SCUTTLEBUTT EUROPE #1264 - 5 JULY 2007

Brought to you by boats.com Europe ( http://www.boats.com ) with the
support of OC Events ( http://www.ocevents.org ), Scuttlebutt Europe 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 editor [Email address: editor #AT# scuttlebutteurope.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR: MATCH CUP SWEDEN
Marstrand, Sweden: Lingering showers, light air, and massive wind shifts
tested competitors, race managers and umpires today on Day Two of Match Cup
Sweden. The eight teams in Group B managed to complete seven flights to
conclude Round Robin 1, but one flight remains to complete this round for
Group A, who will resume the competition tomorrow morning.

The tricky conditions meant no lead was safe, and in numerous matches those
who looked clearly out of contention managed to claw back and even pass
their rivals when blessed with a favorable shift or fortuitous puff of
breeze. The DS 37’s used for the event accelerate quickly, and so are very
responsive even in these light conditions.

One of the most dramatic examples of this was in this afternoon’s first
match of Flight 4 for Group A, where Gavin Brady (NZL) closed a losing
margin of several boat lengths with Bjorn Hansen (SWE) to within less than
one length on the second beat of the race, only to lose all of that gain
again at the top mark. But then on the run, he and his team from Oracle
Racing managed to close this gap and even passed Hansen at the bottom mark,
and even drew a red flag penalty on him while rounding.

Jensen performed his penalty turn after the rounding, but fouled Brady
again, and had to do yet another turn. Normally this would be the end of
the match, and Brady let Jensen split to the right side of the course. But
it was there that Jensen found a puff of breeze, rolled over Brady who sat
windless in the middle, and sailed on to win the match.

Results - Round Robin 1

Group A: (incomplete)
Simon Minoprio, NZL, 5-1
Bjorn Hansen, SWE, 4-2
Mattias Rahm, SWE, 4-2
Gavin Brady, NZL, 4-2
Evgeniy Neugodnikov, RUS, 2-4
Jenny Axhede, SWE, 2-4
Ian Williams, GBR, 2-4
Torvar Mirsky, AUS, 1-5

Group B:
Jesper Radich, DEN, 6-1
Magnus Holmberg, SWE, 5-2
Mathieu Richard, FRA, 5-2
Sebastien Col, FRA, 4-3
Johnie Berntsson, SWE, 3-4
Eric Monnin, SUI, 2-5
Claire Leroy, FRA, 2-5
Malin Millbourn, SWE, 1-6

http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com
http://www.matchcupsweden.com

ISAF SAILING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The sun came out and the windy kicked up a gear for day two of racing at
the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal. China’s Lijia XU
was a star performer with two bullets, as the Laser fleets joined the
Tornados and Stars out on Cascais bay.

Cascais dawned in all its glory this morning with bright sunshine setting
the scene for another terrific day of sailing. The breeze also picked up
today, with the northwesterly gusting up to 18 knots and big waves greeting
the Laser sailors competing in their opening races.

Carolijn Brouwer and Godefroid (BEL) were undoubtedly the stars of the day
in the Tornado fleet, finding consistency unmatched by any of the other 48
crews. After ten years and two World titles in the single-handed Europe
fleet, in 2005 Brouwer teamed up with her boyfriend Godefroid, himself a
former World Champion and Olympic silver medallist in the Finn, to launch a
Tornado campaign for Beijing. Coming to Cascais they had yet to really make
a significant impact at the top of the fleet, but they seem to have found
their form at the perfect time. Two third places today give them an eight
point overall lead.

France’s Rohart and Rambeau sailed a stellar 1, 2 today during the third
and fourth races of the 2007 Star World Championship in Cascais, Portugal.
Sunny skies, a 4-5 foot short swell, chop and a shifty race course did not
stop the pair from continuing to rack up impressive results.

The Laser and Laser Radial fleets sailed out of the Cascais Marina for
their opening two races today. The 149 Lasers, split into three fleets,
seemed particularly nervy, with a series of general recalls and wind shifts
resulting in a long day out on the water. Mate Arapov leads after two
second places, with Simon Grotelueschen (GER) in second. World #1 Paul
Goodison (GBR) also started well and lies third overall.

In the Laser Radial China’s Xu again demonstrated her ability in the
tricky, shifty conditions in which she won the World title last year in
Marina del Rey. Two bullets give her a four point overall lead ahead of
Nufar Edelman (ISR), with Sari Multala (FIN) demonstrating her speed in the
breeze with 2,5 scores to lie third.

Tomorrow the Stars and Tornados are scheduled to complete races 5 and 6,
after which the Star gold fleet will be decided. There are another two
races in the Lasers, whilst the Ynglings and Finns join the fray out on
race area 3. Another windy day is forecast.

http://www.cascaisworlds2007.com/

SWAN EUROPEAN REGATTA
The honours on Day 1 of the Swan European Regatta went to Sir Peter Ogden
and his crew on board Spirit of Jethou (GBR).  After narrowly failing to
pull off an audacious port tack start in the first race, the British Swan
601 recovered to win the race and followed up with a victory in the second
race of the day.

In the Swan 45 Gold Cup, the American entries thrived on Independence Day.
Alex Roepers Plenty (USA) tops the leaderboard with two second places, with
William Douglas’s Goombay Smash (USA) in third.  In second place, nestled
in between the boats from the USA is Glynn Williams’ British entry WISC.

In Class B of the Swan European Regatta, Don Wood’s aptly named Le Quatre
Juillet (IRL) spent the day dueling with Richard Balding’s  Philippides 2
(GBR).  Both of the Swan 41’s from Lymington have a first and a second, to
end the day on three points.

Provisional Results

Class A

1. Spirit Of Jethou, Swan 601, Sir Peter Ogden Gbr 1,1- 2 Points
2. Akarana, Swan 46, Graham & Libby Deegan Gbr 2,3 - 5 Points
3. Desperado, Swan 65, Richard Loftus Gbr 4,2 - 6 Points

Class B
1. Philippides 2, R Balding, Gbr 1,2 - 3 Points
2. Le Quatre Juillet, Don Wood, Irl 2,1 - 3 Points
3. Selene, Mark Jephcott, Gbr 3,3 - 6 Points

Swan 45 Gold Cup
1. Plenty, Alex Roepers Usa 2,2 - 4 Points
2. Wisc, Glynn Williams Gbr 4,1 - 5 Points
3. Goombay Smash, William Douglass Usa 3,8 - 11 Points

http://www.rys.org.uk/da/42630 and
http://www.nautorswan.com

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SPANIARDS TAKE EARLY LEAD AT 2007 J/80 WORLDS
With 124 boats from 8 countries, the 2007 J/80 World Championship (in La
Trinite sur Mer, France) kicked off with 3 qualifying races on opening day
(Tuesday July 3rd).  The fleet is split into four flights for a qualifying
series, before being sorted into gold and silver divisions later in the
week.  With most of the qualifying races counting in the cumulative score,
there’s no time for competitors to relax.   Ignacio Camion and Jose Torcida
Seghers, both of Spain, sailed nearly flawless to take the regatta lead.
French match racing champion Victor Lanier is in 3rd, narrowly in front of
Kevin Sproul of the UK and defending World Champ Glenn Darden of the USA.

Results
1: Ignacio Camino, Spain “Nextel Engineering”  (4 pts) (2,1,1,)
2: Jose Torcida Seghers, Spain “Ecc Viviendas”  (6 pts) (1,4,1,)
3: Victor Lanier, France “Equipe de France Militaire Ecole Navale”  (9 pts)
(1,4,4,)
4: Kevin Sproul, Great Britain “The Duke” (11 pts) (7,1,3,)
5: Glenn Darken, United States  ”Le Glide” (12 pts) (4,6,2,)
6: Luc Nadal, France “Gan’ja” (14 pts) (5,2,7,)
7: Sylvain Pellissier, France “Voilerie All Purpose” (15 pts) (5,2,8,)
8: Ulrich Muenker, Germany “Needles And Pins” (17 pts) (2,7,8,)
9: Patrick Bot, France “Ecole Navale Cg29″ (17 pts) (6,5,6,)
10: Nick Chery, Great Britain “Unlimited Sailing” (18 pts) (10,5,3,)

Event website: http://www.j80worlds2007.com/
Event photos: www.photomer.com

DRAGON EDINBURGH CUP
The 2007 International Dragon Edinburgh Cup, the class’s British National
Championship, hosted by Yacht Clubs of Weymouth, got underway today with
twenty four boats from the UK, Ireland and Belgium competing. Despite
blustery conditions which saw the wind shifting from 250 to 285 degrees and
ranging from 15 to over 30 knots they completed two great windward leeward
races out in Weymouth Bay.

Knowing that stronger winds were forecast for later in the day PRO Derek
Abbott got proceedings underway promptly at 1030 and the fleet played their
part with a nice clear start in around 17 knots.

In the overall standings David Palmer now leads on three points with Len
Jones and Neil Hegarty sharing 10 points in second and Eric Williams fourth
on 11 points. There is also a tie for fifth place with Tim Tavinor, sailing
GBR729 with Paul Manning and Tom Harrison, and Ireland’s Andrew Craig both
on 13 points.

Each day during the Edinburgh Cup the Dubarry Daily award will be presented
to a crew for “special achievement” and today Gitaine’s crew were felt to
be very worthy winners. This is a family crew led by parents Peter and
Helen Stokes who originally planned to sail four up with their daughter
Victoria and son Nick. Unfortunately Victoria broke a rib in the run up to
the regatta and they are now sailing three up making them the lightest crew
in the regatta. Despite this and the fact that their’s is the oldest boat
in the competition they coped admirably in today’s strong weather. Sadly
luck was not on their side and in the middle of the second race their
mainsheet system broke and they were forced to retire.

Tomorrow one more championship race is planned together with the
traditional Edinburgh Cup Crew’s Race where the lunatics get to take over
the asylum for an afternoon. The forecast is for more strong winds so
tonight the crews are enjoying a well deserved evening off to prepare them
for the next battle. The regatta runs until Saturday 7 July with six
championship races scheduled. — Fiona Brown

Top Ten Provisional Results After Two Races

1. David Palmer 1, 2 - 3 points
2. Len Jones 9, 1 - 10 points
3. Neil Hegarty 4, 6 - 10 points
4. Eric Williams 2, 9 - 11 points
5. Tim Tavinor 5, 8 - 13 points
6. Andrew Craig 6, 7 - 13 points
7. Michael Holmes 3, 11 - 14 points
8. Owen Pay 12, 3 - 15 points
9. Ivan Bradbury 14, 4 - 18 points
10. Paul Woodman 13, 5 - 18 points

http://www.britishdragons.org
http://www.ycw.org.uk

AREA SALES MANAGER - CONTINENTAL EUROPE
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We expect that you have marine industry sales experience and an interest in
sailing. You are fluent in English as well as either French, Spanish or
Italian. It is our preference that you work from our office in Denmark, but
a location in one of the major markets could be an option.

For further information please contact Jens Guldborg, Director of Business
Development jg [Email address: jg #AT# steelteam.as - replace #AT# with @ ] or visit http://www.gori-propeller.dk

TOUR DE FRANCE A LA VOILE
One week ago, the competitors started the thirtieth session of the Tour de
France. This might be an occasion to look back and see what has happened
since the beginning of the regatta, meanwhile the thirty Mumm 30s make a
forced stop-off in Cherbourg Octeville, waiting for the weather to calm
down.

On the 29th of June, the Race Committee took the decision to delay the
beginning of the race, because of a strong wind blowing in on Dunkerque.
Since then, a prologue, four windward leeward legs and two offshore legs
were sometimes sailed in extreme weather conditions.

The teams of the Tour de France Sailing Race have been sailing with very
vigorous winds and a strong swell since the departure. Daniel Souben
skipper of Courrier Dunkerque talks about the weather of the first week in
the Channel: “We’ve had a very difficult wind as we’ve been sailing mostly
upwind during the offshore legs. It is hard for the boats and for the
sailors”. Hiking for a long time is painful for the crews, who have to be
totally dedicated to maintaining the balance of the boat in the breeze.
“We’re doing all right for the moment, always in the leading pack.
Regularity is what matters”.

Regularity is also what made the difference for the three leading
favourites, Ile de France (Victor Lanier, Nicolas Pauchet), Tahiti et ses
Iles (Teva Plichart) and Toulon Provence Mediterranee - COYCHyeres (Fabien
Henry). Manche - Basse Normandie (Benoit Charon, Nicolas Jossier) used to
be on the third step of the podium, before breaking its stay during the
offshore leg between Dieppe and Cherbourg. Hopefully, they have been able
to repair it, as EIGSI - Charente Maritime did after dismasting three days
ago.

During the briefing with the skippers at 6pm, the Race Committee said that
the departure would most likely not take place tomorrow: “the Raz Blanchard
is raging and  dangerous”. They recorded a wind blowing from 25 up to 35
knots. A Mumm 30 could hardly cross it in these weather conditions”.
Another briefing is set tomorrow at 11am. — Anatole Lucet

http://www.tourvoile.fr

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - editor [Email address: editor #AT# scuttlebutteurope.com - replace #AT# with @ ]
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 Robert Taylor-Smythe: What a fabulous series. Not without
controversy and whinging, of course, for it simply would not be an
America’s Cup without copious quantities of both, from all quarters… but
compared to the last two 5-0 yawn fests, this was fantastic. Congrats to
America’s Cup Management, apparently much maligned but from this sailor’s
view they did one hell of a job. And of course to the billionaires and
others who pour so much into this to make such an amazing spectacle. No
whinging from me!

* From Michael Brown: The 33rd America’s Cup is already embroiled in
controversy. There seems to be skulduggery afoot, almost certainly driven
by money, over where and indeed when it should be held, Louis Vuitton
threatening to withdraw and the nationality rule.

Valencia must be desperate to be the hosts again, given that eventually
this location came good it is surely a commercial decision on their part as
to how much they can afford to ensure they will host the 33rd Cup? After
all the Spaniards seem to have been quick off the mark with the first
challenge, a stitch-up, who would ever suggest such a thing?

Loius Vuitton seem to have two choices - stay in and use their influence to
bring some sanity to the way the Cup is run or withdraw and use their money
elsewhere - support of young budding sailors would be my favourite, one day
they might grow up and be able to afford some of LV’s excellent products.

As for the nationality rule, I could not disagree more with the editor of
Seahorse magazine in the August issue, the rule needs to be dramatically
tightened and I would like to see a 100 percent rule or close to it. After
all that is the case in most other major sports. It would be interesting to
know how many non- Americans or British were on the two boats in 1851 but
that was the era of gentlemen sailors. Could it be that the professional
sailors of today are interested only in the highest bidder and representing
their country comes a poor second. I acknowledge the problems where
countries do not have a team but nothing is straightforward and that could
be addressed.

* From Stephen A. Van Dyck re: the conspicuous absence of the Kiwis at the
America’s Cup victory press conference.

While there has always been controversy surrounding the cup it has been
largely surrounding event conditions and management issues. The respect
that the sailors have shown for each other over the years since 1958 has
been noteworthy. Take for example the moniker “Gentleman Jim” Hardy, with
whom Bill Ficker and I shared the 1970 AC press conference. He did not win
the cup, but he won a lifetime of respect from sailors everywhere. Or take
the example of Dennis Conner bravely showing up at the press conference to
congratulate the Aussies when they lifted the Cup in 1983. And so when Mr.
Bertarelli gracelessly implied that the losers could have a (their own)
press conference perhaps he did not realize that they in fact were….since
in fact Mr. Bertarelli is the loser, and because of it the Old Mug has a
little less luster.

* From Guido Novelli: Ah, the triumph of ego over professionalism (and
common courtesy). A quick note to Mr. Bertarelli: making billions selling
nuns’ urine doesn’t automatically make you a media genius. As much as it
pains me to say it, in the world of big event sports, the America’s Cup is
a minor player. The Super Bowl and World Cup, any Formula 1 race, have far
greater viewership, yet you would NEVER have a team forbidding it’s
leaders/stars to not give interviews to the media immediately preceeding
the event as did Alinghi. Other than some bizarre sense of aloofness,
superstition or crushing ego, what could possibly be the reason to keep
professional journalists, and their readers, away from the team?

Nor in any world level event would you have had the sorry spectacle of the
losing team excluded from the final press conference. That’s just amateur
hour. Little wonder Louis Vuitton is unhappy. Arrogance and ignorance are a
very bad combination.

THE LAST WORD
I don’t think I’m alone when I say I’d like to see more and more planets
fall under the ruthless domination of our solar system. — Jack Handy

=======================================
The opinions expressed in Scuttlebutt Europe do not necessarily
reflect those of its editors, boats.com or OC Events

OC Events, http://ocevents.org , organisers of two major IMOCA 60 oceanic
events, the new double-handed Barcelona World Race 2007, and the original
solo transocean race, The Transat 2008 (ex-OSTAR) plus the Extreme 40
Sailing Series for The iShares Cup.

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    1. butt Europe #1264 - 5 July | Kaizenlog thanks for this post!.

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