In This Issue
• "The Mast Imploded"
• Limboing under the symbolic 1,000-mile bar
• Typhoon International Launches new Dinghy and Technical Clothing Collection at METSTRADE 2021
• Soldiers course test sailors' skills at ILCA 7 World Championships
• An Extraordinary 500-Year-Old Shipwreck Is Rewriting the History of the Age of Discovery
• Statement on the Rolex Middle Sea Race: Tom Kneen, Skipper of Sunrise
• 18ft Skiffs Spring Championship, Races 4 and 5
• Annual Carlton Pinheiro Lecture
• Ipswich sailing cancer campaigner Olle Nash dies aged 64
• Featured Charter: Vismara 80' Luce Guida
• Featured Brokerage:
• • Shogun 50
• • Bernard Stamm Open IMOCA 60 Superbigou
• • Carkeek 47 Grand Prix
• The Last Word: Richard Feynman

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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"The Mast Imploded"
A dismasting, spring tides and light winds have made the first 36 hours of the Transat Jacques Vabre very tricky for the fleet of 79 boats.

Louis Burton and co-skipper Davy Beaudart reached the port of St Malo tonight with their damaged boat Bureau Vallee. They are the first boat forced to abandon this 15th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre race following a dramatic dismasting just 10 hours from the start.

"Our speed was 18-19 knots when it broke. I was in the cockpit trimming, Davy was sailing. The first sound was like an explosion, the mast didn't fall down, it imploded. Then there was a cracking sound and we heard a crash on the deck. Then we realised that the mast had fallen down."

There were problems also for Equipe Voile Parkinson in the Class 40 fleet. An issue with the bowsprit forced the French pair of Florian Gueguen and Raphael Auffret to stop in Cherbourg for repairs. Tonight, they have almost caught up and are just 20 nautical miles from the rear of the fleet.

After a lively start on Saturday afternoon, conditions in the English channel have since proved very tricky, with light winds and strong spring tides. However, the Ultimes have now started the run south across the Bay of Biscay with little to separate them. Banque Populaire is nudging ahead but Sodebo and Actual are side by side and only a whisker's length behind.

The Ocean Fifty multihulls are right on the stern of the Ultimes with Koesio and Primonial seemingly inseparable, for now.

Charlie Dalin and Paul Meilhat on Apivia, winner of the last edition, are already well ahead of the other IMOCAs. The French pair entered the Bay of Biscay in the early evening almost 40 miles ahead of second placed Fortinet-Best Western sailed by Romain Attanasio and Sebastien Marsset.

Meanwhile still battling currents and light winds in the English channel are the Class 40. Winner in 2019, Ian Lipinski on Credit Mutuel is chasing down the leader Project Rescue Ocean which only has a 4 mile lead.

www.transatjacquesvabre.org/en/

Limboing under the symbolic 1,000-mile bar
As the leaders in the 23rd Mini Transat EuroChef fleet have just managed to limbo under the '1,000-miles to go' mark in their race to Saint-Francois, the trade wind is finally making its presence felt out on the racetrack. The latter remains fairly wheezy at less than 20 knots, but it's beginning to become more uniform from north to south. What this means is that from tomorrow all the 84 competitors still competing in the event will benefit from pretty much the same breeze. Within this context, those who have banked on a southerly option will be able to reap the benefits of their positioning over the next 24 hours. After that, they will have virtually zero advantage in terms of pressure.

Though those in the south have clearly had the advantage over recent days in terms of wind strength, things are about to change out on the racecourse. Indeed, the trade wind is slowly but sure re-establishing itself. It still remains a little lazy, generating between 13 and 18 knots depending on the time of the day, it's gradually becoming more balanced in the corridor where the solo sailors are making headway. Ultimately, or from tomorrow in practical terms, all the skippers, whether they're located to the south or 500 miles further north, will then benefit from the same wind strength. As such, the differences in speeds should be much more uniform.

The finish, according to the latest routing, is shaping up to be Friday 12 November for the first prototypes and overnight on 13 through into 14 November for the leaders in the production boat category.

www.minitransat.fr/en

Typhoon International Launches new Dinghy and Technical Clothing Collection at METSTRADE 2021
Typhoon International is delighted to announce that it will be launching their first range of dinghy sailing personal protective apparel and in addition a new collection of technical clothing, at METSTRADE 2021.

Both new collections benefit from Typhoon's 70 plus years of experience in technical marine clothing manufacturer and design, coupled with a thorough understanding of the needs of sailors and watersports participants, at both professional and amateur level. The resultant products incorporating the latest in fabric technologies, innovations and features while offering a timeless aesthetic which provide comfort and protection while on the water, without compromise.

Visit Typhoon International on Stand 03.310 at METSTRADE or visit our website www.typhoon-int.co.uk for further information.

Soldiers course test sailors' skills at ILCA 7 World Championships
Racing recommenced on day four of the ILCA 7 World Championships following long delays earlier this week due to lack of wind.

It was a tough day of racing for the Australian Sailing Team ILCA 7 squad as marginal conditions challenged their starting skills and finesse.

Three races were completed overnight (Day 4) in Barcelona, Spain to conclude the Qualifying series. An early start allowed the race committee to capitalise on the morning breeze that is generated from the cold land.

Three races are scheduled tomorrow for both Gold and Silver fleet as the regatta runs a day behind schedule.

Full results: http://2021-standard-men.laser-worlds.com/

velacat.sailti.com

An Extraordinary 500-Year-Old Shipwreck Is Rewriting the History of the Age of Discovery
In the frigid Baltic Sea, archaeologists probing the surprisingly well-preserved remains of a revolutionary warship are seeing the era in a new way

At the southern edge of Sweden, not far from the picturesque town of Ronneby, lies a tiny island called Stora Ekon. Sprinkled with pine trees, sheep and a few deserted holiday cottages, the low-lying island is one of hundreds that shelter the coast from the storms of the Baltic Sea. For centuries, the spot was a popular anchorage point, but the waters are now mostly quiet; the most prominent visitors, apart from the occasional pleasure boat, are migrating swans.

For a few weeks in May, however, a new island intruded on this peaceful scene: A square wood raft topped with two converted shipping containers just a few hundred feet from Stora Ekon's shoreward coast. The floating platform was busy with divers and archaeologists, here to explore what lies beneath the waves: the wreck of a ship called Gribshunden, a spectacular "floating castle" that served as the royal flagship of King Hans of Denmark more than 500 years ago. Historical sources record how the ship sank in the summer of 1495, along with a large contingent of soldiers and Danish noblemen, although not the king himself, who was ashore at the time.

Shipwrecks from this period are exceedingly rare. Unless a ship is buried quickly by sediment, the wood is eaten away over the centuries by shipworm, actually a type of saltwater clam. But these organisms don't survive in the fresher waters of the Baltic, and archaeologists believe that much of Hans' vessel and its contents are preserved. That promises them an unprecedented look at the life of a medieval king who was said to travel with an abundance of royal possessions, not only food and clothing but weapons, tools, textiles, documents and precious treasures. More than that, the relic provides a unique opportunity to examine a state-of-the-art warship from a little-understood period, when a revolution in shipbuilding and naval warfare was reshaping geopolitics and transforming civilization. What Gribshunden represents, researchers think, is nothing less than the end of the Middle Ages and the birth of the modern world. -- Jo Marchant

Full article in Smithsonian magazine

Statement on the Rolex Middle Sea Race: Tom Kneen, Skipper of Sunrise
First and foremost, on behalf of the Sunrise crew please can we extend our congratulations to every competitor who completed the Rolex Middle Sea Race this year. It was certainly the toughest offshore race in which we have ever competed, and we have enormous respect for everyone who took part. Congratulations to Comanche & Argo for winning their respective line honours and their race records, the class winners and especially to Jangada for winning the doublehanded class. This race was tough when sailed fully crewed so to come out on top double handed is an inspiration.

Secondly, the crew of Sunrise would like to extend our thanks to everyone who has shown their support for our plight both directly and via social media - it has really been overwhelming. We are also aware that there has been a lot of rumour and hearsay surrounding what happened so to set the record straight this is our official statement of the events and our position.

We don't go sailing to win watches and trophies. We go sailing because we love the sport, the adventure and building memories with special people. This year's Rolex Middle Sea Race certainly did not disappoint when it came to building memories. Sailing the boat at 28 knots from Stromboli to Ustica is something I'll never forget. We also achieved our second conclusive class win of 2021 and built new friendships with members of the Dawn Treader crew with whom we raced the Rolex Middle Sea Race and are sure to share more adventures in the future.

The race was also unforgettable for the wrong reasons and the chain of events that unfolded after we finished the race were extremely upsetting. I am usually not a fan of sharing my thoughts in the public domain however on this occasion time is not proving to be a healer and I find myself increasingly troubled by what has happened. Given the astonishing level of support we have received from the wider sailing community and the potential impact that events in Malta could have on a sport with which I am infatuated, I feel that it is important to make a formal statement on behalf of the Sunrise team.

I believe that what the young crew of Sunrise has achieved this year is nothing short of astonishing. Winning the Rolex Fastnet Race and Rolex Middle Sea Race in the same season really is a once in a lifetime achievement and I believe to have it taken from us in the way that it was is totally unacceptable and fundamentally wrong. Therefore I want to make it clear that we want the Race Committee and the International Jury of the RMYC to reopen our hearing and to give redress to all the boats in the fleet whose results were adversely affected through no fault of our own, but by the decisions made by the Race Committee.

It is not too late to right this wrong and I implore the Commodore, of the Royal Malta Yacht Club and the Race Committee and International Jury of the Rolex Middle Sea Race to rectify the error that was made and put things right. I ask this not for the benefit of Sunrise, but of the RMYC and of the Rolex Middle Sea Race but especially for the benefit of the sport of sailing which this incident has certainly affected detrimentally. If you act now you will receive the respect of the entire sailing community and you will salvage the reputations of both your club and one of the world's greatest offshore races. Failure to act will leave a cloud over the event which will undoubtedly threaten its future.

www.pressmare.it/en/

18ft Skiffs Spring Championship, Races 4 and 5
Click on image for photo gallery.

Sydney Harbour: It was a crazy, frustrating day for the crews of the Australian 18 Footers League's fleet on Sydney Harbour today as they tried to complete the two races scheduled as part of the seven-race Spring Championship series.

There was little, or no, wind in the time prior to the start of the first race of the day (Race 4 of the Spring Championship) and when it did come it came from several directions, which forced race officials to delay the start by 30 minutes.

It looked as though Tech2 would go on to score a comfortable victory, but the weather was set to play a role in the outcome as Tom Cunich, Fynn Sprott and Kirk Mitchell in Noakes Youth, her challenger, elected to sail a higher course and benefitted from yet another wind fluctuation to grab the victory.

Noakes Youth crossed the finish line 57s ahead of Tech2, with the consistent The Oak Double Bay-4 Pines (Aron Everett, John Cooley, Charlie Gundy a further 12 back in third place.

The Rag & Famish Hotel team, led by Harry Price, put in another top performance in the trying conditions to finish in fourth place, followed by Yandoo (John Winning) and 18 Footers Bar & Restaurant (Pedro Vozone).

Conditions were becoming near impossible for race officials as the wind direction changed yet again as they tried to reset a course for another race.

Finally, the second race (Race 5 of the Spring Championship) was abandoned for the day.

With the final two races of the series to be sailed next Sunday, The Oak Double Bay-4Pines leads to points table on 19 points, followed by Rag & Famish Hotel on 20, Balmain Slake (Henry Larkings) on 23, Fisher & Paykel (Jordan Girdis) 25, Yandoo on 26 and today's winner Noakes Youth on 31 points.

Races 6 and 7 of the Spring Championship will be conducted next Sunday. -- Frank Quealey

www.18footers.com

Annual Carlton Pinheiro Lecture
"The Founding of Herreshoff Marine Museum" presented by Halsey C. Herreshoff

The museum's 50th year has offered an opportunity for us to encourage Halsey to regale us with stories about the founding of the museum and its early days. We've recorded many of these, and while we will make them available online eventually, this is your opportunity to hear some of these stories straight from the founder's mouth!

This will be the first in-person lecture we've done in a while, and though it will also be live-streamed over Zoom, we encourage you to join us if you are so inclined!

Please note that, for reasons related to heating and social distancing, this event will be held in the historic Burnside Building on the 2nd floor. Unfortunately, this space is not handicap accessible. Future in-person lectures will likely shift back to the Hall of Boats, and a new lift is being installed that will enable those with mobility challenges to visit the 2nd floor of the museum.

Buy Tickets

Reception begins at 6:00pm. Lecture begins at 7:00pm
Tickets are $15 for Members and $20 for Non-Members
Save $5 and support the Museum. Become a member today.

herreshoff.org

Ipswich sailing cancer campaigner Olle Nash dies aged 64
The family of an Ipswich grandfather who sailed around Britain while having bowel cancer have said they have lost their "rock".

Olle Nash returned home from the last leg of his circumnavigation to raise money for Macmillan in September and was taken into St Elizabeth Hospice in October.

The 64-year-old spent 13 days there before passing away peacefully on November 2.

Mr Kindred added that Mr Nash was "optimistic" when going into the hospice that it would help him "deal with the pain".

"He went downhill fairly quickly," he added. "We absolutely want to champion the work the hospice does and it's funded entirely by donations. It takes a lot, 4,000, per day, to look after someone in there.

"The one thing Olle would want is for us to raise awareness that it is going to become part of your life at some point."

Mr Nash's other fundraising work included raising over £85,000 for the Ipswich hospice by doing a bike ride across Germany, where he served in the Army, with his daughter Emma and son-in-law John.

Mr Nash originally took on his epic sailing journey, which raised over 15,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, in May 2021 in memory of his daughter Toni.

She lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2017 when she was 44 and was supported by Macmillan nurses through the final months of her life.

He leaves behind his wife Lesley Nash, his two daughters Emma Kindred and Tara Coates, and three grandchildren.

www.eadt.co.uk

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2000 Bernard Stamm Open IMOCA 60 SUPERBIGOU. 245,000 EUR. Located in Caen, France.

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The Last Word
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