In This Issue
• Emirates Team New Zealand Win The 36th America's Cup
• The Big One
• What's in the Latest Edition Of Seahorse Magazine
• Queen Of The Harbour
• A Radical Proposal
• How Racing Rating Rules Work
• WASZP Announces EuroCup Circuit for 2021
• 2025 World Championship for 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17
• New Rules And Old Rules
• Letters to the Editor
• Featured Charter: Outremer 5x Catamaran GIVE ME FIVE
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Botin 65 King Marine HIGH SPIRIT
• • SW100 Blues
• • Dixon 73 - La Luna
• Back on Monday
• The Last Word: Michael McClure

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

Emirates Team New Zealand Win The 36th America's Cup
Once again Emirates Team New Zealand has entered the history books and won the America's Cup for New Zealand for the fourth time.

On day 7 of the 36th America's Cup presented by PRADA, the Kiwis scored the 7th point they needed to raise the Auld Mug in front of thousands of spectators .

A spectacular achievement for Emirates Team New Zealand and the yacht club they represent, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Another confirmation that – in sailing – the Southern hemisphere country of 5 million people can punch way above its weight.

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, fought until the last race and the team showed talent and experience throughout the whole event and their story is far from over.

America's Cup Match
Emirates Team New Zealand beat Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
Race 10
Start: 1630
Port: ITA
Stbd: NZL
Course: A
Axis: 040
Length: 1.85nm
Current: 0.3 knots @ 352
Wind: 10 knots 065 degrees

Winner: Emirates Team New Zealand 0.46

americascup.com

The Big One
In the six America's Cups that I've now be present at and covered it's never been daylight when I've written the final race piece. Today is no different. As the celebrations kick off, no matter how neutral you may be, it's the hardest night of the gig to write a piece with the noise, booze and bustle going on all around. It's fantastic and of course an absolute privilege to be here to witness it in any Cup cycle let alone in these challenging times. We might have been here for four months, but that fact is not lost on anyone.

Today was an emotional day for all. The pressure of not knowing whether this one is the day when aspirations are realised and dreams crushed is as real for those ashore as it is for the teams afloat. And when the day could be defined by one race, the pressure raises exponentially.

Then add some uncertainty over whether the weather will play ball and everyone gets the jitters. There's no mistaking it as the banter becomes more frantic wherever you are.

But what a race today. What a way for the Kiwis to finally stamp their authority onto the Cup. This time they delivered a superb, confident start, set off for the side of the course they had won, took no risks in letting the Italians get the upper hand before lighting the blue touch paper and setting off like a rocket, leg by leg.

Ironically such a powerful performance will have helped the Italians to come to terms with their loss. For 25 of the 36 Cup matches the loser has failed to get a single point on the board allowing them time to get used to the idea that they would not be holding the Auld Mug above their heads.

Only six have scored one point and now it is only 5 that have scored more than 1 race win and ten lost.

So with Luna Rossa Prada putting three wins to their name, for a few moments their Cup dream looked like a possibility.

In particular, the previous day they had sailed an immaculate race in a slower boat and made one mistake with just over a leg to go, simple as that.

But despite looking the business and doing complete justice to Italian chic, their boat was slower, less potent and ultimately unable to hold back a machine that many reckon still has more to give.

And as the Kiwis got their heads around how to handle their boat against live opponents rather than the chase boat they had been dancing with for the previous two months, they had found the final piece of the puzzle - Dealing with an opponent.

They didn't need to start that well so long as they could find a passing lane, which is what they did time and again.

But in the final race of the 36th America's Cup they delivered a polished performance.

So for now, as the headaches subside from last night's party under the boat and in the yard that has had its doors firmly locked to the outside world, we know that the America's Cup remains with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

There's going to be more news on its way shortly I'm sure when we get confirmation of what we expect will be an announcement about the UK's Royal Yacht Squadron being the Challenger of Record for the 37th America's Cup.

But for now, that's a wrap on the Cup.

Thanks for all of your support, it's been great fun both producing the content and getting all your kind feedback.

I'm now available for hire for the next gig! -- Matt Sheahan

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

Update
A brutal way to leave, VPLP regroup, the four solutions to the AC75 riddle, understanding (and dodging) the big Imoca catastrophes and are we looking at a fleet of obsolete solo oceanic racers? Terry Hutchinson, Jack Griffin, Patrice Carpentier, Robert Laine

ORC - Responding to the market
Which means consolidating the rule structure to race under. Stan Honey and Dobbs Davis

Seahorse build table - Something special(ised)
Dobbs Davis looks at a tempting and accessible new shorthanded offering from Hans Genthe

Rod Davis - Carpe diem for all
We have an opportunity - now we need to grab it

Only the best will do
SailGP is one element of the latest inroads Doyle Sails is making in the field of ultra-high sailing performance

The easier the better
And the latest Nemesis data display system from B&G is as easy to operate as it is to read... (and in all conditions)

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

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Queen Of The Harbour
Click on image for photo gallery.

The annual Queen of the Harbour (originally known as the 'Queen of the Waves') is one of the most important events to the Australian 18 Footers League and has a history almost as long as the League itself.

Next Sunday's 2021 event will be a resumption of the annual race, which had to be cancelled last year with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will feature an 18-boat fleet with a female member in each team.

The League was formed in 1935 and by 1936 had inaugurated a competition to raise funds for the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Camperdown. To achieve their goal, a decision was made early in 1937 to stage a Queen of the Waves competition (now known as Queens of the Harbour) each year.

The aim was to use the proceeds from the competition "to build a school at the hospital to have crippled children transported from their homes to the hospital, receive treatment and education, and then taken back home each day."

Co-operation of both individuals and businesses enabled the scheme to get off to a successful start. Candidates for the honour of being named the 'Queen' were nominated, more than $6,000 raised, and plans were made to build the school on the Booth Street frontage of the hospital.

Due to the world unrest at the time, activities were curtailed and the $6,000 was handed to the hospital as a trust fund.

Hospital authorities then decided to build the school with other funds they had and named it the Fred Birks Activity School. Authorities then suggested that a wing of the school be named after the League.

The League weren't happy about that arrangement as the donations by members were made specifically for the purpose of building the school. An agreement was finally reached for the club to use its funds to take over a ward at the hospital, have it renovated, and use it for in-patients on nearly the same lines as the club had originally intended.

From then, the Queen of the Waves (now known as Queen of the Harbour) competition has been held each year, although it had to be postponed last year when COVID-19 hit. -- Frank Quealey

www.18footers.com.au

A Radical Proposal
Team New Zealand are understood to be considering a radical proposal for the next America's Cup defence.

Newstalk ZB understands the defender chief Grant Dalton and Ineos Team UK owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe have two options on the table for the next Cup defence.

One is in New Zealand in 2024, but the other which has been discussed is a one-off defence against Ineos Team UK excluding other challengers on the Isle of Wight next year.

That would return to the Cup to its original home, where the Americans won the first regatta back in 1851.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking, America's Cup winner Brad Butterworth confirmed he'd heard those claims.

"There's some bizarre stuff going on. The ball's always bouncing in the America's Cup. They are talking about Ineos, I guess would be funding the whole thing. Both teams would go to the Isle of Wight and do an America's Cup like it was 200 years ago."

A single challenger event would be a radical departure from the norm.

www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/americas-cup

How Racing Rating Rules Work
Rating rules are a powerful tool that allows a variety of yachts to compete on a level playing field. If you race a tortoise against a hare (assuming the hare is smart enough not to take a nap in the middle of the race), the hare will always win. Not really a fair match-up. The same goes for non-one design racing. Being the first yacht over the finish line, while impressive, does not necessarily mean you sailed the best race comparatively. Therefore, rating rules come into play. It is important to understand how they work so you can work with your sailmaker and other specialists to optimize your program and level the playing field, so your crew's talent shines.

There are four main rating rules: Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF), International Racing Conference (IRC), Offshore Racing Congress (ORC), and Offshore Racing Rule (ORR). We will give a brief overview of how each rating rule assigns a rating, why it is important to your program, and how Quantum can help make sure you have the best rating possible. While there are other rating systems, these are the four we focus on in this article.

In general, rating systems assign a value to a yacht or a particular yacht setup. This number is then used to correct finish times after each race. With all four rules, the most common way to score a race is to use a time-on-time (TOT) or a time-on-distance (TOD) correction. TOT corrections consider how long it takes to race; the TOD formula looks at the distance of the race. However, ORC and ORR ratings consider additional factors and have some flexibility for a custom correction formula.

Full article by Quantum Sailmakers

WASZP Announces EuroCup Circuit for 2021
Click on image for photo gallery.

This year, the WASZP class will enjoy its first ever EuroCup circuit. Due to the growth of the class across Europe, the event series has been in high demand for the last couple of years but had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. The EuroCup circuit has been set up off the back of demand from sailors that love to travel and compete in other countries. The WASZP is incredibly easy to transport, which gives the class plenty of opportunity to run even more outstanding international racing events around Europe.

The European WASZP fleet is accustomed to big international regattas, with the WASZP Games and WASZP European championships marking some of the biggest foiling events in the history of the sport. Consisting of five events that will sit at a lower tier to the major championships, the EuroCup circuit will visit France, UK, Germany, Italy and Spain in 2021.

One of the major goals of the EuroCup circuit is to provide a boost to national WASZP fleets. The EuroCup status adds an extra dimension to any domestic season with the promise of enticing foreign sailors to national events to increase numbers and the overall level of competition. Another objective of the circuit is to offer a lower tier international event that will give newcomers and beginners a flavour of WASZP internationals

The Venues

France [To be confirmed re. COVID restrictions]: Club de voile de Castelnaudary La Ganguise (29 April - 2 May)
UK: Rutland Sailing Club (17-20 June)
Germany: Travemunde Woche (24-26 July)
Italy: Marvelia, Dongo, Lago di Como (17-19 September)
Spain: GEN Roses (29-31 October)

racehub.waszp.com/2021eurocup

2025 World Championship for 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17
Olympians looking to LA 2028 have their first marker on that path as the 2025 49er, 49erFX, and Nacra 17 will be held on Olympic waters in Long Beach, California, USA. The classes signed an MOU with the Long Beach Olympic Classes Organizing Committee (LBOCOC) to put in place the plans necessary to hold this joint world championship in the first year of the LA quadrennial.

The LBOCOC was formed to run key Olympic Classes racing on the Olympic waters and has already begun planning an annual event starting in the summer of 2021. This is their first agreement to host a major championship and will be a milestone for all involved on the path to hosing an amazing Olympics in 2028.

"The 49er Class is thrilled to be able to head to the Olympic venue early in the LA quadrennial for teams to get familiar with the challenge they are heading into," said 49er Class President, Jyrki Jarvi.

"Nacra 17 sailors love to go fast and Long Beach is known for it's amazing sailing conditions, and it will be a fantastic spot for our Worlds in 2025," said Nacra 17 Class President, Nathan Outteridge.

Over the next few years the LBOCOC will work with all local and national stakeholders to define the exact shape and form of this championship so that everything necessary for a wonderful Worlds are in place for 2025.

nacra17.org

49er.org

usopen.ussailing.org/

New Rules And Old Rules
Every four years the Racing Rules of Sailing get updated. In these updates, most of the rules remain the same; however, there are usually some minor fixes to close loopholes not foreseen by the original rule writers. Other times, there are changes made that make the rules simpler to understand. Nevertheless, new rules and old rules, we need to learn them all.

While the rule changes seem to get all of the attention, the vast majority of the unchanged rule book remains unknown, misunderstood or simply un-read. To help you assess your rules fluency, Butch Ulmer has created a "Rules Quiz" that you can take online. He will use this quiz as the outline for UK Sailmakers' online rules webinar that will take place Thursday, March 25, starting at 7 p.m.

To reserve a spot for Butch's webinar, click HERE.

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 Andrew Hurst, Seahorse

re: America's Cup

Seems most of the whining about this America's Cup is coming from 'not Europe, Asia or Australasia' (get it?). Bad TV access in the USA (oops), sour grapes, dreams of 'if it was in 12 Metres we would win?'

Talk of a 'new class of 90-footers racing in a different event'. What drugs are you people taking? Whose going to pay? You?

The AC75s have been bloody amazing. The standard of sailing has been bloody amazing. The technology has been beyond amazing. Watching Spithill and Bruni holding off a boat that was at times 4-knots (YES 4-KNOTS) faster, was more than bloody amazing. That at times these all-new boats have been so close in speed at the first iteration of the most radical class of sailboat OF ALL TIME - that too is beyond amazing.

The world's best designers, engineers, shore crews, equipment suppliers, family and other supporters and sailors have just raced the series of a lifetime. And thanks to YouTube we have been privileged to watch every moment. (And a great US-led!!!! commentary team btw).

Get with it and appreciate what you have just seen. Not history, but the FUTURE of sailing being made in front of your eyes.

If nothing else, think of the kids. Do you seriously imagine they would have been glued to YouTube watching ACC boats splitting tacks at 8.5kt on a 4nm beat. The racing in 12s and ACC boats was nothing like as close as you 'remember' it now. I too loved those boats, I loved sailing the 12s (too old for the ACCs but they looked even better). But that was then.

And I love all my 'American cousins' who support these sites. My few years living among the US sailing community, those were some of the best days ever and the support and hospitality you showed that baby sailor all those years ago was also 'bloody amazing'. I will be forever grateful. It really did change my life.

But the America's Cup is in a new era. It will be great for sailing. It is the best possible tonic our sport could have right now. Needs right now. In the UK, weeks after we were 'excused further participation', there are still full page ads in broadsheet newspapers picturing AC75s flying at 40kt. That is serious sh*t for a non-TV sport.

I thank everyone involved in AC36 with all my heart - especially those Cup addicts who pay for it all.

AC36 was pure gold.

Featured Charter
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The Outremer 5x Racing is the latest creation from the Outremer Yachting shipyard in La Grande Motte. A catamaran that can reach the speed of a 60-foot Vendee Globe racing yacht while retaining comfort with a very generous living space.

See listing details in Seahorse Charters

Contact
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Phone : +33 (0) 467 66 39 93

See the the Seahorse charter collection

Featured Brokerage
2015 Botin 65 King Marine HIGH SPIRIT. 1,500,000 EUR. Located in Caribbean.

The 65-foot sailing yacht BOTIN 65 is a truly unique racing yacht with a functional, stylish interior. HIGH SPIRIT was built by Spanish shipyard King Marine and launched at the end of 2015.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
BERNARD GALLAY Yacht Brokerage

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SW100 Blues. 4,400,000 EUR. Located in

Blues is the eleventh example of the acclaimed SW100 mini-series and the second to feature the raised saloon deck. Delivered in 2010, she has been built with performance in mind and is a regular on the superyacht racing circuits in the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
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Southern Wind Shipyard (Pty) Ltd
Salita Dinegro 7/1
16123 Genoa Italy

Tel. +39 010 570 4035

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2008 Dixon 73 - La Luna. 985000 GBP Located in Valencia, Spain.

Of high tech construction with a carbon rig and powered in-boom furling, she has proven herself to be a capable and easily handled world cruising yacht. Still in her original ownership, she has flush decks and a large decksaloon with a beechwood interior.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
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+44 (0) 1590 679 222

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

Back on Monday
There will be no Friday issue this week as your (newly and fully vaccinated) humble narrator is travelling a couple of hundred miles south to assist his daughter (ditto on the jabs) as she works Covid wards as part of her nursing degree. While her husband is deployed overseas with the US Army. They're both made of much stronger stuff than I; I'm barely fit to cook, clean and walk their dogs but could have been a barista in another life. Wide awake we'll be.

The Last Word
When a man does not admit that he is an animal, he is less than an animal. Not more but less. -- Michael McClure

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