Friday, 14 May 2010
WMRT: Future Talent Phil Robertson with WAKA Racing Wins Korea Match Cup Qualifier
Robertson Secures Entry to ISAF World Match Racing Tour 2010 Korea Match Cup
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Phil Robertson and Waka Racing win the Korea Match Cup qualifier. Image copyright Korea Match Cup.
by Audrey Lakai
The Korea Match Cup Qualifier for the ISAF World Match Racing Tour Korea Match Cup held in Gyeonggi, South Korea has produced a young and upcoming racing personality for the sports fans to follow. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing won the latest qualifier and is now in a bid to secure entries to as many of the 10 Stages of the 2010 Tour circuit as possible through qualifying Grade One events. The Tour is a professional series and competition is tough to gain an entry into any of the global events.
Twenty three year old Robertson is the fresh face on the rise in the international match racing circuit and has decided to select his crew from rival dinghy sailors whom he has raced against since he was just 10 years old. In an interview with the Tour after winning the Korea Match Cup Qualifier, Robertson who trains on home waters in New Zealand against rival Laurie Jury said, “they are a great group of guys and we have fun together”.
Robertson went perfectly through the initial Round Robin in South Korea with a solid 10 wins out of 11 races, Olli – Pekka Lumijärvi from Finland was the only competitor to beat him in one match. Robertson went on to be top on the leader board for the Korea Match Cup Qualifier with his WAKA Racing Team and puts his success down to ‘great team work’.
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Korea Match Cup qualifiers racing. Image copyright Korea Match Cup.
The main focus for Robertson, who has developed his racing skills through Optimist and 420 class events, will be match racing for the next three years, Robertson ran through his 2010 plans. “We will compete in all the Grade One events we can and hope to race in 6 Tour events during 2010”.
Currently Robertson has won an entry to compete at Korea Match Cup and the Argo Group Gold Cup so he has another four events he must qualify for to meet his 2010 aim. The team will also be spending quality time in the gym this year to increase their overall body weight. This is essential when competing on the larger match race yachts.
To make sure he experiences the top level ISAF World Match Racing Tour competition before Korea Match Cup in June, Robertson has decided to crew for Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Proximo at Match Race Germany. Robertson will be a competitor to his core WAKA Racing crew in Langenargen where the remaining four members will be competing with match race legend Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge. This will be a prized learning week with Holmberg, the crew will be learning from a double winner of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour and a helm who was previously ranked number one in the world at match racing.
Magnus is known as one of the most competitive sailors in the match racing scene so the crews will be pushed to their racing limits. They will all share common ground with early years spent in dinghy classes, Holmberg then went on to represent Sweden three times in the Olympic Games as well as being involved in two America’s Cup campaigns. It will be a testing situation for Robertson in Germany, he has a huge insight into his crew’s minds and can use this to his competitive advantage if there is close racing produced against Ainslie and Holmberg.
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Dong Young Kim, Event Promoter Korea Match Cup. Image copyright Korea Match Cup.
After the prize giving at Gyeonggi, Dong Young Kim, Event Promoter of the Korea Match Cup explained the importance of this qualifier event to select the wild card entries for the main World Match Racing Tour event, “the Korea Match Cup Qualifier provides an excellent competition where the winner not only achieves regatta victory but is also signed to enter the highest elite level event racing the World Match Racing Tour Card Holders. This is a real accolade for the upcoming star to reach in the match racing world”.
Robertson is set for a very active 2010 racing programme under his WAKA Racing team name, originating from the native New Zealand Maori language meaning war canoe, and is backed by sponsor Tax Management New Zealand.
New Zealand will continue to inspire a wealth of hot ISAF World Match Racing Tour contenders and is backed up by a famous marine heritage including the likes of Sir Peter Blake, Robertson’s all time racing legend.
Skipper List - Stage 2 - Match Race Germany
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
Ian Williams (GBR) Sail Bahrain
Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Proximo
Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge
Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team
Kathrin Kadelback (GER) EWE Sailing Team
2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings
(After Stage 1 of 10)
1. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 25 Points
2. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 20 Points
3. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 15 Points
4. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 12 Points
5. Sebastian Col (FRA) ALL 4 ONE 10 Points
6. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 8 Points
7. Philippe Presti (FRA) 6 Points
8. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 4 Points
2010 Tour Card Holders:
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team (Gill Global Team for Match Race Germany)
Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Ian Williams (GBR) Sail Bahrain
About the ISAF World Match Racing Tour:
The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is the leading professional sailing series featuring 10 World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with “Special Event” status.
The World Tour awards over US$1.5million in prize money with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion”. In addition, an incentive to compete in the world’s premier sailing series just got bigger. A US$250,000 overall prize pool for the top nine teams with a $50,000 bonus for the outright winner of next year’s World Match Racing Tour is now on offer.
Events utilise the same “match race” format used in the America’s Cup with racing taking place in identically supplied racing yachts which places a focuses on team work and skill. Racing takes place close to the shore for the general public to follow the races as virtual on-the-water stadiums.
Media and television highlights coverage reaches over 2.1 billion households in excess of 183 countries around the world.
ISAF World Match Racing Tour Calendar 2010
Match Race France 6 - 11 April Marseille, France
Match Race Germany 19 – 24 May Langenargen, Germany
Korea Match Cup 8 – 13 June Gyeonggi, South Korea
Portimão Portugal Match Cup 22 – 27 June Portimão, Portugal
Match Cup Sweden 5 – 11 July Marstrand, Sweden
St Moritz Match Race 31 Aug – 5 Sept St Moritz, Switzerland
Danish Open 8 – 12 Sept Bornholm, Denmark
Vietnam Match Cup 21 – 26 Sept Nha Trang Bay, Vietnam
Argo Group Gold Cup 4 – 10 Oct Hamilton, Bermuda
Monsoon Cup 30 Nov – 5 Dec Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
Note from SailRaceWin: Waka Racing's own report from the finals of this event preceded this official press release, and can be viewed here
Korea Match Cup
World Match Racing Tour
Finn Europeans: Still only one race on Day Three
Lobert wins only race on third day at Finn Europeans
Finns downwind. Supplied image.
by Robert Deaves
Split spat everything at the sailors on Thursday at the Finn European Championship, except enough wind to complete more than one race. Jonathan Lobert (FRA) won the only race sailed to bring the total tally of races sailed to just two after three days.
Racing was postponed on shore again as first the wind died and then the rain came. That cleared and the sun came out and everything began to heat up. At about 13.00 the race officer sent the fleet out in hardly any wind, but by the time race two was started at 14.45, a stable 6-7 knot breeze was in. The course was laid to the north of the club alongside some stunning scenery and for the first time this week, the cloud lifted to the hills behind Split to leave a spectacular backdrop to the racing.
The line was pin end biased and the right side of the course was favoured. Rafa Trujillo (ESP) started at the pin and rounded the top mark in the lead ahead of Marin Misura (CRO), Alexiy Sivenkov (RUS), Peer Moberg (NOR) and Lobert.
Lobert takes up his story. "I had a good start at the pin end so then I was on the left hand side of the fleet. I tacked and kept going to the right and rounded about fifth or sixth and then I had a very good downwind. I was catching the waves nicely and managed to gain a bit of distance, but I rounded the wrong gate mark and Marin was leading again." Trujillo had been yellow flagged at the top mark and trailed in about 10th place
Lobert continued, "On the last downwind Marin and I had a big fight together and he got a yellow flag, but then he kept coming back at me and got close to me and we were just gybing for the finish when his sail caught my boom, so he did more turns and I won the race. I was a little bit lucky to win."
Jonathan Lobert (FRA) won the race. Supplied image.
Misura finished second followed by the defending champion Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO), Daniel Birgmark (SWE) and Alejandro Muscat (ESP).
Misura said, "For me it was easy. I had a good start. Then I went all the way right and rounded the top mark in second. I was leading all the way after that but I got a penalty just before the finish, but I still managed to finish second."
The start of race three was attempted almost straight away, but it took three sequences before the fleet got away under black flag. This time the left side paid off with more pressure as the wind started to drop across the course. Mark Andrews (GBR) led the fleet round the top mark, but it was short lived as the race was abandoned 10 minutes later as the wind failed and lots of boats who had over stood the windward mark struggled to get back against the current. Gasper Vincec (SLO), who had rounded second, had waited all day to sail as he had to sit out race two after picking up a black flag yesterday. So it was a long day for some and only one more race on the board.
Rising stars
Two young sailors here, Caleb Paine (USA) and Luke Lawrence (USA) are both part of the US Sailing Development Team. While this is Lawrence's first Finn championship, Paine's introduction was at last year's Finn Gold Cup in Denmark. Both are very ambitious sailors with Olympic dreams for 2012 and 2016.
Both are also just 19 years old and gunning for the Junior European Championship this week. But how did they get into the Finn?
Caleb Paine. Supplied image.
Paine said, "I actually started in a Finn last year through the guys in the US, especially Scott Mason and Peter McDonald who helped me out a lot. Basically they realised I was too big for the Laser and said, "Here, try a Finn". So I tried it and loved it. I signed up and bought a boat and here I am."
"I did the Finn Gold Cup in Copenhagen last year and the OCR in Miami this year. I am going to try and do the circuit this year and if I can get funding from Alphagraphics for next year it would help me a bunch."
Caleb Paine sailing his Finn. Supplied image.
Talking about his long term goal to represent the US in the Olympics he said, "For me it's extremely important to have a boat for heavyweights in the Olympics. If I don't have a boat to sail in the Olympics it sort of takes that dream away from me. And from many other people as well. At the moment the Finn is the ideal boat for that."
"Lawrence said, "I started off back in January. I was training for the OCRs in the Laser and in the process of going to the gym I put on about 10 pounds, which made me too heavy for the Laser so I decided to take the next step with the Finn. So I found a boat and sailed the OCRs. I did pretty well, so decided to stay with it. I made the US Sailing development team and they shipped my boat over here and I have been doing all the events since."
"I love sailing the Finn. I have also been sailing the 505 for a few years. It's different to the Laser. Technically it's more my thing. I enjoyed the Laser but I got a bit bored with it after a bit. The Finn is constantly a new challenge every time I go sailing."
Luke Lawrence. Supplied image.
"My long terms goals are the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Right now I am working with John Bertrand full time. He's a really good coach. We work well together."
Lawrence weighs in at 88 kg and admits "I am still a bit small for the Finn but I'm still putting on weight and building muscle to handle the boat." Paine, who currently weighs 100 kg said, "I have put on a lot of muscle since last year."
After two races Paine lies in 39th place though he says, "My goal for the week is top 20 overall." Lawrence, whose goal is "...top three in the Juniors," lies in 32nd and is second Junior, though there is already a sizeable gap to last year's Junior Champion Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) who is in 19th place. Third place is currently held by Christoph Froh (GER).
Luke Lawrence sailing his Finn. Supplied image.
Lawrence concluded, "The best part so far is the learning curve. I got a second in the Youth Worlds and I had fun with that, but I got to a point in the Laser where I was once I got too heavy I was just starting to suffer a lot and didn't want to just eat salad to sail my boat. For me, I like sailing singlehanded boats at the moment and I definitely want to go for the Olympics."
Better weather ahead?
Everyone is hoping that the clearer skies and lack of haze on the hills may bring better weather and wind tomorrow. Lobert summed up, "I think so far we have done the best we could have done in these conditions. Hopefully tomorrow will be better."
After two races Moberg has a one point lead, but there is hopefully still a very long way to go and if the two races sailed are anything to go by it could be a high scoring regatta.
Finns upwind in race two. Supplied image.
There are just two more scheduled days of fleet racing left, though we need to sail four to make a series and five to sail a medal race, which is scheduled for Sunday. Three races are scheduled for Friday from 11.00.
Top 10 after two races
1 NOR 1 Peer Moberg 15
2 GBR 41 Giles Scott 16
3 ESP 100 Rafael Trujillo 16
4 FRA 115 Thomas Le Breton 16
5 FRA 112 Jonathan Lobert 18
6 SWE 11 Daniel Birgmark 18
7 CRO 2 Mate Arapov 20
8 CRO 524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 21
9 SLO 573 Vasilij Zbogar 21
10 GBR 11 Edward Wright 21
NZL: 13th Dan Slater 27pts
Finn Europeans 2010
Finns downwind. Supplied image.
by Robert Deaves
Split spat everything at the sailors on Thursday at the Finn European Championship, except enough wind to complete more than one race. Jonathan Lobert (FRA) won the only race sailed to bring the total tally of races sailed to just two after three days.
Racing was postponed on shore again as first the wind died and then the rain came. That cleared and the sun came out and everything began to heat up. At about 13.00 the race officer sent the fleet out in hardly any wind, but by the time race two was started at 14.45, a stable 6-7 knot breeze was in. The course was laid to the north of the club alongside some stunning scenery and for the first time this week, the cloud lifted to the hills behind Split to leave a spectacular backdrop to the racing.
The line was pin end biased and the right side of the course was favoured. Rafa Trujillo (ESP) started at the pin and rounded the top mark in the lead ahead of Marin Misura (CRO), Alexiy Sivenkov (RUS), Peer Moberg (NOR) and Lobert.
Lobert takes up his story. "I had a good start at the pin end so then I was on the left hand side of the fleet. I tacked and kept going to the right and rounded about fifth or sixth and then I had a very good downwind. I was catching the waves nicely and managed to gain a bit of distance, but I rounded the wrong gate mark and Marin was leading again." Trujillo had been yellow flagged at the top mark and trailed in about 10th place
Lobert continued, "On the last downwind Marin and I had a big fight together and he got a yellow flag, but then he kept coming back at me and got close to me and we were just gybing for the finish when his sail caught my boom, so he did more turns and I won the race. I was a little bit lucky to win."
Jonathan Lobert (FRA) won the race. Supplied image.
Misura finished second followed by the defending champion Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO), Daniel Birgmark (SWE) and Alejandro Muscat (ESP).
Misura said, "For me it was easy. I had a good start. Then I went all the way right and rounded the top mark in second. I was leading all the way after that but I got a penalty just before the finish, but I still managed to finish second."
The start of race three was attempted almost straight away, but it took three sequences before the fleet got away under black flag. This time the left side paid off with more pressure as the wind started to drop across the course. Mark Andrews (GBR) led the fleet round the top mark, but it was short lived as the race was abandoned 10 minutes later as the wind failed and lots of boats who had over stood the windward mark struggled to get back against the current. Gasper Vincec (SLO), who had rounded second, had waited all day to sail as he had to sit out race two after picking up a black flag yesterday. So it was a long day for some and only one more race on the board.
Rising stars
Two young sailors here, Caleb Paine (USA) and Luke Lawrence (USA) are both part of the US Sailing Development Team. While this is Lawrence's first Finn championship, Paine's introduction was at last year's Finn Gold Cup in Denmark. Both are very ambitious sailors with Olympic dreams for 2012 and 2016.
Both are also just 19 years old and gunning for the Junior European Championship this week. But how did they get into the Finn?
Caleb Paine. Supplied image.
Paine said, "I actually started in a Finn last year through the guys in the US, especially Scott Mason and Peter McDonald who helped me out a lot. Basically they realised I was too big for the Laser and said, "Here, try a Finn". So I tried it and loved it. I signed up and bought a boat and here I am."
"I did the Finn Gold Cup in Copenhagen last year and the OCR in Miami this year. I am going to try and do the circuit this year and if I can get funding from Alphagraphics for next year it would help me a bunch."
Caleb Paine sailing his Finn. Supplied image.
Talking about his long term goal to represent the US in the Olympics he said, "For me it's extremely important to have a boat for heavyweights in the Olympics. If I don't have a boat to sail in the Olympics it sort of takes that dream away from me. And from many other people as well. At the moment the Finn is the ideal boat for that."
"Lawrence said, "I started off back in January. I was training for the OCRs in the Laser and in the process of going to the gym I put on about 10 pounds, which made me too heavy for the Laser so I decided to take the next step with the Finn. So I found a boat and sailed the OCRs. I did pretty well, so decided to stay with it. I made the US Sailing development team and they shipped my boat over here and I have been doing all the events since."
"I love sailing the Finn. I have also been sailing the 505 for a few years. It's different to the Laser. Technically it's more my thing. I enjoyed the Laser but I got a bit bored with it after a bit. The Finn is constantly a new challenge every time I go sailing."
Luke Lawrence. Supplied image.
"My long terms goals are the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Right now I am working with John Bertrand full time. He's a really good coach. We work well together."
Lawrence weighs in at 88 kg and admits "I am still a bit small for the Finn but I'm still putting on weight and building muscle to handle the boat." Paine, who currently weighs 100 kg said, "I have put on a lot of muscle since last year."
After two races Paine lies in 39th place though he says, "My goal for the week is top 20 overall." Lawrence, whose goal is "...top three in the Juniors," lies in 32nd and is second Junior, though there is already a sizeable gap to last year's Junior Champion Ioannis Mitakis (GRE) who is in 19th place. Third place is currently held by Christoph Froh (GER).
Luke Lawrence sailing his Finn. Supplied image.
Lawrence concluded, "The best part so far is the learning curve. I got a second in the Youth Worlds and I had fun with that, but I got to a point in the Laser where I was once I got too heavy I was just starting to suffer a lot and didn't want to just eat salad to sail my boat. For me, I like sailing singlehanded boats at the moment and I definitely want to go for the Olympics."
Better weather ahead?
Everyone is hoping that the clearer skies and lack of haze on the hills may bring better weather and wind tomorrow. Lobert summed up, "I think so far we have done the best we could have done in these conditions. Hopefully tomorrow will be better."
After two races Moberg has a one point lead, but there is hopefully still a very long way to go and if the two races sailed are anything to go by it could be a high scoring regatta.
Finns upwind in race two. Supplied image.
There are just two more scheduled days of fleet racing left, though we need to sail four to make a series and five to sail a medal race, which is scheduled for Sunday. Three races are scheduled for Friday from 11.00.
Top 10 after two races
1 NOR 1 Peer Moberg 15
2 GBR 41 Giles Scott 16
3 ESP 100 Rafael Trujillo 16
4 FRA 115 Thomas Le Breton 16
5 FRA 112 Jonathan Lobert 18
6 SWE 11 Daniel Birgmark 18
7 CRO 2 Mate Arapov 20
8 CRO 524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 21
9 SLO 573 Vasilij Zbogar 21
10 GBR 11 Edward Wright 21
NZL: 13th Dan Slater 27pts
Finn Europeans 2010
Audi MedCup: Emirates Team New Zealand running with the wind in Portugal
Emirates Team New Zealand takes off. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
by Warren Douglas
The breeze grew stronger and Emirates Team New Zealand picked up the pace on the second day of Audi MedCup racing in Cascais.
The defending champions had a more confident day on the water, starting on the same upbeat note they ended Race Day 1, with another win, and followed it up with a gutsy fourth placing.
Close racing on day two of the TP52 regatta. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
Those solid results promoted them up the Portugal Trophy leaderboard to second place, only two points off leaders TeamOrigin, newcomers to the Audi MedCup circuit this season.
“We knew we needed to try to consolidate on a good last race yesterday so we went out with the approach of getting two good races today,” skipper Dean Barker said. “All in all, it was a pretty positive day. To come out of the day second overall is good, but it’s still very shifty out there, and hard to read.”
Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
The day began with puffy and shifty northwesterly winds of 10-14 knots, as the fleet had seen on the previous two days of racing. But the breeze rose during the day, peaking at 23 knot gusts during race two, to generate fast and exciting downwind sailing; NZL380 cracking along at speeds in the early 20s.
Emirates Team New Zealand on day two of racing off Portugal. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
In the first race of the day, NZL380 got a good start and chased 2008 circuit winners Quantum Racing around the first top mark. Downwind, Barker took the boat a little further inshore, to gain from a wind shift and cross ahead of the US boat. They strengthened their lead on the run to the finish, for a 40s victory over the Russian Synergy crew.
TP52 fleet. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
As the wind gathered speed in the second race, it was still unpredictable, and Emirates Team New Zealand came out on the wrong side of a wind swing off the startline.
“ We got a good start at the pin end, but unfortunately the breeze clocked 30 or 40 degrees right on the first beat, and we found ourselves pretty deep in the fleet. Ray [Davies] and Beasho [Adam Beashel] did a great job cutting our losses and getting us back into the action. Fortunately we were able to stay in touch, seventh around first top mark in, and fourth at the bottom, and we managed to maintain that,” Barker said.
Cristabella (GBR) has Kiwi tactician John Cutler on board. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
“We had wanted to back up our win with a top 3 placing. But the most satisfying thing was that we dug our way out and back into the race. Instead of gambling and hoping the breeze would come back our way, we ground our way back through the fleet.”
The All4One crew won the race in a neck-and-neck battle with TeamOrigin, who christened their Kiwi-built boat just two days ago.
Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
“It’s really enjoyable sailing, with plenty of action, and we should have a couple more races in those stronger breezes, which will certainly test all the teams,” Barker said.
Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
Audio of Dean Barker discussing the racing on day two off Cascais
Portugal Trophy, Cascais: TP52 Series
Overall – Day 2
Emirates Team New Zealand behind the spray. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
1. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+9+2+4+2= 21 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 6+11+1+1+4= 23
3. Synergy (RUS), 8+1+6+3+5= 23
4. Quantum Racing (USA), 1+5+8+2+10= 26
5. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 9+7+4+6+1= 27
6. Cristabella (GBR), 2+8+3+5+9= 27 points
7. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+7+8+3= 27
8. Matador (ARG), 7+2+5+9+8= 31
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+3+9+10+6= 33
10. Bigamist 7 (POR), 11+4+11+7+11= 44
11. Bribón (ESP), 10+10+10+12(DNC)+7= 49
Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Chris Cameron/Emirates Team New Zealand.
Emirates Team New Zealand
Audi MedCup
Audi MedCup: TP52 Images from Day Two of the Portugal Trophy
Emirates Team New Zealand on day two of the Portugal Trophy. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Synergy close racing with TEAMORIGIN 1851 on day two of the Portugal Trophy. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Bigamist 7 on day two of the Portugal Trophy. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE. Image copyright Ainhoa Sanchez/Audi MedCup.
Luna Rossa. Image copyright Ainhoa Sanchez/Audi MedCup.
Matador. Image copyright Ainhoa Sanchez/Audi MedCup.
Artemis. Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE leads the fleet. Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
On board Artemis. Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Matador and Cristabella. Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
TP52 start. Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
TP52s from the air. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
Luna Rossa. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Matador. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Audi MedCup
Audi MedCup: TEAMORIGIN 1851 and Puerto Calero lead the Portugal Trophy Cascais
After five races of the Portugal Trophy Cascais, the first regatta of the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit, the British crew of TeamOrigin 1851 lead overall by two points ahead of defending champions Emirates Team New Zealand. In the GP42 Series, defending champion Puerto Calero starts their season with two winning guns to become the first leader of the season
TP52 start. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson
In a thrilling finish to the second race of the day, when the TP52 Series’ pair of four times Olympic medallists, Jochen Schuemann (GER) steering Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) and Ben Ainslie (GBR) steering TeamOrigin 1851 (GBR) duelled down the closing minutes of a fast, full throttle final run, it was the German boat which just pipped the British crew by only one second.
TP52s from the air. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
Added to their fourth place in the first race, Circuit newcomers TeamOrigin’s consistency was the result of smart tactical sailing in the puffy, and shifty NW’ly winds. In the first race the breeze averaged around 10-14 knots, but the second TP52 contest enjoyed the strongest winds of the regatta so far with gusts to 22-23 knots producing fast and exciting downwind sailing.
As befits a crew with seven Olympic medals and two America’s Cup wins between their afterguard, TeamOrigin’s starting was sharp today and they were then able to profit from the windshifts to gain places on both of today’s contests.
Emirates Team New Zealand. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) took their second successive race victory when they managed to pass Quantum Racing (USA) near the top of the penultimate leg of Race 4. With a fourth in the second race of the day, hard won after they were on the wrong side of a big wind shift inshore during the first upwind leg, the Kiwi team marched up the overall leaderboard from eighth after Wednesday’s first three race, to lie second.
TP52 Series Race 4
Start of the TP52s on day two of the Portugal Trophy. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
With a maximum of 15 knots of breeze during the race Quantum Racing lead around the windward mark, gaining from their position on the left side of the course, starting close to the pin, left hand end of the start line.
After chasing Quantum Racing around the first windward mark and on the downwind leg, Emirates Team New Zealand were able to split a little further inshore, gaining from slightly more pressure and a favourable wind shift to be able to cross ahead of the 2008 Circuit winners. Dean Barker (NZL) and the New Zealand crew were able to extend slightly to win by 40 seconds, with the Russian flagged Synergy, steered this season by Karol Jablonski (POL) with Rod Dawson (NZL) calling tactics which finished third.
Artemis. Image copyright Ian Roman/Audi MedCup.
After skipper-helm Terry Hutchinson (USA) had to be taken off Quantum Racing due to a pre-start accident, tactician Adrian Stead stepped in to deputise. Hutchinson was taken to hospital but was reported to be well enough to watch the racing unfold live on the live TV feed. The Spanish boat Bribón did not start after they suffered broken battens.
TP52 Series Race 5
Audi A1 Team powered by ALL4ONE leads Artemis. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Jochen Schuemann and the Franco-German team on Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE scored their first victory on the circuit after profiting early from the wind shift to the right, inshore on the first upwind leg. While they lead around the first windward mark of ahead of Artemis (SWE), TeamOrigin were able to make a big gain on the second beat on that side of the course which brought them on to Artemis stern as they rounded the final buoy.
While Artemis hung on longest, more offshore on the final run, it was a battle to the finish line between Audi A1 powered by ALL4One and TeamOrigin, but the Franco-German crew just got the verdict by one single second, an incredibly close finish between two of the sport’s most accomplished modern day Olympic sailors.
The young team are back
GP42 Series Race Day 1
GP42 fleet on day one of their racing. Image copyright Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup.
The lack of participation in yesterday’s practice race did not seem to hurt the young Canarias team on Puerto Calero (ESP), as they sailed cleanly into the lead in the season’s first two races for the GP42 Series.
The 2009 GP42 Series champions displayed their characteristic strategy, staying out of trouble but sailing fast to help them take and then maintain their leads in both races.
Puerto Calero - leading GP42. Image copyright Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup.
“Except for the last start, I think we sailed flawlessly today,” said skipper Jose Maria Ponce (ESP). “I’m very happy with the team, I didn’t expect to do so well so early in the event. Our tactician Gustavo Martinez was right on top of the difficult conditions we had today.”
GP42 surfing. Image copyright Stefano Gattini_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
On his first day of Audi MedCup sailing, John Bassadone (GBR), owner/skipper os Peninsula Petroleum (GBR): “I have no words, it was so great. A mixture of excitement and anxiety, today was fantastic. The boats, the class, the competition, the race courses – all great. I can’t wait until tomorrow!”
Portugal Trophy, Cascais
TP52 Series
Overall – Day 2
1. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4+9+2+4+2= 21 points
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 6+11+1+1+4= 23
3. Synergy (RUS), 8+1+6+3+5= 23
4. Quantum Racing (USA), 1+5+8+2+10= 26
5. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 9+7+4+6+1= 27
6. Cristabella (GBR), 2+8+3+5+9= 27 points
7. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+7+8+3= 27
8. Matador (ARG), 7+2+5+9+8= 31
9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5+3+9+10+6= 33
10. Bigamist 7 (POR), 11+4+11+7+11= 44
11. Bribón (ESP), 10+10+10+12(DNC)+7= 49
GP42 Series
Overall – Day 1
Airisessential on day one of the GP42 racing. Image copyright Nico Martinez/Audi MedCup.
1. Puerto Calero (ESP), 1+1= 2 points
2. Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP), 3+2= 5
3. Iberdrola (ESP), 2+5= 7
4. Peninsula Petroleum (GBR), 4+3= 7
5. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 5+4= 9
Quotes:
Iain Percy (GBR), tactician TeamOrigin (GBR)
“ It was a good day, a solid day with no big mistakes which in a 50 race series is what it is all about so we are happy. It was a really exciting final race. The wind was switching between the wind off the shore and wind off the sea and we kind of knew it was going to goback hard right , so we got ourselves on the inside and when it hit we almost managed to roll over All4One, but they passed us on the line, so it was really a fun race.
“ There's so many good people, if you make any mistake you are going to be punished hard so we have to try and avoid mistakes. We've already made them like everyone on the first year but we have to try to eliminate them as much as we can.”
Jochen Schumann (GER), skipper Audi A1 powered by All4ONe(GER)
“ We have a good reason to celebrate. We won our first race as a team, as Audi A1 powered by All4one. It was a tight one. It was probably the windiest race we had so far, also for our team, around 23-25 knots, surfing conditions, we actually struggled a little bit. I think Artemis was a little faster so they rolled us on starboard, but they went outside us and at the end they ended up too deep and couldn't make a finish with the spinnaker, but from behind there was even more pressure. Origin came and rolled us on the other side, but then diving into the finish we just made it by meters which I think is good enough. This is a very level and open competition, fantastic conditions here in Cascais.”
Synergy close racing with TEAMORIGIN 1851 on day two of the Portugal Trophy. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Karol Jablonski (POL), skipper Synergy (RUS):
“ It's been tough out there, for sure we were dealing with a few issues on our boat but in the end we managed to score quite good two finishes, third and fifth.”
“ What is I would say is very good for us in this conditions specially for the team which sails for the first time together. In the TP52 we have many nationalities together> We have two kiwis, one Italian. I'm Polish, so it's tough work for us because we have to work on communication but these guys are getting better and better. But we still have a long way to go in the TP52's and long way to go in the AC boats. We all know this is not going to happen neither in one second nor in one year. This is a long time project. We are happy to have owners who understand this, and I think the future is good for them.”
Quantum Racing on day two of the Portugal Trophy. Image copyright Francesco Ferri_Studio Borlenghi/Audi MedCup.
Adrian Stead (GBR), tactician Quantum Racing (USA): “ They are cracking boats to sail, there's some pretty good drivers out here and our go was just not getting mixed on the start, the starboard end always looked quite nice but I wasn't going to put us in there so any star was good and take the race from there. We came out today with twelve points, second race could have been a lot better, but a bit more practice and who knows.
“ Unfortunately just when we were hosting the mainsail Terry got hit by the boom on the top on his head and was very dizzy and disorientated, very sick so he had a scan, but it looks it's going to be alright, we had a little giggle, we took out one of our shore crew members and I ended up driving and someone else doing the tactics and pit but we just had to try to make the best of the day with what we had, but hopefully Terry will be back tomorrow. Last time I helmed a whole race was in 2005.”
Audi MedCup
Audi MedCup: Artemis had tight competition on Day 2 off Portugal
by Paul Cayard
Two races were held today, Thursday, and the competition was once again extremely tight. The conditions were a bit breezier than yesterday with a maximum windspeed in the second race of 25 knots. The wind was also very shifty, with the range from 305 to 005. Being in the middle of the course was not good.
Onboard ARTEMIS we had a good day with an 8 and 3. Our regular helmsman Torbjorn Tornqvist joined us today after missing yesterday due to work commitments. In the first race, we got off to the right side thinking that the typical conditions would prevail following a small frontal passage. But once again, the left was good and we rounded the first mark about 8th. We passed one boat up the second windward leg but unfortunately lost them again on the final run when the gennaker sheet got under the bow in a gybe. Emirates Team New Zealand picked up where they left off yesterday with a win and Quantum being helmed by Adrian Stead finished second. Quantum helmsman Terry Hutchinson suffered a concussion prior to the start of the first race today and won't be sailing tomorrow either. He is ok, but needs to take it easy.
In the second race, we got off to a bad start but headed right once again. And this time, the right was a charm. We got to the first mark in second place right behind All4One with a huge lead on TeamOrigin in third place. Things stayed pretty much even down the first run. The boats were planing in the now 20 knots of wind, which was a lot of fun. Around the gate, one of our mainsheet blocks broke and we were not 100% up the second windward leg. This allowed TeamOrigin to catch up to us a bit. Down the final run, we passed All4One and were looking good for the win on the final gybe into the finish. However, the wind shifted 20 degrees in our favor but it was too much and we had to put the jib up to get to the finish, which let TeamOrigin pass us. We finished third. Still a good race!
So TeamOrigin is leading now with 21 points just 6 points ahead of us on 27. We are in a three-way tie for 5-7th. Still a lot of racing to go and tomorrow’s forecast is for good breeze again.
To watch the racing live go to www.artemisracing.com and for complete results go to www.medcup.org
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