In This Issue
• Aegean 600 off to a spectacular start
• Platoon maintain their Menorca winning record
• New generation & yachting sector innovate to build in sustainability
• RORC Cowes - Dinard - St Malo Race
• ALOHA! First Monohull Finishers Arrive in Transpac
• IODA - Secretary General Position Open
• Tour de Bretagne a Voile
• Opening day of Olympic Test Event
• Nicolas Lunven: "It's A Chance To Be On Another IMOCA"
• Featured Brokerage:
• • IRC GP42
• • Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300
• • HH66 - New Boat
• The Last Word: Thomas Merton

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

Aegean 600 off to a spectacular start
Lavrion, Greece: With picture-prefect conditions of clear skies, azure seas and 12-15 knots of northeast wind, the 3rd edition of the AEGEAN 600 is off to a spectacular start. This offshore classic race is organized by the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC) and co-organized by the Region of Attica, Olympic Marine and supported by the Deputy Ministry of Sports. The fleet of 45 entries from 16 countries started in three successive waves starting with a short upwind leg to a windward mark placed just under the sea cliffs of Cape Sounio, with the ancient Temple of Poseidon as a fitting backdrop and perfect platform for shoreside spectators.

After rounding the mark to starboard the fleet sped off on a high-speed headsail reach course to the southeast towards Milos, the first Aegean island on the 605-mile course. The leaders in this pack were Chris Sherlock's Farr 100 LEOPARD 100 followed by Grzegorz Baranowski's Volvo 70 I LOVE POLAND, who were at the left turn at the south of the island only 5 hours into the race before heading east towards Santorini.

LEOPARD and I LOVE POLAND will make the transit through Santorini tonight in the dark of the caldera with the surrounding cliff tops lit up by the town perched at the caldera's edge. The slower members of the fleet will make this transit several hours later in daylight and marvel at one of the most spectacular sights on this scenic race course.

Fleet tracker

aegean600.com

Platoon maintain their Menorca winning record
Photo by Max Ranchi, www.maxranchi.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Harm Muller-Spreer's Platoon extended their record in Menorca to three victories when the German flagged team today lifted the Royal Cup as winners of the third regatta of the season, the Menorca 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup. Platoon also won her in 2019 and 2021.

They were pushed to the final gun of the last race by Ergin Imre's Provezza. The Turkish flagged team, winners in both Saint Tropez and Scarlino lost their 2023 unbeaten record by only one single point after a nail biting finale when Platoon, led by Italian tactician Vasco Vascotto, deciphered the best route up what proved to be the last leg, sailing round the outside of Provezza in a fast fading breeze to steal the top prize.

But while Platoon finished strongest in the nine boat fleet, to record Vascotto's first regatta title since joining the crew last September in Scarlino, Provezza head to next month's Rolex TP52 World Championship in Barcelona carrying a circuit lead of 19 points ahead of Platoon. Defending champions Quantum Racing powered by American Magic finished seventh and drop to third on the general classification for the season so far, but the US flagged team won the last race of the regatta.

Final Regatta Standings Menorca 52 Super Series Royal Cup:
1. Platoon (GER), Harm Muller-Spreer, 1+3+2+5+8+5+1+1+4+4 = 34
2. Provezza (TUR), Ergin Imre, 2+8+6+2+4+1+2+3+2+5 = 35
3. Gladiator (GBR), Tony Langley, 8+9+1+1+1+6+4+4+5+2 = 41
4. Alegre (GBR), Andy Soriano, 4+2+5+3+3+7+7+5+1+9 = 46
5. Sled (USA), Takashi Okura, 5+1+4+4,5(Rdg)+7+2+8+6+3+6 = 46.5
6. Quantum Racing Powered By American Magic (USA), Doug Devos, 6+6+3+6+6+3+6+9+8+1 = 54
7. Paprec (FRA), Jean Luc Petithuguenin, 7+5+7+7+2+4+9+2+7+8 = 58
8. Vayu (THA), Familia Whitcraft, 3+7+9+10(Dnf)+5+8+3+7+6+3+4(Pen) = 65
9. Alpha+ (HKG), Shawn Y Tina Kang, 9+4+8+4+9+9+5+8+9+7 = 72

Standings After Three Regattas 52 Super Series 2023
1. Provezza (TUR), Ergin Imre, 34+42+35 = 111
2. Platoon (GER), Harm Muller-Spreer, 45+51+34 = 130
3. Quantum Racing Powered By American Magic (USA), Doug Devos, 40+43+54 = 137
4. Sled (USA), Takashi Okura, 45+52+46,5 = 143.5
5. Gladiator (GBR), Tony Langley, 40+66+41 = 147
6. Alegre (GBR), Andy Soriano, 43+64+46 = 153
7. Vayu (THA), Whitcraft Family, 58+48+65 = 171
8. Paprec (FRA), Jean Luc Petithuguenin, 56+81+58 = 195
9. Interlodge (USA), Austin And Gwen Fragomen, 45+54+100 = 199
10. Alpha+ (HKG), Shawn And Tina Kang, 65+91+72 = 228
11. Phoenix (RSA), Hasso And Tina Plattner, 57+71+100 = 228

52superseries.com

New generation & yachting sector innovate to build in sustainability
With circa 50 teams, 31 universities and 25 nations competing in the 10th edition, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (5-8 July 2023) for alternative energies organised by Yacht Club de Monaco goes from strength to strength. There was big emphasis on the whole life cycle of a boat build with more hydrogen, recyclable materials, and biomaterials and supercapacitors for the hydrogen entrants (seven), being employed.

Boats, the majority designed and built by engineering students divided in three classes (Solar, Energy and Open Sea), were put through their paces on the sea in slalom & manoeuvrability contests, speed records, qualifiers for the Championship Race, and a four-hour Endurance Trial. As a prelude, the new YCM E-Boat Rally in partnership with Aqua superPower saw 15 electric boats on the market complete a 21nm return trip to Ventimiglia, Italy, on day one. Also new was the eco-designed YCM E-Dock pontoon with AC and DC superchargers supplying rapid electric power to 20 boats at a time.

Ashore a conference entitled 'Sustainability Transition: Challenges, Engagement' analysed the impact of new energies on the ecosystem from R&D to design through to the build, from offshore race boats to chase boats for the America's Cup. A Hydrogen Round Table also took stock of this important element of the energy transition. And as the goal is to bring budding engineers in contact with the yachting industry, YCM launched a Job Forum in 2019 to meet and match demand from students for internships & jobs to the needs of the industry. This year 80 one-to-one interviews were held. Of note, were all the shipyards involved in the whole event - Oceanco, Ferretti Group, Monaco Marine, Sanlorenzo, Lurssen, Palumbo SY Refit - a positive signal that they take decarbonisation of the maritime sector seriously.

And finally, Malizia-Seaexplorer, new addition to Team Malizia founded by YCM Vice-President Pierre Casiraghi, left her mark on the event, the IMOCA being moored in the YCM Marina fresh from clinching 3rd in The Ocean Race.

energyboatchallenge.com

RORC Cowes - Dinard - St Malo Race
Start: Friday 07 July 2023 15:00 BST

The biggest offshore race so far for 2023 will be a memorable one for RORC member Christian Zugel. Racing Tschuss 2, skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, the Volvo 70 has set a new Monohull Race Record for the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race. Tschuss 2 completed the 151nm course in an elapsed time of 10 hours 56 minutes 18 seconds winning the Sandison Memorial Salver. After IRC time correction was calculated for the 179 boats racing under IRC, Tschuss 2 completed the hattrick as overall winner of the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race, winning the King Edward VII Cup, dating back to 1906.

At the beginning of the year, Christian Zugel acquired the Volvo 70 formerly Rolex Fastnet Race winner Wizard earlier this year. Project Manager Johnny Mordaunt trusted in the talents of boat builder Jason Carrington and designer Juan Kouyoumdjian to get the boat back to race condition, including fixing a damaged canting keel.

Tschuss 2 Crew: Christian Zugel, Al Fraser, Campbell Field, Chris Mason, Christopher Welch, Jack Lawrence, Jeremy Elliott, Johnny Mordaunt, Lewis Fitzgerald, Neal McDonald, Oliver Bayes-Shelton, Simon Johnson, Trystan Seal.

Multihull Line Honours was won by Romain Pilliard's 75ft Trimaran Use it again, which was also awarded the Yacht Club de France Shield for outstanding achievement. After MOCRA time correction, the overall winner of the Multihull Class was Loïc Escoffier's Ocean Fifty Lodigroup.

The inaugural IRC Two-Handed European Champion is Didier Gaudoux's MN35 Lann Ael 3, which was the class winner for both the La Trinite-Cowes Race and the Cowes Dinard St Malo Race. -- Louay Habib/RORC

Results Cowes Dinard St Malo Race

rorc.org

ALOHA! First Monohull Finishers Arrive in Transpac
Honolulu, Hawaii: The first of the waves of monohulls from multiple divisions have crossed the Transpac finish line at Diamond Head and are now tied up safe and sound in their slips at the Ala Wai Marina getting re-acquainted with friends, family and a return to life on terra firma having been at sea for over a week.

The first to get in at 02:12:17 Hawaii time was Bill McKinley's Ker 46+ DENALI3. This team was leading Ocean Navigator Division 4 for most of the race, and recorded an elapsed time of 8 days 16 hours 12 minutes 17 seconds after starting on Thursday of last week. Next in was Greg Dorn's Dehler 46 FAVONIUS, finishing at 06:38:22 HST for an elapsed time of 10 days 20 hours 38 minutes 22 seconds, the earliest finish of a Tuesday starter in Boatswain's Locker Division 7.

About three and a half hours later Dean Stanec's J/130 NIGHT'S WATCH crossed the line at 11:00:59:41, only 1 hour ahead of FAVONIUS sistership WINGS, skippered by Ian Edwards and his team from Australia. The corrected times among these three teams are remarkably tight: after 10 days of racing only 14 minutes separates the current division leader NIGHT'S WATCH from WINGS in their current third place position.

Fleet tracker

transpacyc.com

International Optimist Dinghy Association - Secretary General Position Open
Join the International Optimist Dinghy Association as Secretary General

Are you passionate about sailing, committed to fostering a global community of young sailors and have exceptional organizational skills? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you. Click here to find out more and apply

Full details and information on applying

Tour de Bretagne a Voile
Irish skipper Tom Dolan and his French co-skipper Kevin Bloch, sailing Dolan's Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan, completed the nine day Sailing Tour of Brittany today in Quiberon, France in eighth place overall from a field of 26 entries. The event comprised three offshore stages and four coastal day races linking Saint Quay-Portrieux in north east Brittany and Quiberon in the south west.

The duo were good in the offshore stages and less good on the inshore tracks. On the long course from Saint-Quay-Portrieux and Brest they led for a long time before seeing victory slip away from them in the calm of the final miles. And the same thing happened again on the long leg from Brest and Lorient which was shortened at the Glenan isles because the breeze had died off.

"We got caught in light airs twice in a row when we were going well. Otherwise I feel we were pretty good in the offshore legs" commented Dolan.

He concludes, "This week has been intense. We have some good results to our credit, notably finishing three races in the Top 5, but the other bits were frustrating and not so pleasing. It's a little disappointing to finish the race like we have just done in the teens but the results are actually quite positive," confirms Dolan who now heads to Concarneau, where he lives, for the Solo Concarneau in two weeks time.

tomdolanracing.com

Opening day of Olympic Test Event
Marit Bouwmeester made a strong start in the ILCA 6 while Michael Beckett and Finn Lynch hit the early ILCA 7 summit as the Olympic Test Event got under way in Marseille.

The first two races in both classes took place amid testing conditions on Sunday, as they did in the Mixed 470, which saw Jordi Xammar Hernandez and Nora Brugman Cabot back up a runners-up spot in the opener with victory to sit top of the early standings.

Just one race was possible in the Formula Kite Men's competition, won by Axel Mazella on home waters, with the remaining two, along with the scheduled Formula Kite Women's races, postponed.

From 9 to 16 July 2023, the first test event held by Paris 2024 is taking place at the Roucas Blanc Marina in Marseille, where the Paris 2024 Olympic sailing events will take place in 2024.

paris2024.org/en/sailing-test-event/

Nicolas Lunven: "It's A Chance To Be On Another IMOCA"
After completing his second consecutive Ocean Race campaign, this time with Team Malizia, Nicolas Lunven was back on a different Imoca at this week's training camp in Port-la-Forêt sailing alongside Sam Davies who he will be co-skipper with this season on her Initiatives Coeur. Tip & Shaft caught up with the 40-year-old French ace.

So Nico how did you find this edition of The Ocean Race, the first in Imoca?

It was a tough call for the organisers to change class and I think that this was a transition edition. The success will be measured by the level of participation in the next one. In four years time if there are more than ten boats, we can say that it has been a success. This time there were only five, there were two dismastings and Guyot had structural problems. But besides all that, we saw the 24-hour record broken, we saw a close battle on almost all the stages, close finishes at the end of legs and technically, the boats proved that they are capable of doing this race without constantly having to repair them. And I really believe that those who took part in The Ocean Race have considerably improved their preparation for the next Vendée Globe. The boats now have a round-the-world to their credit and have been sailed at a level higher than solo sailing and being able to improve things at each stopover, to make changes in sail configurations for example. These are significant steps in the sporting and technical preparation of the boat.

Seen from the outside, this Malizia team seemed to exude good humor, was that really the case or just a communications strategy?

Surprisingly, it was just as it appeared. I say surprisingly, because often, on such a long event, it's like that at the start, but not at the end. Here it really was non-stop, it was quite amazing to live in this environment with nice, happy, smiling people. And from my perspective it really allowed me to have a certain freedom in my navigation choices, I was able to take options that were sometimes different from the others without feeling the pressure was all on me. I found it great to work with people who trusted me and who didn't then question everything when things weren't going the way we wanted.

Full interview in Tip & Shaft

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The Last Word
Peace demands the most heroic labor and the most difficult sacrifice. It demands greater heroism than war. It demands greater fidelity to the truth and a much more perfect purity of conscience. -- Thomas Merton

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