In This Issue
• New course for The Ocean Race
• Consistent Platoon, Phoenix and Sled
• J/70 Worlds in Monaco
• Taylor Canfield flies the Stars & Stripes for Argo
• Sponsors' Two-Boat Challenge In The 18-Footers
• Spring regattas set to return from 22 to 25 April 2022
• Women of the Transat Jacques Vabre
• 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race
• BoatLife Live announces Katie McCabe as the first speaker
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Swan 46-416 Octapus
• • GP42 - "Redshift"
• • Baltic 43 ICE
• The Last Word: Nikola Tesla

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

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New, exciting race course for The Ocean Race features epic Southern Ocean leg
The next edition of The Ocean Race will feature the longest Southern Ocean leg in the 50 year history of the event, an incredible 12,750 nautical mile marathon between Cape Town, South Africa to Itajaí, Brazil. This is just one of the highlights of the updated race course, confirmed this week. This is just one of the highlights of the updated race course, confirmed this week.

The race route for the 14th edition of the event has been rationalised in response to the logistical realities of an around the world race in a COVID-19 environment and will start from Alicante, Spain in late December / early January, with the final date to be announced.

From there the IMOCA and VO65 fleets will sprint out of the Mediterranean Sea to Cabo Verde, visiting this African island nation for the very first time, before racing down to a perennial favourite among stopovers, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Then, a return to the roots of the Race, with a massive sojourn through the Southern Ocean, over 30 days of racing, to Itajaí, Brazil, host of the past three stopovers in South America.

This will be the longest leg in the history of The Ocean Race, dating all the way back to the very first fully-crewed around the world race in 1973, and will see a transit of the three great Capes - the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn - in succession, without a stopover, for the very first time.

imoca.org

theoceanrace.com

Consistent Platoon, Phoenix and Sled Shape Up As Title Contenders
A seemingly unerring consistency, Platoon returning a pair of second places and Phoenix a pair of thirds, sees the German and South African TP52s locked in a three way tussle with the USA flagged Sled for the Rolex TP52 World Championship title. After six races only one point separates the trio.

With just two days of the season left to sail, the overall circuit title for 2021 is equally finely poised. Circuit leaders are Takashi Okura's Sled who only one point ahead of Platoon and two ahead of Phoenix. When they needed to at least be matching this top trio today Quantum Racing faltered slightly with a seventh in the second race which may prove costly to their hopes of a fifth 52 SUPER SERIES title.

The forecast for gales in the Bay of Palma on Saturday see some teams altering their strategy for Friday, the penultimate day. Set to blow hard from the north there is a belief there might be enough protection from the land to allow racing, others are setting their stall for Friday to be the final showdown.

Standings after six races:
Phoenix (1,1,6,7,3,3) 21 points
Platoon (3,3,4,8,2,2) 22 points
Sled (7,2,5,1,6,1) 22 points
Quantum Racing (4,5,3,4,5,7) 28 points
Alegre (5,9,1,10,1,5) 31 points
Bronenosec Gazprom (2,8,9,2,4,8) 33 points
Interlodge (9,4,7,5,8,6) 39 points
Provezza (10,7,2,9,9,4) 41 points
Code Zero (6,6,10,6,7.10) 45 points
Gladiator (8,10,8,3,10,9) 48 points

52superseries.com

Winter Series kicks off with year to go to J/70 Worlds in Monaco
Act 1 of the 9th Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series (4-7 November 2021) organised by Yacht Club de Monaco starts Friday, with this season taking on special significance for J/70 sailors with just under a year to go to the J/70 World Championship in Monaco (14-22 October 2022).

This season's Winter Series is part of the qualification system for the J/70 Worlds, being organised for the first time by Yacht Club de Monaco in partnership with FxPro. For the 120 teams that qualify to compete, these monthly regattas will be a great opportunity for contenders to get to know the Monegasque race area.

A key player in the sailing world, the Monaco club knows how to give those who decide to rig up in the Principality what they want. To set a precedent for next year's Worlds, YCM are pulling out all the stops with some 40 teams (14 nationalities) already registered for Act 1 of four, and brisk westerly winds expected Saturday.

The Germans on Grun and Americans on Good to Go join the meeting's regulars, like the talented British team on Brutus II. Also of note are newcomers in the Monegasque ranks, with Moonlight II and two Russian teams on Tenzor Legal and Tenzor Sport signed up.

Monegasque Loïc Pompee and his men on Sailing Racing Team are also here, buoyed by their 5th place in the recent European Championship, their hearts set this time on a podium finish at home.

The 38th Primo Cup-Trophee Credit Suisse (3-6 March 2022) counts as the fourth and final Act of the Series and will be the last major on-location test event for those qualifying for the J/70 World Championship.

Yacht-Club-Monaco.mc

Taylor Canfield flies the Stars & Stripes for Argo at the GC32 Mar Menor Cup
Flying catamaran action gets under way on Murcia's unique semi-landlocked sea tomorrow with the final and deciding round of the 2021 GC32 Racing Tour. The Mar Menor is a 170km² salt water lagoon located on Spain's Costa Calida, where the GC32 Mar Menor Cup is being supported and hosted over the next four days by the Club Náutico Lo Pagán with the support of Turismo Region Murcia, Autoridad Portuaria de Cartagena and local municipalities San Pedro del Pinatar, Cartagena, San Javier and Los Alcázares.

Having won the first two events of the season in Lagos, Portugal, Ernesto Bertarelli's immaculate Swiss team on Alinghi holds a three point lead going into the GC32 Mar Menor Cup and is favourite to win the season. However the Swiss are not counting their chickens, especially after losing the GC32 World Championship in Villasimius in September on the last leg of the last race due to an issue with their boat.

This week Alinghi faces a fresh threat. Unable to compete here at the last moment, Jason Carroll has lent his Argo GC32 to US Virgin Islander Taylor Canfield. One of the most talented sailors of his generation, Canfield is a past World Match Racing Tour champion and M32 world champion, recently set the record for winning the Congressional Cup for a fifth time and is an America's Cup skipper-in-waiting with his Stars & Stripes team.

Sailing with Canfield is veteran GC32 crew Ed Powys, plus his M32 crew Ted Hackney and Kinley Fowler and Argo's Ben Bardwell. -- James Boyd

www.gc32racingtour.com

Sponsors' Two-Boat Challenge In The 18-Footers
Click on image for photo gallery.

Lazarus Capital Partners entered into its first 18ft Skiff sponsorship last year when the company supported a young team having its first season in the class at the Australian 18 Footers League on Sydney Harbour.

The company actively encouraged the team with regular attendance on the club's spectator ferry and were obviously encouraged by the venture, as Lazarus Capital Partners decided to increase the sponsorship potential and now has two skiffs in the 20-boat fleet which carry the 'Lazarus' logo.

While maintaining its support of another young team in last year's boat, re-named Lazarus Capital Development, the company has also sponsored a brand new skiff, Lazarus Capital Partners, which will be sailed by a top team, led by the experienced Marcus Ashley-Jones.

Ashley-Jones, Jeronimo Harrison and Cam Gundy is one of the top combinations in the fleet and is expected to be competitive in all major 2021-22 championships.

Marcus began his career in the 18 Footers in the 2009-2010 season when he skippered Club Marine. In spectacular fashion, at the 2010 JJ Giltinan world Championship he achieved a rare record when he won Race 1 the first JJs race he ever sailed.

Impressed by his first season performance, club administrators selected him as a replacement skipper for the Asko Appliances team in 2010-2011.

Marcus went on to skipper Asko Appliance-sponsored skiffs from 2010-2011 until the end of 2016-2017.

During his seven-year association with Asko Appliances, Marcus produced his best three JJ Giltinan world Championship performances in 2014 (6th), 2015 (4th) and 2017 (6th). They were also the only three times that Jeronimo Harrison was a part of the crew.

The Australian 18 Footers League is also happy to have a company such as Lazarus Capital Partners, which "offers asset managers across Asia a range of prime brokerage and custodial capabilities extending across equities execution, financing and asset servicing solutions" as part of its sponsor group.

As club President John Winning said, "it's great to see such an enthusiastic sponsor coming into our sport who also recognises its history and prestige, and we look forward to a happy and successful association" -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League

18footers.com

Spring regattas set to return from 22 to 25 April 2022
The village of Portofino will once again open the sailing season for maxi yachts in the Mediterranean, with the return of the Regate di Primavera next April. The announcement comes after a successful 2021 edition, and thanks to the ongoing collaboration between the Yacht Club Italiano, the Municipality of Portofino, the International Maxi Association and main partner Rolex.

The event highlights the region's strong and enduring links with the sport of sailing, with the YCI having organised its regattas in the Gulf of Tigullio since the late 1800s, and establishing its summer headquarters there in 1965. In conjunction with the spring regattas, the town will mark the feast day of its patron saint, San Giorgio, with the impressive traditional bonfire and celebrations in Portofino's central piazzetta on 23 April.

The Regate di Primavera are organised by the Yacht Club Italiano and the Municipality of Portofino, with the collaboration of: Portofino Marina, Municipality of Santa Margherita Ligure, the Italian Sailing Federation, the International Maxi Yacht Association, the Splendido Mare Hotel as hospitality partner, and under the patronage of main partner Rolex, official timepiece of the event.

All the information on the regatta and the preliminary notice of race will be published in the dedicated section of the website yachtclubitaliano.it over the coming weeks.

Women of the Transat Jacques Vabre
Only three women have ever won the Transat Jacques Vabre. Incredibly, for a race so embedded in the French sporting psyche, only one of those women is from France, the other two are British.

Karine Fauconnier won the multihull 50 class back in 2007 alongside Franck-Yves Escoffier. You have to go back 22 years for the only other time women have won the race. Britons Emma Richards and Miranda Merron completed the route to Colombia in 1999 aboard their 50 foot monohull called Pindar.

These achievements are what this year's female competitors are looking to emulate. "It would be great to win" says Switzerland's Justine Mettraux who's partnering British sailor Simon Fisher aboard 11th Hour Racing Team's IMOCA Alaka'i. "There's still work to do to encourage women in the sport. But if we won it, it would show you can perform as a mixed team and if that gives other females more confidence then that's great."

11 of the 14 women sailing the Transat Jacques Vabre this year are French and include established names like Marie Tabarly and Alexia Barrier in the IMOCA class whilst in the Class 40 Marie Riou sails with Amelie Grassi as one of only three all-female crews in the race.

Briton Sam Davies sets off on her 7th Transat Jacques Vabre race partnered by Nicolas Lunven of France on her IMOCA Initiatives Coeur. She thinks the race format makes it a perfect springboard for upcoming female skippers. "It's a great race because it's a double handed race and so there's an opportunity for women who don't have as much experience to get a Transat under their belts. There are plenty of experienced skippers who are happy to do that."

Two women experiencing the Transat Jacques Vabre for the first time are Julia and Jeanne Courtois. The 29 year old twins from Brest in France are the winners of a contest aimed at helping new crews enter the race. Organised by Transat Jacques Vabre and sponsor Saint-James the pair won 40,000 Euros plus mentoring and coaching assistance.

At the other end of the age scale, but also experiencing the race for the first time, is Canadian Melodie Schaffer. The 53 year old took up offshore sailing three years ago when her children left home.

www.transatjacquesvabre.org/en/

2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race
First organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in 1976, the 1,805nm Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race is a true marathon of epic proportions. Held every four years, the next edition will start on Sunday 7th August 2022.

Roughly three times longer than the Rolex Fastnet Race, the course sends the competing teams around a myriad of headlands with tidal strategies. Coupled with the notorious British and Irish weather, the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race is arguably the toughest pro-am race in the world. Every team that completes the challenge rightly deserves the admiration of any offshore sailor.

The Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race is a World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations Category 1 race with RORC Prescriptions. At least half of the crew must have completed a minimum of 500 miles offshore racing within 18 months of the race start, including the skipper. Every crew member must also have experience of sailing a boat offshore and be prepared to encounter heavy weather.

"This is not a race like any other in the RORC Programme," commented RORC Racing Manager, Chris Stone. "It is a very tough race in remote locations with a lot of navigational work required. Ultimately the qualification process combined with the crew working together will result in success for the teams. This is not a race to put a crew together at short notice, it is a race for a well-seasoned and well-practiced team. The Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland is not a race for novices."

Previous editions have seen the course reversed due to adverse weather conditions. Here is a walk through the course, assuming a clockwise direction.

After a momentous start at the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, Isle of Wight, the fleet race through the Solent then past the famous headlands of southwest of England. The epic adventure continues into the Celtic Sea, past the Fastnet Rock and Mizen Head onto the wild West Coast of Ireland. The Atlantic racing continues past St Kilda, up to the most northerly point of the course, Muckle Flugga on the 61st parallel. Then, turning south through the infamous North Sea, the fleet will have turned their bows for home. The English Channel and Solent form the final stages of the race where, after the finish, a warm welcome awaits at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse.

The Notice of Race and online entry for the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race, can be found at: roundbritainandireland.rorc.org

BoatLife Live announces Katie McCabe as the first speaker
Yachtswoman Katie McCabe is announced as the first guest speaker at BoatLife Live, which takes place 17 - 20 February 2022, at the NEC, in the heart of the Midlands. The 14-year-old record-breaker will be at BoatLife Live, along with her 26ft wooden yacht named Falanda. This year, Katie embarked on a 14,000-mile odyssey to become the youngest person to sail solo around Britain and managed just that.

The teenager, who grew up on boats, found her project boat Falanda in 2019 and restored her, along with the help of dad David, who is a wooden boat builder. The YJA award winning, solo sailor will be joining the Live Stage, enthralling visitors with a vivid account of her seven-week voyage. To break the record, she sailed anti-clockwise around Britain all the way back to where she started in Topsham, Devon.

The Live Stage will be hosted by Olympic Silver Medallist, offshore sailor and commentator, Mark Covell. Mark will be joined by a host of guests in an 'on the sofa with' relaxed style, giving visitors the chance to get up close and personal with guests.

As well as Katie, a whole host of guests will join Mark in one of the show's main attractions. Also lined up is the Atlantic Flyers team talking about all things rowing and regaling stories from their Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and The Seagrass Project to discuss their inspiring ongoing conservation work. An Influencer panel including Two Crew and a Cockapoo and Kelly the Kite Surfing Sailor will talk about their connection to the water and much more.

For further information on Katie McCabe and the BoatLife Live 2022 'On the Sofa' guests, visit www.boatlifeevents.com

Featured Brokerage
2006 Swan 46-416 Octapus. 420000 EUR. Located in Vasa, Finland.

Swan 46-416 was designed by German Frers and launched in May 2006. She is a high-performance cruiser very easy to handle and sail, even if single handed. The interior is all teak and in excellent joinery.

She is the perfect boat for anyone looking for thrilling sensation when the wind kicks up or the absolute relaxation on the cruising mode.

See listing details in Nautor's Swan Brokerage

Contact
Giorgio Passarella
T +377 97 97 95 07
F +377 97 97 95 41

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2008 GP42 - "Redshift". 230,000 GBP. Located in Cowes, UK

REDSHIFT is a Farr designed GP 42 that has been IRC optimized initially for the UK FAST 40+ scene, but now with a recent focus on offshore also. This boat was one of the best to come out of the Farr office and she has continually punched above her weight. Built fully in carbon, she is immaculate

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Sam Pearson - Ancasta Race Boats

+442380 016582
+447759 424900

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2007 Baltic 43 Ice. 490,000 VAT PAID EUR. Located in Italy.

It is not uncommon for owners of larger yachts to commission smaller sailing boats for easy, shorthanded day sailing. ICE is such a yacht, a fully custom, high performance day-boat. Her simplicity and stunning looks set her apart. Her large, open-transom cockpit provides a perfect working area for two and with no backstays or runners, a single point mainsheet, powerful rig, high aspect ratio appendages and a hydraulically-powered lift mechanism for the keel she was designed for really easy handling. Built in carbon vacuum bagged sandwich with nano-epoxy to increase laminating properties. The accommodation provides shelter with a clean, modern, minimalist design touch.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
+49 152 345 00 585

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

The Last Word
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