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 Game On At 1500 local time, the 214ft supermaxi, Hetairos claimed poll position in the RORC Caribbean 600. Passing to leeward of George David's 90ft maxi Rambler off the east coast of Montserrat. Hetairos let loose on a broad reach, blasting through the Caribbean surf at a speed in excess of 22 knots. Hetairos has twice the water line length and more than double the sail area of Rambler but the American maxi with RORC Chief Executive, Eddie Warden Owen on board, is not giving up without a fight. Rambler has put up every sail they can to "send it" and Hetairos are finding it difficult to shake them off. Hetairos and Rambler will probably make the northwest corner of Guadeloupe well before dark and they are expected to finish the race Wednesday morning. However they are both unlikely to finish the race by Wednesday 0340 to break the course record set by Rambler 100 last year. Niklas Zenstrom's JV72, Ran is the new handicap leader after time correction. However, Ran is likely to arrive on the northwest corner of Guadeloupe after dark and experience a significant wind shadow. Second overall is Amanda Hartley's Swan 56, Clem, which was rounding St.Martin at the top of the course at 1500 local time. Third overall is Scarlet Oyster, which is in good breeze south of St.Martin. The weather forecast for the next 48 hours shows a significant increase in wind strength, freshening to over 20 knots. This may well favour Scarlet Oyster and Clem but both yachts are heavy displacement and are unlikely to plain. Jaime Torres' First 40.7, Smile and Wave is lying fourth overall and lining up for a wild sleigh ride tomorrow. As the Puerto Rican team come off the breeze and turn south for what promises to be a ballistic 150-mile surf to Guadeloupe. Race reports, blogs from the boats and video can be found on the Caribbean 600 minisite: caribbean600.rorc.org Race Tracker: caribbean600.rorc.org/2012-fleet-tracking.html Cape Horn Gale: We'll Wait For The Worst To Go Through A nasty gale is brewing south of us, the worst of it is headed straight for Cape Horn just at the same time we were due to round the infamous cape. After much debate we decided it was simply too risky for us to carry on heading for such a dangerous randez-vous and have instead slowed down and we'll let the worst of the gale blow through before resuming our course with improving weather behind us rather than the risk of being cornered in a lee shore in nasty waves forming on the continental shelf and no where to run. In 12 hours the centre of the low should be east of us and moving north eastwards away from us. At this point it should be safe enough to resume our course. Cessna, the boat currently leading the race has decided to adopt a more aggressive strategy and will try to outrun the depression, rounding Cape Horn ahead of the worst of the storm. We considered this option but ruled it out as we didn't think we could make it in time. We were in second place with effectively little to lose by playing it safe as we certainly were not going to overtake a faster boat in a storm. Instead, we slowed down by reducing sail, we prepared the storm jib well ahead of time, run the extra lines needed to use our special 4th reef and are now just waiting for the wind to build, it should quickly strengthen with the strongest due here in 12 hours and around Cape Horn in 18-24 hours, with enough room to run we'll head downwind and hopefully make the ride safe with wind and waves reducing well ahead of our new expected time of arrival at the horn. -- Marco Nannini Cowes Yacht Haven Marketing Administrator The successful candidate will be an innovative individual with proven sales and marketing experience and a knowledge of social media, advertising, communications and event management. The role is focused on generating new business for our marina, boat yard and events centre facilities. The post is part time with flexible hours based at our Cowes office. Salary negotiable Please submit your CV to or Alison Pocock, Cowes Yacht Haven Limited, Vectis Yard, High Street, Cowes, PO31 7BD by 24 February 2012 18ft Skiffs: Giltinan Championship - Race 3 Sydney Harbour: Thurlow Fisher Lawyers won Race 3 of the Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship on Sydney Harbour today, but the other winners were those lucky spectators on the harbor who witnessed two great crews tame the elements in a wonderful sailing display. Michael Coxon, Aaron Links and Trent Barnabas on Thurlow Fisher Lawyers and Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Scott Babbage on Gotta Love It 7 were superb in the 25-knot (gusting to 27 knots) Southerly wind which tested the skills of every competitor in the regatta. After more than one hour of sailing in such conditions, Thurlow Fisher crossed the finish line just 8s ahead of Gotta Love It 7. Smeg (Nick Press, Dan Phillips and Dave Ewings) were never too far from the lead and finished a further 1m26s back in third place. The strong wind took a heavy toll on the fleet with only 16 boats completing the course. Some even failed to make the start. Incidents during the race are also likely to lead to several protests being lodged so all progress pointscores are provisional at this stage. There are at least five protests, which will all be heard tomorrow morning. Gotta Love It 7 has four points, followed by Thurlow Fisher Lawyers on 12, Smeg on 14, Mojo Wine (Archie Massey) on 15, Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) on 15 and Smeg on 16. www.18footers.com.au Video coverage of the race can also be seen on www.18footerstv.com Tracking: www.tractrac.com/index.php?page=eventpage&id=197 Enter Now for the RYA National Match Racing Championships The RYA National Match Racing Championships 2012 are set for another exhilarating year and the RYA are urging interested parties to get their entries in fast to secure their place at this year's event, and more importantly the up and coming regattas in March and April. The RYA National Match Racing programme consists of seven qualifying rounds, including the RYA Youth, RYA Women's and BUSA Match Racing Championship events, which will be contested between March and October before the top British crews from each event are invited to go head-to-head at the Series Grand Final at Queen Mary Sailing Club between 16th - 18th November 2012. The Royal Thames Match Racing regatta is the next event which will welcome some of Britain's top Match Racers at Queen Mary Sailing Club, Staines, London between the 17th-18th March. The event will be sailed in J80's with crews of 4-5 people (including the skipper) with no minimum or maximum weight limit. The RYA are asking interested parties to get their entries in at least a month before each event to secure their place. The winners from all events will be invited to compete in the RYA National Match Racing Championship Grand Finals which take place on the 18-20th November at the Queen Mary Sailing Club. 2012 RYA National Match Racing Championships Series event dates: 1. Royal Thames Match Racing Event (J80)-17/18 March 2012, Queen Mary Sailing Club, Staines, London. For more information about the RYA National Match Racing Series and for entry forms and the notice of race for each event please visit /www.rya.org.uk/racing or contact Carbon Radio Control Model Yacht stockmaritime, the German shipyard for model boats, for the seventh time presents a self-developed model sailing boat completely made of Carbon. It only took about three months for the model boat builders in Hamburg around Managing Director Hans Genthe to develop the completely remote-controlled 1.25m model sailing yacht "3x1 One Design Racer", ready for series production. The 3x1 got its name from its length without the bowsprit. With the 111cm carbon hull, the 3x1 has impressive gliding characteristics and is a real eye catcher. Built in Hamburg, from modern materials and equipped with a modern, fail-safe remote-control, the 3x1 offers up to 16 hours of sailing fun without recharging. The 3x1 can be built up in minutes and fits into the smallest locker or boot. The boat is also absolutely sea water resistant: thanks to Carbon Epoxy and stainless steel fittings. The rig is made of Carbon. All standing and running rigging is made of Spectra. The modern hull shape is topped by the bowsprit, which is laminated into the structure, made of Carbon Epoxy. Spinnaker Tales The exceptionally talented crew of one-design sailors, manning the deck of Club Marine Hamilton Island had previously won the Queensland and Victorian championships by convincing margins but were forced to come from behind in the 9th and final race to snatch the trophy from the grip of Mooloolaba skipper Phil Gray helming Dulon Polish by a slender one point-one place margin. Glenn Bourke regarded among Australia's most successful One-design class racing tacticians and the winner of three World Laser championships only won one of the 9 races but skilfully managed to protect his reputation with a final race third while the Phil Gray's Dulon Polish crew of South Australian's Jordan Spencer and Robin Deussen finished fifth. This result ultimately proved the difference between the two crews leaving Phil Gray pondering over the result after the Dulon Polish crew failed to finish race five with a broken boom. However after sailing smart in fickle winds earlier in the championship Dulon Polish held the upper hand as the championship leader when the sails were tensioned for the championship decider. Thankfully the fickle breeze was replaced by a moderate to fresh southerly on the final day which peaked with a 27knot gust from the South-South West to provide ideal conditions for the exciting SB3 to express their exciting all angle sailing speed. While the windswept River Derwent presented all 21 crews with a supreme sailing test in the strongest breeze of the 9 race series the crew in Club Marine Hamilton Island remained totally focused on presenting the required tactics and technique to win the match race over Dulon Polish. Both crews had revelled in the stronger breeze with Dulon Polish tactically placed to protect their title win when the sails were tensioned for the final slog against the gusty wind and the thrilling spinnaker run to the finish. These critical tensioned packed legs of the race ultimately proved the difference between Club Marine Hamilton Island and Dulon Polish. "They (Dulon Polish) were right with us on the final beat to windward but another boat got ahead of them and held them back to fifth place on the run to the finish while we finished third". Glenn Bourke said. The overall result while being decided by the narrow single point was a reward for sailing consistent in a mixed range of conditions from frustrating drifters to a hard hiking brute breeze on the final day where the Club Marine Hamilton Island trio of skipper Glenn Bourke relied on the talent of Rod Jones and Greg McAllansmith to finish with the impressive 3-3-2-2-8-2-1-3 24 points while Dulon Polish recorded 4-4-1-3-1-4-3-5 25 points. Local skipper Nick Rogers who like Phil Gray also won two races helmed Toll Shipping to win the bronze medal with a 1-13-6-10-4-3-8-1 46 point score. -- Ian Grant Career Opportunity - Corporate Sales Executive, South, UK Closing Date Job Description The ideal candidate will be responsible for promoting/increasing corporate sales as part of a national sales and marketing team. The role also encompasses the servicing of wholesale retail accounts in the marine sector covering the South West of England. A competitive salary is on offer as well as a target related sales bonus. Key responsibilities include: Key requirements for this role: St. Barth's Bucket This yachting spectacular will feature the latest in Superyacht designs along with true classics. Over 40 yachts have accepted invitations to join the festivities and racing. Three races are planned, and the around the island courses create spectacular opportunities to view these breathtaking vessels under sail. The largest yacht is the 62m Holland Jachtbouw built schooner Athos. Close behind is 60m Heitaros, recently launched in 2011. Twelve of the current entries are 50 meters or larger. The fleet is divided into three categories: Les Elegantes des Mers, Les Grandes Dames des Mers, and Les Gazelles des Mers, making the racing at once more equally competitive, and safer too. The "Big Five" sailing yacht builders (Perini Navi, Royal Huisman, Holland Jachtbouw, Alloy Yachts and Vitters) have for many years supported the Bucket Regattas, choosing to help maintain as non-commercial an atmosphere as possible, still another significant hallmark of Bucket races. Four J Boat classics will have their race within a race, as they vie for over all Bucket honors and against each other. Endeavour, Hanuman, Ranger and Velsheda will be part of a spectacular fleet that will race around the beautiful island of St Barthelemy. Entry list, schedule and more information: www.BucketRegattas.com Industry News Founded in 1973, Oyster has a worldwide reputation for its luxury, blue water cruising yachts, which are renowned for their quality and performance. The company is recognised throughout the sailing world for its commitment to providing owners with outstanding levels of customer service and after sales support and has twice been awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise. The current Oyster fleet includes twelve modern designs ranging from the Oyster 46 to the magnificent superyachts, the Oyster 100 and Oyster 125 by Dubois. Despite the challenging economic conditions of the last few years, Oyster has continued to develop and launch new products, which has contributed to a gain in market share and the company has had a very strong start to 2012 with around £10m of contracts signed in January. HTP acquired Oyster by using the exclusive funds of the partners Wim de Pundert and Klaas Meertens and is therefore not subject to any restrictions with respect to the amount invested and the period over which the investment is held. www.oystermarine.com -------------------------------- The 2012 Sailing Industry study said that sailboat production was down 3 per cent to 6322 units in 2011 The annual 2012 Sailing Industry study reported that North American sailboat production was down 3 per cent to 6,322 units in 2011. The total estimated value of production was US$246m for last year, down nine per cent from 2010. The study, commissioned by The Sailing Company, was presented at a meeting on Friday at Strictly Sail Miami. -------------------------------- Maclaren has announced that it will be the exclusive global sponsor for LaserPerformance from 2012 to 2016. Maclaren support brings together two iconic brands equally committed to performance and community. It will help grow the Maclaren brand and expand the sport of sailing at the grassroots level around the world. This five-year Maclaren Sailing Sponsorship Programme is part of a larger initiative for Maclaren to align with the sport of sailing globally. Like Maclaren, the sport of sailing encompasses a complete lifestyle with a longstanding heritage. In an effort to spread the positive impact of sailing, the Maclaren Sailing Sponsorship Programme has been designed to encourage sailing participation and connect sailing enthusiasts worldwide. More information and applications for the Maclaren Sailing Sponsorship are available at laserperformance.com/maclaren-sponsorship. Please contact with questions or comments. -------------------------------- This year's Helsinki International Boat Show saw a slight drop in visitor attendance, although business was strong throughout the show. The event closed on Sunday following a successful nine-day run. "Our show was 20 per cent bigger this year with a total of 29,000sq m of exhibitor space and we're proud of that," says Hakan Lofgren, sales manager at the Helsinki show. "The fact that attendance dropped eight per cent to 71,695 is acceptable considering the circumstances." -------------------------------- Organisers of the British Leisure Show have unveiled plans for a free Boat & Leisure Festival in Cowes, Isle of Wight, over the Jubilee bank holiday on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th June 2012. The Festival is designed to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and will feature live music, hospitality and a great display of British boats and outdoor leisure activities. Internationally recognised as the home of world yachting, Cowes has been selected to host the Boat and Leisure Festival for a two-day extravaganza over the extended Jubilee bank holiday period. Amongst the attractions for visitors will be a display of some of the finest British built yachts and motorboats, an exclusive preview of teams racing in the 2013 Cowes to Monte-Carlo Powerboat Race, a parade of fashion, and a range of outdoor leisure activities and accessories for families to see, try and buy. Berthing will be available in Cowes Yacht Haven marina for visiting yachts, and visitors will benefit from special mainland ferry rates from Red Funnel, with vehicle crossings bookable via the Festival website: www.cowesfest.com -------------------------------- Polish boat production increased last year In 2011, Poland's boat output totalled around 17,000 units, up 9.7 per cent from 15,500 boats manufactured a year earlier, according to initial estimates by the Polish Chamber of Marine Industry and Water Sports POLBOAT. The industry association forecasts that the country's yacht production will most likely decrease in 2012. Presently, over 900 companies operate in the Polish boating industry. The manufacturing facilities have a total workforce of about 35,750, and an annual output capacity of some 22,000 units, as shown by figures from POLBOAT. POLBOAT says that as much as 95 per cent of Poland's boat production is intended for export. The most important foreign markets for Polish boats are Western Europe, Scandinavian countries, the US, Mediterranean countries and Russia, according to the industry body. -------------------------------- Nautor's Swan, manufacturers of luxury yachts, and the International Maxi Association (IMA) are delighted to announce the formalisation of their relationship. The IMA, established in 1979 and recognized as an ISAF class in November 2009, is open to yachts with a minimum LH of 18.29 metres. The Supermaxi division, recently recognized by ISAF, includes boats from LH 30.51 metres with no upper limit. The Swan Maxi Class, created in 2008, to meet the growing demand for dedicated racing for Maxi's has attracted a wide of Swans over recent years and the opportunity to expand the depth of relationship with the IMA is welcomed by all. Gianfranco Alberini, Secretary General of the IMA commented, "The spectacle that is delivered when Maxi's race together is extraordinary; this only grows with increased numbers of yachts. We are pleased that Nautor's Swan and the IMA will be working together moving forwards to ensure increased participation at the various events within the IMA programme. We are looking forward to welcoming the Nautor's Swan fleet at the Rolex Volcano Race in May." Featured Brokerage Alacrity (formally Bird) is a modern high performance racing/cruising trimaran from the board of well-known multihull designer Dick Newick. She was expertly built by Lone Star Multihulls of Brownsville, TX, USA under the close supervision of her original owner, a composite design expert who undertook a conversion from the originally designed WEST System® construction to state of the art composite construction utilizing Core-Cell® foam, carbon fiber, glass, and epoxy resin. Every component was weighed and core/skin laminate samples were tested for strength. Construction was completed at the design weight and the yacht has proven to be extremely fast and rugged. The original owner won several ocean races by large margins. Brokerage through Multihull World: www.yachtworld.com/multihullworld/ 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 |