In This Issue
Artemis XIV takes first race as 2020 5.5 Metre World Championship opens
Dragon Grand Prix Spain & European Cup
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Record Fleet at M32 Miami Winter Series
WASZP Nationals - Strong fleet and international flavour
How Phil Sharp set an impressive new solo record around the Isle of Wight
Etchells: Ensuring and enshrining singularity and uniformity
Joel Beashel crowned 2020 Musto Australian Optimist Champion
Industry News
Johnson Wooderson (Woody)
Letters to the Editor
Featured Brokerage:
• • Swan 82 'Grey Goose'
• • Cookson 50 - Endless Game
• • SWAN 40-148 Solenia
The Last Word: Henry Kissinger

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

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Artemis XIV takes first race as 2020 5.5 Metre World Championship opens
Newport, Australia: The opening race of the 2020 International 5.5 Metre World Championship, hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport, Australia, was sailed in a moderate southerly on the Palm Beach Circle. Winner of last week's Scandinavian Gold Cup and defending world champions, Artemis XIV (NOR 57, Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne, Anders Pedersen), led the race from start to finish.

Girls on Film (GBR 40, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Andrew Mills) was second with New Moon II (BAH 24, Mark Holowesko, Christoph Burger, Peter Vlasov) crossing in third. There are 24 boats from seven nations taking part including 12 Moderns (built after 1993), nine Evolutions (built between 1970 and 1993) and three Classics (built before 1970).

At the Class AGM on Wednesday evening the members were encouraged to hear about the first new boats being built in recent years. Two were built in 2019, including, New Moon II, and at least two more are under construction for launching in early 2020. Many boats are changing hands and it is hoped this growth will bring some new owners into the class.

The meeting also heard about the new event strategy proposed by the Committee, including putting together a major championship plan four to five years in advance and also managing the annual calendar better so that travel between events is minimised and that non-European competitors can do the maximum events with minimal time in Europe.

There were also lively and constructive discussions on various technical issues including use of electronic devices and the age-old dialogue on separate rudders and classic boats.

Finally, the meeting voted to have the 2021 Scandinavian Gold Cup and World Championship in Hankø, Norway, a return to one of the class's favourite venues. The world championship has been held there seven times previously, the last time in 2009. A call was also made for proposals for events from 2022 to 2025 to build an event programme for the coming years.

The world championship continues Friday with two more races scheduled. A series of nine races concludes on Monday.

Results after first race
1. Artemis XIV (NOR 57, Kristian Nergaard, Johan Barne, Anders Pedersen)
2. Girls on Film (GBR 40, Peter Morton, Andrew Palfrey, Andrew Mills)
3. New Moon II (BAH 24, Mark Holowesko, Christoph Burger, Peter Vlasov)
4. Ali Baba (BAH 23, Craig Symonette, Flavio Marrazi, Will Alloway)
5. Clark Kent (NOR 64, Petter Fjeld, Christen Horn Johannson, Thomas Borgan)

Full results

Event website: www.rpayc.com.au

Dragon Grand Prix Spain & European Cup
Hugo Stenbeck's Sophie Racing, helmed by Bernardo Freitas and crewed by Martin Westerdahl and Lars Linger, has won the Dragon Grand Prix European Cup Finals after a day of intense competition on the Bay of Palma.

The opening day's four qualifying fleet races saw ten teams move forward into the final day of competition. Overnight leader Evgenii Braslavets of Italy received a bye into the Final and second placed Nicola Friesen of Germany a bye into the Semifinal, so at 13:30 the remaining eight teams came to the line to contest the Quarterfinal and decide which five boats would join Friesen in the Semi.

Four teams lined up for one last showdown to decide the winner of the Dragon Grand Prix European Cup Finals; Italy's Evgenii Braslavets sailing Bunker Prince with Sergey Pugachev and Sergey Timorkhov; Russia's Dmitry Samokhin sailing Rocknrolla with Kasper Harsberg and Andrey Kirilyuk; Germany's Nicola Friesen, sailing Khaleesi with Vincent Hoesch and Aleksey Bushuev; and the Swiss Sophie Racing team of Hugo Stenbeck, being helmed for this event by Bernardo Freitas after Stenbeck had been called away unexpectedly. Freitas and regular crew Martin Westerdahl were joined in the boat by Lars Linger who normally coaches the team.

The Race Committee shortened both the start line and leg length and with around six knots from 020 degrees the race was underway. While Freitas cruised to the line for victory Samokhin did all he could to pass Braslavets and the two boats virtually match raced into the finish, but Braslavets hung on for the silver medal by inches from Samokhin with Friesen fourth.

This first year of the new Dragon Grand Prix Cup Series has been a resounding success and already the programme for the 2020 Series has been confirmed. The competition will open with the Dragon Grand Prix Spain, which will be run in conjunction with the Trofeo Princess Sofia in Palma from 26-29 March. Scarlino will host the Dragon Grand Prix Italy from 27 to 30 May and then from 19 to 22 August the teams will gather in Douarnenez for the Dragon Grand Prix France. The season will close with the Dragon Grand Prix Portugal followed by the Dragon Grand Prix European Cup Finals in Vilamoura from 2 to 7 November.

Dragon Grand Prix European Cup Finals Results

1. SUI311 - Sophie Racing - Hugo Stenbeck/Bernardo Freitas
2. ITA77 - Bunker Prince - Evegenii Braslavets
3. RUS76 - Rocknrolla - Dmitry Samokhin
4. GER1207 - Khaleesi - Nicola Friesen

Final Results

Spanish Report

www.internationaldragonsailing.net

Seahorse January 2020
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

Seahorse Magazine

Update
Busier than you think, but a huge amount to go, Mule to Defiant, a (pleasingly) smooth transition, speaking to le homme himself, keeping the Hobart fleet safe and Juan Kouyoumdjian's little rocket really starts to rumble. Plus Guillaume Verdier's secret green weapon. Rob Kothe, Dave Kellet, Terry Hutchinson, Jack Griffin, David Raison, Axel Capron

Just plain wet
Ainhoa Sanchez

Thinking big
... but it's still about working with what you have. Rob Weiland

Missed opportunity
When World Sailing gathered in Bermuda in November it looked as if many of those prayers were about to be answered... Ian Walker

Thrillingly close
The second edition of The Nations Trophy attracted teams from 14 countries... and an impressive turn-out of the world’s best sailors

Paul Cayard - Right again
Young and dumb vs old and smart

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Record Fleet at M32 Miami Winter Series
More than 15 teams have signed up for the series this winter. The American fleet is growing steadily, and several teams are using the M32 Demo Boat to get into the class. Meanwhile, European teams will take advantage of Miami's warm weather to keep their form during winter.

The team to beat is Convexity helmed by Don Wilson. Convexity is both the reigning World Champion and is holding the Rooster Trophy for winning last year's Miami Winter Series. There is no lack of challengers and plenty of teams are aiming for the top spot. Pieter Taselaar's Bliksem and Jennifer Wilson's Convergence, both podium placed at the Worlds have shown before that Convexity is beatable in a regatta series.

The January event marks the start of the road to the 2020 World Championship. Globally there will be more than 15 events this year before the season ends, with the major event of the class, the World Championship in November, also in Miami. The racing this year will be in Miami, Newport, Chicago, and in classic sailing venues across Europe.

Team List M32 Miami Winter Series
NED - Bliksem - Pieter Taselaar
USA - Bronco - Michael Dominguez
USA - Convergence - Jennifer Wilson
USA - Convexity - Donald Wilson
USA - Gravedigger - James Prendergast
BER - Hedgehog - Alec Cutler
SWE - Inga from Sweden - Richard Goransson
NED - LeeLoo - Harold Vermulen
USA - Midtown - Larry Philips
USA - REV - Rick DeVos
SUI - Section 16 - Richard Davies
AUT - Stella Maris - August Schram
USA - Surge - Ryan McKillen
USA - XS Energy - Ryan DeVos
USA - Youth American M32 - Carina Becker

M32 Racing 2020

Europe
March 13-15 - Warm-up event Sanremo
April 17-19 - Warm-up event Sanremo
May 22-24 - Euro1 Sanremo
June 12-14 - Euro 2 Amsterdam
July 10-12 Euro 3 Marstrand
Aug 7-9 - Euro 4 TBD
Sep 4-6 Euro 5 and European Championship Lake Garda

North America
Jan 10-12 - Miami Winter Series 1
Feb 7-9 - Miami Winter Series 2
Mar 20-22 - Miami Winter Series 3
April 24-26 - Sandbar Cup Miami
Jun 5-7 - Midtown Cup Newport
Jul 17-19 - Midtown Cup Newport
Aug 21-23 - M32 Regatta TDC
Sept 18-20 - NA Championship Chicago
Nov 16-22 - M32 World Championship Miami

www.m32world.com

WASZP Nationals - Strong fleet and international flavour
The 2020 Australian WASZP National Championships set to be hosted by Port Stephens Aquatic Sailing Club from the 24-27th of January is set to assemble a strong fleet of 40-45 boats for the first ever nationals held in NSW.

The class is booming worldwide since production began in 2016 and has now introduced 1000s of people to foiling. Australia is taking the lead and has some of the best sailors in the country as well as some quality visitors from around the world.

Locally Sydney has really taken off in 2019 with 25 boats being sold into the greater Sydney region in 2019 with strong fleets now racing regularly on Pittwater and out of Woolhara Sailing Club. This contingent will be met by a force of sailors from Victoria and WA. Some of the names coming from interstate are last years Australian Champion Tom Trotman who recently placed 23rd at the Moth Worlds in Perth, Brad Devine from Perth is fresh off a strong showing at the I14 Worlds also in Perth and if the breeze is up look out. Jack Felsenthal from Victoria has taken all before him in 2019 being undefeated in Victoria during the 2019 season while also showing strong form with a 4th place at the WASZP European Championships.

www.revolutionise.com.au/pssac/events/57949/

How Phil Sharp set an impressive new solo record around the Isle of Wight
Some people shave seconds off a record, others smash them to bits. Phil Sharp's latest quest in his Class 40 'Oceans Lab' saw him slip into the smash and grab category as he set an impressive new time for a solo lap of the Isle of Wight that will take some beating in the future. As always, Phil recorded his trip with some superb footage. Shortly after he had finished PlanetSail's Matt Sheahan stepped aboard to hear about his latest record run.

Etchells: Ensuring and enshrining singularity and uniformity
Over the course of their exemplary 50-year history, the Etchells Class has regularly taken the opportunity to review itself. The mission is to ensure that the singularity of focus remains on delivering the best One Design racing, and that there is uniformity of vessels from across the decades, and from the three different builders.

All items that require a modification to the Class Rules, like say the electric bilge pumps, go through the Technical Committee for analysis before being voted on by the Governors. The Class Measurer also undertakes reviews at World Championships, and liaises with the builders throughout the year, including factory visits.

In 2011, the Australian Association produced a new mould from scans of boats produced by all three existing moulds. This was subsequently approved after being re-measured on completion, and it has been creating new Etchells ever since from its home at Innovation Composites in Nowra on the NSW South Coast.

Queries regarding the symmetry of this mould and therefore its boats, along with the laminating schedule used to create said vessels have been received. This has prompted the Governors to approve scans of two boats from each of the three builders to form the basis of an audit of the fleet as produced by all three builders.

This will include the Chief Measurer, Bill Abbott, attending the Australian manufacturer using a single set of templates across the selected elements to establish if any variances exist, in addition to investigating the laminate issue.

Mark Roberts, President of the International Etchells Class of Australia said, "The review has commenced, and the results are to be delivered to the Governors once the review has been completed. At that time, any rectification works that may be required will be evaluated, put into place, and announced to the sailing public." -- John Curnow

www.sail-world.com/news/

Joel Beashel crowned 2020 Musto Australian Optimist Champion
11-year-old Aussie Joel Beashel has jumped up the leaderboard on the final day of the 2020 Musto Optimist Nationals to be crowned Australian champion and first overall in the regatta against a string of talented international entrants.

The final day of the event started with little optimism about the forecast, with almost no wind at 11am for the scheduled start time and a hazy cloud build up.

The fleet was held ashore until 12.30pm when a light sea breeze started to filter in, blowing the haze away and allowing the fleet to get their final two races of the series underway.

In the Gold fleet it was super tight at the top and sailors were also preparing for the second drop to come into play after the first race of the day, which was set to create a huge shuffle in the leaders.

French sailor Zou Schemmel took the overall lead after the first race of the day with a win, while the 11-year-old Beashel slipped through to a second place to really shake things up at the top.

The first-placed female sailor Samara Walshe from the United States was also very much in the hunt for the overall title going into the last race, as was Rocco Wright from Ireland, while the overnight leader, Australia's Matty Goss, was still sailing consistently, all creating a great tussle for the final race.

Full results

Industry News
Discovery Yachts Group restructures under newly formed holding company

In an exclusive insight into the current and future situation of the UK-based Discovery Yachts Group Ltd (DYGL), IBI has learnt that a new ownership structure has been put in place that will save all the employee jobs and give the company a strong basis for going forward.

This major change has been introduced in response to DYGL entering administration and its associated company, Discovery Yacht Sales Ltd (DYSL) being placed in voluntary liquidation. As part of the restructuring, the DYGL yacht model range has been simplified.

In a statement, John Burnie, Discovery's managing director, told IBI: "As of now (January 9, 2020) all our business interests will be conducted through one entity - the solid foundation of the Discovery Shipyard which is now the principal operating subsidiary of Binti Marine Holdings Ltd. In addition, the range of yachts offered by the Discovery Shipyard will be simplified."

www.ibinews.com

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The RYA Dinghy Show in association with Yachts & Yachting returns to Alexandra Palace, London, over the weekend of 29 February- 01 March. The 2020 show theme is 'a world of opportunity- see where dinghy sailing can take you.'

As well as over 170 exhibitors showcasing everything you need to get out on the water, the show will feature a brand new line up of talks and coaching sessions from world-class experts.

Double Olympic Gold Medallist Sarah Ayton (OBE) will be joining forces with the British Sailing Team's Sam Whaley and Olympic sailor Annie Lush to host expert speakers across the Great Hall Stage, West Hall Stage and the Knowledge Zone.

Great Hall Stage
If adventure cruising is your thing then you won't want to miss record breaking adventure sailors Rich and Will who will be sharing their story of their non-stop British circumnavigation in their Wayfarer Nipegegi (12.30).

Members of the British Sailing Team who'll be taking on the world at this summer's Games in Tokyo take to the stage at 11.45am and we also hear how environmental campaigns from The Green Blue, The Big Plastic Pledge and the Final Straw are protecting the waters we sail at 14.15.

West Hall Stage
Over in the West Hall, Neil Peters, alter ego Stick Daring, shares his incredible tale of sailing the wrong way around Britain in his 13ft Laser Dinghy (3.00pm) and for our youth and junior sailors, Jonny McGovern uses a 420 dinghy to demonstrate how to get more speed out of your double-handed boat (13.00).

Knowledge Zone
Over in the Knowledge Zone don't miss Olympic Silver Medallist Luke Patience who will be joined by British Sailing Team's Eilidh McIntyre to share expertise on how to communicate in the boat when the pressure is on (16.00 Saturday only).

All ages are welcome to join Alex Hopson (trainer to the British Sailing Team) for a fitness session which will get you race ready (13.00). We also welcome the return of dinghy show favourites including Meteorologist Simon Rowell who will be sharing his top tips on how to get a good forecast and apply it to your sailing whether you're a racer or a cruiser.

For the all the latest speaker and schedule updates visit www.dinghyshow.org.uk

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The Valencia Boat Show will be held from the 28th of October to the 1st of November in La Marina de Valencia. 40% of 2019 exhibitors have already confirmed their presence in 2020.

The organising team of the Valencia Boat Show, directed by Nacho Gomez - Zarzuela, will continue at the helm of the event in its 2020 edition, which will be held from the 28th of October to the 1st of November in La Marina de Valencia, as confirmed yesterday by the of the Union de Empresas Náuticas the organising body of the event.

The success of 2019, with over 22.000 visitors during the five days of the show and 10.000 attendees to the concerts celebrating the anniversary of La Marina de Valencia, together with the large number of operations underway or already closed by exhibitors, have been the best seal of approval for the event, which in its 11th edition held this November, made a strategic shift to commit to combining the professional space for exhibition and sale of boats, engines, accessories and marine services and an open area with free access to the public with a wide offer of activities related to the sea.

Another point of value of the Valencian exhibition is without doubt the involvement of Feria Valencia as strategic partner, contributing its extensive experience and know-how in organising events.

www.valenciaboat.com

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The Sun Odyssey 410 wins the "British Yachting Awards" in the category of "Cruiser of the Year" 2019.

The Sun Odyssey 410 received the honors last Monday during the British Yachting Awards celebration at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London.

This prestigious award from Sailing Today and Yachts and Yachting magazines honors each year the sailing world, from cruising to regattas.

For the second year in succession, Internet users had the privilege of voting for and electing their favourite boats in a range of categories.

This prize highlights the significant collaborative work between the Jeanneau crew, Marc Lombard and Jean-Marc Piaton, respectively the architect and designer of the Sun Odyssey 410.

www.jeanneau.com

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UK Sailmakers has expanded its worldwide group of lofts by adding a new sales office in Budapest, Hungary. Tamas Bakos, who has more than 20 years of experience as a sailmaker, is bringing his expertise to UK Sailmakers group. Tamas is one of the leading racing sailors in Hungary and campaigned Solings and Flying Dutchman in the 60s, 70s and 80s. On the other end of the sailing spectrum, he also sailed on IOR maxi boats.

Grand prix racing has waned in Hungary as in most sailing markets and has been replaced by performance cruising sailors. Those with production boats who primarily daysail and cruise may also race a few times a year. According to Tamas, even cruising sailors need well-shaped yet durable sails. "You don't want to scare your crew by having the boat heel over too much, which is what happens with blown-out sails," said Tamas.

Tamas' company, Klipper Marina Kft, is the exclusive distributor of Selden, Liros, Rutgerson and Nautix in Hungary. To welcome Tamas to the group, you can e-mail him at:

www.uksailmakers.com

Johnson Wooderson (Woody)
Johnson Wooderson On Saturday morning, with a 9 knot breeze from wsw, our mate Woody headed out to sea.

Woody meant so much to so many people. To me, he was the tactician/navigator on Cambria, old school and thoroughly reliable, no fancy electronics, just well prepared with chart, pencil and binoculars in hand. Conversations between our captain Chris Barkham and Woody went like this: Woody would mumble: Chris? Answer: Yeah, Woody: yes, Chris: yeah yeah, no worries; Tacking! And in-between there was the Woody wittering, endless stories filled with sense and the all-important nonsense. Whether what he said mattered or didn't, there was always something about the way he spoke that made it worth listening too; the sheer joy of listening to his voice.

And Woody raced with the best of the best, top tier Flying Dutchman in the Sixties, Admirals Cup, Transat, Fastnets, the mighty schooners Elena, Adix, Altair and of course Int. 15-Metre The Lady Anne. For decades he was on the sailing world's "most wanted list", you see, everyone knew that going out to sea with Woody meant you stood a better chance, that you would never be lost, not for position, not for stories, not for laughs, not for the finest of company. Try walking down the dock with him, the stories would come out as of course, he knew everyone and often to his own surprise, even more people knew him.

Over the past 16 years Cambria was his home away from home, and, over all those years he missed just two regattas, such was his love for sailing with her. And for us on board: we all loved him to bits, of course we did, as a friend, a seaman and a legend. He was as complete a gentlemen as they get; confident yet humble, a man who always treated everyone around him with equal admiration and respect.

What a joy to have raced with him, what a privilege it was to have him as a friend.
Sail on dear Woody, sail on -- John Lammerts van Bueren

Letters To The Editor -
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 Jason Ker, kerdesign.com

I’d like to make clear that the keel lost by the Ker 40 ‘Showtime’ was not designed by Ker Yacht Design. The yacht had a retrofit keel fitted, designed by its owner’s local design office near Sydney and built by a local fabricator.

We have designed a great many keels over the last 23 years which have been constructed by many different builders around the world, none have ever failed. To the best of our knowledge, Showtime is the only yacht designed by us to have had a keel fitted that was not designed by us.

The keel, designed by the owner’s local Naval Architect, was configured as a vertical hollow strut welded to a horizontal mounting plate, which in turn was sitting in a shallow recess in the boat’s hull and bolted to the boat’s structure. This is not a design approach we would ever endorse as the high stress point at the junction is coincident with the horizontal welded joint.

The skipper of the delivery voyage Rob Buchanan and his crew only survived through extremely calm thinking and bravery under stressful circumstances. Rob woke hearing a metallic ‘Ping’ just before he was thrown across the boat from his windward bunk as they capsized.

While they made their plans to escape it was apparent to Rob that the inverted boat was holding air pressure in the hull, so the top plate of the keel can only have remained fully bolted to the yacht. When the crew swam down out of the boat, they saw that the vertical part of the keel was missing, revealing that the keel had failed at the welded joint between the exposed vertical and the recessed horizontal parts.

Ker Design would support any World Sailing move to ban this low cost but high risk style of ‘welded T’ keel construction.

Featured Brokerage
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See listing details in Nautors Swan brokerage

Contact
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The quite incredible Cookson 50 yachts do not come on the market very often, and when they do, they are rarely as good as ENDLESS GAME. Amazing specification and maintained as well as a yacht can be. Please do call for her full specification and for more

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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Telephone: +44(0) 1590 679222

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Raceboats Only 1999 Swan 40 'Solenia'. 230,000 EUR VAT Paid. Located in Argentario - Tuscany, IT

Beautiful model of Swan 40.

The hull n. 48 launched in 1999 and finally on the market!

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See listing details in Nautors Swan Brokerage

Contact
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T. +39 0766 20602

See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/

The Last Word
The illegal we can do right now; the unconstitutional will take a little longer. -- Henry Kissinger

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