In This Issue
51st La Solitaire du Figaro Title For Le Cleac'h, Tom Dolan Lifts Vivi Trophy
Normandy Channel Race
Robust supporter - 52 Superseries
Vendee Globe: How Are The Boats Insured?
Sean Langman - A Real Supporter of the 18s
Three Months Until Racing Begins
HYS Hamble Winter Series - Big Boat Dates
International Maritime Film Festival
Melges 14, the second event of the year goes to Alessio Muciaccia
Persico 69F: Bis Orange: The Dutch Under 25 Team Wins
Featured Brokerage:
• • Germania Nova - Classic schooner replica
• • Cape 31 One-Design - FLAME
• • Goetz Custom IOR 50 Raceboat
The Last Word: Charlie Chaplin

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

51st La Solitaire du Figaro Title For Le Cleac'h, Tom Dolan Lifts Vivi Trophy
Armel Le Cleac'h (Banque Populaire) lifted the overall title for the 51st La Solitaire du Figaro at the end of race prizegiving in Saint Nazaire, France today. It is Le Cleach's third time of winning after successes in 2003 and 2010. With the fourth leg cancelled before starting on Saturday night due to the complete absence of wind, Le Cleac'h's winning margin is 10 minutes and 43 seconds over Fred Duthil (Techniques Voiles/Cabinet Bourhis Generali) who took second after winning the third stage. And third overall is young French ace Tom Laperche (Bretagne CMB Espoir). At just 23 years old Laperche is on just his second ever La Solitaire after debuting in 11th last year.

Top rookie this year is Kevin Bloch of the Team Vendee Formation group, finishing 12th overall.

And in fifth place overall Ireland's Tom Dolan received the VIVI Trophy for the best racer from outside of France.

Alan Roberts (Seacat Services) finished in tenth place overall (+2hrs 11mins behind winner), pledging to come back next year to do better and to fight even harder.

"I am happy with my top ten, that is always a good result in La Solitaire, I know I can do better and I know I can be better and so I am going to come back stronger and harder. I think our approach over the last couple of weeks has been spot on. I did not feel so quick early on in the season but I made the right moves towards the end. I am happy for Tom Dolan he has had an amazing race, he was solid. Tom did a brilliant job."

On his first La Solitaire du Figaro since his one and only experience in 2011 when he was 18th, Phil Sharp (OceansLab) finished up 13th overall (+2hrs 41mins)

For a programme which only started just three weeks before the race started Jack Bouttell can be pleased which his 15th on Fromagerie Gillot (2hrs 43 mins).

Having sailed so brilliantly until the latter stages of Stage 3 Britain's Sam Goodchild (Leyton) deserved much better than the 17th place he finished in. To have been third going into what proved the last leg and not had a fourth leg to fight back on was doubly cruel to Goodchild who nonetheless established himself as one of the best Figaro sailors of the moment, sailing well across the wind range.

Final top ten
1. Frederic Duthil - Technique Voile - Cabinet Bourhis Generali, Time on water: 4D 1H 45M 43S
2. Adrien Hardy - Ocean Attitude, Time on water: 4D 2H 10M 36S
3. Marc Mallaret - CER Occitanie, Time on water: 4D 2H 30M 17S
4. Armel Le Cleac'h - Banque Populaire, Time on water: 4D 2H 37M 57S
5. Kevin Bloch - Team Vendee Formation, Time on water: 4D 2H 43M 10S
6. Tom Laperche - Bretagne CMB Espoir, Time on water: 4D 2H 47M 50S
7. Tom Dolan - Smurfit Kappa, Time on water: 4D 2H 56M 36S
8. Alan Roberts - Seacat Services, Time on water: 4D 3H 1M 56S
9. Fabien Delahaye - Laboratoires Gilbert, Time on water: 4D 3H 5M 29S
10. Pierre Quiroga - Skipper MACIF 2019, Time on water: 4D 3H 13M 51S

www.lasolitaire.com/en/

Normandy Channel Race
After a tough final, it's Banque du Leman who finally scores the bullet in the 11th Normandy Channel Race. Skippers Valentin Gautier and Simon Koster crossed the finish line at 13 hours 30 minutes 30 seconds GMT after 4 days 20 hours 25 minutes and 30 seconds of racing. They made the finish line just 6 minutes ahead of Credit Mutuel. Her skippers, Ian Lipinski and Julien Pulve, bag silver then in this race, which once again went right to the wire.

The hierarchy remained wide open throughout this 2020 edition as the fleet concertinaed its way along this course up to the south coast of Ireland. It was only once Lizard Point was rounded on the home straight that Banque du Leman (158) and Credit Mutuel (159) managed to shake off the chasing pack for good and focus on their bitter duel to the finish, upwind in heavy seas. Ultimately, it was the Swiss team of Valentin Gautier and Simon Koster who came out on top to snatch victory in this 11th edition.

It was a cruel blow for the second placed duo from Lorient and La Rochelle, Ian Lipinski and Julien Pulve, as it could have gone any which way and they too sailed a brilliant race.

normandy-race.com/en/follow-the-race/

Robust supporter - 52 Superseries
52 Superseries Doug DeVos is one 52 Super Series team owner who has not been completely deprived of his love of TP52 sailing and racing. While the Quantum Racing raceboat has remained idle this summer along with the rest of the European fleet, DeVos has been lucky enough to have been able to race his second TP52, Windquest, formerly the 2015 championship-winning Quantum Racing, in the new Great Lakes 52 Series.

This hastily assembled new circuit has enjoyed close, spirited, corrected-time racing this summer under ORR, with up to six boats competing at different times, most recently Windquest, Robert and Laura Hughes' Heartbreaker (the former Alegre), Chris Duhon's Mockingbird (which began life as Patches), Philip and Sharon O'Niel's Natalie J (which was formerly Fox), taking on the shiny brand new Botín 52 Fox of Victor Wild as well as James Murray's Pac 52 Callisto, the Judel-Vrolijk design that was launched as Invisible Hand. After 16 races DeVos leads the series.

Full article in the October issue of Seahorse

Vendee Globe: How Are The Boats Insured?
During the last Defi Azimut, two boats, Fabrice Amedeo's Newrest-Art & Fenêtres and Louis Burton's Bureau Vallee were unable to start racing because of a problem with the renewal of their insurance. And so, in light of that, Tip & Shaft took an interest and questioned most of the teams to learn how the Vendee Globe Imocas are insured.

The 33 sailors who will start the ninth Vendee Globe on November 8 are all required to have civil liability insurance covering any damage caused to third parties (NoR rule 19 'to a value of over €3m'), but they are not obliged to insure their boat. Tip & Shaft could not reach all 33 teams but out of the 26 who responded, only three did not use an insurer for their boat: L'Occitane (Armel Tripon), PRB (Kevin Escoffier) and Campagne de France (Miranda Merron).

The reasons are all related to the costs of insurance premiums and high excess costs.

For Michel de Franssu, team manager of L'Occitane, one of the eight new Imoca of the 2020 Vendee Globe, the question is not yet completely settled: "We are waiting for a new proposal which, from what I understand , could be revised downwards if we equip the boat with Oscar [the detection system for warning of unidentified floating objects, see our article]". But the feeling is not to insure the 60 footer of Armel Tripon, even if its value is estimated at more than 5 million euros.

"Right now the insurance premium is equivalent to 10% of the value of the boat and then the excess is around 500,000 euros and for that it is knowing that the cost is based on total loss of the boat only, not the cost of the sails, the mast, appendages, electronics... It is only in the event of a total loss that it is worthwhile to be insured." Suggests Michel de Franssu. "However, when we look at the statistics of total loss on the last editions of the Vendee Globe, the probability is still quite low. So in the end, the cover offered is poor compared to the cost. "

Full article in Tip & Shaft

Sean Langman - A Real Supporter of the 18s
Click on image for photo gallery.

Sean Langman One of the Australian 18 Footers League's best supporters for many years has been one of Australia's most versatile sailors, Sean Langman.

Sean has not only competed regularly in the club's 18ft Skiff fleet on Sydney Harbour for 25 years, he has regularly sponsored his own campaigns as well as campaigns to support some of Australia's talented young sailors.

With the League's 2020-2021 Season due to commence on Sunday, October 11, Sean will continue his campaign with the same two teams as last season.

Sean will skipper Noakesailing and Yvette Heritage will again be at the helm of Noakes Blue. Both had successful seasons in 2019-2020 and can expect to be well in contention again this year.

Noakesailing scored five top-7 placings during the 2020 JJ Giltinan world Championship to finish eighth overall. Noakes Blue was consistent throughout the regatta and finished 14th overall in the 24-boat fleet.

As Managing Director of Noakes Group, Sean originally introduced Noakes Youth to assist young people make their way in the world. His daughter Nikki was the first youth co-ordinator.

The original Noakes Youth involvement in the 18s was 2007 when Jacqui Bonnitcha contested the JJ Giltinan world Championship, against a very strong 32-boat fleet, on Sydney Harbour.

Since then, Ash Rooklyn and Kirk Mitchell flew the Noakes Youth flag before Yvette Heritage joined Sean's group as Noakes Blue in 2019-2020.

Aside from his wonderful record of achievement on the water, Sean has always been a person with a positive outlook and an ever-ready willingness to assist talented sailors in their quest to achieve results in keeping with those talents. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League Ltd.

www.18footers.com.au

Three Months Until Racing Begins
Auckland, New Zealand: It's been a month since we had our first glimpse of what two AC75's would look like on the Waitematā Harbour. The presence of American Magic's DEFIANT definitively steps up the intensity for everyone in the team, and with the arrival of two more teams over the next month, the Waitematā is going to get very busy as teams make the most of the three months remaining before racing kicks of in December.

www.emiratesteamnz.com

TEXT

HYS Hamble Winter Series - Big Boat Dates
The races to determine this year's Hamble Big Boat Champion have now been fixed. The Hamble Star Trophy, will be awarded to the boat with the best score from the races on the 4th October and the 17th and 18th of October. With two races planned for the 17th that will make a total of four races with no discard.

Last year's champion, ICY, Melges IC37, Ian Atkins, has already entered to defend her title. She will receive stiff competition from, amongst others, the Performance 40 Class. This year's J-Cup Class 1 winner Juno, J/122, Christopher Daniel has also entered the fray.

The Hamble Star Trophy was presented to HRSC in 1934 by the Household Brigade Yacht Club. It is presented in memory of Jane Windsor.

Another early entrant to the HYS Hamble Winter Series is Gentoo, Sunfast 3300, Dee Caffari, winner of the Double Handed division of the recent RORC National IRC Championships. Gentoo is taking advantage of the invitation for double handers to enter the winter series for the first time in 2020. -- Trevor Pountain

For online entry to the 2020 HYS Hamble Winter Series got to: www.hamblewinterseries.com

International Maritime Film Festival
5th annual IMFF schedule is on your own terms!

Films will be available for viewing at any time between Sep. 18-27, 2020 with valid pass

The Grand Prize Feature Film is We, the Voyagers (Anahola, Hawaii) directed by Marianne "Mimi" George, Heuionalani Wyeth, and Jacob Penchansky. The living crew of Lata, the Polynesian culture hero who built the first voyaging canoe and navigated across the Pacific, tells the story of ancient designs, materials, and methods as a means to reconnect with ancestors and sustainable lifeways.

The Runner-up Feature Film is EASTLAND: The Shipwreck That Shook America (Evanston, Illinois) by Executive Producers Harvey Moshman & Chuck Coppola. In the summer of 1915, thousands of Chicago factory workers—recent immigrants from Europe—boarded the SS Eastland, headed for a long-anticipated day of merriment at a picnic across Lake Michigan. 844 people died that day in a matter of minutes as the ship rolled over on its side. EASTLAND: The Shipwreck the Shook America reveals how immigrants in America were victimized by rich and powerful men who exploited the legal system to get away with manslaughter. EASTLAND includes stories of heroism and heartache, with rare newsreel footage that city leaders banned from Chicago theaters in 1915. It has a run time of 54:00

Tickets: www.maritimefilmfestival.com/tickets

www.maritimefilmfestival.com

Melges 14, the second event of the year goes to Alessio Muciaccia
Portovenere Italy: The curtain closes on the second act of the 2020 Melges 14 circuit and the victory goes to an extremely solid Alessio Muciaccia who, with partial results of 1-1-3, managed to leave behind on the podium the young Leopoldo Sirolli, winner of today's regatta, and Guido Sirolli, bronze medal.

In the Blue Sail fleet, the victory went to Luca Antonini with 4 points, followed by Davide Di Maio and Gustavo Vianna, tied with 7 points each.

The two days of regattas in Portovenere, partly concomitant with the event of the bigger Melges 20, were characterized by light wind conditions, which challenged the technical skills of boat handling of the fifteen participants.

www.melges14.com/events

Persico 69F: Bis Orange: The Dutch Under 25 Team Wins
Malcesine, Italy: The stakes are raised, the wind increases, the performance improves, the smiles remain the same: Kingdom Team Netherlands, the Under 25 Dutch crew that won the Grand Prix 1.2, today has once again clinched first place in the ITAS Assicurazioni Grand Prix 2.1.

Odile van Aanholt, Jorden van Rooijen, Bart Lambriex, Emma Savelon, with the addition of the Italian Guido Gallinaro, ruled these three days of regattas, always fighting head-to-head with one of the veterans of the lake, Nicola Celon on Fantastica 2 with Lorenzo Franceschini and Simone Salvà: the two crews were half a point apart on the eve of the last race, when the tables turned.

At today's event, conditions were different from yesterday, with a regular wind under ten knots: The Dutch Kingdom Team Netherlands won the three individual races, after which a win went to both RHKYC Team Agiplast and Fantastica 2 respectively, which clocked the highest speed of the day with 24.59 knots with wind of 11 knots.

The Dutch team raised the Cup amidst applause and - again - smiles. Tomorrow is a rest day, giving the teams the opportunity to enjoy the final day of Foiling Week from Fraglia Vela Malcesine, then on Tuesday racing resumes for the six teams enrolled in the ITAS Insurance Grand Prix 2.2.


1. Kingdom Team Netherlands - 89.5 points

2. Fantastica 2 - 86
3. RHKYC Team Agiplast - 59.5

4. Okalys - 48.5
5. Fantastica 1 - 39.5
6. Section 16 - 33,5 pt

www.persico69f.com

Featured Brokerage
Raceboats Only Germania Nova - Classic schooner replica. 4,950,000 EUR. Located in

GERMANIA NOVA is a replica of the schooner ‘Germania’ launched in 1908. She was built at Factoria Naval de Marin, located in Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain. As opposed to Germania, which did not include a motor or generators or air conditioning, GERMANIA NOVA has been outfitted with these important features for a charter yacht of her kind. In fact GERMANIA NOVA has full charter class under LY2. Her external decks and sail plan are equally impressive.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact

+33 (0) 467 66 39 93

-----------------------------------------

Raceboats Only 2017 Cape 31 One Design. 85000 GBP. Located in Cape Town, South Africa.

FLAME is hull #1 of the popular CAPE 31 series of sportsboat. She comes with a complete inventory, and priced to allow the next owner to add sails of their choice for class racing or optimise for local conditions and rules. One-piece Carbon mast, with optional carbon boom.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

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

-----------------------------------------

Raceboats Only Goetz Custom IOR 50 Raceboat. 35,000 GBP Located in

A rare opportunity to own one of the great Admiral’s Cup racing yachts.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Call Nick on
+44 (0)7900 191 326
to view.
waypoint-yachtbrokers.co.uk

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

The Last Word
Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease from pain. -- Charlie Chaplin

Editorial and letter submissions to

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see www.eurosailnews.com/advertise.html

Search the Archives

SEARCH SEARCH

Our Partners

Seahorse Magazine

YachtScoring.com

Wight Vodka

Robline Ropes

Harken

Marlow

Navico

Translate