Scuttlebutt Europe #2294 - 1 March
Brought to you by Boats.com Europe, Yachtworld.com Europe, Scuttlebutt Europe 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 Like Father Like Son At the recently concluded Techno 293 North American Championships in Cozumel, in an emotional ceremony, Rasmus Sayre (Vineyard Haven, MA) was awarded "Hero of the Regatta" for his outstanding seamanship and sportsmanship in rescuing Nicole Level (Cancun, MX) who ended up winning the RS:X Youth Women and qualifying for the Youth World Champs in Croatia. It was a dangerous situation on the far outside of the course when the joint between Nicole's board and rig failed, and she lost both her board and rig in the big waves. Nicole was left swimming alone in the strong off shore current, and was wearing no life jacket. "I thought I was going to die," said Level. "I'm never going on the water without a life jacket again." As Rasmus rounded the final turning mark in the Techno 293 fleet, he happened to see a hand frantically waving at the crest of a wave. He immediately dropped out of his first place position in the U15 Techno Class, sailed out to her, and Nicole, completely exhausted, struggled onto Rasmus' board. Rasmus attempted to sail the two of them to shore but was unable in the big waves, and they were being swept further out to sea by the 4 knot current. Luckily, an alert fishing vessel with high lookout tower noticed Rasmus' sail from a distance. The fishing vessel came alongside, and Nicole had regained enough strength to swim to the boat and was taken safely back to shore. Rasmus was then able to sail to shore alone. Nicole's board was never found. "I wasn't surprised, but clearly very proud of him," said Nevin Sayre, his father. "He did the right thing immediately, without hesitation. He put himself into great risk, didn't think twice about it." www.mvtimes.com Seahorse Sailor Of The Month Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood (GBR)) This month's nominees: Nathan Outteridge (AUS)) Stephen Park (GBR) Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Harken McLube, Dubarry & Musto. Who needs silverware, our prizes are usable! Cast your vote, submit comments, even suggest a candidate for next month at * Seahorse has a special six issue subscription offer for those who vote and/or comment on the Sailor of the Month... vote and see! Set Sights For The Dyneema&Reg; Treasure Trove, Free Rigging and Sailing Master Class!! DSM Dyneema, producer of Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™, and its partners are recruiting the globe for 40 'skippers' to test running-rigging made with Dyneema® fiber and share their experiences through social media. If you are selected as part of the 2011 Dyneema® Experience Team, we will re-rig your boat completely free of charge with ropes made with Dyneema®. All we ask of you is that you test and experience rigging with Dyneema® and share this with us, your friends, family and other sailors worldwide, through social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr. The most active social media 'skipper' of the 2011 'Dyneema® Experience Team' will also enjoy a masterclass with a friend on one of the Volvo Ocean Race Yachts in Alicante. Dyneema® has proven to be highly versatile for a wide range of products in the yachting industry. The combination of high performance and durability makes it the ideal material, for running rigging for performance cruisers and professional sailors. The closing date for applications is March 4, 2011. The 2011 Dyneema® Experience Team ends on September 23rd 2011. Register now at www.dyneemaexperience.com Join the team www.dyneemaexperience.com UK's Oldest World Cruise Cancelled BWR's decision was taken before the killing of the four kidnapped American yachtsmen at the hands of pirates. The yachtsmen, skipper Scott Adam, 68, and his wife Jean, from California and their crew Phyllis Mackay, 59, and Bob Riggle, 67, of Seattle were sailing Quest, a 58ft Davidson a pilot house double-headsail cutter, as part of the current BWR round -the-world rally. But they dropped out of the rally at the crucial moment: just as it was about to cross the Indian Ocean. Adam, described as 'very independent' may have become frustrated travelling in convoy, but whatever the reason it was a fateful decision. Negotiations were taking place between the military and the pirates when gunshots were heard. It seems a row had broken out between the pirates: one theory being examined is that the gunmen were from different warlord clans - there were an incredible 19 pirates on the yacht - and that a 'surf war' - as opposed to a turf war - had broken out and two pirates were killed in a rival shoot-out. Whatever the truth, the stand-off then escalated into a boarding by US Navy Seals who shot one and stabbed another pirate to death. They then made the grim discovery that all four yachtsmen had been attacked. Two were already dead and two more died later. For the full story on Blue Water Rally's cancelled world cruise see Yachting Monthly April. Musto Wellington Match Race Cup This event incorporated both the men's and women's racing into one. The women were sailing in the Elliot Sixes which are the Olympic women's match racing yachts whilst the men competed in MRX's. For the men the teams were looking to prove themselves as New Zealand's best up and coming match racers and were also preparing for their campaigns in Europe throughout the year. Full Metal Jacket Racig as the winner of the event received the added bonus of a wild card entry to Match Race Germany in the 2011 World Match Racing Tour. Jenna Hansen, Susannah Pyatt and Stephanie Hazard: winners of the Musto Wellington Womens Match Race Cup. Image copyright RPNYC. The Women were vying for selection into the NZL Sailing Team's Olympic Squad. There are spots up for grabs and with the Olympics only two years away, the prospective Women sailors needed to be firing at this year's event. -- Matt Steven Women's Results Overall Men's Results Overall From SailRaceWin.com: Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club: www.rpnyc.org.nz Laserperformance at 2011 RYA Volvo Dinghy Show - Stand B10 A special '60 Minute Sale' will take place from 12 noon until 1pm on Saturday and Sunday to commemorate the RYA Dinghy Show's 60th Birthday, a great opportunity to grab a "diamond deal". We'll be offering attractive, customer tailored deals across our products, including a sail deal to all of our classes. "We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to our stand, meeting up with old friends and launching the 2011 sailing season," said Mark Henry, Managing Director, LaserPerformance Europe. A Laser Pico is up for grabs in the RYA's competition and Laser sailors from the SailJuice Global Warm Up will receive their prizes on the Volvo Main Stage. Representatives from the Laser, Laser 2000, Laser Vago, Laser Pico, Laser SB3 and Bug Class Associations will all be on hand to provide information about the events planned for the 2011 season, so make sure you pop by to have a chat. Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/LaserPerformanceSailboats USA 17 Comes Home To San Francisco The ship carrying USA 17 passed underneath the Golden Gate Bridge at 0530 PST and berthed alongside San Francisco's Pier 80 at 0650. The timing of unloading the game-changing 115ft trimaran and its wingsail will be determined by prevailing wind conditions. Both will be placed in short term storage in ORACLE Racing's new base on Pier 80. Longer term, there are plans to put the yacht and her impressive 223-foot wingsail on public display. The trimaran may not sail again, her place in history assured by two brief, glorious moments in February 2010. USA 17 has only ever contested two races in her life. She won both convincingly to win the oldest trophy in international sport from the Swiss Alinghi team. USA 17's arrival is her first visit to the city that ORACLE Racing calls home. She was launched in Anacortes, Wash., in August 2008. After initial testing there, she was moved to San Diego, Calif., for a further period of training before being shipped to Valencia for the 33rd America's Cup. Measuring more than 100 feet long and 90 feet wide and powered by a 20-storey tall wingsail, USA 17 is the fastest yacht to ever win the America's Cup. It has been in storage in Valencia since winning the Cup on Feb. 14, 2010. Great photos by Erik Simonson at AC72 Class Rule Amended The rule had been introduced in October and was modified this week following recommendations from the Measurement Committee and reflected the unanimous support of the Competitor Forum that represents all entered teams. The single most notable change is the reduction of the number of wing masts required, simplifying design and logistics as well as saving time and costs. Initially the rule called for both a small and large wing. "We have already learned a lot about the performance of the next generation of America's Cup boats from the initial sea trials of the AC 45 in New Zealand," said Iain Murray, Regatta Director and ACRM CEO. "With teams already working on their ultimate America's Cup designs of the AC 72, all agreed that one wing size of up to 40-meters (131-feet) could be raced across the wind range. This also allows for more efficient logistics with only wing size rather than two different size rigs. This is a good example of the teams working together to improve efficiencies and reduce costs for all competitors." The number of rigs per team was reduced from eight wing-spar sections to six. The resulting efficiency will result in significant cost savings. WMRT'S "Magnet Effect" The numbers alone show the dramatic increase in the sport. From 2007 to 2010 the number of graded match races nearly doubled from 34 to 65 events. This year will see a host of both open and women's Grade 1, 2 and 3 events, many inter-connected with each other as qualifiers, as well as "clinegattas" for youth sailors and the annual international youth match racing championship the Governor's Cup. This focus on getting youth involved in match racing is also prominent with the Intercollegiate Sailing Organisation adding match racing to their programme by introducing a new national championship in 2010. US Sailing's Match Racing Committee Chairman Dave Perry says the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) - the nine event international series which sees the crowning of the ISAF Match Racing World Champion - is "having a magnet effect on the growth of interest" in match racing in the region. The Chicago Match Race Center has announced a new open Grade 1 event in late September, timed to try and lure WMRT teams to come prior to the Argo Group Gold Cup, and offering the highest amount of prize money of any event in the US. Dobbs Davis, Media Consultant for Chicago Match Race Centre, said they are particularly proud that they are able to offer so much at Chicago even though the event is only in its third year. "In the course of the season we have grown and expanded so much and are still hopeful that we can realise the continued growth potential. We are one of the unique venues for match racing in the US and I would argue that we have the most potential for achieving the goals that the WMRT want to see at all their events, namely an urban high traffic spectator friendly venue; proximity to a large market place that offers commercial and sponsor opportunities; a streamlined event that's not affiliated with a particular club and new equipment. We really offer a complete package that's dedicated solely to match race sailing." Just Four Sleeps Until The RYA Volvo Dinghy Show - Don't Forget To Get Your Tickets The show, in association with Yachts & Yachting and Suzuki, takes place over the weekend of 5-6 March when more than 200 exhibitors, in some 12,000 sq. metres of halls will be showcasing all the very latest boats, books, kit and more. There are some fantastic talks and presentations lined up from some of the dinghy sailing world's best sailors and coaches. From simply putting your new boat together, to honing your skills to get advantage at the start line and improving body condition there is something for everyone from getting started to how to sail harder and faster. The halls will be packed to the rafters with some spectacular boats from the old time classics of the Cherub Class, who will be showcasing 60 years of the history with a selection of boats from across the decades, to the breath taking 'Invictus', the only C- Class wing sail Catamaran in Europe and some of the latest dinghy designs on the market. "The RYA Volvo Dinghy Show is always a highlight in any dinghy enthusiast's calendar, with a great range of workshops and resources to really bring the show to life. I look forward to attending on the 5th March for a great day out!" commented double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Gosling (nee Webb). To find out more about what's on at the show or to book your tickets visit www.dinghyshow.org.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0844 081 0409. A Busy Groupama Sailing Team The crew of Groupama Sailing Team has until 15 March to carry out sail trials aboard Groupama 70, an earlier generation boat which won't be racing in the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. Franck Cammas has some well defined objectives for the last sail trials on a Volvo 70 prior to the launch of Groupama 4, which is scheduled for early May. There are a number of depressions during this season, bringing regular rainy spells and steady winds of over 35 knots to Brittany and its sailors. These are an opportunity for Franck to push the men and their boat to their limits. In build at the Multiplast yard in Vannes, the new boat, owned by Groupama and designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian, is entering the final phase of construction. "It's the final sprint. As such we've chosen to return to Lorient to train so the sailing team can come together with the boat building team and the research department. The sailors also have to lend a hand in the assembly of the onboard systems so as to be capable, after having built Groupama 4, to repair them if the need arises." Pierre Tissier, head of construction of the monohull, and around thirty other people, are currently working on the hull and deck structure at the yard in nearby Vannes. At Lorima in Lorient, the workforce are busying themselves with the drape forming of the mast on Groupama 4, with her launch scheduled for early May. -- Translated by Kate Jennings www.groupama.com Doyle Frostbite Series Races 7 & 8 With the committee boat near Hover 1 all 4 Classes were sent off to Royal Southampton buoy newly laid after its winter overhaul before continuing round laid marks before cascading back down to the finish at Netley. Class 1 saw NJOS a Corby 35 win with a good margin over Malice. a HOD 35 .In Class 2 Blazer a Laser 28 took the honours by only 4 sec. on Jammin a J92. Class 3 - Jammy a J80 won with Vader a Cork 1720 runner up and Class 4 Fusion III a Gibsea 284 was first beating Escapade a First 305 into 2nd place. The ebbing tide caught a couple of hapless skippers out who parked on the putty between races but both managed to escape and get started on a reconfigured course after the wind veered enabling a wind ward - leeward course to be set for the first time this series however as all those avid meteorologists know it was a front going through that caused the wind shift and with it came rain. Lots of it and heavy! After timid starts in Race 7 Class 2 were all up for the start this time and there were 3 OCS unlike some starters in the classes who were a minute late. It was J Dream a J109's turn to win Class 1 with NJOS 2nd. Class 2 saw J92's take 1,2 and 3 J'ronimo, Blackjack then Wizard. Class 3 saw a reversal with Vader 1st and Jammy 2nd .Class 4 was again won by Fusion III this time 2nd was Ellie a Dheler 36cws. With 2 races to go on the last day of the Frostbite it's all to play for with only Class 2 1st place decided. Royal Southampton YC: www.rsyc.org.uk Francis Prout Their ideas grew after the duo canoed for Great Britain in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and decided to tie two of their kayaks together with bamboo poles to produce a efficient, high-speed vessel. Their father Geoffrey founded Prout Folding Boats in 1935, shipping folding dinghies and canoes worldwide. Francis and his elder brother Roland, who died in 1997, grew the business after their successful kayak experiments into possibly the most famous catamaran builders in the world. They scooped a Queen's Award for Industry and in 1964 a Prout catamaran became the first multihull to circumnavigate the globe. After a decline in sales the company was sold in July 2000 to Quest, a subsidiary of the Canadian Winfair group, but a year later Prout went into receivership. Production of the larger boats was moved to Thailand, leaving the reborn Prout UK to construct two models with two new models planned, but this was unsuccessful and in early 2002 Prout again declared bankruptcy. It was bought by Broadblue, who hired several key Prout staff and continues to develop Prout models. Featured Brokerage This Swan 48 is a beautifully designed German Frers model, extremely comfortable for cruising and equally adept on the racing circuit. Brokerage through Nautor's Swan Spain & Portugal: www.yachtworld.com/swan-spain/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com The Last Word |
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