In This Issue
• 49er World Championship
• 49erFX Worlds
• NACRA 17 Worlds
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• Philipp Buhl dominates 2020 Laser Standard World Championship
• IDEC is 300 Miles Ahead At The Azores
• Rolex China Sea Race 2020 Edition Deferred to 2021
• Royal St. George Yacht Club Hosts Leinster Team Racing
• Can you help solve the mystery of the Sir Alec Rose scrolls?
• Featured Brokerage:
• • GP42 - SILVA NEO
• • Wally 60
• • TP52 - Ancasta
• The Last Word: Otto Von Bismarck

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

49er World Championship
Three medal races on Corio Bay in cool SW 10-14 knots building to 18 knots by the afternoon capped off the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 2020 World Championship, and added more data to the form guide for those nations yet to announce their representative teams for Tokyo 2020.

Medal prospects for Enoshima, the sailing venue for the Olympic Games July 24 to August 9, are a little clearer. Then there are the surprise top 10 absentees including Rio 2016 FX gold medallists Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) and Rio Nacra 17 gold medal winners Santiago Lange and Cecilia Carranza (ARG).

49er - six world championship titles to Burling/Tuke

An integral part of the Emirates Team New Zealand America's Cup defence team, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke went into the final double points gold medal race on Saturday February 15, 2020 with an 18-point advantage, but still posted a fourth to wrap things up cleanly.

Second by 20 points was the Spanish pair of Diego Botin and Iago Lopez Marra and third by a margin of two points were the Germans, Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessel.

Final top ten
1. Peter Burling / Blair Tuke, NZL, 53.0
2. Diego Botin / Iago Lopez Marra, ESP, 81.0
3. Erik Heil / Thomas Ploessel, GER, 85.0
4. Benjamin Bildstein / David Hussl, AUT, 81.0
5. William Phillips / Sam Phillips, AUS, 101.0
6. Logan Dunning Beck / Oscar Gunn, NZL, 105.0
7. Jonas Warrer / Jakob Precht Jensen, DEN, 115.0
8. Dylan Fletcher-Scott / Stuart Bithell, GBR, 125.0
9. Justus Schmidt / Max Boehme, GER, 123.0
10. Sime Fantela / Mihovil Fantela, CRO, 126.0

Full results

49erFX Worlds
Echegoyen, a world match racing champion and the 2016 49erFX world champion with a different crew, with Barcelo (ESP) and Dobson with Tidey (GBR) locked horns throughout the medal race. Each team was well clear of any competition and only had to beat the other to secure the gold medal.

On the second upwind beat of the medal race, the British team made significant gains on the Spanish before tacking underneath. Echegoyen, the 2012 match racing world champion, tacked immediately on their line and Dobson/Tidey reacted. The Brits were locked in and made gains, but the layline forced both to tack back with the Spanish directly ahead into the windward mark.

The British looked to have a slightly better hoist going but capsized when their kite filled with water halfway up. The Spanish sped away, only looking back moments later to realize the pressure valve had been released.

The eventual silver medallists will be replaying the capsize in their heads for some time.

Outside the match race for gold was an eight-team battle for the bronze medal. Almost all of the teams were in the hunt when drama hit at the leeward mark. Some teams over laid, others rode forward in a puff and all arrived at the leeward marks together. Chaos ensued, and Roble/Shea (USA) pounced with a smooth rounding, which they road into the lead.

Critically for the Americans, their countrywomen, Henken/Tobias (USA) suffered in the leeward gate pileup and went from a leading position to deep in the pack.

Third overall was Lili Sebesi and Albane Dubois sailing for France.

Final top ten
1. Tamara Echegoyen / Paula Barcelo, ESP, 56.0
2. Charlotte Dobson / Saskia Tidey, GBR, 67.0
3. Stephanie Roble / Maggie Shea, USA, 101.0
4. Lili Sebesi / Albane Dubois, FRA, 106.0
5. Victoria Jurczok / Anika Lorenz, GER, 106.0
6. Anne-Julie Schütt / Iben Nielsby, DEN, 117.0
7. Paris Henken / Anna Tobias, USA, 111.0
8. Annemiek Bekkering / Annette Duetz, NED, 108.0
9. Tina Lutz / Lotta Wiemers, GER, 116.0
10. Tess Lloyd / Jaime Ryan, AUS, 126.0

Full results

NACRA 17 Worlds
John Gimson and Anna Burnet (GBR) rebounded from their tiller extension breakage in the final of two morning races to put themselves into the gold medal position. The Brits led from the first work, taking advantage of the two Australian teams playing a cat and mouse overall game for country selection further back.

With country selection to be announced, there was everything at stake for Australia's two top 10 Nacra 17 teams, Nathan and Haylee Outteridge and Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin, who were first and second respectively in overall standings prior to the gold medal race. The Outteridges scooped the silver medal and Waterhouse/Darmanin the bronze, and though the order seems correct on paper, it was not the result the brother and sister due were after.

"We are happy to have a win today, and also go home with a medal," Darmanin said. "We have really developed as a team in this quadrennial, and I am proud of how we are sailing. In a medal race like today, where there are so many things to think about and crews attacking you from everywhere, that is when the team comes together and really shines."

Country qualification
US Sailing publish their points system so as of today, Riley Gibbs and Anna Weiss wrapped up USA selection in the Nacra 17 and celebrations were noisy on the boat ramp for Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea who pipped their USA countrymates with their medal race result. Both teams can now begin their preparations for Enoshima in earnest.

Australian selectors are expected to make an announcement on their Nacra team as early as next week, with Rio 2016 silver medallists Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin widely tipped for the pick. The Phillips brothers, Will who drives and Sam who crews, reached a benchmark in terms of internal selection for Tokyo 2020 with their sixth overall.

Another team that secured their first ever Olympic berth are Ida Marie Nielsen and Marie Olsen of Denmark. The two-time European Champions narrowly lost their domestic trials in 2016 and narrowly won their domestic trials this time, over teammates AJ Schutt and Iben Nieslby.

Final top ten
1. John Gimson / Anna Burnet, GBR, 94.0
2. Nathan Outteridge / Haylee Outteridge, AUS, 85.0
3. Jason Waterhouse / Lisa Darmanin, AUS, 94.0
4. Quentin Delapierre / Manon Audinet, FRA, 98.0
5. Vittorio Bissaro / Maelle Frascari, ITA, 121.0
6. Tara Pacheco / Florian Trittel, ESP, 131.0
7. Micah Wilkinson / Erica Dawson, NZL, 127.0
8. Lin Cenholt / Cp Lubeck, DEN, 125.0
9. Sinem Kurtbay / Akseli Keskinen, FIN, 141.0
10. Santiago Lange / Cecilia Carranza, ARG, 150.0

All results at 49er.org/event/2020-world-championship/ -- Lisa Ratcliff/49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17 World Championship media

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

No need for the big bucks
Rob Weiland takes some lessons from the Sydney Hobart to argue that good media does not have to be crazy expensive media

Big deal
Why that Transat Jacques Vabre fourth place in the Imoca class was priceless. Charlie Enright and Jocelyn Bleriot

The greatest sailor you’ve never heard of - Part II
Clare Mccomb reflects on the achievements of Sir William Parker Burton in later life... having very nearly won the America’s Cup

Best of the best
The Star Sailors League is doing exactly what it set out to do. James Boyd travels to Nassau

Evolutions and revolutions
Francois Chevalier takes a painstaking and immaculately researched journey through the first decade and a half of the remarkable Class40

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Philipp Buhl dominates 2020 Laser Standard World Championship
German Laser sailor Philipp Buhl put together an exemplary scorecard to win the 2020 ILCA Standard Men's World Championship by 12 points.

Buhl recorded four straight wins during qualifying and finished with just one double-figure score - a 10th in the penultimate race, which he was able to discard.

Matt Wearn (AUS) also put together a single-figure card to take the silver. Wearn didn't win a race, but had five second places and dropped an 11 from qualifying.

Rio silver medallist, Tonci Stipanovic (CRO) took the bronze after an up-and-down regatta that included two race wins, two second placings and four scores that were in double figures.

Defending champion Tom Burton (AUS) has been racing in the Moth and other classes after learning he had not been selected for Tokyo 2020 and his lack of time in the Laser showed. Burton finished in 15th place after being U-flagged in the final race.

The 2014 and 2015 World Champion, Nick Thompson (GBR) also had a regatta he would prefer to forget, finishing in 19th place and probably missing his country's nomination for Tokyo after compatriot Elliot Hanson finished 5th. However, Team GB does not have specific selection criteria, so both sailors will have to wait for the announcement.

It was a similar story for New Zealand, where Rio bronze medallist, Sam Meech, was the leading sailor in 8th but must wait to hear if he has done enough to get on the plane to Tokyo.

This championship did decide the fate of Hungarian brothers Benjamin and Jonatan Vadnai, however. By finishing in 23rd, Ben will attend his second Olympics and his younger brother must wait another four years for his chance.

This was probably the last World Championship for Laser legend, Robert Scheidt, who qualified for Gold Fleet and finished in 42nd place after becoming ill and failing to sail on the final day. The 47-year-old, who won gold in the Laser at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004 and silver behind Sir Ben Ainslie in 2000, showed he can still compete with men half his age.

The International Laser Class Association is expected to announce the venue for the 2021 World Championships later this year.

Final Top 10
1. Philipp Buhl, GER, 26
2. Matt Wearn, AUS, 38
3. Tonci Stipanovic, CRO, 64
4. Jean Baptiste Bernaz, FRA, 66
5. Elliot Hanson, GBR, 66
6. Hermann Tomasgaard, NOR, 71
7. Luke Elliott, AUS, 72
8. Sam Meech, NZL, 86
9. Jesper Stalheim, SWE, 93
10. Filip Jurisic, CRO, 94

Results can be found at sailingresults.net/?ID=80326

IDEC Is 300 Miles Ahead At The Azores
As of Sunday morning, Francis Joyon and the crew of IDEC SPORT reached the Portuguese islands of the Azores. They are passing through the middle of the islands between Flores and Faial. Since yesterday, the maxi-trimaran has been back in conditions enabling her to get back up to high speeds. In a 20-knot NW'ly wind, the red and white maxi-trimaran is advancing at 32 knots towards the Channel approaches, which are still some 1200 miles ahead of her bows and which the crew expect to reach by Tuesday morning.

The strong NW'ly air stream that is accompanying IDEC SPORT and her crew should enable them to be propelled at around thirty knots to the Channel approaches. They will then have to sail up the English Channel before making their way into the Thames Estuary and heading to the finish line for the Tea Route under the QE II Bridge. The crew are getting an idea now of their ETA and can hardly wait to get back ashore after their long voyage from Hong Kong and a month of sailing. If IDEC SPORT maintains this pace, they could well finish in London late on Tuesday.

Live tracking (with comparison against Masterati's record performance)
trimaran-idec.geovoile.com

Rolex China Sea Race 2020 Edition Deferred to 2021
Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club regrets to announce the deferment of the 2020 Rolex China Sea Race. Originally due to start on 8 April, the ongoing Covid-19 virus epidemic has resulted in the Race fleet's inability to enter the Philippines.

The deferred edition of the Rolex China Sea Race will now take place in 2021, after which the Race will return to its original rhythm of 'even' years for the biennial Race (i.e. the next three editions will be held in 2021, 2022 and 2024).

A Notice of Race for the 2021 Rolex China Sea Race will be published in due course.

Over Easter this year the Club will instead run a standalone A to A offshore race of approximately 450nm to 500nm and further details of the race will be available shortly.

www.rhkyc.org.hk

Royal St. George Yacht Club Hosts Leinster Team Racing
Dun Laoghaire's Royal Saint George Yacht Club is once again hosting the Leinster Schools Team Racing event on Wednesday the 11th of March.

The event is open to all schools in the Province of Leinster. In the event of bad weather, there is a fall back date for the 25th of March.

As Afloat reported in 2019, Gonzaga College were Leinster Championship victors after eight teams competed in Firefly dinghies for the title in mostly light airs in Dun Laoghaire harbour.

The Royal St. George leads the way in Irish Team Racing affairs with Junior, Schools, Youth and Adult Team Racing squads training and competing locally, nationally and internationally from the club. Queries can be made to Eunice Kennedy, Leinster Schools Team Racing Representative at the following email:

afloat.ie/sail/

Can you help solve the mystery of the Sir Alec Rose scrolls?
Two 100ft handwritten scrolls which provide an insight into Sir Alec Rose and his 1968 circumnavigation around the world in his 36ft ketch Lively Lady have been revealed.

Sir Alec's family handed the documents to Alan Priddy from Around and Around. The charity is the custodian of the yacht.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth are photographing each section as part of a project to digitalise the scrolls.

The author of the work remains unknown.

'We don't know who made this remarkable document but clearly the person interviewed Sir Alec in depth and over a long period of time,' explained Priddy, who believes the author may have a connection to the Portsmouth News.

'It is as important a find as finding the wreck of the Mary Rose, although I am biased. This historic piece of workmanship can tell the story of Sir Alec and his voyage far better than his book,' said Priddy.

The documents also record Sir Alec's reflections on his first circumnavigation attempt in 1966.

Lively Lady was hit by a fishing boat and was forced to stop in Plymouth.

On the advice of Sir Francis Chichester he aborted the voyage, which he later regretted as Sir Francis went on to become the first person to sail solo around the world with just one stop. -- Katy Stickland

www.yachtingmonthly.com

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The Last Word
Politics… is the capacity to choose in each fleeting moment of the situation that which is least harmful or most opportune… With a gentleman I am always a gentleman and a half, and with a pirate I try to be a pirate and a half. -- Otto Von Bismarck

Editorial and letter submissions to

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