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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 Williams Steps Up A Gear
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar put in a dominating performance to beat the reigning 2011 event Champion, Damien Iehl (FRA) Wind 2 Win in three straight matches. In the absence of Tour challenger Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team in the latter stages, Williams sees the regatta as an opportunity take top spot on the overall Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT) leaderboard. The Quarter Final win wasn't as clear cut as the 3-0 scoreline suggested and Williams suggested that he had to be on top of his game to knock out the Frenchman at his home event. Iehl remained happy after the defeat in his first Tour event this season, having competed as a Tour Card Holder last year. He said: "I'm very happy to come back on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour and I knew it wasn't going to be easy because I am competing with a new team. A lot of the guys I was with last year are on different boats and my tactician [Fred Guilmin] is even competing at this event with Peter [Gilmour]. "There is a big difference not sailing all the events compared to sailing with the same crew for six years. That makes it much easier to work together so this wasn't as easy for just one event." French hopes were extinguished as Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team also failed to progress at the hands of William Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing, who features in the Semi Final as one of two New Zealand teams remaining. The teams will be back on the water from 1115AM local time (GMT+2) tomorrow for the Semi Final at Match Race France (24 - 29 September) in Marseille, the sixth stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. Semi Final picks will be made in the morning, before racing. Match Race France - Quarter Final draw: Italy's Pozzi Now In Control of Melges 32 Worlds
The day started out with light, challenging and very shifty conditions. Kilroy claimed an event milestone as his team currently is the first challenger at Worlds to carry three bullets in their scoreline. With Goodison on tactics, Kilroy came on strong and focused in the second and third race of the day taking both wins, landing him an impressive second place overall, up from yesterday's eighth position. Spectacle Of The Day Goes To... Defending Melges 32 World Champion William Douglass showed up on the course today with the most unusual of sailing attire - complete head-to-toe, day-glo orange, skin-tight body suits (with matching shoes nonetheless). Thanks to modern technology, images were quickly posted of the glow-in-the-dark sailors on the class' Facebook page. As one can imagine, the comment meter went off the chart with thoughts and feedback. Check out the absolutely hilarious commentary for yourself at the Official Melges 32 Facebook Page. Two more races, with the option for a third, are scheduled for Friday, September 28 with a start of 11.00. Top ten: Olympic Gold Medalist To 18ft Skiffs
Malcolm has a marvelous record over several years of international competition and was rightly honoured at the London 2012 Olympics when he was chosen to be Australia's Flag Bearer at the Closing Ceremony. He will team with Darren McKavanagh and Cameron McDonald on THE KITCHEN MAKER in what promises to be a very competitive challenger for the major 18ft Skiff championships. Malcolm, who is the most successful 470 Mens sailor in the 49 years history of the class, is looking forward to his campaign in the 18s. Aside from his Gold Medals at each of the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, Malcolm has won seven 470 World titles (ten 470 medals in total) as well as numerous Australian 470 titles, and has been Australian Sailing Team captain since 2005. He received further national honours in 2009 when he was named Australian Yachtsman of the Year. Sheet hand on THE KITCHEN MAKER, Cameron McDonald is an extremely experienced 18ft Skiff sailor with an impressive record in three separate skiff classes. He began sailing the 18s in Sydney in 1996 (going into his 17th skiff season) and was runner up in the 2000 Giltinan Championship. Cameron also won the 2007 Interdominion 12ft Skiff Championship and was placed 3rd at the 2008 International 14 World Championship in Germany. For the third member of the team, bowman Darren McKavanagh, it is a unique situation as he also doubles as sponsor of the skiff through his company, THE KITCHEN MAKER. Darren has been sailing the 18s on and off since 2001 and has taken over the skiff which was previously sailed by Andy Budgen, of the UK, as Project One Racing. The team's first race together will be on Sunday 14 October in the Australian 18 Footer League's 3-Buoys Challenge on Sydney Harbour. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League Record Entry for 2012 Bosham Classic Boat Revival
With 10 classic Merlin Rockets - wide and skinny varieties - heading the entry list of International 14's, Fireflies, Classic National 18's, Chichester Harbour 18's, Jollyboats, Yachting World Dayboat's, Tideway's, Fairy Falcons, Sharpies and Wayfarers competing against the likes of an International Moth, Kestrels, Solo, Wayfarers, Torbay Minnow, even a 'banned' National 18 which was exceptionally fast, plus dozens of other similar classic craft, the Bosham Classic Boat Revival is gathering considerable momentum. The programme called for a 5 race series across the weekend with 3 sailed back-to-back on Saturday. The wind strength was a perfect 8-12 knots whilst the easterly direction and low tide state provided a number of challenges for Principal Race Officer Nick Fox and his experienced team. Sunday dawned with truly foul but predicted conditions, strong winds and driving rain. This time less than 20 competitors braved the elements, driven largely by the need for some of the keener competitors to put points on the scoreboard. With no discards coming in to play, it was essential to get out and race if one wanted to take home one of the prizes. Shoreside one of the focal points of this unique event is always the hotly contested Concours de'Elegance competiton, where beautifully restored wooden classic racing dinghies are proudly displayed on Quay Meadow for all to admire. The top prize was awarded to Simon Meacock from Weston Sailing Club with his immaculate International 14, Ripping Yarns built in 1964. Overall results Fast Division Medium Division Slow Division The Bosham Classic Boat Revival 2012 was kindly sponsored by Top Yacht, Wiley Nautical, Harken and Pusser's Rum. Team Russia Win The Magic Marine SB20 European Championships
"First race of the day was the most competitive race I have ever seen" grinned Mark Richards, spectating from a media RIB. "Marginal improvements in technique and tactics meant that at no point could you tell a clear leader." The final winner was Robert Greeenhalgh (GBR) by not even 2 boat lengths from Rodion Luka (RUS) who did enough to secure the title. Ben Saxton who after an ambitious left corner start and cross of the fleet always threatened to win. Fourth was Carveth, equally back at the top of his game. Mark Richards commented, "It is amazing to see 4 identical boats all being sailed at very similar speeds but all with different traveller/mainsail trim." There maybe a one design for the boat, but there are clearly different ways to sail them. The attention of the SB20 Class now turns to the 2012 World Championships in Hamilton Island, Australia in December 2012 where the battle for the Waterford Trophy will begin again. Final top ten: 1. Team Russia, Rodion Luka, RUS, 27 points Full results: Rolex Extends Fastnet Race Support to 2021 The race has been a sporting institution since it was first held in 1925 and the title sponsorship of Rolex over the past six editions has raised the race's profile even higher. In the previous two editions, the limit of 300 boats was reached within a few weeks of the entry process opening. Coping with burgeoning demand and ensuring the interests of all competitors are properly catered for have been priorities for both the Royal Ocean Racing Club and Rolex. RORC has introduced a fully automated online entry and crew management system to simplify and speed up the formal registration in procedure. Classes such as the IMOCA 60s, VO 70's and multihulls are treated separately from the main fleet to maximise room within the 300-place entry limit. At the finish in Plymouth, a purpose-built race village in the historic Barbican area, offers crews all the facilities required on completing a race of this nature, while helping expose the Rolex Fastnet race to a wider public audience. Satellite tracking of the entire fleet allows shore-based followers to stay informed at every stage of the race. The next Rolex Fastnet Race will start on Sunday, 11 August 2013 from the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes. Entries for the race open in January 2013. For more information about the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Rolex Fastnet Race, please visit www.rorc.org or fastnet.rorc.org The Irish Raid: A Challenge In Three Loughs
Crews came from seven countries, including Germany, Sweden, Holland, and Japan, to take part in the seven-day, 195km event. Some brought their own boats with them, others chartered boats in the local Shannon One Design and Water Wag classes. The overseas sailors included a former Olympian, a transatlantic record breaker, a Whitbread sailor, a multiple Tornado champion and a world windsurf champion. The Lakelands and Inland Waterways Ireland Sailing Raid (to give it its full name) started, symbolically, in Northern Ireland, at the Loch Erne Sailing Club, a few miles north of Enniskillen. After an exceptionally warm welcome at Lough Derg Yacht Club, the fleet set off on a final blast down Lough Derg in brilliant conditions and with a fresh breeze from behind. It was a last chance for the crews to improve their standing, and the racing was predictably competitive, with all boats finishing within 25 minutes of each other after nearly three hours racing. Every raid has its distinctive character, but this raid seemed like several races rolled into one: beautiful scenery, challenging sailing, international crews, local hospitality and a spirit of freedom and adventure. With the supporting flotilla of cruisers adding an extra waterbound element, it seems as if a new style of raid has been born. -- Nic Compton Shannon One Design Class Water Wag Class Open Class Joyon: The 24-Hour Record Ratified at 666 Miles
In just 24 hours, he sailed 666.2 miles alone. Francis Joyon's latest achievement has just been ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council, the international body which is in charge of these records. John Reed, the General Secretary of the WSSRC, which is directed by Claude Breton, has just informed the Breton skipper, who already holds the outright solo round the world record with a time of just over 57 days. It was in late July between the North of the Azores and the tip of Brittany that Francis Joyon took his boat to the extreme limits, in winds in excess of thirty knots. This record has led to an extraordinary duel between Francis Joyon and Thomas Coville. In 2004, Francis was already the record-holder, but Thomas went on to better it. Joyon won it back (613.5 miles) during his second victorious round the world voyage in 2007. In the following year, Coville improved on it still further taking the record to 619, then 628.5 miles. This summer, IDEC shattered that record by an incredible amount: almost 40 miles more (37.7 miles to be precise)! Kiteboard Course Racing Rulebook 2013-2016 Published The Kiteboard Course Racing Rulebook for 2013-2016 has been released and created as a convenient book for sailors and officials for use at kiteboard course racing events. The rules in it are identical to the corresponding rules in the Racing Rules of Sailing for 2013-2016. However, each rule in Appendix F has been moved into the appropriate rule in Parts 1-7 and each definition that is changed in Appendix F is shown in red. Download the 2013-2016 Kiteboard Course Racing Rulebook here: www.internationalkiteboarding.org GYC Centenary Trophy
Created by the Gstaad Yacht Club in full co-operation with the Societe Nautique de Saint-Tropez the Centenary Trophy debuted last year and is open to all classic yachts aged 100 years and more. Organizers have now decided to turn it into a yearly rendez-vous of the classic yachts calendar. With a record-breaking number of at least 21 centenaries registered for Les Voiles, the provisional entry list has gone up by 6 units and last year's trophy winner, the 44' gaff cutter "Bona Fide" (dating back to 1899) will have to fight against an even more competitive lineup. With the oldest challenger from 1885 and the 'youngest' from 1912 the regatta promises to be as exciting as ever. The Gstaad Yacht Club, in an event that will unite sports and conviviality, has scheduled the prize-giving ceremony for the same evening of October 4th in a venue especially transformed to resemble the Gstaad Yacht Club. Having its clubhouse in the Swiss Alps with no access to a lake or the sea, the race and the ceremony will represent a further step to take the club's members, their guests and the wider world of yachting closer to the unique atmosphere of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. The Gstaad Yacht Club and the Societe Nautique de Saint-Tropez, are delighted to welcome all classic yachts from 1912 and older for the Centenary Trophy 2012. Letters To The Editor - * From Bob Tillett, Fremantle W.A.: New Zealand and Australian readers will no doubt wonder of the irony at Newport, in that Dennis Conner was sailing Kiwi Magic KZ-7 in this historic event. In 1986, in Fremantle, he accused the NZ team of cheating by building a 12 meter of fibreglass, instead of aluminum. Stars and Stripes eventually won, but only just. How has the world changed! Featured Brokerage The story of the Moonbeams began in 1858 with Moonbeam I &II. In 1902 Charles Plumtree Johnson, an eminent London lawyer, decided to go back to William Fife for the creation of his 3rd yacht taking into account his navigation projects as he wanted to race under the new RORC tonnage which included sailing ships with fitted-out interiors. Moonbeam III was launched in 1903, hull #491 to leave the Fife yard. Brokerage through Bernard Gallay Yacht Brokerage: www.yachtworld.com/bernard-gallay/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at Back On Tuesday A late arrival in Hamilton, travel weariness and the obligatory Dark n Stormies will prevent the Monday issue. Back on Tuesday.... The Last Word |
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