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SCUTTLEBUTT EUROPE #1526 - 2 JUNE

Brought to you by boats.com Europe ( http://www.boats.com ) and Yachtworld.com Europe ( http://www.yachtworld.com ) 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@scuttlebutteurope.com

SHIRLEY ROBERTSON TAKES LUGANO ISHARES CUP After winning five races over the first two days, double Olympic gold medallist Shirley and her crew of Chris Main, Nick Hutton and Fraser Brown on JPMorgan Asset Management went into the final day of racing with a 15-point lead over British America's Cup challengers TEAMORIGIN, but things got off to a surprising start in the first race of day three when JPMorgan Asset Manageent followed the fleet home in last place and were disqualified after failing to complete the course within the time limit in the zephyr-light breezes. TEAMORIGIN, helmed by 2007 iShares Cup champion Rob Greenhalgh, came home in fourth to pile the pressure on for the overall title, while BT took the race win.

After a postponement which saw several crews cooling off from the scorching sunshine with a swim in Lake Lugano, it was America's Cup defenders Alinghi who rediscovered their fighting form in Race 9, pulling off a tactical stunt that saw them come within inches of the shoreline to steal a winning angle to the second mark and then lead convincingly all the way home.

But all eyes were on the battle between JPMorgan Asset Management and TEAMORIGIN - Shirley Roberston's crew had to take a penalty turn at the second mark, slowing the boat right down, while TEAMORIGIN were back in seventh place. JPMorgan Asset Management recovered to finish in fifth place as TEAMORIGIN followed them home in sixth. After an anxious wait to see if the wind would refill for a 10th race, the race committee signalled three hoots to end all racing - followed by cheers from the crew on JPMorgan Asset Management who had won the first event of the 2008 iShares Cup Sailing Series.

Next stop Hyeres, 13th-15th June.

Final results: 1. JP Morgan Asset Management, Shirley Robertson 2. Team Origin, Rob Greenhalgh 3. BT, Nick Moloney 4. Oman Sail, Pete Cumming 5. Alinghi, Ed Baird 6. iShares, Hugh Styles 7. Holmatro, Andreas Hagara 8. Team Aqua, Cameron Appleton 9. Volvo Ocean Race, Herbert Dercksen 10. Tommy Hilfiger, Randy Smyth

http://www.isharescup.com

IGOR LAH AND JAMES SPITHILL CONQUER THE RC 44 AUSTRIA CUP Gmunden, Austria: The Slovenian team Ceeref confirms its new leadership over the RC 44 Class. After having won the match race event, Igor Lah and James Spithill have also conquered the fleet regatta ahead of Chris Bake's Team Aqua and Patrick de Barros' Banco Espirito Santo. The latter is the winner of the long distance DHL Trophy.

The last race of the event was also the DHL long distance trophy. During the morning, the RC 44 were sailing in the southern part of the lake, called Ebensee. The DHL Trophy took them back to Gmunden, with a long beat alongside beautiful cliffs and wild forests; a stunning surrounding. Already guaranteed to win the fleet event, Team Ceeref made the wrong initial call (for the first time), sailing together with Beecom to the right side of the course when the left proved to be the favored one. At the front of the fleet, Team Aqua, Banco Espirito Santo and BMW ORACLE Racing were battling hard for the lead, tacking along the coast to try to benefit from the land effect to gain a few meters. Banco Espirito Santo made it first in Gmunden, ahead of team Aqua and Team Hiroshi - Cittą di Milano, grabbing the DHL Trophy and the third place overall.

Chris Bake's Team Aqua finishes second of the DHL Trophy and of the Austria Cup. As for Team Ceeref, it crossed the finish line last but remains the overall winner of the event.

The next regatta of the RC 44 Championship Tour is the Malcesine Cup, on Lake Garda, on July 9-13. -- Bernard Schopfer

Fleet-race, final results after seven races (no discard):

1. Team Ceeref, Igor Lah, 19 points 2. Team Aqua, Chris Bake, 20 3. Team Banco Espirito Santo, Patrick de Barros, 25 4. Team Hiroshi - Cittą di Milano, Armando Giulietti, 32 5. Team Beecom, Isao Mita, 33 6. BMW ORACLE Racing, Larry Ellison, 40 7. Team Organika, Maciej Navrocki, 46 8. Sea Dubai, Markus Wieser, 47 9. Cro-Aut-Sail, Rene Mangold, 54

DHL Trophy winner: Team Banco Espirito Santo

http://www.rc44.com

MISTRAL BY DUBARRY: SAILING-PROOF TROUSERS No environment presents as big a challenge to technical trousers as that of a sailing boat. So Dubarry designed Mistral trousers to survive seasons of sailing in style. They're built from quick-drying, SPF 40 UV-resistant fabric with articulated knees for easy movement. Hard-wearing areas are reinforced with tough, high-twist fabric and there are practical features like a flip-up multitool pouch so it doesn't dig into your leg on the rail, splashproof zipped pocket and tough button fly that won't let you down. The results look good, and last longer.

Dubarry's Mistral Trousers: Same Rules. New Collection.

http://www.dubarry.com

THE ARTEMIS TRANSAT: FINAL FOUR CROSS THE LINE Shortly after crossing the finish line at 08:19:34 GMT this morning on her Proto Class40, 40 Degrees, Miranda Merron shared her thoughts with the crowd gathered on the race pontoons in Marblehead, USA: "Fantastic race, really diverse conditions. There were quite a few of us who raced together until I fell into a big hole and parked." Merron's decision to stay north in a high-pressure, light-wind zone on Day 16 (Monday 26th May) was text book tactics, but the plan failed with boats to the south of 40 Degrees grabbing the new south-westerly breeze first. The result was a rapid drop from 4th to 7th place.

At 10:21:02GMT, Benoit Parnaudeau and his Proto Class40, Prevoir Vie, crossed the Marblehead finish line in 8th, a fraction over two hours behind 40 Degrees.Tactical setbacks south of Newfoundland were a key part of Parnaudeau's race: "After the ice gate, I went to the north but it wasn't a good idea because of the high-pressure. I stayed there while the others in the south got away."

Just over 3 hours later, Groupe Partouche, the JPK 40 of Christophe Coatnoan finished racing at 13:28:20GMT after a transatlantic race filled with technical setbacks and finally, just before the prize giving at 21:30GMT, Simon Clarke on his Akilaria 40, Clarke Offshore Racing was the last Class40 across the finish line at 19:15:36GMT taking 10th place.

Class40 rankings, arrival times, average speeds and time behind the race winner:

1. Telecom Italia 28/05/08 at 11:11:57GMT 2. Beluga Racer 29/05/08 at 01:09:47GMT 3. Mistral Loisirs - Pole Sante ELIOR 29/05/08 at 10:42:57GMT 4. Groupe Royer 29/05/08 at 15:51:15 GMT 6. Fujifilm 29/05/08 at 18:53:02GMT 7. 40 Degrees 30/05/08 at 08:19:34sGMT 8. Prevoir Vie 30/05/08 at 10:21:02GMT 9. Groupe Partouche 30/05/08 at 13:28:20GMT 10. Clarke Offshore Racing 30/05/08 at 19:15:36GMT

http://www.theartemistransat.com

VOLVO MELGES 24 WORLDS The Volvo Melges 24 World Championship, hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, got off to a challenging start today with the 114 strong fleet from 16 nations completing two of twelve scheduled races. The large number of competitors means that the fleet must be divided across two race courses. The fleet has been split into four groups and will sail a six race Round Robin series with each group racing the others twice to identify the Gold and Silver fleets for the final six races of the series.

Today's two races were extremely tough with winds ranging from under 5 to almost 20 knots with massive shifts, big holes in some areas and mini squalls under the clouds in others. There were regular rain showers across the course initially but conditions did improve later with the second race finishing in sunshine. Race Committee member Wayne Bretsch gave an example of just how extreme the conditions were saying. "Between races the weather mark boat was reporting 18-20 knots from around 115 degrees, but at the committee boat end we had as little as 5 knots from 060 degrees. We waited, tried to start, postponed relatively fast, could see the wind on the water that the weather mark boat was reporting and waited for it to hit us, which it did with a vengeance at about 18 knots from 125 degrees. It was a rough day for the competitors and it was a rough day for the race committee and the mark boats. The mark guys in particular did an outstanding job of reporting wind and putting marks in very accurately at short notice."

Overall Italy's Alberto Bolzan, helming Gianni Catalogna's ITA727 Pilot Italia, leads the regatta with an impressive 2, 1 score-line proving that his victory in the Pre-Worlds competition was no fluke. Norway's Olympic Bronze Medallist (Soling/Sydney) Herman Horn-Johannessen sailing NOR732 Rett Rundt Hjornet lies three points behind in second. Reigning Melges 24 North American Champion Brian Porter of Chicago, IL, aboard USA649 Full Throttle, and Swiss America's Cup sailor Jean-Marc Monnard, in SUI599 Poizon Rouge, share third place on eight points. Britain's Jamie Lea, helming GBR691 Team Barbarians for Stuart Simpson is one point behind them in fifth. -- Fiona Brown

Two further races are planned for Monday with racing due to start at 11:30. The twelve race series runs until Friday 6 June.

http://www.melges24worlds2008.com

JFK'S PRESIDENTIAL SAILBOAT, MANITOU, RETURNS TO WASHINGTON When John F. Kennedy was elected President, the Presidential yacht was a 92' powerboat. Although he changed her name to "Honey Fitz" in honor of his grandfather, the President was a sailor at heart and sent naval aide, John Tazwell, in search of a suitable sailboat for Presidential use. With her good looks and pedigree, Manitou was quickly selected. She was brought to Chesapeake Bay and fitted with all the proper radios and communication equipment so the President would never be out of touch with his office or even the Kremlin while on board. Jack Kennedy used her often there and in New England.

In 1936 Mr. James Lowe of Grand Rapids, Michigan, commissioned the young Naval Architect, Olin Stephens, to design him a boat that could win the Chicago-Mackinac Race. Launched in 1937, Manitou fulfilled the owner's desires breaking the elapsed time record and winning the 1938 Chicago- Mackinac Race and also winning handily on corrected time. She was second across the line in 1939 and first again in 1940 and 41. When Mr. Lowe was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in the summer of 1942, the Manitou moved on. In 1956 she was donated to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where she was used to teach the cadets seamanship, sailing and how to work together as a crew. It was there she came to the attention of Tazwell and JFK.

In 1999, Manitou was purchased by the granddaughter of James Lowe, and was taken to Chesapeake Marine Railway in Deltaville, Virginia not far from Solomons Island where she was built and has undergone a major refit that will prolong her sailing career for many years to come. Great pain was taken to keep her as original with butternut paneling and use of all the old hardware that was still with the boat. Due to the birth of triplets in 2001 there has been a necessary change in plans and Manitou is now for sale. Come down and view a piece of history at the Yacht Show at National Harbor June 5-8 at National Harbor. South Beltway and the Potomac River in Washington, DC.

For further information, please contact: Harry Morgan Sparkman & Stephens Inc. brokerage@sparkmanstephens.com

For more information about The Yacht Show at National Harbor - http://www.usboat.com

HISTORIC WIN AS NEW YORK ROMPS TO VICTORY INTO HOME PORT Breaking what has been referred to as the 'home port curse', skipper Duggie Gillespie and his team have achieved an historic victory by winning into New York at the end of the 1,420-mile race from Jamaica of the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race.

This elusive accolade of a home port win has only been achieved once before in the history of the biennial round the world race, by Canadian entry Victoria Clipper, in Clipper 05-06.

In what has been one of the closest races of the ten-month series, the New York team was able to hold its nerve and clinch victory in a nail biting finish that saw the top six teams finishing within eight nautical miles each other.

New York was just three and a half points behind overall race leaders Hull & Humber at the start of Race 11 from Jamaica and, subject to protests upon the fleet's arrival in port, the result catapults the US team to the top of the leader board. A disappointing eighth place result means that Hull & Humber has now slipped into second place overall and they now find themselves with a three and a half point deficit on the new race leaders. The fleet will slip their berths in North Cove at 08:00 local time on 4 June and perform a formation sail past the Statue of Liberty before heading out of the Hudson to start Race 12 from New York to Halifax. http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com

WORLD CHAMP CONFIRMED FOR THE GOLD CUP Current World Match Racing champion Ian Williams will return to Hamilton Harbour later this year to compete for one of the sport's most revered prizes - the King Edward VII Gold Cup. The 31-year-old skipper made history last year when he became the first Englishman to win the prestigious World Match Racing title.

Williams is also a past Gold Cup winner, having defeated Mathieu Richard in a best- of-five final in 2006.

The lawyer, who took a sabbatical three years ago to concentrate solely on the art of match racing, is the current World Match Racing Championship points leader and breathing down his neck is Swede Bjorn Hansen who lost to Frenchman Richard in last year's Gold Cup final. Richard, who will be back to defend his title in October, is the top ranked match racing skipper in the world followed by Williams, Bjorn and Italy's Paolo Cian who is also returning for this year's spectacle.

This year's Gold Cup takes place from October 7-12 and is the eighth stage of the World Match Racing Tour in which sailors compete for the coveted world match racing title and is the oldest match racing competition in the world for one-design yachts.

Meanwhile, it was announced yesterday that insurers and reinsurers Argo Group are now title sponsors of the Gold Cup that attracts top skippers from around the world annually. -- Colin Thompson in Bermuda's Royal Gazette: http://www.royalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d85f3330030019§ionId=70

DES TOWNSON RECEIVES QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOUR Noted New Zealand designer, Des Townson has beeen made a Member of the Order of New Zealand in the Queen's Birthday Honours announced today.

A top P-class skipper and small boat sailor, Townson is recognised as the designer of one of New Zealand's most popular singlehanded classes, the Starling - designed as a progression boat from the P-class.

All of Townson's designs share two characteristics, simple and fast. After leaving school and starting various jobs including a car body builder, he moved into boat building after a friend asked him to help build a dinghy. Next step was to move into boat design, where he started with the sweet Zephyr class - another monotype in one became the Townson mould. Later many would comment that Des Townson only every designed one boat - all the others that followed were variants on that one root design - which is the Zephyr.

With the exception of the Starling and Pied Piper, all Townson designs have been characterised by the same enduring qualities, a slightly raked bow, curving into a shallow keel rocker with a fine underbody and easily driven lines. Townson began building the Zephyr as a wooden production boat from his shed in Panmure, using the same diagonal planked and glued method that characterised all his designs.

Always keen to get young people into sailing, Townson drew the Pier Piper design, again a response to the popular mullet boat length of 22ft, but also to provide a cheap fast keelboat that would allow excellent racing and gulf cruising for young sailors getting into their first boat.

It was also designed, like the Starling for home construction.

Lately Townson has become known as a designer and builder of the Electron radio controlled yacht class, which he designed and builds. -- Richard Gladwell in Sail-World.com, full article at http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=44954

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - editor@scuttlebutteurope.com 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 Peter Huston: What exactly has Alinghi taken charge of? The only thing that I see Alinghi being in charge of is the ability to keep helping the New York State economy by sending more of Erne$to's hard inherited Euro's to high priced New York lawyers, who will say anything just so long as they get paid for saying what he wants them to say.

Nice to see that Scuttlebutt Europe is helping to spread the concept of the principle of American free speech in Europe. Seb has an opinion, and so do many others. It just seems that the only opinion that really is going to matter is that of the Court, and Ernesto lost the biggest round of all when CNEV was declared invalid. Seems Erne$to wasn't even in charge of who the Challenger would be, so even if he wins his little date argument, he has lost a lot more than he's won.

Besides, I'm reminded of something another more famous and credentialed European sailor said - some guy named Elvstrom...something about if in winning the race you've lost the respect of your competitor's, you've won nothing...

* From John GIfford: Time helps both teams and if BMW ORACLE Racing did have a head start, then they still have that advantage and will surely use it effectively to maximise their capabilitiy.

As for the larger picture, we should allow Mr Bertarelli to explain the situation himself. He told The Telegraph in an interview this weekend, "I have found it incredibly difficult to be forced into the situation we now find ourselves in, but I do not believe we had any choice in the matter."

It is difficult to support the idea that Alinghi has been in control of anything at all since July.

See: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/money/2008/06/01/cncup101.xml

THE LAST WORD Everywhere in life, the true question is not what we gain, but what we do. -- Thomas Carlyle

The opinions expressed in Scuttlebutt Europe do not necessarily reflect those of its editors or sponsors.

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