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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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Westernaustralia2011.Com Dismasted in Pacific Ocean
Photo credit: onEdition
westernaustralia2011.com, one of the ten yachts competing in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race, has been dismasted during the race from Qingdao to Hawaii.
At 0600 GMT on the eleventh day of the 4,400-nautical mile Pacific leg, the team representing Western Australia reported that their 81-foot (24.5 metres) mast had snapped approximately halfway down whilst sailing in approximately 10-15 knots of wind under spinnaker.
There are no injuries onboard and the crew of 12, including the professional skipper, has cut away the trailing rigging using hydraulic cutters to prevent damage to the 68-foot yacht's hull. The yacht remains seaworthy and a full assessment of the damage is underway.
The yacht is currently located approximately 700 nautical miles east of Yokohama, Japan in the Pacific Ocean. Due to strong winds from the west, the yacht will continue towards Hawaii under jury rig. The Clipper Race Team is looking at options for refuelling en route and it is likely that westernaustralia2011.com will head for the island of Midway approximately 1,400 miles from their current position.
Clipper Ventures is in the process of sourcing a new mast section and rigging for the yacht so that westernaustralia2011.com can resume racing as soon as is practicably possible.
The reigning champions from Clipper 05-06 are currently lying in sixth place overall after six of the 14 races in the ten-month round the world series. When the dismasting occurred the team was in ninth place with 2,648 miles to run to Hawaii.
www.clipperroundtheworld.com
Holland Regatta Continues as Delta Lloyd Regatta
Amsterdam, Holland: Delta Lloyd and Holland Regatta have formed a partnership. As of today Holland Regatta (known for many years as the SPA Regatta) changes its name to 'Delta Lloyd Regatta'. The Delta Lloyd Regatta will take place from 21 to 25 May 2008, in Medemblik, The Netherlands.
Delta Lloyd has been an active sponsor of the Royal Netherlands Yachting Union for a number of years and is the main sponsor of the Delta Lloyd Squad.
The high esteem in which the Delta Lloyd Regatta is held in the international sailing community clearly shows from the fact that many international sailors consider it the last main event before the Olympic Games. For some of them it is the last opportunity to qualify. More than 1100 sailors from over 60 countries participate in the Delta Lloyd Regatta.
Speaking on behalf of the organization of the Delta Lloyd Regatta, Henri G C van der Aat says: "We are very pleased with this new partnership and consider it a great opportunity to make this event even more successful. To increase the visibility of this aquatic sport, the finals on Saturday evening will be sailed close to the shore. It will be a challenge to all participants, staff and sponsors to make this a successful week. "
Delta Lloyd is the largest insurance company of aquatic sports in the Netherlands and a real partner of the Dutch aquatic sports. The insurance company also sponsors the Delta Lloyd 24-hours Sailing competition, the Delta Lloyd Entrepreneur Regatta and the Delta Lloyd Sailing Institute. To find out more about the aquatic sports activities of Delta Lloyd, please visit: www.deltalloyd.nl/watersport
www.deltalloydregatta.org
Chartering With Ondeck
This winter join Ondeck for the finest inshore racing in the world. We have places for individuals or whole crews aboard our fleet of Farr 40's Farr 65's and the Volvo 60 Pindar. Chartering with Ondeck means service, professionalism and efficiency. With bases in Antigua and USVI, Ondeck can offer unrivalled local knowledge and dedicated shore support. Fuel, mooring fees, race fees and yacht cleaning is included, allowing you the luxury to rock up, race and relax. Feel the thrill of high-performance yacht racing in the clear waters and warm trade winds of the Caribbean!
For more information: www.ondeck.co.uk
Bernard Stamm Wins the Imoca World Championship Title
Photo by Thiery Martinez, www.thmartinez.com
Bernard Stamm (Switzerland), on his "Cheminees Poujoulat" boat has won the IMOCA* 2007 world championship title at the end of a cliff-hanging season. He finished ahead of fellow country-man Dominique Wavre (Temenos) and the winner of the last Barcelona World Race, Frenchman Jean Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac)
In autumn 2007, with two races remaining in the IMOCA world championship series (The Barcelona World Race and the Transat Jacques Vabre), none of the leaders could take anything for granted. Bernard Stamm, wreathed in the glory of his implacable win over Velux 5 Oceans, still had to hold off the attacks of Jean Le Cam (World Champion Title Holder), Dominique Wavre and Jean Pierre Dick.With a third place on the podium of the Transat Jacques Vabre, Cheminees Poujoulat finally increased its lead and this for the second time in the history of the IMOCA championship (Stamm also won the title in 2003).
This championship is proof of the internationalization of an Imoca class now developing rapidly".Jean Pierre Dick: "I'm really proud to be on the podium again, it's a fantastic story we're writing with Paprec and Virbac! This is the icing on the cake of a great series with the Barcelona (1st) and the Rhum (3rd). The team is also really proud to have achieved these results with two different boats! (Virbac Paprec 1 and Paprec Virbac 2)".
Top five ranking (for the '07 Championship there were 29 skippers from 6 nations):
1. Bernard Stamm (Switzerland), Cheminees Poujoulat, 124
2. Dominique Wavre (Switzerland), Temenos, 114
3. Jean Pierre Dick (France), Paprec-Virbac, 112
4. Jean Le Cam (France), VM materiaux, 104
5. Alex Thomson (Great Britain), Hugo Boss, 76
Full rankings on www.imoca.org
Speedsailing World Records Tumble in Saintes Maries de la Mer
Photo of Antoine Albeau by Gilles Martin-Raget, www.martin-raget.com
Antoine Albeau (FRA, Starboard) and Patrik Diethelm (ITA, F2, North) have broken the existing speed sailing records today in Saintes Maries de la Mer, France.
After months of waiting for the big mistral winds, the speed canal at the shores of the mediterrean sea came to life again. Strong mistral winds with 45-50 knots hit the speed strip in a perfect angle, and although the conditions were quite gusty several riders set personal best speeds. Already the first runs of the "big three" Antoine Albeau, Patrik Diethelm and defending world record holder Finian Maynard (BVI, F2) showed, that this day would have the potential to become historic.
At 9:30 hours Patrik Diethelm was the first one making waves, setting a new world production speed record with his F2 Missile XS at 46.51 knots, subject to WSSRC ratification.
Around noon, 12:29 hours exactly, Frenchman Antoine Albeau hit a big gust and flew down the 1km man made canal. The scoreboard stopped at 49 knots, after extensive video checking with the observer from the World Speed Sailing Record Council, the speed was verified at 49.09 knots, 0.4 knots faster than the old record of Finian Maynard.
The riders then pushed for the elusive 50 knots mark, the magical barrier in speedsailing around the world, but til the end of the day no one was able to increase the previous performances.
www.speedworldcup.com
www.mastersofspeed.com
Deputy Editor - Practical Boat Owner
Britain's biggest-selling yachting magazine is looking for a Deputy Editor. We need an experienced journalist for this senior role which includes managing our team of experts, commissioning gear tests, editing key sections of the magazine and writing original features. A good general boating knowledge, including yacht design and construction, onboard systems, navigation, seamanship, rules and regs, and latest product developments, is essential.
The job is based in Poole. Applications to: Sarah Norbury, IPC Media, Westover House, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1JG. Or by email to:
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Closing date: 10th March
IRC at the IRR
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands: After a year's hiatus due to prostate cancer, Bill Alcott (St. Claire Shores, Mich.) will be returning to the International Rolex Regatta (March 28-30, 2008) to prove he still has what it takes to win... on the race course and at life. His Great Lakes-based Equation, a 70-foot Andrews-designed "sled," was just shipped to St. Thomas for the racing season.
"I've been coming to the islands to race since the '80s and there isn't a team that has more fun than Equation's," said Alcott. "The CSA rule, however, has never liked my sled, so it was getting harder to persuade people to go sailing when we couldn't do well. It will be helpful for me to see the difference with my results under IRC." (The International Rolex Regatta, which traditionally has hosted CSA handicap, one-design and Beach Cat racing, is one of three events in the Caribbean to add a specific class for IRC this year.)
Alcott says the IRC racing, in fact, made all the difference in him coming back with Equation.
Among the other boats vying for IRC honors at the International Rolex Regatta will be the Swan 601CR Aquarious, skippered by Sam Fleet (East Greenwich, R.I.) and the canting keel Cookson 50 Privateer, sailed by fellow New Englander Ron O'Hanley (Ipswich, Mass.) Another big gun Alcott will be up against at the International Rolex Regatta is Clive Llewellyn (Paris, France) aboard his Judel Vrolik 49 Mad IV. Last year, Llewellyn missed winning the Rolex watch in Spinnaker Racing 1 by two points, leaving it to be worn home by Antigua's Carlo Falcone aboard his Vallicelli 44 Caccia Alla Volpe.
Returning to collect on his 2007 Governor's Cup prize of accommodations for his entire crew at the Marriott Frenchman's Reef Hotel is Marc Noordhoek of The Netherlands. His 41-foot X yacht Xpresso competed in Spinnaker Racing Cruising Class and was the boat that traveled the farthest on its own keel for last year's event.
www.rolexcupregatta.com
Vendee Globe
The hull of the new 60' boat aboard which Marc Thiercelin will be taking part in his fourth Vendee Globe has just been released from its mould in the Multiplast yard in Vannes. As the entire structure of the hull and compartments has been finished, the hull of the DCNS boat now dominates the workshop, the fruit of a close collaboration between designers from the Finot-Conq studio and the Multiplast team. The deck-hull assembly is due to be carried out later this week.
The DCNS boat has been built as a joint effort between the Multiplast yard (for the hull and its assembly), the Larros boatyard in Arcachon (for the deck) and CDK in Port la Foret (for the mast). She will also be benefiting from all the expertise of the DCNS teams, who have contributed to the manufacture of some parts of the boat.
* Twice winner of the single-handed round the world race with stopovers (the Velux Five Oceans, formerly Around Alone) he would not have missed this appointment with the Vendee Globe for anything in the world, as this is one race he has not yet been successful in. Bernard Stamm, the most Breton of Swiss nationals, has become the thirteenth name to register officially for the Everest of the Seas. He will certainly be one of the ones to watch in the fleet.
www.vendeeglobe.org
Peters & May And Sevenstar Join Forces To Create New Yacht Racing Logistics Service
Peters & May and Sevenstar Yacht Transport are pleased to announce a new venture to provide specialised logistics for the yacht racing community. This initiative will provide racing teams and yachting associations with a total logistics package offering global solutions for yacht transport, spares positioning, refit work and multi-destination racing programmes amongst others. Peters & May and Sevenstar will also focus on developing new routes as yacht racing expands into new areas of the world.
Grant Davidson, Logistics Director for Americas Cup Team BMW Oracle stated: "Current transportation services to the yacht racing community remain fragmented in terms of service offerings and geographic reach. This combination will provide a more comprehensive offering resulting in an increased efficiency of service through better planning and execution"
Contact Craig Stanbury on
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, or +442380 480492.
www.petersandmay.com
Acura Miami Grand Prix - Racing Begins Thursday
The marina at night...
Miami Beach, Florida, USA: A spectacular location and superb sailing conditions are two reasons why 61 boats from 14 countries have entered the 2008 Acura Miami Grand Prix, being held Thursday through Sunday off South Beach.
Competition figures to be particularly keen in the Farr 40 class, which is priming for its world championship - being held off Miami in early April. Ten of the top 12 finishers at Acura Key West 2008 are part of a strong 29-boat fleet that will test sails and become familiar with the venue.
The fast growing Melges 32 class was also hotly contested in Key West and another battle royale shapes up for Acura Miami Grand Prix. Jeff Ecklund skippered Star to a narrow two-point victory over New Wave (Mike Carroll and Marty Kullman) at Key West and knows it will be tough to repeat that feat.
Dave Brennan, a lifelong Miami resident, returns for his fifth year as principal race officer. Brennan hopes to complete 10 windward-leeward races set off Hawk Channel just south of Government Cut.
"The breeze tends to be very steady off Miami this time of year," said Brennan, who is coming off a successful stint as PRO for the Etchells Jaguar Series. "Sea conditions inside the reef are terrific when the wind is under 15 knots. If it kicks up to 18 or 20, the waves tend to corner up and it can get a bit bumpy."
It's doubtful conditions will ever get rough enough to bother Dan Meyer's Numbers, a Judel-Vrolijk 66-footer that is largest in the fleet and scratch entry in IRC 1.
Meyers has notable crew members aboard including tactician Brad Butterworth and trimmer Warrick Fleury, members of the two-time America's Cup champion Alinghi Racing syndicate. Butterworth has raced with Meyers on four different versions of Numbers dating back to 1996.
Flash Glove, a JV 52 owned by Colm Barrington of Dublin, Ireland, was runner-up in IRC 1 class at Key West - winning three races and finishing just four points behind Numbers.
There is an interesting mix of boats in IRC 2 with a trio of Swan 42s taking on a J/44, J/122 and Aerodyne 38. Robin Team, owner of the J/122 Teamwork, is anxious to see how the fleet sorts out.
Competitors in all classes will be looking to capture the Acura Grand Prix Trophy, awarded for best overall performance at the two major winter regattas organized by Premiere Racing.
www.premiere-racing.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.
* From Grant Wharington.: Well said Colm Barrington, its nice to hear some sensible comments from a fixed keel boat owner.
After my ground breaking 30 m canting keel yacht was launched in late 2003, complying with the 10deg static heel rule which was in place at that time for racing in Australia, we were clearly ahead of the IRC rule makers with this type of boat as most regattas in 2004 we won line honours and overall IRC including Hamilton island race week. At that time we rated 1.610 tcc , however after 4 years of incremental increases in our handicap due to improved performance of newer boats of similar type, our tcc is now 1.750 !! Our IRC wins today are few and far between. Due to a similar small group of owners beating their drum in Australia most regattas are separating divisions based on size and canting or non canting boats, however fortunately the major trophy for the biggest race of the year, the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race is the boat with the lowest corrected time (sure there are still divisional winners) but everyone aspires to win the George Adams tattasalls trophy. This has only once been one by a canting or water ballasted boat in conditions which arguably should suit movable ballasted boats i.e stronger winds with large reaching component.
The every dog has its day approach needs to be taken on board by ALL owners. Does anybody really think that it is possible to have a single number rating system (which we all wanted due to the complexity of IMS) which will accurately handicap windward / Leeward and offshore courses in 5 to 50 knots of wind ? Please be serious and not show your ignorance!
Those beating the drum are usually the ones who buy old boats and expect to win offshore races when they don't scrub the bottoms of their boats or carry reaching sails such as jib tops in their inventory, and then complain to the rule makers that they rate too high.
This is simply a rating issue, leave it up to those who administer the rules. If anything we need less class separation and a greater focus on overall winners so our sport is not fragmented ever further than it already is!
* From Manfred Schreiber: Reading with interest the debate. Why do they exchange rough letters and arguments and do not put on the table the most interfering thing which happens to non-canters when starting together with canters. A much bigger problem other than when starting with 35 footers against 39 footers within a certain IMS rating band. You really do not want to have a canter on your leeward side. It brings you to a halt and steals from you the minutes and seconds which you need to score well. Same of course with a windward canter which leaves you in the wake of his dirty air. Other boats start rolling you. A good finish is already out of sight 5 minutes after the start.
Do not put these very different machines into the same starting sequence. The Cowes Week organisers are doing the right thing. The fun is only for the crews sitting low on their canters and leaving their "competitors" in their wake. Not good sportsmanship I would say.
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The Last Word
Barometer, n.: An ingenious instrument which indicates what kind of weather we are having. -- Ambrose Bierce
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