Brought to you by Boats and Outboards 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

EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR
The Figaro sailors have covered more than half the distance to the finish in Brest since the start yesterday in the Bay of Cork; just 130 miles remain to the close of the second leg with an ETA given of between 06h00 and 09h00 Wednesday morning. The early morning turning tide, light and fluctuating breeze together with the overflow effects from the land will all come into play over the course of the final 58 miles from the Racon mark off Ushant, along to St. Mathieu, on the tip of Brittany, and then to the finish line in front of Brest.

The fleet of 50 Solitaire competitors have been on the downwind run since last night with a steady 15 to 20 knot breeze and steady swell. This long spinnaker run south, whilst exhilarating, has been taxing on the solo sailors who have been averaging 10 knots of boat speed when driving the boats. Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) reported "clocking up a 16 knot surf" and Jeanne Gregoire (Banque Populaire) showed 14-knot instant boat speed this morning. Throughout the day the wind is forecast to back further to the North, then Northeast over the course of the afternoon before decreasing to 10 to 15 knots this evening.

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) moves back into the lead on the last position report but is tailed by Gildas Mahe (Le Comptoir Immobilier) 0.3 miles behind and Thierry Chabagny (Brossard) 0.9 miles. Christophe Lebas (Lola la piscine assemblee), positioned slightly south of the leader moves into 2nd place just 0.3 miles behind with Gildas Morvan (Cercle Vert) in his wake. Although the line to the mark is straight, sailors have applied a different strategy to their approach. Marc Thiercelin (Siemens) has taken the most extreme Westerly option, which leaves more than a 20 mile lateral gap between him and Jean-Francois Bulot (Credit Mutuel de Normadie - Ville de Caen).

The competitors have been positioning themselves accordingly as the wind rotates round to the NNE in order to prepare for the best angle of approach to the Racon mark. Those who made the move further east early on are on the direct heading for the Racon mark, among them are Distixion and Groupe Celeos. The wind is due to ease for the afternoon and then "we should have between 12 and 15 knots up to the tip of Brittany" explains Sylvain Mondon at Meteo France. The tide turns against the fleet at 7 am tomorrow, which could give the trailing boats a chance to catch up on the close of the race leaving everything to play for right to the end. -- Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

www.lasolitaire.com

BARCELONA WORLD RACE
Spaniards Javier Sanso, (38, Palma de Mallorca) and Pachi Rivero (43, Santander) have confirmed their entry in the Barcelona World Race, and currently in the middle of their 2800-mile qualifying sail for the race.

Javier Sanso Widmann, aged 38, is no stranger to the Open 60 class. He has competed in two Transat Jacques Vabre races : 2001 onboard SME Negoceane, finishing 4th, and 2003 onboard Objectif 3. Sanso was co-skipper of 4th place Gartmore in the EDS Atlantic Challenge in 2001, and also competed in the 2001/01 Vendee Globe but unfortunately had to retire. Since 2004 he has been captain and project manager for the Wally 'Tiketitoo' - an 88.2 foot custom built super-yacht. He has done 18 transatlantic crossings, was the 2001 Spanish sailor of the year and captain of the first Spanish sailing vessel, 'Rael' a 17m steel Schooner, to reach Antarctica from Spain.

Pachi Rivero, aged 43, father of two is also one of Spain's most accomplished sailors, with two Americas Cup under his belt as crew member in the Spanish team Desafio Español in 1992/1995 and having competed in more than 20 World Championship regattas in the Maxi and Swan class. was part of the winning crew onboard Caja Madrid Open 60 in the Regata Cadiz-La Habana in 2000, and also won this race in 2006 onboard the Volvo 60 Cantabria Infinita.

On 12th August, Sanso and Rivero will meet the other seven teams competing in the Barcelona World Race for the Rolex Fastnet Race, the official prologue for the Barcelona World Race. The boat, an IMOCA Open 60 (Ex-Ecover) was designed by Owen Clarke Design and launched in June 2003. Javier Sanso and Pachi Rivero will announce their sponsor and boat name in the next two weeks.

* And then there were nine!

Albert Bargues, the Catalan ocean sailor, is now realising his dream of once again racing around the world, but this time non-stop and double-handed. Bargues will team up with French sailor Servane Escoffier onboard the IMOCA Open 60 'Educacion sin Fronteras' (Education without Frontiers).

Albert Bargues, aged 47, from Barcelona has an impressive sailing CV as an ocean sailor including the 1985/6 Whitbread Round the World Race onboard Fortuna Lights, the 1997 Transat Jacques Vabre onboard Budapest Open 60, two Mini-Transats in 1987 and 1999. He has also worked as project manager and on the shore team of several IMOCA Open 60 campaigns including PRB in 2000 and more recently Sill-Veolia last year.

French sailor Servane Escoffier, aged 26 from Saint-Malo, also has a very respectable list of accomplishments to her name including podium positions in the 2006 Route du Rhum and 2005 Transat Jacques Vabre, and winning the 2006 Record SNSM onboard her previous boat, the Open 50 Vedettes de Brehat. At the young age of 22, Servane raced in the 2003 Transat Jacques Vabre with her father Bob Escoffier, onboard the IMOCA Open 60 'Adecco' finishing 12th. Servane has had some valuable experience working behind the scenes on IMOCA Open 60 campaigns including being part of Nick Moloney's shore team for his 2004 Vendee Globe onboard Skandia.

Albert and Servane will sail onboard the ex-Kingfisher, now re-named 'Educacion sin Fronteras' (Education without Frontiers). In Barcelona a New Government Organisation (NGO) has signed a deal with the Fundacion para la Navegacion Oceánica (FNO) to use the values associated with education and ocean sailing with the aim of attracting potential sponsors.

While 'Educacion sin Fronteras' will sail for the Calella de Palafurgell Yacht Club and the FNO, it has been agreed that if FNO attract other sponsors for the team, some of the funds will go towards the 'NGO' programme which have among their priorities, creating schools and education programmes for children in developing countries.

The Open 60 'Educacion sin Fronteras', ex-Kingfisher sailed by Ellen MacArthur in the Vendee Globe 2000, has been acquired by FNO and is currently being prepared in Cowes, UK, in order to be ready to compete in the Rolex Fastnet Race (starting 12th August) the official prologue for all teams racing in the Barcelona World Race.

www.barcelonaworldrace.com

2007 FASTNET RACE - SHOWCASING THE LATEST YACHTS AND DESIGN APPROACHES
This year's Fastnet Race will be a true acid test for some of the new racing machines to hit the water, including super-maxi Leopard 111 and the latest Open 60's - Pindar, Hugo Boss, Temenos. These yachts are the epitome of futuristic technology. The rigs alone on the Open 60's are radical in design and utilise entirely different concepts, such as wing masts with rotating spreaders, wing masts with deck spreaders and conventional masts (if there's such a meaning for this class).

To learn more visit www.southernspars.com

Southern congratulates the 'Siemens' team in winning the latest TP52 Breitling Medcup regatta.

SKANDIA COWES WEEK
The long line of Laser SB3s moored up stern to bow on a glistening sea told the story of today's racing at Skandia Cowes Week although, eventually, the wind gods conceded defeat to allow a reduced programme of racing. Only the X One-Designs decided not to race when the 70 competitors judged the Committee Vessel start too far away to allow for a decent day's racing.

Kicking off the day's proceedings, Chris Tibbs' rather depressing opening forecast coincided with a postponement which meant more recovery time for those crews who had been merry-making at the Ellen MacArthur Trust Ball the previous evening. All that digging in the wastelands of their enormous pockets unearthed a pot of gold - 78,328 pounds to be precise, which was a fabulous result for the charity.

The weather guru was less generous. After a bright sunny windless start, the sea breeze may or may not kick in later, he predicted. Hopefully, it would come from the south west but there were no guarantees and hopefully it might build to a force 4, but again there were no promises. There could also be a shower or two he added, which was the prompt for a large collective moan to ring out across Cowes.

At around midday, the fleet started to drift out towards the start and the Royal Yacht Squadron's Principal Race Officer Simon van der Byl announced the Laser SB3s would start at 1225. Just seconds before the gun fired however, the AP (Answering Pennant) was raised and the gun was fired three times to indicate a further postponement.

There was a look of complete bewilderment on the faces of crews who were unsure whether the guns signified a general recall or a postponement. However, the picture soon became clear when van der Byl explained over the radio that the wind had softened off Egypt Point and that when it hardened up again, they would send the 98 boats on their way.

Over the next half hour, the wind came and went, topping out at a dismal six knots but at 1305, they were off, only to be black flagged. At the second attempt, they trotted over the line and headed off towards Gurnard

Henri Lloyd Cutting Edge, Robert Lutener and Martin Elwood's Farr 45, was carrying a distinguished guest in Class 2 IRC when solo round-the-world yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston joined them for today's racing.

Tomorrow, Sir Robin will compete in the Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week and on Thursday, he will join up with his chum Robin Aisher in the Daring, Defiant.

Henri-Lloyd was the second finisher amongst the Farr 45s and eighth in Class 2 IRC which fell some way short of the results needed between now and the end of the week if they are to catch Glynn Williams. He has again dominated Class 2 IRC in his Swan 45 Wisc and now looks to have an unassailable lead after posting a second place today.

Meanwhile, Graham Bailey is enjoying a similar supremacy in the Etchells after posting his second win in two days in Arbitrator on top of a second and third at the weekend.

Ed Leask knocked the Dutch crews off their perch in Class 3 IRC with a one minute and 43 second win in his Swan 42 Uxorious III but it was not necessarily a day for Swans as Sir Peter Ogden discovered. Spirit of Jethou finished seven minutes behind the Reichel Pugh 60 Loki but was placed seventh on handicap which puts him in third place overall.

The TP52s Flash Glove and Panthera had another excellent day, despite the light airs with Colm Barrington finishing more than four minutes ahead of Benny Kelly. The other TP52 Cockburn's Red finished off the pace once more with everything to do to make up for a slow start to the week.

At the first mark in the Laser SB3 race, Glenn Bourke had a convincing 25 second lead in Musto and although he was able to maintain that right to the finish, the winning margin over rival Geoff Carveth was a nerve jangling minute and two seconds.

* The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week on Wednesday, 8th August, will see some of the top names in the IMOCA Open 60 class going head-to-head in a sprint around the Isle of Wight as part of the new IRC Class Zero Big Boat Series. The fleet in this 50-mile race will be set on their way at 10am from the start line off the Royal Yacht Squadron by Dame Ellen MacArthur. The fleet will head west towards the Needles and then continue around the Island (course direction and configuration is dependent on weather).

The line-up of entries boasts some of the fastest Open 60's in the world, with leading offshore sailors at the helm:

- Jonny Malbon on Artemis Ocean Racing, competing for the charity, 'Ocean Youth Trust Scotland'.

- Sam Davies on Roxy, competing for the charity, 'Brightside Trust'.

- Guillermo Altadill on Estrella Damm, competing for the charity, 'Africa Viva'.

- Arnaud Boissieres on Akena Verandas, competing for the charity, 'A chacun son Everest'.

- Steve White on Spirit of Weymouth, competing for two charities; 'Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)' and 'The Dorset Country Hospital NHS Foundation'.

- Zavier Lecoeur on Team Mirabaud, competing for the charity, 'The Anthony Nolan Trust'.

- The brand new Pindar Open 60 skippered by ISAF World Sailor of the Year, Mike Sanderson. Delivered by ship to Europe for the Rolex Fastnet Race, Pindar arrived in the UK a week early and is therefore able to make a last minute entry

The world-class crew onboard the fleet of Open 60s will be joined by, amongst others, celebrity guests including former-England rugby star and World Cup Hero, Will Greenwood, Royal, Lady Gabriella Windsor and Johnny Ball, of children's TV fame.

www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk

WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR: THE DANISH OPEN
Skovshoved Harbour, Copenhagen, Denmark 7th August 2007- Round ten of the World Match Racing Tour begins on Thursday following Wednesday's practice. The prize purse for this year's event has been raised to $60,000 dollars. Competing for the prize purse are crews from six different countries as well as six skippers who have just returned from one form or another of America's cup duty. This truly strong field also includes the recently crowned ISAF European Champion in Match Racing, Peter Wibroe.

Included in the field is Ian Williams (GBR) who is currently ranked number 1 on the ISAF open ranking as well as being ranked number 3 on the World Match Racing Tour. Sebastian Col also returns to Skovshoved after his first appearance and first World Match Racing Tour win here last year. Sebastian will no doubt be keen to continue his record (from last year's Danish Open and the America's Cup) against Dane Jesper Bank ( the 2005 winner of the Danish Open), Jesper for his part will want to return to winning form after a disappointing America's Cup campaign. Frenchman Mathieu Richard has a long and successful career in Match Racing and he must be considered a serious threat.

The matches will be sailed in the well known Danish DS 37 which is specifically designed for Match Racing, it is quick and lively, stable in its handling and yet extremely manoeuvrable. Larger than most Match Race boats it accommodates a men's crew of 5.

Racing begins every day at 10:00 and concludes at approximately 17:00. The round robin series will be sailed on Thursday and Friday, Saturday will comprise of the remainder of the round robin and the first semi final matches. Sunday completes the semi final rounds and the finals. (16:00) -- Flemming Vitus/Gordon Smith

worldmatchracingtour.com

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Boatspeed Performance Sailcraft, the world renowned composite yard based in Somersby, Australia is seeking expressions of interest from parties with a view to management succession. Principals Peter and Sari Ullrich founded Boatspeed in 1986 building the Australian 18' skiffs and have built the business up to its present level constructing a string of famous boats including maxis 'Brindabella' and 'Bols' also maxi multis, Dame Ellen Macarthurs 'B&Q Castorama' and most recently Thomas Covilles 105' 'Sodebo'.

Boatspeed has a strong worldwide presence at the leading edge of this technology and operates from a purpose built facility boasting the largest composite oven in the Southern Hemisphere catering for vessels up to 160'. Boatspeeds registered Custompreg process is widely acknowledged as one of the industries most successful composite control systems.

www.boatspeed.com.au

GERMAN CAMPAIGN SIGNS UP
Black-Red-Gold will again sail in the 33nd America's Cup. Head of Syndicate Michael Scheeren has announced the a new participation of United Internet Team Germany in the battle for the world's most wanted sports trophy. With this announcement the German National colours will be represented in the 156-years old history of the America's Cup for the second time.

The United Internet Team Germany relies on their past experiences and on Karol Jablonski. With the already announced commitment of the new skipper of the United Internet Team Germany, new signs are set. The Pole with the German passport has had unexpected success with the Spanish team Desafio Espanol which he led right into the semi final. 44-years old Jablonski is proud "to sail for the United Internet Team Germany - Germany is the country where I had most of my sailing successes". -- www.united-internet-team-germany.de

* After signing Karol Jablonski, helmsman of Desafio Espanol, CNN is reporting that the Germans now have the Director of Sailing for Team Alinghi, Jochen Schuemann (GER) in their sights.

Schuemann was one of the masterminds behind the Alingi success in 2003 and 2007, and won a Gold Medal for Germany in the Finn class in the 1976 Olympics.

The announcement was not accompanied by the actual lodgement of a Challenge, which in these fluid days just requires the completion of a Notice of Entry, without the previous 50,000 Euro entry fee and 1,000,000 Euro Performance, that was supposed to have been paid by all challengers in the 2007 edition of the America's Cup.

However it may have been sufficient to buy the Germans a peek at the new 90ft class rule being developed by Team Alinghi, subject to developments in New York legal circles in a couple of weeks time.

United Internet Team Germany have never made any secret of their desire to have Schuemann back sailing for his homeland, however it is one thing to hanker for the services of a sailor like Schuemann, but quite another to persuade him to leave the top team for one of the lower performers.

United Internet Team Germany do have existing base facilities in Valencia, and will continue to use this establishment.

Currently UITG have an ACC Version 5 yacht under construction. It is not clear under the ACM Protocol whether this will be allowed to race in the proposed Qualification Round for the 33rd America's Cup. -- Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZL: www.sail-world.com/cruising/index.cfm?rd=n&SEID=2&SRSID=&eid=&pid=&nid=36384

OXYMORON?
Ernesto Bertarelli and his gang came out shooting last week, taking pot shots at Larry Ellison's plans to take the Defenders to the New York Supreme Court. As far as the Swiss billionaire is concerned, the matter should be dealt with in-house. "We have submitted this dispute, which is damaging to the entire sport, damaging to the America's Cup, to our independent arbitration panel and we hope to have their resolution soon."

Note the interesting choice of words there. "Our independent arbitration panel". Oxymoron? Surely he meant to say "the independent arbitration panel"? There's a big difference between the possessive "our" and the neutrality of "the". Which perhaps says a lot about Alinghi's sense of ownership of the Cup.

You can see why Larry has a problem with the Protocol, not least the Defender's ability to appoint its own race officials. "No sports run officials like that," said Larry. "Can you imagine Chelsea hiring the officials for the Manchester United game, but then also wanting the ability to change the rules at any time? It is the most bizarre Protocol we have ever seen."

However, we have seen few - actually have we seen any? - public displays of support for Larry and the Golden Gate Yacht Club's stance. The Americans claim they've had support from eight different challengers - and I could just about believe it. But public displays of support? None that I'm aware of. The Kiwis have been the latest to line up behind Alinghi, after Shosholoza and Team Origin. Apparently the Kiwis have been offered a sweetener of getting involved in helping Alinghi formulate the new design rule, giving them a vital few extra months of understanding of the new 90-footer rule before anyone else gets to see it. Richard Gladwell from Sail-World NZ has bagged a good interview with Dean Barker, which you'll find here.

What of Alinghi's announcement last week that each team will be permitted to build two race boats before the next Cup, but that teams will only be allowed to sail one at a time? Ernesto cited this as a cost saving exercise, which indeed it is, knocking a huge chunk off the wage bill if you can't have two full sailing teams out race testing and training every day for two years.

Fellow blogger (and former America's Cup navigator and electronics wizard) Mark Chisnell has an interesting analysis of this 'two-boats-one-crew' situation. He foresees a big step-up in instrumentation and telemetry programs to compensate for the lack of two-boat testing. In which case people like, well, er Mark Chisnell, will be in hot demand. Chizzy was too modest to put his own impressive CV forward on his blog, but no doubt his phone has already been ringing off the hook since Alinghi made their announcement last week. -- Andy Rice, read his full editorial at sailjuice.blogspot.com/2007/07/buggers-muddle.html

THE LAST WORD
All men are born with a nose and ten fingers, but no one was born with a knowledge of God. -- Voltaire

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.

Scuttlebutt Europe is available via email:
To subscribe visit scuttlebutteurope.com

Editorial and letter submissions to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or see www.scuttlebutteurope.com/content/view/7/6/