Brought to you by boats.com Europe with the support of OC Events, 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 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

9TH SKIPPER CONFIRMED FOR BARCELONA WORLD RACE
Jean-Pierre Dick, skipper of Paprec Virbac, has selected experienced Irish sailor Damian Foxall as his co-skipper for the Barcelona World Race. Damian, a professional sailor, with over 25 years of ocean and dinghy racing experience already lists five round the world races on his impressive CV and 18 trans-atlantics, adding up to over 280,000 miles of sailing.

Damian, aged 37, has competed in two Volvo Ocean Races in 2005/06 onboard Team Ericsson responsible for bow, mast and rigging; then again in 2001/2002 with Team Tyco. He was part of the America's Cup 2004 K Challenge crew for Acts 2 and 3 and was one of the Cheyenne crew for their successful assault on the Jules Verne non-stop crewed round the world record, setting a new time of 58 days, 9 hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds. He has also competed in the solo and short-handed circuits including the 1997 Solitaire du Figaro (top 'rookie' aka newcomer) and the AG2R double-handed race in 2000.

Damian Foxall is the ninth skipper to be named for the new double-handed Barcelona World Race that starts on 11th November 2007 with five top IMOCA 60 campaigns confirmed so far and more expected over the next couple of months. These nine skippers already represent five different nationalities - French, British, Australian, Swiss and Irish - from an extensive mix of solo and crewed experience.

The new IMOCA 60 Paprec Virbac will be launched in New Zealand in the next few days. www.jpdick.com

IRC PROVING GROUND
A major international regatta such as Acura Key West 2007 is a true test of whether a new rating system will succeed and be accepted by sailboat owners.

Based on the number of entries and the caliber of competition, the two-year-old IRC rule is catching on. There are three IRC classes containing a total of 26 boats here this year, a dramatic increase over 2006.

Even more encouraging is the fact all three IRC classes have seen close and exciting racing. A mere point separates the top two teams in IRC 1 and 3 while there is a tie in IRC 2.

Hissar and Numbers are engaged in an intense duel for the lead in IRC 1, which features the eight largest entries in the regatta. Hissar, a Farr 60-footer owned by Edgar Cato of Newport, R.I., earned its third victory of the series in Race 6 and enters Thursday one point ahead of Numbers.

Olympian Morgan Reeser is calling tactics while America's Cup veterans Mike Toppa (main) and Mick Harvey (jib) are the primary trimmers aboard Hissar, which finished a disappointing sixth out of 10 entries in IRC 1 at Acura Key West 2006, but has posted a string of firsts, seconds and thirds this year.

Cato and Numbers owner Daniel Meyers, also a Newport resident, have battled for years in a number of classes. Volvo Ocean Race veterans Hamish Pepper (tactician), Erle Williams (trimmer) and Jerry Kirby (bow) are part of a top-notch crew on Numbers, which has placed first or second in five of six races.

It could not be any closer in IRC 2, where Colm Barrington's Ker 50 Magic Glove and Doug DeVos' TP52 Windquest are deadlocked at 13 points apiece. Samba Pa Ti, John Kilroy's newly-launched TP 52, is just four points behind in third.

Magic Glove, a brand new boat designed especially for IRC racing, notched its fourth bullet of the series in Race 6. Barrington, an Irishman making his Key West debut, leads the series after winning the tiebreaker based on number of first place finishes.

Annapolis resident John Bertrand is skippering Windquest, which had placed second in every race until taking third in Race 6. Volvo veterans Kurt Oetking (EF Language, Pirates of the Caribbean) and George Peet (ABN AMRO) are serving as tactician and jib trimmer aboard the Quantum Sail Design Group-sponsored entry.

Esmeralda, the brand new Club Swan 42 owned by Japanese industrialist Makota Uematsu with Read aboard as tactician, has a score line filled entirely with firsts and seconds yet still leads SpiritofMalouen by just one point.

Frenchman Stephane Neve and his crew aboard the Sinergia 40 have equaled Esmeralda with three bullets and trail based solely on a third in Race 3. -- Bill Wagner

www.premiere-racing.com

LIFE AT THE EXTREME
Life At The Extreme, the official book of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06, chronicles over eight months of relentless competition in the world's most menacing of oceans.

Author and broadcaster Rob Mundle together with the world's best sailing photographers have captured every angle of the world's top offshore sailors doing battle over 31,500 nautical miles. The highs, the lows, the hardships in the quest for the overall prize - the Fighting Finish Trophy.

With over 150 pages of words and pictures, Life At The Extreme is available to buy online at www.volvooceanrace.org/booksanddvds or from leading high street book stores.

CARNAGE ON THE COURSE AT INTERNATIONAL SKIFF REGATTA
High south to south easterly winds that hitCorio Bay in Geelong at around 4.30pm this afternoon caused carnage to the skiffs competing at the International Skiff Regatta at Sail Melbourne.

It was reported that no less than three 16ft skiffs have broken their masts, two breaking bowsprits and a number of others breaking gear, forcing many to retire.

"It was around 20-25 knots constant with gusts of up to 28 knots," Race Official Murray McCrae reported from host venue Royal Geelong Yacht Club this afternoon. "There was lots of damage, to them and the 12 footers," McCrae said.

The New Zealand crew of Nathan Bax/ Alex Hinton (Bax Contractors) have lifted to the top of the scoreboard in the 12ft skiff fleet following a bullet and a 10th place today for a total of 21.7 points. They take over the lead from the Sydney pairing of Emmett Lazich/Cameron McDonald (CST Composites) who have led the series from day one. The two are now on 24.7 points.

Lazich is now sandwiched between another top Kiwi pairing of Chris Reid/Alex Vallings, who are third placed with 29 points.

The New Zealanders are getting stronger each day, and Race 6 winners, the highly fancied Hamish Hey/Mike Landy (NZL) are fourth overall.

The Kiwis have held the famed Interdominion Cup for nine straight years now and are obviously keen to make it 10 on the trot. Unless the Australians can come up with something special, it looks likely our friends across the paddock will get their wish. -- Di Pearson

www.sailmelbourne.com.au

DID THE WHALE SAY SORRY?
A sailor, whose yacht was destroyed by a humpback whale off New Zealand, said he had got a good 'vibe' from the giant mammal and thought it was trying to say sorry, local media said on Wednesday.

Lindsay Wright was sailing his brand-new 10-metre (30-ft) trimaran, named Loose Goose, about 80 nautical miles off the west coast of North Island on Tuesday when he hit the whale, according to a report in Reuters.

Wright said he had been sleeping when he was awoken by a loud noise and rushed up on deck to find himself staring at a whale's head about a foot away.

'I got good vibes off him. I thought he was trying to say sorry mate, I didn't mean to,' Wright told New Zealand television.

He said the whale, a large male in a pod of about six humpbacks, had hit his yacht with its tail, opening a large hole in one of the boat's three hulls.

'When I first saw him I thought he had come back for the coup de grace,' Australian Associated Press quoted Wright as saying.

Wright activated a distress beacon as his yacht took on water and lost electrical power. He was winched to safety aboard a rescue helicopter about five hours later. -- Sail-World.com

www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=30243

TREND 'ADVANCED PROJECT' TEAM ESTABLISHED
Trend Marine, who produce much of the quality glass screens for the marine industry have created an 'Advanced Projects Team' to focus on strategic developments and innovations that can offer major market opportunities.

This follows a successful year where a number of developments have been introduced at their large facility near Norwich Norfolk, including, carbon oven, screen printing process and sunroof windows for powerboats.

"We have seen enquiry and sales levels increase since the 2006 Autumn. The number of 90ft to 130ft vessels in development means that expansion of our team is essential to provide customers with the service levels they have come to expect" stated Robin Thatcher, Trend Technical and Sales Director.

www.trendmarine.com
Full press report and pictures are available on www.strawberrymarketing.com

ROD STEPHENS TROPHY TO CREW OF ABN AMRO TWO
The crew of ABN AMRO TWO was selected by the Cruising Club of America (CCA) to receive the 2006 Rod Stephens Trophy for Seamanship for skillfully carrying out the nighttime recovery of an overboard crewmember during the Volvo Ocean Race. The trophy will be presented at the club's annual Awards Dinner in New York on January 16, 2007. This is a perpetual trophy made possible by shipmates and friends of the late Rod Stephens to recognize "an act of seamanship which significantly contributes to the safety of a yacht or one or more individuals at sea." Making the presentation of the award to ABN AMRO TWO, skipper Seb Josse on behalf of the crew was CCA Commodore Edward S. Rowland of Hamilton, Mass.

While ultimately unsuccessful in saving the life of their fellow crew member, Hans Horrevoets, the crew located his body by acting quickly, following good, previously rehearsed procedures and using excellent judgment in carrying out search tactics. Following recovery of the victim, strenuous and well-advised efforts were made, but the crew ultimately was not able to save him.

The crew of ABN AMRO TWO included: Seb Josse (skipper), Simon Fisher (navigator), Scott Beavis, Nick Bice, Lucas Brun, Andrew Lewis, Luke Molloy, George Peet and Simeon Tienpont.

www.cruisingclub.org

SEIKO PARTNERS WITH INTERNATIONAL 49ER CLASS
SEIKO Watch Corporation and the International 49er Class Association today signed a unique two year partnership agreement. The global partnership is the first of its kind for an Olympic sailing Class and represents the emergence of the 49er as a powerful marketing platform. Over the next two years SEIKO will assist the growth and development of the 49er class worldwide through a series of joint initiatives.

This is the first time that SEIKO has supported world-class sailing. Within the partnership, SEIKO will benefit from a full package of sponsorship and marketing rights, including brand visibility at the two major events in the 2007 calendar, the World Championships in Portugal and the European Championships in Sicily.

The partnership is designed to further grow the class throughout the world with a series of training courses and masterclasses to increase the coaching, participation and expertise globally.

SEIKO will launch a new collection of marine watches at Baselworld, the world's largest watch fair, from 12 to 19 April 2007.

www.49er.org

TEAM NZ KEEN TO TEST NEW BOAT EARLY
Emirates Team New Zealand's keen to race its new boat NZL92 against the new Oracle boat before the two syndicates head to Valencia for the America's Cup.

Both camps are trialling their boats in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf with USA 98 only just unveiled.

Team New Zealand Syndicate head Grant Dalton said if Oracle is ready, they will compete against them before they head to Valencia.

And Dalton said it's encouraging that both Luna Rossa and Oracle have copied them in some respect.

He says they have seen Oracle's new boat come out and it's not dissimilar to theirs.

Dalton said that's both good and bad news because they have always been confident in their shape.

tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/962547

LAUNCHINGS
* Discovery Yachts unveiled details of its future direction with news of a new 50 ft luxury catamaran to sit alongside the award-winning Discovery 55.

The first Discovery Spirit 50 catamaran due for launch later this year.

Set to be available with either three or four double cabins, features in the new Discovery Spirit 50 also include a vast saloon with galley, dining area and deep comfortable armchairs. Buyers will be able to customise their layouts.

The new boat is also very much designed to be sailed by two people. Electric winches are standard, and all the controls come back to the helm station which means that one person can sail the catamaran.

Photos and graphics of the new 50 at scuttlebutteurope.com/photos/ in the Launchings section.

* The new Paralympic class skiff designed by Melbourne's Chris Mitchell and makes its debut at the Sail Melbourne Olympic & Invited Classes Regatta hosted by Sandringham Yacht Club.

Famed for his designs which are adapted to suit disabled sailors Mitchell, in collaboration with Julian Bethwaite, designer of 18ft skiffs, 29ers and the Olympic 49er skiff, designed the SKUD - the first skiff ever raced by the disabled and severely disabled.

Only three of these new boats presently exist in Australia, with more on the way. Entries at Sail Melbourne include Ame Barnbrook, Denis Critchley and Paul Borg. All three will sail with able bodied crews at this first event. -- Di Pearson, www.sailmelbourne.com.au

More on the SKUD at www.skandiateamgbr.com/boats/skud18.htm

* Luna Rossa's ITA 94 will be christened tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock in Valencia, Spain. The ceremony will take place at Luna Rossa's base.

Mrs. Miuccia Prada will be the godmother of the event. At her side Patrizio Bertelli, President of Gruppo Prada and Head of the Luna Rossa syndicate, Carlo Buora, Executive Vice President of Telecom Italia and Carlo Croce, President of the Yacht Club Italiano.

* Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team's second new boat for the 32nd America's Cup, ITA 99 is currently en route to Valencia from Green Marine of Lymington (UK), where it has been undergoing the final fit out.

ITA 99 will travel by truck from Lymington to the UK shores where it will be ferried across to Spain and then continue on to Valencia.

Once ITA 99 arrives at the base in Valencia, the keel and the mast will be mounted, and then she will be ready for her first sail.

In December, Mascalzone Latino-Captialia Team retired the "old" ITA 77 and in January started sailing again with ITA 90, the first of the two new boats constructed for this campaign.

* There is a new series 6.50 Mini Transat boat from Poland, designed by Jean Pierre Magnan, named (a bit confusing) SuperCalin2, build and marketed by Tadeuz Anders, see http://www.transat.pl

The SuperCalin 1 is still in production. -- www.minitransat650.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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 Eero Lehtinen: To Robert Wilkes (SB 1140, Jan 16 2007)

Thanks for your response Mr Wilkes! I somehow feel that you are missing my point here. We do not want to be locked up into our own backyard racing in our own championships but we want our sailing youth to dream about olympic medals and go for it big time. The South Africans pretty much dominate the African champs with their B team every year and we certainly want to know where the international "level of the bar" is from year to year.

The investment in getting to the Africans is often pretty much the same as it would be if we sent a team to race in a bigger event in Europe, South America, Asia or elsewhere - and that's where we would learn a lot more. We do not want to kill the Africans, but surely we want to stay in touch with the international top level and there is no doubt, we are ready for it too. What I am asking for is some attention, concern and support for the African junior sailors to make it possible for them to become proper players in the sailing community. The Shosholoza AC team have already proved that African sailors can do miracles, now we need to give the dinghy sailors the same opportunity.

THE LAST WORD
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. -- Arthur Schopenhauer

OC Events, www.ocevents.org , organisers of two major IMOCA 60 oceanic events, the new double-handed Barcelona World Race 2007, and the original solo transocean race, The Transat 2008 (ex-OSTAR) plus the Extreme 40 Sailing Series for The iShares Cup.

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