Marseille (France) to Carthage (Tunisia): 14h 20' 34"
by Virginie Bouchet (in translation)
Pascal Bidégorry and his team of 11 men on board the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V have beaten a sailing record, that of crossing the Mediterranean. They have improved on the existing record by 2 hours 47 minutes and 47 seconds!
Banque Populaire V
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Kip Meadows Leads 2010 Melges 32 US East Coast Championship
U.S. East Coast fleet action. Image copyright JOY/International Melges 32 Class Association.
by Joy Dunigan
The Melges 32 fleet raced four races in Rye, N.Y. today, kicking of the 2010 East Coast Championship hosted by the American Yacht Club. Leading the overall results is Kip Meadows with tactician Andy Horton on roXanne by a sizable margin. In second overall is Bob Hughes’ Heartbreaker with Charlie Ogletree on tactics, while tactician Anthony Kotoun guided Michael Dominguez’s Bronco to a third overall seating.
Bob Hughes' Heartbreaker. Image copyright JOY/International Melges 32 Class Association.
Under mostly cloudy skies, light and variable breezes, the first race of the day was all about Geoff Pierini’s Shakedown. With Max Skelley calling tactics, Pierini led the race almost from the very beginning extending his lead on each leg taking the finish line in stride. Englishman Stuart Simpson on Team Barbarians got off on the right foot finishing second and Dominguez took third.
The start of race four. Image copyright JOY/International Melges 32 Class Association.
Race two revealed Rod Jabin on Ramrod as winner, bringing on a little more breeze and sunshine for the start. Meadows claimed second overall, a nice recovery from this sixth place finish in race one. In third, was Alex Jackson on Leenabarca.
The third race of the day saw Jeff Ecklund and his STAR team find their winning groove. It was a vast improvement, after he was called OCS in race one and two.
Ecklund refused to give in and took an early lead in the race. Tactician Jeff Madrigali helped Ecklund find the right lane on the first downwind run to advance for the win. 2009 Melges 32 World Champion Pieter Taselaar on Bliksem also upgraded his performance to finish second. In third, was Meadows.
Michael Dominguez's Bronco. Image copyright JOY/International Melges 32 Class Association.
Finally, Jason Carroll on Argo grabbed an early lead in race four of the day. With a subtle increase in the breeze, Carroll was strong from start to finish. Meadows, once more held position finishing second, while Jackson claimed third.
PARTY! BLIKSEM! PARTY!
Pieter Taselaar's Bliksem. Image copyright JOY/International Melges 32 Class Association.
Immediately following the racing, AYC Member and fellow business partner Thijs Hovers to Pieter Taselaar, pulled out all the stops for an amazing after-racing Bliksem party. A complete spread of food — pasta salads, meats, vegetables and a selection of deserts was presented. A complete bar was also on hand offering beer, wine and mixed cocktails were for the Melges 32 fleet.
Stuart Simpson's Team Barbarians. Image copyright JOY/International Melges 32 Class Association.
Teams found their way out on the lawn and terrace overlooking Milton Harbor, enjoying great food and drink. It was the perfect end to a long day of very competitive racing.
Saturday promises the exciting Take A Junior Sailing Day along with three additional races and stronger breezes.
Overnight leader Kip Meadows on roXanne, in the thick of it. Image copyright JOY/International Melges 32 Class Association.
Top Five Results
1.) Kip Meadows/Andy Horton, roXanne; 6-2-3-2 = 13
2.) Bob Hughes, Heartbreaker; 5-5-5-4 = 19
3.) Michael Dominguez/Anthony Kotoun, Bronco; 3-7-7-6 = 23
4.) Phil Lotz/Russ Salvestri, Arethusa; 10-6-4-5 = 25
5.) Pieter Taselaar/Jeremy Wilmot, Bliksem; 4-9-2-11 = 26
East Coast Championship Fleet Action. Image copyright JOY/International Melges 32 Class Association.
Melges 32 US East Coast Championship
Woods Continues To Dominate The 2010 Melges 32 European Championship
Lanfranco Cirillo's Fantastica. Image copyright Carlo Borlenghi/B-Plan.
by Joy Dunigan
Two more races were in store on the second day of the 2010 Audi Melges 32 European Championship, confirming that undoubtedly Joe Woods on Red and Peter Rogers on Highlife are more determined to succeed than any other.
Melges 32 Europeans fleet action. Image copyright Carlo Borlenghi/B-Plan.
The fleet initially waited for the breeze to fill in as it has proven more difficult to read than ever before. Right away, Dutch entry Kees Kaan on ROARK, seated last turns the weather mark in race one in first, while overall leader Woods was last.
Mauro Mocchegiani's Rush Diletta. Image copyright Carlo Borlenghi/B-Plan.
Kaan slowly but surely lost control of the lead to U.S. team John Kilroy on Samba Pa Ti with Stu Bannatyne on tactics. Kilroy won the the race ahead of Italian rivals Lanfranco Cirillo on Fantastica and Luca Lalli on B.LinSailing.com. Rogers suffered with an eighth place finish while Woods accepted a thirteenth.
Luca Lalli's B.LinSailing.com. Image copyright Carlo Borlenghi/B-Plan.
There were more signs of tension and nervousness for the start of race two. After the third attempt at a start, Woods, with Paul Goodison on tactics (an Olympic Gold Medallist in the Laser class) and Edoardo Pavesio on Fra Martina with Charles Fracassoli on tactics, were among those that proved to have enough boat speed to build a substantial lead for the duration of the race. The wind diminished leaving Ferdinando Battistella’s Cuervo Y Sobrinos with Sandro Montefusco as tactician in third. For Cirillo, he won a ninth place finish, and Lalli’s lackluster results were their worst yet. Rogers was satisfied with a nice seventh place, also his worst result thus far.
Joe Woods' Red. Image copyright Carlo Borlenghi/B-Plan.
The overall top five positions remain unchanged but the standings have closed the gap.
Audi Melges 32 European Championship Fleet Action. Image copyright Carlo Borlenghi/B-Plan.
Top 10 results (after 5 races)
1.) Joe Woods/Paul Goodison, Red; 1-6-1-13-1= 22
2.) Peter Rogers/Ruaridh Scott, Highlife; 2-1-5-5-7 = 23
3.) Lanfranco Cirillo/Michele Paoletti, Fantastica; 4-2-6-2-9 = 23
4.) Luca Lalli/Lorenzo Bressani, BLinSailing.com; 3-5-3-3-10 = 24
5.) John Kilroy/Stu Bannatyne, Samba Pa Ti; 8-9-4-1-5 = 27
6.) Jean-Francois Cruette/Christian Ponthieu, Teasing Machine; 7-4-9-12-6 = 41
7.) Filippo Pacinotti/Freddy Loof, Brontolo; 13-7-2-16-12 = 49
8.) Andrea Cecchetti/Vasco Vascotto, Bagua; 10-11-7-6-16 = 50
9.) Wolfgang Stolz/Sten Mohr, Opus One; 9-12-8-7-11 = 50
10.) Mauro Mocchegiani/Matteo Ivaldi, Rush Diletta; 13-14-13-8-4 = 52
Luca Lalli's B.LinSailing.com. Image copyright Carlo Borlenghi/B-Plan.
Melges 32 Europeans
Banque Populaire V: Towards a New Record Time for the Mediterranean
Banque Populaire V crossing the Mediterranean at speed, 15th May 2010. Image copyright Benoit Stichelbaut/BPCE.
Banque Populaire V crossing the Mediterranean at speed, 15th May 2010. Image copyright Benoit Stichelbaut/BPCE.
by Virginie Bouchet (in translation)
Steered by Pascal Bidégorry and his team, the Maxi Banque Populaire V that crossed the starting line at Marseille at 5h 56min 56s, continues her crossing of the Mediterranean in very lively conditions. The objective: to make a new Record time for the Mediterranean crossing.
Banque Populaire V crossing the Mediterranean at speed, 15th May 2010. Image copyright Benoit Stichelbaut/BPCE.
The wind has never been below 30 knots since the Maxi tri set out, and has gusted to 45 knots... It is therefore in very physical conditions that the Maxi Banque Populaire V has been sailing since crossing the starting line at daen. The record time chassers have not seen their speed drop below 30 knots, having at time reached 43 knots. That seems a very good omen for establishing a good new reference time...
Banque Populaire V crossing the Mediterranean at speed, 15th May 2010. Image copyright Benoit Stichelbaut/BPCE.
Currently not far off the Tunisian coast, the Maxi has covered 365 miles on a direct route since this morning. About 95 miles remain to crossing the finishing line at Carthage in the middle of the evening (local time).
Banque Populaire V crossing the Mediterranean at speed, 15th May 2010. Image copyright Benoit Stichelbaut/BPCE.
Banque Populaire V
Banque Populaire V Crosses the Starting Line on her Mediterranean Record Attempt
Good start for the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V!
Banque Populaire V flies away from the start this morning on her Mediterranean Record attempt. Image copyright B. Stichelbaut/BPCE.
by Virginie Bouchet (in translation)
It was with winds of 26-30 knots that the multihull skippered by Pascal Bidégorry crossed the starting line off Marseille at 05h 56min 56s (French time) this morning, to commence the assault on the Mediterranean Record. Together with the 11 members of the team, Pascal Bidégorry will attempt to establish a new reference time, a record which, since 16 May 2009, has been held by Franck Cammas and his team on Groupama 3 in 17h 8min and 23s. They mustarrive in Carthage in Tunisia before Saturday 23h 05min 19s (French time) to write their names in the record books once again. A true « Med Express » at play in the Mediterranean.
A month after its arrival in the port of La Ciotat, the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V (already holding the North Atlantic and 24hour records), will commence on a very complicated and interesting objective: 455 nautical miles* of pure sport for the giant, which will let its 40m hull length slip in absolute liberty !
Between the ancient Sémaphore de Frioul and the finish line at Carthage (Tunisia), the refence time to beat is 17 hours 8 minutes and 23 seconds.
The meteorological opportunity that presents itself today to the largest multihull in the world seems interesting and corresponds to the expectations of the Basque skipper and of his meteorologist Marcel Van Triest. But on a journey as renowned as that of the Mediterranean crossing for its numerous traps, the launched challenge to the time is fascinating in itself.
* Total distance defined by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council)
Banque Populaire V
Banque Populaire V flies away from the start this morning on her Mediterranean Record attempt. Image copyright B. Stichelbaut/BPCE.
by Virginie Bouchet (in translation)
It was with winds of 26-30 knots that the multihull skippered by Pascal Bidégorry crossed the starting line off Marseille at 05h 56min 56s (French time) this morning, to commence the assault on the Mediterranean Record. Together with the 11 members of the team, Pascal Bidégorry will attempt to establish a new reference time, a record which, since 16 May 2009, has been held by Franck Cammas and his team on Groupama 3 in 17h 8min and 23s. They mustarrive in Carthage in Tunisia before Saturday 23h 05min 19s (French time) to write their names in the record books once again. A true « Med Express » at play in the Mediterranean.
A month after its arrival in the port of La Ciotat, the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V (already holding the North Atlantic and 24hour records), will commence on a very complicated and interesting objective: 455 nautical miles* of pure sport for the giant, which will let its 40m hull length slip in absolute liberty !
Between the ancient Sémaphore de Frioul and the finish line at Carthage (Tunisia), the refence time to beat is 17 hours 8 minutes and 23 seconds.
The meteorological opportunity that presents itself today to the largest multihull in the world seems interesting and corresponds to the expectations of the Basque skipper and of his meteorologist Marcel Van Triest. But on a journey as renowned as that of the Mediterranean crossing for its numerous traps, the launched challenge to the time is fascinating in itself.
* Total distance defined by the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council)
Banque Populaire V
Anna Tunnicliffe Second Overall at NYYC Women's Match Race Clinic and Regatta
Cold Sailing For Team Tunnicliffe. Image copyright Marni Lane, USSTAG, May 2010.
by Anna Tunnicliffe
It was a great day for sailing again despite the overcast skies. We ended up finishing second overall to Sally Barkow after losing 3-1 in the finals. Sally sailed a very good series and definitely deserved to win today. Placing third, after winning the petit-finals, was Genny Tulloch.
Our morning started with one more race in the semi finals against Katy Lovell. After starting the series yesterday 2-0, we wrapped up the race today after she started early. We led from there, all around the course.
After our race, we sat around waiting for the other semi-final match up to finish. Sally ended up beating Genny 3-1 in the series to advance to the finals. With the current getting stronger and the wind dying a bit, we did a warm up during their race so we would be ready for the match up when they finished.
The racing was tight between us except for the last race. In the first race, we rounded inside at the top mark, but she had position to roll right over us and led us around the bottom mark. She then got the right of the course on the next up wind and held on to the lead. In the second race, we rounded right behind her, and passed her downwind. She passed us again upwind but then we had a tight battle downwind where she got two penalties. In the third race, we led off the line, but made a mistake upwind and gave her the lead. Despite staying close for the rest of the race, we couldn't catch them. In the final race of the series, we started to the left of them and were in less pressure from the get-go. We couldn't close the lead and she went on to win the race and the series 3-1.
We learned a lot and are happy with our result. We would have liked to win, but today wasn't our day. We are looking forward to two weeks off before our next event on June 1 in Annapolis, MD, giving us time to decompress, debrief the past three regattas and regroup. We had a good series of events finishing with two second places and a first place.
Team Tunnicliffe
NYYC Women's Match Race Clinic
Finn Europeans: Day Four sees two races
Finns return in darkness after two late races
Finns sailing in the sunset. Supplied image.
by Robert Deaves
Split's city lights were coming on as sailors returned home after day four at the Finn European Championships, but it didn't matter, as two late races meant that it is now a valid championship, something that earlier in the day looked highly unlikely. Race three winner Daniel Birgmark (SWE) takes the overall lead from Jonathan Lobert (FRA) and defending champion Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO). The second race of the day was was won by Rafa Trujillo (ESP)
Held on shore again due to light winds and thunderstorms earlier in the day until 12.30the fleet set out to wait under a hot sun and in no wind for more than four hours. The locals predicted the 'Jugo' wind would arrive at around 17.00 and at 16.55 the breeze started to build and the 97 Finns were rewarded with two great races in 10-14 knots of breeze.
The wind was up to 10 knots by the start of race three, which was set to the south of Split close by the dramatic shoreline. The left hand side was always going to pay. Marc Allain des Beauvais (FRA) went furthest to the left, picked up a nice angle to the mark and rounded the top mark clear ahead of Birgmark, Marin Misura (CRO), Vasilij Zbogar (SLO) and Klakovic Gaspic.
Start of race three. Supplied image.
The wind started to increase as Birgmark led the fleet back to the left on the second upwind leg. Kljakovic Gaspic moved into second with Zbogar in third. The Oscar flag for free pumping was raised at the second windward mark with the fleet finally enjoying fantastic conditions down to the finish.
Birgmark battled hard with Kljakovic Gaspic, but crossed the line first with Kljakovic Gaspic in second and Misura climbing to third.
Birgmark said, "The current was with the wind today and not everyone was up on the line. I had a good transit and I had a really good start, I used the left side and that paid off really well. There were a couple of other guys who went further, such as FRA 99 [Allain des Beauvais] but that really paid off, and he got a really good lift to the mark."
"I liked the downwinds a lot with the free pumping. That was definitely a lot of fun. It felt really good to win the race, and I had a big battle with Bambi as he's always very fast on the downwind so I'm happy that I could beat him"
Daniel Birgmark (SWE): ´current overall leader. Supplied image.
The race office was clearly eager to complete the next race before sunset while there was wind and started race four almost immediately, with Oscar flying for free pumping downwind. Again the fleet got away first time and again most favoured the left hand side closer to the shore. However this time it didn't pay to go that far with Trujillo emerging ahead just beneath the pack on the left to round first from Tomas Vika (CZE), Misura and Mate Arapov (CRO).
By the leeward gate Lobert had moved up to second with Birgmark in third. These positions remained the same throughout the second upwind, while Ed Wright (GBR) was moving through the fleet. He rounded the top mark in fourth place and then made his move downwind to finally place second behind Trujillo, who won by 25 seconds. Romeo flag was removed at the second windward mark to limit pumping as the wind started to drop away Birgmark finished third and Lobert fourth.
Rafa Trujillo (ESP) won the day. Supplied image.
Trujillo said, "I've rounded the first mark three times in fours races and finally I have won one. In the first race I started at the committee boat as I wanted to be on the right, but it didn't pay and I finished 17th, so I was really motivated in the second to try and come back and get a good result. So I gave it 100 per cent and was lucky that I was on the right side and took the lead and extended from there."
"I had a feeling the wind was dying but I had more pressure to come through the fleet. Then towards the end of the race I was thinking with the luck that I have had this week they would cancel the race because the sun was going down." But they didn't and Trujillo took his first win of the week.
Waiting for wind. Supplied image.
The sun had already set as the fleet headed back to Split harbour with the lights around the harbour twinkling in welcome after nearly eight hours on the water.
The defending champion is Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic. With a 2-6 today he moved up to third overall. He said, "It was a long wait and you have to stay fresh, you have to keep your mind fresh all the time. I was hoping for the wind, but it wasn't easy to wait for hours in sun and light winds. In the end I did a good job."
"The first race was really good for me, but in the second I wasn't looking so good after the first beat. I was a little bit on the right and I lost a lot of places, so I had a lot of work to do on the downwind, but I performed well, especially on the first downwind. Free pumping was on and we were pumping hard, which worked out really well and after this it became easier for me as I had more pressure on the right and also on the second downwind." He finally moved up to sixth by the finish.
Start of the second race on day four of the Finn Europeans. Supplied image.
All sailors were complimentary about the race team, waiting patiently to get the races in. Trujillo said, "I want to congratulate the race committee, they were great conditions and they did a good job today. We now have four good races so are on the way to saving the championship."
Kljakovic Gaspic said "I think they made a really great effort to get us sailing. The races were really fair, in really nice conditions and I can just say thanks to them because they really did a great job and it paid off."
After four races, Birgmark has a four point margin from Lobert and seven point from Kljakovic Gaspic. The final qualification races will take place on Saturday and one more is required to have the medal race on Sunday.
Top 10 after two races
1 SWE 11 Daniel Birgmark 22
2 FRA 112 Jonathan Lobert 26
3 CRO 524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 29
4 GBR 41 Giles Scott 31
5 ESP 100 Rafael Trujillo 34
6 GBR 11 Edward Wright 34
7 FRA 115 Thomas Le Breton 36
8 CRO 25 Marin Misura 37
9 CRO 2 Mate Arapov 44
10 NOR 1 Peer Moberg 44
NZL: 15th Dan Slater 67pts
Finn Europeans 2010
Finns sailing in the sunset. Supplied image.
by Robert Deaves
Split's city lights were coming on as sailors returned home after day four at the Finn European Championships, but it didn't matter, as two late races meant that it is now a valid championship, something that earlier in the day looked highly unlikely. Race three winner Daniel Birgmark (SWE) takes the overall lead from Jonathan Lobert (FRA) and defending champion Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO). The second race of the day was was won by Rafa Trujillo (ESP)
Held on shore again due to light winds and thunderstorms earlier in the day until 12.30the fleet set out to wait under a hot sun and in no wind for more than four hours. The locals predicted the 'Jugo' wind would arrive at around 17.00 and at 16.55 the breeze started to build and the 97 Finns were rewarded with two great races in 10-14 knots of breeze.
The wind was up to 10 knots by the start of race three, which was set to the south of Split close by the dramatic shoreline. The left hand side was always going to pay. Marc Allain des Beauvais (FRA) went furthest to the left, picked up a nice angle to the mark and rounded the top mark clear ahead of Birgmark, Marin Misura (CRO), Vasilij Zbogar (SLO) and Klakovic Gaspic.
Start of race three. Supplied image.
The wind started to increase as Birgmark led the fleet back to the left on the second upwind leg. Kljakovic Gaspic moved into second with Zbogar in third. The Oscar flag for free pumping was raised at the second windward mark with the fleet finally enjoying fantastic conditions down to the finish.
Birgmark battled hard with Kljakovic Gaspic, but crossed the line first with Kljakovic Gaspic in second and Misura climbing to third.
Birgmark said, "The current was with the wind today and not everyone was up on the line. I had a good transit and I had a really good start, I used the left side and that paid off really well. There were a couple of other guys who went further, such as FRA 99 [Allain des Beauvais] but that really paid off, and he got a really good lift to the mark."
"I liked the downwinds a lot with the free pumping. That was definitely a lot of fun. It felt really good to win the race, and I had a big battle with Bambi as he's always very fast on the downwind so I'm happy that I could beat him"
Daniel Birgmark (SWE): ´current overall leader. Supplied image.
The race office was clearly eager to complete the next race before sunset while there was wind and started race four almost immediately, with Oscar flying for free pumping downwind. Again the fleet got away first time and again most favoured the left hand side closer to the shore. However this time it didn't pay to go that far with Trujillo emerging ahead just beneath the pack on the left to round first from Tomas Vika (CZE), Misura and Mate Arapov (CRO).
By the leeward gate Lobert had moved up to second with Birgmark in third. These positions remained the same throughout the second upwind, while Ed Wright (GBR) was moving through the fleet. He rounded the top mark in fourth place and then made his move downwind to finally place second behind Trujillo, who won by 25 seconds. Romeo flag was removed at the second windward mark to limit pumping as the wind started to drop away Birgmark finished third and Lobert fourth.
Rafa Trujillo (ESP) won the day. Supplied image.
Trujillo said, "I've rounded the first mark three times in fours races and finally I have won one. In the first race I started at the committee boat as I wanted to be on the right, but it didn't pay and I finished 17th, so I was really motivated in the second to try and come back and get a good result. So I gave it 100 per cent and was lucky that I was on the right side and took the lead and extended from there."
"I had a feeling the wind was dying but I had more pressure to come through the fleet. Then towards the end of the race I was thinking with the luck that I have had this week they would cancel the race because the sun was going down." But they didn't and Trujillo took his first win of the week.
Waiting for wind. Supplied image.
The sun had already set as the fleet headed back to Split harbour with the lights around the harbour twinkling in welcome after nearly eight hours on the water.
The defending champion is Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic. With a 2-6 today he moved up to third overall. He said, "It was a long wait and you have to stay fresh, you have to keep your mind fresh all the time. I was hoping for the wind, but it wasn't easy to wait for hours in sun and light winds. In the end I did a good job."
"The first race was really good for me, but in the second I wasn't looking so good after the first beat. I was a little bit on the right and I lost a lot of places, so I had a lot of work to do on the downwind, but I performed well, especially on the first downwind. Free pumping was on and we were pumping hard, which worked out really well and after this it became easier for me as I had more pressure on the right and also on the second downwind." He finally moved up to sixth by the finish.
Start of the second race on day four of the Finn Europeans. Supplied image.
All sailors were complimentary about the race team, waiting patiently to get the races in. Trujillo said, "I want to congratulate the race committee, they were great conditions and they did a good job today. We now have four good races so are on the way to saving the championship."
Kljakovic Gaspic said "I think they made a really great effort to get us sailing. The races were really fair, in really nice conditions and I can just say thanks to them because they really did a great job and it paid off."
After four races, Birgmark has a four point margin from Lobert and seven point from Kljakovic Gaspic. The final qualification races will take place on Saturday and one more is required to have the medal race on Sunday.
Top 10 after two races
1 SWE 11 Daniel Birgmark 22
2 FRA 112 Jonathan Lobert 26
3 CRO 524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 29
4 GBR 41 Giles Scott 31
5 ESP 100 Rafael Trujillo 34
6 GBR 11 Edward Wright 34
7 FRA 115 Thomas Le Breton 36
8 CRO 25 Marin Misura 37
9 CRO 2 Mate Arapov 44
10 NOR 1 Peer Moberg 44
NZL: 15th Dan Slater 67pts
Finn Europeans 2010
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