In This Issue
• Team Holcim - PRB wins Leg 2 of The Ocean Race
• RORC Nelson's Cup Series starts Valentine's Day
• An Opportunity for a Captain and Chef
• Cup Spy : Kiwis and Italians train in very different circumstances
• 18ft Skiffs Club Championship, Race 14
• Entries open for Cowes Spring Classics 2023
• Overall Victory to be decided at the Oxford Blue
• Dragon Edinburgh Cup
• Swan European Regatta 2023
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Tofinou 9 - 'Tom Rider'
• • Open 42 one-off
• • Arcona 415
• The Last Word: Hunter S. Thompson

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 wins Leg 2 of The Ocean Race
Skipper Kevin Escoffier and his Team Holcim - PRB have won Leg 2 of The Ocean Race from Cabo Verde to Cape Town after a tense battle through the final miles of the race.

At sunrise on Sunday morning, four teams were in the fight for the leg win, with Biotherm, 11th Hour Racing Team and the Holcim - PRB crews racing in lockstep in light and changeable conditions.

Team Malizia was some 20 miles to the south, but then spent the next three hours just about sailing around the leading trio.

But the light and fickle winds didn't hold for them and in the end it was a three boat race among the northern trio.

Just three hours before the finish, Escoffier and his team finally popped up at the head of the rankings, having been able to sail a slightly better angle at a similar speed towards Cape Town, creating the narrow separation necessary to eke out a winning position.

This is the second consecutive leg win for Escoffier and his team, who maintain a perfect record, and will extend their advantage on the race leaderboard.

theoceanrace.com

RORC Nelson's Cup Series starts Valentine's Day
Racing at the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Nelson's Cup Series starts on Tuesday February 14th in Antigua. Teams from three continents will compete, with entries from Antigua, Australia, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, France, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and the United States.

Monday 14th February marks the start of a new Caribbean Racing Series organised by the RORC in association with the Antigua Yacht Club. The Nelson's Cup Series is composed of three days of inshore and coastal racing, plus the established 600-mile classic: The RORC Caribbean 600. The Final Prize Giving will be held at Antigua Yacht Club on Friday 24th February.

On Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th of February, from 10:00 local time (UTC-4), the RORC Race Committee will run multiple Coastal or Windward/Leeward Races. On Friday 17th of February, from 08:00 local time (UTC-4), the RORC will run the Antigua 360 – the 52nm Round Antigua Race. The final race of the Nelson's Cup Series will be the big event; the RORC Caribbean 600, starting on Monday 20th of February.

An extraordinary array of raceboats will be tearing through the wind and waves of Antigua for the Nelson's Cup. Six full-on racing machines will be in action that have never raced in the Caribbean before: Niklas Zennstrom's CF520 Ran (SWE), Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER), sailed by Stefan Jentzsch, Arto Linnervuo's Infiniti 52 Tulikettu (FIN), ClubSwan 50 Balthasar (BEL), sailed by Louis Balcaen, RORC Commodore James Neville with HH42 Ino XXX (GBR) and Thomas Rich's GP42 Settler (USA). The design debutants are joined by three carbon flyers returning to top-flight racing in Antigua: RORC Vice Commodore Eric de Turckheim's NMD54 Teasing Machine (FRA), Frederic Puzin's Ker 46 Daguet 3 Corum (FRA) and Bernie Evan-Wong's RP37 Taz (ANT).

At 73ft, Marie Tabarly's 1973 ketch Pen Duick VI is the largest boat racing in the RORC Nelson's Cup Series and the second largest is OnDeck's Farr 65 Spirit of Juno (ANT). The smallest in the series is Szymon Kuczynski's Figaro Hultaj (POL), and Two Class40s will be in action; Marek Culen & Miroslav Jakubcik's Sabre II (SVK) and Tquila (GBR) skippered by Brian Thompson. Bob Manchester's J/133 Vamoose (USA) will be competing with a team from the Barrington Yacht Club, RI. -- Louay Habib

Monday 13th February 2023 - RORC Nelson's Cup Series - Skippers Briefing + Welcome Drinks
Tuesday 14th February - Race Day One (2 races scheduled) + Daily Prizegiving
Wednesday 15th February - Race Day Two (2 races scheduled) + Daily Prizegiving
Thursday 16th February - Lay-Day/Reserve Day
Friday 17th February - Antigua 360 - Race Antigua Race
Saturday 18th February - RORC Caribbean 600 Welcome Party + Antigua 360 Prizegiving
Sunday 19th February - Lay-Day
Monday 20th February - Start of the 14th RORC Caribbean 600
Friday 24th February - Final Prizegiving

rorc.org

An Opportunity for a Captain and Chef
Click on image to enlarge.

Midnight is an impeccably maintained custom Oyster 82 often referred to as Mr Oyster's Oyster. Our captain and his wife, who is a great chef, are coming ashore. Midnight is a happy ship and operates with a crew of 3 doing owner trips, regatta mother-ship and charters seasonally between the Med and Caribbean.

We are looking for a qualified yacht captain with relevant sailing experience and a chef. Please send CV's in confidence to

Cup Spy : Kiwis and Italians train in very different circumstances
The Kiwis and Italian teams trained in very different circumstances in the past 24 hours. In Cagliari it was a top end breeze - more than 20kts. In Auckland the Kiwis waited for four hours for the wind. In Auckland the Kiwis had two boats, the Italians just one.

The Italian boat was a custom design, the Kiwis sailed a pair of stock hull designs. In Auckland it is summer with long training days possible. In Cagliari, it is winter - with shorter training time available.

Trying to work out who is ahead, who is behind, who has got their strategy right, and who has not, is the intrigue of the 2024 America's Cup.

Luna Rossa sailed in fresh winds on the Gulf of Cagliari on Thursday, and was off the water on Friday. In the sailing session the Italians tried a new mainsail, with reduced head girth in a nod to the fresh air "Batwing" mainsails of the 2021 Cup, but which are now not possible under the AC Class rules.

Emirates Team New Zealand sailed their two AC40's on Friday, and continue with a mix of performance testing, two-boat speed testing and race training, in a hybrid sailing program

After their capsize and inversion on Wednesday, INEOS Britannia is not expected back on the water for at least three weeks, while their support team effects repairs to damaged electronics and mechatronics as well as proceeding with the planned upgrade. They are expected to be sailing their new AC40, next week. There is an update, at the end of this report, from skipper Ben Ainslie, together with team chaseboat video that was not previously released.

American Magic have decommissioned their AC75 and will not start training again until the beginning of March

Alinghi Red Bull Racing last sailed out of Barcelona on February 1, on Friday their AC40 emerged from the shed for rigging.

Orient Express Team (formerly French K-Challenge) - no update.

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

18ft Skiffs Club Championship, Race 14
Click on image for photo gallery.

The talented young Rag & Famish Hotel team of Harry Price, Josh McKnight and Harry Hall tamed a wild, windswept Sydney Harbour with some brilliant sailing to win Race 14 of the Australian 18 Footers League's Club Championship today.

With Southerly winds gusting to 35 knots, only four of the 14 starters were able to complete the long harbour course.

Rag & Famish Hotel's official winning margin was 4m35s from another talented young team, Noakes Youth, of Tom Cunich, Fynn Sprott and Nathan Edwards.

It was a brilliant effort from both teams.

Noakesailing, Ash Rooklyn, Ed Powys and Rhys Mara, was a further 12m28s back in third place, followed by Yandoo (John Winning, Fang Warren, Josh Porebski), which was the only other team able to complete the course.

Emphasising the team's talent, in totally opposite conditions to today, Rag & Famish Hotel led all the way to win last week's Race 14 of the championship in a 10-12 knot Easterly wind.

The race included another round of the coveted season point score series which is highly competitive at the top end of the points table.

With only two more races left in the series, Burrawang-Young Henrys leads with a total of 112 points, followed by Yandoo on 118, The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Alex Marinelli) on 126, Smeg 131 and Lazarus on 133.

An interesting sidelight to today's race was the appearance of the German Black Knight team, which sailed by invitation in a borrowed skiff while waiting for their boat to arrive in Sydney for the 73rd JJ Giltinan Championship.

Next Sunday (February 19) there will be no 18ft Skiff race on Sydney Harbour due to Sail GP. Racing will resume on February 26 when the Australian 18 Footers League will stage the final race of the Club Championship.

73rd JJ Giltinan World Championship will be sailed on Sydney Harbour from March 4-12.

18footers.com

Entries open for Cowes Spring Classics 2023
Entries are now open for the sixth edition of Cowes Spring Classics which takes place on the weekend of 12-14 May 2023.

Based at Shepards Marina, Cowes Spring Classics is a relaxed weekend regatta to start the season and the organisers look forward to welcoming a wide range of classic boats big and small, including cruisers and cruiser racers, classic day boats, oyster smacks, pilot cutters, raters and gaff rigged boats of all types, also 6 and 8 Metres as well as modern classics.

The popular socials will again be based at the Sugar Store at Shepards Marina, with the Mermaid Gin Welcome Drinks and a new Moroccan themed supper on Friday evening. Saturday evening will again feature a three-course dinner with live entertainment. The prize giving will be after the racing on Sunday afternoon.

There is a full programme of races on Saturday and Sunday organised by Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club, with separate classes for Bermudan and gaff rigged yachts.

The regatta is expecting a number of new yachts currently finishing restoration to enter and look forward to seeing many of the Solent's leading classics taking part again this year.

cowesspringclassics.com

Overall Victory to be decided at the Oxford Blue
The battle for overall honours in this season's Selden SailJuice Winter Series looks set to be decided at the final of nine events, the Oxford Blue in a week's time...

The Selden SailJuice Winter Series reaches its climax with the Oxford Blue next Saturday (18 February), and there are three top boats in contention. So far this winter, all eight events and the maximum 24 races have been held.

There's still time to enter the Oxford Blue, sign up here...

Of the 37 different classes racing at the Tiger Trophy, 18 had three or more entries. With the Craftinsure Top Class rankings based on the best three results for each class across every race, the Ospreys dominated the Tiger Trophy, followed by the Laser (ILCA 7s) and Solos. Overall, after 24 races and with 69 different classes represented, the Laser (ILCA 7) Class holds onto the top spot, and after a strong showing at the Tiger Trophy now look unassailable. The fight for the remaining podium places is very close, between last winter's winners Laser Radial (ILCA 6s), RS200s and RS Aeros 7s, with the RS Aeros again designating the Oxford Blue as their Winter Championships they will be looking for a strong finish. There is a mathematical chance that the Ospreys, Solos, and RS400s could jump up to the podium.

Great Moor was the top club at Rutland, based on the best three results for each club across every race, and maintain their number one spot for the overall rankings after 24 races. Previous leaders Staunton Harold hold onto 2nd place, but Carsington move up to third and have closed the gap. With one event to go, Great Moor are uncatchable as we go into the final event, but there is a chance any of the following clubs could join them on the podium: Staunton Harold SC, Carsington SC, Papercourt SC, Draycote Water SC, Rutland SC and Beaver SC.

With 15 boats now completing four or more events, there have been quite a few changes across the overall rankings. Datchet Flyer winner Ben Flower (Laser (ILCA 7) - Paignton SC), still holds onto the top spot, despite missing the last two events due to Olympic campaign commitments. Former Series winner Peter Gray (Osprey - Staunton Harold SC), crewed by Geoff Edwards, jumps eight places to second overall and just over 1 point away from the top spot. Also rising eight places are Brass Monkey winners Ollie Groves and Martin Penty (RS400 - Beaver SC). There is potential for any of these three to win overall. So all set for a close finish. -- Andy Rice

sailjuiceseries.com

Dragon Edinburgh Cup
Cowes, UK - The organisers of the Dragon 75th Edinburgh Cup Regatta, incorporating the British Dragon Grand Prix, are delighted to announce that Clear Solutions International Ltd, a world leader in innovative and sustainable drilling fluids, will be the event's Principal Sponsor. They are also pleased to confirm that the Notice of Race has been published and entry is open at britishdragons.org/edinburgh-cup

"The 75th Edinburgh Cup Regatta was always going to be a special event, but with Clear Solutions as our Principal Sponsor and the added prestige of it being the British Grand Prix, one of the top International Dragon regattas of the 2023 season, we are expecting a bigger than usual entry. Already we have commitment from teams from across Europe and as far afield as Japan and we very much look forward to welcoming them to Cowes for great racing on the water and fabulous partying ashore. Several past Edinburgh Cup winners and VIP guests will also be joining us, adding to the unique atmosphere." - Regatta Chair Gavia Wilkinson-Cox.

The Notice of Race for the regatta, which takes place from the Royal Yacht Squadron between 15 and 18 August 2023, has now been published, online entry is open. -- Gavia Wilkinson-Cox

britishdragons.org/edinburgh-cup

Swan European Regatta
After the great success of the 2021 edition, the Swan European Regatta will be hosted once again by the beautiful city of Turku from July 19th to 23rd.

This event is one of the most eagerly awaited appointments in Northern European Swan Owners' calendar.

The regatta is expected to attract a fleet of more than 50 yachts and a large crowd enjoying the show, with the event weekend offering plenty of exciting activities to the visitors in the Forum Marinum area.

The Opening ceremony on July 19th, will unfurl four days dedicated to the love for sailing in the beautiful Baltic archipelago and to fun ashore, with the Owners' dinner on July 21st, the Prize Giving on 22nd and the wonderful and enchanting Parade of Swans on the final day, as a perfect treat for sailors and spectators alike.

Swan European Regatta 2023
Head of Event and Communications
Elina Kuusniemi, tel. +358 50 3060 883

City of Turku
Event Director
Antti Kirkkola, tel. +358 50 559 0103

Nautor Swan Press Office
Mariangela Barbato
T +39 055 240382
E

Featured Brokerage
2021 Tofinou 9.7 'Tom Rider'. 225 000 EUR. Located in Porto, Portugal.

The Tofinou 9 is the result of the Latitude 46 team's desire to build on the classic heritage and quality of the shipyard by bringing in technological innovation and design. For this reason, the French shipyard has worked hand in hand with the world of industrial and automotive design to ensure that the ever-popular Tofinou family style continues. Its family look remains unchanged, but its lines have been modernised to make it bolder.

From a technical point of view, a more powerful, wider, but still transportable hull has been chosen, to experience more intense sensations downwind. With this new hull, the Latitute shipyard has completely redesigned the deck layout and appendages to improve life on board and ergonomics when manoeuvring.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact

+33 (0) 467 66 39 93

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2012 Open 42 one-off. 250,000 VAT excluded EUR.

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.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
www.racing-yachts.com
Zuidersluisweg 41, Lelystad, The Netherlands
Tel +31 (0)6 42444433
Email:

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Arcona 415. POA EUR

The Arcona 415 is one of the first series produced sailing yachts with electric propulsion as standard.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Arcona Yachts AB
Odelbergs Vag 2
134 40 Gustavsberg
Sweden

+46 8 519 410 40

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

The Last Word
The real horror, to me, lies in the fact that there is absolutely no vehicle in American journalism for the kind of "sensitive" and "intellectual" and essentially moral/merciless reporting that we all understand is necessary - not only for the survival of good journalism in this country, but for the dying idea that you can walk up to a newsstand and find something that will tell you what is really happening. -- Hunter S. Thompson

Editorial and letter submissions to

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