Scuttlebutt Europe #2429 - 14 September
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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 Royal Canadian Yacht Club Takes Lead after Three Races
In a strong start to the series, the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) team has taken the overall lead on finishes of 2-1-4 to demonstrate that, having placed second in the inaugural event in 2009, they are back and playing to win. Eight of the 10 crew sailing for RCYC competed in 2009, including helm Terry McLaughlin, a silver medallist in the 1984 Olympic Games and skipper of Canada I in the 1983 America's Cup Trials. RCYC will fly the Rolex gold spinnaker, indicating their position as overall standings leader, when racing resumes tomorrow, Wednesday, September 14. They hold the lead position with seven points, followed by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club who had finishes of 3-8-2, for 13 points, and defending champion New York Yacht Club who had finishes of 5-2-8 for 15 points. The Japan Sailing Federation won the opening race of the series and followed with 7-9 for 17 points for fourth place overall and Eastern Yacht Club rounds out the top-five, tied on 17 points, after finishes of 6-5-6. The final race of the day was won by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia after placing 8-11, to stand seventh overall with 20 points. China Team Capsizes During Training
While the majority stayed ashore on a blustery day, Artemis Racing had a successful short training sail in the strong conditions. But China Team wasn't as fortunate, suffering damage to their wing from a spectacular capsize. "Unfortunately the way the boat landed, the wind got under the wing and caused more damage. The boat then flipped over and over going downwind, from stern to bow, which was pretty exciting," said Will Howden, a crew member on China Team. "A pretty nasty one but everyone is OK and that's the main thing." Shore crew will be working through the night in an effort to get the team to the start line tomorrow: "Our technical team and ACRM will be working together to repair the boat," said skipper Charlie Ogletree. "It will be a long night, but we think we'll be up and running tomorrow... Our neighbors - Artemis Racing, ORACLE Racing, have all offered help, which is very nice." The three teams who had previously capsized in Sunday's heavy conditions have all reported they'll be ready to race Wednesday after making minor repairs. Wednesday is the first day of the Plymouth Match Racing Championship, which begins with two days of seeding races ahead of Friday and Saturday's finals. Importantly, even the ninth place team from the seeding fleet races can advance to the final by winning all of their match races. The winner at the end of the four days of racing is the Plymouth Match Racing Champion. On Sunday, September 18, all nine race crews will line up for the Plymouth Fleet Racing Championship. This 40-minute fleet race is a winner-takes-all, fight for the title. The teams collect points from the Match Racing and Fleet Racing Championships at each AC World Series event towards the overall America's Cup World Series title. Three AC World Series prizes (Match Racing, Fleet Racing, Combined) will be awarded at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 season in Newport, Rhode Island on July 1, 2012. All racing in Plymouth will be streamed live on www.youtube.com/americascup, beginning on Wednesday at 14:10 local time (GMT+1). Italian Victory at Star European Championships Negri and Voltolini kept their form for a fourth race win and typically enjoyed a comfortable lead at the finish of race seven. For the crews chasing the runner-up podium positions, the breeze proved as challenging as it has been all week, this time dying to a near calm on the final run before filling gently on the left hand-side side of the course catching the unwary, notably Guillaume Florent and Pascal Rambeau who had been vying with the Italian leaders for first place. Irish hopes of a podium result on home waters were denied to London 2012 Olympic contenders Peter O'Leary and David Burrows who placed fourth in the last race but a ninth earlier in the day left them fourth overall as Canada's Richard Clarke and Tyler Bjorn took third place. Top five final results after eight races: 1. Diego Negri & Enrico Voltolini, ITA Full results at: www.rsgyc.ie/stareuro2011/ New Sailcloth Barrel Bags from Bainbridge International! The barrel bags are available in a variety of sizes, from the 24 litre small bag, to the 43 litre medium bag and the 75 litre large bag. There is also a bucket bag made from genuine Bainbridge sailcloth, with a 17 litre capacity. Each barrel bag features a reinforced grab handle and durable zip, with a random sail number in blue, red or black sewn onto the side - making each bag stylish and unique. The bags and bucket fold flat for easy stowage into a locker when not in use. Prices for the new sailcloth barrel bags start from just £14.99 RRP inc VAT and they will be featured on the Bainbridge International stand at this year's Southampton Boat Show, G87 in the Ocean Hall. For more information email: or log on to www.bainbridgemarine.co.uk Seahorse Sailor Of The Month Rob Weiland (NED) This month's nominees:
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! Mariette of 1915 and Elena Shine in Porto Cervo
The grand dames of the sea had a short wait before the breeze filled in to 8 knots to allow them to set off towards the island of Mortoriotto, south of Porto Cervo, before doubling back and heading north to round Monaci island. The fleet then paraded past the entrance to Porto Cervo Marina before finishing off the Gulf of Pevero. Mariette of 1915 flies the burgee of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club and is a regular on the classic regatta circuit. Elena was in fact the fastest yacht around the course today in elapsed time but slipped back to second place on compensated time. The largest of the competing classic boats, she is an exact reconstruction of a 1910 N. G. Herreshoff design. Seven yachts have gathered in Porto Cervo for the Veteran Big Boat Rally and although several, such as Bruno Mentasti's triple masted Croce del Sud and the gaff yawl Veronique, are not actively competing, they can be admired on the emerald waters of the YCCS regatta course together with the rest of the fleet. Racing is schedule to continue tomorrow, 14th September at 11.30 a.m. Approximately 8 knots of easterly wind are forecast. -- Jill Campbell Spinnaker Tails His vision to invest in the introduction of this exciting strict one-design sports boat to the Australian sailing scene has added a new dimension to the tactical test in proving the best of the best. This strict clone design class which provides all crews with an equal chance off the start line has as expected attracted a number of Australia's best including multiple World champion Glenn Burke while Olympic 49er skipper Nathan Outteridge and Matthew Belcher ranked as the World's best in the Olympic 470 class have contested recent championships. Both Nathan Outteridge and Matthew Belcher presently committed to preparations for the 2012 Olympic regatta at Weymouth have shown a special interest in the high energy style of tactical racing and are keeping their career options open to contest the Dart SB3 World championship at Hamilton Island in December 2012. Meanwhile the talented crew combination of Glenn Bourke and his Sunshine coast crew mates Rod Jones and Greg Macallansmith expressed their combined fresh wind sailing skill to pilot Club Marine-Hamilton Island to a runaway win in the recent Queensland championship at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. They were clearly the superior crew winning the championship by a mammoth 34 points over the Tasmanian skipper Brett Cooper in Please Explain while Matthew Belcher steered One Design Sailing into third another point of the pace. Naturally the strong wind warning and the associated 32 knot gusts produced a superior test of survival sailing which featured a high number of spectacular wipe-out broaches. However apart from finishing fifth in race 2 the combined skills of Glenn Bourke, Rod Jones and Greg Macallansmith expressed unmatched boat speed when they showed their ability to sail fast in the fresh and frightening breeze eventually finishing with the impressive 12 race score card of 1-5-1-2-1-1-1-3-2-1-2-1. There were moments when the experienced Club Marine crew were on the fine line between distinction and disaster but survived from being slammed into a wild and uncontrolled knockdown with their split second reaction and respect for the power of the brute breeze. Sure winners can afford to be grinners but the Club Marine crew collectively experienced the physical torment to protect their reputations as Australia's best SB3 sports boat racing team. "It was a physically tough grind rewarded with some career best downwind rides" Rod Jones said. However while the win was important the Club Marine crew who finished fourth in the 2011 World Championship in England earlier this year remain totally focused on featuring in the Gold Medal sail off when the next world championship is decided at Hamilton Island in 14 months time. Seahorse October 2011 Powerboats find their form Severe test (Not such) new kids ORC column If you haven't subscribed to Seahorse already we're keen to help you attend to that! - Please use the following promotional link and enjoy the hefty Scuttlebutt Europe discount... and it gets even better for 2 and 3 year subscriptions... Mutton Island Lighthouse to Shine Once More Once one of the final landmarks of the city seen by emigrants leaving on the 'coffin ships' bound for the United States in the Great Famine, its light last shone in 1977. The protected lighthouse and its island were purchased by Galway City Council for a total of £2, and since then the 18th-century building fell into disrepair - although the island thrived as a sanctuary for artic terns and Claddagh swans. But in 2005 a project was intitiated by Galway City Council and the Galway Civic Trust, involving FÁS trainees to restore the lighthouse and its grounds to their former glory, and the fruits of this labour are set to be unveiled next spring. Recent free tours of the building for Hertiage Week were hugely popular, providing high hopes for the lighthouse and its gardens to become a valuable new amenity for the City of the Tribes. The Galway City Tribune has more on the story: From Afloat magazine: afloat.ie First Blood to Defending Champions
The 42-boat fleet got away at the second time of asking in winds touching 30 knots and it was the right-hand side of the course which was favoured, with 'Serco' leading around the windward mark. The downwind leg proved precarious for several boats who struggled with spinnakers in the gusty conditions, with sail damage forcing a number of retirals. By the end of the second beat, another British boat, 'Il Riccio' (David Southworth/Chris McLaughlin) had taken over the lead but as a shredded spinnaker put paid to their chances of victory and dropped them back to 5th. 'Serco' took the gun ahead of another British entry 'Madeleine' (McCarthy/Phelps), with German boats filling the next two spots, with 'Max Bahr' (Stefan Karsunke) and 'Rotoman' (Kai Mares) 3rd and 4th respectively. Four German boats finished in the top eight while 9th place went to the highest-placed local boat, Irish champion Flor O'Driscoll and crew on 'Hard on Port'. With winds forecasted to increase later in the day, the fleet was sent ashore and a subsequent decision by the Race Officer David Lovegrove and his team confirmed that the conditions would not allow any further racing on the day. It is hoped to run up to five races back-to-back on Wednesday (14th). Top five after Race 1: Full results: www.hyc.ie/J24Europeans2011/ Jean-Pierre Dick Announces Extreme 40 Team IMOCA 60 offshore racer, Jean-Pierre Dick, confirmed he will race an Extreme 40 team under the colours of his home town. Dick will race with Transat Jacques Vabre co-skipper, Jeremie Beyou who recently won the 2011 Solitaire du Figaro for the second time, and Billy Besson and Arnaud Jarlegant. However, all eyes for now are on Trapani as the teams prepare their 40-foot racing machines in temperatures over 30 degrees. The latest forecast from official weather providers to the Extreme Sailing Series, WetterWelt, reveal a frustratingly light and variable few days ahead. The crew lists for the Trapani event have been published today whilst Artemis Racing skipper Terry Hutchinson has confirmed the team will not be racing at the event due to the pressures of the build of their AC72 and the America's Cup World Series. Act 6, Trapani, Crew Lists: Alinghi Emirates Team New Zealand Groupe Edmond de Rothschild Luna Rossa Niceforyou Oman Air Red Bull Extreme Sailing Team Extreme, 'Sailing Seacily' Team GAC Pindar The Wave, Muscat Featured Brokerage Exterior styling and Naval Architecture: Van Peteghem Lauriot Prevost, Vannes/Paris, France Interior Design: Bjorn Johansson, Bembridge, UK The SIG45 is flat out unique in its layout and deck design. The living arrangement are in the port and starboard hulls with full deck open. This area works great for outside entertaining. Brokerage through Bruce Tait & Associates: www.yachtworld.com/brucetait/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at The Last Word |
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Last month's winner:
David Raison (FRA)
Cameron Appleton (NZL)
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