offset their carbon emissions.

sailing.org

Featured Charter
J122 El Ocaso. Located in Caribbean 2023/2024.

‘El Ocaso is a 40-foot J/122, beautifully presented and one of the most successful IRC racers of her generation. Quick and responsive, powerful and stable, the J122 is easy to handle and delivers all round performance. Available for charter in the Caribbean 2023

See listing details in Seahorse Charters

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

See the the Seahorse charter collection

Featured Brokerage
2006 Corby 37 - "Aurora", 89,950 GBP.

Aurora is a very well presented Corby 37 racer/cruiser. New sails in 2019, again in 2022 and upgraded keel work from Corby, have kept AURORA on the pace. Particularly strong in the light to medium airs and proven success under both IRC and ORCi, she is a really rewarding boat to sail.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats

+447759 424900
+442380 016582

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MC68 multihull. POA USD.

One of the largest models in our innovative multihull series, the MC68 is designed with the performance cruiser in mind.

At 68ft length overall, the MC68 offers increased interior volume, enhanced performance and impressive capabilities for spending long periods at sea.

The MC68’s accommodation arrangement offers three guest cabins and one crew cabin as standard; a four-cabin layout (all en suite) or two variations of a five-cabin layout, which are ideal for a boat that will run with a live-aboard crew.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Tel: +852 5501 6001

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

Exciting 45’ offshore sailing yacht that may change all of your sailing plans. Leading edge hull design meets refined interior design to raise the bar on cruising comfort and performance like no J before it.

The association of J Boats’ American pragmatism and J Composites’ French flair is well documented, but somehow it has really taken on its full meaning in the J/45. It has taken over 3 years of collaborative work, mulling over every detail together in the constant search for the best possible balance.

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

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

The Last Word
The last time he [Hunter S. Thompson] saw me, he said I ought to be locked up. That's somethin' comin' from him. I come on strong sometimes. -- Root Boy Slim

Editorial and letter submissions to

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