In This Issue
• Team Holcim-PRB win Leg One of The Ocean Race
• Pen Duick VI and Pata Negra celebrate in Grenada
• Caribbean Multihull Challenge Reaching New Heights
• High anticipation for 2023 Finn Gold Cup in Miami next week
• Wight Vodka Best Sailors Bar
• 18ft Skiffs NSW Championship, Race 5
• Sebastien Simon: The Vendee Globe Remains My Obsession
• Industry News
• Eight Bells for Ben Du Buisson
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Wally 100ft Y3K
• • RM 1180
• • Open 42 one-off
• The Last Word: Dylan Thomas

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

Team Holcim-PRB lead into Cabo Verde to win Leg One of The Ocean Race
French skipper Kevin Escoffier led his Swiss-flagged Team Holcim-PRB to victory in leg one of The Ocean Race in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It marked the end of an intense and challenging opening to The Ocean Race - from storm force headwinds in the Mediterranean to fast downwind conditions in the Atlantic with tactical options around the Canary Islands.

The Holcim-PRB team took the lead just before Gibraltar Strait and held on the rest of the way despite the strong pushes from 11th Hour Racing Team and Malizia.

Finally, early on Saturday, Escoffier and his crew raced across the finish line on the waters off Mindelo, Cabo Verde, just after 02:01:59 UTC, completing an impressive performance on the first leg of the Race.

Second across the line was Charlie Enright's 11th Hour Racing Team, who held off a late challenge from Team Malizia on the final day of the leg.

For Boris Herrmann, securing a podium finish puts the German team in a safe position after the opening stanza, with six more legs of racing left to gain points.

For the IMOCAs it's a short - and busy - break. The sailing teams are required to carry out repairs without the assistance of their shore crews at this stop. Racing resumes in just a few days, with the Cabo Verde start of Leg Two to Cape Town, South Africa scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

theoceanrace.com

Pen Duick VI and Pata Negra celebrate in Grenada
Grenada: Marie Tabarly's 73ft ketch Pen Duick VI (FRA) finished the RORC Transatlantic Race on Sunday 22nd January in an elapsed time of 13 days 19 hours 33 mins 53 secs. Proudly displaying the flag of the Yacht Club de France, the Pen Duick crew of 12 are the youngest in the race and also have 50% women sailors on board. Pen Duick VI will next be competing in the new RORC-organised Nelson's Cup Series in Antigua in February.

"The Pen Duick crew has been selected for the 2023 Ocean Globe Race and this is our first race together. There is no better way to cross the Atlantic than to race," commented Marie Tabarly. "For me, as long as I am at sea, I am happy, but this was not perfect conditions for Pen Duick. This boat likes to go upwind in heavy weather rather than downwind in light conditions, which we had for this race. However, it was very interesting for us to have the sensation and to work on the sail plan that we would like for the Ocean Globe Race.

"Pen Duick has a young crew, and there are not many boats like her. There is no school to race a boat like her. To gybe we need 11 people; we need to work together, stick together and have the vision of what is going on. Pen Duick is a heavy, powerful boat and you have to sail her in a very classical way which requires focus as well as spirit from the team. Having a team that can work together is much more important than if they are technically experienced."

Pata Negra win IRC One
Father and son owners, Andrew and Sam Hall were racing Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) for the second time in the RORC Transatlantic Race. Pata Negra finished the race on Sunday 22nd January in an elapsed time of 13 days 23 hours 45 mins 13 secs. Pata Negra was greeted dockside by the RORC Finish team, and with cold beers from Port Louis Marina. In 2022, Pata Negra was fourth in class and took over 15 days. This year, Pata Negra has won IRC One and completed the race in just under 14 days. Andrew Hall is the oldest competitor in this year's race and Sam one of the youngest skippers.

Race Tracker

rorctransatlantic.rorc.org

Caribbean Multihull Challenge Reaching New Heights!
With 29 entries in hand, and almost two weeks more before the entry deadline of 2 February; the CMC is setting its sights on the easily obtainable 30 plus entries in this unique young multihulls-only regatta.

Record setting SXM skipper and present Commodore of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club - Frits Bus - announced that he is entering his 2007 Lagoon 38 in the racing with an all-female local crew who will train in action with him for future multihull racing. The team will be sponsored by high end Italian Jewelry maker Fope (www.Fope.com) and race under the name of Team Fope.

Recently the CMC saw an increase in the number of the French designed and built 24' Diam Open Trimarans. There will now be five racing in a one-design class of their own. Another recent entry is the Crowther design # 93 Trimaran Oceans Tribute sailed singlehandedly by Guy Chester from New Zealand to South Africa to Antigua; and now on to Sint Maarten where he will pick up local crew for the CMC.

On the Rally side, we have welcomed the 9th multihull - Wind Therapy - a Leopard 45 out of Boca Raton, Florida owned by Jeff Cone to the fleet sailing to French-side Anse Marcel and then Sandy Ground on the island nation of Anguilla. SXM favorite, the Lagoon 62 Enigma owned by Neil Roberts will be the largest multihull in the rally joined by 6 beautiful Balance catamarans sailing in the company's 10th anniversary celebration with Phil Berman - owner of the company - sailing on his 482 In Balance.

Entries are open until 2 February at 1800 hrs and information can be found at CaribbeanMultihullChallenge.com Entries can also be made directly at YachtScoring.com

High anticipation for 2023 Finn Gold Cup in Miami next week
Back in the day, Miami OCR in January always marked the traditional start of the northern hemisphere Finn season, so it with some anticipation that the Finn class returns to Miami next week for the 2023 Finn Gold Cup, the first time it has ever been held there. Sixty Finn sailors from 14 nations are taking part. The host club is the Coconut Grove Sailing Club.

This will be the fifth time the Finn world championship has been held in the USA. The first time was in 1974 at Long Beach and the winner that year, Henry Sprague, from the USA, is back for another go. Under the deed of Gift for the Cup, which has its origins at Burnham-on-Crouch in Britain, it must be held outside or Europe every four years. The last time the Finn Gold Cup was held in the USA was in 2010 on the epic San Francisco Bay. The winner that year, Britain's Ed Wright, has been spotted training in Miami, but is not yet on the entry list.

Also taking part is the 2022 European Champion Miguel Fernandez Vasco, from Spain, hoping to do the double. The World No. 1 and last year's European Championship bronze medalist, Laurent Hay, from France and last year's Finn Gold Cup fifth placed Marko Kolic, from Italy are also likely contenders. The 2022 champion, Pieter-Jan Postma, was unfortunately unable to make the trip.

While over half of the entrants are from North and South America, several containers have found their way across the Atlantic from Europe, also bringing in new boats, some of which have been chartered for the event, which will bolster the growing USA fleet. With a USA based Finn builder also about to begin production, the future of the class in North America is looking very positive.

The 2023 Finn Gold Cup begins on Tuesday 24 January with measurement and registration. Ten races are scheduled from Friday 27 January to Tuesday 31 January. -- Robert Deaves

Notice Board and Race Docs on Yachtscoring.com

2023.finngoldcup.org

Wight Vodka Best Sailors Bar
Today we raise a glass to a famed resort that has risen from the ashes... the Bitter End Yacht Club, British Virgin Islands.

For over half a century, Bitter End Yacht Club has been world-renowned for its sense of adventure, love of the water, appreciation for nature, and dedication to friends and family.

The island outpost was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in 2017, but no storm could extinguish the Bitter End spirit. Supported by a tight-knit community spread across the globe, we salvaged everything we could to build back Bitter End better than ever.

Currently in operation is the Quarterdeck Lounge. Coming soon is the return of The Clubhouse.

A true sailor's haunt, The Clubhouse was built by Bitter End's first proprietor, Basil Symonette, as a spot for yachtsmen to stop by for a strong drink and a quick meal. An eccentric sailor himself, Basil constructed it from the wreck of Huey Long's splendid yacht, Ondine; the yacht's mainmast was the primary centerpost of the structure. Today, The Clubhouse is still the place to enjoy a great meal with kindred spirits from across the globe.

Show your support for The Bitter End by casting a vote for them as this year's Best Bar: eurosailnews.com/sailors-bars

18ft Skiffs NSW Championship, Race 5
The Andoo team of John Winning Jr, Seve Jarvin and Sam Newton officially became the 2022-23 NSW 18ft Skiff champions after today's final race of the championship was cancelled due to zero wind on Sydney Harbour.

Andoo had the series wrapped up after last week's race following the team's two wins, one second and one third placing for a total of seven points.

With no discard permitted in a four-race championship, Smeg (Michael Coxon, Ricky Bridge and Tom Anderson) finished as runner-up, on 16 points, just one ahead of Yandoo (John Winning, Fang Warren and Josh Porebski) on 17.

Shaw and Partners Financial Services (Jim Colley) was fourth on 25, followed by Lazarus (Marcus Ashley-Jones) and Birkenhead Point Marina (Kirk Mitchell).

All teams will now prepare for the Australian Championship, which will be sailed next week on Sydney Harbour. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.

The Australian 18ft Skiff Championship race dates:
Friday, January 27 - Races 1 & 2 (there will be NO ferry)
Saturday, January 28 - Races 3 & 4 (there WILL be a ferry)
Sunday, January 29 - Races 5 & 6 (there WILL be a ferry)

18footers.com

Sebastien Simon: The Vendee Globe Remains My Obsession
At the end of the first leg of The Ocean Race between Alicante and Cape Verde, Tip & Shaft spoke with Sebastien Simon (32), crew member of Guyot Environnement-Team Europe which he will now join for the second stage towards Cape Town.

Can you tell us about this first stage in which Guyot Environnement-Team Europe should take fifth place?
The start went well and the first night gave them some confidence, then the upwind part in the Mediterranean in strong winds was more complicated. The conditions were very rough up to 50 knots, but the boat and indeed the Imoca fleet got through that without a hitch, which is reassuring for the future. It shows that we still have reliable boats along with the Volvo 65s. Beyond that, the courses we see show that we are still on a bit if a learning curve, the other crews are very familiar with the Imoca, that makes a difference. We lack a little experience in our way of operating, but I am quite confident for the future. They also had their share of damage, two broken battens and a small hole in the mainsail, as for their option in the Canaries, they tried (smile). But anyway, the first two stages don't count for too much, the race really starts from stage 3, with a lot of points from there on.

You have the only 2016 generation boat (ex Hugo Boss) is this a handicap compared to your competitors, all launched in 2021 and 2022?
Yes, there is still a difference in terms of performance. Our boat has evolved a lot, so inevitably, it has also gained weight, it's quite hard to remove that now. You feel it upwind and in light airs, but it's still a boat capable of maintaining good average speeds. I was surprised by how easy and good it is in the breeze which really is a big advantage for the difficult oceanic conditions that we will meet in the South Seas and during the transatlantic stages. It is certain that stages 1 and 2, in manageable conditions with fairly smooth sea states, are to the advantage of the latest generation Imoca. We just don't have their peak speed. But it's still a very good boat and I think it's a very good weapon for a single-handed Vendee Globe, which is a different exercise compared to The Ocean Race, where we're very close to 100% of the boat's potential.

You stayed ashore on this first leg, do you have the right to communicate with the crew?
It's the same rule as for the Imoca races, that is to say that we can call each other or communicate by WhatsApp to get news, but it's a race without assistance, so we can't talk about routing, the choice of sails. When I don't agree with a decision, I keep quiet, it's sometimes frustrating, but you have to respect it, it's part of the game.

Full interview in Tip & Shaft

Industry News
Italy's high-performance sailing clothing brand SLAM has joined forces with four-time America's Cup winner Emirates Team New Zealand in the build-up to the 37th edition of the iconic event in Barcelona next year.

SLAM - a global brand which was founded in Genoa in 1979 - will come on board the New Zealand campaign as Official Apparel Supplier as the team prepares its defence of the America's Cup in October 2024.

SLAM changed hands in 2021, bought by VAM Investment Group, and embarked on a new high-profile voyage with world champion sailor Enrico Chieffi at the helm as CEO and a strong focus on world class technically innovative and high-performance sailing clothing.

The agreement will see SLAM supplying technical clothing to Emirates Team New Zealand following a collaboration on the development of materials and product design. A replica version of the clothing worn by the team with the same technical characteristics will be marketed worldwide.

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After two years of absence, Nautor Swan confirms its presence at BOOT Düsseldorf as the stage to welcome its guests and present all the latest news for an electrifying 2023.

With a double presence in Hall 16 with the sailing division and in Hall 5, with the Swan Shadow on display, Nautor Swan's stands are must-visit venues at the show.

The beautiful booths designed by Misa Poggi feature the iconic outdoor furniture collection in natural teak and innovative fabrics by Italian brand Ethimo - which create an enjoyable balancing act based on the concepts of beauty, design, functionality, quality and 'Made in Italy'. Luxury brand Heirloom's will dress the yachts with their renowned luxury linens of exceptional quality, while Bottega Conticelli's luxury leather accessories, appreciated for their unique style and quality, represent Italian excellence as part of the décor, and at the same time are an expression of the Nautor Swan DNA.

To make the experience more pleasurable, guests can enjoy a wide selection of Lavazza coffees and fine wines by Ferrari Trento.

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Seahorse at BOOT: Seahorse magazine advertising sales exec Graeme Beeson will be at BOOT on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. To reach Graeme email

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A new event focusing on smart yachts from 24m (79ft) and above is scheduled to be held from March 23-24 at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM).

The 1st Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous is being organised by M3 (Monaco Marina Management), a Monegasque consultancy specialised in eco-marinas, and follows on from the success of its Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous held in advance of the Monaco Yacht Show 2022.

With this new event, M3 wants to promote sustainable solutions for superyachts, and it will be under the aegis of the 'Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting' initiative. The new rendezvous will be part of the Monaco Ocean Week which culminates with the Smart Innovative Yacht Awards.

"It is imperative to involve the entire ecosystem to make it more virtuous by encouraging exchanges and bringing on innovations that can affect major changes to the industry," says Jose Marco Casellini, CEO of M3. "Today it's a priority. It is estimated that on average yachts spend 80% of their time quayside and most of the rest of the 20% at anchor.

"Thanks to technology, new solutions are available. We started with infrastructures, the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous (next one: September 24-25, 2023), and logic dictates that we continue with yachts as the two are inextricably linked."

The rendezvous is supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Credit Suisse and sustainable economy specialist, Blumorpho.

ibinews.com

Eight Bells for Ben Du Buisson
We are saddened to report the passing of Ben Du Buisson on 14 of January.

For those that knew him, Ben was a man of many talents, he possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of sailing and sailing systems and had a long varied life in yachting.

Our connection with Ben goes back to the to the Admirals Cup of 1979. Tim Yourieff and Ben met during this time period and later in the 80's Ben and Tim both arrived in the USA, Ben working for Beneteau Yachts and Tim setting up the Pryde N. American distribution. Pryde had built sails for Beneteau France during the 80's and Tim reached out to Ben about the N. American sail production. We were given a small opportunity to build one small line of sails and over the next few years our relationship grew with Beneteau as did their business.

At Beneteau Ben handled rigs and sails (and more it seemed) and his attention to detail was legendary in the industry. To say he was meticulous would be an understatement. He helped to pave the way for the modernization of production methods and data sharing for the O.E.M. side of our industry.

And then there was the sailing side of Ben: with his background in sailmaking, boat building, mast building and racing, it's no wonder he was great on a race boat, and maybe even better at had handling anything related to gear...getting it set up, fixing, repairing, jury-rigging. A great team mate on and off the water.

All will remember his large gentle demeanor that went along with his quiet, logical voice.

He will be missed by everyone he came in contact with.

His obituary is here

neilprydesails.com/news

Featured Brokerage
2009 Wally 100ft Y3K. 4,300,000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

The magnificient cruiser-racer Wally 100ft Y3K is available for sale.

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See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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When style means performance - hugely inspired by offshore racers, she inherits from their sporty lines, but also their dynamic benefits

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RM Yachts
Zone Industrielle des 4 chevaliers, Rond-Point de la Republique, 17180 Perigny, France

+33 5 46 44 73 00

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Canting Keel Kuka-Light has been constantly upgraded and shown to be as fast as the best 50 and 60 footer in races like Giraglia and Middle Sea Race.

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

The Last Word
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage, rage against the dying of the light. -- Dylan Thomas

Editorial and letter submissions to

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