In This Issue
• Fast Rolex Sydney Hobart
• A decision in first 12 minutes
• Youngest Golden Globe entrant faces retirement
• It just gets better - Tre Golfi Sailing Week
• Record Breakers - OnCourse - Episode 23
• Primonial, a new Ocean Fifty takes shape
• Random 18ft Skiff Images
• Speakers announced for Dinghy Show
• Countdown to the RORC Transatlantic Race
• Featured Charter: SW 100 Freebird
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Pogo 12.50 Hermes
• • Baltic Yachts 40
• • Bavaria C50
• The Last Word: Bertrand Russell

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

Fast Rolex Sydney Hobart
For Dave Davenport and his crew on Crush, racing in the high-speed class of TP52s in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race was not about beating others, but what they could learn.

Yesterday afternoon, Crush became the 20th boat to finish the 628 nautical mile Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

"It was great fun. That was the goal of the race. We wanted to get to Hobart with smiles on our faces. We did," Davenport said at the dock in Hobart.

The West Australian said he knew Crush, representing Fremantle Sailing Club, was up against a strong field of TP52s.

"We obviously had experience aboard (crew member Kevin Costin has now done 18 Hobarts), but some of us hadn't done anything quite like this.

"We blew up a couple of spinnakers in the middle of the night. So, we had our moments."

Asked if there was anything he would remember about his second Rolex Sydney Hobart, Davenport said: "We had no idea whether we would be competitive or not.

rolexsydneyhobart.com

Why Comanche's Sydney to Hobart victory was defined by decision in first 12 minutes
The most important sailing manoeuvre Andoo Comanche made in winning the Sydney to Hobart occurred within the first 15 minutes of the race, while the supermaxis were still in Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day.

The commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club Australia, Arthur Lane, said the decision to preemptively make a penalty turn in the harbour after another boat protested against them saved their line honours victory.

"The two [boats] who had protests, or thought they could have a protest against them, both exonerated themselves," Lane told the Herald referring to Comanche and fourth-place Hamilton Island Wild Oats.

He said the two supermaxi crews did so by completing "the 720 turns, so there was no need for any protests."

Andoo Comanche, skippered by John Winning jnr with his father also onboard, hit the first turning mark – which is illegal under international sailing competition rules – in the 12th minute of the race as it attempted to escape a frothy Sydney Harbour.

"We've gotta do a turn. I think we hit [the mark], a Comanche crew member could be heard saying on the live television broadcast of the race. -- Anthony Segaert in the Sydney Morning Herald

Youngest Golden Globe entrant faces retirement
After more than a hundred days at sea, only six of the original 16 entrants who departed Les Sables d'Olonne in France are likely to pass through the Hobart gate which shuts on January 31st. First the Atlantic has taken quite a toll on the GGR fleet, which was confronted by adverse conditions from day three. Three boats retired before crossing the equator, another three on arrival at Cape Town, and two more east of Cape of Good Hope. Guy Waites (GBR) is now Chichester Class and Elliott Smith (USA) can no longer continue past Australia. The GGR is once again taking its toll on some of the best sailors and yachts.

What a difference an ocean makes. Elliott Smith (USA) had a hard time sailing South, dealing with intense frustration in wind holes. He rose up to the challenge and after numerous repairs and eventually found the resources and the mindset to continue in spite of overwhelming odds.

In fact, he even improved Second Wind's best 24 hour-distance on December 15 with 174 nautical miles under reduced sails before his bowsprit, repaired at anchor in Cape Town, bent up once again.

The fleet is rushing to Hobart where Don and Jane are ready to welcome them in Storm bay. The gate closes on January 31st at 12:00 local time to guarantee the best possible weather through Cape Horn, 4500 nautical miles away. After that date, any Suhaili Class entrant showing up late will have to stop and make the second stage of their trip in December 2023 in the Voyager Class as a simple return to Les sables d'Olonne when GPS and free use of sat phones are allowed along with weather routing. Chichester Class entrants arriving too late at the Hobart Gate will be retired.

goldengloberace.com

It just gets better - Tre Golfi Sailing Week
With new formats and fresh features added for 2023, the next Tre Golfi Sailing Week promises to be a vintage edition of this classic regatta

With its mix of competitive offshore and inshore racing held in a gorgeous springtime Mediterranean setting, coupled with a deep heritage in event management excellence now in its 68th year, Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia's Tre Golfi Sailing Week sponsored by Rolex is one of the best events in the race week genre. Nearly 140 entries from over a dozen countries participated in 2022, with more expected when the event offers some new formats and features for 2023.

First, the start of the legendary 150-mile Tre Golfi Race on Friday 12 May will not be at midnight as it has been a tradition for many years past. While this is a dramatic start to a classic race with silhouettes of the fleet backlit by the night lights of Napoli, there is also the difficulty of usually having very light wind conditions. The reflections of the fleet and the reflected glow of the lights on the glassy water makes for great art photography, but not for very great progress on the racecourse.

Full article in the January issue of Seahorse

Record Breakers - OnCourse - Episode 23
When Charles Caudrelier took line honours in the Route du Rhum single handed race across the Atlantic aboard Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Gitana 17 he had also set a new race record.

Meanwhile, on the vast salt flats of Lake Gairdner, South Australia, the Kiwi America's Cup team were still hoping they could break a record too - on land. And a few days later they did.

Both were impressive achievements and both get the full treatment in this episode of OnCourse.

Plus, we take a close look under the hood in the America's Cup to see how teams are working on their campaigns and how the inter-team argy bargy has started already.

We also get aboard the Farr X2 an exciting new 30ft pocket rocket designed for shorthanded and a new style of fully crewed racing. But this is also a boat that got plenty of attention for all the wrong reasons earlier this year when the first boat lost its keel. We find out the latest.

And as always there's plenty in Docktalk including the link between a Soviet monster and hydrofoils.

www.planetsail.org

Primonial, a new Ocean Fifty takes shape
Back home in Brittany after his third place in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, Sebastien Rogues has been able to return his primary focus to the building of his next Ocean Fifty, the construction of which has been entrusted to Multiplast. Being built in the moulds of Arkema, the new Primonial will be launched next spring with the first major race being the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023, on which Rogues is the title holder. Here we talk with the skipper and Yann Penfornis, general manager of Multiplast.

After three seasons racing on Primonial, a Verdier design which was launched in 2009 (formerly Actual and Reaute Chocolat), in 2023 Sebastien Rogues will change up to a brand new Ocean Fifty. "Before the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 discussions were already quite advanced. Winning the race with Matthieu (Souben) convinced my partners to move on this project for a new boat."

After choosing to use moulds from Arkema 4, Quentin Vlamynck's Romaric Neyhousser design, Rogues immediately opted for Multiplast: "It's more than ten years since Dominique Dubois and Yann Penfornis had me visit Multiplast, since then I had hoped we would build a boat together. At the time of my Class40 Engie, I had asked them for quotes, in the end it did not work out. Now the opportunity has come up and so it was only right that I approached them as soon as I had the green light from my partners" said Rogues

It has gone ahead even though in June when the go ahead was given the Vannes site was busy. "The challenge here with Primonial was to set a tight schedule" confirms Yann Penfornis. "When Sebastien placed the order we still had Boris Herrmann's Imoca being finished, Yoann Richomme's boat in full build, as well as the last Class40s coming out. But we really did want to work together, because as well as being a good sailor, Sebastien is a good guy who works with a solid team, and it is a very direct contact. So we found a solution that was satisfying everyone."

multiplast.eu

Random 18ft Skiff Images
Click on image for photo gallery.

The competitors racing the 18ft skiffs each weekend in the Australian 18 Footers League's fleet on Sydney Harbour are very talented and prepared to go ten-tenths to claim the big prize, but sometimes things don't go the way they intend and the boats show their flighty nature.

Occasionally the competitors get thrown off their out-of-control beasts, sometimes they go down with the ship, and sometimes they get the rides of their lives.

This is a random selection of rides, capsizes and other incidents from Sydney Harbour which left the crews with smiles, a look of fear or just puzzled.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Australian 18 Footers League

Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.

18footers.com

First speakers announced for the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
Peek into the world of dinghy adventuring through the epic feats of Ken Fowler - an 'average bloke' in a very small dinghy who took on sailing 2000km in his RS Aero around 250 islands of England and Wales, raising thousands for charity.

First ever father-daughter Olympic gold medal winners, Mike and Eilidh McIntyre, reflect on their Olympic successes and how Mike's medal hanging outside a young Eilidh's bedroom inspired her to reach for her own place in sailing history.

Hear from the fast and furious America's Cup and SailGP racing scenes as Show host Hannah Diamond will be joined by Hattie Rogers to share updates on the Athena Pathway Programme and look ahead to a ground-breaking first ever Women's America's Cup in 2024.

And SUP rider Holly Bassett will explore the world of paddleboarding and provide top tips on how to ride the waves as well as share improver techniques for all levels.

www.rya.org.uk

Countdown to the RORC Transatlantic Race
The New Year heralds a big season for the Royal Ocean Racing Club, including the 14th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race. The longest race in the 2023 RORC Season's Points Championship starts from Marina Lanzarote on January 8th.

The RORC Transatlantic Race is once again supported by Calero Marinas, the International Maxi Association and the Yacht Club de France. The destination is Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada, 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, who provide 48hrs of free berthing when competitors arrive.

Twenty-one entries racing under the IRC and MOCRA Rating Rules are confirmed for the RORC Transatlantic Race. Three 70ft trimarans: Maserati, Snowflake and Zoulou will be gunning for the outright race record and Multihull Line Honours. Three fully-crewed Maxi yachts can be counted as favourites for the IMA Transatlantic Trophy for Monohull Line Honours; Swan 115 Jasi and two Volvo 70s, I Love Poland and Green Dragon. At the other end of the spectrum, three teams will be racing with the added challenge of competing in IRC Two-Handed.

The smallest boat in the race is Kate Cope's British Sun Fast 3200 Purple Mist. Racing with Claire Dresser, Purple Mist is the first all-women's team to attempt the 3,000-mile race double-handed.

rorctransatlantic.rorc.org

Featured Charter
SW 100 Freebird. From 48,000 Euro/Week + expenses and applicable taxes EUR. Located in Caribbean (winter) West Med (summer)

Southern Wind 100 Freebird is a sporty and confy performace cruiser with a proven charter records. her highly qualified crew of 4 meets the most exclusive guests’ needs. Amazing sailing, fascinating anchorages and tasteful cuisine experience. Major refit in 2011. 8 guests in 4 double cabins

See listing details in Seahorse Charters

Contact
Pegaso Srl a Socio Unico
Salita Dinegro 7/1 16123 Genova Italy
Ph +39 010 570 4035
Fax + 39 010 570 4065
https://www.pegasoyd.com

See the the Seahorse charter collection

Featured Brokerage
2012 Pogo 12.50 Hermes. 295,000 USD. Located in NYC, USA.

Fully equipped Class40 racer-cruiser, this turbocharged 2012 Pogo 12.50 is a turn-key package.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ocean Racers

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1992 Baltic Yachts 40. 130000 EUR. Located in La Spezia, Italy.

HAPPY TOO is hull nr. 12 of 21 Baltic 40’s launched between 1988 and 1999, making the design one of the longest and most successful production boat from Baltic Yachts. HAPPY TOO has benefitted from the same owner since 1998 and boasts many highlights

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Michele Antonini
Tel: +39 3337489281
Email:

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The BAVARIA C50. POA EUR.

Beauty and performance. Perfect view of the sails, the course and all the fun.

Our aim was to make the BAVARIA C50 nothing less than a new benchmark in the 50-foot sailing yacht category. It offers an elegant, flat hull line and stunningly dynamic silhouette. Everything is clear and minimalist, reflecting our understanding of good, modern yacht design. No other yacht offers so much space, so much comfort and so many possibilities.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
bavariayachts.com/sailing-yachts/c50

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

The Last Word
The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. -- Bertrand Russell

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