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Team Synergy/Heesen wins first and third place at the recent Cascais Cup

April 13, 2012

Heesen Yachts, one of the best shipyards when it comes to engineering as well as building of luxury superyachts, is delighted to announce that team Synergy/Heesen won first place in the match race along with third place overall at the RC44 – Cascais Cup, that just took place in Cascais, Portugal from 28th March to 1st April.

The recent RC44 - Cascais Cup

The recent RC44 - Cascais Cup Photo credit: Guido Trombetta/Studio Borlenghi

Fifteen teams – team Aegir UK joined so there was one more racing yacht in the fleet than in Puerto Calero – raced over five days in a range of differing weather conditions; from a potentially boat-breaking situation with gusts of 28 knots, to light breezes and sun, followed by a storm and a couple of hours of torrential rain!

Valentin Zavadnikov and Leonid Lebedev’s team Synergy was led by America’s Cup skipper Ed Baird, their new tactician for the 2012 circuit. This is the first time the team have gained a place on the podium in the fleet race since they joined the RC44 back in 2010. The races at Cascais were the second event for the team’s new tactician, who had already led Synergy team to bronze in the match race at the Puerto Calero Cup in February.

Team Synergy/Heesen competing in the Cascais Cup

Team Synergy/Heesen competing in the Cascais Cup Photo credit: Guido Trombetta/Studio Borlenghi

Fabio Ermetto, Sales and Marketing Director at Heesen Yachts, comments: “We are very excited to see that team Synergy is progressing up the rankings. Congratulations to the Owners, the tactician and their great crew who led our yacht to this incredible success!”

The next stop in the 2012 RC44 Championship Tour is the RC44 Austria Cup on Lake Traunsee from 30th May to 2nd of June.

After that the races move on across Europe:
18th – 22nd July Marstrand – Sweden
3rd – 7th October RovinjCroatia

Synergy Russian Sailing Team (RUS 13) races on hull number 24, launched in 2010. Boat Owners and helmsmen Valentin Zavadnikov and Leonid Lebedev together with American tactician Ed Baird led team Synergy to 12th place overall in both the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Having also run successful TP52 and Louis Vuitton Series campaigns, Synergy’s goal is to develop top level yacht racing in Russia by creating professional crew capable of competing against the world’s best sailors.

The ninth Edition of PalmaVela, April 18-22, 2012

April 13, 2012

After 9 years of existence of PalmaVela the Maxi yachts come back once again to be one of the main protagonists of this International regatta. The International Maxi Association, IMA has comprised PalmaVela in its annual Racing calendar for 2012 as well as for the Wally class.

palmavela_2012

The IMA also has designated PalmaVela 2012 as the Mediterranean Championship for the “Mini Maxi”, boats with boat lengths from 18 to 22 metres. This designation is certain to attract a nice number of owners and may increase the number of entries up to 7 to 8 Mini Maxis turning up for PalmaVela.

NEWS AND DEBUTS

PalmaVela, is the event chosen year after year, by many yacht owners or event organisers to present their new yacht or their new Racing circuits. Such is the case of the TP 52 fleet, now that the Med Cup circuit has been cancelled for this year, will be coordinated by the Class Manager, Rob Weiland in a new circuit.

PalmaVela will be the first meeting for this fleet which gathers: Container, RAN, Synergy, Matador and Quantum, although some more teams are expected to join. Guillermo Roemmers, the legendary Argentinian owner of the Matador saga, will take its’ debut with his new TP52, who will compete the whole season under the colours of Audi, Azzurra and the Costa Esmeralda Yacht club.

Another novelty for this years PalmaVela Edition is the one design class, Soto 40 will take PalmaVela as a training event for the European circuit. 5 yachts already have registered for the event, amongst of which, the latest winner of the now extinct Med Cup, the boat IBERDROLA of Agustin Zulueta, and the debut of Andres Soriano who has already participated in other editions of PalmaVela with his Mini Maxi, Allegre.

J-Class sailing yacht LIONHEART

J-Class sailing yacht LIONHEART

Another important debut in PalmaVela, is the first participation of a J-Class sailing yacht Lionheart, for the first time to sail in the bay of Palma. The J80 one design class counts on six entered yachts at present, amongst which, the latest winner of the 30 Copa del Rey Audi Mapfre, Jose Maria Van der Ploeg. The classic fleet counts on one of the most beautiful boats, the 35m superyacht Moonbeam IV.

The dinghy classes, always present in PalmaVela, count on 6 Dragons at present and 12 to 15 Flying Fifteens are expected to enter. The disabled sailing sponsored by the Obra Social La Caixa and Handisport, will provide the competition with two different classes this year, Dam 5.5 and Access.

QUALIFYING EVENT

PalmaVela is a qualifying event for the Spanish Championship for Classic and Vintage yachts and for the Northern Mediterranean National Championship for the Cruisers in ORC rating.

RACING AREAS AND MOORING

Four racing areas will be laid in the bay of Palma for all the entered yachts in PalmaVela. The moorings will be distributed by boat lengths; the big boats such as Maxis, Mini Maxis, Wallys and TP 52 will be allocated in the N00, (gas station pier in the RCNP). The rest of the fleet will be moored around the club house.

WALLY CLASS performance yachts confirm 2012 racing calendar

April 13, 2012
The Wally Class, the largest fleet of performance yachts over 24 metres, has revealed the final racing calendar for the 2012 season, taking in five of the world’s most important yacht regattas in the Mediterranean’s most fabulous locations.

PalmaVela 2011

PalmaVela 2011

PalmavelaPalma de Mallorca, 18 – 22 April

Trofeo Conde de Godó – Barcelona, 23 – 27 May

Loro Piana SuperYacht Regatta – Porto Cervo, 4 – 9 June

Maxi Yacht Rolex CupPorto Cervo, 2 – 8 September

Voiles de St-TropezSt-Tropez, 29 September – 6 October

In addition to this calendar, Wallys also competitively race in other renowned regattas against yachts of other types: a strong performance was seen in March in the British Virgin Islands, with the Wally 101 sailing yacht Indio winning the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda Virgin Gorda. Further events include two of the most important offshore races in the Mediterranean, the Rolex Volcano Race, 18– 26 May and the Giraglia Rolex Cup, 8-16 June.

Speaking from Wally’s headquarters in Monaco, Luca Bassani Antivari, Founder and President said, “We are looking forward to a fantastic 2012 season with great sailing and great competition. During the second half of the season we will also welcome the debut of the sailing yacht Wallycento, the brand new high-performance 100-foot racer-cruiser built in compliance with a box-rule.”

100ft sailing yacht Wallycento

100ft sailing yacht Wallycento

Paolo Massarini, Wally Class Manager continued, “The Wally fleet will participate in the Trofeo Conde de Godó in Barcelona for the first time; taking in a new city-based location with excellent sailing conditions, we will see excitement and close racing.”

Due to the exceptional performance of Wally yachts and their resulting competitive advantage, the Wally Class is part of the IMA (International Maxi Association) and is recognised internationally as a division of the world’s most important Superyacht regattas.

Naples AC World Series: Day 2 – ORACLE Racing Bundock wins face off against stable mate

April 13, 2012
Racing on Day 2 of the ACWS Naples Match Racing Championship, in a rather calm Bay of Naples, ORACLE Racing Bundock advanced to the semifinal round by defeating stable mate ORACLE Racing Spithill.

Relatively calm Bay of Naples on Day 2 of the Naples AC World Series

Relatively calm Bay of Naples on Day 2 of the Naples AC World Series Photo: Guilain GRENIER/ORACLE TEAM USA

The two crews have spent hours training and testing against each other on San Francisco Bay, where the America’s Cup will be staged in 2013. Yesterday, the friendly rivalry turned fierce with the added dimension of points for the ACWS Overall Championship at stake.

“I suppose we can thank the shore crew for the victory against Jimmy,” said skipper Darren Bundock. “We’re very happy to walk away with the win from that one. I guess it’s all that training they’ve given us the past couple months.”

That Bundock’s boat No. 5 even made the start was a testament to the ORACLE Racing Shore Team. On day 1 racing the No. 5 boat was damaged in the rough seaway when a crack developed around a deck hatch.

ORACLE Racing Bundock advanced to the semifinal round by defeating stable mate ORACLE Racing Spithill

ORACLE Racing Bundock advanced to the semifinal round by defeating stable mate ORACLE Racing Spithill Photo: Guilain GRENIER/ORACLE TEAM USA

The shore team, led by Andrew Henderson and including “The Three A’s” – Andrew Walker, Aaron Hunter and Andrew Rhodes – pulled an all-nighter to complete the repair job, which required grinding, new core sections and laminating.

No one was quite certain if the boat would be ready until the heat guns were turned up at full blast about an hour before the start of the race to accelerate the laminate curing process.

“Lucky for us the shore crew did a fantastic job overnight. They had four repairs to make: two cracks in the hull and a little damage from a RIB when we came dockside,” said Bundock.

“Probably an hour before the race start they still had the heat guns going to set the carbon off. It was all touch and go, but lucky for us they got us out there.”

ORACLE Team racing on Day 2 of the Naples AC World Series

ORACLE Team racing on Day 2 of the Naples AC World Series Photo: Guilain GRENIER/ORACLE TEAM USA

Besides the four cracks on ORACLE Racing Bundock, the shore crew also had to repair some broken frames in Spithill’s wingsail.

“It just wasn’t an issue,” said Spithill. “It goes to show, I think we have best shore team here. It gives you confidence knowing they can get both boats out there, full credit to them.”

The victory puts ORACLE Racing Bundock into the match racing semifinals where the crew will race Luna Rossa Piranha, steered by Chris Draper, with the winner advancing to the match racing final. ORACLE Racing Spithill is assigned seventh place for the match racing championship. Under the new regatta format, you must win to advance.

Team ORACLE Racing

Team ORACLE Racing Bundock Photo: Guilain GRENIER/ORACLE TEAM USA

The match racing was followed by two fleet races of 30 to 40 minutes. ORACLE Racing Spithill placed 7-4 and holds second for the fleet racing championship behind Emirates Team New Zealand. ORACLE Racing Bundock placed 4-8 and holds seventh in the standings after having to sit out day 1 second fleet race due to the hull damage.

Spithill said the crew battled all day: “We really want to pride ourselves on being consistent, and today we really weren’t. That is sport, but we have to learn from it and move forward. There’s plenty of racing left, we just have to come out tomorrow firing.”

Naples AC World Series: Day 2 – Emirates Team New Zealand dominates with Luna Rossa performing well

April 13, 2012
America’s Cup World Series leading skipper Dean Barker demonstrated his Emirates Team New Zealand stays the class of the fleet by winning both fleet races on Thursday. In scoring two victories, Barker now sits clear ahead of his rival James Spithill by a whopping 9 points on the Naples leaderboard.

Naples AC World Series - Day 2

Naples AC World Series - Day 2 © ACEA 2012/ Photo Gilles Martin-Raget

The local favourites, the two Luna Rossa Challenge crews, also had a good afternoon in the beautiful sea breeze conditions just off the sea front of Naples, with each crew earning a second place finish.

“That’s more like what we prepared for. The boys sailed awesomely today, the boat handling was epic,” said Chris Draper, the helmsman on Luna Rossa Piranha, who scored a 2-3 this afternoon. “We’re really pleased.”

Crowds lined the waterfront on yesterday´s sunny afternoon to watch the racing, with the finish line just meters from the shore.

Team Luna Rossa Pirhana

Team Luna Rossa Pirhana © ACEA 2012/ Photo Gilles Martin-Raget

“The people of Naples are really turning out in force to support us,” Barker said, as he and his crew saluted the crowd after finishing. “If this is what happens on Thursday, I can only imagine what we’ll see on the weekend.”

Before the fleet races, three matches were sailed, one of which pitted the two ORACLE Racing teams against each other. Yesterday, it was Bundock winning over Spithill, an upset of the form guide.

“We were up against the winner of the America’s Cup, so to walk away with his scalp was great,” skipper Darren Bundock said with enthusiasm. “It pushes us straight through to the semi finals, so we’re looking good in the match racing.”

Team Artemis Racing

Team Artemis Racing © ACEA 2012/ Photo Gilles Martin-Raget

Artemis Racing and Luna Rossa Piranha were the other match race winners and both will advance to the next stage of the competition; the losers in each match have been knocked out and assigned a final finishing position.

The teams also completed the ‘spare’ race on Thursday afternoon. This fleet race will only be scored if there is no racing on Sunday. In that case, the race will be broadcast on Sunday afternoon and reported on at that time.

The program for today starts with Match Racing followed by two Fleet Races. The start of the first match is scheduled for 1330 CEST.

Fleet Racing Championship – Provisional Standings Day Two (after four races):

1. Emirates Team New Zealand (Skipper: Dean Barker); 38 points

2. ORACLE Racing – Spithill (Skipper: James Spithill); 29 points

3. Luna Rossa – Piranha (Helmsman: Chris Draper); 27 points

4. Team Korea (Skipper: Nathan Outteridge); 27 points

5. Energy Team (Skipper: Yann Guichard); 25 points

6. Luna Rossa – Swordfish (Helmsman: Paul Campbell-James); 24 points

7. ORACLE Racing – Bundock (Skipper: Darren Bundock); 16 points

8. Artemis Racing (Skipper: Terry Hutchinson); 12 points

9. China Team (Skipper: Fred Le Peutrec); 4 points

Match Racing Championship – Provisional Results:

Q1 – Artemis Racing beat China Team

QF1 – ORACLE Racing Bundock beat ORACLE Racing Spithill

QF2 – Luna Rossa Piranha beat Team Korea

China Team finishes ninth in the Match Racing Championship; Artemis Racing advances to QF3.

ORACLE Racing Spithill finishes seventh in the Match Racing Championship; ORACLE Racing Bundock advances to SF2.

Team Korea finishes sixth in the Match Racing Championship; Luna Rossa Piranha advances to SF2.

Act 2 of the 2012 Extreme Sailing Series, April 17-20, Qingdao, China

April 12, 2012
Act 2 of the 2012 Extreme Sailing Series™ is fastly approaching with less than one week until the iconic city of Qingdao welcomes the nine racing international teams. The fleet will go head-to-head from the 17 to 20 April as the Series returns to the 2008 Olympic venue for the second consecutive year, a venue that lends itself perfectly to the stadium style competing.

Extreme Sailing Series 2012. Act 1. Oman Credit Lloyd Images

Extreme Sailing Series 2012. Act 1. Oman Credit Lloyd Images

The Omani-flagged teams Oman Air and The Wave, Muscat have the advantage as they head toChina, having scored a one-two respectively on their home waters during the opening round of the Series. Morgan Larson and his Oman Air crew snatched the win from Pierre Pennec’s men on Groupe Edmond de Rothschild during the final race of the final day, and for pre-season favourite Pennec, the gloves are well and truly off.

“Last year I entered into Act 2 in Qingdao too conservatively. This year, it will be different. To be ahead of the game we will need to take some risks. The level of the fleet will be surely higher than what we saw in Muscat a few weeks ago.” Pennec continued, “Qingdao is a very interesting playing field that demands that every opportunity is seized and to be versatile.”

Qingdao holds some very vivid memories for many of the sailors, many of who represented their nations on these waters at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Amongst them is Red Bull Sailing Team skipper and double Olympic gold medallist Roman Hagara, who has fond memories of sailing in Qingdao. “I am looking forward to the race in Qingdao. It is like a second hometown for me. We spent a month in China before the Olympic Games for training on the Tornado, and it was great to participate at the Olympics of course.”

Extreme Sailing Series 2012. Act 1.The Wave Muscat. OmanCredit: Lloyd Images

Extreme Sailing Series 2012. Act 1.The Wave Muscat. Oman Credit: Lloyd Images

Red Bull Sailing Team was one of four teams to capsize in Qingdao in 2011, during an unprecedented day that has become one of the most memorable in the history of the Series. Ian Williams and the British GAC Pindar were also amongst those to fall victim to the extraordinary conditions in Fushan Bay as Williams remembered, “Qingdao threw everything at us last year and consequently was a huge learning experience for the whole team. This year we will be much better prepared for whatever comes our way.”

Williams and the team put in a solid performance during Act 1, finishing in fifth place, and is optimistic they have more to give. Williams continued, “Last year Luna Rossa won the Qingdao Act after finishing fifth in Oman which shows that things can turn around fast and certainly we’ll be looking for an improvement from our Oman finishing position.”

The public is expected to be out in force during the public days (18-20 April) supporting Chinese sailors Kit Cheng and Xiaqun Song onboard local boat China Team. A 2008 Olympian in the Yngling class, Xiaqun is one of only two women competing – the other is Britain’s Rachel Williamson on The Wave, Muscat – and as a Qingdao resident, Xiaqun had some local insight to share with the fleet.

Red Bull Extreme Sailing capsized

Red Bull Extreme Sailing capsized in Qingdao in 2011

“Last year a few boats had problems during one windy day, but I would say mostly it will be light and tricky weather again this time. I was on the Race Committee boat last year and everybody gets a chance to lead the fleet because the conditions vary so they can favour different teams at different times. The racing takes place close to shore which gives an excellent view for the public.”

There will be a few new faces on the start line in Qingdao as four of the teams announce crew changes. Regular Alinghi crew Pierre-Yves Jorand from Switzerland will be taking over as skipper from Ernesto Bertarelli, paving the way for 2011 Team TILT crew Charles Favre (SUI) to jump onboard as helm. 2010 Danish sailor of the year and World Match Racing Tour champion from the same year, Christian Kamp, will take over from Britain’s Simon Hiscocks on the Danish entry. Making their Extreme 40 debuts in Qingdao are both Patrick Aucour, who will join Loick Peyron’s ZouLou in place of Antoine Joubert, and Romain Petit who will replace Adeline Chatenet on the all-French team Groupe Edmond de Rothschild.

Naples AC World Series: Day 1

April 12, 2012

After the first day of Championship Racing at the America’s Cup World Series in Naples, it’s clear this is an event at another level. From the fascinating opening ceremony, to the Easter Weekend crowds, to a thrilling first day of competing in strong wind as well as big waves, everything about the Naples experience is “più intense”.

Team Luna Rossa

Team Luna Rossa © Gilles Martin-Raget / ACEA

The racing has never been more competitive. The addition of the two Luna Rossa crews has ratcheted up the intensity level on the race course. Dean Barker’s Emirates Team New Zealand and Jimmy Spithill’s ORACLE Racing, separated by just one point on the 2011-12 AC World Series leaderboard, resumed battle on day one in Naples, and not surprisingly, neither team would give an inch. After two races, both have posted one-three on their scorecard to lead the fleet.

But young guns like Team Korea’s fearless Nathan “I hadn’t sailed a boat that big in that kind of wind” Outteridge and Energy Team’s Yann Guichard are nipping at their heels.

Off the water, local organisers estimated the crowd along the extended waterfront on the sunny holiday Monday at an incredible 250,000. This on the heels of a spectacular opening ceremony on Saturday evening, produced by the same group contracted for the Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio. It came to a dramatic conclusion – unplanned – as an powerful thunderstorm brought deep growls or thunder and flashes of lightning, to say nothing of a heavy downpour. But even the rain and hail couldn’t dampen expectation that Naples was going to put on something special for the America’s Cup World Series.

And so it has proved. The first half of the event will be hard to top. But everyone here is looking forward to the next four days.

Ky-mani Marley to appear LIVE at Antigua Sailing Week

April 12, 2012

Ky-mani Marley was born in Jamaica in 1976 and was just five when his legendary father Bob Marley passed away. At the age of nine he transfered with his mother to the inner-city of Miami and the mixture of cultures notably contributed to his music style of Urban Reggae.

Ky-mani Marley to appear LIVE at Antigua Sailing Week

Ky-mani Marley to appear LIVE at Antigua Sailing Week

From an early age Ky-Mani experimented with laying tracks, at times with his brothers, Stephen, Julian and Damian and made his debut album in 1996 titled ‘Like Father Like Son’ and his single; ‘Dear Dad’ which topped the British Reggae charts. Five albums and numerous tours were to follow. A sell-out concert in Miami was televised to 36 different countries and his 2001 album ‘Many More Roads’ was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

Fulfilling his name ‘adventurous traveler’ branching out from his music, Ky-mani Marley has also made a name for himself as an actor playing the lead role in the number one underground movies coming out of Jamaica. He played the lead role in the Kassa with co-star Cherine Anderson in One Love, a romantic comedy infused with the music and culture of Jamaica.

Ky-mani Marley produced his sixth studio album last year; ‘Maestro’. The result was an urban sound deeply rooted in the reggae and hip-hop cultures from his upbringing. Ky-mani Marley will be appearing LIVE at Antigua Sailing Week on Tuesday May 1st. The event will be start at 6pm in Nelson’s Dockyard and tickets cost EC$40 in advance, $EC50 on the door. On sale now at Antigua Yacht Club and the Antigua Hotel and Tourist Association.

Twenty Sailing Yachts by Nautor Swan to compete in the 27th Atlantic Rally for Cruiser (ACR)

April 11, 2012

The 27th Atlantic Rally for Cruiser (ARC) is already completely subscribed. More yachts have been given places this year, and there will be around 230 at the start of the rally on 25th November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Sailing yacht Swan 80

Sailing yacht Swan 80

Spaces in the ARC booked up faster than ever, surpassing the 2011 entry level by early February. The popularity of the rally remains undimmed; testimony to the founding principles of safe and fun ocean crossing.

This year there will once again be a strong Swan contingent within the fleet. Twenty Swans from eight different nations will be heading to warmer waters with models spanning 40 to 82 feet. Nautor’s Swan is always one of the most prominent boat builders to feature in the ARC, putting this unrivalled luxury sailing yacht brand in the top two most popular ARC fleet models. Swans are synonymous with ultimate ocean going performance and blue water comfort essential for the longer Atlantic crossing which can take up to 25 days to complete.

Sailing yacht Swan 82S

Sailing yacht Swan 82S

The RORC racing divisions have a healthy 42 entries, with good competition and fast crossing times promised from Swan 80 sailing yacht Berenice (ITA) and Swan 82S superyacht Nikata (GBR) at the larger end of the fleet.

ARC are also delighted to welcome back ‘Mr ARC’ Manfred Kerstan. A regular on the ARC pilgrimage having taken part in over a decade of these rallies, Manfred will be crossing again this year on his Swan 62RS yacht Albatros, twenty six years after his first ARC crossing.

Entries:

Albatros, Swan 62 RS, Manfred Kerstan
Berenice, Swan 80, Marco Rodolfi
Cheri Hakatan, Swan 51, Ronald Wulff
Dream Citta di Rieti, Swan 47, Francesco Persio Pennesi
Eira, Swan 51, Sebastian Gylling
Embla, Swan 44, Gunnar Myhre
High Yield, Swan 45, Hanns Ostmeier
Jadran III, Swan 41, Giorgio John Squarcia
Lucky Swan, Swan 40, Cathelijne Los
Milanto, Swan 46, Valerio Bardi
Nikata, Swan 82S, Tom Brewer
Northern Child, Swan 51, Christian Reynolds
Selene, Swan 44, Adrian Lower
Senta, Swan 46, John and Karen Cole
Snow Wolf, Swan 48, Robert Nichols
Spirit, Swan 65, Michael Roberts
Storm Svale, Swan 40, Mike St. John
Sumatra, Swan 48, Shane Diethelm
Vahine, Swan 65, Stefan Abrahamsson
Zen, Swan 48, John Bainbridge

Swan Rally 2012 in Sydney

April 11, 2012

The last weekend in March provided 10 spectacular sailing yachts by Nautor Swan with the perfect Sydney day, characterised by sunshine as well as a pleasurable breeze, to fully enjoy all that Sydney Harbour has to offer.

Sailing yacht Swan 90

Sailing yacht Swan 90

The Swan Rally 2012 started perfect with Veuve Clicquot opening the proceedings at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia with each Swan crew in matching branded Swan Shirts, provided by Vicsail. It was very fitting that it ended perfectly with all the owners receiving beautiful Salvatore Ferragamo ties and scarves for the ladies.

The course for the Swan´s yachts was set out East to Shark Island, under the famous Harbour Bridge, and around Clark Island finishing back at Rushcutters Bay. The event was very special for all the owners with many of the Swans out for the first time in a while.

The owner of the sailing yacht Swan 90, Die Swaene provided the rock star excitement for the day, handing over the Skipper position to a long time sailing mate, Simon Le Bon, the 1980′s icon from rock band Duran Duran. After the rally, Simon joined everyone for the after race refreshments and camaraderie that the Swan fleet is renowned for – and mentioned that he looks forward to being part of the event next year!