EuroSail News #5473 - 14 December
In This Issue
• WMRT Season Final
• Italians lead the charge at Youth Sailing World Championships
• Christmas Coffee Table Books
• Lanzarote iQFOiL Games
• Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest
• Saudi Spectacular - OnCourse Episode 28
• Pascoe Storms To Victory At Apocalyptic Datchet
• Sea Ventures Super Series Test Event
• Flames engulf California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey
• Featured Charter: Mystic
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Swan 105-002 'Selena'
• • Kialoa II S & S Classic Racing Yacht
• • Gunboat 68
• The Last Word: Willie Nelson
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
WMRT Season Final
The World Match Racing Tour kicked off its highly anticipated Shenzhen Baoan Final today as the top twelve match racing teams from nine countries gathered in the Baoan District of Shenzhen, where they were met with a mix of conditions that tested their skills on the opening day.
The Race Committee, run by Principal Race Officer Randy Smith, successfully completed four flights of the round-robin. Among the day's standout performers was Sweden's Björn Hansen, who finished the day with a strong score of 3-0. Hansen, who hasn't been competitively match racing since 2016, was eager to return to the circuit.
Also on three wins is New Zealand's Nick Egnot-Johnson and his KNOTS Racing after winning against USA's Chris Poole, Denmark's Jeppe Borch, and fellow kiwi Gavin Brady.
Although the tough conditions today made for interesting results, many favorites still need to get some racing done and will shake up the leaderboard tomorrow. The 2023 Bermuda Gold Cup Winner Johnie Berntsson and his team have one challenging race under their belt.
On the conditions, Bernstsson commented, "Unfortunately, there was a close loss after leading most of the race and where the verdict was finally decided. I am very happy with the way we sailed the race in light winds, which are normally very difficult conditions."
The 2023 Congressional Cup winner and number one ranked skipper Chris Poole ended today with a 50-50 score, two wins and two losses. Despite being faced with flight delay challenges during the official practice day yesterday, Riptide Racing was ready to get their points on the board today.
Get live race results from matchracingresults.com
Italians lead the charge at Youth Sailing World Championships
It was a day of change at the top of the standings across the Youth Sailing World Championships, as new leaders emerged after a third day of racing.
Italian sailors led the charge, as Carola Colasanto rose to the top of the iQFOiL female class with two victories, while Mattia Cesana now has a healthy lead in the ILCA 6 male.
There was also success for Quan Cardi and Mattia Tognocchi, who reclaimed top spot in the 420 male, while Emma Mattivi sits top of the ILCA 6 female class.
Elsewhere, there was an impressive trio of bullets from Stanisław Trepczyński (POL) to haul him to the top of the iQFOiL male class.
He joins Ewa Lewandowska and Julia Maria Zmudzinska as Polish sailors currently in gold medal positions.
Christmas Coffee Table Books
OK, so this one isn't coffee table sized, but it's rare, particularly in brand new condition. Never opened, never read, perfect condition. has been in a protective Brodart sleeve for over 20 years.
1st Ed. 352 PP with b/w illustrations in text plus 16 pages with 44 b/w photos. Hard cover, published by Wiley in 1997.
Sailors, Racing Boat Owners, Rule Makers, Yacht Designers, in the struggle to win the handicap war and what the sailor must do today.
$250 includes shipping to anywhere in the world.
Lanzarote iQFOiL Games started today with the first races of the Final Series
With the first day of the Final Series completed, the Marathon race is scheduled for tomorrow with a course that will take the fleet to the island of Lobos passing Punta del Papagayo.
The first day of the final series at the Lanzarote iQFOiL Games saw the wind already blowing at more than 15 knots in the early in the morning and so the 160 windsurfers competing in the last big event of the year enjoyed the best conditions yet on the race course which was laid right in front of Marina Rubicón. And now with the fleet already divided into the gold and silver groups, the respective leaders are still Sharon Kantor and Luuc Van Opzeeland.
Tomorrow will be the fourth day of competition, and the iQFOiLs will compete the Marathon race, which will score double points and will have a course that will take the 160 participants to the island of Lobos passing through Punta del Papagayo. The weather forecast predicts +20 knots NE winds.
Provisional podium. iQFOiL Women. Day 3. (top three of 72 entries)
1. Sharon Kantor, 17
2. Katy Spychakov, 17
3. Emma Wilson, 22
Provisional podium. iQFOiL Men. Day 3. (top three of 88 entries)
1. Luuc Van Opzeeland, 25
2. Nicolo Renna, 42
3. Nicolas Goyard, 65
Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest: the pressure starts to build ahead of January start date
Starting off Brest, France on January 7th six Ultim skippers will set out to make history by competing in the first solo multihull race around the world.
Ealier this month in Paris all of the skippers mustered at the Workshop des Lumières in the heart of the capital, meeting up with all the major partners of the race and being presented to the media.
All the the skippers who will compete in the race were present. Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI), winner of the recent Transat Jacques Vabre, Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), winner of the last Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) who who has attempted to circumnavigate the world solo on a multihull six times, all spoke of their enthusiasm and their experience.
So too did Tom Laperche (SVR - Lazartigue) who benefits from the advice of François Gabart, Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 3), who is the successor to Yves Le Blevec, and Éric Péron (Adagio) who only joined the adventure last September.
The evening proved a great platform to highlight the commitment of all the partners of the race, in particular title partner, Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, as well as main partners, Brest metropolis and the City of Brest, "the port of maritime records", Brittany Region and the Department of Finistère.
And so everyone present enjoyed the evening, sharing time together in anticipation of sharing the opening of the race village on the Quai Malbert in Brest, on December 29, and on the big start, January 7, 2024.
Saudi Spectacular - OnCourse Episode 28
The Saudi Arabia venue for the second America's Cup Preliminary event was always likely to be controversial, but few expected the AC40 series to redefine high performance racing on foils - Yet that's precisely what the three day series did.
Moving six teams along with the travelling Cup circus to a country and coastline that has never previously hosted a grand prix sailing event of any kind was a bold call. But after a week of training and racing it was clear that this style of high octane racing had changed for good.
Plus, we talk exclusively to the new IMOCA Globe Series Champion Sam Goodchild about his performance in the Transat Jaques Vabre and discover his pick of the pack in the ultra competitive IMOCA fleet as the focus draws in on the 2024 Vendée Globe. -- Matt Sheahan
Pascoe Storms To Victory At Apocalyptic Datchet
Sam Pascoe defied heinous conditions to win an impossibly windy Datchet Flyer, the second event in this season's Seldén SailJuice Winter Series. With 92 entries from 41 classes braving an apocalyptic weather forecast, this was either going to be a humdinger of an event, or not happen at all.
Despite heavy rain and gusts nearing 40 knots on Saturday, principal race officer Seb Camisuli and the Datchet team did a great job of delivering four races across a hectic weekend. Challenging didn't even begin to describe it.
Of the 92 entries, 76 boats made it onto the water across the weekend, although the high rate of attrition meant only 23 boats completed all four races. Virtually every boat capsized at some point, and there was quite a bit of damage to boats and some stitches in the head for Musto Skiff sailor Mark Cooper.
At arrival time on Saturday morning, the fleet was greeted with torrential rain and not much wind, although this cleared on cue for launching and a pleasant 13 knots of breeze. However the breeze had built to 20 knots by the end of Race 1, which was a close battle between the Musto Skiffs, Contenders, and 505s, with Pascoe (Castle Cove SC) winning.
Day 2 (Sunday) brought almost tropical conditions and a pleasant breeze. Race 3 was raced in a much more gentle 12 knots, seeing another close win for Pascoe (Musto Skiff), from Tom Morris and James Curtis (RS800 - HISC), and Sam Barker (Musto Skiff - Castle Cove SC), third.
Overall the top two remained the same, with Pascoe (Musto Skiff) taking another win to go with his victory at the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash, followed by Imogen Wade and Hugo Valentine (420) in 2nd. Ed Presley (Contender - Castle Cove SC), took 3rd overall, knocking last year's Datchet Flyer winner Ben Flower (ILCA 7) off the podium and down to 4th overall.
The weekend's racing was a credit to the race management and the courage of the competitors to head out into really hard conditions. It really was the best of British boat racing.
Sea Ventures Super Series Test Event - Round 4, Hamble
Saturday 9th December saw the final round of the Sea Ventures Super Series, points were tight for the overall leader board between three of the top Sun Fast 3300 teams: Kestrel, GameOn and Fastrak. With a very lively WSW/Westerly wind and heavy rain forecast, starting and racing in Southampton Water (Close to Hamble) wasn't favourable, so an early decision was taken on Friday to start teams on the Island Sailing Club line off Cowes.
With the forecast earlier in the week putting off many competitors – on Saturday it was down to the duo of Kestrel and Fastrak who would battle it out in a 'Match Race' to determine the Round 4 winner and points towards the overall series title.
Having missed Round 2 – Lymington, of the Super Series – Fastrak was carrying a heavy 18-point deficit and so even winning the last Round – Hamble, she finished up in 2nd with 29 points. The Sea Ventures Super Series Overall Winner title was awarded to Simon Bamford onboard Kestrel with 22.5 point having competed in all but the last race.
Overall Results - Top 3
1. Kestrel, Sun Fast 3300, Simon Bamford, 22.5 points
2. Fastrak XII, Sun Fast 3300 - James Harayda, 29
3. GameOn, Sun Fast 3300 - Ian Hoddle, 31
Flames engulf California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey
Two firefighters were injured while battling flames that engulfed a yacht club that has been a local landmark in Marina del Rey for decades.
The fire was reported around 11:30 p.m. Monday at the California Yacht Club on Admiralty Way, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Fire crews arrived on scene to heavy fire and smoke billowing from the building, and it was quickly upgraded to a 2nd alarm fire before it was eventually extinguished.
The injured male firefighters were taken to the hospital with moderate injuries, but additional details about their injuries were not known. They have since been released.
The California Yacht Club started back in 1922. The former owner told Eyewitness News that his father helped build the Marina del Rey building over 50 years ago.
"It's been a home for so many people. We are so heartbroken right now... It tears me apart to see... It's just terrible," said Steve Hathaway.
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Featured Brokerage
Swan 105-002 'Selena' 7,950,000. EUR VAT Paid. Located in Badalona, Spain.
Commissioned by an experienced owner using Nautor Swan, Frers Naval Architecture and Beiderbeck Design has made this yacht one of the most unique builds in Nautor Swan history. Not only does Selena have excellent sailing performance, her design maximises space both on deck and in the interiors, special attention was paid to keeping a low noise level throughout the yacht.
On deck, SELENA features a bright and spacious cockpit area with mahogany finished seating and dining area adjacent to the twin helm positions. A fixed carbon cockpit bimini provides protection from the elements with retractable sun shade, removable side curtains and a forward glass panel, able to slide continuously from closed to completely open, while the integrated mainsheet point allows a walkthrough cockpit arrangement.
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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.
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Gunboat 68. POA EUR.
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The Last Word
If you wait for tomorrow to follow your dreams, by the time that you get there they're gone. -- Willie Nelson
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