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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 Dinghy Show
Photo of the new Alto, from www.altoboats.com
The RYA Dinghy Sailing Show runs this weekend - Saturday March 1 and Sunday March 2 - at London's Alexandra Palace with Olympic medallist and five times Finn Gold Cup winner Ben Ainslie performing the opening ceremony.
The show is playing host to some magnificent oldies this year, say the organisers, including an early wooden Wayfarer, celebrating its 50th birthday this year.
This year is also the 40th birthday year for the Yawl - a GRP derivative of the 200 year old wooden Salcombe Yawl - and the refitted DY92 Skerrybore daysailer will be on show.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Merlin Rocket Association's bright orange hi-tech General Lee will be hard to miss. Fully carboned on deck, the boat is full of the string equipment and controls that are the signature of the Merlin.
The Alto, a new two-person single trapeze high performance racing dinghy, incorporating the Altopole asymmetric spinnaker pole system, debuts at the show, as does Devon Composites' new Hornet, featuring a spaceframe construction and double bottom.
Visitors will get the chance to meet sailing clubs from all over the UK and a huge number of class associations will also be at the show.
The Scorpion class is showing off its 2007 National Championship winning, lightweight, high-performance, 2-man, 3-sail symmetric, while the Solo Class will be displaying three new build/builder options. The Hurricane 5.9 Class is offering test sails in its three-sail Hurricane SX boat, on display at the show.
With the resurgence in interest in Mirror sailing, there will be three boats on show, with top builder Alistair Duffin demonstrating some of the techniques of building a Mirror from a kit, assisted by members who have previously built or repaired their own boats. The boat will be built on the MCA's new jig, which is available for members to borrow to help build a fast shaped Mirror.
The Moth class association international will be displaying a new Axiom v.4 Aardvark Technologies and Gul International will be hosting visits to the stand by members of Skandia Team GBR who will be signing posters.
To book tickets go online at http://www.dinghysailingshow.org.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0845 345 0424. All pre-booked tickets (purchased by February 26) are automatically entered into a free prize draw to win a family holiday from Crystal Active. -- Boating Business,
www.boatingbusiness.com
Skandia Cowes Week 2-9 August
Cowes, Isle of Wight: After a very successful 14-year tenure, 2008 is Skandia's last year as title sponsor of Cowes Week which this year is held between the 2nd and 9th August. The regatta organisers are looking positively to the future as they continue their search for a new headline sponsor to join them in taking this great British sporting event to its next phase.
An important part of the structure now in place to ensure a smooth transition to a new title sponsor is the recent formation of Cowes Week Limited (CWL). Wholly owned by Cowes Combined Clubs, this new management company has overall responsibility for policy decisions and the strategic direction of the regatta.
Whole regatta entries only - no daily entries
After a number of comments from competitors over recent years regarding the way that boats that were only entered for a day or two could affect their overall position, it was decided last year to insist that all entries were for the whole regatta and that daily entries would not be allowed. Although we realise that this adversely affected a few crews, the consensus from competitor feedback was that this was a good change. Entries for 2008 will once again only be for the whole regatta. Class Zero will be racing all week.
Canting Keels
With only a small number of large boats with canting keels expected in 2008, it has been decided that to give them their own class is not justified but at the same time, racing canting keel boats against those with fixed keels is never satisfactory. It has therefore been decided that any boat over 14metres overall with a canting keel will have to fix their keel amidships for entry to Skandia Cowes Week. They will then be eligible to apply for a new, lower IRC rating.
New Classes for 2008
The organisers are delighted to be able to offer racing for four additional classes this year. These are the J-80s, Beneteau 40.7s, 1/4 tonners and the combined onDeck fleet of Farr 65s and Clipper 68s.
The Artemis Challenge is back in 08
Plans for the 2008 regatta are progressing well and, at this early stage, the organisers can already confirm that the Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week, will be held on Tuesday 5th August. The Artemis Challenge is a 50-mile sprint around the Isle of Wight held specifically and exclusively for Open 60 yachts. The race is hosted by Artemis Investment Management, one of the UK's leading investment companies who are title sponsors of Artemis Ocean Racing, an IMOCA Open 60 campaign, and Business Club Partners with IMOCA, the International 60 feet Monohull Open Class Association.
Notice of Regatta
Entries for this year's Skandia Cowes Week will be open from 16th April. Please enter online by visiting www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk
Z-System Ultra Rigging -
Higher Performance Through Lower Weight and Windage
Navtec has taken PBO rigging to the next level with Z-System Ultra - fully continuous fiber rigging that allows all shrouds to pass over the spreader tips without termination. That means fewer parts, 10% weight reduction over traditional PBO, 20% less windage and a lower chance of failure when you're out on the water. According to designer Alan Andrews, "In the case of It's OK, Navtec continuous rigging has 10 fewer end fittings than discontinuous rigging, making installation, tensioning and maintenance of the rig a lot easier." To find out more about Z-System Ultra, call + 1 203-458-6200
More on Z-System Ultra at en.lewmar.com/news/index.aspx?newsid=329
Zwitserleven Round Texel Race
Texel, Netherlands: From 1 March 2008 onwards, catamaran sailors from all over the world can enter for the 31st Zwitserleven Round Texel. Entries can be made online, on www.roundtexel.com . Just like in 2007, recreational participants can opt for the silver fleet. In this case, entry is cheaper and less complicated. The gold fleet is open for racing teams that have a valid measurement certificate for their boat. The annual sports spectacle starts on Saturday 7 June 2008, around 10 AM just off the coast at Paal 17. Then hundreds of catamarans will head for the lighthouse in the north of the island Texel.
The foreign competitors in the gold fleet should possess a valid measurement form. That also allows them to compete in the official Dutch Catamaran Sailing Championship, which is called Texel Dutch Open. This event takes place at the same location from Wednesday the 4th until Friday the 6th of June. The rules of entry also apply for sailors in the silver fleet, but for them the organisation buys off the required certificates. "In this manner we try to lower the participation threshold, but all competitors are of course more than welcome to compete for the prizes in the gold fleet. That's completely up to them. We want to keep offering everyone this cheaper and simpler option", says Race Co-ordinator Edwin Lodder.
On Friday 6 June, in the afternoon twelve top teams, who have been invited, will appear at the start of the TNG Short track Races. These shorter and therefore exciting matches take place close to the shore. After every race, the three crews that finished last drop out. In the end only the winner is left. -- Diana Bogaards
www.roundtexel.com
Solent Spectacular
Over 6,000 miles of RORC organised racing kicks off this Easter with the 17th edition of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge. There is a mouth-watering prospect of a huge variety of yachts scheduled for seven races in just three days from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd of March. Competitors take note that it is two weeks earlier than last year.
The Red Funnel Easter Regatta is particularly noted for its relaxed rules on outside assistance and the world class coaching provided by Jim Saltonstall, Barry Dunning and Cathy Foster who will be giving free, on-the-water tuition and full and frank video debriefings after racing each day.
The Red Funnel Easter Challenge organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club attracts a wide spectrum of entries; including production yachts and custom built designs.The impressive fleet of Farr 45s is expected to turn out in numbers, the fleet enjoy close racing and relish the tight Solent courses but this year, the growing number of modified TP52s will be the fastest fleet on the course.
America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veteran, Steve Hayles will be navigating on board Ran, for the Red Funnel Easter Challenge. Ran an IRC optimized TP 52, owned by Swedish born Niklas Zennstrom boasts an all star crew of America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Racers. There will be as many as ten of these carbon fibre flyers ripping up the Solent this year and at least five are expected to be competing at Easter for the first time including Serguei Shevtsov's Russian entry, Valars and Stuart Robinson's, Stay Calm.
Whilst the big boat line up looks impressive indeed, there will be some great racing and interesting boats in all of the classes especially as the RYA have announced that they will be using the Red Funnel Easter Challenge as a trial event for selecting teams for this year's Rolex Commodores' Cup.
There will definitely be some well sailed Irish yachts competing at Easter; Eamonn Rohan's brand new Mills 40, Blondie IV is entered for her maiden event and Colm Barrington's new Ker 39, Silk Glove is also expected. Conor and Denise Phelan's Ker 37, Jump Juice and Eamon Crosbie's Ker 32, Voodoo Chile should be racing, making a very competitive Irish line up.
There will also be a large contingent of J/109s racing under IRC at the Red Funnel Easter Challenge, including RORC Commodore, David Aisher, who will be racing Yeoman XXX at Easter for the first time.
The Red Funnel Easter Challenge is not restricted to RORC yachts, any yacht with a valid IRC certificate is most welcome and the owners and their crew will benefit from the superb coaching and the friendly atmosphere.
Enter for the Red Funnel Easter Challenge online via the RORC website: www.rorc.org by 13th March 2008.
Life Raft & Survival Equipment - Serious About Safety - Serious About Savings
Life Raft & Survival Equipment (LRSE) has been in the safety business for 25 years. LRSE is an authorized dealer for all major life raft brands and has an extensive service facility as well. They are also authorized dealers for Avon and Zodiac Inflatables.
With the US dollar being so low relative to the Euro you can save significant money buying your safety gear or inflatable from a US company. Shipping is no problem at all. So go to www.lrse.com or call+1-401-683-0307 and see what you can save!
Vendee Globe
Following the presentation of his project at the Dusseldorf Boat Show last month, Norbert Sedlacek has remained busy preparing his boat Nauticsport Kapsch for her entry in the Vendee Globe 2008-2009. During the show, he was able to announce that he has signed a new partnership with the Swiss watchmaker, Chronoswiss, and since then has been busy at work at the boatyard. Several hundred litres of paint, laqueur and anti-fouling have been prepared and the boat's colours are ready to be applied in the coming days. For several weeks, the team have been concentrating on the keel head mechanism, as this requires some fine tooling and precision work, in order to avoid the sort of problem, which forced the Austrian to retire from the last Vendee Globe. The first sea trails are planned for April, but before that there will be another occasion for the crowds to take a look at the project at the Tulln Boat Show in Austria on 6th March.
Sam Davies's preparations for the Vendee Globe 2008-2009 have been continuing over the past few weeks in Lorient. Her monohull, Roxy has been fitted with new daggerboards, the roof has been extended and two new winches installed. The team is busy working on the paintwork on the Open 60, aboard which the English yachtswoman will be setting sail from les Sables d'Olonne in November. The deck is once again brilliant white and Roxy's colours are due to be applied this week. Meanwhile, Sam has been doing some weather training with the router, Jean-Yves Bernot in Port La Foret. This week, she is looking forward to training alongside Isabelle Joschke, as she gets ready for the Solitaire du Figaro.
Over the past few weeks, Derek Hatfield's campaign has been making progress. Following the Toronto and Vancouver Boat Shows, the Spirit of Canada team was pleased to announce that 5000 individual supporters have now contributed to the appeal and will have their name be painted on the hull of the Open 60. The aim of the campaign is to support the first Canadian boat to take part in the Vendee Globe and they hope to reach 10,000 signatures before the start in Les Sables d'Olonne. Some local fans have even signed up twice, no doubt tempted by the lucky draw, which will allow one of the supporters to win a trip aboard Spirit of Canada.
www.vendeeglobe.org
SEAHORSE SAILOR OF THE MONTH
Last month's winner:
Francis Joyon (FRA)
'Thanks for nominating me again - I think I've got a bit on to win this time! In fact, I would have voted for Joyon but wanted to make sure that I wasn't the first ever nominee with no votes'
- Ian Williams; 'Ian Williams vs. Joyon. At least give the boy a chance! How can you vote against a God' - Scott MacLeod.
This month's nominees:
Giles Scott (GBR)
While Ben Ainslie was busy winning his fifth Finn Gold Cup, young fellow pom Giles Scott was finishing in 14th place overall, a remarkable 133 points clear of the runner-up for this year's Junior Gold Cup title, Piotr Kula of Poland. Finishing just behind established Finnmeisters Anthony 'Noka' Nossiter and Rafaelo Trujillo while still young enough to qualify as a youth entry... no wonder Ben himself is tipping Scott for stardom.
Torvar Mirsky (AUS)
Young New Zealand match racer Adam Minoprio is certainly good, as we've seen from his performances against the 'seeded players' at the Auckland Cup. However Australia has a new rising star of its own, and in the style of his countryman Peter Gilmour, Torvar Mirsky came back from a poor first day to win the Warren Jones Youth Regatta for the second time, pushing Minoprio back into the runner-up slot
Seahorse Sailor of the Month is sponsored by Harken McLube, Dubarry & Henri Lloyd.
Cast your vote at seahorsemagazine.com
Specialists In Yacht Shipping
Dee Caffari's (Aviva Racing) new Open 60 as well as Hugo Boss II (Volvo 60) were shipped from Australia / New Zealand to Northern Europe this month. All arranged by Complete Freight, specialists in yacht shipping. The open 60 will arrive into Antwerp from New Zealand on Monday where she will be loaded to a smaller feeder vessel for shipment to Lisbon. It is understood that Aviva Racing will undergo training along side E-Cover III in Portugal prior to the Artemis Transat in May.
Any teams with containers interested in shipment to the start of the Transat please contact Complete Freight www.completefreight.com
Letters To The Editor
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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.
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 Ger O'Rourke: Cowes week advertise (below) IRC a "fully international rating system" on its web site, Yet canting keel yachts above 14m will have to pin there keel's (if it wasn't a safety hazard it would be a joke) this shows a complete lack of understanding of canters, there sail area would be overly canvassed over 10 knots of TWS using same rig & sails with there keels pined, to ask a canting keel yacht to do so is a serious breach of safety, a total IRC joke, why have an IRC cert at all.
Put Canters in our own class as done so last year & let us develop a class, if one wants to pin there keel, shorten there sail area, rig, put mote weight or extent there draft let IRC re handicap they & let IRC bands be the class band for all.
I strongly suggest you ask your club committees to reconsider as if not to do so will be the death of an exciting form of sailing that the southern hemisphere has let growth to a class.
This if let go will be the fall of the Northern young sailor experience & enjoying this exciting form of multi hull sailing in a mono hull before its allowed get to build a class, while the NZ & Aussies build experience, it will be our loss.
What is the point of having an IRC cert if you cant race - I suggest IRC will be the loser even for the majority of the fleet (who benefit from improvements in this type of IRC yacht) if this trend is let go un checked.
Cowes web site is making a joke out of IRC banning the IRC paid up certified canters.
The press, media & event sponsors should be advised the Maxis will not be there, the event will be the less for not having the maxi's, the V70's, the open 60's, 50's & 40's driving IRC backwards. I suggest Cork week is better bang for you buck as they are all IRC inclusive & the global media will be there at the expensive of Cowes.
From Cowes Week NOR:
IRC
A fully international rating system that is used by many thousands of boats worldwide. Skandia Cowes Week has 10 classes racing under this system, ensuring tight rating bands and close racing in fleets between 30 and 60. Again, ratings can be obtained from www.rorcrating.com and in 2008 a new rating costs 8.60 GBP per metre LOA.
Canting Keels
With only a small number of large boats with canting keels expected in 2008, it has been decided that to give them their own class is not justified but at the same time, racing canting keel boats against those with fixed keels is never satisfactory. It has therefore been decided that any boat over 14metres overall with a canting keel will have to fix their keel amidships for entry to Skandia Cowes Week. They will then be eligible to apply for a new, lower IRC rating.
* From Anatole Masfen: I was very disappointed to hear that the administration at Scandia Cowes Week have decided to exclude canting keel yachts over 14M.
(By definition pinning the keel makes them a fixed keel yacht)
I was in Cowes for the Etchells worlds in Jun and have participated in Cowes week on a couple of occasions over the years. What a fantastic event!
And as regards Cowes itself it is often described as the "home of yachting", I affectionately know it as the Disneyland of yachting (a yachting theme park)
I am the proud owner of the Cookson 50, Pussy Galore and enjoy fantastic racing in mixed fleets in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific.
The highlight of our calendar is Hamilton Island race week in the Whitsundays. Canting keel boats (as well as the latest greatest specifically IRC designed yachts) are welcomed. The divisional split is IRC racing, IRC premier, PHRF 1, etc.
Those that don't want to compete with the top canting keel yachts and purpose designed IRC boats have the choice to enter IRC premier, and still enjoy fantastic racing and a great time but with less professional sailors and a lower level of competition. Anyway Hamilton Island is the worlds best organized and most enjoyable mixed fleet regatta in the world. I would be interested to hear of anyone who has sailed the regatta who would not back up this statement.
If Scandia Cowes week wants to remain on the international yachting calendar as a top grade event which is likely to attract international participants, then don't start excluding the worlds best sailors and their yachts!
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The Last Word
When you look at yourself from a universal standpoint, something inside always reminds or informs you that there are bigger and better things to worry about. -- Albert Einstein
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