EuroSail News #5320 - 28 April
In This Issue
• Team Holcim-PRB work on plan after dismasting
• Long Offshore Race - ORC European Championship
• Making life easy - Superyacht Cup Palma
• Transat Paprec: Favorites and strategies
• Ireland's Classics and Tradboats 2023 Programme
• 5.5 Metre Alpen Cup
• Shirley Robertson visits Alinghi Red Bull Racing
• Sailing World on Water
• Launchings
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Swan 48-238 Balcan
• • YYachts Y7
• • Dazcat 1295
• The Last Word: P. J. O'Rourke
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 work on plan after dismasting
Near 0500 UTC, while the boat was racing east in moderate northerly winds and sea state, the mast on Team Holcim-PRB came crashing down.
Skipper Kevin Escoffier had a message sent to Race Control that the crew was safe and again shortly afterwards that the boat was secure and no assistance was required.
While this is a big blow to a team that has won 19 out of 20 possible points across the first three legs of The Ocean Race, the competitor in Kevin Escoffier is not giving up.
"If we are going to get to Newport, the start is on the 21 May, and if we can get there we will still be leading The Ocean Race, so we're working hard to make that happen," he said.
The Holcim-PRB team is looking at all options, including whether it would be possible to get a spare mast to Brazil in time for the team to resume racing in Leg 4, thereby securing at least one point and rejoining the fleet in Newport in time for the transatlantic Leg.
If that proves logistically impossible with timing, other options could include shipping the boat and spare mast separately to Newport in time for Leg 5 (also very tight on time), or Aarhus for Leg 6.
All in from Long Offshore race at 2023 ORC European Championship
Ta'Xbiex, Malta: From the late morning start yesterday of the Long Offshore race, the fleet of 37 entries from 11 nations experienced a wide diversity of conditions in this suitable test of skills to open the 2023 ORC European Championship, hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club. Elapsed times ranged from 19:41:46 for the Class A winner, Karl Kwok's (HKG) TP 52 BEAU GESTE who raced 186 miles, to George Greer's Arcona 380 KIBOKO TATU whose team from Sweden raced 151 miles in Class B for almost 29 hours.
Results are expressed in corrected time using the ORC PCS All-Purpose scoring model, and for Class A BEAU GESTE (shown above) was the clear winner over runner-up Claudio Terrieri's (ITA) Swan 45 BLUE SKY by over 2.5 hours. In third place in Class A was Malta-based ELUSIVE II, a modified First 45 owned by Maya and Christoph Podesta.
The first to finish on the 151-mile course in Class B was Renzo Grottesi's (ITA) Club Swan 42 BE WILD, less than 13 minutes ahead of the 2022 Class B Worlds Bronze medalist team from Estonia, Aivar Tuulberg's KATARIINA II, which is also a Club Swan 42. BE WILD tactician Enrico Zennaro gave credit to the full-race focus of his team and some clever moves made between the old and new winds at the northern turning mark at Rugosa. This focus launched them into the lead for the last half of the race.
Yet both Swans fell to Marcin Sutkowski's (POL) Grand Soleil 44 P WINDWHISPER 44 (shown right) who won in corrected time by 30 minutes over BE WILD.
On Friday racing resumes with the next phase of the programme: windward/leeward racing with up to three held tomorrow on two course areas set east of Valletta.
Making life easy - Superyacht Cup Palma
Superyacht regattas are immense fun but for many owners the perception of increased stress in exchange for a few days' racing keeps them on the sidelines. The SuperYacht Racing Association is working to change that.
A recent online meeting of the SuperYacht Racing Association (SYRA) saw a selection of global superyacht event organisers focus their collective minds on one particular issue. On the agenda was the apparent hesitancy of some superyacht owners, along with their captains, to experience the delights of regatta racing.
While no single answer presented itself and there was a general acceptance that some owners prized their solitude and would remain beyond reach, the overall takeaway from the SYRA gathering was that a variety of identified obstacles should and could be addressed and overcome.
Full article in the May issue of Seahorse
Transat Paprec: Favorites and strategies
On Sunday 11 'mixed doubles' teams will set off on Beneteau Figaro 3s to race 3089 nautical miles from Concarneau to Saint Barth's. The Transat Paprec celebrates the 16th edition of a renowned two handed race across the Atlantic which this year becomes the only all mixed two handed race. Principal sponsors Paprec and race organisers OC Pen Duick are committed to a long term future developing the race to offer an accessible pathway for more women to compete offshore at a high level. Here, top international Figaro sailors Pep Costa of Spain and Ireland's Tom Dolan – who both raced in 2021 - talk about the course and who they see as favourites.
Spain's Pep Costa sailed the last Transat en Double in 2021 with Will Harris. He is preparing to race the Pro Sailing Tour this season on the Ocean 50 multihulls and is looking for sponsors to race on his third La Solitaire du Figaro.
"The Transat on the Figaro is fantastic as the racing is so, so close and it was tight right to the finish. It was amazing. The boat is great for this race, it is fast and sails good angles downwind but it is tough as it is quite wet and there is no outside protection. I would love to do it again, no hesitation."
"You have to pass a gate at the Canary Islands and so the course is split in two. In the beginning it is about getting out of the Bay of Biscay but into the trade winds off Portugal. Basically if I remember we hoisted the spinnaker off Lisbon and kept it up to Saint Barth's."
Ireland's Tom Dolan raced to eighth place in 2021 with Gildas Mahe on Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan. He is in Ireland waiting to challenge for a new solo round Ireland record.
" It is like a normal passage across the Bay of Biscay but this is May. Generally speaking first across the Bay of Biscay can normally expect to get the big advantage of getting into the Portuguese trades winds first then its about gybing at the right time. Across Biscay just now there is no typical scenario. Often there will be a front to negotiate. And in the trades you need to be able to push on hard but not break anything."
The course distance between Concarneau and Saint Barths is 3890 nautical miles.
The course record is 18 days 05hours 08 mins 03 seconds set in 2021.
Poolbeg & Baltimore: Ireland's Classics And Tradboats Have Demanding Choices In Making Best Use Of 2023 Programme
Utterly timeless. The Howth 17s – which are celebrating their 125th birthday in 2023 with special races and a Regatta Week in late June in Baltimore – are here bringing the atmosphere of times past to the little harbour at Lambay, complete with a lineup of salty Fingal longshoremen on the quaysid. Photo by David O’Shea. Click on image to enlarge.
Ten years ago, when the Old Gaffers Association's Dublin visit was a highlight of their Golden Jubilee Cruise-in-Company, it was a very crowded and festive series of events based around Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club in late May 2013 that included the inaugural staging of the race for the DBOGA's Leinster Trophy. Pernickety observers may have taken sardonic pleasure in pointing out that the Leinster was won by a Bermuda-rigged boat. But as the victor was the 101-year-old Ringsend-built Ainmara owned by Dickie Gomes from Strangford Lough, it was a very popular result.
This year, it's the Old Gaffers Diamond Jubilee, and they're returning to Poolbeg again, this time from 26th to 29th May, with the official section compressed into Saturday, 27th and Sunday, 28th May. The available places have already been fully-booked for some time, so the club is at capacity, and the only problem is going to be dealing with more casual visitors or those who operate on the system of "But surely you knew we were coming? We were here before".
With the more compact 2023 programme, the Leinster Trophy is not featuring - it will be staged as a separate event in August. But the large and very varied fleet will have enough in their hands, as the OGA Cruises are rolling events in which boats come and go at various stages, and only part of the fleet will be going the whole way through the Caledonian Canal and back to the "Grand Concluding Meet" in the River Orwell in Suffolk on the 4th to 6th August.
WM Nixon's full article in Afloat magazine
Aspire leads 5.5 Metre Alpen Cup after dramatic opening day
Aspire (POL 17, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Przemysław Gacek, Ed Wright) has the early lead after an action packed opening day on Thursday at the 2023 5.5 Metre Alpen Cup at Circolo Vela Torbole on Lake Garda. Shaolin (SUI 226, Flavio Marazzi, Hans von Werdt, Andreas Kindlimann) is in second with Otto (NOR 69, Bent Christian Wilhelmsen, Lasse Berthelsen, Herve Cunningham) third. Race wins went to Jean Genie (GBR 43, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Ruairidh Scott), Aspire and Shaolin.
It was a tough opening day with a cold southerly wind and an unforgiving 15-20 knots all day causing some damage and early retirements to the bar. However, the event has attracted a record-breaking entry, the highest since the event was created in 2006. No less than 17 boats have come to Torbole from ten countries, including two from Australia, and this bodes well for the continued growth of the class as it looks to take its events to some exciting venues in the coming years.
The three races were pretty similar with the right side paying well each race. Half the fleet went left in the first race, and paid a heavy price, so after that most went right.
Racing continues until Saturday with a maximum of five more races to sail.
Results after 3 races
1. Aspire (POL 17, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Przemysław Gacek, Ed Wright) 5
2. Shaolin (SUI 226, Flavio Marazzi, Hans von Werdt, Andreas Kindlimann) 14
3. Otto (NOR 69, Bent Christian Wilhelmsen, Lasse Berthelsen, Herve Cunningham) 15
4. John B (BAH 26 Gavin McKinney, Lars Horn Johannessen, Mathias Dahlman) 16
5. Artemis (NOR 57, Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne, Trond Solli-Sæther) 16
Shirley Robertson visits Swiss America's Cup powerhouse Alinghi Red Bull Racing
This month, another two part podcast sees Shirley Robertson visits Swiss America's Cup powerhouse Alinghi Red Bull Racing at their base in Barcelona as they prepare to Challenge for the 37th America's Cup.
As the only team to have ever launched a successful challenge to the America's Cup at first attempt, they're also the only European team to have ever won it, but for over a decade Swiss America's Cup syndicate Alinghi have been waiting, watching, following developments. And now, they are back, relaunched as Alinghi Red Bull Racing, and already well established in the host city of Barcelona. In this month's podcast, double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson visits the Swiss team and talks to several key players, to hear just what it is about AC37 that has rekindled interest, and to look at how one of the most successful Cup teams of the modern era is launching a bid to reclaim the illusive silver ware.
This edition of the podcast is in two parts and is available to listen to via the podcast page of Shirley's own website - shirleyrobertson.com/podcast or via most popular podcast outlets, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcast and aCast.
Sailing World on Water
This week the U S Sailing scene comes to life with many of our reports. Firstly, the New York Yacht Clubs' America Magic, their AC 40, joined the huge AC 40 Capsize Club. Once again the Recon Video team was not on the spot to capture the event.
The group of international match racing sailors were absolutely swamped by local super captain, Chris Pool and his crew. Hosted by the long beach yacht club, Pool sailed the full series without losing one match. A super demonstration of power match racing in this years' Congressional Cup.
Race Day 1 of Charleston Race Week, got off to a rousing start with ideal conditions delivering an action-packed opening day. Southeasterly winds ranging from 6 to 11 knots, enabled organizers to complete four races for all of the inshore courses. Meanwhile, offshore race committee chairmen Bruce Bingman and Ray Redness were able to give all the pursuit classes relatively long races.
Launchings
The one design Ecoracer (OD30) is believed to be the world's first recyclable sportsboat.
The boat, which is due to be launched in June, is designed by Matteo Polli YD and built by Northern Light Composites (nlcomp).
It has a length overall of 9.15m and a beam of 3.03m with a displacement of 1850kg.
The craft is a recyclable composite solution for the boating industry's end-of-life problem, say the founders of nlcomp who have been awarded the Smart Innovative Yacht Award in the Startup category at this year's Smart Yacht Rendezvous held during the Monaco Ocean Week.
Nlcomp aims to part of the transformation towards a fully circular economic model, solving the problem of abandoned fibreglass boats being left abandoned at the end of their life.
The Ecoracer uses thermoplastic resin and natural and recycled fibres in the construction of the craft.
The rComposite material, which is patent pending, can be recycled at the end of its life. It incorporates thermoplastic resin with natural or recycled fibres to lower the impact with the layers also including a recycled carbon surface protection, a carbon/flax basalt reinforcement layer and a core.
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Wally is proud to announce the launch of its new wally101 Full Custom, that took place on Saturday April 22nd in Marina di Ravenna. This cruiser racer is inspired by the celebrated Wallycento box-rule design and its maxi racer potential along with comfortable cruising.
"Following Baron D, Nahita and the Wally 144 Full Custom of the last few years, this is the 48th full-carbon sailing superyacht built by Wally, continuing the company's remarkable contribution to the advancement of sailing design and technology," says Stefano de Vivo, Wally Managing Director. "Launching a fully custom 101-footer is a great milestone for us, which demonstrates once again the ability of Wally and Ferretti Group to always place themselves at the forefront, even in the competitive market of sailing superyachts".
Judel/vrolijk & co. has provided the yacht's naval architecture alongside exterior and interior design from Wally's sailing design team led by Luca Bassani and Studio Santa Maria Magnolfi. The new full custom yacht features the Wally Enhanced Hydraulic System comprising multiple hydraulic pumps technology to further speed up sail handling.
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Luxury electric boat builder, Alva Yachts, is building the world's first solar and wind-powered 90ft superyacht catamaran.
Reportedly the first double-hulled superyacht to run without fossil fuels, the OCEAN ECO 90 H2 relies solely on renewable energy.
Classified by DNV and designed in tandem with engineering partner, iYacht, the OCEAN ECO 90 H2 has two electric motors connected to a 500+ kWh battery pack powered by 200m2 of solar panelling plus a range extender comprising a fuel cell supplied by EODev and integrated by SECO Marine.
It will also be fitted with Ayro's Oceanwings wind propulsion system with wind sensors to ensure the sail angle is optimised.
Designed for ocean-cruising, the catamaran has an open flybridge, helm, sky lounge, cocktail bar and Jacuzzi on the top deck.The aft deck has seating for up to eight and dining for up to 12 with an enclosed saloon, galley and twin bathing platforms. Below decks there is a master suite with private study, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom, plus three further guest suites and two single rooms, ideal for crew.
The foredeck provides another social area with two separate seating arrangements plus sunbeds, storage and refrigeration options.
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The Tiwal 3R is a supercharged dinghy that is easy to sail. It accelerates in the slightest breeze and has all the power you need to move to the next patch of air whilst maintaining your speed. It quickly gets up on the plane, and plays with all the elements, whether at sea or on the lake.
The Tiwal 3R has excellent seaworthiness, even in heavier weather. It points well upwind and tacks in its own length. The boat combines lightness and responsiveness for an exceptional onboard experience.
You've got a boat in the trunk of your car. It's magic! The Tiwal 3R is the take-anywhere sport boat. It's super compact. It packs away into one bag for the frame, one bag for the hull, and a third bag for the sail.
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Based on their much-acclaimed Y8, YYachts recently launched an enhanced "Custom" version of this design, developed exclusively for an owner seeking to incorporate many personal ideas in his new bespoke yacht.
Based on their successful Y8 design the German boatyard YYachts has developed for a customer, a former racing sailor, a more made-to-measure version with a different philosophy.
The Y8 is a stunning design created by Javier Jaudenes and his Surge Projects studio, with an all-carbon hull that has been retained for the new Y8 Custom version. However, many changes have been made to the yacht to accommodate the owner's personal ideas, such as the removal of backstays and the use of a square top main to increase power in lighter air conditions.
Every owner can bring in their own preferences - the Y8 Custom interior is very much a blank sheet of paper and the YYachts team is available to offer a more tailored and refined experience.
Featured Brokerage
2022 Swan 48-238 Balcan. 1350000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
"Balcan” is an excellent example of the Swan 48, featuring a performance keel,satellite communica-tions, air conditioning throughout, an additional plotter at the chart table, carbon v-boom and perfor-mance rigging are just some of her highlights…
See listing details in Nautor's Swan Brokerage
Contact
Jerome Mainemare
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YYACHTS Y7. POA EUR.
The Y7 was created in collaboration with US designer Bill Tripp, considered one of the world's best naval architects. Our goal was to combine comfortable sailing performance with competitive sailing performance, even on the regatta course.
In conditions where other yachts still use their engines, the sails are already set on the Y7. A displacement of only 29 tons and almost 300 square meters of sail area at wind make move the yacht even in light winds; Y7 owners don't have to worry about the perfect weather all the time.
All halyards, sheets and stretchers run hidden to the steering columns - so the helmsman can operate the Y7 alone at any time. This is not a matter of course for a 70-foot yacht and allows the owner to sail with a very small crew or even on his own.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
T. +49 3834 5858 77-0
E.
www.yyachts.de/en/y7
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Dazcat 1295. From 530,000 ex VAT GBP
The Dazcat 1295 has it all. Hand-engineered to an exceptional quality for stunning good looks, outstanding sailing performance, comfort and ease of ride for coastal and blue water cruising and racing.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
www.dazcat.com/d1295.html
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
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