EuroSail News #5415 - 13 September

In This Issue
• A final 140 miles match race for the Figaro?
• The America's Cup Comes To Vilanova i La Geltru
• Yacht Racing Forum 2024, 2025 and 2026
• The Sydney Hobart Classic Yacht Regatta is back
• Tracy Edwards and Maiden
• Sailmaker and Canvas Fabricator vacancy
• Elcano Oceanic Trophy
• IRC 2023 certificates now half price for GBR owners
• J/70 North American Championship
• World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship
• Featured Charter: Volvo Ocean 65 - Jajo
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Marc Lombard IRC46 – Pata Negra
• • Swan 42-020 Lagertha
• • Botin TP 52
• The Last Word: G.E. Moore

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

NO NEW ISSUE UNTIL MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25 -- Your humble narrator is taking the first real vacation in many years. A 50th High School Reunion, a long delayed visit with my 95 year old mother, and a week on the water doing as little as possible. And not caring about lousy wifi while lakeside.

A final 140 miles match race for the 2023 La Solitaire du Figaro title?
Denied the Stage 1 win by a rookie rules transgression - penalised 30 minutes for hanging material outside the guardrails - Mediterranean La Solitaire first timer Benoît Tuduri (CAPSO en Cavale) was making a further, late bid for glory on the third and final stage of the 54th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. With around 12 nautical miles to make to the southernmost turning mark of the 470 miles course, Tuduri seems to have nailed a beneficial layline after taking a very inshore, easterly route and was threatening to pass the long time stage leader Elodie Bonafous (Queguiner-La Vie en Rose) as the pacemakers surged towards the buoy.

Tuduri and Jules Delpech (ORCOM) - second and third before the mark - were coming in with speed having worked this most inshore line, down the Vendee coast past La Rochelle and both were looking like they might get a share of the time bonuses for passing the buoy which forms the Intermediate Sprint line.

On what looked at the outset to be a potentially challenging light flukeycourse, the 31 boat fleet has been making solid progress under spinnaker today finally giving the exhausted solo skipper a chance to grab some short catnaps to recharge their batteries.

The battle for overall top honours still sees the advantage holding with the 22 year Basile Bourgnon (EDENRED) who started the leg with an 8mins 55s lead over Corentin Horeau (Banque Populaire) and 32 minutes over Lois Berrehar (Skipper MACIF 2022). Bourgnon, the youngest skipper in the race who won Stage 2, is directly in front of Horeau in eighth and ninth respectively. His main goal now will be to monitor Horeau's every move and cover him as much as possible on what should be a one an upwind leg 140 miles back to Piriac-sur-Mer on the French Loire Atlantique coast just west of La Baule.

Ireland's Tom Dolan (Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan) is well positioned in ninth place with what should be a chance to make some gains as they converge on the mark which only six miles off the coast between Arcachon and the entrance to the Gironde Estuary.

Overall rankings

Tracker

lasolitaire.com

The America's Cup Comes To Vilanova i La Geltru
The first Preliminary Regatta on the road to the 37th America's Cup begins in the beautiful Catalan port of Vilanova i La Geltru from the 14-17th September 2023 and promises to be one of the most hotly contested regattas anywhere in sailing this year. No team wants a poor result. Everyone is seeking the morale-boost that a good result offers and all are desperate to make the Match Race Final on Sunday 17th September 2023.

The America's Cup teams will face three intense days of fleet and match racing in the world's most exciting foiling monohull class, the AC40, with three races per day to decide the top two teams who will contest the winner-takes-all match race final.

For spectators shoreside and on the water, Vilanova i La Geltru is gearing up to welcome the world. The official race village opens on Thursday 14th September at middayand the opening ceremony will be held at 7pm after the practice racing that afternoon. The village will be the centre point for the regatta with jumbo screens showing the racing with plenty of seating, food and drink outlets plus Official Merchandise stalls for all to enjoy. Sailor presentations and interviews will be conducted on the main stage and live music acts will entertain late into the evening on each race day. Not to mention the viewing opportunities with screens on the Platja Ribes Roges

On the water, spectators will be treated to some of the fastest and most compelling racing with the six AC40s lining up against each other on a tight stadium course restricted by clearly marked boundaries to keep the racing compact. Registrations are open on the official 37th America's Cup website for boats wishing to watch the racing from the water and, on a daily basis, will receive course information, designations and race director communications.

americascup.com

Yacht Racing Forum 2024, 2025 and 2026 to take place in Amsterdam alongside METSTRADE
The international conference dedicated to the sport of sailing announces a new concept and format. From 2024 onwards, the annual event will be held in parallel with the world's largest maritime industry trade fair: METSTRADE Amsterdam.

After thirteen successful editions, the Yacht Racing Forum today announces a new format and concept for the future. From 2024, the event will be held alongside METSTRADE Amsterdam, the world's leading maritime industry trade fair.

"This is great news for the Yacht Racing Forum, which will welcome a wider audience and strengthen its role as the leading annual conference dedicated to the sport of sailing ", said Bernard Schopfer, the organiser of the event. "This new concept will increase participation while significantly reducing the event's carbon footprint."

METSTRADE Amsterdam brings together some 20,000 participants each year, and presents the products of some 1,500 exhibitors in its spacious showrooms.

"We are looking forward to welcoming the Yacht Racing Forum to Amsterdam next year," said Niels Klarenbeek, Show Director of METSTRADE. "The Forum's arrival is expected to bolster METSTRADE's status as a versatile platform that caters to a diverse audience and offers various opportunities for different interests or industries related to yacht racing or the marine sector. We can't wait to join forces and bring together the world of yacht racing and leisure marine equipment."

Organised by MaxComm and hosted by METSTRADE Amsterdam, the event will reassemble the sports' key personalities from all over the world over three days of conferences, debates and business, not to mention an attractive social calendar.

There are different opportunities to join the Yacht Racing Forum as a delegate, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor. Feel free to contact us to discuss participation and speaking opportunities:

Information and registration: yachtracingforum.com/forum/

The Sydney Hobart Classic Yacht Regatta is back
The CYCA has confirmed that the Classic Yacht Regatta will be held on 8th 9th and 10th December this year. An invitation is extended to all Classic Yachts that have competed in a Sydney to Hobart Race. This year there will be the usual divisions for Classic Yachts that were launched pre 1976 but also an "IOR" division for IOR type yachts built before 1992.

We also are hoping to see a number of Tasman Sea Bird yachts from both Sydney and Brisbane.

The Friday race will be an invitation race and non point score..There will be handicap races on each of the Saturday and Sunday and a dinner at the CYCA on the Saturday evening. The Notice of Race will be issued later next month with more detail but please KEEP THE DATE

Please contact the CYCA Sailing Office for more information or assistance.

cyca.com.au

Tracy Edwards: "We Want To Show Sailing Does Not Have To Be As White"
When Tracy Edwards skippered the all-female crew of Maiden in the 1989 Whitbread Round the World Race, she and the team were pioneers for women in ocean racing. Finishing second overall they not only proved competitive but in so doing they precipitated a seismic shift in attitudes. Since then Edwards has continued to push the frontiers to empower and educate women around the world. She has seen the famous 58ft Farr design restored and, since 2021 has sailed more than 30,000 miles to 20 different stops where they engaged with schools, charities and organisations as part of a mission to educate, empower and elevate girls, expanding and improving their life and career choices. Starting Sunday from Southampton, Maiden will now compete on the Ocean Globe Race with a truly global, multicultural, crew of 11, from diverse nations where sailing is not as followed, such as India and Afghanistan. Tip & Shaft caught up with Tracy.

You will be following the project from land, do you feel more or less stressed this time than at the start of the Whitbread?

We feel amazingly calm and ready… which is something new for us. We have never left anywhere with Maiden feeling calm but the girls are absolutely on it, they are ready, the boat looks absolutely immaculate. And they are ready to go. I do think we are an older, more experienced shore team this time than we had originally. And this crew has such youth and energy. Oh my goodness they have energy!

So what is the main reason for doing the race with Maiden?

We were doing this world tour with Maiden after we restored her in 2017 and we have been sailing around the world ever since, raising funds and awareness for girls' education. And then we got to September last year and thought she has got one more time around the world in her before we have to start spending ridiculous amounts of money on her. And we have so many girls following us all around the world. And we wanted Maiden to reflect the girls who follow us. We wanted crew from all around the world. 33 years ago we proved women could sail around the world. And this time we want to show sailing does not have to be as white. This is the whitest sport in the world and it was brought to our attention by Whoopi Goldberg who is one of our patrons. We said 'let's change that, let's get girls who look like them get out there and do it'.

Read the full interview in Tip & Shaft

Sailmaker and Canvas Fabricator vacancy
Ullman Sails St. Maarten is a full-service loft on the island of St. Maarten (Dutch side) in the Caribbean, offering services that include sail repairs & alterations, new sails & all types of canvas products.

We are currently looking for a qualified sail maker and canvas fabricator for our upcoming season from November 2023 to June 2024.

The applicant would be responsible for all types of sail repairs & alterations, removing & re-installing sails. The fitting of new sails & U-Stack covers. Experience in canvas work would be a plus.

The successful applicant must-

1) Be a qualified Sailmaker/Canvas Fabricator capable of high-quality repairs & alterations to all types of sails, ranging from board sails to superyachts.
2) To be able to work independently or as part of a team
3) Possess a positive attitude.
4) Ideally be active in racing /cruising.

Employment would be full time for the above dates with the possibility of a longer contract.

Please send resume to -
Rob Gilders
Ullman Sails St. Maarten

Tel. +1 721 544 5231

Elcano Oceanic Trophy
A new competitive round-the-world sailing challenge trophy has been unveiled inspired by the first ever circumnavigation of the planet which was achieved by a Spanish sailor over 500 years ago.

The Elcano Oceanic Trophy presents a great sporting challenge — an around the world race against the clock, and against the Earth's prevailing winds and ocean currents, while using zero emissions with zero waste.

The westabout course, which will start and finish in Andalucía, Spain, follows in the wake of Spanish captain Juan Sebastian Elcano who completed the first circumnavigation in September 1522 after taking command of the expedition originally led by Ferdinand Magellan who died during the 1,082-day voyage.

The 21st century re-run will establish a modern record time which will be open to challenge from racing sailors and adventurers from around the world.

As required by the Elcano Oceanic Trophy rules the new challenge time must be established by a Spanish sailor. The renowned Alex Pella has accepted the challenge of replacing the record held by the Spanish Navy since 1522 with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports of Andalucía, co-financed with European Funds, and Festina, the official record timekeeper.

Alex Pella will sail the legendary 33.5m maxi-catamaran Club Med, now renamed Victoria after Elcano's ship, and with his crew will set the Elcano Oceanic Trophy benchmark time in early 2025 following a number of other record attempts, including a Round Spain / Vuelta España bid from Bilbao to Barcelona in September, and the Straits of Gibraltar record from Tanger to Algeciras later this year. In 2024 Pella's team is planning a series of European and transatlantic records which will be announced in due course.

trofeoelcano.org

IRC 2023 certificates now half price for GBR owners
The racing season is not yet over and there are plenty of IRC events to look forward to. To help get you on the water and take part in some great IRC racing the RORC Rating Office has discounted GBR IRC fees by 50% for the remainder of the 2023 season. This discount applies to fees for new application, revalidation (both primary and secondary certificates) and upgrade from Single Event Rating.

Where eligible, the discounted fee will be calculated automatically in the online application portal MyIRC at myirc.rorcrating.com from 1st September. IRC 2023 certificates expire on 31st December 2023.

For information and advice related to IRC 2023 including rule changes please see the RORC Rating Office website.

J/70 North American Championship
More than 50 teams are gearing up for a week of sailing in the Windy City, where Chicago Yacht Club is hosting the 2023 J/70 North American Championship Sept. 18-24. Past event winners, newcomers, professional sailors and Corinthian teams will battle it out on the water to determine the top J/70 team in North America.

With four days of racing and three days of practice and measurement, the week will showcase one of the most competitive one design classes in the sailing world. Sailors will compete across five different divisions--Open, One-Pro, Corinthian, Mixed and Youth.

Chicago Yacht Club is readying to host 53 registered competitors, including several hometown teams and CYC members. 2022 J/70 North American Champion Jud Smith, who helmed "Ten" last year, is returning to the 2023 regatta on Jack Franco's "3 Ball JT." Rounding out the team is Bill Hardesty and Patrick Wilson. Smith and Wilson are among a handful of two-time winners of the championship returning in 2023.

Racing begins Thursday, Sept. 21, and concludes Sunday, Sept. 24. Twelve races are scheduled for the week.

chicagoyachtclub.org/j70nas

Sydney Harbour to host 2023 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) will host the upcoming 2023 World Sailing Youth Match Racing World Championship, to be held from 9-15 December 2023 in the iconic setting of Sydney Harbour.

This will be the first time an Australian club will host the Youth Match Racing World Championship. Sydney joins Helsinki (FIN), Swinoujscie (POL), Moumea (FRA), Los Angeles (USA), Lago di Ledro (ITA), Yekaterinburg (RUS), Auckland (NZL) and Pornichet (FRA) as a host city for the event.

Up to 12 teams from across the globe will take part in the five-day event where they will compete onboard the CYCA's fleet of Elliott 7m keelboats. Competition takes place over five rounds: a round robin, a repechage, Quarter finals, Semi finals and the Grand final, with a Petit final to determine third and fourth place.

The Elliot 7m is an exciting, modern, dynamic, state-of-the-art 7 metre keelboat which combines high performance at all points of sail with controlled manoeuvrability and stability. Its One Design production allows sailing skill to shine, ensuring fair competition.

The event will also mark a milestone moment for the CYCA as its Youth Sailing Academy celebrates its 30th anniversary season. The Academy is one of the world's leading youth keel boat programs, with alumni going on to win the America's Cup, Olympic medals and The Ocean Race amongst many other national and world titles

Notice of Race

Event brochure

Featured Charter
Volvo Ocean 65 - Jajo. Located in Europe.

Jajo is a high-performance racing yacht designed for offshore racing at the highest level. She features cutting-edge design and construction techniques, making it both fast and reliable. Jajo was originally built for the 2014-2015 Volvo Ocean Race

See listing details in Seahorse Charters

Contact
Lucy Jackson - LV Yachting
Call: +44 (0) 20 3920 6261
Email: i

See the the Seahorse charter collection

Featured Brokerage
2016 Marc Lombard IRC46 - Pata Negra. 535000 GBP Located in Dorset, UK.

Pata Negra is a prototype IRC 46 design by Marc Lombard and is a great example of this offshore pedigree with a proven track record. The owner has consistently invested in the boat since purchasing her in 2020 leaving no expense spared in upgrades and maintenance.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Lucy Jackson - LV Yachting
Call: +44 (0) 20 3920 6261
Email:

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2006 Swan 42-020 Lagertha. 300000 EUR. Located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

The Club Swan 42 Lagertha is hull number 10 originally Quintessence and has been under the present ownership since 2019 and has highly optimized for competitive racing, and has only raced her once a season since 2019 so the sails onboard are very fresh.

See listing details in Nautor Swan Brokerage

Contact
Jerome Mainemare

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2015 Botin TP 52. POA.