In This Issue
• Olympics Officially Postponed to 2021
• World Sailing response to joint IOC and Tokyo 2020 statement
• British Sailing Team welcomes Tokyo 2020 postponement
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• Let's Talk Moth with Rob Greenhalgh
• FINNFARE and Finn Masters Magazine published
• New dates announced for Cowes Spring Classics: 4th - 6th September 2020
• British Dragon Association Statement - Edinburgh Cup 2020
• "Nobody will be laid off - if need be, I'll waive my salary"
• Poole Regatta Cancelled - Join the ongoing discussion to choose a new date
• Featured Charter: TS5 - Addictive Sailing
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Neo Yachts NEO 350 Race
• • GC32 Team France
• • Ramrod For Sale
• The Last Word: Breece D'J Pancake
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
Olympics Officially Postponed to 2021
The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, and the Prime Minister Of Japan, Abe Shinzo, held a conference call this morning to discuss the constantly changing environment with regard to covid-19 and the olympic games tokyo 2020.
They were joined by Mori Yoshiro, the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee; the Olympic Minister, Hashimoto Seiko; the Governor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko; the Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission, John Coates; IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper; and the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, Christophe Dubi.
President Bach and Prime Minister Abe expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people's lives and the significant impact it is having on global athletes' preparations for the Games.
In a very friendly and constructive meeting, the two leaders praised the work of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and noted the great progress being made in Japan to fight against COVID-19.
The unprecedented and unpredictable spread of the outbreak has seen the situation in the rest of the world deteriorating. Yesterday, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the COVID-19 pandemic is "accelerating". There are more than 375,000 cases now recorded worldwide and in nearly every country, and their number is growing by the hour.
In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.
The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.
World Sailing response to joint IOC and Tokyo 2020 statement
Today 24 March 2020 the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee issued a joint statement announcing the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Available on the IOC website here, the statement read, "In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community."
World Sailing, the world governing body of the sport, supports the IOC and Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee decision to ensure the health and well-being of athletes, fans and support personnel worldwide.
President Kim Andersen and the World Sailing Executive Office are in direct communication with the IOC Sports Department. The IOC are engaging with World Sailing to develop the necessary plans in full partnership and to ensure full transparency with a focus on information for World Sailing and the athletes.
In the short term, World Sailing will not hold Olympic qualification events for Africa, Asia or Europe. World Sailing is working with the IOC on an update to the qualification system where our recommendation will be to look at hosting qualifications events in late 2020 or early 2021.
World Sailing will now work with the IOC and Tokyo 2020 on timing of the postponed Olympic Games, necessary adaptations to Games delivery plans and Olympic qualification systems.
Following the IOC decision, World Sailing is working closely with the Japanese Sailing Federation, the Organising Committee of the 2020 Hempel World Cup Series Final, and will communicate decisions on the 2021 event calendar shortly.
British Sailing Team welcomes Tokyo 2020 postponement
Mark Robinson, RYA Olympic Performance Manager and Team GB Sailing Team Leader, said: "The British Sailing Team fully supports the IOC's decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
"It is obviously hugely disappointing for our athletes and staff who have devoted the last four years and often much longer to their dream of representing Team GB at the Olympics.
"However, we all understand the seriousness of the unprecedented global situation and believe the decision to delay the Games is the right one for the sake of the health of athletes, support staff, sports fans and the wider public. A delay will also ensure that competition remains fair.
"Our sailors and support staff remain resilient and incredibly determined to achieve our goals at the Olympic Games. We will do everything in our power to ensure we are ready to perform in Enoshima in 2021."
The team's immediate priority will be to ensure the safety and physical and mental wellbeing of its athletes during the coronavirus lockdown.
Work will also begin to re-plan the complex logistics involved in preparing and training for the Olympics.
Our thoughts remain with the families and individuals affected by COVID-19, as well as the front-line workers - including many health care professionals from the UK sports network - who are working to keep our communities safe and well.
www.facebook.com/BritishSailingTeam/
Seahorse April 2020
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
Update
Going bonkers with Don Mcintyre, lifting smoothly with Terry Hutchinson, nailing (more of) it down with Jack Griffin, clearing it up with Andy Claughton, remembering our friend Paolo Massarini and the audience wades in on stinky ribs and low-hanging fruit
World news
Strong in the Atlantic (and la Manche), refining the water ballast, an IRC get-together, ghosting in Mahurangi, upping the pace for Newport and preparing for the worst. Patrice Carpentier, Dobbs Davis, Chris Salthouse, Jean-Pierre Kelbert, Ivor Wilkins, Blue Robinson, Jean-Philippe Cau, Gery Trentesaux, Daniel Andrieu
A question of balance
Robert Deaves
Things that go bump
Some (important) people have yet to be convinced about the merits of carbon rigs... Rob Weiland
Dynasty
Julian Everitt looks at the far-reaching influence that three generations of the Frers family have had on yacht design
No bigger ask
Updating the boats for a wider range of conditions and building new wing rigs for the SailGP fleet of F50 foiling cats is not only about making them super-fast and super-reliable... it is also about making sure all boats in the fleet are precisely as fast as each other
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Let's Talk Moth with Rob Greenhalgh
Introducing a New Live Info Session with North Sails
Join North Sails Moth Class Leader, National and European titleholder Rob Greenhalgh for the first of many live sessions for the Moth class. In our first webinar, Wednesday, March 25th at 8:00pm GMT, Rob will give his expert opinion on a variety of topics and introduce key people within the class. This week's essential topics include an introduction to the series, a fleet update, and foiling like a pro. Grab a comfortable seat, a drink, and don't forget to bring your questions. We look forward to seeing you online!
FINNFARE and Finn Masters Magazine published
While there is not much Finn sailing going on at present there is plenty to read about in the latest two magazines from the Finn class. The March issue of FINNFARE has just been published, while the 2020 issue of the Finn Masters Magazine was published in February.
Josh Junior features on the cover of the March 2020 issue of FINNFARE, a reminder of the relatively carefree days just a few months ago during the Finn Gold Cup in Melbourne, Australia. If and when he gets to defend that title is still unsure.
This issue also includes a technical analysis of boom stiffness, reports from the North American and South American Continental qualifiers, reports from Finn regattas worldwide and an extensive calendar of events, now mainly outdated, for 2020.
The 2020 Finn Masters Magazine features Filipe Silva, the 2019 Finn European Masters champion on the cover. After a successful year, the Master sailors were looking forward to their 50th anniversary year this year, but celebrations have already have been curtailed due to the cancellation of the 2020 Finn World Masters in the Netherlands.
With in-depth reports from the 2019 Finn World Masters and Finn European Masters, this issue also includes interviews with Fredrik Teghned, from Sweden, and Michael Staal, from Denmark, on the future direction of the class and competing in the Masters events. They have a wide range of interesting thoughts on where the class should be heading, and well worth a close read.
March 2020 FINNFARE: Download as a PDF here | Read online via issuu here.
2020 Finn Masters Magazine: Download as a PDF here | Read online via issuu here.
New dates announced for Cowes Spring Classics: 4th - 6th September 2020
Click on image to enlarge.
In light of the current situation, Cowes Spring Classics has been rescheduled to 4th - 6th September.
It will be the same format as advertised and whilst the regatta will this year be held in the autumn, it will still be called Cowes Spring Classics. After two great years we want to continue the tradition of providing a relaxed and friendly regatta for classic boat owners and that hasn't changed.
Entries are invited from wooden classics ranging from Cruisers and Cruiser Racers, Gaff Rigged yachts and Pilot Cutters, Day Boats and Raters, Classic Metre yachts plus modern Spirit of Tradition yachts. A strong and diverse fleet is expected for 2020 with entries already coming in from around the UK, including Vigilant, the only competitive 22 Square Metre Class Racer to have been built in the UK. It was designed and built in the 1930s by the legendary sailor and yacht builder Uffa Fox.
The racing is being organised by the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club in classes using either IRC or OGA handicaps. Two new classes are being introduced for 2020 - a Non-Spinnaker Cruising Class racing with the main fleet but aimed at those boats with fewer crew. The other class is "racing for people who don't like racing" with timed races - no handicaps, no stress, challenge friends with similar yachts, perfect for class associations wanting to join the regatta for fun.
The regatta is based at Shepards Marina with a programme of socials centred around The Sugar Store which will be for the exclusive use of Cowes Spring Classics competitors.
Crew Kit are thrilled to be the Branding Partner for Cowes Spring Classics. I'm looking forward to seeing the new graphic we designed come to life on the Henri-Lloyd kit we've selected for the Regatta Collection."
Crew Kit are a Cowes based company specialising in producing high-quality branded team clothing for sailing crews, regattas and yacht clubs. Their studio offers an in-house solution for all design and production needs. www.crewkit.co.uk Please go to the event website to view the full Cowes Spring Classics regatta collection
British Dragon Association Statement - Edinburgh Cup 2020
In the light of the latest Government announcement the British Dragon Association (BDA) along with the Royal Forth Yacht Club (RFYC) has taken the decision to cancel this year's Scottish Dragon Championship and Edinburgh Cup event on the Forth.
BDA Chairman Simon Barter said: "After hearing the latest public health instruction about COVID-19 we have made the inevitable decision to cancel the 2020 Scottish Championship and Edinburgh Cup. This has been done to secure the safety and health of our members, competitors, volunteers and spectators.
"This year's event was to feature the famous International Dragon Bluebottle previously owned by HRH Prince Philip and currently undergoing a full restoration on the Isle of Wight. But while this would have been a historic event for the national Dragon fleet it would not be responsible for us to continue when we must all need to be complying with Government instructions.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the RFYC team and the Scottish Dragon fleet who have put so much time and effort into planning for a great event this year. We now look to focus on 2021 for an outstanding national event.
The provisional plan is to hold the event on the Forth in 2021.
British Dragon Association (BDA) www.britishdragons.org
"Nobody will be laid off - if need be, I'll waive my salary"
LIQUI MOLY's Managing Director Ernst Prost strengthens his team and his customers worldwide in the corona crisis
March 2020 - The world economy is on the brink of collapse due to the corona pandemic and its development is more uncertain than ever. The German oil and additive specialist LIQUI MOLY is aware of this and is taking a clear stand. "Nobody will be laid off. If need be, I'll waive my salary," Managing Director Ernst Prost promised the employees.
At the beginning of the week, Ernst Prost had surprised his employees at LIQUI MOLY, with a bonus payment of 1,000 euro. "To boost motivation and as a sign of confidence, because in times of crisis this is quickly shaken."
Now a job guarantee has followed: "Fear and worry are hard to live with, let alone accomplish great things. That's why I promised them that they would not have to suffer financial losses. No one is to be dismissed!" This applies to all employees - in Germany and in the subsidiaries in Spain and Portugal, Italy, France, South Africa and the USA. In addition, there are employees in Denmark, Great Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands, Thailand, China, Japan and India. "Not only is business global, so is responsibility. All around the globe, our colleagues must be able to feed their families."
Poole Regatta Cancelled - Join the ongoing discussion to choose a new date.
In light of the coronavirus crisis facing the world, it has been decided that the International Paint Poole Regatta will unfortunately not be able to take place on the 23rd-25th May this year. The decision is one which the committee have taken with heavy hearts, but the safety of everyone in-volved is paramount and running the regatta in any format during May would risk comprising that.
With so many other key events from the yachting calendar already being postponed to later in the year, it has been decided that there are not enough weekends remaining in 2020, after the expected peak of the Coronavirus crisis occurs allowing gatherings to take place again. Due to this, the regatta will not take place until 2021 at the earliest. There remain many questions over how quickly life will return to normal.
As such the committee want to know your thoughts. Should the International Paint Poole Re-gatta be postponed to 2021 with it running biannually from then, or should the next regatta run as per the existing schedule in 2022, where plans were already underway to potentially bring a European championship to Poole for the biggest and best regatta yet? Email your response to
Entrants are able to receive a refund of their entry fees (minus a 4% PayPal charge) or roll their entry over to the next regatta at the current price. The committee will be in touch with those who have entered to find out which option they would prefer.
The regatta is run on a not for profit basis and the committee would like thank International Paint, MS Amlin, The Poole Harbour Boat Show, Coleman Marine Insurance Brokers, Moore Blatch, Savills and Conker Gin for their continued support in creating a great event. The Inter-national Paint Poole Regatta will be back.
For more regatta information visit www.pooleregatta.co.uk or email with any questions.
Featured Charter
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The Last Word
There's something ancient and deeply-rooted in my soul. I like to think that I have left my ghost up one of those hollows, and I'll never really be able to leave for good until I find it. And I don't want to look for it, because I might find it and have to leave. -- Breece D'J Pancake
Editorial and letter submissions to
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