Scuttlebutt Europe

Scuttlebutt Europe #2842 - 22 May

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:21:34 +0100

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 editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Magazine Seeking Funding For German Youth Team
German magazine SegelReporter is raising funds from its readers to send the German Youth Sailing Team to the Red Bull Youth America's Cup in San Francisco, at the request of its readers, it claims!

English and German versions of the story on SailRaceWin:

From the English translation:

"This long Pentecost weekend was marked for SR in terms of long telephone calls Red Bull Youth America's Cup. The German Youth Team has decided to go ahead on their own and we want to help.

Many readers have bombarded us to publish an account, donations can be deposited on the. But this process must be secured so serious. Therefore, we have advice from the friendly notary Dr. Sönke Peters sought to accompany also the way of SR.

Peter sailed on the Farr 40 by Wolfgang Schaefer, among others, Andrew Simpson helmsman Iain Percy. He opened to us the way of deposits over a notary account. But for every donor must send a signed form by mail. We were together for too cumbersome.

The path through current crowdfunding websites should be possible. Part of the sailors currently makes smart about the options. The boys are advised by sailing supporters with legal or economic background. In the coming weeks, a new platform to be built, on the expiry of the communication about the project. Regardless of this, we now want to quickly create a way for SR to collect money."

Anne Hinton notes: " The AC's Stephen Barclay is supporting this news, so clearly Germany has not officially withdrawn its team and this can go ahead if the funds are raised."

sailracewin.blogspot.com

Tornado European Championship
With light winds early in the morning the postponement flag went up for the Tornado Class and the sailors remained on shore watching the A Class' float out to their racing area. Around 1 hour later the race officer removed the postponement and the sailors got ready and went out onto the water.

It was Roland and Nahid Gaebler who held the lead going into the last day and they were hoping there would be no racing because the Greek team of Iordanis and Kostas could discard a 5th if there was further racing in the championship.

Soon after there were 32 Tornado's drifting toward the start boat waiting for the race officers instructions, it didn't look good with the postponement flag on the front of the committee boat struggling to fly in the light airs.

One hour later the wind had disappeared and two hoots were what the sailors were waiting for after a challenging series of racing. It was time to head home and pack up ready for the road home.

Roland and Nahid Gaebler are the new Tornado European Champions, knocking the Greek Red Bull sailors off the podium they have held since 2008. Roland's last European Championships victory came in the 1990's.

Full results at www.tornadochampionships.com

Back In The Game
"We want to win the European 52 Super Series."

That is the stark, keynote objective for the coming months, as stated by Ed Reynolds (USA) director of the Quantum Racing 52 programme, and as the American flagged team complete their final days of training off Barcelona this week in preparation for Thursday's start to the Trofeo de Vela Conde de Godo, it is clear the highly motivated crew are ready to rise to this challenge.

Two significant changes bolster the team line up. Terry Hutchinson (USA), who skippered Quantum Racing to win the MedCup title in 2008 and lead the crew through until 2011, returns to the line up, this time in the role of tactician.

He will be joined by 1992 Barcelona Olympic gold medallist and America's Cup winner Jordi Calafat (ESP) who sails as Quantum Racing's strategist.

Even as experienced and honoured as they both are, integrating the two new afterguard members has been one of the primary goals of the pre-regatta training period. Although of course Baird (USA) and Calafat sailed together as America's Cup winners with Alinghi, Hutchinson and Baird are new to each other and so have been putting in some racing hours to optimise their partnership.

In mid April Baird and Hutchinson sailed together at the Congressional Cup off Long Beach finishing second. In fact that was Ed Baird's first monohull match racing event since July 3rd 2007 when he drove Alinghi to win the 32rd America's Cup against Emirates Team New Zealand on which Hutchinson was tactician.

Racing starts for the 52 Super Series in Barcelona from Thursday 23rd May and runs through to Sunday 26th. Follow the racing with live tracking, commentary and comment on www.52superseries.com

Marinepool Perce Jacket and Trousers - Ultra Light Weight Technology
Perce jacket and trousers are the the latest Marinepool sailing clothing novelties. They combine highest functionality with outstanding design and comfort; indeed, both jacket and trousers are made of ultra light weight 3-layer fabrics that guarantee excellent freedom of movement. Of course the Perce's high quality rip stop fabric is fully waterproof, highly breathable and durable water repellent.

Special features of the Perce jackets are the 3D performance cut on elbows supporting ergonomics, top of the range materials, Marinepool´s remarkable 3-layer technology as well as welded water-resistant zippers with Polyurethane frame.

Perce Jacket is available in a male and female cut and in a selection of various colors. While the male style is offered in ocean blue, navy and black, the more waisted style for women is available in white, ocean blue and black.

Similar to the jacket, Perce Trousers are exceptionally functional and smartly designed. Fully taped seams, reflex prints at the lower leg and pre-shaped knees together with reinforcements on seat panel and knee make these trousers real all rounders. Moreover, adjustable stretch shoulder straps, elastic waist inserts as well as fully adjustable ankle fasteners allow a comfortable and uncompromising fit.

Learn more about Marinepool´s performance sailing clothing range on: www.marinepool.com

120 Entries for RORC Myth of Malham
Andrew Pearce's Ker 40, Magnum III at at the start of the 2012 Myth of Malham. Photo by Rick Tomlinson, rick-tomlinson.com. Click on image to enlarge.

The RORC Season's Points Championship continues over the May Bank Holiday weekend with one of the longest races of the season. Fresh from victory in the North Sea Race, Piet Vroon's Dutch Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens 3, is the scratch boat in IRC One but will surely be under tremendous pressure from three Ker 40s: Harmen de Graaf's Baraka GP, Edward Broadway's Hooligan VII and Andrew Pearce's Magnum III. Mike Greville's Ker 39, Erivale III, is a former winner of the race and no doubt the RORC Commodore will enjoy the competition with Anthony O'Leary's Irish Ker 39, Antix, which will also have Olympic helmsman, Peter O'Leary on board.

120 yachts have entered the Myth of Malham Race and no doubt many teams see the race as a dress rehearsal for the first part of the Rolex Fastnet Race. However, the race from Cowes, around The Eddystone Lighthouse and back to the Solent, can be extremely tough, as the competitors in last year's race can testify.

Two-Handed racing with the Royal Ocean Racing Club has been going from strength to strength and 17 teams will take part in the Myth of Malham with just two crew on board. Robin Elsey is just 20 years of age and won his first ever RORC Two-Handed race last month, racing Figaro II Artemis 21 in the Cervantes Trophy Race with Sam Matson.

Line Honours favourite for the race will be Andrew Budgen's Volvo 70, Monster Project. "This is the first time we have entered this race and dependent on the weather it could be quite hard but it is much shorter than the Fastnet Race and there is no Celtic Sea to worry about. The start mirrors the Fastnet but the weather at this time of year will be very different but saying that, the tide areas will be very similar. The crew is mostly friends that have previously sailed on our Volvo 60, all good amateur sailors. As always, the race will be a test of mental as well as physical strength." -- Louay Habib

www.rorc.org

GKSS Spring Cup
The GKSS Spring Cup will be sailed this weekend in Gothenburg and the event serves as a qualifier for Stena Match Cup Sweden, the third stage of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. Both the best international team and the best Swedish team will win an entry ticket to the World Tour event, and the line-up in the regatta features both top ranked skippers and young Swedish talents hoping to make it to the international stage.

Ten teams have been invited to the GKSS Spring Cup, four Swedish and six international. One the top ranked skippers in the race is Reuben Corbett (NZL) who won the event last year, qualified for Stena Match Cup 2013 where his team made it to the quarterfinals.

One qualifying spot is reserved for the best Swedish team and the competition is going to be fierce between the four home teams. Viktor Ogeman and Jakob Klitte both skipper teams competing for the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club and they are going o be put against Niclas Düring and Charlie Ekberg of the Swedish Youth America's Cup Team. Viktor Ogeman's and his Team Accure moved up from 40th to 28th spot on the latest ISAF ranking. In 2012 they received a wild card to Stena Match Cup Sweden where they managed to beat Ian Williams in the Round Robin and now they're hoping to get back to Marstrand in this years event through the Spring Cup.

GKSS Spring Cup is organized by the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club takes place in Langedrag, Gothenburg on May 25-26. The event is sailed in DS37 race yachts and features a full round robin followed by semifinals and a final in best-of-five matches.

Line-up GKSS Spring Cup 2013

Reuben Corbett (NZL) - ISAF Rank 12
Nicolai Sehested (DEN) - ISAF Rank 14
Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) - ISAF Rank 17
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) - ISAF Rank 21
Viktor Ogeman (SWE) - ISAF Rank 28
Rasmus Viltoft (DEN) - ISAF Rank 29
Mark Lees (GBR) - ISAF Rank 35
Jakob Klitte (SWE) - ISAF Rank 69
Nicklas Dackhammar (SWE) - ISAF Rank 341
Charlie Ekberg/Niclas During (SWE) - Swedish Youth Team America's Cup

www.stenamatchcupsweden.com

Eastern Adventure
For those who despair about the lack of new and interesting events, or who are tired of racing in the same stale venues year after year, there is an event on the eastern horizon that should have strong appeal to those interested in both competitive sailing and an opportunity to race in one of the world's outstanding centres for culture and history... all lying literally on the doorstep of Asia.

In 2013 the American Express Bosphorus Cup in Istanbul will be enjoying its 12th edition, and between 30 May and 2 June it will offer four days of inshore course racing among the Princes Islands and the Straits of Bosphorus, with competitors often sailing within a few metres of some of the world's most famous and celebrated architectural and cultural icons.

More than 90 boats ranging between 20ft and 60ft are expected this summer, with the event growing steadily in popularity among not only Greek and Turkish sailors, but also in recent years attracting more widespread international interest as well.

With a strong international race management team organised by the Turkish Offshore Racing Club (TAYK), the Bosphorus Cup is managed by Orhan Gorbon and his team at ORG Sports Marketing. An active offshore racer himself, with roots that go back two decades to high-level IMS and before that IOR programmes in both UK and US waters, Gorbon is applying his knowledge and experience to help build and promote an event that today features all of the best elements of modern inshore racing. -- Dobbs Davis in Seahorse

www.seahorsemagazine.com

Normandy Sailing Week Act 8
100 yachts are expected in Le Havre from 3 to 9 June for the eighth running of Normandy Sailing Week. Around ten series will be racing during the week-long competition in Baie de Seine, North-East France. A number of events will be run within the context of Normandy Sailing Week, including the French J80 Cup, the European J111 Championship, the first leg of the French Elite Championship for crewed offshore M34 racing and the UNCL Trophee Manche and Normandie for the IRC category.

The French J80 Cup is making its comeback in Le Havre this year. As such, over 25 J80s will be on the race zone with a sizeable local delegation. Le Havre's Societe des Regates (Racing Society) has helped to boost this move with the purchase of five boats from the J Composites yard.

This Norman sailing event will begin with action from the M34s, the craft used in the Tour de France à la Voile. Around a dozen 34-feet Archambaults will enter the fray from the morning of Tuesday 4 June, when they take the start of a 230-mile race. All the Class' powerhouses will be there. Daniel Souben "Courrier Dunkerque 3", Nicolas Troussel "Credit Mutuel - Bretagne", Cedric Pouligny "Team Oman", Corentin Douguet "Nantes / Saint-Nazaire" will be doing battle with some of the series' 'newcomers', including "Groupama 34" skippered by Franck Cammas, the recent winner of the Grand Prix Guyader and the Volvo Ocean Race, as well as Thomas Coville aboard "Sodebo".

They will be joined by the J111 racer-cruiser fleet, which will see no less than 14 boats competing for the European J111 Champion title. This prize will be awarded on Sunday as Normandy Sailing Week draws to a close.

On the second race zone, the IRCs will take centre stage from 7 June, with four separate rankings deciding between the IRC 1, IRC 2, IRC 3 and IRC 4 categories.

Finally, on the third and final race zone, the sportsboats (which include the Seascape 18s), will put on a show that will include the presence of some new J70s. The stakes will be especially high for the First 7.5s, who will also be competing here in a challenge specific to the Ligue de Voile de Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy Sailing League). -- Translated by Kate Jennings

www.normandy-week.com

The Gathering Ireland at the Scottish Series
The Gathering Ireland will participate at the Scottish Series from 24th - 27th May 2013. The Galway Bay Sailing Club team, which is led by former Round Ireland race winner Aodhan Fitzgerald, will use a well proven Reflex 38 racing yacht which previously won the Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race in 2011.

The team is sponsored by The Gathering Ireland, a tourism initiative to invite people to visit Ireland during 2013.

In this spirit, the team is issuing an invitation to all Scottish sailors to participate in The Gathering Cruise which will take place this summer from Dun Laoghaire, Dublin on the 17th of July to Dingle, Kerry on the 1st of August.

The cruise will give sailors from different countries the opportunity to discover Ireland's South Eastern and South Western coastline, renowned for its beauty and hospitality. The highlight of the cruise will be The Gathering Cruise Festival Party in Kinsale on the 24th of July, which will be held in the newly renovated Actons Hotel beside the marina. The evening will be hosted by Irish offshore sailor Damian Foxall and will include Irish artisan foods, music and an awards ceremony.

Full details of the cruise are available on www.thegatheringcruise.ie

Mauritius Regatta
Click on image to enlarge.

For the third racing day in the Mauritius Regatta, the Northern Islands of Mauritius were the background to a fierce battle.

Michel Desjoyeaux onboard Champagnes Nicolas Feuillatte crossed the start line moored in front of Hotel 20° Sud first. He proved once again his great racing experience by leading at the first mark in Grand Baie.

The second mark moored by the Grand Baie Yacht Club was the start of a long tack offshore to round Île Plate and Coin de Mire. The skippers were able to tackle the waves of the Indian Ocean. On the way back, the deed seemed done but once again, Vendee Globe double-winner, Michel Desjoyeaux, then in second place crossed the coral reef by using a tricky channel. His brilliant manoeuvre allowed him to steal first place from Francois Gabart followed by the rest of the fleet.

The girls' team showed great energy today and tenacity as they encountered a few technical problems. Provisional overall ranking

1. Champagnes Nicolas Feuillatte - Michel Desjoyeaux
2. Sol's - Francois Gabart
3. La Balise Marina / Investec - Romain Attanasio
4. Fondeole - Franck-Yves Escoffier
5. Yacht Management - Harry Spedding
6. MTPA (Bateau Feminin) - Dee Caffari

www.themauritiusregatta.com

Pete Langman Outsails His Dad In CYCA Winter Series
Nineteen year old Pete Langman today defeated his record-holding ocean racing father Sean in Race 4 of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Winter Series sailed on Sydney Harbour.

Sailing three modernised Thunderbirds, individually skippered by Pete, his father Sean and a workmate, Shaun McKnight, the three were gearing up for another showdown in Division H. Peter Langman (Noakes White), gave dad, Sean (Noakes Red), and Pete's Noakes boss McKnight (Noakes Blue), what is proverbially known in sailing as a 'pasting'.

Sean Langman, who this year sailed his 60 foot trimaran to a passage speed record between Sydney and Hobart and is a Rolex Sydney Hobart regular, leads Division H by one point from Pete. Having won the opening two races of the annual series, Sean admitted, "Yeh, he thrashed us," after Pete sailed to 10 minute corrected win over his two foes.

McKnight, whose best effort to-date is a second in Race 2, finished seventh today (for seventh overall in the series), one place behind Sean, after the two battled it out to the end, to finish four seconds apart on corrected time.

Although the breeze faded slightly, it still amounted to the best breeze yet since the onset of the series on this warm and sunny day, as Principal Race Officer Robyn Morton let the112 boat fleet loose to sail the full course in a west-south-westerly shifty breeze.

Other winners today were: Swish (Steven Proud) Division A2; Kerisma (Grant Dawson/Brent Lawson) Division B; Assassin (Clare Crawford); Division C, Reve (Kevin Whelan); Division D, Scarlett O'Hara (Robert Skol); Division F; L'Eau Co. (Grant Pollock); Division G, Out of Sight (Matt Wilkinson); Division J1 Europa (David Mason) Division J2, L'Attitude (Jon Short); Division K, Jublilee (Ian Arthy); Sydney 38, Hidden Agenda (Graham Gibson). -- Di Pearson

Full CYCA Winter Series results: www.cyca.com.au

Rare Starling Burgess Drawings To Auction
Somewhere in-between making seaplanes and introducing Olin Stephens to creating J-Class yachts, prolific America's Cup yacht designer and all-around genius W. Starling Burgess collaborated with R. Buckminster Fuller to design the ultra-modern Dymaxion automobile prototype in the 1930s. The car never made it into production, only one original survives, but a replica was recently commissioned by British architect Sir Norman Foster. A rare set of blueprints for the Dymaxion have been discovered, apparently forgotten in a Connecticut attic for the last 80 years, and will make their way to auction on June 6. -- From Cup Info

www.cupinfo.com

More information in Hemmings Motor News:

blog.hemmings.com

Letters To The Editor - editor@scuttlebutteurope.com
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 David Pelly: Lots of people equate the AC 72s to 'Sailing's version of Formula 1 cars'. OK - the America's Cup has always been a competition for the leading edge in design but the current boats are like F1 cars of the 1960s when drivers died every season because the cars were appallingly dangerous. Today, drivers walk away from horrific crashes thanks to the many safety features that have been introduced over the years. This is what America's Cup has to do in a hurry, and Bertelli's 'demands' seem quite reasonable as a starting point.

Many years ago, when campaigning the hydrofoil catamaran Icarus, we found that you do not need 30 knots of wind to sail at 30 knots. With an efficient boat, 20 is plenty. How's that for a catch phrase?

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The Last Word
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Scuttlebutt Europe #2841 - 21 May

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:26:42 +0100

First Time Victory In Germany For Ian Williams
Langenargen, Germany: Lake Constance left it right until the last moment to get uncooperative at Match Race Germany. An ominous-looking rain cloud was on its way across the third largest lake in Europe from Switzerland, sucking all the wind out of the vicinity and causing PRO Rudi Magg to draw proceedings to a close.

This handed victory at Match Race Germany to British helm Ian Williams and his American/Australian crew of Mal Parker and Bill Hardesty, supplemented on this occasion by stand-ins Graham Spence and Willem Van Waay. Williams' GAC Pindar crew won today's single Finals match against Adam Minoprio and his all-Kiwi Team Alpari FX crew of Nick Blackman, Chris Main, Tom Powrie and David Swete; reigning Alpari World Match Racing Tour champion (Williams), up against the 2009 champion (Minoprio).

A little slow out of the blocks in the Semi Finals yesterday, Williams was 1-2 down against Johnie Berntsson's Stena Sailing Team crew as proceedings came to a close last night. However the GAC Pindar crew fought back this morning to take the next two points, to gain their berth in the final.

In his Semi Final match Minoprio had less to do this morning, scoring a come-from-behind win against France's experienced Mathieu Richard and his GEFCO Match Racing Team to take him through on a 3-1 scoreline.

In this afternoon's only Finals race, held once again in very light winds, Minoprio held up his hand, acknowledging that he had made a meal of the pre-start. "I forgot how long these boats take to gybe and I wasted a minute doing two gybes so we were late for the line. It was my mistake, I was kicking myself at the start of the race."

From there all he could do was chase the GAC Pindar crew around the course, who in turn did an immaculate job of covering their Kiwi opponents.

Final Results
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar vs Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX 1-0

Petit Final Results
Mathieu Richard (FRA) GEFCO Match Racing Team vs Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team 1-0

Final Semi Final Results
Mathieu Richard (FRA) GEFCO Match Racing Team vs Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX 1-3
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar v Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team 2-2

Leaderboard After Stage 1 - Match Race Germany

1. Ian Williams (GBR) - Team GAC Pindar, 25 points
2. Adam Minoprio (NZL) - Team Alpari FX, 22
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA) - GEFCO Match Racing Team, 19
4. Johnie Berntsson (SWE)- Stena Sailing Team, 16
5. Taylor Canfield (ISV) - USone, 14
6. Björn Hansen (SWE) - Mekonomen Sailing Team, 12
7. Karol Jablonski (POL) - Jablonski Sailing Team, 10
8. Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) - Vannes Agglo Sailing Team, 8
9. Phil Robertson (NZL) - WAKA Racing, 4
10. Keith Swinton (AUS) - Black Swan Racing, 2
11. Philip Buhl (GER) - STG/NRV Youth Team, 0
12. Sven Erick-Horsch (GER) - NRV Match Race Team, 0

wmrt.com

Atlantic Cup
Newport, Rhode Island, USA: After racing 231 nautical miles in just over a day, the fleet of seven Class 40s competing in The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing all finished within 45 minutes and 20 seconds of each other, the closest finish in Atlantic Cup History!

#118 Bodacious Dream, skippered by Dave Rearick and Matt Scharl, crossed the finish line first at 21:06:15 ET on Sunday, May 18, with an elapsed time of 30:09:39 to complete the 231 nautical mile second off-shore leg of the Atlantic Cup from New York Harbor to Newport, RI. The race, the first carbon neutral sailing event in the United States, saw USA's Bodacious Dream finish 4 minutes 59 seconds ahead of #121 Lecoq Cuisine (30:14:38), followed 5 minutes and 12 seconds later by #106 Gryphon Solo 2 (30:19:50).

Full results and points breakdown: atlanticcup.org/race/2013-results/

* Well... we came pretty darn close to winning this one but somehow manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. As we approached Montauk and Block Island in first place, we studied the Eldridge tide tables, pulled down weather info and finally decided to go around Block Island to the East, hoping for stronger winds and a more neutral (less unfavorable) tide. We also thought the pack of boats we were leading - Bo Dream, Le Coq Cuisine and Forty Degrees were going the same way. As it turned out, we bet wrong. Once we committed to the eastern path, Bo Dream and Le Coq peeled off to leeward, telling me later that they did not think they could catch us so they opted for the westerly route.

The distance sailed in that route is slightly less than on our easterly route, so as we came back together just past point Judith, Bo dream was slightly ahead and we were about even with LeCoq. However, they had a slightly hotter sailing angle to Newport and they ended up finishing slightly in front of us, so we took third place instead of first. Disappointing.

Oh well - we hit the dock at Newport Harbor Hotel, congratulated all competitors, as everyone had sailed well and finished within 46 minutes of each other, which is pretty amazing after more than 260 miles of racing. The whole group retired to the Clark Cook House on the waterfront in Newport for burgers and beers and it was nice to unwind and get out of the rain.

So, in retrospect, the good news is that we sailed the boat well and confirmed that we have boat speed comparable to any boat given the right sail choice, ballast configuration and trim, so we go into the inshore series optimistic for better result. We currently sit in third place, and hope to move up in the standings over the six inshore races in Narragansett Bay.

Joe Harris: www.gryphonsolo2.com

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Musto Vice Admiral's Cup
Photo by Fiona Brown, www.fionabrown.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

Cowes, UK - "Good weather for ducks" is probably the best way to describe conditions on the final day of the 2013 Musto Vice Admiral's Cup, where grey was the predominant colour and oilskins were the preferred attire (good news for sponsor Musto!). Fortunately nothing could dampen the spirits of the 58 competing teams who took on two final races to decide this hugely competitive series.

Winds were predominantly from the northeast, but with some very big shifts and velocity ranging from sub five to around ten knots the tacticians and trimmers certainly got a strenuous workout. Once again Rob Lamb took the small boat fleet onto the Bramble Bank and Bob Milner returned to the Ryde Bank area with the big boats.

Tony Langly's Weapon of Choice continued to dominate the TP52s of Class 0, scoring two further wins to take the series by a five-point margin. Sir Keith Mills 5 West and Johnny Vincent's Pace traded places through the day with each boat claiming a second and a third place but it was 5 West who took the second podium step with Pace five points behind her. After racing double Olympic Silver Medallist and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Volvo Race skipper Ian Walker, who was guest staring as tactician aboard Weapon of Choice, was full of praise for his crew's teamwork and expertise and also paid tribute to the race committee saying "They did a good job to get the racing in, particular in today's conditions. It was a fun regatta and we had some really close racing."

The Quarter Tonners in Class 4 saw their second dead heat of the series, between Sam Laidlaw's Aquila and Louise Morton's Espada for fourth place in race seven. Once again this historic revival class provided some of the best thrills and spills of the day with two different race winners in the shape of Willy McNeill and Mike Pascall's Illegal Immigrant in race seven and Rob Gray's Cote in race eight. Peter Morton aboard Bullit had to be content with a pair of second places, but this was enough to give him the overall series by 4.5 points. The tousle for second and third went down to the closing moments of the final race with Aquila grabbing second from Rickard Melander's Alice II by two points.

For many of the Quarter Ton teams this was a first opportunity to test their metal against their competitors in preparation for the 2013 Quarter Ton Cup, which will be hosted by the Royal Corinthian from 15-17 July.

Full results for all classes: www.rcyc.co.uk

Finn Masters
Photo by Robert Deaves. Click on image for photo gallery.

They said come to France, it will be sunny and hot. They said the water will be warm and they said it never rains here. They lied. However they were right about one thing. The racing on the opening day of the 2013 Finn World Masters in La Rochelle was simply fantastic. Despite the cold inclement weather, with low cloud, non-stop drizzle and temperatures around 10 degrees, about 95 per cent of the fleet went racing and a grand time was had by all.

The fleet of 285 Finns was split into two starts of around 140 boats each. After the first two races, three times champion Andre Budzien (GER) shares the lead with Erik Lidecis (USA), sailing his first Masters, after both sailors won both races in their respective fleets. Karl Purdie (NZL), in his first year in the Finn is in third after a 4, 2.

The general recalls for the second race took their toll with 39 black flag disqualifications across both fleets.

While the real surprise of the day was that four time champion Maier got beaten twice, Karl Purdie put in two great results to sit one place ahead of Maier. Twice the OK Dinghy World champion, he switched to the Finn last year.

Two more races are scheduled for Tuesday, with less wind forecast and also less rain. The sailors live in hope. The championship concludes on Friday.

Top ten results after 2 races

1= Andre Budzien, GER, 2.00 points
1= Erik Lidecis, USA, 2.00
3. Karl Purdie, NZL, 6.00
4. Michael Maier, CZE, 6.00
5. Tauras Rymonis, LTU, 9.00
6. Stefan Fagerlund, SWE, 11.00
7. Laurent Hay, FRA, 15.00
8. Allen Burrell, GBR, 15.00
9. Marco Buglielli, ITA, 20.00
10. Uli Breuer, GER, 21.00

www.srr-sailing.com/finn-world-master/

Collective Spirit Reigns Supreme
Photo by Michael Austen. Click on image to enlarge.

Keep your eyes peeled for the remarkable Rogers Olympiad 30, Collective Spirit (GBR7512L). The Boat Project, as it is perhaps better known, is a living archive of people's stories and lives, a 30ft vessel made from donated wooden items. From February to July 2011 the public donated their wood to the project, but not just any old wood. Pencil or piano-exotic as Zebrawood or as familiar as pine - every piece had a story behind it. Donations arrived in their thousands, from the highly personal to pieces of national importance. All of these donations were used to build a state-of-the-art seafaring yacht named, appropriately, Collective Spirit.

The boat's builder Mark Covell, who will also skipper the boat in the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on Saturday 1st June, trained as a traditional boat builder and has worked in the marine industry and campaigned boats all his adult life. Together with Ian Walker, his Olympic team mate in Sydney 2000, he won a silver medal in the Star class.

If you haven't already entered this year's Race, you have just one last chance to do so until midday on Saturday 25th May. rtir.me/entries

Marine Litter: Steps To Cleaner Seas
Marine rubbish is a problem for us all... but there is a way to reduce the issue, and educate to minimise it in the future...

Marine rubbish is a problem for us all - not only does it build up on beaches across the world, it forms great islands out to sea. Rubbish, be it a plastic bag on a centreboard that costs a dinghy sailor a race, or gets wrapped round a prop, or a bigger item like a container that presents a serious hazard to sailors is just one side of the problem. But that's just the tip of it - it's the effect on wildlife that is even more serious, both at sea and once it washes ashore... and ashore of course there's also the unsuspecting humans as well, especially the smaller ones, for which it can present a danger.

uk.boats.com

Sebastien Josse Teams Up with Charles Caudrelier for Transat Jacques Vabre
For the past two months, the Gitana Team has been linking together a series of sessions out on the water, alternating between crewed and double-handed configuration. After their MOD70 victory in the ArMen Race, Sebastien Josse and his men now have their sights on the Route des Princes; a tour of Europe in five legs, which will officially kick off on 7 June 2013 in Valencia, with the first inshore races.

During this event, Sebastien Josse will be teaming up with Charles Caudrelier, among other, who will take up the role of navigator-helmsman aboard the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild. It's alongside this talented Breton, that the skipper of Gitana Team has also opted to set sail on the Transat Jacques Vabre, a double-handed race between Le Havre and Itajaï (Brazil), which will be contested this coming November.

Sebastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier have known each other and appreciated the other's talent for some 15 years. Often rivals, particularly in the highly selective Figaro Beneteau Class, but very rarely associated on the same boat, these two sailors do share a number of similarities, which are as much to do with their track records as their characters. On 3 June 2013, they'll set sail together from Le Havre for the 10th running of the Transat Jacques Vabre; a thrilling challenge for which the duo have already put in a countless number of hours on the water, and fully intend to surpass their 'rookie' status.

The Josse - Caudrelier duo and the Transat Jacques Vabre
Sebastien Josse: 3rd participation, 1st in a multihull
Charles Caudrelier: 4th participation, 2nd in a multihull, 1 victory in 2009 (Imoca class with Safran) -- Translated by Kate Jennings

www.gitana-team.com/en/

RNLI Gallantry Medals Awarded to Seven Lifesavers
The courage of seven RNLI volunteers from Port Isaac and Anstruther lifeboat stations and the charity's Flood Rescue Team will be awarded Medals for Gallantry - the RNLI's highest accolades - at a ceremony at the Barbican in London on 23 May.

Port Isaac lifeboat station:

For a launch in rough and dangerous conditions to two people swept into the sea very close to cliffs off the North Cornwall coast in April 2012:

Damien Bolton: Senior Helmsman at Port Isaac lifeboat station will be awarded the RNLI's Silver Medal for Gallantry.

Nicola-Jane Bradbury: Crew Member at Port Isaac lifeboat station will be awarded the RNLI's Bronze Medal for Gallantry.

Matthew Main: Crew Member at Port Isaac lifeboat station will be awarded the RNLI's Bronze Medal for Gallantry.

RNLI Flood Rescue Team:

For a launch where the RNLI's Flood Rescue Team negotiated strong currents, debris and darkness to rescue a woman who had been swept from her car near Umberleigh, Devon on 23 December 2012:

Paul Eastment: Boat Team Leader, Porthcawl lifeboat station volunteer and RNLI staff Divisional Assessor/Trainer, will be awarded an RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry.

Chris Missen: Helmsman and Porthcawl lifeboat station volunteer will be awarded an RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry.

Martin Blaker-Rowe: Crew Member and Poole-based RNLI Trainer will be awarded an RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry.

Anstruther lifeboat station:

For the rescue of two people from a motor vessel that had been driven onto rocks amidst breaking waves and in total darkness 10 miles south east of St Andrews, Fife on 1 August 2012.

Barry Gourlay: Helmsman at Anstruther lifeboat station will be awarded an RNLI Bronze Medal for Gallantry

www.rnli.org.uk

Family Of Killed Bounty Deckhand Sues Shipowners
The fight to point blame in the deadly last voyage of the HMS Bounty is headed for federal court.

Family members of deckhand Claudene Christian, one of two Bounty crew members who died in the sinking, filed a $90 million civil lawsuit this week against the owners of the three-masted square-rigger, which appeared in several Hollywood films, including the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise.

The suit alleges the Bounty was unseaworthy and its captain -- Robin Walbridge -- was negligent when he set sail with his crew of 15 as Hurricane Sandy steamed toward the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.

Walbridge was also lost in the shipwreck. His body was never recovered after the vessel took on water in stormy seas and sank on October 29. Wind gusts above 100 mph and waves as high as 30 feet flipped Bounty on its side, tossing Walbridge and his 15 shipmates into the Atlantic off the coast of North Carolina. Fourteen crew survived.

The lawsuit accuses the Bounty's owners of "intentionally placing the lives of the crew at extreme risk for the sole purpose of financial gain." It also provides detailed examples of allegedly poor maintenance and inadequate crew training, which it says contributed to the sinking and Christian's death. -- Thom Patterson, CNN

www.cnn.com

* From Laurence Mead: Congrats to Owen Sharpe for writing one of the few sensible responses to the untimely and tragic death of Andrew Simpson. The idea that Andrew's death is somehow noble because it was done at the cutting edge and in the pursuit of something he loved has to be nonsense, my sincere condolences to his family for a tragic loss, but the fact that someone dies shouldn't damn the whole circus (yes I use that word deliberately) with some of the rubbish that has been coming out of certain camps / mouths.

Everyone knew these boats were dangerous, and of course the organizers and teams need to look at the safety issues anew (stable door / bolted?) but AC 72's are majestic. Fine craft that would grace any stretch of water the world over. It doesn't matter whether you agree with the "facebook generation" argument about the new America's Cup or not, but don't ever think these boats are anything other than awesome. As Owen Sharpe said, have faith Russell.

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The Last Word
The technologies which have had the most profound effects on human life are usually simple. -- Freeman Dyson

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Scuttlebutt Europe #2840 - 20 May

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:54:52 +0100

Bertelli's Demands
Photo by Luna Rossa / Carlo Borlenghi A series of demands which would radically alter the upcoming America's Cup have been made by Patrizio Bertelli, boss of the luxury goods house Prada, which is backing the Italian challenger Luna Rossa.

Most important are changes to the race rules which lay down wind strength limits and additional safety provisions following the death last week of British Olympic gold medallist Andrew 'Bart' Simpson.

Present rules call for a wind limit of 25 knots during the early stages, starting 5 July, of the Louis Vuitton Cup elimination races to find which of the three current challengers, the third is Emirates Team New Zealand, goes forward to race against the locally-based American defender Oracle in America's Cup 34.

This rises to 28 knots in the LVC final and then up to 33 knots in the best of 17 cup matches which start on 7 September. Bertelli wants the limit to be reduced to 20 knots for the whole of the LVC and 25 knots for the cup match

Luna Rossa also wants to see the protective helmets made stronger - there have been rumours that Simpson's helmet suffered significant damage - and for the crews to wear body armour. He wants an enhanced plan for emergencies, including a water ambulance close to the race track and a helicopter standing by in addition to medics on support boats and divers fully equipped to join any rescue operations.

He is apprehensive that a review committee led by the boss of America's Cup Race Management, Iain Murray, can only make recommendations and has no power to impose changes to the protocol that governs the whole event or to the class rules which govern the boats. -- Stuart Alexander in The Independent:

www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/sailing/

* Italian America's Cup syndicate Luna Rossa defied recommendations not to sail on San Francisco Bay as they debuted their AC72 there today.

They put in three hours of training in 3-12 knots and were satisfied "to carry out an extensive number of manoeuvres".

Skipper Max Sirena said the weather had been ideal as they tested loads, safety measures and manoeuvres.

It was also important for the team to get out on the bay from a psychological point of view. They planned to continue sailing as scheduled.

Yesterday the America's Cup Review Committee set up to investigate the fatal training incident involving Artemis Racing's AC72, recommended that teams shouldn't sail their AC72's or AC45's for another week. -- Stuff.co.nz

www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/8691262/

Day Of Two Halves
Adam Minoprio shouts for an umpire call. Photo by Brian Carlin / AWMRT. Click on image to enlarge.

Langenargen, Germany: Light winds, strong winds, shifty winds, stable winds, rain, shine - Lake Constance is throwing up all imaginable conditions to test the skippers at Match Race Germany, the opening event of the 2013 Alpari World Match Racing Tour. Today it was the turn of 25 knot winds, sharp seas and driving rain in the morning only for these to peter out leading to a long delay before the Semi Finals could start.

The Quarter Finals comprised three first-to-three point matches. The day started with Karol Jablonski level at 1-1 against Mathieu Richard's GEFCO Match Racing Team, Adam Minoprio's Team Alpari FX on the same score with Bjorn Hansen's Mekonomen Sailing Team and Johnie Berntsson's Stena Sailing Team looking strong 2-0 up against Taylor Canfield and USone.

Having the easiest ride through the Semi Finals was France's Mathieu Richard who won both his matches today against the Polish former America's Cup helm and ISAF Match Racing World Champion.

Jablonski was pleased to have got so far into the event considering that he only sails one or two match racing events each year. Despite their experience his crew, that included Polish Olympic Star sailor Dominik Zycki, was lacking the fluidity of their competitors.

Adam Minoprio once again did his 'comeback kid' routine. Like Richard, Minoprio put his success today down to superior boat handling by his crew.

Racing will conclude tomorrow at Match Race Germany with the remaining races of the Semi Finals going into the first-to-three Finals.

Final Semi Final Results After Flight 2
Mathieu Richard (FRA) GEFCO Match Racing Team vs Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX 1-1
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar v Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team 1-1

Final Quarter Final Results
Mathieu Richard (FRA) GEFCO Match Racing Team vs Karol Jablonski (GER) Jablonski Sailing Team 3-1
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team vs Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone Sailing Team 3-2
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team vs Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX 2-3

wmrt.com

Women's International Match Racing Series
In the finals of the women's match racing event in Saint Quay, local sailor Julie Bossard gave the French crowd at the pier some hope after beating former Olympian Lucy Macgregor in the first match. But then the supreme sailor from Great Britain fought back, winning three consecutive matches to secure the title in this first event of the inaugural 2013 Women's International Match Racing Series.

She has undoubtedly been the sovereign of the event, winning not less than 24 of her 29 matches during the ISAF Grade 1 Saint Quay Women's Match Racing. On the last day of racing she also lost one match in the semi-final, against Dutch veteran Klaartje Zuiderbaan, but apart from that it was all a victorious Sunday for the British crew.

In the round-robin for deciding 5th to 8th place Caroline Sylvan of Sweden excelled, winning all her three matches while all the others just had one win each. In her matches against Kiwi Claudia Pierce and Milly Bennett from Australia, Sylvan & Co managed to take the start, then strengthening their advantage when the opponent was penalized.

Results in ISAF Grade 1 Saint Quay Women's Match Racing, the first event of the inaugural 2013 Women's International Match Racing Series.

1. Lucy Macgregor, Saskia Clark, Claire Lasko, Maria Stanley, GBR
2. Julie Bossard, Pauline Courtois, Nadege Douroux, Clara Scheiwiller, FRA
3. Stephanie Roble, Maggie Shea, Meg Six, Janel Zarkowsky, USA
4. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, Morgane Gautier, Lena Koter, Sarah Hornby, NED
5. Caroline Sylvan, Louise Kruuse af Verchou, Sofia Engström, Frida Langenius, SWE
6. Anna Kjellberg, Johanna Larsson, Karin Almquist, Therese Antman, SWE
7. Claudia Pierce, Aimee Famularo, Marie Kent, Janelle Peat, NZL
8. Milly Bennett, Kajsa Doyle, Alice Tarnawski, Seldon Coventry, AUS
9. Alexa Bezel, Corinne Meyer, Romy Hasler, Laurane Mettraux, SUI
10. Morgane Dreau, Pauline Bryere, Violette Lemercier, Tifanie Leon, FRA

www.wimrs.com

Farr 40 Us East Coast Championship
Enfant Terrible was sailing in fifth place of the final race at the Farr 40 East Coast Championship when tactician Vasco Vascotto made a bold move. Vascotto decided to split from the leaders and head toward the left side of the course, a risky move because it could have cost skipper Alberto Rossi the regatta.

Instead, the move paid off handsomely. Enfant Terrible picked up a favorable shift and wound up passing four boats - rounding the final windward mark in first and maintaining that lead to the finish.

It was indicative of how things went all week for the Italian team, which figured out the tricky conditions on the Chesapeake Bay better than the rest of the fleet. Vascotto was on his game tactically while Rossi did a splendid job of steering as Enfant Terrible finished first or second in seven of 10 races during the four-day series.

Annapolis can be a challenging venue since the Chesapeake Bay is famous for its wild wind shifts, dramatic pressure changes and strong current. Four boats had tacticians who have lived in Annapolis and have extensive experience on the bay, but it was Vascotto who got things right most often.

The Farr 40 class will reconvene in Newport from June 13-16 for the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta.

2013 Farr 40 East Coast Championship (eight entries)

1. Enfant Terrible, Alberto Rossi, ITA, 26 points
2. Groovederci, John Demourkas, USA, 32
3. Barking Mad, Jim Richardson, USA, 34
4. Plenty, Alex Roepers, USA, 42
5. Ramrod, Rod Jabin, USA, 56
6. Asterisk-UNO, Hasip Gencer, USA, 56
7. Nightshift, Kevin McNeil, USA, 56
8. Struntje Light, Wolfgang Schaefer, GER, 58

farr40.org

Seahorse June 2013
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

The driving force
Ken Read and Bruno Dubois talk to Dobbs Davis about the philosophy and the execution of a radical VO65 sail programme

Taking stock
Rob Weiland broadens his analysis with a look at relative modernity among rating systems

As good as it gets
Tim Smyth and the Oracle build team at Core Boatbuilders are finding success with an innovative new fabric

RORC news
Eddie Warden Owen

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Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta
Soulmate overcomes mainsail challenge and overtakes lead. Photo by Sander van der Borch / Artemis, www.sandervanderborch.com. Click on image to enlarge.

Scheveningen/Netherlands: The third day of the Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta showed in some classes an exciting fight at the top, resulting in new leaders. Front-runners in other classes consolidated their first position. It was a good sailing day with sunshine an a little more wind than predicted. This morning, the breeze came from the Northeast with some ten knots. In the course of the day and according to the weather forecast, it turned to the North and picked up.

Rescue boats had a busy day on the catamaran and One Design courses. A few Javelins and Contenders capsized and one cat sailor fell overboard. He was quickly rescued and brought back to his boat. The chilly easterly winds in combination with the cold water made the tiring conditions for competitors. At the end of the day, however, the sailors returned tired but satisfied to the harbour. Tomorrow is the last racing day. The IRC and ORC classes will sail a long course, that counts for the overall results. Fleet races are scheduled for the other classes.

ORC1: Stressful day for new leader
The Soulmate of Leon Westhoeve took over the lead from the Skarp in the ORC1, but things did not go smoothly today. 'It was a stressful day', says Westhoeve. 'Just before the first gun, our mainsail ripped from the front to the back. Normally we have our car with all spare sails parked on the quay, but because my wife is heavily pregnant, she has the car at home. We therefore acted very quickly. I called and asked her to bring the mainsail and in the meantime we rushed to the harbour. Possible speeding tickets did not matter me. Dressed in our sailing gear we ran to the entrance of the regatta village, got her in and threw the sail on board. Off we went. It looked like a Le Mans start. We were just in time for the second race. Because we had missed the first one, we had no discard anymore, so it was make or break for the rest of the day. Luckily we sailed two bullets again.' -- Diana Bogaards

For the results in all classes, please go to www.nsr.nl/results-all.asp

The 2013 Atlantic Cup
This cloudy, drizzly morning finds us beating up the South shore of Long Island Sound with all of our six competitors within visual contact. It was a long night of changing sails and shifting gears as we worked hard to keep the boat going optimally. We have manged to work our way to the front of the pack and are sailing about even with BoDream and slightly ahead of 40 Degrees and Le Rooster.

The big decision will be which side of Block Island to approach Newport from. Too early to say at the moment, as the time of arrival on the tides will drive the decision.

On board Tristan and I have been trading off watches and catching a few hours of rest each, while cameraman Will caught a spectacular sunrise and amazing rainbow at dawn. What a treat. It will be tempting to drop in on our new friends (and race sponsor) Block Island Organics and get some sunscreen and perhaps a massage at their spa. Perhaps another day... but soon.

So happy Sunday to all and please send your positive vibrations to GS2 for a strong finish. -- Joe Harris

atlanticcup.org
www.gryphonsolo2.com

Tornado European Championships
Photo by Martina Barnetova. Click on image to enlarge.

The forecast was always due to be bad for the third day of racing and the sailors awoke to a fresh force 4 wind with heavy cloud cover.

When it was time to hit the water the wind was building with choppy water and big waves. The race officer got the fleet off to a quick start for the first race, another clean start. It was Iordanis Paschalidis and Kostas Trigonis who led the fleet all the way round the race course to take victory. They were followed by the Gaeblers in 2nd and Nikos and Alex (GRE 11) in 3rd position.

The second race was started in the same conditions with only 15 boats starting the race and 11 finishing. Again the strong wind specialists Iordanis and Kostas took the victory followed by Roland and Nahid, then the Swiss pairing of Marcel and Jorg Steiner. A consistent series puts them into 6th place moving into the last day of racing.

The fleet were then sent back into shore to wait and see what the wind did. The race officer decided to delay for 1 hour 30 minutes, after that period at 2pm the wind had died off to nothing with the sailors left waiting.

At 5pm the race officer took the postponement flag down and the fleet were back out onto the water for more racing. It was like another location from the mornings sailing, beautiful sunshine and around 6 knots of breeze.

The boats were then drifting back to shore less than 30 minutes later because the wind had disappeared. An interesting and varied day of racing for the competitors of the European Championships.

The race for 1st place is currently lead by The Gaeblers who lead the Greek Red Bull team by 3 points. Roland and Nahid will be hoping for a light wind day to knock the Greeks off the podium they've held since 2008.

Top 10 Results

1. Roland and Nahid Gaebler
2. Iordanis Paschalidis & Kostas Trigonis
3. Nikolaos Mavros & Alexandros Tagaropoulos
4. Veit Hemmeter & Nico Lutz
5. Martin and Julia Rusterholz
6. Marcel and Jorg Steiner
7. Jean-Marc Cuanillon & Gregor Schmucki
8. Jurgen Jentsch & Manuel Sciarra
9. Michael Schonleitner & Philipp Rukuschan
10. Wilfried Jodorf & Michael Hinz

www.tornado-class.org

Marwin Sailing Team GC32 Takes Line Honors in Iconic Swiss Regatta
With Flavio Marazzi at the helm, Marwin Sailing Team's high-tech GC32 catamaran dominated a fleet of more than 120 boats in one of Switzerland's iconic and traditional races, after spectacular boat christening with former Miss Switzerland Jenny Ann Gerber. Thanks to a combination of clever tactics and remarkable boat speed, it took 3 hours and 22 minutes for the spectacular catamaran to sail from Zurich to Rapperswil despite the extremely light and challenging conditions.

Organized by the Zurcher Segel Club, the lake race from Zurich to Rapperswil, or Zuri-Rappi as the locals call it, is more than a simple regatta. It's one of Switzerland's most popular long-distance races.

The start of the race was given under a complete lull and the fleet struggled to find even the smallest puff. Crews were constantly on the hunt for that elusive dark patch on the lake's surface. Marwin Sailing Team got the upper hand by sticking close to the shore as dozens of boats got stuck in the dying breeze in the middle of the lake. In the final stretch to the finish line, the GC32 reached its top speed of 19 knots, more than twice the true wind speed.

The next challenge for Marwin Sailing Team is coming up shortly, from May 30th to June 2nd in Lindau, Germany. Flavio Marazzi and his team will compete at the Rund um Bodensee on Lake Constance and Marwin Sailing Team will aim at taking line honors once again and, if conditions are favorable, breaking the current race record.

marwin.com

British Classic Yacht Regatta
2012 proved to be a fantastic year with a record 83 boats taking part and, with entries from Europe and Canada, it truly was an international regatta.

The 2013 regatta will be taking place from the 6th to 13th July, with the Panerai Classic Around the Island Race on Sunday 7th following the original clockwise course of the first America's Cup and a six-race series racing starting on Monday 8th July - racing will be demanding and competitive but will still retain that Corinthian spirit synonymous with classic boat racing. In addition to the exciting racing, there will be whole host of social events held in the sailing clubs of Cowes, including the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron.

The regatta, which is part of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, has been held every year since the America's Cup Jubilee was held in Cowes in 2001.

Entries are now open and the Entry Form and Notice of Regatta are available for download.

www.britishclassicyachtclub.org/regatta/index.html

* From Owen Sharpe: I vividly remember being aboard Krisis when she first entered competitive racing on Auckland Harbour in 1975. A 40 foot Lock Crowther trimaran, handbuilt by Malcolm Davy for whom speed was the point, she was the fastest sailboat on Auckland harbour. She was a fabulous advance. We derided the poor saps in the "leadbottoms". Why were people still persisting with them?

I agree with Ratty that there is nothing like messing about in boats and almost any boat will do me to mess about in. But I have loved to see and be thrilled by Team NZ and Prada in their big foiling AC cats screaming around Auckland harbour, spectacularly extending what I thought was possible.

Sir Russell Coutts himself, speaking of sailing cognoscenti, earlier expressed some doubts about whether he had gone a step too far with them. But have courage Russell, these boats you has conceived and led us to are truly wonderful. Andrew "Bart" Simpson's untimely death does not make them less so. A man died in our fleet when a keeler dismasted off Waiheke in 1975; we mourned but we didn't give up sailing, or trying to go faster.

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The Last Word
You have to struggle to stay alive and be of use as long as you can. -- Daniel Berrigan

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

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Scuttlebutt Europe #2839 - 17 May

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:12:17 +0100

Reeling Off Races
Langenargen, Germany: A lengthy day on Lake Constance marked the start of Match Race Germany and the opening round of the 2013 Alpari World Match Racing Tour. With the wind off Langenargen just strong enough to sail but rarely getting above 10 knots, the organisers ripped through ten flights of the qualifying round, bringing all of the 12 international teams up to five races sailed.

With the sun getting low in the sky, at the end of play GAC Pindar skipper Ian Williams and his long term French rival Mathieu Richard of GEFCO Match Racing Team hold a 4-1 scoreline, along with Pierre Antoine Morvan's Vannes Agglo Sailing Team. The three teams' single losses were respectively to Adam Minoprio, Bjorn Hansen and Ian Williams.

Adam Minoprio's Team Alpari FX was initially docked a half point for a collision with Pierre Antoine Morvan during a tacking duel in Flight 2, when the stern quarters of the two teams' boats touched as they attempted to separate. "In my mind it was a port-starboard and he didn't start avoiding early enough and we had to avoid him and our sterns touched," said Minoprio, providing his viewpoint of the incident. At the time the umpires took a different view and red flagged Team Alpari FX requiring them to carry out a penalty turn immediately, docking the Kiwi team the half point for causing damage. But at a hearing after racing neither Minoprio nor Morvan were found to have broken the avoiding contact rule (rule 14) and the half point penalty was removed from Minoprio's scoreline.

The two German teams of leading Laser sailor Philipp Buhl and German National Match Racing Champion Sven Erik Horsch have yet to get off the bottom of the leaderboard, with Horsch on no wins and newbie match racer Buhl's only victory taken off his fellow countryman. Johnie Berntsson is also on a single win as is Karol Jablonski.

Match Race Germany defending champion New Zealand's Phil Robertson and his WAKA Racing team has also got off to a slow start on just two wins against Berntsson and Jablonski.

The qualifying series continues tomorrow with the start time scheduled for 0900.

State 1: Match Race Germany - Qualifying Round

Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 4-1
Mathieu Richard (FRA) GEFCO Match Racing Team 4-1
Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team 4-1
Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone 3-2
Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 3-2
Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX 3-2
Björn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team 3-2
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 2-3
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team 2-3
Philip Buhl (GER) Deutsches Youth America's Cup Team 1-4
Karol Jablonski (GER) Jablonski Sailing Team 1-4
Sven Erick-Horsch (GER) NRV Match Race Team 0-5

wmrt.com

Excellent Start For Lucy Macgregor In Saint Quay
The inaugural Women's International Match Racing Series kicked off today with the first event in St Quay-Portrieux, France. Lucy Macgregor of Great Britain summed up seven straight victories, shining alone undefeated at the top of the scoreboard.

Veteran Klaartje Zuiderbaan of The Netherlands is back in match racing after a few years break as a successful Paralympics coach (gold in London), now leading her international crew from France, Slovenia and Great Britain to second place so far in Saint Quay, with a 6 - 2 score/

Stephanie Roble and her experienced crew from Chicago Match Race Center missed a plane and came in late to the event, without any time to do their practise session before racing. In their first match of the day they crossed the starting line too early, and had to turn back for a proper start:

Event standings after the first day of racing in Saint Quay Women's Match Racing, the first event of the inaugural 2013 Women's Match Racing Series.

Place/name/nationality/victories/lost matches:

1. Lucy Macgregor, GBR, 7 - 0
2. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, NED, 6 - 2
3. Stephanie Roble, USA, 5 - 2
4. Julie Bossard, FRA, 5 - 3
5. Alexa Bezel, SUI, 3 - 4
5. Claudia Pierce, NZL, 3 - 4
5. Caroline Sylvan, SWE, 3 - 4
8. Anna Kjellberg, SWE, 2 - 5
8. Milly Bennett, AUS, 2 - 5
10. Morgane Dreau, FRA, 0 - 7

www.wimrs.com

Howth 17s In Dublin Bay
Photo by John Deane. Click on image to enlarge.

The Howth 17s - widely regarded as the world's oldest one-design keelboat class still racing as originally designed - will play centre stage of a three-day sailing regatta in Dublin Bay.

Adding backdrop splendor along the city quays will be five Class A & B Tall Ships, as part of the Dublin Bay OGA 50th and Dublin Port Riverfest which will see classic craft competing for the inaugural RMS Leinster Trophy and Asgard Trophy, and the Howth 17s competing in the River Liffey Race between the East Link and Samuel Beckett Bridges.

The Howth 17s were designed in 1897 by Howth lawyer and founding Commodore of Howth YC, Herbert Boyd. The first five boats were built by John Hilditch, Carrickfergus. Two years later another three boats were built in Dún Laoghaire and five more in Portrush in 1906. During the next six years, four more boats were built, bringing the fleet to 17.

See www.dublinriverfest.com

From the Irish Sailing Association: www.sailing.ie

NZL Youth America's Cup Team Confirm
The NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand has confirmed that all plans to race in the the inaugural Red Bull Youth America's Cup are on track.

"This last week after Artemis' tragedy in San Francisco have been tough on everybody, but we're still just as motivated to continue working toward flying the flag for New Zealand in September" says team skipper 22 year old Peter Burling.

Burling and his London 2012 Olympic Silver medallist teammate Blair Tuke will lead the team of under 25's including: Andy Maloney, Jono Spurdle, Guy Endean, Sam Meech and Jason Saunders. Together they will race under the burgee of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, a club with an enormous reputation on the international yachting scene.

The NZL Sailing Team with Emirates Team New Zealand is now turning to the New Zealand public for support to get behind them in enabling a new pathway for the sport.

Through a crowdfunding campaign on www.thrillpledge.com, the team is looking to gather pledges that total $50,000NZD. In return, only if the project meets its goal, the team will decorate their boat with the supporters' names or logos and give other pledge specific rewards such as team t-shirts or autographed thank you cards.

In celebration of the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show this weekend only, individuals can pledge $60, and recieve the usual reward of the $100 pledge option and they also go in the draw for an Air New Zealand Deluxe Mystery Break for two people.

yachtingnz.org.nz

Delta Lloyd Regatta Enters New Era
Medemblik will once again stage the Delta Lloyd Regatta from 21st to 25th May. With the 29th edition of this prestigious sailing event in North Holland, the organisers and Delta Lloyd will be entering a new era. In a post-Olympic year, the Delta Lloyd Regatta is now part of the Champions Sailing Cup where the five largest European sailing events have combined their resources.

Delta Lloyd as title sponsor of the only Dutch sailing event with all Olympic classes has committed to another four years through to the Olympic Games in Rio 2016. As a result, Medemblik is also assured of a very attractive global sailing event for the same period.

Since 2008 the Delta Lloyd Regatta was part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup. Starting this year, the organising committee decided to take a different approach whereby a number of innovations will be introduced. From 2013, the Delta Lloyd Regatta is part of the Champions Sailing Cup as well as the biggest European sailing events including Faglia Vela Riva in Italy, Kieler Woche in Germany, Sail for Gold in Great Britain and the Semaine Olympique Francaise in La Rochelle, France. The five world class events combine to form an accessible and affordable series for all Olympic and Paralympic classes.

The 29th edition of the Delta Lloyd Regatta is proud to welcome many of the top sailors from around the world. A full strength Dutch team is also expected in Medemblik.

www.deltalloydregatta.org

EUROSAF Match Racing, European Championships
EUROSAF is delighted to announce the publication of the Notice of Race for the EUROSAF Match Racing, Women's European Championship, which is to be incorporated within the Volvo Gdynia Sailing Days, in Gdynia, Poland, from 17th to 21st July. Applications for entries for this ISAF Grade 2 event are invited from all interested sailors and EUROSAF Member National Authorities. Entries close on 15th June, 2013. Notice of Race published at www.eurosaf.org

Joining the Women's Championships this year are three other match racing events, the long established European Open Championship, the Youth European Championship (under 23 on 31st December 2103) and a brand new event, the EUROSAF University Sailing, European Match Racing Championship.

The University Championship is to be held on Largo di Ledro, in Trento, Italy and takes place from 28th to 30th June. This event is open to teams from universities across Europe. Competitors need to be between the ages of 17 and 28 on 1st January 2013 and each crew will be of mixed gender. This championship will be an ISAF Grade 3 event. The Notice of Race is published at www.eurosaf.org or www.avll.it/calendar

The dates and venues for all EUROSAF Match Racing Championships in 2013 are:

- Open European Championship - 28th May to 2nd June, St Petersburg, Russia
- University European Championship - 28th to 30th June, Ledro, Italy
- Women's European Championship - 17th to 21st July, Gdynia, Poland
- Youth Open European Championship - 24th to 28th September, Konstanz, Germany.

For further information please contact either the event organiser, Yana Dobzhitskaya at yana.dobzhitskaya@eurosaf.org, or John Friend at john.friend@eurosaf.org

The Notice of Race for all these events are available from www.eurosaf.org

Solent Sunbeams at 90
Photo by Rick Tomlinson, rick-tomlinson.com. Click on image to enlarge.

The Solent Sunbeams are regular visitors to Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week and, at 90 years old, they have plenty to celebrate this year.

The Alfred Westmacott design with its distinct 'V' sail insignia is similar in looks to the Seaview Mermaid but is 2inch longer overall at 26ft 5in (8m). Its popularity as a fun, yet highly competitive dayboat has remained consistent over the years and although the class is mainly sailed at Itchenor SC in Chichester, there is still an active division in Falmouth.

To mark the Solent Sunbeam's anniversary year, at least 10 boats - all from Itchenor - are expected to turn out for Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week.

Competition is expected to be exceptionally high with the fleet keen to challenge for the lead often dominated by Roger Wickens in Danny (V26). The class offers close, competitive racing for all ages and Cowes Week regular John Ford who is in his 80s will be there to give the youngsters a run for their money. Newcomers to the fleet Mark and Nicola Harvey, having launched their new glassfibre Sunbeam Alchemy (V65) in March, have entered as owners for the first time.

With 21 wood, and six glassfibre boats active, and another three in build in Sandown for delivery later this year, Gayle Palmer, Class Captain, says the future is bright for the 90-year-old class.

www.aamcowesweek.co.uk

Caterham Challenge Enters Offshore Racing
One of motor racing's engineering and design geniuses is to become an entrant in next year's Global Ocean Race joining the eight teams already preparing for the start. Mike Gascoyne, famous for his work with several Formula One racing teams and now CEO of Caterham Technology and Caterham Composites, will be at the PSP Southampton Boat Show for the start of the round-the-world race in September 2014 with a new Class40 boat, Caterham Challenge, to be launched this summer.

Gascoyne's team - which includes the UK's most experienced round-the-world sailor, Brian Thompson - is building an Akilaria RC3 Class40 and their high-powered racing yacht will be launched on the South Coast in early August 2013 with sailing and training in The Solent and English Channel.

Mike Gascoyne is an experienced shorthanded and single-handed sailor and completed a solo transatlantic passage on a Class40 last year. Ahead of the round-the-world Global Ocean Race 2014-15, the racing programme for Caterham Challenge includes the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre in November 2013. The Caterham Challenge entry brings the current total of GOR teams to nine.

The GOR starts from the PSP Southampton Boat Show on Sunday 21st September 2014 and finishes in Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth in early May 2015 with the racing fleet making stopovers in Cape Town, South Africa; in Charleston, USA, before returning to Europe. The Australasian and South American stopovers have been confirmed and will shortly be announced officially.

globaloceanrace.com

Team Tilt Enter Extreme Sailing Series Istanbul and Porto Acts
Team Tilt, the Swiss team selected for the Red Bull Youth America's Cup has announced their participation at the next two Acts of the Extreme Sailing Series to be staged in Istanbul, Turkey (20-23 June) and Porto, Portugal (25-28 July) as the global tour heads back to Europe for the summer months. Also new to the Series is SpeedDream, an ambitious project that aims to build the worlds fastest monohull, and will join the NeilPryde Windsurf Racing Series as warm-up acts.

Since Team Tilt's qualification for the Youth America's Cup, the team of young sailors have embarked on a demanding training programme which includes racing on different high-performance multihull classes including the Decision 35, M2 and the Extreme 40. Just last weekend, the team competed in the first Vulcain Trophy event of the season where they came up against the Extreme 40 crews and their Swiss countrymen onboard Alinghi and Realteam for the first time.

Lucien Cujean, the teams skipper, who started sailing multihulls in 2007 alongside offshore legend Alain Gautier, himself a former Extreme 40 helm, commented: "The forthcoming Extreme Sailing Series Acts in Istanbul and Porto are a great opportunity for us and perfect to prepare ourselves as best as possible for our ultimate objective, winning The Red Bull Youth America's Cup. The Extreme sailing Series has some of the best multihull sailors in the world and for us it will be a great opportunity to compete alongside these very talented sailors. It's also a new racing format that we will have to quickly adapt to. So, we have a huge learning curve ahead of us."

Cujean will be joined by Jocelyn Keller as tactician, Jeremy Bachelin mainsail trimmer, Thomas Mermod headsail trimmer, with the bowman's position still to be decided between Mikis Psarosfaghis and Jonas Schagen

www.extremesailingseries.com

* SpeedDream, the quest to build the world's fastest monohull, has formed two strategic alliances to achieve this ambitious goal. First, recognizing that record setting is as much about radical design ideas as it is about pushing technology barriers, the SpeedDream team have strengthened their technological partnership with the Russian hi-tech giant Yandex and will be utilizing their enormous computing power to further refine the design concept.

Last October the SpeedDream team launched and tested a 27-foot prototype of what will form the basis of a larger record setter. While continuing to test the first prototype, the SpeedDream team have already started research and development for a second stage 50-footer that will enable them to test their design ideas in real ocean conditions. A core of this program is Computative Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Research and Finite Element Analysis, which will be performed as a cooperative effort between SpeedDream designers and Yandex engineers.

Short Tacks
Artemis Racing today held a private ceremony commemorating the memory of our friend and teammate Andrew "Bart" Simpson. After eight bells, a wreath was cast upon the water by representatives of the four teams of the 34th America's Cup. Then the morning's rain parted and sunshine spread across San Francisco Bay. The Artemis Racing team thanks everyone for their support. Bart, may you rest in peace.

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The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth will host the final prizegiving ceremony for the 2013 J-Cup hosted by the Royal Western Yacht Club, August 21st-24th. Though not the first time the annual regatta has visited the West Country, this will be the first time that the spectacular marine facility will feature in the regatta programme.

The National Marine Aquarium is the largest of its kind in the UK, with over 70 sharks and varieties of exhibits in both floor to ceiling and overhead tanks and tunnels. Centrally located and a must-visit for tourists to the maritime city, the glass-fronted aquarium boasts superb views of the Barbican and Plymouth Sound, where some of the J-Cup racing will take place. As well as a tourist attraction, the Aquarium is also a registered charity, committed to promoting a sympathetic understanding of the sea through programmes of education, conservation and research.

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Quantum Racing returns to the Mediterranean for the 2013 summer circuit with Ed Baird at the helm and four new team members including Terry Hutchinson as Tactician. The team also welcomes Jordi Calafat, Spain, as Strategist; Romolo Ranieri, Italy, at the Mast and new shore crew Rowan Swanson from New Zealand. The team gathers this weekend in Barcelona, Spain where it will be training for the first European event of the 52 Super Series, the Trofeo Conde De Godo, May 23-26.

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Professional maintained, up to date ORC/IMS race yacht. 3 th in EC IMS 2007

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Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com

The Last Word
Revelations come when you're in the thick of it, pitting yourself up against something larger than yourself. -- Frank Langella

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html

Scuttlebutt Europe #2838 - 16 May

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:43:56 +0100

ISAF Match Race Rankings
Ian Williams (GBR) and Claire Leroy (FRA) hold onto World #1 in the Open and Women's Match Race Rankings whilst ISAF Nations Cup European Regional Final Winner Viktor Ogeman reaps the rewards of his success to move to a personal best of World #28. Open Rankings

With the Alpari World Match Race Tour getting underway on 15 May a busy year of Open match racing lies ahead and Ian Williams (GBR) is perfectly primed at the top of the Open Rankings with a healthy advantage. Williams is nearly 900 points ahead of Bjorn Hansen (SWE) and over 1,300 ahead of World #3 Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA).

Top ten open rankings:

1. Ian Williams, GBR
2. Bjorn Hansen, SWE
3. Pierre-antoine Morvan, FRA
4. Philip Robertson, NZL
5. Taylor Canfield, ISV
6. Keith Swinton, AUS
7. William Tiller, NZL
8. Laurie Jury, NZL
9. Johnie Berntsson, SWE
10. Peter Gilmour, AUS

Women's Rankings

There were no Women's ISAF Graded events in the current Rankings period however based on the ranking system minor shifts in position are evident in this month's rankings.

A busy period of Women's Match Racing is on the horizon with the ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship taking place in Busan, Korea from 4-9 June 2013.

A competitive field that includes former 2005 World Champion Sally Barkow (USA) and London 2012 Women's Match Racing Olympic Champion Tamara Echegoyen (ESP) will make the trip to Korea to stake their claim for the world title.

Two ISAF Nations Cup Regional Finals in Europe and Asia are scheduled ahead of the next Rankings release on 19 June as well as the ISAF Grade 1 St. Quay Women's Match Racing event in France meaning that changes could be widespread in the next release.

Top ten women's rankings:

1. Claire Leroy, FRA
2. Ekaterina Skudina, RUS
3. Anna Tunnicliffe, USA
4. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN
5. Lucy Macgregor, GBR
6. Olivia Price, AUS
7. Silja Lehtinen, FIN
8. Julie Bossard, FRA
9. Tamara Echegoyen, ESP
10. Sally Barkow, USA

www.sailing.org/rankings/match/index.php

New Cape Verdes Route Proves Popular With ARC Sailors
The view over Porto Grande, Sao Vincente. Click on image to enlarge.

From the pre-departure programme ensuring crews are relaxed and prepared, to the friendly welcome each boat receives on arrival in Saint Lucia, the unique spirit that surrounds the ARC each year has meant the Rally is firmly on the 'bucket list' for cruising sailors. Since its creation almost 30 years ago, World Cruising Club has built on these key strengths and provides a safe and social event that annually attracts hundreds of cruising boats to cross the Atlantic with the help of their expert organisation.

In 2013, demand to join the ARC has been unprecedented and World Cruising Club have announced the addition of a new route option for the world's most popular cruising rally, to give even more dedicated cruising sailors the chance to join the transatlantic rally of choice and offer a new experience for returning participants keen to expand on their previous crossings. ARC+ Cape Verdes will depart Las Palmas on 10 November, 2 weeks earlier than the traditional start, and feature a 3-5 day stopover in Mindelo, São Vincente, before continuing with the trade winds to Saint Lucia. The rally has already proved extremely popular and entries are expected to reach capacity 50 boats in the coming weeks.

www.worldcruising.com/arc

Enfant Terrible Takes Early Lead at Farr 40 U.S. East Coast Championship
Skipper Alberto Rossi and the Enfant Terrible team posted a pair of seconds on Day 1 of the Farr 40 East Coast Championship, being held on the Chesapeake Bay. Photo by Sarah Proctor, sailfastphotography.com. Click on image to enlarge.

It was a typically fluky day on the Chesapeake Bay, and surprisingly one of the European teams figured things out the best on the opening day of the 2013 Farr 40 East Coast Championship.

Four of the eight boats featured Annapolis sailors with extensive local knowledge of the Chesapeake and its shifty winds and unpredictable tidal currents. However, it was the Italian team aboard Enfant Terrible that most successfully avoided getting caught on the wrong side of the course and therefore put forth the most consistent performance.

Skipper Alberto Rossi steered Enfant Terrible to a couple of second place finishes as the Italian contingent took the early overall lead in the four-day regatta, being hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club. America's Cup veteran Vasco Vascotto called tactics for Rossi, who was relieved to escape the unpredictable day with a point advantage over Barking Mad.

Owner-driver Jim Richardson and the Barking Mad crew also had a solid day, winning Race 1 then placing fourth in Race 2 to total five points. Tactician Terry Hutchinson grew up sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and made a couple decisions that worked out well for the boat based out

Action continues Thursday with the early forecasts calling for light and shifty winds. Organizers with Annapolis-based Stagg Yachts, which manages the Farr 40 class, are hoping to complete 10 races by Saturday afternoon.

2013 Farr 40 East Coast Championship (eight entries)

1. Enfant Terrible, Alberto Rossi, Ancona, Italy, 2-2=4 points
2. Barking Mad, Jim Richardson, Newport, RI, 1-4=5
3. Groovederci, John Demourkas, Santa Barbara, CA, 3-3=6
4. Ramrod, Rod Jabin, Annapolis, MD, 8-1=9
5. Plenty, Alex Roepers, New York City, 4-5=9
6. Struntje Light, Wolfgang Schaefer, Lueneberg, Germany, 5-7=12
7. Nightshift, Kevin McNeil, Annapolis, MD, 7-6=13
8. Asterisk-UNO, Hasip Gencer, Instanbul, Turkey, 6-8=14

farr40.org

Taking Stock
I am trying to fathom the enormous amount of work that ORC has now put into updating their VPP and the services on their website, with its formidable log-in Sailor Services section giving access to a database with some 61,000 measurement records, copies of certificates and the ability to run test certificates at will. Next step will be offering the content in a number of different languages, starting with Italian, Spanish, Croatian, Greek, Portuguese and Brazilian.

There is no doubt that this organisation currently has the most sophisticated tools in place to rate a boat's performance potential and to score its performance. ORC now offers more access to information on competitors' boats and options to optimise your own boat by running test certificates than any other rule in the world. Slowly this is starting to be reflected in the growth in interest in what the ORC has on offer. Even their promotion, at least from the outside, now seems to have moved forward from where the product was expected to sell itself, with active user-oriented promotion of the various dishes on the ORC menu.

The ORC also has a long reputation of chasing its VPP tail at the owners' expense. Their yearly rating tombola is entertaining, but only if you do not own a boat, or design or build them. And 2013 is no exception. Finally the old patchwork VPP, the result of decades of fixing plumbing leaks, has been replaced by a shiny new model. Resulting in major rating changes between different types of boat; possibly for all the right reasons, but leaving little confidence in future rule stability.

Rob Weiland's fuill article in Seahorse:
www.seahorsemagazine.com/current-issue/121-taking-stock

Boat Builders - Immediate Vacancies
We are seeking immediately available boat builders, suitably experienced in the construction of composite yachts, to join our busy Marine department.

Current builds are construction of 2 carbon pre-preg racing yachts (47/60 feet). Further projects are available online.

Additional Candidate Requirements:

Plase send your application by email to : chinnu@pct.ae

www.pct.ae

Slow Down You're Going Too Fast
When the holders Oracle revealed their plans for the 34th Cup it was made clear that, as far as the Defenders were concerned, the 162-year-old competition wasn't financially sustainable unless TV was much more involved. To make sailing more appealing to television it should be faster, more exciting and, perhaps, with more thrills and spills. And so it was deemed multihull sailing was the way to go.

Right from the start the idea of close match racing between two yachts - the essence of America's Cup competition - took a back seat while speed, capsizes in the smaller AC45 cats and new TV technology were used in an attempt to convince the public and big business that this was an improvement on monohull competition. The sailing cognoscenti, on balance, were not convinced.

Personally, I felt the heart had been torn out of the America's Cup and at the time I said as much in the pages of Yachting World. I also believe the America's Cup is about wealthy individuals wanting to have a crack at winning it and that it should not be kowtowing to TV. That is what has made it unique and so resilient. -- David Glenn, his full editorial in Yachting World:

www.yachtingworld.com/performance-world/

Idiots Or A**Holes? Tough Call*
Three French yachtsmen took nearly four hours to report a man overboard tragedy.

Guernsey deputy harbourmaster Tony Pattimore said in his career of more than 30 years he had never come across a situation like it - where somebody with the ability to raise the alarm at the time, didn't.

The missing man has been identified as 63-year-old Rene Yves Louis Morvan and his family have been informed of his disappearance via the French authorities.

Mr Morvan went overboard off Pleinmont on Saturday night at around 9pm and the owner and two other crewmembers aboard the yacht Jouvente reported it three-and-three-quarter hours later, after they had moored up at St Peter Port.

He said: 'They threw him a rope and missed. They turned around again and on the second approach one of the waves caught them and turned the bow so that Mr Morvan was carried under the boat.

'They said when he came up he was lying still in the water.

'They made a third attempt and realized they were quite close to the rocks and rather than risk anyone else going in the water they made the decision to leave him.'

The yacht sailed to St Peter Port and the crew used VHF radio to ask if there were any free berths.

The man overboard incident was only mentioned later to marina staff in what Mr Pattimore described as a 'very blase manner.'

Mr Pattimore said: 'They had a working radio and flares on board.

'Where the man overboard occurred, four stations - in Guernsey, Jersey and north Brittany - would have heard any call. But there was nothing.

From Practical Boat Owner (not their headline...) www.pbo.co.uk

* Both, is your humble narrator's well-considered opinion.

Industry News
French sailing yacht builder Amel has signed an agreement with Emek Marin to represent its yachts in Turkey.

Founded in 1968, Amel produces two sailing yacht models - the Amel 55 and Amel 64 - from its base in La Rochelle, France.

Emek Marin has been supplying technical services for Amel yachts on Turkey's Agean and Mediterranean coasts for several years. In addition to offering technical services, the company is now an official dealer of Amel yachts.

IBI News: https://plus.ibinews.com

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An important agreement has recently been reached between the High Performance Yacht Design conference (HPYD), the Innov'Sail conference and the Chesapeake Sailing Yacht Symposium (CSYS).

The inevitable clash of dates has been avoided by agreeing a rolling 3-year cycle with one key conference each year. The proposed dates are:
Innov'Sail: 2013, 2017
HPYD: 2015, 2018
CSYS: 2016, 2019
Because of both CSYS and Innov'Sail being held this year, there will be no conference in 2014.

This agreement should smooth the organisation and make the conferences more enjoyable and of a higher quality for delegates. -- David Le Pelley

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Yacht Solutions and Italthai Marine have signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to create Thailand's first dedicated superyacht facility in Bangkok.

Yacht Solutions at Italthai Marine is being set up in response to the demand for more superyacht refit and repair facilities in the Asian region from both owners of superyachts based in Asia and those travelling from Europe and America.

Located near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakam and easy to navigate in from the sea - Italthai Marine provides the perfect site. This deep water facility was needed by Yacht Solutions to cater for larger refit and build projects as well as shorter emergency and maintenance projects. Its location, being in the vibrant city of Bangkok and only 45 minutes from Bangkok international airport (the transiting hub of Southeast Asia) is ideal because it is extremely appealing to owners, captains and crew due to the vast range of crew facilities close to hand.

Superyacht Business / IBI News:
www.ibinews.com

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Producers of the Newport (Rhode Island, USA) Charter Yacht Show are pleased to announce that "YachtAid Global" - yachting's humanitarian charity - has been chosen as the non-profit partner for the second consecutive year. A favorite event among brokers, the charter show will take place June 17 - 20th in Newport, Rhode Island at the Newport Yachting Center.

YachtAid Global orchestrates the delivery of humanitarian, development and conservation aid to coastal communities worldwide. The organization was founded in 2006 and is a registered non-profit providing tax benefits to donors. YachtAid Global utilizes a network of volunteers who coordinate logistics with patrons who donate supplies and the yachts that can make deliveries to those in need.

YachtAid Global delivers to schools, medical clinics, cultural centers and other organizations in remote coastal locations which other aid organizations cannot reach.

yachtaidglobal.org/wp/
newportchartershow.com

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The Norwegian Sea Rescue Association (NSRA), Redningsselskapet, has recommended the British made Exposure Marine X2 search light for the professional and recreational marine market, by adding it to their existing range of recommended safety equipment.

The NSRA, Norway's equivalent to the British based RNLI, a voluntary, membership-based organisation that aims to save lives and protect the environment, runs a fleet of high speed rescue craft based at 57 stations along the Norwegian coast. The X2 is to be used and tested throughout the fleet.

The NSRA chose the X2 due to its MOB related features, including a brilliant 700 lumens searchlight, as well as its high-powered SOS and Strobe facility easily visible from over 3 nautical miles.

www.redningsselskapet.no/profflykt

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Owners of the 52 Super Series - Doug DeVos, Alberto Roemmers, and Niklas Zennstrom - are pleased to announce the appointment of Agustín Zulueta Calvo (ESP) as CEO of the 52 SUPER SERIES. Zulueta assumes the role immediately, and will be in Barcelona for the next TP52 event at the Trofeo Conde De Godo, May 23-26, 2013.

Zulueta joins the program with extensive sailing and management experience, directing multiple projects that have achieved notable results. Since 1990, he has been associated with all of the Spanish projects that have competed in the America's Cup including Desafío Español, which reached the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007. Zulueta is also well known within the TP52 circuit as team manager of the winning Soto 40 team Iberdrola, which competed during the 2011-12 seasons.

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Yachting New Zealand is proud to announce a new partnership with Volvo Cars to support the drive for youth sailing development around the country.

A long term investment, Volvo will sponsor New Zealand's flagship school sailing programme Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! as well as contributing to youth development camps and clinics. Designed to encourage school children to experience the thrills and spills of sailing in a safe and well managed environment, the Volvo Sailing... Have a Go! programme is where some of NZ's future yachting stars have their first sailing experience.

With Auckland now confirmed as a stopover port for the next two Volvo Ocean Races, it is the perfect time to invest in lifting the profile of the sport and celebrate the achievements of youth sailing in New Zealand.

Brad Marsh, bowman on Groupama, the winning yacht of the Volvo Ocean Race 2012, is right behind the partnership. "I have been a direct recipient of vehicle support by Volvo. The vehicles are an exceptional drive and I am delighted to hear that the sailing community throughout the country will be able to benefit from this investment of support as well as favourable member benefits"

Yachting New Zealand members will soon have their chance to be able to access benefits from this relationship making it easier for them to get into their own Volvo.

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The Last Word
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. -- Frank Zappa

Editorial and letter submissions to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: gb@beesonstone.com or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/advertise.html