--b1_df6bb4234d4f8df1a0b09188b3f05827

SCUTTLEBUTT EUROPE #1523 - 30 MAY

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

SOLDINI TAKES THE GUN At 07:11:27 local time Wednesday (11:11:27 GMT), Italian solo sailor, Giovanni Soldini, crossed the finish line of The Artemis Transat race in Marblehead, USA. On a crisp, clear early morning with a biting 18-20 knot north-westerly breeze, Soldini and his one year-old Proto Class40, Telecom Italia, completed the North Atlantic crossing in 16 days 22 hours and 11 minutes, having lead the 11 boats in the Class40 fleet since passing Lizard Point on the south coast of England during the first night of the race.

Since crossing the start line on Sunday 11th May off Plymouth, Devon, Giovanni Soldini's enormous experience and tactical analysis kept him at the front of the pack: "I'm feeling very good, obviously," the 42 year-old said after stepping onto the pontoons after the finish. "The race for me was pretty good." One major feature that intensified tactics was the inclusion of an ice gate, installed by the Artemis Transat Race Direction team to keep the competing yachts clear of an area of icebergs drifting southwards off Newfoundland: "The ice gate was difficult, making me go against the Gulf Stream and stay in the south. Normally, we would sail a much more northern route, so we were a bit limited in our tactical options."

Soldini's tactical decisions ensured that Telecom Italia usually kept a good distance over the rest of the fleet.

However, the Italian yachtsman was quick to admit his own faults and also to praise the other competitors in the race: "In the final days, I didn't do so well, so they caught me up. Beluga Racer (Boris Herrmann) especially, he was very good in the last two days."

The Artemis Transat is the third victory for Soldini's one year-old, Guillaume Verdier-designed Class40, Telecom Italia, after first place in the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre in November 2007 and the Grand Prix Petit Navire in France earlier this year.

* Steve White onboard Spirit of Weymouth crossed the finish line of The Artemis Transat at 04:04:54 GMT (midnight local time) today (28th May) to take 9th place. White's finish completes the IMOCA results table which has seen 9 of 13 starters complete the solo transatlantic course... Spirit of Weymouth's elapsed time: 16j 15h 04min 54s, 4J 03H 19MN 19S behind first boat.

http://www.theartemistransat.com

SPAIN HIT THE FRONT IN THE LATEST ISAF RANKINGS Spain rise to the top of the national standings in the latest release of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings on 28 May.

For the second month running all 11 crews occupying the world #1 spots remain unchanged, but just behind them several shifts have made for some significant changes in the best-nation standings.

Led by Marina Alabau (ESP), who holds the world #1 spot in the Women's RS:X, Spain now has five crews Ranked amongst the top-three in the world across the 11 Olympic events. Not only does this enable them to leapfrog Australia, Poland, Great Britain and Italy to hit the top of the national standings, it is also the best performance amongst any nation since Britain held six top-three spots back in May 2007.

Behind the Spaniards, Australia continue to look very strong with all three of their Ranking leaders - Tom Slingsby in the Laser, Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby in the Tornado and Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page in the Men's 470 - consolidating their positions with victories at the ISAF Grade 1 Delta Lloyd Regatta. Poland also continue to fare well with four top-three spots including Ranking leaders Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL) in the Men's RS:X and Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki (POL) in the Star. For the French Olympic team, Medemblik signalled a return to form after a series of disappointing results on their home waters in Hyères and they gain one additional top-three spot to move ahead of Great Britain and Italy in the national standings. With Germany and Switzerland both gaining top-three spots in this release, the total number of nations now in a 'medal position' on the Rankings has increased to 16.

The next release of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings will next be on 2 July 2008, including results from the ISAF Grade 1 Kiel Week in Germany.

http://www.sailing.org/rankings

'MORNING GLORY' SHIPS TO START OF GOTLAND RACE. On 22 May Complete Freight loaded the Z86 Maxi 'Morning Glory' in Italy and she is scheduled to arrive 10 days later in Stockholm. Complete Freight organises bespoke services to allow timely shipping for all types of race programs.

For further information and photographs of 'Morning Glory's' loading http://www.completefreight.com HI-LOW REEFING - SIMPLE AND FAST The new HI-Low In-Boom Furling System is ideal for fast and efficient reefing when sailing single-handed or short crewed.

Hi-low system is ultra simple in operation. As the mainsail is reefed or lowered, it is rolled inside the boom providing a secure and protective stowage for the sail. An important system benefit is that sail shape and area is un-compromised and performance is improved greatly by using a fully-battened sail. Unlike in-mast furling, the reefed sail weight remains low down to minimise any pitching and rolling.

The Hi-Low system can be retrofitted to almost any yacht up to 50' overall length. It is quick and easy to fit without the need for unstepping the rig. No more packing the main with sail ties or going on deck to reef or stow the sail. No more blocked views from the lowered mainsail when entering the harbour or mooring. Hamble Yacht Services fit the system in the UK, partnered by Doyle Sails UK who produce the perfect sail combination.

http://www.hilowreefing.co.uk

OLYMPIC SAILING VENUE SEEKS SPONSORS The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), host venue for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events, is looking for sponsors.

WPNSA was formed in 1999 as a not for profit company. The superb venue is primarily used for events and training, but also hosts a successful sailing school and a members' club catering for sailors of all abilities, from complete beginners to Olympic medallists.

WPNSA aims to support and work closely with the local community, running various reduced-rate sailing initiatives to ensure that sailing is accessible and affordable for all. The Academy building is extremely environmentally friendly and recently won a prestigious Sport Industry Award for Environmental Concern in Sport, beating Honda F1, Coca-Cola and E.ON.

Sponsors will enjoy unique corporate hospitality benefits both on and off the water at the state of the art Academy, together with significant branding and team building opportunities. There is also the opportunity for sponsors to provide an annual provision to support the Academy's youth development programme for disadvantaged local youngsters.

Mark Stubbings, Chief Executive of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, comments, "Although the Academy is the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing venue and a training ground for the UK's top sailors, sponsor support is vital in enabling us to continue to promote the sport of sailing to all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events, whilst supporting and working closely with the local community."

For more information please contact Mark Stubbings on + 44 (0) 1305 866 000 or email mark.stubbings@wpnsa.org.uk

A VERY GOOD IDEA ICE campaign - 'In Case of Emergency'

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of 'ICE' is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE' (In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as 'ICE'.

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3, etc. Be sure it's in your kid's cell phones also. A great idea that will make a difference!

PANERAI'S OWN FIFE Watchmaker Panerai is in the process of restoring Eilean, a 1936 Wm Fife III ketch, at the Francesco de Carlo boatyard in Viareggio, Italy.

Panerai, sponsor of the prestigious annual Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, bought the 72ft (22m) ketch last year with the view of restoring her to act as an ambassador for the company, and as a tool for teaching children about sailing and the sea. Eilean should be back in her element and touring the world in 2009, with a busy seven-month annual regatta schedule. -- Steffan Meyric Hughes, Classic Boat, http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20080428162209cbnews.html

>From Panerai.com:

In 1937 a boat was launched into the sea from the Fife boatyard in Fairlie, a 22-metre yacht called Eilean, which in the Scottish means "little island". The boat, design number 822, was conceived by the then eighty-year-old William Fife III, alongside his nephew Robert Balderton Fife who had only recently joined the family business. Eilean was conceived as a simple boat, far from concepts related to luxury. However in the Seventies saw the boat based in the Caribbean, first at Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and later in Antigua, transforming her into one of the most elegant charter vessels in the Caribbean Sea. The effects of time and the lack of maintenance makes Eilean fell pray to rust and the termite infestation. This is how Eilean appeared in May 2006 to the eyes of a small team flying out to the Caribbean to inspect the boat. In December 2006, Eilean was thus towed by sea for approximately 150 miles from Antigua to the island of Martinique. Once it arrived in Martinique the vessel was loaded onto a ship specializing in the collective transport of boats which, in February 2007 and following a voyage of approximately 4000 miles, offloaded her at Genoa's Voltri. From here it was placed back in the water and towed to the Francesco Del Carlo Boatyard in Viareggio, which in the meantime had received the commission to restore her. The long period of restoration will give Eilean new life, enabling her once more to sail the seas safely for many decades to come.

http://www.panerai.com/s_news_eve.xpd?id_sezione=7&id_lingua=2&id=8174&mode=view_news

SAILORS APPEAL ISA NOMINATIONS TO OLYMPIC COUNCIL OF IRELAND Statement from the Irish Sailing Association:

Max Treacy & Anthony Shanks have appealed the ISA recommended nomination in the Olympic Star class

The ISA recommended Peter O'Leary & Stephen Milne to the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) as Ireland's representative in the Star class for the upcoming 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

On Monday 19th May 2008 Anthony Shanks & Max Treacy formally lodged an appeal of the nomination with the ISA, within the defined deadlines.

The ISA Nomination Document lays out a clear process and criteria that allows the ISA to recommend to the OCI the sailors who are most likely to achieve the ISA Objective for this year's Games.

This document was developed after the 2004 Athens Olympics with the support and agreement of the sailors and the OCI. In the Star class there were three teams in contention for selection for this year's Olympic Regatta: Peter O'Leary & Stephen Milne, Max Treacy & Anthony Shanks and Maurice 'Prof' O'Connell & Ben Cooke.

According to the ISA Nomination Document the appeal, in the first instance, should be considered by the ISA Olympic Steering Group (OSG) who would submit their subsequent decision to the ISA Board. The ISA Board should then refer the appeal to an ISA Tribunal, which is constituted in accordance with defined ISA rules & procedures.

The sailors also have a right to appeal to the OCI or to the Court of Arbitration in Sport, following their initial appeal to the ISA.

In the interest of all concerned, and with just ten weeks to the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, the ISA's absolute priority is to resolve this situation as quickly and as fairly as possible.

Therefore, the ISA has agreed with all parties, to bypass the ISA Tribunal process and allow the appeal to go directly to the OCI for resolution.

The nomination of Peter O'Leary & Stephen Milne or any other team cannot therefore be confirmed until the appeal process has concluded.

SHORT TACKS * The nine RC 44's involved in the Austria Cup motored around the entire Lake Traunsee today, enjoying the great scenery whilst desperately looking for the breeze that would allow them to start the match race event.

However, the high altitude "foehn" (southerly wind) didn't allow the thermal breeze to kick in, forcing the RC 44 Race Director Peter Reggio to send everyone back to the hospitality area established on the Gmunden Esplanade. -- http://www.rc44.com

* It was a "great day," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said today after his surprise decision to compete in the last leg of the Figawi regatta -- and his schooner "Mya" finished second.

"Well, it couldn't be a more beautiful day," Kennedy said on his private pier. "We have wonderful friends and family. It's a tradition out here and we had a great day."

A crew member on Kennedy's sloop told the Herald the skipper was "in a great mood." The Mya came in second in division 3 in the weekend Nantucket-to-Hyannis race.

The Mya was moored off the Kennedy clan's Hyannisport compound at 12:30 p.m. and the senator and family came ashore at 1:21 p.m.

Kennedy, diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor, had said he wouldn't compete in the Figawi race, considered the unofficial start to the Cape Cod summer sailing season.

But the Bay State's senior senator and a boatload of supporters took a ferry out of Hyannis early this morning to jump on board the Mya for the final half of the race. -- Boston Herald, http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/

* Due of the schedules of all sailors all over the world, the headquarter of the the Kieler Woche 2008 (June 21 – 29th) has decided to pospone the date of entry to the 2th of june. The online entry system for competitors is open for international and olympic classes via the Kiel Week website ( http://www.kieler-woche.de ). The entry procedure including submission of crewlists and effecting payments is very easy to use and shortens the journey to Kiel in a convenient and pleasant way. Once in Kiel, latest news and press releases can be sent by email to up to three domestic press contacts per competitor. This new service from the Kiel Week regatta team ensures that nobody at home will miss a thing in their local newspaper about their crew's successes in Kiel. But there is only a small chance for the Tornado and Yngling class to be part of the Kieler Woche 2008. "When we will have less then 20 entrys at the 2th of june, we have to cancel this classes, this is not the level for us to have a competition in Kiel," explains Jobst Richter, head of the Kieler Woche organisation.

* Artemis Investment Management will be staging the second Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week in 2008, following the success of the inaugural event in 2007. The skippers and crews will be competing for a generous prize fund that will be donated to the winning team's charity of choice. In addition, the winning entry picks up the Artemis Challenge Trophy.

Last year saw Estrella Damm, skippered by Spaniard, Guillermo Altadill and aided by rugby world cup winner, Will Greenwood, MBE, claim victory with the charity "Africa Viva" receiving the 10,000 pound donation.

Artemis Investment Management CEO Mark Tyndall commented, "We wanted to celebrate the presence of the Open 60 Class at Skandia Cowes Week and provide a spectacle for the viewing public. The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week in 2007 was an enjoyable day for everyone involved and a real crowd-pleaser. For 2008, we look forward to welcoming a world-class fleet of yachts, promoting the sport and making a sizeable donation to charity."

http://www.artemisoceanracing.com/challenge http://www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk

* The carbon fiber mast for BMW ORACLE Racing's new America's Cup multihull is now under construction at Hall Spars in Bristol, Rhode Island, the team confirmed today.

Located about 20 miles from Newport, the long-time home of the America's Cup, the Hall facility was a natural choice for undertaking what is a difficult engineering challenge, BMW ORACLE Racing design coordinator, Mike Drummond, said.

"It is a huge challenge to construct such a large mast and to cure the carbon in an autoclave big enough to accommodate this project," he said. "Based in the USA, Hall Spars have a leading reputation in delivering the high-quality construction we need on this scale.

The rig design team is led by American Scott Ferguson and Herve Devaux of France with support from BMW. -- http://www.bmworacleracing.com and http://www.hallspars.com

THE LAST WORD I think we've just entered the reign of piety and iron. -- Christopher Hitchens

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

About Boats.com Boats.com provides marketing and Web services to boat builders, dealers, brokers and service companies throughout the global recreational marine industry. The Boats.com Website provides consumer access to information, boat listings and financial and insurance products. With more than 143,000 new and used boat listings from more than 5,500 brokers, dealers and manufacturers, Boats.com is the largest concentration of recreational marine industry marketing in the world.

About YachtWorld.com Formed in 1995, YachtWorld.com is the premier online sales channel for yacht brokers around the world. The site lists more than 110,000 boats for sale in 115 countries by some 2,500 brokers in 60 countries. The total value of boats listed is over $40 billion. Headquartered in Seattle, YachtWorld.com has its European headquarters in the United Kingdom, with sales offices in Germany, Italy and Russia and sales representation in Dubai, Australia and China.

http://www.scuttlebutteurope.com

To set or change your email delivery for either HTML or Text go to http://www.scuttlebutteurope.com/htmlortext.html

Letters and submissions to: editor@scuttlebutteurope.com

For advertising rates and information: Graeme Beeson gb@beesonstone.com

-- Powered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com --

--b1_df6bb4234d4f8df1a0b09188b3f05827