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News Around the World 


The kids are alright. Yes, Papa took the Melges 20 world title in San Francisco, but more attention surrounded the performance of John Kilroy’s 12-year-old son Liam who finished 3rd (above). This was Liam’s second worlds, having shaken the tree pretty hard last year on Lake Garda; he also won this year’s Pacific Coast title. Achille ‘son of Mascalzone’ Onorato finished 9th in San Francisco


USA Annapolis barometer


Walking around sailboat shows gives the performance sailor pause: are we really that much a minority? As a barometer does the show indicate we’re doomed as a breed? At the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, one of the largest and oldest at 46 years, this has been the case for years… except when you dig a little deeper and see the influence performance sailing has on mainstream markets. Harken, for example, have taken their engineering expertise into a new area by unveiling a partnership with Jeanneau to offer the clever Assisted Sail Trim product, an integrated sail-handling system that combines winch functions with sail handling for cruising sailors who worry about shifting gears shorthanded when things get rough. The Auto Tacking, Auto Trim and Sail Management packages allow these functions to be performed in the same manner that your car has cruise control: not as a replacement for having you in control, but an assistance feature that may help give piece of mind. While the number of big new production keelboats on display was modest, new sportboats are still popping out and they were getting some impressive foot traffic at this show. For example, the carbon mast of the Mills-designed C&C30 on the outer corner of the large raft of floating docks is a refreshing sight among the condominium-like walls of white gelcoat you pass to get there… Many of those who took off their shoes and climbed aboard this boat last year have stepped up and actually own one this year. Eight will be racing as a class in Storm Trysail’s Fall Regatta and 10 will make the migration south to Quantum Key West Race Week. Aside from the explosion of J/70s a couple of years ago, this is the first large debut for a serious raceboat class in many years. As in the J/70 fleet, several C&C30 owners are former big boat sailors who still want to have fun but at a more manageable scale – there’s at least one TP52 alumnus among this group. And as with many of these classes, the pro-am character remains integral to its success: C&C30 class rules limit crew to having only two non- Group 1 sailors aboard when racing.


Other small fast boats in the water in Annapolis have been seen


in Seahorsebut may finally be getting traction in the US. Wraceboats have been making production runs in Turkey of the Jim Donovan- designed GP26 for a couple of years, but US sales have at last got to where these boats could convene for a class regatta. They too may well head towards Key West, given how easy they are


20 SEAHORSE


to drop onto a trailer and haul down the highway at 75mph. The all-carbon Farr 280 also gets plenty of looks from those who are serious about their sportboat sailing; they too have now sold enough boats here to secure their own class at Key West, always a good sign. The other design attracting attention in Annapolis was the Far East 28R, which has had great initial success in the Dutch home of its designers Simonis-Voogd, and could do the same here for those chasing sportboat performance at a lower price level. The good news for those who do not prefer the one-design approach to their sportboat sailing is that the growing interest in ORC Club among local fleets gives them hope of being more fairly rated against each other and other non-sportboat designs. Crying and complaining among dealers about the frankly primitive PHRF rating system is an all too common theme here, and is often a roadblock to sales of these exciting designs.


There was actually much positive sentiment in Annapolis about the serious racing market, the optimists in town including Whitbread skipper Dawn Riley. Dawn remains an energetic and tireless advocate for the sport, who has found a perfect fit in her position as director of the Oakcliff Sailing Center. Besides managing a pro- gramme that plays host to dozens of regattas throughout the season at their base in Oyster Bay, New York, Oakcliff continues to expand and diversify its mission to educate future industry (not just racing) professionals; the centre’s Acorns and Saplings apprentice pro- gramme has enjoyed considerable success in disciplines ranging from engine maintenance to sail repair.


But a new and interesting programme at Oakcliff covers the field of communications and embedded reporting, such as is seen in the Volvo Ocean Race. The centre’s new Onboard Reporting Program is bringing in media experts from around the world to share their knowledge and train the next generation of sailing reporters and media crew. As well as hopeful onboard reporters, the programme may also prove attractive to regatta managers looking for ways to boost the exposure of their events with improved marketing skills. Oh, and the America’s Cup made its own appearance at the Annapolis show for two days, accompanied by its new spokesman, Tucker Thompson, who has been making the rounds of US yacht clubs to try to bring some needed polish to the Auld Mug. And maybe it’s working: only a two-hour plane ride away, they say that Bermuda’s hotels are full for the final World Series round of 2015… Dobbs Davis


q


ERIK SIMONSON


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