North American Eight Metre Association

For Immediate release

Final News Release

Aluette wins the Mackenzie Investments 8 Metre World Championship at the RCYC in Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, August 31, 2010 –  Fifteen  8 Metre ( 8mR ) yachts from Canada, the United States, Finland, Scotland and Switzerland competed in 8 races from August 21 – August 27 to decide the Mackenzie Investments 8mR World Championship won by Iris Metten’s Aluette from Switzerland. Helmed by Torsten Müller, it is Aluette’s third World Cup Championship since she was launched in 1995.

Aluette finished 3,2,1,1,2,1,2 to sew-up the Championship by the second last day of the races. Scotland’s Alan Manuel in Lafayette, the 2009 World Cup holder was second and Etobicoke Yacht Club’s Ralph Reiman with Sarissa was third even though she had 4 first place finishes.

Aluette’s team consisted of Torsten Müller, helmsman, YCM (yacht club Meersburg Germany), Günter Reissacher, tactics, SVS (sail association Staad Switzerland), Stefan Schneider, tactics, SVS, Seriously Bieri, foredeck, ASC (Altnauer sail club Switzerland), Christian Gasser, ASC,  and Markus Olbrecht, mast, YCRo (yacht club Romanshorn Switzerland).

In the classic Sira Cup division RCYC’s Rick Self and Mark DeCelles, co-owners of Raven were the run-away winners frequently putting modern boats between them and their classic competitors. Only on the last day was third place Sira Cup finisher Venture II able to keep Raven from a clean sweep of the event. Venture II, owned by Diane Corley and helmed by John Dakin placed second overall in a last light air race coming within a point of tying Bangalore, helmed by Terry McLaughlin for second place in the Sira Cup.

The Mackinac Centennial Trophy for older modern 8 Metres was won by Ron Palm’s Mystery.

The PRO was Mike Milner, who once again demonstrated his professional skills in managing a World Championship race course through a wide variety of wind conditions. The first race on August 22, was delayed by lack of wind which built rapidly to 15 plus by the start. The delay allowed for only one race to be started. The second day of racing was cancelled due to increasing winds with gusts over 25 knots and dangerous building seas. The waves had abated some what by the third day, but NE winds up to 15 knots prevailed once again. By Wednesday the lake had flattened with a light 5 – 8 knots from the North but the wind built again to 15+ for the fifth day of races on Thursday, August 26. The last race was in more usual late August range of 5 – 7 from the SSW. Race legs were usually 2 nautical miles and races were in the 2 hour range. The International Jury headed by Terence Brownrigg of the Royal North and Clyde Yacht Club, was not asked to hear any protests.

Post-race events from BBQ’s to dances and dinners allowed the competitors to rehash the day’s races and renew friendships from previous regattas. By the time of the gala final awards dinner a mood of comradeship had clearly been created. Julia Nairne, Debbie Crossman and their team of volunteers worked extremely hard to make sure this essential part of a successful regatta was in place.

Sponsorship allows these events to occur and the organizers of the 2010 World Championships are grateful for the support provided by many individuals and companies, in particular Mackenzie Investments whose long time connection with 8mR fleet has provided us with the means to hold 2 World Championships along with numerous North American Championships in between.

The 2010 Mackenzie Investments 8mR World Championships were co-Chaired by Christopher and Jennifer Mitchele. Without their hard-work, dedication and devotion to details this event would not have occurred. We owe them our most heartfelt thanks.

About the North American Eight Metre

The 8Metre yacht (8mR) dates back over one hundred years. Today, the 8mR class is comprised of the Classic and Modern divisions. Both types of boats must meet strict measurement criteria for the hull and rig in order to qualify in one of these divisions. Generally, the boat measures approximately 14 metres in length with beams (width) of around 2.5.

The Classic 8mR’s are the mainstay of the class. They provide a display of unmatched wooden beauty and are often kept in families for generations. These are the boats that come to mind first when people think about the 8mR class. The fleet’s status was secured when the Canada’s Cup, the most prestigious regatta on the Great Lakes, was sailed in the 8mR class in the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1950’s. Today, many of the 8mR yachts from this earlier era are still competing at regattas on Lake Ontario where they have been joined by restored classics and moderns from locations around the world.

About Mackenzie Investments

Mackenzie Investments was founded in 1967, and is a leading investment management firm providing investment advisory and related services. With $62.4 billion in assets under management as of July 31, 2010, Mackenzie Investments distributes its services through a diversified network of third-party financial advisors. Mackenzie Investments is a member of the IGM Financial Inc. (TSX: IGM) group of companies. IGM Financial is one of Canada’s premier financial services companies with over $119 billion in total assets under management as of July 31, 2010.

Robert Roy

President

NAEMA

http://www.sail-world.com/Canada/Torontos-Royal-Canadian-Yacht-Club-hosts-the-prestigious-8Metre-World/70803

http://www.monsooncup.net/USA/news_last30_new.cfm?SRN=34&RequestTimeOut=180

http://www.yachtloop.com/news_category_result.php?pr=News_search_3&order=dd&originalText=&categoryStr=&categoryId=&id=&checksubcategory=&searchMode=searchButton&query=8metre

http://www.sail-world.com/Canada/Lafayette-of-Scotland-Winner-of-the-8-Metre-Class-NA-Championship/73584

http://www.yachtloop.com/news_category_result.php?pr=News_search_3&order=dd&originalText=&categoryStr=&categoryId=&id=&checksubcategory=&searchMode=searchButton&query=8metre

http://www.sail-world.com/Canada/Lafayette-of-Scotland-Winner-of-the-8-Metre-Class-NA-Championship/73584

http://www.sail-world.com/Canada/A-perfect-third-racing-day-at-the-Mackenzie-8-Metre-World-Championship/73826

http://www.sailkarma.com/2010/08/mackenzie-8-metre-world-championships.html

http://www.sailthechannel.com/boaters-feeds/sail-world-uk

http://www.sail-world.com/Canada/Classic-8-Metre-boats-show-their-speed-today-at-the-8-Metre-Worlds/73877

http://www.yachtloop.com/news_category_result.php/mlt.html?query=ocr&pr=News_search_3&prox=page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&rdepth=0&sufs=0&order=r&mode=admin&cq=&maxRecord=&searchMode=searchButton&cmd=mlt&id=4c78970c0

IEMA World Cup will be in North America for the next two years, here are some details. Keep in touch with NAEMA.net for updates and to subscribe to our upcoming newsletter.

NAEMA – NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS PORT CREDIT YACHT CLUB AUGUST 8 – 10, 2009

A very successful and well-run 8mR North Championship was just completed over 3 days at the Port Credit Yacht Club. Ralph Reimann sailed a nearly perfect regatta as his SARISSA dominated as overall Champion and winner of the Sodus Bay Trophy. Richard Self and Mark Decelles in their brand new classic yacht RAVEN won the Sira Cup championship and the Globe and Mail Trophy. RAVEN placed second overall with a first place finish in the 3rd Race Sunday afternoon. Bert Reimann helming ISKAREEN another Classic 8mR, got 3rd overall and second in the Sira Cup championship. Diane Palm’s VENTURE II held down 3rd in the Sira Cup races.

Challenging at all times with several 2nd and 3rd place finishes were Guy Jones in his new modern 8mR Yquem being raced competitively for the first time and John Fowler’s modern Natural.

The erratic weather kept the fleet on the docks till afternoon over the weekend with no wind ( Saturday ) or the threat of line squalls ( Sunday ) but conditions improved and most races were held in just under 10 knots of wind. The exception was the final race on Sunday when the wind died to nothing at the final leeward mark and half the fleet suffered DNF’s.

NAEMA would like to thank the Port Credit Yacht Club, the home of the 1991 8mR WORLD Championships for welcoming us back and staging a great event. Commodore Peter Howells welcomed the fleet Saturday morning and was present at our post race party to recognize 8mR sailors from the past who are still with us. Dick Mitchele of THISBE a former PCYC Commodore was recognized with an Honourary Life Membership at PCYC. Congratulations Dick.

The races were managed with precision and effect by Pat Lymburner and his Race Committee. NAEMA would like to extend its thanks to the entire Race Committee and the Jury headed by Don McIntyre. There were no protests for them to consider.

Our sponsors and contributors also need to be recognized and thanked for their assistance – Jeff Burcher: COACH-BOATS – for the 1st place battle flags, event yacht pennants, and the race course start mark and Media Partners – for keg refreshments at the Sunday après race dock party

Caullyn Godfrey: Regatta Brands – regatta wear supplier and the keg refreshments at the Saturday après race dock party

Hugh Beaton: North Sails – prize table corporate wear

John Dakin: Quantum Sail Design Group – prize table corporate wear and sailing instructions folder

Brian Chapman: UK-Halsey Sailmakers – prize table corporate wear

The real credit for the success of this event and our fleet’s gratitude for all his hard work belongs to Cedric Gyles, Jr. ( SEVERN ) who put in many long hours organizing all aspects of the regatta with Martin Lomas who represented the PCYC as Regatta Chair. Our thanks indeed must go to both gentlemen.

As part of our long term strategy to promote the 8mR fleet as the Best Big Boat Racing on Lake Ontario we are moving the North American Championships around to different yacht clubs in order to give our fleet as wide an exposure as possible. We invite inquiries about ownership, crewing and sponsorship and of course future locations for the North American Championship. In 2010 the event will be held at the Etobicoke Yacht Club prior to the 2010 8mR World Championships at the RCYC in Toronto.

My congratulations to all competitors, and my thanks to our contributors and supporters. Robert Roy President, NAEMA

News Release

Wednesday 18th July

The third day in the International 8 Metre Class Centennial World
Championship saw seven times world champion Gefion from Canada win the
first race of the day. The day began with sunshine but little or no wind. After
a long wait the race committee took the fleet several miles down river in
search of wind. The first race was started in five knots of northerly breeze.
At the first mark Gefion was in the lead, followed by Hollandia and the two
Swiss boats Aluette and Yquem.
After a course change due to a wind shift to the east, at the next weather
mark Gefion was still in the lead, then Hollandia and Aluette, with Lafayette in
fourth place, having improved from fifth. This remained the order at the finish.
Aluette, however, was disqualified for a premature start. First of the classic
boats was Anne Sophie from Germany.
The second race of the day started in 7 to 8 knots of wind.
At the start most of the fleet were at the starboard end of the line, with
Lafayette in the middle, allowing Aluette to start in clear air at the port end.
On the first leg Gefion went up the left hand side of course, the rest of the
fleet going right.
First to the weather mark was Aluette, followed by Yquem then Hollandia and
Lafayette. Lafayette then overtook Hollandia round the mark. On the next leg
Aluette extended her lead. Second at the leeward mark was Yquem with
Lafayette and Gefion immediately behind.
On the last two legs of the race, Aluette maintained her lead to the finish.
After several place changes in a tricky shifting breeze, the boats were barely
able to hold spinnakers on the final downwind leg. Yquem finished second,
followed by Gefion and Lafayette.
After an exciting tussle involving several boats over the last hundred yards of
the race, the German boat, Wyvern, in 6th place in the fleet, was first of the
classic boats.
Lafayette, skippered by the host club’s Allan Manuel remains in the lead
overall, despite a disappointing day in the lighter conditions.

News Release

Tuesday 17th July 2007

The second day of racing in the International 8 Metre Class World
Championship at Rhu in Scotland saw a welcome change in the weather, with
sunshine all day, and a south westerly breeze of around eleven or twelve
knots providing two good races for the twenty one yachts from eleven
countries.
After a postponement Hollandia made a perfect start followed by the local
boat, Lafayette. Gefion, from Canada, led at the first mark after a tricky first
leg, followed by the Swiss boat, Aluette, then Gefion, Hollandia, and
Lafayette. At the beginning of the third leg the first three boats went one way,
and Lafayette the other. When the boats next came together, Lafayette was
in the lead from Aluette, with the German boat Wyvern leading the classic
boats from the Australians in Saskia and Finns in Windy. Lafayette scored
her second win, and Aluette her second runners up spot. Hollandia, a
previous champion, was third. Saskia passed Windy to finish once more first
of the classic boats, followed by Windy, and the Japanese Aun.
A second race was started after a long delay caused by a shifting wind and a
general recall, when virtually the whole fleet was over the starting line early.
At the first mark Aluette had a lead which she held throughout the race,
chased all the way by Lafayette. Hollandia fought her way up to third place
from fifth. Aun was first of the Classic boats. After three races the Scottish
boat Lafayette leads from Aluette.

News Release
Lafayette, owned by Murdoch McKillop and skippered by Allan Manuel took the
lead on the first day of the 8 Metre Centennial World Championship 2007, run by
the Royal Northern Yacht Club at Rhu, sponsored by Chopard.
The Scottish yacht has yet to sail in a championship and not be on the podium.
She has always been pretty much unbeatable in heavy air and since her keel
was changed she has become a superb all-round performer for the conditions in
Scotland.
I
n spite of poor visibility the first race started on time at 11.00 in 12 to 14 knots of
wind. Wyvern was disqualified for being over the start line early.
Soon after the start the wind backed, resulting in a rather one-sided course.
The leading boats at the first mark were Lafayette, Aluette and Hollandia. These
three were in the lead throughout the race which lasted just over an hour.
Lafayette extended her lead throughout the race and the crewing was
conspicuously superior to other boats.
First of the classic boats was Saskia from Australia which finished 6th overall
having sailed a very good race.
Carron from Norway retired with damage to her mainsail, but managed to return
to the race area in time for the second start.
A second race was started in about 6 to 8 knots of wind but was abandoned soon
after the leading yachts had passed the windward mark as the wind there died to
virtually zero. At time of abandonment Hollandia was leading followed by
Lafayette, then Alluette, which had just passed Peter Wilson’s Ganymede, the
newest boat in the fleet, which had its first sail only two days ago.
Lafayette, better in heavier conditions, struggled off the start line in the second
race, but recovered impressively to be closely in touch with Hollandia at the top
mark, with the remainder of the fleet well behind.
After a long wait for new breeze the race officer abandoned racing for the day.

News release.

Over 20 yachts from around the world will take part in the prestigious
Centennial 8 Metre World Championships sponsored by Chopard.
The event takes place on the Clyde from 16 to 21 July. Yachts from as far
away as Australia and Canada and closer to home from France and Holland
will take part in the week long regatta which is being hosted by the Royal
Northern and Clyde Yacht Club.
To mark the occasion Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, patron of the
RNCYC will be visiting the Clyde on Friday 20 July to watch these beautiful
yachts in action. Many spectators are expected to come and watch the event.
Already this year we have seen the 8 metres racing at the Kip Regatta and at
the Scottish Series in Tarbet. Lafayette, owned by Murdoch Mckillop with an
all Scottish team, was racing at Kip in April. And as a warm up to the worlds
Lafayette, along with Hollandia, owned by Ruud van Hilst and Jos Fruytier,
took part in the Scottish Series in May.
Although both yachts were racing in a handicap class, Lafayette was faster
over the water during the series. As both yachts have been previous winners
of the worlds the battle lines are now drawn for July.

Results will be found at this link.

The International Eight Metre World Championship Regatta on Sodus Bay

Eight meter yachts are survivors of the Golden Days of sailing when boats were built of wood and income taxes were low.

by Susan Peterson

Editors note: This article describes the 1996 race. For 1997, the race will be based in Toronto. However, it returns to the American side next year so stay tuned! There are boats and there are yachts. Each is in the eye of the beholder. Few would deny the accuracy of the term “yacht,” however, as applied to the group of sailing vessels which will convene on Sodus Bay in July for the International Eight Metre World Championship Regatta. Eight meter yachts are survivors of the golden days of sailing when boats were built of wood and income taxes were low. Continue reading News from 1996 SBYC