In This Issue
• Fast pace for RORC Caribbean 600 start
• Ocean Globe Race seven months out
• 2023 Aegean 600 Race
• "It Was A Pretty Insane Situation"
• And the winner is… everyone! - Cowes Week
• Royal Torbay Yacht Club To Host International Dragon Gold Cup
• Will Ryan Signs With The Swiss SailGP team
• EUROSAF Inclusive European Championship
• Kite foiling heading for Portsmouth in 2023
• Featured Charter: Cookson 50 - TestaCuore
• Featured Brokerage:
• • ClubSwan 36-022
• • JV43
• • SW72 Far Out
• The Last Word: Robin Trower

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 pace for RORC Caribbean 600 start
The 14th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 started on time at 11:00 AST on Monday 20th February. Seventy boats racing under IRC, Class40 and MOCRA Rules, with crew from 30 different countries, started the epic race. At the start outside Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua, unstable squally conditions, with the wind speed in the mid-teens, produced a thrilling start for all classes. The RORC fleet have now set their sails for the spectacular 600nm race around 11 Caribbean islands.

The fastest boats in the fleet are expected to finish in less than two days, but for some it will be five days before returning to a triumphant finish in Antigua. Track the fleet via YB Races Player

MOCRA Class
MOD 70 Zoulou (FRA) sailed by Erik Maris got away to a superb start. Flying their port hull, Zoulou had to duck a few boats on starboard, but nailed the pin end of the line at full pace. Giovanni Soldini's Maserati Multi70 (ITA) took a more conventional start inshore, but was soon up to full pace, with Zoulou and Maserati both hitting over 30 knots of boat speed. Zoulou was the first to Barbuda just two hours and 43 seconds into the race, with Maserati 26 seconds behind. Gunboat 68 Tosca (USA), skippered by Alex Thomson was leading the charge behind the two trimarans.

A classic dial-up featured in the big IRC Class; Pyewacket 70 (USA) skippered by Ben Mitchell and VO65 Wind Whisper (POL) skippered by Joca Signorini locked horns inshore before the start. Both boats have Volvo Ocean Race winners on board, but bragging rights went to Wind Whisper which stayed clear ahead. Jens Lindner's Volvo 70 HYPR (ESP) skippered by Seamus Fitzpatrick, arced up to the line on port and got a great start at the pin end. Johannes Schwarz's Volvo 70 Green Dragon (NED) kept clear of trouble at the pin end to get a good start, as did Volvo 70 I Love Poland (POL) skippered by Grzegorz Baranowski.

Three hours after the start Pyewacket 70 was recording over 20 knots of boat speed with I Love Poland in hot pursuit. VO 65 Ambersail 2 (LTU) skippered by Przemyslaw Tarnacki was leading the chasing pack. -- Louay Habib

caribbean600.rorc.org

Ocean Globe Race seven months out
In just seven months, 18 yachts will step back to 1973 and set out in the Ocean Globe Race celebrating the 50th Anniversary of that original Whitbread, using similar yachts on a similar course under similar retro conditions of the 1970's.

Many entrants are still in the shed for refit. Pre-registration entry details must be submitted on 1st April. There is a long list of requirements to be met including: safety and medical training, crew qualifications and the use of the retro gear including radio direction finders, sextant and collecting cassette music tapes.

A critical piece of retro equipment is the HF SSB radio and Weather fax, replacing the usual satellite gear now banned, which are needed for long-distance ship to ship/shore communications and to receive up to date meteorological information.

Many entrants have faced challenges making the start. Some found their refit longer, harder and more expensive than originally planned. One severely damaged his yacht while setting out on crew training. For others their personal situation changed over the years. Of the remaining 18 entrants, half have not started sailing their qualifiers, while the most advanced teams are already on the water, building mileage, breaking stuff, testing systems, even sometimes bringing silverware home!

Pen Duick and l'Esprit d'Equipe have been quite good at that game, adding thousands of miles to their 2022 mileage with the RORC Transatlantic in January and later this month the RORC Caribbean 600 before heading to New York and crossing back to France. Mileage is the best way to test all systems, validating technical choices while qualifying crew for the upcoming round the world adventure. The Pen Duick VI crew also plans to pay a visit to a faraway location that built the black boat's legend: Newport Rhode Island.

oceangloberace.com

2023 Aegean 600 Race
The relationship of the Greeks with the sea has been measured for millennia. Since ancient times, with their small sailboats or rowing boats, they were bold seafarers and explorers. In modern times, our sailing athletes are amongst the world's leading and compete in international events in Olympic classes as well as inshore and offshore regattas.

The Aegean Sea, known from philosophy, literature and fine arts to all civilized world, is one of the most beautiful sailing venues for racing and leisure sailing. The Hellenic Offshore Racing Club, a yacht club with extensive experience in organizing international events, decided to give sailors the opportunity to take part in a 600 nm non-stop race. AEGEAN 600 is a race with many challenges as the participants will need to come "face-to-face" with the famous Aegean Northern winds while, at the same time, enjoy the beauties of the Aegean islands.

As a member of the International Olympic Committee, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and a former Olympic athlete, I would like to invite sailors to take part in the "AEGEAN 600", wish them to enjoy the sailing race as well as the parallel onshore events planned by the organizing committee, always taking into consideration the principles and values of Greek hospitality.

Spyros Kapralos
President Hellenic Olympic Committee

The 2023 edition of the Aegean 600 takes place 7-15 July. For information on how to register, marina and accomodation details, contact us at or call (+30) 210411 3201

aegean600.com

"It Was A Pretty Insane Situation"
Driver of Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team Ben Ainslie has relived the moment grinder Matt Gotrel fell through the fairing of the British F50 on the first day of racing in Sydney.

The team was on the final stretch to the finish line of the first fleet race and traveling close to 50 m/h when Gotrel fell through the fairing during a jibe.

While in the water, Gotrel remained attached to the F50 via his safety line. Fortunately, the Emirates GBR crew promptly stopped the boat and was able to pull Gotrel back on board. The team was even able to finish the race in sixth place.

Following the race, Gotrel was taken to hospital for a check up - he sustained muscular strain to his right hip and legs and some bruising from the impact but was promptly discharged.

Speaking after racing, Ainslie described the incident as 'a pretty insane situation', adding that the first thoughts that went through his head were 'oh my god, how are we going to resolve this one?'

sailgp.com

And the winner is… everyone! - Cowes Week
Spectators and competitors alike gave the universal thumbs-up to Cowes Week's new Spectator app – but only after exhaustive refinement and testing to ensure it hit the ground glitch-free and operating at full capacity

Many sailors will be very used to turning up at a regatta and being asked to scan a QR code to open a WhatsApp group that the organisers use for communications. Once upon a time these were open channels filled with general competitor chitchat as well as race information from the RO. Latterly, they have become broadcast only, but they are still extremely limited in their capability. How, for instance, do you cope with a fleet of not 60 boats, but 600, spread across not half a dozen classes, but 40 different classes, all using the same race marks for their courses? In the case of Cowes Week, the answer was to write a dedicated event app and to tie that into the organisation's entry system so that from start to finish the event team can use one database of information.

Full article in the March issue of Seahorse

Royal Torbay Yacht Club To Host International Dragon Gold Cup
Torquay, UK - Torquay's association with the International Dragon Class is long and illustrious with the venue hosting the 1948 Olympic Games, at which the Dragon featured, and many national and international events since. The Dragon fleet will return once again to this popular venue in 2023 for the Dragon Gold Cup, which takes place from 7 to 16 September and will attract a strong fleet from around the globe.

Located on the English Riviera, Torquay enjoys a wonderful climate, while Tor Bay provides an open sea race area just a short sail from the club, with the spectacular Devon hills as a backdrop. Hosting the event in association with the International and British Dragon Association will be the Royal Torbay Yacht Club, which was founded in 1863 and has huge experience in organising international championships. The boats will be launched and berthed in the harbour just below the club's elegant clubhouse, which features stunning views across the bay, an excellent restaurant and bar and an English terraced garden with perfect sunset views.

Registration and measurement will take place on 7 and 8 September, there will be a practice race and Opening Ceremony on 9 September, Championship races are scheduled from 10 to 15 September with the Prize Giving Ceremony on 15 September and crane out on 16 September. There will also be daily apres sailing social events at the clubhouse.

dragongoldcup2023.com

Double Olympic Medallist Will Ryan Signs With The Swiss SailGP team
34-year-old Ryan, who is a Swiss resident residing in Fribourg, will bring a significant amount of racing experience to the team. He has been a dominant force in the 470 class for over a decade and won his first Olympic medal - silver - at Rio 2016 and followed it up with a gold at Tokyo 2020. He is also a five-time 470 World Champion.

Ryan's racing career started on the youth sailing circuit, first representing Australia at the 2006 420 World Championship. His success is not only limited to dinghy racing, he's also a three-time Australian Match Racing Champion and the current US National and North American Etchells Champion.

It will however be his first time competing on SailGP's global league, but he first stepped onboard a F50 back in 2018 as part of the original F50 commissioning team in New Zealand.

Ryan will support the team in a coaching role for Sydney, working closely with team coach, Jacopo Plazzi, who will work remotely from Italy for this event.

SailGP Season 3 Schedule* // 2022-2023
May 14-15 // Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess
June 18-19 // United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier
July 30-31 // Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Plymouth
August 19-20 // ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix | Copenhagen
September 10-11 // France Sail Grand Prix | Saint-Tropez
September 24-25 // Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía - Cadiz
November 12-13 // Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas
January 14-15 // Singapore Sail Grand Prix
February 18-19 // KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix
March 18-19 // ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix | Christchurch
May 6-7 // United States Sail Grand Prix | San Francisco

sailgp.com

EUROSAF Inclusive European Championship
The dates have now been set: The EUROSAF Inclusive European Championship 2023 will take place from 23 to 30 September in Los Alcázares, Murcia, in Spain.

The EUROSAF Inclusive European Championship is always sailed as an inclusive regatta. This means, that para sailors and non-para sailors are competing in the same event without handicap or compensation. As it is a multiclass event, it will be open to the classes Hansa 303 and 2.4mR. There will also be some rental boats available to make travelling easier.

The event will at the same time be the Spanish Championship for the Hansa 303 and 2.4mR classes …

More information will be available soon at eurosaf.org and 2023eurosaf-inclusive.univela.com

Olympic kite foiling extravaganza heading for Portsmouth in 2023
The UK is to showcase super-fast kite foil racing in the countdown to the Paris 2024 Olympics when the RYA hosts the 2023 Formula Kite European Championships.

The world's best racers from the Olympic circuit will battle it out on the waters off Eastney Beach in Portsmouth from September 19 to 24 for the title of European champion – and potentially a place at the Games.

It will be the first time the UK has hosted an international Formula Kite regatta since the exciting new discipline was added to the Olympic roster.

Formula Kite will make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024, with medals available for both male and female athletes.

And the stakes for the 2023 European Championships couldn't be higher. Taking place less than a year from Paris 2024, 150 athletes from more than 35 nations will descend on Portsmouth for the regatta.

Crucially the regatta will continue the legacy of London 2012, offering world-class racing in a city centre location easily watched by spectators.

The final two days of racing will also be streamed live for those wanting to follow the racing remotely.

For more information about the Formula Kite European Championships

Featured Charter
Cookson 50 - TestaCuore. Located in Mediterranean 2022.

The Cookson 50 is one of the most iconic ocean racing yachts ever built. The Cookson 50 is a fantastic choice for serious racing teams, she is easy to power up and eats up the miles on the race course. Available in the Mediterranean 2022.

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
2021 ClubSwan 36-022. 395000 EUR, Located in Spain.

Unique opportunity to enter the Club Swan Racing circuit with this CS36-022 that has never touched the water.

See listing details in Nautor's Swan Brokerage

Contact
Jerome Mainemare

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JV43 - NEW BOAT. POA EUR.

The JV43 is designed to push the limit in offshore sailing for a wide range of client profiles

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
judel/vrolijk & co design + engineering GmbH
Am Alten Vorhafen 8 | 27568 Bremerhaven | Germany
Telefon +49 (0)471 308811-0 | Fax +49 (0)471 308811-30
e-mail:

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1999 SW72 Far Out. 775000 EUR. Located in Mahon, Menorca, Spain.

Far Out is a modern classic sailing yacht, designed and built to be strong, fast and ready for the toughest sea conditions. The seventh example of the successful Southern Wind 72 mini-series, she was delivered in 1999 and has undergone constant upgrades and refits.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Southern Wind Brokerage
Ph. (+39) 010 570 4035

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

The Last Word
I have done some things that I'm very proud of. I don't think you can say any more than that, really. -- Robin Trower

Editorial and letter submissions to

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