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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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THE SALVAGE OPERATION
Photo from the Groupama website
This Tuesday morning, at first light in France and at night in New Zealand, Franck Cammas and eight of his crew took to the seas from Dunedin to return to the zone where Groupama 3 capsized.
Without Yves Parlier, remaining on shore to ensure the link between the Groupama team in Lorient and the men at sea, a motor boat measuring around 25 metres long propelled by a 1000 hp engine, is carrying them eastwards across seas, which are set to calm down progressively.
Contacted by telephone before he got too far from the New Zealand coast, the skipper of Groupama 3 had this to say: "The Groupama team in Lorient sent us a plan and a set of procedures, which should help us to right the boat again. We've got a trip of around twelve hours before we find it. If all goes well, we could be back on shore with Groupama 3 in tow in four days, most likely at Christchurch".
Aboard the tug boat, we can well imagine that the crew are dividing their time between resting and preparing the righting operation. Ropes, chains, chainsaw, drill and diving gear must be readied.
It's only once they get Groupama 3 back to shore that they will be able to finely assess the damage and then she will probably be loaded aboard a cargo ship bound for its base in Lorient, France.
For its part, the management division of Groupama has sent a message to their rescuers from the Rescue Coordination Center New Zealand, thanking them for the professionalism of their intervention. -- Translation by Kate Jennings
www.cammas-groupama.com
Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland
Photo of Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby by Andrea Francolini
Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland concluded today with the international sailors coming home with gold in the hotly contested Women's Laser Radial, Tornado, Women's and Men's RS:X classes.
Light shifty winds on all the courses challenged sailors this morning, while a ENE breeze filled in mid afternoon reaching up to 15 knots at times.
Sari Multala of Finland took out the Women's Laser Radial class after dominating for the duration of the four day regatta. While not her best day on the water today, coming home 20th in the first race of the day and then crossing in 4th in the medal race, Multala had done enough to win comfortably. She finished up 22 points clear of second placed sailor Lijia Xu of China.
Predictably Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby of Australia today won gold in the Tornado fleet after being stand-out leaders throughout the four day regatta. A win in the medal race today put the icing on the cake for the Aussies who look formidable ahead of the World Champs starting next week off Takapuna.
Overnight leaders in the Women's and Men's RS:X windsurfing were both able to secure gold on the final day today. Marina Alabau ESP, who won bronze at the recent 2008 World Champs topped the Women's fleet here at Singapore Airlines Sail Auckland winning gold today in Auckland.
Over in the Men's RS:X it was Nikos Kaklamanakis of Greece who won gold in style today by crossing first in the final double-points medal race. -- Jodie Bakewell-White
Final top three:
Laser Radial Women
1. Sari Multala, FIN, 33 points
2. Lijia Xu, CHN, 55
3. Anna Tunnicliffe, USA, 63
Tornado
1. Darren Bundock / Glenn Ashby, AUS, 37
2. Roland Gaebler / Gunnar Struckmann, GER, 54
3. Fernando Echavarri / Anton Paz, ESP, 67
RS:X Men
1. Nikos Kaklamanakis, GRE, 39
2. JP Tobin, NZL, 42
3. Joao Rodrigues, POR, 43
RS:X Women
1. Marina Alabau, ESP, 27
2. Barbara Kendall, NZL, 34
3. Romy Kinzl, GER, 39
470 Men
1. Carl Evans / Peter Burling, NZL, 24
2. Geoffrey Woolley / Mark Overington, NZL, 26
3. Dan Wilcox / Chris Dawson, NZL, 35
Laser Radial Men
1. Blair McLay, NZL, 34
2. James Sandall , NZL, 39
3. Jason Geale, NZL, 47
Laser Standard
1. Josh Junior, NZL, 13
2. Mathew Steven, NZL, 27
3. In-sup Kim, NZL, 40
420
1. Marcus Hansen and Finn Drummond, NZL, 28
2. Wade Tresadern and Ben Goodwin, NZL, 37
3. Sarah Berry and Emma Berry, NZL, 38
2.4 Metre
1. Andrew May, NZL, 8
2. Josh McKenzie-Brown, NZL, 16
3. Louise Brown, NZL, 32
See www.sailauckland.org.nz for full results
Customer Service Manager
Oyster is an international company, recognised throughout the world for building luxury yachts.
Due to an internal promotion, we are looking for a Manager to run the Customer Service section of our busy After Sales Department. Leading a team of four, the Manager is responsible for providing outstanding office-based support to over 1,000 Oyster owners worldwide.
We are looking for a confident person with dedication, persistence and excellent communication and IT skills who is able to deal with customers in a polite and positive manner. Sailing experience and a knowledge of yachts and their systems is essential.
Please send CV's to
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A NEW VOR SYNDICATE... CARBON CHALLENGE
Photo by Thierry Martinez
We have confirmation that we have an exclusive option to buy the boat that finished second in the last Volvo Ocean Race - famously known as Pirates of the Caribbean.
It's a cool idea for Carbon Challenge to get on board a pre-campaigned boat. On day 1, we will have already saved an incredible amount of energy compared to a team that builds a new boat Plus, in theory at least, we don't have to sacrifice a lot of performance versus the other teams as my research indicates that we can be reasonably competitive, investing our personal energy in making the boat fast. More on that later...
In the short term we need to inspect the boat and determine a timetable for a re-fit with design engineers and boatbuilders, we will then look at a new complete sail inventory, I have an outlet to recycle the old ones! Then when we push the button we can get the sailing team on the water early so by race time they will be up for the challenge. -- Tom Weaver, Carbon Challenge Campaign Director
From the new syndicate site:
Carbon Challenge are aiming to be the final confirmed entrant in the world's most watched ocean Race. Once we receive the necessary support to achieve this, it will allow us to use our high profile throughout the race's 37,000 nautical mile course and 9 month duration to highlight the global warming emergency.
Our challenge is to be a competitive force in the race while, in our complete activities as a sailing campaign, emitting a carbon footprint which is 20% below that of a typical Volvo Ocean Race team.
Our residual carbon footprint will be offset using Gold Standard carbon offsets, so making Carbon Challenge carbon neutral throughout its campaign, just as the rest of Carbon Challenge's operating units will remain carbon neutral throughout their lifetimes.
Using a pre-campaigned boat our crew will have a harder job keeping up with the rest of the field. But that is part of the challenge - to outperform expectations by being carbon conscious rather than in spite of being carbon conscious.
Whether we are successful or not, by demonstrating competitiveness in one of the world's toughest sports, where daily survival is a challenge, we will highlight carbon reduction as a policy that can be implemented quickly and embraced by the most ambitious companies, teams and individuals.
Following the completion of our participation in the Volvo Ocean Race, Carbon Challenge's sailing resources will shift over to focus on participation in the America's Cup - a move rather similar to changing from World Rally Championship cars to Formula One cars.
www.carbonchallenge.net
Class40 Aims for International Expansion
On the 9th and 10th February 2008, the Class40 Association held its AGM in Les Sables d'Olonne, at its headquarters at the Institut Sports Ocean.
The AGM provided the opportunity for designers, skippers and builders to decide on the future direction of the class, particularly the box-rule and race programme.
In 2007, the Class40 Association continued its tremendous growth. The figures below speak for themselves:
- 31 boats in 2006, and 62 Class40 numbers allocated by the end of 2007, with 14 different designs of boats on the water;
- 54 members in 2006, and 129 members in 2007. 13 countries represented, with 18 members in the UK, 8 in America and some one hundred others in Europe and countries further afield.
The key aims discussed at the AGM:
- To fix the box-rule for the next 4 years, the message to owners and designers being that their boats remain current
- To put in place sound practices for consistent growth
- To maintain the mix of amateurs and professionals by defining a programme of medium-distance and long-distance races which embody the spirit of adventure
- To reinforce the international development of the Class.
Jacques Fournier was re-elected as Class President, strongly supported by the class.
Internationalisation of the board of directors has been achieved with the arrival of Michael Hennessy, from America, appointed North American representative, and Miranda Merron, talented British skipper, reinforcing the strong start the Class has had in the UK.
Tanguy de Lamotte and Halvard Mabire have joined François Angoulvant on the Technical Committee.
Gery Trentesaux has been re-elected as vice-President and Miranda Merron will assist him on the Race and Events Committee.
Damien Grimont and the newly-elected Jean-Edouard Criquioche are in charge of the Communications Committee.
The race programme for 2008 is built around 2 key events : The Artemis Transat and Quebec - St Malo.
For 2009, there are numerous projects under consideration. The Class40 Association is working on a flagship event that will attract media attention, that fits the identity of the class, and that will elevate the class to the same level as the major offshore classes of today.
Several proposals to this end have been put forward. The Class40 association will finalise the programme in March.
Full event calendar on the class site: www.class40.com
New Marina About to Open in the Heart of the Dalmatian Coastline
Marina Preko is all set to open in March 2008, in time for the summer cruising season along Croatia's stunning coastline. Positioned right in the middle of the beautiful Dalmatian Coast, the new Marina Preko will provide the delights of an island, with easy access to other sheltered anchorages, providing a wonderful base for 'island hopping' amongst the hundreds of islands within the Kornati National Park.
There is berthing for all sizes of vessel and even a few deep water berths for yachts over 30 metres (100'). Full services are available for visiting yachts, all based around a classic Croatian village setting. A restaurant and bar is also located right on the marina front, making the marina is a 'must' to visit, to experience the friendly traditional lifestyle.
Details and booking information can be found on www.marinapreko.com
7,834 People Rescued by RNLI Lifeboats In 2007
One of the busiest years on record - Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) annual lifeboat and lifeguard rescue statistics for 2007 reveal over half (52%) of lifeboat launches were to leisure craft1.
Final figures show that the RNLI's lifeboats were launched 8,141 times during 2007, rescuing 7,834 people. More than half of the 8,141 RNLI lifeboat launches - 4,287 - were to recreational sea users in leisure craft. This figure is down slightly on 2006 rescues (4,361), perhaps due to the unseasonable weather in the early summer months.
Of the 4,287 RNLI lifeboat launches to leisure craft in 2007 almost half (43%) were to powered craft2, well over a third (40%) of lifeboat launches were to the aid of sailing craft3 and 17% were to manual leisure craft4.
The major cause for RNLI lifeboat launches to (manual, power and sailing) leisure craft, as in previous years, was overwhelmingly machinery failure (29% of incidents), this is followed by craft being stranded or grounded (13%) and vessels meeting adverse weather conditions (9%) as the three main causes for lifeboat launches to leisure craft in 2007.
The top three reasons for lifeboat launches to each specific type of leisure craft in 2007 were machinery or engine failure for both power and sailing leisure craft, while the impact of adverse weather conditions was the main reason for lifeboat launches to manual leisure craft. The final RNLI rescue figures for 2007 also show an increase in the number of man overboard incidents for leisure craft - rising from 161 (2006) to 201 (2007), up 25% from 2006.
Tower lifeboat station on the River Thames was the busiest RNLI lifeboat station, launching 529 times and rescuing 226 people. Around the coast, busy stations included Torbay lifeboat station, which launched 131 times, rescuing 137 people, and the RNLI's Southend lifeboat station launched 131 times and rescued 121 people.
The RNLI is a registered charity that continues to rely on voluntary contributions, corporate donations and legacies for income and receives no UK Government funding.
There are over 230 RNLI lifeboat stations across the UK and Ireland, which are operated by 4,800 RNLI lifeboat crew members, of which 95 per cent are volunteers.
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk or www.rnli.ie
Industry News
* UK boatbuilder Oyster Marine has been sold to Balmoral Capital, a UK-based private equity fund, for an undisclosed sum. The transaction also includes Oyster's US sales and service centre in Newport, Rhode Island, as well as the associated businesses of Oyster Brokerage and Southampton Yacht Services in the UK.
According to a statement released today, Oyster chairman and CEO Richard Matthews will retain his role in the company.
Founded in 1973, Oyster offers a 12-model range of sailing yachts from 13.9m (46ft) and up, including two new superyachts - the Oyster 100 and Oyster 125 - which are due to launch in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The company also has a strong forward order book and annual sales in excess of 50 million GBP.
Balmoral Capital also owns Italian boatbuilder Canados (an acronym for CAntieri NAvali Di OStia), which designs and manufactures motoryachts from 21.3m-33.5m (70ft-110ft). -- IBI,
www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20080118150130ibinews.html
* Strong economic development in Norway together with a mild winter have created the right climate for an early boating season in the country - a season starting with the Norwegian International Boat Show, which runs from March 16-25 at the Norway Trade Fair in Lillestrom. It's the earliest boat show in Oslo ever.
A wide range of products will be displayed at this year's show, including sail and motorboats, sailing dinghies, pontoons, trailers, engines, equipment, accessories and more. The event will be held across four halls with a combined area of 20,000sq m. In 2007, around 60,000 people attended the show.
Approximately 650 boats will be presented this year. Norboat, the Norwegian boating trade organisation, will also be showing different boatbuilding techniques as well as informing visitors of the various training opportunities within the marine sector. -- Lars-Ake Redeen, International Boat Industry (IBI), www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20080119144530ibinews.html
* This year's Stockholm International Boat Show will be the biggest boat show ever organised in Scandinavia, with over 1000 boats on display and attendance expected to reach 110,000 visitors across the 10 days.
Running from March 1-9, Stockholm's show is usually the region's largest, but this year it is bigger than ever before. In addition to the Alpha, Bravo and Charlie halls, an additional hall - the Suzuki hall - will be used by the show.
Swedish importer of Suzuki outboard engines KGK Suzuki, Hella components and lighting, Sea Star and Capelli boats, and many other marine brands will all exhibit in the new space.
The environment will be a particular focus at this year's show. A new environmental organisation consisting of 19 different authorities and organisations will present its 12-point programme to reduce the environmental impact of boating in Sweden. Three boats equipped with electrical engines will be on display at the show's design and innovation exposition.
Sailboats being unveiled at Stockholm include the Bavaria 40, Oceanis 31, Brenta 38SL and Nacra Infusion. -- Lars-Ake Redeen, International Boat Industry (IBI), www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20080119163350ibinews.html
* From Tuesday 19 February the sail lofts run by John Brinkers in Hamble, UK and Des McWilliam in Cork, Ireland, will be part of the rapidly expanding OneSails group. OneSails, headquartered in Italy, have risen to prominence due to the adoption of their Millenium product - most recently seen on Russell Coutts' RC 44. The membranes are produced in the group's Florence factory using carbon and Kevlar threads and a manufacturing system which 'fuses' the sail membrane together.
In addition the lofts will have a product called Vektor which is aimed at the club racer and offers a broader range of yarns including polyester, Pentex and Dyneema to choose from and a lower cost.
The loft in Hamble is currently supplying new Millennium sails to several Beneteau 40.7s, J/109s, X35s, three Farr 45s plus sails for the Rolex Commodore's Cup says Brinkers. Further up the size scale the loft has orders for an Oyster 655 and a CNB 95 currently under construction.
* Harken Yacht Equipment has announced the opening of its newest wholly-owned sales and service office in Warsaw, Poland. Led by Magdalena Rakowicz as Harken Polska's managing director, the office will help accommodate the quickly growing sailing industry in Poland. Harken Polska will have exclusive sales and distribution responsibility for Harken in the country.
A lifelong sailor, Rakowicz is a technically knowledgeable marine professional who has worked in sales and distribution in the marine division of MAJER Ltd. located in Warsaw. Rakowicz has extensive cruising and some racing experience. She has also supervised, organized, and was responsible for crews aboard many tall ships. -- www.harken.com/press/Harken-Poland.php
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The Last Word
Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half the time. -- E.B. White
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