EuroSail News #4778 - 17 February

In This Issue
• America's Cup Event position on continuation of racing
• Challenger Of Record Calls For Resuming Racing As Soon As Possible
• Optimist World Championship
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• Vendee Finishes for Costa and Giraud
• Phil Sharp announces zero emission hydrogen campaign that will culminate in the 2024 Vendee Globe
• Boat owners caught 'in perfect storm' says Cruising Association
• Industry News
• Featured Charter: Ultim Emotion 2 – Trimaran Ultim Maxi 80
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Mills 41 - "Ambush"
• • Aquarius Alfa - Swan 100S
• • Jeanneau 51 Yacht
• The Last Word: William Saroyan

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

America's Cup Event position on continuation of racing
America's Cup Event Chair Tina Symmans said, "As event organisers, we have spent a considerable amount of time since Sunday evening looking at all possible scenarios. Like the majority of events around the country this weekend, the ramifications of running the remainder of the event need to be considered in an environment which is highly uncertain due to the latest COVID-19 concerns."

ACE has consulted with the America's Cup Minister Stuart Nash and senior Council officials and one consideration has been to postpone the current schedule of racing and events in the best interests of the public and all stakeholders given the current COVID-19 environment.

The position of ACE is based on one of two options based on the Government's review of alert levels at 4:30 this afternoon:
- If the alert levels drop to level 1 in time, then racing will resume this weekend.
- If the alert level remains at 3 or 2, which obviously entails restrictions in gatherings and difficulties with events, racing and event activations would need to be rescheduled to recommence the PRADA Cup Final on Friday 26 February. To respect the original timeframe scheduled between the Prada Cup Final and the America's Cup Match, Race 1 of the Match would subsequently begin a week later on Saturday 13 March with the intention of racing still being completed by 21 March.

This morning the Challenger of Record (COR36) has made their position very clear in stating their desire to race from tomorrow despite COVID Alert level 3, to complete the PRADA Cup final by the 24th February in accordance with the existing Prada Cup conditions.

They have also stated that if the racing program cannot be completed by Wednesday (24th) they intend to declare the leading point scorer the winner of the Prada Cup and Challenger for the America's Cup Match. Under the current points situation, that would be Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team.

www.americascup.com

Challenger Of Record Calls For Resuming Racing As Soon As Possible
Challenger of Record America's Cup 36 (COR 36) - the organizer of the PRADA Cup - urged America's Cup Events (ACE) to request an exemption to carry on the Final of the PRADA Cup in compliance with the Racing Calendar and in order to meet the legitimate expectations of the competitors involved, of the international public and of the international television networks who have already programmed their broadcastings.

Unfortunately this did not happen, notwithstanding a protocol and a procedure which were put in place since months in the event such circumstance would occur. COR 36 has been now informed by ACE that they are discussing with the Authorities different options, including the postponement of the racing to the 26th of February; this is in total breach of the regulations, which set the 24th of February as the end of the PRADA Cup, without any possible extension.

COR 36 is indeed endeavouring to ensure that the PRADA Cup Final resumes as early as the 19th of February whilst respecting public health and the protocols imposed by the New Zealand government. COR 36 has also offered its full support to ACE and to the local authorities to immediately implement the Level 3 Alert management plan provided for by the AC36 Event COVID-19 Management On Land and On Water Plans. These plans provide that, in a level 3 COVID-19 alert, the AC36 Village shall be closed and the regattas shall resume "behind closed doors", without any public, as it already happens for many international sporting events (Formula 1, Australian Open etc.).

This on water management plan has already been tested and can therefore be immediately activated with the approval of the Authorities. Since teams are authorised to sail and practice under COVID-19 level 3 alert, it is hard to understand why racing "behind closed doors" could not be allowed applying the same protocols.

In this context, and in compliance with the regulations, there is no reason to further delay the carrying on of the regattas as scheduled, giving both teams the opportunity to complete the number of races required by the series within the terms and deadlines imposed by the racing calendar. It should be reminded that otherwise Rule A2.3(b) of Appendix A to the World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing America's Cup edition Version 3.03 for the 36th America's Cup presented by PRADA - which provide that "... the winner is the team with the highest score at the date of the final scheduled date" - would apply.

COR 36 hopes not to apply this provision and that an exemption to allow racing at the scheduled dates will be granted.

Optimist World Championship
Riva del Garda, Italy: After a year of forced stop and the postponement of the Optimist World Championship due to the pandemic, Riva del Garda is confirmed as location of the 2021 edition of the Optimist Worlds. The hosting venue, Fraglia Vela Riva, together with all the members of the organizing committee, are ready to reorganize the event that will bring in the water the best young sailors of the World, from June 30th to July 10th, 2021.

The highlight event of the Optimist season returns to Riva del Garda after eight years: in 2013, in fact, the athlete from Singapore Loh Jia Yi, born in 1998, became World Champion on Lake Garda in a fleet of 259 young sailors.

The event of Riva del Garda will be determine who will follow in the golden books the three-times World Champion Marco Gradoni, athlete from the Tognazzi Marine Village, already winner of the World Title in Pattaya (2017), Limassol (2018) and Antigua (2019), becoming the first to complete a enterprise of the kind.

The event will start on June 30th, 2021, and will end on the 10th of July, including qualifications, team races and finals. Registrations are already open and can be completed at this link.

The 2021 Optimist World Championship is organized by Fraglia Vela Riva, Riva del Garda Fierecongressi, Garda Trentino and AICO - Italian Optimist Class Association.

www.optiworld.org

Seahorse March 2021
What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine

World news
Mini Transat madness, packed (transatlantic) schedule, Gitana go again, the essential Class40 school guide, hanging onto your keel (just), match racing your chase boat, hanging tough in Oz. Plus winning it on screen. Chris Nicholson, Pip Hare, Pete Burling, Blue Robinson, Charles Caudrelier, Ivor Wilkins, Dobbs Davis, Patrice Carpentier, Alain Gautier, Ben Ainslie, Peter Isler, Chris Bedford

Taking off
Rob Weiland is distinctly unrelaxed about the steady influx of self-learning AI sailing systems

Catching the mood
A tiny silver sliver from that which will not be named has turboed two-handed sailing. And now it’s official. Larry Rosenfeld

The great divide - Part I
Put together a wonderful designer, a highly competitive owner... and a Royal Yacht. Clare Mccomb

On arrive
At least 15 new Class40s (sic) are going to be launched during 2021... all scows of course. Fred Augendre looks at some very rapid development and some likely frontrunners

1yr Print Sub: €77 - £48 - $71 / Rest of the World: £65 www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/

1yr Digital Sub for £37.50: www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs/

Discounts shown are valid on a one year subscription to Seahorse magazine.

Vendee Finishes for Costa and Giraud
Catalonian firefighter Didac Costa finished his second Vendee Globe solo round the world race this evening at 19:47:03hrs UTC, crossing the line off Les Sables d'Olonne in 20th place in an elapsed time of 97d 06hrs 27m 03s. When he set off with the record sized field of 33 solo skippers on Sunday 8th November, the quiet, humble skipper from Barcelona was hoping to beat his 108d 19hrs time on the 2016-17 race and to get closer to the 94 days 4 hours record for his boat set when it was new, finishing second in 2001 in the hands of Ellen MacArthur.

Clement Giraud crossed the finish line of the Vendee Globe this morning at 09:28:21 hrs UTC after 99d, 20hrs, 08m and 31s of racing. Finishing in 21st place on Compagnie du Lit/Jiliti, the 40 year old who grew up in Martinique achieves his original target, breaking the 100 days mark, by a matter of 3hrs and 52mins. But Giraud will be doubly satisfied as he very nearly did not make the start at all. After his boat went on fire just before November 2019's double handed race across the Atlantic his sponsors withdrew from his project. But he was lent the 2006 Farr design by fellow competitor Erik Nigon and Giraud only finally secured the sponsorships of Compagnie du Lit and Jiliti last September.

www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news

Phil Sharp announces zero emission hydrogen campaign that will culminate in the 2024 Vendee Globe
The British sailor, based in France, aims to demonstrate the potential of renewable energies by sailing around the world using a Hydrogen Power Module; a zero emission solution for boats for which he has led the development that has just been awarded the "Solar Impulse Efficient Solution" Label, a proof of high standards in profitability and sustainability. Today, he announces a racing and technological programme spanning over the next four years, including The Ocean Race and culminating with the Vendee Globe 2024-25.

Led by Green Skipper and cleantech innovator Phil Sharp, the HPM enables hydrogen and fuel cell technology to be accessible to the maritime sector. As one of the first world-wide to develop an integrated and marinised solution for zero emissions hydrogen power aboard vessels, the innovation aims to support the sector's clean energy transition, improve air quality, and help address climate change.

The next step for the OceansLab - Race to Zero Emissions sailing project - will be to take the prototype HPM across oceans to demonstrate the important role that hydrogen and fuel cells can play in decarbonising vessels. Along with breaking World Records key events include the crewed and multi-stopover The Ocean Race (prev. the Volvo Ocean Race) in 2022, the 2023 duo Transat Jacques Vabre race from France to Brazil, and the solo, non-stop Vendee Globe next taking place in 2024.

www.genevos.com

www.oceanslab.world

Boat owners caught 'in perfect storm' says Cruising Association
Robin Baron, chairman of the Cruising Association's RATS committee, says cruising yachtsmen are in the middle of 'a perfect storm'.

His words come at the end of months of covid restrictions, a VAT 'trap' and new visa rules exacerbating everything. Amid a surge of enquiries about Brexit which has seen the CA run a seminar and respond to multiple questions from members in unfolding territory, Baron has settled on a plan to at least help members negotiate visa arrangements. He's looking to exert pressure from within.

Since 1 Jan 2021, people can only stay 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area (see below). The 180-day reference period is not fixed. It is a moving window, based on the approach of looking backwards at each day of the stay over the time period. Only absence for an uninterrupted period of 90 days allows for a new stay for up to 90 days.

"This simply doesn't work for cruising yachts," states Baron. "It cuts off either April and May, or August and September." But what perplexes him is that while the UK government gave "EU citizens the right to visit for up to 180 days, our government declined to negotiate the reciprocal arrangement with Schengen."

Baron admits that a few yachtsmen calling for extended visas or equal arrangements is probably quite low on the government's priority list, but when added to the cacophony of noise being made by musicians and second home owners also pushing back against 90 days, he's determined that any changes to be made include boat owners.

marineindustrynews.co.uk

Industry News
Australian Sailing is thrilled to announce Ronstan will be continuing their partnership with Australian Sailing and the Australian Sailing Team.

The sailboat hardware manufacturer has been in partnership with Australian Sailing and the Australian Sailing Team (AST) for over fifty years and will continue their support having signed a new four-year agreement.

Ronstan believes they owe much of their success to their close ties with sailing's elite athletes and teams. "There are two key benefits to sponsoring the AST: the promotional value and the technical value," says Peter Dowdney, Australasian Sales Manager and member of Ronstan's ownership group.

"As a business that is creating at the cutting edge of sailing, the best testing we can do is put our product in the hands of top athletes in the field. Having them critique and report on the products gives us an incredible head start in creating the next generation of product for sailing."

The partnership will see the two teams working together up until at least the end of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Visit the Ronstan website for more information on their full range of yacht and dinghy sailing products including blocks, sheaves, travellers, furlers, rope cleats, stainless steel fittings, sheet and halyard winches and much more.

sailing.org.au

ronstan.com

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Yacht-building and ship repair has been declared a key priority work theme for a newly formed Port of Cape Town government Task Team.

The Task Team, formed in December 2019 and comprised of 10 senior representatives of the port logistics chain, was initially set up to address congestion issues at the port, the key export terminal for South Africa's leisure boatbuilding industry. The team reconvened recently to review their work and identify focus areas for the year ahead.

The success of the Initiative was highlighted last week by Western Cape provincial Finance Minister David Maynier at an online function hosted by provincial Premier Alan Winde. Maynier commended the Task Team for significant progress in all areas. He said Transnet Port Terminals, which manages port operations, was considering international private sector partners to invest in port operations.

The City of Cape Town recently joined forces with the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and local maritime stakeholders to form BlueCape, a public private partnership geared to build the maritime economy. The V&A is also finalising plans for a dedicated superyacht quay on the back of efforts to attract a greater share of the global superyacht repair market.

Maynier said the Port of Cape Town was "a major economic gateway for Cape Town, the Western Cape and South Africa.

www.ibinews.com

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The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), organisers of the Dubai International Boat Show (DIBS), have announced the postponement of the show. which was scheduled for March this year, until March 2022.

In a statement released today, the DWTC confirmed: "After consultation with our clients and stakeholders, Dubai International Boat Show shall reschedule its 2021 edition to 8-12 March 2022 at Dubai Harbour. The deferment is made in consideration of the evolving regulations and logistics on the movement of yachts internationally, and our continued commitment to provide the maximum diversity and choice of global brands to our regional customers. We look forward to your continued support and welcoming you to our new home at Dubai Harbour next year."

Despite the cancellation of this year's event, the outlook for the leisure marine industry in the Gulf region is optimistic with buoyant boat sales through 2020 with international borders closed as locals re-discovered the opportunities of marine leisure.

As reported by IBI at the end of January, the opportunities for business in the UAE have also opened up with relationships re-established with Qatar and new trade links with Israel.

Qatar, one of the richest Gulf States, is historically a very strong boating market with the industry well-connected with UAE boatbuilders and equipment suppliers. Business suffered when Qatar was isolated due to a diplomatic incident that began on 5 June 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and banned Qatar-registered planes and ships from utilising their airspace and sea routes, along with Saudi Arabia blocking Qatar's only land crossing. This restriction has recently been lifted and will assist the marine industry in the UAE, together with boosting visitors for the boat shows and events.

www.ibinews.com/events/

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Italian Yacht Builders Ferretti Group And Sanlorenzo Form Joint Venture To Rescue Perini Navi From Bankruptcy

Two of the world's leading yacht builders—Ferretti Group and Sanlorenzo—also happen to be Italian yacht builders. So, I'm not surprised that when news of another storied Italian superyacht builder—Perini Navi—was in financial distress, the leadership teams from the Ferretti Group and Sanlorenzo made an offer to acquire the trademarks, assets and Italian operations of Perini Navi. And according to published reports, the two companies have formed a 50:50 Joint Venture they are calling NewCo that took over the troubled shipbuilder when it was declared bankrupt by the Italian courts on January 29. -- Bill Springer in Forbes

www.forbes.com

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Chantiers de l'Atlantique is pleased to invite you to an exclusive presentation of the progresses in Solid Sail technology on Tuesday, February 16 at 3:00 pm.

This event will be simultaneously translated in English.

Our institutional and industrial partners will share with us their involvement in this project and we will also have the great pleasure to welcome the famous skipper Jean Le Cam, a technical partner of the project from its beginning.

To follow this e-event on line, please register : here

This event will be followed by an international press conference during which you will be able to ask any questions live.

After your registration, you will receive the link to join the e-event. For any questions : - tel : +33 6 38 83 62 18

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To be at the front of the fleet and racing for gold requires preparation, perspiration and performance from sailors. As speeds on dinghies increase, the kit used by sailors needs to be just as ready for the high-octane action. Enter Musto's new expanded SS21 LPX collection and Flexlite Vapour products.

Building on the success of the award-winning 2020 LPX collection, which provides lightweight and breathable, yet incredibly durable, weather protection, four innovative pieces have been added to the range.

Nick Houchin, Musto's head of marketing said "At Musto, we want to see sailors thrive in all conditions so we're always researching innovation solutions on how we can best support them. This is why we work closely with an impressive roster of pro-sailors to overcome the challenges facing them out on the water. Our Team Musto ambassadors bring real-life expertise, so every garment performs at its peak. We are excited to see what these new technologies will bring to the professional sailing game." The LPX and Flexlite Vapour ranges are available to purchase online.

www.musto.com

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Annapolis, US-based boat show producer Annapolis Boat Shows has announced plans to combine its two spring events into a single combined boat show.

The company announced that it is merging its former Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show and Bay Bridge Boat Show into an expanded 2021 Bay Bridge Boat Show that will run as an in-person event from April 15-18.

Hosted at the Bay Bridge Marina in Stevensville, Maryland, the new combined event is said to represent the largest in-water power and sailboat show in the US mid-Atlantic region.

The company notes that its show steering committee is working closely with local health officials to draft health and safety protocols that it says will allow the combined boat show to run safely and productively, with full Covid-19 safety protocols and guidelines to be presented in the coming weeks.

www.ibinews.com

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Work will start this month on the construction of a new 136-bed accommodation centre for the UKSA (UK Sailing Academy), the 30-year old UK non-profit maritime charity. The new facility at the UKSA's Cowes campus will allow an extra 3,000 children and young people to be taught in time through 150 courses how to sail, do watersports and other marine activities.

In normal times, the UKSA trains some 8,000 children and over 1,500 professional career students to work within the growing global maritime industry each year. Its professional education training pathways create long-term maritime career opportunities supporting students to succeed for themselves, their communities and society.

This new project has been made possible by a number of generous donations including $1.9m from the TK Foundation, the single largest donation in UKSA's history; an additional £450,000 pledge from the Whirlwind Charitable Trust (a long-term supporter of UKSA) and a new £300,000 donation from The Bradbury Foundation.

www.ibinews.com/companiese

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 Guy Nowell (a Brit, and proud of it) - Asia Editor, Sail-World.com

re:Counting Chickens

Isn't it rather presumptuous of ETNZ to be lining up the venues AC37 when they are yet to win AC36?

Either they are supremely, arrogantly, confident, or this is just a mind game. Whatever, for anyone who isn't a Kiwi, it is one more good reason to join Team ABNZ - Anyone But New Zealand.

Let the Games begin.

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Aquarius Alfa - Swan 100 S.