Scuttlebutt Europe #2809 - 5 April
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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 Finals Heat Up Racing In Palma
Only one point separates the top three Laser sailors, and a third man has joined the dual between World #1 Tom Burton (AUS) and World #2 Philipp Buhl (GER). Burton and Buhl are level at eight points and one behind Stipanovic. In the Radial, Sarah Gunni (DEN) has taken first place on equal points with Alison Young (GBR). Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR) has climbed from eighth to third thanks to a race win. The British Finn squad have taken an easy start to the new Olympic cycle. However, this is not reflected in their sailing season start. The first day of Finals see three British sailors among the top four with Giles Scott (GBR) leading the pack after a strong start in the qualification races. Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen from Denmark are collecting the fruits of their skiff experience in Palma and won the first three races in the final stage of the 49erFX event, and consolidate their lead from the qualification stage.. The RS:X is where the host nation Spain are showing their best results in the regatta. Ivan Pastor (ESP) is leading the Men's RS:X with two victories today, and is in front of Julien Bontemps (FRA) and Toni Wilhelm (GER). Blanca Manchon (ESP) has moved up three places to third position in the Women's fleet and Bryony Shaw (GBR) pulled off her best day of the event to take the lead with Mayaan Davidovich (ISR) slipping to second. Action in Palma resumes tomorrow as the places for the Medal Races are decided. Open House At Pier 29
ACRM's Stephen Barkley provided a "State of The Union" address, providing all the positives which have transpired in recent months, even noting that it has not been exactly a smooth path, and early projections had not lived up to expectations. He focused on the achievements covered including Emmys for TV broadcasts, bringing the sport to the people and adding an exciting new element to the oldest trophy in sport. Team CEO's Paul Cayard and Russell Coutts were also present to field questions regarding the upcoming regatta and how their teams are doing. ACRM's John Craig also fielded questions and did a presentation on what to expect on the course, and reps from the SF Giants and ACRM marketing gave the lowdown on various viewing options on sale to the public as well as free viewing locations. Crews were busy measuring and marking off the area for the Americas Cup Pavilion will host 30 concerts. Nearby neighbors voiced their concerns loudly and were appeased somewhat by concessions over the length, number of and size of concert planned. But the president of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers association, Jon Golinger indicated that an appeal of the City's Entertainment Commission's permit approval is still possible, seeking to put some bite into their bark if need be. The are carefully scrutinizing all deals between the City and the organizers. -- Eric Simonson Charter An Open 70 We can tailor a package to meet your needs. Bring your friends and spend time with us team building with your colleagues, or take your clients out on an experience of a lifetime in a Volvo Open 70. We can offer charters from the Solent, Europe or in the winter the Caribbean. We have vast experience of Inshore and Offshore sailing. If you'd like to join us for a particular event, check out our race events for more information. Our boat charters are individual, and packaged to your specifications. Alternatively, if you are unable to get a full crew together, we can offer some individual crewing opportunities at many of the Race Events on our sailing calendar. Our Volvo 70 is commercially coded and fully certified for the waters it sails. The Volvo 70 will accommodate up to 12 guests inshore and 8-10 guests offshore. See our Race Events and more information on our new website: www.volvo70charter.co.uk Chinese Clipper Race Crew Completes Solo Circumnavigation
Guo Chuan (GC), 47 from Qingdao, China was the first Chinese sailor to take part in Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 2005/06. Now a professional sailor, he set himself the goal of completing the 21,600 mile solo non-stop circumnavigation in a class 40 boat named 'Qingdao' after his hometown. After nearly two years of planning and preparation GC set sail from Qingdao on 18 November 2012 passing the Equator, Cape Horn, Weddell Sea, Cape of Good Hope and Sunda Strait before finally arriving back in his hometown where he will receive a rapturous welcome after becoming the first Asian to challenge the Class 40 solo non-stop circumnavigation record. Among those waiting to welcome back GC is Vicky Song, who will become the first Chinese woman to complete a full circumnavigation when she takes part in the Clipper 13-14 Race. The next edition of the race, which starts this August, will feature a new fleet of matched ocean racers, the Clipper 70. Repaying The Rescuers In September last year, during the last leg of a sailing trip from France, a yacht carrying British sailor Geoff Pearce was becalmed ten miles from the Suffolk coastline. Then - as trouble never comes singly - the yacht suffered engine failure. The yacht, now completely immobilised was 30 miles from the nearest port and drifting onto the coastline. The news was to get worse. A Force 8 gale was headed their way, in the wrong direction, and, being too close to the coastline and without any assistance from the engine, Pearce could see a potential disaster looming. They called the Coastguard for assistance while they desperately tried to work on the engine before the gale struck. A lifeboat from Aldeburgh arrived. She towed the yacht halfway towards its home berth where the Lowestoft lifeboat joined the rescue and the yacht's crew were able to observe the most impressive and delicate manoeuvere as the two boats exchanged their charge. Pearce obviously couldn't forget his dramatic retrieval and transfer to safety by the lifeboat service. This inspired him, when the opportunity presented, to cycle from Lincoln to Luxembourg in just three days to raise vital funds for his home county's stations - and he raked in an impressive £1,296. Geoff, accompanied by his wife, Donna, presented the funds (to which 'Gift Aid' will be added) at Skegness Lifeboat Station. World ARC 2015 Cold Water Route As the current World ARC 2012-13 fleet reaches the end of their own 15-month circumnavigation and 48 yachts are already planning their departure from Saint Lucia from 2014, back in the planning office the World Cruising Club organisers are busy putting together their latest great scheme for 2015 For 2015, there is an exciting new route choice to discover South America before re-joining the main fleet in Tahiti. Those opting for the 'cold water route' will set off from Europe in late 2014 sailing from Portugal to Brazil via Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verdes. Heading south the cruise calls at Uruguay and Argentina before exploring the Beagle Channel and Chilean Canals. With two months to explore Patagonia there is plenty of time to enjoy this unique wilderness before heading out across the Pacific via Easter Island, Pitcairn and Gambier to meet up with the 'warm water route' in Tahiti. -- Nancy Knudsen in Sail-World.com www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=107933 Itinerary and other routes: www.worldcruising.com Solo Arrimar Solo Arrimer will be the second race in the Academy's 2013 calendar and it already looks set to be an exciting race with five of the best solo offshore sailors on the circuit heading for the start line amongst the fleet of an expected 25 competitors. It has also been announced that 2012 Solitaire du Figaro winner Yann Elies will be joining the impressive Solo Arrimer line up. The race starts on April 9. Skipper list: solofigarolessables.blogspot.com Feeling Soggy Down Under? But here's a sight for sore .... well, sore something, anyway: quick-drying ase crew shorts from the brand new adidas sailing range. Made from a water-repellent twill fabric and fitted with a reinforced seat, these ase crew shorts mean you need never fear the sight of a soggy gunnel again. ase crew shorts feature: - Side and back pockets www.adidassailing.com/en/products.html Roger Blasse Closes In It was also a day of drama. The day afloat began with some spectacular launching through heavy surf that had built as a result of the strengthening wind, and without the help of the club's boatmen this would have been an impossible task. The day ended with drama as defending champion Budzien picked up his second yellow flag to effectively end his championship chances. Blasse is now in pole position to take his second world title, 15 years after he first won it in 1998. The wind was around the strongest of the week, up to 18-20 knots, with bigger waves making the downwind lots of fun, though the wind eased during the second race to 12-14 knots. Bad luck followed Jonathan Fish (GBR) yet again. After having an OCS in race one and winning a protest for redress against a BFD in race four, and having to come ashore on Wednesday to replace a broken mast before the first race, he thought he had had his fair share of problems. But they continued today as the mast he borrowed from Craig snapped at the deck as he rounded the leeward mark in the first race of the day. He got ashore to replace with his first repaired mast but now has lost all hope of a coveted top ten finish. The final two races will be sailed Friday at the earlier time of 11.00. So far this week the winds at 11.00 have been considerable lighter so the championship is by no means over. -- Robert Deaves Results (top 10 from 74) 1. Roger Blasse, AUS, 15.0 Bodenseewoche
Organizational struggles of the clubs and organizations lead to the final cancellation of the Bodenseewoch in 1972. 37 years later, in the year 2009, the Bodenseewoche was revived, thanks to a great deal of effort from the initiators, the hosting clubs, the city as well as numerous helping hands. After this successful comeback, the Bodenseewochen of 2010 and 2011 carried on this long tradition. 1.000 participants and 80.000 visitors enjoyed the Bodenseewoche`s social and sportive events. For four days, the approximately 120 participating sailing yachts and motor boats turned the harbor into a Mediterranean venue and offered a wonderful setting for harbor concerts, rowing competitions and water ski shows. For four days , May 23 - 26, the harbor of Constance´s historic city center will provide the scenery for one of the eldest and most important water sport events between Kiel and Genoa. A colorful harbor panorama along with cultural and sportive events - sailing regattas, rowing competitions, water ski cups, harbor concerts and shows - invites you to pleasantly stroll along the jetties. Over 160 mahogany-built yachts, modern High-Tech-(Carbon)-Racers and racing catamarans, cunning motorboats and historic steamboats as well as sparking vintage cars let the harbor of Constance gleam in southern maritime flair. The centerpiece of the venue, which can be visited free of charge, is a strolling mile with a water sport and boat exhibition on-shore and off-shore, the innovations show and the Maritime Market. www.bodenseewoche.com/bowo_besucher.php Henson and Greber Crowned U19 Champions With A Day To Spare
Henson and Greber, both 17, dominated the U19 fleet on the opening day with a resounding three race wins cementing their position at the top of the leaderboard from the word go. The Spitfire duo, who have been sailing together for two years and finished last year's event in fourth, secured the U19 title on the penultimate day of the Championships today with a further two bullets and a second. The pair now face stiff competition from reigning champion and 2012 ISAF Youth Worlds gold medallist Tom Britz and his crew Abbie Hewitt for the U21 RYA Youth National title. Britz and Hewitt, who were overnight leaders coming into today's racing, slipped into second place after two seconds and a fourth. With the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship selectors revealing their team selections tomorrow, Sarah Ayton OBE, chair of this year's selectors, was impressed with the standard of racing on day four of the Championships. "Racing was very tight at the top of most fleets with sailors battling it out in the challenging conditions. This week is all about being able to put a Series together and being consistent across the five days of racing. Sailors who are able to keep their heads under pressure going into the final day tomorrow will come out on top. I'm looking forward to seeing if sailors can deliver when the pressure is really on!" "On the final day of any regatta it always comes down to doing the things that you know you are good at and falling back on those routines. Today we saw a few people trying to push things a little too hard with a few OCS in the 29er fleet so it will be important for sailors entering the final day tomorrow to remain calm, to really believe in themselves and their ability, and crucially not make any silly mistakes," concluded Ayton. Racing is set to resume at 10.55am Friday. Conditions are set for 6 - 10 knots from the North East. New Short Course Friday Race Series At Royal Southern Developed by the Club to appeal to owners and crews who are looking for something that fits their busy lifestyles, the eight regattas in the 'Gaastra Friday Series' will not take the fleet too far from its Hamble base, offering 1 1/2 hours of short, sharp competition in Southampton Water, before giving an opportunity to claim bragging rights in the Club bar afterwards. Open to any class from IRC to XOD and SB20 to J/109, entry is free to Royal Southern Members and a lowly £10 per regatta for non-members, paid to the Race Officer on the evening. Dates for the Gaastra Friday Series are : May 18/24/31, June 7/14/21/28 and July 5/12, with the racing flagged away at 1830 and prizes for the most successful at the conclusion of the Series in July. Gaastra's sponsorship of the Royal Southern Yacht Club sits easily alongside its support of this year's Transpac 52 Worlds - won by Club Member, Niklas Zennström - Les Voiles de Saint Barth, Palma Vela, Copa del Rey and Bol d'Or Mirabaud, while their technical clothing is seen on Team Azzura, mini-maxi Jethou and the Swan 42, Magical Mystery Tour, which will represent the Royal Southern at this year's New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup regatta in September. Featured Brokerage Joseph Soper is probably best remembered for SATANITA, a cutter legendary for her speed - and a "fair turn of speed" is one of the properties noted by the yachting press of 1929 for this creation by Philip and Son from another of his designs. ZEPPHYR was moreover conceived as an able sea going cruiser and at 62 foot on deck she's the perfect size for a family yacht of this vintage. In impressive condition and a considerable beauty, her forte is nevertheless in the sheer practicality of her layout, rig and accommodation - to which her ownership by the same family for more than 40 years is testament enough. Brokerage through Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd.: www.yachtworld.com/sandemanyachtcompany/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com The Last Word |
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