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Flawless First Day
While the weather was a mix of contrasts for the opening day of the 2013 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship, hosted from the Harbour Court club house of New York Yacht Club in Newport, R.I., the results on the water were anything but. With light wind predicted, race organizers delayed the start an hour which allowed the rain to move out of the area while leaving behind dramatic clouds and patches of blue.
Once racing was underway, Dutch-born Nico Poons sailed three flawless races on Charisma - leading the fleet around the course at all but the first two mark roundings. In fact, Poons went from strength to strength as the fleet followed in hot pursuit, evidenced by all 15 boats crossing the finish line of race two in under three minutes. In the third race of the day, Poons rounded the windward mark 15 seconds ahead of defending champion Helmut Jahn of Chicago, at the helm of Flash Gordon 6, and by the finish had increased the spread to 30 seconds.
Racing resumes Wednesday, August 27, at noon and continues through Friday, August 30.
Place, Yacht Name, Owner/Skipper, Country, Results; Total Points
1. Charisma, Nico Poons, MON, 1-1-1; 3
2. Flash Gordon 6, Helmut Jahn, USA, 7-2-2; 11
3. Nightshift, Kevin McNeil, USA, 2-8-3; 13
4. Barking Mad, James Richardson, USA, 4-3-6; 13
5. Enfant Terrible, Alberto Rossi, ITA, 5-5-8; 18
6. Nanoq, HRH Prince Frederik, DEN, 6-6-7; 19
7. Asterisk Uno, Hasip Gencer, TUR, 9-7-4; 20
8. PLENTY, Alexander Roepers, USA, 3-9-12; 24
9. Transfusion, Guido Belgiorno-Nettis, AUS, 11-4-11; 26
10. Struntje light, Wolfgang Schaefer, GER, 13-10-5; 28
11. Endorphin, Erik Wulff, USA, 8-12-9; 29
12. Oakcliff Racing, Seth Cooley, USA, 14-13-10; 37
13. White Knight, Zoltan Katinsky, USA, 10-14-14; 38
14. Groovederci, John Demourkas, USA, 12-15-13; 40
15. Flojito y Cooperando, Bernard Minkow/Julia Fernandez, MEX, 15-11-15; 41
Andrew Mills Extends Finn Gold Cup Lead
Photo by Robert Deaves. Click on image for photo gallery.
Andrew Mills (GBR) has extended his lead on the second day of the 2013 Finn Gold Cup in Tallinn, Estonia after winning the second race of the day. Zsombor Berecz (HUN) moves up to second with Michele Palette (ITA) now in third. The first race of the day was won by Pieter-Jan Postma (NED).
In conditions very similar to Monday's races the fleet was again held on shore for two hours for the wind to build. The wind turned up again, but was still not more than 7-8 knots at any time and still very unpredictable, causing a string of high scores throughout the fleet. The results make for interesting reading with a huge number of different names near the top, with many of the favourites struggling down to mid-fleet.
Racing continues at 12.00 on Wednesday. The opening series of ten races will be followed by the medal race for the top ten and the final race for the rest on Saturday, 31 August.
Top ten after 4 races (1 discard after five races)
1. Andrew Mills, GBR, 25 points
2. Zsombor Berecz, HUN, 42
3. Michele Palette, ITA, 42
4. Milan Vujasinovic, CRO, 47
5. Jonathan Lobert, FRA, 52
6. Giorgio Poggi, ITA, 58
7. Edward Wright, GBR, 59
8. Deniss Karpak, EST, 59
9. Oliver Tweddell, AUS, 65
10. Jorge Zarif, BRA, 72
BMW J/24 Worlds
Lack of wind and strong tides played havoc on day two of the BMW J24 World Championship at Howth Yacht Club, leaving Principal Race Officer David Lovegrove with no alternative but to abandon racing.
A 6-knot north-westerly breeze allowed the third race of the series to be started eventually but once the boats rounded the windward mark, the wind dropped away and a north-flowing flood tide meant the entire fleet was left motionless, with no chance of a finish.
After a delay of almost three hours, continued windless conditions forced abandonment for the day.
With the two races sailed on the first day the only ones to count so far, Keith Whittemore from Seattle still heads the overall rankings by two points from defending champion Mauricio Santa Cruz of Brazil.
Overall top ten after two races:
1. Keith Whittemorem, USA, 4.0 points
2. Mauricio Santa Cruz, BRA, 6.0
3. Ian Southworth, GBR, 11.0
4. Travis Odenbach, USA, 14.0
5. I Bonanno, ITA, 15.0
6. Ian Ilsley, MON, 17.0
7. Joersfelder Segel CLub, GER, 17.0
8. Murphy/Darrer, IRL, 18.0
9. Blankeneser Segel Club, GER, 19.0
10. Tim Healy, USA, 19.0
www.hyc.ie/J24worldChampionship2013/
Gottifredi Maffioli Regatta Support At Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
Starting from August 29 th to September 8th, Gottifredi Maffioli Tech Service Van will be in Porto Cervo to fully assist your boat. During the regatta we will have full access to the event with our professional rigging service to help you with any breakdowns that you may have. We will be there to provide a complete repair, replacement and technical upgrade you may need. Ivan and Piero from Tecnosailing together with Jack Bolina and Project Rig will be the Gottifredi Maffioli shore team on the dock.
They will be at your fully disposal every day ready to jump on your boat before and after the races to set your running rigging at the best.
For any technical suggestion and running rigging improvement you can talk with them directly at the Gottifredi Maffioli's Van or you can give them a call at the following mobile numbers:
Tecnosailing:
Ivan Bertoldo +39 335 6347175
Piero Rolandi +39 340 5783131
Project Rig:
Paolo Torre +39 335 5740807
Jack Bolina:
Davide Patuelli +39 335 5351728
www.gottifredimaffioli.com/eng/index.php
More Questions...
A new report released by the International Jury has revealed that there has been further tampering with the measured parts, on the two AC45 catamarans sailed and managed by America's Cup Defenders, Oracle Team USA.
To recap, what should have been a minor measurement incident has escalated into the most serious form of disciplinary Hearing in the sport.
It relates to the finding on July 26, that a builder supplied part, a kingpost, of three AC45's managed by America's Cup Defenders Oracle Team USA, had been tampered with, by having additional weight added to them.
The latest report shows that the kingposts from both the Oracle boats are different in measurements from the standard part - now in terms of length - as well as weight.
Further, the kingposts on all other AC45's were also measured. Six of these had been repaired and all were in conformity with the ACRM standard supplied Part.
The Measurement Committee says in the latest report: 'The carbon tubes forming the primary component of the main kingpost was found on both OTUSA 4 and OTUSA 5 to be longer than every other main kingpost measured.
The latest report from the Measurement Committee would appear to indicate a greater degree of tampering with a measured boat than had previously made public. The extent of the tampering probably removes the charitable excuse that the use of overweight kingposts were an oversight by the shore team, or people acting in isolation, without full knowledge of the consequences of their actions. -- Richard Gladwell, a must read in Sail-World.com
www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=113661
The full report from the committee (PDF)
HPR U.S. National Championship at Rolex Big Boat Series
Interest is building for the 2013 HPR National Championship being held as part of the 2013 Rolex Big Boat Series, hosted by the St Francis YC. Four days of inshore racing will be held over September 26-29th in San Francisco Bay, one of the world's great sailing venues. Winner of the HPR Class will not only win the National title, but a Rolex timepiece as part of the main event.
Entries to the HPR class may be any offshore-capable, high-performance monohull that conforms to the HPR rule, available at www.hprsailing.org
These include modern high-speed designs such as Carkeek HPR 40's, Botin 40's, MC 38's and Farr 400's, as well as older high-performance boats, such as last year's HPR Class winner, Peter Krueger's J/125 Double Trouble. Other older HPR-compatible high-performance boats that have expressed interest include 1D35's, Farr 36 OD's, and Santa Cruz 37's.
HPR ratings are single-number, time-on-time time correction factors, and older designs get rating credits for their age and pre-HPR typeform features. The HPR V4f1 calculator will be used to determine ratings, and is available at www.hprsailing.com/technical/what-do-i-rate.
Boats with fully-measured ORR and ORCi certificates can get an HPR certificate with only a few additional measurements, and boats with IRC Endorsed certificates will need a few more measurements for HPR. Boats with only PHRF certificates should contact Dan Nowlan at for measurement options.
HPR Class entries can get more information on the event and entry forms at www.rolexbigboatseries.com, and US Sailing must have measurement data submitted for HPR ratings by September 18th.
For more information on obtaining an HPR rating, consult the new HPR Measurement Guide available at hprsailing.com/technical/hpr-measurement-guide. -- Dobbs Davis
Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and Dual Scoring
In July the four clubs in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland jointly hosted the biennial Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta for a large fleet including around 120 IRC boats. Emma Smith and Jenny Howells attended the event on behalf of the RORC Rating Office and were able to provide on-site IRC assistance to the organisers, meet owners and crews, and watch some of the racing on the water. It was also interesting to see dual-scoring with ECHO (the Irish national handicap system) in action.
ECHO is a progressive handicapping system, so the ECHO TCC changes after every race to reflect actual performance; this system allows everyone to race together but ensures that the keen racers don't win under both systems. For instance, at this event, the IRC class 2 and overall IRC winner "Checkmate XV" saw her ECHO TCC increase from 1.012 to 1.121 over six races, leaving her 7th overall in ECHO 2. There are clear advantages to club racing of dual scoring between Spinlock IRC and a national or local handicap system which you can read about on the RORC Rating website:
Calling All Captains and Crew PSP Captains' Cocktails on Friday 20 September 2013, 4 to 6pm
You are invited to join us at our legendary Orange Rooms' cocktails and nibbles to celebrate 15 years in business, our sixth year as title sponsor of the PSP Southampton Boat Show and our first entry in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in the PSP Lounge, Mayflower Complex at the show.
To confirm attendance please register at www.psp-logistics.com/captainscocktails. Includes complimentary entry to the PSP Southampton Boat Show on request.
Please note: Pre-registration is required for attendance by midnight on Sunday 15 September 2013. Entry to the Captains' Cocktails is exclusively for captains and crew working on board commercial and private yachts, including professional race teams.
For all your logistics requirements please contact Alex Dixie at +44 (0) 1489 565 577
BOAT TRANSPORTATION - RACE LOGISTICS - FREIGHT - PACKING - EXPRESS - MARINE SPARES - WATERJET
Gilmour Wins The 2013 Detroit Cup
David Gilmour and his Team Gilmour crew of Luke Payne and Peter Nicholas have won the 2013 Detroit Cup, the second stop on the ISAF Grade 2 US Grand Slam series. The West Australia-based team made a blitzkrieg run through the field of 12 teams from three countries, losing only two matches throughout the four days of competition at the host venue of Bayview YC.
Team Gilmour is breaking up to race on other boats for the next event in the Grand Slam series, but is reconvening for the final event at Oakcliff. Winner of the Grand Slam series receives an invitation to the Grade 1 2014 Congressional Cup in Long Beach, as well as an invitation to the only US event on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, the Chicago Match Cup.
Leading the Grand Slam series after two stops is Chris Steele with a runner-up finish in both Chicago and now Detroit.
For more information about the US Grand Slam series, and interviews with teams entered in the series, visit www.usamatchracing.com
Cork County Council IFDS World Championships
Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland: Racing got underway today in Kinsale for the Cork County Council IFDS World Sailing Championships in glorious sunshine after yesterday's sailing was postponed due to light winds. Conditions were initially looking poor this morning and the competitors were held ashore. However after an hour of waiting the Race Committee lowered the postponement flag and the sailors headed out to the race course.
The three Irish boats finished in 11th Paul McCarthy (Kinsale), 12th John Twomey Providence Team IRL and 18th Jacqui Browne (Tralee).
Meanwhile on the 2.4mR and Skud 18 class courses, two races were completed when the wind eventually filled in. In the nine boat Skud 18 fleet it was a second and a first for Italian Marco Gualandris who is now the overnight leader followed by London 2012 bronze medallist Alexandra Rickham (UK) and John McRoberts from Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Canada.
On the 2.4mR course it was not a good day for London 2012 Gold medallist Helena Lucas (UK) who finished down the fleet in 13th overall with 6th and 20th. Heiko Kroger from Germany was the silver medallist in Kinsale while the overnight leader in the 2.4mR is Bijlard (The Netherlands).
Countdown is on to the Red Bull Youth America's Cup
The Red Bull Youth America's Cup starts in less than a week and the 10 national youth teams are into their final preparations on San Francisco Bay.
The event runs from September 1-4, with four days of fleet racing off the America's Cup Village at Marina Green.
On Saturday, August 31, there is a final day of practice with Speed Trials incorporated in the final training session - a spectator favourite.
"If I had to sum up the situation, I would say that this is a fantastic race course, with great boats and that our rivals are going to be tough," said Antoine Lauriot-Prevost, the helmsman for the French entry, Next World Energy. "But we have a wonderful team here and everyone is focused."
The teams have been training under the watchful eyes of Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher, double Olympic gold medalists who also serve as the Sports Directors of the Red Bull Youth America's Cup.
The Red Bull Youth America's Cup features 10 national teams, from 8 countries, composed of sailing aged 19-24. They race on the same AC45 wing sail catamarans used by the America's Cup teams in the AC World Series from 2011-2013.
International Fleet Bound For Malta
Start of the 33rd Rolex Middle Sea Race from the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Photo by Rolex / Kurt Arrigo. Click on image to enlarge.
The 34th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, starting and finishing in Malta, is once again attracting yachts from all over the world to the Royal Malta Yacht Club. Less than two months before the start, yachts from 16 nations have already entered including; Cayman Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States of America.
Igor Simcic's powerful Canting Keel Maxi, Esimit Europa 2, will be back to defend last year's Line Honours win and will be hoping to be the first yacht to cross the line at the Royal Malta Yacht Club for an unprecedented fourth time in succession.
The entry for the Rolex Middle Sea Race already boasts a number of high profile performance yachts, including Alex Thompson's IMOCA 60, Hugo Boss and Andre Soriano's new British Mini Maxi, Alegre. Andres Soriano's previous yacht, also called Alegre, has won both Line Honours and the race overall.
Eight Swans are already entered, racing in a variety of classes, and also aspiring to win the Swan Challenge trophy, designed by Royal silversmith, Asprey. Once again, the Russian Sailing Federation is supporting the race and ten Russian yachts have already entered; the largest fleet from any single nation.
The Rolex Middle Sea Race starts in Malta's Grand Harbour on 19th October 2013. -- Louay Habib
Featured Brokerage
1999 Sydney 40. 75,000 GBP. Located in Southampton, United Kingdom.
This Sydney 40 is a semi custom Race boat that has recently completed the Fast Net. This yacht is a heavily modified and tuned racing yacht based on a very fast hull. Designed at the outset as a state-of-the-art grand prix racing yacht, the result is an exciting, high-performance, versatile boat This particular boat is in very good condition and has new IRC keel(2012) and modified rudder(2013). These two additions make this boat a very competitive racer. The keel achieves max righting moment for the hull structures and makes the boat 5-10 seconds faster per mile than other Sydney 40. Recently, the rig and rigging has been completely overhauled & the mast and boom repainted. A new bowsprit has been added. In addition a new set of sails was added at the start of 2013. She is currently lying Southampton.
Brokerage through Aspire Boat Sales Ltd.: www.yachtworld.com/aspireboatsales/
Complete listing details and seller contact information at uk.yachtworld.com
The Last Word
The same things happen in different guises. -- Nico
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