|
Brought to you by Boats.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 Weather Permits One Race at Star European Championships
The 2006 European champion Diego Negri (ITA) with Enrico Voltolini remain as overalls leaders after their second win of the series while local interest hinges on Peter O'Leary and David Burrows in third overall after their second third place of weather-hit event. However, the plan to sail three races to catch-up on the programme was scuppered by the weather once again. Although the strong winds had eased to less than 20 knots, barely half an hour after starting shortly before mid-day, a 30-plus knot squall swept across the fleet that was already dealing with a short, choppy seaway. Three boats suffered mast damage and retired while there were two reports of separate man-overboard incidents that were successfully recovered. Thursday's forecast offers better hope of completing a minimum number of races for a championship as well as a single discard with light to moderate winds expected leading to an early morning start to racing. Star European Championship 2011 at Royal St. George YC, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland (Provisional overall standings after three races): 1. Diego Negri & Enrico Voltolini, ITA To The Wire In Barcelona Quantum Racing, skippered by America's Cup winner Ed Baird (USA), need a solid final regatta if they are to hold off the advances of Italy's Audi Azzurra Sailing Team and lift the title. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, skippered by Gullermo Parada (ARG) with Vasco Vascotto (ITA) as strategist and Francesco Bruni (ITA) as tactician have proven the most consistent 52 Series team over the second half of this season. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team have just finished second overall at the Region of Murcia-Cartagena Trophy in August after July's Region of Sardinia Trophy off Cagliari where they also finished runners up. They are the only team to have been on the podium at each and every regatta this year. The Audi Azzurra Sailing Team crew which last year as Matador finished third overall, only five points shy of Quantum Racing who were second in 2010, show every sign of finishing their season on a high. They could press Quantum Racing right to the wire heading into 2011's Barcelona finale only 3.5 points behind long time Circuit leaders Quantum Racing. Since winning the Cascais Trophy in Portugal the American team Quantum Racing have topped the overall standings after each of the four regattas so far this season but their lead was effectively halved in Murcia last month. The final regatta of the season, the Conde de Godó - Barcelona Trophy starts in just one week's time when the battle for the title might even become a three cornered one as the German flagged team on Udo Schuetze's Container are still only 11.5 points behind the 52 Series Circuit leaders. In the 40 Series it is not as open. Spain's Iberdrola Sailing Team start in Barcelona with a lead of 28 points, but they will be racing in a class of six Soto 40's following the arrival of Toni Guiu and Àlex Laplaza's new boat www.cruiser-racer.com, which will make its debut on the team's home waters. Britain's Ngoni became the only team other than the Iberdrola Sailing Team to win a regatta this season when they won in Murcia. Tony Buckingham's crew have designs on the second place which is presently held by Noticia IV. Portugal's Bigamist crew return to race in Barcelona and will be sailing onboard XXII, with Star Olympic sailor Afonso Domingos as skipper-helm along with programme owner Pedro Mendonca. -- Andi Robertson ISAF Match Race Rankings Meanwhile in the Open Rankings another good performance by Williams at the sixth stop of the World Match Race Tour in St. Moritz, Switzerland strengthened his position as World #1. Open Rankings Ian Williams (GBR) regained the World #1 spot in August 2011 after last holding it in June 2008, and the Brit posted a third place finish in the World Match Race Tours sixth stop in Switzerland to solidify top spot whilst Francesco Bruni (ITA) remains #2 after coming seventh in St. Moritz. Women's Rankings The top ten in the Women's Rankings have shuffled around after a busy period of Women's Match Racing competitions which included three Grade 1 events in Italy, Sweden and USA. Anna Tunnicliffe won the Grade 1 Buddy Melges Challenge which was held in Sheboygan, USA, the venue of the 2011 ISAF Nations Cup which takes place from 13-18 September. The victory meant that Tunnicliffe overhauled Claire Leroy (FRA) to take the top spot for the first time since her first inclusion in the Women's Match Race Rankings in 28 March 2006. The next release of the ISAF World Match Race Rankings will be 12 October 2011. Top ten, Open: Top ten, Women:
Get A Deal On The Racing Rules! To order the Rules DVD or learn more about it, go to: www.LearnTheRacingRules.com Early Start, Early Finish
The short course ensured a competitive challenge in all categories. Today's winners included two of last year's overall victors: Niklas Zennstrom's Ran 2 (GBR) in the Mini Maxi World Championship and Claus-Peter Offen's Y3K (GER) in the Wally division. Other celebrating crews were: Highland Fling (MON) in the Racing Maxis; DSK Pioneer Investments (ITA) in the Racing/Cruising Maxi division and Nilaya (GBR) as the top Supermaxi. The fastest yacht on the water was the 100-ft Maxi Esimit Europa 2 (SLO), finishing the course in a rapid 1:45.36. Challenging conditions are again forecast for Thursday. The Mini Maxi fleet is scheduled to take part in windward/leeward racing and that should throw up some new tactical headaches. Elsewhere, it is coastal racing on the agenda, and some interesting rivalries developing. Esimit Europa 2 and Highland Fling have the Maxi Racing division all to themselves. Quite literally. Igor Simcic's crew were faster on the water today although Sir Irvine Laidlaw's Wally-hybrid has the corrected time advantage. In the Wally division, Y3K took today's bullet but cannot rest easy knowing the likes of Magic Carpet 2 (GBR) will sail her close. It is an open field. The same goes for the Supermaxi and Maxi Cruising/Racing division categories. Italian Act Coming Up At the halfway stage, each Act has been won by a different team (Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, Act 1, Muscat; Luna Rossa, Act 2, Qingdao; Artemis Racing, Act 3, Istanbul; Emirates Team New Zealand Act 4, Boston; and Act 5 at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week in the UK, Luna Rossa were near victors but lost out in the final race to Oman's The Wave, Muscat skippered by British Olympic Tornado sailor, Leigh McMillan. With Luna Rossa just 1 point adrift of Emirates Team New Zealand who top the overall standings and the French team of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, 4 points from the top, there is plenty at stake. The Italian public will have not one but two Italian teams to cheer for. The Race Village for Act 6 opens on the 14th September and there is plenty for the public to do and see with promotional and retail stands and live music every day. The Extreme 40 fleet will start racing at 1500 CET every day from the 14th to 18th September, with the fleet racing inside the harbour in 'stadium racing' mode from the 16th. Team Extreme will be racing under the colours of 'Sailing Seacily' during Act 6 and will skippered by Sebbe Godefroid in place of Roland Gaebler. Joining the Extreme 40 fleet for the next three Acts is Britain's most successful Olympic sailor, Ben Ainslie, as he takes over as skipper of Oman Air and the British public and media will be watching closely to see how he takes to two hulls. In addition, local children will be racing in up to 50 Optimist dinghies before the Extreme 40 race as part of the circuit's initiative to open up the doors of its events to young sailors. Overall standings after 5 Acts 1. Emirates Team New Zealand, 44 points Spinnaker Tales Normally the Noosa River Yacht and Rowing Club sailor would be involved with extensive training sessions and racing on the tricky Noosa River estuary to ensure he is boat fit for the coming summer. But unfortunately as every Laser dinghy sailor has leant to understand personal fitness is a key factor behind achieving top results in the class. However while his Laser has remained dry and rugged up under cover on the dinghy cradle Klade has remained tactically aware with racing in the one design Farr 30 and the exciting Melges 32 classes. Sure the ankle was in the final healing process and Klade was becoming a little 'stir crazy' from missing the endless hours of training and hiking from the straps on the Laser when he accepted the tactician's role with the Gladstone husband and wife racing team of Jon and Jeanine Drummond on Loco. This was an important career opportunity for Klade to test his tactical experience in a totally different and unfamiliar class. Naturally he was his normal modest self when we met on the dock at Abel Point Marina during the Airlie Beach Race Week last month. He explained his injury meant it was far too painful to sail his Laser but there was little chance in slowing the healing process with racing in the one design Farr 30 at Airlie Beach followed by crewing with elite sailors Peter Conde and the Stephen Girdis cousins of the same name on Funnelweb at Hamilton Island. Loco faced some stiff opposition from the Townsville crew on the Leon Thomas skippered Guilty Pleasures 111 however they held a firm grip on winning the Silver Medal after they beat the eventual title winner Guilty Pleasures 111 by a comfortable 1 minute 20 seconds in the final race at Airlie Beach. As expected the racing for the Melges 32 crown at the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week became a nip-n-tuck tactical dogfight between the reigning Australian champions on Funnelweb and the Noel Leigh-Smith helmed Southport Yacht Club entry Desperado. Funnelweb won five of the ten races but her inconsistent scores of 4-5-5-6 forced them to fall 1 point short of winning the Gold Medal ahead of the Southport crew in Desperado. Klade Hauschildt naturally had a sun tanned smile on his face after gaining valuable career experience from two intensive weeks of tactical one design racing in Queensland's major keel yacht regattas. He gained further important career exposure when he stowed his sea-bag on the Anthony Bell owned super-maxi Loyal as part of the delivery crew to Sydney. Naturally Klade was disappointed with the interruption to his Laser racing program but made some important contacts which promise to fulfil his ambition to become a professional yacht racing crewmember. -- Ian Grant Dubarry Storm - Designed To Perform Dubarry Storm - the calm within the Storm. Industry News "It's a very tough situation, but we have some hope for some new markets that we've been in contact with," managing director Magnus Rassy told local newspaper Bohusläningen. Hallberg-Rassy's order book was full until the summer of 2010, but demand for new boats has since dropped. In 2009, the company registered sales of SEK530m (€58m), a record financial year. After the downsizing, Hallberg-Rassy's workforce will total 100 people at its main yard on Sweden's west coast, as well as several people working with hull moulding in Kungshamn and some in Germany. -- IBI News -------------------------------------------- The Norwegian International In-Water Boat Show, Bater i sjoen, closed on Sunday with a dip in visitor numbers. Just 11,150 people visited the four-day show in Oslo, which was hampered by heavy rain. Norboat, the Norwegian marine industry association, had expected around 14,000 people to attend. "We had exceptionally bad weather, resulting in low visitors figures," says Norboat managing director Erlend Prytz. "I can't remember so much rain during a boat show during all my years at Norboat." But despite the bad weather, Prytz says he was "very satisfied" with the show and the amount of business that was made there. The Oslo floating show is said to be the biggest in-water boat show in the Nordic region, with 450 boats on the water and 60 exhibitors on shore. -- IBI News -------------------------------------------- According to the organiser, Amsterdam RAI, this year's METS, including the SuperYacht Pavilion 2011, is virtually sold out - well ahead of schedule - and online visitor registration is now open. METS and the Superyacht Pavilion runs from 15 - 17 November at the Amsterdam RAI. The current exhibitor list can be found on metstrade.com - metstrade.com/nl/en/Pages/exhibitorlist.aspx Boating Business: -------------------------------------------- HRH The Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence have commissioned a new yacht from Falmouth based Rustler Yachts. On their decision to commission the brand new Rustler 44, Company Director Adrian Jones said, "We're delighted of course. We are very proud to be building a yacht for Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne and Sir Timothy." The Princess, who is currently the president of the RYA, and Sir Timothy are purchasing their second yacht from Rustler. The previous, a Rustler 36 'Blue Doublet', is now for sale via the shipyard. -------------------------------------------- New markets bring stability to the French marine industry, according to a press conference held by FIN last week' French boatbuilders have been bolstered by activity on new markets, but remain alert to the possibility of a 'double dip', according to the French marine industry federation FIN at a press conference in Paris last week. Losses in countries such as Spain and in Scandinavia have left lasting scars, but emerging marine markets such as China and Brazil are generating business for French boatbuilders, allowing for stabilisation since 2010. April's Rio boat show reportedly yielded 'very, very good' results for French boatbuilders. Regions such as Asia, East Europe, the Middle East and Turkey are also interesting markets for France's marine industry. Two-thirds of the French marine industry's product is exported, but FIN warns domestic producers looking to take advantage of new markets that product adaptations might be necessary for markets where European designs are not readily accepted. -- IBI News -------------------------------------------- A May report on the geography of wealth from the U.S.-based consulting firm Deloitte forecasts that U.S. and European nations will remain the global centers for wealthy households during the next decade. Nonetheless, emerging market economies "are likely to prove to be more dynamic in terms of growth rates, creating significant opportunities for wealth managers seeking to gain a share of these potentially lucrative markets." The boom in Brazil's yacht market attests to that growth. Annual boat sales in Brazil have grown up to 30 percent annually since 2008 depending on the specific segment of the market, industry leaders said. Meanwhile, in the more traditional boating markets in the U.S. and Europe, sales of high-end boats have dropped by 70 percent, analysts said. In the past two years, more than a dozen high-end foreign boat makers have either built a shipyard in Brazil or are partnering with local dealers to export their wares to the market, despite tariffs that range between 70 to 100 percent on imported vessels. -- Bradley Brooks, Associated Press Adrian Pearsall He personally (as in running the band-saws and bending the frames himself) restored numerous yachts way before it was fashionable. Spending many summers in his historically rebuilt cottage, "Uneeda Rest" in Groton Long Point CT, he enjoyed sailing and maintaining the many treasured vessels he rescued and personally restored over the years, including the now famous 1905, 44ft Herreshoff NY-30, AMORITA; the 50', 1913 P-Class Sloop CHIPS; and the 1924 Herreshoff Watch Hill 15, EMMA. Most notably, he was solely responsible for the rescue and re-build of the long time Fastnet Race record holder, the 72', 1926 William Fife designed HALLOWE'EN, which was completely restored over a four year period in a shed behind the Museum of Yachting, in Newport, RI. Among all those that knew Adrian, he was forever humble about his accomplishments and endlessly generous with his successes. A philanthropist for causes large and small, he was private about his contributions, but most notably personally designed, and with his brother Richard, funded a new home for the Ulysses Historical Society, based in Trumansburg, NY in the spring of 1998. He was an inspiration for hard work and generosity, always ready to lend a hand to those with a need and those with a dream. www.ny30.org/adrianmountpearsall.htm Featured Brokerage A great 50ft Open example currently used as a charter vessel for a sailing school. A fantastic racing history: Brokerage through Bernard Gallay Yacht Brokerage: Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com The Last Word |
|
Use this box to send a copy of this issue of the Scuttlebutt Europe Newsletter to a friend: Or [FORWARD] for a page where you can send copies to up to a dozen friends. [USERTRACK]
About Boats.com See the Boats Blog at Boats.com -- www.boats.com/blog/ To subscribe, unsubscribe, and select HTML or Text format visit scuttlebutteurope.com Editorial and letter submissions to Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html |
The Classic Yachting Community lost a true pioneer with the passing of Adrian Pearsall on Tuesday Sept. 6th.
