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Calipso IV & Low Noise Take The Lead
Ancona, Italy: With most boats getting in just under the 32-hour time limit, the long offshore race is finally over at the Adria Ferries ORCi World Championship, and the cumulative standings after three races are now in. All races scored have a point value of 1.0 points.
On the strength of an impressive 2-1-2 scorecard, Piero Paniccia's Cookson 50 Calipso IV has taken the lead in Class A. They won the short 57.46-mile offshore race late last night by 9:35 in corrected time over the largest boat in the class, the GS 56R Marina Kastela, but then trailed the larger boat by 28:29 this morning in corrected time after the finish of the 132-mile long race. While the canting-keeled Calipso is rated faster than Kastella, the two were not far from each other throughout the race.
In Class B, Giuseppe Giuffre's M37 Low Noise is leading Class B by 7 points over Vincenzo De Blasio's NM38S Scugnizza on the strength of 1-2-1 scores. Tied for third place on 20 points is UkaUka Racing's Comet 38S by the same name, with Giulio and Alberto Altieri's X-37 Minox.
Inshore racing resumes tomorrow with the first signal for the first race scheduled at 11:55 local time.
Smith Takes Lead On Day Two Of Dragon Edinburgh Cup In Weymouth
Photo by Fiona Brown, www.fionabrown.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
Weymouth, UK: With four of a possible six races now completed reigning Dragon World Champion Lawrie Smith, crewed by Ossie Stewart and Tim Tavinor, has moved into the lead at the 2013 Dragon Edinburgh Cup supported by Aberdeen Asset Management in Weymouth. It was a light and at times extremely challenging day that saw many of the boats add big numbers to their scores, but Smith and his canny cohorts demonstrated once again why all three are ranked amongst the world's best sailors as they kept their focus and added an eighth and a second to their score, making them by far the most consistent performers of the day.
Klaus Diederichs, sailing with Andy Beadsworth and Jamie Lea, had another solid day and although they had to work for it at times they remained focused and ended up scoring 7 then 6 to close the day in second place overall, five points behind Smith.
In the Corinthian Division Julia Bailey, sailing with Graham Bailey, Keith Tippell and Will Heritage continues to lead the fleet although she has now dropped down to fourth in the overall standings.
Tomorrow one championship race is scheduled which will bring the total sailed to five, at which point the discard will come into play. Lawrie Smith is now the only competitor with an all top ten scoreline with a worst result of eighth, but everyone else is carrying at least one double figures score, so the introduction of the discard is likely to bring big changes in the overall standings. Julia Bailey in particular will be delighted to drop her 25th place from race four as were the discard already in play she would be leading the regatta comfortably.
Tomorrow will also feature the traditional Edinburgh Cup Crews' Race where the lunatics are put briefly in charge of the asylum. Will Heritage (who would like us to note that he is 12 years old and not 14 as we stated last night - sorry Will) is hoping to better his second place of last year and as always competition will be extremely hot for this fun event.
Overall Top Five After Four Races
1. Lawrie Smith, GBR785 Alfie - 8,6,8,2 = 24
2. Klaus Diederichs, GBR758 Fever - 1,15,7,6 = 29
3. Gavia Wilkinson-Cox, GBR761 Jerboa - 10,8,12,1 = 31
4. Julia Bailey, GBR720 Aimee - 3,2,2,25 = 32 (Corinthian)
5. Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen, GBR775 Danish Blue - 5,14,10,3 = 32
www.intdragon.net
www.britishdragons.org
Henri Lloyd Falcon Jacket
Part of the Henri Lloyd //360 collection, the Falcon jacket is a lightweight all weather jacket. Constructed from 2 layer GORE-TEX® the jacket is fully taped to offer 100% water and wind proof protection with extreme breathability. The contoured design reduces windage, whilst sleeves are pre-articulated for ease of movement. The adjustable foldaway hood is incorporated into a quick drying mesh lined collar and offers additional protection when needed, along with a shockcord adjustment at the hem.
This unisex jacket works as well on or off the water, ideal for the leisure sailor and equally stylish and practical on shore.
The //360 collection is a state of the art range of apparel and accessories blending technology and design that delivers 360 degree control of the wearers own micro-climate, functionality that works on and off the water.
The //360 collection incorporates a complete range of versatile products including Shell performance Jackets, Fleeces, Next To Skin, Softshell and Luggage, designed to work equally well on water as it does in everyday life.
The Henri Lloyd Falcon Jacket is available in morning cloud, red, optical white, marine and black and in sizes S - XXL.
RRP: £210
www.henrilloyd.com
Celtic Whims
0.6... 0.8... 1.5 knots for those with the most skill and the most luck: the competitors of the Mini Fastnet are slowly coming back up the Irish Sea, sailing close-hauled. The high-pressure system and its windless zones are right over the Mini fleet, and no stable winds are due to return much before the end of the day. The Celtic Sea is often an all-or-nothing place, either too much wind or none at all. Today, it's the latter.
The lovely wind of yesterday afternoon at the mouth of the Irish Sea blew itself out rather more quickly than expected, switching around to the North, against the competitors' route. The leading Prototype boats were the first affected, facing a brakes-on effect that was radical but not absolute, in contrast to other members of the pack, who were stuck in something of a millpond for over an hour last night.
Gwenole Gahinet and Gregoire Mouly (Watever-Nautipark) are still out front. Since yesterday, they have constantly moved to the west, no doubt counting on faster, strengthening winds out at sea. This tactic appears to be paying off, as with each new ranking they are showing higher speeds than those of their direct competitors (3 knots instead of 1.5 at 6am, and 1.5 knots at 7am instead of the 0.6 knots achieved by the three in their wake).
In the Production boats, yesterday's solid leaders, Justine Mettraux and Isabelle Joschke (Teamwork) had a terrible fifteen minutes or so in the early evening: they were the first to fall foul of the calm zone that trapped a large number of the Production boats (and a few Prototypes). Their lovely lead simply melted away into thin air.
At 7am this morning, the leading Prototypes are glued to the water, while the rest of the pack and the Production boats are coming up behind at three to four knots.
Follow the race:
www.facebook.com/groups/34793611189/?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/MiniFastnet
RNLI Sea Safety Guide Goes Interactive
A new, updated and interactive edition of the RNLI's safety handbook Sea Safety: The Complete Guide is launched this week.
The Complete Guide is the RNLI's handbook of essential information for all those who go to sea. Its new, interactive format means that sea safety is available on mobiles, tablets and laptops and at the tip of boaters' fingertips. The new interactive version of the guide now includes videos, quizzes and challenges.
Tony Wafer, RNLI Coastal Safety Manager, said: 'We recommend that all those who enjoy the water follow some simple guidelines: get some training, tell someone where you're going, check the weather and tides, wear a lifejacket, check your safety equipment and carry spares, and carry a means of calling for help.
'The Complete Guide gives more in-depth advice on how to follow these principles and stay safe on the water. It'll cover everything from how to plan your time on the water, what safety equipment to take and how to use it, and what to do in an emergency.'
The new interactive Sea Safety: The Complete Guide is available, free, at www.rnli.org.uk/completeguide from 25 June.
ISAF XML Regatta Reporting
ISAF have published information regarding the new XML regatta reporting data format. The ISAF XML Regatta Reporting format (ISAF XRR) is an XML-schema defined by the International Sailing Federation to provide a universal standard for the transfer of results information. The format allows instant integration of results management systems with the ISAF results database.
The latest version, v1.3.1, includes improvements on reporting regatta results, the standardisation of dates and times throughout the reports and validation of the format.. The service allows the upload of racing results for fleet racing, match racing and team racing formats. It also provides a facility for the download of sailor biography information and basic regatta information.
Use of the ISAF XRR message service allows for rapid publication of regatta results enabling regatta management teams to automate some of their office procedures and ensuring the ISAF Sailor biographies are immediately updated with results at the end of a regatta.
Details of the ISAF XRR format and services:
www.sailing.org/xml.php
ARC Boats Leave Green Wake With Environmental Projects
Click on image to enlarge.
Sailing allows us to travel long distances with relatively low carbon emissions, but the reality is that most yachts also burn diesel at sea. ARC organiser World Cruising Club (WCC) has therefore teamed up with forestry organisations in Gran Canaria and Saint Lucia to sponsor tree plantings to help offset the carbon emitted during the ARC.
Since 2010, over 700 native trees have been planted by ARC volunteers on a deforested site in the mountains of Gran Canaria, offsetting emissions and restoring a threatened eco-system. In a 5 year commitment, paid for by WCC, the ARC Forest will improve bio-diversity, reduce soil erosion and flooding. Environmental charity Foresta, ensure that the saplings will grow into a sustainable forest.
In 2012, WCC created the ARC Forest project in Saint Lucia, working with the Ministry of Agriculture and local Rotary Club, to restore damaged river banks and reduce flood risks. In an area prone to hurricanes, reforestation can have a significant impact on the livelihoods of local people, reducing the risk of devastating floods and landslips.
ARC sailors can donate money with a suggested value per litre of diesel carried aboard; the funds go exclusively towards planting more trees.
For more information about ARC environmental projects visit www.worldcruising.com/news
Industry News
With the Global Ocean Race 2014-15 starting and finishing in the Solent - the traditional home of round-the-world racing - the natural Head Quarters for the Race Organisation is Haslar Marina in Gosport, Portsmouth. The GOR's offices are within metres of Haslar's sheltered, 600-berth marina which will also form the base for the event's corporate and sponsor sailing on Class40s throughout 2013 until the start of the race on September 21st 2014.
Already a base for inshore and offshore racing teams, Haslar Marina's location close to the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour permits quick access to the Solent for the GOR's teams to train and boat test in the run-up to the start of the 30,000-mile circumnavigation in 2014.
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On June 21st the Showboats International Design Awards took place in Monaco. Awards dedicated to the creative talents in the Yachting Industry for design, naval architecture and styling.
Dykstra Naval Architects won 2 Awards:
The 39.70 meter J Class JH2 Rainbow, Best Naval Architecture Sailing Yachts"the Judges were most impressed by the difficult work required to design Rainbow in terms of meeting the requirements of the modern J-Class rule within an existing, historic hull shape." and the 51.30 meter Spirit of Tradition Ketch Kamaxitha, Best Exterior Design and Styling Sailing Yachts, the judges felt she deserved the Award "for mastering the dual roles of cruiser and racer in a design that marries the requirements for traditional design and optimum performance. They found her deck spaces practical and appealing and well set up for crew work; they also liked Dykstra's design of stow-away displays and controls to eliminate visual clutter when the boat is at anchor."
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Yeykey Eyewear is Technical Eyewear Sponsor for the international "Audi Sailing Series" regatta circuit, taking place this year from April to September in Italy.
The ultra light innovative Yeykey sunglasses are developed in Germany with very high quality Swiss materials and manufactured in Italy. Featherweight (ca. 20g), designed to fit comfortably, with an ultra flexible waterproof frame made of pure Polyamide.
The innovative sunglasses are available at some of the most important European Boat Shows and at selected points of sale.
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The wealth of new ideas, skills and technologies in the marine sector will be on show later this month at one of the UK's premier maritime exhibitions, Seawork.
Now in its 16th consecutive year, the exhibition combines three exhibition halls, quayside stands and demonstrations, nearly 60 vessels on pontoons and concurrent conferences on topical issues.
One of the key areas will be the Innovations Showcase, set to be hotly contested with a raft of companies vying to win the Spirit of Innovation trophy.
With six main categories - vessel design and construction, marine civil engineering and construction, marine equipment, electronics and materials, diving and underwater technology, renewable energy and safety and training - the showcase will demonstrate the depth and breath of the marine industry.
The showcase is open to exhibitors who have introduced and promoted products, vessels, services or projects within the last 12-months.
Boating Business: www.boatingbusiness.com
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Endeavour Quay is pleased to announce that Volvo Ocean Race team, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, has chosen the historic Gosport facility as its summer race preparation and training facility. Abu Dhabi's VO70 AZZAM, which means determination in Arabic, arrived last month and is now in one of the large boat sheds ready for some refit work.
Servicing and race preparation work has begun on AZZAM at Endeavour Quay in time for a return to the water and the start line of Cowes Week and the RORC Fastnet Race on 11th August.
AZZAM made history in the last race as the first Arabian-backed contender to take on the Everest of sailing, notching up some key wins including a home victory in Abu Dhabi and the trans-Atlantic blue riband leg from Miami, USA to Lisbon, Portugal. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing will return for its second Volvo Ocean Race outing next year and the UAE capital will once again host a mega stopover over New Year 2015.
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After long months of deliberation it has been confirmed that VAT will apply to yacht charters starting in France with effect from 15 July, 2013. The announcement was formally made yesterday evening, 25 June 2013, by the French Direction de la Legislation Fiscale (DLF) through the issue of an official bulletin.
The decision brings an end to the French Commercial Exemption (FCE) rule previously applied to the charter of commercially registered yachts. Previously commercially operated yachts could be imported into France at a zero rate of VAT and for subsequent charter activities originating in French ports to be supplied without VAT being charged.
Now all charters commencing in French waters where the charter contracts are signed after 15 July will be subject to French VAT rate at 19.6 per cent, although it may be possible to benefit from a reduced effective rate as a result of fallback to existing French rules governing the VAT treatment of charter/lease activities through either fixed utilisation or actual utilisation.
IBI News: www.ibinews.com
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The Beneteau Group has reported consolidated sales of €597.8 million through the third quarter of its 2013 year, with the Boat segment gaining 3.5% to €440.1 million for the first nine months, compared to the same period last year.
The company said its performance was underpinned by expansion outside of Europe, where sales were up 34% at the end of May 2013 compared with the end of May 2012, representing a total of nearly €146 million.
The boat segment represented approximately 73% of sales in its last fiscal year, with sailboats accounting for 4!% and motorboats representing 32%. The remainder of the business is generated in the European leisure home market, where sales through the third quarter were down nearly -15% to €157.7 million.
Letters To The Editor -
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.
* From Adrian Morgan: Have I got this right? Some AC 72s cannot foil without adjustable winglets on their rudders; Emirates Team NZ and Luna Rossa can and have been doing so for months. So, in the interests of "safety" following the Artemis tragedy, moveable rudder winglets, specifically banned under the rules, could now to be allowed. Grant Dalton smells a rat. So does Luna Rossa. Who is pulling the event organiser's strings? Is this a cynical use of a tragedy, the death of a British Olympian, to overcome a design disadvantage? If so then it marks a new low in the history of America's Cup skullduggery.
* From Jeremy Mead: We all know that adjustable rudder elevators are not a safety issue. If a boat can't foil safely, then don't foil in those conditions. The decision to foil or not is in the hands of the skipper and crew. Why is it any different from making the decision not to set a larger spinnaker?
* From Daniel Charles: The creators and managers of the AC 72 rule deserve our hearty congratulations. They are without peer. Never before, in nearly 250 years of rating rules, has a rule committee managed, like this one, to systematically make the wrong decision for the right reason. Such admirable consistency in error deserves our admiration, our thanks and the early relief of this committee from the taxing loads of their task.
The initial AC 72 rule was OK, but then the committee decided, for financial reason, to delete one of the two rigs. By suppressing the small rig they condemned the participants to a wing way too powerful. The only way to get enough stability was then to add foils. The initial rule forbid them, so an imaginative ruling allowed them, but forced the trim to be on the main foils which require a lot of energy (in all the decades of hydrofoils sailing, the trim was always done by the aft foil under the rudder, because it required less energy).
Since an engine was also forbidden, as well as a hydraulic accumulator, they are on board the AC 72 six or eight Homo Sapiens V1 doing the job any small engine would do much cheaper. Therefore the expense rocketed. So the intended relatively cheap, safe catamaran has become an enormously expensive complex and dangerous machine.
The participant teams are not to be criticized: they are paid to get the best out of the rule -a fact that the rule's fathers never imagined, despite repeated proof to the contrary.
Now, two weeks before the start of the racing they want to change a basic parameter (the fixed angle of the aft foil), which would have been the wise decision two years ago but now look like wanting to re-inject the genie back inside its bottle. It's a bit late to be clever -a state which anyway seems beyond the reach of these byzantine minds. What a horrendous mess!
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