TP52 World Championships: Form a Queue

Quantum Racing lead the TP52 world championships after a testing opening day on the Bay of Palma

by Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

The autumn evening sun was already dipping low in the sky as Quantum Racing (USA) took the winning gun for the second of two races today at the TP52 World Championships off Palma, Mallorca. Their win, paired with a fifth from the first heat ensures the current world champions lead overall by a single point.

Even if the sea breeze took its time to build and only peaked with short spells offering 11 knots and mostly averaged around 6-8 knots, it proved a tricky afternoon over which the usual Palma tactical conventions did not always hold true, and consistency in the ten boat fleet across these first two windward-leeward races proved elusive.

After two races Quantum Racing (USA) lead the Russian team on Synergy who took a second and fifth and are matched on the same seven points tally by Alberto Roemmers’ current Copa del Rey champions on Matador (ARG) who took a third and a fourth.

Real Club Nautico de Palma member John Cook on the helm of Cristabella - which last year won the Copa del Rey as Iberdrola with Terry Hutchinson as tactician - triumphed in the first race. The British crew, with Manchester export John Cutler (NZL) as tactician, recognised the additional wind pressure and small shift to the right of the course on the first beat, and after a modest start, were able to cross the fleet two thirds of the way up the leg. They led at the windward turn by a clear 40 metres from Synergy and went on to win by 22 seconds with Matador third.

It proved a morale boosting opening for the British owner Cook who is current chairman of the TP52 fleet and has been a member of the host club for more than 15 years, where he has based six different Cristabella yachts, three TP52’s since 2005.

Previous to this the Cristabella crew’s most memorable victory was in 2006 when the they won one of the most exciting coastal races ever of the MedCup Circuit, racing around Formentera in 2006. And it is Cristabella’s best World Championships race yet, after a second placing in 2007 in Porto Cervo.

It was after 1800hrs in the early evening when Quantum Racing’s afterguard of Morgan Larson (USA) and Mark Mendelblatt (USA) conspired to read the opening beat of the second race to best effect, calling the favourable left shift on the left of the track ahead of the slight extra pressure on the right. The current champions were ahead at the windward mark to lead local favourites Bribón across the finish.

With Gonzalo Araujo steering, the Spanish boat was well placed off the pin end of the start line and also profited to the left on the first beat, able to hold off the 2007 champions Artemis who took third.


Quantum Racing lead after day one. Image copyright Nico Martinez/TP52 World Championships

TP52 World Championship 2009
Palma de Mallorca (Spain)
Overall standings after Day 1

1. Quantum Racing (USA, Terry Hutchinson), 5+1= 6 points
2. Synergy (RUS, Sergey Pichuguin), 2+5= 7 points
3. Matador (ARG, Alberto Roemmers), 3+4= 7 points
4. Bribón (ESP, Gonzalo Araujo), 7+2= 9 points
5. Cristabella (GBR, John Cook), 1+9=10 points

Morgan Larson, tactician, Quantum Racing (USA):
“ It proved to be every bit as challenging today as Palma can be. Sometimes it is like that where the right looks windier but everyone knows about that geographical left shift. I think the race committee did a nice job of making the right hand a little favoured so it was enticing and so Cristabella got it right. We thought it would be about one in ten times when the right paid out big and it happened, they did a nice job.

“ Second race was great for us. It was still a challenge because we knew the fleet was thinking right and the pressure looked to be on the right, but we were happy to go for the left shift. That made it easy to take the pin and it paid out.

“ The MedCup you are building points throughout and so you are trying to podium each event and you are always thinking about the overall, this is the world championships and so no one is sailing conservative, everyone is going all out to win.

“ And it has a nice atmosphere, it is nice to be finally at a yacht club and Palma is always a nice City to come to, and it is also really nice to see a couple of new boats to the fleet, some new faces out there.

“ We don’t really think of it as being here to defend our title, it’s a world championship. If you can win a world championship you’d be happy, and this was a good way to begin. I am sure there will be some tricky days ahead.”

TP52 World Championships

WMRT: Gilmour says his '97 Gold Cup win was the most challenging

Peter Gilmour (AUS) and Adam Minoprio (NZL) approach the start at St Moritz Match Race 2009. Image copyright Loris von Siebenthal/myimage.ch

Courtesy of the Bermuda Sun

by Colin Thompson

Peter Gilmour is one of the most feared sailors on the World Match Racing Tour.

The Aussie is a four-time World Match Racing Tour champion as well as a three-time Argo Group Gold Cup winner.

Gilmour has competed in five Americas Cup challenges and was victorious with the Alinghi syndicate in 2007.

He is currently in Bermuda taking part in this week's Argo Group Gold Cup with Yanmar Racing Team where he hopes to celebrate a first win on the World Match Racing Tour since capturing last year's Monsoon Cup in Malaysia and a first Gold Cup since 2003. Gilmour is currently fourth in this year's World Match Racing Tour championship points standings. Here he speaks with the Bermuda Sun's Colin Thompson.

Q: What are your impressions on Bermuda?

A: I love Bermuda and think it has this really unique place in the world of sailing generally. The first time I came we stayed with 'Shorty' Trimingham who was an old Olympic sailor from way back. It just sought of typified what Bermuda is. It is sort of a mix of societies and cultures.

In terms of the island itself and the beauty of people and natural resources, there is a genuine beauty about this place. This is a perfect arena for sailing and is absolutely what the world match racing tour is all about.

Even though it's expensive to get here all the top teams come here and they love the racing and camaraderie.

Q: Do you enjoy sailing in the international one-design racing sloop?

A: Absolutely! These style of boats probably suit the style of match racing that I do, which is more of what I call the traditional style.

Q: Of the lot, which of your Gold Cup triumphs do you cherish most?

A: Certainly 1997 would have been very significant because I would have had an all-Japanese crew and that was pretty challenging back then.

We had different languages and a whole different philosophy and way of thinking. It certainly would have been a very big year for us.

Q: Has the sport evolved much since you first began competing?

A: Certainly. What you are seeing today is a far more disciplined approach to it. A lot of teams now bring their coaches along with them and they are very well organized.

The level has certainly gone up and there is also a lot more physical training going in to it and as a result it's not good enough to just come along to a regatta and think you are going to do well.

You need to really prepare well for it and there's a lot of psychology involved in the game. Typically all 24 teams are equal as we sit here on opening day but as we get down towards the closing day the pressure comes on and everybody starts thinking about winning some money to cover their airfares or whatever else.

Q: As a sailing destination, how do you rate Bermuda?

A: I rate Bermuda as an absolute top sailing destination. If you look back 20 years ago Russell Coutts (multiple Gold Cup winner) was begging to get invited to become a competitor of the Gold Cup and now he's won the Americas Cup three times. That's what these type of events do; they launch these talents onto the world of sailing.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Junior Gold Cup?

A: I think the Junior Gold Cup is fantastic because importantly you must have youngsters aspire to where this is all going. You can't just have an elite level sport and not have it to do something to actually have a deep effect on the community.

Q: What advice would you give to any young aspiring sailor?

A: The first advice you give to a young sailor is to follow your dreams because situations change and evolve and suddenly doors open up where you didn't think they were.

I think following your dreams is the first good bit of advice although it's a difficult notion to explain to kids because they are looking for instant gratification. Sailing is a sport for life.

Sailing is a sport whereby you can't expect results quickly; you have to be patient and chip away over the long term to achieve results. It's really important to take a steady as it goes kind of approach. You also have to happy competing inside your own skin.

Q: Given Bermuda's reasonable success on the world stage, are you surprised the island has yet to medal at the Olympics?

A: Not really because if you look at the size of the population it's just a numbers game. Look at how well China can throw a billion people at the problem and it is solved.

I think Bermuda is already punching way beyond its weight on a per head basis. But if you go back to what I said about following your dreams, I generally think those dreams are attainable.

Q: What would be your most memorable achievement in the sport?

A: That's such a hard one because I have had so many memorable occasions. I can go all the way back to winning my first World Championship when I was 21 years old and then winning my first World Match Racing Tour championship when I was 30.

Q: How do you compare today's Gold Cup to those of yesteryear?

A: I think if you go back ten or 15 years the Gold Cup was a lot bigger than what it actually is now. I would say that as an event it probably has flat lined a bit.

Q: As a kid growing up, did you participate in other sports?

A: Yes, I actually played cricket and Aussie Rules football. However, sailing always got in the way.

Q: How did sailing become your first passion?

A: My interest in sailing really came from growing up around the water in Perth. I lived very close to the water and used to paddle around in little dinghies and explore - which is probably something every kid here gets to do at some point.

Q: What does it take to compete on the World Match Racing Tour?

A: It really just takes dedication, application and focus to be able to do it. You also need the support of a sponsor to be able to move around and compete at these different events."

Talbot Wilson
World Match Racing Tour

WMRT: MRT Undefeated at Gold Cup

Mirsky Racing Team defeat Eric Monnin. Image copyright Talbot Wilson.

by Kinley Fowler

The 102nd Bermuda Gold Cup got underway today in Hamilton Bermuda, Mirsky Racing Team tops the group one leader board securing 4 wins from 4 races in tricky conditions.

Bermuda brought a light breeze in the morning which allowed group one to complete their scheduled 4 races, group two then managed only to get one race underway before the wind shut down and no more racing could be completed.

"This event is known to be a tough event, 24 teams means that 3 groups of 8 compete in a round robin where the top two placings will then proceed to the quarterfinal stage. There is often a few upsets with the lower seeded teams proving themselves here" said MRT trimmer Kinley Fowler who will be coaching the team this week after sustaining a shoulder injury.

Coming off the starting line well meant MRT could sail comfortably in two races, but against Switzerlands Eric Monnin and Britains Robbie Allam made a few lead changes kept the racing tight and exciting, with MRT the ultimate winners.

"We had to stay patient out there today, when we were behind we slowly worked our way back into the races and waited for our time to strike. It was a good way to start the event but with other teams on 3 wins its still very tight" said Torvar whilst watching group two on the water waiting for wind.

Group two and three still need to complete their remaining stage one races before MRT can hit the water to fight for a place in the quarter finals.

With strong winds forecast tomorrow promises to bring some exciting racing to the waters of Bermuda.


Graeme Spence, bowman on Mirsky Racing Team, gets up close and personal with Eric Monnin's Search.ch team. Image copyright Charles Anderson/Bermuda Gold Cup.

Results:

Group One
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 4-0
Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar 3-1
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 2-2
Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 2-2
Eric Monnin (SUI) Search.ch 3-1
Reuben Corbett (NZL) 1-3
Robbie Allam (GBR) 1-3
Ian Evans (USA) 0-4

Group Two
Adam Minoprio (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing 1-0
Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K Challenge 1-0
Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin 1-0
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team 1-0
Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team 0-1
David Perry (USA) 0-1
Rasmus Viltoft (DEN) 0-1
Paula Lewin Crews (BDA) 0-1

Group Three
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing Team
Blythe Walker (BDA)
Donald Wilson (USA)
Charlie Enright (USA)

Mirsky Racing Team
World Match Racing Tour

WMRT: Winning start for BlackMatch while 'Wind Gods' fail to deliver in Bermuda

BlackMatch downwind in Bermuda. Image copyright Jenny Warner.

by David Swete

Monday was the opening day of racing at the Argo Group Gold Cup World Tour Event. This is the penultimate event on the World Tour and with a host of legendary past winners that include Kiwi’s Russell Coutts and Chris Dickson, we are hoping to go one better on our second placing here last year. The Gold Cup is unique in that it is sailed in the beautiful classic International One Design Yachts that date back to the 1930’s and it also has a format unlike any other match racing event, which allows 24 teams to compete.

Teams are divided into 3 groups of 8 and after racing each other in a round robin, only the top 2 teams from each group proceed through to the quarterfinals. 3rd and 4th from each group are left to battle it out in a repechage series to decide the remaining two quarterfinalists while the bottom four from each group go home. We have an extremely tough group which includes triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainsile and his Team Origin America’s Cup team, however today we managed a decisive win in our first and only match against local sailor Paula Lewin.

Unfortunately for the race committee the wind that threatened to fill in never did and only one match of our group was completed. It was a different story for this morning’s group who managed to get in all of their four scheduled matches in a steady 10 knot breeze. There was action a plenty this morning with over a dozen penalties handed out in some heated racing, Torvar Mirsky and Ian William’s showing great early form to be unbeaten in group one.

With big breeze forecast for tomorrow it should be a different story as our group gets underway early in the morning and we are looking forward to the windier conditions.


BlackMatch wait on the VIP boat with Steven Goddard and his partner Janine from sponsor FedEx Express. Image copyright Jenny Warner.

BlackMatch would like to again thank our sponsor FedEx Express. We would also like to send a special thank you to Steven Goddard and his partner Janine from Latin America Fedex who joined us on the water, although there was not too much action for you today your support was amazing and we hope you enjoyed your day. To the RNZYS, Emirates Team New Zealand and everyone else, thank you for your support.

BlackMatch Racing
World Match Racing Tour

RIWKC: Pre-Regatta Report from Anna Tunnicliffe

Last minute boat prep. Image copyright Joanna Tunnicliffe.

by Anna Tunnicliffe

Tonight is the eve of the International Women’s Keelboat Championships here in Rochester, NY. We are sailing J/22’s and racing is scheduled to start tomorrow and continues through Saturday. There are 36 teams competing from five countries, including USA, CAN, NED, RSA, and GBR. On top of the international competition, there is a wide age range in the competitors, with the oldest competitor being 80 years old and the youngest being 10 years old. I am sailing with my team of Liz Bower, Molly Vandemoer, and Debbie Capozzi.

Leading into the event, Liz and I participated as coaches in the Rolex Next Step program. It is a program designed to introduce young girls into keelboat sailing. We had 23 girls sailing with us from all over the country. In total we had 6 boats sailed by the girls and one coach per boat. We had two days of fantastic wind for the girls to master their boat handling. By the end of the two days, the boat handling was fantastic and the girls were ready to compete in this week’s event, if they wanted to. One of the teams that participated in the program is competing in the event. Debbie and Molly showed up on the last day of the clinic and we have had a chance to get in a bit of practice since then. We had a lot of boat work to do to get the boat set up the way we wanted, but finally got it all done and had some good practice.

This morning we were asked to get up early and be on the 7am morning show on the local ABC TV station. We showed up to see two J/22’s out sailing already being videoed as the reporter introduced the event. We were interviewed for a couple minutes just as the sun was beginning to rise.

The good thing about waking up that early allowed us to get our workouts in and wrap up the last minute boat work. When we were finally done, we headed out for the practice race. Given that none of us had fleet-raced in a while, having only match raced, we were joking about what we had to do with “so many other boats” on the start line. We figured it out, and had two good starts. The conditions were light with the wind slowly building through out the race.

The wind has been increasing since then ahead of a big front that is scheduled to blow through. Tomorrow’s conditions are forecasted to be very windy; three races planned. We are very much looking forward for the event to start. It is always a fun event both on and off the water.

I would like to thank Carmeuse for their continued support of my campaign for the 2012 Olympics in London. I would also like to thank Gill and North Sails for their support of our team for this event.

Anna Tunnicliffe
Rolex International Womens Keelboat Championship

Two more entries for Louis Vuitton Trophy - Nice, France

by Keith Taylor

The World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA) and Louis Vuitton are delighted to announce the addition of two world-class sailing teams for the Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta to be held in Nice next month (7th to 22d November). This brings the regatta total to eight confirmed teams, which is the ideal number for end-of-summer expected weather conditions.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome TeamOrigin, the British team led by Sir Keith Mills, which becomes a preferential shareholder in WSTA and intends to compete at all of the Louis Vuitton regattas over the next 12 months,” says Laurent Esquier, CEO WSTA.

TeamOrigin, skippered by three-times Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie with two-times Olympic gold medallist Iain Percy as tactician and managed by round the world winning yachtsman Mike Sanderson, will also provide their training boat GBR-75 for the Nice event.

“When looking at our team’s future sailing programme we knew we wanted to compete in events that would give all parts of our team and not just the sailing team, further hands-on operational experience,” said Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal.

“Having sailed in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series earlier this year we quickly realised the concept of the WSTA’s Louis Vuitton regatta projects completely fit the bill for our team and so we knew we had to be there."

The second new entry sees the return of an iconic Italian sailing brand, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s (YCCS) Azzurra. In 1983, Azzurra was Italy’s first-ever America’s Cup challenger. The new Azzurra team will be led by YCCS member Giovanni Maspero of Joe Fly, and on the water skippered by Francesco Bruni with Tommaso Chieffi as tactician, whilst managed by multiple Olympic medallist Alessandra Sensini and others.

“Our common objectives and the faith placed in our team by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Commodore Bonadeo is extremely rewarding for our entire sporting group. We feel an enormous responsibility but I am firmly convinced that our sailing team’s merit will provide excellent conditions to compete at the highest level,” says Giovanni Maspero.

The event in Nice, to be sailed over the dates 7th to 22d of November, is to be called the "Louis Vuitton Trophy - WSTA – Nice". The event is sanctioned by the world authority of sailing based in England, the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

Following the merger of Joe Fly with Azzurra, eight teams will compete for the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice: Azzurra (ITA), BMW ORACLE Racing (USA), Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), K-Challenge (FRA), Swedish Challenge Artemis (SWE), Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS), TeamOrigin (GBR) and Team French Spirit (FRA).

The Louis Vuitton Trophy in Nice is jointly promoted and organised by the teams, through the World Sailing Teams Association (WSTA), Louis Vuitton and the Club Nautique de Nice (CNN) with the FFV support .

The organizing team is already in Nice, working closely with the city officials to make the event a great success in the wake of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series.

Louis Vuitton

WMRT: Penalty Flags Fly in the Early Stages of the Argo Group Gold Cup

Damian Iehl broke multiple right of way rules at the first leeward mark in the first match of the first flight in Group 1 of the round robin, against New Zealand's Reuben Corbett. The first four flights for Group 1 were littered with penalties. Iehl was tossed from the match when the umpire black flagged him for multiple infractions. Image copyright Talbot Wilson.

Undefeated in all four matches current Tour leader Torvar Mirsky (AUS) and his Mirsky Racing Team leads Group 1 on opening day of Argo Group Gold Cup

by Talbot Wilson

Beautiful blue skies and sunshine are what competitors awoke to on day one of the Argo Group Gold Cup. Racing conditions of 5-7 knots presented itself to the eight teams in Group 1 who were able to complete four flights in total Monday morning.

The first match of the day was between Damian Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team and Reuben Corbett (NZL). At the first leeward mark, Iehl gybed onto port in front of Corbett forcing him to gybe which earned Iehl a double penalty. Ihel then luffed Corbett inside the zone and earned a third penalty for his trouble. Iehl was black flagged and the match automatically went to Corbett. Umpire Henry Menin said “Iehl had two penalty flags and if he had more flags on the boat they would have pulled them out, too.”

“This is the first time I have ever received a black flag, the boats are heavy and hard to manoeuvre” said Iehl.

Following that display, the penalty flags flew fast and often. In the feature match of the morning, current Tour leader Tovar Mirsky was able to put a penalty on Eric Monnin (SUI) and his Search.ch team. Monnin drew the penalty in the pre-start dance when he was pushing Mirsky away from the line. Mirsky still won the start and held the lead all the way around the course.

“We started well,” the young Aussie said. “It was tough sailing in the light and shifty conditions. We were able to roll some of our competitors downwind to get the wins. In the race against Monnin he couldn’t get far enough ahead of us to make up his penalty turn.”

Monnin made a gallant effort, non-the-less. He came within a boat length at the finish even after making his penalty turn. That loss set Monnin at 3-1 and he had earlier defeated two time world champion Ian Williams.

Despite his loss to Monnin, Williams defeated fellow Brit Robbie Allam after an amazing comeback. “We got a leeward overlap and Robbie didn't keep clear so our penalty got offset. He then gybed in front of us and took control so he got a red flag immediate penalty. So it was great for us being in behind with a penalty going in coming out with no penalty and ahead.” said Williams. He joined Monnin with a 3-1 score card for the day. Group 3 will sail their final three flights of the round robin on Wednesday.

Group 2 got off to a slow start and just finished one flight before the wind shifted and went from the 5-7 knot south westerly to about 3 knots or less from the south southwest.

Bermuda favourite Paula Lewin Crews, sailing with an all woman crew, was beaten by Adam Minoprio (NZL) in the first flight when the wind dropped away to a whisper at her start. Minoprio is the top ranked match racer in the world in the International sailing Federation (ISAF) rankings and second on the World Match Racing Tour.

Following that last match of Flight 1, the wind completely failed and the sailors were called back to Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to wait for the wind to come back. The committee had hoped to get in four flights for each group on the first day but the wind gods wouldn’t cooperate.

The sailors will have their skipper’s meeting one hour earlier on Wednesday at 07.00hrs and sailing is scheduled to start at 08.00hrs. Organizers are keen to finish four flights for all three groups before foul weather is expected with a front late Wednesday and into Thursday pushes through.

World Match Racing Tour