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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 Fantastic Finale In Palma
Denmark's Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard will be awarded the Absolute Winner trophy which recognises the sailors with the best average score over the regatta. It was interesting to test here a new scoring system and format, and despite mixed opinions, the regatta has deserving winners in all classes and most of the regatta leaders conserved their yellow jersey after their medal races. Sailors focus now turns to ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres in the South of France. Racing gets going on 22 April through to 27. Top three by class: 470 Men 470 Women 49er 49er FX Finn Laser Laser Radial Nacra 17 RS:X Men RS:X Women 2.4 Metre Full results: www.trofeoprincesasofia.org Erwan Tabarly Wins Transat Brittany Martinique Soon 39 years, a very brilliant record of offshore racer most often at the forefront, Erwan Tabarly (2nd in the 2012 Med Race four times runner-up France Elite racing solo during which the last two seasons, and already the second Transat Brittany Martinique in 2009 ... four minutes behind Gildas Morvan !) felt from Brest that this time would be good. He was going to win, and that's all. His victory in the Transat Martinique Brittany is undoubtedly the experience and maturity. The experience of thousands of miles on a boat he knows by heart. First three finishers: 1. Erwan Tabarly Armor Lux - Comptoir de La Mer www.transat-bretagnemartinique.com Seahorse Sailor Of The Month Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) 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 The First Five Around 20 women sailors have so far been through a rigorous selection process at the team's base in Puerto Calero, Lanzarote. The first five to win their places have a wide range of experience, from single handed offshore sailing to the Olympics and match racing. They proved their skills while sailing on board the team's training boat, the repurposed Mar Mostro now named SCA Care. Only four other all-female teams have competed in the Volvo Ocean Race since its first edition in 1973 and the last all-female entry was Amer Sports Too in the 2001-02 race. For 2014-15, all-female teams will race with 11 sailors, compared to eight in all-male teams. This first squad will be based in Lanzarote and will continue training there until the start of the race in autumn 2014. The delivery of their Volvo Ocean 65 One Design boat is expected in the early autumn this year. Ficker Cup: Qualifier For 49th Congressional Cup Dickson said, "I just enjoy going head to head with the best guys in the world." They'll certainly be in that company in next week's 49th Congressional, Tuesday through Saturday, when they step up from Grade 2 to Grade 1 level on the global match racing circuit. That will be on the same outer harbor waters where Canfield, ranked No. 8 in the world, won his last 12 races to claim the prize named for Bill Ficker, who was skipper of the 12-Meter Intrepid that successfully defended the America's Cup against Australia's Gretel II in 1970. The noted Newport Beach architect also won the Congressional Cup in 1974. Canfield, of the U.S. Virgin Islands, already had an invitation to the Congressional, as did Australia's Jordan Reece, who placed fifth overall in the eight-boat international fleet. But Dickson, representing the host club with a local crew, had to win his way in. This will be Dickson's 12th Congressional and Canfield's third. The Congressional racing Tuesday through Saturday also will be at Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, starting at noon each day, conditions permitting. -- Rich Roberts Sunday's Results 5th-8th sailoffs: Jordan Reece, Australia, d. Peter Holz, Chicago, 2-0; Chris Poole, Portland, Maine, d. Colin Rathbun, British Virgin Islands, 2-0. Semifinals: Scott Dickson, Long Beach, d. Dustin Durant, Long Beach, 2-1; Taylor Canfield, U.S. Virgin Islands, d. Waturu Sakamoto, Japan, 2-0. Petite finals: Sakamoto d. Durant, 2-1. Championship finals: Canfield d. Dickson, 2-0. A2B Ocean Race It will travel the length of the country, departing our largest city - Auckland and arriving in our smallest port town - Bluff. On route, it will head up through the Bay of Islands, round Cape Reinga, down the West Coast before rounding the base of the South Island and into the town famous for its oysters and southern hospitality - Bluff. The A2B Ocean Race will be held on an annual basis on the first Sunday after Waitangi Day. With the race expected to take a week to sail, this date maximises spectator opportunities with the fleet departing Auckland on a Sunday and the majority of yachts being welcomed into Bluff the following weekend. The race fleet is limited to 30 boats in the inaugural year. Half of these boats are expected to be international entries, with expressions of interest already being received from yachts excited at the challenge of pitting themselves against the Southern Ocean. Solo Round The Isle Of Wight Race Last year was won by Will Sayer in his Sigma 33, Elmarleen, closely followed by Richard Breese in his Sonata, Impro and Chris Flewitt in his Contessa 28, Tringa. Rob Craigie taking line honours in his J122 Jebelino. The start will be at 8 O‚Clock on the JOG line off Cowes. For 2013 the SORC Round the Isle of Wight will accept LV TCCs, and we hope that if you do not wish or need to get a full Spinlock IRC certificate, the option of racing with an LV TCC at a reduced cost will encourage your participation in this event. Sodebo and Thomas Coville Enter The Tour De France A La Voile Last weekend, Coville and his men faced their future M34 competitors on the Spi Ouest France Intermarche. They already distinguished themselves by taking third behind the M34 veteran Daniel Souben, who won the race. Franck Cammas, another 'rookie', took second. "We clearly wanted to attract renowned names like Thomas Coville on the Tour de France a la Voile. We are very proud to welcome him this summer. When Franck Cammas joined us in December, a very good competitive level was already expected. Thomas Coville's arrival is confirming this. It will be interesting to see how these experienced sailors will do in front of the veteran teams of the circuit. We are already thinking of the great show they will give to the public this summer," said Jean-Etienne Amaury, Amaury Sport Organisation Chairman, the organisation of the Tour de France a la Voile. Roger Blasse Secures Second OK Dinghy World Title
It was always going to be the lightest day of the regatta and as the fleet launched at 11.00 the wind was 2-3 knots and very patchy. The race officer Kevin Wilson (AUS) was clear he would not start racing in unsuitable conditions so the fleet waited afloat in 30 degrees of heat for over two hours. Finally the breeze stabilised and the fleet got away on the second attempt in 7-8 knots which built to 14 knots during the race. -- Robert Deaves Results (top 10 from 74) 1. Roger Blasse, AUS, 17 points Oyster Regatta - Grenada Nine examples of the Oyster range have come to Grenada to enjoy sailing in outstanding azure blue waters, The island of Grenada offers some of the most idyllic cruising grounds anywhere in the world. Wonderful hidden coves and beaches with sand like fine sugar typify Grenada. Known as The Spice Island, the mountainous interior is festooned with spice plantations with the sweet scent of nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla carried on the breeze. Hosted by Port Louis Marina, the Oyster fleet will rendezvous in St George's Harbour for the start of the event. The programme for the week will include racing around the coast of the island, an overnight stop at Le Phare Bleu, Lay Day at Port Louis Marina. The fleet will return to Port Louis Marina for the prize giving party and finale dinner. -- Louay Habib Old Gaffers' Jubilee Bonanza The first phase of ticket sales sold out for the event at Cowes, Isle of Wight, which aims to be a spectacular finale for the Round Britain Challenge - the 50th anniversary voyage of traditional gaff-rig boats from across Europe. Organisers are now working with sponsors to obtain more berths on the island for the festival dates of 15-18 August to meet the demand. There will be racing in the Solent on the Saturday for anniversary trophies and crew parties every night. Festival registration fees start from £30 for OGA members and £40 for non-members, and include three nights' mooring, a festival pennant and skipper's goodie bag. For revellers attending on foot, entry is free for members and £5 for non-members, but online registration is needed to buy dinner tickets. A bumper series of events are taking place nationwide to mark the OGA's historic year. Forty boats have so far registered their interest in the 2,000-mile Round Britain Challenge, which begins in Maldon, Essex on 21 April and will see Old Gaffers travelling clockwise around the coast, enjoying celebrations en route. One of the oldest boats participating is Bonita, a Morecambe Bay Prawner launched in 1888, while 'new gaffers' include Tim and Liz Dodwell's modern glassfibre 9.1m (30ft) pilot cutter High Barbaree, built by Cornish Crabbers. For smaller boats, The Relay invites sailors to join in the fun by carrying or accompanying a token on shorter legs around the UK. Traditional Sail Cardiff 2013 is celebrating the OGA's 50th anniversary from 28 June to 1 July with river-raiding up the Ely and Taff Rivers, racing for boats of all sizes and a grand parade of sail. The OGA 50 2013 Irish Sea Rally, held from 8-12 August, will see the Peel Traditional Boat Weekend on the Isle of Man extended to five days in celebration of the OGA Jubilee. An anniversary book, compiled and edited by Viv Head, will also be published. Featured Brokerage Ultimate Cruiser racer. Won Fastnet and can cruise 8 people in total comfort. Brokerage through Berthon International: www.yachtworld.com/berthon/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com The Last Word |
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Last month's winner:
Alessandro Di Benedetto (ITA)
Sean Langman (AUS)
