Ran takes Onion Patch Series with better Newport Bermuda score

Bella Mente nips NYYC Trophy in Anniversary Regatta Win


Bella Mente and Ran. Image copyright Talbot Wilson.

by Talbot Wilson

Hap Fauth’s Reichel/Pugh 69 Bella Mente took the top individual prize today [Friday] in the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Anniversary Regatta. Fauth (Minneapolis, MN) had a battle on his hands from start to finish in both races with class 1 British rival Ran, a hot JV 72 sailed by Niklas Zennstrom, and from the Newport Bermuda Race St. Davis’s Lighthouse winner Carina sailed by Rives Potts (Westbrook, CT).

Fauth took first place with a 2-1 for a 3 point score, Potts had a 1-3 for 4 points and Zennstrom was third with 3-2 for 5 points. Fauth and crew have won the New York Yacht Club Trophy for the top boat in this 2-race regatta.


Ran and Bella Mente. Image copyright Talbot Wilson.

The RBYC Anniversary Regatta is the third event of the Onion Patch Series. The series began with racing in the 156th New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta presented by Rolex on June 13-14 in Newport Rhode Island, included the Newport Bermuda Race that started June 18th from Newport, and concluded today in a brilliant finish off the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Marina in Hamilton Harbour.

Ran takes Onion Patch Series with better Newport Bermuda score


Rambler (big) and Carina (small). Image copyright Talbot Wilson.

Ran was the individual winner of the Onion Patch Series in results posted today [Friday]. Niklas Zennstrom scored 2-1 in the New York YC Regatta, 10 in the Newport Bermuda Race. and 3-2 in the RBYC Anniversary Regatta for a total of 18 points and wins the Henry B. du Pont Trophy for the best scoring individual yacht participating in the series.

Bella Mente came second with 1-2-13.75-2-1 and was only 1.75 out of 1st place with 19.75 total points. Third place went to Newport’s Clayton Deutsch and his Ker 55 Sforzando with 26.5 total points in the subset of boats entered in the Onion Patch Series.


Bella Mente leads Ran. Image copyright Talbot Wilson.

Five 3-boat teams were formed to compete for the Onion Patch Trophy. Coming first was the New York Yacht club team of Sforzando, Rambler sailed by George David (Hartford. CT) and Bella Mente. The Naval Academy Sailing Squadron... Flirt, Swift and Invictus... came second. The Storm Trysail Club Red Team… Carina, High Noon and Gold Digger... was third.

The Catherine Hollis Memorial Trophy goes to Carina the yacht entered in the Onion Patch Series that had the lowest corrected time in the Newport Bermuda Race.

RBYC

Newport-Bermuda Race: Final Wrap

The Media Editor for the Newport Bermuda Race website looks at the race conditions, lists tactics that worked, introduces some valuable people, and discusses editorial policy


The iBoattrack showing the courses taken by Sinn Fein (yellow), Carina (dark yellow) and Speedboat (orange).

by John Rousmaniere

Doing it right. “That’s the way it should work,” said a sailor who heard about one of these incidents of owner-stimulated reverse redress.

(1) When Scott Bearse saw his Slide Rule listed as Class 4 IRC winner, he advised race chairman Bjorn Johnson that something was wrong, saying, “I sailed a good fourth-place race, not a first-place race.” Scorer Brin Ford found a typo in the rating certificate and Slide Rule slid to third.

(2) Erwin Wanderer was so certain that his Ocean Wanderer 1 finished 33 minutes later than the finish line committee believed that he insisted that the recorded time be changed at the cost of a position in the Double-Handed Division.

Champagne conditions. Rán’s blog had this representative rave: “We have a calm sea and an endless horizon. Nothing else in sight, just blue water, perfect temperature, beautiful sunshine. What else could we ask for?” Adding to the enjoyment was the spectacular wildlife. Navy midshipmen in Invictus counted a tuna, some sharks, many dolphin, lots of Portuguese men of war, and a sea turtle. Other boats saw whales, sometimes in pairs.

Turning point 1. A hole on Day 2 left boats in the middle doing doughnuts while a few crews on the sides found new breeze. Carina improvised a quick escape that navigator Patricia Young must have had in mind when she told Thursday’s Navigator’s Forum, “Carina’s iBoattrack’s movie file looks a great deal more even than what we experienced.” The boat’s navigator for many years of high finishes, Clark is the first woman to win the race’s George W. Mixter Trophy as navigator of the winning boat.

Turning point 2. Did everybody sail in the same Gulf Stream? “We didn’t see as much of a boost as we expected,” said many navigators, yet Aurora carried favorable current for 100 miles. The big boats had easy weather through the Stream, with no need to reef, yet smaller ones had heavy squalls (Rives Potts in Carina counted seven.) No wonder oceanographer Frank Bohlen describes the Stream as “more variable than neatly deterministic.”

Turning point 3. Oceanographer Jenifer Clark hit the nail on the head when she opened her pre-race briefing, “The 2010 Newport Bermuda Race should be a dynamic event this year with respect to ocean currents.” The area between the Stream and the island has acquired the ironic nickname “Happy Valley” because so many dreams of glory have been shattered there. Dorsey Beard of Esmeralde described its currents: “Some from the east, some from the south – but foul every which way.” There was less chaos near the rhumb line.

Swinging for the fences. Generally speaking, east was best. First to finish Speedboat went pretty straight near the rhumb line, as did Carina and Clover III, top boats in the St. David’s and Cruiser Divisions. But one high-finishing boat did a bold end run to the west.

Peter Rebovich early on was faced with a choice: Should Sinn Fein cover the other Cal 40s – Doug Jurrius’ Belle Aurore and Bill LeRoy’s Gone with the Wind? Or should he observe Richard Nye’s “swing for the fences” rule?

A faint heart had not won Pete two straight Bermuda Races. He ventured 50 miles west of the rhumb line and reached down to the finish at 8 knots under his big asymmetrical over a staysail while the boats to the east were under Code Zeros or genoas. Despite half a knot of foul current for the last 90 miles, Sinn Fein ended up second in Class 1 and seventh overall.

To appreciate the options, go to iBoattrack and select boats at Boat Mapper.

Amazing Repair 1. Powering out to the start, Dan Epstein discovered that his Swan 51 Blue’s centerboard cable had snapped. Notifying the race committee that he’d be starting late, he went to Newport Shipyard, where the boat was hauled and the yard owner’s son spliced a new cable. Blue sailed out, crossed the phantom starting line two and a half hours late, and did the race. Said Epstein, “We were definitely the winners.”

Amazing Repair 2. Seven minutes after the start, Snow Lion’s new mainsail blew out, making the sail unusable unless a reef was tied in. Larry Huntington’s crew closed the rip with tape and reinforced the sail by sewing in sail stops radiating out from the clew. Dozens of man hours went into the repair using old-fashioned sailmaker’s needles, waxed twine, and palms (they had two of them because Steve Lirakis always carries a palm in his seabag). Snow Lion ended up second on corrected time in the Gibbs Hill Division.

Band of brothers. Double-handers John Ryan of Bolands Mills and Michael Hennessey of Dragon greeted each other with a warm hug after match-racing for 635 miles.

Editorial policy. Unlike a newspaper or magazine, an online publication can easily influence the event it’s covering. Providing outside assistance that’s not available to others is a violation of Racing Rule 41. After the 75-footer Titan XV exited the Gulf Stream, crew member and website reporter Chris Museler sent us an email passing on navigator Peter Isler’s surprise that there was little southeast set in the Stream. While repeating this tidbit online surely would have entertained armchair tacticians, just as surely this would have been welcomed – and used – by at least some navigators in the 180 boats trailing Titan. So we cut it from the story, and saved it for now.

Newport-Bermuda Race

Take 2 at Trapani for SLAM Kiwi Match

SLAM Kiwi Match training off Trapani. Supplied image.

by Logan Fraser

It's take 2 for SLAM Kiwi Match as the team re-groups in Trapani, Sicily for the next event on the calendar, the Trapani Match Race Cup. A chance for the team to build on a solid start in La Rochelle and also a chance to convert our solid performances into a regatta win.


SLAM Kiwi Match training off Trapani. Supplied image.

The team takes on a slightly different shape this week with Mark Tighe from Ireland joining us and also a local legend from Palermo. Mark brings a wealth of experience with him from big boat inshore and offshore regattas right through to match racing in his CV so is sure to add a lot to the team. Our local bowman John, from Palermo, Sicily will be a great help to the team both on and off the water.


Trapani. Supplied image.

There looks to be a solid field of competitors at this event with teams coming from Australia, Great Britain, Greece, Russia, Slovenia and Italy. This will bring a great international flavour to the event and coupling that with the ability of the Italians to run a well organised regatta it is sure to be a lot of fun. The regatta will be sailed in Zipp 25 keelboats, very similar to the Platu 25's we raced in La Rochelle. This will be helpful for us as we can re-use a lot of the tricks we learnt there to give us a head start here.

SLAM Kiwi Match

Porter’s Full Throttle Takes The Lead In Melges 32s In Newport

Action on board Bronco. Image copyright Joy Dunigan.

by Joy Dunigan

A great, yet fantastically challenging day of racing took place in Newport for the 2010 Layline Oakcliff Northeast Regatta, hosted by Sail Newport. Three races were held revealing John Porter with tactican Jonathan McKee on Full Throttle in first place, Jason Carroll’s Argo is second with John Baxter on tactics, and in third is Jim Swartz and long-time tactician Gavin Brady on Q.

Porter’s Full Throttle poured on the speed right out of the gate. Michael Dominguez on Bronco had a great start putting him out front early to round the windward mark in first. Porter trailed in second followed by John Taylor on Ninkasi. Downwind Dominguez held his own to round through the gate with the breeze dropping off significantly and fast. With a change of course to 000, Porter over took Dominguez for the lead for the shortened race to win.


Hiking hard in Newport. Image copyright Joy Dunigan.

In race two, Q took the lead early with an aggressive pin end start. The really hot contest was between Robert Hughes with tactician Charlie Ogletree on Heartbreaker and Kip Meadows on roXanne with Andy Horton calling the shots. Meadows held on with a strong second position up until the last sprint to the finish. Hughes triumphed staying more center to the course while Meadows struggled with boat speed out on the right. Better pressure put Swartz across in first, Hughes was second and Porter finished third.


Bow work. Image copyright Joy Dunigan.

The last and final race of the day belonged to Jeff Ecklund on STAR. From almost start to finish, Ecklund had a firm grip on the lead, or at least within sight and was determined to hold on for victory. With Bill Hardesty on tactics, STAR rounded second behind Italy’s Carlo Perrone on Atlantica 19 at the first mark. Ecklund eventually overtook Perrone for the win. Perrone settled for second, Hughes took third.

After racing, teams congregated at Celeritas’ Malcolm and Kathy Gefter’s home for snacks, wine and Long Trail Beer. Daily awards were given out to the top teams of the day. Special thanks to Mac Designs and Seahorse Magazine for the cool prizes provided alongside of the classic, overall daily winner bottles of champaign.


Concentration on board. Image copyright Joy Dunigan.

Top Five Results (After 3 Races)
1.) John Porter, Full Throttle; 1-3-4 = 8
2.) Jason Carroll, Argo; 2-4-9 = 15
3.) Jim Swartz, Q; 10-1-6 = 17
4.) Carlo Perrone, Atlantica 19; 7-8-2 = 17
5.) Michael Dominguez, Bronco; 3-7-7 = 17

Melges 32

The Superyacht Cup, Palma, Day 2: Sails of the Unexpected

by Kate Branagh

As always, the wind conditions can be predictable or unpredictable and in the case of Superyacht Cup Day 2, they were both. Everyone bobbed around the committee boat, saying here we go again, with delay after delay and everyone expecting a simple puff of wind, just enough to fill the myriad of sails. But the race officer, even though he was warned of the typical conditions in the Bay of Palma, kept his fingers crossed and an eye of the breeze, to call an ideal start and a shortened course, starting around two-ish when the first boats crossed in front of Tigerlily of Cornwall.

En-route to the first mark, we all fought to keep focused as the breeze played with our minds, saying 10 knots, maybe 12 knots, I’m not sure how much I’m going to blow today. Then after rounding, all in staggered sequence with only one or two over taking each other, on to the second mark all the way across the bay. The island surprised us and delivered a superb gust up to 18 knots, and the fleet started to move, kites went up and smiles were across everyone’s faces. The strengthening breeze kept everyone active and the fleet was really sailing, no one could complain about these perfect conditions. The late afternoon sun was shimmering across the bay and the fleet romped home after the final zig zagged mark, with an almost perfect fleet finish, all within a few boat lengths of each other, the simplest of days became heaven on earth and water.

The Superyacht Cup delivered in bucket loads and the bar chat tonight will be of good sailing and relaxed racing, after all this is not a dangerous race where people feel scared or sail on the edge of technology, but a regatta where families, friends and crew all play together and enjoy what yachts are all about. In defence of the Superyacht Cup, I have to also add that if today’s racing was anything to go by, this is a perfect way for owners to really appreciate life afloat. I had the good fortune of sailing on board SY Tenaz, a family run yacht with everything you would expect, children playing on deck, mum reading the papers and dad at the helm, and at the end of the day, he thrust his arms in the air with triumphant shout, yes we came 6th, thanks gang he added, and then he, his children and the crew all laid the fenders ready and started to wash down, it truly was all hands on deck, and a true representation of what this event is all about. Good clean racing fun. Lets hope for more of the same tomorrow.

Superyacht Cup Palma

Kieler Woche: Perfect Conditions for Sailing!

Kiwi Greg Wilcox, a former World Champion, leads at the end of the first day of racing in the OKs at Kieler Woche 2010


Contender racing at Kieler Woche 2010, © segel-bilder.de /Christian Beeck.

by Hermann Hell

Sail as much as you can was the motto for the fourteen intrnational classes when perfect sailing conditions came back to Kiel. Up to four races for the 750 teams get to day into their results. Christopher McLaughlin (GBR) and crew took the lead in J24 with three wins and a six place discard. As well in the 29er Mads Emil Lübeck / Christian Peter Lübeck (USA) could win three races and now leading the fifty boat strong fleet.

420: 1. Damien Brenac / Julien Lacaze (FRA) 2,2,3,7; 2. Chuan Yang Ko / Andrew Paul Chan (SIN) 5,1,3,9; 3. Cassandre Blandin / Marion Leprunier (FRA) 2,2,5,9; 4. Jordi Xammar Hernandez / Joan Herp (ESP) 5,4,1,10; 5. Justin Liu / Sherman Cheng (SIN) 8,1,2,11; 6. Joanna Freeman / Hannah Mitchell (GBR) 3,1,9,13.

OK-dinghy: 1. Greg Wilcox (NZL) 4,1,11,1,17; 2. Rakocy Bartosz (POL) 1,6,1,10,18; 3. Oliver Gronholz (Bad Segeberg) 6,3,2,11,22; 4. Jørgen Holm (DEN) 9,2,9,3,23; 5. Tim Goodbody (IRL) 2,13,4,5,24; 6. Andreas Pich (Travemünde) 14,4,12,4,34.

Europe: 1. Sylvain Notonier (FRA) 1,3,2,4,10; 2. Anna Livbjerg (DEN) 3,1,3,3,10; 3. Stine Paeper (Hamburg) 2,8,1,2,13; 4. David Kölby (SWE) 3,5,3,7,18; 5. Tobias Hemdorff (DEN) 1,4,5,13,23; 6. Kaczmarek Marek (POL) 7,5,8,6,26.

Folkboat: 1. Per Jørgensen / Kjeld Skov / Kristian Hansen (DEN) 9,9,2,2,22; 2. Christian Thomsen / Claus Schou / Henrik Holk (DEN) 1,2,7,14,24; 3. Ulf Kipcke / Gero Martens / Dieter Kipcke (Neumünster) 7,6,5,8,26; 4. Per Buch / Per Puck / Hans Schultz (DEN) 16,5,1,6,28; 5. Dirk Rohrbeck / Uwe Grigull / Sylvia Lienau (Mönkeberg) 2,14,8,9,33; 6. Uwe Pfuhl / Jens Callsen / Siegfried Busse (Laboe) 3,7,9,16,35.

Platu25: 1. Martin Sigrist / Luca Gerig / Matthias Bosshart / Benjamin Dierauer / Simon Brügger / Markus Sigrist (SUI) 2,4,1,2,(9),9; 2. Daniel Nauck / Daniel Nauck / Thorben Nowak / Frank Barownick / Steve Bärtle / Thomas Piesker (Berlin) 10,(11),3,1,1,15; 3. André Teutenberg / Jan-Pit Teutenberg / Jens Wehrenbrecht / Lars Teutenberg / Sven Wehrenbrecht (Dortmund) (8),2,2,6,5,15; 4. Jens Ahlgrimm / Enrico Taeufer / Carsten Wernecke / Mathias Gedrange / Stephan Moelle (Niederstotzingen) 3,7,(13),4,3,17; 5. Ingo Lochmann / Jens Steinborn / Max Rieger / Matthias Krüger / Christian Maedel (Berlin) 1,1,(14),12,10,24; 6. Suzanne Willim / Jasmin Rupprich / Catrin Wegner / Wibke Bülle / Eva Steinijans / Charlotte Jaekel (Goltoft) 4,9,9,(10),2,24.

J24: 1. Christopher McLaughlin / Julia Scott / Chris McLaughlin / Michael Kyte / Andy McLelland / Ian Southworth (GBR) 1,1,2,(6),1,5; 2. Matthias Garzmann / Michael Skotzki / Benjamin Voigt / Roland Böhm / Thorsten Glabisch (Hamburg) (11),4,1,1,8,14; 3. Peer Kock / Valentin Zeller / Marc-Daniel Mählmann / Ole Hicken / Hannes Pagel (Hamburg) 5,2,3,4,(13),14; 4. Kai Mares / Justus Kellner / Tobias Peters / Tim Becker / Jan-Marc Ulrich (Dänischenhagen) 2,7,(15),5,4,18; 5. Per-Håkan Persson / Baltzar Weinhagen / Marie Ståhlbrand / Monica Persson / Peter Nielsen (SWE) (15),3,10,2,11,26; 6. Stefan Karsunke / Andrea Körner / Tim Habekost / Jonathan Huth / Malte Gibbe (Hamburg) 6,10,(12), 9,2,27.

Hobie 16: 1. Detlef Mohr / Karen Wichardt (Reinfeld) 2,1,3,6; 2. Wee Chin Teo / Justin Wong (SIN) 1,2,4,7; 3. Wen Chun Low / Jonathan Russel Chew (SIN) 4,3,1,8; 4. Jens Goritz / Katrin Wiese-Dohse (Wyk/Föhr) 3,4,2,9; 5. Knud Jansen / Anke Delius (Kiel) 5,6,5,16; 6. Georg Backes / Joshua Schütze (Kiel) 7,11,7,25.

505: 1. Dr.Wolfgang Hunger / Julien Kleiner (Strande) 1,1,2,4; 2. Jan Saugmann / Morten Ramsbæk (DEN) 6,6,1,13; 3. Meike Schomäker / Holger Jess (Kiel) 8,3,3,14; 4. goerge martin / goerge rainer (kiel) 3,12,8,23; 5. Stefan Böhm / Roos Gerald (Hürth) 4,14,5,23; 6. Jacob Bojsen-Møller / Jørgen Bojsen-Møller (DEN) 5,4,15,24.

FD: 1. Szabolcs Majthenyi / András Domokos (HUN) 2,1,1,4; 2. Kilian König / Johannes Brack (Waldeck-Scheid) 1,2,4,7; 3. Bas van der Pol / Marc van der Pol (NED) 3,3,2,8; 4. Harold Wijgers / Niels Kamphuis (NED) 4,4,3,11; 5. Martin Krings / Joachim Brodda (Hamburg) 10,7,5,22; 6. Christoph Aichholzer / Philipp Zingerle (AUT) 6,10,6,22.

H-Boats: 1. Mads P.G. Korsgaard / Anders Rydlöv / Uffe Dreiser (DEN) 1,1,1,3; 2. Kent Dalsbo / Michael Damborg / Claus Berno (DEN) 5,11,3,19; 3. Jesper Dietz / Torben Henriksen / Jakob Hansen (DEN) 6,6,7,19; 4. Morten Reinhold / Kim Fremlev Larsen / Chr. Milert Hansen (DEN) 3,12,6,21; 5. Jörg Dr.Thoben / Ole Jensen / Dirk Thoben (Fahrdorf) 8,4,9,21; 6. Per Hovmark / Søren Bredal / Bertelsen Anders (DEN) 12,8,2,22.

Dragon: 1. Jesper Bendix / Jesper Baungaard / Lars Christensen (DEN) 1,1,6,8; 2. Ben van Cauwenbergh / Yves Bassette / Manu Hens (BEL) 2,5,3,10; 3. Mitja Meyer / Zino Soyka / Miklas Meyer (Hamburg) 5,2,8,15; 4. Tim Ladehof / Arne Brügge / Tim Jesse (Hamburg) 8,7,1,16; 5. Ulli Libor / Pontoppidan Dines / Uwe Mares (Hamburg) 4,10,2,16; 6. Thomas Müller / Mario Wagner / Tom Robin Müller (Zug) 6,6,5,17.

Formula18: 1. Helge Sach / Christian Sach (Zarnekau) 1,2,1,4; 2. Jörg Gosche / Hannes Pegel (Bremen) 2,1,2,5; 3. Eckart Kaphengst / Söncke Kühl (Kiel) 4,7,3,14; 4. Frank Rübling / Martin Bach (Oststeinbek) 3,10,4,17; 5. Horst Fock / Nathan Wolf (Oststeinbek) 10,4,5,19; 6. Sven Lindstädt / Philip Boll (Norderstedt) 6,5,8,19.

Kielzugvogel: 1. Herbert Kujan / Christian Kujan (Marktoberdorf) 3,4,2,9; 2. Alexander Antrecht / Antrecht Klaus (Neustadt) 7,3,1,11; 3. Jens Liebheim / Thomas Kindermann (Essen) 11,1,4,16; 4. Fischer Axel / Martina Stemmer (Stuttgart) 5,8,5,18; 5. Wolfgang Emrich / Klaus Ebbinghaus (Geltendorf) 8,12,3,23; 6. Michael Hotho / Uwe Lätzsch (Wunstorf) 18,7,7,32.

29er: 1. Mads Emil Lübeck / Christian Peter Lübeck (USA) 2,(6),1,1,1,5; 2. Fizulic Domagoj / Basic Tomislav (CRO) 2,2,2,(3),1,7; 3. Justus Schmidt / Max Boehme (Schönwalde) 1,3,3,1,(4),8; 4. Jule Goerge / Lotta Goerge (Kiel) 1,(25),2,4,5,12; 5. Vera Maag / Bärbel Maag (Albstadt) 3,2,5,2,(14),12; 6. Christian Kirketerp / Mathias Sletten (DEN) 4,7,1,2,(16),14.

Contender: 1. Bjarke B. Johnsen (DEN) 4,2,7,2,15; 2. Sören Andreasen (DEN) 3,9,5,1,18; 3. Jacob Lunding (DEN) 10,1,3,6,20; 4. Michele Benvenuti (ITL) 1,6,12,4,23; 5. Jan von der Bank (Eutin) 2,11,14,3,30; 6. Karsten Kraus (Schwedeneck) 7,7,10,11,35.

Kieler Woche

Nerone On Form in Farr 40s in Porto Cervo

Farr 40s off Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Supplied image.

by Jill Campbell

The ten crews competing in this first leg of the Farr 40 European Circuit got in their first race in light and shifty conditions today. Massimo Mezzaroma’s Nerone, with Vasco Vascotto calling tactics, dominated from the off and rounded the first leeward mark ahead of Fiamma, with tactician Ray Davies, and Plenty, owned by Alexander Roepers following. Nerone, fresh from winning the class World Championship in April of this year, held her lead to the finsh line while Fiamma lost ground, leaving Plenty in second place and Enfant Terrible, with Pietro D’Alì aboard, in third.

Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow, Saturday 26th, at 12 midday with 6 to 8 knots of east south-easterly breeze predicted. The Race Committee will hold as many races as possible.

YCCS

Italians Dominate at Audi Invitational Melges 32

Torpyone. Image copyright Guido Trombetta/B Plan.

by Jill Campbell

Racing got underway today in the Audi Invitational Melges 32 regatta with racing held in 5 – 8 knots of shifty breeze. The event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda from 25th to 27th June, sees the participating crews compete both for the Audi Invitational Trophy and the third leg of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series 2010.


Image copyright Guido Trombetta/B Plan.

Today’s light conditions meant that the fleet only managed to complete one windward-leeward race which was started in 5-6 knots of breeze from 010° on schedule at 12 midday. An early leader and first around the leeward mark was Edoardo Lupi’s Torpyone with Branko Brcin calling tactics. Torpyone was followed by Carlo Alberini’s Calvi Network, B Lin Sailng.com and Brontolo. Torpyone held her lead right to the finish while Calvi Network lost ground to finish fifth. B Lin Sailing.com took second place ahead of Filippo Pacinotti’s Brontolo in third leaving the top of the leader board dominated by Italian teams.


Fleet downwind. Image copyright Guido Trombetta/B Plan.

The Audi Invitational, now in its seventh edition, will be disputed tomorrow in a one-off, out of circuit race where each boat will have a national celebrity as a “sailor for a day” guest. Racing will then continue for the series with the YCCS Race Committee looking to fit in the maximum of three races permitted daily in accordance with the rules of the regatta.


Image copyright Guido Trombetta/B Plan.

This evening title sponsor Audi has invited owners, crews and VIP guests to a gala dinner at the YCCS Clubhouse.

Racing is scheduled to continue tomorrow, Saturday 26th, at 12 midday with 6 to 8 knots of east south easterly breeze predicted.

YCCS

Tour de France à la Voile: Information about the Racing

* Start of the Tour de France à la Voile 2010 tomorrow
* Skippers briefing this evening at 1800
* The Tour de France à la Voile virtual race game will again be available on the internet

* Lancement demain du Tour de France à la Voile 2010
* Briefing des skippers ce soir à 18 heures
* Le TFV virtuel de nouveau proposé aux internautes

by Fabienne Morin (in translation by SailRaceWin)

Evidently people are looking forward to the start! The Tour de France à la Voile starts tomorrow (Saturday) at 10:30 with training and a practice race. But, for the moment, the Farr 30s are moored in front of the quai des Hollandais in Dunkerque and the 28 teams are occupied with sorting the last details.

Some teams have been at sea for some hours; others stayed on land to tie things up, mark the shrouds and give the boat a final clean. Measurements, briefings and do-it-yourself: this is the price of a month of racing to come! And the very beautiful weather on the Opal Coast makes the preparations easier.

What is most surprising is to hear the languages spoken in every corner of the pontoons. Americans (Groovederci), Omanis (Oman Sail), Swiss (Ville de Genève – Carrefour Prévention, Bienne Voile – SRS I and SRS II), Belgian (Région de Bruxelles – Capitale), or Dutch (TU Delft, Brunel and Mummaduck): there are nine foreign participants. A third of the fleet! This is good proof of the international interest surrounding this annual event.

And for the internet surfers, Virtual Regatta has the virtual Tour de France à la Voile for the second year running. Three stages: Dunkerque - Lorient, Lorient - Port Camargue (passing through Gibraltar) and Port Camargue - La Seyne sur Mer (passing Corsica). An information race which permits each player to race his own TFV in a Farr 30. To sign up and participate - free! - all that is necessary is to click on the link on the right-hand side at the bottom of the welcome page of www.tourvoile.fr More than 11,000 skippers have already signed up, and the start will be on Monday 28th June at 1500 hours. Watch out for the amateurs!

They said:

Frédéric de Watrigant, Director of the Tour de France à la Voile:
"It is a good year! We have 28 boats at the start and the teams present are extremely competitive. There are new people and that is good to see - the Omanis, the Americans,... In my opinion, they will give a nudge to the traditional top people in the discipline, such as Daniel Souben or Jimmy Pahun. That will make for a good fight!

Deneen Demourkas, skipper and helm of Groovederci:
"It is beautiful weather - I would not think that we are in Dunkerque! It is very different from that we had when we last participated in the TFV, in 2004. We are almost ready - 2 hours' work, perhaps - and will try to get out to sea today. What am I expecting of this 2010 edition? I want to have fun! I love sailing and it is for that reason that I am here."

Antoine Guillou, helm of Brest Grandes Ecoles:
"We have trained since January, but not since our arrival in Dunkerque. We shall wait until tomorrow to go on the water! We are studying the list of those entered. It will be hard, very tight, but we really want a podium position. Our strong points? Cohesion, because we are all in the same three schools. We have known each other for two years."

Gosse de Boer, helmsman and boat captain of TU Delft:
"The first part of our team arrived on Monday at lunchtime; they made camp and put the boat in the water. We put the mast up on Tuesday. Wednesday, we made adjustments, and the rest of the team arrived yesterday and today. Only the last details remain - mark-ups and electronics... We are certainly ready! Our objective? The podium. We were second last year, our team remains the same, and we have had a an even better early part of the season. We will do our best and we will see what will happen!"

Tomorrow's programme:
0830 : leave the pontoon
1030 : training and practice race to follow
1730 : return to the pontoon
1800 : prizegiving

In French:

Evidemment, on a hâte que ça démarre ! Le Tour de France à la Voile commence demain à 10 heures 30, avec un entrainement suivi d’un prologue. Mais pour le moment, les Farr 30 sont amarrés devant le quai des Hollandais de Dunkerque et les 28 équipages s’occupent de régler les derniers détails.

Certaines équipes sont sorties quelques heures en mer ; d’autres sont restées à terre pour poser les autocollants, marquer les écoutes et donner un dernier coup de propre. Contrôles de jauge, briefings et bricolages : c’est le prix du mois de régate à venir ! Et le grand beau temps qui s’attarde sur la Côte d’Opale facilite ces préparatifs.

Ce qui surprend le plus, c’est d’entendre parler toutes les langues dans chaque coin de ponton. Américains (Groovederci), Omanais (Oman Sail), Suisses (Ville de Genève – Carrefour Prévention, Bienne Voile – SRS I et SRS II), Belges (Région de Bruxelles – Capitale) ou Hollandais (TU Delft, Brunel et Mummaduck) : ils sont neuf concurrents étrangers. Soit un tiers de la flotte ! Jolie preuve de l’engouement international autour de l’épreuve estivale.

Et pour les internautes, Virtual Regatta propose de disputer un Tour de France à la Voile virtuel pour la deuxième année consécutive. Trois étapes : Dunkerque – Lorient, Lorient – Port Camargue (en passant par Gibraltar) et Port Camargue – La Seyne sur Mer (en passant par la Corse). Une course informatique qui permet à chacun de disputer son propre TFV en Farr 30. Pour s’inscrire et pour participer – gratuitement ! -, il suffit de cliquer sur le lien en bas, à droite de la page d’accueil du site officiel, www.tourvoile.fr. Plus de 11 000 skippers ont déjà répondu présents, et le départ est prévu lundi 28 juin à 15 heures. Avis aux amateurs !

Ils ont dit :

Frédéric de Watrigant, directeur du Tour de France à la Voile :
« C’est une belle année qui s’annonce ! Nous avons 28 bateaux au départ et les forces en présence sont extrêmement compétitives. De nouvelles têtes arrivent et ça fait plaisir à voir – les Omanais, les Américains, ... A mon avis, ils vont donner du fil à retordre aux ténors de la discipline que sont Daniel Souben ou Jimmy Pahun. Ca va être une belle bagarre ! »

Deneen Demourkas, skipper et barreuse de Groovederci :
« Il fait très beau – je n’arrive pas à croire que nous sommes à Dunkerque ! C’est très différent de ce que nous avons pu voir la dernière fois que nous avons participé au TFV, en 2004. Nous sommes quasiment prêts – deux heures de travail peut-être – et allons essayer de sortir en mer aujourd’hui. Ce que j’attends de cette édition 2010 ? Je veux m’amuser ! J’adore naviguer et c’est pour ça que je suis là. »

Antoine Guillou, barreur de Brest Grandes Ecoles :
« Nous nous sommes entrainés depuis janvier, mais pas depuis notre arrivée à Dunkerque. Nous attendons demain pour aller sur l’eau ! Nous visons le classement étudiant. Ce sera dur, car très serré, mais nous voulons vraiment faire un podium. Nos points forts ? La cohésion, car nous sommes tous dans les trois mêmes écoles. Depuis deux ans, nous nous connaissons tous. »

Gosse de Boer, barreur et préparateur de TU Delft :
« La première partie de notre équipe est arrivée lundi midi ; ils ont monté le camp et mis le bateau à l’eau. Nous avons mâté mardi. Mercredi, réglages, et arrivée du reste de l’équipe hier et aujourd’hui. Il ne nous reste que les derniers détails – marquage, électronique, … Nous sommes plutôt prêts ! Notre objectif ? Le podium. Nous étions deuxièmes l’an dernier, notre équipe est toujours la même et nous avons fait une bien meilleure avant saison. L’équipage est soudé - nous nous apprécions vraiment. Nous allons faire notre maximum et nous verrons bien comment ça se passera ! »

Au programme demain :
8h30 : départ ponton
10h30 : entrainement et course prologue à suivre
17h30 : retour au ponton
18h00 : remise des prix

Tour de France à la Voile

America's Cup: TEAMORIGIN Comment on Draft Protocol

by Leslie Greenhalgh

Grant Simmer, CEO of TEAMORIGIN, commented on the draft Protocol document for the 34th America's Cup:

"We are very pleased to have received the draft form of the Protocol for the 34th America’s Cup last night. It is a very detailed document and so will take us some days to digest and discuss internally. TEAMORIGIN very much wants to be involved in the process of moving this draft forward into a final Protocol document by the 31st August 2010 and therefore we will collate our thoughts and feedback over the next week and input our comments. The document has been based in some areas on the AC32 Protocol, with some new additions. We do have some concerns but will voice them directly to GGYC. We are very encouraged to see that GGYC and Club Nautico di Roma are keen to empower and include the future potential challengers in this process as we move forward."

TEAMORIGIN
America's Cup

Extreme 40 Worlds, Portoroz, Slovenia - Video Preview

Extreme 40 Worlds, Portoroz, Slovenia, 12-18 July 2010



Extreme 40

WMRT: SM40 Race Boats for Cup Style Action

The fleet of SM40s at Portimao Portugal Match Cup 2010. World Match Racing Tour. Portimao, Portugal. 23 June 2010. Image copyright Gareth Cooke/Subzero Images.

by Cailah Leask

The 4th leg of the Tour has a fleet of Swedish Match 40 race boats which are a real favourite with the teams. Designed by Pelle Petterson, creator of the America’s Cup challenger ‘Sverige’, these 40 footers bear a striking resemblance to a Cup Class sloop with their slab sided, narrow style and large sail plan.

Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team who won Portugal Match Cup last year understands the importance of using yachts that are customised to the specific racing discipline, "The Swedish Match 40 was designed for match racing, it's sort of a miniature AC boat".

The cockpit is wide open and runs nearly half the length of the boat. Crews find this model particularly physically demanding so fitness training is critical before this event.

Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra is also a fan of the SM40 race boats at Portimão, “They are well maintained and in good shape, very different to the Korean boats and much heavier, we know them from the past”.

The SM40s provide sufficient performance to be interesting to both spectators and sailors alike, but at the same time are easily maintained and inexpensive to build. This is a perfect balance for the industry authority on premium match racing.

Portimao Portugal Match Cup
World Match Racing Tour

First Extreme Sailing Series 2010 Programme Broadcast

First day of racing in Sète. Image copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events.

by Emily Caroe

One event down, four to go until the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series Champions will be crowned in Almería, Andalucía, Spain, but for those that didn't manage to join the crowds in their thousands in Sète, France for the opening event of the 2010 circuit, they can watch all the action on Bloomberg TV across Europe this weekend, and on Dahlia Sport in Italy. The programme will also be shown in New Zealand at a later date, on Sky Sports.

At 1530 (local) on 26 June (repeated at same time on the 27th) across Europe including UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany, Bloomberg TV will broadcast the first of five programmes about the 2010 circuit. Dahlia Sport in Italy will broadcast at 1925 (local) on 26 June, repeated on the 30th at 2230.

Produced by Sunset&Vine|APP, the programme features all the on-water action which saw Yann Guichard's Groupe Edmond de Rothschild win the opening event in definite style with one race to spare. A behind the scenes look at the two teams from Oman Sail reveals that despite being the closest of rivals on the water, they share tactics and experience in joint-coaching sessions off the water and how the removal of multihulls from the Olympics has benefitted Mike Golding's Ecover Sailing Team.


Extreme 40 masts, Extreme Sailing Series 2010, Sète. Image copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events.

The 25 minute programme will be broadcast internationally across 24 networks, reaching 120 countries in 13 languages. The five-part series will be aired on channels including Sky Sports (UK, New Zealand, Ireland), Sport + (France), Fox Sports (Australia), CNBC (pan-Europe) and Al Jazeera (Middle East) as well as in-flight onboard five airlines including Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa.

Extreme Sailing Series Europe

Superyacht Cup Day 1, Palma 2010: Over the Moon

By Norma Trease

Day 1 of The Superyacht Cup Palma 2010 dawned clear, bright and ominously still. Nevertheless, the diverse fleet, which features this year many yachts familiar to superyacht racing fans, representing yacht builders worldwide, including Holland Yachtbouw Shamoun, Fitzroy’s Salperton IV, Royal Huisman Gliss, Wally Saudade, and of course, the unmistakable Maltese Falcon, built by Perini Navi, joined by her baby sister, P2, left the port before mid-day, hoping for the usual daily afternoon breeze to kick in. Yet in the end, the Wind Gods did not disappoint, so with only a short delay, the racing kicked off at 13:30, as Drumfire led the fleet with a clean start.

It was a long day on the course, with all of the yachts bringing home their tired sailors long after cocktail hour should have started, yet once again, Jim Teeters proved he’s at the top of his personal game, with finishes for the fleet of 21 yachts coming in within only a sixty-three minute gap. The race was called by SYC’s newest star, the well-known American sailor Peter Craig, who took to the airwaves as professional Race Officer, having participated in the SYC 2007 onboard Meteor.

The story of the day was Castro designed, Jongert built Scorpione dei Mari, a veteran of many large yacht races worldwide, whose expert crew onboard cumulatively boasted a phenomenal fifty Superyacht Cup races. Proving that experience does apparently count, Scorpione bit into her first ever race win, coming in a few minutes ahead of Anny, and taking First Place in both Cruising Class as well as the top spot overall. Her elated owners Kim and Shirley Schindelhayer commented that for him, “it finally all came out right!”

The entire crew of Scorpione dei Mari, clad in their distinctive acid-green shirts augmented by a variety of Cowboy and Indian paraphernalia, joined the large group of fellow Superyacht Cup racers, sponsors and press to celebrate long into the night with The Yacht Report Group and MTN Satellite Communications sponsored Western-themed barbecue, which was enjoyed by one and all. Once again, the newest location of the SYC Palma proved a roaring success, as cowboys and cowgirls, sherrifs and indians danced up a storm under the tent, illuminated by bright moonlight.

The SuperYacht Cup

Melges 32 and Farr 40 Fleets Ready to Race in Porto Cervo

by Jill Campbell

All is set in Porto Cervo for the start of racing tomorrow in two events being organized simultaneously by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS). Sixteen Melges 32 craft will compete in the Audi Invitational Melges 32 regatta from 25th to 27th June while ten Farr 40s will be racing in a leg of the Farr 40 European Circuit on the same dates - and on the same regatta course - off the north eastern coast of Sardinia. Both fleets return to Porto Cervo and the YCCS after having disputed their respective world championships there in 2009.

Audi Invitational Melges 32. Racing is scheduled to begin at 12 midday tomorrow in this penultimate leg of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series. The majority of the fleet is Italian but the Czech Republic, Germany, Monaco, Netherlands and the United Kingdom are also represented. Italian competitors include Lanfranco Cirillo’s Fantasticaaa and Luca Lalli’s B Lin Sailing.com, currently placed first and second respectively in the 2010 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series classification. Saturday 26th June will see national celebrities from the world of sport and television as guests aboard the boats in a race which will decide the winner of the Audi Invitational Trophy before racing continues for the series. As is traditional in events organized by the YCCS in collaboration with title sponsor Audi, a rich social programme will complement the sporting schedule. Owners and crews will enjoy a welcome cocktail at the Clubhouse following the Skippers’ Briefing and a gala dinner on the YCCS Pool Terrace tomorrow in addition to daily after race refreshments in the Piazza Azzurra. The final prize giving will take place on Sunday 27th June at 6 p.m.

Farr 40 European Circuit. The Farr 40 fleet has been competing for over ten years and the crews competing in Porto Cervo this weekend boast some top-class yachtsmen such as round the world sailor Pietro D’Alì aboard Enfant Terrible and match racer Chris Larson aboard Plenty. The first starting signal for this class is also scheduled for 12 midday and the YCCS Race Committee will hold as many races as possible each day up to a maximum of eight for the series. The prize giving for the Farr 40 European Circuit is scheduled to take place on Sunday 27th June at 6 p.m.

Yacht Club Costa Smeralda

WMRT: BlackMatch still on top at Portimao Portugal Match Cup

Adam Minoprio on day 1 of Portimao Portugal Match Cup 2010. World Match Racing Tour. Portimao, Portugal. 23 June 2010. Image copyright Gareth Cooke/Subzero Images.

by David Swete

Following a long day off the water waiting for the evening seabreeze to roll in, BlackMatch were only involved in one race and managed to take a win over the Russian Synergy Team, maintaining our unbeaten record here in Portugal.

We are currently at the top of the table and with the event now pushed for time, an added incentive for holding on to the top position is the fact that the top qualifier will proceed directly to the semi final, while only 6 other teams left to fight it out in a shortenened quarterfinal.

BlackMatch would like to thank their sponsors FedEx Express and Events Clothing/Line 7 New Zealand. We would also like to thank our new sponsor Steinlager Pure and Emirates Team New Zealand, as without their support we would not have this opportunity.

BlackMatch Racing
World Match Racing Tour

WMRT: YANMAR Racing - onwards and upwards

by Rob Kothe

A good result after a long day of waiting for YANMAR Racing.

Australian Peter Gilmour and his YANMAR Racing team consisting of Cameron Dunn, Thierry Douillard, Yasuhiro Yaji and Kazuhiko Sofuku today sailed just one race today in this fourth event on the 2010 ISAF World Match Racing circuit.

It was 19:42 and there was a sharp sea breeze gusting to 16 knots as YANMAR Racing went into the starting box against Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar.

Williams was still chasing Gilmour back towards the line as the gun fired; Gilmour started well in control.

After four quick tacks Gilmour held on port and headed for the beach and the right-hand side of the course. On the first cross Gilmour was well ahead and YANMAR Racing rounded the top mark comfortably ahead of Williams.

At the bottom of the run YANMAR Racing took the right hand mark and headed back towards the beach. At the top mark for the final time, they were almost ten lengths ahead of the British crew and crossed the line for an important win, just on 20:00 local time.

Peter Gilmour was smiling. 'A good match for us this evening. Our bowman Fuku (Kazuhiko Sofuku) did an excellent job with the timing and we were right on the button.

'Cameron (Dunn) sent us to the right where there was more pressure and next time we crossed we were five lengths ahead and it was game over.

'We started late, but we had good sailing conditions with that firm sea breeze. These Swedish Match 40 boats are very demanding on crew work but reward good sailing, you need to keep them thumping along.

'We are doing reasonably but there is a fair way to go. We just need to get through to quarter final stage and onwards and upwards from there.

'Right now the boys are ecstatic with Japan's 3-1 football win against Denmark, as that puts them into the World Cup round of 16.'

Day 2: Current Round Robin Standings

Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 4-0
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 4-1
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 3-1
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing *3-1
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 3-2
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra *3-2
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge *2-3
Manuel Weiller (ESP) Team Iberdrola 2-3
Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 1-3
Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team 1-3
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 1-4
Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS) Team Synergy 0-4

* Deducted 0.5 point for damage

YANMAR Racing
World Match Racing Tour

WMRT: Mirksy Racing Team Undefeated on Day 2 in Portugal

by Kinley Fowler

After waiting patiently for the wind to settle in, MRT’s dominant form shone through going through the day undefeated.

Once again racing was delayed as the seabreeze couldn’t settle in, and the teams were left to soak up the sun in this picture perfect arena.

The racing wasn’t quite so easy however, with Team Azzura’s Francesco Bruni looking to draw the day’s first blood. Both teams were pushing to the limits to get the advantage off the line, and finding some speed, MRT managed to force Azzura to tack off to the unfavoured side, and with this slight advantage the Australian’s managed to lead through to the finish.

The final race of the day saw a rematch of the Korea Match Cup semi finals with MRT seeking revenge on the French Match Racing Team, lead by Mathieu Richard. A feisty prestart saw MRT lead marginally off the line after a daring stunt by skipper Torvar Mirsky got them in front.

“It was pretty touch and go as to whether we were going to fit in the small gap between Richard’s boat and the committee boat, but luck was on our side and the boys did a pretty good job to get us up to speed without getting a penalty” said Torvar Mirsky after the day’s racing came to a close.

“We were really happy with our last race against Richard, but also the whole day. We are sailing well, but I still think we have some room for improvement.”

Mirsky Racing Team
World Match Racing Tour

WMRT: Day Two Portimão Portugal Match Cup Race Report

Mathieu Richard (FRA) leads Manuel Weiller (ESP). Image copyright Subzero Images.

by Cailah Leask

Day Two at Portimão brought yet more sun and an afternoon wind stabilising later than yesterday, which again swung right into position from the West and generated some waves for the sea sailors amongst the fleet. The race course has changed the fortunes of some of the top runners with surprising scenarios playing out. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team lost 2 matches in a row and now sits at 3-2, with Francesco Bruni (ITA) also finishing on 3-2 having been beaten by Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge with Bruni having a half point deducted after a collision that resulted in damage. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team and Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, the youngest Tour seeds, sit in the most comfortable positions at 4-1 and 4-0 respectively. Minoprio is still the only unbeaten skipper in Stage 4’s Round Robin.

Richard commented on his couple of losses, “We are still at the beginning of the regatta, we take it match after match. Today we were waiting a long time to get out racing, we had a good first match against Manuel Weiller (ESP) Team Iberdrola and after that we had two bad starts with a big timing mistake in the match against Bruni. With Mirsky we had a problem with a sheet, basically we gave it to him. It’s difficult to then come back and not make any more mistakes, that’s the game of match racing. One mistake is enough to change a match especially if your competitor is sailing well, but at the moment there is still everything to play for.”


Maguns Holmberg (SWE), crewed by the Kiwis from Waka Racing, ahead of Francesco Bruni (ITA), at the Portimao Portugal Match Cup. Image copyright Subzero Images.

Bruni was not impressed with his performance, lamenting after a long day, “We lost 2 and we won 1 against Richard, but we also get half a point taken off. There was a collision with Holmberg which was the most disappointing match, we didn’t have a good start but we kept close to them right up to the last mark, almost bow to bow. There was a first penalty on us but we only just touched and then moments later we had a second contact between our bow and their stern, it felt soft, but apparently there is 3 hours of work required to repair the damage so we have the half point taken off.”


Francesco Bruni and his Azzurra team in Portugal. Image copyright Subzero Images.

Day three will provide plenty of sporting stimulus to the Poritmão region with Portugal due to play Brazil in the Football World Cup and the final stages of the Round Robin putting further pressure on all entries to make the cut through to the Quarters.

Day 2: Current Round Robin Standings

Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 4-0
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 4-1
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 3-1
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing* 3-1
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 3-2
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra* 3-2
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge* 2-3
Manuel Weiller (ESP) Team Iberdrola 2-3
Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 1-3
Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team 1-3
Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 1-4
Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS) Team Synergy 0-4

* Deducted 0.5 point for damage

Portimao Portugal Match Cup
World Match Racing Tour

Cowes Week: Artemis Investment Management on board for Cowes Week 2010

by Michelle Warner

Cowes Week Limited (CWL) is delighted to announce that Artemis Investment Management, one of the UK's leading investment companies with a strong association with Cowes Week over the years, has signed a major boat branding sponsorship package for Cowes Week 2010. The Artemis logo will appear on the bows of the Cowes Week competing boats, providing the company with significant brand exposure at the world’s best-known sailing regatta. This new deal is part of Artemis’ wider new commitment to British sailing that has just been announced, and the new source of investment in Cowes Week benefits everyone competing this year by ensuring that entry fees are maintained at 2009 levels.

Speaking about Artemis’ involvement with Cowes Week, CEO Mark Tyndall commented: “Artemis has been backing British sailing since 2006 and this new commitment to Cowes Week demonstrates Artemis’ desire to support British sailing from the grass roots upwards, including non-professionals and professionals in the sport. Cowes Week is a great regatta that brings together people who enjoy club-racing at the weekends with the pros who race for a living. The atmosphere both on and off the water is fantastic and Artemis has utilised the event for many years as part of its corporate hospitality programme, and this year is no exception.”

In a further commitment to Cowes Week 2010, Artemis will again be sponsoring the sensational Cowes Week Red Arrows display which has become a regular fixture at the event in recent years: “The Red Arrows display on the final Friday of Cowes Week has been one of the shore-side highlights in recent years, not only for the sailors but also the thousands of spectators who come to enjoy the atmosphere, and we didn’t want to see it disappear,” said Mark Tyndall. “We supported the Red Arrows last year and will do so again this year.”

Stuart Quarrie, CEO of CWL added: “Cowes Week has enjoyed a great working relationship with Artemis Investment Management in recent years and we are delighted that we have the opportunity to further this relationship for the ultimate benefit of Cowes Week sailors.”

Artemis will also, once again, be sponsoring the pro-celebrity “Artemis Challenge” during Cowes Week; the competing IMOCA 60 monohulls will race 50 miles around the Isle of Wight on Tuesday, 3rd August. The race, now in its fourth year and the only annual UK-based IMOCA race, will feature some of the biggest names on the offshore racing circuit who will be joined onboard by celebrities from the world of sport and television attracting wide media coverage as well as benefiting the charities of the competing boats.

Artemis Ocean Racing
Cowes Week

Audi MedCup: Camper to sponsor the Conde de Godó Trophy - Barcelona

World Sailing Management introduced Camper today as the official sponsor of the third event on the Audi MedCup Circuit 2010 season which will take place from 20th to 25th July. The event’s official title will be Regata Camper - Conde de Godó Trophy - Barcelona


18 06 2010 Marseille Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit © Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.

by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

Audi MedCup Circuit organisers, World Sailing Management, today introduced the Camper brand as official sponsor of the Conde de Godó Trophy - Barcelona, the third event of the 2010 season.

“We are very pleased to be working once again with the Audi MedCup Circuit, explains Estanislao Carpio, who is Executive Director of Operations for Camper, “ And we are especially happy to be involved with this edition in Barcelona, the city which has a long history with Camper and with which there is a particularly close relationship after having opened our first shop, the Casa Camper hotel, the Dos Palillos restaurant and many other projects in the famous City.”

“We at Camper hold a special and strong regard for the sport of sailing, we are tremendously international, but we are from Mallorca originally. The Audi MedCup Circuit is an event which shares many of our values." continues Carpio.

The Audi MedCup Circuit has maintained a close relationship with the international shoe manufacturing brand.

Camper was official supplier on the Circuit in 2007, the same year in which they sponsored the Copa del Rey Camper Audi, the third event of the 2007 MedCup season.

“ Given the strong relationship Camper has with sailing, with the Audi MedCup Circuit and particularly with the city of Barcelona, we are very happy to be collaborating again." concludes Ignacio Triay, Audi MedCup Circuit Director.

The Regata Camper - Conde de Godó Trophy - Barcelona will take place from July 20th to 25th. The Public Village for the third event of the season will open on July 17th and remain open with free entry through to 25th July.

Audi MedCup

Kieler Woche: Not Much Wind for Start of International Classes' Racing

Folkboats in their first race at Kieler Woche 2010, © segel-bilder.de /Christian Beeck.

by Hermann Hell

Unfortunately again low winds for the beginning of the second part of the Kieler Woche with 14 international classes at the start. No races for most of them. Only the Folkboat, Platu 25 and the J 24 found enough wind to finish one race.

Note from SailRaceWin: A different nationality won the first race in each class!

Folkboat (1 race) : 1. Christian Thomsen / Claus Schou / Henrik Holk (DEN) 1; 2. Dirk Rohrbeck / Uwe Grigull / Sylvia Lienau (GER) 2; 3. Uwe Pfuhl / Jens Callsen / Siegfried Busse (GER) 3; 4. Christoph Nielsen / Bjoerge Dehn / Torben Dehn (GER) 4; 5. Udo Pflüger / Christoph Kühne / Norbert Ohst (GER) 5; 6. Peter Brogger / Brian Bjerregaard / Bo Stævne (DEN) 6

Platu 25 (1 race): 1. Ingo Lochmann / Jens Steinborn / Max Rieger / Matthias Krüger / Christian Maedel (GER) 1; 2. Martin Sigrist / Luca Gerig / Matthias Bosshart / Benjamin Dierauer / Simon Brügger / Markus Sigrist (SUI) 2; 3. Jens Ahlgrimm / Enrico Taeufer / Carsten Wernecke / Mathias Gedrange / Stephan Moelle (GER) 3; 4. Suzanne Willim / Jasmin Rupprich / Catrin Wegner / Wibke Bülle / Eva Steinijans / Charlotte Jaekel (GER) 4; 5. Rüdiger Margale / Pierre Tscherneck / Arnd Ritter / Marc Daniel Siegfried / Dennis Siegfried (GER) 5; 6. Erik Brauer / Ole Dieckmann / Christian Born / Jan Laschinsky / Roland Körner (GER) 6

J 24 (1 race): 1. Christopher McLaughlin / Julia Scott / Chris McLaughlin / Michael Kyte / Andy McLelland / Ian Southworth (GBR) 1; 2. Kai Mares / Justus Kellner / Tobias Peters / Tim Becker / Jan-Marc Ulrich (GER) 2; 3. Anna Gunnarsson / Henrik Hansson / Dan Fredskov / Marianne Schoke / Max Hölzer (SWE) 3; 4. Lars Häger / Nils Lukat / Eva Philipp / Johanna Meierrieks / Olivier Christen / Silke Häger (GER) 4; 5. Peer Kock / Valentin Zeller / Marc-Daniel Mählmann / Ole Hicken / Hannes Pagel (Hamburg) 5; 6. Stefan Karsunke / Andrea Körner / Tim Habekost / Jonathan Huth / Malte Gibbe (GER) 6

Kieler Woche

America's Cup: Draft Protocol for 34th America's Cup Presented to Teams

Russell Coutts and Vincenzo Onorato with the Auld Mug at the first press conference of the 34th America's Cup in Rome. Image copyright Guilain Grenier/BMW ORACLE Racing.

by Tim Jeffery

In a joint initiative by the defender, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club and the Challenger of Record, Italy’s Club Nautico di Roma, a draft of the Protocol rules for the 34th America’s Cup was sent to the challenging teams today.

Foremost amongst numerous innovations is a forward-thinking structure that allows funds and assets to transfer from one America’s Cup to the next.

The draft is a ‘listening and living’ document. Teams have been invited to comment and, contribute to its final form.

This follows an already unprecedented level of cooperation with the Challenger of Record and a dialogue with potential teams. It offers another chance for input before the Protocol is finalized and published by the of 31st August 2010 target.

“This has been a painstaking process, but we believe it sets out a New Deal for the America’s Cup and fair play for all teams. It also incorporates the vision of the Cup held by Larry Ellison and BMW ORACLE Racing,” said Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing.

“To create a fair playing field we plan to issue all of the event rules before the end of the year, and this is a significant first step in that direction,” Coutts said. “Teams will know exactly what they are signing-up to.”

Potential teams asked for these key elements to be included the 34th America’s Cup Protocol and they have been:

* neutral race management body
* wide-ranging powers for the Jury
* cost cutting measures
* initiative to transform television & media output
* added-value to sponsors & business partners
* sustainable, long-term business model

Building on the initiative by the World Sailing Teams' Association, a maximum of eight pre-regattas per year is planned for consistent racing and exposure for the teams in the years leading up to the America’s Cup.

The Protocol will rein-in costs by reducing the number of racing crew, introducing no-sailing periods and limiting the numbers of hulls, masts, appendages and sails teams can build.

At the end of the 34th Match, the New Deal leaves an inheritance of substantial funding and assets to the next Defender in a move to end the stop-start cycle teams have faced previously. This sustainable legacy is dependent of the 35th America’s Cup defender continuing with neutral race management and a schedule of regular competition.

In keeping with GGYC’s pledge of fair-play for all, among the many measures which will achieve this is a commitment that GGYC’s defender will not will not compete in the final Challenger Selection Series but that there will be defense trials if there is more than one viable US team.

Television and media output have been prioritized in the draft Protocol to deliver more pictures, more audio and more data than ever before to audiences for an immersive experience, either through television or online broadcast.

Progress on a new, exciting and physically-demanding class of America’s Cup yacht, again with a dialogue with stakeholders fundamental to the process, is moving strongly ahead.

Key dates (as announced at the joint Defender & Challenger of Record Press Conference on 6th May 2010):

• Protocol for the 34th America’s Cup will be issued by 31st August
• Design rule released by 30th September
• Race rules published by 30th December
• Challenge Period open from 1st October 2010 – 31st January 2011

Draft of 34th America's Cup protocol for teams' comments

America's Cup

WMRT: Portimão Portugal Match Cup Crew Line Up

Fransesco Bruni leads Bjorn Hansen on day 1 of Portimao Portugal Match Cup 2010. World match Racing Tour. Portimao, Portugal. 23 June 2010. Image copyright Gareth Cooke/Subzero Images.

by Cailah Leask (with additional info from SailRaceWin)

Portimão Portugal Match Cup, Stage 4 of the 2010 Tour, has attracted some of the world’s most experienced and talented crews to the Algarve.

Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team has been racing with some of his team for over 10 years which he cites as a key asset in teamwork. Richard’s core crew are Olivier Herledant, Greg Evrard and Yannick Simon who are dedicated to the WMRT events this year, with new for Portimão Devan Le Bihan.

Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing has been on the Tour travelling the globe with his close knit Kiwi team including; Tom Powrie, Nick Blackman, Dave Swete and Dan Mclean for the last two years. This group of young ambitious guys, who for some have chosen to base themselves in the UK, are enjoying their last bitter sweet year on the Tour with the current ISAF Match Racing World Champion. Minoprio has been signed up for the 2011 Volvo Ocean Race with ETNZ and will be moving to offshore style training next year.

Dashing Englishman Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar has a new team line up for 2010 that has worked effectively since Stage 2. Williams is joined in his travels by 3 fellow Brits; Simon Shaw, Mark Williams and Richard Sydenham (now based in Sweden) as well as Tasmanian born Malcolm Parker. Ian has chosen to race with his brother Mark again, who was part of Williams’ 2007 winning World Championship Team, showing that siblings can make effective race teams.

Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team is the youngest of the Tour card holders. He has picked a multinational team with Australians Kyle Langford and Graeme Spence, Welshman Tudor Owen and New Zealander Kinley Fowler. This team much like the manufactured music groups of our time have all been selected due to their unique talents and have been moulded into one powerful dynamic.

Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge has chosen a young and hungry team for his 2010 Tour events. Holmberg only met Brad Farrand, one of his crew, for the first time on site at Portimão this week. He is backed up by another 3 physically conditioned crew, from the Kiwi Waka Racing team - Sam Bell, James Williamson and Garth Ellingham.

Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra has some top names from the Azzurra America’s Cup Team with him this week; Pierluigi De Felice, Matteo Auguadro, Tom Burnham and Ben Durham. Matteo, bowman for Bruni, in 2009 alone notched up 2nd at the Congressional Cup, 3rd at the Farr 40 Worlds, 1st on the Rolex Fastnet with another win at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Tom, originally from the US, has raced with America’s Cup Challenges Prada and Luna Rossa.

Portimao Portugal Match Cup
World Match Racing Tour

Artemis Investment Management Continues Its Commitment to British Sailing

Artemis Ocean Racing, Pindar & Arena IMOCA 60's racing in the Artemis Challenge 2009, © Lloyd Images.

by Camilla Green

Artemis Investment Management today announced their continued support of British sailing in 2010 across all levels from grass roots to fully professional ocean racing. This new commitment establishes Artemis as one of the longest and most significant existing supporters of British sailing.

Artemis Offshore Academy: Artemis will support a UK training programme of excellence for British short-handed sailors, providing a structure to bring talented sailors up through the ranks. Designed to help them win major offshore solo and short-handed races in the future, the ultimate goal is to put a British sailor in a strong position to win the Vendée Globe in 2016 or 2020. Artemis will continue their support of solo offshore sailor Jonny Malbon for this season and the first intake into the Academy will be competing for a scholarship to undertake a Figaro campaign.

Mini campaign: as part of the Academy programme, Artemis will provide a ‘race ready’ boat if an appropriate British sailor with proven potential is forthcoming to compete in this season.

Cowes Week 2010: Artemis will support Britain’s best-known sailing regatta this year in a partnership that will see competitor entry fees remain at the same level as 2009. They will also continue their support of the Red Arrows display on the final Friday, a spectacle enjoyed by thousands on and off the water.

Artemis Challenge 2010 confirmed: A successful event since 2007, and the only annual UK-based IMOCA race, the Artemis Challenge will feature an A-list of offshore racers and celebrities on 3rd August.

IMOCA 60: After 4 years of IMOCA 60 racing, Artemis Ocean Racing’s IMOCA 60 will compete in races to benefit up and coming talent, as well as the Artemis Challenge, but will not compete in the major IMOCA events at the end of the year. The boat will go on the market by the Autumn.

Since 2006 Artemis Ocean Racing has been active in the highly competitive IMOCA 60 class, competing in solo and double-handed races, building a radical new IMOCA 60 yacht, and entering the tough solo Vendée Globe non-stop round the world race. In addition to the sailing team, Artemis has also supported a number of IMOCA 60 events including The Artemis Transat 2008 and the annual Artemis Challenge, as well as supporting the Even Keel charitable project that utilises the Artemis 20 boat, designed for disabled sailors and used by Hilary Lister in her round Britain voyage.

Artemis Investment Management will now continue to support a number of initiatives from the grass roots up to fully professional racing in 2010. The next phase will concentrate on a long-term commitment to British solo sailing talent, with the objective to propel young British offshore solo talent to the fore.

Artemis Offshore Academy: Developing British Sailing Talent

With a long-term aspiration of putting a British sailor in a position to win the solo Vendée Globe in 2016 or 2020, the Artemis Offshore Academy is being formed to secure a pipeline of up-and-coming sailing talent. The Academy will provide a structure that can help all whose potential is yet to be fully realised.

An Advisory Board has been established to oversee the creation of the Academy with the objective of defining the selection and training process. The Advisory Board will consist of 6-7 ‘industry’ non-executive directors including Rod Carr (ex-RYA Chairman); two leading current short-handed sailors; Gilles Chiorri (OC Events Director and former top Figaro sailor); Edward Gorman (former sailing correspondent, The Times, now Deputy Foreign Editor); and Mark Turner (OC Group CEO) who can provide the necessary guidance and expertise. The Advisory Board will also start the process of recruiting the best coaches and mentors for the programme having studied and experienced the French training schools in Port La Foret and Le Grande Motte where Jonny Malbon has been training all winter for this year’s Figaro season.

“France are the benchmark nation in the single-handed ocean racing arena,” said Rod Carr. “In order to help move talented and determined British sailors from their current position to winning a race like the Vendée, we need to put in place a structured training programme that focuses the best advice in the world on a small group of talented sailors. Britain has the talent and technology to match France's current domination in this field - what we lack is a coordinated, co-operative approach that supports a personalised training programme for every sailor in the squad.”

The Artemis Offshore Academy will operate from a variety of bases to maximize the effectiveness of the training in British waters during the summer, including the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy, and in the South of France, La Grande Motte, already an established French Figaro school, in the winter. Four Figaro One-Design boats have already been purchased and are being refitted at OC’s Cowes base.

The Academy will focus on three groups of sailors:

• Development Squad of 8-12 sailors training on the Figaro boats, developing skills and able to qualify for the ‘Scholarship’ programme in the Figaro Class or Mini.
• Associate Sailors who have managed to get funding for their own campaign, may own a Figaro themselves, but who would benefit from the Academy’s coaching programmes.
• Ambassador Sailors who are already competing on the international short-handed stage but can benefit from being part of a knowledge sharing and coordinated training programme and, ultimately, assist in the career development of the next generation of short-handed sailors.

The aim is to have the first trainees on site from September with up to a dozen students training full-time and others on part-time or specific training modules. A selection process will take place twice a year in spring and autumn.

Samantha Davies, who skippered AOR II in the 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre, commented: “I would say that my success in the last Vendée Globe was thanks to the ‘path’ I took to graduate into being an IMOCA 60 skipper. For me the Figaro is a compulsory step towards the Vendée Globe. What you learn in the Figaro is directly applied to your IMOCA 60. It is in this class that you learn the basics of top-level competitive solo-sailing, such as, auto-pilot management, sleep management, seamanship in storm conditions. In the Figaro Class solo racing is done at Olympic standard with respect to tactics, sail trim and rig tune, so if you are not training like an Olympic athlete you will not win! This is why a squad-system is the way forward. I benefited from the training with the Port La Foret squad as there was nothing available in the UK. The Academy will now be providing British short-handed sailors with the training base that we have been missing up until now.”

A shorter-term outcome of the programme will be to get the Academy trainees competing on the Figaro and Mini circuit before moving on to Class 40 and IMOCA 60 racing which is the natural progression to the top of the solo world.

Artemis Ocean Racing

WMRT: YANMAR Racing - Interesting start but improving

by Rob Kothe

Another glorious sunny day in the Portuguese resort town of Portimao, the breeze came in late again but there was plenty to see and do for the waiting crews.

Peter Gilmour and his YANMAR Racing team of Cameron Dunn, Thierry Douillard, Yasuhiro Yaji and Kazuhiko Sofuku had an 'interesting' start to the fourth event on the 2010 ISAF World Match Racing circuit.

YANMAR Racing's first match was against Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, the reigning world champion.

Tactician Cameron Dunn explains 'We muffed the first race, to be honest. We had the lead half way up first beat but it was very close.

'Then we misjudged our approach to the top mark. We tried to do a lee bow but we could not make it stick, they rounded the top mark ahead of us, then we collided with them, another misjudgement, which cost us 0.5 points.

'Against Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS) Team Synergy, Peter started well. YANMAR Racing took the favoured right and had a good 30 second lead at top mark and sailed away.

'Then we sailed against Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team. Another really nice job in the start, we held the right again. Pace was just on our stern at the top mark however we extended slightly down the run and made him pay up the second beat and went on to win.

'In summary - a rough start but we came back for two really nice wins and our confidence is up.'

'The forecast for the event week ahead is for solid sunshine and that should bring good breezes so our YANMAR Racing crew are looking forward to plenty of match racing.'

Day 1: Current Round Robin Standings

Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 3-0
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 2-0
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 2-0
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 2-1
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 2-1
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 1-1
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge 1-1
Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 1-2
Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team 1-2
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 0-2
Manuel Weiller (ESP) Team Iberdrola 0-2
Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS) Team Synergy 0-3

YANMAR Racing
World Match Racing Tour