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

TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE
Copenhagen, Denmark: It was a tough day for tacticians on the Oresund Strait on day one of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship. With the northwesterly breeze shifting steadily, and the pressure up and down throughout the day, fortunes were won and lost throughout the day. The race committee ran three races - all windward/leewards, comprising four 2.2 mile legs - and all starts got off cleanly with no general recalls. Wind speed was close to 20 knots at times and down to below 10 knots during a couple of the races, but mostly in the 14 -16 knot range, nice conditions when it was steady and not shifty - which was rare.

Overall Massimo Mezzaroma/Antonio Sodo Migliori's Nerone (ITA) sailed most consistently with a 3-6-1 to edge out Mascalzone Latino by one point overall for the day.

Some top teams clearly have not hit their pace yet and almost all had fairly inconsistent scorelines, and this highlighted the challenging and shifty wind conditions, which are apt to remain for the duration of the regatta. In past Worlds, an average of 7-8 place per race would put a boat in contention overall, though with top boats in the upper scoreline, that most likely won't be the case in Copenhagen.

The general consensus was voiced by tactician Tony Rey from Cannonball, who said "It's going to be a high scoring regatta". The Italian boat lost their wind instruments on a day that many would argue boats could use all the help they could on the race course.

Racing continues tomorrow, Thursday 29 August with a first race start at 1100; three races are planned.

The Rolex Farr 40 World Championship celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2007. The World Championship has been sailed in North America, Europe or Australia every year since the class was established in 1997.

Top ten results after Day 1

1. Nerone, Antonio Migliori & Massimo Mezzaroma, ITA, 10.0 points
2. Mascalzone Latino, Vicenzo Onorato, ITA, 11.0
3. Opus One, Wolfgang Stolz, GER, 13.0
4. Calvi, Carlo Alberini, ITA, 24.0
5. Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli, SUI, 27.0
6. Barking Mad, Jim Richardson, USA, 28.0
7. Enfant Terrible, Gianluigi Serena, ITA, 33.0
8. Infinity, John Thomson, USA, 35.0
9. Sputnik, Ivan Wheen, AUS, 37.0
10. Monick, David Holm, Den, 44.0

farr40.kdy.dk

SL16 GOLD CUP
30 crews from two continents participated in the second Sirena Sl16 Gold Cup. The first day two races took place with the participation of the two "sponsors" Frank Cammas and Bruno Peyron.

Ahead of the fleet after these two races were Butler and Sutliffe two young British champions.

'Racing against champions on the SL16 in this world competition is a fantastic event for us ; we are confronted to the best sailors of the world with a unique and modern cat this is a great experience for all of us. It is a unique opprotunity to prepare future worlds competitions.'

The same day, the 'Champions Cup' took place with nine famous sailors including : Olympic Champions, Multiple World Champions, and multiple World Records holders:

1. Bruno Peyron - with a youth sailor on board
2. Frank Cammas
3. Yves Loday also the architect of the SL16
4. Loic Peyron
5. Rob White also one key builder of the Sirena SL16
6. Yvan Bourgnon
7. Yves Pajot
8. Jean Maurel
9. Lionel Lemonchois winner of the Route du Rhum

The SLICA16 class association was very proud to have all these 9 champions whom came and participated with enthusiasm to support the young sailors of the Second SL16 Gold Cup.

Frank Cammas who was teaming with with Perrine Vangilve, twice world champion in wind surfing, declared 'I learned a lot during this regatta'.

Bruno Peyron declared 'the feeling is great but totally different from what I am used to...only the tactical approach is the same.'

www.slica16.org

LIGHTWEIGHT CODE ZERO SHORTS
These shorts are perfect for everyone...from the yacht racer to the day sailor, from the kayaker to the mountain climber. The new nylon fabric is lightweight, yet made for the abuse. It has a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish that dries quickly and has a UV rating of 40+. The Hobart Extreme Technical Shorts are the lightest shorts on the market weighing in at a mere 9 ounces. Offset side seams reduce chafing and the improved design, with a clean relaxed profile, gives you extreme flexibility. Lightweight Code Zero shirts, pants, etc.

So go and get some at www.camet.com

WAR OF THE ROSES II
Someone should've sent the late, great Hunter S. Thompson to cover the 1988 America's Cup, perhaps the most excruciating contest in the history of sports. Yes, sports: All of them. The '88 Cup, a court-ordered match between Dennis Conner's 60-foot catamaran and Kiwi Michael Fay's 120-foot monohull, was so hideous it transcended sailing, though it did cop a worthy nickname: The Coma off Point Loma. It was a waterborne Theatre of the Absurd, fearsome and loathful, and Thompson was probably the only writer of our time who could've truly captured what a miserable, epic disaster it actually was.

Like many of my fellow scribes on hand to "cover" the racing, I was blind drunk half the time; it was the only way to address the all-encompassing ennui. The first five minutes of the first race (mercifully, there were only two) were semi-interesting, if only for their novelty. After that, the "races" were foregone conclusions, total horizon jobs; the lone option on the press boat was a retreat to the bar. I left San Diego promising myself to never again get wrapped up in the America's Cup, and it took me a very long time for that sentiment to fade away. Then, like every other sailor, I was enthralled by the thrilling competition of the recently concluded 32nd Cup but afterwards, almost instantly, lo and behold, we once again had lawyers marching into Manhattan courtrooms and there was really only one logical reaction

Good bloody grief: Here we go again. -- Herb McCormick

Herb's full article at
www.sailingworld.com/americas-cup/racing/war-of-the-roses-ii--54125.html

BRITTANY FERRIES RACE
After the required six hour 'pit stop' in Santander, the double handed Class 40 fleet is headed out again after a rough ride from Plymouth. There are six boats left, seven if one counts Novédia Group- Set Environnement, (Tanguy de Lamotte and Nick Bubb), which is disqualified due to a failure of a class measurement test prior to the race in their brand new boat. Damien Grimont (Chocolats Monbana) has abandoned the race.

At press time, all boats currently in the race have arrived in Santander, done their six hour stopover and have departed. The race tracker shows Lamotte/Bubb well to the east of the fleet and headed for Archachon; nothing on their team site as to why ( www.tanguydelamotte.com ).

Current standings for this leg:

1. Dominic Vittet, 330.7 nm to finish
2. Yvan Noblet, 341.4
3. Benoit Parnaudeau, 369.6
4. Jean-Edward Criquioche, 378.3
5. Peter Harding, 392.8
6. Eric Galmard, 412.4

Event site: millemilles.snbsm.com
Nicely done position chart: millemilles.snbsm.com/lespositions.html

MAN ROLAND J24 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Neustadt, Germany: Another windy and sunny day at the Man Roland J24 European Championship proved very demanding to competitors. The short waves and twenty degree shifts made for gains and rapid losses.

Race four was sailed on jibs with Carsten Henzel of Germany leading the fleet to the windwardmark from the favoured left side. Ian Southworth on starboard approach, was closely followed by series leader, Dan Glomb of Brazil with a Port approach.

Glomb is a match racer who has joined the Class in preparation for the Sardinia World Championship in June 2008. His tactician is Brazil's Olympic 470 representative from Sydney and Athens.

As Glomb approached the weather mark on Port and within the two boat circle, he opted to tack under Southworth, who had to luff up to avoid him. The protest flag was flown on the GBR boat, Inmarsat Hedgehog.

Fast racing in surfing conditions saw Henzel in Vitesse first, with Glomb second Schoke third by a boat length from Southworth.

Race five belonged to Glomb, who opened a clear lead by the end of the first run as winds freshened yet again. Glomb followed in second place by Southworth with Britain's Gareth Robinson finishing third in his newly Sparloft-rigged boat, J-Whizz.

Race six saw a change to Genoas and yet again a tactical battle between Glomb and Southworth. On the upwind leg the British boat opened a clear lead taking left hand shifts to round first and then opening further on the run. Glomb defended a strong challenge from Wenzel to hold second place.

The Coimittee then opted for a fourth race and after general recall in winds around 12 knots the fleet got away under Black flag. Southworth opened and the extended a commanding lead from Glomb, with Dutch sailor, Ivo Kok working through the 20 degree shifts to take third place.

At the finish, Glomb discovered he had been Black flagged.

Southworth's boat was then taken by the measurers for scrutineering and reweighed. All was in order and after this he considered protesting Glomb for the incident in the first race.

Said Southworth "1e had the opportunity to disqualify Glomb. We had witnesses and a jury boat observer, with his Black flag, he would have been taken out of the series. But that would spoil our chance to test Hedgehog against a key competitor for next years Worlds. He finished second to the Brazilian World Champion in the recent Pan American Games selection and is using a brand new Italian J24 against our 20 year old hull.

We opted to speak to him and let the protest drop".

Overnight Glomb got redress on the Black flag and is again leading the series. -- Chris McLaughlin

Top ten after three days of racing:

1. Bravissimo, Daniel A. S. Glomb, BRA, 15 points
2. Inmarsat, Chris McLaughlin, GBR, 21
3. J-Whizz Gareth Robinson, GBR, 57
4. ROTOMAN Jan-Marc Ulrich, GER, 57
5. Botta Dritta, Pasquale Mario Di, ITA, 59
6. Vitesse, Carsten Henzel, GER, 67
7. United 5, Jan Kahler, GER, 73
8. quick & dirty, Dirk Strelow, GER, 75
9. Sailing Planet Marianne Schoke-Holzer, SWE, 78
10. J/spot, Ivo Kok, NED, 85

www.j24europeans2007.com

SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW
The Southampton Boat Show in association with ITV Meridian returns to Mayflower Park this September. Celebrating its 39th year the Show, which has Europe's largest purpose built on-water marina, takes place from 14-23 September 2007. This year, the Show will see an exciting line up of famous boats on the feature berth of the Hydropool Marina. Not only will Sir Robin Knox-Johnston be there with his Open 60 "Lombard Marine Finance:, along with Mike Golding and the Open 60 ECOVER but TEAMORIGIN, Official Challenger for the 33rd America's Cup, will bring the newly liveried GBR 75 race training America's Cup boat to the Show.

www.southamptonboatshow.com

VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Stockholm, Sweden: Anders Lewander, skipper on one of the two Volvo Ocean Race-boats in the Ericsson Racing Team, has picked his first crew member for the next round-the-world race 2008-2009. Norwegian Aksel Magdahl has been appointed as navigator/tactician.

Aksel Magdahl, who is only 28 years old, will do his first round-the-world race next fall when the Volvo Ocean Race starts in Alicante, Spain. But skipper Anders Lewander is not worried about Aksel's youth and lack of experience from the race.

"We first heard of Aksel through Knut Frostad who had Aksel as navigator on his 60-foot-trimaran team. According to Knut he was coping and performing well while navigating in 30 knots over the Nordic Sea." says Anders Lewander

As a young navigator, Aksel has his own style. He enjoys it best up on deck, preferably beside the helmsman where he can play an active role, instead of sitting below deck and shouting out instructions. -- www.ericssonracingteam.com

* The Ericsson Racing Team has chosen Puerto Calero as its official Volvo Ocean Race training centre, for strategic reasons and the quality of services found in inspection tours.

A working area of more than 1200 square metres will be located next to the quay where the boats training and race boats will be moored on arrival.

Herve Le Quilliec, ERT Base Camp Senior Manager Team, explained why this Canary Islands marina had been selected "We chose it by comparing it with other possibilities, on proximity to Sweden, ease of communications with the rest of the world, ideal conditions of sailing, for training and the always warm and professional reception from staff on each one of our visits."

There will, eventually, be more than 2000 square metres devoted to shore based activities (sail loft, etc) and 24 villas within the same Ericsson group is already there, but the remaining 60 people will arrive in the next few days.

The Government of the Canary Islands, through the state Tourism Council and Lanzarote Tourist Board, has signed sponsorship agreements. These will be used to promote Canary Islands tourism in the Nordic market; a market that has declined and needs to be revived. -- BYM News, www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=14576

* As skipper of the PUMA Ocean Racing entry in the 2008-09 race, American Ken Read is overseeing both the design/build programme in his native Newport, Rhode Island and crew selection aboard the maxi Rambler, currently in Europe. Read, who joined Ericsson for the last four legs of the 2005-06 race, shares his thoughts on what it takes to tough it out when the going gets rough.

Q: What were your first recollections of the Whitbread/Volvo race?
A: To be honest my first thought was 'these guys have got to be nuts to do something like this' like any other sane person would think I imagine. I built up a fascination and an intrigue about the race from the books I read about it as a kid. When you delve back in to history and read some of the tales and the adventures they were mind-boggling to a young kid.

Q: What special qualities are you looking for in a PUMA crew member?
A: Experience on these type of boats is a factor for sure. I'm looking for proven, naturally-fast sailors. Guys like Chris Nicholson are the perfect example. He can make a 49er go fast and essentially the Volvo Open 70 is a big 49er. When you get a guy like that who has ocean racing experience - two Volvo races under his belt and five 49er world championships - you're on the right track.

Q: What is the status on crew selection?
A: We are getting close. We haven't made any additional formal announcement yet but at some point in the near future we will reveal our starting 10. Until those guys are all signed and sealed we'll hold off for a little while. We are continuing to use Rambler as a crew evaluation boat. Rambler will do three more events this year - the Maxi Worlds in Sardinia, St Tropez and the Middle Sea Race.

Q: Can you update us on the design/build side?
A: The designers Botin Carkeek are still full bore. Marcelino Botin is back after his time in the America's Cup with Team New Zealand. We have 10 to 12 people working on the design and engineering full time and we hope within a month or so to start the build in Rhode Island. It depends on some of the variations of the design and complexity of the engineering as to how long the build will take but we are aiming to be in the water by the beginning of next summer here (US). By then we would have organised a testing programme with Avante the former ABN AMRO TWO boat.

www.volvooceanrace.org

JOHN MERRICKS SAILING TRUST - 10TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
The 10th Anniversary Party - celebrating ten successful years of the John Merricks Sailing Trust - will take place on Friday 12 October at the Royal Southern Yacht Club.

This will include - buffet dinner - live band - fun casino tables - blow boat competition - auction.

To purchase tickets please complete the entry form on the website - www.jmst.org.uk and post your payment.

Accommodation is available at the Royal Southern YC on a first come, first served basis - please contact the club directly on 023-80-450300.

Tickets are on sale to general public after 7 September - so please book early to avoid disappointment.

NEW C&N MARINAS HEADQUARTERS
Camper & Nicholsons Marinas International has recently invested in a new Headquarters for its worldwide Technical, Operations and Sales and Marketing divisions.

Based in Malta, the headquarters is positioned in the stunning Hilton Business Tower in St Julian's. This recently formed Division will control technical and operations teams for design and installation of new and existing marinas, at the same time bringing all the project managers into the same building.

Current marina projects are located in Malta, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Tunisia, Italy, Egypt, Uruguay, Croatia, Morocco and the Caribbean.

www.cnmarinas.com

GEOFF HOLT REACHES THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER
Quadriplegic sailor, Geoff Holt, reached Dover tonight on the homeward stretch of his attempt to be the first disabled person to sail around Great Britain.

Leaving Lowestoft this morning, Geoff sailed to Ramsgate. The weather was so good for sailing that Geoff decided to get some more miles under his belt and left Ramsgate this afternoon, arriving in Dover at 2015 hrs this evening - a total sail of over 50 miles.

Geoff left Southampton on 20th May on a voyage which he describes as his own 'Personal Everest', but his progress around the coast has been hampered by severe weather conditions.

Now that the weather is favourable Geoff is taking to the water every day in an effort to finish his "Personal Everest" some time next week.

Geoff's Personal Everest Project has been made possible by sponsorship from law firm Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons, who are providing the funds to ensure that Geoff has the necessary back-up team and equipment to make his Personal Everest attempt safe and efficient.

Follow Geoff's progress and read his daily blog on his website: www.personaleverest 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 Luke McCarthy: (In response to Bob Fisher and Anthony Richard's comments in edition #1302 re the Fastnet postponement): As navigator on one of the boats which completed the Fastnet, I agree with Anthony that the RORC deserve praise for their handling of the Fastnet race postponement. Firstly, though the weather system could have stalled, with an extra 24 hours the forecasts were much more likely to provide an accurate picture. Secondly, the majority of the fleet had access to safe havens with the projected timing of the weather system. Thirdly, I don't think this is the first time a race has been postponed or abandoned because of high winds, so I cannot see how this sets a precedent. Finally, and most importantly, I think RORC should be congratulated on keeping competitors informed of their thinking throughout, with an email to all parties several days in advance alerting people to the situation and then a full weather briefing and a detailed explanation of their decision at the race briefing on Saturday afternoon.

FEATURED BROKERAGE
ZANA (also known as KONICA MINOLTA), the Brett Bakewell-White designed 98' Supermaxi is for sale by tender. Closing date is the 12th of October. She was designed to be a no compromise record breaker, with an eye towards being converted to a canting keel yacht; she has all the potential that is needed to be a future record breaker, and available now!

Please contact Berthon International Yacht Brokers for tender instructions and more details. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or +44 1590 679222

THE LAST WORD
By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity -- another man's I mean. -- Mark Twain

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/