Brought to you by YachtsandCruisers.com 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

BREITLING MEDCUP HYERES TROPHY
Artemis eased 11 points clear at the top of the Hyeres Trophy leaderboard and 12 points ahead on the 2007 Breitling MedCup standings after a fabulous three race day on the Bay of Hyeres in brisk easterly winds and pleasant late summer sunshine.

With owner Torbjorn Tornqvist on the tiller of the 2007 Judel Vrolijk design and Russell Coutts making the tactical calls Artemis had her full afterburners lit on the spectacular downwind legs and was able to compose two back-to-back wins after an opening seventh today.

In the duel for the overall 2007 title Artemis' team of 'galacticos' scarcely put a foot wrong over the three win! dward leewards. In the first race they took the opportunity to bounce their nearest rivals, Vicente Tirado's Caixa Galicia down the fleet. Caixa Galicia's 8,2,7 for the day dropped them to fourth overall in the regatta.

In windspeeds which topped 22-23 knots and a short, steep Mediterranean chop there was sad, premature end to the regatta and the Breitling MedCup season for Alberto Roemmers' Copa del Rey winning Siemens Matador.

After a second and a third from the first two races it was early on the first beat of the day's final race when their rig inexplicably broke into three pieces.

Artemis have a noted speed edge upwind but Coutts was able to build their wins from modest starts on both of the latter contests.

From being buried below four or five boats at the start of the third race, because the pack was so tightly formed on the line Artemis was very quickly able to duck sterns and pop out on the weather flank of the pack, before winding their speed up.

Although Jose Cusi's Bribon won the first race quite comfortably, with Bouwe Bekking steering and Ross MacDonald calling tactics, they struggled badly in the second race and could only make 12th place.

Standings after five races:
1. Artemis (T Tornqvist SWE-Judel Vrolijk 2007) 12 points
2. Mutua Madrilena (V Vascotto, ESP-Botin & Carkeek 2007) 24
3. CxG Corporacion Caixa Galicia (V Tirado-ESP Botin & Carkeek 2007) 24
4. Patches (E Conneely, IRL- Reichel Pugh 2007) 27
5. Siemens (A Roemmers, ARG-Judel Vrolijk 2007) 31
6. Stay Calm (S Robinson, GBR-Judel Vrolijk 2007) 32
7. Valle Romano Mean Machine (P de Ridder, MON-Judel Vrolijk 2006) 34

www.medcup.org

SEIKO 49ER EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Qualification came to a close today with the crews having to adapt their techniques to light air sailing. The wind was visibly less today and although it built up throughout the day the maximum was only ever 8-9 knots. The westerly wind then dropped further throughout the course of the racing finishing the final qualification in only 5 knots of wind.

For all the crews, with the qualification under their belt the regatta really starts tomorrow. The beginning of the gold medal fleet races has come at a perfect time for one of the home crews, the Sibello brothers (ITA). With home support from the Italian's spectating on the water, the Sibello brothers have gradually improved throughout the week, peaking just before the start of the medal races. With two first places today, the Sibello brothers have propelled themselves to third in the leader board.

With light winds forecasted again for tomorrow, hopefully the Race Officers will be able to keep up to date with the race schedule. -- Laura Pollard

Top ten
1. Peckolt and Peckolt, GER, 19 points
2. Dyen and Rocherieux, FRA, 36
3. Sibello and Sibello, ITA, 37
4. Martinez and Fernandez, ESP, 38
5. Baur and Baumann, GER, 46

www.49er.org
www.circolovelicomarsala.com

3... 2... 1... HOIST!
The boat's about as busy as it gets at the top mark. Teamwork's essential: everybody's got a job to do and if somebody stuffs up, your team starts losing places and credibility fast. Running mast, you have to get the spinnaker 60ft up before it fills. It's a two-hand job so you need to know your feet are going to stay where you put them. The super-grip sole of the new Dubarry Fastnet boot is developed from F1 tyre technology to make sure that happens. The new Dubarry Fastnet boot: it won't let you down.

www.dubarry.com

TRANSAT 6.50 CHARENTE-MARITIME / BAHIA
The official anoucement was made on Tuesday 11th of September at 6.50 pm: there will be 89 skippers lining up for the 16th Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia. From 72 skippers in 2005, the organisation accepted 75 skippers in December, then 84 in Spring to end at 89 participants in a way to be fulfil the Classe Mini aims the best way: having a maximum number of skippers participating in this fabulous adventure.

The five skippers that have been accepted in-extremis for the 30th birthday of the race are: Matthieu Cassanas on Ville de Balaruc les Bains, Frederic Donot on Surfrider Foundation Europe, Yves Le Blevec on Actual Interim, Alex Mevay on Genasun and Thomas Coubes on Petit citron vert. And to conform to the wishes of the Marine Authorities one more accompanying boat will also leave next Sunday the 16th of September.

And this boat is a quite famous one, it is Benoit Parnaudeau Max Havelaars' 60 feet monohull, the boat with which he sailed the last Vendee Globe in 2003/2004: a boat that Benoit lets at the organisers disposal during the entire race.

Departure date: off Fort Boyard Sunday the 16th of September at 11 am
Races route: Fort Boyard / Funchal (Madeira Islands - Portugal) / Salvador de Bahia (Brazil)
Number of Miles: 4200 miles (7800 kilometers)
Number of boats: 89 solo skippers
Organisation: Grand Pavois Organisation
When and where to see the boats: from the 6th of September at the Bassin des Chalutiers
Races village: from the 12th to the 15th of September - 11am to 7pm - at the Bassin des Chalutiers - La Rochelle - France.

www.transat650.org

SPITHILL ON FIRE!
Rome, Italy: The first day of the Latium Match Cup belonged to James Spithill. The Luna Rossa helmsman posted 5 straight wins to top his group and secure his place in the Quarter Finals.

The Latium Match Cup, the 12th stage of 15 in the 2007 Tour, is being held in Fiumicino, 25 km's West of Rome. At stake is $270,000 (App. 200,000 Euros) in prize money, with $74,000 going to the winner. The event is held in conjunction with the Civitavela Sail Show, a marine exhibition.

The 12 teams have been divided into 2 groups for Round Robin Racing in the first stage of the event. Just before midday racing got under way in a light Westerly wind of 6-8 knots.

Group A completed their first three flights with Peter Gilmour, Ian Williams and Sebastien Col on 2 wins. Sten Mohr and Ian Ainslie on one win each and Jure Orel, in his first Tour event, yet to score.

Group B then took to the water as the sea breeze, know locally as the "Ponentino", built to 12 knots. James Spithill attacked the day leaving all his opponents to wonder what they will have to do to beat him.

Magnus Holmberg slid into the Quarter Finals with three wins including victory against Paolo Cian following a close gibing duel down the last run.

The third place in the Round Robin went to Paolo Cian who chalked up three wins.

Tomorrow Group A will complete their Round Robin and the bottom three will join Richard, Victor Lanier and Michael Hestbaek in the Repechage round scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

Results from Day 1

Group A
Ian Williams (GBR) 2-1
Sebastien Col (FRA) 2-1
Peter Gilmour (AUS) 2-1
Ian Ainslie (RSA) 1-2
Sten Mohr (DEN) 1-2
Jure Orel (SLO) 0-3

www.worldmatchracingtour.com

ISHARES CUP EXTREME 40 SAILING SERIES IN AMSTERDAM
The iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing series will reach its crescendo on a canal in the heart of Amsterdam from 14-16 September. Eight of these 40-foot catamarans, raced by some of the worlds top ranked sailors will attend the ultimate event which will combine no-holds-barred racing and for the first time in the iShares Cup, a special night exhibition race.

With three events already to their name, Basilica has the overall iShares Cup trophy firmly in their sights.

The iShares Cup, Amsterdam will be a key event for 'home' team, Holmatro who currently hold second in the overall iShares Cup rankings. Skippered by Olympic Tornado sailor Carolijn Brouwer, the team sits one point ahead of BT and will need to remain strong in the final to maintain their current position.

BT, currently lying in third overall, is separated from Holmatro by a single point and will be battling for a podium place. Skipper Nick Moloney aims to better the Dutch team on the water "

The iShares Cup, Amsterdam will run from 14-16 Amsterdam a stone's throw from the main train station, just off Java Island.

www.iSharesCup.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

IS 90 FOOT ENOUGH FOR THE AC?
One of the most exciting things to come out of the disastrous way that Alinghi have tried to change the AC is the proposal for a new 90 foot design which I have enthused about from the outset, but does this really go far enough?

I'm interested in the new design because of the trickle down effect it has on all of us Corinthian sailors. For instance, whilst sailing my H-Boat to success last weekend in the Nab Tower race I made a mental note of pieces on my boat that have come from the AC - Harken carbo blocks for instance, dyneema sheets, carbon winch handles and a set of North sails that surely must have some AC design nous thrown into them. My boat is only 28ft, so imagine what the 'mental note' is like on a Cookson 50 or a super-maxi?

There seems to be an annoying drive towards cutting costs in the AC and I don't really agree with this. I don't mind cutting peripheral costs (such as two boat tuning) but the overall costs, I believe, should still be prohibitively high. In Formula 1, the Ferrari team has a reported $300 million budget per year. Yes per year! Therefore in real terms, the AC is actually quite cheap and should be the preserve of the super, hyper wealthy or the massive corporates and to hell with the privateers like Origin, Team China, Shosholoza, +39 etc...

So if we stop trying to be inclusive to all and start going for premium, why not make the boats seriously big? 130, 140 or even 150ft with canting keels, acres and acres of sail area, vast masts, enormous blocks and ginormous sailing teams stuffed to the gills with the best on the planet. Forget Park Avenue booms, I'm talking the Champs Elysee here...

The trickle down effect would be massive. Firstly, the canting keel problems of boats like the Volvo would be solved with about 200 hours of super computer time in the BMW and Alinghi test facilities. Secondly, the vast sail bills would mean that companies like North, Quantum, Sobstad etc would be making so much money from the AC that they could pass some savings downwards, hell I might even end up with Junior 3DL on my H-Boat (!) and companies like Harken would be pushing the boundaries of endurance to such a degree that we, the Corinthians, will end up with even lighter, smarter blocks and travellers that glide on air.

Also, think about the spectacle of two 150 footers match racing against each other. It would be unbelievable and I firmly believe that these modern day titans would then be able to reach out to a huge public on a global roadshow...they would be like the freaks at the circus and would have that 'wow' factor that the current AC just doesn't have. Even if just two boats were built for say 2011, I believe it would be a massive step forward and would stop the rampant commercialism currently coursing through the greedy veins of the Cup world and this almost vulgar clamber for sponsorship money.

In short, make the Cup boats the biggest that the event has ever seen and push technology to beyond the limits - then we would have something that the sailing world could really call the 'pinnacle'. Fail here and the America's Cup could easily become the next Admiral's Cup within a decade - locked away in a cupboard with everyone trying to remember where on earth it all went wrong. -- Magnus Wheatley in his blog: rule69blog.com

END OF AN ERA
At the close of what has been a hectic and extraordinarily successful race season, Janet Grosvenor, who has been Racing Manager and the 'face' of the Royal Ocean Racing Club for more years than she wishes to mention, has decided to step down from the role in early 2008. Jan will however continue to work with the Club in a different capacity as a consultant on specific events such as the Rolex Commodores' Cup 2008 and RORC is naturally delighted to take up her offer.

Commodore of the Royal Ocean Racing Club, David Aisher, commented: "Jan is leaving the job with an irreplaceable legacy of offshore racing run at the highest possible level. The hunt for her successor - no easy task in anyone's eyes - will now commence and we would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in this challenging role".

www.rorc.org

A BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR THE THIRD DECADE
North America's premiere annual regatta, Acura Key West 2008, presented by Nautica, is preparing to host its annual gathering of international grand prix boats, high profile classes and sailing legends.

January 21 - 25, 2008 will be the 21st edition of this week long sailing event.

Design debuts are a Key West hallmark. 2008 is going to feature some real eye openers - big and small. Dan Meyers' new IRC 68 Numbers (Rolf Vrolijk) is in the finishing stages at Eric Goetz's shop in Bristol, RI. After a 3 year hiatus, Irvine Laidlaw will return to Key West with his latest Highland Fling (X) - a swing keel Wally 80 - representing another race week first.

Brothers Carl and Andrew Allen ultimately have the 2008 Commodore's Cup in their sights with their new Sllim 37 No Naked Flames (Mark Mills), currently under construction in New Zealand. The new J/122, a versatile 40 foot performance sprit boat that has won its share of races this past summer, may have 2 boats on the line in Key West according to J/Boats. A second new IRC cruiser/racer, George Carabetta and Barry Carroll's King 40 (Mills), will debut with hull #1. And Scott Fox's Flying Tiger 10M CharSar (Bob Perry) will represent the latest sport boat design.

One design racing in Key West now represents over two thirds of the fleet. Makoto Uematsu's Swan 42 Esmeralda made a splash last January with a hard fought win in IRC 3. The Swan 42 Class Association, with 18 boats registered for their inaugural National Championship in Newport later this month, are pointing to their first one design start in Key West.

With their April, 2008 World Championship in Miami, the high profile Farr 40 class is expecting up to 30 entrants including 2001 World Champion and America's Cup winner Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi, and current World Champion Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino.

The Melges 32 class will build on their 20-boat fleet from 2007. Claudio Recchi and his crew on Let's Roll, dominant in both Key West and Miami last year, will be back to defend. The Melges 24 class will undoubtedly feature the biggest class in Key West for the 14th year running.

J/Boats will be well represented again with three one design starts (J/105, J/80, J/109) and their usual strong numbers of handicap and one design sub-classes such as the J/120 and the J/92s. Rounding off the one design racing will be the Mumm 30 and Corsair 28R classes.

IRC racing featured 3 competitive classes last year with a strong international flavor. Early indicators point to another solid international presence, including returning IRC 2 champion Colm Barrington (Dublin, Ireland).

The 2008 PHRF National Championship will again be decided in Key West. Last year's six classes provided close racing with the last race in the 9-race series necessary to crown the inaugural champion, the Beneteau 10R NKE-Electronics from Annapolis, Maryland.

Mid-Winter Championship titles are on the line for six one design classes - Corsair 28R, J/109, J/105, J/80, Melges 24 and Melges 32. -- Jeanne Kleene

www.Premiere-Racing.com

ROYAL NATAL YACHT CLUB CELEBRATES 150 YEARS
The Royal Natal Yacht Club situated in Durban South Africa will be celebrating 150 years of existence in May of 2008. The RNYC is the oldest club in Africa and the only club on the continent still holding the Royal Warrant originally issued by Queen Victoria. To Celebrate this noteworthy occasion the Club in conjunction with the City of Durban will be holding an 150th Anniversary International Yacht Club Challenge Regatta from the 1st to 4th May 2008 in the Indian Ocean waters offshore Durban.

This event will form part of a new sailing initiative called "Durban Sail Week" which will run from 26th April to 4th May 2008. Pre and Post tours to the many splendid Game Parks and other attractions which are all within a days drive from the city are available. Expressions of interest from international yacht clubs interested in sending a team to participate in this unique event should send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The racing will also feature a South African Interclub IRC team challenge to be run concurrently with the 150th Anniversary International Yacht Club Challenge. The International event will be sailed in J22s or L26s both popular one design classes in South Africa and boats will be provided including one local crew member being either the owner or his representative. The J22s will have recently competed in the J22 World Championship 2007 to be held in Durban in December 2007, and the L26s are the class of choice for the Annual Lipton Cup Interclub Challenge South Africa's premier sailing event. The Notice of Race will be available during November 2007 and the number and selection of entries will be at the sole discretion of the RNYC. Spouses, friends and other spectators are more than welcome as a full schedule of entertainment is planned. -- Derek Wilkes, Rear Commodore RNYC

FEATURED BROKERAGE
Yacht Chieftain - 2007 Fasnet Winner - For Sale - 2006 RBI Winner - Sydney to Hobart Class winner - 2006 Boat of the Year - Lying in Hamble - Demo sails available - extensive refit 07 - owner building bigger yacht. www.chieftainracing.com

The Yacht Chieftain is a high tech Cookson 50 designed by world famous designer Bruce Farr and built by Cookson Boatyard in New Zealand. The boat is built out of carbon fibre and is incredibly light for its size. The boat is fitted with groundbreaking Canting keel technology, which gives the boat a quantum leap in performance.

Contact Ger O Rourke on: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it / tel 00 353 872534639

THE LAST WORD
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. -- Thomas Paine

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.

www.YachtsandCruisers.com the new place to buy and sell prestige boats, the website has been designed to showcase high-end boats. People looking to buy prestige boats will be able to easily navigate their way around the site quickly. The portfolio of thousands of boats can be viewed by category, make, location and price. Alternatively the 'Advanced Search' facility will benefit those buyers who have a specific boat in mind.

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/