Start of race one of the Star Worlds 2010. Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com
by Lynn Fitzpatrick
Johannes Babendererde and Timo Jacobs (GER) won Race 1 of the 2010 Star World Championship, a tricky race around Rio de Janeiro’s harbor. The beat everyone to the first windward mark and swapped positions with Juan Kouyoumdjian (“Juan K”) and Alejandro Colla (AGR) during the first four legs of the five-leg course. Once the wind came up and they took the reins shortly after rounding the final leeward gate, they held on and held off 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists, Iain Percy and Andrew “Bart” Simpson (GBR); Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada (BRA), 2008 Olympic Silver Medalists; Kouyoumdjian/Colla; and World Sailor of the Year, Torben Grael and two-time World Champion crew, Marcelo Ferreira (BRA). In fact, past Star World Champions took six out of the top ten positions in Race 1.
Race One, Star Worlds 2010, Guanabara Bay, Rio. Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com
The cumulous clouds obscured Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado at times throughout the afternoon. The famous statue peeked through the clouds during the start of Race 1 of the 2010 Star World Championship. It was crystal clear out on the water and the sea breeze built from a light 5-7 knots at the start of the race to 8-10 during the fifth and final leg to the finish below Sugarloaf and Laje, a low island with a lot of current circulating around it.
Race One, Star Worlds 2010, Guanabara Bay, Rio. Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com
The leaders around the first weather mark had good starts, played the right hand side of the course and tacked at the right points in an eddy near Rio’s shore. The young German team of Babendererde /Jacobs were the first to round the windward mark. Whether it was nerves or the current, the 25 and 27-year olds hit the mark. Said Babendererde of the incident, “We were happy that we rounded the weather mark first, but we touched it and lost two places when we did our circle. We were confident that we could stay with the top group because we had good speed.”
Kouyoumdjian/Colla held the lead down the first run, with Babendererde /Jacobs and Percy/Simpson, Scheidt/ Prada and Fernando Echavarri and Fernando Rodriguez (ESP) and Grael/Ferreira breathing down their necks. Juan K. commented after the race, “It felt really good to be in the lead, but you don’t have time to enjoy it. Once the wind comes up and they start to hike they are like monsters.”
Race One, Star Worlds 2010, Guanabara Bay, Rio. Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com
The wind came up and by the third and final beat toward Sugarloaf, the hiking machines ground Kouyoumdjian/Colla down. Portugal’s newest Star sailing team comprised of Olympic Laser sailor, Gustavo Lima and Charles Nankin had a strong showing in their first Star World Championship. Not familiar with fine tuning adjustments, hey slipped to seventh during the last beat, but according to their coach, Andy Zawieja, “wait until a windy day outside, they will put on a show.”
During the five-leg course sailors and spectators pointed their bows in the direction of beaches, forts, oil rigs, former castles, military colleges and high-rise office buildings. Andrew “Bart” Simpson, who was extremely happy with his second place finish, commented on the ups and downs of sailing an important race in an area that presents so many variables, “I wouldn’t want to do that every day.”
Race One, Star Worlds 2010, Guanabara Bay, Rio. Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com
What they are saying:
Johannes Babendererde – Winning skipper of the first race of the 2010 Star World Championship
“We were happy that we rounded the weather mark first, but we touched it and lost two places when we did our circle. We were confident that we could stay with the top group because we had good speed.”
“Our positioning was important on the last leg. We rounded the mark behind Juan K. and tacked to leeward. We outpointed them and passed them. We had to protect against Robert Scheidt and Iain from the left and the right. It was all about positioning.”
“This is the best finish that we have had in the Star. We had a first place at last year’s European Championship also and we also fought off Robert Scheidt and Iain Percy. We also started off the Worlds in Varberg with a fourth place finish in the first race.”
Race One, Star Worlds 2010, Guanabara Bay, Rio. Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com
Iain Percy – Second place skipper in the first race of the 2010 Star World Championship
“Our strategy was to follow the Graels. We switched from Lars to Torben after the first beat.”
“The Brazilians have been very helpful in giving us advice on the conditions here.”
Andrew “Bart” Simpson – 2nd place crew in the first race of the 2010 Star World Championship
“I wouldn’t want to do that every day.”
Robert Scheidt third place skipper in the first race of the 2010 Star World Championship
“This is the best start that we have had in a Star World Championship. We had a 37th in Miami and a 21st in Sweden. We are very happy.”
On recovering to third place after being sixth or seventh around the first windward mark.
“Once you are in the top ten in a race like this you have clear air and a lot of options. It is tricky to sailing in here, but the course gave opportunities to everyone.”
Race One, Star Worlds 2010, Guanabara Bay, Rio. Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com
Juan Kouyoumdijan, who held the lead at various times during the first Race of the 2010 Star World Championship
On being in first place in a race at a Star World Championship Regatta
“It felt really good, but you don’t have time to enjoy it. Once the wind comes up and they start to hike they are like monsters.”
Commenting on the Juan K.-designed Mader boat and Juan Garay-designed sails from North Sails, Argentina.
“We are very happy. We followed our plan. Our boat is good. Our sails are good. We are very patriotic with our equipment.”
Race One, Star Worlds 2010, Guanabara Bay, Rio. Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com
Results - Race One:
Place Boat Skipper Crew Sail #: Fleet 1 Total
1 GER 8378 Babendererde Johannes Jacobs Timo 8378 Moh 1.0 1
2 GBR 8371 Percy Iain Simpson Andrew 8371 Sol 2.0 2
3 BRA 8255 SCHEIDT ROBERT PRADA BRUNO 8255 Gua 3.0 3
4 ARG 8381 Kouyoumdjian Juan Colla Alejandro 8381 Lar 4.0 4
5 BRA 8397 Grael Torben Ferreira Marcelo 8397 GuB 5.0 5
6 BRA 8210 Adler Alan Almeida Guilherme 8210 RdJ 6.0 6
7 POR 8276 Lima Gustavo Nankin Charles 8276 Por 7.0 7
8 SWE 8387 Loof Fredrik Tillander Johan 8387 Bk 8.0 8
9 NOR 8317 Melleby Eivind Morland Pedersen Petter 8317 Nor 9.0 9
10 CAN 8398 Macdonald Ross Lekszycki Andre 8398 EB 10.0 10
11 BRA 7590 King John A Spear Macpherson Norman 7590 Cop 11.0 11
12 USA 8361 Campbell Andrew Nichol Brad 8361 SDB 12.0 12
13 IRL 8385 Treacy Max Shanks Anthony 8385 Isol 13.0 13
14 GER 8340 Stanjek Robert Stanjek Philipp 8340 BF 14.0 14
15 ARG 7966 Labandeira Julio Thompson Valentin 7966 OL 15.0 15
16 GRE 8138 Papathanasiou Emilios Papastefanou Pachos 8138 GR 16.0 16
17 CRO 8339 Lovrovic Marin Mikulicic Sinisa 8339 Kv 17.0 17
18 ESP 8297 Echavarri Erasum Fernando Rodriguez Rivero Fernando 8297 Lar 18.0 18
19 BRA 8300 FICKER PETER Oliveira Ubiratan 8300 San 19.0 19
20 BRA 8145 Bodra Fabio Barbosa Lopes Arthur 8145 SP 20.0 20
21 BRA 8283 Brun Gastao Kunze Gustavo 8283 RdJ 21.0 21
22 ITA 8155 Poggi Giampiero Corsi Manlio 8155 Rom 22.0 22
23 ITA 8266 Negri Diego Colaninno Fernando 8266 VE 23.0 23
24 GER 8140 Schlonski Alexander Kleen Frithjof 8140 Lub 24.0 24
25 POR 8309 Domingos Afonso Melo Frederico 8309 CP 25.0 25
26 GER 8109 Polgar Johannes Koy Markus 8109 Ess 26.0 26
27 CRO 8280 Lovrovic Dan ARAPOVIC Antonio 8280 Kv 27.0 27
28 BRA 8282 PASCOLATO ALESSANDRO Boening Henry 8282 Gua 28.0 28
29 ARG 8211 Rigoni Alejo Percossi Juan Pablo 8211 BA 29.0 29
30 SUI 8364 Marazzi Flavio De Maria Enrico 8364 TB 30.0 30
31 CAN 8143 Cramer Brian Johnston Matt 8143 WLOC 31.0 31
32 ITA 8400 Santoni Silvio Toccoli Fabio 8400 NG 32.0 32
33 BRA 6475 Mirsky Andre JORDÁO MARCELO 6475 RdJ 33.0 33
34 BRA 8337 Cunha Renato Mascarenhas Marcos 8337 RdJ 34.0 34
35 BRA 8392 GRAEL LARS SEIFERT RONALD 8392 Par 35.0 35
36 USA 8279 Bonanni Claude Burgess Richard 8279 TaB 36.0 36
37 GBR 8025 Gimson John Greig Ed 8025 Sol 37.0 37
38 CHI 7972 Gimeno Pablo Calegari Frederico 7972 Val 38.0 38
39 USA 8067 HORNOS Tomas HORNOS Luis 8067 BH 39.0 39
40 GBR 8396 Razmilovic Ante Hammersley Brian 8396 NB 40.0 40
41 ITA 8384 Celon Nicola Natucci Edoardo 8384 SG 41.0 41
42 ITA 8370 Simeone Luca La Porta Manuele 8370 Rom 42.0 42
43 ITA 8242 Boggi Lucio Lambertenghi Sergio 8242 Gar 43.0 43
44 USA 8267 Mendelblatt Mark Von Schwarz JOhn 8267 TaB 44.0 44
45 BRA 8251 Conrad Reinaldo Pomerantzeff Paulo Andre 8251 San 45.0 45
46 BRA 8391 Gonzaga Neto Admar Figueiredo De Freita Alexandre 8391 Par 46.0 46
47 SRB 7888 Erac Branislav Tosic Ozren 7888 Isol 47.0 47
48 ITA 7556 Fornaro Andrea Tarabella Andrea 7556 LdB 48.0 48
49 USA 8362 Merriman Rick Trinter Phil 8362 LH 49.0 49
50 BRA 8212 Goretkin Sergio Cruz Renato 8212 RdJ 50.0 50
51 ITA 8383 Augelli Marco Rocca Leone 8383 FdiT 51.0 51
52 BRA 8049 Raulino Guilherme LAGOA MARCO 8049 Par 52.0 52
53 GER 8016 Rauch Hubert Schappeler Ingo 8016 And 53.0 53
54 USA 8273 Szabo George Peters Rick 8273 SDB 54.0 54
55 ARG 7909 Perez Jorge Oscar Tufarolo Marcelo 7909 OL 55.0 55
56 AUT 8368 Tomasini Grinover Roberto Bahr Gunnar 8368 AU 56.0 56
57 SUI 8085 Zimmermann Lorenz Hollweg Nils 8085 LUV 57.0 57
58 BRA 8393 Carabelli Horacio Ilha Fernando 8393 RdJ 58.0 58
59 ITA 8382 Irrera Renato Cristaldini Corrado 8382 Pal 59.0 59
60 BRA 8284 Raulino Gabriel Camargo Rosas Juliano 8284 Par 60.0 60
61 ARG 7700 Della Torre Daniel Barroso Julian Gazari 7700 BA 61.0 61
62 BRA 7823 De Almeida Joao Marcos Bunge Manuel 7823 Cop 62.0 62
63 GER 8299 Miller Matthias Wenk Benedikt 8299 UB 63.0 63
64 POR 8048 De Barros Patrick M Plantier Santos Bernardo 8048 FdeL 64.0 64
65 BRA 8287 Almeida Reis Luiz Andre Moura Renato 8287 Par 65.0 65
66 BRA 7772 Siemsen Francisco Floricke Manfredo 7772 Cop 66.0 66
67 FRA 8237 Rohart Xavier Ponsot Pierre Alexis 8237 NI 67.0 67
68 ARG 7777 Della Torre Gerardo Latour Guillermo 7777 BA 68.0 68
69 BRA 7284 Castro Cezar Montezuma Afonso 7284 Par 69.0 69
70 BRA 7441 Bueno Mauricio Zarif Jorge Joao 7441 Gua 70.0 70
71 SUI 8009 Gautschi Christoph Koenig Juerg 8009 Bod 71.0 71
72 BRA 8117 Caruso Bruno Manzoli Bremer Rolf 8117 Gua 72.0 72
73 ITA 7551 Graciotti Vincenzo Cisbani Paolo 7551 Con 74.0 [DNC] 74
2010 Star Worlds
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