Exciting finale to Finn World Masters

Legend Hart leads Master Budzien. Image copyright Tosca Zambra.

by Robert Deaves

One race was all he needed and that was the way it turned out. A fifth race win for Michael Maier (CZE) gave him his second Finn World Masters title, after first winning it back in 2006. Silver goes to the defending champion André Budzien (GER) and a last minute charge from Christen Christoph (SUI) gave him the bronze.

Michael Gubi (AUT) wins the Grand Masters after a great last day while local hero Luksa Cicarelli (CRO) pulled out all the stops to snatch the Grand Grand Masters title on the final race and Richard Hart (GBR) continued his absolute dominances of the 15 Legends to take the title that all Finn sailors aspire to win.

On the final day, the last two races were sailed in an ESE wind in front of Sustipan hill, close to shore on course Alpha. The wind increased during first race from 10 to 12 knots,and later in race 7 to more than 12 knots so Oscar was displayed for free and fun pumping.

RED group started on time with Cees Scheurwater (NED) the early leader. Maier soon worked his way to the front to take his final winner's gun and the title. Scheurwater finished second with Christen Christoph in third. In the BLUE group HUN5 rounded first ahead of Felix Denikaev (RUS) and Richard Hart. Budzien, who had rounded fourth took the lead on the next leg to record his first win of the championship with Allen Burrell (GBR) moving up to second and Francesco Cinque (ITA) in third.

The final race started soon after. With Maier heading in for an early shower, the next nine places were still wide open, as were the Grand Master and Grand Grand Master titles. The BLUE group was off first with Burrell leading Budzien and Bernd Moser (AUT). However Budzien was soon back in the lead to record his second win of the day. Burrell picked up another second place with Peter Mosny (SVK) in third.

The final RED group race was critical as it was here that the bronze medal and the Grand Masters title was decided. Of the five sailors fighting for the bronze, Christoph came off the best leading round the first mark to take his first win of the championship, ahead of Michael Gubi (AUT) and Attila Szilvassy (HUN), to secure the bronze medal.


Grand Master Michael Gubi. Image copyright Tosca Zambra.

Gubi's third place was enough to take the Grand Masters title from Marco Buglielli (ITA) at the last possible moment. Until the final day Buglielli had never being below second overall and had to settle for seventh overall and second Grand Master.

One gold medal and Grand Grand Master title (60-69 years old) will stay in Croatia. Luksa Cicarelli (CRO) from YC Labud picked up a sixth in the final race to take the title from Wouter Molenaar (NED), who had also led the most of the week.


Grand Grand Master Luksa Cicarelli. Image copyright Tosca Zambra.

Cicarelli said, "I was not able to fully concentrate on sailing, however conditions were excellent so I could catch and overtake opponents in my category. And I have to say that this year the competition was stronger than before."

Richard Hart capped a remarkable week with a 9-23 to end up 44th overall and take the Legend category (70+) by a country mile. Second Legend Victor Kozlov (RUS) finished in 101st place with more than twice Hart's points total.

The prizegiving giving held outside YC Labud on Friday evening brought to an end the Finn classes long and fruitful occupation of Split. With the Europeans and then the Masters, the club has been a Finn base for most of the last month and the club members will no doubt be pleased to get their dinghy park back. YC Labud has been the perfect host and has put on some great and fair racing in perhaps some trying and unusual conditions over the past three weeks.

In the end it turned into a week of two halves. The start of the week was light and favoured one part of the fleet, while the end of the week was windier and favoured the heavier and stronger sailors. With sailors of Maier's calibre now a fixture at the regatta, the standard is improving all the time.


Buzien leads Burrell. Image copyright Tosca Zambra.

Budzien continues to make records - he has now taken the podium eight years running - four times second, three times winner and now silver again, while Christen Christoph takes the bronze at his first Finn World Masters.

This year, as ever, there were many new and old faces and the nature of the competition is that more sailors qualify every year just by being a year older. Next year the championship is being held in Punta Ala in Italy and that is sure to be a very popular venue.


Brigitte Devillers. Image copyright Tosca Zambra.

Final results (top 20 out of 167)
1 CZE 1 Michael Maier 7
2 GER 711 Andre Budzien 18
3 SUI 5 Christen Christoph 22
4 AUT 7 Michael Gubi 25
5 HUN 211 Attila Szilvassy 26
6 GBR 2 Allen Burrell 27
7 ITA 2 Marco Buglielli 28
8 SVK 1 Peter Mosny 31
9 DEN 6 Lars Hall 35
10 CRO 6 Armano Zekan 37
11 NED 29 Bas de Waal 43
12 GBR 65 David Potter 46
13 GBR 61 John Heyes 54
14 AUS 3 Jake Gunther 55
15 HUN 7 Antal Szekely 63
16 ITA 5 Francesco Cinque 68
17 GBR 68 John Mackie 79
18 NED 27 Paul Kamphorst 70
19 HUN 5 Zsombor Majthenyi 71
20 ITA 4 Francesco Faggiani 72

Grand Masters (50-59yr)
1. Michael Gubi (AUT)
2 Marco Buglielli(AUT)
3. Lars Hall (DEN)

Grand Grand Masters (60-69yr)
1. Luksa Cicarelli (CRO)
2. Wouter Molenaar (NED)
3. Marin Mrduljas (CRO)

Legends (70+)
1. Richard Hart (GBR)
2. Viktor Kozlov (RUS)
3. John Ulbrich (SUI)

Finn Class
Finn World Masters

Delta Lloyd Regatta: Finns on Day Three

Gaspic and Trujillo share points lead in Finns after breezy day


Finn action on day 3 at Medemblik. Image © Thom Touw.

by Robert Deaves

Following the frustration of Thursday, Friday brought perfect conditions with solid winds up to 20 knots and two tough races for the Finn fleet. With five races now on the board, the morning leader Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) shares the points leads with Rafa Trujillo (ESP). Race wins went to Giles Scott (GBR) and Kljakovic Gaspic.

The points are tight in the top 10, though only Kljakovic Gaspic has maintained a string of single digit scores. He made it hard for himself on Friday though, having to mount a come back in race four before going on to win race five.


Gaspic and Scott. Image © Thom Touw.

He said, "We finally had some sailing without too much delays and waiting. Today it was petty breezy around 20 knots. In first race the starting line was very short and we had difficulty starting, so there were around 10 BFD boats. For me I had bad start and came up really bad on top mark but came back in front and finished eighth." The race was won by Giles Scott (GBR) from Gasper Vincec (SLO) and Mark Andrews (GBR).


Gaspic. Image © Thom Touw.

Kljakovic Gaspic continued, "The second race was better for me and with a clear start I sailed nice upwind and made great job on the reach and first downwind to get in front of the fleet. In the rest of the race I had control over the group and won this race."

"It is great fun sailing this event for me as I am relaxed and guys are also sailing well. The top ten is tight with points and it will be interesting to see the next two days."


Scott on day 3. Image © Thom Touw.

He was followed over the line in race by Andrew Mills (GBR) and Trujillo. With a fifth in the first race of the day, Trujillo dropped his 20th from Thursday to sit in second overnight, on equal points with Kljakovic Gaspic. Scott placed fifth in race five to climb to third overall.


Finns on day 3. Image © Thom Touw.

Now in sixth place overall, Zach Railey (USA) said, "We had good pressure all day long with anywhere from 12 - 20 knots. The wind was pretty shifty and you had to make the most of what you got on your part of the race course. It was hard to know which way to go. I made the wrong choice on both of the first upwinds in each race, but was able to make it back and have some OK results to keep myself close to the top guys."


Start of race on day 3. Image © Thom Touw.

The final qualification races will be held Saturday before Sunday's medal race, which can be followed live online through the event website.

Results after five races, one drop

1 CRO524 Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic 11
2 ESP100 Rafael Trujillo 11
3 GBR41 Giles Scott 19
4 SLO5 Gasper Vincec 20
5 GBR11 Edward Wright 21
6 USA4 Zach Railey 25
7 GBR88 Mark Andrews 25
8 CRO25 Marin Misura 27
9 SLO573 Vasilij Zbogar 33
10 FIN218 Tapio Nirkko 34

Finn Class
Delta Lloyd Regatta

Delta Lloyd Regatta: Kiwi report - 49er moves to 5th; Tobin lying 7th

Burling and Tuke climb into top five


49er fleet at Medemblik. Supplied image.

by Jodie Bakewell-White

Day three of 2010 Delta Lloyd Regatta sees Burling and Tuke move into the top five of the 49er fleet, and Tobin improve to seventh in the Men’s RS:X.

Two days of competition remain at round five of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Regatta in the Netherlands.

A change to the programme saw the top 25 placed 49er crews split off for day three at Delta Lloyd Regatta 2010. With four races sailed overnight the kiwi duo of Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have scaled the leader board from 14th position to now lie inside the top five.

Footing it with the world’s best they placed fifth, sixth, won race nine, then had a tenth in the four races sailed on day three of competition. Ten races have now been completed during the series.

The 49er class’s short sharp racing with more races in the programme can make for big climbs and big falls on the leader board. The young New Zealanders returned the consistency they were hunting on day three and it’s rewarded them in the overall standings.

They are lying fifth, although there are plenty of crews just on their heels with points tight behind them. Reigning 49er World Champion Nathan Outteridge of Australia is lying third, Nico Delle Karth of Austria in second while Pietro Sibello and crew of Italy have the lead.

Jon-Paul Tobin has improved his standing in the Men’s RS:X fleet after three races completed over night. The 100-strong fleet have now completed seven races and kiwi board sailor, Tobin, has moved from eighth overall up into seventh place.

Overnight Tobin recorded a fifth, an eleventh and then a DNF. Przemek Miarczynski of Poland is now at the top of the table, where the top five have somewhat of a break on the chasing bunch.

Natalia Kosinska is lying 28th in the Women’s fleet, who like the men, have now completed seven races.

Over in the Women’s Match Racing the New Zealand crew helmed by Stephanie Hazard is racing now in the Silver Round Robin where they will be looking to secure the best result now possible after missing out on the semi finals.

Racing continues tonight to decide who will sail in Sunday’s medal races.

New Zealand’s Current Standings after day three

49er (Total fleet 72)
5th Peter Burling and Blair Tuke – 63 points (5, 27, 5, 7, 7, 17, 5, 6, 1, 10)

Men’s RS:X (Total fleet 100)
7th Jon-Paul Tobin – 43 points (7, 5, 6, 9, 5, 11, DNF)

Women’s RS:X (Total fleet 60)
28th Natalia Kosinska - 156 points (27, 22, 34, 25, 31, 32, 18)

Women’s Match Racing (Total fleet 24)
Stephanie Hazard, Jenna Hansen and Sam Osborne – Silver Fleet Round Robin 1 win/2 losses

Yachting New Zealand
Delta Lloyd Regatta

Delta Lloyd Regatta: Perfect Racing on the Third Day

Souter (AUS) leads Echegoyen (ESP) in the women's match racing. Image copyright Sander van der Borch.

by Corinne McKenzie

Wind and sunshine provided for great racing during the 3rd day in the Delta Lloyd Regatta, 5th event in the ISAF Sailing World Cup. The North Westerly breeze reaching 20 knots, allowed all the classes to sail according to schedule.

Women's Match racing

The Women's Match racing started at 9.30 AM. At the end of the day 13 flights have been completed, with five for the repechage. The teams of Tamara Echegoyen (ESP) and Nicky Souter (AUS) won four races out of five and will join the Gold fleet on Saturday.

Ekaterina Skudina (RUS) has started her Match racing campaign last year in Medemblik during the Delta Lloyd regatta. 'We have come a long way;" declares Skudina. 'I can't believe we have started one year ago. We got our boats in February and trained with one of the top Russian Match-Racer. This made us progressed." Improving steadily at each regatta, Skudina and her team claimed the European Championship early May after a close final with Lucy McGregor. Skudina has qualified for the Gold round robin with 100% victories.

49er

Four races sailed back to back in the 49ers, racing in Gold fleet, changed the leadership. 2009 European Champions, Pietro and Gianfranco Sibello (ITA) take the lead for the first time in the regatta on equal points with early leaders Nico Delle Karth and Nikolau Resch (AUT).

'We are sailing well again", explains Pietro Sibello 'This year we have started every regatta with a disqualification at the start. Yesterday we were good enough to stay calm, concentrate on the shifts and stay close to the other boats. This series of OCS' has made us doubt, and take unnecessary risks." The 49ers are racing in Medemblik on two different racing areas. While it does make it difficult for the coaches to follow racing, most sailors appreciate it. 'Today we raced four races back to back.", continues Pietro Sibello. 'We can do it because we have two racing areas. We don't need to wait on shore while the other group races and we can also compete with the same weather condition, which is fairer. I like to sail in Medemblik, it is the best regatta of the circuit for the 49ers, there are lots of boats, a great organisation and no wait!"

Laser Radial

The top four keep their place in the Laser Radial. Marit Bouwmeester (NED) claimed a fourth victory with top five scores today. Other races are claimed by defending champion and Hyčres' winner Tatiana Drozdovskaya (BLR) and Evi van Acker (BEL).

The third race saw a close battle in the front between the Dutch and the Belgium.
'I made a stupid mistake on the beat, I tried to cover Evi I went right but it didn't work out, Evi sailed away", explains Bouwmeester.

Laser

It was a hard day in the Laser class with most favourites scoring high points in at least a race. Tom Slingsby enjoyed the windy conditions to take the lead from Matias del Solar (CHI) who suffered in the breeze. 2009 Sailing World Cup winner, Nick Thompson (GBR) climbs to second overall with Julio Alsogaray (ARG) in third.

Finn

It was great fun on the water for the Finn sailors who finally experienced some of the best conditions since the start of the year. World number 1, Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) conserves the lead in the Finn on equal point with early leader, Rafa Trujillo from Spain.

2.4mR

It is close racing in the 2.4 mR with the top four boats within six points. Thierry Schmitter (NED) has kept top place since day 1. Damien Seguin (FRA) won the last race, is in second overall at only two points from first. Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe are third and fourth.

'It was very close racing with Thierry and Megan" explains Damien Seguin. 'It is good to have closed the gap with Thierry. Tomorrow will be a big fight with three races. The racing here is very challenging and it promises to be an interesting World here next July!"

Gold medallist Paul Tingley (CAN) is enjoying racing in the Delta Lloyd regatta 'I like the short and steep waves. It does provide exciting and challenging races. There were many lead changes and I had a good spot from the back!"

470 Men

The windy conditions suited the Australian team of Matthew Belcher and Malcolm Page, scoring the best results in the 470 men's division. Placed 14th after Thursday light air races, the Sailing World Cup leaders gain 10 places to 4th overall. 'This is the first day with good wind for the whole season; it is good to stretch the back", jokes Malcolm Page! The Beijing Gold Medallist who has teamed up with Matthew Belcher after the Olympics is combining a Farr 40 campaign with the 470. 'We want to do all the Sailing Wold Cup circuit and the Farr 40 racing helps me to pay the bills. With most events in Europe we need this year to travel four times back and forth. We have spent nearly five months in Europe this year! We use these regattas to develop as a team and be well prepared for the Worlds."

Nic Asher and Elliott Willis (GBR) are sailing away from the fleet, increasing their lead to 20 points over Gideon Kliger and Eran Sela (ISR).

'So far it's been an interesting regatta", says Asher 'We had quite light winds to start off with, we were pretty happy with our speed and we sailed pretty conservatively. It was the first day of gold fleet today and we had a bit of breeze. Again we were pretty fast, sailed pretty well again and managed to pull out a 20 point lead, so we're happy."

470 Women

Italian team Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol take the lead in the women division with top four results including a victory. They are on equal points with Henriette Koch and Lene Sommer. The dutch team of Lisa Westerhof and Lobke Berkhout proved they love the breeze. The World Champions have taken two races and placed 6th. They are now only six points from the lead.

The 470's will finish their programme Saturday with two last races before competing the Medal race at 6PM for the Men and 7.20PM for the Women.

Star

The Norwegian team of Eivind Melleby and Petter Morland Pedersen continue on their domination of the Star fleet with top two scores. Second place goes to Marin Lovrovic and Sinisa Mikulicic (CRO) and third to Mateusz Kusznierewicz and Dominik Zycki (POL).

The Star will also race their Medal race on Saturday at 6.40PM after two fleet races in the morning.

RS:X results are not yet available.

Delta Lloyd Regatta

LVT: ETNZ Protest Against BMW ORACLE Racing Dismissed

by Warren Douglas

The Louis Vuitton Trophy jury has dismissed an Emirates Team New Zealand protest against a decision that cost the team a race against BNW Oracle.

Emirates Team New Zealand was well placed to win the round robin match in the Louis La Maddalena regatta when the umpires awarded a penalty against the team on the final run.

Having forced a penalty on BMW Oracle early in the pre-start, to win Dean Barker had only to stay close and out of trouble throughout the race.

The umpires claimed Emirates Team New Zealand had contravened an amendment to the sailing instructions which stipulated a minimum two-tonne pressure must be kept on the forestay at all times.

This effectively nullified the pre-start penalty incurred by BMW Oracle when they failed to keep clear. To discharge a penalty a yacht must do a 270deg turn giving a trailing yacht, if close enough, an opportunity to pass.

The penalty on Oracle influenced New Zealand’s tactics throughout the race. The aim was to stay close and stay clear to avoid having Oracle force a penalty on them. If both yachts are carrying a penalty, neither has to do the turn.

In today’s race, Oracle had a lead at the finish of about 50-60m and could not have completed a penalty turn before Emirates Team New Zealand crossed the line to win the race. Emirates Team New Zealand trailed by 8s at the finish.

Grant Dalton said: “The rule regarding forestay tension downwind did not stipulate that it was to be measured from the forestay load cell gauge situated at the back of the boat.

“Any keel-boat yachtsman will tell you that a forestay load cell’s purpose is for upwind tension. Downwind yachtsmen use predetermined numbers on the gunnel, which are set by the shore crew and which represent tonnes of load, to make sure that the forestay is tight and the rig is safe.

“In this case, to make sure that we complied with any rule, we exceeded those safety marks by a considerable margin. One needs to question the practical yachting knowledge of the people who are considering such a rule and whether they have total comprehension of this fact.“

Emirates Team New Zealand
Louis Vuitton Trophy

Extreme Sailing Series Europe: Day 2 in Sète - The Pressure Is On!

Yann Guichard's Groupe Edmond de Rothschild may have retained control at the top of the leaderboard after five races today but the pressure is on from Paul Campbell-James' team on The Wave, Muscat who are excelling here in France moving up to second overall


The Ocean Racing Club and Groupama 40 get close to spectators on day 2 off Sète. Image copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events.

by Emily Caroe

The first day of the first round of the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series may have proved challenging for America's Cup helmsman Loick Peyron and his crew on Oman Sail Masirah, however, it is now no surprise to see the 2009 defending Extreme Sailing Series champions gelling well and getting it right on the water: "Things are falling into place gradually, it takes a bit of time and it's perfectly normal," said Peyron. "The crew were used to another helmsman, and I was used to another crew." Maybe I was lacking a bit of confidence as well, but it's coming back and getting good results obviously helps. The good thing is that even when we start very badly we manage to get back in the game and overtake other boats." Scoring a win in the final race today has fast tracked them up the leaderboard from sixth to third.


Extreme 40s racing on day 2 off Sète. Image copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events.

Again the wind direction proved a challenge for the race committee as it shifted from the north to north-west, and the best breeze came in the first race of the day with a good 10 knots, gusting 12, that saw the Extreme 40 hulls flying high and the bows digging in at the downwind mark roundings - the upwind legs taking no more than four minutes and downwind less than two! The public and VIPs basked in the sunshine whilst the eight teams went out of their way to keep them entertained.


Groupama 40, Gitana and The Wave, Muscat on day 2 off Sète. Image copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events.

Mike Golding's Ecover got off to a flying start and nearly had the first race in the bag. Leigh McMillan, Ecover's driver, did a great job on the first leg choosing the right side of the upwind course, tacking back onto starboard and rounding the mark first just seconds ahead of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild. At the final downwind mark Guichard's crew made a rare crew error briefly losing control of their gennaker and the Ecover team looked to have the race in the bag. But a twist in their huge gennaker cut their downwind speed in half. Guichard's men were through and like yesterday took the first race of the day. Behind, like thoroughbreds let loose on the straight, The Wave, Muscat and Oman Sail Masirah came storming down to claim second and third. With Mitch Booth's team in fourth this relegated an unlucky Ecover to fifth.


Team GAC Pindar and Oman Sail's Masirah. Image copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events.

The fastest man round the planet, Franck Cammas and his Groupama 40 crew shone in the second race cruising to victory - literally, furling their gennaker with 50m to go to the finish line! Unfortunately, the next race didn't quite go to plan incurring a penalty for touching The Wave, Muscat, and then a second penalty for not performing the first properly! Relegating them to last place and Cammas' team are now fifth on the overall leaderboard, compared to third yesterday.


Gitana (Yann Guichard) - leader in Sète. Image copyright Juerg Kaufmann/Go4Image.

Red Bull Extreme Sailing had to sit out the second race with a hydraulic problem, likely the mainsheet ram, but Olympic Gold double medalist Roman Hagara came back in style to score two straight wins - not bad considering they still had hydraulic issues - moving them up to fourth overall on the leaderboard at the end of play today. Nick Moloney's crew on Team GAC Pindar are struggling to find their form scoring three 6th places, a 7th and an 8th. However, driver Andrew Walsh has some solid Extreme 40 experience and Moloney's team have been regular visitors to the podium over the last three seasons, finishing 3rd overall in 2007 and 2008.

With two days of racing to go "it isn't over till the fat lady sings" as the French commentator said. Not sure the French crowd fully got the analogy but it was entertaining listening to the commentator trying to explain it!

Extreme Sailing Series Europe

LVT: No Racing for Azzurra

Francesco Bruni on board Azzurra in Sardinia. Image copyright Stefano Gattini/Azzurra.

by Jill Campbell

Day seven of the Louis Vuitton Trophy in La Maddalena saw the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s team Azzurra waiting in vain for most of the day for their scheduled match with Britain’s Team Origin. The Race Committee was forced to delay racing for over four hours due to a lack of wind before starting the first race at 2.15 p.m.

The north westerly wind then built to approximately 20 knots but the progress of the six scheduled matches was hampered by technical difficulties on the ACC boats used for the event. At 3.30 p.m. Azzurra was advised that their match would not be disputed today.

Azzurra therefore remains on two points with four matches still to dispute out of nine scheduled in the Round Robin phase of the event taking place until 6th July.

The racing programme has been slowed considerably due to two of the four boats provided by the organizers having been damaged during a collision between Azzurra and the French team Aleph. Some teams have disputed as many as seven matches while others such as Azzurra and Artemis have a number of races still to complete. The classification in this first phase of the event is therefore still wide open.


Racing at the Louis Vuitton Trophy La Maddalena. Image copyright Stefano Gattini/Azzurra.

In the two races which were completed today BMW Oracle Racing was defeated by Russian team Synergy but went on to take victory over Emirates Team New Zealand.

Principal Race Officer Peter “Luigi” Reggio has his work cut out for him to complete the programme of 45 matches in the round robin for the ten participating teams thanks to a combination of technical problems and unusually unstable wind conditions in northern Sardinia.

Tomorrow’s forecast does not look promising with light east south-easterly breezes of 5 to 9 knots and isolated showers predicted.

This evening all of the participating teams will attend the Louis Vuitton Crew Party, a noted social event in the regattas sponsored by the renowned French brand. The party will be held in a secret beach location on the island of La Maddalena.

Azzurra
Louis Vuitton Trophy