EuroSail News #5449 - 9 November

In This Issue
• ULTIM leaders match racing up the Atlantic
• The battle is raging at every level
• Crikey!!!... the stories were true - Baltic Yachts
• 2024 RORC Transatlantic Race - 24 Teams and Counting
• Cup Spy Nov 6: USA reveals 'new' AC75
• Herreshoff Marine Museum Welcomes Alerion
• Celebrating 30 Years of Racing the Melges 24
• Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week 2024
• Industry News
• Letters to the Editor
• Featured Charter: Maarten 72 Aragon
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Contessa 32
• • Maximizer. Farr 72’ Sloop
• • Italia Yachts 9.98 2024
• The Last Word: Richard M. Nixon

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

ULTIM leaders match racing up the Atlantic
Proving how closely matched and how much the top ULTIM multihulls have progressed over the last few months, after nearly 4,500 miles and ten days of racing the leading duo on the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre double handed race to Martinique rounded Ascension Island – the most southerly mark of their course – within an hour of each other this morning.

Indeed Francois Gabart and Tom Laperche on the giant SVR Lazartigue made the better rounding of the remote mid Atlantic island, slipping inside rivals Armel Le Cléac'h and Seb Josse on Banque Populaire XI, breaking through any lee of the 859 metre volcanic peak Green Mountain, to round at 0830hrs UTC.

Banque Populaire XI went round one hour later and, as the pair of ULTIMs sped off downwind towards Martinique, the chasing pair had closed up to be within 16 miles of the race leaders who had a little over 3000 nautical miles to the finish line, where they are expected on Sunday night.

transatjacquesvabre.org

The battle is raging at every level
The IMOCAs and Class40s are fighting it out in or behind the front moving into the near-Atlantic this morning.

The situation will become clearer for both classes later today. There are no big changes for the Ocean Fifty multihulls off Portugal with the leader remaining firmly in charge.

Sam Davies was the first skipper we talked to today. She described, "Huge seas and horrible noises," as they passed through the front this morning. Currently doing well in third place after a perfect start to the race, the mixed doubles pairing on Initiatives Coeur stepped up the speed, like the two leaders, on a SSW'ly route, although the choice of which option they will finally go for, remains uncertain. "For the moment, we are diving south at speed. Sometimes it is rather too fast and so we try to rein her in," said Sam, who has sufficient experience to know that these periods of acceleration when you can progress at high speeds are also the most dangerous for the boats. Also doing well until now, in fifth place, Groupe Apicil with Damien Seguin and Laurent Bourgues aboard were getting the most out of their 2015 VPLP-Verdier designed boat, but have just announced that their boom is broken and are heading for a port in Brittany to try to carry out repairs.

Behind the three leaders, Paprec Arkea is waiting to pounce around fifteen miles back, as are Maitre Coq V and Groupe Dubreuil, who have all been doing well since Le Havre. We should also say that Teamwork has had a good start to the race and has been in the top ten since the start.

transatjacquesvabre.org

Crikey!!!... the stories were true - Baltic Yachts
There's backing yourself and there's backing yourself to the tune of a flying, foiling, sailing luxury superyacht...

Most developments in yachting are evolution, not revolution but every once in a while a boat is launched that's a complete game changer, difficult to categorise because it's distinctly different from anything that's come before. Thus it is with Baltic Yachts' 111ft (34m) foil assisted superyacht Raven.

This isn't a raceboat but it is focused on taking performance to a whole new level. It's not a blue water cruiser but it is designed to make high-speed, long-distance offshore passages, potentially crossing an ocean with the owner and guests on board. At the time of writing there's nothing else quite like Raven afloat.

Full article in the November issue of Seahorse

2024 RORC Transatlantic Race - 24 Teams and Counting
The Royal Ocean Racing Club's 10th anniversary edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race will start from Lanzarote on the 7th January 2024. Supported by Calero Marinas and the International Maxi Association, along with Yacht Club de France. The RORC fleet will set off from Marina Lanzarote to race across the Atlantic Ocean, bound for Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada, West Indies.

Two months before the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race, 24 teams from 10 countries have responded to the challenge for the 3,000-mile oceanic race. An estimated six Maxi yachts will be vying for the overall win under IRC, as well as the IMA Transatlantic Trophy awarded to the first Maxi yacht to complete the race. Six Multihulls are expected in the MOCRA class, including an unprecedented four 70ft trimarans vying for Multihull Line Honours.

2024 Entries & Expressions of Interest

At least 18 boats are expected to be racing under IRC for the overall win and the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy. The latest entries include Dan Segalowicz's Solaris 55 Team 42 (FRA), Club Swan 50 Pimu (MON) owned by Mikhail Malamud and skippered by Collin Mulry. Sebastian Dziwisch's JPK 38 Orinoco (GER) will join Gavin Howe's Sun Fast 3600 Tigris (GBR) in IRC Two-Handed. Richard Fromentin's JPK 1180 Cocody (FRA) will have a match race with Ed Bell's JPK 1180 Dawn Treader (GBR). Tom Kneen's JPK 1180 Sunrise (GBR) is also available for charter with LV Yachting -- Louay Habib

rorctransatlantic.rorc.org

Cup Spy Nov 6: USA reveals 'new' AC75
Three America's Cup teams sailed in Cagliari, Barcelona and Jeddah. A fourth American Magic rolled out their AC75 Patriot, in Barcelona but did not sail. The Kiwis sailed on Tuesday November 7. (Update in the Final edition of this report.)

What happened in the Cup - November 6, 2023:

- Alinghi Red Bull Racing - sailed their two AC40s from Jeddah, venue for the next America's Cup Preliminary Regatta.

- Emirates Team New Zealand - The New Zealanders were out today (November 7) sailing their LEQ12 on the Waitemata. The America's Cup Defenders completed their program in Barcelona for 2023. The sailing team will return to Jeddah for the AC37 Preliminary Regatta to be held at the end of November.

- Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli - The Italians sailed their LEQ12 test boat for the first time since October 22.

- INEOS Britannia - The Brits were back on the water in their test boat/LEQ12 T6 a month after suffering catastrophic damage to their rudder during a tow test

- American Magic - As predicted American Magic rolled out their AC75 Patriot, however it was a commissioning exercise only and did not sail.

- Orient Express Racing Team - No report from the AC37 Joint Recon team

All teams are/have shipped AC40s to Jeddah for the second Preliminary Event at the end of November. Organisers will obviously be monitoring the security and war situation in the surrounding territories, before giving the teams a green light to travel to the venue. However Alinghi Red Bull Racing has already made the move.

Richard Gladwell's full commentary in Sail-World.com

Herreshoff Marine Museum Welcomes Alerion Dinghy to Collection
Click on image to enlarge.

We are very pleased to announce the recent donation of a 1913 Alerion dinghy to the HMM vessel collection. This unnumbered HMCo. dinghy is an unquestionably original Alerion tender and a very rare find in excellent condition given its age and history.

Maynard Bray described the origins of the design as follows: "This dinghy's design came about when N.G.H. needed a tender for his new sloop Alerion [III]. Both boats were to be shipped by steamer to Bermuda in early 1913 for his vacation. He made the dinghy's length, beam and seating such that it would fit upside down in ALERION's cockpit with its bow projecting into the cabin and over the top of Alerion's centerboard trunk. Thus, the 'package' could travel as a single boat."

52 dinghies were built to this model between the winter of 1912-1913 and 1928. They ranged in size from the original 8'6" designed to fit in Alerion's cockpit up to 18'0". Of the 52, only one other Alerion dinghy is known to survive, a 10'3" dinghy in the collection at the Mystic Seaport Museum, and only three 8'6" dinghies were ever built. It is possible there are additional surviving Alerion type dinghies "in the wild," but we have not identified any others at this time.

We know this is not Captain Nat's own Alerion tender, as that dinghy was destroyed in the Great Miami Hurricane of September 1926. However this still leaves two possibilities for this particular dinghy's original identity: one built for Commodore E.T. Gerry, or another built for W.H. Angevine. We are looking forward to doing additional research to see if we can determine which owner this dinghy was originally built for.

This sweet little dinghy was lovingly cared for by David Coit for five years before being donated to HMM. We are delighted to welcome this important artifact into the collection, and you can expect to see the boat on display in the museum after opening day in April 2024!

herreshoff.org

Celebrating 30 Years of Racing the Melges 24, 1993-2023
In celebration of the Melges 24's 30th Anniversary, the U.S. Melges 24 Class is proud to present the Melges 24 as it raced its 30th U.S. National Championship at the Lake Geneva Yacht Club on Geneva Lake, Wisconsin — the birthplace of the Melges 24. It's the boat that started it all!

Sun Hung Kai & Co. Hong Kong Race Week 2024
The Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China in conjunction with co-organiser the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and the International 29er Association, are pleased to announce the 8th edition of Hong Kong's premier international regatta for dinghies and invited classes to take place from Tuesday 30 January to Sunday 4 February 2024.

The annual event returns to be held on Hong Kong's renowned world class racetracks and will incorporate the 2nd annual 2024 29er Asian Championship.

7 invited classes of 29er, 2.4mR, ILCA 4 & ILCA 6, Optimist, RS Feva, along with development classes of Optimist, Laser Pico and Fusion Green Fleets will be hosted in 2024. Racing will take place on the waters of Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, Stanley, Tai Tam and Beaufort Island – race tracks to the 2017 Optimist Asian and Oceania Championship, 2018 29er World Championship and the 2023 29er Asian Championship.

Returning competitors from countries including Australia, China, Great Britain, Guam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, Qatar, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, UAE and the USA are expected in 2024.

We look forward to welcoming sailors to join this coveted major regatta on the Asian youth sailing circuit.

hongkongraceweek.com

Industry News
The Yacht Racing Forum will be starting afresh next year, running alongside METSTRADE, the world's leading maritime industry trade fair. A new format designed to bring together all those involved in the competitive sailing industry, and generate business opportunities for all participants.

Founded in 2008, the Yacht Racing Forum reassembles the sports' leading personalities from all over the world. It is the place where the future of the sport is being discussed, where the most innovative technologies are presented, and where commercial agreements are often concluded.

We will be present in the METSTRADE corridors next week and would be delighted to meet you to discuss participation options and to present you the commercial opportunities available.

The Yacht Racing Forum 2024 will reassemble the sports' key personalities from all over the world over three days of conferences, debates and business, not to mention an attractive social calendar.

Schedule an appointment

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The Fareast 42C catamaran has emerged the 2023 winner in the Electric Sailboats category at the prestigious Gustave Trouvé Awards for Excellence in Electric Boats and Boating, affectionately known as 'The Gussies'.

The streamlined 12.5m Simonis Voogd Design multihull only made its world debut at the Shanghai International Boat Show in March, and has now emerged the winner from a shortlist of nine contenders in the Electric Sailboats category after judging by an international panel of 25 electric boat experts and a public vote.

The Gussies are the only international boating awards to focus exclusively on electric boats and boating, and are named after the prolific 19th century French inventor Gustave Trouvé.

Meanwhile the Fareast 42C is the only yacht brand from China to win the international award this year, and is both the company's and country's first ever pure electric offshore catamaran.

fareastboats.com

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Groupe Beneteau today announced a positive set of financial results for the first nine months of 2023, with revenue growth of over 30% compared to the same time last year.

Total sales as of 30 September 2023 came to €1,344m, up 30.2% from 2022. Following the announcement of the Housing division's proposed sale, and in accordance with IFRS 5, the group presented this activity under "Operations held for sale". Excluding Housing, the group's revenues on a reported basis represent €1,105m, with like-for-like growth of 31.2%.

In the third quarter of 2023, the Boat division recorded revenues of €292m, up 2.2% at constant exchange rates compared with the previous year, which included a partial catch-up with deliveries deferred from the first half to the second half of 2022 for a total of €80m. Over nine months, the Boat division's sales increased by 31.2% on a reported basis.

ibinews.com

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The Wichard Group has acquired Australian equipment manufacturer Ronstan, strengthening its leading position in the leisure marine equipment and manufacturing markets.

This strategic acquisition strengthens the Wichard Group's position as a world leader in the deck fittings sector, while expanding its product portfolio and offering significant growth opportunities in global markets.

Founded in 1953 by Ron Allatt and Stan Lenepveu and headquartered in Braeside, Victoria, Ronstan is renowned for its expertise in the design and manufacture of blocks, winches, track systems and other essential equipment for sailing, boating and water sports.

The Wichard Group is becoming the owner of Ronstan International Pty Ltd, which remains the parent company of all Ronstan Group companies. The management of Ronstan will be continuing in their current positions and many members of the management team remain invested in the business through their shareholdings in the Wichard Group.

wichard.com

ronstan.com

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The Ocean Race is supporting Team Nexans – Art et Fenêtres (II) in the collection of vital ocean data during the Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV), which sets sail this weekend from Le Havre, Normandy.

Following The Ocean Race 2022-23, in which over four million pieces of data were gathered, the round-the-world regatta is providing an OceanPack to the French flagged team for the race to Martinique.

The OceanPack is a specialised instrument with multiple sensors that measure a range of data about the ocean to provide crucial insights into the health of the marine environment. The equipment works by drawing up water through the hull and into the instrument, where it measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, salinity, water temperature and atmospheric pressure. It operates automatically and continuously, taking around 25,000 measurements a day.

Stefan Raimund, Ocean Science Advisor at The Ocean Race said: "This year's unprecedented ocean temperatures have set off alarm bells across the world. The more data that scientists have about temperatures and other essential ocean variables, the more accurately we can understand the ocean's capacity to cope with climate change and predict what will happen to the climate in future.

"We're pleased to have joined forces with Team Nexans – Art et Fenêtres (II), to continue contributing to this important research. Between editions of The Ocean Race, we will provide scientific equipment and support to teams, organisations and expeditions who share our desire to drive action for the ocean."

theoceanrace.com

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 James Dadd:

I remember well the controversy in the build up to the 1999 AC with Juan's IMS50 as I had been at the RORC Rating office under 2 years at the time and was very lucky to have Mike Urwin as my technical mentor and John Warren as my rules mentor. Earlier that year, John and I had been at Multiplast where John was teaching me how to measure America's Cup yachts and my first full measurement was 6 Sens. Juan was there as a part of the design team and asked us if we could help get some answers from ORC on his design. We saw the correspondence and the frustrations Juan was facing and tried to help.

Eventually, as all AC rating certificates had to be issued through us, an IMS certificate was issued as John and I saw no rule issues. From then on, ORC interpreted and decided that our certificate was to be withdrawn and replaced. John never hid that he disagreed with the interpretation and decision.

It was a valuable lesson and one of those cases where Juan and I agreed. I also think that the rig on that boat distracted from the long list of IMS optimisations Juan started, like the high freeboard, slab sided hills and plane fin keel for example.

Feels to me like a pivotal point where our sport made a fundamental change. Not sure it was for the better though.

Featured Charter
Aragon - Maarten 72. Located in the Mediterranean.

Sailing yacht Aragon is the perfect choice for competitively sailing in offshore/inshore racing while retaining comfort to go cruising or day sailing. The Reichel Pugh 72 was commissioned by a performance-oriented owner with a remarkable family history of racing lineage.

Aragon was the overall winner of the 2016 RORC TransAtlantic Race.

Yachting Developments completed the yacht in February 2006, and the boat was then shipped to Europe. She has been racing competitively ever since. The owners who have maintained and upgraded her to the highest levels.

Available for charter in the Mediterranean.

For full details please visit bit.ly/3Rk5WTd

See listing details in Seahorse Charters

Contact
Lucy Jackson - LV Yachting
Call: +44 (0) 20 3920 6261
Email:
lvyachting.com

Featured Brokerage
Contessa 32. 115000 GBP. Located in Lymington, UK.

Utterly unique ‘zero-houred’ classic Contessa 32. Launched in 1980 and with just four owners since new. Totally upgraded and fully fitted out for cruising and competitive class racing.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Alex Grabau
Tel: +44 (0)1590 673715
Email:

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See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
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Tel: +358406861501
Email:

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

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