Friday, 27 August 2010
1851 Cup: Victory for TEAMORIGIN 'racing with Jaguar' at Conclusion of the 1851 Cup
Sir Keith Mills, Ben Ainslie and the TEAMORIGIN crew with the Trafalgar Cup. Image copyright Ian Roman/TEAMORIGIN.
by Leslie Greenhalgh
The three final races held yesterday between Sir Keith Mills’ TEAMORIGIN and LarryEllison’s BMW ORACLE Racing at the 1851 Cup in the Solent, saw the British crew andskipper quadruple Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie claim victory over the 2010America’s Cup champions from the US led by James Spithill.
This week in Cowes, the 1851 Cup regatta saw TEAMORIGIN come out on top on thefirst two days of windward-leeward match racing. However victory on Thursday in the re-enactment of the 1851 race clockwise around the Isle of Wight, which spawned the America’s Cup, the pinnacle event in yacht racing, went to BMWORACLE Racing, just as their forebears on America had 159 years earlier.
While TEAMORIGIN were ahead on points going into today’s match racing, morally it was even between the two teams. BMW ORACLE Racing claimed the first of the final day’s triple points scoringwindward-leeward races to even the score with TEAMORIGIN. In this Ainslie nearly managed to lock Spithill into ‘dead man’s corner’, the area ofthe start box behind the pin, however both were early for the line and the highlyexperienced BMW ORACLE Racing skipper managed to wriggle back into contention.
TEAMORIGIN had the upper hand up the first part of the beat, but bythe first mark rounding BMW ORACLE Racing had taken the lead. At the weather mark TEAMORIGIN were on BMW ORACLE Racing’s transom and in attempting toget the inside overlap, weren’t able to achieve this, and the British crew ‘expressed their frustration’ to the umpires and their opponents for which they were duly awarded with a penalty for ‘dissent’. From here the British team trailed the Americans around the race course, theirdefeat as BMW ORACLE Racing crossed the line coinciding with the British team’s spinnaker bursting.
Race two provided a fantastic display of the drama possible in top-level matchracing.In this TEAMORIGIN swapped sides in the pre-start to take the right side and afavourable shift soon after the start gun caused them to move to take an early lead.This was to be the tightest race of the day as was proved on the first run, when BMWORACLE Racing were on TEAMORIGIN’s transom creating a wind shadow. To get outof this situation Ben Ainslie luffed his opponent, causing the spinnaker on Spithill’s boat to touch them resulting in a penalty being awarded to BMW ORACLE Racing.The American team managed to slip ahead after this, leading for the next lap, butnot by enough to clear their penalty before the finish – but this was not withoutconsiderable effort spent trying.
On the final run both boats at one point found themselves pointing the wrong way up the race course as TEAMORIGIN attemptedto prevent the American boat completing its penalty turn. Eventually the two boatsdid finish the race neck and neck, but with BMW ORACLE Racing having failed tocomplete their penalty. 7-4 to TEAMORIGIN on points.In the final race today with the wind exceeding 20 knots, Ben Ainslie once againexcelled in the pre-start shovelling his opponent well beyond the right side of the start box. This resulted in both boats being late for the start line, but with TEAMORIGINahead by a boat length and in control.
BMW ORACLE Racing attempted to engage throughout the race, but were too far behind. The American team’s fate was sealed when during the spinnaker hoist on the final rounding of the weather mark they ran over their sail. This disaster handed TEAMORIGIN the race win, but also victory in the 1851 Cup Regatta with a final scoreline of 10-4.
Commenting on defeating the defenders of the America’s Cup, Team Principle of TEAMORIGIN, Sir Keith Mills said “We’ve seen some of the best match racing thisweek in Cowes from two extraordinary teams. The event has really put the America’s Cup back on the map and a British boat beating current America’s Cup holders has made the whole event very special”Skipper and helmsman of TEAMORIGIN, triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie commented “It was a great regatta for TEAMORIGIN.
The new team that was puttogether for this event gelled really well. Having defeated the defenders of theAmerica’s Cup in front of a home crowd, we are all now looking forward to thefuture.James Spithill, BMW ORACLE Racing’s young skipper had this to say moments afterstepping ashore: "I guess you could say it was honours even with each team winninga trophy. But fair do's to Ben and his team. We knew they would be tough opponents in home waters and they were."
Geoff Cousins, Managing Director, Jaguar UK rounded up on the overall event: “We are absolutely delighted that TEAMORIGIN racing with Jaguar won the matchracing series of the 1851 event. It's a shame we couldn't keep the Thames Cup on home soil but I would like to congratulate the entire team for their hard work anddedication.'It has been an honour working with Sir Keith Mills and TEAMORIGIN. Theirdetermination and expertise is admirable and will stand them in good stead for thefuture. Jaguar’s dedication to nurturing the best of young British sporting talentremains as strong as ever through the Jaguar Academy of Sport.”What a great day to be a fan of British sport and well done to BMW Oracle Racing on winning the Thames Cup for the round the island race."
TEAMORIGIN
The 1851 Cup
1851 Cup: BMW ORACLE Racing wins race around the Isle of Wight
BMW ORACLE Racing Defends America's Honour
by Leslie Greenhalgh
The re-enactment of the 1851 race around the Isle of Wight that spawned sailing’s greatest competition, the America’s Cup, got off to a phenomenal start today between BMW ORACLE Racing, the present America’s Cup champions and Sir Keith Mills’ TEAMORIGIN as their two yachts blasted east down the Solent.
The stage was set when the two boats engaged around seven minutes prior to the start. As BMW ORACLE Racing skipper James Spithill pointed out: “It was pretty cool. It was great how we just ripped straight into it from the start. You could see how seriously both teams were taking it.”
Sadly for the British team moments before the start they picked up a penalty for gybing too close. 1-0 to the US team’s skipper James Spithill.
With a downwind start the powerful, heavy ACC boats, under their giant spinnakers, sailing so close they appeared to be somehow attached, carved their way down the eastern Solent, creating a magnificent spectacle for those out on the water as well as the thousands following the racing over the internet.
TEAMORIGIN skipper and helmsman Ben Ainslie commented: “We were expecting a softer race than we’ve had the previous couple of days, but from the start and for the next hour and half we were overlapped the whole way around, luffing each other. It was fantastic. These guys are a great team to race against. It is great for us to be out there racing the America’s Cup holders around the Isle of Wight.”
The racing remained tight down the Solent as the boats headed towards Portsmouth and after the first gybe round the eastern side of the island there were two major luffs. In the second TEAMORIGIN came out ahead but picked up a second penalty and match racing rules obliged them to carry out their 360deg penalty turn immediately.
Meanwhile the Americans were nursing a damaged spinnaker and had to drop it losing precious ground. This kept TEAMORIGIN ahead of BMW ORACLE Racing as they rounded the No Man’s Land Fort but during the subsequent spinnaker drop as they hardened up, most of the spinnaker was down when the foot fell overboard, dragging the whole sail into the water and it promptly wrapped itself around the keel. Rapidly Anthony Nossiter dived over the side to clear the kite but by the time it was cleared and the British crew was underway again, BMW ORACLE Racing had overtaken and pulled out an 800m lead.
It was far from without incident on board BMW ORACLE Racing. In addition to their spinnaker issues they also managed to destroy their jockey poles through trying to sail high angles under spinnaker as they reached down the eastern end of the Solent.
As James Spithill pointed out: “There was a bit of seamanship involved to try and look after the boat and get through it all. The boats are on the limit in that stuff.”
Impressively Ben Ainslie and the TEAMORIGIN crew were able to halve their deficit as they short tacked along the south side of the Isle of Wight towards St Catherine’s Point, however BMW ORACLE Racing was first to crack off towards the Needles and re-extended. En route to the Needles TEAMORIGIN’s yacht developed a technical problem when the metal fitting holding the jib to the halyard parted company. As David Carr pointed out: “It might not have been up to the job, but it was a pretty big sea state at the time sailing upwind in fairly big seas in 20 knots for two hours - it is just one of those things.”
This being an exhibition race, the organisers were keen to lay on a show coming back down the Solent so once round the Needles and into Hurst Narrows, BMW ORACLE Racing stopped and the race was restarted, the American team given a one minute head start with the hope that the two boats would match race their way back to Cowes in the same spectacular style as they had left in the morning.
Sadly this wasn’t to be when on their first gybe following the restart TEAMORIGIN blew up their second spinnaker. By this time the wind had piped up to 24 knots and the British team did a safe outside gybe and centred the main but as the spinnaker refilled it exploded.
As David Carr said: “Maybe it was karma. It would have been a bit strange to win the race after a restart, but it was disappointing not to be right up with them at the finish.”
So BMW ORACLE Racing, the US team, claimed victory defending the honour of the Stars and Stripes, just as America had 159 years before. As James Spithill said: “Coming down the Solent it was like everyone on the Isle of Wight had come out to view it. I think it meant a lot to the people and it meant a lot to the guys on the boat. It was a real battle out on the water and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Tomorrow for the final day of the 1851 Cup there is a return to windward-leewards with four races scheduled. Racing is set to start earlier than normal, at 10:00. The score is currently four wins and one loss to TEAMORIGIN with wins for the first three races tomorrow worth three points each. TEAMORIGIN must win the first race tomorrow if they are not to go level on points with their American adversary.
TEAMORIGIN
by Leslie Greenhalgh
The re-enactment of the 1851 race around the Isle of Wight that spawned sailing’s greatest competition, the America’s Cup, got off to a phenomenal start today between BMW ORACLE Racing, the present America’s Cup champions and Sir Keith Mills’ TEAMORIGIN as their two yachts blasted east down the Solent.
The stage was set when the two boats engaged around seven minutes prior to the start. As BMW ORACLE Racing skipper James Spithill pointed out: “It was pretty cool. It was great how we just ripped straight into it from the start. You could see how seriously both teams were taking it.”
Sadly for the British team moments before the start they picked up a penalty for gybing too close. 1-0 to the US team’s skipper James Spithill.
With a downwind start the powerful, heavy ACC boats, under their giant spinnakers, sailing so close they appeared to be somehow attached, carved their way down the eastern Solent, creating a magnificent spectacle for those out on the water as well as the thousands following the racing over the internet.
TEAMORIGIN skipper and helmsman Ben Ainslie commented: “We were expecting a softer race than we’ve had the previous couple of days, but from the start and for the next hour and half we were overlapped the whole way around, luffing each other. It was fantastic. These guys are a great team to race against. It is great for us to be out there racing the America’s Cup holders around the Isle of Wight.”
The racing remained tight down the Solent as the boats headed towards Portsmouth and after the first gybe round the eastern side of the island there were two major luffs. In the second TEAMORIGIN came out ahead but picked up a second penalty and match racing rules obliged them to carry out their 360deg penalty turn immediately.
Meanwhile the Americans were nursing a damaged spinnaker and had to drop it losing precious ground. This kept TEAMORIGIN ahead of BMW ORACLE Racing as they rounded the No Man’s Land Fort but during the subsequent spinnaker drop as they hardened up, most of the spinnaker was down when the foot fell overboard, dragging the whole sail into the water and it promptly wrapped itself around the keel. Rapidly Anthony Nossiter dived over the side to clear the kite but by the time it was cleared and the British crew was underway again, BMW ORACLE Racing had overtaken and pulled out an 800m lead.
It was far from without incident on board BMW ORACLE Racing. In addition to their spinnaker issues they also managed to destroy their jockey poles through trying to sail high angles under spinnaker as they reached down the eastern end of the Solent.
As James Spithill pointed out: “There was a bit of seamanship involved to try and look after the boat and get through it all. The boats are on the limit in that stuff.”
Impressively Ben Ainslie and the TEAMORIGIN crew were able to halve their deficit as they short tacked along the south side of the Isle of Wight towards St Catherine’s Point, however BMW ORACLE Racing was first to crack off towards the Needles and re-extended. En route to the Needles TEAMORIGIN’s yacht developed a technical problem when the metal fitting holding the jib to the halyard parted company. As David Carr pointed out: “It might not have been up to the job, but it was a pretty big sea state at the time sailing upwind in fairly big seas in 20 knots for two hours - it is just one of those things.”
This being an exhibition race, the organisers were keen to lay on a show coming back down the Solent so once round the Needles and into Hurst Narrows, BMW ORACLE Racing stopped and the race was restarted, the American team given a one minute head start with the hope that the two boats would match race their way back to Cowes in the same spectacular style as they had left in the morning.
Sadly this wasn’t to be when on their first gybe following the restart TEAMORIGIN blew up their second spinnaker. By this time the wind had piped up to 24 knots and the British team did a safe outside gybe and centred the main but as the spinnaker refilled it exploded.
As David Carr said: “Maybe it was karma. It would have been a bit strange to win the race after a restart, but it was disappointing not to be right up with them at the finish.”
So BMW ORACLE Racing, the US team, claimed victory defending the honour of the Stars and Stripes, just as America had 159 years before. As James Spithill said: “Coming down the Solent it was like everyone on the Isle of Wight had come out to view it. I think it meant a lot to the people and it meant a lot to the guys on the boat. It was a real battle out on the water and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
Tomorrow for the final day of the 1851 Cup there is a return to windward-leewards with four races scheduled. Racing is set to start earlier than normal, at 10:00. The score is currently four wins and one loss to TEAMORIGIN with wins for the first three races tomorrow worth three points each. TEAMORIGIN must win the first race tomorrow if they are not to go level on points with their American adversary.
TEAMORIGIN
1851 Cup: BMW ORACLE Racing Upholds Tradition in Race Around Isle of Wight
BMW ORACLE Racing takes the winner's gun at the end of the round the island race. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
by Tim Jeffery
In a race marked with penalties, blown sails and broken equipment, BMW ORACLE Racing defeated TEAMORIGIN around the Isle of Wight by 1 minute and 55 seconds to win the Royal Thames Cup.
TEAMORIGIN leads BMW ORACLE Racing in the Solent just after the start. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
The race re-enacted the famous race of 1851 that gave rise to the legend of the America's Cup. Instead of a wooden schooner from America racing 14 British yachts, two America's Cup Class sloops constructed of carbonfibre sailed the 53 nautical mile course. But the outcome was similar: an American yacht won.
TEAMORIGIN kite tears. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
TEAMORIGIN leads around the fort, eastern Solent. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
"It was a fantastic day to go around the island. It was a lot more exciting that I thought it would be," said James Spithill, skipper of BMW ORACLE Racing. "Thanks to TEAMORIGIN. They put up a good battle on the water and we enjoyed every minute of it."
BMW ORACLE Racing plunges into a wave in the English Channel. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
TEAMORIGIN skipper Ben Ainslie said, "We started battling about 10 minutes before the start gun and then were overlapped for about an hour and a half. They sailed a great race, congratulations."
BMW ORACLE Racing in the English Channel. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
With the wind blowing from the northwest, the two crews were set up for an off-the-wind start on the clockwise course around the island. But in pre-start manoeuvres TEAMORIGIN was penalized for being a port tack yacht and not keeping clear.
BMW ORACLE Racing lead TEAMORIGIN around the back of the island. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
With the race underway, the two yachts were tight reaching with giant asymmetric spinnakers, heeling at great angles in the water churned frothy by a large spectator fleet trying to keep pace at 10 to 12 knots.
BMW ORACLE Racing in the English Channel. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
About 25 minutes into the race the two crews were off Ryde and on starboard gybe, with TEAMORIGIN only slightly ahead of BMW ORACLE Racing. Then the real fun started.
BMW ORACLE Racing in the lead off the southern part of the Isle of Wight. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
BMW ORACLE Racing off St Catherine's Point (southernmost tip of the Isle of Wight). Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
Spithill gybed away to port and Ainslie followed. With the wind now coming over the port side of the yachts, BMW ORACLE Racing was leading when TEAMORIGIN got a slight overlap to leeward. The rules for the race allowed for quick luffs in such a scenario, and Ainslie took advantage.
TEAMORIGIN liffed BMW ORACLE Racing but took the American yacht too far into the wind, for which it earned a second penalty. TEAMORIGIN had to immediately perform one of its 270-degree penalty turns and that allowed BMW ORACLE Racing to ´regain the lead.
BMW ORACLE Racing off Freshwater Bay, western Isle of Wight. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
BMW ORACLE Racing off the Needles. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
TEAMORIGIN regrouped quickly and moments later luffed again in another situation. Each crew was trying to get to the Nab Light Buoy first, because from there the course hardened up into the wind. Once on the wind, the trailing boat would be at a disadvantage.
BMW ORACLE Racing reaches the Needles first. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
As the crews went around No Man's Land Fort TEAMORIGIN held the lead, but as the crew doused the spinnaker it fell into the water and parts of it became wrapped around the keel. A TEAMORIGIN crewman went overboard to clear the entanglement and BMW ORACLE Racing opened a lead that it would not relinquish.
Overhead shot downwind, BMW ORACLE Racing. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
Overhead shot downwind, BMW ORACLE Racing. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
"It was full on action from 10 minutes to the start," said Shannon Falcone, mastman for BMW ORACLE Racing. "It couldn't have been a better spectacle going down the Solent. We broke two jockey poles in those luffing matches."
The race was part of The 1851 Cup, a match racing regatta between the two teams. Although today's race doesn't count in the standings, it will serve as a tiebreaker in the event the teams finish tied on points.
BMW ORACLE Racing leads TEAMORIGIN up the western Solent. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
BMW ORACLE Racing leads TEAMORIGIN (blowing a kite) up the western Solent. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
Racing for The 1851 Cup resumes tomorrow with three races planned on the Solent. Each race is worth 3 points per victory. TEAMORIGIN leads the series 4-1.
BMW ORACLE Racing leads TEAMORIGIN racing with Jaguar past the Gurnard Ledge buoy, near to the finishing line at the RYS, Cowes. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget/BMW ORACLE Racing.
BMW ORACLE Racing
The 1851 Cup
Extreme 40s: First Ever Event Win for Paul Cambell-James at the UK Round
The crew of The Wave, Muscat, celebrate their victory on the water after the last race. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/Oman Sail.
by Emily Caroe
Paul Campbell-James on The Wave, Muscat has won the UK Round of the Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week – the first ever regatta win for the youngest skipper on the circuit - claiming an OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean watch as part of the prize as top Skipper for the UK round. Thirty-six races over six days in front of 60,000+ spectators – the UK round of the five-stop circuit has delivered everything that the Extreme Sailing Series is about. Spectacular, adrenalin-pumping action on the water, enthralling the thousands of spectators who packed into the Extreme Race Village at Egypt Point and along The Esplanade.
The conditions throughout the event have demanded the utmost focus and physical effort from the nine competing teams and today was no exception with 20-25 knots of south-westerly breeze across the short race course and a choppy sea state. Classic conditions for a potential pitch-pole or capsize and the crews knew it, racing with one reef in the mainsail and an extra fifth pro crew to add a bit of extra weight. The top mark proved a dangerous turning mark as they hoisted their giant gennakers to head downwind at full pelt – the crews ready in a second to ease the sails if the bows dug into the waves too deep.
Going into the fifth and final double points race of the day, Paul Campbell-James and his crew had almost done enough to keep the lead from Britain’s Mike Golding, but they had to finish the race – zero points and Ecover would claim the top spot. As it was the team did enough, scoring a 4th in the final race, to win the UK round of the Extreme Sailing Series on 249 points: “We knew if we capsized it would be the end of the regatta so pretty pleased to get through it,” said a relieved Campbell-James on the podium.
The Wave, Muscat, team on the top of the podium in Cowes. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/Oman Sail.
But the Ecover team is ecstatic with their second overall place, their best result to date and appreciated the home crowd support: “It’s been great to have the support from the shore – you can even hear the yells and shouts from on board the boat,” said Golding. Tornado Olympic sailors Leigh McMillan and Will Howden have bought a new performance level to Mike’s team, who stepped back to allow the McMillan take the helm. It was a shrewd move and Golding’s team are really starting to gel, and will certainly be a force to contend with in the future. Yann Guichard’s men on Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, winners at the first round in France, always excel in light airs but struggle at times in heavy conditions. A final win in the last race would have lifted their spirits to secure third overall on the podium.
A real battle developed mid-leaderboard between Loick Peyron on Oman Sail Masirah, Red Bull Extreme Sailing and Groupama 40. Only a handful of points separated these three going into the final race. Peyron secured fourth overall, although he never really got into his stride here, and Roman Hagara on Red Bull Extreme Sailing claimed 5th and although lacked consistency they, nonetheless, scored six bullets, ahead of the fastest man round the planet Franck Cammas on Groupama 40. Groupama 40 provided the most dramatic moment of the UK round on the second day when the 40-foot catamaran careered towards the concrete sea wall without steerage. Franck and the crew had no option but to leap to safety.
Team GAC Pindar, who had the satisfaction of claiming some race wins here, proving that when they get it right they are competitive, finished in 7th place ahead of Roland Jourdain’s Veolia Environnement who is competing in the UK round as a one-off experience (for now!). For the co-creator of the Extreme 40 class, Mitch Booth and the Team Ocean Racing Club, it proved to be a disastrous regatta, breaking their front beam ahead of the penultimate day and then having to sit and watch the other eight boats have some of the best racing this circuit has ever seen.
The Wave, Muscat’s victory here means they now share the top spot on the overall Series leaderboard with 14 points apiece. Two points behind are Ecover and Oman Sail Masirah both on 12 points.
Next stop for the Extreme Sailing Series is Kiel in Germany between 26-29 August.
Extreme Sailing Series Europe
Extreme 40s: Edmond de Rothschild Group scores another podium place
Gitana and The Wave compete with a kite boarder on the final day of racing off Cowes. Image copyright Anne Hinton, all rights reserved.
by Kate Jennings
The longest and perhaps most intense grand prix of the 2010 season has just concluded this evening in Cowes with the victory of The Wave Muscat. The catamaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild came 3rdin the event with its second podium finish of the competition. The result has enabled Yann Guichard and his men to hold onto their overall lead in the Extreme Sailing Series 2010, now tied on points with the crew of Paul Campbell-James.
True to form the Solent really made life difficult for those competing in the Extreme Sailing Series. During the six days of competition, the weather conditions were full-on with a breeze of around 20 knots for the afternoon races and a powerful current, which led to big seas and some hairy races: “This Grand Prix of Cowes is the event I was dreading the most in the 2010 championship. It’s common knowledge that the race zone is a difficult one and that’s exactly how it was once again. I think that the races contested during this Cowes Week will be among the windiest this year! Finishing third here is very positive.” Though the weather played a major part in ensuring the event was a showstopper, we must also pay credit to the beauty of the location during Cowes Week. Indeed, on a daily basis, the fleet of Extreme 40s were able to enjoy a breathtaking backdrop with over 900 yachts racing on the waters of the Solent!
Already in third place yesterday evening, the crew of Edmond de Rothschild gave it there all this Thursday to get back with the two lead boats. Despite two victories in the five races run this afternoon, Yann Guichard and his crew weren’t able to work their way further up the ranking: “We gave it everything we could today! It was necessary to go at it pedal to the metal from the outset, which we managed to do by winning the first race of the day. Unfortunately the next three races weren’t on a par with the first, as we got it a bit wrong during the start phases. We were firing on all cylinders again during the final race of the day, the one which scores double points, but it was a bit late! The Wave and Ecover, who finished in front of us on the podium, were stronger than us. We have nothing to regret and even though we didn’t manage to pull off another win this evening, I am really satisfied by our performance in this grand prix” admitted Yann Guichard.
The 2nd meeting of the season has unquestionably been a harder fought battle than the event in the South of France. Today’s winner - The Wave Muscat – has confirmed a potential which was already evident in Sète and hadn’t escaped the notice of the skipper of the Gitana Team. Similarly, Mike Golding’s men demonstrated great ease and fighting spirit, proving that they are indeed a force to be reckoned with this year. Finally, we mustn’t forget the second Omani one design, which missed out on the podium following a poor end to the competition, but remains a serious contender!
This increase in power displayed by their adversaries comes as neither a surprise nor bad news for the skipper of Edmond de Rothschild Group, who sensed this was the case very early on: “The level has clearly gone up a notch and that’s a very good thing as the more intense the competition, the better it is. Three to four boats were capable of playing for championship victory today, which will make for some thrilling racing during the next three events.”
After this English event, the championship ranking has become much closer. The catamaran fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild is now sharing the top spot with today’s winner, The Wave Muscat. Meanwhile Oman Sail Masirah is tied in third place with Ecover.
In less than three weeks the competitors will be back racing together in Germany, for the third event of the 2010 championship. Kiel can now rank as a loyal host to the Extreme 40s given that the city is playing host to the circuit for the 3rd year running and it will see the one designs battling for supremacy again between 26th and 29thAugust. In the meantime Yann Guichard will continue to prepare for the Route du Rhum aboard the maxi-trimaran Gitana 11. After a few days much deserved holiday, the Gitana skipper will head back to La Trinité-sur-Mer in SW Brittany for another session of solo sailing.
Final ranking for the Grand Prix of Cowes on 5th August (after 36 races)
1. The Wave, Muscat (Paul Campbell-James) – 249 points
2. Ecover Sailing Team (Mike Golding) - 231 points
3. Edmond de Rothschild Group (Yann Guichard) - 225 points
4. Oman Sail Masirah (Loïck Peyron) - 205 points
5. Red Bull Extreme Sailing (Roman Hagara) - 199 points
6. Groupama 40 (Franck Cammas) – 196 points
7. Team GAC Pindar (Nick Moloney) - 170 points
8. Veolia Environnement (Roland Jourdain) - 85 points
9. The Ocean Racing Club (Mitch Booth) - 79 points
Gitana Team
Extreme Sailing Series Europea
Extreme 40s: Podium Finish for ECOVER in Cowes
ECOVER leads Masirah on the final day of racing off Cowes. Image copyright Anne Hinton, all rights reserved.
by Lucy Harwood
The hard work and consistency has paid off, as Ecover secure second place at the Extreme Sailing Series Cowes. Ecover had another outstanding performance today including a bullet to make it onto the podium for the first time since joining the series in 2009.
The final day of racing didn’t disappoint for the hundreds of spectators that lined the shore at Egypt Point for the culmination of the longest event on the Extreme Sailing Series Circuit. A cancelled morning race meant a rest for the nine international teams competing in Cowes, but condiitons started to build as the afternoon went on and everyone was prepared for a testing final day on the water. For Ecover it was the best result on the series to date as they held second going into the final day, 18 points shy of The Wave, Muscat in first, and ten points ahead of Groupe Edmond Rothschild in third.
Conditions remained breezy at over 20 knots as the teams once again reefed the mainsail and a professional 5th man was allowed onboard in place of a vips. Five races ran today as Mike Golding and crew battled it out for the podium.
Ecover kept focused and stayed consistent all day, they dominated race four leading from the outset and taking a bullet. This win was crucial in order to extended over Groupe Edmond Rothschild who were in third. Going into the final race of the day, Ecover was holding second, but today’s last race was a double pointer so they had everything to play for, The Wave had secured first and were nearly out of touch, but they needed to fight to hold onto the second spot ahead of Sete event winner Groupe Edmond Rothschild.
Helm, Leigh McMillan commented after racing, “We knew today would be hard, the conditions had built all day and we were glad when the call was made for a reef, and the professional fifth man allowed onboard. With the breeze, the current, and the lumpy sea conditions today had all the ingredients for crash and burn sailing. We had done a good job of closing the gap to The Wave throughout the day, but they were just out of reach going into the last race, so it was about keeping our nose clean and making sure we held onto second. We’re really pleased that the hard work all week has paid off, bring on Kiel!”
Skipper Mike Golding talked through the conditions and mindset going into the final race of the day, “we decided to play it safe going intot he final race. We started on port, but we weren’t fully committed to it, we were really didn’t want to have an accident and so it was about sailing conservatively. There was nothing to be gained by pushing too hard. Leigh and I said lets just sail the race. In terms of the overall day, everyone was quite relieved when the race committee called the reef in as the conditions had really ramped up. I think the compulsory reef is a really good idea, it makes the racing safer for the team, and ultimately allows you to push hard and still have a decent yacht race. Looking ahead the main thing is we have improved. We now have two reasonable results in the series so the way we are going anything is possible”.
Standings after Day 6
1. The Wave, Muscat 249 pts
2. Ecover 231 pts
3. Groupe Edmond de Rothschild 225 pts
4. Oman Sail Masirah 225 pts
5. Red Bull Extreme Sailing 199 pts
6. Groupama 196 pts
7. Team GAC Pindar 170 pts
8. Veolia Environnement 85 pts
9. The Ocean Racing Club 79 pts
ECOVER Sailing Team
Extreme Sailing Series Europe
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