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

SCUTTLEBUTT EUROPE #1360 - 15 NOVEMBER 2007

Brought to you by YachtsandCruisers.com ( www.YachtsandCruisers.com ) with the support of OC Events ( www.ocevents.org ), 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

THRUST AND PARRY... FEINT AND LUNGE
From Alinghi.com tonight:
On the evening of the 12th November, during settlement discussions, BMW Oracle Racing unexpectedly announced five new demands that directly affect fundamental arrangements that have been recently agreed by all entered competitors in the 33rd America's Cup. Alinghi has lost confidence in BMW Oracle having any intention of negotiating a settlement in good faith.

BMW Oracle has been given every opportunity to enter the competition and join the consultative process with all competitors to develop the rules for the 33rd America's Cup. They choose to absent themselves from that process. Société Nautique de Genève, as Trustee of the America's Cup, will not allow a third party challenger who has made no commitment to the 33rd America's Cup, a veto right over rules and arrangements agreed by all the other committed competitors.

Alinghi has given BMW Oracle until the 16th November to decide whether they are going to join the competition and drop their law suit, or jeopardise a 2009 America's Cup event. They have selfishly chosen to put a 2009 event in jeopardy.

Alinghi will now await the decision of the Supreme Court of New York, and hopes BMW Oracle will abide by the courts judgment and not seek to continue their litigation through appeals intended to further disrupt the 33rd America's Cup, and damage the ability of other Challengers to participate for their own competitive gain.

Alinghi:
It is claimed that GGYC were offering to drop their legal challenge in return for making the agreed changes to the rules...Which rules and why are the changes apparently now unacceptable?

Lucien Masmejan, lawyer for Alinghi:
I'll give you the list of the five issues... There are quite a few points which were under discussion and which I will not come back to as they have been mentioned previously, but the five that came back during Monday night's discussions were; that they were concerned about the possibility of substitution of boats, they did not understand how that would work and they wanted to add some wording in the competition regulations; they were further wanting to add a system with safeguards, meaning that the best team in the Challenger Selection Series should get more sails; they were wanting to modify the format of the CSS.

They also wanted to authorise two-boat testing from 1 March 2009, which is the major point that I mentioned above and they were wanting to drop the prohibition to sail in August which relates to the 'no-sail' period around the Formula 1 racing. Those are the new points and they had further points which had been discussed previously and which we are not talking about right now.

The complete interview:
www.alinghi.com/en/news/news/index.php?idIndex=200&idContent=14088

VICTORY FOR GROUPAMA 2
After 10 days 38 minutes and 43 seconds of racing at a theoretical average speed of 18.03 knots, Franck Cammas and Stève Ravussin on Groupama 2 crossed the finish line in the Transat Jacques Vabre at 13h40'43" (CET) or in other words 9h40'43" (local time) today, Wednesday, 14th November. This was Franck Cammas's third win in his five Transat Jacques Vabre races. The record was smashed by 1 day 22 hours 31 minutes and 58 seconds (former record from 2003: 11 days 23 hours 10 minutes and 41 seconds).

www.jacques-vabre.com/en/s01_home/s01p01_home.php

BREEZE ON AT VITORIA BRASIL SAILING CUP
Gusts of over 30 knots and lively sea conditions forced organizers at the Brasil Sailing Cup today to postpone racing after finishing just the first match of the fourth flight in the Round Robin Series. A total of 12 teams are on hand to compete in equally-matched SM 40's in this second edition of the event, Stage 14 on the '06-'07 World Match Racing Tour.

In Group A, Bjorn Hansen (SWE) and his Apport.net Team reveled in the conditions, winning all three of their first flight races. Hansen defeated Daniel Glomb (POR), Alvaro Marinho (POR), and Clare Leroy (FRA), the only women's team competing this week after they qualified in the Brasil Women's Sailing Cup last week. Winner of the Women's event, Sally Barkow (USA), was unable to stay in Brasil due to other commitments, allowing second-placed Leroy to fill the slot.

Hansen's fellow Swede and Victory Challenge helmsman Magnus Holmberg also went 3-0, defeating current Tour leader Ian Williams (GBR) in their third match. Williams led Holmberg around the last windward mark of their race but twisted their spinnaker causing a late hoist, allowing Holmberg to sail past and into the lead. Williams won his other two matches against Alvaro Marinho and Clare Leroy.

Just one match was completed for Group B before the postponement was announced. In this match America's Cup Team Shosholosa helmsman Paolo Cian wasted no time in defeating French skipper Pierre-Antoine Morvan.

The city of Vitoria, Capital of the Espirito Santo state, is no stranger to its windy conditions. The city is often referred to as 'Vintoria' derived from the Portugese translation for wind (vento) and the City's name. Today the city lived up to its reputation however more favourable conditions are forecast for tomorrow.

worldmatchracingtour.com

HIGH PERFORMERS
The ideal crew gear is one of the new Camet High Tech Breathable Code Zero shirts and the Camet fast drying padded shorts. The shirts are made out of a microblend double circular knit fabric that moves the moisture away from the skin through the fabric and into the air. The unique microblend makes it lightweight, resistant, and soft to the touch. Designed to be washed and worn. High UV protection. The Camet shorts are made of a breathable fast drying Supplex, with a reinforced Cordura seat pocket for optional foam pads, available in several models and different colors.

www.camet.com

THE RACE TO GIBRALTAR
After a long, challenging night with periods of no wind, the Barcelona World Race fleet was happy to wake up to wind that built to the 15 to 20 knot range over the course of the day. They weren't as thrilled with the direction however - the Easterly flow meant beating directly upwind towards Gibraltar.

The light conditions overnight saw a slight compression of the fleet (first to fifth is just a 29 mile separation on the 16:00 GMT position poll) and the forecast means the strategy is now quite similar for the top six boats, who have all darted in towards the coast of Spain in anticipation of a Northerly shift later tonight.

Temenos II and Estrella Damm have sailed in nearest to the coast (closing to within a half mile before tacking out again), while the race leaders, PRB with Paprec-Virbac 2 chasing just three miles behind, have stayed slightly further offshore.

Following the anticipated northerly shift, the wind will continue to clock around to an easterly direction by Thursday morning. If that Easterly comes in from behind the fleet, the back markers could find themselves in favourable conditions.

Day 4 - November 14, 16:00 GMT - Position report with distance to leader

1. PRB - Vincent Riou / Sebastien Josse - 0.0
2. Paprec-Virbac 2 - Jean Pierre Dick / Damian Foxall - 3.2
3. Estrella Damm - Guillermo Altadill / Jonathan Mckee - 22.3
4. Temenos 2 - Dominique Wavre / Michele Paret - 26.3
5. Delta Dore - Jeremie Beyou / Sidney Gavignet - 29.2
6. Hugo Boss - Alex Thomson / Andrew Cape - 39.8
7. Veolia Environnement - Roland Jourdain / Jean Luc Nelias - 57.4
8. Mutua Madrilena - Javier Sanso / Pachi Rivero - 65.6
9. Educacion Sin Fronte Ras - Servane Escoffier / Albert Bargues - 173

www.barcelonaworldrace.org

UNITED INTERNET TEAM GERMANY NOMINATES NEW CREW
Only six weeks after his engagement as United Internet Team Germany's Head of Team Jochen Schumann managed to already gather a strong group around him.

So far, the three times Olympia winner and two times AC champion has included five sailors of the last German America's Cup campaign in his current sailing formation: The three Germans Matti Paschen (age 35/ trimmer), Dominik Neidhart (39, Grinder) and Jan Schoepe (age 33 / pitman) as well as the two French Philippe Mourniac (age 42 / navigator) and bowman Jean Marie Dauris (age 35). 45 year old skipper Karol Jablonski was able to entice four of his team mates away from his former employer Desafio Espanol: The internationally experienced pros Hartwell Jordan (age 46, mainsail trimmer, USA), Frederico Giovanelli (age 33, grinder, Italy), Mikkel Rosberg (age 37, trimmer, Denmark) and the Spanish Victor Marino Prieto (age 32, traveler). The team will furthermore be supported by sailors of BMW Oracle Racing. With Kiwi Ian Baker (age 33, grinder), Rodney Dawson (age 39, afterguard), Zachary Hurst (age 30, trimmer) and 31-year old German bowman Tony Kolb, four sailors could be lured away from the semi finalist of the last Louis-Vuitton Cup.

Being involved with the United Internet Team Germany is, of course, something very special for Tony Kolb: "It has always been my dream to sail the America's Cup with a German team". The same says Tim Kroger.

The 42 year old from Hamburg has been the Boat Captain of Team Shosholoza in the last America's Cup. The team is furthermore supported by Luna Rossa grinder Magnus Augustson (age 34, Sweden) and Emanuele Marino (age 35, Italy), the South African Marc Lagesse (Team Shosholoza, navigator, age 37) and the Australian Luke Molloy (Victory Challenge, age 27, mainsail trimmer). More sailors are to be engaged in the next year. After all, the new 90-foot-racer will have to be sailed by 20 crew members.

The current sailing team of the German team contains 19 people of eleven different countries. The average age is 37.

The German America's Cup Team has also enforced the design department with the new management- and technology partner Porsche Consulting. The consulting company, which is under the leadership of Oliver Kayser (age 43), is now responsible for all process control and the boat building process. Next to Swiss Dr. Marc Wintermantel (age 34), who was a structural engineer in the former German campaign, the team will be reinforced by former Shosholoza designer Jason Ker (age 36, England) and the French Dimitri Nicolopoulos (age 44; Areva Challenge). They will now work on the realization of the new design rules which were announced last week.

www.united-internet-team-germany.com

CAPTIVE WINCHES STOW ALL LINES BELOW DECK
Give your boat a sleek, uncluttered look with Lewmar's Captive Winches. Their new range has grown to include both their smallest (CW800) and largest (CW18000) Captive Winches. The CW800 - for boats from 15m (45ft) - has a pulling load of 800kg and a holding load of 1,500kg, while the CW18000 - designed for controlling highly loaded Genoa sheets on vessels over 50m (164ft) - can pull an impressive 18,000kg.

Also available from Lewmar's (LMS) Captive Winch range - the CW6000, CW9000 & CW12000 - all featuring carbon fibre components for the lightest weight possible. To find out more, visit Booth #01.361 at METS or www.lewmar.com

A CAT WORLDS
The racing today began in very light winds of 6-8 knots out of the N/NE and dropped to 5 by the time that the first race got under way. The first race started on time and seemed to get off cleanly, but when the boats were halfway up the first windward leg, power boats were sent to round the competitors up and get them back to the starting line. During the second restart, the RC issued a general recall, placing the third start under a black flag. The third start got off successfully and Glen Ashby led the way to the first mark with Mitch booth in 2nd and Lars guck in 3rd.

The positions (according to Rick White) at the third weather rounding (last leg) were 1st Pease Glaser, 2nd Mitch Booth, 3rd Pete Melvin, 4th Glen Ashby, 5th Lars Guck, 6th Charlie Ogletree. The race finished within the time limit in very light air, 3-5 knots, and as light air sailing goes, anything can happen.

It definitely did with the final, but preliminary results being, 1st Pease Glaser, 2nd Lars Guck, 3rd Pete Melvin, 4th Glen Ashby, 5th Mitch Booth (barring any redresses), 6th Charlie Ogletree, 7th Robbie Daniel. Woody Cope came in 9th, Goran Marström on his new and beautiful M5 and Randy Smyth in 12th on his LR2. -- Tom Siders

This gives a preliminary standing after 5 races of:

1. Lars Guck, 6 points
2. Glen Ashby, 8
3. Pete Melvin*, 10
4. Mitch Booth, 25
5. Charlie Ogletree, 27

* Pete was the 2005 A-Cat World Champion who won the regatta without winning a race by sailing the most consistent regatta 2nd & 3rd.

acatworlds.com/res/worlds/2007_A-Cat_Worlds_Championship.html

SHORT TACKS
* Des Pawson MBE, doyen of knots and rope, and a familiar sight with his round glasses and trademark red beret, was honoured with a Merit of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace on 23 October.

The award was made in recognition of services to ropes and knot-tying. We expressed excitement in CB230 at the possibility of Des removing his hat, which he did once inside the palace. 'I am pleased to see traditional craft recognised at this level,' said Des. -- Steffan Meyric Hughes, Classic Boat, www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20071012114409cbnews.html

* With 6 months until The Artemis Transat start on the 11th May 2008 OC Events would like to remind Class 40 and IMOCA 60 competitors that the Notice of Race can be downloaded from 'The Race' section of the official website, www.theartemistransat.com

With the timing of entries determining the berthing layout of both fleets OC Events recommend teams submit their entries as soon as possible. The closing date is 10th Jan 2008. For further information about entries please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

* The RYA has joined forces with the British Surfing Association (BSA) and British Canoeing Union (BCU) in presenting a petition to David Davies MP urging British Airways (BA) to overturn its decision to ban a selection of sporting equipment from its flights.

The proposed ban, which would affect windsurfing boards and sails, surfboards, kayaks and canoes was announced last week to howls of anger from athletes of all kinds, who will no longer be able to transport their equipment as part of the sporting equipment allowance.

Davies has now tabled an early day motion to gain support for the petition amongst MPs and the RYA, BSA and BCU are urging everyone involved in these sports to contact their local MP and get them to register their support for the motion. -- Boating Business, www.boatingbusiness.com

EARLS COURT: PUTTING THE 'SHOW' BACK INTO BOAT SHOW
From 1-9 December, the revamped Earls Court opens its doors to sailors, Christmas shoppers and show-goers visiting London. There's music and fashion shows, Riva, a spa for the footsore, the original special events Guinness bar, the National Maritime Museum's Hall of Fame, dozens of drams from the Whyte & Mackay family, acres of chandlery and boats! From a 'boat in a bag' to Gipsy Moth IV, a display of yachts on the pool and headline musical entertainment! The all-new Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show: you can't beat boating in the heart of London! www.earlscourtboatshow.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 Steven Pimblett: I'm afraid I cannot support Digby Fox in his possible membership of the ISAF council. Not because I don't think he would be a suitable candidate but because I would not like to see his, or his tailors, talents wasted.

It would be far better to apply these talents to the newly introduced Olympic yachting discipline of blazer wearing, I'm not sure of the rules at present, only those involved in the sport seem to understand them but to an outsider it appears that nothing spectacular or exciting happens until a result is declared, this lack of appeal to a wider audience is something it shares with a number of other Olympic yachting disciplines. Although it's good to see that in contrast with all other sailing events in the Olympic circus blazer wearing reflects the wider sailing community in being an open event where competitors of both sexes compete, good to see that by replacing one open event (multihull) with another (blazer) the ISAF council have not completely ignored both of the IOC's objectives of making Olympic sailing less gender specific and more spectator friendly.

With Alastair Campbell available to provide coaching in the run up to the next event Digby's in with a good chance of a medal, as long as he doesn't do anything silly like pass the port the wrong way.

* From John Frazer: Thank you Mr Turner for outlining your position with the Barcelona World Race.

However, you state that regarding qualifications, all boats were more than qualified before the start - but this is a point under discussion recently in the IMOCA class in any case. The level of professionalism now in this fleet, and the often worthless exercise of miles for miles sake, certainly have led a majority of the professionals involved to question how we go about 'qualifying' teams. The idea that X thousand miles of sailing makes you ready, regardless of whether they are miles under pressure, or 'delivery' miles, is a false one in my opinion. As a race organiser, OC Events take the issue of safety and level of preparation very seriously indeed, but blanket rules on qualification no longer serve the purpose they are meant to for fully pro teams. As a safety net to ensure an unprepared last minute amateur project cannot automatically leave, its worthwhile in a Notice of Race - but as a real test for the pro teams, it has passed its sell by date.

I believe from being involved within the commercial world that a sponsor of a team and or skipper would have conducted their own due diligence into both the skipper and event and based on there own risk assessment are backing their their selected sailor. However, correct me if I am wrong but if a skipper has got to this point and has a boat and a sponsor, the organiser will then in their wisdom decide if that skipper can or cannot enter an event even if the skipper in question has met the criteria stipulated in the notice of race.

This level of interference was not around ten years ago and if it had been around the UK's current crop of single-handed sailors would be in the position they are today as most of them were in the same position as the potential new skippers today - fighting for every sponsorship pound only to be circumvented by an arbitrary decision.

Please do not missquote me as suggesting their should be one rule for the established skippers and another for new arrivals - I despise this level of favouritism. What is good for the new unproven skippers is good enough for the established professional.

People sail and put themselves forward believing in their ability and with sufficient backing believe that that they can succeed in their endeavour and also believe that as entrants they all start on a level playing field. Yet if what you say above is true, both you and IMOCA are considering changing the layout of the playing field. From a commercial standpoint, I can only put my point forward on this continued level of double standards and politics that has crept into sailing has done nothing more than drive the sponsorship money away from what is a fantastic sport.

Editor: Some interesting points here, however... I feel compelled to note that sponsors are not running away from the Open 60s. Running towards, actually. Compare the exposure of the TJV to that of the America's Cup for most boats and sponsors. Open 60 events are consistently delivering an excellent value for sponsors. There's simply no denying that empirical reality.

* From Elaine Bunting: Adrian Morgan makes point that the Whyte and Mackay sponsored YJA writing competition is tantamount to an attempt to suborn impartial journalism. I recall this epigram by the poet and civil servant Humbert Wolfe...

'One cannot hope to bribe or twist,
Thank God, the British journalist!
But, seeing what the man will do unbribed,
There's no occasion to'.

FEATURED BROKERAGE
Roberts 72 Ketch, 215,000 GBP, Lying South Coast, England

Designed by Robert Clark and launched in 1972, she was one of a number of this class built in the UK. She was extensively refitted in 2002 by her current owner for ocean cruising and is presented in excellent condition. Hull repainted professionally Autumn 2006 in oyster white.

Brokerage through YachtsAndCruisers.com: www.yachtsandcruisers.com

Complete listing details and seller contact information at www.yachtsandcruisers.com/boat/Roberts/17651/

THE LAST WORD
My favorite thing is to go where I've never been. -- Diane Arbus

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 Artemis 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.

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