Supermaxi Luxury Yacht & Superyacht News

TP52 World Championship: Quantum Racing staying on target

October 06, 2010

Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the crew of Quantum Racing (USA) kept their challenge for a second TP52 World Championship firmly on target today.

Quantum Racing - TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Quantum Racing - TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Staying within their target points budget for the day’s two races, the 2008 champions’ fourth and first was joint best score of the day, and leaves them three points clear of 2007 title holder Artemis, whose day was the mirror image of Quantum Racing’s.

The start of the second race of the day proved the most telling, as Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis (SWE) jumped off the line to an early lead which they extended to nearly one minute, whilst overnight leader Synergy (RUS) made their poorest start of the regatta so far and had to work hard to recover to a seventh.

Artemis TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Artemis TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

The America’s Cup waters off Valencia have so far spoiled the TP52 championship crews for choice. Monday’s building sea-breeze was replaced by an altogether more benign, but equally testing 7-8 knots of thermal SE’ly today, and Thursday’s scheduled 25 miles coastal race is presently expecting at least 20 knots, maybe more.  That the sun has not stopped shining, boosting the daytime temperatures into the mid 20’s Celsius only is the double bonus payout.  

Quantum Racing’s tactician Adrian Stead (GBR) returned to the Real Marina Juan Carlos dock pleased not only with their Race 4 victory, but of equal importance was that they recovered two places in the next race when the breeze offered more advantage to the right with a small right hand shift. They had started smartly off the pin, never felt the same benefit and were forced on to the back foot from there.
But they stuck with it, gaining two places on the second beat and one at the death of the final run, to lead Artemis overall by three points after five races,  the theoretical half way point of the regatta. Stead and Hutchinson both started the regatta in the belief a race average of 3pts could be good enough to clinch the title, and they kept to their target average again today.

Race 4 started in the gentle SE’ly and the early tussle was between Quantum Racing and Synergy, but Quantum closed them out in the top third of the beat and they rounded first and second, with Terry Hutchinson’s crew going on to win by 37 seconds.

Artemis’ broke the Quantum and Synergy race winning run when they made the best start to Race 5 and were able to gain from a small increase in wind pressure and shift as it moved across from the right of the course.
With owner Tornqvist steering they were able to lead comfortably around the first turn, while Audi A1 powered by All4ONE (GER/FRA) and Bigamist (POR) who both went right early were able to round second and third, their final finishing positions.
Quantum Racing were starved of this initial advantage, rescuing a good fourth, but Synergy were not so good off the line and rounded the first mark in eighth and gained to seventh.

Fleet, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Fleet, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Credit Nico MartinezWSM

Tomorrow’s 25 miles coastal race will be a variation on a traditional Olympic triangle type course, with an opening two miles beat followed by a four miles downwind leg.

TP52 World Championship 2010
Day 2

1 Quantum Racing (USA) – Terry Hutchinson (USA), 1+3+3+1+4= 12 points
2. Artemis (SWE) – Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE), 3+5+2+4+1= 15
3. Synergy (RUS) – Eugeni Neugodnikov (RUS), 5+1+1+2+7= 16
4. Matador (ARG) – Alberto Roemmers (ARG), 4+2+5+3+5= 19
5. Bigamist 7 (POR) – Afonso Domingos (POR), 7+6+6+5+3= 27
6. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) – Jochen Schuemann (GER), 2+10(DSQ)+8+6+2= 28
7. Cristabella (GBR) – John Cutler (NZL), 6+4+4+8+9= 31
8. Pace (GBR) – Johnny Vincent (GBR), 9+8+7+7+6= 37
9. Weapon of Choice (GBR) – Tom Wilson (GBR), 8+7+9+9+8= 41

Quotes of the day:

Terry Hutchinson (USA), skipper Quantum Racing (USA):
“We had another good day, two solid starts and a 1,4. We got a little bit unlucky in the second race, we had a nice start at the pin and we were really happy with everything, but then everybody started to fall in on us and Artemis picked up a little right shear that just didn’t get to us. So that set us up for a hard race, but getting a fourth out of that race feels better than the first race because we were eighth or ninth around the top mark and that’s a good indication of how the boat’s going and how the guys are sailing.
The shifts were happening very quickly”.

Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE), skipper and skipper Artemis (SWE):
“Overall everything went very well today. We were a bit unlucky in the first race, we had a decent start but were forced to tack in a position we didn’t want, and then we struggled a little bit, we were down but we came back and we finished fourth. It could have been third, given where we were at the beginning of the race, we had a good race.”
“We nailed the start in the second race, it was perfect timewise and we crossed the line in full speed and it was very clear I think that we were on to something good, we were on the right side and we controlled the race from the beginning to the end, so it was a good feeling, one of those races where everything seems to work our way”.

Francesco Mongelli (ITA), navigator Synergy (RUS):
“We’ve had two very good days, out of the five races we’ve run, three were very good, one was average and the fifth wasn’t that good. But we are happy, we’ve done some importante changes onboard which are working out and we are happy cause we know we are able to sail this way. In the last race our start wasn’t good, and we couldn’t make it to the left hand side which was paying, and from then on we’ve been bounced by the others, you just can’t do your own regatta. But thanks to a good call in the last run were able to gain a couple of points thus not finishing last”.

34th America’s Cup: United Internet Team Germany will not challenge.

October 06, 2010

United Internet Team Germany have announced that they will not be a challenger for the 2013 America’s Cup

United Internet Team Germany, who competed in the 32nd America’s Cup with a team led by Jesper Bank join TeamOrigin as another team not contesting the next event. 

United Internet Team Germany, 32nd Americas Cup - Credit United Internet Team Germany

United Internet Team Germany, 32nd Americas Cup - Credit United Internet Team Germany

In a press release United Internet Team Germany stated

“Based on the new format for the 34th America´s Cup, which was recently announced by BMW Oracle, the United Internet Team Germany refrains from participating in the competition for the world’s oldest sports trophy. Since 2007, the German team has been waiting to sail for the America´s Cup again.”

“With regards to the new rules that have been established by BMW Oracle, the United Internet Team Germany will not be able to register for the 34th America’s Cup” said head of syndicate of United Internet Team Germany, Michael Scheeren.

TP52 World Championship: Russia’s Synergy leading

October 05, 2010

Two back to back wins sees the Russian boat Synergy leading the TP52 World Championships after three excellent races in a building sea breeze off Valencia today

Fleet TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico MartinezWSM

Fleet TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 © Nico MartinezWSM

The crew are no strangers to winning races on the Audi MedCup Circuit and were podium challengers ten days ago in Sardinia, but today was the first time they had ever won two consecutive races at this level. They did so with a new helmsman, top Russian match racer Eugeniy Neugodnikov steering his first ever top level TP52 Series races, having only had a couple of days practice.

In a near perfect sea breeze which built from an early eight to 11 knots for the first race and peaked during an exciting third windward-leeward contest at 22 knots, the Russian crew which has a cosmopolitan afterguard in the shape of Kiwi regular tactician Rod Dawson and Italian navigator Francesco Mongelli opened with a modest fifth in the first race before their back to back bullets.

Terry Hutchinson and the Quantum Racing crew, with Farr 40 world championship winning owner Jim Richardson riding shotgun, won the first race and then posted a pair of third places, leaving the 2008 World Champions locked on the same points aggregate as the Russian regatta leaders.

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM..

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM..

Quantum Racing won the first race leading from the first windward mark to extend on each leg to cross ahead of Jochen Schuemann’s Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) took second in the perfect sea breeze conditions of 8-10 kts.

Quantum Racing (USA) started well mid line and were well placed to steal the early jump on the fleet when they first gained with extra wind pressure and a small left shift early in the first beat. Defending world champions Matador (ARG) were not so fortunate starting off the pin end of the start line and had a little less breeze over the early part of the first beat, losing out on third to Artemis (SWE).

Synergy won the second race of the day in the brisker 15 to 18 kts sea breeze.
Although Quantum Racing lead at the first windward mark Synergy took the right side down the first run with a bear away set at the first top mark. The Russian team showing the good downwind speed that the Reichel Pugh design has often shown, leading at the leeward gate and were not challenged again. Matador took second with Quantum Racing third.

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM.

05 10 2010, TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 Photo Credit Nico MartinezWSM.

Synergy’s second win of the day, with the breeze built more, was almost a carbon copy of their previous victory, again starting mid line alongside and under Quantum Racing. This time it was Artemis which lead comfortably around the top mark, but Synergy were matching them through the leeward gate and went on to win, with Artemis second and Quantum Racing third.

TP52 World Championship After Day 1
1. Synergy (RUS) – Eugeni Neugodnikov (RUS), 5+1+1= 7 points
2. Quantum Racing (USA) – Terry Hutchinson (USA), 1+3+3= 7
3. Artemis (SWE) – Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE), 3+5+2= 10
4. Matador (ARG) – Alberto Roemmers (ARG), 4+2+5= 11
5. Cristabella (GBR) – John Cutler (NZL), 6+4+4= 14
6. Bigamist 7 (POR) – Afonso Domingos (POR), 7+6+6= 19
7. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) – Jochen Schuemann (GER), 2+10(DSQ)+8= 20
8. Pace (GBR) – Johnny Vincent (GBR), 9+8+7= 24
9. Weapon of Choice (GBR) – Tony Langley (GBR), 8+7+9= 24

This was what the top talkers had to say after the first day of racing at the TP52 World Championship Francesco Mongelli (ITA) navigator Synergy (RUS):

” There was more breeze than expected in the end, we know that in flat water with a good breeze the boat is very fast, we know how to manage the boat and I think we did a really great job on the speed, and deciding where to go.

It was never obvious where to go through any of the races but I think Rod Dawson made a good interpretation of what was really happening and because the speed was good it helped. Flat water the boat speed when you are clean of other boats is still very good.
The breeze was increasing but not so shifting. We started mid line because the helmsman is good but new to the class, so the risk to stay close to the others on the line was one way wanted to manage, it was too high. So we went for less risk off the start lines – maybe giving a little away.”

Eugeniy Neugodnikov (RUS) helmsman Synergy (RUS):
“It was the first races for me on the TP52, and this was my fourth day on the boat. Everything is different with such a big team. Before the biggest crew I sailed with was six or eight people, match racing at the Congressional Cup, Long Beach in California. But around me there are such professional people and all the time we had good speed, because we have a very good main trimmer in Chris Main, and all the time he was helping me. Our tactics were good and on the downwind all the maneuvers were clear which all helps. Maximum before this was 40 feet, I sailed a little bit on the older boat like Synergy but it was a long way from here in 2006.”

Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE) owner-helm Artemis (SWE):
“I am quite pleased with the day, a nice sea breeze but it got a little more difficult with the chop later in the day. Cagliari was for me to get back into it, and I could feel I am much more prepared and we have been looking forward to this and we feel good about this.
This means a lot to me. The season did not end as we wanted it to. This is a way to show that the quality and where we feel we should be.”

Rod Dawson (NZL), tactician Synergy (RUS):
“We’re over the moon, that’s obviously the best day we’ve had this season and guys have been improving all year So it’s nice to come together in the last regatta of the year. We certainly didn’t expect this result, but we take it, we’re happy about it. The second and third race we had a reasonable start and we managed to get good speed and go over the side that we wanted and because we got off the start line we got a clear lane, we were able to use our speed and had a few shifts and once you are in the front  that’s a little bit “the rich get richer” and it’s easy to extend away”.

Terry Hutchinson (USA), skipper Quantum Racing (USA):
“Today was a great day, we went one three three but we lead two of the three top marks boat was sailing nicely and we were pretty conservative on the start line and I was kind of ticking along. Obviously Synergy had a very good day, they are all good sailors. Conditions were spectacular, the RC44 regatta that we did here back in July was the same kind of conditions, and was perfect, just like today”.

TP52 World Championship presented in Valencia

October 04, 2010

The 2010 edition of the TP52 World Championship was officially launched at the Edificio Veles e Vents in Valencia today. The World’s will take place on the America’s Cup waters off the city between the 5th and 9th of October.

TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 - Credit Carmen HIdalgoWSM

TP52 World Championship Valencia 2010 - Credit Carmen HIdalgoWSM

The official TP52 World Championship was presented by Cristóbal Grau, Sports Council for Valencia Town Hall; Jorge Gisbert, Director General of the Consorcio Valencia 2007; Rafael Chirivella, sports coordinator for the Real Club Náutico de Valencia; and Nacho Postigo, Technical Director of World Sailing Management.

Nine boats from eight countries have confirmed their entry for this 2010 edition which will comprise a maximum of 10 races, including a coastal race on Thursday 7th which will finish right in the central harbour of the Marina Real Juan Carlos I.

The competing teams have already started to muster in the iconic venue lining up in the pontoons where they will remain until the 9th of October, just at the foot of the famous Veles e Vents building. 

Among the participating teams are the last three world champions: Argentina’s Matador (2009), the American team on Quantum Racing (2008) and the Swedish Artemis (2007). 

The 2010 TP52 World Championship will take place from 5th to 9th of October in Valencia and is organised by World Sailing Management, Valencia Town Hall, Consorcio Valencia 2007, the Real Club Náutico de Valencia, the TP52 Class, the Real Federación Española de Vela and the Federación Valenciana de Vela.

Quotes:

Cristobal Grau, Sport Councillor for Valencia Town Hall:

“We are all jointly responsible for hosting here in Valencia the TP52 World Championship and I must give special thanks to Nacho Postigo who has chosen the Valencian coastline and to everyone for the effort that has been put into making the event happen.  All are aware of the position Valencia has built as a host venue for international sailing events, renowned all over the world.  I invite you all to come and enjoy the show next week.”

Jorge Gisbert, Director General of Consorcio Valencia 2007:

“We come to the close of a very busy season with the TP52 World Championships in the Marina Real Juan Carlos I that has also hosted the 33rd America’s Cup and an RC44 Circuit event.”

Rafael Chirivella, Sport Coordinator for the Real Club Náutico de Valencia:

“We are really pleased to be able to collaborate with an event like the TP52 World Championship because it is being held in Valencia. Five years ago the TP52 Class was first launched in this Port where we first began 107 years ago on board the boat Maria Dariao just beneath the Edificio del Reloj.”

Nacho Postigo, director técnico de World Sailing Management:

“It is very special for many of the sailors to be able to return to Valencia and this is due to two particular reasons; firstly for the quality of the racing area and secondly for the special welcome we all received from the host institutions.  Valencia Town Hall, the Consorcio Valencia 2007 and Marina Real Juan Carlos I, the RCN of Valencia and out official sponsors who have made it possible for the TP52 World Championships to take place in Valencia.”

Nacho Braquehais, Valencian sailor racing on Cristabella:

“This is a truly competitive championships and it is going to be a fight to get even the slighest edge.  This is a spectacular and dynamic class and the fact that we sail close to the Malvarossa and Patacona beaches will give spectators a show.  It is no coincidence that the sailors and owners come here, together with the institutions they will be able to sail on what is familiar waters for many.”

Provisional Entry List:

- Weapon of Choice (GBR)
- Cristabella (GBR)
- Synergy (RUS)
- Artemis (SWE)
- Bigamist (POR)
- Pace (GBR)
- Quantum Racing (USA)
- Matador (ARG)
- Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER)

America’s Cup: TEAMORIGIN will not be a challenger

October 03, 2010

TEAMORIGIN, the yacht racing team established by Sir Keith Mills, and skippered by triple Olympic Gold Medallist, Ben Ainslie, announced that it will not be challenging for the next America’s Cup scheduled for 2013.

TEAMORIGIN - Credit TeamOrigin

TEAMORIGIN - Credit TeamOrigin

The team, which was set up in 2007, has been waiting for three years to enter the America’s Cup, which was delayed when the US team, BMW ORACLE Racing, took the Swiss team, Alinghi, through the US courts.  The US team won the court battle and won the 33rd America’s Cup Match to become the America’s Cup Defender in February this year.  The new US Defender has recently announced the format for the next America’s Cup, including the rules and type of boat to be raced. TEAMORIGIN has also been briefed by the Defender and has made numerous comments on both the regatta rules and class rule.

Sir Keith Mills (Patron), Ben Ainslie (skipper), Charles Dunstone (co-backer) Mike Sanderson (ex CEO) on TEAM ORIGIN at the launch in September 2007. Credit onEdition

Sir Keith Mills (Patron), Ben Ainslie (skipper), Charles Dunstone (co-backer) Mike Sanderson (ex CEO) on TEAM ORIGIN at the launch in September 2007. Credit onEdition

Having now had a chance to analyse the race format, the proposed fixed wing catamaran boat, the timetable, rules and costs, Sir Keith has concluded that the 34th America’s Cup is neither viable commercially, nor an attractive sporting contest for TEAMORIGIN. Therefore he has decided that the team will not submit a challenge when the challenge period opens on 1 November.

Sir Keith Mills, TEAMORIGIN Team Principal, “After three years of waiting in the wings to enter a British team in the America’s Cup I am bitterly disappointed that we will not be competing.  However, the format and timetable decided by the Defender, BMW/Oracle, is simply not viable for TEAMORIGIN.  We have assembled an outstanding team, led by Grant Simmer and Ben Ainslie, and I am personally very sorry that they won’t now get the chance to race for a British team in the next America’s Cup”.

TeamOrigin TP52 on the final day of the Audi MedCup 2010. The team which stood for raising awareness of climate change heads fittingly into a backdrop of wind-turbines off the Italian coast - Ian Rom

TeamOrigin TP52 on the final day of the Audi MedCup 2010. The team which stood for raising awareness of climate change heads fittingly into a backdrop of wind-turbines off the Italian coast - Ian Rom

Over the next couple of months TEAMORIGIN will be considering whether it will compete in other yachting events over the next few years.

Audi MedCup: Matador and Madrid-Caser Seguros win in Cagliari

September 27, 2010

Matador, the 2009 52 world champions, win the Region of Sardinia Trophy Regatta a clear 13 points ahead of Audi A1 powered by All4ONE who finished their season as they started, on the second step of regatta podium, just as they did in Cascais. Madrid-Caser Seguros won the 42 Series.

52 Series Matador Region of Sardinia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Nico Martinez Audi MedCup

52 Series Matador Region of Sardinia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Nico Martinez Audi MedCup

42 Series Madrid - Caser Seguros Region of Sardinia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Nico Martinez Audi MedCup

42 Series Madrid - Caser Seguros Region of Sardinia Trophy - Audi MedCup Circuit Photo Credit Nico Martinez Audi MedCup

Here are the final thoughts from the dockside on the last day of the season

Dean Barker (NZL), skipper-helm Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):

“This is such a nice feeling to be able to come back and be very successful again this year. No question that the standard this year is much higher than last, and I think as a result of that it’s hard to win as often as we did last year but I think the strength of the team has been sailing consistenly all the year through. We came out of Portugal with a nice little points buffer and I think that really set us up pretty well for the year, that allowed us a little bit more of flexibility, a little bit more of room and as a result it was difficult for the other guys to kind of get back info it.”

Ray Davies (NZL), tactician Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):

“Key this season has been consistency, reliability in the boat, keeping the boat in one piece, a fantastic shore team which has worked tirelessly through the year ason, the attention to detail. There is no one thing, just an exceptional group of guys putting in the hours, and sometimes that can be a thankless task at times and today the boat held together really well.

We have definitely had to sail better than last year. The competitions But from the start the design and the concept of the boat has been right, just better than the others, but between us on the boat there is really good trust, an exceptional group and we have never changed a single crew member. It has been a really good, solid team since the start.”

Guillermo Parada (ARG), skipper Matador (ARG):

“We really feel very proud of ourselves and our team. We stuck together, kept pushing till the very end. Winning this regatta is very important to us, not only the win but also doing it the way we did.”

“We were putting pressure on Quantum until the very last day. And we lead every day and we did again today until we lost the kite.”

“So we are very happy of the overall results and proud of ourselves as a team.”

“These boats in this conditions are good fun to sail, they are very demanding, very challenging. We had good runs, very enjoyable.”

“As we said this morning we had done all our homework in advance and today we needed to enjoy the sailing because we are all sailors and we all love to sail.”

“That’s what we came for and the conditions were perfect so we did that and we made the most of it.”

“We finished on a high note, which is very important specially after last season it was sort of payback for us in order to show ourselves that we can do it.”

“We can make it happen and we can fight against any team in the world at the same level, so I am very proud.”

Adrian Stead (GBR), tactician onboard Quantum Racing (USA):

“There has been some great regattas this year.”

“I have to say that Matador sailed incredibly well this regatta. We had them behind a few times and they took us, all credit to them, very well sailed. But quantum racing we are very pleased with what we’ve done and looking forward to next year with the new boat, and also to the 52 worlds in a few days time.”

“Today we all pushed the boats pretty hard and I think that shows the level standard here and in these kind of conditions you see those little things that make the difference.”

“It was great sailing today, we had a little stall out in one of the gybes, but all credit for our team.”

Sebastien Col (FRA), tactician AudiA1 powered by ALL4ONE (GER/FRA):

“I think that our team has improved in Cagliari in regards with all to the rest of the season season. We’ve had some very difficult moments but the team has always sailed well, so I’m really proud of this team. Winning the last race is meaningful.”

Ben Ainslie (GBR), skipper TeamOrigin (GBR):

“It’s been a really good circuit, great racing, a lot of really good venues and really different conditions throughout the year so it’s been fantastic. I think ETNZ obviously sailed the best all year around and we were really impressed with how Matador sailed in this regatta towards the end of the season, they really started to sail well. This is the windiest day we’ve sailed these boats and it was good fun, quite wild. These are great boats and deliver some of the closest big boat racing that I’ve ever done.”

Jose Maria Van der Ploeg (ESP), skipper Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP):

“This was a fantastic way for us to end a great series, the boats are fantastic. The team has been improving at every stage, and now we are at the maximum, exactly where we want to be. We will take a few weeks to take a break and then think about our moves in the next season.”

Cesare Bressan (ITA), Main trimmer AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA):

“We were not as fast as the two B&C boats today, so it was going to be hard to get the scores that we needed. The wind hit 33 knots, which is the strongest we’ve ever seen on this boat, and we broke the out hall shackle on the mainsail, but off the wind was really fun, hitting 22 knots of speed. Roberto [Monti] did a great job driving; he has really improved over this season.”

John Bassadone (GBR), owner/driver Peninsula Petroleum (GBR):

“Today was incredible, over 30 knots of wind, and we first broke our new main, had just enough time to put our old main on, and then that broke too. So, if we had another race I’m not sure what we would have done. But we had tremendous fun, the boats are fantastic, and this MedCup has been great, its hard to imagine a better circuit of racing.”

Region of Sardinia Trophy Final results

52 Series

1. Matador (ARG), 2+8+2+1+5+1+1,5+5= 25,5 points
2. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 5+1+5+6+3+11(DNF)+6+1= 38 
3. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 8+2+1+10+2+3+9+3= 38
4. Synergy (RUS), 6+5+3+4+1+5+7,5+7= 38,5     
5. Quantum Racing (USA), 9+3+7+2+6+4+3+6= 40  
6. TeamOrigin (GBR), 7+4+4+8+4+2+10,5+2= 41,5 
7. Bribón (ESP), 1+9+8+3+8+3(RDG)+8(RDG)+5,3(RDG)= 45,3 
8. Artemis (SWE), 3+6+10+5+9+8+4,5+4= 49,5 
9. Cristabella (GBR), 4+10+6+9+7+6+12+8= 62
10. Luna Rossa (ITA), 10+7+9+7+10+7+13,5+9= 74,5
11. Bigamist (POR), 12+12+12+12+12+12+18+12= 102 (DNC) 

42 Series

1. Madrid – Caser Seguros (ESP), 1+2+1+1+1+1+1= 8 points 
2. Islas Canarias Puerto Calero (ESP), 4+1+3+2+2+3+2= 17 
3. Península Petroleum (GBR), 3+3+4+4+3+2+3= 22
4. AIRISESSENTIAL (ITA), 2+4+2+3+4+4+4= 23
5. Iberdrola (ESP), 6+6+6+6+6+6+6= 42 (DNC)

Rolex Middle Sea Race: Competitive international sailing yacht fleet registered.

September 23, 2010

With just a month to go until the start of the 2010 Rolex Middle Sea Race, over 60 yachts have registered for this ever-challenging 606-nautical mile offshore race, which starts from Grand Harbour in Malta on 23 October 2010.

View of the start in Grand Harbour - Photo credit Rolex Kurt Arrigo

View of the start in Grand Harbour - Photo credit Rolex Kurt Arrigo

While some distance races effectively run straight along a rhumbline, the Rolex Middle Sea Race is unique as its course is almost square in shape. Starting from Grand Harbour the fleet heads north to Sicily and a passage up its eastern coast to the Strait of Messina. Once through the Strait, the course leads north to the Aeolian Islands, including Strombolicchio and the active volcano of Stromboli, where the yachts turn west to the Egadi Islands. At the western corner of Sicily, competitors head south towards the island of Lampedusa, leaving Pantelleria to port. Once past Lampedusa, the fleet turns northeast on the final leg to the Comino Channel and the finish in Marsamxett Harbour.

This year, the 31st edition, has a United Nations quality to it, with 64 yachts from 18 countries, including, notably, more entries from Eastern Europe than any prior year, including Marton Jozsa’s R/P Custom 60, Wild Joe from Hungary; Moryanka, Yaroslav Isakov’s Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36i from the Ukraine; Three Sisters, Milan Hajek’s Beneteau First 40.7 from the Czech Republic; and from Russia, Sergey Popelyshev’s Dufour 45 Comrade, Valentin Zubkov’s Shipman 63, Coral, and Oleg Smirnov’s Business System Telehaus.

One of the most recent entries, and one of the biggest, is Mike Slade’s maxi sailing yacht ICAP Leopard (GBR). The 100-foot Farr-designed canting-keeled maxi was launched in 2007 and has been actively campaigned, racing in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race in 2007 & 2009, the Rolex Fastnet Race in 2007 and 2009 (Line Honours winner both years), and the 2009 Rolex Middle Sea Race, where Leopard was Line Honours winner and missed breaking the course record by less than 25 minutes.

Sailing yacht ICAP LEOPARD, taking line honours 2009 Rolex Middle Sea Race - Photo Credit Rolex Alan Carville

Sailing yacht ICAP LEOPARD, taking line honours 2009 Rolex Middle Sea Race - Photo Credit Rolex Alan Carville

The irrepressible Slade will be back to take another shot at the record, and he said, “We love the challenge of the Rolex Middle Sea Race as you’re pretty much guaranteed to use every sail in the inventory, which gives the crew a good workout.  The scenery is spectacular – combined with the wonderful hospitality of the Royal Malta Yacht Club, ensures that this is an event on our racing calendar that we look forward to immensely.”

ICAP Leopard should provide fellow 100-footer, the Reichel/Pugh-designed Esmit Europa suitable competition, as they have raced against each other in EsImit’s former life as ex-Alfa Romeo 2.

Andres Soriano is back with his mini maxi Alegre (GBR), to defend their overall win in the 2009 Rolex Middle Sea Race. Soriano and his Mills-designed 68-footer have enjoyed an impressive racing career to date, with recent class wins at both the Rolex Capri Sailing Week and the Rolex IMA Championship. Alegre also claimed Line Honours in the 2008 Rolex Middle Sea Race.

Another in the maxi fleet is the Baltic 77, Black Pearl launched in 2008 and entering its’ first offshore race. The yacht was custom-built as a family cruising boat –a ‘café racer’ – with a lifting keel and a full cruising interior. The boat sports such details as a birch veneer interior in the main salon, and an emphasis was made on using lightweight materials, such as carbon/Nomex panels for the interior furniture, and composite rigging.

While the boat has not raced offshore yet, it has accumulated a fair number of sea miles – since her launch in Finland, she has been to the Caribbean, through the Suez Canal to Egypt and cruised extensively in the Mediterranean.

As well, Black Pearl’s crew is highly seasoned with Rolex Fastnet’s, Rolex Sydney Hobart’s, Newport Bermuda Races and trans-atlantic races under their belts. Navigator Marc Lagesse sailed with the South African team in the 32nd America’s Cup, and the boat’s designer Bill Tripp will sail onboard as well.

Skipper Matthew Sweetman said, “The owner has been looking at sailing in an offshore race for some time and the Rolex Middle Sea Race fit in very well with this year’s program, and is sailed in some of the more interesting part of the Mediterranean, with differing weather patterns and scenery. Her performance has been impressive and it will be great to push her around a long race course to see what she can really do.”

With three weeks until the close of entries (15 October), more boats are still trickling in. The record year for entries was 2008 – the 40th anniversary of the race – with 78.

The Rolex Middle Sea Race commences on Saturday, 23 October 2010. The final prize giving is on Saturday, 30 October. George David’s Rambler (USA) established the current Course Record of 47 hours, 55 minutes, and 3 seconds in 2007. 



Audi MedCup: Quantum Racing announces new sailing yacht for 2011

September 21, 2010

Long time Audi MedCup Circuit competitors and fans Quantum Racing are the first of several teams to announce that they will campaign a new build boat for next season. Today at the Region of Sardinia Trophy in Cagliari Quantum Racing announced that they will build a new boat for the 2011 Circuit.

Quantum Racing 2011 presentation campaign Photo Credit Guido Trombetta Studio Borlenghi Audi MedCup

Quantum Racing 2011 presentation campaign Photo Credit Guido Trombetta Studio BorlenghiA udi MedCup

Their 2008 Audi MedCup championship winning programme was the culmination of investment and participation on the world’s leading regatta circuit, having competed with Lexus in the inaugural year 2005, through the Quantum-powered Warpath and Windquest before the present Quantum Racing (USA) took to the water in 2008. Quantum Racing finished second last year, and lie second overall on the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit.

The new Quantum Racing will follow a very similar established winning recipe, being designed by Botin Carkeek and built in Spain by Chimo Lopez Longtitude Zero in Burriana, ready for launching and work up in the Mediterranean early next season.

52 Series training Quantum Racing Region of Sardinia Trophy Photo Credit Ainhoa Sanchez Audi MedCup

52 Series training Quantum Racing Region of Sardinia Trophy Photo Credit Ainhoa Sanchez Audi MedCup

Project manager Ed Reynolds, President of Quantum Sail Design Group said:

“ We want to support the Audi MedCup. I’ve watched for years when a new one design class or a new boat comes out  and it’s always like ‘well if you sell six boats we’ll buy one’. Somebody just has to stand up first and say ‘we believe the direction, we believe the new concept and we like the new boats.”

“We’re going to be here for a while and hopefully it will all kind of give enough confidence to some of the other teams to say yes, the Audi MedCup is going to be here for a while Let’s step up and go too”.

“The Audi MedCup is the most competitive, highest level of monohull racing ever, it is so intense, so defined, and I personally believe what’s happened with the Americas Cup with multihulls has created an amazing opportunity for the Medcup to truly take a grip of grand prix, the ultimate level of sailing in the world.”

Nacho Postigo (ESP), Audi MedCup Circuit Technical Director, added: “It is great that Quantum Racing is the first of a good number of teams to commit to building new boats for next year. It makes me very happy because they have been sponsoring a boat since Day 1, since 2005, and it proves well that the Circuit recovers your investment very nicely. That is on the business part of the equation.”

“But to have one of the teams which have been consistently top three returning is great, too, because it means that the high level will be maintained, but it is also a level which can be achieved by individual, private owners as well.”

Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

Audi MedCup: Emirates Team New Zealand to sail smart and sail clean

September 21, 2010

This Region of Sardinia Regatta is going to be about the careful balancing act of risk and reward.

The shimmering waters of the Gulf of Cagliari were the scene of just one of the Kiwi team’s four successive regatta wins last year, en route to winning the 2009 Audi MedCup, but as they plot their course towards what they hope will be their second in a row, little will change in the team’s approach.

Emirates Team New Zealand - Photo Credit Stefano Gattini Studio BorlenghiAudi MedCup

Emirates Team New Zealand - Photo Credit Stefano Gattini Studio BorlenghiAudi MedCup

Even with a lead of 46.5 points over second placed Quantum Racing and up to 11 races left to complete the Audi MedCup season Dean Barker and the Emirates Team New Zealand crew know there is no room for complacency.

As they seek to execute with the same ruthless efficiency that they did last year, against a fleet which has never set a higher standard, the defending champions will stick to the same gameplan, consistency and conservation are as keynote now as they have been in Cascais, Marseille, Barcelona and Cartagena.

“We are just looking to sail smart and sail clean.” Emphasised tactician Ray Davies (NZL) after today’s practice race.

The waters off the Region of Sardinia’s capital also hold fond memories for the Quantum Racing team under skipper-helm Terry Hutchinson (USA).

This was where they won their first regatta together as a team in 2008, going on to secure the series title in Portimao, Portugal.

And here, today, they have confirmed that they will campaign a new build Botin Carkeek design in 2011.

Here, too, the predominantly American team will also be doing their best to sail their own regatta.

They have just over 20 points on Matador (ARG) and TeamOrigin (GBR), but Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis (SWE) team are also breathing down the necks of that duo, and any one of these three may seize any opportunity to drag the 2008 champions back into the pack.

“We are probably in the most difficult position than anybody here, we have ETNZ up ahead, and we have three boats packed in, who all want our position, so, probably this regatta should be, for us.” Said project manager Ed Reynolds today.

And as the season draws to its conclusion all ten 52 Series crews know that the final Audi MedCup regatta of 2010 will be the one they remember most readily, but hopefully for the right reasons.

Who can forget the extraordinary finale in 2009, on the horns of a buffeting Mistral when the windward mark was dragged, when top regatta trophy contenders let their prospects slip through unforced errors, and when simple gear failures in the strong winds, added an unwanted extra points ballast?

Even today’s practice race, contested in 6-11kts of sea breeze and flat waters – proved there will be surprises all the way until the finish. Although Britain’s TeamOrigin seemed to have done enough to win, Jose Cusi’s Bribon (ESP) – renowned as a light winds, flat water performer – stole victory when they found extra wind pressure down the right side of the final run.

Racing for the 52 Series at the Region of Sardinia Trophy starts tomorrow with the start sequence at 1300hrs and up to three races scheduled.

With more of today’s light to moderate sea breezes expected over the coming days the  42 Series Official Practice Race may prove which boat is best optimised for these conditions. Series leader Madrid-Caser Seguros (ESP) has a seven points margin to work from but racing has proven incredibly tight all season. Racing for the 42 Series starts on Wednesday.

52 Series Official Practice Race

1. Bribón (ESP)
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), +00:04
3. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), +00:14
4. Artemis (SWE), +00:17
5. Matador (ARG), +00:49
6. Quantum Racing (USA), +00:52
7. Luna Rossa (ITA), +01:01
8. Cristabella (GBR), +01:20
TeamOrigin (GBR), DNF
Synergy (RUS), DNF

Quotes of the day:

Ray Davies (NZL) tactician Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL):
“This week the strategy is to keep it clean. We can’t afford to have any incidents with any boats or any break downs. And so that is going to be our primary focus. We won’t really sail conservatively, we just wont take any risks. We will sail as hard as we can, but avoid close crosses and avoid pile ups. Just basically we need to sail smart. The boat is going as fast as it ever has. We will just try to sail clean and let the boat do the work.”

“It was interesting to sail on that course, because it is not straightforward. It is quite shifty and there are little local holes and bends. It is going to be an interesting course to sail on, with lead changes and position changes, and it can get really compressed coming into the bottom mark. When the wind shifts boats are over-layed and we saw a bit of that today.”

Ed Reynolds (USA) project manager Quantum Racing (USA):
“We are probably in the most difficult position than anybody here, we have ETNZ, something dramatic has to happen for them not to win.But we are the only ones with even a remotly minor chance of doing anything. So I’m sure they are not going to be overly kind to us, and 20 points behind us, we have three boats packed in, who all want our position. So, probably this regatta should be, for us, the most difficult because of the top six boats, we are the number one boat. They know they can’t reach ETNZ but we are within touch.”

“ So this one, we talked a lot about, this is risk management, this is controlling the variables.

The Kiwis have been fantastic. We will all walk out of this with our heads really high if we can be on the podium.

“We’d really like to finish second, we’ve never finished worse than that”.

Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

Audi MedCup: Sailing yacht Bribon wins Practice Race in Cagliari, Sardinia

September 21, 2010

José Cusi’s Bribón stole the march on leading duo Emirates Team New Zealand and TeamOrigin to win the practice race for the 52 Series off Cagliari in a light sea-breeze today.

52 Series Training Day Bribon. Region of Sardinia Trophy Photo Credit Ainhoa SanchezAudi MedCup

52 Series Training Day Bribon. Region of Sardinia Trophy Photo Credit Ainhoa SanchezAudi MedCup

Although TeamOrigin (GBR) lead Audi MedCup title holders Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) around the first windward mark, Bribón (ESP) were serious contenders.

Approaching the first turn on port tack, tactician Ian Walker (GBR) prudently chose to have helm Gonzalo Aurajo (ESP) duck behind the leading pair to be safe, rounding third just ahead of Audi A1 ALL4ONE (FRA/GER).

The Franco-German team were quick downwind and got up to third, but Walker astutely called the extra new breeze on the final run, holding left, which allowed them to steal across the front of Emirates Team New Zealand. TeamOrigin chose not to cross the finish line.

Sabina Mollart-Rogerson

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