Scuttlebutt Europe #2297 - 4 March
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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 Pointing North, Pacific Done
Since their enforced 48 hours pit-stop in Wellington to replace essential mainsail batten-cars, Virbac-Papred 3 crossed the remainder of the Pacific to Cape Horn in 15 days 1 hour and 35 minutes, their aggregate time since leaving the start line on 31st December of 61 days 22 hours 20 minutes. MAPFRE's passage time of 12 days 08hours and 20 minutes not only ensures that the Spanish pair have set the bar very high as the time to beat for the fourth of the race's ocean trophies, but the hard driving pair have surpassed the record from the inaugural edition of the race of 14d 00h 31m for the 4270 miles passage which was set by Pachi Rivero and Javier 'Bubi' Sanso on Mutua Madrilena. Dominque Wavre, co-skipper of Mirabaud revealed today that Michele Paret has been in her bunk since taking a fall in the cockpit yesterday. The duo are hoping that the rest which Paret is getting while Wavre battles on, effectively in solo 'Vendée Globe' mode will be enough to allow her to recover: "Last night, in the middle of a manoeuvre, Michele took a heavy fall in the cockpit and passed out while I was on the foredeck. When she came to, she managed to get back inside the boat and with considerable courage even made it back out shortly afterwards to help me get through the gybe." So far, it seems that the medication we took on board in New Zealand hasn't helped restore her to full health; for the last few days she's been suffering a great deal and we have had to reduce sail to make the conditions easier. The performance of the boat is obviously affected, but Michele is in no state to be out on deck at the moment. For the moment she is on the sidelines and I'm back in 'Vendee Globe' mode, power-napping for 20 minutes when I can. Rankings at 1400hrs Thursday 3rd March 2011 Closest Ever Finish In Solo Ocean Racing History After nearly four weeks at sea and more than 6,700 miles of racing through the Southern Ocean and the South Atlantic from New Zealand to Uruguay, the fight for second place came down to a drag race to the finish line. As a flotilla of boats took to the waters off Punta del Este to witness the finale and welcome in the skippers they were greeted by two unmistakable shapes on the horizon - Operon Racing and Spartan neck and neck, separated by less than a mile. With around a mile to the finish line it was CSM who had the slight advantage but after taking a course too close to the shore he was forced to gybe twice to lay the line, allowing Gutek to capitalise. In an amazing photo finish it was Gutek who emerged the victor, sneaking in front of CSM right at the last moment to clinch second place by less than a minute. Gutek crossed the finish line at 4.40pm local time (1840 UTC) after 25 days, 17 hours and ten minutes. Forty seconds later, CSM crossed. And in an exhilarating conclusion to the leg, Canadian Derek Hatfield blasted across the line just over an hour later after 25 days, 18 hours and 22 minutes. Following Brad Van Liew's win on Tuesday afternoon, all four boats arrived in just over 48 hours of each other. Ocean sprint four will see the fleet sprint 5,800 nautical miles to Charleston, starting on March 27. Final Positions: 1st Brad Van Liew - 23 days, 17 hours and 46 minutes One Day Left to Register for Dyneema&Reg; Competition, Free Rigging and Sailing Master Class Up For Grabs 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 Tough To Keep It Tight
After the excitement of yesterday's match racing, the eleven boats with their owners at the helm were given an even tougher challenge. They started the first day of fleet racing on a line just metres from the end of Broadway Pier. It meant that the fleet was compressed into a tight space before they had even lined up for the final approach to the line. There were plenty of oohs and ahhs from the spectators jostling for a view on the end of Broadway Pier as a result. It was a day when good tactical management and consistent speed through the gears were the keys to a good performance. The breeze pulsed up and down between eight to sixteen knots. It shifted left and right by up to 30-40 degrees around the mean westerly direction. The current swirled around the bay and then changed for the final fourth race to keep everyone on their toes right up to the end of the day. Perhaps it was no surprise then, that it was the reigning class champions that led the way. Larry Ellison steered ORACLE Racing to a win, a couple of seconds and a fifth. It put them into the overnight lead with a four point advantage over Katusha, steered by local Long Beach resident, Bob Little - who kept it tight with two thirds and two fourths. David Murphy's Ironbound found consistency a little harder to come by. This is the boat's rookie year and they are having an eventful introduction to RC44 racing. At the end of day one, Ironbound's scoreline read; 10, 2, 11, 1, for a sixth place overall. JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship A fleet of 29 teams, representing USA, UK and New Zealand, as well as Australian crews from NSW, Western Australia and Queensland will contest the Winning Appliances JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship, which begin tomorrow on Sydney Harbour. The first event of what is the world's top 18ft Skiff regatta is the traditional Invitation Race to allow all teams to become acquainted with the harbour conditions. Races 1 and 2 of the championship will be sailed on Saturday and Sunday before the first of two lay days on Monday. Pre regatta favourite is likely to be the defending champion Seve Jarvin and his Gotta Love It 7 team of Sam Newton and Scott Babbage, but there will be strong opposition from a number of top class teams. Current Australian champions Michael Coxon, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas (all multiple Giltinan winners) on Thurlow Fisher Lawyers have had to overcome some gear problems in recent outings but are sure to push Jarvin, and anyone else, to the limits. Past champions, Howie Hamlin (USA), who is a two times winner (2002 and 2003) and John Winning (2000) will each be striving for another win. Both Hamlin (CST Composites) and Winning (Yandoo) have new boats built for the championship and have displayed the type of form in lead up races to make them definite chances. There are several new and young teams contesting the Giltinan Championship for the first time and the 62nd contest should be one of the best since it was first staged in 1938. Race dates are: All races will start at 3pm, with the exceptions of Races 1 and 6, which will start at 4pm. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League www.18footers.com.au Peters & May Racing Sponsor Jarrod Simpson in the 18ft Skiff Jj Giltinan in Sydney Regarded as the holy grail of 18-Footer racing, this world-class annual regatta commences Friday 4th March and promises fast-paced, spectacular skiff racing between the world's leading dinghy sailors. Jarrod and crew Ian Turnbull and Adam Ovington have raced together in many events and go to fly the flag for British sailing with Andy Budgen's crew against the formidable Australian line up. Peters & May wish both teams the very best for the event. For more information on sponsorship by Peters & May Racing, visit www.petersandmay.com or email RYA Volvo Dinghy Show This Weekend Under the roof of the magnificent Alexandra Palace in London, the RYA will be launching a number of new initiatives and publications. The show marks the official launch of the RYA's new Sail for Gold programme (13.45, Volvo Main Stage, Saturday), which aims to bring the excitement of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games to sailing clubs and training centres across the country. There will also be more information about how you and your club can get involved with the programme on the RYA stand in the Panorama Hall. The Green Blue, the environmental programme of the RYA and BMF will be launching their new Green Club Guide with the help of Mike Golding, Vendee Globe Skipper and Ambassador for The Green Blue (14.45, RYA Stand Panorama Hall, Saturday). The Green Guide is packed full of practical advice to show clubs how to make environmental improvements and save money. * Neil Pryde (the man himself) will be flying in from Hong Kong to attend this year's RYA Volvo Dinghy Show, 5-6 March, Alexandra Palace, London, for the launch of the new NeilPryde RS ONE Racing Project. This new board and rig combination aims to bring windsurfing full circle back to its roots offering one design cruising and racing for all ages, abilities and budgets. With Neil's backing, The RS ONE has already hit the international scene in style with an opening event at the Asian Windsurfing Games held in the heart of Singapore's business district. Come and see the new board and rig in the flesh, as well as the man behind the project and the world's biggest windsurfing brand for the past 40 years on and NeilPryde Sailing Stand (Hall 3, Stand C76). Neil will also be joining in with the National Windsurfing Week preparations and supporting the hard working team at Windsurfing 4 Cancer (W4CR) who will also be exhibiting throughout the show, in the windsurfing area. * The Fireball Class will be out in force at this years RYA Volvo Dinghy Show 2011 from 5th & 6th March at Alexandra Palace, London. Come and visit us on an extended stand D6 to see three different examples of the Fireball, by Winder Boats, Dinghysport and the new boat from Weathermark Sailboats. These three boats will be showcasing a variety of fit out and rigging options including sails from North Sails and Pinnell & Bax. Also at the show on the Selden Stand you will find Fireball 15045 "Sleep Terrorist" that Dave Wade and Ben McGrane used to win the 2010 Nationals. In addition Harken will be showcasing their latest fittings on a another new Winder Fireball. In addition complementary copies of the class magazine 'Fireball News" will be available to take away, along with 2011 fixtures lists. * Some of the very best dinghies around will once again be on display at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show, from timeless classics to the very latest designs, all vying to be the best of the best and crowned winner of The Spitfire Premium Ale Concours d'Elegance. Now in its third year, the judging team will be looking for the boat they consider to be the best presented at the show - old or new, classic or modern design. Which one do you think will win? Past winners of the coveted trophy have been Mandy Mitchell with her GP 14 'Koru' in 2009 and Stephen Beresford with his National Redwing, sail number R 249 in 2010. To be eligible to win the trophy, the boat must be displayed by a class association and must have been sailed at least once. The panel of judges will visit all class association stands exhibiting at the show during Saturday 5 March 2011 with the winners' trophy being presented to the owner of the winning boat during the Exhibitors Party on Saturday evening. * LaserPerformance launches a new Optimist to the European Market this month. The new Optimist will be branded the Vapor. The Optimist has long been a part of LaserPerformance's range. However, the Vapor sees LaserPerformance return Optimist production to the facility in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, USA alongside the Laser, V15 and Sunfish. The Vapor is available in two versions - the Vapor and Vapor XD. The Vapor features new rule blades, Harken blocks, stainless steel mounting hardware and a North training sail. The Vapor XD comes equipped with the very best components from Harken, Ronstan, TEB, Optimax and Zhik. Both versions share the same hull. To launch the Vapor in the UK, LaserPerformance have selected 3 sailors from the UK Optimist National Squad to compete in the Vapor XD throughout the 2011 season. LaserPerformance wish Daniel Whiteley, Jennifer Cropley and Fraser Woodley the very best of luck on the water this season and will be watching their performances with great enthusiasm. This weekend, the Vapor XD will be on display on the LaserPerformance stand (B10) at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace, London. The Vapor was launched in the US in early 2010 and is now available throughout Europe. For full details of what's on at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show and to book your tickets visit www.dinghyshow.org.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0844 811 0409. Sail Faster And Smarter! Whether you race a one-design or big boat, at the top or bottom of your fleet, you'll find lots of valuable ideas in Speed & Smarts. In fact, when you consider the cost of other go-fast items you can buy, this newsletter gives you extremely good "bang for your buck." View a sample issue at www.speedandsmarts.com/BackIssues/SampleIssue Subscribe at www.speedandsmarts.com Gill Commodore's Cup There were plenty of highlights and colorful images in all six divisions. One of the more memorable moments came during a leeward mark-rounding in the second contest of the three-race series, when a pair of Class 2 boats - the Melges 24, Budget Marine/GILL, and the Open 750, Panic Attack, with its distinctive square-topped main - finished their first windward leg just as the fleet's largest boat, the Dubois 90, Genuine Risk, completed their second. The juxtaposition of the three wildly divergent boats, with Genuine Risk's five-spreader rig towering over the action, was emblematic of the range and variety of the assembled racers. The big winner today, however, was the canting-keel Cookson 50, Jazz, which made her impressive Caribbean debut with three straight victories to top Class 1 in striking fashion. Jazz (formerly known as Evolution Racing) has traveled halfway around the world, mostly via freighter, since winning the IRC-0 class in the recent Sydney-Hobart Race. And with her victory in the GILL Commodore's Cup, she has served notice that she'll be a force to contend with in the upcoming St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. For full information on the GILL Commodore's Cup and the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, as well as entry lists, past results, photos, videos, party and band information, the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and much, much more, visit www.heinekenregatta.com 2nd Nacional Open Snipe Regatta Molly and I qualified for this event after winning the Women's World Championships last November. The organizers invited sailors to come to this event and they have provided us with fantastic housing and a great boat. All we had to bring was ourselves and sails. We are looking forward to the opportunity to fleet race again. There are around 80 boats registered from 5 different countries, so we will definitely get some good learning experiences. We are off to dinner now; yes it's 9pm, but we are in Spain, and it's their culture to eat late, so we are diving into it wholeheartedly. Racing starts tomorrow at 1pm. There are no more than three races scheduled per day so hopefully the wind will be great and the sun will be out and we will have some exciting stories to report back. You can check out the results on the regatta website www.opennacionalsnipe.com/en/index.php -- Anna Tunniclife, teamtunnicliffe.com Featured Brokerage TOKIO II, a Volvo Ocean 60 Class racer, was designed by John Swarbrick for Chris Dickson´s racing team and was built 1993 in New Zealand. Swarbrick`s new ideas and revolutionary construction drawings of his TOKIO II caused a great sensation and a lot of discussion in the sailing world. The ever famous Z-keel, the cathedral rigging, the deep drawn arrow-hull, that gives TOKIO II a very modern V.O.70 lookalike, the dynamic shape of her construction lines, the so strongly built bow, winches and rigging and much more make this yacht one of the most outstanding und unique examples of the art and craftsmanship in modern raceyacht history. In 2007 she had a complete renewal of paint and antifouling and serviced every part of her. TOKIO II is a well performing V.O.60 raceyacht with a nice shape of classical elegance. Her good performance and excellent seaworthiness, her complete and comfortabel equipment and a lot of space below deck guarantee sailing enjoyment of the best. Brokerage through Boatcompany Yachtbrokers: www.yachtworld.com/boatcompany/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at The Last Word |
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