Editorial Andrew Hurst Took long enough
So in 2025 the Admiral’s Cup will be back for the first time since 2003, though I would argue the last time the event warranted its unofficial title of the world championship of ocean racing was in 1999 (full disclosure, I could not be more biased having had the privilege of wearing orange that particular year).
It also looks to be (Weiland, page 38) coming back in a better
guise than how it was left. After 25 years to reflect, the dog once again looks to be in control of the tail… Poor analogy perhaps! But by 1999 the sailors were definitely in charge of the asylum (not getting any better, is it), the event tailored into an ultra-refined corner, the Fastnet was on the way out and unless you had the cream of the cream in terms of pro sailors there was no point turning up. Perfect for the best sailors, perfect for the most competitive
owners (think TP52 SuperSeries) but with nothing left for anyone else. And crucially, while the TP52 SuperSeries is brilliantly managed with the owners always put at the front of the queue when it comes to format, the opposite was true of the 1991-1999 Admiral’s Cups, with the sailors in control. As little offshore component as possible, please, level rating only etc. Brutally expensive, of brutally narrow appeal and ultimately totally self-destructive. Plans for 2025 look
better.The organisers have sounded out the
potential entrants and the dog is back in charge (sorry, last time). The goal is clear. Attract maximum entry, not the most refined
entry… though one will inevitably in time lead to the other. But not yet. Two-boat teams, racing under IRC. Teams or nations, the choice will be based on maximum appeal. The Fastnet back at the heart of the event where it belongs. Rob Weiland, driver of the success of the SuperSeries, is for
once more optimistic than I am, talking of perhaps 15 teams from 10 countries. I’d settle for fewer than that, but either way if you can keep (us!) sailors where we belong, ie on the water not on the levers of power, it all looks pretty exciting.
miles under the keel, Malizia(though this was probably coincidence). Time to give more thought to the longterm global deterioration
of these single-purpose designs as the sea miles accumulate under successive ownerships.
Legend It was a nice surprise to read that the Cruising Club of America has awarded 84-year-old Japanese skipper Kenichi Horie its famous Blue Water Medal. Not easily won is that one. Horie has made numerous solo voyages of note, often in stupidly
small or strange craft, round the world multiple times, across the Pacific, the Atlantic – you name it, Horie has done it. As recently as 2022 Japan’s most famous yachtsman sailed singlehanded from San Francisco to Nishinomiya – a distance of 5,400nm – in a 19ft plywood sloop, a voyage that took him more than two months. Of course, he was then only 83. I met this charming sailor in late 1979 and spent some time
with him when he stepped ashore off one of his tiny craft. Slightly wobbly but beaming nonetheless. The place was San Francisco, the location a pontoon at the St Francis Yacht Club. During a delight- ful conversation in ‘Japananglais’ I asked the tiny Japanese where- abouts he had been sailing that day… ‘Tokyo’ he replied. I knew the Bay area well by now. I knew Chinatown, Little Italy
and so forth, but ‘Tokyo’ I had yet to come across. I asked again. ‘No, no, Tokyo Japan’ came the reply. Pretty quickly I deciphered
that Horie had just sailed his little – maybe 18ft – yacht single - handed 5,300nm (as the crow flies) from Tokyo to San Francisco. I rushed into the club, told my tale and soon the great St Francis
Follow up Previously I wrote with concern about the prospects for a two-tier Ocean Race fleet sailing across the deep south. Benjamin Dutreux’s Guyot is the only 2016 Imoca racing so was at the centre of my thoughts. Any hint of ‘told you so’ would be truly distasteful, but when Guyot did experience structural damage they were close enough to head to Cape Town in relative safety. A few days later, however, other problems started to appear; next up was 11th Hour Racing with two cracked rudders, then the crew with the next most
‘ PEERLESS The Seahorse dogs are good, but they’re not this good. Amazing
– at the time home to a broke young Brit sailor – enveloped this master mariner, providing accommodation, food, hospitality, as well as free repair of his boat at a local boatyard. Plus an introduction to the TV and newspapers who could not get enough. So now the Blue Water Medal… well done, Horie-San.
q SURELY NOT?
Exhausted – Three days out from the Golden Gate after two months at sea Kenichi Horie (83) is asked how he is ‘feeling’
NICELY PUT Cayard and four senior
coaches gone?! – Hank Evans It would appear US Sailing has found a way to crash the Hindenburg
into the Titanic – Evans
WORTH WAITING FOR Can you begin to imagine the legal
apocalypse? – Jimmy Page is asked why his autobiography will only be released posthumously
passes the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz at the Bahrain GP
DETAILS My bag has six new, unfolded caps, each checked for the perfect angle between peak
and crown – Lewis Hamilton Snigger all you want…
RULE BRITANNIA! There are eight sails
Very well, Sir – Jervis
Actually, I can imagine – the Ed, who has read a couple of the ‘biographies’
Less a trigger warning
Yes, bye bye!!! – Fernando Alonso (41)
than a nuclear accident – Ed
7 world championships – Ed
of the line, Sir John – Lookout to Admiral Sir John Jervis, Cape St Vincent, 1797
There are 25 sails of
the line, Sir John – Lookout
Very well, Sir – Jervis There are 27 sails of
the line, Sir John – Lookout Enough, Sir, no more of that; if there are 50 sails I will go straight through them – Jervis
Seahorse magazine and our associate raceboatsonly brokerage site are both at:
seahorsemagazine.com The editor is contactable by email at:
andrew@seahorse.co.uk
SEAHORSE 11
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