EuroSail News #4436

In This Issue
• Maxi racing gets underway at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
• Horsfield & Burridge win Great British Sailing Challenge
• Robline in a nutshell…may we introduce the brand
• Sixty sailors in Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA fleet
• 102 Submit Advance Entries to 2020 Newport Bermuda Race
• Hempel Team of the Year Award
• Beam me up (Scotty) - Fast Forward Composites
• World Sailing Show for October 2019
• Industry News
• Featured Charter: J/122 Noisy Oyster
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Libertist 853
• • M.A.T. 12 - Night Owl 2
• • Maxi Cannonball
• The Last Word: Gary Snyder

Brought to you by Seahorse magazine and YachtScoring.com EuroSail News 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

Maxi racing gets underway at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
Crash between Marigold (black hull) and Endrick And on the 20th anniversary of the creation of Les Voiles after the Nioularge had to be scrapped due to the fatal Mariette crash. Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.

After the first day was blown off due to excess wind, the Mistral gave way today to light conditions enabling racing for the maxi yachts to start finally at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, organised by the Societe Nautique de Saint-Tropez.

This year, with the support of the International Maxi Association (IMA), the Wally and four maxi classes within the IRC A group have their own race committee and PRO and their own race area off Saint-Tropez’ famous Pampelonne beach. This leaves the smaller classes, and of course the mass gathering of classic yachts for which this event is famous, to compete on the Golfe de Saint-Tropez.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is also the final event of the IMA’s inaugural Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge, that has included Sail Racing PalmaVela, Rolex Capri Sailing Week, Rolex Giraglia (inshores), Copa del Rey MAFPRE and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. The event has also become the second largest gathering of maxi yachts in the IMA calendar after the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.

In Saint-Tropez this week four boats are competing in the Wally class, including the two Wallycentos, Sir Lindsay Owen Jones’s Magic Carpet 3 and David Leuschen’s Galateia, while seven of the largest ‘Modern’ maxis are racing here for the Loro Piana Trophy in IRCA.1, the largest being Ronald de Waal's J Class Velsheda; the fastest American George David's Rambler 88.

Twenty other maxis are competing across the three other classes IRCA 2-4 (plus another seven in IRC B). Among these are the grand prix racers, Jim Swartz’s Maxi 72 Vesper and Sir Peter Ogden’s 77ft Jethou in IRCA.4.

One of the most competitive classes is IRCA.3 where IMA President Benoît de Froidmont’s Wally 60 Wallyño and Jean-Pierre Barjon’s Swan 601 Lorina 1895 are neck and neck in the IMA’s Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge: Whoever wins this week will almost certainly receive the silver trophy at Saturday’s prizegiving.

Today the race committee laid on a coastal course from Pampelonne to Cavalaire and back. After a wait for the wind to fill in, the starts were given in 8-10 knots although this subsequently dropped and the yachts also found themselves negotiating a transition zone in the wind. The Wallys and the IRC A.1 giants twice sailed this lap, south and then west around the Taillat headland, while the remaining classes went round once.

The big breeze is due to return for racing tomorrow with a layday scheduled for Thursday before the final two days on Friday and Saturday and the prizegiving Sunday. -- James Boyd / International Maxi Association

Full results

www.internationalmaxiassociation.com

lesvoilesdesaint-tropez.fr

Horsfield & Burridge win Great British Sailing Challenge
Simon Horsfield and Katie Burridge. Photo by Tim Olin. Click on image for photo gallery.

Simon Horsfield and Katie Burridge have won the first ever Grand Final of the Great British Sailing Challenge, racing their 2000 very effectively across a range of conditions on Rutland Water.

The event, which took place over 28 & 29 September, was the culmination of a year of multi-class handicap racing around the country. A fleet of over 60 boats representing 41 different classes - ranging in size and speed from the RS Tera to the Nacra 20 Carbon - had responded to the invitation to compete in the Final. With the prospect of some very strong wind over the weekend, not all the invitees made the journey to Rutland. For those that did, Saturday’s three back-to-back races around a trapezoid course proved to be a very stiff challenge for the competitors who ranged in age from 11 to 82, with lots of family members sailing together.

With the wind gusting well over 20 knots at times, staying upright and keeping the boat in one piece was a challenge in itself, even for this fleet which included several current and past national champions, Olympians, along with current and past winners of the Selden SailJuice Winter Series. However, the tight top and bottom reaches around the square course were working well for the 2000 of Horsfield and Burridge who were able to carry the gennaker for three of the four legs. This duo had already proven their handicap racing prowess earlier this year when they won the Selden SailJuice Winter Series.

However, one of the few multihulls competing was giving Horsfield and Burridge more than a run for their money, as local sailor Steven Sawford muscled his Sprint 15 around the course with great skill. Notching up scores of 1,4,2 put Sawford in the lead by the end of Saturday followed by the very consistent performance of Penny and Russ Clark who scored 2,2,3 in their immaculately sailed 505. Georgia Booth and Olly Davenport improved throughout the day, sailing their Fireball to 8,5,1 during the course of the tough afternoon.

In the Y&Y Battle of the Classes for the combined scores of the best two boats in class, the Scorpion came out on top, with the Fireball second and the 2000 in third overall.

There were a number of categories within the overall competition, and prizes awarded according to boat type, age etc. See all the categories from this link

With the first season now complete, the next edition kicks off shortly for the 2019/20 GBSC at the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash. A series of qualifying events will take place across the country through to next year’s Finals in September/October 2020. A venue has yet to be confirmed, so expressions of interest are welcomed. Please contact Andy Rice at andy@sailjuice.com

www.sailingchallenge.org

Robline in a nutshell…may we introduce the brand:
For those who did not realize yet, there is a new brand name at the market - Robline. Having its heritage in the 1990s where company TEUFELBERGER acquired FSE, the German yachting brand, and the yachting line segment of Roblon, the Danish rope manufacturer. This together became FSE Robline back in the days. However to go with time and to not stop moving forward TEUFELBERGER decided to give this brand a new appealing look - Robline featuring now the colours monsungrey and cucuum instead of red and blue. Why? Because we want to be forerunners and stand out of the mass!

Read more soon!

www.roblineropes.com

Sixty sailors in Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA fleet
On Sunday 27th October, thirty IMOCAs will line up for the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre - a record. That means sixty sailors (including seven women and sixteen non-French sailors) will be doing battle over the 4350 miles separating Le Havre from Salvador da Bahia. However, it is not just the number of sailors that is interesting.

There were thirteen in 2017 and this year, there will be thirty boats. From one edition to another, the number of double-handed crews competing in the Transat Jacques Vabre has more than doubled.

Among the sixty sailors competing, 15 took part in the 2016-2016 Vendee Globe, including the three who made it to the podium: Armel Le Cleac’h, Alex Thomson and Jeremie Beyou. We will also be seeing the legendary Jean Le Cam and Vincent Riou, along with Yann Elies, Louis Burton, Alan Roura, Romain Attanasio, Paul Meilhat (winner of the 2018 Route du Rhum), Thomas Ruyant, Arnaud Boissieres, Morgan Lagraviere, Fabrice Amedeo and Stephane Le Diraison.

Then, there are the sailors who did not take part in the 2016-2017 Vendee Globe, but who have already taken part in most of the races in the IMOCA Globe Series, including the 2018 Route du Rhum. That is the case concerning Boris Herrmann, Damien Seguin, Yannick Bestaven, Sam Davies, Isabelle Joschke, Ari Huusela, Manuel Cousin, Erik Nigon and Alexia Barrier.

Among the sailors who will be taking part in their first IMOCA transatlantic race on an IMOCA, a few names stand out. There is for example the highly experienced sailor, Kevin Escoffier, who won the Jules Verne Trophy (in 2012) and the 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race. Kevin has paired up with Nicolas Lunven, who has already taken part in the Transat Jacques Vabre on an IMOCA (on Safran in 2015) but has never completed the race. The holder of the Transat Jacques Vabre title in Class40, Maxime Sorel is back this time on an IMOCA with Guillaume Le Brec. This race will also be the first big event for the Figaro racers, Anthony Marchand and Benjamin Dutreux. As for Miranda Merron and Halvard Mabire, it is a case of rediscovering the race. The most experienced ocean racing couple will be making their come-back here aboard an IMOCA.

As is customary in IMOCA races, there will be races within the race in this fleet of 16 foilers and 14 IMOCAs with straight daggerboards (including one launched more than twenty years ago, 4myplanet). With less than a month to go to the start, each pair will be determining their own goals and identifying which of their rivals they would like to see behind them…

IMOCAs registered for the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre:

11th Hour Racing: Charlie Enright and Pascal Bidegorry
4myplanet: Alexia Barrier and Joan Mulloy
Advens for Cybersecurity: Thomas Ruyant and Antoine Koch
Apivia: Charlie Dalin and Yann Elies
Ariel 2: Ari Huusela and Michael Ferguson
Arkea Paprec: Sebastien Simon and Vincent Riou
Banque Populaire X: Clarisse Cremer and Armel le Cleac'h
Bureau Vallee 2: Louis Burton and Davy Beaudart
Campagne de France: Miranda Merron and Halvard Mabire
Charal: Jeremie Beyou and Christopher Pratt
CORUM L'Epargne: Nicolas Troussel and Jean Le Cam
Fortil: Clement Giraud and Remi Beauvais
Groupe APICIL : Damien Seguin and Yoann Richomme
Groupe Setin: Manuel Cousin and Gildas Morvan
Hugo Boss: Alex Thomson and Neal McDonald
Initiatives - Cœur: Samantha Davies and Paul Meilhat
La Fabrique: Alan Roura and Sebastien Audigane
La Mie Caline - Artipole: Arnaud Boissieres and Xavier Macaire
MACSF: Isabelle Joschke and Morgan Lagraviere
Maître CoQ: Yannick Bestaven and Roland Jourdain
Malizia 2 - Yacht Club de Monaco: Boris Hermann and Will Harris
Newrest - Art & Fenetres: Fabrice Amedeo and Eric Peron
Pip Hare Ocean Racing: Pip Hare and Andrew Baker
PRB: Kevin Escoffier and Nicolas Lunven
Prysmian Group: Giancarlo Pedote and Anthony Marchand
Pure: Romain Attanasio and Sebastien Marsset
Time for Oceans: Stephane Le Diraison and Francois Guiffant
V & B - Mayenne: Maxime Sorel and Guillaume Le Brec
Vers un monde sans sida: Erik Nigon and Tolga Ekrem Pamir
Water Family: Benjamin Dutreux and Thomas Cardrin

imoca.org

102 Submit Advance Entries to 2020 Newport Bermuda Race
Starting your preparations early for an ocean race far from land is a key to sailing a long distance, quickly and safely. This salty truism suggests that more than 100 boats and crews will be better prepared than ever for the next Newport Bermuda Race, which opened entries last June - a year in advance of the start and several months earlier than in the past.

As of Sept. 20th - nine months ahead of the start - organizers had already received 102 entries and were expecting many more by the final entry deadline next April. (Read more on entering the race.)

For 2020, the organizers have emphasized making the race simpler and easier to enter, updating regulations for crew safety training and yacht inspections, revamping the bermudarace.com website, and improving the online entry system itself.

The biennial race had 169 starters in 2018, including new divisions for multihulls and superyachts, and has typically had between 160 and 195 boats entered. “This early response is a terrific start!" said Gowell. "We’d like to top 200 entries, but whatever the final number, we’re committed to making it easier to enter and prepare for this historic race.”

Sailboats ranging from 33 to 100-plus feet will arrive in Newport or nearby ports on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay beginning in April and May 2020. Before the start on June 19th, roughly 2000 sailors plus family and friends will arrive at the hub of activity - the Newport Bermuda Race Village at Bowen’s Wharf and the Seaman’s Church, which opens June 13th.

Entries will continue to be accepted until April 5, 2020. In past years, race organizers accepted entries only between January to early April.

bermudarace.com

Hempel Team of the Year Award
World Sailing is pleased to announce a star-studded list of nominees for the 2019 Hempel Team of the Year Award, with entries from Australia, Switzerland and the USA in the running.

Switzerland’s Alinghi, the Australian SailGP Team, Wild Oats XI of Australia and the American boat Wizard all feature on the shortlist following their success over the last 12 months of high-performance international competition.

The Hempel Team of the Year Award celebrates teams of two or more sailors who personify the sporting values of integrity, ambition, resilience and resourcefulness.

The shortlist was drawn up by Yann Rocherieux, Chairman of World Sailing’s Athletes’ Commission and World Sailing Board Member; Thomas Olsen, Decorative and Yacht Marketing Director at Hempel, World Sailing’s Official Coatings Partner; Stan Honey, Chairman of the Oceanic and Offshore Committee; Eddie Warden Owen, CEO of the Royal Ocean Racing Club; and Andy Rice, leading sailing journalist.

The judging panel will vote on the winner before they are announced on Tuesday 29 October 2019 at the World Sailing Awards in Bermuda.

The shortlist:
Alinghi (SUI)
Australian SailGP Team (AUS)
Wild Oats XI (AUS)
Wizard (USA)

www.sailing.org

Beam me up (Scotty) - Fast Forward Composites
Much-awaited by her enthusiastic following of fans of the smartest high performance sailing ideas the Eagle 53 is about to get airborne...

Tommy Gonzalez and his team at Fast Forward Composites have gone slowly and carefully with their Eagle Class 53 project, recognising that previous attempts by others to leap towards the promise of foiling large multihulls have had unsuccessful and even dangerous outcomes. As he says, it took years of efforts at the America’s Cup to apply the focus on research, design and testing to start to get it right at that level, and without those resources then understanding the nuances of control in this design space dictates a more measured and methodical approach strategy to understand foiled flight to get it right.

So it’s exciting to see that after a winter of testing and refinement in the Caribbean and now a summer of testing close to the shop in Bristol, the Eagle Class 53 has made great progress in its quest to be ready for harnessed and controlled flight. Gonzalez and his team have been using a Stilleto 23 cat as a scale model to test ideas before trying them on the Eagle Class 53

Full article in the October issue of Seahorse

World Sailing Show for October 2019
- The first America’s Cup AC75s have been launched. We are with the American and New Zealand teams as they make history when they foil their monohulls for the very first time.
- In Mallorca the TP52 World title changed hands as German boat Platoon marched ahead in the 52 Super Series. • We have all the action from the Kona Wndsurfing World Championships on Italy’s Lake Garda.
- The Maxi Yacht Cup serves up stunning images of the world’s most powerful mono-hulls racing off the Sardinian coast.
- We’re on the podium with SailGP’s first ever one million dollar winning helmsman.
- British round the world racer Alex Thomson has launched the boat he hopes will help him win the next Vendee Globe - we see it in action.
- The world’s top Olympic sailors kicked-off a brand new season of the Hempel World Cup Series and were challenged by every type of condition on the host waters of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
- A British boat won the J/70 World title for the very first time - we have the action from Torbay in Devon.

Industry News
The 2019 Genoa International Boat Show ended its six-day run on September 24 with 188,404 visitors having passed through the gates - up 8% over the 2018 edition. Peak numbers were reached on the Saturday, with 43,000 people in one day alone.

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After 19 years of loyal and committed service to the Finn Class and Finn sailors worldwide, Corinne McKenzie stepped down from the Executive Board of the International Finn Association (IFA) on September 1, 2019.

Corinne joined the Executive Board of the IFA in 2001 and steered the class through four Olympic reselections. She provided oversight and management to a wide number of projects over the years including the establishment of the class development programme, FIDeS (Finn International Development Support), expansion of the classes media services, and encouraging and supporting many developing nations to come to the Finn class. During her time on the Board, membership of the IFA has increased by more than 20 per cent and she leaves the class in a much healthier position, in terms of members, sailors and finance than when she started.

Corinne has also contributed to the work of World Sailing as Chairman of the Olympic Classes Sub-Committee since 2012, as well as Vice-Chairman of the World Sailing Classes Committee. She will continue in the same roles until the end of her terms in November 2020.

Over the coming weeks and months Corinne will assist the rest of the class Executive to facilitate a smooth handover to her as yet unannounced successor. -- Robert Deaves

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Ocean Safety, specialists in the worldwide supply, distribution, service and hire of marine safety equipment, will once again be exhibiting at METSTRADE when it opens on 19 November in Amsterdam.

Ocean Safety is known as a manufacturer and distributor of proven life-saving products including the Ocean ISO liferaft, the Jonbuoy man overboard recovery range, plus electronics and lifejackets.

The Ocean Safety range continues to expand using the latest in technologies and innovative features. At METSTRADE, the company will be revealing an exciting new development within the Jonbuoy range to provide a completely new product option. The Ocean ISO liferaft is also benefitting from new technology and Ocean Safety will be presenting these new look features.

Visit Ocean Safety on Stand 03.310 at METSTRADE or visit www.oceansafety.com for further information.

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Eight months after taking the helm of [Oyster Yachts] its new owner has not only met every benchmark toward getting it back in the black; he’s launched the first of a whole new line of boats in the brand’s portfolio. The new 565 range, plus increased annual production and two new classes of yacht, should help to fully right the ship, says rescuer-in-chief Richard Hadida. In the past, Oyster Yachts built a mere 15 boats a year, and Hadida, who made his fortune in casino gaming software, is betting on bringing that number up to about 25. “The business will be very healthy if that happens,” he says.

Though his three-year turnaround plan is on track, the details got more complicated than anticipated. For example, Oyster used to buy hulls from another company that also went under, so he bought that business as well. Bringing the hull construction in-house required a big investment of capital, but it also means the company will have the capacity to increase production. His plan to steer the company out of the red involves a two-pronged approach: Build the boats more efficiently, and eliminate discounts on boat sales. “We have to protect the margin,” Hadida says. “It’s the most fundamental thing.”

To help with that, he hired Becky Bridgen, a former mergers-and-acquisitions consultant, as Oyster’s chief financial officer - and woman on the ground. “I initially came to give Richard a few hours of advice on how to acquire Oyster from the administrators,” Bridgen says, “and here I am still, one year on.” While Hadida was busy getting his life to a place where he could step over to Oyster and do his thing, Bridgen was the one to open up the shipyard’s gates and get business rolling again.

robbreport.com

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Alex Thomson Racing and Nokia Bell Labs are proud to introduce The Hub.

The Hub brings fans closer than ever before to Skipper Alex Thomson, the new HUGO BOSS IMOCA 60 race boat and the ground-breaking onboard technology developed in partnership with Nokia Bell Labs.

Navigate your way around the new HUGO BOSS boat via a dynamic digital 360◦ experience. Step inside, sail onboard, and see the boat fly, in the latest images released by the ocean racing team. And enjoy exclusive video insight from Alex Thomson Racing, Nokia Bell Labs and the team behind the design, build and technological development of the new HUGO BOSS boat.

www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/

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Budget Marine is pleased to announce the construction of a new outlet in Carriacou, an island located 23 miles off the coast of Grenada. The full service, 2100 SQF boat yard store is being built in Tyrell Bay Marina with an opening date set for January 2020.

Tyrell Bay Marina is equipped with a 150 Ton Travel Lift that is capable of hauling boats up to 130 feet long. They are also equipped with a 30 Ton Shore Crane for engine and mast lifts. The yard itself offers long and short term storage for over 200 boats and an 18 foot maximum depth in the Travel Lift Bay. The location itself is also advantageous, right below the hurricane belt. The staff has a wealth of knowledge from the long-standing history Carriacou has with seamanship and boat building.

“Budget Marine Grenada is based in True Blue, Grenada and has developed a strong position on the Grenada market. The addition of an outlet in Carriacou will enhance this successful Budget Marine location even further.” George continued. “The partnership between Tyrell Bay Marina is based on the understanding that whilst yachtsmen are attracted to small islands and pristine environment this is balanced by the appreciation of good facilities and access to a range of products including marine equipment.”

budgetmarine.com/news/we-are-expanding/

Featured Charter
J122 - Noisy Oyster

Available for:
Mediterranean 2019
Caribbean 2020

Noisy Oyster is a beautifully presented J122 and one of the most successful IRC racers of her generation. Quick and responsive, powerful and stable, the J122 is easy to handle and delivers all round performance.

The J122 has an upwind sail area of 97 square metres, thanks to her 110% headsail, and a 150 square metre downwind sail area. She also benefits from a carbon fibre bow sprit and asymmetric spinnaker, which makes her easier to race for most teams, especially those with fewer crew.

See listing details in Seahorse Charters

Contact
Lucy Jackson - LV Yachting
Call: +44 2392 161272
Email:

See the the Seahorse charter collection

Featured Brokerage
2017 Libertist 853 - NEW BOAT

Libertist is freedom, speed, and sheer joy of sailing. It is of the best quality and innovative materials. Very light, equipped with minifoils, rotating carbon mast, and ample electronics. The trimaran has been created for demanding sailors who love their sport.

An 8.50 m trimaran designed by Erik Lerouge. Very light, equipped with permanent minifoils, a rotating carbon mast and ample electronics. A real cruiser-racer made of high quality materials in a renowned Polish shipyard. It guarantees great sailing satisfaction at a very competitive price.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact

+33 (0)2 51 51 46 45

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2005 M.A.T. 12 - Night Owl 2. 99,950 GBP. Located in Hamble, UK.

From the board of Mark Mills and sharing the same DNA as the evergreen DK46 and King / Summit 40, NIGHT OWL 2 offers a very competitive package. A very full inventory, with new rod rigging & professionally maintained. Huge amount of bang for your buck for both inshore & for the RORC offshore series.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Ben Cooper Telephone: +44(0) 1590 679222

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2016 Maxi 72. 3.750.000 EUR. Located in Palma Spain.