Scuttlebutt Europe #2014 - 26 January
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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 Abbreviated Opening Day For Some; No Sailing For Others
According to Principal Race Officer Ross Wilson from Australia, only the race courses for the 49er class (Men's Two Person Dinghy - High Performance) and Elliott 6ms (Women's Match Racing) were deemed close enough for racing to begin, as the sailors could be called home safely, ahead of the storm threat. The match racing event features 24 teams divided into three groups of eight, sailing round-robin in a complex series of over 200 races, which eventually pare down the fleet to two boats, dueling for gold on Saturday, the last day of competition for the Olympic classes. (Paralympic classes finish on Friday.) In the 49er class, Australia's Will and Sam Phillips led after posting victories in three of three races today, which were held in 14-19 knots of breeze. Following in second are Manu Dyen and Stephane Christidis of France. The Laser Radials and Lasers were able to squeeze one race in after a long postponement on-shore. In this overwhelmingly international event, the USA has the largest contingent of sailors with 169, followed by Canada (83), France (46), Great Britain (41), The Netherlands (24), Germany (23), Denmark (18), and Sweden (18). Racing continues through Friday for Paralympic classes and Saturday for Olympic classes. rmocr.ussailing.org/RMOCR_Home.htm * We started racing around 10:15 this morning at the US Sailing Rolex Miami OCR. The cold front that was scheduled to blow through in the early afternoon was looming on the other side of the bay. And so, because it was moving in a more northerly direction than easterly, we sailed along the edge of the dark clouds and completed our scheduled three races for the day. It was a great day for us, and we were very happy with how things turned out. We started the round 3-0 and will race another four races to complete our round tomorrow afternoon. Our races were held in 15-17kts and a short chop. Because we were sailing along the edge of the storm clouds, the shifts were quite frequent, but Molly and Debbie did a great job of putting us in the correct place relative to our competitor to make the necessary gains. Our pre-starts were quite quick and aggressive, and were a great indicator of how our work on boat handling has been going. We are very happy with where we are at, but are now at the point of nit-picking little things to make it even more smooth. We had one exciting pre-start with the Israeli team. We were trailing them back towards the start line with too much time left for them to start cleanly if they kept going. With about 40 seconds left, we hooked them to leeward and forced them to tack. This was a bit of a mistake on our part because we did it too close to the committee boat so that if we wanted to tack with them, we would get ourselves pinned between them and the committee boat, resulting in us not being able to start. We didn't tack because we realized this, and instead gybed around at them, to try and catch them before they got a gybe in. Well, they managed to get their gybe in to starboard, and although we were trying to avoid them, I chose the wrong direction to avoid them, thus putting ourselves across their path. This was a big mistake by me, and resulted in us getting a penalty. But, we cleared our heads, gybed around behind them and hooked them to leeward and drew a penalty right back on them 10 seconds after the start to even the penalties out. We engaged them in a tacking dual upwind, and managed to get control of the righthand side of the course and passed them about half way up the beat. From there, we just had to sail smart and stay out of trouble, which we did and went on to win the race. -- Anna Tunnicliffe, www.annatunnicliffe.com Seahorse Sailor Of The Month Piero Romero (ITA) This month's nominees:
Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Harken McLube, Dubarry & Musto. 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! 
Join The Lymington Party The 2010 edition of this interclub event runs from June 3rd to 5th with three days of close racing combining Solent navigation and windward-leeward courses in Christchurch Bay with a warm welcome ashore Any Club can enter a 3 boat team with a boat in each of the IRC rating bands: Class 3 0.950-0.990, Class 2 0.991-1.028, Class 1 1.029-1.080 Will your Club come to the party? All the information you need can be found at www.rlymyc.org.uk/Challengecup Greg Miall and Gavin Brown Join The VOR Miall is the former Managing Director of Sport magazine in the UK, and Global Sales Director of newspaper group Metro International. With a background in sponsorship activation, global media and innovative partnerships, he brings considerable commercial experience and influence to this 37-year old global event. Also joining the commercial team as Brand Manager is New Zealander Gavin Brown (40), formerly responsible for merchandising strategy at the America's Cup. Brown will be responsible for the look and feel of the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race in addition to managing the appointment of official product licensees. In hiring his team for the 2011-12 race, Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad has taken a significantly different approach. "We have employed the services of top headhunting firm Egon Zender International to select forward thinking and highly motivated candidates from outside the sailing industry. Today's announcement is the first of several we will be making throughout the spring, as we continue to build our team from the most professional people," Frostad explained. -- Lizzie (Green) Ward 33rd America's Cup The four-person International Umpire Team will be: Bill Edgerton (GBR) - Chief Umpire Bill has been an ISAF International Umpire since 1997 and an ISAF International Judge since 2001. He was an Umpire at both the 2007 and 2000 America's Cup. Gerard Bosse (FRA) Gerard has been an ISAF International Umpire since 1990 and an ISAF International Judge since 1989. He was a member of the International Jury at the 1992 America's Cup and has been an Umpire at 1992, 1995, 2000, 2003 and 2007 Cups. John Standley (AUS) John has been an ISAF International Umpire since 1997 and an ISAF International Judge since 1999. He was a member of the International Jury and Umpire team at the 2000 and 2003 America's Cup and was an Umpire throughout the entire 32nd America's Cup cycle, including the Louis Vuitton Acts, Louis Vuitton Cup and 32nd America's Cup Match. Roger Wood (NZL) Roger has been an ISAF International Umpire since 2003. He was a member of the Umpire team at the 2007 Louis Vuttion Cup and 32nd America's Cup Match in Valencia. A member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Roger has been Chief Umpire at numerous top match racing events in New Zealand. He has been an Umpire on the World Match Racing Tour since 2006 and was also a member of the Umpire team at the 2009 Louis Vuitton Trophy events. * The Societe Nautique du Geneve (SNG), trustee of the America's Cup, has delegated the responsibility for organising the media and event activities for the 33rd America's Cup to Consorcio Valencia 2007. The 33rd America's Cup promises to be a regatta unlike anything that has been seen before so far. The two fastest boats in history will fight for the America's Cup over race courses that are up to six times bigger than the ones used in the 32nd America's Cup. For this reason, the TV coverage of the racing will be key. For the first time, the races will be broadcast live and free of charge through http://www.americascup.com to reach the biggest, widest possible audience, including all the fans who will not be able to be in Valencia to witness live this historic competition. The on-shore action will be concentrated at the Veles e Vents, the landmark building central to Port America's Cup. A giant screen will be installed for fans and spectators to follow the races live as well as enjoying a host of complementary activities around the Port area. The International media center with capacity for 150 journalists will be in close proximity to the Veles y Vents. To organise this event in a short time Gisbert has surrounded himself with an international team involved in the execution of the 32nd America's Cup. This team led by Michel Hodara (SUI, 48) consists of seasoned professionals in the field of television, media, public entertainment and hospitality. The media accreditation process for the 33rd America's Cup is now open. Media who wish to accredit now can do so at www.americascup.com/accredmedia The J Class 'Ranger' And Mothership My 'Vita' - For Sale Or Charter Ranger's mothership MY Vita, is also available for sale or charter. With a comfortable cruising speed of around 18 knots, she can accommodate and entertain 12 guests in ultimate luxury. Both yachts are immaculate with every facility possible provided for guests or crew, whether superyacht racing, cruising or just enjoying a relaxing holiday break. Further information at: www.jclassyachts.com/ranger/index.html Industry News The YachtWorld Charter Village is located in Hall 13 stand A55 where show visitors will be able to browse full details of more than 250 charter boats displayed. The boats displayed range from 10 to 60 metres, power and sail and are available in all the major charter regions around the globe from South East Asia to the Pacific North West of the USA. Furthermore, visitors will also be able to enquire about more than 4,000 charter boats in more than 300 destinations worldwide listed on YachtWorldcharters.com. "The Charter Village is a very powerful tool for generating sales enquiries for the charter operators who display their boats on YachtWorldcharters.com and gives them access to a boat show audience which would otherwise be very expensive to reach." said Robert Corden, commercial director, YachtWorld.com and Boats.com International. "For visitors to the show it provides the widest range of boat, price and destination options in one place and even live availability information on the spot for some boats." The Dusseldorf boat show takes place Jan. 23rd - Jan. 31st 2010. Full details can be found at www.boot.de * The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), the venue for the sailing competition at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, has today announced that Cadbury will be sponsoring the award winning world class venue. Cadbury, the iconic British brand will have a close link with both the elite stars and grass root level sailors who will be training and competing from the venue. Sports participants and spectators at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy will now be able to enjoy the taste of Cadbury with hot chocolate during the winter months and a range of Cadbury products available all year round. Both Cadbury and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy fully support the Fairtrade movement, which aims to help those people who face poverty due to unfair trade. The WPNSA uses 100% Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar all of which are sourced locally from the South West ensuring the Academy supports both the local economy and also the Fairtrade Foundation across the World, while Cadbury has proudly certified their Dairy Milk and Hot Chocolate as Fairtrade and these products are on sale at the venue too. -- www.wpnsa.org.uk * The Grand Pavois, International afloat Boat Show will be held from the 15th to the 20th of September 2010 at the Port des Minimes in La Rochelle. 850 exhibitors are expected on 100 000 m2 of exhibition. 300 boats will be presented afloat on 700 presentations at the show. Themes for all visitors. In view of the activities development of the Association of Grand Pavois, the Board wished, at the annual general meeting held on Tuesday the 19th of January 2010, welcome one more member to the Board of Directors. Created in 1973, the association held the 37th general meeting. Six positions were filled for the year 2010 with three outgoing positions, two-unfinished mandate and a new position. The three positions after their three-year mandate completed: Mr. Alain Pochon - Pochon SA, Mr. Philippe Aupinel - Alubat and Mr. Gerald Laquit - Beneteau. The two positions to replace because of two unfinished mandates - for two years and one year - were those of Mr. Eric Bruneel who resigned from Fountaine-Pajot and Mr. Jean-Louis Delhumeau - Dufour Yachts who retired. Finally, there were four positions to elect for three years, one for two years and one for one year. The 33 voting members of the Association of Grand Pavois - composed of boating industry professionals, re-elected and elected for three years: Mr. Alain Pochon - Pochon SA with 32 votes, Mr. Olivier Caris - Fountaine Pajot with 32 votes, Mr. Francois Satge - Dufour Yachts with 31 votes and Mr Philippe Aupinel - Alubat with 30 votes. Elected for two years are Mr. Gerald Laquit - Beneteau with 29 votes and Mr. Eric Bruneel - Neel trimarans with 27 votes. -- www.grand-pavois.com Letters To The Editor - * From Russ Saunders: Re: Scuttlebutt Europe #2013 "SNG's affirmations are supported by historical precedent, as reflected in the expert declaration of John Rousmaniere, a leading America's Cup historian, 'the donors of the original Deed of Gift never contemplated limits on foreign sails or foreign sail technology. Those donors, in fact, hoisted British sails in first winning the Cup with the schooner America." There is some dispute on this point…in fact the Schooner America raced with American Made Cotton Sails which were more technically advanced than the sails on the English boats which were flax in the 1851 race. The English to attempt to keep the sails taught kept wetting the sails as the flax did not hold the shape well. So in the race in 1851, both the hull design and sails of the Schooner America were superior. Someone should reexamine the historical record. * From Eddie Mays: Reading the latest to-ing & fro-ing at the end of Column #2013 I was immediately reminded of the old story from a parallel universe (the real world) of the road sweeper who came to the end of his 35-year long career in road-sweeping and was pictured leaning against the brush that he had had all those long years. "It has lasted me all these years." he proudly declared "British made you know, the best. Only had four new heads & three new handles". Totally irrelevant I know. Is it only fifteen more days before they have to put up or shut up? * From Euan Ross: Only foolish frogs would have the temerity to jump into the lily pond of where John Rousmaniere, the unrivalled doyen of America's Cup history, has long held court. However, while the current quagmire may discolour the mother pond, there is a degree of separation. On that basis, I express certain reservations in relation to The Master's 'Report and Declaration'. I don't question why John now offers succour to the Camp of Machiavelli; in our justice system the Defendant has every right to enjoy the best possible council. However, I do question the relevance of much of John's deposition; fascinating though it certainly is. This includes the sections devoted to: i) the original race round the Isle of White; ii) the races held under the first deed of gift; and iii) all the regattas held on the basis of mutual consent which modified and, it seems, often miscast the second deed. In these many and multi-faceted contests, the status of, inter alia: manufacture, materials, design and designers (in terms of alternatively their genesis or 'flags of convenience') have changed in ways which, rather than supporting one or other tactical stance, as held by the current protagonists, only confirms that clarification in a court of law is long overdue. Perhaps only: i) the second deed; ii) regattas held under that deed (which were not subject to ancillary aspects of precondition or mutual consent); and iii) legal interpretations arising from the Big Boat Challenge should be considered in this situation. Not much left, then, of the glorious history of the Cup. John, of course, acknowledges this in the final lines of his declaration. But unfortunately we are not all so scrupulous, and almost immediately much of his carefully worded submission has been taken out of context in a flurry of comments and press releases. Fascinating facts have been presented as crucial evidence rather than background. Sadly, with some of the players involved this could have been predicted. So with a story which is clearly ambiguous in a number of crucial areas, not just in relation to 'constructed in country' we are once again left with 'intent'; and here we are on very dangerous ground. John's interpretation of the donor's intent is no doubt correct in relation to the Cup's golden years, but it did take quite a few hopeless, one-sided challenges before a sporting contest came about. And later, when defenders routinely began shopping for compliant challengers and more recently complicit 'challengers of record', concessions were sparingly dealt out to keep the game alive yes, but seldom dangerous. Personally, I wouldn't back Oracle on this one either, but I do recognise that when there is no good will it's important to be prepared to trade punches and strengthen your hand when the opportunity presents itself. And if, as John implies, the deed requires "interpretive resolutions" to remain relevant, the rig in toto has, more often than not, been as crucial an aspect of national 'design and build' capability as when America set well-cut (predominantly American-made) cotton sails in 1851 - and conceivably this could be formalised now. Featured Brokerage Composite Volvo Ocean 60 "Pleomax", built in 1997 by McConaghy Boats, Sidny Australia, dim.: 19,50 x 5,75 x 3,85 mtr, design by Bruce Farr, hull, deck and superstructure in Kevlar/foam/epoxy composite, displacement 13,5 tonnes, ballast: 6,5 tonnes (lead fin keel with bulb), fueltanks: 3 x 540 ltrs, freshwateranks: 2 x 150 ltrs, twin destroyer type steering wheels, cable steering with carbon fibre rudderstock and balanced spade rudder. Deck material has been professional upgraded and replaced 2004, keel has been professional removed and upgraded 2004 (keel faired to templates). The boat was built 1997 and has been involved in much racing. Originally she sailed under British flag in the last Whitbread 1997 and 1998. Silk Cut won one leg and ended up as fifth, after breaking the world record for mono hulls. She sailed 417,2 nautical miles in twenty four hours. After the race she was bought up by Team SEB and used as a training platform for their campaign in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001 and 2002. Pleomax is an Exciting Bruce Farr design and had an extensive refit in 2008. Brokerage through De Valk Yacht Brokers: www.yachtworld.com/devalkyb/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at The Last Word |
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Last month's winner:
Iker Martinez & Xabi Fernandez (ESP)
Archie Massey & Dan Wilsdon (GBR)
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