Update
entry. Numbers were restricted to a sensible limit in every class – otherwise no doubt it would have been the same size as usual, such was demand. The venue itself looked very different from normal and before
registration there was a mandatory temperature check… after which you were rewarded with sweets which was a nice touch. If anyone did have a high temperature a PCR test was taken, with the result available the next morning at the latest… At any time anyone could also ask for a rapid swab test, with the results back in just a few seconds! This is how easy and fast the corona test in Kiel worked – using the method of detecting the virus by spectral analysis of saliva. I am pleased to say all the tests were negative. Once in the venue everyone is in masks. Initially I found it hard
to recognise everyone in sailing gear, sunglasses, hat and masks, especially having not seen many people for six months – which meant some had far longer hair (and some far shorter!!). In the absence of the normal shops and catering the boat park areas seemed huge, but everything was perfectly controlled. You could only enter your own boat park area where no coaches were allowed. The key point for me was it was good to be back – we had excellent
sailing and both on the water and off was super-efficient. It has been a restart for racing and with no preparation time at the venue (you could only enter the venue the day before racing started) it showed who could just show up and perform. Having said that, there were very few surprises for who was at the front of each class. It is not only the most aspirational sailors who should be making
a big effort to get on the water right now. For the club sailors sailing is a vital part of normal life. It is good for physical and mental health and the social and competitive nature is both challenging and rewarding in a way that we need and miss. Sailing as a sport ticks all the boxes –with sun, sea and exercise
it must be one of the perfect environments. The German Sailing Federation should be hugely proud of what they managed to achieve, and I hope other federations will continue to follow their example. The less time we all spend indoors now the better. On returning home I find myself really looking forward to the next
regatta and wishing it was sooner. I am sure many teams will now be working on weaknesses they noticed at this rare regatta. For me I quietly reflect that I did not realise just how much I missed the international competition and everything that goes with it. Now we have a reset but look hard enough and there are positives
to have come out of this and new ways of doing things. For those people saying we need to cancel Christmas due to an imminent second wave my answer is we just need to look for a new way of getting things done. Bravo to Kiel Week!
q SNAPSHOTS Brought to you in association with
One of the popular additions to the big Imoca foils has been a secondary plane, seen before on a few retrofitted foils but now sprouting above and below some of the latest appendages. This is an add-on by Ocean Race team 11th Hour onto the long DSS style foils pioneered on the previous VPLP-designed Hugo Boss
20 SEAHORSE
l They had help…the same week Sam Manuard’s Imoca scow won the speed runs in Lorient his Class40 scow Banque du Léman set a new Round Britain record of 7d 6h l That is…10 hours less than Ian Lipinski’s previous mark on his Raison-designed scow Crédit Mutuel l But…No-Mates Lipinski did it on his own l His record is safe…for now l Life goes on…70 Moths at this year’s UK Nationals l While Spi Ouest…rescheduled to September hit, its entry limit l Brave also…to regattas like Les Voiles de St Tropez who refused to say ‘NON’ l In fact…especially Les Voiles which has a sad history of liability and litigation going back to the days of the original Nioulargue l In the news…again l Sounds familiar…The Sport University of Wuhan (sic) has concluded an extraordinarily complex theoretical analysis of the dynamics of a 470 hull and appendages l Should you have…a couple of large empty rooms at home… l Then we can…tell you where to get a copy l I guess…they had to do something this spring l Spin-off…prompted by Julian Everitt’s recent Seahorse article on EG Van De Stadt a book on the history of that fine design firm has started to slip off the shelves again l So much history…also with a lot of influence on sailing... l This month…we sadly lost Murlo Primrose, widow of yacht designer Angus and matriarch of the talented brood that includes sometime Seahorse writer (we are proud to say), composites expert and now automotives innovator Dan Primrose l Sadly…this month we also say goodbye to successful Tasmanian yachtsman and legendary sports writer Peter Campbell l The not yet…‘confirmed’ 11th Hour Ocean Race programme has recently signed up three ‘well-proven’ names with Rob Greenhalgh (on wheels), Kyle Langford (on trim) and Simon Fisher (on nav) l The band…is almost back together l We thought…Rob had emigrated to work for North Sails Australia? l Better tell…’em, buddy l Stars & Stripes…have yet to admit they may not be frontrunners at America’s Cup 36 l You dishonour…a famous team’s name, fine sirs l Or as some wag…recently said, they are still working on team uniforms for the parties l File under…things we bet you didn’t know… l Brilliant…Kiwi designer the late Jim Young (pg26), as far as we can find out, really was the first man to successfully install a canting keel on a keelboat with Fiery Cross in 1958 l That said…the first canting keel was patented in 1900 l Irrepressible… several Vendée Globe skippers have signed new race sponsorships during lockdown l Including…Mr Sam Davies Romain Attanasio, plus Mini Transat veteran Alexia Barrier, Clément Giraud and Benji Dutreux l All now…have the funds to complete the race, though Attanasio conceded ‘it was rather stressful chasing money during lockdown’ l We like…understatement a lot l Not just… powerboats (up 30 per cent year on year in the US) l Sailboats…particularly in the mid-size range are flying off the shelves as well right now, it seems l Especially…in the US where it seems everyone wants to get as far from land as they can as quickly as they can (on a postcard please…) l Crikes…Giles Scott did not win the Finn Europeans l Losing out…to Hungarian sailor Zsombor Berecz l Tapping of feet…in the Ineos war room l But we could not…be more pleased... l Than to hear that…Seahorse writer and supporter, authority on seamanship and New York Yacht Club historian John Rousmaniere has been inducted into the US National Sailing Hall of Fame l Something else…we didn’t know... l When the…much heralded Grand Prix sailing series in ‘SuperFoilers’ vanished from our screens last year it left in its wake more than AUS$1.5million in debts l Finally…you know what to do l
RaceboatsOnly.com…and
EurosailNews.com
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