Thursday 10 February 2011

VELUX5OCEANS: Images of the Departure from Wellington on Waitangi Day

Video of the departure of the VELUX5OCEANS fleet from Wellington, copyright to Mark Hill:



Chris Stanmore-Major on board SPARTAN. Image copyright Mark Hill.


Brad Van Liew says goodbye to his family dockside. Image copyright Mark Hill.


Chris Stanmore-Major. Image copyright Mark Hill.


Farewells dockside in Wellington. Image copyright Mark Hill.


Gutek's OPERON RACING heads out to the start. Image copyright Mark Hill.


LE PINGUOIN heads out to the start. Image copyright Mark Hill.


LE PINGUOIN under sail. Image copyright Mark Hill.


ECO60s starting from Wellington. Image copyright Mark Hill.


ECO60s starting from Wellington. Image copyright Mark Hill.

Mark Hill
VELUX5OCEANS

Team Jolly Report on Their Olympic Campaign


Team Jolly in action at the 470 Nationals. Image copyright Christine Hansen.

by Jo Aleh & Polly Powrie

We started the year off with the third annual NZ 470 Summer Camp down at Rotoiti (including multiple fitness sessions, some sailing, some wakeboarding and an exploratory run/walk around Okere falls). It was a great way to get back into action, and thanks to Nathan (super-coach) we woke up early and had some great morning fitness sessions (with waffles post exercise), and actually got out on the water to do some training.

After being inspired by all the cross training at Rotoiti, Jo used the same excuse and competed in the 2011 Laser Radial Nationals sailed at Torbay, where she had a rather good event, and ended up winning overall, strangely enough this was actually the first time she has managed to win the event, as when she sailed the Radial she only ever managed 2nd! (Four years in a row...).

We then got back in the 470 and showed some rust at the NZ 470 Nationals, held at Takapuna – in the middle of one of the recent cyclones to hit NZ. So our three-day regatta was reduced to two days, but still nine races, so they were long and windy days on the water! We found some early form, but struggled in the breeze on the second day, with one very silly capsize which led to us having to pull out of the race as Jo swam away to save the spinnaker pole (they sink), and couldn’t get back to the boat... Still worth saving the pole as it was our favourite blue one!

So we ended the Nationals in 4th overall, top women’s crew, 3rd kiwi, and a bit disappointed… But looking forward to pay back at Sail Auckland.


NZL Team 470 Camp on the lake.. good times! Supplied image.

After two days off, we were straight into Sail Auckland, held at Takapuna for the first time this year, where we had a much better event. After a slow start, we improved daily, to finish the regatta in 2nd place overall, ahead of all the kiwi guys, but not at all close enough to Nick Rogers and Chris Grube who were here are all the way from the UK, and were clear ahead for most of the event. But we had some good tussles with them, and having them here in NZ for the rest of this month will be a great training opportunity!

So now we are into train hard mode, with a month and a half until we take off to Spain to compete in our first World Cup event of the year in Palma.

Thanx for all the support!!

Jo & Polly

Special thanks to our supporters and suppliers:
SPARC and the New Zealand Academy of Sport, Yachting New Zealand, Donaghys, Kaenon Sunglasses, Harken, Mackay Boats and Quantum Sails.

www.teamjollyracing.com

Sailing Arabia: Ras Al Khaimah Welcomes the Sailors of the Arabian Tour


Ras Al Khaimah and Team Commercialbank Group. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/Oman Sail.

by Ingmar Jense

After 12 hours of racing, just 19 minutes separated the top three boats as they crossed the finish line of leg three of Sail Arabia–The Tour.

Team New Caledonia, the only French team in the race, led the fleet into Ras Al Khaimah closely followed by Renaissance with His Highness Sayyid Tariq bin Shabib Al Said competing on board.

With GAC Team Pindar still undertaking repairs to their boat, five out of the six competing boats started leg three of Sailing Arabia–The Tour under blue skies with the backdrop of Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Strong winds and big seas meant the 232km leg to Ras Al Khaimah was to be the biggest challenge of The tour so far.

Yousuf bin Lahej from Team Ras Al KhaimahTeam New Caledonia led the fleet out of Abu Dhabi, a position they would retain until the finish. It was a tired but jubilant crew on New Caledonia that crossed the line just before sunrise with Renaissance very close behind. Commercialbank Group had Renaissance close in their sights but didn’t have enough to claw back the 5 minutes they needed to overtake Renaissance. Team Ras Al Khaimah was hoping for a win into their homeport but finished 25 minutes later to take 4th place. The Royal Navy of Oman may have followed the fleet in almost three hours after New Caledonia but they crossed the line in typically high spirits, singing and cheering.

On stepping onto the dock in Al Hamra Marina Yousuf bin Lahej, the only Emirati sailor and sailing on Team Ras Al Khaimah, was in good spirits, ‘It was a tough leg with strong winds and big seas, but it was good to be going fast. We had a good tussle through the night with all the boats in sight pretty much most of the time. Al Hamra Marina was a welcome sight as the sun came up and it was a well-earned breakfast with the rest of the teams. Spirits were high and we’re looking forward to the rest of the race through the Straits of Hormuz and into Six Senses Zighy Bay.’

After three legs, and the half-way point of Sailing Arabia-The Tour, Team New Caledonia is now in the lead with Renaissance just 2 points behind in second place and Team Commercialbank Group in third. Team Ras Al Khaimah leads the Royal Navy of Oman with GAC Team Pindar who are expected to rejoin the race for the next leg after repairing damage to the boat.

Third Leg

New Caledonia 05:27am
Renaissance 05:41am
Commercialbank Group 05:46am
Ras Al Khaimah 06:09am
Royal Navy of Oman 08:05am
GAC Team Pindar DNF (Did not finish)

Provisional Results Overall

1. New Caledonia 12 pts
2. Renaissance 14pts
3. Commercialbank Group 22pts
4. Ras Al Khaimah 34pts
5. Royal Navy of Oman 42pts
6. GAC Team Pindar 50pts

Sailing Arabia

Sailing Arabia: Le funambule est Pacé


Nouvelle Caledonie storms to victory. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/Oman Sail.

par Vincent Portugal

Le team NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE remporte la 3ème étape du 1er Tour d’Arabie à la Voile, entre Abu Dhabi et Raz al Khaima, et s’installe en tête du classement général. La nuit dernière, dans une Mer très formée et par 20 nœuds de vent, Bertrand « d’Arabie » PACE a offert un récital.

La météo promettait une 3ème étape éprouvante pour les concurrents du 1er Tour d’Arabie à la Voile, lors des 120 milles nocturnes entre Abu Dhabi et Raz al Khaima : Un brise bien établie, et un parcours passant au large de Dubaï, qui excluait toute perspective de confort à bord des Mumm 30.

L’étape se divisait en trois tronçons de 40 milles chacun, après une bouée de dégagement : Les 40 premiers au près, les 40 suivant au reaching, et, peut-être, les 40 derniers sous petit spi.

En tête dès la 1ère marque, NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE a livré un beau duel avec Commercial Bank Group du français Cédric POULIGNY, ce dernier ne concédant que 25 secondes après 1/3 de la course. Mais quand NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE osait le premier envoyer son spinnaker, dans un angle très très serré, par 20 nœuds et une Mer brutale dans des creux de 3 mètres, tout le monde compris le message. A bord du plus beau bateau de la flotte, le mot d’ordre était « Pacé à l’attaque ! »

Durant les 80 milles qui ont suivi, le skipper de l’America’s Cup a offert un récital en décrochant toute la flotte, surfant à plus de 16 nœuds sous spi de capelage, puis plus de 18 sous grand spi, secondé par un toujours excellent Benoît BRIAND au réglage.

Vincent Portugal : « Cette nuit, nous étions au spectacle, à l’Opéra, et le maestro a donné un récital. Pas une seule fois en 80 milles, il n’a laissé le bateau lui échapper, alors que les conditions étaient très dures. Une nuit sans lune, de grosses et violentes vagues, dont certaines, latérales, venaient déferler contre la coque… Ca bougeait dans tous les sens, on naviguait dans des gerbes d’eau, plus rien ni personne de sec à bord, de grosses accélérations du vent qu’on ne pouvait anticiper faute de visibilité. Il n’a pas lâché la barre, n’a commis aucune erreur. Ce que nous avons vécu cette nuit est très impressionnant. Pacé a bien mérité son nouveau surnom : Bertrand D’Arabie ! »

Cette victoire offre à NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE la tête au classement général, alors que Ras al Khaima marque la moitié de la course, d’autant plus que la demande de redressement sur la 1ère manche a abouti. Grâce à cela, les Calédoniens s’offrent un petit matelas d’avance sur leurs poursuivants.

Benoît BRIAND : « C’était une étape très dure physiquement et nerveusement, car nous avons navigué durant 80 milles à l’extrême limite, sur le fil du rasoir. Mais le résultat est là pour nous récompenser. Il faut cependant rester concentrés, car la 2nde partie du parcours, une fois passé le détroit d’Ormuz, sera sans doute moins venté, donc très piégeux.

Manche 3 :

1. NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE
2. Oman renaissance
3. Commercial Bank Group...

Général provisoire :

1. NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE (France)
2. Oman renaissance
3. Commercial Bank Group (Oman)...

Sailing Arabia

Sailing Arabia: NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE remporte l’épreuve de Match-Race


Nouvelle Caledonie wins the match racing in Arabia. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/Lloyd Images/Oman Sail.

par Vincent Portugal

Sur le plan d’eau où le team Alinghi souhaitait emmener l’America’s Cup, Jean Michel GANDON, directeur de course, a eu l’excellente idée d’innover en organisant une journée de match-racing (duel entre 2 bateaux). NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE a remporté tous ses duels contre les autres bateaux de la flotte, et battu Cédric Pouligny (Commercial Bank Group) en finale.

Le port de Ras al Khaima est un véritable stade nautique, d’où l’idée de Jean Michel GANDON, directeur de course de SAILING ARABIA THE TOUR d’y organiser une mini compétition de match-racing, et ainsi offrir aux invités, sponsors, médias et grand public un spectacle formidable.

Sous une brise établie à 20 nœuds et un magnifique soleil, les concurrents se sont affrontés en duel, les uns après les autres, sur un parcours aller-retour assez court, ce qui permettait aux bateaux de rester sans cesse au contact.

NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE partait favori avec à sa barre un ancien Champion du Monde de Match-racing, et gagnait tous ses départs, avant de contrôler ensuite, au près comme au portant.

La chaleur du public montait d’un cran lors de l’affrontement « fratricide » entre Oman Renaissance et Commercial Bank Group, et c’est ce dernier qui s’imposait, se qualifiant ainsi pour la finale. Excellente idée de la part de Cédric Pouligny, puisque les dirigeants de son sponsor, UNITED ARAB BANK, étaient là au grand complet, pour une séminaire organisé à l’occasion du passage de la course.

Autre course a sensation, entre Oman Renaissance et le team local de Raz al Khaima : Le premier pensait avoir course gagnée après avoir passé la 1ère marque avec une confortable avance, mais Raz al Khaima revenait en trombe sous spinnaker pour couper la ligne quelques mètres à peine devant son adversaire. Ce fantastique run sous spi était salué comme il se doit par le public.

Au final NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE s’impose devant COMMERCIAL BANK GROUP, dans une épreuve qui, certes, ne rentre pas dans le classement général, et recevra des mains du Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasim la Qasimi Cup, une superbe réplique du bateau Arabe traditionnel... en Argent !

Demain la course reprend ses droits et quittera les Emirats Arabes Unis pour rejoindre Oma, avec un étape à priori musclée, entre Raz al Khaima et Musanam, et en prime, le passage du détroit d’Ormuz.

Général provisoire :
1. NOUVELLE-CALEDONIE (France)
2. Oman renaissance
3. Commercial Bank Group (Oman)

Nouvelle Caledonie
Sailing Arabia

BWR: Groupe Bel Admits Sail Problems

The laughing cow, on the horns of a dilemma?


Groupe Bel. Image copyright Groupe Bel.

by Groupe Bel media

Kito De Pavant and Seb Audigane on Groupe Bel, the laughing cow, are caught on the horns of a dilemma. To pit-stop or not to pit-stop?

That is their question which they and their team need to evaluate having today revealed that they have been sailing without two key sails – their big gennaker and heavy kite - since before the Cape Verde islands. De Pavant’s team reported that the first incident happened 29 days ago, when the fleet leaders were sailing fast in strong NE'ly trade winds.

The boat is reported to have luffed violently damaging the big gennaker which was rendered unusable. They continued under heavy spinnaker which they damaged the next day. De Pavantexplains subsequently that they no longer have the ideal downwind and reaching sails for the wind range 15-25 knots. They are understood to be considering a technical stop, possibly in New Zealand. Any stop after leaving the Indian Ocean must be of a mandatory minimum of 48 hours. Teams can carry up to 10 officially measured sails which. Up to 60 percent of a damaged sail can be replaced.

From having been in sight of Estrella Damm over recent days Groupe Bel has steadily dropped back to be nearly 200 miles behind the third placed Spanish boat this evening, De Pavant considering that Groupe Bel has been up to 20% below her usual polar speeds compared with Estrella Damm.

Note from SailRaceWin: Groupe Bel have since confirmed that they will stop for 48 hours (the minimum allowed at this stage of the race) in Wellington, New Zealand, for sail repairs.

Groupe Bel
Barcelona World Race

Exciting Finale Rounds out Sail Auckland 2011


Aleh and Powrie lead from Rogers and Grube in the 470s. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

by Jodie Bakewell-White

Sail Auckland 2011 is over with gold medals going to Tom Ashley and Kate Ellingham in the RS:X, Andrew Murdoch and Sara Winther in the Laser and Radial, Nick Rogers and Chris Grube(GBR) in the 470, Dan Slater in the Finn and Marcus Hansen and Aaron Hume-Merry in the 49er.

“The regatta has been a huge success,” commented Jez Fanstone, Olympic Programme Manager for Yachting New Zealand. “Takapuna Boating Club has hosted a great event, with plenty of close racing in all fleets. It’s great to have all the Olympic classes sailing from the same venue and there have been so many people down to watch the racing and join in on the action at the Club.”

Laser


Andrew Murdoch celebrates his victory in the Lasers. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Mike Bullot and Andrew Murdoch went head to head again today with Murdoch getting the upper hand in the final race of the series, clawing back a point on Bullot in the standings. Going into the medal race just one point separated the two NZL Sailing Team sailors meaning that for each, getting home before the other would almost certainly secure the title.


Mike Bullot. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Josh Junior took the win in the medal race, but it was Murdoch – New Zealand’s 2008 Olympic representative, and the recently crowned 2011 National Champion that snuck home in 7th in front of Bullot in 9th to take the win at Sail Auckland and the domestic double crown.


Josh Junior from Wellington won the Laser medal race. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Australia was well represented in the Laser medal race with four sailors. One medal went their way with Tom Burton securing the bronze.

RS:X


Tom Ashley ashore. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Tom Ashley tops the podium once again with a win in the Men’s RS:X. Ashley was second home in today’s medal race behind Dorian van Rijsselberge who in winning the final double-points race secured the silver medal.


Dorian van Rissjlberge. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Jon-Paul Tobin was presented the bronze medal finishing on equal points with Antonio Cozzolino, but coming off better on count-back.


Kate Ellingham. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Kate Ellingham from the NZL Sailing Team was the winner in the Women’s fleet, her closest rival Natalia Kosinska retiring after day three with an injury. Ellingham won the medal race and took out the event with a 12 point winning margin from Justina Sellers who won silver. Jazmine Lynch was third.

Radial


Sara Winther won the Laser Radials. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

In the largest fleet of the regatta Olympic campaigner Sara Winther took victory over New Zealand’s best and other international competition in the Radial rig Laser including top youth, masters and women sailors.

Michael Cate was second and Nicholas Croft was third.

“Happy enough – to beat all the boys,” said Winther with a wry smile ashore after the medal race in which she placed 2nd.

“I just planned to sail my own race,” describes Winther on her plan going into the final race. “To have a clean race and see where things were at, at the top mark.”
“It went well, I was fourth or fifth by the bottom mark and then caught right back up and ended up second by a boat length overall, so it was good.”


Michael Cate. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Winther will now enjoy a short break before resuming training towards the first of the European Regattas which for her will be Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. She leaves New Zealand in mid March.

470


Chris Grube and Nick Rogers. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Double Olympic medallist for Great Britain Nick Rogers, sailing with Chris Grube was simply too good for the Kiwis on the 470 course taking out the medal race and the regatta by a massive 17 point margin. The Britons won seven out of eleven races and were top two in all but one race.


Jason Saunders and Paul Snow-Hansen. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Competition was tight among the chasing pack which featured NZL Sailing Team women’s crew Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie, and men’s crew Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders.
Aleh and Powrie found form over the second half of the regatta, putting up a tough challenge for Rogers and Grube in the medal race, crossing the finish just behind them to secure the silver medal. Snow-Hansen and Saunders held onto third for the bronze medal.


Polly Powrie and Jo Aleh. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Finn

Dan Slater took out the Finn class, applying local knowledge to beat Rafael Trujillo of Spain who took the silver. Slater was solid throughout the four days of racing at Sail Auckland 2011 winning seven out of ten races in the class where seven boats were competing.

Up and comer in the Finn, Matt Coutts came home in third place.

49er

Clear winners in the 49er skiff were Marcus Hansen and Aaron Hume-Merry who, bar one DNF, made a clean sweep of winning 15 races from 16 starts. Chris Burgess and Rowan Swanson were 2nd.

Paralympics

The final day produced some shuffling among the placings in both Paralympics classes where racing has been staged off Westhaven Marina. Visiting internationals took the top spot in both the SKUD18 and the 2.4 metre.

In the SKUD18 two-person boat Wei Qiang Tan Jovin and Desiree Lim of Singapore were the winners with kiwis Annabelle Tye and Andrew May beating out fellow kiwis Tim Dempsey and Jan Aepl on count back for the silver.

In the 2.4 metre Michael Leydon of Australia came through for victory over Megan Pascoe of Great Britain. Overnight leader, Paul Francis of New Zealand was third.

Other classes

There was a tough battle for the 29er top spot with Jack Simpson and Logan Beck picking up their game as the regatta went on and sneaking home on the final day to finish the regatta just one point ahead of Matthew Spray and Tyler Russell.
Alex Munro and Brad Moss took out the 420 division ahead of Sam Mackay and Oscar Rorvick.

Final Results – top three

Laser top three
1st Andrew Murdoch NZL
2nd Mike Bullot NZL
3rd Tom Burton AUS


Andrew Murdoch. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz


Andrew Murdoch. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Laser Radial top three
1st Sara Winther NZL
2nd Michael Cate NZL
3rd Nicholas Croft NZL

470 top three
1st Nick Rogers & Chris Grube GBR
2nd Jo Aleh & Olivia Powrie NZL
3rd Paul Snow-Hansen & Jason Saunders NZL

Finn top three
1st Dan Slater NZL
2nd Rafael Trujillo Villar ESP
3rd Matt Coutts NZL


Olympic Gold medallist Tom Ashley won the RS:X. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz


Tom Ashley. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

RS:X Men top three
1st Tom Ashley NZL
2nd Dorian van Rijsselberge NED
3rd Jon-Paul Tobin NZL

RS:X Women top three
1st Kate Ellingham NZL
2nd Justina Sellers NZL
3rd Jazmine Lynch NZL

49er top three
1st Marcus Hansen & Aaron Hume-Merry NZL
2nd Chris Burgess & Rowan Swanson NZL
3rd Kagan Weeks & Jake Weeks NZL

2.4 metre top three
1st Michael Leydon AUS
2nd Megan Pascoe GBR
3rd Paul Francis NZL

SKUD18
1st Wei Qiang Tan Jovin & Desiree Lim SIN
2nd Annabelle Tye & Andrew May NZL
3rd Tim Dempsey & Jan Apel NZL


Sven Pedersen. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

RS:X 8.5 top three
1st Sven Pedersen NZL
2nd Enzo Pla FRA
3rd Kal Rutter NZL

420 top three
1st Alex Munro & Brad Moss NZL
2nd Sam Mackay & Oscar Rovick NZL
3rd Verity Judge & Gemma Jones NZL

29er top three
1st Jack Simpson & Logan Beck NZL
2nd Matthew Spray &Tyler Russell NZL
3rd Stewart Dodson & Harry Hull NZL


Downwind. Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Sail Auckland

BWR: Sunday Supplements


Loick Peyron on board Virbac Paprec 3. Image copyright Jean-Pierre Dick.

by Barcelona World Race media

* Finally conditions revert to what would be considered more normal for the Southern Ocean
* All of the fleet are now in the Indian Ocean
* Train of depressions now giving options to duos in the second half of the fleet
* Neutrogena forced to rescue Code Zero from the ocean


It was a significant moment for Loïck Peyron and Jean-Pierre Dick when they passed through the Amsterdam gate and set a fast course yesterday for the Australian barrier, signifying the end of a bone-shaking ride in confused seas and the chance to open the gap again on the pack which are pursuing the long time Barcelona World Race leaders.

Indeed the weekend programme for the race leaders, could be a diet of ‘champagne sailing’ other than first edition winner Dick revealing today that three bottles of Coke comprise the celebratory tipple of choice aboard the Virbac-Paprec 3. But life is certainly sugar sweet for Dick and Peyron today as they see their speeds elevated back towards 16-18 knots averages, consistently re-gaining today some of what they lost to the 2004 Olympic 49er champions who are 515 miles behind this afternoon.

If Dick and Peyron have champagne conditions, MAPFRE in second have been trying to deal with a very potent but confusing cocktail, a party punch which is packing very variable breezes and mixed seas which sees Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez forced to maintain a high, but nor necessarily profitable work rate. But the Spanish duo should find it simplified when they too get through the final ice gate of the Indian Ocean this evening, though their wind pressure is set to ease as the frontal trough they have been shadow boxing dissipates. Their motivation remains high but will spike higher when they feel like they are on the same ‘leg’ of the course as the leaders.

Again Jean-Pierre Dick reminded listeners to today’s VisioConference that anything can happen in this mechanical sport, that they are essentially little more than a fast day’s sailing ahead of the second boat, and he reaffirmed how a seemingly small problem can escalate to become a big one.


Estrella Damm. Image copyright Maria Munia/Barcelona World Race.

Ryan Breymaier and Boris Herrmann dealt with their own problem efficiently but did, in the end have ‘outside assistance’ to recover their Code Zero headsail which had slid off the boat when it broached due to a ballast tube malfunction. The Neutrogena duo had to gather their wits quickly when the key sail slipped over the guard rails and into the sea when they momentarily lost control. But a text book return to the locus where the sail had disappeared was rewarded when the floating sail was pinpointed by a few albatross who were standing on the waterlogged sail, enjoying respite from their own Southern Ocean endeavors aboard their own Neutrogena ‘island’. That the pair were able to get the sail back on board was something of a ‘miracle’ Hermmann reported today.

Having yesterday morning been sailing alongside and in sight of sixth placed Mirabaud, Neutrogena’s problems coast them miles. But the German-American pair passed the Crozet ice gate this morning at between 1130 and midday, some four hours after Dominique Wavre and Michèle Paret on the Owen Clarke designed Mirabaud. Neutrogena were just 26 miles behind Mirabaud this evening.

Looking at the long game is always an essential virtue racing around the world, one which Dee Caffari learned especially on her 2008-9 Vendée Globe solo race. Having been forced to route north and upwind, surviving a very stressful 36-48 hours in big, confused seas, the record breaking British skipper and Anna Corbella were back to their radiant best today, looking forward to easy miles directly down the track, knowing that they have a good chance to reducing some of the deficit they lost out to Mirabaud and Neutrogena.

Standings at 14hrs Saturday 5th February

1 VIRBAC-PAPREC 3 at 15 143,3 miles from the finish
2 MAPFRE at515,3 miles to leader
3 ESTRELLA DAMM Sailing Team at 604,4 miles
4 GROUPE BEL at658,3 miles
5 RENAULT Z.E at938,1 miles
6 MIRABAUD at1454,1 miles
7 NEUTROGENA at1482,1 miles
8 GAES CENTROS AUDITIVOS at2177,3 miles
9 HUGO BOSS at2359,6 miles
10 FORUM MARITIM CATALA at2851,4 miles
11 WE ARE WATER at2976,8 miles
12 CENTRAL LECHERA ASTURIANA at3158,4 miles
RTD FONCIA
RTD PRESIDENT


Wouter Verbraak on board HUGO BOSS. Image copyright Alex Thomson Racing.

Dee Caffari (GBR) GAES Centros Auditivos: “ The sun is shining and we are going fast in the right direction, and we are very happy bunnies. It was horrible, we did not like it, the boat did not like it and it was a really horrible, intense 36 hours. And it is probably the worst conditions we have had in the race so far. It was only about trying to keep the boat and the crew in one piece, and we got out of there and the weather has just got better and better.

"She did not feel 100% and was not firing on all cylinders, but she is back in full.
It is looking like this northerly component will stay with us and we can crack on straight to the ice gate and clear that by Monday. It is looking like easy miles for us which is quite a change because we have had to work quite hard recently.
Neutrogena and Mirabaud are always our targets because we obviously lost a lot by having to take that northern upwind route, and it did cost us dearly while they were able to take that more direct route, so to close that gap would be lovely and we have not given up.

"I was really happy with the boat, I had a good look around yesterday when it became a bit drier, and we sponged out a good deal of water. Everything is good with the boat and she is doing a good job and looking after us.”

Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA), Virbac-Paprec 3: “We had very strong winds at an angle which was just not good and big waves and so to get to the gate we did not go so fast. Behind us I think they were averaging 19 knots and I think we were 16 knots. But we are downwind again and thing will open out again. We will have a little less wind over the next bit. The last two days were really full on, the boat was shaking with lots of carbon noises.

"Everything can crumble because we are on a mechanical boat and we saw what happened with Foncia. You can lose the rig in a second. But 500 miles of a lead is nice, but it is not enormous compared with how far there is to go. We try to read a little and listen to some music. Bur of course sometimes we don’t have time to because we just crash to sleep, tired out. Since the start we have not dropped the rhythm between sailing, eating and sleeping.

"Loïck is quite accustomed to our life on board and we had discussions before the race. We take the freeze dried but try to have the best, and we have treats like chocolate. We have energy powders to rehydrate us and we have three bottles of Coke for each great moment. And some semi sparkling water after a big effort which I really like."

Boris Herrmann (GER) Neutrogena: "The basic problem is pretty steep waves and how to make the boat go fast. It is easier to sail the boat in very steep waves with a lot of ballast in the stern. Our problem started yesterday when we lost the stern tube and the boat wiped out and in this whole episode we lost one sail over the side. We were sailing with the small kite and one reef in the main and so it takes quite a while to take sock the kite.

"Once we had done that we looked at each other and said do we really do this because we had at least one and a half miles to go back and it was big waves, and gusts and everything. We did not expect to find it, so we said ‘lets try’ and we turned and on the trace on the navigation programme we could find the point where we wiped out, we went to the position with a couple of tacks, going upwind with very small sails.
From there we went downwind very slowly. And all of a sudden I could see a few albatross and they were sitting on our sails.

"I think we have something going on with the albatross. Today we had a problem, we were Chinese-ing the boat (Chinese gybing) heeling over from one side to the wrong side. When that happened once again an albatross was flying close, as if he was keeping an eye in us. Each time we make a stupid mistake it seems like there is one near the boat.

"First of all it was quite stressful but in fact finding the sail and then managing to get it back on deck in these big waves was a miracle, but even since then it has been steep waves. And so since then we have probably had to reef and unreef the main probably five times since then, sometimes down to two reefs, some time one and sometimes full main. Yesterday between two positions we were very close or ahead of Mirabuad and we did not want to lose too many miles, to gain back the lead over them and it was the perfect time to go fast this morning.

"Ryan worked on the tube today while I took care of the boat and cut a piece of it off to seal it again. We cannot use any ballast then and had to heel the boat over to keep the ballast tube empty. It was a challenge in many ways. But the thing has been glued in place for half an hour and now we are just waiting for it to dry, and the glue can set within a hour because we will pass the gate and then need to gybe south again.

"Yesterday we saw them all morning, we sailed alongside them and could see them pretty clearly, we were close and then gained on them, from quite a way behind, just gaining on them before we gybed.”

Alex Pella (ESP) Estrella Damm:“ The waves are long and about eight metres high. There are twenty knots of wind from the south (170), and we are doing 15 knots heading east (94 degrees)

Last night the wind dropped a little but has risen again. We have the front just ahead of us and in the next 20 hours will start to get northerly wind. The day is very cloudy and thus it is very difficult to read the swell and wind, which is very unstable in direction and intensity. The last 24 hours we have not gone so fast but the important thing is that we have been closing towards the gate in the right direction.

The idea is to pass the gate and see what to do with the front, probably go south.
The boat is going well and as long as it is, so also we're all right.

Mind you, the watches are exhausting. You finish completely punctured.

So we try to eat and sleep as much as we can. But we remain very motivated and morale as high as ever. I am very happy to be here in the south, although it is a strange and unusual south as we are not much in the south. It will be different after the gate. And currently we’ve got good weather, between 11 and 14 degrees. When we go further south it will be a lot colder.”

In French:

Carpe Diem

- La flotte commence à rencontrer des conditions dignes des mers australes
- Les tandems en profitent pour récupérer des fatigues accumulées
- Tous les équipages naviguent dans le même océan



Jean-Pierre Dick on board Virbac Paprec 3. Image copyright Virbac Paprec 3.

Depuis le temps qu’ils les attendaient, ils finissent par ne pas y croire. Mais il faut se rendre à l’évidence, c’est bien un régime dépressionnaire classique qui s’installe sur les 40èmes. Avec son cortège de glissades sur la houle, de bascules à négocier entre le nord-ouest et le sud-ouest, de surfs qui affolent le speedomètre. On en oublierait presque que les équipages sont toujours en course, tant ils manifestent leur soulagement d’en avoir fini avec plusieurs jours terribles.
Ça va mieux… Même si les conditions ne sont pas encore idéales pour tous, la flotte bénéficie enfin des régimes de vents portants typiques des mers du sud. Pour certains, c’est la voie royale : ainsi Jean-Pierre Dick et Loïck Peyron, solides leaders à bord de Virbac-Paprec 3 profitent de conditions parfaites pour creuser à nouveau l’écart avec leurs dauphins Iker Martinez et Xabi Fernandez (MAPFRE). Et c’est un Jean-Pierre Dick parfaitement reposé et lucide qui pouvait répondre à la vacation du jour, évoquant la nécessaire vigilance qu’il convient de garder malgré un avantage estimé à une grosse journée de mer... Les deux hommes apprécient visiblement de pouvoir un peu lâcher la bride, après un début de course qui ne leur a guère laissé de répit. Une descente de l’Atlantique à couteaux tirés avec le Foncia de Michel Desjoyeaux et François Gabart, une entrée dans l’océan Indien particulièrement tactique avaient précédé ces derniers jours de course, particulièrement éprouvants tant physiquement que moralement. Etre secoué comme un prunier est une chose. Vivre de surcroit l’angoisse de la casse, de même que supporter les bruits du carbone encaissant les chocs sont autant de facteurs de stress et de fatigue.

Dies irae

Dans ce type de conditions, le moindre pépin peut vite tourner à la catastrophe. L’équipage de Neutrogena en a fait l’amère expérience hier. A la lutte avec Mirabaud, Ryan Breymaier et Boris Hermann s’apprêtaient à changer de spinnaker, quand lors de la manœuvre, un ballast s’est vidé complètement sous le vent. Immédiatement, le bateau a enfourné et s’est couché juste quand un des deux équipiers s’affairait à rentrer le code zéro dans le bateau. La voile partait sous le vent, arrachait un chandelier et passait à l’eau. Le temps d’affaler le petit spinnaker, de faire demi-tour contre le vent, de suivre la trace du GPS grâce à la fonction homme à la mer (qui fonctionne aussi bien pour une voile d’avant) et le tandem perdait plus d’une heure à revenir sur le lieu du crime. Mais comment retrouver un gennaker passé à l’eau dans une mer aussi formée ? C’est une concentration anormale d’oiseaux de mer qui donnait la piste ; Boris et Ryan pouvait localiser leur voile d’avant sur laquelle un albatros avait élu domicile. Dans l’affaire, les deux hommes ont récupéré leur code zéro, mais ont abandonné près de quarante milles à leur plus proche adversaire et laissé beaucoup d’énergie. Autant dire que le congé de fin de semaine sera particulièrement bienvenu.

Fluctuat nec mergitur

Les dames de GAES Centros Auditivos goûtaient aussi particulièrement cette rotation des vents. En bordure de l’anticyclone, elles bénéficient d’un gradient de pression suffisant pour avancer poussées par un vent d’ouest soutenu, tout en étant gratifiées de rayons de soleil particulièrement réconfortants. Dee Caffari, elle-même, dont on sait à quel point elle est dure au mal, reconnaissait que ces derniers jours avaient été les pires rencontrés depuis le départ de la course, ajoutant même qu’elle avait rarement rencontré des conditions aussi dures. Son équipière Anna Corbella en guise de baptême du feu, s’est trouvée en proie à un mal de mer aussi imprévisible que tenace. Seul équipage à être encore confronté à des conditions particulièrement difficile le tandem de MAPFRE, qui navigue juste en bordure de l’activité frontale générée par le talweg, perd non seulement sur les leaders mais voit son avance grignotée par ses compatriotes d’Estrella Damm … Les deux navigateurs attendent avec impatience de franchir la porte de la Nouvelle Amsterdam pour mettre du sud dans leur cap et bénéficier de conditions plus stables. Vivement dimanche...


Rainbow. Image copyright Barcelona World Race.

Classement du 5 février à 15 heures (TU+1) :

1 VIRBAC-PAPREC 3 à 15 143,3 milles de l’arrivée
2 MAPFRE à 515,3 milles du leader
3 ESTRELLA DAMM Sailing Team à 604,4 milles
4 GROUPE BEL à 658,3 milles
5 RENAULT Z.E à 938,1 milles
6 MIRABAUD à 1454,1 milles
7 NEUTROGENA à 1482,1 milles
8 GAES CENTROS AUDITIVOS à 2177,3 milles
9 HUGO BOSS à 2359,6 milles
10 FORUM MARITIM CATALA à 2851,4 milles
11 WE ARE WATER à 2976,8 milles
12 CENTRAL LECHERA ASTURIANA à 3158,4 milles
ABN FONCIA
ABN PRESIDENT

Ils ont dit :

Jean-Pierre Dick, Virbac-Paprec 3 :
« Nous sommes au portant et les conditions devraient continuer à s’améliorer. Nous allons avoir des conditions plus calmes qu’il y a vingt-quatre heures. Les deux derniers jours étaient vraiment speed, le bateau était un vrai shaker envahi de ces bruits de carbone. Cinq cents milles d’avance, c’est à la fois beaucoup et ce n’est pas énorme par rapport à la distance qui reste à parcourir. On n’oublie pas que nous sommes dans un sport mécanique.

"Jusque là nous n’avons pas eu trop le temps de lire ou d’écouter de la musique : entre la navigation, les manoeuvres, le besoin de s’alimenter, sans compter que bien souvent, on tombe de fatigue et qu’on s’endort sans demander notre reste. Pour fêter les grands moments, le passage du détroit de Cook, le cap Horn et le franchissement de l’équateur, on a prévu trois canettes de Coca...»

Juan Merediz, Central Lechera Asturiana : «On est arrivé avant-hier au soir à Cape Town. Dès que l’on a pu, on a travaillé non stop sur le bateau... Le temps des formalités de douane, on a réussi à prendre une douche et à dormir un peu dans un vrai lit. L’accueil que l’on a reçu à Cape Town était vraiment fantastique. Maintenant nous naviguons dans 20 nœuds de vent... On espère revenir au contact des autres. Pour partir de Cape Town, on a eu la chance d’apercevoir des phoques, de même qu’une baleine»

Dee Caffari, GAES Centros Auditivos : « Tout va bien : le soleil brille, on va vite et dans la bonne direction. Ces dernières quarante-huit heures, ce sont les conditions les pires que l’on ait rencontrées depuis le début de la course. Anna a même eu le mal de mer, mais maintenant tout va bien. Tout était trempé dans le bateau et c’était difficile à vivre. »

Anna Corbella, GAES Centros Auditivos : « C’était très difficile. Du fait de la tension, je n’ai pas réussi à manger pendant douze heures. On pouvait croire qu’à chaque instant le bateau allait se briser… Maintenant ça va mieux, j’ai réussi à récupérer, je suis de nouveau contente d’être là… »

Barcleona World Race

BWR: Mapfre Nearing Final Gate in the Indian Ocean




Iker and Xabi on board Mapfre. Image copyright www.iker-xabi.com

by Helena Paz

The forecasts have come true and Iker Martínez and Xabi Fernández, skippers on “MAPFRE” in the Barcelona World Race have started to drop speed during the past few hours of competition. The leading IMOCA Open 60, “Virbac Paprec 3” has managed to push up speeds above the Spanish duo’s current average, now standing at 14 knots, as they hold second place in the general rankings, some 496.2 miles (919 km) from the leader, now slowly running ahead en route to the Western coast of Australia.

The area of the squall that Iker and Xabi found themsleves in yesterday did not help matters for the Olympic champions, as Xabi explained:”We are fast, but in an area of the squall that isn’t very comfortable to sail in, with lots of shifty breeze, both in terms of direction and speed and five solid hours concentrated on making the boat run was tough on us.” Despite this, the sailors from the towns of Hondarribia and Ibarra in Guipuzcoa, Basque Country, have managed to cover a total of 326 miles (603.7 km) in 24 hours.

Iker and Xabi are now headed for the third safety waypoint of the Indian Ocean, now 60 miles ahead (111.1 km), whilst Jean Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron, skippers on “Virbac paprec 3” have got away to the South on the same southeasterly course as the Spaniards having crossed the Amsterdam ice gate yesterday afternoon.

With this routing, Iker and Xabi cannot help but glance astern as a speedy “Estrella Damm” applies pressure from behind, 112.8 miles (209 km) away from the yacht’s stern. However, it looks like there may be a turnaround in the situation over the coming hours, with “MAPFRE” setting the pace and widening the gap. However, forecasts are pointing towards changes over the next 36 to 48 hours, with the leader pack possibly finding themselves without any breeze at all...

Despite the damp conditions on board and the discomfort experienced in these Southern oceanic latitiudes, the experience of “racing abeam the wind across the Indian Ocean at full speed” as Xabi described it in an email yesterday, sweetens the pill somewhat. There’s no forgetting, however, that with 36 days of competition under their belts, Iker Martínez and Xabi Fernández still have 15,718 miles (29,109.7 km) ahead of them. It’s been said many times, and it’s tirelessly repeated, but “this is a very long race”. Not only that, but it is one where anything can happen.

GENERAL RANKINGS
Day 36 - 09:00 GMT.

1. VIRBAC-PAPREC 3 (Jean Pierre Dick - Loïck Peyron) FRA, 15,522 miles from finish
2. MAPFRE (Iker Martínez - Xabi Fernández) ESP, +496.2 miles
3. ESTRELLA DAMM SAILING TEAM (Alex Pella - Pepe Ribes) ESP, +609 miles
4. GROUPE BEL (Kito de Pavant - Sebastien Audigane) FRA, +652.4 miles
5. RENAULT Z. E. (Pachi Rivero - Antonio Piris) ESP, +936.4 miles
6. MIRABAUD (Dominique Wavre - Michéle Paret) SUI, +1,453.8 miles
7. NEUTROGENA FÓRMULA NORUEGA (Boris Herrmann - Ryan Breymaier) NOR, +1,489.2 miles
8. GAES CENTROS AUDITIVOS (Dee Caffari - Anna Corbella) GBR/ESP, +2,173.9 miles
9. HUGO BOSS (Wouter Verbraak - Andy Meiklejohn) GBR, +2,371.4 miles
10. FÒRUM MARÍTIM CATALÀ (Gerard Marín - Ludovic Aglaor) ESP, +2,846.3
11. WE ARE WATER (Jaume Mumbrú - Cali Sanmartí) ESP, +2,966.9 miles
12. CENTRAL LECHERA ASTURIANA (Juan Merediz - Fran Palacio) ESP, +3,133.2 miles
** PRÉSIDENT (Jean le Cam - Bruno García) FRA/ESP, RACE ABANDONED 12th January.
** FONCIA (Michel Desjoyeaux - François Gabart) FRA, RACE ABANDONED 26th January.

Mapfre
Barcelona World Race

Aussie 18 Foot Skiffs: Commodore's Cup


Thurlow Fisher Lawyers crew with no race to sail. Image copyright Frank Quealey.

by Frank Quealey

After a week of high temperatures (in excess of 38/100 degrees), a strong southerly wind hit Sydney Harbour just prior to the schedules start time of the Commodore Cup 18ft Skiff race.

Gusts in excess of 30 knots made conditions far too dangerous for the safety of the fleet and the race officer was forced to abandon.

The next event for the Australian 18 Footers League will be sailed on Friday (6pm) when the club will conduct the annual Twilight Race.

Race 12 of the Club Championship and the Winning Appliances Trophy will be sailed next Sunday at 2.30pm.

A spectator ferry will follow both races, leaving Double Bay Public Wharf (alongside the clubhouse) 30 minutes prior to the start of each race.

Aussie 18 Footers League

All On for the Final Day at Sail Auckland 2011


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

by Jodie Bakewell-White

Just one day of racing remains at Sail Auckland 2011 off Takapuna Boating Club with the podium places set to be decided tomorrow.

After a grey morning the day turned into a sunny scorcher with light and at times patchy westerly breezes ranging between 6-15 knots on the Hauraki Gulf for racing in the Olympic, Paralympic and invited classes.

RS:X

On day three consistency was key in the shifty winds and Tom Ashley blew off the chasing pack by coming home with two race wins from two races sailed. After yesterday the points spread was just three between first and fourth, but at the end of the penultimate day the Olympic champ has marched out to a six point lead from Antonio Cozzolino.

Dorian van Rijsselberge is in third place with Jon-Paul Tobin in fourth.

It was a similar story in the Women’s fleet where Kate Ellingham dominated on day three scoring two wins and consolidating her lead on the fleet going into the final day. Natalia Kosinska holds onto second place five points behind.

Laser


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

It’s a two horse race on the Laser course with a ding-dong battle going on between the two most experienced campaigners of the NZL Sailing Team, Mike Bullot and Andrew Murdoch, with Murdoch out in front at the start of the day.


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

But Bullot managed to come home ahead of Murdoch in all of today’s three races, rounding out the day with a win he has turned the tables and is now two points in front.

This one promises to provide an exciting finale tomorrow.

Radial

Michael Cate has had a strangle-hold on the Radial course over the first half of the regatta, but Olympic campaigner Sara Winther, sailing at her home Club, has pulled ahead and now tops the leader board in the 40-strong fleet.

Finn


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

In the Finn, Dan Slater continues to extend his lead with three wins on the water today. The NZL Sailing Team rep is now six points clear of Rafael Trujillo.

470

Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie had a good day on the water pulling themselves up the board from fifth overall into second place behind the Britons with Nick Rogers at the helm. With a 2-1-2 score card today the kiwi women had a better day than the GBR team (1-2-5).

But having been on scorching form throughout the regatta Rogers and Grube have it essentially sewn up with a 14 point leading margin. Paul Snow-Hansen and Jason Saunders are in third place going into the final day.


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

49er

Three 49ers are racing at Sail Auckland with Marcus Hansen and Aaron Hume-Merry dominant from the outset. Tomorrow they look set to bring it home for the gold medal.

Paralympics


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

On the SKUD course near Westhaven Tim Dempsey and Jan Apel are leading after two days of racing while Paul Francis has the top spot in the 2.4 metre.

Racing resumes tomorrow at 11am with the medals to be determined by the end of the day.

Results after day two – top three


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Laser top three
1st Mike Bullot NZL – 18 points
2nd Andrew Murdoch NZL – 20 point
3rd Tom Burton AUS – 34 points

Laser Radial top three
1st Sara Winther NZL – 28 points
2nd Michael Cate NZL - 33 points
3rd Nicholas Croft NZL – 55 points

470 top three
1st Nick Rogers & Chris Grube - 11 points
2nd Jo Aleh & Olivia Powrie NZL – 25 points
3rd Paul Snow-Hansen & Jason Saunders - 30 points

Finn top three
1st Dan Slater NZL - 9 points
2nd Rafael Trujillo Villar ESP - 15 points
3rd Matt Coutts NZL – 21 points

RS:X Men top three
1st Tom Ashley NZL – 9 points
2nd Antonio Cozzolino – 15 points
3rd Dorian van Rijsselberge NED – 17 points

RS:X Women top three
1st Kate Ellingham NZL – 7 points
2nd Natalia Kosinska NZL – 12 points
3rd Justina Sellers NZL – 16 points


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

49er top three
1st Marcus Hansen & Aaron Hume-Merry NZL - 9 points
2nd Chris Burgess & Rowan Swanson NZL - 19 points
3rd Kagan Weeks & Jake Weeks NZL – 33 points


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

2.4 metre top three
1st Paul Francis NZL – 12 points
2nd Michael Leydon AUS - 12 points
3rd Megan Pascoe GBR – 12 points

SKUD18
1st Tim Dempsey and Jan Apel NZL - 8 points
2nd Wei Qiang Tan Jovin and Desiree Lim SIN - 8 points
3rd Annabelle Tye & Andrew May NZL – 15 points

RS:X 8.5 top three
1st Sven Pedersen NZL - 6 points
2nd Enzo Pla FRA - 14 points
3rd Tony McKenzie NZL - 17 points

420 top three
1st Alex Munro & Brad Moss NZL - 15 points
2nd Sam Mackay & Oscar Rovick NZL - 19 points
3rd Verity Judge & Gemma Jones NZL – 22 points

29er top three
1st Matthew Spray &Tyler Russell NZL – 9 points
2nd Jack Simpson & Logan Beck NZL - 17 points
3rd Stewart Dodson & Harry Hull NZL – 27 points


Image copyright Will Calver/oceanphotography.co.nz

Sail Auckland