Kieler Yacht Club took (yet) another big week in its stride when 681 Laser sailors descended on the former Olympic sailing venue for the 2016 junior world championships…

So often we’ve seen the battle for Olympic titles come down to a two-horse race, a match race for gold and silver. This summer’s Laser 4.7 World Championships and Laser U21 Youth World Championships in Kiel, Germany, brought one of the most dramatic showdowns between two world-class talents, two names to watch out for on the Olympic circuit.

In the boys’ division of the Laser 4.7 Youth Worlds, Guido Gallinaro won the penultimate race of the competition with ease, and looked set to defend the world title he’d won in 2015. His closest competitor, Dimitrios Papadimitriou, had only managed 11th. It would take a minor miracle for the Greek to overturn the Italian’s advantage.

‘My coach told me I can win it, and I said OK, I will go out and win the race and do my best,’ said Papadimitriou. He went out and executed the plan perfectly, winning the final race by 1 minute 48 seconds, a country mile in Laser terms. Now he would have to wait to see how Gallinaro fared.

Papadimitriou could scarcely believe his eyes as the Italian struggled across the line in an uncharacteristic 40th place, never having managed to find a way back to the front after a poor start. Papadimitriou had won his first world championship by a single point.

For Gallinaro it was a cruel way to lose the championship, having had one hand on the title… Even more cruel was the fact that history was repeating itself. Earlier in the year at the Europeans it was another close battle between the Italian and the Greek, and there too it was Papadimitriou who emerged victorious. No doubt Gallinaro will be keen for revenge… the dawn of another epic rivalry in the Laser, perhaps? Another Ainslie versus Scheidt duel come Tokyo 2020…

Vagelis Chimonas, Papadimitriou’s coach, certainly believes we are looking at a young sailor of exceptional talent, one who can remain calm in the most pressured of situations. ‘I have known Dimitrios for two years now, and I will work with him in the future in the Laser Radial too. We can expect a lot more from him.’

Organised by the Kieler Yacht Club, these Laser championships threw a little bit of everything at the 681 competitors in terms of weather, from sunshine to rain, and from 5kt to 25kt of wind. There were four championship titles up for grabs, and each of the four champions could truly claim to be an all-rounder. The specialists had their day, but this was a week where the varied conditions demanded a full complement of boathandling, boatspeed and tactical skills.

Emma Savelon had sailed a very consistent regatta but on the final day had to hold off a late charge from Russian sailor Mariia Kislukhina who won both final heats in the girls’ division of the Laser 4.7 Youths. But the Dutch competitor held her nerve to score two seventh places, sufficient to give Savelon the world title by 7pt from the Russian.

Above: the impressive Finnish sailor Monika Mikkola won the Women’s Laser Radial world title by a chunky 16pt margin from runner-up Vasileia Karachaliou of Greece. In fact, Greece had a very strong regatta in Kiel, picking up a number of medals which bodes well for Tokyo 2020. The Kiel event was also ‘big’ off the water, with an Olympian opening parade (below) and later on a similarly well organised closing ceremony

While the 16-year-old sailor from Medemblik had kept her cool on the racecourse, all the pent-up emotion came pouring out as she stepped ashore, exhausted but elated. ‘It hasn’t sunk in yet, what I’ve done. That second race was very tough. My start was far from perfect, and I was on the wrong side of the course on the first upwind leg. Downwind I had to work hard just to keep going as fast as possible, and then had to get everything right on the last beat.’

Add Savelon’s win to Marit Bouwmeester’s Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016 a few weeks later and the future for women’s singlehanded sailing looks bright in the Netherlands.

In the 144-boat Under-21 division for the boys in the Laser Standard the battle came down to just 3pt, with Jonatan Vadnai of Hungary just beating defending champion Joel Rodriguez of Spain. ‘It’s a fantastic feeling,’ said Vadnai. ‘A three-point gap after 10 races is nothing. It’s been a great battle. This is a feeling I definitely hope to repeat in my career!’

The only clear victory of the championships was by Monika Mikkola, who dominated the Girls’ division of the Under-21 Radial fleet. It’s a measure of the challenging conditions in Kiel that even the eventual winner capsized on more than one occasion. But Mikkola kept her composure and the 20-year-old Finn led from day one, notching up four wins and two seconds along the way. With her worst scores a 5th and 6th, Mikkola didn’t even need to race the final day. It was the perfect way to round off a glittering career at junior level.

It might not be so easy when Mikkola steps up to the Olympic circuit next season. ‘This was the last year I qualify at this age level, so it was great to win in Kiel. It will probably be a while before I win anything again…’ she added modestly. Mikkola now looks forward to the rigours of campaigning for Tokyo 2020. Vasileia Karachaliou took another silver for Greece with Maité Carlier of Belgium taking bronze.

With almost 700 entries this was a big regatta and, with four divisions, the logistical challenges were significant. But bearing in mind what the same organising team do every June – running Kieler Woche with 4,000 sailors competing in 2,000 boats in classes ranging from the 420 through to large keelboats of 50ft or more – the Laser Youth World Championship was a walk in the park in comparison.

One invaluable experience for the young competitors at such a big regatta was exposure to the media. The top sailors were interviewed after racing each day and for some the nerves of speaking in front of a camera and answering tough questions appeared to exceed the stresses of racing!

It’s one of the things that makes the Olympics so unique, and so difficult for some to cope with, the sudden deluge of media attention. What is impressive about the new generation of sailors coming through is how comfortable they are with working with the media. You can see for yourself if you look through some of the YouTube videos of the Laser regattas (laser4.7.laserworldskiel2016.com) Another benefit for sailors, coaches and also some of the spectators around the world is the relatively recent facility to scroll back through the live tracking and commentary on previous races held at Kiel. Thanks to SAP Analytics, the sailors can review their own performance and see what were the winning – and losing – moves on the racetrack.

There’s the old way of running regattas, and there’s the 21st century way of running regattas, and Kieler Yacht Club’s modern approach to championships is why more and more classes are coming to Kiel-Schilksee to enjoy some of the best regatta management in the world.

Click here for more information on the Laser U21 Youth World Championships  »

Look out, Florida – and Courchevel – Imoca 60 and MOD 70 trimaran racer Sidney Gavignet is a big fan of a competitive winter alternative…

5 LEGS – 763 MILES – ONE DESIGN – ARRIVE-AND-DRIVE – ARABIA’S NO1 OFFSHORE RACE
It is not hard to work out why I love racing EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour (SATT)... aside from winning three of the last four editions with our Farr 30 EFG Bank Monaco! The weather is warm, the racing is competitive and challenging and the event is rich in both culture and fun.

In February in Europe there is not much to do except ski, and this is exactly what we did last year, but in Dubai… In fact, I think our team building session at Dubai’s indoor ski resort before the start of the 2016 edition formed the building blocks of our subsequent success. The pleasure and challenge of putting together a team each year to compete successfully over 10 days of intense one-design racing are one of many reasons why I keep coming back to this race.

To meet the SATT challenge you need a certain type of sailor and for me Fabien Delahaye, who has been a vital crewmember for EFG Bank Monaco, is exactly that type. Fabien is an excellent Figaro sailor and has the perfect profile for SATT where you need endurance, aggression and enough stamina to stay with the pace of racing a small and fast offshore one-design for 24 hours a day.

As a young sailor, this is what I learned on the Tour de France à la Voile. But with the Tour Voile now a day racing event, Sailing Arabia – The Tour is probably the only sailing event in the world to combine top level one-design racing with a bit of adventure in new waters, plus the simplest possible ‘Arrive-and-Drive’ solution for competitors.

Some of the world’s most experienced sailors compete in SATT alongside some incredible amateur talents. Volvo Ocean Race veteran Neal McDonald joined our programme for SATT 2013 and together we enjoyed a true voyage of discovery! Dee Caffari has done a few SATTs leading an all-female crew, Groupama Volvo 70 watch leader Damian Foxall has also raced the event, as has Bertrand Pacé (who also won it a couple of times) and Katie Pettibone among many other well-known names.

It is a blast to cut through giant rocks in the north corner of the Sultanate of Oman and to pass through the Straits of Hormuz with the spinnaker up, gybing at the base of the cliffs to avoid the stronger current. We have other amazing memories including sailing into Dubai for the first time and seeing the incredible Burj Khalifa skyscraper rise up before us.

This year we played golf under the tower and went skiing before venturing out on the water for the first in a series of very tight races. There was a lot to learn and deal with, not least the local winds and currents, the fishing nets and the flotillas of fast-moving but immovable tug boats and barges…

SATT 2017
For those of you who are yet to experience it, let me give you a flavour of what lies ahead in SATT 2017. The basic facts are: 763 nautical miles, 5 legs, 3 in-port races, 4 countries and 6 stopovers.

In Muscat the teams can train for up to 5 days before the start to set their rigs, prepare their Farr 30s, calibrate their electronics and familiarise themselves as they get everyone fully race ready. An in-port race in Muscat kicks off the proceedings on 14 February before offshore leg 1 that starts later the same day.

Leg 1 from Muscat to Sohar, also in Oman, will be the first test of the sailors – and especially of their ability to extract good average speeds out of what remain very tweakable little boats. This is a one-night leg that takes a critical corner through the Daymaniyat Islands, famous for diving. We have done it twice so far, upwind and downwind, but most of the time it has been a light-air leg where you play the sea breeze and land breeze in turn.

This may only be the first leg but the race is on so points are at stake. In Sohar the welcome is spectacular; the International Maritime College lays on a colourful presentation of Omani culture and traditions – this is a race party like no other in the world.

Leg 2 from Sohar to Khasab is the leg you don’t want to miss. It’s like the Alpe d’Huez if you are a cyclist! The first postcard opportunity comes shortly after leaving Sohar as the fleet crosses through a ship anchoring zone then passes along the spectacular coast with its steep, shear-faced mountains that drop straight into the sea. It is a breathtaking and unforgettable sight when viewed from a raceboat at sea.

The SATT offers one heck of a way to explore the Gulf when northern Europe is still shivering. The unique draw of the SATT is that it is now the only such event in the world where you really do get to just rock up and race… on a proper racing boat. No logistics, no shipping or spares to think about, just choose your crew and print your T-shirts

The following morning can be full of surprises: did heading offshore pay or did those who played the coast make the gains? The cherry on the cake is rounding Musandam, the Omani peninsula on the Hormuz Straits and one of the most beautiful sights on the coastline, then on to Khasab and the end of leg 2…

Leg 3 from Khasab to Abu Dhabi is probably the trickiest, with a few forbidden areas to avoid and some difficult strategic decisions to make. The current is quite strong on the first part of the leg, making anything possible – in spite of February’s normal prevailing and steady easterly gradient. And for those who don’t know the area, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are impressive cities and it has been a privilege to discover them from the sea.

Leg 4 to Doha and now the navigators have to really be at the top of their game. We sail through petrol fields which make for an amazing atmosphere at night, watching the flames light up the sky. Be prepared for a fast-paced opening, with tight boat-to-boat racing, followed by the approach to Qatar peninsula which demands a swift change of gear as the breeze often peters out. Day 2 is crucial because everyone is tired at the point when a clear mind becomes essential… This is when good crew rotation really pays off!

Doha hosts the second in-port race of the event and has a great stadium racecourse with flat water and shifty winds. By the time we arrive all the teams will be manoeuvring well and ready for a great battle over up to six tight sprint races.

In Doha you will also see Gilles Chiorri, the SATT Race Director who also manages the Figaro Race, the Route du Rhum and The Transat, working closely with the Omani race committee to make sure that the fleet puts on a great show for local VIPs who include royalty, government officials and well-known CEOs plus their guests… together with a strong media presence.

The sting in the tail in the SATT often arrives at this point, when the teams are all fired up and fighting for a big enough points haul to dramatically influence the overall result. But fear not – the international jury will be watching!

Leg 5 from Doha to Dubai is a proper offshore leg – downwind we hope – where the Farr 30 navigators will once again have their work cut out before the teams battle it out for points in the Tour’s concluding In-Port race in Dubai.

Those already planning to escape the cold European winter for some warm water racing should give EFG Sailing Arabia –The Tour serious thought. After six editions this event is now well established and growing; in particular the race package offers the easiest ‘turn up and race’ offer that you will find anywhere on the planet. The racing is good and tight, the Farr 30 remains one of the most rewarding small offshore one-designs – that you will also be racing past some of the most spectacular coastlines you can find anywhere is just a bonus.

As for us onboard EFG Bank Monaco, three wins are a good record but we fight on!
Sidney Gavignet, La Trinité

Click here for more information on Oman Sail 2016  »

Among topics introduced for the 2016 edition of the Yacht Racing Forum is a new module dedicated to Risk Management & Safety – an issue that is of increasing importance for all yacht clubs and race organisers...

Sailing is changing rapidly, with new technologies, faster boats and more and more high speed close contact. You are a club, a race organizer, a sailing team? Very probably you have no real idea of how exposed you are legally with this rapid evolution. We are talking liability, fines, compensation… and in some of the most extreme cases a real risk of prison.

Some recent examples: Phaedo’s miraculous high speed escape from the midst of the ponderous X One Design fleet in Cowes Week, Spindrift’s tragic accident during the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Lorient and the much-publicised and violent GC32 crash with the powerboat of a famous international photographer in Italy during July. Plus of course, Franck Cammas’s own severe injury suffered when falling from a foiling catamaran… There have been plenty of other near misses as well – as boat speeds increase so inevitably do the inherent dangers.

The Yacht Racing Forum initiated this debate last year in Geneva. One year later and the subject has reached such a level of urgency that a dedicated module is considered both appropriate and necessary for Malta next month. Chaired by outgoing Volvo Ocean race CEO Tom Touber, this conference will explore and assess participants’ and organisers’ awareness of the risks involved, with the aim of identifying more dependable and reliable strategies for the future.

Sarah Allen, maritime lawyer at Bentleys, Stokes & Lowless, will detail the legal implications while for the organisers there will be input from Phil Lawrence (VOR Race Director), Christian Scherrer (GC32 Class Manager), Luca Rizzotti (Garda Foiling Week) and Gunnar Larsen (Nacra 17 Class).

One small example: just 15 years ago relatively few people wore a helmet regularly for skiing. Today, few skiers would venture onto the slopes without adequate head protection. Sailing, on the other hand, still lags behind. For the mainstream market in particular the rules of our sport have yet to adapt to the new reality.

Another comparison: it is only at the highest level of yacht racing, primarily in the America’s Cup, that personal impact protection is seen as essential. Compare this to horseriding where the majority of those taking part now consider body protection to be the obvious choice – especially for the younger rider.

The objective of the Forum’s new Risk Management & Safety conference is to encourage our own sport to pay more attention to the ways in which other sports – some of which are clearly now moving ahead of sailing – address such important central issues.

Fresh perspective
Well known motorsport engineer Paul Gascoyne will share with delegates some of the engineering and management experience that he has acquired over the course of many years in the pitlane.

Having studied fluid dynamics at Cambridge University, Gascoyne’s passion for motorsport first led him into the world of Formula One in 1989 when he joined the McLaren team. He has since also worked with Sauber, Tyrrell, Jordan, Renault, Toyota and Force India.

Less well-known is Gascoyne’s passion for offshore sailing; he has competed in major offshore events including the Transat Jacques Vabre, plus completing a solo transatlantic on his Class40. Gascoyne also worked closely with the Hugo Boss team ahead of the last Vendée Globe in an effort to bring Formula One levels of quality assurance to a sailing programme with a poor history of failures; Hugo Boss skipper Alex Thomson finished that edition of the world’s toughest singlehanded yacht race in an excellent 3rd place overall. Design & Technology First launched in 2008 alongside the Yacht Racing Forum itself, the

Design & Technology Symposium
has proved to be a popular stop for designers, builders, engineers, sailmakers and many others such as materials’ specialists.

Chaired by Seahorse International Sailing Magazine’s US correspondent Dobbs Davis, this year’s symposium will focus on technical developments, with a special emphasis on how the newest technologies will in time benefit a mainstream audience.

The Yacht Racing Forum 2016 will take place in Malta on 28-29 November.

Click here for more information on the Yacht Racing Forum 2016  »

The internet is widening reliable access to the latest sailing hardware

There is always a steady stream of new technologies filtering down from grand prix yacht racing and sailors at all levels are increasingly using the internet to monitor development and to purchase the latest equipment – in particular the newest hardware. From soft shackles, lash thimbles, Dyneema loops and strops to top-down furling systems, new technology offers light weight and strength, often for minimal additional cost compared with traditional products.

Lighter and stronger equals faster and safer which is a win-win scenario for any sailboat, whether it is used for club racing or blue water cruising. Rather than simply replacing your worn stainless shackles this winter, why not change them for soft shackles instead? However, as a consumer, how do I find out about the options available to me and identify the right products for my boat?

Compared to consumer goods, the sailing hardware market is small, dispersed and surprisingly difficult to reach for manufacturers. It’s a Catch-22: the manufacturer needs to be big enough to develop worldwide distribution, but without strong international sales it is difficult for a new business to achieve the volume required and make enough profit to support further growth. The result: a few dominant global players, while the majority of smaller manufacturers, who are often the source of the most innovative technology, face a constant struggle for critical mass.

Above: powerful filters on the upffront site allow buyers to narrow down their technical requirements and quickly compare the latest options

The internet along with reduced shipping costs are primary factors enabling a fundamental shift in how people buy goods and services; but though the marine industry is a perfect candidate for modernisation it has been relatively resistant to change. There are plenty of marine products online, mainly from chandlers who simply upload the contents of their warehouses; but many of the challenges of supplying the latest, more technical sailing equipment online have yet to be properly addressed. However, there is now one company dedicated to improving this more specialist online service: upffront.com

With so many small marine manufacturers, there is generally a poor level of accessible technical information and it is often difficult to specify even relatively simple sailing systems with confidence. To address this, upffront.com puts great emphasis on high-quality and consistent technical information. It works with manufacturer-supplied information as a baseline, but the company has then created a standard set of terminology and measurements to allow easier product specification and quick comparisons between alternative products in the same category.

Most websites are built on a fundamental premise that you know what you want. However, using powerful filters, upffront.com assumes customers have a set of technical parameters and then offers a range of competing products based upon them.

For example, one of the most common interfaces is an eye-jaw rigging connection for which there are only three critical dimensions… however, it is amazing how often this simple information is not readily available.

Upffront.com places great importance on the standardisation of such interface dimensions, and over time the intention is to facilitate more complex, multi-manufacturer systems using online configurators with interface compatibility guaranteed.

Another critical part of being able to buy hardware confidently online is understanding what is, or is not, being supplied, for example, does that swivel come with a shackle? High-quality images with detailed technical descriptions give upffront.com customers an accurate representation of each product and what is – and is not – included. But if you are not sure, unlike on many sites, customers are encouraged to contact the product team by email or phone and talk through their options.

Conclusion
The marine industry has been relatively slow to adapt to the significant advantages the internet offers its complex supply chain. In a rapidly changing technology landscape an internet-based, worldwide marketplace offers niche manufacturers a simple and fast route to market. It also offers service companies (riggers, sailmakers, refit yards) and boat owners alike the information they need to make informed choices with better pricing and faster international delivery – all with genuine personal service.

Click here for more information on Upffront™  »