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

WELL WORTH THE WAIT
What a difference a few hours made for the final day of racing at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark. After a delayed start of over three hours, PRO Peter Reggio and the Royal Danish Yacht Club race committee had patience and managed to add one final race to the scoreline, with nine races run in total. Winner overall and World Champion Vincenzo Onorato and his team on Mascalzone Latino (ITA) didn't need much to lock in their lead, finishing with a healthy 35-point lead over 2nd placed Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi (SUI).

Mascalzone becomes the 2nd team to win the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds twice (Jim Richardson's Barking Mad is the other), though the Italian team is the first to do it back to back.

Today's race provide a few shake-ups in the top of the scoreboard as Barking Mad's (USA) 26th place and Alinghi's 7th place resulted in the American team finishing 3rd overall. Other boats made some impressive gains with a good showing in the last race including John Thomson's Infinity (USA) which, with a 3rd place today, moved from 15th to 7th overall.

Alinghi sailed a great regatta - an OCS in Race 8 took them out of contention for the overall title -- especially given the team hasn't been in the Farr 40 class for awhile. Owner/helmsman Ernesto Bertarelli is keen to continue in the class and has plans to ship the boat to the US to race in Key West Race Week and the 2008 Rolex Farr 40 Worlds in Miami Beach in April.

For the local Danish fleet, it was a fairly tale ending as HRH Crown Prince Frederik's Nanoq (DEN) had a great start off the pin end of the line, led at all of the marks and held off a threatening Opus One (GER) downwind for their first win. Today's score moved them up from 18th to 8th overall and Nanoq was the highest placed Scandanavian boat.

Top ten overall

1. Mascalzone Latino, ITA, Vincenzo Onorato, 47
2. Alinghi, SUI, Ernesto Bertarelli, 82
3. Barking Mad, USA, Jim Richardson, 87
4. Sputnik, AUS, Ivan Wheen, 91
5. Opus One, GER, Wolfgang Stolz, 101
6. Nerone, ITA, A. Sodo Migliori & M. Mezzaroma, 112
7. Infinity, USA, John Thomson, 129
8. Nanoq, DEN, HRH Crown Prince Frederik, 132
9. Warpath, USA, Steve Howe, 132
10. Twins, USA, Erik Maris, 133

farr40.kdy.dk
www.farr40.org

MICHEL DESJOYEAUX WINNER OF THE 18TH TROPHEE CLAIREFONTAINE
La Trinite-sur-Mer, France: By winning three legs out of the nine raced, Michel Desjoyeaux has won the 18th Trophee Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile organized at the sailing stadium in La Trinite-sur-Mer. This is his fourth Trophee Clairefontaine victory, following those of 2001, 2003 and 2004.

Michel Desjoyeaux and his crewmen, Xavier Revil and Christophe Espagnon, snatched this victory from the Swiss, Luc Dubois from the Alinghi Team, following a long duel. Only one point separated them at the end of the nine legs. Loick Peyron took third place on the podium just three points from the winner.

A word from the champion of champions, Michel Desjoyeaux: "Everything went well. From Thursday, the racing was animated and we knew that this Trophee Clairefontaine was going to be a difficult one. We started the day well with two victories, which made us feel confident. Then, we got ourselves into a sticky situation. We ended the day better on the two last Runs, just enough to win them. It was a really close finish! As is often the case, the whole trophy hung on the last Run. At the finishing line, we still didn't know whether we had actually won. So it ended well and that's perfect!

Final Overall Ranking (nine legs):

1. Michel Desjoyeaux, 50 pts (7,6,3,1,1,1,7,5,6)
2. Luc Dubois, Team Alinghi (Swiss), 49 pts (2,3,1,7,4,6,1,8,5)
3. Loick Peyron, 47 pts (5,2,5,3,5,3,6,1,7)
4. Franck Cammas, 45 pts (1,7,6,4,3,5,8,3,2)
5. Yann Elies, 43 pts (8,8,8,5,2,7,2,2,1)
6. Nicolas Troussel, 42 pts (3,5,4,2,8,2,5,4,8)
7. Vincent Riou, 38 pts (6,1,7,6,7,4,3,7,4)
8. Jeremie Beyou, 37 pts (4,4,2,8,6,8,4,6,3)

www.tropheeclairefontaine.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

THE FASTNET QUIZ...
Last week's question:
What is the name of the 27m yawl that held the Fastnet race record for 19 years?

Answer: Gitana IV

From our friend Malcolm McKeag: There is a lovely story, possibly apocryphal or maybe, more simply, just not true, about Gitana on a Fastnet race. Apparently, the owner and guests were dining as the yacht reached and rounded the Rock. Thinking this might be something of a seminal moment for all on board, the skipper went to inform the diners - and was told off for interrupting dinner with unwanted navigational detail. Surely not?

This week's question:
Who skippered the American entry Williwaw in the fateful 1979 Fastnet Race?

Two correct answer winners this week and for the following weeks of our contest: one will win a copy of the new Fastnet book "Beyond Endurance" ( see www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780771057557 ) Another lucky sailor wins the famous Dubes T-shirt. This soft texture 100 per cent cotton T-shirt reveals the secret of the famous Knot Ur Dubes deck shoe knot.

At the end of the competition, one entrant will win a pair of Dubarry Fastnet boots - with GORE-TEX breathable inner lining and Non-Slip Non-Marking sole. See the Dubarry Fastnet boot at dubarry.com

Submit your answer for this week's quiz question at:
www.scuttlebutteurope.com/index.php?option=com_philaform&form_id=5&Itemid=1

1000 MILLES BRITTANY FERRIES
At around 2100 local time last night Dominic Vittet and Thierry Chabigny aboard ATAO Audio Systems took line honours in the inaugural 1000 Milles Brittany Ferries race for the Class 40s. At the time Vittet and Chabigny were around 100 miles ahead of second placed Benoit Parnaudeay on Jardin Bio-Prevoir.

The last section of the race around the Brittany coast was an awkward one for navigation with tides running at 5 knots in places. Prior to rounding Ushant Vittet said if they rounded with the tide then "they would have hit the jackpot". Clearly they did while those astern didn't. To make progress in the foul tide the boats will have been darting inshore on this treacherous rock-infested coast.

From on board 40 Degrees Peter Harding yesterday reported: "The long upwind slog to Ushant continues with the next four hours or so with foul tide. We currently have 10 knots of breeze from 024 degrees and Ushant is on a bearing of 025 !!! Last night we had between 10 and 22 knots with a fair amount of water coming over the deck."

After pulling into Arcachon to fix their D2 (which in fact had just come undone - however the sea state was too bad to go aloft to fix it) Tanguy de LaMotte and Nick Bubb on Novedia Group-Set Environnement set sail again. However soon after one of their rudders broke and they have since retired into La Rochelle. -- The Daily Sail, www.thedailysail.com

Final top ten:

1. Dominic Vittet / Atao Audio System
2. Peter Harding / 40 Degrees
3. Yvan Noblet / Appart City
4. Benoit Parnaudeau / Jardin Bio - Prevoir
5. Eric Galmard / Dimension One Spa
6. Jean-Edouard Criquioche / Choice Hotels
ABD Cecile Poujol / Merci Les Amis
ABD Tanguy De Lamotte / Novedia Group-Set Environnement
ABD Damien Grimont / Chocolats Monbana

Event site: millemilles.snbsm.com

CORK WEEK 2008
"Competing at Cork Week is always a pleasure, because of the beautiful location, great sailing waters, varied racing, excellent race management and great competition. Winning in 2006 was especially satisfying as it was our first major victory in Magic Glove after many months of development, building and tuning. I'm already looking forward to 2008".

Colm Barrington - Magic Glove
Winner of IRC Zero and Boat of the Week

12th - 18th July 2008
www.corkweek.ie

ABERDEEN DRAGON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Dublin Bay, Ireland: Britain's Gavia Wilkinson Cox sailing Jerboa was the winner of the opening race of the Aberdeen Dragon World Championships on Dublin bay today (Sunday, September 2nd) with surprise results for some of the top helmsmen in the 68-boat fleet.

30-knot north westerly winds postponed racing in the 15nation fleet for over two hours.

When racing started at 3pm winds had reduced to under six knots but visibility had improved dramatically. The first windward leg of just under two miles was slowgoing in a choppy sea and ebbing tide.

Wilkinson Cox one of three lady helms competing won the pin end start with plenty of room that allowed her sail low and fast to the left hand side of the course. It was a significant advantage that left her ten lengths clear at the weather mark.

Crewed by Ron Rosenberg and John Mortimer the Cowes helmswoman was chased hard by Northern Ireland's Simon Brien as winds freshened to ten knots at times.

Former Irish champion, Brien, sailing with brother Mark and David Gomes overhauled her at the start of the second downwind leg but the former windsurfing champion came back to win her first ever World championship race. She described the result as 'the highlight' of her 30year Dragon career after coming ashore at the Royal St.George Yacht Club last night.

Third overall was Britain's Robert Campbell in Quicksilver III.

Other placings were subject to protest but the defending world champion Tommy Muller of Germany was sixth with multiple champion and former Olympic Gold Medallist Poul Richard Hoj-Jensen placed 28th.

www.dragonworld2007.com/dragon/

* Photos by Gareth Craig in the Eurobutt Gallery www.scuttlebutteurope.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,30/ Look in the World Championships section

Gareth's complete gallery (updated all week) for the event is at www.fotosail.com/07dragonworlds

BEN CRAIG-CAMERON JOINS COMPLETE FREIGHT
After spending the past 13 years as a Yacht Captain, Ben has decided to settle in the U.K. for the immediate future.

Having run a variety of pedigree yachts, such as the Maxi "Nirvana", the Huisman "Cyclos 3", the Wally " Wally_B" and the J-Class yacht "Ranger", Ben is familiar with the logistics involved with running high profile campaigns.

Ben's role with the company will be customer liaison and logistics, aimed at the Super-yacht and Grand-Prix racing yacht sector.

Please contact Ben with your enquires at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.completefreight.com

J24 MAN ROLAND EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
The J24 MAN Roland European Championship concluded in Neustadt on the Baltic coast of Germany with a single race sailed in 9-12 knots, with an overcast sky and drizzling rain.

Ian Southworth, current European Champion, was faced with a 10 point strategy problem - attack series leader, Dan Glomb of Brazil and try to engineer a protest or attack and try to get him take a 20% penalty then regain the les. In any circumstance, Southworth needed to win with Glomb scoring 12th or lower.

Southworth completed the course with a lead of 1 minute 29 from the second boat and almost two minutes from Dan Glomb.

Glomb has won the Man Roland Open series title and Ian southworth is the 2007 J24 European Champion. He took the title for an unprecendented third year in succession and fourth time in J24 history. Southworth scored five first and two seconds with Glomb getting two firsts and five seconds.

Third place went Pasquale Mario Di Fraia of Italy, with Gareth Robison of Britain fourth and Greg Wilcox of MAN Roland Rotoman placed fifth overall.

Ian Southworth sailed Hedgehog, a 1987 Rogers boat, restored by David Heritage Yachts of Cowes, with Ullman sails designed by Max Skelley of the Maryland USA loft on a Sparloft New Zealand rig. Dan Glomb used a new Italia J Boats hull with North San Diego sails and Sparloft rig.

Southworth's crew were: Andrew McLelland (Cockpsit), Mike Kyte( Spinnaker), Chris McLaughlin (Tactics) and Mark Hayman (Bow).

Dan Glomb's crew were: Alexandre Mueller(9ockpit), Alexandre Parededes (TactIcs), Alfredo Rovere (Pitman) and Pedro Caldos (Bow)

www.j24europeans2007.com

WALVIS BAY SPEEDWEEK
Walvis Bay, Namibia is hosting the speed windsurfing world cup finals for the third time in a row, starting from the 2nd of September and delivering adrenaline-packed, thrilling action until the 9th of September.

For the creme de la creme of speed windsurfing, now the battle is on for the world championship titles and new records.

In the men’s fleet, all eyes are set to the reigning world champion and 500m world record holder Finian Maynard (F2) from the British Virgin Islands, who clearly dominated last years season. The only sailor who was able to defeat him this year is French Antoine Albeau, but only a few points ahead of him after the seasons first two events.

*On the first day of the annual Walvis Bay Speedweek, the race management allowed all riders some extra time to prepare for the official competitions, starting tomorrow.

In the afternoon, a training session was run to give the riders the possibility to finetune their equipment.

In 25-30 knots of square wind, Patrik Diethelm (ITA, F2, North) set the fastest time of the day with two solid 42.3 knots runs, followed by Bjorn Dunkerbeck (SUI, T1, North) at 40.7 knots. Finian Maynard (BVI, F2) became third ahead of Antoine Albeau (FRA) and the fastest local, Hennie Bredenkamp from South Africa.

In the womens fleet, Karin Jaggi (SUI, F2, North) was close ahead of Maaike Kallenborn (NED, F2) and Zara Davis (GBR), Valerie Ghibaudo (FRA, Loft Sails) preferred to stay dry for the day.

The forecast is looking good for the next days, and official racing starts tomorrow with skippersmeeting at 10:00

www.speedsurfing.org

SHORT TACKS * The entire podium is British at the Dart 18 World Championship. The winners are Norman-Rogers: they won the last race and the Championship. Silver to Lloyd-Farthing and bronze to Wakelin-Curtis. The French Dodde-Besson, second until the final races, finished 4. because of a 31st at the last race.

As expected: boats were ready to start at noon with regular South wind. The races finished at 3 pm and all were happy because the weather condition have been really difficult and it is just a good thing that the regatta was completed in a satisfying way.

Oficial results at the web site Circolo Vela Torbole www.circolovelatorbole.com

* In an affidavit, published on the Golden Gate Yacht Club website, Tom Ehman of BMW Oracle said "I have heard that SNG has considered resigning as trustee and refraining from transferring the Cup to another Swiss yacht club within three months. It would then invoke the above quoted provision as a basis for returning the Cup to the preceding trustee, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron ("RNZYS"). In turn, RNZYS would accept SNG as the challenger of record and decline, or ignore, GGYC's challenge of July 11, 2008. Such a gambit would, of course, violate the Deed of Gift.

On being asked for his comments, John Crawford, Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, told BYM News "There is not one vestige of truth in it; none whatsoever."

Commodore Crawford was adamant in his view that “the only way the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron wants to get the America’s Cup back is by winning on the water” and pointed out that Alinghi legal advisor, Hamish Ross, would be well aware of that. -- BYM News, bymnews.com/august/rnzys.php

* This week on the Volvo Ocean Race podcast we hear from James Spithill as the Aussie swaps the America’s Cup for the TP-52’s, Sarah Webb from Britain’s Yngling squad talks about her nervous wait for Olympic selection while Paul Goodison reflects on his victory in the Lasers at the recent pre-Olympic regatta in China. We also have the second part of our interview with Salvatore Sarno from Team Shosholoza.

www.volvooceanrace.org/podcast/

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 Suzie Marwood: Recent post-prandial ramblings brought about a puzzle. "The Corinthian Spirit" is a term with which we are all familiar and which gets bandied about a lot. I understand it as meaning to uphold the ideal for sports competition for the sake of honour and enjoyment rather than for material gain. But from whence did the term come? All and any dictionary and encyclopedia entries that I can find offer a definition similar to the above. And they go on to state that the original Corinthians (ie. natives of Corinth) were famous for living "extravagant and licentious lives" and generally being known as a bunch of hedonists (as well as nifty architects) There is then a rather vague transition into the term applying to amateur yachting. But where and how did this transition take place? Who used the term first?

* From Eric O. Jakimier: How interesting the juxtaposition of two of your articles in #1305: the article about Skiff racing where protests were not apparently even FILED despite actual collisions and below it, bickering and “formal complaint” over one member of a protest committee. The AC crowd need to get their act (so to speak) together before they become completely irrelevant.

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
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man. --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.

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