by Lorenza Priamo
After their fine victory in the ORACLE RC44 Cup in Miami last December, Mascalzone Latino, is preparing to race at the Key West 2011, in Florida, sailing again on the one-design designed by Russell Coutts.
The Key West Regatta has always been a ‘must’ for Mascalzone team, a great chance to warm up for the coming racing season, and the team has always shown its strength at this venue, by winning the top prize in 2006 and 2009 in the Farr 40 Class, and getting the second place in 2000 and 2008.
From the 17th to the 21st of January Vincenzo Onorato’s crew will attempt to repeat their winning performance of last month, under similar sailing conditions, as Key West is situated only four hours south of the metropolis where Mascalzone had its last race in the year 2010.(?) On board, together with the Neapolitan owner, will be: tactician Francesco Bruni, two trimmers, Andrea Ballico and Matteo Savelli, mainsail trimmer Paul"Flipper" Westlake, the mastman Simone de Mari, the grinder, Iztok Knafelc and the bowman Davide “Manolo” Scarpa.
Vincenzo Onorato at the wheel. Image copyright Gareth Cooke/Subzero Images.
Challengers in the RC44 had already been met in Miami, and they'll be: Team Aqua, with Donald “Don” Wilson (USA) as helmsman and Cameron Appleton (NZL) calling tactics, Team Synergy (RUS) with the owner-driver Valentine Zavadnikov (RUS) and Anton Sergeev (RUS) as tactician, ORACLE Racing with Russell Coutts (NZL) as tactician and a driver not yet announced, and also Ironbound with David Murphy (USA) at the wheel and Ian Williams (GBR) calling tactics.
The programme does not follow a typical RC44 circuit’s regatta format. Instead of the usual match race plus fleet race format, starting from Monday and up to Friday next week, the five contenders will take part only in fleet regattas.
The upcoming regatta will be the second official event for the RC44s in the U.S.A., and it will be the first time that these boats will be present at the legendary Key West’s regatta.
This event, which in many marks the start of the world sailing season, is also a good occasion to prove the level of excitement and performance these boats can offer.
Mascalzone Latino
RC44
