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SCUTTLEBUTT EUROPE #1486 - 14 APRIL

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

STAR WORLDS Miami, Florida, USA: With less than four knots of wind, the Race Committee at the Star Worlds Championship at Coral Reef Yacht Club waited, reset the start line, and waited again for the wind to pick up. Almost an hour and a half later, it edged up to a shifty seven knots. The 104-boat fleet crossed the start line with only four boats black flagged.

Both John MacCausland/Kevin Murphy (USA), who finished eighth, and Iain Murray/Andrew Palfrey (AUS), who took a fifth place, ended the day with 27 points each. Yesterday's fourth place finish by MacCausland broke the tie.

In third place overall is the Italian team of Diego Negri and crew Luigi Viale despite a 25th place finish today.

Three World Champions finished the third race in first, second and third place. Rohart/Rambeau and Scheidt/Prada were only eight seconds apart as they crossed the finish line. Pepper/Williams finished a minute later. -- Janet Maizner

Day Three Standings: 1. MacCausland, John/Murphy (USA) 15, 4, 8 TP 27.00 2. Murray, Iain/Palfrey, Andrew (AUS) 11, 11, 5 TP 27.00 3. Negri, Diego/Viale, Luigi (ITA) 3, 3, 25 TP 31.00 4. Suzuki, Kunio/Wada, Daichi (JPN) 9, 15, 10 TP 34.00 5. Mendelblatt, Mark/Strube,Mark (USA) 2, 6, 32 TP 40.00 6. Macdonald, Ross/Mitchell, Steve (CAN) 25, 9, 7 TP 41.00 7. Loof, Fredrik/Ekstrom, Anders (SWE) 27, 8, 7 TP 44.00 8. Kusznierewicz, Mateeusz/Zycki, Dominik (POL) 1, 1, 44 TP 46.00 9. Rohart, Xavier/Rambeau, Pascal (FRA) 26, 21, 1 TP 48.00 10. Buchan, Carl/Buchan Jamie (USA) 31, 7, 12 TP 50.00

http://www.starworlds2008.com

* Watch short highlights from the racing and reactions at http://www.sailing-tv.tv

FARR 40 PRE-WORLDS Three more race were held today in the Farr 40 warm up for next weeks World Championship. The winds were 13knots for the first races dropping to 8 knots in the third race.

There were plenty of ups and downs for all competitors in the fleet. Some of the favorites had a very tough series and there were some new names at the top.

On Warpath we had a decent series but had our big down moment right at the end. We were not going well at all in the 8 knots of the last race and finished 22nd. That dropped us from second to a tie for fourth overall with Fiamma of Italy. We just had our debrief with our coach Ed Reynolds and think we found a few things that we were not doing well in that lighter condition.

So we will be sailing on Monday and Tuesday as we need to incorporate what we learned during the series and continue to build our confidence in our settings before the World Championship starts on Wednesday.

Goombay Smash from Newport RI won the series with Ramrod second and Nerone of Italy third. -- Paul Cayard

Full results are at: http://www.farr40worlds.com

COMMERCIAL MANAGER Gill, the highly respected technical marine clothing brand, is seeking a fully motivated person to work in an interesting and varied role as commercial manager. The job itself will be full of variety, with responsibility for certain international markets as well as significant involvement with Gill events, such as boat shows in the UK and overseas. An ability and desire to travel and work on ones own initiative is essential.

Further details can be found on our website http://www.gillmarine.com

If you would like to apply for this role please enclose your CV and details of your current salary to:

Bryan Stewart International Sales & Marketing Manager Gill, Manor House Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1LR Email: stephanie.devlin@gilluk.com http://www.gillmarine.com

CLASSIC RACE DUE TO RETURN TO RAMSGATE Tall ships return to Ramsgate when one of Europe's biggest classic sailing ship races returns to the town's Royal Harbour Marina.

The Race of the Classics is now into its 20th year and will see a flotilla of around 20 tall ships leaving Rotterdam, heading for Ostend, before sprinting over to Ramsgate, the only British stop on the route. From there, the ships will spend the night in Ramsgate, before racing to their final stop in the Dutch town of Ijmuiden. All the stops on the route are weather and tides permitting.

The ships are due to arrive at Ramsgate's Royal Harbour Marina, weather permitting, on the morning of Thursday 17 April and are due to leave around lunchtime the following day.

The race is organised by students and the ships are crewed by a mixture of international students, accompanied by professional sailors, all competing for the Challenge Cup. It is the largest event of its kind in Europe to involve non-professionals on tall ships.

For the latest information on the Race of the Classics and the expected arrival time at Ramsgate's Royal Harbour Marina see http://www.portoframsgate.co.uk

HOSTAGES RESCUED, PIRATES CAPTURED French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that 32 hostages held on the 288 foot superyacht Le Ponant by pirates off the coast of Somalia have been released.

The trimasted cruiser was hijacked a week ago in the Gulf of Aden and has been anchored off Garacade, near the town of Eyl in Puntland, a breakaway northern region of Somalia, 500km north of Mogadishu.

'The President expresses his deep gratitude to the French armed forces and all the state services which enabled a rapid and peaceful solution to this hostage-taking,' a statement said.

The hostages including 22 French and 10 Filipino, Korean and Ukrainian crew aboard Le Ponant were freed 'without incident', Sarkozy said without providing details.

In a further statement France's General Jean-Louis Goergelin has said that French forces arrested six pirates an hour after the release of the hostages, once the crew were safely ashore.

The General said no public money was used to pay a ransom. But it appears that that the French shipping company CMA-CGM, the owners may have made cash payments. The French troops have recovered 'interesting bags,' he said.

The six captured pirates were being held on a French Navy vessel, the President's office reported. They 'gave themselves up without too much difficulty' and will be handed over to French judicial authorities.

Somali sources had initially reported there were 12 pirates and there were unconfirmed reports two days ago that up to six of them had been killed or captured by local Somali militia, after coming ashore. -- Bob Maxwell

http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=43434

PERFORMANCE LAMINATES FROM BAINBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL Bainbridge's range of DIAX2 performance laminates has been developed specifically for cross cut panel configurations. DIAX2 RACE takes the DIAX concept to the next level by incorporating multiple layers of fibre. DIAX2 Cruise uses the latest scrim technology, utilising flat, untwisted, zero crimp Aramid fibre for ultimate efficiency and a smooth finish. On average, using DIAX2 sailcloth reduces cloth wastage by 15% and reduces the number of panels by up 70%, allowing the sailmaker to provide durable, reliable and better value performance sails.

For more information and a free sample, email - info@bainbridgeint.co.uk http://www.bainbridgemarine.co.uk

NEW VENUE AND NEW PARTNER FOR 2008 ISHARES CUP The iShares Cup, which takes place in Extreme 40 catamarans, is a multi-stage sailing circuit which visits five fantastic venues around Europe - each chosen for their superb sailing, excellent spectator viewing, and stunning locations. Hyeres is now confirmed as the second city on the circuit, and has been selected for its combination of the famous Mistral wind and warm Mediterranean waters, making perfect sailing conditions.

Hyeres is to host the French leg of the 2008 iShares Cup from 13-15 June

Hyeres is home to the massive annual French Olympic Sailing Week, as well as a host of other top quality yachting events - this year the town will welcome the finale of the Tour de France a la Voile, a multi-stage yacht race.

Organisers OC Events have also welcomed Musto to the circuit as Official Clothing Supplier.

The 2008 iShares Cup kicks off in the mountain city of Lugano, racing on the beautiful lake on the Swiss-Italian border over 30 May-1 June, before moving on to the French leg of the circuit at Hyeres. It then heads to Britain on 2-4 August to race during Skandia Cowes Week. The fourth event on the circuit will be held in Germany from 29-31 August, before the iShares Cup concludes in Amsterdam over 19-21 September.

http://www.iSharesCup.com

SWANS AT STANFORD ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK Falmouth Harbour, Antigua: An impressive fleet of Swans is once again poised to impart a significant presence on Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, the 41st edition of which is set for April 27-May 3. With just over two weeks to go before the action commences in the blue seas of the Caribbean, a solid roster of 16 Swans are among the 122 entrants registered thus far.

The collective Swan fleet is both interesting and eclectic. Representing five different nations, it ranges in size from British sailor Barry Sampson's brand new Club Swan 42, Long Echo, to his countryman's well-campaigned Swan 70, Stuart Robinson's Stay Calm. Robinson, an extremely active competitor known for his success on the racecourse with a TP 52 of the same name, is currently on a roll. With his 70-foot Swan and a veritable platoon of crewmen, Robinson's fresh from a well-earned victory in his Performance Cruising class at the recent, windy BVI Spring Regatta.

However, Stay Calm is just one of many Swans with the wherewithal to wreak havoc on its competition. The wildcard of them all may be U.S. sailor Frank Savage's Swan 56, Lolita, which won the Lord Nelson Trophy as the overall winner of Antigua Sailing Week in 2003. Savage, who named his boat after his wife, not the novel, has reunited his crew for a return to Antigua after a brief hiatus from ocean racing. It will be interesting to see if Savage and his team will manage to quickly ramp up to speed and recapture the magic of the 2003 event.

One boat very well aware of Lolita's potential is Clay Deutsch's Swan 68, Chippewa (pictured at right); the two stateside entries have enjoyed many a memorable duel. Deutsch, a Pittsburgh native who races out of the British Virgin Islands, returned to yacht racing after a 20-year absence, and did so with a vengeance. Chippewa's many recent victories include class triumphs at the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, the Swan Caribbean Cup, and Key West Race Week. Chippewa is also a defending champion at Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, having won its class in 2007. Like Lolita, Chippewa's tight, cohesive crew - none of whom are professional sailors - will be hoping to revisit past glories in 2008. -- Herb McCormick

http://www.sailingweek.com

SHORT TACKS * A combined International Regatta is to be held in Cowes for Metre boats and classic racing keelboats from 22-25 July 2008 to be run by the Royal London Yacht Club - the same week as the British Classic Yacht Club Regatta which is being run in association with the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.

Good progress is being made with the organisation of the Metre & Classic Keelboat Regatta - most notably with the publication of the Notice of Race and Entry Forms which are now available from the web site, but there is plenty more information on the web site as well.

It would be appreciated if owners could submit their entries as soon as possible since, as this is the first year the event is being run this way, we need an early indication of how many boats and crew we need to budget for. Also, some of the problems of last year were caused by too many late entries which we want to avoid. The closing date is 31st May, after which a late fee will apply.

Entries may be submitted online or an entry form downloaded from the web site: http://www.classickeelboats.org and an on-line payment facility is available. NoR is also available from the Royal London Yacht Club website - http://www.royallondonyc.co.uk/

* As the 60' Imoca VM Materiaux is undergoing a thorough overhaul at the CDK yard to fine-tune her for the forthcoming Vendee Globe, Jean Le Cam has decided he will not be taking part in The Artemis Transat. He will be training instead on a Figaro alongside Gildas Morvan and will be taking part in the Transat AG2R, which sets sail from Concarneau on 20th April.

Following his retiral from the Transat B to B, where he was sponsored by Ecover, the British yachtsman, Mike Golding has experienced some keel problems on board his new racing machine. However, everything will be ready in time and we can count on Goldfinger, as Jean Le Cam nicknamed him, to be up with the frontrunners in the Vendee Globe: a race, which he would like to be the first British sailor to win. Mike is the sixteenth name to sign up, having fulfilled all the registration formalities.

http://www.vendeeglobe.org

* Well they made it! 3 new 12' Skiffs successfully unloaded from the container and tucked away in their new home.

The three "Woofs" where packed into the container on the day after the prize giving of the Interdominions in Wellington. Despite the hangover and the debris from the formal initiation into the class the night before, we managed to pack the 3 hulls, 6 bowsprits, 12 masts, 36 sails, oh and one road trailer in to the 40ft container - it's amazing how they soon fill up... Read more at http://www.12footskiff.com/news.htm

If you've been following the progress of the 12 foot skiffs in the UK you might like to see the latest footage from the recent Interdominions in Wellington, NZ. This was the first time that there was a UK contingent at the annual competition between the Kiwi's and the Aussies. Have a look at http://www.12footskiff.com

* Since its launching, ORC has constantly monitoring the development of the GP 26 and the GP33 class , taking in account comments and requests from sailors, designers and boat builders always keeping on mind the original intention of the class of fast, sound and seaworthy boat. As a result of this, some new class rule changes have been agreed for the GP26 and the GP33.

For more information see http://www.orc.org

* Finally the Mini class have got their act together and have sorted out the entry issues for their biennial Transat. For the past decade more than 100 boats have been competing for the 70 or so available places in each Transat. For 2007 the race was opened to an unprecidented 89 entries. But typically there have been numerous instances of boats getting built or qualified late and being on the waiting list only to be disappointed by not being able to compete on race day. Most notable among UK competitors this happened to was Nick Bubb in 2003.

To resolve this untendable situation Classe Mini have now elected to run a transatlantic race every year. Hurrah! Rather than alternating Proto and Series class events as has been considered in the past, instead the class will have races running on different courses on alternate years. In 2009 the Transat 6.50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia will take place as normal (as it will in 2011) but in 2010 will see the advent of a new race from Douarnanez to French Guyana with a stop in Madeira Both races will be open to Series and Protos and will be sailed singlehanded. -- TheDailySail, http://www.thedailysail.com

* With the entry of the Romania entry in the Flying Dutchman Class, the number of participating countries in the Vintage Yachting Games is now 15.

This number includes competitors from Europe, North America, and South America including the Caribbean area. Besides these countries, we are promised entries as well from Asia, Oceania and Africa. The entered countries are: AHO, BEL, BRA, DEN, FRA, GBR, GER, HUN, NED, POR, ROM, SWE, URU, USA and the entrees included in the Vintage Yachting Games wildcard group

The Vintage Yachting Games will be held from 20-27 SEP-2008 in Medemblik. Participation will be in the Europe female, Europe male, O-Jolle, Flying Dutchman, Soling and Dragon class. The Vintage Yachting Games is the result of the former Olympic classes wanting to celibrate their combined Olympic history in a high performance regatta. Each county can be represented by their best sailors in each class. The Vintage Yachting Games will be held every four years.

For more information and entries http://www.vintageyachtinggames.org

FEATURED BROKERAGE 2006 Kernan Yacht Design Fox 44, US$ 349,999, Located in San Francisco.

"Ocelot" - A fast and exciting high performance downwind racing sloop of composite construction. With the hull originally designed by Tom Wylie as an unstayed cat rig, the deck and rigging were later modified by Kernan Yacht Design to carry a conventional sloop rig.

Features include carbon fiber hull, Hall carbon fiber spars, carbon chainplates, Forespar vang, double spreader, rod rigging, PBO adjustable backstay, hydraulic mast jack and adjustable base plate. The boat was first to finish in the 2007 Windjammer's race to Santa Cruz, winning first overall and first in class.

PHRF - N. Cal : 27 IRC: 1.266 Polars available.

Brokerage through KKMI Yacht Brokerage:

Complete listing details and seller contact information at http://uk.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatFullDetails.jsp?boat_id=1806926

THE LAST WORD The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible. -- Oscar Wilde

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