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Brought to you by Yachtworld.com Europe and boats.com Europe, 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
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Laser Worlds - Ten Nations Qualify For Beijing Olympics
Tom Slingsby may have retained his world crown as the Laser World Championship came to a close at Terrigal today, but there was more at risk for many others who were aiming to qualify their nations for the 10 remaining places into the Beijing Games.
A happy Jeemin Ha qualified Korea when he made it into the Gold fleet Finals two days ago. The remaining countries had to wait it out until today.
There was a fair amount of nervous tension as competitors in this Olympic single-handed class paced the boat park waiting for Race Officials to announce one way or the other whether racing at the ISAF Grade 1 Worlds would be possible. By afternoon, excessive seas, caused by huge southerly winds, had put to rest any thought of racing.
"It's too dangerous," said Principle Race Officer Tony Denham, "we have a duty of care," he said.
That pronouncement suited some, but ended the Olympic hopes and dreams of others.
The remaining nine nations making the cut from the Silver fleet are: Switzerland (Max Bulley finished fifth), Japan (Yoichi Iijima, 10th), Malaysia (Kevin Lim, 15th), Singapore (Leong Seng Koh, 23rd), Venezuela (Jose Ruiz, 26th), Dominican Republic (Raul Aguayo, 31st), Igor Lisovenko (RUS, 32nd), Hungary (Zsombor Berecz) and Guatemala (Juan Maegli, 45th).
Qualifying ones nation does not necessarily mean an automatic entry to the Games for the competitor who qualified. A number will have to sail off against their compatriots in other regattas to claim their Beijing selection or prove to their national authorities that they are up to the job.
A point in case is Germany. Qualifying at the 2007 ISAF Worlds, five German competitors came to these Worlds. Of the five, four remarkably made it through to the Gold fleet Finals. Alexander Schlonski was best placed, finishing sixth overall – a fantastic effort. But now he will have to go home and plead his case to his national authority whom will make a decision.
Various other countries have as many as seven sailors in contention for one Olympic place. Canada is one of those; with six in contention. One, Michael Leigh, is World Ranked No. 5, but will have to sail of against six others to claim his place in Beijing. -- Di Pearson
Top ten final results, Gold fleet
1. Tom Slingsby, AUS, 27 points
2. Julio Also garay, ARG, 29
3. Javier Hernandez, ESP, 39
4. Vasilij Zbogar, SLO, 47
5. Michael Bullot, NZL, 51
6. Alexander Schlonski, GER, 64
7. Paul Goodison, GBR, 71
8. Nick Thompson, GBR, 79
9. Brad Funk, USA, 79
10. David Weaver, NZL, 79
aus08.laserinternational.org
Algarve Cup - Garvetur 2008
Photos by Rita Goncalves
Vilamoura, Portugal : Portuguese skipper Rui Boia became the first Portuguese to put his name on the Algarve Cup trophy, when he beat the Spanish Manuel Weiller in the final.
The skipper who was in fifth place at the end of the second day, admitted to being surprised he'd been able to come back and win, because of the high standard of the competition.
In the best-of-five race final series the Spanish skipper stamped his authority on the first confrontation, after an amazing recovery on the last windward mark.
In the second regatta Manuel Weiller won the start, controlled the race, and didn't give a chance to the Portuguese Team.
Team STAP/AIGLE - BOIA took the third race after decisively winning the start, and controlling the race throughout.
The local skipper won again the fourth race, recovering from a 2-0 score.
In the petit-final the Russian, Andrew Arbuzov, beat the favourite and local team from Alvaro Marinho 2-1 to take third place.
The last day of the regatta produced yet more testing conditions for the crews, with strong and shifty easterly winds.
Boia, from Lisbon, was 2006 National Match Racing Champion, and is #56 in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings
Weiller, from Palma de Mallorca, won the Platu25 2006 World Championship in Vigo, Spain and currently is #75 in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings.
Marinho, also from Lisbon, is currently World Championship silver medallists and reigning European Champions in the 470 class, National Match Racing Champion and is #64 in the ISAF World Match Race Rankings.
The regatta was organized by CIMAV in the Port of Vilamoura.
Final Results
POR - Team STAP/AIGLE - Rui Boia - 11 wins / 6 losses
ESP - Manuel Weiller - 10 / 5
RUS - Andrew Arbuzov - 8 / 5
POR - Team Seth.pt - Alvaro Marinho - 8 / 5
FRA - Victor Lanier - 4 / 5
POL - Przmeck Tarnacky - 4 / 5
POR - Nuno Ferreira - 1 / 6
POR - Maria Ramires - 0 / 7
Algarve Cup - Winners
2008 - POR - Rui Boia, Ricardo Pinto, Rui Coelho, Duarte Neves
2007 - RUS - Eugeniy Neugodnikov
2006 - NZL - Simon Minoprio
2005 - FRA - Sebastian Col
2004 - FRA - Philippe Presti
2001 - FRA - Francois Brenac
2000 - RUS - Andrew Nicolaev
1099 - DEN - Jes Gram
1098 - ITA - Nicola Celon
1097 - DEN - M.Henriquesen
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Clipper Race 6: Singapore - Qingdao
After 17 days of racing since leaving Singapore the fleet has experienced constant headwinds that have tested both the crews and the boats. Over the last few days the temperatures have dropped dramatically and several of the skippers have reported having snow this morning.
Due to the gruelling nature of the race from Singapore in relentless headwinds, the fleet has made slower than expected progress to the finish in Qingdao. At a meeting earlier today the Race Committee, using provisions provided within the Clipper sailing instructions and the International Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), made a decision to shorten the course.
Clipper Race Committee Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: "The main consideration in this decision is to allow sufficient time for the skippers and crews to carry out routine in-port maintenance in preparation for the next race to Hawaii. The Race Committee believes that this is the best course of action to ensure the overall safety and well-being of the fleet."
Each of the teams will finish either when they pass through the 'East China Sea Gate', approximately 230 nautical miles south-east of the original finish line, or at 0000GMT on 14 February, whichever is sooner. Finishing order will be calculated based on the elapsed time of the race when a boat crosses this pre-determined gate or on the distance to this shortened finish line, whichever is appropriate.
Upon completion of the race the fleet will motor-sail to the brand new Olympic Sailing Marina in Qingdao, which will host the sailing events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The majority of the boats are expected to arrive on Saturday 16 February and it is hoped that the last boat will be alongside by the end of the day on Sunday 17 February.
www.clipperroundtheworld.com
Ericsson Launches New VOR 70
Portsmouth, England: Ericsson last night launched the first of their two challengers for the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race at the World Trade Centre Plaza in Barcelona. The second generation Volvo Open 70, named Ericsson 3 and designed by Argentina's Juan Kouyoumdjian, was officially christened before an audience of 1,500 guests.
Crew members from both Ericsson boats - the international and Nordic entries - were in attendance. The official launch was performed by Gordana Kovacevic, President of Ericsson Croatia, who cracked a bottle of champagne over the boat in the traditional way.
The christening was timed to coincide with the Mobile World Congress, the world's largest telecommunications trade show, also taking place in Barcelona this week.
The second Ericsson boat is set to emerge from the Stockholm boatyard of Irish builder Killian Bushe in the summer. The team will now head back to its training base in Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands, and continue training until the race start in Alicante in October.
ericssonracingteam.com
volvooceanrace.org
101 Years On - The Larchmont Tragedy
Today, any skipper in a sailing boat would be reckless to assume that a motor powered vessel, whatever size, would give way under the old 'power gives way to sail' tradition. 'Might is right' will always prevail, and there's no question that in a collision, the sailing boat would probably come off worst. But this was not always the case....
On Feb. 11, 1907, in one of New England's worst maritime tragedies, the stately steamer Larchmont sank in icy waters off Watch Hill after a collision with the trim three-masted schooner Harry Knowlton.
The night was clear and starry as the 128-foot schooner, commanded by Capt. Frank T. Haley with a crew of six, sailed over choppy waters in Block Island Sound, a 40 mph wind filling the sails. With the thermometer at zero, the coal-carrying schooner, frosted with ice, was bound for Boston. The mate at the wheel sighted a brightly lit steamer heading directly for them. He blew a warning whistle.
Approaching was the 1,600-ton 252-foot wooden side-wheeler Larchmont, bound from Providence to New York, carrying over 100 passengers and a crew of 52. The Knowlton's mate expected the steamer to change course, but it plowed straight ahead. With no choice, the schooner rammed the larger vessel on the port side, losing bowsprit and jibboom.
The small schooner opened up forward, water rushed in and Capt. Haley thought they would go down. The vessel filled at an alarming rate. The crew manned the pumps till they managed to touch bottom off Weekapaug. Then they lowered the lifeboat and made their way to the Quonochontaug Life Saving station.
The collision severed the Larchmont's steam line, stopping the engine and filling the vessel with hissing steam. The first pilot, John L. Anson, was at the wheel. The 26-year old captain, George W. McVay, youngest steamboat commander on the Sound, was noted for his lifeboat drills, but he did not try to organize a rescue. It was every man for himself. -- Carol W. Kimball, theday.com/Sail-World
Full story on www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=41729
Marc Guichard
It is with great sadness ISAF reports that Marc Guichard (FRA), an ISAF International Race Officer, has died, aged 60.
Marc was involved in both the competition and organization of regattas since 1978, sailing on almost all types of boats, including the Laser, Half Tonner, Formula 18 and Formula 40. In 1988 he was President of the Organizing Committee of the Optimist World Championship, held in France.
He was a National Race Officer since 1987 and became an ISAF International Race Officer in November 2007.
He is the father of Yann Guichard (FRA), Tornado sailor and a crew member of Orange II when she broke the Transatlantic record.
Marc died suddenly last Thursday. ISAF extends our sincere sympathy and condolences to his family and friends. -- Corinne Aulnette
Industry News
* Proboat has been appointed UK, Ireland & Channel Islands distributor for the recently re-branded range of Allen yacht and dinghy sailboat hardware.
Formerly marketed under the Holt Allen banner, this complete range will be available from stock within the next few days, says Proboat.
Proboat will primarily be concentrating on the aftermarket sector, while Allen Brothers will continue to work closely on research and development with larger OEM customers.
Proboat will be exhibiting at this week's BBEX trade show at the BIC in Bournemouth, where the company will be showing off the world famous product line for the first time with the new Allen branding. -- Boating Business, www.boatingbusiness.com/archive/2008/march/allen_signs_with_proboat
* "New Media Success Stories" is the timely topic to be addressed during the Boating Writers International annual meeting at the Miami Boat Show.
The "New Media" session will feature three panelists who have harnessed the power and intrigue of Internet communications and who will share their experience with attendees:
- Ian Atkins, group general manager for www.YachtWorld.com and www.Boats.com
Ben Ellison, who works independently and writes the marine electronics daily blog online at www.panbo.com
Glen Justice, a former New York Times staffer who created and edits the online magazine www.MadMariner.com
The event is open to the marine community and requires no ticket for admission. It is scheduled for the second hour of the BWI Annual Meeting on Friday February 15 which runs from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Miami Beach Convention Center, rooms A101/102.
www.boats.com/news-reviews/article/bwi-miami-boat-show-panel
* Scandinavia's first boat show of the year, the Gothenburg Boat Show in Sweden, closed on Sunday with a 6.5 per cent drop in visitor numbers. Nevertheless, the response from exhibitors was good and the Scandinavian market remains optimistic - despite worsening global economic conditions. The number of visitors was 89,000 compared with 95,000 for last year's show.
Nord West Yachts held its world premiere of the brand new Nord West 370 at the 10-day event. The response for this model was very good, with 10 boats sold in advance.
It was also announced that a new environmental prize will be handed out at next year's show in February 2009. -- IBI Magazine/Lars-Ake Redeen www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20080111161830ibinews.html
* Valencia, Spain-based composite rigging supplier Future Fibres has announced that Ewan McLellan is the company's new CEO.
With an MA in engineering from Cambridge University and over 12 years' experience in strategic development, McLellan joins Future Fibres from Capgemini where he was vice president of its strategic consulting practice.
Future Fibres entered the composite rigging market in 1997. The company designs, manufactures and supplies unidirectional PBO composite rigging to the high performance yachting market. -- IBI, www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20080108100141ibinews.html
* J Boats announced today that US Watercraft of Portsmouth, RI has been named its new USA builder for the J/105, the prolific 34.5'one-design sprit boat with over 650 boats sailing in 14 countries. Introduced in 1991 as the first modern day keelboat with a retractable bow sprit and asymmetrical spinnaker, the J/105 has grown into one of the most popular offshore one-designs in the world. 69 boats recently competed in the 2007 North Americans in Annapolis, MD and 34 sailed in Key West, Florida for the 2008 Midwinters. The J/105 has also garnered praise for its offshore sailing record with double-handed victories in the Rolex Fastnet Race and Rolex Middle Sea Race.
Letters To The Editor
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* From Jenny Howells, RORC IRC Manager:
At the IRC Congress in October last year, it was suggested that the IRC Technical Committee should publish a more open description of IRC Hull Factor.
This has now been written and is published under the title "HF Le thermometre de l'IRC" on our website at www.rorcrating.com
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The Last Word
The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little. -- Thomas Merton
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