Thursday 24 April 2014

Top Results for Kiwi Youth Sailors in Britain


 
Kiwis in action at Weymouth. Supplied image

by Jodie Bakewell-White

New Zealand has won a mass of medals at the RYA Youth National Championships Regatta which wrapped up on Friday 18th April in 
Weymouth, UK.

The contingent of young kiwis collected one gold, two silver and two bronze medals across the range of skiff, double-handed and single-handed classes.

The major youth regatta has provided the young kiwis an opportunity to race in big fleets against some tough competition in the lead-up to the pinnacle regatta in mid July in Tavira, Portugal – the 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships.

Markus Somerville (Wakatere Boating Club) and Isaac McHardie (Hamilton Yacht Club) took the RYA Youth Nationals gold medal in the 29er skiff class after a tight battle with Britain’s best pair Owen Bowerman and Morgan Peach. For Somerville this was a title defence having also sailed at this RYA regatta in 2013, then paired with Jack Simpson, the duo going on to win the 29er bronze medal at the 2013 ISAF Youth World Championship.

McHardie is also a proven talent for New Zealand helming the SL16 multihull at the 2013 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships to a gold medal.

The silver medals came from New Zealand’s single-handed sailors with Trent Rippey (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club) finishing a close 2nd in the Laser Radial class, while Ali Nightingale (Charteris Bay Yacht Club) was the second girl in the Laser Radial.

Sam Barnett and Zak Merton (both from the Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club), New Zealand’s Boy’s 420 representatives secured the bronze medal in the 420 class in Weymouth last week.

Together Barnett and Merton sailed in the 2013 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team and finished 5th at last year’s ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships; the pair have shown excellent form in 2014 to date winning both the 2014 Australian Youth Trials Regatta and taking out the tough fought 420 class at 2014 Oceanbridge Sail Auckland.

Olivia Mackay and Abby Goodwin from the Napier Sailing Club were 3rd female crew (and 9th overall in the 44-strong 420 fleet).  And Patrick Haybittle, competing in the RS:X windsurfing placed 7th.

Yachting New Zealand’s Talent Development Manager Ian Neely was in Weymouth with the group, as part of the coaching team together with Jim Malonley. He says; “Both Jim and I were really happy with how the event went for the NZL team, it was great for us to get some big fleet racing.”

“It helped to confirm where we are strong, but more importantly highlighted the areas of focus for our team to work on over the next few months as we lead in to the ISAF Worlds.”

The regatta is Britain’s pre-eminent regatta for youth sailors and the New Zealand contingent who took part are all members of the 2014 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team who are preparing for the 2014 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships. For their British rivals the regatta is a selection event determining who will represent Great Britain at July’s ISAF Youth Worlds.

For more about the 2014 NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team read this team announcement.

2014 RYA Youth National Championship, Weymouth
New Zealand’s Results
1st 29er Skiff Markus Somerville (Wakatere Boating Club) and Isaac McHardie (Hamilton Yacht Club/RAYC)
2nd Boy’s Laser Radial Trent Rippey (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
2nd Girl’s Laser Radial (14th overall) Ali Nightingale (Charteris Bay Yacht Club)
3rd  Boy’s 420 Sam Barnett and Zak Merton (Tauranga Yacht & Powerboat Club)
3rd Girl’s 420 (9th overall) Olivia Mackay and Abby Goodwin (Napier Sailing Club)
7th RS:X Patrick Haybittle (Murrays Bay Sailing Club)

The team is proudly supported by NZL Yachting Trust, Oceanbridge Shipping and ZHIK

Spi Ouest France - Intermarché : Magistrale Victoire de Courrier Dunkerque 3

The victorious Courrier Dunkerque 3 team at Spi-Ouest 2014. Image copyright JM Liot/Spi-Ouest

par Tanguy Blondel

Sur le fil, l’équipage du M34 « Courrier Dunkerque 3 », skippé par Daniel Souben, remporte son cinquième Spi Ouest France Intermarché au terme d’une excellente journée de navigation en baie de Quiberon. Les nordistes mettent fin à l’hégémonie de « Groupama », dernier vainqueur du Tour de France à la voile.

Courrier Dunkerque 3 in the lead at Spi-Ouest 2014. Image copyright JM Liot/Spi-Ouest.

Pourtant, l’équipe de « Dunkerque Plaisance » partait ce matin avec six points de retard sur leur principal adversaire, le groupe mené par Fabien Henry, en l’absence de Franck Cammas. Mais, les dunkerquois ont réussi à renverser la vapeur aujourd’hui en naviguant avec justesse (victoire et 3ème place) et en démontrant leur art de la course au contact et des duels collé-serré. « C’est génial de garder notre titre de vainqueur du Spi Ouest France » déclarait Daniel Souben, tout heureux à son arrivée au ponton trinitain. « Il y a quelques années, nous avions perdu le Spi Ouest France la dernière journée, nous prenons notre revanche. Tant que rien n’est fait mathématiquement, ce qui était le cas ce matin, nous restons concentrer jusqu’au bout, surtout qu’en M34, nous ne pouvons pas enlever de courses au classement général. Nous avons vraiment bien navigué ce matin dans ces conditions difficiles et avec pas mal de pression. Cette victoire est réellement celle d’un équipage soudé. Nous débutons notre saison sportive avec force. Nous allons continuer dans ce sens. »

Cerise sur le gâteau, Morgan Lagravière, avec Quentin Ponroy et Edoud Alikiagalelei, gagne le Spi Ouest France dans la catégorie relevée des J80. Le nouveau skipper « Safran », avec Marc Guillemot, était ces derniers mois le partenaire d’entraînement de « Courrier Dunkerque 3 », une démonstration du travail accomplie depuis février à l’Ecole Nationale de Voile de Quiberon sous la houlette de Pierre-Alexis Ponsot mais aussi lors de compétitions de Match-Racing au Havre et à Saint-Quay Portrieux.

Enfin du côté des jeunes dunkerquois, belle performance de l’équipe d’Alexis Henry, 15ème en J80 sur 89 inscrits alors que Rémi Hurdiel et ses équipiers clôturent la course à la 33ème place. En Open 5.70, « Voile Ambition Dunkerque 6 » termine à une honorable 12ème place…

Courrier Dunkerque 3 in action at Spi-Ouest 2014. Image copyright JM Liot/Spi-Ouest

Le programme du team Courrier Dunkerque en 2014
18 au 21 avril : Spi Ouest France La Trinité-sur-Mer en M34
8 au 11 mai : Grand Prix Guyader à Douarnenez en M34
29 mai au 1 juin : Grand Prix de l’Ecole navale en J80
10 au 15 juin : Normandy Sailing Week en M34
4 au 27 juillet : Tour de France à la Voile en M34
Départ à la Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque
Arrivée à Nice
30 octobre au 2 novembre : National J80 à la Rochelle

L’équipage du M34 « Courrier Dunkerque 3 » 
Daniel Souben, Pierre Antoine Morvan, Erwan Le Roux, Antoine Carpentier, Steven Liorzou, Mathieu Renault, Bertrand Castelnerac
Préparation bateau:Vincent Vandekerkhove
Préparation météo: Hervé Gautier
Suivi Ostéo: Guillaume Rospabe

Les équipages de Voile Ambition Dunkerque :
 
J80 VADK ONE FRA 1289 : Alexis Henry(cnvva), Anthony De Mola (Dunkerque Plaisance), Pauline Bryère, Clément Meister(Dunkerque Plaisance)
J80 Made In Dunkerque / ULCO FRA 846 : Joffrey Davroux, Nicolas
Manac'h, Anaïs David, Pierre Noesmoen, Rémy Hurdiel (Dunkerque Yacht Club)
J80 VADK TWO FRA 1290 : Aymeric Decroocq (Dunkerque Plaisance); Julie Vandenberghe, Noé , Léo Paul Géneau, Timothée Watier
Open 5.70 FRA 289 Albane Dubot, Carla Gillon, Louis Marie Badou (YC Calaisis)
Open 5.70 FRA 291     Guillaume Storme, Hugues Renard, Charles Bauzerand (Yacht Club de la Mer du Nord)
Open 5.70 FRA 292     Julien Falempin, Yasmine Chentouf, Damien Seeten (Dunkerque Plaisance)
Open 5.70 FRA 293     Colin Kermarec( SR Rochelaise), PA Delahaye, Guillaume Guédon

Dunkerque Nautisme
Spi-Ouest

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Lorient Grand Large, Part Three : Volvo Ocean Race Stopovers (2/2)

From an interview with Christophe Baudry in French in 2013



Cammas and Groupama won the leg into Lorient and the last Volvo Ocean Race overall. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race/Ian Roman

by Anne Hinton
Lorient Grand Large was set up to organize the centre for offshore racing that is based in Lorient and coordinate the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Lorient. Lorient Grand Large acts to organize everything directly in relationship with local businesses and the community and, side by side with that, to encourage events and international sailing projects to be based in Lorient. It is run by Christophe Baudry and his team from offices near the Base des Sous-Marins, and main sailing team bases, in Lorient.


The Lorient stopover during the last Volvo Ocean Race, in 2012. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race is changing to up to eight one design boats, rather than prototypes, for the 2014-15 race, so one hopes that there will be that many on the starting line. “Today, I am not sure whether there will be a French boat. The budget has been considerably reduced, but I am not sure that there will be a French boat. What I am certain of is that there will be teams with a strong French presence. This is people with competencies, as has been shown by the Groupama Sailing Team, who proved that France is not just a nation of singlehanded [or multihull!] sailors. I think that the example set by the Groupama Sailing Team was not that they were the best prepared at the start, but that they learnt things rapidly and had the ability to continue to improve during the event,” said Christophe Baudry.


Crowds at the BSM during the Lorient stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race 2012. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race/Paul Todd
You know, I believe that if Eric Tabarly had won the Whitbread in 1973, which he had to pull out of due to dismasting, France would have been a lot more interested in racing in teams, whereas it is Eric Tabarly’s fault, due to his winning the Solitaire Anglaise twice, that he gave the French public a strong interest in singlehanded offshore racing,” explained Baudry. There are, however, French teams in discussions concerning participating in the race, and Groupama Sailing Team may possibly make a comeback to the Volvo Ocean Race at some stage.


Cammas and the Groupama Sailing Team : first into Lorient. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race/Paul Todd

Many of the IMOCA skippers, such as Michel Desjoyeaux, Bilou (Roland Jourdain, Vincent Riou and Jean-Pierre Dick, are moving into the MOD70s, although the higher financing of individual campaigns in this class has led to concentration of several skippers into one team. This represents a change from singlehanded to crewed racing. However, more Lorient-based sailors are also taking part, once again, solo racing Figaros in La Solitaire du Figaro in 2014, with Alain Gautier and Isabelle Joschke both returning to the fray under the colours of Generali. After this, Isabelle Joschke is seeking sponsorship for the 2016 Vendée Globe.


Jeremie Beyou’s Maître Coq chases François Gabart’s Vendée Globe-winning Macif IMOCA in the Defi Azimut Tour de Groix, off Lorient, September 2013. Jeremie Beyou is another Lorient skipper with sponsorship to compete in the next Vendée Globe. Image copyright Anne Hinton; all rights reserved

“These people have given a lot to singlehanded sailing, but now want to do something else,” explained Christophe Baudry. “We are also lucky to have people like Franck Cammas in France – who win something and then pass on to the next thing. At present he is working towards the Olympic Games, because this is something he hasn’t won to date, before moving on to the America’s Cup. We are lucky to have skippers who are ambitious and that is very positive.” 


The Lorient-based Gitana Team and Oman Sail competing against each other in the MOD70s off the Brittany coast. In 2013 Seb Josse's Gitana always gained the upper hand over Sidney Gavignet's Oman Sail. Image copyright Gitana Team/Yvan Zedda.

In 2014, Jean-Pierre Dick has announced that he has sponsorship and will also compete in the 2016 solo IMOCA monohull Vendée Globe, once again. Armel Le
 Cléac'h is building a new Banque Populaire IMOCA for the 2016 raceSimilarly, Seb Josse will enter the 2016 Vendée Globe with the Lorient-based Gitana Team. Seb Josse and Gitana Team won the MOD70 Route des Princes racing around western Europe in 2013, ahead of Sidney Gavignet's Oman Sail, also Lorient-based. The two repeated the same positioning in the Transat Jacques Vabre double-handed race to Brazil last November, and will complete against each other, singlehanded, in the Route du Rhum this coming November in the MOD70s.


Groupama wins the 2013 Tour de France à la Voile. Image copyright Morgan Bove/ASO
After winning the Volvo Ocean Race for France, Franck Cammas has taken his Groupama Sailing Team towards the Olympics, with a Nacra 17 campaign with Sophie de Turckheim. They are proving a strong challenge to the other French Nacra 17 Olympic competitors, who are all at the top of the Olympic sailing week results, winning the 2013 Quiberon Raid ahead of their strongest fellow Olympic campaigners, with Franck Cammas then also beating Billy Besson to take the C-class Little America’s Cup in Cornwall, England, in September 2013. In addition, Cammas found time to win the Tour de France à la Voile in 2013, and is returning to defend his title in 2014. There is still stiff competition to be overcome before Cammas and de Turckheim qualify to represent France let alone take Gold in Rio 2016… after which Cammas’ attention will be turned fully to the America’s Cup, for which he is already preparing on the side, by winning the French national match racing championships and competing in the wing-sail development C-class Little America’s Cup, as well as foiling on an F18… and has announced the creation of Team France as France's America's Cup team, to be run along the lines of Emirates Team New Zealand.


Franck Cammas and Louis Viat sailing the Groupama C-class cat. Image copyright Groupama/Yvan Zedda

The Director of Operations of the Volvo Ocean Race, Tom Touber, commented that they are now celebrating 40 years of this race around the world in teams. “The race started as a joke in a UK bar in 1973, but it could just as easily have been in France, due to the interest in ocean racing.” The Volvo Ocean Race is a non-profit organization and reinvests in its business. It is backed by Volvo trucks and Volvo cars. “A first for the next edition of the race is the one design aspect. Whereas several boats arrived within 10 minutes of each other last time, will we see all arrive within one minute next time around?” wondered Tom Touber. There are girls now competing, and very strongly too, with at least one local Brittany-based international sailor on board this boat, Team SCA. “Groupama was a low budget [10 million Euros] programme in the last edition, but won the race”, commented Touber.


Team SCA. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson/Team SCA
The Volvo Ocean Race leaves Alicante on 4th October 2014 and arrives in Gothenburg, the home of Volvo, on 27th June 2015. The race is 39,895nm, a little under 40,000nm, but the mileage can be made up by circling around the islands off Brittany, commented Touber! The Volvo Ocean Race will arrive in Lorient on 9th-10th June 2015, with a Pro-Am race on Saturday, 13th June, the In-port race on 14th June and the start of the final leg, to Gothenburg, on 17th June. There will be the same points to be gained on the short leg from Lisbon to Lorient as on all other legs of the race. With the one design nature of the boats, an exciting and tight arrival into Lorient is on the cards.


Volvo Ocean Race route 2014-15. Image copyright Volvo Ocean Race
The strong interest in offshore racing in France will continue and the next Lorient Volvo Ocean Race stopover will undoubtedly attract a large and enthusiastic public following in the home of the Cité de la Voile.

Lorient Grand Large
Volvo Ocean Race

Spi Ouest France - Intermarché : The Final Ambush for Groupama 34 as Courrier Dunkerque 3 wins overall

Groupama 34 in action at Spi-Ouest. Image copyright Groupama/Yvan Zedda

by Vincent Borde

Although Groupama had been leading the way in the Spi Ouest France over the past three days, it unfortunately took a final day of racing to reveal the winner of the competition, a title which ultimately went to Courrier Dunkerque. Sailing two great races whilst Groupama 34 put in a counter performance in the penultimate race, the sailors from northern France outshone Fabien Henry's crew to the tune of just one little point.

Sport is a tough law and you just have to accept it. Obviously disappointed, Fabien Henry, skipper of Groupama 34 in the absence of Franck Cammas, the latter currently participating in the Sailing World Cup in Hyères aboard a Nacra 17, assumed responsibility for this second place: "Tugdual Bécquemie couldn't be with us today and that was planned in advance. As such I took the helm but it took me one race to get into the swing of things. Courrier Dunkerque made the most of that to embroil us in a veritable duel and we came off badly with a very poor eighth place".

During the final Easter race, Groupama 34 managed to get the upper hand in relation to Daniel Souben's crew, but was unable to position itself one boat clear: "There was very little in it with Oman, which we came really close to overtaking. It didn't happen though. It's unfortunate and we're all disappointed as we wanted to do better than last year, when the only race we didn't win was the Spi" Fabien adds.

And yet looking at things in more depth, the results aren't so bad: "It's a very good preparation for the season and for the Tour de France. We're really quick in a lot of conditions though we still need to make progress in the start phases, as we're too inconsistent at the moment. As far as the rest is concerned, the crew is on top of its game and we're getting along as well as ever," explains tactician Tanguy Cariou.

See you at the Grand Prix Guyader for the second event of the season.

Ranking for the Spi Ouest France 2014:


1. Courrier Dunkerque avec 27 points
2. Groupama 34 avec 28 points
3. Omansail avec 39 points
4. Bretagne Crédit Mutuel avec 54 points
5. Vox Sea avec 65 points
6. Ville de Geneve Carrefour Addiction avec 77 points
7. Normandie avec 81 points
8. Nantes - Saint Nazaire avec 95 points
9. Baya avec 96 points
10. Tpm avec 99 points

In French:

Bien que Groupama ait été leader du Spi Ouest France durant trois jours, il aura malheureusement fallu attendre la dernière journée de course pour connaître le vainqueur qui se nomme finalement Courrier Dunkerque. Auteur de deux belles manches quand Groupama 34 contre performait à l'avant dernière, les nordistes parvenant à devancer l'équipage de Fabien Henry d'un petit point.

C'est la dure loi du sport et il faut l'accepter. Evidemment déçu, Fabien Henry, le skipper de Groupama 34 en l'absence de Franck Cammas qui participe à la Sailing World Cup de Hyères en Nacra 17, assumait la responsabilité de cette deuxième place : « Tugdual Bécquemie ne pouvait être avec nous aujourd'hui et c'était prévu. J'ai donc pris la barre mais j'ai mis une manche à rentrer dans le match. Courrier Dunkerque en a profité pour engager un véritable duel dont nous sommes sortis à une très mauvaise huitième place ».


Lors de l'ultime manche pascale, Groupama 34 parvenait à prendre l'ascendant sur l'équipage de Daniel Souben mais sans parvenir à intercaler un bateau : « Ca c'est joué à peu de choses avec Oman que nous avons failli doubler. Mais ca n'est pas passé. C'est malheureux et nous sommes tous déçus car nous voulions faire mieux que l'an dernier où la seule régate que nous n'avions pas gagné, c'était le Spi » ajoute Fabien.

Pourtant, à bien y regarder, le bilan n'est pas si mauvais : « C'est une très bonne préparation pour la saison et pour le Tour de France. On est vraiment rapide dans beaucoup de conditions. Il nous reste à progresser dans les phases de départ lors desquelles nous sommes trop irréguliers. Pour le reste, l'équipage est top et on s'entend toujours aussi bien » commente le tacticien Tanguy Cariou.

Rendez-vous au Grand Prix Guyader pour la deuxième épreuve de la saison. 

Classement du Spi Ouest France 2014 :

1. Courrier Dunkerque avec 27 points
2. Groupama 34 avec 28 points
3. Omansail avec 39 points
4. Bretagne Crédit Mutuel avec 54 points
5. Vox Sea avec 65 points
6. Ville de Geneve Carrefour Addiction avec 77 points
7. Normandie avec 81 points
8. Nantes - Saint Nazaire avec 95 points
9. Baya avec 96 points
10. Tpm avec 99 points

Cammas-Groupama

Spi Ouest

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Spi Ouest France - Intermarché : Groupama Reinforces Its Lead

M34 fleet at Spi Ouest 2014. Image copyright Yvan Zedda

by Vincent Borde

At times the Baie de Quiberon is reminiscent of a return to the capital on a Sunday evening with a series of traffic jams at the St Arnoult toll. For the M34s, this Easter Sunday was a striking example of this yet Groupama 34 still managed to consolidate her position at the top of the leaderboard in an 8 to 14-knot north-westerly wind.

With three races contested today, which saw Groupama secure a 2nd, 3rd and 2nd place, while its direct rival Courrier Dunkerque won two races before going on to finish 4th in the last, skipper Fabien Henry only dropped one point in relation to the six-point lead he boasted in the overall ranking yesterday.

In these conditions, it's difficult to know which strategy to adopt given that there aren't likely to be more than two races run on Monday and Groupama 34 has never scored lower than 3rd place... For Tanguy Cariou, tactician aboard Groupama 34, it's evident: "We need to gain the upper hand and above all not worry too much about what decisions Daniel Souben makes as there is so much traffic on the water that you have to improvise. As such we're going to continue to race as we have since the start of the Spi, in our own unique style".

It's a strategy that has paid off thus far so why change it when you've got the speed and you're putting in some solid tacks? "If there's one phase we can improve on then it's the start," concludes Tanguy Cariou, a little frustrated by his third day at the Spi Ouest. This frustration is sure to be thwarted by a few chocolate eggs and why not a few oysters in white wine, which is the traditional prize for the winner of each category...

M34 ranking after the first 10 races minus the worst score:

1/ Groupama 34 with 18 points
2/ Courrier Dunkerque with 23 points
3/ Omansail with 32 points
4/ Bretagne Crédit Mutuel with 44 points
5/ Vox Sea with 58 points

In French:

Parfois, la baie de Quiberon ressemble à un retour vers la capitale un dimanche soir avec quelques bouchons au péage de St Arnoult. Pour les M34, ce dimanche Pascal en fut un exemple saisissant qui permit cependant à Groupama 34 de conforter son leadership dans un vent de secteur nord-ouest de 8 à 14 noeuds.

Avec trois manches disputées et des places de 2,3 et 2 quand son poursuivant direct, Courrier Dunkerque, en remportait deux avant de terminer quatrième dans la dernière, l'équipage de Fabien Henry ne concède qu'un petit point d'avance sur les six qu'il possédait au classement général.

Dans ces conditions, quelle stratégie adopter alors qu'il ne devrait pas y avoir plus de deux manches courues lundi et que Groupama 34 n'a jamais terminé au-delà de la troisième place ? Pour Tanguy Cariou, tacticien de Groupama 34, c'est clair : « On doit prendre l'ascendant, ne surtout pas trop se préoccuper des choix de Daniel Souben car le trafic est tel sur l'eau qu'il faut parfois improviser. On va donc continuer à régater comme on le fait depuis le début du Spi, à notre main ».


Une stratégie payante jusque-là. Alors, pourquoi changer quand on a la vitesse et que l'on tire les bons bords ? « Si, il y a quand même une phase que l'on peut améliorer, ce sont les départs » conclut un Tanguy Cariou un peu frustré par sa troisième journée de Spi. Une frustration qui sera certainement contrecarrée par quelques oeufs en chocolat et pourquoi pas son poids en huîtres et en vin blanc, traditionnels lots réservé au vainqueur de chaque catégorie.

Classement des M34 à l'issue des 10 premières manches moins la plus mauvaise :

1/ Groupama 34 avec 18 points
2/ Courrier Dunkerque avec 23 points
3/ Omansail avec 32 points
4/ Bretagne Crédit Mutuel avec 44 points
5/ Vox Sea avec 58 points

Monday 21 April 2014

Audi ARC Championships : Three Audi Champions crowned in Newcastle

New Zealand's Will Tiller at the helm of Beau Geste. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini

by Lisa Ratcliff

Two crucial final races off Newcastle’s Stockton beach on Easter Sunday completed the eight-race Audi IRC Australian Championship and three new national champions have been crowned.
Team Beau Geste’s division A triumph was taped up yesterday giving owner Karl Kwok and his TP52 crew from New Zealand the clean sweep of the TP52 Southern Cross Cup in December, the NSW IRC title last Sunday, and now the cheeky fellas from across the ditch are Audi IRC Australian champions.
Beau Geste. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini

Twenty-four year-old youth America’s Cup skipper Will Tiller drove Kwok’s 52-footer to its maiden national IRC victory and also the state IRC victory at Sail Port Stephens. “It was challenging; not the easiest place to sail with the sea-state,” said Tiller this evening adding, “Newcastle is a cool city”.
Only Tony Kirby’s Ker 46 Patrice and Bob Steel’s TP52 Quest managed to take a win off Team Beau Geste during the series hosted by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club. They finished second and third on 15 and 19 points respectively to the victor’s eight points.
Nine Dragons. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini

Division B’s four-day nail biter between the two DK46s, Nine Dragons and Exile, added grey hairs to both Middle Harbour Yacht Club crews. Après racing it was all smiles across the bar, but each badly wanted the coveted title and the North Sails’ Audi IRC Australian Champion emblazoned spinnaker.
Bob Cox’s Nine Dragons was the stronger of the pair this time, four points the final difference. “The crew did a magnificent job and our focus on tactics using our main tactician and back-up really paid off. The racing with Exile was awesome; it was touch and go as to who was going to take out the championship from start to finish.”
Bob Cox dunked. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini

After the champagne was sprayed the Nine Dragons crew cornered Cox and first tactician Mitch White and threw them off the marina, a sailing ritual.
Roger Hickman’s near 30 year-old Farr 43 Wild Rose from Sydney’s Cruising Yacht Club of Australia was clapped into the marina by an appreciative crowd as the new division C Audi IRC Australian champion. Hickman is an ocean racing hero to many, and again he’s shown the pedigree of his years on the circuit, and his steed’s.
We are delighted to be the new Audi IRC champion,” said the winning skipper. “We were nervous this morning knowing it was going to be light and lumpy, then a superb 13kt nor’easter came in for the second and final race.”
Phil Dash’s Beneteau First 40 Justadash (MHYC) finished second and Ian Bower’s RP36 Spirit from Lake Macquarie third in division C.

Ichi Ban. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini

Race seven got underway in a 6kt sou’easter following an hour and a half postponement. Race eight was christened the ‘Newcastle BBQ’, a triangle, triangle and sausage format also called the ‘two chops and a sausage’ course.
NCYC CEO Richard Howard praised his large team of 30 plus volunteers involved in the planning phase through to the hosting of 31 top level international crews. Howard says the club has excellent engagement with its members and volunteers put their hands up to pick up glasses, cook the BBQ, make sandwiches, sell raffle tickets and host competitors. On the race management side, members spent long days in the sun laying marks and assisting PRO Denis Thompson.
From the time of the bid announcement the membership and staff really embraced the championship,” said Howard.
Nine Dragons crew with Bob Cox wearing the hat. Image copyright Audi/Andrea Francolini

On behalf of the Audi team, Audi Australia’s managing director Andrew Doyle congratulated all competitors. “Audi is proud to support the IRC Australian Championship and we congratulate each and every owner and crew member for their strong sportsmanship this Easter long weekend. To win this event is a great honour, and to be crowned the national Audi IRC Australian Champion is no easy task. It’s a fierce contest and we appreciate the support shown by all participants, family members, and the organising committee.”



Yachting Australia President and owner/skipper of Ichi Ban, Matt Allen, also commended the host club, “Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club has delivered a spectacular and memorable weekend for all those competing in the Audi IRC Australian Championship. On and off the water the event has been held in a great spirit, thanks to the hard working and friendly volunteers and staff at the club.”

Sunday 20 April 2014

Les Voiles de St Barth : Famine to Feast


Image copyright Les Voiles de St Barth/Christophe Jouany

by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

With several classes still up for grabs, crews going into the final day of racing at Les Voiles de St. Barth were eager to get on the race course and best the score. The conditions remained fresh, with a 22 – 25 knot southeasterly producing an impressive swell on the island’s windward side.

Les Voiles de St. Barth Race Committee, led by Race Director Luc Poupon, carefully chose race courses to fit the conditions, sending the Maxi and Spinnaker Zero, 1 and 2 classes on a 22 nautical mile course and Spinnaker 3 and 4, Non-Spinnaker, and Multihull on a 16 nm course. To make up for a missed race yesterday, the six-boat Melges 24 class completed two races, which were run in the more protected waters on the western side of the island. As a further provision, the class mutually agreed not to use spinnakers.

Image copyright Les Voiles de St Barth/Christophe Jouany

As spectators watched from a sculpted rock plateau 500 feet above the pristine beach of Colombier, the sailing conditions on the northern most point of St. Barths seemed epic: strong, fairly steady wind, with flat water at the starting area and the first rounding mark. At the next mark, however, the fleet began its beat around the island’s northern end into the ocean swell. A two-knot current running counter to the prevailing wind produced six-to-eight foot seas that, while uncomfortable upwind, made for a rollicking ride off the breeze.

The conditions took their toll on some equipment and produced several blown-out spinnakers and sails. Even in the protected area where the Melges 24s were sailing, it was déjà vu for Frits Bus as his Island Water World lost its mast and, just like last year, missed out on a chance to seal a victory.

The change in conditions from the lighter wind of the regatta’s first two days (Monday andTuesday) to the 20 plus knots on the latter two days (Friday and Saturday) affected several classes with boats that favored one range or the other.

Image copyright Les Voiles de St Barth/Christophe Jouany

One of these was the hard-fought Spinnaker 1 class, where Jim Madden’s (Newport Beach, Calif.) J/125 Stark Raving Mad IV edged out by one point Sergio Sagramoso’s (San Juan, PUR) Melges 32 Lazy Dog (class winner last year). The Puerto Rican sailor foretold the story on Tuesday when he said, “This is the first time in this boat, but I’m sailing against much bigger boats so I’m thinking that perhaps conditions have a lot to do with it. It was very light yesterday, and we did well. We’ll see how we do in heavy winds. There is a 49-footer in our class, so things might change and you might be interviewing somebody else, but hopefully not!”

Class winner Jim Madden said of their battle with Lazy Dog, “It’s a little bit of a luck of the draw. We give them great credit, they were great competitors and I think they sailed really well.”

He added, “We had a fantastic week, one of the best weeks I’ve ever had. Conditions were beautiful the first two days and outrageous the second two days. It was a ton of fun, very competitive – and what a beautiful island and wonderful environment!

“Most of our crew are a core group from southern California that have been sailing together for maybe eight or nine years, and a few folks from Newport, R.I. So it’s a nice group who know their roles; they sail together, they trust each other, and most of all we have a great time, we come here to have fun. We’ll be back in St. Barth’s next year for sure!”

Image copyright Les Voiles de St Barth/Christophe Jouany

Winner of the Maxi class was Alex Schaerer (Bern, SUI), owner/skipper of the Mills 68 Caol Ila R. Schaerer and his team enjoyed close racing with Hap Fauth’s (Minneapolis, Minn./Newport, R.I.) Bella Mente for the first part of the week, until Bella Mente suffered a dismasting yesterday. Schaerer said, “We had quite a good start of the regatta, because our forté against Bella Mente is light weather with our set-up on the boat. So we had a 2-1 lead after the light weather; then unfortunately we couldn’t compete with them in the strong winds (due to Bella Mente’s retirement), but I think that would have been tough to win two races, as their forté is reaching in strong weather. Up until then it was a nice, exciting sailing week here.”

Schaerer sails with a seasoned, mostly Australian crew (the lone exception this week was American Gary Weisman, past president of North Sails) from two different Australian boats: Loki which at 63 feet is close in size to the 69-foot Caol Ila R, and the super maxiWild Oats XI, which has won line honours at the Sydney Hobart seven times. “The Australians, of course, help us ‘little’ Swiss get the boat around the marks safely!,” Schaerer said.

A big fan of the ultra-competitive Mini Maxi class, Schaerer added, “They are a great class. There will be two new boats built: one is Ran, and the owner already sold his old boat to a seasoned Italian team, and Stig was sold to the owner of Jethou, where Brad Butterworth is sailing, so it’s really a very competitive class. And next year there’s going to be a new German team, so there’s going to be one more very competitive team. So it’s a lot of fun to sail in this class!”

Image copyright Les Voiles de St Barth/Christophe Jouany

In Spinnaker Zero class, Franck Noël, owner/skipper of the TP52, Near Miss managed a near perfect score line (1-2-1-1-1) to finish first. Noël said, “When Bella Mente dismasted yesterday, that told us that nothing is really over until the finish line is crossed. Today's race was very similar in wind and sea conditions as yesterday. We had to sail in a very conservative way in order to finish without breaking anything – there could be no useless chances taken.

“The crew has been very professional all week long. Most of all, I appreciate their excellent team spirit and good humor – this is to me the most important thing on board; I hate when people scream at each other. The crew has shown great concentration while at all times keeping its relaxed attitude. It has been perfect!

In Spinnaker 2, Jack Desmond (Marion, Mass.) took a long path to a well-deserved class win on his Swan 48 Affinity and had a story to tell about it. In fall 2012, Affinity fell off its stands at a boatyard in New England and sustained substantial damage, so for last year’s Les Voiles, Desmond chartered the Swan 56 White Rhino. This year, White Rhino was chartered by Steve Cucchiaro who became Desmond’s closest competitor, tying on point score with Affinity but finishing second on a tiebreaker countback.

Image copyright Les Voiles de St Barth/Christophe Jouany

Sometimes it takes a couple of tries to get it right. Returning this year was the English/Irish team on, Ramanessin, which managed a victory in Spinnaker 3 class, after finishing 2nd last year to Lazy Dog. Nigel Young (Cork, IRL), tactician on board, said, “Things could not be going better for us this year. Last year we came here and had a really tough fight with the J/122 Lazy Dog. This year we are on a Grand Soleil 43.  We have been trying to play it conservatively because there is a nasty penalty for an early start, which your race is over if you do that.

“We were really surprised by the light winds on the first day. We were not expecting that, but this boat did us proud.  We managed to get the upper hand on the second race by our sail selection and were able to take the lead over the J/111 J Boss (which finished second). We played it conservatively, but then we have an exceptionally good crew, so they do not make any mistakes.”

In Spinnaker 4, David Cullen’s (IRL) J/109, Pocket Rocket tied with Claude Roth’sVisiooptic (Guadeloupe, FWI), a First 40.7 and won on a count back.

Les Voiles de St. Barth includes quite a few competitors and boats that return for multiple editions. In the Non-Spinnaker class, Bobby Velasquez from Sint Maarten stands out. Velasquez, a well-known marina owner from the Dutch island, has competed at all five editions of Les Voiles, and this is his third class win. He said, “We have done pretty good over the years. We have the same boat, same captain.  We really enjoy it and had some good competition in the class with some Swans, some bigger boats like Hotel California(Santa Cruz 70), Speedy Nemo, and others.”

In the nine-boat Racing Multihull class, the smallest boat, Calle Hennix’s (SWE) SeaCart     26 Team All Stars, won overall. The Multihull class, which continues to grow each edition includes a diverse lot, which this year included the Irens-designed 63 foot trimaranParadox; two 62-foot Gunboat catamarans; and two TS 50 catamarans.

In the Melges 24 class, with today’s two races providing the opportunity for the greatest gain or loss, Thierry LeFort’s Lefort Clim saved their best for last, scoring two bullets to upset prior leaders Team Island Water World and Budget Marine/Gill to take the overall class win.The dates for the next edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth will be April 13 – 18, 2015.

Event Organizer François Tolède said, “This has been another great edition, another success. I am really pleased with the level of competition and camaraderie among all competitors and partners. The professionalism both on the water and onshore has been amazing. Thanks to all our teams, Les Voiles de St. Barth is now running smoothly, while still maintaining welcoming scale for all to enjoy.”

This evening there was a prizegiving dockside in the Les Voiles de St. Barth race village, on the Quai General de Gaulle in Gustavia Harbor. Race organizers presented top-three finishers in each class with trophies, champagne and other prizes. Competitors and guests were treated to a spectacular fireworks display over Gustavia Harbor, accompanied by the live music of Joyful Noise.

Principal event Partner Richard Mille presented Alex Schaerer on Caol Ila R, the winner of the Maxi class, with a Richard Mille RM028 special edition “Les Voiles de St. Barth” timepiece, one of a numbered and limited edition of 100 pieces.

Official event partner Gaastra presented Spinnaker Zero class winners Near Miss with Gaastra Pro crew gear.

West Indies Management Company (WIMCO), luxury villa rental management specialist, presented winners in eight classes (Spinnaker Zero-1-2-3, Non-Spinnaker, Melges 24, Racing Multihull) a week’s stay in a luxury villa in St. Barth.

Image copyright Les Voiles de St Barth/Christophe Jouany

Winners also were presented with magnums of Veuve Clicquot champagne and Mount Gay Rum.

Gold Partner: Collectivité de St Barthélemy, Banque des Antilles Française, Veuve Clicquot
Silver Partner: WIMCO, LIERAC Paris, Mount Gay Rum, Highfield, Domaine Ott, Boatinox, San Pellegrino, Domaine du Tariquet, Air France, Segeco, RMP Caraïbes
Institutional Partners: Fédération Française de Voile, St Barth Yacht Club, Comité Territorial du Tourisme, Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA)

FULL RESULTS click here

Maxi


1 - Caol Ila R / Alex Schaerer (SUI) / Mills 69

2 - Rambler / George David (USA) / R&P 90
3 - Aragon / Verder Van Nieuwland (NED) / Marten 72


Spinnaker Zero


1 - Near Miss / Frank Noël (SUI) / TP 52

2 - Balearia / Bigamist T.G/J.B/P. Mendonca (ESP) BOTIN & CARKEEK
3 - Otra Vez / William Coates (USA) KER 43


Spinnaker 1


1 - Stark Raving Mad IV / Jim Madden (USA) / J/125

2 - Lazy Dog / Sergio Sagramoso (Puerto Rico) / Melges 32
3 - Kick ’em Jenny 2 Ian & Hope Ross (USA) Melges 32


Spinnaker 2


1 - Affinity / Jack Desmond (USA) / SWAN 48

2 - White Rhino / Stephen Cucchiaro (USA) / Swan 56
3 - AronnaX / Alain Charlot (SBH) / X-482


Spinnaker 3


1 - Ramanessin / Eamonn Rohan (GBR) / Grand Soleil 43

2 - J-Boss / Eddy Chalano (FRA) / J/111
3 - Salona Racing Team / Alex Sastre (USA) / Salona


Spinnaker 4


1 - Pocket Rocket / David Cullen (IRL) / J 109

2 - Visiooptic / Claude Roth (FRA) / First 40.7
3 – Maelia / Raphael Magras (SBH) / X-yachts


Non-Spinnaker


1 - L’Esperance / Sir Bobby Velasquez (SXM) / Beneteau 45

2 - Hotel California Too / Stephen Schmidt /Santa Cruz 70
3 - Speedy Nemo / Raymond Magras (SBH) / Dufour 34


Racing Multihull


1 – Sea Cart 26 / Team All Stars / Carl (Calle) Hennix (SWE) / SeaCart 26

2 - Elvis / Scott Bradford (USA) / Gunboat
3 - Le CARRÉ Lounge (CAN) / Toro34


Melges 24


1 - LEFORT CLIM / Thierry LeFort (FRA)

2 - Budget Marine/Gill / Andrea Scarabelli (AHO)
3 - Team Island Water World / Frits Bus (AHO)

Official Website: www.lesvoilesdesaintbarth.com