In This Issue
• IMOCA's streaming in... Class 40s' light winds conundrum
• SSL Gold Cup 1/16 Finals in Gran Canaria
• Time for a rethink - Zhik
• 2023 Melges 24 European Sailing Series
• Christmas Coffee Table Books - J Class - FREE SHIPPING
• Lessons Of The Boulangere Mini Transat
• Ingrid Abery 2024 Sailing Calendar
• Basic AC75 testing continues for two teams in Barcelona
• Ireland's Most Innovative Sailing Are
• Featured Charter: Volvo Ocean 65 - Jajo
• Featured Brokerage:
• • S&S Swan 65-001 'Peak'
• • J /121-Jackhammer
• • Kialoa II S & S Classic Racing Yacht
• The Last Word: Bobette McCarthy

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

IMOCA's streaming in... Class 40s' light winds conundrum
While the IMOCAs will now continue to arrive in Martinique for the foreseeable future to complete their Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre race from Le Havre to Martinique it is the match at the top of Class 40 which is becoming more and more engaging.

Having led a northern option a few days ago the ex Figaro aces Xavier Macaire and Pierre Leboucher (Groupe SNEF) have seen their choice paying a dividend for the last 36 hours. They now lead the Class 40 race by 59 miles. But with a high pressure area moving in to effectively bar the route to Martinique with a zone of light winds, it is very unclear whether Macaire and Leboucher will come good, or whether a pack which has climbed even more north will circumvent the worst of the light airs will prevail when the new breeze is established. And southerly option led by Italian Ambrogio Beccaria and Nico Andrieu (Alle Grande PIRELLI) also still has strong possibilities.

"There is still very little in it. At the moment the group in the north led by Credit Mutuel (Ian Lipinski and Antoine Carpentier) are on a big detour to the north, but they hook into a little low pressure which gives them a corridor to get south again as the trades re-establish themselves, them coming into the Antilles from the north. But there is not much to choose and for sure it looks to be a very close, grouped finish." Suggests Christian Dumard the race's weather supplier.

Britons Alister Richardson and Brian Thompson (T'quila) are now in seventh, well placed in their southerly group, just needing to stay fast and patient to see how the final days of the race play out.

transatjacquesvabre.org

SSL Gold Cup 1/16 Finals in Gran Canaria
With ten teams qualifying from the 1/32 Finals and six new teams joining the competition, the 1/16 Finals were always going to be exciting and intense. Little did we know just how much drama would unfold over the four days!

14 races were sailed in total, with the Golden Double Points Super Sunday hampered by a lack of wind until the afternoon resulting in two fleets being unable to race on the final day due to the 16:00 start time cut-off.

Some of the tightest racing was seen in Fleet 1, where Chile, Malaysia and Estonia finished on equal points while Austria were only two points behind. There was a different winner in every race, and Estonia only missed out on qualifying for the 1/8 Finals due to not winning a race. Sadly this fleet was unable to race on Super Sunday

The other fleet unable to race on Super Sunday was Fleet 4, but the battle was not as tight. Lithuania put in a commanding performance to win the group, winning two races and finishing second in the other, only losing to the second qualifier Slovenia.

USA, Argentina, Poland, Brazil, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden and France now enter the competition at the 1/8 Finals stage and will face off against the eight qualifiers. See you Tuesday at 10.30am local time for the beginning of the 1/8 Finals of the SSL Gold Cup Finals series, the football world cup of sailing.

starsailors.com

ssl-goldcup.com

Time for a rethink - Zhik
It's a sea boot, Jim, but not as we know it... Zhik decided to redevelop the concept from scratch

Sometimes the very best products are realised through incremental advances. But when new, radically different materials become available it's far better to rethink the solution from scratch. Zhik has always had the confidence to do this, even when the result is a product that looks like none of the competition.

Since its inception two decades ago, Zhik has sought to be different. Not for the sake of it, but from a belief that existing manufacturers were failing to harness developments in technical fabrics that could offer a step-change in the comfort and effectiveness of sailing clothing.

Full article in the December issue of Seahorse

2023 Melges 24 European Sailing Series
Trogir, Croatia - It was the phenomenal end of the CRO Melges 24 Cup in Trogir, where the Melges 24 Croatian Open Championship was held last weekend with 27 boats from Croatia, Italy, Hungary and Great Britain.

This year's most numerous Melges 24 regatta in Europe, after the World Championship in Denmark, organized by the Sailing Club of Trogir, was a true 'happy end' of the third season of the most substantial Croatian sailing competition.

The overall winner of the CRO Melges 24 Cup 2023 is the Panjic crew with helmsman Luka Sangulin, who showed the most consistent sailing during this series' seven regattas. It is the second title for the crew from Biograd, after winning the CRO Melges 24 Cup's inaugural edition in 2021. In the Corinthian division, the title went to Zadar's Tutta Forza.

The final ranking results of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series will be announced on Wednesday, November 22.

Top 3 of the Melges 24 Croatian Open Championship 2023:
1. Strambapapá ITA - Michele Paoletti - 6
2. Razjaren CRO (Croatian champion) - Ante Cesic - 7
3. Arkanoè by Montura ITA - Sergio Caramel - 12

Top 3 of the Melges 24 Croatian Open Championship 2023 (Corinthian):
1. Forever G ITA - Andrea Totis - 36
2. Blue Label CRO (Croatian champion) - Hrvoje Petrovic - 38
3. Tutta Forza CRO - Niko Jakovcev - 41

Top 3 of the CRO Melges 24 Cup 2023 results (7 events):
1. Panjic - Luka Sangulin - 22
2. Mataran 24 - Ante Botica - 27
3. Razjaren - Ante Cesic - 33

Top 3 of the CRO Melges 24 Cup 2023 results (7 events) in the Corinthian division:
1. Tutta Forza - Niko Jakovcev - 64
2. Zen - Kolja Dumanic - 87
3. Blue Label - Hrvoje Petrovic - 95

Complete results of the Melges 24 Croatian Open Championship

melges24.com/europeansailingseries

Christmas Coffee Table Books - J Class - FREE SHIPPING
Click on image to right for more images.

Rare deluxe book & folio set from Yachting Heritage - J Class by Francois Chevalier & Jacques Taglang. Signed by the authors. This was a limited edition, hand-numbered #820/2900. Book is in excellent condition, rarely removed from the slipcase. Also includes a folio of additional images. Published in 2002.

In French and English. Illustrated with a watercolor by Marin-Marie and black and white drawings, sail and yacht plans, photographs, Decorative endpapers. Oblong folio. Linen-covered boards with blue J within a wreath on cover

Book is in excellent condition, rarely removed from the slipcase.

Price reduced to $375 USD and includes shipping to anywhere in North America or Europe . Contact

Lessons Of The Boulangere Mini Transat
Marked by speed records, a low number of retirements and an international podium, the 24th edition of the La Boulangere Mini Transat was won in the proto class by Federico Waksman and in the series by Luca Rosetti. Tip & Shaft reviews the race with organiser Emmanuel Versace, weather consultant Christian Dumard, coaches Damien Cloarec (Roscoff) and François Jambou (Concarneau) and architect David Raison.

The 24th edition of the Mini Transat came to an end on Friday morning with the arrival of the last competitor, Romain Van Enis (James Caird), in Saint-François, Guadeloupe. Of the 90 competitors who lined up at the start on 25 September in Les Sables d'Olonne, "there were only four retirements, which is less than 5% of the fleet, which proves that the boats are well prepared", emphasises Emmanuel Versace. François Jambou, coach to around fifteen minis in Concarneau, makes the same observation: "The projects are getting more and more serious. In order to qualify, the ministes are sailing more and the general level is increasing".

Another major feature of this year's edition is the supremacy of foreign sailors on the podium. In the proto class, overall victory (and victory on the second leg) went to Uruguayan Federico Waksman (Repremar Shipping Uruguay) ahead of Spaniard Carlos Manera (Xucla), the latter having won the first leg. In the series, Italy's Luca Rosetti (race = care) won on his Maxi 650, while Belgium's Michael Gendebien (Barillec Marine-Actemium) won the first leg on a Pogo 3 (finishing just off the podium overall). "It's great news, as it will raise the profile of the class internationally," says a delighted François Jambou.

Read more in the latest issue of Tip & Shaft

Ingrid Abery 2024 Sailing Calendar
Looking for some colourful vitamin sea this winter? The Ingrid Abery 2024 Sailing Calendar transports you to a fresh setting each month. From Cowes to the Caribbean, Sardinia to St Tropez twenty five images capture drama, action and atmosphere. A great Christmas present the calendar can be ordered gift-wrapped and sent directly to you recipient.

Ingrid's lenses have again been at the sharp end of the international race circuit. Opening the year is the inaugural Richard Mille Cup that drew various Mediterranean regulars from their classic circuit. In the fresh to fruity conditions of this year's Rolex Fastnet race Ultim multihull winner SVR Lazartigue was captured accelerating off the start. Just days prior the same patch of the Solent offered a calmer burst of colour with the Spirit 52 Flight of Ufford leading Class 1 in the British Classic Week.

The majestic J-Class meanwhile are featured sparring in the swell off Porto Cervo as Rambler 88 slices through the spray light a knife through butter. A tour around the Caribbean takes you to the Superyacht circuit in St Barths, striking inter-island racing at the BVI Spring regatta and a mouthwatering view of the St Thomas International regatta.

Opening up to A2 each month offers two richly printed photos plus a generous box calendar in which to make notes. The price for all these images is just 20 Euros apiece plus p/p. Orders can be placed seamlessly through the website where UK, European and worldwide postage is detailed.

The calendar can be viewed and purchased at: ingridabery.com/calendar

Cup Spy Nov 17-18: Basic AC75 testing continues for two teams in Barcelona
Alinghi Red Bull Racing and and American Magic continued their AC75 development programs - with the US team focussed on newly installed cockpit control systems. Alinghi Red Bull Racing have changed their mainsheet system. The Italian team look to be in a finishing phase of their their successful LEQ12 program, with today's focus being on comparative wing foil testing.

What happened in the Cup - November 17-18, 2023:

- Alinghi Red Bull Racing - Sailed but did not get foiling properly. The objective of the sail appeared to be commissioning the new mainsheet system, where cable and pulley blocks have replaced the standard external hydraulic ram.

- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - Sailed out of Cagliari, in a good breeze. The focus seemed to be on wing foil testing with cameras attached to both foils to show immersed foil issues. It will be interesting to see the next phase of the Italian program and whether they bring one of their AC75s into test action to check control systems to be used on their raceboat.

- American Magic - Sailed out of Barcelona on Saturday - their final sail for the week. They appeared to have put their earlier issues behind them and were foiling without too many control system issues. The screens and cockpit layout reflect their recent upgrades - see images in this story.

- Emirates Team New Zealand - Did not sail on Saturday, November 18

- INEOS Britannia - Did not sail - they had rudder/rudder box issues from the previous day - there is no further comment from the team as to the nature of the damage, or the impact it will have on their testing program.

- Orient Express Racing Team - Their AC40 is en route to Jeddah.

All teams are/have shipped AC40s to Jeddah for the second Preliminary Event at the end of November. No further official update on security concerns.

Read Richard Gladwell's full commentary in Sail-World.com

Shannon Estuary & Limerick Have Combined Over Centuries As Ireland's Most Innovative Sailing Area
The Cruising Group can often emerge as the backbone of any sailing club, particularly in the winter. Back in the day when the new Howth Yacht Club premises opened in March 1987, fresh concepts were needed to ensure that the large building was well used on a year-round basis. Gary McGuire was the founding-convenor for this then-novel concept (in Howth anyway) of a weekly winter gathering of cruising folk, supported in turn by rallies and cruises-in-company of all lengths in summer.

Today, it continues to thrive, the largest single grouping in the club, and an active user of all aspects of its clubhouse/marina complex. So when you get a request to introduce a speaker to Cruising Group people with this level of enthusiasm and dedication, it merits some thought and more. Certainly this was the case recently when I got the call, from HYC's current convenor Susan Kavanagh and her predecessor Gerry O'Neill, to give the word on Limerick's lone sailor Pat Lawless.

He was coming to provide what proved to be a packed house with the full insight to himself, and his family's multi-generational interaction with the sea and particularly its oceans. Almost immediately it was clear that, as everyone already knows a bit - while some know a lot - about Pat, and his involvement with the Golden Globe sailing the Saga 36 Green Rebel, there might be more point on the night to introduce him by giving some attention to his home area and the Limerick sailing scene which shaped his devotion to the oceans.

WM Nixon's full article in Afloat magazine

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
S&S Swan 65-001 'Peak'. 700,000 EUR VAT Paid. Located in Marina di Scarlino, Italy.

Peak is hull number one of the iconic Swan 65’s designed by Sparkman & Stephens as the flagship boat for Nautor Swan in 1973. Only 41 boats were made in the series and due to the excellent construction and craftsmanship, most are still sailing today. The current owner’s have had Peak for over 20 ye

See listing details in Nautor Swan Brokerage

Contact
Nautor Swan Brokerage

-----------------------------------------

J /121-Jackhammer. 369,000 USD. Located in the USA.

Jackhammer, embodies high-performance and ocean racing excellence. A J/121 40’ offshore speedster that can be day raced or distance sailed by just 5 or fewer crew. She boasts an impressive pedigree and is extremely well equipped.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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

-----------------------------------------

1964 Kialoa II S & S Classic Racing Yacht. 920,000 ex Vat EUR. Located in Hamble, UK. A rare opportunity to purchase a classic boat with huge provenance.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Owen Clarke Performance Yacht Brokerage Services
Unit 21, Hamble Yacht Services
Port Hamble
Hants
SO31 4NN
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 2380 174 134

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

The Last Word
They dance the Hoochie Coochie when work is done. They dance by the light of the Moon. Buffalo Girls are plenty smart. -- Bobette McCarthy

Editorial and letter submissions to

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