In This Issue
• Retour a La Base starts from Martinique
• Red Sea Delight for New Zealand and Italy
• Built to take it - Beneteau
• ARC+ 2023 Line Honours for Nessun Dorma
• Christmas Coffee Table Books -- FREE SHIPPING
• Biggest shake up in SailGP history
• 2024 Cape Horn Hall of Fame Nominations Open
• This item is offered PICK UP ONLY - Australia's Oldest Yacht?
• Sailing "World on Water" December 01.23
• Featured Brokerage:
• • ClubSwan 50 Proxflyer
• • 2008 KER 39 - Tiger 3
• • Elan E6
• The Last Word: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

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

Burton making the pace as Retour a La Base starts from Martinique
After a relatively benign, light winds start out of the Bay of Fort-de-France, Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée) was leading the 30 strong Retour a La Base fleet as the inaugural solo race across the Atlantic to Lorient filed south to round the tip of Martinique.

It was as if the Saint Malo skipper, who took third on the last Vendée Globe, was out to atone for his recent Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre starting infringement which cost him a five hours penalty and saw him and co-skipper Davy Beaudart immediately lose touch with the fleet leaders.

But after the gun had sounded at midday (local), this time Burton made a smooth,faultless exit away from the start line and picked his way through the light patches and the rain squalls to lead the fleet down the west side of the island.

Britain's Sam Goodchild, on his first solo outing on his IMOCA For The Planet, was actually first to break the line after the gun and was fourth when they started a short leg directly upwind.

The 30 sailors are expected to be joined within a few days,by two other entrants in the Retour a La Base. After having to pitstop inLorient to repair for six days after hitting an object on the TJV Tanguy LeTurquais (Lazare) is due into Martinique this evening and Jean Le Cam (Tout Commence en Finistère – Armor Lux) has delivered his brand new boat across the Atlantic to take part in this race as it is an essential qualifier for the Vendée Globe. The line remains open for six days now to facilitate late starters to aid their Vendée Globe qualification.

The first finishers are expected into Lorient any time after 9th December.

Follow the tracker

retouralabase.org

Red Sea Delight for New Zealand and Italy
The Red Sea served up challenging afternoon conditions for the sailors in the America's Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah, presented by NEOM.

As the sea-breeze filtered in, bang on cue ahead of racing, it was a day of high technique where Emirates Team New Zealand exerted their dominance on the fleet, sailing with real consistency and a smoothness that was exemplary in the first two races.

Peter Burling and Nathan Outteridge put on a masterclass of fleet racing, securing the lead early with two brilliant starts and then proved to be exemplary front-runners, stretching away into commanding leads that just built and built. It was looking ominous for the rest of the contenders who were sailing hard for the podium positions with some superb boat on boat action all the way down the fleet.

The Kiwis didn't have it all their own way and in race three it was the young sailing talent of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli with Olympic Gold medallist Ruggero Tita and 19-year-old Marco Gradoni who started brilliantly, read the conditions perfectly and sailed off into the distance to secure a resounding race win. Brilliant sailing and outstanding front-running from the Italians, the wire-to-wire win was a marker of intent and perhaps a big indicator of what to expect in the future. The dominant Kiwis fell off their foils downwind and dropped out of contention as Orient Express Racing Team from France took second and Alinghi Red Bull Racing from Switzerland secured third.

The forecast for race day two here in Jeddah is for a more solid northerly breeze on Friday afternoon and with the leaderboard crowded and close on points, it's anyone's regatta to win from here. -- Magnus Wheatley

americascup.com

Built to take it - Beneteau
With a slew of the industry's highest awards to her name, the First 36 clearly warrants some investigation. Seahorse journalist Oyvind Bordal chooses the wild conditions of the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race for his test sail...

When I wake up, I don't know where I am. Everything is moving, there's a lot of noise, water rushes everywhere around me. A red light in front of my face confuses me. Then I hear a deep voice with an eastern European accent. I realise it's a head lamp with a man behind it. And he says it's my watch.

Suddenly I remember. I'm lying on a sail bag inside a boat, sailing the Rolex Fastnet Race. And it's windy. Very windy. I'm wet to the bone, so cold and exhausted that it seems impossible to move my body. But it doesn't matter how I feel. I have to go.

Full article in the December issue of Seahorse

ARC+ 2023 Line Honours for Nessun Dorma
Andrea Neri and the all-Italian crew on Nessun Dorma (ITA) completed their very first transatlantic in style, achieving line honours in the 2023 ARC+ cruising rally on their Italia Yachts 15.98, aptly named after Puccini's famous aria.

Nessun Dorma crossed the finish line on Wednesday 29 November at 07:01:49 UTC (03:01 local time) at Quarantine Point, Grenada, after 2,334 nautical miles of ocean sailing from Mindelo, Cape Verde. Hand steering and pushing all the way, the crew were tired but elated to be welcomed on the dock at Port Louis Marina by the World Cruising Club team. Rum punches and congratulations were in order!

After boisterous conditions on the first ARC+ leg from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Cape Verde, the rally's second leg to the Caribbean was a tactical and navigational battle for the best breeze. Nessun Dorma set an early lead, and despite a strong challenge from a handful of multihulls led by Marsaudon ORC50 Mongoose (USA) and Outremer 55.2 XII Treize (FRA), Andrea Neri's team worked hard to maintain their advantage.

The next arrivals into St George's Grenada are expected from noon UTC today. First multihull should be Marsaudon ORC50 Mongoose (USA) skippered by Christopher Murray, followed by Outremer 55-2 XIII Treize (FRA) and sistership Fenix (FRA), then Outremer 51s Spirit (AUS) and Maracujar (FRA). The bulk of the fleet are expected into Port Louis Marina 2-3 December.

The ARC+ 2023 fleet have enjoyed near-perfect trade wind conditions with sunshine, blue seas and moderate to gentle winds. Away from the front of the pack, the traditional ocean sailing activities of bread baking, fishing, wildlife spotting and spinning yarns have been supported by both a SSB net, and for the first time, a WhatsApp group for the third of boats in the fleet sporting Starlink.

Follow the fleet: worldcruising.com/arc_plus

Christmas Coffee Table Books -- FREE SHIPPING
Click on image for photo gallery.

Mariquita 1911

MARIQUITA is a 38.16 m Sail Yacht, built in the United Kingdom by Fife and delivered in 1911. This book celebrates her long history.

Published by Yachting Heritage in 2001. Fine condition, black cloth cover in a slipcase. Includes two fold out line drawings. Only 900 copies were printed.

ISBN 0-9550 777-0-3

$200 USD includes shipping to anywhere in North America or Europe. Contact

Biggest shake up in SailGP history
The latest episode of Racing on the Edge, in partnership with Rolex, is undoubtedly the most lively and significant in the history of SailGP's behind-the-scenes docuseries. It covers the transformation of the USA SailGP Team under new owners - spanning the world of sport, tech and entertainment - the subsequent axing of Jimmy Spithill, the ongoing feud between Canada and Spain, new tensions between Emirates Great Britain and New Zealand, before finishing with a dramatic exclusive revelation.

Before all that, the episode begins with the USA SailGP Team left shaken and shocked after the first day of the ROCKWOOL Italy Sail Grand Prix in Taranto when flight controller Hans Henken sustained an injury and was taken to hospital. The episode goes behind the scenes during the incident that sees Taylor Canfield come in to replace him, the man who had long known that he would be ousting Spithill as driver of the new USA SailGP Team.

The birth of Australian CEO and driver Tom Slingsby's first child is imminent and leaves the Flying Roo in need of a driver with the three-time SailGP champion on paternity leave for the first event in the UAE, the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas on December 9-10.

Rumors have been flying around in regards to Slingsby's replacement. Will it be flight controller Jason Waterhouse or even Nathan Outteridge, the current coach of the Switzerland team or, as SailGP fans voted on The Dock, strategist Nina Curtis. The timing however also conveniently coincides with Spithill being shown the door by the US team.

As the episode closes Spithill says to Slingsby: "I'll do it. But here's the kicker, you have to agree to naming your son Jimmy."

sailgp.com

2024 Cape Horn Hall of Fame Nominations Open
Nominations have opened for six more famous Cape Horners to be inducted into the IACH Cape Horn Hall of Fame.

This follows the inclusion of Dame Ellen MacArthur, Grant Dalton – New Zealand, Skip Novak – USA and Jeanne Socrates – UK, together with Franck Cammas and Michel Desjoyeaux from France.

Their names were added to the Honours Board in September during the opening of a new clubhouse (Le Carre) in Les Sables d'Olonne dedicated to the history of this most famous of all Capes and the sailors who have rounded it.

Organised by the International Association of Cape Horners (IACH), in partnership with Les Sables d'Olonne, the home of single handed sailing, public nominations for next year's intake closes on 30th April 2024. Anyone can nominate a Cape Horner of note simply by completing the nomination form on the Cape Horners web site capehorners.org

This item is offered PICK UP ONLY - Australia's Oldest Yacht?
I'm always a little sceptical about claims like that... is it really? Type into Google "Australia's oldest yacht" and the first three entries seem to corroborate the claim, listing ZEPHYR sitting forlornly on on an Altona back block (Victoria), as the holder of this title.

Launched in 1873, her first owner was a notable identity in the South Australian colony, Supreme Court Judge Sir William Henry Bundy. 'The Judge', who was was also a state MP, commissioned ZEPHYR as a sea-going cutter of 22 tons. He wanted a boat in which "three or four companions could be comfortably entertained". She was designed by William Taylor and built in huon pine by Robert Playfair in Adelaide. Another local craftsman, William Russell, made the sails.

The Judge learned to sail on ZEPHYR and became one of Australia's great cruising yachtsmen, eventually writing a book of his sailing memories, including his special fondness for ZEPHYR The book also featured Port Lincoln and the town subsequently became the terminus for South Australia's largest annual yachting event, the Adelaide - Port Lincoln Week.

Well exactly 150 years later things aren't going so well. Check out THIS LISTING from Lloyds Auctioneers and valuers.

In about 12 Days time the oldest yacht in Australia will either have an appointment with a chainsaw or become the subject of one of the bravest rescue missions seen in the last decade.

southernwoodenboatsailing.com

Sailing "World on Water" December 01.23
The Red Sea served up stunning conditions again last Tuesday in Jeddah Saudi Arabia, with blue skies, sunshine and a solid 14-17 knots of north to north-west airflow, – the predominant wind direction in the region at this time of the year. Crucially, the sea-state was bumpy with localised waves at up to 1.2 metres and an underlying swell off the Jeddah Corniche that produced 1.2 to 1.4 metre rolling swells.

This is your weekly Global Sailing Highligths Show, the World on Water, for December 01, 2023.

Leaders, favourites and defending champions, Nico Poons' Charisma got off to a solid start on the opening day of the 44Cup Calero Marinas, the final event of the 2023 44Cup. The Dutchman's Monaco-flagged RC44 leads after three races, but by a mere point from Team Nika, with Aleph Racing a further two behind in third. The three teams managed surprisingly consistent performances despite this being one of the most tricky days out on the race course that competitors have faced all year.

Time is everything in the America's Cup, the clock never stops. so thanks to G A C Pindar for delivering the Ineos Britannia A C 40 race-boat, Athena, on time, to Jeddah. This is how the boats are delivered round the world by G A C Pindar. Once at the venue, here is the race format for the regatta in Jeddah on the Red Sea.

boatson.tv

Featured Brokerage
ClubSwan 50-019 'Proxflyer'. 980,000 EUR Ex VAT Located in Sandefjord, Norway

The CS 50 ‘PROXFLYER’ is ‘race-ready’ and has been maintained by a professional team.

Interior and equipment is adapted as per Chief Measurer instructions, meeting CS50 ISAF Class Rules minimum weights and functionality (cruising setup delivered ready for installation)

She will be sold with everything needed to race, including cradle.

She was delivered in 2018 and is waiting for her new owner to step on board.

See listing details in Nautor Swan Brokerage

Contact
Jens Petter Flesvig

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2008 KER 39 - Tiger 3. POA.

Tiger 3 was the last of the very successful Ker 39 design, built. She was finished as a bespoke project by the owner with no expense spared and considered by many to be the finest example of the design

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Chris Noble:

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Elan E6. POA EUR.

Compared to other yachts in Elan’s repertoire, the Humphreys Yacht Design team distilled even more performance in this project, while keeping the dual-purpose ethos that has been the hallmark of the E Line range for years.

Powered by Elan’s high-tech composite know-how and pushed to the next level by industry-leading specialist Gurit, Elan’s E6 is built with the highest consumer-level technology on the market.

Lighter than competitors in its class, the E6 is the fusion of performance engineering and enriching sailing experiences. This twin rudder and helm yacht utilizes 3D VAIL technology for ultimate lightness and stiffness, and a dedicated hull with a T-shape keel.

See listing details in Seahorse's RaceboatsOnly

Contact
Elan, d.o.o.
Begunje 1,
4275 Begunje na Gorenjskem,
Slovenia
+386 4 53 51 109

elan-yachts.com/en/yacht-lines/e-line/elan-e6

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

The Last Word
Skepticism can never provide firm ground under a man's feet. And perhaps, after all, we need firm ground. -- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Editorial and letter submissions to

Advertising inquiries to Graeme Beeson: or see eurosailnews.com/advertise/