In This Issue
• Race is Wide Open
• Capsize raises sailing schedule issues
• Midnight Seeks Enthusiastic Capable Crew
• The finest meals will always require the best ingredients - Hexel and SF Composites
• Green Dragon and Palanad 3 Scorch Into Antigua
• On The Threshold Of The Southern Ocean
• Seawanhaka Cup June 2021 Postponed
• Another Lockdown Means Another Gadget Taking Shape
• Industry News
• Featured Charter: Dark Shadow - Wally Yacht 100
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Nautor Swan 65
• • Neel 65 Evolution - Trimaran
• • Mills 41 - "Ambush"
• The Last Word: Thomas Jefferson
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
Race is Wide Open
A leading group of nine skippers form the vanguard with a slight advantage for two skippers, Charlie Dalin and Louis Burton. The skipper of Bureau Vallee 2 continues his more westerly route and all eyes are on the weather files. But all the way through the fleet, even at day 72 of racing, there is an intense satisfaction in still being in the race, from the front runners all the way through to Finland's Ari 'Super Happy' Huusela who should round Cape Horn this weekend, and shut the exit door from the Pacific behind him
"The situation has not really changed since yesterday," smiled Christian Dumard, the Vendee Globe weather expert. Charlie Dalin (APIVIA) and Louis Burton (Bureau Vallee 2) are still out in front. The skipper who now lives in St. Malo has moved slightly further west. "His is an interesting strategy," added Christian Dumard. "As if the timing (of the incoming low) is not as forecast, he will have no margin to play with." Burton was the guest on the French Vendee Live this lunchtime: "I am trying to build on the fact that I got quickly out of the Doldrums, so am sticking with this strategy." Armel Le Cleac'h, the winner four years ago, believes that five sailors are in with a chance of winning this time. The two frontrunners, Dalin and Burton, along with Thomas Ruyant, Boris Hermann and Yannick Bestaven. "We are going to have to take into account that the sailors are tired and their boats too," he added.
Beware of the rankings! "The further we go forward, the more they give a one-sided picture," added Christian Dumard. The battle between the nine skippers at the front of the fleet is so hard fought that their position in the rankings should be taken with a pinch of salt. The skippers are ranked according to their position based on the distance left to sail to the finish. However, it is impossible to head straight for Les Sables d'Olonne. The weather expert added that the measurement uses the longitude. So, while Damien Seguin retook second place today at noon, he is in a much less favourable position than Louis Burton, who is currently fifth. In fact, Groupe APICIL is more than 450 miles from APIVIA from west to east, while Bureau Vallee 2 is just 230 miles away in longitude from the leading boat.
Top ten at 18 Jan 2021 - 21h (UTC)
1. Charlie Dalin - APIVIA, 2794.81 nm to finish
2. Louis Burton - Valley 2 Office, 78.58 nm to leader
3. Damien Seguin - GROUPE APICIL, 112.58 nm
4. Thomas Ruyant - LinkedOut, 121.86 nm
5. Yannick Bestaven - Maitre CoQ IV, 124.44 nm to leader
6. Giancarlo Pedote - Prysmian Group, 160.97 nm
7. Boris Herrmann - SEAEXPLORER - Yacht Club De Monaco, 163.5 nm
8. Benjamin Dutreux - OMIA - WATER FAMILY, 190.5 nm
9. Jean Le Cam - Yes We Cam!, 271.88 nm
10. Maxime Sorel - V and B-MAYENNE, 489.2 nm
Capsize raises sailing schedule issues
American Magic's withdrawal from racing in the last two round robins of the America's Cup Challenger Selection Series raises questions about what will happen on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour this week.
On Wednesday morning the upcoming race schedule for the Challenger Selection Series was still to be confirmed by race organisers.
The original programme had Team UK racing twice - once against each of the other two challengers - on Friday, American Magic in action twice on Saturday and Luna Rossa doubling up on Sunday.
But a decision on whether to alter the schedule, to remove races against American Magic, has not been finalised.
Under the protocol governing the 36th America's Cup, Challenger of Record (COR) Luna Rossa are the team able make changes to the Challenger Selection Series (CSS) schedule.
In an amendment made to the protocol in July 2020, it stated:"COR shall have the right at any time prior to the commencement of any phase of the CSS, in consultation with the other Challengers and RNZYS, to alter the number of races for each stage depending upon the number of the then eligible Challengers and the time available for the competition."
Midnight Seeks Enthusiastic Capable Crew
Captain/Chef/Mate
The Oyster 82 Midnight will be back afloat Ipswich in April, refreshed and ready for passage to the Med, where the season will comprise a mix of charter and owner's use. She will then head for the Caribbean and on to Scotland and Ireland in '22.
Her owner, Oyster's founder, is a keen racer and part of Midnight's duties will be to provide regatta support for a vintage gaff cutter and a new IRC 52.
Crew with relevant experience are invited to email their CV in confidence. It may be possible to arrange interviews in Antigua up to 28 Jan, thereafter in the UK.
The finest meals will always require the best ingredients - Hexel and SF Composites
How Hexcel and SF Composites combined their considerable forces to make the already magnificent Gunboat 68 even better
Gunboat's success in the cruiser/racer multihull world has been driven by many factors, not least a reputation for performance on the water that matches the sleek modern looks that the marque has become so well known for.
The Gunboat 68 is no exception, with the group's latest, series-built, luxury cruising cat featuring a complex carbon fibre composite construction that presented an opportunity to develop new partnerships with raw material providers.
Gunboat's target was to identify a supplier that could deliver the entire package of dry carbon fibre reinforcements used for the 68's hull and deck. The first boat was launched in January 2019 and it was at this time that SF Composites, part of Hexcel's official distributor network in Europe, started to work with Gunboat and began to optimise the supply chain for the series production of subsequent yachts.
Full article in the February Issue of Seahorse
Green Dragon and Palanad 3 Scorch Into Antigua
Johannes Schwarz's Volvo 70 Green Dragon crossed the finish line of the 7th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race at 04:53 UTC in an elapsed time of 9 days, 18 hours, 53 mins and 40 secs. Green Dragon wins the IMA Trophy and takes Monohull Line Honours for the RORC Transatlantic Race. Olivier Magre's Class40 Palanad 3 was less than five hours behind completing the 2735-mile race in a phenomenal elapsed time of 10 days, 1 hour, 43 mins and 18 secs. For the moment, Palanad 3 have scored the best corrected time under IRC for the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy.
Green Dragon becomes the seventh boat to win the International Maxi Association's IMA Trophy. Whilst this year's race is a different route, Green Dragon is the first monohull to complete the RORC Transatlantic Race in under 10 days.
Green Dragon crew: Kees Bos, Alexis Duvernoy, Jonathan Florent, Florian Guezennec, Jens Lindner, Angel Lingorski, Jorge Lorenzo Roman, Elena Malakhatka, Peter Marchal, August Ruckman, Johannes Schwarz (Skipper), Anton Tajiev, Ada Westerinen.
Olivier Magre's Class40 Palanad 3 showed blistering pace in the RORC Transatlantic Race. "We pushed the boat hard, maybe at times a bit too much," admitted Luke Berry. "We had the smaller spinnaker up in 38 knots for example." Palanad 3's owner Olivier was racing with two of the best Class40 sailors in the world in Corentin Douguet and Luke Berry. Enjoying a cold beer dockside Olivier commented:
"We are overjoyed to arrive in Antigua to such a great welcome, it has been a super race. The boat performed really well; very quick but also very safe, with tremendous acceleration. If it was not for the sargassum weed, I am sure we would have finished inside 10 days - it is a superb boat!
Antoine Carpentier's Class40 Redman is expected to be the next boat to complete the RORC Transatlantic Race. Redman is due in Antigua in the early in early hours of Wednesday 20th January.
On The Threshold Of The Southern Ocean
Spot on with their timing and at the helm of a giant at her full potential, the crew of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild began their passage across the South Atlantic on Sunday evening after seven days at sea, bound for Good Hope, the first of three major capes in the Jules Verne Trophy. Since then, the flying maxi-trimaran has left the Brazilian coast in her wake, the miles simply flying by at very high speed. This afternoon, Franck Cammas, Charles Caudrelier and their four crew have entered the forties, latitudes known by sailors as roaring due to the boisterous conditions they provide for those who dare to venture into them. And it has to be said that the NW'ly breeze has fleshed out to above 30 knots now. And so the scene is set for the men of Gitana Team who are continuing on their record hunt, with their sights on their first crack at the record to Cape Agulhas, which they know to be within reach.
Together with their router Marcel van Triest, the Cammas-Caudrelier pairing has managed to pull off its first challenge on the oceanic chessboard. Indeed, by perfectly positioning itself under the Saint Helena High and ahead of a powerful front heading off on a tour of Antarctica, they're opening their crew up to the fast track. In the last 24 hours, they've maintained an average speed of over 35 knots, enabling them to devour some 846 miles.
Since the start of this 10th day of the record attempt, the wind has fleshed out as forecast, accompanied by a short, cross sea, it too becoming heavier. This afternoon, the latest of the Gitanas was sailing in a good NW'ly breeze of thirty knots or so, but she was continuing to power along towards the tip of South Africa. With a lead of 792 miles over Francis Joyon's record, the men of Gitana Team know that they are sailing at the right tempo, but they remain clear-headed and particularly focused.
Seawanhaka Cup June 2021 Postponed
It is with profound disappointment that the Long Beach Yacht Club has decided to postpone the Seawanhaka International Challenge Cup to 2022. In consultation with the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, we have decided that it would not be prudent to host this international yacht racing event in 2021, given the global impact of the COVID-19 virus. With the commencement of vaccinations, it is uncertain that we would be able to expect international competitors to make appropriate logistical travel arrangements. While we are dedicated to hosting a world-class regatta, the safety of our competitors comes first.
The Seawanhaka Cup is an historic international challenge to promote small yacht racing and develop the Corinthian spirit among competing yachtsmen. Given this pedigree, the regatta is deserving of an event that will honor its traditions and permit competitors from several nations to compete for the Cup. As an international event, we want to conduct the challenge when all competitors can arrange international travel to participate. It is also a Corinthian regatta, and we desire to host numerous social events in conjunction with the regatta to further camaraderie amongst the participating clubs. These objectives would be significantly challenged in the current environment.
New dates have not yet been confirmed, but we intend to reschedule the regatta for the same time in 2022. Race documents, event history, and other details are available on the 2022 Seawanhaka Cup web page found on the Long Beach Yacht Club website at www.lbyc.org
Another Lockdown Means Another Gadget Taking Shape
Another UK lockdown means more creativity from the man-cave. See here my new concept for an Etchells class spreader bracket taking shape. Precision-milled from a solid block of 6000-series alloy. This is the third evolution of prototyping.
Phase 1 tested the general concept and was 3D printed in plastic. Phase 2 was custom machined in alloy and race-tested successfully all season on my boat "Man's Best Friend". This final phase is all about refinement in all areas, including aerodynamically. The main benefits will be dimensional consistency and marrying perfectly to the spreader arm for reliable adjusting without any weight penalty. It will also lower the cost for sailors when compared to the existing labour-intensive hand-made stainless steel alternatives. I'd rather be sailing, but this is enjoyable as well. -- Andrew 'Dog' Palfrey
Industry News
The 2021 HISWA In-Water Boat Show in the Netherlands will be held September 1-5 after organisers reversed a decision to stage it a week earlier to avoid competition with the Dutch Formula One race.
Arjen Rahusen, director of the boat show, said "for a number of shipyards it turns out to be difficult to get their boats" into the show site at Lelystad a week earlier. "We don't organise the in-water show for ourselves, but for exhibitors and visitors."
Rahusen also said September 1 may be a special date marking a post-Covid return of public events. "Therefore, after careful consideration, we decided to go back to the September 1-5 slot."
The Dutch Formula One race will be held on September 5. That event returns to the North Sea resort of Zandvoort after a 36-year absence.
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Top US boat show organisers - the National Marine Manuracturers Association (NMMA) and Informa Markets - have agreed to partner on the three boat and yacht shows which take place at the same time in Miami in February, along with the three largest shows on Florida's West Coast; Next year's Miami International Boat Show will return to the Miami Beach Convention Center
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As a result of the concerns expressed by exhibitors and partners, the organisers of the Eurasia Boat Show, CNR Pozitif Trade Fairs, have decided to postpone the show and it will now be held from the 20-28th March 2021. It had been intended to run from February 20-28.
Since September CNR have held seven major international trade shows in the CNR Centre under strict health protocols and it is confident that it can achieve the same degree of safety with the boat show. According to the organisers, stringent controls will be in place and a renewed ventilation system has been installed in the halls which absorbs and disinfects the air from outside to provide constantly sterilised clean air. Furthermore, the number of people allowed into the exhibition at any one time will be restricted. The show will cover 85,000sq m of indoor space of which 90% has already been sold.
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The organisers of the Thailand Yacht Show (TYS), Verventia Pte Ltd, have announced the postponement of the annual event which was scheduled to take place next month to a date later in 2021.
In a statement, Verventia CEO Andy Treadwell said: "In light of the recent outbreak of Covid-19 infections in Thailand and the latest announcement of restrictions on inter-provincial travel - as of yesterday, visitors to Phuket from Bangkok and other key regions now have to go into 14 days of quarantine on arrival - we have regrettably announced the decision to postpone the 2021 Thailand Yacht Show, currently scheduled from 11-14 February, until later in the year."
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Strategist and Olympic coach Mark Rushall, dinghy sailing writer and historian David Henshall and members of the British Sailing Team are amongst the experts at this year's virtual RYA Dinghy Show.
Presented by Suzuki and supported by Yachts & Yachting, the show, from 27-28 February, will be hosted by professional sailor and speaker Hannah Diamond.
Mark Rushall will be talking tactics and explaining the new racing rules of sailing. There is also a live webinar with members of the British Sailing Team including athletes selected to represent Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Windsurfing coach and guru Sam Ross will interview the British Sailing Team's Emma Wilson and Tom Squires, who'll be competing at the Tokyo 2020 Games in the RS:X class. They will be joined by windsurfing legend and Olympian Dave Hackford for a live discussion on how the sport has progressed over the years and the introduction of new watersports including wing foiling.
The show will also feature Dinghy Cruising Companion and president of the Dinghy Cruising Association, Roger Barnes and award-winning quadriplegic sailor Natasha Lambert.
www.rya.org.uk/dinghy-show/Pages/home.aspx
Featured Charter
Dark Shadow - Wally Yacht 100. From 40,000 per week EUR. Location : Caribbean
Wally yacht DARK SHADOW is a 30 m (100ft) high-performance cruising yacht that is instantly recognizable with her sleek lines and her pure, contemporary design.
See listing details in Seahorse Charters
Contact
Lisa Spiller
Charter Manager
Bernard-Gallay
Phone 1 : +33 (0)6 33 42 45 09
Phone 2 : +33 (0)467 66 39 93
Mail :
See the the Seahorse charter collection
Featured Brokerage
1980 Nautor Swan 65. 480000 EUR. Located in Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy.
Iconic S&S Swan 65, a true ocean greyhound with capabilities far beyond most modern yachts, CHOUCAS III is known as one of the most elegant classic S&S Swan yachts of all the time and benefits of Rondal furling masts.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Michele Antonini – Grabau International (Italia)
Tel: +39 333 74 89 281
Email:
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NEEL 65 EVOLUTION - Trimaran. POA EUR.
NEEL 65 - The flagship of the range.
Sail in a new way with the NEEL 65 EVOLUTION... A new and unique angle on cruise-oriented navigation, in “Sport-Chic mode. The furniture design code, in a highly contemporary style using simple and refine materials. The saloon with its sleek lines, enjoys a wide panoramic view.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
4 rue Virginie Heriot
Plateau nautique BP 23085
17032 La Rochelle Cedex - France
Tel. : +33 546 290 871
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2016 MILLS 41 - "Ambush". 350000 USD. Located in Hong Kong.
AMBUSH is an IRC41 from Mark Mills. With a detailed understanding of the IRC rule, this FAST 40 style racer was penned with a more offshore focus, whilst keeping similar DNA to the inshore flyers that we have seen taking IRC by storm. A great option for both an inshore and offshore calendar.
See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly
Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats
+447759 424900
+442380 016582
See the RaceboatsOnly.com collection at seahorsemagazine.com/brokerage/
The Last Word
I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend. -- Thomas Jefferson
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