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32nd Copa Del Rey MAPFRE
Today was the first day of competition in the 32nd Copa del Rey MAPFRE. A north-easterly wind of 10-12 knots greeted the fleet in the Bay of Palma on opening day. Conditions have been uneven in the three race courses, but all classes were able to sail at least one race. The Alpha race course was the most favoured, where the X-35 and J80 were the only two fleets that managed to sail two races.
The first leaders of the week are: British "Jethou" in the Hublot IRC 0 class, Italian "B2" in Hublot IRC 1, Swedish "Ran" in Gaastra IRC 52, Romanian "Natalia" in G.H. Mumm ORC 1, Spanish "X-Spain" in G.H. Mumm ORC 2, Spanish "Vamos Spain" in Nespresso Soto 40, Italian "Margherita" in La Caixa X-35 and Spanish "Turismo do Algarve" in Mahou J80.
The regatta program continues tomorrow in the Bay of Palma. The Race Committee will attempt to organize three races in all classes except for La Caixa X-35 and Mahou J80, which has scheduled a maximum of two races tomorrow. The first start of the day is scheduled at 13h00.
* The challenges came in different forms for some of the top 52's on the first day of the 32nd Copa del Rey MAPFRE on the Bay of Palma, Mallorca, but it was Niklas Zennstrom's crew on Ran Racing which won the one and only race for the Gaastra IRC Class.
The unusual NE'ly wind direction had several navigators and tacticians searching their memory banks to recall the best strategy for what ultimately proved to be an excellent opening contest for Spain's showcase annual regatta.
While Ran Racing's tactician Adrian Stead and strategist/trimmer Andy Hemmings read it well, guiding Ran Racing to a very comfortable win, by some two and a half minutes ahead of a tightly matched group, second placed Azzurra started badly after a series of mishaps spiralled to leave them out of sorts, last off the start line.
Azzurra overcame their own pre-race troubles and fight back through the fleet. An engine malfunction and radio problems had left them slightly short of their usual preparation regime.
Ergin Imre's Provezza lead to the first mark, hung on to second around most of the course and only slipped to fourth, one second behind 52 SUPER SERIES leader Quantum Racing, despite racing with no electronics and with a stand in, late substitute bowman.
Mirror World Sailing Championships
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182 sailors in 91 boats began competing today on Lough Derg, Dromineer, Co. Tipperary for the title of 2013 Mirror World Champion. Sailors have travelled to Lough Derg Yacht Club from the UK, Australia, the Philippines, South Africa, Canada, Sweden as well as parts of Ireland to compete in this highly respected two-man dinghy regatta. This is the first time a world sailing championship has been held on the inland waters of Ireland. The biennial regatta was last held in Australia in 2011 and will be hosted by South Africa in 2015.
Racing began late this morning in squally, rainy conditions with gusts reaching as high as 20 knots.
The breeze died down slightly, the clouds parted and the sun emerged for Race 2. As the fleet rounded the first mark it was the Irish that were dominating by taking the lead and also filling two more of the top five spots.
Leading the pack after the day's two races are the Robinson siblings from the UK, in 2nd overall are fellow Brits David and Edward Coady and in 3rd are mother and son Sarah and George Richards. Racing will continue daily until Friday. -- Rachel Solon
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Melges 24 European Sailing Series - Event #3
Torbole, Lake Garda, Italy: After eight intense hard fought races, Audi Ultra has successfully won Act 3 of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series.
Racing in Torbole waters, Audi Italia Sailing Team has imposed itself since the first challenges, standing its own ground over a strong fleet, such as EFG Bank, with Chris Rast, the Italian champions of Giogi, helmed by Balestrero-Celon.
This morning's final race saw Audi Ultra sailing just before the start side by side the above mentioned Giogi: "During the pre-start of the last race we have focused on Giogi that was our only leadership competitor, says Riccardo Simoneschi. It has been a hard challenge, match race style, defending a good control position. Once started we sailed side by side, keeping up with their moves and marking their way."
Race 8 was won by the Danish team of DEN-823, ranking 13th on a fleet of 27 teams, allowing a clearer view of the General Ranking of this third leg of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series: Audi Ultra placed 1st followed by EFG Bank with 8-point-margin and Giogi at 3rd before the Japanese team of Makoto Nagahashi and Taki 4 of Giacomo Fossati.
After this third success in the continental circuit of the Melges 24 Class, Riccardo Simoneschi is already thinking about their next commitment: " Torbole has been very important allowing us to undestand our skills in preparation for the next European Championship in Medemblick happening on the third week of August.
Audi Ultra's racing hosted by Circolo Vela Torbole has been helmed by Riccardo Simoneschi, with tactician Enrico Fonda, trimmer Federico Buscaglia, pitman Michele Cannoni and bowman Lucia Giorgetti.
After Torbole, the Melges 24 European Sailing Series will be preparing for its decisive stages in Medemblik, Holland (16-24 August) and Hanko, Norway (6-8 September). -- B.Plan Sport&Events
Results after 8 races (PDF): www.circolovelatorbole.com
RS Feva Worlds: Great Britain On Top Of The World
Photo by S&T Communications J.R. Taylor. Click on image for photo gallery.
It was an all-British finale today at the Compagnia della vela Grosseto-hosted RS Feva World Championship 2013 with all three steps of the podium occupied by duos from across the English Channel. The new World Champions after 14 races are young Hanna Bristow and Bobby Hewitt (GBR 4610) of Leigh and Lowton YC who controlled their nearest rivals' every move in a 240 degree wind blowing at 10 knots. They took home a seventh and a 12th-place finish that saw them end the week with a total score of 34 points.
A good 21 points behind them in second place are their fellow countrymen Wells/Todd (GBR 4332), who take the silver medal on 55 points, just one ahead of Brown/Davies (GBR 4768), on the third step on 56 points. Unfortunately, the Italian former World Champions Stocchero/Virgenti did not make it to the podium and, as a result of a 16th and a 3rd place on this final day's racing, had to content themselves with the wooden medal on a score of 75 points.
The standings for the other two fleets were also British-dominated with Vennis-Ozanne/Lewis topping the Silver standings ahead of Italians Tognoni/Quilici and Mulcahy/Lindsay-Brown dominating the Bronze.
RS Feva World Championship - Final Standings Gold - Top 5
1. Hannah Bristow / Bobby Hewitt, GBR, 34 points
2. Elliot Wells / Jake Todd, GBR, 55
3. Arthur Brown / Niamh Davies, GBR, 56
4. Leonardo Stocchero / Gianluca Virgenti, ITA, 75
5. Samuel Grade / Katie Prescott, GBR, 77
Complete standings available from: www.sailwave.com
470 Class 50th Anniversary
There was no gentle introduction to the opening events at the International 470 Class 50th Anniversary celebrations in La Rochelle today, with a blustery and building breeze greeting teams on the race courses.
The 2013 470 Junior World Championships, Masters' Cup and Open Classic have launched the 50th Anniversary Celebrations for the International 470 Class, by showcasing the youngest 470 sailors through to the more senior connoisseurs of 470 sailing.
Averaging 14 knots, with 18 knot puffs many of the younger teams relished the conditions, but the same could not entirely be said for some of the teams in the Grand-grandmasters division, where the combined age of the crew must be at least 120 years.
Racing got underway today soon after 1300 hours with 2 races held for each fleet.
The 59 teams in the 470 Men Junior Worlds have been split into two fleets for the two day qualification series of 5 races, before qualifying to the gold or silver fleet for the 7 race final series. The top 8 boats will then advance to the Medal Race stage.
A record breaking 91 teams are competing in the 470 Masters' Cup, racing in divisions based on age, from the youngest Apprentice Masters through to the Grand-grandmasters.
Organized in collaboration between the International 470 Class Association, Societe des Regates Rochelaises, AS470 France and the Federation Francaise de Voile, alongside the racing there are numerous shoreside activities, including a concourse d'elegance of some of the earliest built 470s, the launch of the 470 Great Book, Legends' Trophy, 50 Year Cup, Gala Dinner and much more - wrapping up on 10 August with the Closing Ceremony for the 2013 470 World Championships.
Gearing Up For Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2013
Gill is extremely proud to be the official technical clothing partner to Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes week for the fourth consecutive year.
To celebrate their partnership with this iconic event the official clothing range is now available to buy online as well as at the event. The range comprises a classic look this year, with selected pieces from the Gill collection including men's and ladies polo's, T-shirt's and caps proudly carrying the official event logo for 2013. All competitors can enjoy 10% off all full priced Gill products throughout the regatta at Gill in the Yacht Haven, where you can also soak up the party atmosphere with entertainment on the Gill stage. Pascall Atkey and Sailing Clothing Store on the High Street will also be running the competitor offer.
Gill Race Teams will be making an impact on the water with several teams competing in the regatta including Dunkerque Plaisance competing in IRC3 (A35) and the Rolex Fastnet, Cobra will also be racing in IRC1 (King 40) and the SB20 class sees Sarah Allan in the final Grand Slam of 2013.
Shop the official merchandise collection: www.gillmarine.com/gb/gallery
Tickets Go On Sale For Louis Vuitton Cup Semi Final
On Tuesday afternoon at 3:00pm, tickets for reserved grandstand seating at the America's Cup Village at Marina Green will go on sale for the Semi Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup at http://www.americascup.com
The Semi Final pits Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge against Sweden's resurgent Artemis Racing in a best-of-seven format beginning August 6.
Tickets for the Semi Final will be available in the East Grandstands and The Deck, positioned directly opposite the start line and the first mark of the racecourse where the boats approach the first turn of the race at maximum speeds near 50 mph.
Construction of the grandstands begins today.
The release of additional tickets was made possible by Sunday's confirmation that Artemis Racing was targeting a return to racing for the Semi Final. This, after Emirates Team New Zealand elected to advance directly to the Final which set up the Semi Final pairing of Luna Rossa vs. Artemis Racing.
In electing to advance directly to the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, Emirates Team New Zealand also confirmed it would put its boat into the shed for modifications immediately, meaning the team will not race Tuesday's match against Artemis Racing.
But Luna Rossa Challenge has indicated it plans to race on Thursday, when it is expected to sail the course alone in the last race of the Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin.
Louis Vuitton Cup Round Robin Standings
1. Emirates Team New Zealand 9-0, 9 points (1 race remaining)
2. Luna Rossa Challenge 4-5, 4 points (1 race remaining)
3. Artemis Racing 0-8, 0 points (2 races remaining)
CH Marine Glandore Classic
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The 2013 CH Marine Glandore Classic concluded last weekend with the final prize-giving on the balcony of the Marine Hotel. The committee were delighted that the new format regatta was so well received by all throughout the week. There was a fantastic turn out for the Parade of Sail on the opening weekend, the addition of cruise days to Baltimore and the Fastnet was well supported. The town of Baltimore put on a great reception for the Classic visitors and later in the week the trip to Castletownsend was also well supported on the water and at MaryAnnes.
While the stars for many were the appearance of Jolie Brise, "The Boat of the Regatta" award, and the lovely Fife Solway Maid "Concours de Regatta" award, the Commodore Diarmuid O'Donovan emphasized that it takes all the skippers crew and boats to make the regatta so successful and he thanked a lll participants and volunteers as he presented overall prizes for the nine divisions that participated in the regatta.
The Harbour fleets of Menai Straits Fifes, Dragons, Squibs, Ettes, Dayboats and Clinker classes were keenly raced over the six days with tie break winners in the Dragon and the Squib class.
In the Bay and Workboat classes Mike Walshes 1979 Holman & Pye "Saidhbhear" won the Bay Class2 in the Gaffers Sean Walsh's "Tir na Nog" was the winner. The other new addition for this regatta was the Oar and Sail programme this got off to a very promising start with three of the Atlantic Challenge Bantry Boats and well as a number of raid type boats on the water and competing on the Saturday and Sunday, the regatta was delighted with their participation and hope to increase the Oar and sail programme for the 2015 Glandore Classic Regatta.
Dino Silva's Yacht Found
In Scuttlebutt Europe #2868 of July 1, we relayed an email sent to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston from solo sailor Dino Silva who was forced to abandon his yacht Lua on his way to Iceland. His broken rudder, repaired five times, finally became inoperable. He was picked up by a freighter and taken to the USA.
Good news today via Afloat magazine:
It was an unsettling discovery for a Donegal skipper to happen upon a deserted yacht drifting in the Atlantic Ocean last week.
As BBC News reports, the unmanned vessel materialised in fog off Downings harbour in the north-west of the county, evoking memories of the famous Mary Celeste.
Fearing the worst, local charter boat operator Michael McVeigh sent two divers abroad to investigate, and all they found were rotting food and an e-mail address left on a note on the table.
But the mystery was soon solved after McVeigh contacted Malin Head coastguard - who confirmed that the yacht's owner had been rescued some 600 miles west of Galway.
The yachtsman had been sailing on a "dream trip" from his home in the Azores towards Iceland when he encountered difficulties and used his satellite phone to call for help.
He was later picked up by a passing freighter, leaving his yacht to drift.
BBC has more... Dino has been contacted... Using the email address that was found on the yacht, Mr McVeigh was able to contact the sailor who has since been reunited with his vessel.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-23461608
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