Two of Britain's most famous solo skippers, Mike Golding and Dee Caffari, move into the next stage of their ground-breaking technical alliance to develop the fastest Open 60 possible ahead of this year's gruelling solo round the world yacht race, the Vendee Globe 2008/09. Caffari and Golding, who between them have circumnavigated the global on eight different occasions, have developed an intensive testing programme to find a competitive advantage over the 30-strong Vendee Globe fleet and in particular the impressive French contingent. The two skippers announced the technical alliance, the first of its kind between British Open 60 teams, in March 2007. The alliance led to the construction of two identical sister-ships in Aviva and Ecover 3 and this summer Caffari and Golding will be testing the two boats against each other to maximise performance. The Aviva Ocean Racing and Ecover teams are taking a leaf out of Formula 1's book and believe in the merits of testing against similar machines. The upcoming period of two-boat testing will set the two Open 60s against each other much like the way F1 teams do with their two cars. One of the boats will be set as a control whilst the other makes changes to the sail trim, ballast and keel angle to determine the most effective set up. The ultimate aim is to find the optimum performance that will give the skippers an edge to challenge the French dominance of the Vendee Globe race. To date each of the five editions has been won by a French skipper.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Troubled 33rd AC Restores
The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court today ruled in favour of the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) declaring Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) the rightful Challenger of Record for the 33rd America’s Cup and denying the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) this status.
Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi president, comments: “We are delighted with this result; we can now continue with our vision of a multi-challenger event. The court’s decision validates our actions and enables us to put the America's Cup back on the water.”
Lucien Masmejan, SNG lead counsel, comments: “After a year of litigation interference by the GGYC, we are extremely pleased that the Appellate Division has found its challenges to SNG's conduct of the 33rd America's Cup baseless. The GGYC’s actions have wasted a lot of time, effort and resources over the past year and we hope that it does not appeal. We must now evaluate whether adjustments have to be made due to the time consumed by its improper litigation initiatives.”
The decision of the Appellate Division reads: “…...the orders of the Supreme Court, New York County (Herman Cahn, J.), entered March 18, 2008 and May 13, 2008, which, inter alia, declared CNEV's challenge invalid and GGYC the Challenger of Record under the Deed of Gift, should be reversed, on the law, with costs, CNEV declared the Challenger of Record, and, in keeping with the Deed of Gift's requirement that the defender be given at least 10 months' written notice to prepare for the challenge, the 10-month notice period should be tolled until service of a copy of this order.”
Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi president, comments: “We are delighted with this result; we can now continue with our vision of a multi-challenger event. The court’s decision validates our actions and enables us to put the America's Cup back on the water.”
Lucien Masmejan, SNG lead counsel, comments: “After a year of litigation interference by the GGYC, we are extremely pleased that the Appellate Division has found its challenges to SNG's conduct of the 33rd America's Cup baseless. The GGYC’s actions have wasted a lot of time, effort and resources over the past year and we hope that it does not appeal. We must now evaluate whether adjustments have to be made due to the time consumed by its improper litigation initiatives.”
The decision of the Appellate Division reads: “…...the orders of the Supreme Court, New York County (Herman Cahn, J.), entered March 18, 2008 and May 13, 2008, which, inter alia, declared CNEV's challenge invalid and GGYC the Challenger of Record under the Deed of Gift, should be reversed, on the law, with costs, CNEV declared the Challenger of Record, and, in keeping with the Deed of Gift's requirement that the defender be given at least 10 months' written notice to prepare for the challenge, the 10-month notice period should be tolled until service of a copy of this order.”
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Copa del Rey
One couldn't have asked for a better start for the 27 Copa del Rey AUDI MAPFRE. Throughout the afternoon, all three race areas had a stable southwestern breeze that started at 10 knots and gradually picked up to 15. All classes, except the GP42's and TP52's that were practicing, were able to sail two tight races.
The IRC 1 class saw the clear domination of the former TP52 Spanish AIFOS that scored two bullets. Tied at second place are French Moana and Stuart Branson's Spirit of Jethou. The Farr 54 CAM, helmed by HRH Don Felipe, stands 4th, 2 points from a possible podium place.
In the IRC 2 class, consistency paid off for Italian Give me Five. Two second places put them at the top of the score table, followed by fellow Italians Kora 4. Tony Buckingham's is third, after a 5th and a 1st.
In IRC 0 the two Telefonica VO70 boats are carrying out an exhibition race, within the Copa del Rey, giving the right to the City of Palma Trophy. The Blue yacht, helmed by Bouwe Bekking, won both races. The Black yacht, helmed Pedro Campos, had to abandon the first race after a spinnaker problem.
The ORC 570 leaderboard is an Iberian affair. Jose Manuel Mesquita's Luso-Roux is first after a 3rd and 4th place. Manuel de Tomas' San Miguel is second, just two points behind the Portuguese boat, tied with Gustavo Martinez' Hempel-Power.
In the X-35 fleet the first race was a British-Dutch battle. After a clear start, Thorkild Juncker's Cool Runnings stayed ahead despite the tough race against Quantum Racing and Just for Fun. A clear indication of the tight racing was the fact the 6 first yachts crossed the finish line within 15 seconds. The second race was won by Italian X-TRIFIX, but with a 3rd and a 2nd respectively, Cool Runnings and Quantum Racing are tied at the top.
In the SWAN 45 class German Earlybird, one of the favourites to win the Copa del Rey, had a difficult first day. Blue Nights, the sole Finnish boat in the regatta, won the first race after a close battle with the Italian DSK-Comifin and the Japanese Yasha. The Italians were ahead from the start of the race but Tea Ekengren-Sauren's yacht grabbed the lead at the second beat and crossed the finish line ahead of the fleet. In the second race, Earlybird had a clear start and lead from the start. Blue Nights lead overall after a fourth in the second race.
The GP42 class premiered in the Copa del Rey AUDI MAPFRE the practice race and for the first time ever all competing yachts had a journalist guest aboard. Near Miss, the Swiss yacht owned by Franck Noel and helmed by Bertrand Pace, once again showed her clear speed advantage over the other yachts while the local crowds had a reason to cheer with the Spanish Desafio finishing second. Close behind them were the two Italians Roma GP42.2 and AIRIS.
The TP52's also had their official practice race, won by Vasco Vascotto's Mutua Madrilena, followed by Platoon, helmed by Jochen Schuemann. Terry Hutchinson, fresh from two victorious events in the TP52 circuit, helmed Spanish Desafio to 3rd place.
The IRC 1 class saw the clear domination of the former TP52 Spanish AIFOS that scored two bullets. Tied at second place are French Moana and Stuart Branson's Spirit of Jethou. The Farr 54 CAM, helmed by HRH Don Felipe, stands 4th, 2 points from a possible podium place.
In the IRC 2 class, consistency paid off for Italian Give me Five. Two second places put them at the top of the score table, followed by fellow Italians Kora 4. Tony Buckingham's is third, after a 5th and a 1st.
In IRC 0 the two Telefonica VO70 boats are carrying out an exhibition race, within the Copa del Rey, giving the right to the City of Palma Trophy. The Blue yacht, helmed by Bouwe Bekking, won both races. The Black yacht, helmed Pedro Campos, had to abandon the first race after a spinnaker problem.
The ORC 570 leaderboard is an Iberian affair. Jose Manuel Mesquita's Luso-Roux is first after a 3rd and 4th place. Manuel de Tomas' San Miguel is second, just two points behind the Portuguese boat, tied with Gustavo Martinez' Hempel-Power.
In the X-35 fleet the first race was a British-Dutch battle. After a clear start, Thorkild Juncker's Cool Runnings stayed ahead despite the tough race against Quantum Racing and Just for Fun. A clear indication of the tight racing was the fact the 6 first yachts crossed the finish line within 15 seconds. The second race was won by Italian X-TRIFIX, but with a 3rd and a 2nd respectively, Cool Runnings and Quantum Racing are tied at the top.
In the SWAN 45 class German Earlybird, one of the favourites to win the Copa del Rey, had a difficult first day. Blue Nights, the sole Finnish boat in the regatta, won the first race after a close battle with the Italian DSK-Comifin and the Japanese Yasha. The Italians were ahead from the start of the race but Tea Ekengren-Sauren's yacht grabbed the lead at the second beat and crossed the finish line ahead of the fleet. In the second race, Earlybird had a clear start and lead from the start. Blue Nights lead overall after a fourth in the second race.
The GP42 class premiered in the Copa del Rey AUDI MAPFRE the practice race and for the first time ever all competing yachts had a journalist guest aboard. Near Miss, the Swiss yacht owned by Franck Noel and helmed by Bertrand Pace, once again showed her clear speed advantage over the other yachts while the local crowds had a reason to cheer with the Spanish Desafio finishing second. Close behind them were the two Italians Roma GP42.2 and AIRIS.
The TP52's also had their official practice race, won by Vasco Vascotto's Mutua Madrilena, followed by Platoon, helmed by Jochen Schuemann. Terry Hutchinson, fresh from two victorious events in the TP52 circuit, helmed Spanish Desafio to 3rd place.
Monday, July 28, 2008
MedCup Mallorca
Just as they did in Cagliari earlier this month when they won the Audi Region of Sardinia Trophy, Quantum Racing proved the dominant force in Peurto Portals, Mallorca when they added the 14th Breitling Regatta trophy, winning this fourth regatta of the Audi MedCup Circuit 2008. Terry Hutchinson (USA) and the crew became the first team since 2006 to win back-to-back MedCup regattas when the AP over A flags were finally hoisted this afternoon. A breeze which was just too light and too unsettled across the race area to allow any competition before the 1600hrs time limit meant Quantum Racing (USA) returned to the dock victorious, winning by 14 points over Alberto Roemmers’ second placed Matador (ARG). Just as it was the 2007 build Matador’s first podium result of the season so third place here for Jochen Schuemann (GER) and the crew of Platoon Powered by Team Germany, was, like Matador's also their best regatta yet this season. Quantum Racing arrived in Mallorca with a lead of 6.2 points on the overall Audi MedCup Circuit 2008 standings, and leave the chic, compact marina town having built a cushion of 30 points.
Friday, July 25, 2008
MedCup Coastal Race
A perfect day for Quantum Racing and a black day for Mean Machine sees the Audi MedCup Circuit leaders take over the lead of the 14th Breitling Regatta off Puerto Portals, Mallorca. Their best Coastal Race of the Audi MedCup Circuit 2008 season so far, winning both sections of today’s 34.2 miles passage back and forth across the Bay of Palma not only increased Quantum Racing’s lead at the top of the Circuit leader board to 23 points of clear daylight, but as erstwhile leaders of the 14th Breitling Regatta Mean Machine had a day they would rather forget, so the American boat also earned a lead of 11 points in the regatta standings.
With two second places Platoon powered by Team Germany (GER) swapped places with Mean Machine, rising to second place in this 14th Regatta Breitling, while Matador’s pair of ninths today leave them to third with two days of racing to go. Having just yesterday got themselves back into joint second place in the overall Regatta standings Mean Machine’s 15th and then 14th today leaves the 2006 MedCup Champion team with a mountain to climb, again with just two regattas left after Saturday.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
La Solitaire du Figaro
Fifty sailors will set off from La Rochelle tomorrow at 13:00 on the first of three legs of La Solitaire du Figaro, they key event of the Figaro solo sailing calendar.
The 2008 edition will cover 1,880 miles over three legs: La Rochelle to Vigo in Galicia, then a return leg to Cherbourg in France before the final marathon leg of 826 miles (the longest leg in the 39 year history of the race) to L’Aber W’rach on the northern tip of Brittany, by way of the Isle of Man in the north Irish Sea.
Race Director, Jacques Caraës has formulated a course that is long, tactical and testing in offshore sailing skills. The one-design Figaro Beneteau boat is enjoying continued success and the following of the solo sailors. For the highlight event of the season, 11 rookie sailors join the competition together with four highly experienced women sailors, another record in the race history. Jeanne Gregoire on Banque Populaire and Liz Wardley on Sojasun will be joined by two new aspiring Figarists, Elodie Riou (KPMG) and Isabelle Joschke (Synergy), both successful Mini sailors.
The growing international following the event is currently enjoying is reflected in the arrival some new faces on the circuit. There are five non-French sailors in all.
The 2008 edition will cover 1,880 miles over three legs: La Rochelle to Vigo in Galicia, then a return leg to Cherbourg in France before the final marathon leg of 826 miles (the longest leg in the 39 year history of the race) to L’Aber W’rach on the northern tip of Brittany, by way of the Isle of Man in the north Irish Sea.
Race Director, Jacques Caraës has formulated a course that is long, tactical and testing in offshore sailing skills. The one-design Figaro Beneteau boat is enjoying continued success and the following of the solo sailors. For the highlight event of the season, 11 rookie sailors join the competition together with four highly experienced women sailors, another record in the race history. Jeanne Gregoire on Banque Populaire and Liz Wardley on Sojasun will be joined by two new aspiring Figarists, Elodie Riou (KPMG) and Isabelle Joschke (Synergy), both successful Mini sailors.
The growing international following the event is currently enjoying is reflected in the arrival some new faces on the circuit. There are five non-French sailors in all.
MedCup Puerto Portals
Mean Machine emerged from a classic sea breeze day of three good races on the Bay of Palma to lead the 14th Regatta Breitling by seven clear points from Matador. With sea breeze peaking at 13 knots, Mean Machine (MON) won their 11th victory from 31 starts when Peter de Ridder (NED) got the best of a busy tussle at the committee boat end of the line, pulling away from Quantum Racing (USA) to tack early and gain the right hand side of the course. In such typically Palma sea breeze conditions it was the right side of this race course which was almost always favoured, often making the starts the most critical and the most exciting part of each race. Indeed while the breeze was dropping a little during the third race, the right hand end of the start line, at the committee boat was busy, with three boats shut out. A final shift on the last run allowed some significant place changing. Mean Machine proved her strengths downwind when they recovered three places on the first run to eighth and then again on the second run when they rose from 11th to seventh.
While Mean Machine enhanced their position atop the 14th Breitling Regatta leader board, the 2006 MedCup Champions team will take a certain satisfaction in now sharing the same points tally as second placed Artemis (SWE) on the Audi MedCup Circuit standings, proving their steady recovery after being disqualified from the Coastal Race in Marseille.
While Mean Machine enhanced their position atop the 14th Breitling Regatta leader board, the 2006 MedCup Champions team will take a certain satisfaction in now sharing the same points tally as second placed Artemis (SWE) on the Audi MedCup Circuit standings, proving their steady recovery after being disqualified from the Coastal Race in Marseille.
Volvo Ocean Race News
Ericsson 3 and Ericsson 4 ran into 40 knots within 24 hours of a relatively gentle departure from Sweden on their round trip to the team training base in Lanzarote. Anders Lewander, skipper of Ericsson 3, reported that they had engaged in some close racing with their sister ship after leaving Nynashamn and made their way through the narrow channel between Denmark and Sweden.
The Extreme 40 Series will be part of the on-the-water entertainment package at selected stopovers during the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.
The Green Team has been re-named the Green Dragon Team, after securing title sponsorship from a syndicate of Chinese companies, it has been officially announced.
Marstrand, the famous sailing and recreational island close to Goteborg on Sweden’s west coast, will be the Pit Stop for the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race en route to Stockholm, race organisers have announced.
The Volvo Ocean Race has confirmed Fan Pier in Boston as the sole North American stopover when the race visits the US East Coast port city in April-May 2009.
The Extreme 40 Series will be part of the on-the-water entertainment package at selected stopovers during the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.
The Green Team has been re-named the Green Dragon Team, after securing title sponsorship from a syndicate of Chinese companies, it has been officially announced.
Marstrand, the famous sailing and recreational island close to Goteborg on Sweden’s west coast, will be the Pit Stop for the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race en route to Stockholm, race organisers have announced.
The Volvo Ocean Race has confirmed Fan Pier in Boston as the sole North American stopover when the race visits the US East Coast port city in April-May 2009.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
MedCup in Puerto Portals
De Ridder and his team sailed to two race wins and a fifth place to share the same overall points tally as Alberto Roemmers’ Argentinian boat Matador, but by virtue of the tie break it is the 2006 MedCup champions who top the Breitling Regatta leader board after a challenging day reading the shifting, changing breezes off the Mallorcan capital city. At times the sea breeze was fitful as the oppressive, clammy heat and cloud cover stifled any increase in wind strength and with big wind shifts in direction, and variations in pressure it was not an easy day for the tacticians to decipher. Consistency across the three races was vital. But it was a day where every hard earned place was vital as Mean Machine proved when they pulled up from ninth at the first leeward mark in the second race to earn their fifth, while their two race wins were the direct reward for smart starting near the extremes of the line and choosing the preferred side of the beat. With the wind peaking at 11 knots and at times as low as six or seven knots, the ability to change gears and adapt for best boat speed was equally important over what has been a day of the lightest average wind speeds since the opening regatta, back in May in Alicante.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Audi MedCup Circuit
The Bay of Palma enhanced its reputation today when it served up an interesting, challenging practice race as the prelude to tomorrow´s start of the 14th Breitling Regatta, the fourth Audi MedCup Circuit Regatta off Mallorca's Puerto Portals. A moderate easterly breeze, arriving off the land carried more than enough shifts in wind direction and changes in pressure to give lie to the prevailing belief that the Bay of Palma is always a venue which favours one side, or the other, of the race track. Vasco Vascotto (ITA) and the crew of Mutua Madrileña (CHI) won today’s practice race, working the wind shifts well to escape from Alberto Roemmers (ARG)’s Matador (ARG) and Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis (SWE).
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