BMW ORACLE Racing Welcomes Louis Vuitton Pacific Series

Russell Coutts, CEO, BMW ORACLE Racing. Image copyright Gilles Martin-Raget.

by Jane Eagleson, BMW ORACLE Racing

BMW ORACLE Racing today welcomed the announcement of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series to be run in Auckland, New Zealand early next year and confirmed that it will be entering a team.

“It is really good to see Louis Vuitton leading this initiative, and we are really looking forward to coming to Auckland to join in what I’m sure will be a great competition,” Russell Coutts, the team’s CEO said.

“Congratulations are also due to the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand and the other partners to the event in coming up with this format. This is a great way to get everyone back on the water.

“Auckland is always a great place to sail. And with a race format aimed at close competition this will be an event that sailors and fans will really enjoy.”

Coutts said the team would be in touch with Louis Vuitton shortly to confirm its entry.

BMW ORACLE Racing

Neugodnikov Wins the European Match Racing Championship YAVA Trophy 2008

The finals: Eugeniy Neugodnikov (Russia) versus Manuel Weiller (Spain). Image copyright YAVA Trophy.

by Yana Dobzhitskaya

The finals of EuroSAF European Match Racing Championship, the YAVA Trophy 2008, appeared to be short, dynamic and interesting.

Nick Cherry (Great Britain) won two races against last year's YAVA Trophy winner, Staffan Lindberg (Finland), in the petit-finals and took third place in the Championship.

Tough competition for the title of European Champion was expected, but Eugeniy Neugodnikov (Russia) beat Manuel Weiller (Spain) leaving him no chance to win. Neugodnikov won the main trophy of the Championship, the “Piraterne Trophy”.

Right after the finals the fleet race was held. The best 8 skippers with their crews and VIP guests participated in this race. By that time Peter Wibroe's crew members had already gone home, but the Race Committee suggested to the skipper a wonderful idea - to race with a female crew.

Wibroe's crew consisted of the Race Committee members - two race officers from the starting boat, Natalia Fedorova and Nina Musikhina, the race officer on the boat changing, Elena Morozova, and the chief secretary of the event, Yana Dobzhitskaya. Despite their 8th place finish, this team was the most popular and was supported by all the spectators of the race.

The crew of Alvaro Marinho (Portugal) was the leader of the fleet race, but he didn’t read the Sailing Instructions and tried to finish one round early. It was too late to correct the errror when he realized that his competitors were far ahead.

The fleet race winner was Tomislav Basic (Croatia). Evgeny Neugodnikov took second place, with Jelle Roos (the Netherlands) in third position.

There were said many kind words and congratulations on the prize giving ceremony. The medals and cups were awarded. The banquet, the festive concert and dancing followed the official part of the ceremony.

The final results of the EuroSAF European Match Racing Championship YAVA TROPHY 2008 are:

1 Eugeniy NEUGODNIKOV, Russia
2 Manuel WEILLER, Spain
3 Nick CHERRY, Great Britain
4 Staffan LINDBERG, Finland
5 Alvaro MARINHO, Portugal
6 Francesco BRUNI, Italy
7 Peter WIBROE, Denmark
8 Tomislav BASIC, Croatia
9 Eric MONNIN, Switzerland
10 Carsten KEMMLING, Germany
11 Andrew ARBUZOV, Russia
12 Pierre-Antoine MORVAN, France
13 John BAECK, Sweden
14 Marek STANCZYK, Poland
15 Jelle ROOS, Netherlands
16 Jon BRECELJ, Slovenia

YAVA Trophy 2008

Louis Vuitton Announces February 2009 Auckland Regatta

Emirates Team New Zealand points the way forward with the help of Louis Vuitton. Image copyright Anne Hinton/www.annehinton.com

Louis Vuitton announced Monday that the company is planning an international match racing regatta to be sailed in Auckland, New Zealand in February next year.

The “Louis Vuitton Pacific Series” is being organized in association with the New Zealand Government, Emirates Team New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS), and Auckland City.

Over the last 25 years, Louis Vuitton has associated its name with the America’s Cup, helping to bring this historical sporting event into the 21st century.

All the sailing teams that have participated in previous Louis Vuitton Cup regattas have been invited to compete in the Auckland regatta from January 31 to February 14, 2009.

Organisers will select between six and eight teams, on a “first come, first served’’ basis, to participate in this friendly series of races.

In order to ensure a level playing field, all participating teams will compete aboard Emirates Team New Zealand yachts. The two boats are very similar in performance. Some configuration changes will be made to ensure a level playing field.

Three races are planned every day on a two-mile windward-leeward course laid at the mouth of Waitemata Harbour between Rangitoto Island and Orakei wharf.

Yves Carcelle, C.E.O. of Louis Vuitton explained that: “The Auckland event is neither competing with the America's Cup, nor is it part of the next edition of the America’s Cup. The Louis Vuitton Cup, awarded to the top challenging syndicate since 1983, will not be at stake during the event. A Louis Vuitton trophy will be created especially for this regatta.”

In Auckland, Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton said the team’s role, apart from preparing the yachts for racing, was only that of a competitor.

“The sailing team welcomes the opportunity to get back on the water as a complete unit against some top opposition,” he said. “The regatta will be a big event for Auckland. The action will take place over three weekends to give Aucklanders a chance to see the big boats and top teams fight it out.”

Dalton said that ETNZ would do everything it could to make its two yachts totally competitive. “We know the yachts’ relative performance very well and even though they’re close, we know what can to be done to make them even more so.

“The organisers are looking at having a daily draw to decide which yacht the teams will sail that day. Over the course of the regatta they should all race both boats.”

RNZYS Commodore Scott Colebrook welcomed Louis Vuitton’s initiative. “The RNZYS is looking forward to having Louis Vuitton back in Auckland and the Squadron will do everything it can to make the series a success. Planning for operations on the water has already commenced. The concept is excellent, the sailing venue is ideal and we eagerly anticipate hosting some great sailing.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said: "Congratulations to Louis Vuitton and Emirates Team New Zealand for organising this exciting international yachting event. New Zealand is very pleased to be hosting this regatta and Auckland with its beautiful harbour and vibrant inner city will put on a fantastic show for yachting fans and tourists."

Mayor of Auckland John Banks said the high calibre event will be another opportunity to showcase the city to the world. “We want this to be an event that not only establishes Auckland as a desirable major events destination, but also provides three weekends of great entertainment for Aucklanders,” the Mayor said.

Bruno Troublé, spokesperson for Louis Vuitton, said there had been an enthusiastic response from many of the teams invited to the event.

Emirates Team New Zealand

EUROSAF European Championship, the YAVA Trophy - Victory for Russia

by SailRaceWin

In the best-of-five match race final in Russia, Sunday, Eugeniy Nuegodnikov beat Manuel Weiller of Spain 3-0 to win the 2008 edition of the YAVA Trophy.

In the best-of-three race petit-final, Britain's Nick Cherry overcame Staffan Lindberg of Finland 2-0 to take third place at the event.

See Manuel Weiller's blog for more information on the racing, and some photos.

Results

1. Eugeniy Neugodnikov (RUS)
2. Manuel Weiller (ESP)
3. Nick Cherry (GBR)
4. Staffan Lindberg (FIN)

YAVA Trophy 2008

Trieste Challenge - The Bora determines the outcome of the match

Mascalzone Latino Trifork Racing Team, skipper Jes Gram Hansen. Image copyright Ray Giubilo.

by Mascalzone Latino (in translation)

There was nothing to do Saturday morning for the crews on the final day of the Trieste Challenge 2008. Strong winds, with gusts of up to 30 knots, compelled the Race Committee to cancel racing.


The one race of the final that was sailed between the two Mascalzone Latino teams. Image copyright Ray Giubilo.

From the races in which "only Mascalzone Latino beats Mascalzone Latino", the team driven by Matteo Savelli was the winner yesterday in the first and sole race in the finals against Jes Gram Hansen, and gained the highest step of the podium. The lesser honour went, therefore, to the Mascalzone Latino Trifork Team that, although they won the second Round Robin, lost the one race of the finals that was held from which the definitive results were taken.


Matteo Savelli. Image copyright Ray Giubilo.

"There were four top-level days of race", commentated skipper Matteo Savelli. "The merit goes, above all, to my crew who succeeded, despite the difficult wind conditions, to enable us to manoeuvre very well and get the best boatspeed possible. Without them it would have been impossible to win: it was a victory for all of the Team!"


At the start. Image copyright Ray Giubilo.

During the week we have had to wait for the wind, and in some races it was rather unstable. The Race Committee was limited to two lots of Round Robins and concluded yesterday with the sole race of the final (1st/2nd) place. Savelli, after the mistake in the first race that cost him a point to Mirsky, gained 4 victories and was rewarded with 2nd place at the end of two Round Robin, won by Jes Gram Hansen.

The Frenchman, Damien Iehl, 5th in the ISAF match race rankings, and the Australian Torvar Mirsky, 4th on the World Match Racing Tour, placed respectively third and fourth at the conclusion of the two Round Robins. For them, the positions remained unchanged as there was no chance - because of too much wind - for any races for the 3rd - 4th place sail-off.

"I am always very happy to race in Trieste", declared the skipper of Mascalzone Latino Trifork Racing Team, Jes Gram Hansen, "it is an interesting place to race. Unfortunately, although victorious in the Round Robin, we lost the sole regatta of the finals, and this gave us second place overall, but we are, however, satisfied. Mascalzone Latino was not be able to win any more than the team already has done!"

At the end of the event, the patron Vincenzo Onorato, detained in Milan by important business, commented on the results obtained by the Mascalzone Latino teams: "I could not imagine such a wonderful ending! Well done, Jes! Very well done, Matteo!"

Mascalzone Latino will, after some rest days, transfer to Newport, Rhode Island, where they will sail in the Mumm 30 Worlds at the beginning of October. Vincenzo Onorato will be at the helm of the boat, supported by Adrian Stead in the role of tactician.

Mascalzone Latino
La Sfida - Trieste Challenge

EUROSAF European Match Race Championship - YAVA Trophy 2008, Penultimate Day

by Yana Dobzhitskaya

Saturday in Russia, Neugodnikov and Weiller reached the final of the EUROSAF European Match Race Championship, “YAVA TROPHY 2008”.

To the applause and whistles of spectators the Russian skipper Evgeny Neugodnikov has reached the final of the EUROSAF European Match Race Championship, the “YAVA TROPHY 2008”. Sunday, September 14, he will meet the Spanish skipper Manuel Weiller in the final.

Nick Cherry and Staffan Lindberg will fight for the third place. After Neugodnikov’s victory by a score of 3:0 there was no chance left for Nick Cherry to reach the final.

Last year's winner of the YAVA TROPHY, Staffan Lindberg, experienced gear failure in his first match. Just after the preparatory signal the main halyard suddenly gave way, and the mainsail fell down.

However, the Finnish sportsmen kept their heads and hoisted the mainsail with the spinnaker halyard. They went on with racing, but couldn’t hoist the spinnaker on the course from the windward mark. As a result, Lindberg's opponent Manuel Weiller was faster sailing downwind. Lindberg also lost the second and the third matches.

After sail-offs, places from the 5th to 16th were determined:

5. Alvaro MARINHO (Portugal)
6. Francesco BRUNI (Italy)
7. Peter WIBROE (Denmark)
8. Tomislav BASIC (Croatia)
9. Eric MONNIN (Switzerland)
10. Carsten KEMMLING (Germany)
11. Andrew ARBUZOV (Russia)
12. Pierre-Antoine MORVAN (France)
13. John BAECK (Sweden)
14. Marek STANCZYK (Poland)
15. Jelle ROOS (Netherlands)
16. Jon BRECELJ (Slovenia)

Sunday, in addition to finals, there will be a fleet race. The best eight crews of the Championship will participate in it. The teams will each take one VIP on their boat.

SailRaceWin notes that the competitors at this event have needed to be somewhat resilient. As with the final day of the St Moritz Match Race this year, temperatures were only +4C for the quarterfinals of the YAVA Trophy, with rain all day long.

YAVA Trophy 2008

Trieste Challenge - Day Three

Mascalzone Latino Match Racing Team, skipper Matteo Savelli, on Day Two of the Trieste Challenge. Image copyright Ray Giubilo.

by Kinley Fowler, Mirsky Racing Team

A steady breeze saw the 52 footers come to life on Day Three, Friday, as the second round robin got underway. In only 6 knots of breeze the carbon fibre canting keel yachts took off, reaching 7 knots comfortably on the downwinds, making for some exciting racing.

Today was a real chance for us to get used to the big boat side of match racing with a steadier and stronger breeze than the previous two days. We learnt exponentially as the day progressed through watching the other three teams, in particular Saville and his Mascalzone Latino team, who displayed dominant boathandling, and are now sitting in first place.

The four teams are extremely close, but it was clear that experience was the key today, as we lost all three of our matches. Despite this, we are still very happy with our performance and are getting what we want out of the event.

Tomorrow we are racing Damien Iehl for third place in the notorious “Bora mountain wind” which is forecast to reach up to 35 knots. Hopefully it is not deemed too strong, as the chance for us to sail boats like these is rare to come by, and it would be an opportunity sorely missed.



A special thanks to Line7, Harken and the Royal Perth Yacht Club for their support.

Note from SailRaceWin: Mascalzone Latino also sent out a press release in Italian. They have two teams present - Matteo Savelli with Mascalzone Latino Match Racing Team and Jes Gram Hansen (of Denmark) with Mascalzone Latino Trifork Team.

Savelli is sailing with Andrea Ballico, Davide Scarpa, Luca Albarelli, Nicola Pilastrs, Furio Benussi, Daniele Fiaschi and Pierluigi de Felice (who has just become a match race umpire in New Zealand).

The two Mascalzone Latino teams are set to race each other for first and second place in Trieste, Italy.

Mirsky Racing Team
La Sfida - Trieste Challenge